Family Time: Bass Lake, CA July 2016

Rob Family

Last month we took some much needed family time and traveled to Bass Lake, California. This is a special spot for the Appell Family. My parents started taking me and a few buddies to Bass Lake every summer for a few weeks as teenagers. Most of us have kept the tradition alive by bringing our own families to Bass Lake. My kids started at 6 weeks old. We use it as a time for relaxing, camping, boating, swimming and enjoying the lake.

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This year we had some big accomplishments. Here’s my daughter Ruby, who likes to go really fast on the tube, all by herself.

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My son Brayden has learned to pop up and ride a wake board.

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I can even still get a bit of air!

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My wife was on the mend from surgery, so luckily I don’t have to post the usual photos of her showing us up… just her being cute and eating watermelon this time.

It was such a fun family trip and it brought back so many memories of my younger days. I’m glad I’m able to give my kids memories at Bass Lake as well! What vacation spots are nostalgic for you? Let me know what they are in the comments!

P.S. – So I made it all the way to the lake for the family camp without my propane line for my stove. I am in charge of all the meals, so I quickly converted my BBQ into a range. I can now say I’ve BBQ’d eggs, pancakes, and refried beans (and they weren’t too bad)!

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Independence Day Traditions

patrioticnewsletter-01 I can’t believe that it’s almost Independence Day!! I love this time of year! Red, white and blue paving the streets, BBQs, fireworks,  picnics, carnivals, family time, the list goes on forever! In my family,  we have two Independence Day traditions. The first is to participate in the Morro Bay Family Fun Day.  We love to kick it off with the bicycle parade. We all decorate our bikes and  helmets and then cruise along the waterfront in a pack of several hundred people of all ages. The kids have always loved it and I love every chance they get to be creative! We then spend the day having fun and participating in whatever else is going on in Morro Bay! We drink lots of lemonade and usually eat lots of super yummy food! Later that night, the family helps me get packed for my traditional road trip the next day! 4th of July The tradition for the 5th of July is to get up at 4am and start out on a 750 mile road trip to Sisters, Oregon.  I get to see good friends such as Valori Wells and spend the week teaching! This year I’m teaching a few classes on the “Color Strata” quilt and also some “Endangered Species” quilts. It’s going to be a fun time!  It really is a cool gig, I enjoy being involved in the happenings of the Quilter’s Affair classes and the Annual Outdoor Quilt Show. If you get a chance to come, you definitely should!  This quilt was featured a few years back at the show. It’s called “And the Flag Was Still There” IMG_20140712_083130_432 Below is one of the quilts headed to the show with me! I’ve been wanting to make a Man Sewing Missouri Star quilt for awhile and finally got around to it!  What do you think? Man Sewing Missouri Star Mini Quilt I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures of our Independence Day festivities and also of the Outdoor Quilt Show! Have a fun and safe weekend everyone!