Big Bend and Chili!

We pulled into our lodging, Lajitas Golf Resort,

about two hours after we left Marfa--Lajitas is a wide

spot in the road about seven miles west of Terlingua Ghost Town

We came for CASI--Chili Appreciate Society International

Big chili cook-off--not cooking just hoping to taste

some good chili; volunteer and enjoy the festivities.

Lajitas is located in the bend of Texas, about a stone's

throw from Old Mexico--the Rio Grande flows through the

straits and narrows of the canyons--the skies are filled

with color and on our arrival the clouds covered the

vast majority of the sky.

The Rio Grande is all that separates Texas and Mexico

The grounds of the resort are lovely--paths to 

the lobby and restaurant take you through

views of great majesty.

This waterway was our view from our porch

as we were lodged in the old Cavalry barracks

At night we had Javelins visit to chow down on the

fallen Oak acorns--now, that was interesting to see!

All's quiet on our first day to arrive at Rancho CASI de los Chisos, 

where all activities will  commence over the five days of the 

event.  We are novices but welcomed with open arms--

want to volunteer?  Many opportunities exist here-

we signed up to work the 'store' or merchandise

booth--wow!  what fun!  

Representatives from sponsors set up to hand out

their wares--how about some hot sauce from Louisiana

Hot sauce, bottle cozies,  a drink with imported vodka, bloody mary

mix from another company, cornbread mix (who doesn't like

that with their chili??) and a local quilt guild selling

chances on their two quilts. 

Volunteers are needed to be judges--oh, yeah!

We arrive Friday morning too late to judge the Hot

wings contest--this judging is just first come--

the line was way too long for us to enter that;

BUT, the best thing--all the wings that didn't go into

the next round, are served to those waiting for the

next category!  Being patient pays off!

We waited in line to judge Salsas--you can only

judge one round--then back in line for the

non-traditional salsa--now, that was interesting.

Contests are held for camp stoves--the best painting

of regional scenery

We were registered to judge chili on Saturday--we

had waited all this time to see if our name would be on

the list--and yes, there we were!  Table O and P!!

Some veterans of the chili contest were not on

the list and very disappointed!  We line up at 11:30

and wait for the 274 chili cooks to enter with their

sample in hand

The cooks competing were stationed in the middle of the

grounds--there are certain requirements for chili--meat,

seasonings and tomato sauce--this is a RED chili

competition only!

We didn't walk through the cooks--but were notified no photos

allowed!  Competition is stiff and there should be no

hanky panky with cheating about whose chili is whose!

At high noon, cooks turn in their white quart container of

their very best chili and then the first group of judges (which

are us) are seated at our tables and the tasting begins!

Score 1-10--I tell you, there wasn't a bad chili in the bunch!

All received high scores from my pen!  Not spicy chili either--

clue--don't burn your judges mouth with spice--they won't

be able to taste either again!  

Drink "maids' come around offering water, beer, soda

for judges to clean their palate--the table also offers

cheese, celery, crackers--

Now, you're asking where did everyone sleep?  Most

were in RVs or tents and they pitched their spot right

in the area--

Krazy Flats hosted parties every night--guess that's

why they call it Krazy Flats!!

We met so many interesting folks from around the world--

most come every year to meet up with friends, to 

share their love of chili and just party!  

We grabbed our special CASI judging t-shirt,

walked to our car and reminisced about our time

at CASI as we headed through portion of Big Bend

and home--

man, that chili was good!

Veterans Day Commemoration

How will you spend your Veteran's Day?

This is the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI--

the war to end all wars!

Fair Warning! Road to Red/White Trees!

Do you Instagram?  I'm not sure how this works, but

I'm willing to find out beginning November 12.

I have plenty of red and white fabrics--been saving

for Valentine's quilt..

But, you can purchase this line of fabric now

and be ready to sew, sew, sew to your heart's content!

