December Color Your World - Red

 

December means RED to me.  I know, I know - for many it holds other colors in mind - green for fir trees, white for snow, etc.  However, my house turns RED.  My whole Christmas decor is red and white and I love it so much.  In the book, The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair, I found this statement:  ". . . the human affinity for the color red.  Most anthropologists and archaeologists believe that, as the color of blood, red is associated with lie - celebration, sex, joy - danger, and death."  I don't know about all of that and, as a redhead, it wasn't a color I loved or wore EVER - but I do enjoy it so much around the holidays.  I guess one can never truly understand oneself.  With that, let's move into red and all that it does indeed have to offer.  Further down the post is the monthly project AND your BINGO card for December.  It is the VERY LAST one for the year and some time to come.  Don't forget that cuppa.

Welcome to the Wizarding World Brazos Anniversary Retreat

 

It is the 17th and November and we are about to begin our 9th Annual November Retreat.  Crazy right?  People are starting to arrive, the house is ready to go (check out this Preparation Post LINK if you haven't already had the chance - it's pretty amazing what went on in decorating the house for this event and will not be featured here) and our first activity is lunch at Babe's - tradition, you know.  Off we go and as I go out the front door - this greets me.  Love country life.

Wizarding World Committee at Work

 Each year for our "anniversary" retreat, I am fortunate to have a committee that works so hard to make the retreat absolutely special for those who attend.  We go into the center a day early just to prepare and that day is today.  The drive down happens without incident and I'm soon in the country.  Thankfully, Cindy is ready and waiting to help.  Let's get going - but, first.  A glance out the kitchen window discovers goats in the yard enjoying Kay's bushes.  Perhaps they just need a quick herding back to their pen.

October 2022 Monthly Quilt Update

 

Our theme this year is just so fun.  If you didn't get a chance to check out the post explaining it all --- here is the LINK to the initial post and another  September LINK as well.  I'm super excited about where this will take me.  I know we all have colors that may not bring on the warm fuzzies, but this will be a chance to really challenge ourselves and we may find that our tastes can change.

If you are new to the blog, you may be asking, "just what is a monthly update?"  I decided long ago that I just can't keep up with blogging daily.  I just can't.  Sooooo, what happens is I document a day in my life within one post and if something special happens, a separate post takes place.  See, you can stay caught up with a once a month check and then, if you're interested, see the other posts too.  It's a great system for me.

 In years past, I have set goals for each month and I will continue to do that simply to keep myself on track.  UFO mode will continue around here with minimal purchases (hopefully), but also a few fun and new items will make an appearance now and then.  The "hopeful attempts" will change each month and will always show up at the bottom of the update if you read that far - and they are joined by links to the previous monthly updates for the year.

Now, grab a cuppa and sit back for a fun read and perhaps a new idea or two.   (P.S. I format on a computer, so if you are reading on a phone, well sometimes the pictures will be before or after the story.  It is what it is.

Onto October and the joys of black.  

November Color Your World - Brown

November and brown -- they do seem to go hand in hand, right?  As the leaves begin to wear out their fall color and fall from the trees, they leave brown on the land and, with nothing but branches left, the view upwards is also brown.  Brown is our earth and in the fall, it brings forth so many delightful foods for us to enjoy.  It brings hunting season for many and, again, brown plays a role.  The many deer, elk, ducks, etc. that are harvested each year wear this color proudly.  I feel a warmth from brown that many do not.  They see it as ugly, but I find the comfort in the rich hues and shades.  Perhaps it all stems from being a redhead.  With that, let's move into brown and all that it does indeed have to offer.  Further down the post is the monthly project AND your BINGO card for November.  Time to get started and don't forget that cuppa.

So and Sew Fabrics and Quilting Spotlight - Brazoria, TX

It's vacation time and we are down at the gulf enjoying some time at the beach.  Day tripping is part of our holiday and today we are headed to Matagorda via Brazoria.  As we are driving, I spot this quilt shop and am pretty dang sure that it used to be in Lake Jackson.  Must stop and check it out even though I said I was not doing the "quilt shop" thing this trip.  Oh, those intentions - why do we bother with them cos they always go out the window.  Squirrel!

In we go and this is just the cutest dang shop.  The owner, Janet Moser, greets us and is just so enthusiastic that if I wasn't a quilter, I'd want to start.  She is a joy and sooooo helpful.  Take a peek around the shop with me.

Recipe for Success Brazos Retreat

 I am excited for this retreat to begin and yet a little sad at the same time.  It is our last October retreat but we'll make it a fun one.  Why the last October?  It just has become very difficult for me as my sweetie and I usually travel during this time period and with retirement getting closer all the time, that will happen more and more.  Changes had to be made and we'll see how they go.  At any rate, let's get this shindig started.

I am packed and heading out bright and early.  Well, I'm trying to.  Mister is behind the car cleaning windows as I try and depart.  My car is LOADED as I'm hauling stuff for November too.  Hopefully there will be a lot less coming home.  As I get nearer to Rainbow, there is some intense fog ahead.  Crazy.  My visibility goes down to next to nothing for all of about 300 yards.  So weird.