Rail Fair is TODAY!

Today is Rail Fair Day at Ardenwood!  All those little kids and kids at heart that happen to be in the San Francisco Bay Area on August 31 should mosey on over to Ardenwood (near the corner of highway 84 and 880, Newark/Fremont, CA).  They always have several visiting old train engines, show off their little museum and talk up a storm about trains to anyone that wants more information.

The Steam Engine group is usually in the farmyard will all kinds of steam engines that have been used for various chores.

And then there are also all the model train groups with their extensive tracks and trains set up and running, all kinds!

And of course, the Patterson house will be open for tours!  Hopefully, I will get over there early and have enough time to take some pictures.
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Meanwhile, Missy has been looking for the pattern box.  She didn't quite get her shredding done.

All right, where IS that box!

Foiled again, Missy!

Sprinkler update

 All the new sprinklers are in on one side of the patio and today I hope to finish the sprinklers on the other side.

 This is a "butterfly bush" that I raised from seed years ago.  They passed the seeds out at an informational meeting at Ardenwood years ago.  Monarch butterflies winter at Ardenwood and this is one of the plants the caterpillars feed on.  I sort of keep an eye on the leaves of this plant around this time of year.  When some of the leaves look like they are eaten, then I see if I can find the caterpillars.

 The start going to seed and look a little ratty from all the seeds popping out.  This is a seed pod getting ready to burst.  Whe the seeds take off, they look like those "fairys" we used to chase in the air.

This is what I took care of yesterday afternoon.  That little stinker cat of ours loves to get in my closet, find my box of patterns and start shredding.  Lucky for me I found out this time before she got down to the actual patterns.  You can see by the envelopes that we've been through this before.  This time I moved the box out to my study were she can't get to them again.

And this is where I walked yesterday morning on my treadmill:

Along the coast of the island of Hawaii

This mornings walk

I haven't been using the IFit much, even though it is supposed to be fixed, because the weather has been great and I have a great friend to walk with.  But today I got on the treadmill and walked Yosemite.  This is one of my favorite walks.  IFit uses Google earth and this one is a lot of fun to see, especially when I have walked this in person.

This is the meadow with a great view of Yosemite Falls!

You can tell this wasn't taken at this time of the year....right now Yosemite Falls is dry as a bone.

A little further on is El Capitan and you can always tell when there are climbers on the face, cars parked and people craning to see them.






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1900-1905 Afternoon Tea Gown

Since Ardenwood opened for the 2013 season I have not been able to participate in the Historical Sew Fortnightly challenges.  But the future looks promising for some sewing time so I am just in time for :

Challenge #18: Re-make, Re-use & Re-fashion

Somewhere in Time

For The Historical Sew Fortnightly

"In the spirit of historical re-use, of taking old things and giving them new life, and new purpose, the Historical Sew Fortnightly Challenge #18 is Re-make, Re-use & Re-fashion. Sew something that pays homage to the historical idea of re-using, re-making and re-fashioning. Turn one thing into another. Re-fit or re-fashion an old gown into something you would wear again. Re-trim a hat for a new outfit, or re-shape a modern hat to be a historical hat. Re-purpose the fabric from an old garment (your own or a commercial one) into a new garment.

It just so happens I had worked on this outfit a long time ago but didn't quite finish it.  During that time it shrunk, or I possibly got larger (more likely the case) and so now it doesn't fit me.  So I am going to rework it and then even harder try to get up the courage to actually wear it at Ardenwood.  

The reason I didn't finish it in the first place was because I knew I didn't have the courage to wear it then.  It is in all white and has a train........can you imagine!  With the skirts I have worn up to this date with the back slightly longer than floor length, it never fails, someone steps on my skirt.  It goes to show you that now days we really get into each other's space.  A hundred years ago everyone just knew you can't be right smack behind the person in front, women would be falling backwards, skirts would be pulled down, all sorts of tragic things would happen.

So.....maybe the next flow-through tours I will be brave enough and wear this dress.  On flow-through each docent just stays in one room.  That way I wouldn't have anyone "following" me.

I am going to have to figure out how to deal with the issue of walking to and from the house without getting it dirty and still be modest and graceful.  

Yosemite Fire

You probably have heard about the large fire that has been threatening Yosemite for days now.  The fire has actually been in very rugged area north and west of the park.  There aren't that many people that actually live where the fire has been, mostly there are a few cabins in there.  There are many reasons this fire needs to be stopped before it get much closer to Yosemite, and it is getting closer.

 Yosemite is such a special place and it would be a horrible thing for the area to burn.  The park service does scheduled burns in the park so that the undergrowth does not build up and a fire more likely.  It takes many years for the damage of a fire to be covered up by new growth, as we saw a couple of years ago in Yellowstone.

Hetch Hetchy is a valley near Yosemite.  In 1913, congress gave permission for San Francisco to build the O'Shaughnessy Dam across Hetch Hetchy valley.  The valley was filled with 300' of water that supplies San Francisco, San Mateo and Alameda counties.  And power also is supplied by the water and the dam.

