Starry Log Cabin QOV and !! Finished!! ( or not) Friday!!!!

Happy Happy Friday!!

Hope you had a super Quilty Fun filled Week!!!

We had winter and spring all in the same days - so we made sure to go ride horses and fix fences during the spring part of the day, and try to be inside on the winter part of the day. We messed up Tuesday - and rode in the wind. Wind is not all that bad sometimes, its the sand that blow with it.

On the other hand - my face is very smooth after all that sand hit it haha!

last year at one of our QOV Sew Days and with our online group we made these Little Log Cabins... and this week - I got some of them put into a top!

I tried to use the ones with darker fabric to make the star in the middle, and fill in with the lighter ones. - I think it turned out pretty cool... We also tried to take the photos outside, but remember that wind?

Its not to nice to soft cloth!!!  But we tried haha

I also finished this book - it is on Amazon Kindle *Click here to see it* 

I kind of liked it - the lady loses the ability to recognize faces and it changes the way she loves her life - its interesting. I think that would make quilting very interesting....

And I got to quilt some amazingly fun quilts from my clients - this one - Man I just loved the wild color play in it - and the stripes - brought it all together!!!

Alright - it that time in the post for YOU !!! SHOW off - what did you finish? Not Finish?  Show off and let us celebrate what you did!!! 

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Escape to Belize - Secret Beach

We had heard about this place called Secret Beach and thought we would like to head out a see what it really was... Just a hint - It was NOT secret!!! 

It is, however, the other side of the island and was awesome. There are a bunch of bars/restaurants along the beach. They have lounges and chairs and tables in the water - you pick your spot, put your feet up - and relax!

We chose our chairs and settled in... and we also swam, and had a drink out at the tables in the water, and just chilled.... 

I did, of course, take a photo of the Thatched roof over my head, I made some friends from Missesota, they were smart and were escaping the cold too. 

The waiters come by about every 3-5 minutes ( I exaggerate) to make sure you have every thing you need. Its pretty nice - I ordered fish for lunch. K ordered lobster. I am not sure what I was expecting, but I don't think it was the whole fish. I think I was expecting a fish steak, like a cross section - it made me laugh.

So of Course K had to skin it, and debone it and get it ready for me to eat..... But it was yummy!!!

That was a great way to spend the morning/afternoon. We didn't stay too long after lunch, there is only so much sitting around a person can do.

we headed back to our place - and walked the shoreline

Then we had to get ready to leave..... that was sad. I am one that is good for about 5 days, then I want to be back home. This time - I could have stayed another week. We were gone 8 days, and it didn't seem that long!

if you remember my beginning, after landing in Belize city - you take a water taxi or a puddle jumper to the Caye - we took the Water taxi. For our way back - we took the plane!!! THAT!!! was awesome. and less wet, and only 15 minutes ( compared to the 1 1 /2 hours)

I had a birds eye view, and really really wanted to help them land... but they didn't need me. 

Now to plan our next years trip - what's a favorite place you've been that you would recommend to not super seasoned international travelers. I mean - I have my passport - I should use it right???

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My Month of Yellow!!! and Finished ( or not) Friday!!

 The Month of Yellow is coming to a close.. that was a fun happy color to play with, and of course - I used a lot of bright yellow. I must have wanted to urge Spring along!!

Here is what I got done!!:

My Yellow Diamond Chain/Buckeye Beauty is now a top!  I think I found a back, but I am not sure that is the one I want to use, and I have  few client quilts scheduled first - so you know - sorta better do those first 😇

I got 11 Yellow Crumb Blocks completed- but!! 

I also started these wonky logs!! I just love them - 

There is actually 14, but one didn't get its photo taken because I forgot it was in process when I took the photo. 

Now my yellows are a lot lighter in the scrap bin, the lid could close if I wanted it to... but who wants to do that - Another color is going to be called soon - so you know - it needs to be open to the possibilities!!!

My helper - she supervises all projects, and gives her opinion. Its when she barks that I really worry I'm using the wrong color!!

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Escape to Belize - Lamanai Mayan Temples

 We wanted to do a little more exploring of the Mayan Culture - there are a lot of sites there on Belize, and into Costa Rica. We decided to go back to the Mainland and head to a site called Lamanai.

It was one of the oldest, continuously inhabited sites, and they think it was inhabited until about 1600's.

But to get to it -

we woke up at 4:30 again and headed to the Ferry

Thats us - we were a little tired still.... but check out our boat 👇  Thats the ferry you take to the mainland - and the sun was coming up - it was SO pretty... and a little wet - 

We got to Belize City and were ( was?) Picked up by our driver - he took us to the Orange Walk - and we boarded a smaller boat - along with 9 other people ....

For a Great ride up the river!!! 

Three of the other folks were from England. They were there working on a conservation project, but the man was an avid bird watcher. So we got to stop and see a lot of crazy birds along the river. I apparently have good eyes, since I was the one who spyed such things. I was told to just raise my hand every time I saw a bird or a iguana - and if I saw a crocodile they would be very happy . I found a baby one....

