Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Back to School Time!

Here in New Mexico, it is back to school time. I still can't get used to the idea of kids starting school in August.  In California, when my kids were in school, they started in September.

Either way, it is a signpost for Fall!  Get ready here it comes!

It seems just yesterday that we were celebrating Spring. Now the days seem just a bit shorter and the sun comes up just a bit later.  Before you know it we will be in full swing for the holidays.

The stores have already put up halloween decorations and Christmas decorations are starting to pop up here and there. I am still thinking of summer and "what else can we do this summer?" LOL!  It seems that I never seem to catch up with the seasons. I always seem to still be thinking of the previous season when the next season is creeping up.

This year I want to make some type of  "Christmas Quilt".  But, I am having difficulty starting.  The problem is that I can't make up my mind which "Christmas Quilt" to make. Do I make placemats or a table topper?  Either of these would be great because they are fast and will probably be finished in time for THIS Christmas!  Or, do I do a wall hanging? This would also be great because it would decorate the cabin for Chritstmas .. . I was thinking a wall hanging of a Christmas tree would be good.  That way, I really don't have to put a real tree in the cabin.  My cabin is only 14 feet by 24 feet and has a lot of furniture in it.  But then again, I really want a full sized bed quilt in christmas colors. . . can you see my dilemma?

Any suggestions? What did you do when you wanted a "Christmas Quilt"?

Aveli


Monday, August 19, 2013

Time To Sew!!

Now that my daughter has gone home, its time for me to get back to work on my basket weave string quilt!
Here is my container full of strips ready to be sewn.

 

This a.m. I had my tea ready and started bright and early!


  My cabin feels so lonely and too quiet without my granddaughter running around!  I texted my daughter this a.m. when I awoke to see how far they had gotten during the night. They should have reached Los Angeles Union station around 7 a.m. 

I received the most awful news about their trip. They were not even to Kingman, Arizona yet at 7 a.m.!  Apparently the train experienced some kind of mechanical difficulties during the night and they were stopped for 2 hours in the desert. She said the worst part was that the air conditioning was not working in their coach so it was very warm and stuffy! She carried my granddaughter to the lounge/observation car where the air was working and it was cool.  Thankfully my granddaughter slept through the night, even though she was sweating most of the time.

Amtrak was not forthcoming with any information and did not offer any comfort about the inconvenience.  She said the passengers were kept in the dark, literally, no lights! Conductors and porters were nowhere to be found to be questioned about the status of the train.

When my daughter caught the train in Las Vegas, NM they must have been experiencing problems already because they were over an hour late getting to Las Vegas.  They will be over 6 hours late getting to L.A. Union Station.  

I guess you get what you pay for!  Even though the train is cheaper than airlines, they are also starting to charge extra for everything!  My son-in-law said they no longer hand out free pillows!!  They offer an $8.00 package of a tiny pillow and a small blanket. . . . WOW!

Well, back to quilting . . . 

Aveli

Sunday, August 18, 2013

She's Gone!

My daugthter left for California today!  I am so sad! I miss them already and I miss the squeeky laughter of my little granddaughter!

I guess all I can do is get back to quilting . . . but not tonight.  We went to Las Vegas and dropped off my daughter and her family at the train station, left and went to a baby shower in Mora.  Then we came home. I am exhausted! I don't know if its from emotional goodbyes or just from a long day.

Tomorrow I will get back to my basket weave string quilt and probably sew all day, but not tonight!

Aveli