Saturday, July 6, 2013

Apple Pie -- Flea Market and Rain!

Today we left our cabin early in the morning so we could go to the Flea Market in Las Vegas, NM. We hadn't gone this year for one reason or another so I was really looking forward to the trip.

It takes 45 to 60 minutes to drive from Guadalupita to Las Vegas, NM; that is why we left before even having breakfast, just one cup of coffee. . . and I am a 2 cup in the a.m. kind of girl!!! LOL!!!

Well, when we got to Mora, 14 miles from the cabin, my husband says he can't wait any longer to eat.  So, we stopped at the local grocery store which is named Russell's. They have a small deli inside the small store. They sell, various items of prepared food.  The variety depends on the time of day.  Since it was 7:00 a.m., they were selling breakfast burritos -- which my husband loves!  He had one breakfast burrito. I was hoping for some chicken taquitos, but it was too early for those.

When we arrived in Vegas, we went straight for the flea market. Not too many people were in attendance but there were several vendors.  Most of the shoppers were at the Las Vegas Fiesta in the Old Town Plaza. One of the very big and popular fiestas that happen this time of year.

One of my favorite vendors at the flea market is the lady with all the baked goods. . . pies, cakes, biscochitos. Biscochitos are the state cookie for New Mexico. There is no baked cookie like them. They are simple but flaky, sweetened with sugar cinamon and a little anise. I have loved them since I was little and so has the whole state of New Mexico. I bought a dozen and a half. I also bought two apple pies. These are flat pies; not the traditional all american apple pie which is piled high with apples.  They are flat, about 3/4 inch thick with a very flaky crust, top and bottom, also sprinkled with sugar and cinammon.  DELICIOUS!  The reason I bought 2 is one for us and one for my husband's cousin. We were going to visit them after we finished in Vegas and it is his birthday. I thought an apple pie was perfect to celebrate his birthday with him and his wife.

Later as I perused all the vendors wares, "Lo and Behold!" there was a quilting frame for sale!  YAY! I had recently got one for myself, but my daughter in law was looking for one. I immediately bought it, only $30. I thought it was a bargain. It is in great shape. It isn't one of the fancy ones, just pieces of wood to put together.  But, very functional and my daughter in law really needed one.

Needless to say, the apple pie was a hit, the quilting frame was a hit and it didn't start raining until we got home!  What a great and perfect day!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!

Hope everyone has a safe and sober Fourth of July! Enjoy the fireworks, have a great barbecue, play with your kids, your family and take lots of pictures! Have lots of fun! It's the greatest day to play or relax and do nothing! Love it!!

We will be driving up to Eagle Nest to enjoy the fireworks display provided by the town every year. Since it has been so dry here in New Mexico, they banned private fireworks this year. But the show in Eagle Nest is spectacular!

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Hailstones!

Yesterday we went to visit my husband's cousin. He lives just 7 miles down the road and up the mountain. We wanted him to meet our youngest son, who was visiting for a few days.

Just as we drove into his yard, it started hailing, hailing and increasing in amount and size. By the time we dashed up the stairs to the porch, they were a mixture of  sizes of nickels and quarters. Ouch! I was lucky enough to not get hit by the "quarters" but my husband, his cousin were not as lucky. Our car was pelted for over 20 minutes by this surprise storm.  We were expecting rain, but not hail!

It was over as quickly as it had started. . . no rain, the clouds parted, and the sun shone so brightly on the melting hail in the trees. So much so that it looked like they were decked out in diamonds all over.  So beautiful!

My son met a cousin he did not know about or had met before. We chatted and were served home made flour tortillas wrapped around some home made refried beans with cheese.  Great burritos! Sun tea,  iced and sweetened made lunch perfect!

After lunch we took a walk further up the mountain to check out the progress on his guest cabin that he is building.  Beautiful work! It has a loft! I would love to be a kid and sleep up there!! LOL!!

After the cabin tour, we left for the town of Mora, another 7 miles down the mountain. That is our local town to get basic supplies like gas and Ice Cream! Yummy!

All in all it was a very nice day. This morning, I got an early start and was missing my son because his visit was so short. He left yesterday after the ice cream.  So this a.m. I immersed myself in my sewing and cutting some scraps into triangles, squares, and strings for the basket weave quilts. Yes, I said quilts! I have decided that I will make only basket weave quilts for my children. That way there is no complaining about colors or styles! LOL!  So, I will be cutting my scraps and sewing basket weave string blocks for a while!!

Monday, July 1, 2013

Taking a Break

My youngest son came to visit for three days! YAY!

He got here yesterday. Even though we live in the same state, we don't get to see each other very often. So, a visit from him is so very special; as is all visits from my children and grandchildren.

Since he is here and won't leave until Tuesday afternoon, I will be taking a break from quilting. I will add another post on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning when I will get back to quilting.  At that time, I hope to take a break from my string basket weave quilt and finish the baby quilt that I am making for the neighbor's granddaughter.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

More Blocks! More Blocks!


As you can see above, I am still making blocks for my "Basket Weave" quilt. I have been working diligently for the past 4 days on finishing it.  I found out that it wasn't quite big enough to drape over my double bed. So back to making blocks again!

In the picture above you can see that I have been busy sewing and now comes the trimming down to the size of my foundation paper.  My foundation papers (local telephone book) measure 4 1/2" square. Of course you can make your foundation paper any size you want. But, my leftover scraps seem to best work at 4 1/2".

So once I finish trimming these blocks, I will start adding on to the quilt to make it larger, then I will add the border and finish it.  I am undecided whether to add a wine colored border and keep the quilt for my bedroom.  Or add a lavender border and give it to my daughter since she has been asking for a quilt for a long long time!  I will probably give it to her, LOL!