Born to Thais and Lenin on January 29: Carson Jade, 6 lbs 14 oz. 
The big brother will have to get used to new-baby sounds.
Author Archives: arletelouise
From the sewing cave
Seven valances for Billie’s sunroom in Roanoke. Despite in-store and online searches, the best fabric turned out to be sheets from Target.
I’ve been trying not to start new sewing projects for myself but rather work on unfinished projects. This quilt is only two years old and finally finished!
This now-finished wall hanging was started about 20 years old!
RLEHS Sunday Social
Our guest speaker was Sarah Tomlinson.
Sarah was in my 6th grade class long ago at Westside, then transitioned to Westside Charter School for grades 7-8. These were the first two years of WCS existence, I’d worked for 2 years with a group of parents and the principal to write the charter and start the school. The creation of WCS and its success is one of my proudest professional achievements. And Sarah is a great example of the kind of student EVERY teacher would love to have in her class. Sarah now has a masters in teaching English to non-English speakers at the college level.
The Throwdown featured Blood Oranges:
I won! Thank you Allie Brown and Catherine Green for participating this month.
Thank you Ade
Much to my delight, Adrienne is going through her house and getting rid of long-saved items. Today I was lucky enough to take a couple of pieces I can really use. An old White treadle sewing machine – currently a bedside table –
and a quilt rack.
The best surprise was getting to visit with Aly, Ade’s daughter who lives in the Bay Area.
Sophia & Avery
Last Thursday, I got to watch Sophia and Avery while Thais and Lenin went on a hospital tour. Carter was very ready to pose for several pictures, while Sophia and Avery raced each other to finish the puzzle.
Sophia plays basketball on Saturdays and Sundays. Each league offers a different style of play. On Saturday, it’s all girls who must be playing basketball for the first time. 10 players all from Sophia’s second grade class at St Ignatius.
On Sunday, it’s mostly boys and everyone seems to know how to go up and down the court quickly, although traveling, double-dribbling, and going out-of-bounds is just fine. Players are matched by the same colored wrist band. Note the boy in the black t-shirt who was guarding Sophia (occasionally) – his defense was hilarious. He danced, hopped back and forth, made goofy faces, waved his arms crazily as he guarded Sophia (half his size). She just looked at him like he was a idiot and passed the ball to an open player.
Thursday at Merrilyn’s
Phyl and I love our get-togethers at Merrilyns’. The food is always so great. Phyl made Shrimp Toasts:
Merrilyn made Norwegian lefsa:
I needed to practice my Throwdown dish for the next RLEHS Sunday Social, so I made Blood Orange and White Chocolate Cream Cups:
Everything was yummy. Thanks Merrilyn for having us over.
Book Club
A new activity for Phyl and I. 
Over the past few weeks, we read Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. It was fun to hear differing points of view. 
Hello G Street
Today, the G Street house became mine again. The 3-month eviction process was successful. 
Many years of deferred maintenance followed by years of damage due to renters means the home I bought in 1984 is in need of some loving care.
And so, a new project begins. I will keep you posted.
Sophia’s basketball game
After-game reward.
New Year’s Eve
A great way to end the year: with GOOD friends (part two) Phyl and Dave; also with GOOD food.
Our tradition (second year of rekindling after a 13-year break) is to watch a couple of movies, and drink and eat too much. I spend the night of course. Our menu this year was so good, we’re thinking of repeating it next year:
Red plate: veggie bars. Flowered plate: pineapple wrapped in bacon, sausage/crescent roll bites, stuffed mushrooms, meatballs wrapped in bread dough.
arletelouise 