christmas with us

Robin trying to make some happening music on dads accordian. it says cynthia on it so robin has deemed it to mean that she should totally rock it.
the cutest family ever. douglas and rachel with winston and coda
mike, jimee and jazmine happy and pretty
dad and patti getting dinner ready for us to enjoy
me rocking out love shack from the b-52s. you all wish you were half the performer i am.

back to work

i will post pictures later, jazmine is here and has our camera for the moment. jimee was here for a few days as well, but left with her mom. jazmine will be here until jan 5th which will be great to have an extended visit. mike and i miss them so much as we do not get to see them much. the boys are with their dad in morenci until jan 6th and mike and i are just working away. we hired a new employee 2 weeks ago. his name is josh, 20 years old, great worker. we are very happy to have him so far, he is a quick learner and likes to work so great combination.

christmas comes early

i have been working my ass off the past week trying to get things done here then go home and make jackets. my boys are leaving this weekend for their dads house so we are having christmas on thursday (yes, tomorrow). i made the boys all jackets from cool fleece i got off ebay, pics will come after they unwrap them. i finished jules this morning so i am done with theirs. i still have 3 more to do for nikki, fabian and audencia by christmas. i also am going to finish liels quilt while i am all set up with the machines at home. wish me luck. so far, everything is coming out really nice. in other news, i finished the motor home upholstery i was working on at 9 last night so i am so happy about that and i got the last cupholder done for the boat i was scrounging around to finish.

how sad is this?

i am one peice short to finish my boat. i need a peice of vinyl 68 by 28. very sad. i pulled out 4 scrap rolls to finish and have gotten so lucky. i have completely impressed myself. oh-well. i will borrow it tomorrow and be done.

yep, we totally rock

this boat was trashed and didn't have much seating when it came to us. we recarpeted, reupholstered and changed out the seating pattern in this boat. we made corner cushions, leanbacks and redesigned the console. we also built a bimini and cover to complete the transformation. it came out really nice. notice how all of my stripes line up and my welts.......... quality work baby.



mike brought me more roses from home. arn't they absolutly beautiful. i love the lavender ones because they are more unusual. i love them all.

the joys of mom's shop

owen and jule are at the age where work is such a fun and interesting thing. i hope they always feel that way, i do, but i am afraid that ian did not get this gene. these two are learning to destaple and are doing a great job for begginers. i am very proud of them.
owen found these eggs in a nest out back and thought it would be a great idea to bring them in and show me. we had to have a conversation about how birds won't come back and take care of them if they have been touched by someone. he felt badly, but was still thrilled that he found the eggs.

special time

i took the kids to the parade of lights under the bridge friday night and they got to sit on santas lap, see christmas lights all over the english village then i took them to mcdonalds to play on the playland equipment. (their choice for special time.) ian wanted to go to red robin so i told him that we would go alone sometime. he decided that needed to be yesterday. so, i cleaned the house, the yard and started straightening up around the place, then we headed off to clean my friends house (my part of the bargain for her helping me with everything) and ian did a great job of being pacient through all of that. we then headed off for red robin, a mess from cleaning all day, but dressed none the less and had some special time. he wanted an adult menu and took his time looking it over. he settled on a burger with cheddar cheese, tomato, onion, lettuce and onion rings, but needed to have mozerella sticks as well, so i let him. he had water and i had a diet pepsi. he was so happy and just talked and enjoyed his meal (no, i do not let him eat like that often). he actually did a great job eating and was really helpful in the grocery store after that. by the time we made it home, mike had already cooked dinner, fed owen and jule and hooked up our record player we bought in pismo beach 2 years ago. we found s receiver that would run it saturday (we tried several that wouldn't work). it was at the thrift shop next door to us. i am soooooooooooo happy that we can listen to our records again. i played elton john all evening and this morning. i can't wait to put on the kids records (yep, i have all of the ones from when i was little) and let them listen to them by the fire. good times.