If the fire puts the pumps of the dam out of commission it may cause power and water disruption in the Bay Area.  Since we live in Alameda County, I wonder if it will affect us much.

An interesting side note:  San Francisco is suing Nevada for giving their criminals a one-way bus ticket to San Francisco to get them out of Nevada.  Well, pay back!  Nevada, especially Reno, is getting all the heavy smoke from the fire!  Even Yosemite Valley hasn't been getting smoke up to this point!

From Arizona!

My sis sent pictures of her new yard!

 She has already had visitors in her yard, a bobcat, tarantula and a gila monster!  I guess she traded the deer and eagles for them.

It has been quite a difference from the Northwest to the Southwest!  And she gets to have both!

Isn't this quite a view!

Patio Project Update

The front brick patio was put in around 35 years ago.  It consists of bricks layed in sand with sections divided up by 2x4s.  As the years went by the 2x4s degraded to nothing and the bricks started to fall in that space.  The ants weren't helping either, they would remove the sand in some spots to make room for their home.  Plus, there was a broken sprinkler pipe under one section that needed to be fixed.  Anyhow, the whole thing needed some help.

Before

And after, at the front gate

I decided to tackle the divider boards that needed to be replaced.  Bricks are all back in and the sand is sweeped in the cracks.  It just needs to be hosed off in a couple of days.

The sprinkler pipes had been put in all those many years ago.  We had been told to put in thin wall PVC pipes....wrong!  So we have been replacing them as we go.  We still have a bit of that to go.

Then it will be off to the nursery for some new plants!

To Bee or Not to Bee!

We are having our backyard fence on one side replaced.  Unfortunately, our bees live right next to the fence.  So......George, the Honey Man and Luke, not Skywalker, but the Grandson, had to move the bee hives this morning.  They will be vacationing at a farmers place in Fremont for a few days. 

Usually, my bee girls sleep in, but it was a warm night, so the girls were up early.  It seems a lot of them went off to get their work done early so they can relax with a cold one this afternoon.  They didn't get the memo on the move, so when they got back...

So, George put the doors on so no more could leave....

You can see some of the girls that have come back, but the door is closed!

Then soon the last hive is loaded in the car....

George was so sweet, he left an empty box for the girls left behind to at least go into, as they wonder what happened to their home and all the rest of the gals!

Everyone is where they need to be

Grandson Julian and his family all went down to Austin, Tx to help get him all settled in to St. Ed U.  Then I picked Francisca up from the airport Tuesday night so she wouldn't miss more than 2 days of school.  And tonight, I picked up the proud parents, Louis and Collen from the airport.  It's sort of like the 2nd coming of the first day of Kindergarten, but much more expensive.

So I will be back at home and working on projects again...

Oh, and I am getting a new camera because all 3 generations of cameras have given up working.

More fabric!

These came yesterday!

 I am thinking seriously of making:

 This skirt with....

this blouse.  And a lot of lace!

And a little frufru!

I thought, when I go back to that original pattern I have and try to reproduce that skirt, this material would be perfect for the underskirt ruffle.

OK, I'm really ready for winter projects now!

My new COMPUTERIZED sewing machine!  Now I don't have to worry when my trusty ancient Elna Supematic gives up the ghost.  It is acting like its clutch is going out and parts are about impossible to find.

Coming soon!

Just another reminder....The Railroad Fair will be held at Ardenwood Labor Day Weekend!

Just in case you can't read the small print... the engine in the picture is 1890 Tank Porter Engine "Cortez Mining Co #1".  Her name is Ann Marie.

The Doorbell Rang!

And guess what!  My laces have arrived!

I should never have to buy lace again at JoAnn Fabrics.  I bought a roll each of these.

I am contemplating making up one of those frothy white Early 1900 dresses.

Off to College!

This morning I am taking our grandson and his family to SFO to fly off to Austin, Texas to set him up in his housing and help him settle in.  Our granddaughter will be flying back early, her school has already started so she will be missing a couple days of school.

There are several of us that have been suffering from separation anxiety for a while now just in anticipation of him leaving.

St. Edwards University, here he comes!

Cajun Zydeco at Ardenwood

I will be listening to music and giving tours today!  Hopefully I will be posting photos tomorrow, if my camera works.  It has been acting up lately so it is getting to the point of being replaced.

If you get to Ardenwood today stop by the Patterson House and say hello.  I don't know where I will be posted but probably on the front porch or Nanny's Room.  I just go where I am needed.

Don't Forget! Cajun Zydeco Tomorrow!

Cajun Zydeco will be held on Tomorrow, August 17th at Ardenwood.  Always a great time with all the food and music.  They always have dance lessons before the serious music starts and the lawn area is always full of lawn umbrellas, blankets and families.  A lot of laughter and music makes a great day! There will be venders that sell Cajun food! It really has the French Canadian/Louisiana spirit!

I will be in the Patterson house in the afternoon for the flow through tours (go at your own pace) so come and enjoy.  There is a park special event fee for entrance.

Gate opens at 10am.

