Tuesday, December 26, 2017

November and December Happenings



Birthdays for #1 & #2

A new family member

An early gift - Mom's jewelry

Festival of Lights with Pierce family

Choir performance with Al & Debra Heath

Dallas Arboretum with Jennifer, Amy, Kenna & Matt

Visiting Karnes with Matsons

Christmas Eve dinner




Cricket

Cricket with her new toy

Family

Candles & Carols

Monday, October 16, 2017

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Our fall adventure started with dinner at Austin's Steak and Homestyle Buffet in Knoxville.  Then, on to LaQuinta Inn & Suites in Kodak, TN for the next four nights.  Had a little adventure finding the hotel.  There's more to Kodak, TN than just the LaQuinta!

Tuesday morning we enjoyed the Smith Morning Variety Show.  The lead performer was very good at impressions of other artists.  




Also good at ventriloquism.

We had lunch at Walden's Landing and mainly ate out of the snack box and our food bag.  Then on to The Incredible Christmas Place & Shops.  We had some rain this afternoon but it didn't slow us down too much.  Next stop was the Hatfield/McCoy Dinner Theatre.  Great dinner of fried chicken and pulled pork and all the fixins'. 


After the dinner theater, we moved on to the Smoky Mountain Opry Theatre for another show.  I did not take any photos of this show and, by this time of the day, I was so tired I couldn't remember the show a week later.  I googled it and found that we saw a comedian/juggler named Slim Chance and several great musical performances, also aerial artists and a wonderful segment about the Lion King.  The costumes were top-notch.  The aerial artist also did some quick-change costume changes - much too quick to photograph.  Maybe four activities in one day is too much for me!

We boarded the bus Wednesday morning for a tour of the Smoky Mountains.  I really enjoyed this part of the trip - just riding and looking at God's handiwork.  Our step-on guide told us about the fire that had destroyed many homes, businesses and trees in 2016.  14 people lost their lives - what a tragedy - the fire was started by two teenagers, throwing lit matches off the top of the mountain.


We had lunch and shopping in Gatlinburg after the bus tour.  Five Guys was very slow but delicious when we finally got it.  Afternoon ice cream at Walgreen's, compliments of Barbara & Allen!


 We had a couple of hours at the hotel to rest before the Soul of Motown Dinner and Show at the Majestic Theatre.  Chicken was very tough and difficult to cut.  Served with meatballs that were pretty good.  Dessert was an apple turnover - delicious.  I would have enjoyed the music in this show more if it hadn't been so loud.


Dancing water at The Island

Elvis in the America's Hit Parade Show

This was another dinner and show at the Majestic Theater.  More chicken but this time with meatloaf and cheesecake for dessert.  This meal was much better than the night before, although we were at the back of the room and had to wait for it!


Allen & Barbara at the Smith Morning Variety Show

 No photos were allowed in the Titanic Museum.  It was a great tour with guides that explained a lot of what happened when the Titanic sank.  Interesting stories about the different classes of tickets and the people that were in each class.  A number of actual items from the ship - china and a deck chair and photos taken by someone who only sailed for the first part of the trip.

Lunch at The Island on Thursday.  Sandwiches at the Bag Lady.
End of the trip - time to head back to Jackson.


Saturday, September 23, 2017

Some quilty projects

Not too much happening this month - I finished the Star quilt top that I had started at retreat.  Kayleen will have it quilted for Gatehouse.  Worked on Fidget Quilts with Parc Place quilters and started water aerobics.  Need to get back to some UFO's - much more fun though to start new projects!
Donation Quilt For Gatehouse in Grapevine

Fidget quilt for Alzheimer's patient
Fidget quilt for Alzheimer's patient

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Misc. family stuff like birthdays


Cullen turned 16 in May and got his driver's license in August.  He's driving to school this year.

Nancy brought me flowers after the quilt show - Aww, so sweet!

 Camden was 15 Sept. 5th and he got some fun pajamas/costume.
Dinner at Fuzzy Tacos to celebrate Ron, Kevin & Camden - another set of birthdays!

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

NTQF - More Random Quilts

Here are more random quilts that I liked.  No rhyme or reason, some before ribbons and some after ribbons had been added.
Nancy Carr's Midnight Gypsy




Bella by Lucy Suggs (pixels)


I loved this quilt.  The leaves had names of living members of the family and the octogans on the sides had family members that had passed on.  Photos of family on the bottom and birds quilted in the top border.  A very inspirational piece!

Kayleen Allen's Dutch Treat - won First Place and Viewer's Choice


 There were three or four Dear Jane quilts in this show but I only photographed three of them.  Susan Alotto's quilt won Best of Show and my Americana Jane won a first place.







Aunt Gracie Strips quilt top

This Aunt Gracie Strips quilt top was made from leftovers Loretta Brennan gave me when she was cleaning out her Aunt Gracie stash.  It will ...