Texas Travels

We started our vacation on the 13th and went to South Padre island for 2 weeks. However, the room was not what was guaranteed so we stayed for 2 days and left Monday for North Padre at Corpus Christi.
Sunday morning Galen walked over to the SPI birding center with camera in hand. Came back said he got quite a few good pictures. Saw a Momma and baby alligator and of course a lot of birds. After lunch we drove towards the bridge and he stopped to take a few more pictures. Came back to the car very disgusted. The sim card was not in the camera. So all the pictures he took that morning he never got! Felt bad for him. Fortunately our cameras take the same card and I had a brand new one in mine. We stopped one more place on the way back to the motel, too late to go over to Laguna Atacosta. He walked the boardwalk there and the girls and I sat in a nice shaded spot watching birds, butterflies and people.

Of course the girls always draw attention and Tilly had many birthday wishes from people.

                                                               Black Skimmers

                                                     Royal Terns

                                                       Roseate Spoonbill

                                                    Black Neck Stilt

White Morph Red Egret with Black Neck Stilt

He got a few good pictures and fortunately I took along my Dad's camera so we can both take some pictures. He takes birds, butterflies etc. I prefer scenery!

We did the tourist thing and took this picture on our way out Monday morning.

Design Wall Monday-February 8th, 2016

First off let me say Happy Chinese New Year. We have entered the year of the Monkey. My husband and I are officially declaring this the beginning of 2016. We think it's about time for good things to start happening. After losing my Dad the middle of December to Galen losing his last remaining brother 6 weeks later and losing 4 friends in between we are ready for a new start! I am even putting yesterday events behind me and moving on-it is a New Year!

My Trifecta flimsy that I showed last week is at the quilters . I could not get Charmed Star top done in time so will send that to her later this week. This a picture of my Charmed Star. Still need to add one more border. Relearned yesterday a valuable lesson-do not cut when upset.

This is the pattern-A great way to use some of those charm packs!

                            Now back to Judy at Patchworktimes

Design Wall Monday-February 1, 2016

It was another rough week for the Stewart family but I did manage to get some sewing done, early in the week and then today. Had an early morning to trip to the airport so Galen could fly to PA for a few days. After a long nap once I got home I finished the Tri Fecta block of the month from last year. Played with the lay out for a while and after showing it to some others I went with it.

 It's not the greatest picture since I had to pin it on the design wall-my quilt holder is in PA! And the corner of a table is in the picture, but there is a picture! It is 8 rows of 9 blocks each. One UFO out of the way until it is back from the quilter and I need to sew on the binding!

Waiting for Galen to call this evening and before calling it a night I made the February block for another group I am in.

                     This is the second block for Rural Routes

                                        The first 2 blocks
Feels good to be back sewing again. The house is calling too-have been neglecting it a little too long.

Back to Patchworktimes!

Design Wall Monday-January 25, 2016

Not much sewing this week. Working on getting Dad's estate settled, a little yard work and just the general every day nonsense!  Spent some time yesterday sorting through and getting the batik left over pieces cut into good sizes for the next scrap quilt I want to make. I have the pattern, but need to find it! If I remember correctly it will be  good leader and ender project to have by the machine.

I did get one block made for another BOM being done by one of the yahoo groups I am in-Quilters Who Care. I am making mine in R/W/B as it will eventually end up going to our Thank you Quilters group. Their quilts go to Ft. Hood which is right up the road from us. Here is the block for January.

I plan on working on the lay out for my Trifecta blocks this week. Maybe there will be more to show next week! Now back to 
Judy at Patchworktimes!

DESIGN WALL JANUARY 18TH, 2016

If you read my previous post you know why there has been nothing posted or even sewn. However last week I did get the last of my blocks made for the Trifecta block of the month from Cotton Cupboard in Lakeway, TX. Now I need to call her and see if there is a good time to go out and get all 72 blocks laid out!

                                                 The last 6

                                These are  some of the blocks

                  Hope to get back into the sewing groove this week In                                                  the meantime 

                     For more eye candy back to Patchworktimes

AN ENDING AND A NEW BEGINNING!

It's the start of a new year for me-a few weeks later than what the calendar says, but that's the way it goes sometimes! The last time I posted anything on my blog was late October. Since then a lot has happened. We said our final good byes to my Dad on December 23rd at Indiantown Gap National Veterans Cemetery in Annville, PA. The last few months had been difficult for him but he made his own decisions up to the very end.  Participated in the cake cutting ceremony one last time for the Marine Corps Birthday on November 15th, 2015

This is the obituary my husband wrote for Dad. Galen did a much better job than I would have.

 And yesterday (January 16th) we had the final Memorial Service at the church here in Texas. It was a celebration of his life, all 98 years of it. Several organizations of which he was a member participated too. The Masons and the local Marine Corps League. The league here had  also made sure we had the 21 gun salute and taps played on the 23rd. We had not been expecting that at the cemetery so we were very honored and pleased.

All is all it has been a very emotional few months. Now Galen and I are finding our new normal as the saying goes! It seems strange not having him around but we also know he and my mother are watching over us and while we can't see them they are always with us.

Design Wall Monday-October 26, 2015

Very little sewing around here the past few months. My Dad has been in and out of the hospital and skilled nursing. He is in skilled nursing right now trying to get some strength back. In early Sept. he was in with pneumonia for 12 days, then back in the following week with too much fluid on his lungs. He is doing better, but each time he starts rehabbing he is starting from a lower point. We did celebrate his 98th birthday on the 17th with a small party there. 

Galen and I took off for a few days and went to South Padre Island. left on the 18th and got home ahead of the rain here on the 23rd. Did have some pretty miserable driving though on Friday. For once though it was raining enough that just about everyone wasn't trying to drive the speed limit which is 80 or 85 depending on where you are. It was pretty much slow and steady at 45-50!  

On my design wall are 64 of my Trifecta blocks. 66 are finished and the last 6 have been cut for a few weeks now. Hoping to get them sewn this week. Then I will head over to Cotton Cupboard and put them up on her wall to get a lay out!  It is definitely colorful. And yes, all batiks! Think I will keep this one.

Hopefully there will be more sewing getting done over the next few weeks.

Back to Patchworktimes for a little eye candy!