Travel Log Continued

 

I hate that the truck picks up hitch hikers, but they smash themselves into the window shield or get caught in the grill work.  It is migration time for certain butterflies.

Big Bend is a large park.  It is super that Texas has this National Park in the system.  Along the river road to Marfa and on we go to Fort Davis National Park.  This is the end of our journey in this small town that boasts this outstanding post that was used before the Civil War and afterwards.  Most of the soldiers were freed slaves.  The grounds were dotted with foundation ruins and replacement buildings. One evening we were fortunate to take the lantern tour, that happens once a year.  

We had some time in the afternoon to take a short drive to Chateau Wright Winery, outside of Fort Davis.  The location is remote but interesting to find some good wines.  We sat on the patio and visited with

 the winemaker.  It was a cool breezy afternoon

They are building their barrel room from hay bales--it will make great insulation.  

One wall displayed their wine bottles in macramé hangers.  It has been said that macrame' is making a comeback in the craft world.  I say "what goes around, comes around"  I taught Macramé to my Campfire troup 40 years ago!

We planned for many months to visit McDonald Observatory for a star party.   As the days rolled along, and the skies were mostly cloudy, we just knew we wouldn't have much luck--and we were right.  The night was cloudy, with a full moon, and little rain before we headed up the mountain to the top.  The guys stayed outside to view through telescopes Saturn; while the gals went inside to a program, which was interesting.  I'm not much for space but I admit the enhanced photos of star constellations, galaxies had me thinking how great if printed on fabric these would look! 

All good things must come to an end and so it goes with our trip to West Texas.

Back home, time to unpack and get back into a routine again.  It's always nice to go away for awhile, but it's difficult for me to settle down and get back to work.

and as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans said:

Happy trails to you until we meet again!

Travel is Awesome!

We took another road trip!  Packed and ready to travel; this time in hubby’s truck—which means, I’m a passenger.  Hands were busy knitting.  

I want to introduce you to my constant companions—no matter if I’m going far or near, these are always with me.

This is my spindle spinning bag!  Always ready to pull out and loaded with silk sliver—

Piggy is always at my side—and I mean always!  He has traveled far and wide—he has been to China, Mexico, Venezuela, Several states, Germany, England, France—you name it, he’s probably been there!

You can tell he doesn’t bathe too often—such a dirty face!

Notice his handwoven bands—he fell in love with a couple of weavers who made him these lovely bands. 

His backpack is ready for travel any time!  Oh the 'tales' he could tell you about his adventures!

Our travels this time took us to the far west of Texas--over 5.5 hours to reach our first stop--Marathon--We stayed at the historic Gage Hotel, which is said to be haunted—room 10 especially!  We were in room 8--heard no ghosts but lots of trains pass through the night!

Marathon is the gateway to Big Bend National Park; also served as an important military fort during the Mexican Revolution.

We are visiting our friend who works at Brick Vault Brewery and BBQ--she is a brewer. Sadly, the BBQ was all sold out when we arrived!  Beer was okay, although I’m not much of a beer drinker.  And our friend wasn't working this evening--we'll catch up with her later in our travels.

We stayed two nights in Marathon--one day we visited Alpine--the best way to plan your visit in the city is to drop into the visitor center--we collected many brochures of literature and we were off and running--well, in the truck!  Alpine is the home of Sul Ross University and we spent part of our time wandering the campus, visiting  the baseball field, said to be the Yankee Stadium of Texas;  we had lunch at Judy's bread and breakfast, visited the bookstore and several other small businesses.  Alpine has numerous murals

painted on the walls of buildings so we took the tour of seeing what we could see; we also took a window shield tour of the town--back to Marathon in time for our dinner at Gage Restaurant.  Our second day was spent touring the Gage gardens, visiting French Grocer and a few other galleries (window shopping as those were not open till weekend)

Next morning we were off to Big Bend National Park!