going home

i am listening to phil collins 'all of my life' right now, which is so wonderful. i am here by myself. have been for the last 3 hours. i am working on a cover i need to finish. so, i am taking advantage of that. i have been spinning cds that only i enjoy, Beausoliel, oh brother where art thou, bill monroe, big brother and the holding company, the nylons, cyndi lauper and eric clapton. i have had a wonderful time sewing and dancing and reminising. (sounds like a atlanta rythem section song).................. jovi, remember when we all went to see the nylons at the ventura theatre and they totally rocked??????????? the boys spent the day here with me. i totally love my kids. sounds terribly sappy, but when you have them you understand the feeling. sometimes you look at them and they are doing something totally normal and all you can think is how wonderful they are that they are doing it the same way you, or someone you are related to would do that same thing. one of my favorite things in life is watching my kids grow up. i hope everyone reading this has the same experience......................................

roses, boys and messes

mike brought me these yesterday from my front yard. they are so pretty. i love my rose bushes, i have 8 of them.
me doing bookwork catching up on invoices and billing........... i may consider doing my hair one day, or mabye not.
my mess. this is a what a busy shop looks like.
owen and jule are playing in their "fort" today under a boat awning on some seating waiting to be reupholstered.

making happy doggies

Ahna thinks she is the same size as fred, or at least, wishes that she was. she loves to be held and beleives that she is a lap dog and that i can hold her while i am standing up (and often do). she really is a sweet doggie. we are really busy, which i am gratful for, and i just have a huge list of things to get done. we are finishing a HUGE project tomorrow. full boat redo, carpet, full woodwork (changing seating layout), upholstery , bimini (frame and canvas) and full cover. yeah for us, we are almost done.
fred sporting his new argyle sweater. he is very debonaire. bonnie from spencers carpet down the street (who we have been doing business with for nearly 5 years now) came in today and said that the doggies are cold. so, being the loving mother i am went to wal-mart and got them sweaters for under 5$ a peice (i am excited about that). they love them and seem to be happier. i did not know that doggies get cold. i thought they had fur to keep them warm...............

ahna is wearing the orangesiscle inspired sweater, which shows off the color of her fur beautifully. this is the rage with all of the orange colored doggies these days. he he.

social doggies

so saturday i had to go to the humane society to pick up fred. he thought it would be a good idea to go visiting down to big johns (2 businesses down and across a busy street). the customers that found him took him to the humane society which waved the fees for me since my dogs are registered and i have not had to do this before. so, fred the wanderer dog is in his kennel at home and ahna has been here by herself. so today, a good friend of ours pulls up yelling at ahna. i go out front and he had found her sitting in the middle of the street out front. so, now ahna is here, but on her chain and crying because she is tied up. now i am worried that i won't be able to trust them to stay here since they have gone out visiting. any ideas???????????

a good job well done

mike did these chairs today. they are totally pattern-matched and turned out great. the customer was happy.
this is the last part of a 15 peice patio cushion set i did. it also is all pattern matched and looks great! took lots of fabric though matching the stripes! 24 yards to be exact. it is sunbrella and will last many years though. i like to do patio furniture.
i found this chair next door (at st. vincent de paul's thrift store) yesterday for 27.50. it was marked 55$, but they have 1/2 price sales when all of the voulenteers show up so i got a great bargain. it is solid, in great shape and i think it will be perfect to reupholster with some of my needlepoint when i finish something. until then, i will use it as is. i have been looking for a great rocking chair for years. this is the first i have found that is totally cool.

nice butt becka jean!

this is my butt in my rockies! yep, looking good babe! i could not get these buttoned 2 weeks ago without laying on the bed. today, no problem man! thank you to hydroxycut i have stopped eating continually throughout the day. mom gave it to me last weekend and this week alone i can tell the difference, and get jeans on. yeah for me, and all of those who can see my rearend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it's raining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so, after nearly a year 0f no rain, it is raining today! we have had sprinkles once a few weeks ago, lots of wind and promising clouds that have produced nothing, but not tonight! it is really raining (no, not like louisiana rain), but none the less, still lots for us! my plants will be soooooooooooo happy. my trees need it too.

