Traveling West

 Life …

We traveled to Texas to my sister Emily & Perry’s place.

Their son Adam and his girlfriend Megan helped to host us for the night.

The pool was a welcome and relaxing spot for June. Most of us sat along the edge and “cooled” our feet in the hot tub.

At College Station, TX we had a tour of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

In 1948 George drove his red two-door Studebaker, a graduation present from his parents, from the East Coast to West Texas.”

Acting president Barnhart.

These gifts were given to the president but since they were worth more than $300.00 they couldn’t keep them.

I guess they really belong to us, the American people.

This tapestry really caught my eye. You know it would have taken a lot of hours to make it.

 At The Alamo in San Antonio we learned some of the history of Texas.

Emily and Polly are standing by the fort wall.

This live oak tree was in the courtyard and I thought would make a lovely tree for the grandchildren to climb.

Then we traveled to Fredericksburg to …

… the Insight Gallery to view an exhibit of Oil Painters of America. Claire Bleu, my niece painter/artist was in her glory!

I really liked this painting of the old car.

While Claire spent more time at the gallery, we walked and toured the streets of Fredricksburg.

Mother, Coleen and I posed outside of a candy store as lollipops.

 

Texas – Longhorns – Lone Star – Cowboys

… as a Quilter

This piece of art was a gift to George and Barbara Bush. Isn’t it great inspiration for a quilt?

Coleen finished the feather stitching on her velvet doll comforter that Mother pieced.

Farming, Traveling West, and Emily’s Cow

Life …

Since it rained and the weather turned warm we went to the field to “hear” the corn grow.

Paul showed us how to strip the leaves down and dig inside the stalk to check the ears.

Just a tiny little cob, only 1/2” long.

And Gabriel claimed it had 18 rows of corn!

Gabriel in his hog barn outfit ready to do the chores.

We had our family in for pizza to visit with my family who came to pick me up for our trip West. The four oldest grands enjoyed their cake and ice cream while I sipped my decaf. coffee.

I had lots of help in the kitchen cleaning up after our pizza supper.

And then the house buzzed with talking and laughter until past bedtime.

Sunrise on The Spirit of St. Oren.  See my sister Polly's update here.

There are 8 of us traveling today. Ashton was sad to see me leave so he and Paul joined our group for a picture.

Good-bye, Good-bye, Good-bye.  Safe travels for us and I wish you all well at home.

…as a Quilter

Remember the small art quilt that Emily started here? Well, here she is working on it.

She cut out her silhouette and fused it to the background then sewed around the edges.

I’m guessing the size to be 16”X 12” and made mostly from cottons.

Detail

Wheat Harvest and Baking Cookies

Quinten is cutting wheat while Bronson hauls it to the truck.

Paul and Gabriel discuss what needs to be done.

These are mini bulk bags of soybeans that need to be planted yet after wheat. One mini bulk bags holds about 45 regular 50# sacks.

Paul is ready to go to the field to pick up another load of wheat.

I was intrigued with this little vehicle that belongs to Roy Oswalt, the baseball pitcher that we farm for. And there is a 2nd one over there. 

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I invited the 4 oldest grands to come for this morning to play and have a tea party lunch. I decided they could help me make cookies. After the dough was mixed I started on the right with Kirby and said they could all dip their finger into the dough for a taste. Kirby very politely got about 1/4 teaspoon on his finger to taste. Georgi was next and her taste was just a little bigger. Then it was Stacy’s turn! … Georgi can hardly believe what she is seeing!

And the cookies were good after they were baked too.

Instead of the tea party lunch we just had a picnic out in the carport. That was much easier for me and it suited them just fine.

Wheat and Lilies

Life …

The men started cutting wheat today.

Ashton found this little critter yesterday on the weather boarding of the house. Later he hopped over to the front door and looked as if he wanted in. Today I saw his tiny fingers curled around the ledge of the dumpster. His beady popped eyes were peering at me over the ledge.

… as a Quilter

Remember the art quilt I started on Memorial Day? I decided to put some kind of a lily on it.

I quilted the background with a serpentine stitch from side to side.

Then using the Carolina Lily block pattern for inspiration I designed a bouquet, sitting in grass, framed with lily petals.

After I had fused the grass down and looked at it a while, I decided I didn’t like the grass. So, I heated it up again and pulled it off.

Then I cut out some more lily parts like the top and sides …

… and added them to the bottom and I liked that much better.

Then I stitched all the silhouette down.

I couldn’t think of a good name so I just call it plain “Lily.”

And then I thought, well, why not get a picture of ‘Lily’ with real lilies!

Here I can visualize the real lilies making the shadows on the quilt.

And Emily was with me for a day. She started this quilt around lunch and finished it up just after supper. I’m anxious to show you her finished project, but I must wait.

See other inspiration at Off the Wall Friday and Amanda's Finish it up Friday.

Genesis and Gethsemane

Life …

The Little Red Caboose always came last.

 

Fun in the gravel while waiting for the meat to grill.

 

 

… as a Quilter

And now I have finished the two art pieces that my niece Coleen B. Barnhart started here.

 

She can magically make beauty with scissors and fabric.

 

After she finished her part, I did the thread painting, quilting, binding, and finishing.

 

Genesis – “Let there be light”

An Explosion of Joy and New Life

 

 

Detail

 

The Back

Insert a small dowel, chop stick, or skewer under the top triangles. Pound a nail in the wall and balance the quilt on the nail.

 

We lovingly refer to Coleen as Claire Bleu since her mother’s name is also Coleen. 

 

 

Gethsemane – “It was midnight in the garden when the Savior knelt to pray.”

A Dark and Stormy Night

 

I used bobbin thread work to create the lightning.

 

A second dowel, chop stick, or skewer may be placed under the bottom triangles to keep the bottom of the quilt from flipping up.

 

These pieces measure 9-1/2” X 9-1/2” and are for sale for $150 each (I wish I could say in my Etsy Store, but I don’t have one.) I guess you will just have to email me.

Linking with Nina Maria's "Off the Wall Friday."

My "Lovely Year of Finishes" goal for June is to finish a small art quilt I started here.