 Carina Gardner is hosting a quilt along on instagram! there will be 5 days worth of videos starting on November 12th-16th at @carinagardner. And the quilt you will be making is the one shown here!  Finished quilt is 44" x 50" 

You will need the following supplies:
+ A fat quarter pack of So Ruby Fabric
+ 1/8 yard of light interfacing
+ 1 1/3 yards of white fabric (Note: technically you can use the WHITE patterned pieces in fat quarter pack for this if you want a more patchwork look!)
+ about 1 1/2 yards backing

CUT THE FOLLOWING:

Monday, November 12th: Tree Quilt Block
(Total of 12 Tree Blocks)
+ six red (mix and match the fabrics) 10 in. x 10 in. squares
+ six red (matching the fabrics above) 2 in. x 10 in. rectangles
+ six white 10 in. x 10 in. squares
+ six white 2 in. x 10 in. rectangles
+ six red (mix and match the fabrics) 2 in. x 2 in. squares (trunk)
+ six white 2 in. x 2 in. squares (trunk)

Tuesday, November 13th: Candy Cane Stripe
(Total of 2 Candy Cane Stripes)
+ thirty red (mix and match) 2.5 in. x 4.5 in. rectangles
+ four 1.5 in. x WOF white rectangles

Wednesday, November 14th: Peppermint Quilt Block 
(Total of 4 Peppermint Blocks)

NOTE: This is an intermediate to advanced block.If you are a beginner, you can skip this block and simply cut out four 6.5 in squares in red fabrics! 

+ sixteen red color A 3 in. x 3 in. squares
+ eight red color B 3 in. x 3 in. squares
+ eight white 3 in. x 3 in. squares
+ four white 3.5 in. x 6.5 in. rectangles
+ sixteen white 2 in. x 2 in. squares
+ four 4 in. x 4 in. pieces of fusible interfacing (I used the single sided fusible featherweight)
+ one 3 inch circle template (available for download below)

Thursday, November 15th: Patchwork Borders
(Total of 2 Short Borders and 2 Long Borders)
+ thirty-six red/white So Ruby fabrics cut into 3.5 in. x 4.5 in. rectangles
+ eight 2 in. x WOF white fabric

Friday, November 16th: Putting it all together!
+ Binding – I’m not going over this, but you can patch together binding from your fat quarter pack OR purchase a single fabric. You will need about 1/2 yard if you use the WOF for your binding.

Little Road Trippin' Post

We traveled to West Texas--a journey of epic adventures!

Our first stop was Marfa--the famed area to view the 

'mysterious lights' that bounce around on a clear night--

unfortunately, we didn't have clear skies--rainy and lots of clouds--

it's the luck of the weather, isn't it!

We chose to stay in El Paisano Hotel--the location of famous

actors, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, as they 

filmed the classic movie "Giant".  To this day, I've not seen this 

movie!!  

The courtyard was inviting and a place to enjoy at your leisure

after a day of hiking, biking, visiting historic structures or just

a nice drink by the flowing fountain

The touches you see are from the 1930's--although the hotel has 

gone through many hands and a few renovations but it still

remains the ideal location when you stay in Marfa--

We enjoyed the local foods, like this Chevre

from the Marfa Maid Dairy Farm

And where else could you find a coffee shop that

is located inside a vacant lumberyard!  Across the

street is the Get It and Go--such a refreshing grocery store!

After our dinner at the Hotel, we walked a short block

to Tumbleweed Laundry/Frama for a bite of Henry's

home made ice cream--yes, right next door to the

laundry--actually, I think that's pretty good marketing!

We also found Laundry/coffee shop in Alpine, sister

to the one in Marfa.

Marfa is home to Donald Judd Foundation--

Outside of town is Chinati Foundation

In 1979, Judd began working with the Dia Art Foundation to purchase the buildings and land of Fort D.A. Russell, a decommissioned military base. Through what was known at that time as “the Marfa Project,” Judd established the permanent installation of large-scale works by himself and his contemporaries. In 1986, Dia transferred the artworks, buildings, and land to Marfa. 

This latest art installation was designed by Robert Irwin

 A rebuilding of the demolished hospital at the former Fort D.A. Russell (which Donald Judd acquired in the late 70's with the help of Dia Art Foundation), it’s the only permanent and freestanding work of art by Irwin. To a non-discerning eye, it may appear to be just a building, but look closely and you’ll notice that the windows are taller than they should be, and the walls are disproportionately thick.

“That’s the main event, all the windows. People think they’re looking for artwork but what they’re actually seeing is beautiful nature,” said Irwin. “I liked the architecture of the fort. All I did was take that form and elaborate it—make the walls thicker, so you get a more substantial physicality to look out of. A real sense of frame.”

