Casa Quilts

Anticipating a spectacular Weekend

The weekend promises to be a photo opportunity of the best kind.  The Alamogordo Balloon Invitational kicks off on Saturday morning at White Sands National Monument.  I will be there at 5:30 am waiting to escort a young Soldier and his wife - he just returned from Afghanistan last week -so that he and his wife can  experience a ride in a hot air balloon launching from amongst the white gypsum dunes of the monument.  The camera will be working overtime - batteries are charged and memory cards are packed.

Tonight mother nature displays a tapestry of color and texture in another spectacular sunset.  Growing up I remember the saying "red skies in morning - sailors take warning - red skies at night - sailors delight"  The sailors would be pretty happy tonight

Sunsets in the southwest are so beautiful - but wait ten minutes and.....

Still a special view sans the color

Fall is in the Air

You know it's fall in New Mexico by the smell of chili being roasted. Just about every corner or grocery store had a big rotating barrel where they dump in a burlap of fresh green chili - light the fire and roast the chili till the skins are mottled start to pop. The smell is unique - the taste of chili is wonderful.  The nights are cool (60's) days are still pretty hot (90s) and the stars seem to twinkle just a little bit brighter.

Just finished the first fall quilt - cut up all the old or ill-fitting jeans - added a nice bright flannel and quickly a warm quilt is ready to curl under during the chilly nights.

Nice thing about this type of quilt is it keeps getting better with age.  Makes me feel good to recycle.

Pistachio's will be ready to pick in the next week - hope I can get to them before the birds - it's always a challenge.  A slow roast in the oven, add salt or green chili seasoning and we have out winter stash.  In another month or so we'll harvest pecans - 

My challenge for this year - Am planning to retire next year so March 2014 will be my last Bataan Memorial Death March - I have challenged myself to make a lap quilt for each survivor that attends next year's event.  These guys are all in their 90's - one still marches 9 miles along side the thousands of folks who participate each year - least I can do is help them stay warm during the early morning start to the race.  

 

Celebration and Sorrow

Sunset on the 4th of July  - Nature is so perfect!

Pam doing what she does best - she got some of the best fireworks photos.

Unfortunately White Sands Missile Range lost one of it's own on the 4th as well.  A young Soldier recently stationed at the base was killed on the 4th on his first deployment.  

 

Happy 4th of July

Tonight we celebrate with fireworks at the New Mexico Museum of Space History - grand event. Tailgate party with brats, potato salad, cole slaw, banana pudding - then sit back in the lawn chairs as the spectacular fireworks explode overhead.  Best part - sharing the time with family and friends.

Enjoy your day - enjoy your family and give thanks to all the Soldiers, Firemen and Police who will not be with their loved ones because they are making our world safe so we can celebrate

Festival of Quilts Dream

Of the community events I help out with The Southern New Mexico Festival of Quilts is probably the closest to my heart - After this fourth year we have raised almost $60,000 which is all donated to the children of Otero County, New Mexico.

The success of this event in large part is due to the generosity of Pam Holland.  Pam donates her time, talent and enthusiastic motivation to this event - her classes are all donated - that includes designing the patterns, developing the class materials and teaching the classes.  It is generosity of this talented lady that draws the students, vendors, and all the people that visit the event.

I will add photos and stories as the weekend goes by - This year's festival recipiants are the Boys and Girls Club, COPE and Love Inc.'s Backpack food program.  

I can't tell this story without thanking the Alamogordo community for it's support and I will thank each and every organization as I add more information and photos.

In the mean-time - Thank you everyone for your continued support - we are making a difference and hope you will continue to support this worthy event in the years to come.

 

More Santa Fe Treasures

So we're back in Alamogordo - Spent time on Canyon Road before we left Santa Fe though. Only got a glimpse of all the wonderful treasure - art galleries, sculptures, great food, clothes and on and on.  Next time I'll plan for a whole day on Canyon Road

Can't leave without getting a door - the oldest house in the US.

These elephant scultures were so cute - made you want to dance with them.

Delightful yard art..  Want a yard full

Santa Fe Treasures

Super day in Santa Fe yesterday.  Concert in the Plaza to finish off a happy day!  An unusual energy here - an overload of color, textures and art - such freedom of expression.  Taos affects me the same way but no time for Taos this time around...  If you have a camera - New Mexico is the place to be

These two little girls were dancing to the music and thoroughly enjoying themselves

Painted door on a building - love the way they also painted the walls on either side.

Colors and textures - so much to see - definately a place to visit.

 

So Long Albuquerque

Absolutely wonderful couple of days in Albuquerque.  Quick trip to Santa Fe last night - Caught up with the Route 66 tour conducted by two awesome gentlemen, Jim West, Sew Many Places, and the fabulous quilter Ricky Tims.  It was fun to meet the tour participants, had a delicious dinner, and wondered around the Plaza taking photos and enjoying live music.

Thelma and Louise in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Arrived yesterday - I was totally exhausted, so after a meal at Mary and Tito's we stayed in the room - and what great rooms - at the Embassy Suites.  We each have our own TV, computer desk and incredibly fast internet -perfect time to update computer programs, download "stuff", and catch-up.  Views from the 8th floor room were spectactular.  Wanted to wait for a good sunset photo but didn't make it.

View from Pam's room

An earlier one from another window

View from my window 

Aren't I the luckiest person to have this little trip with my friend?  So much fun to travel with someone who shares the same quirky sense of humor, likes to explore and try new things and is up for new adventures.  Can't wait to see what the camera lens will capture today.

Mini Thelma and Louise

Started the day early - about 4 am early - did a small tour for work and by noon we were headed north.  Didn't get very far - 

Stopped at the Buckhorn in San Antonio, NM for a green chili cheeseburger - hmmmmmm

Sitting on the porch of the Buckhorn - camera in hand - ready to start our Thelma and Louise 2013

Internet is soooo fast - it's awesome.  Mine is slow and it's the best I can do living in the country... Ah well the sacrifices we make.. :-)