Time to Dance!  (maxresdefault.jpg)

Cajun Zydeco Festival August 17, 2013

By EBRPD - Public Affairs

June 7, 2013

Cajun Zydeco Festival
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont, CA 94555
Saturday, August 17, 2013
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont will host the Annual Cajun Zydeco festival on Saturday, August 17. Bring family or friends to the festival for a day filled with the best Cajun/Zydeco music, dancing, delicious Cajun & Creole cuisine and other festival food favorites. Take a tour of the farm, the Patterson House, visit the farm animals, shop specialty vendors and join in dance lessons.
Our 17th annual festival features Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience, Sheryl Cormier, Bay Area favorites Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic, and - opening the Festival - Mark St. Mary Louisiana Blues & Zydeco Band. Gates open at 10 a.m., live music will play from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Enjoy the day at Ardenwood Farm surrounded by fields of organic produce, farm animals, and the historic Patterson House. Take the train from the entrance to the festival site. Bring a blanket, low-back lawn chair, sunblock, and hat. Low canopies welcome in the back or side areas (please be courteous and do not block the view of the stage). Wear your dancing shoes! Alcohol prohibited. Please purchase beverages inside festival. Fabulous food will also be available for purchase. NO PETS allowed.
Proceeds benefit the Park Express Transportation Program for low-income schools and groups serving senior or disabled persons visiting the East Bay Regional Parks. Additional donations welcome. Contact the Regional Parks Foundation: (510) 544-2202.
Directions
Ardenwood Historic Farm is located on Ardenwood Boulevard just north of Highway 84 (Dumbarton Expressway) in Fremont. Directions: In Fremont, exit Highway 84 at Ardenwood/Newark Boulevard.  Go north on Ardenwood Boulevard.  The entrance is just north of Highway 84 on the right. 

Tickets
Advance tickets: $18 for adults, $3 for youth (ages 4 – 15 years). Advance tickets can be purchased through August 12 at 1-888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757) or online at EBParksOnline.org. Day of event tickets: $22 for adults, $5 youth (ages 4 – 15 years). 3 years and under free. Free parking.
Information: 1-888-EBPARKS or www.ebparks.org.
The Festival is presented by the East Bay Regional Park District

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Additional Information About Entertainment

Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience featuring Grammy award winning artist Terrance Simien, the 8th generation Louisiana Creole has become one of the most respected and internationally recognized touring and recording artists in roots music today. He has performed over 5000 concerts, toured millions of miles to over 40 countries and reached at least a million people during his eventful 25 year career. Simien is a musician (accordion, piano and trumpet), vocalist and songwriter. Rolling Stone magazine wrote about Terrance Simien, "Simien is a Zydeco Master: his voice yearning like Sam Cooke, he delivers soul worthy of Stax greats and shows crossover class." During the past 25 years Simien has shared studio and stage with Stevie Wonder, Los Lobos, Taj Mahal, Dr. John, the Meters, Alan Toussaint, Paul Simon and Dave Matthews Band to name a few. He has been featured in dozens of films, including the blockbuster hit “The Big Easy”.
Sheryl Cormier is the queen of Cajun Accordion and Cajun Music. Cormier grew up surrounded by Cajun music, her father was the leader of the Sunset Playboys, a band that included her mother on drums. Learning to play the Cajun accordion at age seven, Cormier performed with her parents’ group throughout her teens. After Cormier got married, she continued to play occasionally with the group as well as with other similar bands.
Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic make a return appearance to the Cajun Zydeco Festival, the Zydeco Magic have been a crowd favorite with their blend of traditional Zydeco music, hip-hop, blues, jazz and rock. While Andre Thierry was born in Richmond, California, his family roots were from Louisiana. His grandfather, Houston Pitre, encouraged Thierry to take up the accordion after a visit from the “King of Zydeco,” legend Clifton Chenier. By age 12, Thierry had formed the Zydeco Magic and was performing along with bands visiting from Louisiana. The Washington Post called Andre Thierry a “master” at “pumping out fast, funky rhythms on an instrument not usually associated with earthy syncopation. A versatile student of the music, Thierry can't be lumped into Zydeco's old-school R&B-influenced camp or its nouveau, rap-inspired one: He and his band, Zydeco Magic, lay down both soulful, traditional slow-dances and bottom-end-booming kinetic groovers.”  Andre Thierry and The Zydeco Magic were just recently voted best Zydeco group by the Bay Area Blues Society.
Mark St. Mary Louisiana Blues & Zydeco Band is a five- member band that plays traditional Louisiana blues and zydeco music. Dubbed the "Delta King" and awarded the "Best Zydeco Band" in 2007 by Bay Area Blues Society. Singing in English and Creole French, St. Mary leads his band while the quintet features some of the finest Cajun and zydeco players of Northern California, playing waltzes, two-steps, line dances, and flat-foot zydeco.

And look what came in the mail today!

A couple of days ago, I went through all my baskets of fabric it actually was not a messy sight!

"Large Pieces"

What is in the paper bag? The Sari!  Someday this is going to be part of something special

 

More Large Pieces

Medium sized pieces

 And then in the mail, a package!!!

 This is the fabric I ordered off Ebay, and it arrived so quickly!