What the walls are framing is the big Texas sky, which is what, aside from his friendship with Judd, attracted Irwin to Marfa in the first place. “The clouds are right on top of your head; it’s like a wild west show everyday,” he said.

His purchase of two artillery sheds has enabled vast space for

exhibits--

Inside one of the hangers is the location for huge

aluminum structures--these are only open at certain times

for public viewing but as we walked along the outside

windows, we could see the marvelous pieces.

One hundred of them, made of silvery milled aluminum, are housed in two old brick artillery sheds. They sit in perfect quiet rows, glowing or seemingly translucent, depending on the light. 

Walking through the acres of fields, we flushed out

scores of jack rabbits and watched out steps for

rattlesnakes.

Now, all 400 acres of the site are run by the Chinati Foundation.  In this space, Judd scattered 15 giant concrete boxes, as empty and remote as the landscape.

Art at its finest in the wide open spaces of West Texas!

Inside Out.................

Anytime,  I want to knit the least amount of purl stitches--

give me circular needles and a pattern that uses nothing but

knit stitches--and there I go!

But sometimes, you come across a pattern that can be turned inside

out--take this hat below--I looked at it and thought

"way too many purl stitches"  not going to do it!

Then my brain went into action (it does that every once in awhile)

and I figured out I could knit the hat inside out--more knit

than purl stitches.

The Making Headway Hat by Sarah Edmundson (Ravelry)

Well, low and behold--Sarah has given us instructions to knit the

hat Inside Out! along with the outside in--couldn't be any better

than than!

Inside--lot more purl but outside, mostly Knit stitches..

perfect knitting for movie watching!

I'm using stash yarn that is silk/cotton handspun--never could

find a pattern that would work with this ball, so here

we have a nice Inside Out Hat!

This is the inside (if you want to knit, knit)

And this is the outside--either way you knit--you

get a great hat to wear!

Road to Thanksgiving.................

Every November we 

 give thanks each day of the month.  

Of course, we should do this every day of the year,

but November is a special time

Thanksgiving day is family time.

Truly a day of special riches we enjoy 

with each other!

This year the pumpkin of thanksgiving

was begun October 31!

This year as we set out pumpkins as decorations,

one was set aside to use as a 'thanksgiving' pumpkin

Thanks doesn't need to be interesting, outstanding

or unusual--being thankful for each day is a 

blessing!

What will you be thankful for each and every day?

Road Trip!!!!

October 31 might be Halloween but we are road tripping to West Texas for the International Chili Cook-off, held in Terlingua, Texas near Big Bend.

52nd Annual CASI
​Terlingua ​International
​Chili Championship
​Oct 31 - Nov 3  2018

Three nights of great music
Five of the World's Largest Food Contest
(chili, traditional salsa, non-traditional salsa, buffalo hot wings, beans)

We're not cooking chili, making salsa, beans or buffalo hot wings--we are there as volunteers to judge a few competitions, listen to some good music, see the sights and enjoy the cool Texas mountains!

More information on our travels upcoming...........................

My Latest Reading List

I just couldn't resist!  We went to Costco today and while

there, I thought I'll just pop by the book table-

certainly can't do any harm......

no harm, no foul! Books in my basket for checkout!

I'm ready for any bad weather day, a lazy day, a cool day or just a reading day!

David Limbaugh with "Jesus is Risen: Paul and the Early Church"

a book about the birth of Christianity as it uses Book of Acts and six

New Testament epistles for the author's guide.

Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard take us to the "Killing of The

Third Reich"--all of their Killing books are outstanding reads.

And this one will be more so for me, as I have visited some

of the horrific sites in Germany that Hitler ruled.

John Sandford gives us another one of his Virgil Flowers novels--

although, I'm not a real big fan of Virgil, I enjoy reading

all of Sandford's stories--"Holy Ghost"

An author that I've been waiting for gives us

"Bridge of Clay".  Markus Zusak wrote "The Book Thief"

a wonderful read!  I'm looking forward to turning the pages

of this one.

This book had been sitting on my nightstand for awhile--

I picked it up last night to begin and I really didn't want

to put it down!  Why hadn't I begun it before--sad I didn't;

a good read about the young women and those who couldn't

go to battle but helped win WWII

Whatever you are reading, It's a good thing!!

