Saturday, January 1, 2011

Building Dreams, Friendships and Memories . . .


that was the theme of the 2011 Rose Parade, a theme that could not have been more suited for me......

I have nothing but fond memories of the Rose Parade, for as long as I can remember, I watched the Rose Bowl Parade on January 1st....on TV.

As a child, born and raised in the midwest, seeing the floats covered with flowers, traveling down a sunny street in Pasadena, California was something dreams were made of.....where was this strange place, a place where parade spectators and participants wore sunglasses and short sleeve shirts, while I was home in flannel PJs, usually also seeing snow out the windows of my home.

As an adult, I would watch the parade while cooking our traditional ham and beans dinner and packing up the Christmas decorations thinking, wouldn't that be something, to actually see that parade.



Well today my dream came true....


I went to the Rose Parade,





and had the time of my life!!

A dream come true!!

If you ever get the chance to see the Rose Parade, I highly recommend it, this city knows how to throw a parade.

Happy New Year My Friends!!

I'll be back with my 2010 quilt review and goals for 2011 the first of the week, until then have a safe, happy and memorable weekend.


19 comments:

  1. Welcome to Southern California! Glad you had a nice time at the parade. I went 3 years in a row and slept out on the parade route when I was in high school, I don't think I could do that now unless I had an RV, I went a few years ago when my daughter was little. The weather is perfect today, it's supposed to rain later, but it always manages to stay nice for the parade. Was that a quilt shop you were standing in front of? Didn't know Pasadena had any quilt shops...

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  2. Lucky you! I would love to see the rose bowl parade in person. I know watching it on tv doesn't compare!

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  3. Lucky you, Thelma! I went ages ago, when I was 12. I could use some of that warm CA weather now!

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  4. Have a fabulous time on your trip! What a great way to start a new year!

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  5. I had forgotten all about the parade until I saw your post! dang it! I had been there once... but it was a long night and day! Happy new year to you, and thank you for your friendship and inspriation this past year! xxoo

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  6. Congrats on fulfilling a long time dream! It's wonderful when that happens.

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  7. Happy New Year to you Thelma. It sounds like you started your New Year off on a happy note :-)

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  8. Oh how fun for you. I lived in Southern Cal. for 22 years and never once made it. I wish I would have. I love roses so!

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  9. Lucky, lucky you. Watching the rose parade has been a tradition with me for over 50 years. But it must be wonderful to see it in person.

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  10. i KNEW i was forgetting something this morning!!!
    i FORGOT to watch the PARADE ... dagnabitluke!
    i was always mesmerized with the Rose Parade ... the announcer would tell us how many flowers went into each float and i would wonder where the h-e-double-hockey-sticks anyone would find THAT MANY flowers blooming at ANY time of the year, let alone december when the entire world was covered with frost and snow
    anywho ... have an absolutely super time in sunny California!!!

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  11. Happy New Year Thelma!! I am so glad our weather cooperated for you!

    I look forward to what you have to share with us in 2011. As a non-quilter I have to live vicariously, you know. :o)

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  12. What a wonderful adventure. Dreams do come true!
    I see from the picture that you haven't forgotten about quilts. Hope you find a lot of great shops and show us your treasures!

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  13. Happy New Year, Thelma! I heard the Stealth and went outside and watched it! What a glorious sight! I'm about 25 miles due east of Pasadena and it flies directly over me on its way home. I think the most wonderful thing about the parade, and something you don't think about while watching on TV, is the fabulous aroma of the flowers as the floats go by. I agree. Everyone should have attending the Rose Parade on their bucket list!

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  14. How exciting for you! Everything is better in person than in pictures or on TV!

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  15. What fun! I grew up watching the Rose Parade every year too, but my kids can't stand it (too bad for them). My husband's family went to the parade nearly every year. They loved it.

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  16. Whew. I am SO glad to see you wore a coat. You had me worried there! I am so glad you had such a good time. Now come home and sew with me@

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  17. That looks like so much fun! All those flowers, what a treat in the middle of winter. You have started 2011 in style!
    Karen

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  18. OH Thelma, what a fun time you had! I'm so glad you were finally able to see all those gorgeous floats. They really are something. Did you go to the park afterwards where they have the floats lined up and you can get a close look? That's my favorite part. No heads in the way. :)

    Have a safe trip home and thanks for sharing the float pics.

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