What a drive!  we stayed in Terlingua one night before heading out the next day, along the River Road, stopped in Lajatas for breakfast and looked across Rio Grande river to see Mexico.  The mayor of Lajatas is Henry Clay, a goat that is in the running for Mayor!

The view along the river road is awe inspiring!  We have never taken the road across Big Bend State Park--it was an interesting drive with views of mountains, canyons and access to the Rio Grande.

Our next stop was Marfa!  We're here to see the Marfa Lights--alas, it is cloudy most of the time and there was rain the afternoon we arrived. No star gazing but we did see the Marfa Lights!

To Be continued................................

 

Quilt by quilt

There hasn't been much sewing in this household--main reason, tops are piling up, waiting to go to the long arm--guess I've been busy and hadn't scheduled time at the long arm.  

Just last week, I bite the bullet (so to speak), made a time on two days to get the long arm at our local quilt shop.  I spent two days getting everything ready to quilt--you know it takes some time, to get the backs and batting prepared--there is pressing to be done on both backs and tops.  For two of the quilts, I needed to dye the white backing.

This top is one I wanted to finish--it's a wedding gift for our granddaughter who is date is November 12, 2022!  Really close!!

My quilting friend didn't have any tops to do so she graciously offered to do this one--she's good at hearts and I wanted lots of hearts to cover this top.

She accomplished that with flair!

On the end of the top she scrolled the name of bride

The groom

and the date

lots of wonderful hearts across the top--was so excited to see such a touch from her hands.

While she did the heart quilt, I was working across on this charity top.  It is paper pieced with strips of leftover fabric. 

I thought I'd do straight lines on each block but as time went on my hands and the machine did not cooperate

So, I went to wavy lines--I'll tell you, that's a little easier to do but there are some flubs!

The other one I quilted was this Christmas quilt from two years ago

I just did swirts and loops--wanted to finish up fast.

We knocked off six quilts in those two days at the long arm--but, there are still 6 waitng in the wings to be quilted--I'd better quit sewing for awhile!

 

Obsessed!

 I am obsessed!  With Great British Baking Show!! It is in tenth season now—one problem—shows only drop once a week on Friday!  If I watch current show on Friday—it’s difficult to wait for another week.  Brown headed daughter (who lives in Denver) and I have watched this show over the seasons; we sit there, with our mouth watering, thinking “can we bake any of these goodness?”  And believe it or not, we learn some British history behind different challenges!  One episode, the technical challenge was to make “ Garibaldi biscuits(to us cookies).  Who was Garibaldi to receive such an honor? 

Don’t these look delicious!  Here’s the recipe in case you want to try your hand at baking as the bakers do with only these instructions.  No photo of the biscuit either! 

INGREDIENTS:

150g currants, roughly chopped 

50g dried cranberries, roughly chopped 

150ml orange juice 

125g self-raising flour 

pinch of salt 

75g unsalted butter, cubed and chilled 

25g caster sugar 

1 large egg, separated 

To decorate:

200g 54% dark chocolate, broken into pieces 

100g white chocolate, broken into pieces

Since thre is only show a week, daughter suggested I watch the Junior Bake Off show--well, I did--so amazing, that these youngsters can do such baking on their own!  They tackled "Cookie Cups and Hazelnut milk"--looks and sounds so delicious!

you pour the milk into the cookie and hope it doesn't leak!  I want to try these someday!

So, now as I wait for the next regular British Bake Off to drop, I can satisfy my obsession by watching seven seasons of The Junior Bake-off!

How to!

 Lately, there have been many discussions about “how to” do this or that.  For instance, the color went off on our large TV—“how to” fix it?  Search here, search there—google “how to”!  In this day and age, we can just watch YouTube or search the internet to get the how to answer. 

Our grandson will spend hour or so, checking “ how to” lay tile or any other household chore. He says he can do anything by watching/reading “how to”! 