Countdown to Christmas!!

Are you a Hallmark Christmas movie junkie much as I am?

My family moans alot when I say it's time to DVR the latest

list of Hallmark Channel movies--but, sometimes, they'll 

sit and watch with me or sometimes, you can see them

watching out of one eye...

I don't care--this is a great time of the year--preparation for

the greatest holiday of all times--

the coming of Christmas season!

I can sit, knit, stitch, spin and maybe shed a tear or two,

but can bet the movie will end happily ever after--

nothing better than that!

First movie begins tonight--My DVR is set!! Is yours!

Sew Goodness!

 Diary of a Quilter hosts 

A blog that will give you insight into opportunities to sew with

your heart and hands for charities:  Since this is Breast Cancer 

Awareness month, she is giving you several different patterns

that would be useful for those facing breast surgeries.

Breast Cancer Awareness is just not reserved for October--

it goes to every month, every week, every day of the year!

The website lists several projects for each month of the year.

October is the month to sew these heart pillows that can

be useful for those undergoing chemo-check out other

opportunities to sew--

Day of the Weavers

It was a cool rainy Tuesday when I gathered my 'show and tell' and headed to our weavers' study group--well, it's rather a group discussing everything from daily life, our summer adventures, weaving techniques and other sundry items of topic that needs to be aired.................

What do you do when you're laid up with a broken leg and

can't get to your big loom?  You can still weave, according to Penny,

who had just that situation this summer.

She and her partner in crime, Peggy, hosted a Cricket weaving workshop.

Penny could warp as she sat in her wheel chair and warp she did--

putting lovely warp on ten different crickets for her class.

The students got the weaving knack down but didn't

have time in their class to finish so Penny/Peggy gathered up

the looms and Penny finished each warp to return the

scarves to the weaver at a later time.

She brought along for show and tell these scarves--

each a delight with their novelty yarn warp and weft

all completed and warp tied neatly into fringe

I'm thinking--these recipents are going to be 

thrilled with their project and go on to future

Cricket weavings

Each one of the ten scarves felt soft and fuzzy--something

you would love to wrap around your neck

Penny finally lost her boot and wheel chair to return to her

big loom and began with this weaving project

The pattern is pinwheels but to my eye it looks like

rick rack--doesn't matter--just great weaving ability--

warp and weft is cottolin yarn

Look closely--Marion chose to use linen for her

weaving--she did her 'tree' pattern with revisions--

really shimmered in the light

Ahh, a tartan--a Texas tartan!!

This is the bluebonnet tartan

from this book of District Tartans

Connie was working on her latest shibori piece for the

upcoming guild sale--she had linen with resist areas

and she stitching over the white areas to give this

piece additional depth--she'll pull up the threads

and dye in another indigo bath

Connie thinking holidays with her cotton rug mat

What a fun way to invite your guests into the room!

Each weaver gathering is a delight--always something to

learn anew and an outlet to share your thoughts and experience 

Strings for Michael!

HURRICANE MICHAEL STRING BLOCK QUILT DRIVE

What can I do to assist the Hurricane Michael victims?  I gather staples,

water, some other sundry items to send along with a monetary donation--

in my world that isn't enough!  These folks have lost EVERYTHING!

I know that feeling--having lost everything we owned in a fire--

you feel shocked and dismayed about your next step.

Here is a project I can get behind--

That Fiber Feeling blog is on board to assist with this

massive under taking which is sponsored by  UMW Quilting Group at 

United Methodist Church, Montgomery, Alabama.

The Alabama church is asking for 10.5″ unfinished string quilt blocks in any colors you wish.  Multicolored blocks are fine of course.  Quilters on the other end will sew the blocks into quilts, but if you wish to donate an entire quilt or top, they will gladly take that as well.  If you’re like me, you have lots of string scraps lying around.  These go together quickly, are relaxing and make an easy way for helping others.  There are lots of string block tutorials online and this craftsy one is good, even if it’s a different size block.  Whatever tutorial you use, keep in mind to trim your block to 10.5″.  cut your base squares into 11″ squares.  

Send your 10.5″ string blocks to:

UMW Quilting Group, Hurricane Quilt Drive, Aldersgate United Methodist Church,  6610 Vaughn Road,  Montgomery, Alabama 36116