Another day, Another Adventure

 Moving on from our Alien stop, our stops in Albuquerque takes us to brunch at El Pinto, Gruet to pick up their 100th anniversary sparkling wine Zozobra 

We continue our travel through Northwest New Mexico to our overnight stop in Gallup—our gateway along historic Route 66.  We are welcomed through multi Native American reservations, each featuring casino resorts.  The landscape is totally different areas with Bandera Volcano/ice cave.  

Some facts about Gallup

A good layout of the town.  Railways run along Route 66 all day and night—moving goods and products

The town of Gallup supports over 30+ murals throughout downtown

Even the trash cans are artistically decorated 

The famed El Rancho hotel

Acoma pottery

These large pots are displayed in prominent locations along Route 66

Why not have a mural to advertise your product?

Mural exhibits local crafts and arts

Each mural tells a story

Navajo code talkers story

Was extensive along a city block

Fabulous study of their history

Did It or Did It Not?

 That is the Question? Was there an alien spaceship that crashed near the little town of Roswell, New Mexico in 1947?  Believe or not--this little town has made their living on this myth or legend in every sense--what do you believe?  Here is what we found during our visit--

first off, read some background.  We never really understood Roswell at all--how many times had we driven through and never stopped, just cruised by; but this time, we spent the night!  Hoping, we would learn some truth behind all the hype!

What we discover—aliens everywhere!

They greeted us at McDonald’s

Advertising burritos

Ice cream

McDonald’s is a spaceship!

More aliens saying welcome in

Big fat aliens too!

Weird ones

Welcome to our hotel even

Even the street lamps downtown are lit with alien eyes

Cosmic murals decorate store buildings

Cue the music!

Roswell has embraced the myth/legend and welcome this with open hours!  If traveling this route, stop and hug the aliens! 

1

Just A Trippin'

 It's just around the bend--I can see it!  There were the days when our family would pile into our Parent's little Coup==don't remember the make or model but it was luxury to us.  We were going to see Granny where she was working.  It was always a Sunday afternoon after our noon meal.  We were living in the RGV (Rio Grand Valley).  We would drive like it seemed forever!  It was what you call "A Sunday" Drive.  Dad was antsy on his day off from working their little grocery store, located on Hwy. 83 in McAllen, Texas.  This is where we settled after his return from Army duty in France--to his death, he never spoke of those days; I'm sorry, he didn't give us a few stories of his time overseas.     

In recent years, mother showed us the spot where the grocery store was located and said as a baby we lived in a trailer behind the store.  I don't remember any of that.  But, close by, she also pointed out the Paris Gum Factory.  

Back on our journey--in actual time, it was only about 20 minutes to Moore Field, which was commissioned during WWII as an Army Air Forces TrainingCenter.  After the war, in 1950, the base was operating as Weaver H Baker Sanatorium.  Granny was a licensed practical nurse employed to assist patients at the facility.  To this day, I can hear myself and my brother yelling, "I see Moore Field" over and over again as we caught sight of the bases towers.  Oh, the joy of that drive!  Alas, those are just childhood memories of the drive--nothing else about the base hits my memory.  To this day, I have never driven that road again as an adult.  We moved away and other travels took over.

We are on another road trip-always love road trips--you never know what you'll find or learn about USA as you tranverse the byways--scenic back roads are the way to go.  For the next few days, ride along with me on this road.....................We'll hit some interesting and unsual places along the way..  Tomorrow, we'll be in Alien capital.  

One Way To Do It!

There are so many blocks!  What to do?  Since our local quilt shop doesn’t allow customers to use their long arm machines any more,  that leaves me to find other means to assemble into a full quilt.  Some of the blocks will be located into table runner or maybe placemats—those I can do with sewing machine.  Although, I did quilted one top with my sewing machine—I’m researching other methods of quilting—below is my first attempt—using different you tube videos

One video suggests cutting 1” strips (length of block)—okay, I tried that—that strip will connect two blocks in the back.  For the front, cut stripe 1.5” ( for me that didn’t work!) I cut 2”, which is pressed in half, placed on front with 1”strip.  The blocks have quilted individually. 

In this photo, folded piece on top with 1” is placed on back, sewn with 1/4” seam

When you open up the blocks, they will butt together

The folded front strip can be sewn down by hand or machine. 

Continued with all the blocks

Back

Two rows connected, now to add borders between rows

Okay!  Finished—not sure I like this method but one top together.  Thinking I’ll just add binding.  If border is wanted, the same method done on rows would need to be done on borders

Second one finished—no border just binding

Back—I used hand dyed fabric for each block. 

It’s okay—moving on to try another method!

Fall Ready

Here comes another KAL from Malabrigo yarn, beginning September 2–sign up to receive free pattern

Gnomes anyone??

Check out this mystery KAL for gnomes—free! 

Knitting away on hats!!hats are easy and fun to learn new techniques or try a different yarn.  Quick project to complete—

This yarn is well aged!  Knit into a soft fuzzy simple hat.

This colorful yarn is just right for a child.  Doesn’t take much to fit a small head. 

One skein wonder!! Have the perfect skein- grab this pattern and knit

Easy to work by memory—once set up rows are complete, it’s just four rows!  

corianderquiltsautumnal-free-quilt-pattern/

Tying One On!

Yep—we’re having one big party—a warping party—time to tie one on!! Can’t let that loom sit empty too long! 

Choosing colors from fiber closet is always fun—fiber content, color, yarn size are decisions to be made—since warp will be tied on the existing warp, size isn’t really a problem—we can use 8/2 or 10/2

I like this color combination; usually, cones are placed out, I walk away for awhile; come back, add cones, take away cones till the selection is just perfect—well, I hope it’s perfect!

Winding the warp to measure length is always a chore to me!  Finally, finished and satisfied—to the loom it goes

Laid within these lovely warping leash sticks, the task of tying on begins.  These sticks were a gift of years ago—a remembrance of a Dallas weaver’s conference

Tying on!!  Must make sure the tie is tight and will not pull apart…..wind the warp on the loom…..

Throw the shuttle….

And ta da….

Nice kitchen towel—love it!!

 

All Things French!

BON JOUR!!

 Are you following the Olympics?  We’re not watching much of the events, but have taken an interest in all things French--food, books, textiles, wine, TV shows, etc.  Especially "Emily in Paris"!  How could you not like to see all those awesome fashions and the views of the city?!   That's the best part of any international program.   Recently, we found show about canal boats—mostly in England but, there is also a canal runs through France! 

We can be there in spirit and just imagine how it would feel to walk the streets, float the canals, eat from the garden food carts; coffee shops along the Seine, flower market booths--all fabulous 

Julia Child lives on with her cookbooks.  I've not mastered anything French in the way of food, but I"ll keep trying.  Today since I had some fresh raspberries, I made the Clafouti recipe--yes, it's traditionally 

made with cherries, but any fresh red fruit will work in my opinion.

Really easy and quick to assemble.

Beautiful!  Add a little powered sugar sprinkled over the top and serve with whip cream!

Easy knit French beret by Erica Lamer

I've knit berets before for my granddaughter so this will be one for the charity basket--

For breakfast, we'll savor crossiant with French scrambled eggs (made with clarified butter and creme fraiche) melts in your mouth!  Top it off with a cup of coffee from a French press!  What could be more delicious than that?!

My new reading list includes  books by Antonie Laurain "The Red Notebook" and "Madame Pommfry" by Rebecca Rosenberg--she was the mother to champagne.  Love drinking that bubbly—is interesting reading  about how she begun her business. 

Au revoir for now