Football is in the air, and the rest of my crazy week...

The Professor ..... totally wet from downpour at the game
I was hoping my mascara hadn't run everywhere.Since my eyes are closed... guess it had already run off me!

Ok, it was definitely football this past weekend. I love college football, there were so many good games to see this past weekend. The professor and I went to a Mississippi STate game, and the traffic was the worst. It was backed up for miles coming into the stadium. It took me longer to drive to the parking area, than it took us to walk to the campus last year. I will have to rethink whether to drive or walk in for the future. Anyway, we got to our seats on the upper deck...just in time to enjoy the downpour, that actually delayed the game by 30 min. Yes they announced that there was lightning within 3 miles of the stadium so they took the players off the field for their safety..but left a stadium full of people with no where to go... and it took us 15 min. of delay to get down to the covered area, so many people were standing in the only dry area. Now this heavy downpour left me with not 1 inch of dry ..... anywhere. So I made the best of it. The Professor and I were soaked, but enjoyed the first 2 quarters....when it started to rain again... I told him my school spirit was gone..with the sunshine...and he graciously took me home....where we watched even more football. It was a great day for the family alma maters.... Oklahoma State , Louisiana State, Texas A&M, MSU,Texas TEch all were winners this week. HAd to post a few photos of the wet us at the football game. I also finished a raffle quilt for the cancer society. It was appliqued by my guild members, then quilted

by me. I also finished several customer quilts, this darling blue and yellow one, was so bright and cheerful. And the black and beige one is so pretty up close. The photo doesn't do it justice I am afraid. I have been busy with a few more customer quilts, trying to get things finished as I have an upcoming visit...so will be away from the quilting studio. That plus I am afraid I will get buried the closer we get to Christmas holidays. I have almost finished another raffle

quilt for my sil and the Rakasaans out of Ft. Campbell, and he asked me last week to do a raffle quilt for him. I loaded it this afternoon. I just did a simple applique of their emblem in the center of a large block and did simple turning twenty blocks around it. Will share the photos later...after I have it quilted. Holding thumbs it turns out fabulous to raise money for their fundraiser. Hope you all have a great week.... I plan to.

A quickie Post.....Giveaway at my DDin laws blog

Just a quickie post... My talented DD in law's blog is having a wonderful giveaway. Go and check it out. And the photo has nothing to do with the giveaway...but wanted to share a photo taken in Africa just about this time of year two years ago.... of a large herd of Elephants crossing the road in the Kruger Park. A wonderful place to see many different wild animals in their habitat.... roaming across miles of terrain. It still may be the highlight of my trip for things to see in Africa. I will never look at animals the same way again. And some of the gorgeous

vistas that were an everyday thing to see. This lovely mountain view was found near Clarens where we stayed at a wonderful B&B with our dear friends.

A happy little helper.... and using his power tools.... and the Houston Quilt show!!!

Ok, its been a busy time... getting the Professor ready for school again! He is keeping very busy, and so am I, I had to share a photo of the wee one.... I took. He was helping with the vacuuming. His parents have to spell the word out...if they say vacuum, he demands that they use it...and hold him to "help" push. He is a funny little boy. Then these funny little kids were trying to get people to go to their garage sale.

I had to snap their picture .
The little "box head" was too funny. And the Professor and I are hosting a little get together for the graduate students in his program this coming weekend...so of course he decided that the deck needed to be power washed and resealed before winter...so might as well do it now. Had to snap a photo of him "playing" with his power tools.... He is so focused when he has a project that he has to get done. Of course I have been quite busy with quilts..... just finished a really fun one. A quilt totally made from Crown Royal bags. I just did interlocking circles in all of the squares and it turned out cute I thought. But I also did a couple of more involved quilts. One just glowed and was such fun to do.... I enjoyed looking at it the whole time I quilted the design. Then there was a darling little Moda quilt my friend Angela left for me to work on. I adored those colors!!! I trust you all will have a great day.... I am loading another quilt in the morning.... always something to do .... and I even have almost finished my little orphan 9 patch. Will share photos soon. OH, I almost forgot...thanks to my daughter in law... I am being given the opportunity to go to Houston Quilt Market ..... I am sOOOOOOO excited!!! Now I really have to save some of my quilt money to pick up a few little somethings while I am there.

Family Reunion, the Grands and a few quilts....

Where has the time gone? I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. We just had a whirlwind trip to see my mother, and saw all of my brothers and sisters as well. On top of that, there was a wonderful get together, reunion for my fathers side of the family, saw my aunts and many cousins. What a wonderful time...even with the rain!!Many of these cousins I hadn't seen in several years, nobody lives close! Shame as it was such fun catching up on their lives. I had to post a few more pics from our visit with the grands.... the little boys had to take a drive on the lawn mower, they really enjoyed the drive!

We had a terrible wind storm come up here and the next door neighbor's 75 foot tree...uprooted and landed in the other neighbors yard. Terrible for them...but I was certainly glad it didn't fall my way on one of our cars. The other night as we sat on the deck, I happened to look up.... and just above our head, it was like a scene from the movie, THE BIRDS!!! Above us on the electric lines there were gathered black birds... and not just a few! In fact I ran into the house to get my camera...and there were so many when I came back...it looked like swarms of flies in the air...but all those black spots are birds who took off from the roof and wires!!!! It really creeped me out... just a bit!!!Maybe they are the ones that have been pecking my tomatoes. Whilst visiting my mom.... one of my brothers lent me....or maybe I should have said the Professor and myself, his Mustang convertable. I had to snap the Professor driving it....... He had just looked over at me and said, " this car wants to go fast!" Of course he resisted the urge...but it was a fun car to drive! I think you can tell we enjoyed driving it.

