Let me see, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, now heading out in the morning back to New Mexico then Kansas and home. Saw some beautiful things and met some wonderful people. I am so tired and my bottom is flat from so much time in the car.. We visited 20 National Parks and took LOTS of pictures. Of course my favorite places the fabric shops.
Now to figure out what to make first. Any ideas???????????
Zion and Bryce National Parks
Today was spent mostly in the car, but that is ok, it was COLD. The higher in the mountains we went the colder it got. We forgot coats in Kansas City and had jackets. We piled clothes on and went out anyway. As we left Zion and got closer to Bryce we started seeing snow on the mountains. It was beautiful.
Zion National Park
Now to Bryce Canyon and the HOODOO’S. No one could tell me how they got their names.
Flagstaff, AZ
Today brings a chilly and cloudy day. We will be spending the day in Flagstaff and Sedona. We are planning on cramming 2 days into one as tomorrow will be rainy and you can’t be a tourist very well in the rain. We can do all we wanted to do from the car tomorrow and life is good. These are a few photos from the Petrified Forest National Park
Amazing isn’t it. Hard as stones.
Next was the painted Dessert
NOW just a sample of fabric that jumped into the car along the way.
So much driving
We saw Big Bend in West Texas on the Rio Grande River yesterday. It is huge, and then today we went to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. We also visited White Sands National Monument. Tomorrow we head to Arizona. So far no quilt shops since North East Texas. I think that will change tomorrow. 
Big Bend National Park.
Carlsbad Caverns.
West Texas
As we leave the Houston area for the far west side of Texas we stopped in San Antonio and then headed to Del Rio Texas. Here are a few photos of San Antonio.
I love the Old Live Oak trees. They remind us to bend with life and not be so rigid.
YES Texas does have mountains. Not the Rocky Mts. but mountains none the less.
On the Road again
We started our travels on Tuesday night and arrived in Houston, Tx on Wed. We did make one stop in Minneola, Tx at Stitchin’ Heaven.
This was a nice quilt shop, but could do better wlith customer service. There were 4 employees talking and never offered help, until I took fabric to be cut.
Had a wonderful with family for 2 days in Houston and left today to go west about 3:45 this afternoon.
There is so much we want to see and do.
For now stay safe and do something fun.
Mini trip to Galveston, TX
In July we made a short trip to the Houston, Tx area and made a stop in Galveston. I did find a few cute Quilt shops and hope to stop in again to see them. If you are in Galveston area stop in and see Teo’s Treasures and Pins and Needles. They aren’t large quilt shops, but have some unusual fabrics.
As you will see we do enjoy other things, so enjoy an afternoon walking the beach in Galveston. 
Can’t go to Tx and not have seafood and Texmex. Sweet sites of home.
Happy October
Growing up in SE Texas we had 2 seasons. Summer and hot winter. Once in a long long time it would be cold(to us 32 was cold.) Mostly it is warm, hot and hotter. Moving to Missouri I fell in love with the different seasons. Leaves are changing colors and starting to fall. The squirrels are running all over the neighborhood seeing who has the best acorns. The leaves Destiny found on our walk are on a beautiful deep red and gold. With this said winter will be next. When we get snow I enjoy bundling up and going outside about 5am. This is before the cars travel up and down the street in front of our house, and to see the snow under street lights. Reminds me of a Norman Rockwell painting.
With fall here visit frommycarolinahome.com/2018/10/01/autumn-jubilee-3/ to learn more of the Autumn Jubilee sale and wonderful giveaways. Check out her site, I enjoy reading it. In reading her blog I know I am going to be visiting her all month. ” Quilt Along, a Sew Along, a Stitch Along, all with free patterns and posts on gardening, cooking, tablescapes, cardmaking and more!! There are prizes for every post this month, and each post will give the details about how to enter. Please join me in thanking all these wonderful sponsors.” This is from From My Carolina Home blog site. Her sponsors are
https://frommycarolinahome.com/2018/09/26/carolina-hurricane-quilts/
https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=995503&u=1589049&m=68500&urllink=&afftrack=
https://www.177milkstreet.com/
https://www.backsidefabrics.com/
https://storefront.unitednotions.com/storefrontCommerce/
I know I have left something out, so please check out her Blog if you are interested. I sure will.
Starting in the near future we will be sharing lots of photos and share quilt shops visited while on vacation.
Feeling like I fell into the Willy Wonka Movie.
We are days away from leaving for our trip. We will leave Tues night or Wed morning and I have my lists made out, (Yes, list of quilt store to stop and visit) lists of things not to forget and lists of lists. Yesterday was spent cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and making jerky for the road. Suit cases out, cleaned, and aired out.
As I was starting to gather clothes (summer, fall, and possible heavier things all for a few weeks out.) Hubby came thru and said we need to take the car in for an oil change, work in the yard, and go to Sam’s Club for M&Ms. WHY? He is diabetic. OHHHHHHHH in case the grand kids stop by they will have some sweets here while we are gone. Really?????????????? He wants them. That is the start of Willy Wonka. As we talk I start thinking about all to do and the amount of time I can see Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka saying something about too much to do and so little time. Yea that is me this morning. The yard work he will do and after the oil change Sam’s and then a stop at the fabric store for some thread.
I am working on a Christmas table runner right now and will need the thread for the placement of some beads. I will be doing the hand stitching in the car while driving and placing any beads when we are watching tv or just sitting around of an evening.
I want to hand quilt and then in places put beads to show snow on the mountains and so on. There will be a string of lights embroidered being carried by the bear on the left and a big gold ribbon on the tree in the middle. So I need the thread for the beads.
What do you do when you are traveling to stave off the boredom of the some boring drives? I love living in the midwest, but crossing Kansas can be kind of sparse on the views, as is most Interstates, so I will take something to work on.
You have a great day and have some dark chocolate….it is healthier.
Headwraps.
This is a cute headband from Alicia. Enjoy
Mobius headwrap pattern
Stitches to know-
Hdc-half double crochet
FPDC-front post double crochet
BPDC-back post double crochet
LHdc-Long half double crochet
I used Red Hart WW yarn with an I hook
Ch 60 and join
Row 1) Turn chain slightly so the “bump” of the chain is showing ontop, ch1, Hdc in each bump of the chain. Do not join. (see photo below)
When you get to the top of the hdc, you will turn it toward you 180 degrees so the first hdc is upside-down and work hdc in each chain on the reverse side. (This will put the natural twist in the headwrap).
Row 2) Ch 2, FPDC (YO, insert hook in on right side of previous hdc around to the left side of hdc -your hook should be “behind” the hdc stitch- YO, pull through 2 loops, YO pull through last 2 loops). FPDC around each hdc until you reach the ch2, then join.
Row 3) Turn work, ch2, Lhdc (YO, insert hook in top of previous hdc, YO and pull through all 3 loops). Lhdc in each stitch around and join beg ch 2.
Row 4-7) repeat rows 2 & 3.
I do give permission make and sell what you make as long as you give me credit for the pattern. Thank you, Alicia from
One Creative Family 