Where's Abby (+ Dylan and dogs)

It's been over a year since being back in Florida. I started thinking of some of these comparisons shortly after returning, but now I have even more to add. And it's more comparing the Oregon Coast to this area, of course. If you're new here, we were in Pacific City, OR a little old town of ~1000 people. Now we're in Atlantic Beach, FL.  1. The amount of laundry. I'd say 3 shirts a day in the summer is typical for this Florida heat and humidity. Go for a morning walk, change shirts...  Plant some flowers. Gotta change... Workout, definitely change. Shower, dog walk-- one more change before the night's done.  2. The bank and post office are open on Saturdays here! And restaurants don't close for the winter.  3. Florida neighborhood strolls: Seeing 10+ humans on every walk compared to often only 0. I love the community here! Lovely neighbors, gym rats, baristas. Even my parents! The Padres moved 40 minutes away vs 2.5! Yahoo! Pacific City was just so empty. On...

For my first post about quilting, I think it's appropriate that it's all about the reason I began quilting and my favorite part about the craft.  It's the thought, meaning, and sentiments that go into the planning and creating. It's making each piece personalized and special for each recipient. Thinking about the recipients, what they cherish and value, what makes them the unique person that is getting this quilt. What do I think of when I think of ____? What colors and feelings match this human?  As I've gotten into some more commissioned pieces where I don't necessarily know the couple, I still have had the pleasure and fun in seeing their nurseries/homes, Pinterest inspiration, learning about the couple. Trying to envision what that new mom is wanting to create for their little one, what style they're dreaming of... It's fun too to incorporate their choice of baby names if they know already (of course Alice Daisy needed some sweet little daisies).  I ...

I am super bummed to realize that I haven't done a yearly review/highlights since 2019! That's FOUR YEARS ago! Pre covid, pre Oregon, pre master's degree, pre return to Florida, pre a million babies being born... So much has changed! It's always to nice to sit back and look at all that happens in a year too.  It's now February. I started this post in December and was about to go and try to edit and make it all fancy with links to other posts and all kinds of cool things.... I'm sure there are some mistakes even with the years, things left out... but progress over perfection right? We're just going posting it in 3...2...1... Have fun!  2023   1. Bike bike biking everywhere. To the Grom for tasty lunch treats, Indian almost every week, grocery shopping, to the gym, just to bike around in the sun. It's been great!   2. All the babies came: Lowey-Balls, Krupkas, Bakers, neighbor friends x2, Sarkissians, and even more to come!  3. Finally got the best job wit...