 Husband was going to change seat covers in the car so he said “I watched a video 3 times “how to” do it!  That made him an expert—ha! He had to call a real expert who knew “How To” really do it! 

/ˈhouˌto͞o/

INFORMAL

noun

plural noun: how-tos

1. a book, video, or training session that provides practical advice.

   "a how-to on processing digital images"

   • the correct procedures for a particular activity.

     "you will discover the how-tos of freehand drawing

     
     

     There are even songs on “how to” be lonely—fall in love—save a life!  Really?  A song on how to save a life!

     You can get a booklet on “how to” do anything—it’s many many pages long!  Will take some time to find what you want to know “how to” do!

     
     

     Here’s my friend’s: 

     
     

     
     

How to Clean Your House in 6 Easy Steps

1. Have a heart-to-heart talk with a trusted friend
2. Read yourself into a stupor
3. Wake up early with a nasty eye-strain headache
4. Make coffee
5. Drink coffee
6. Pull out your morning pages journal. Write “Ok, if I do have deep-seated anger, what am I so angry about?”

Bam! Before you know it, it will be 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and your house will be spotless!

Okay—how to—is behind me!  I’m ready for “let’s do it”!

countdown!

 It's that time of the year--already, there is a countdown to Christmas!  Can you believe??  It does seem that the days are getting away too quickly--more so the older you get--never could understand that.

This year, there has been a family request to have price cap on gifts--especially since we are facing higher prices.  In that regard, I'm looking for gifts to give from my hands.  I suggested to the grandkids that they should do something that they are talented with--like a poem, a song, some handcrafted gift is perfect for me.  I always cherished those handprint turkeys from school art classes or that clay ashtray (even though we don't smoke!) 

It is my turn to look for simple alternates to pricey gifts--keeping each person in mind, I want that special gift to give. 

Fat Quarter Shoppe is offering this free quilt along pattern

I’m sure that there is a family member who will enjoy a seasonal hanging. 

And this lovely scarf will be a perfect knit for Colorado daughter in those winter months.  Designer is Hannah @yarnandsarcasm—pattern is “Good Things”

“Lady’s Mittens With Thumbs” c.1885

Weldon’s Practical Needlework, Volume 1: Practical Knitter. 
Published c. 1885.

This is my adapted version of this pattern. These gloves are knit flat, seamed, and then embroidered. Both gloves are knit the exact same. You make a left and right version by folding one glove one way and seaming, and the other glove the opposite way and seaming.

This pattern seems easily customizable by adjusting stitch counts, rows, increases. Or you could try sizing up your yarn weight and/or needles.

A video tutorial for this pattern can be found here: 
https://youtu.be/_QQnbpjnnlI

 Someone can always use another pair of mitts! 

This Musselburgh hat (designed by Ysolda)

Is perfect for the men!  

You guessed it!  Countdown is getting me anxious!  Will I finish these on time?  

Only IF I start now!!

Jelly Rolls--Oh Yeah!

 Who doesn't like Jelly Rolls?  If you are a baker, it's one of those delights that you want to bake for the family to enjoy--easy peazy dessert.

But, if you are a quilter, you REALLY like Jelly Rolls!  Jelly Rolls are definitely an added bonus to quilting adventurers.  These nicely cut and layered fabric strips are just right for any project--

A jelly roll is a bundle of precut fabric strips, which are often used to make quilts and other sewing projects. Jelly roll strips are accurately cut ahead of time, saving you from hours of rotary cutting.

The other day was announced as "National Jelly Roll" Day!  Isn't there always a special something or other day every day of the year??

When it was declared Jelly Roll Day, there were also some free patterns given--here are some sites that will have you wanting more and more jelly rolls in your supply bin.

Quiltfabrication

Scattered Thoughts

Moda Fabrics

And now that we have been using jelly rolls in our sewing--how about a recipe for a jelly roll in the kitchen!

Old Fashion Jelly Roll

Yum! Yum! Good!