jovi- seven odd things about myself

although i find this interesting, i think it would be more fun to list 7 odd things about others...................... but, that is not the game you want me to play

1. i am very peticular about textures of my food. i will not eat butter (or any fake counterparts), mayonaise, soft serve ice cream, whipped cream or anything like that because they are icky in my mouth. i eat my salads dry (with extra crutons) my sandwiches dry and all bread plain. love it that way. i only eat ice cream if it is frozen hard and with a fork (it tastes strange from a spoon)


2. i pick my cuticles with a razor blade (or any other thing that bothers me). i have very bad hands from my job (comes with the territory) so i cut my cuticles out with a razor because it works. i have cut off warts, outed splinters, and love to pick at things. it is truly an addiction, but i can't seem to stop.


3. i don't beleive in baby talking to kids. this annoyes the hell out of me when people do it. they are just small people. my kids all have large vocabularies for their age, and know what they are saying because i have never treated them like they don't know. i call my kids the "short people".



4. i can't stand messes in my life, which is not good, because my whole life is full of mess. 3 kids, 2 dogs, and upholstery............ need i say more. i love all of it though, i am just constantly cleaning.


5. i dry heave lots. i have been doing it for almost 13 years now, have had lots of tests done and am tired of that now. if i am too hot, too cold, tired, just woke up or am stressed out at all i dry heave till i eat bread and get over it. sucks.


6. i am one of the oldest young people you will ever. i do not enjoy going out much, i like to go do things, but not too late. i like to go home and go to bed, i like to clean my house, i love to sew, i love to needlepoint, bake, cook, and read. i love live music and dancing and whatnot, just not late and not so much in a bar anymore.



7. i have hair that grows uncommonly fast. i shave every day and by afternoon, it is back. laser hair removal is in my future, but not for a few years i am afraid. i had one treatment done that i won in a raffle and the difference is amazing. i have the "perfect" hair for it. black and course.




any questions???????????????????????

more trip pictures

this is an old train bridge that rotates to let bigger boats go through! it is no longer in service, but really cool!
"42" is the game of choice at all hall family gatherings. this is mike, papa, uncle art and uncle dennis. mike got schooled and nearly mastered the game in the days we were there. it gets played from sun-up till way past when you should be in bed.
me-yes, i actually got to sit and needlepoint too! amazing! i loved this trip
teresa and i about 20 pounds heavier than the last time we saw eachother, which i will post that picture too, cause this is rediculas! yep, i am now on a diet.

boating southern style

papa took the boys and mike out dorcheat to see the sites and have some fun. they loved it (of course) and it was one of the hilites of the trip. mike was amazed by the moss on the trees and the houses on stilts!

happy thanksgiving

we are going to louisiana tomorrow. we are driving to vegas, flying to louisiana then driving to minden. we will be coming home monday night (late). the boys are very excited to be going on a plane and seeing family (and their mom). i am hoping to have a more diluted scheldule after the holidays. most of that is accurately monitoring my booking schedule, which i seem to like to overbook. yep, not a great idea! we have been working so late and not having days off. i feel terrible not seeing my boys. i am looking foward to these next few days with them. i wish all of you a wonderful holiday full of wonderful things to eat. love, becka

buggy seats

these are some seats i just finished to match a paint job on a buggy across the street from me. the owner wanted something neato. i flipping hate buggy seats. i nitpic myself to death with them.

wyoming

rachel and robin eating wings at lovejoys
the newly engaged couple. douglas rocked out his proposal with style.
rachel at the football game, yes, it was
COLD!!!

the real workers

mike and dad reassembling a leather couch to get out of here. we have so many projects and only so much space....
my "rack man". dad built us this rack today (with the help of little dougie) for us to keep our fabrics that we are using at the moment off the table. we need more space.....
fred, hard at work , as usual.

