Today marks our anniversary—58 years!
Holly Jolly Time of the year is now IF you decide to participate in this weekly sew along with Jessica Dayon
Here is what you need to make the Holly Jolly Block of the Month-
Does your heart direct you to help someone who is in Hospice? Here is another way to give of your heart and hands. Check out Needle and Foot and Sew Preeti Quilts for further information.
What does it cost?
There is no cost to participate. The simple block pattern and layout options are provided free of charge.
How much fabric do I need?
For a simple Plus Quilt, you will need 16 strips (2.5" by WOF) of focus fabric and about 4 yards of background fabric (I used low volume scraps).
What is the QAL schedule?
The QAL will begin on Sunday, May 30, 2021 (Memorial Day Weekend) and will end on Sunday, September 5, 2021 (Labor Day Weekend).
Questions?
Ask away and I will respond in the comments.
In the next couple of weeks, I will be working on the block instructions, layout options and other logistics for the QAL. Bernie and I are also organizing some prizes for the QAL.
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century route through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico.[1][2][3][4] Pioneered in 1821 by William Becknell, who departed from the Boonslick region along the Missouri River, the trail served as a vital commercial highway until 1880, when the railroad arrived in Santa Fe. Santa Fe was near the end of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which carried trade from Mexico City.
The route skirted the northern edge and crossed the north-western corner of Comancheria, the territory of the Comanche. Realizing the value, they demanded compensation for granting passage to the trail. American traders envisioned them as another market. Comanche raiding farther south in Mexico isolated New Mexico, making it more dependent on the American trade. They raided to gain a steady supply of horses to sell. By the 1840s, trail traffic through the Arkansas Valley was so numerous that bison herds were cut off from important seasonal grazing land. This habitat disruption, on top of overhunting, contributed to the collapse of the species. Comanche power declined in the region when they lost their most important game.[5]
The American army used the trail route in 1846 to invade New Mexico during the Mexican–American War.[6]
After the U.S. acquisition of the Southwest that ended the war, the trail was integral to the U.S. opening the region to economic development and settlement. It played a vital role in the westward expansion of the US into these new lands. The road route is commemorated today by the National Park Service as the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. A highway route that roughly follows the trail's path, through the entire length of Kansas, the southeast corner of Colorado and northern New Mexico, has been designated as the Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway.
Melva Loves Scraps blog is hosting a quilt along featuring stories from pioneer women along the route. This QAL began April 1, but there is time to catch up--much like I did--
Yes, there we were--in all our glory! It was all smiles from the minute you opened the door to walk in to the warmth that filled the room! Yes, we were there! Friends who hadn't seen each other for over a year and half! Like so many in this world, we had been isolating--now, we are back as a group--friends forever! It was time to play catch up--how do you do that when there is so much to learn from each other since the last time we gathered?
So much laughter, many opinions to hand out, advice to be given, happy notes of family events and special occasions--yes, there we were! And it was just like we hadn't been apart those 18 months!
We shared a delicious lunch to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! There was a spread of fajita beef and chicken with all the trimmings; seven layer dip and queso with chips, magical no calorie 'fluff' for dessert--which I need the recipe for! I took my Mexican salad with chicken--here is a basic recipe. Wish I'd taken a photo--it was really pretty before it became mixed up with dressing.
It’s time to think about greeting cards I’ll send out this year. Most years, if I’m not feeling pressed, I’ll create my own cards. One ye...