Have to post a few pics of the actual reunion. These are the cousins, or some of the crazy ones anyway. And of course a picture of 10 of my brothers

and sisters with my mother. A few had left and some hadn't arrived yet, but we took a break in the rain as our photo opp. One of my aunts and her family.... always an opportunity for devil horns!And another cousin, with her family. It was such a good time. this photo...one of my brothers had just fallen into the lake...with his clothes on.... I had to snap it. Just wish I had been down at the lake to get that shot!

I have to finish with one of my quilt guild ladies quilts....isn't it stunning. .One of the ladies, a wonderful quilter, Martha Dubard, did a quilt trunk show for us... she shared some lovely quilts with us. This was my favorite.... or maybe this one.... well ...I really likes all of her quilts. I have quilted 3 quilts and part of another since Monday when we got home...but not taken photos yet. Have a great weekend.

Noxubee Wildlife Refuge.... didn't see any aligators though!!

This past weekend I was up to my eyeballs in quilts to quilt....but the Professor decided to take me away for a quick day trip to the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge. Having lived in South Africa, I must admit...seeing the odd deer or armadillo isn't usually exciting.... and we did see those on the drive into the refuge. But I was pleasantly surprised at the beauty of this place...and it is only a few miles from our town. It had lots of info at the Visitor center...including ideal times to see Egrets and cranes.... and where the Aligators hang out ...usually. It was very interesting. So I am wondering what else is around here that I don't know about. Instead of hankering after that long trip to Yosemite...maybe I better explore my back yard..... before we get moved away from here. We will definitely go back there again.... I really would like to see some Gators... and see how they compare to African crocodiles.... which we did see many times while looking for animals in the Game Parks of South Africa. One reason..... I can not understand anyone wanting to "walk" or camp near the rivers there.... I mean.... crocs can swim.... so who knows where they might end up???? The Professor did a good thing for me.... he got me to take a break from the wonderful quilts I had the privilege of finishing this past week. I have to share Toni Brenker's from Pennsylvania , it is from a Quiltville. com pattern, the Old TObacco Road Quilt.... really a lovely quilt. She is a wonderful piecer, and superb at color combinations! I just wish the quilting would show up more, as it really finished up nicely. Then this next one... is one of my regular girls...I seem to love her color combinations.... this Bargello turned out beautiful. So far.... every color combo, I like better

than her last one. Last, I have to share this stunner .... hand appliqued by one of the girls in my guild.... she does divine hand work. This is certainly no exception! It was lots of fun to plan for. I tried to do echo quilting for the first time. It was a lot harder than I realized...and

this picture doesn't do her beautiful quilt justice. But it is a beauty. A massive quilt, king sized . But such a pleasure to do for her. I am winding down with a few more quilts this week...before we make a quick trip to see my 13 brothers and sisters and mom. Can't wait to see them all. Happy sewing!!!

A very sad day indeed........

Well it was a sad day here at the homestead. In preparing to go on a quick visit to see my mom, we decided to take down the redneck pool.... The professor had to get into the pool to unplug the valve inside the pool. Then after getting out.... he had to dawn his lovely kilt towel.... a special pressie from friends in the UK.

Doesn't he look....Scottish???? I finished up a lovely quilt ....and even tried "McTavishing" or at least my perversion of it. The photos don't show well, but it is pretty in person. I am delivering it tomorrow..... I have also finished another quilt to be sent off...but can't share it...until she has seen it first. Hope you have a great day.... I am off to see a spectacular trunk show tomorrow.... more pics to follow.

Create your own visitor map!

The 4th, more redneck pool shots...and family fun.

Well, Happy Belated 4th to everyone. We had all the kids and the grands..and what fun. We even enjoyed phone calls from our special Italian exchange student, Francesco. It was fun hearing from our UK buddies and texts from South Africa. It really is a smaller world we live in. June and July saw many family members birthdays...so we had to have cake...and a cookie cake...er...well ....lets just say the kids "really got into it!" And leave it at that.

Now the redneck Pool was a huge hit. All of the kids and babies loved it! Even most of the grownups made a dip or two. The Princess and Wee One, had their own little paddling pool...but seemed to enjoy being in the big pool too. While we had the kids all here...we went through some of the many stored things of our grown up kids...and DS2 found some of his swimming medals.... Michael Phelps.... probably looked like this after the last Olympics... the kids were sure impressed with the medals... and now they are no longer at my house....more room for fabric!

Since it was the fourth of July... we had sparklers and glow sticks.... I even found these very cool glow stick balls that the dads put together quick quick. And because I don't want anyone to get in trouble...but a certain Aunt and Uncle.... set off some pretty awesome fireworks.... and sparklers and charcoal snakes. We ate and grilled and sat out on the deck every night until quite late. The fireflies were fun for the kids to try and catch. WE even managed a couple of games of horse shoes! It is the best 4th I have had in years. And all thanks to my family. I did manage to do a few quilts... this week after all the company left

The pictures don't do them justice...but they were both lovely quilts. I also completed a sweet baby quilt for one of these gals..but the photo is way out of focus... I have that affect on many things. Hope you all had a great weekend. I am off to a visit a new quilt group... tomorrow.... new to me...hope they show some pretty things.