Quilts

My three latest quilts. This was for Baby Cameron. While I was sweeping up Yoda Beth had to get in the dust pan--I guess to see if she fit.

Off to Austin, Texas

I went to Austin last week for a professional development seminar at the Bob Bullock Museum of Texas History. The seminar was about the immigration from Europe through Galvestion Island. I stayed in the most wonderful, quaint little bed and breakfast. It is called The Inn At Pearl Street. It is on Judge's Hill. The room I stayed in was called the French Room. The house was over 100 years old and charming--especially since it had all new plumbing. It was more "bed" than "breakfast". There were two old houses connecting by tree shaded decks wtih tables.

After the seminar Janis and John--old friends from college picked me up to spend the rest of the weekend at their new 2nd home condo in Lakeway. On the second floor it has a movie room which Janis has dubbed, "The Man Cave," where the guys go to watch movies. I should have brought Jim, he would have loved it. I enjoyed it too--got to see The Blues Brothers--for the first time. "The Man Cave"

John

Janis

We spent Saturday out on their lake yacht on Lake Travis. It was hot but there was a nice breeze, relaxing to be out on the water. I sat on the front of the boat and fell asleep. It was nice get away--next time I will take Jim.

Brown Creeper chickTrying to get away from the crazy lady with the camera.

Brown Creeper back in the safety of his cactus home.

Haven't been around Hayes house much in the last month. I was off to Arizona again to see my daughter and Maisie. This time there was no long car trip, I flew--almost as long though by the time I stopped in El Paso and Vegas.

The mountains were incredible. I thought the picture I got the last time of the shadows and blues was a one time thing. It is not though. The shadows and colors in the mountains around Tucson continue to amaze me. They are constantly there moving and changing.

While taking care of the flowers and plants in Erin's yard while she was at work, Maisie and I noticed some birds in one of the cacti. At first I thought they were three young Roadrunners, but after snapping a few pictures and sending them to Jim, he identified them as "Brown Creepers" members of the Nuthatch family. Trust me--I don't make these names up! And there were not three babies--only one. The other two were Mom and Dad.

The baby, after careful observation, was not nearly as adept at flying. He ended up plopping down on top of the A/C unit right beside me. I even ran a finger across his downy back--only once because Mom and Dad started to dive bomb me. I left seeing the three of them fly back into the safety of the cactus by the fence. I spotted the three of them the next day in the cactus, one more time before I left.

I continue to be amazed by all the wildlife in the desert. It seems there are more birds there than anywhere else. We also spotted a huge lizard. He was too fast for the camera, but was about 8 inches long. When he saw us he started to bob his head up and down and the bump on his throat turned a beautiful shade of teal. The huge Saguaro by Erin's house is a virtual condo of wildlife. I think I could sit and observe it all day.