Our First Mid-Autum Festival - 2012 at UTD

Maxey and I attended the Mid-Autum Festival

at The University of Texas at Dallas last Sunday night.

It was a delightful evening!

We were treated like royalty!!

We were the guests of our new Chinese friend, Eugenia Bae. We have been introduced to her through the International Student Friendship Partner Program.

This is our first experience like this, but it has really been a blessing already!!

 

Isn't this program wonderful?!?

Here are a few photos of Eugenia in action!

Our New Transportation!

We are so excited! We got Precous a trike for her 4th birthday...complete with a chaffeur!

Ready to Play Golf!

Ready to play...I have my own clubs!

My "First" Crocheted Necklace

The lady sitting next to Diane and me at the Anita Goodesign Embroidery Seminar last weekend had on a very interesting necklace. I heard her say that she had made it. Upon further questioning, I learned that it was crocheted with 20 gauge copper wire and miscellaneous beads.

Okay!

After the seminar, Diane and I went back to her house, searched her "toy closet" and found some beads and wire, and I crocheted for an hour or so. It took an entire spool of copper wire and I broke my crochet hook, but WE GOT A NECKLACE!  Then after a run to Michael's for more wire and another crochet hook, I made another one...one for each of us, of course!

Quilt Retreat in La Grange--August 2012

I just got home from spending a fabulous week with my BFF, Diane Venegoni.

On Thursday, Aug. 16th, I boarded the AmTrak train to Temple. That is the way to travel! I knitted a scarf, read part of my book, took a little nap, then finished the scarf during the trip. Sure beats dodging stupid drivers on I-35!

When I got to Temple, Diane fed me a wonderful homecooked meal, then we planned our activities for the week.

Friday and Saturday we attended a machine embroidery seminar presented by Anita Goodesign and the sewing store there in Temple. It was fantastic!!!! We got to work with a $13,000 embroidery machine! The store actually ended up selling 19 of them, so I know they were thrilled with the event!

Sunday, I got to go to church with John and Diane at Western Hills Church of Christ. We even got to help host the visitors' luncheon after the service. Then we prepared our "projects" for the upcoming quilt retreat.

Monday, Diane and I drove to La Grange for a 3-day quilt retreat at Retreats by Margie. It was a delightful experience!!

This is the view when you enter the front door of the retreat center.

This is one view of the work area.

 This is the view to the right of my sewing machine. This is half of the "group".

This is where I slept. Every room had at least 1 king size bed and two twin beds. The room I stayed in had a little sitting area off to the side and a twin bed in what was labeled "The Cave". It was perfect for me.

Diane and I both completed Convergence Quilts (tops only). Hers is absolutely beautful. It's on the left. Mine is black and white to go on the table in my breakfast nook. I made it from a photo in the gallery of Ricky Tim's Convergence Quilts book. Then I was able to make a wall-hanging using the scraps I had left over. Now we just have to find time to quilt them!

 

My "Convergence" up closer.

 My wallhanging. I love it!!! 


We drove back to Temple Wednesday afternoon, then had supper with John and Diane's mom at El Chico's. Yumm!!!!!

Thursday, I boarded the train again...this time headed to Carrollton. I knitted two more scarves!

Home again, home again!

"Mammy, can I water your terrible grass?"

James came over Friday and wanted to know if he could water my "terrible grass". I told him I didn't think it would help, but it sure couldn't hurt.

Saturday morning, Maxey planted bermuda seeds (enough for at least 4 yards). He has diligently watered every few hours. Maybe we'll get a new yard soon!

Our Poor Yard!!!

In a matter of TWO DAYS our backyard went from wonderful to DEAD! Of all the people to have a dead backyard...we work in it, fertilize it, love it...and it DIES! Now (whatever it is) is moving up the side yard to the front. NNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Maxey tried burning it off, but the smoke was really bad.

The dove family living in the basket on our patio freaked out!!

Plus, I was afraid the fire department would be called by some of our neighbors.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE!

So we went to Lowe's and bought a thatching blade. Maybe after it's thatched, we can burn it without so much attention-getting smoke.

The yard is a total loss!! I hope we can keep whatever is killing it  from taking the rest of our lot.