the boys are all camping with joanne and terry in parker this weekend. there is no school monday so they will have quite the nice time. mike and i have so many things to accomplish before we go to wyoming next weekend, we are not taking a day off. owen won his soccer game this morning, as did ian last night. ians last game was last night, they are the #1 team in their group. they only lost one game all season. afterwards they had a party at the aquatic center and got to swim and have pizza and cupcakes and get their trophies! big business for 10 and 11 year olds. sophie went back home to her mama last night so we are back to 3 dogs now instead of 4. (sophie was the chicken loving toy poodle). great pics of liels birthday jovi! i can't beleive she is two. her quilt is so close. i am a terrible friend, but i will get it finished. i am so bad at finishing anything anymore. for those of you who don't know, nikki is with her uncle now and i am down to 3 kids as of last week, so mabye i will have more time.............................

kiaking......................

so terry, joanne and i decide to go kiaking at 4:15 in the morning and had the best time ever and it was great.

soccer day

owen was goalie most of the game today. he did a good job for the most part, except when he wasn't paying attention. he like to play all of the positions. jule wanted to show off his batman sweatshirt, owen got it for him for his birthday. what a brother!

my happy 6 year old

jule made his wish then tried to tell us all. we had to stop him and tell him that wishes are secret.

we went to "the spot" for jules birthday. the kids love to go there because they have games and the adults like it because they have big tvs to watch sports on. the pizza is good also.

jule opened his presents and said thank you to everyone. he was excited to get some new toys to play with. he truly loves his birthday.

business decisions

one of the members of the referrals group i joined designs web pages. i had an appointment today to get started. i paid the first installment and we are on the road to beginning internet availability. who would have thought that i would do anything up to date? we are so busy and i want to stay that way. nikki and ian won their soccer game monday, nikkis team (school team) played their first game last night and lost, but they played a team of all 8th graders and she is only in 6th. jules team lost last night also, but jule couldn't play because he couldn't find his uniform to go. it was in the basket it was supposed to be in , in a room it wasn't. go figure! if any of you could find the time to come here and go have my truck washed for me, that would be great!

Jules first carpet job

jule did a great job of helping mike lay carpet out to be sprayed tomorrow. he is a wonderful helper.

Audencia and sophie were too tired to help with anything. they were very busy napping!

full moon

the moon was full last night and today it shows. more crazy people came in here and gave me headaches than ever. i had one customer that i replaced a panel on the bottom portion of his truck seat. this usually costs 150$ because it takes a long time to get the seat off and reinstall it (hogringing and all). he wined about money so i told him if he got the seat out, took the cover off and just gave me the skin to repair then put it back on himself i would do it for 30$. he dropped the seat off without taking off the skin, so i charged him 50$ (trying to be nice) and he freaked out and said that i said i would reupholster the whole seat for 20$. he then gave me an atm card (not debit) to pay for the seat. i had to fight him to get a real card from him then he came back later and said the seat wouldn't retract. WE DID NOT TAKE THE SEA T OUT OF THE TRUCK! so, mike went out to see what the problem was and he had not inserted a pin that he was supposed to (the customer) and we did not charge him for it. he then said that if he knew we were going to charge him 10$ extra to put the seat back on he would have done it himself! i told him you pulled it yourself, you were supposed to unskin also. crazy losing battle. i did get the 50$ and kept my cool, but i have a headache. that is just one example.

more...........

owen and i at the top of a hill hiking, jule is beside us.
these are 3 members of the GRG. (garbage raider gang). the toy poodle is one i am dogsitting and ate all of the chicken out of my salad today while i was talking to a customer. i had nothing to eat today and was so startled she did that. the chicken was bigger than her stomach! she has been very proud of herself for the rest of the day!

what a blast!

ian owen and jule (nikki in background) all having fun finding shells and dead fish skeletons
the crew treking along though the havasu wilderness
yes, that is my kids (terrys kids did not think this was a good idea and took the trail around the hill to go down) running as fast as they can DOWN this hill which is very steep and rocky. they are all crazy, but had a wonderful time.
owen taking in the view.
jule and his treasure of the "giant marshmallow" he was very excited about this