And then - we arrived!!!!

The men who drove the boat served as our tour guides, they were also brothers. Oh! and they were also of Mayan descent.  This is the first temple he took us to - the boys started climbing right away. I might have waited a bit - I wanted to see them at the top first!

They made it!!! so I went up too - you just had to see how high it really was. And remember the original mayans were short - my son is 6'7" and he had to stretch on some of those steps!!

Hope you aren't afraid of Heights????

This one was the Jaguar Temple - this was the Jaguar. There was one on both sides. have you ever played angry birds?  For some reason these reminded me of that game.

I believe the one below is called the High Temple - it isn't climbable - which is probably okay - I think he said it was over 100ft tall.... to get to it you hiked back, and there was a ball court - where they played games.

This one ( above and below) is the Mask Temple - These masks are made differently and he said they probably had kept working on this temple up to the abandonment of the place.

They said they found the site in the early 1900's but the major excavations didn't begin until the 1970's

The high priests and the elite lived around the temples - then the outer layer was the peasants - the house below is what they lived in. I have to say it is not very big. The three of us pretty much filled the room. So I am guessing they were more of and outdoor culture...

Our guides mother made us Stewed chicken, rice, beans and plantains -that we ate for lunch and then got back on our boat to ride up the Orange walk....

We made it back to Belize city in time to catch the ferry - and see the sun set on our way.

After my last experience with jungle rains on the mainland - I took a change of clothes in my backpack!! ( You could leave it in your drivers car) just to make sure I wasn't going to be soaking wet on the way back to our house.... Smart right??

We have a few more days to vacation - so there's a few more photos to share!!

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A QOV presentation and a chance meeting...

 The weekend after we got back ... found me at a Veterans Breakfast.

I was still sort of on Island Time, so I think I was a little more relaxed. I don't get *Nervous* as much as I get *antsy* before presentations anymore. I try really hard to rehearse in my head, but sometimes... there's a lot of empty space in there... and things bounce around haha

it also happened to be International Women's Day - which I did not know - but things have a way or working out:

Check that out - THREE Women in our group this time, a Marine, Army and Army active Duty 

So this part was funny - the girl on the far right, that is her husband next to her. He did not really know what she had nominated him for (he is also still active duty) . I did my presentation and was helping them put their quilts back in the pillowcase - and he says - Man - My wife sometimes gets my nominated for stupid things - but I have to say - this is ONE OF THE COOLEST things she has ever nominated me for... his eyes were a little leaky ;-)

Made my day!

And now my Chance Meeting: ( its a little long)

I was at the grocery store, and I opened the case to grab a cottage cheese. A lady reached in to grab hers, and her husband said – Hey!! Where did you get that Sweatshirt? Are you a Marine?

Gulp, I said No Sir, this is my son’s sweatshirt, he is a Marine. And we proceeded to chit chat there in front of the dairy case for about 30 minutes. He told me all about his 17 years in the Marine Corp – including three tours in Vietnam.

Then he said he wondered if my son could get him a cover for his uniform. So I got his email, and asked my son. All the time – pretending that I knew what he was talking about.  My son did though, so it made me look smart.  He got one purchased and mailed to me.

Well – I asked that Marine and his wife if we could take them to lunch and make the delivery of said cover. I might have asked if they knew what a Quilt of Valor was in the process of all the emails we exchanged.

We met for lunch. He is an amazing Veteran, and his wife – just the sweetest. I gave him the cover; we talked for an hour over ice cream and burgers.

I finally said – well – I brought you something else. And I proceeded to tell him about Quilts of Valor. I said to him that 17 years in the service as an artillery guy was quite impressive, and now knowing more about his service, I was honored to be able to award him this quilt: made by our wonderful group of quilters. And you know what?

I did my job – Brought him to tears. (Which truly is not my intent, but when it happens I know some healing is taking place) He told me that in all his years, he had never been thanked like this and he continued to look at it, and touch it, and talk about all the different fabrics used.

Then he turned to his wife and said it was time for them to get home. He felt a nap coming on and needed to use his new quilt.

Totally made my day! And maybe redeemed me for only being the Mom of a Marine?

Needless to say – I added another Marine to my family over this lunch.

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Escape to Belize - Beach Day

 After our Snorkeling, 1 Mayan Ruin, Ziplining and cave tubing  - we decided it was time for a beach day... a whole day on our beach.

Yep - we had our own beach!!!!

This is from our beach looking at our house. We had Paddle boards, kayaks and our snorkel gear, as well as lounges and soda and water - it was great!!!

A coconut Tree - this is important for later in the day... remember them!!

This is Conch ( pronounced Conk) he was our native dog. Which was very nice, because as you know - I sort of like dogs. He didn't know any tricks, but he went just about anywhere I went. I love him 

I sat on the beach for a while, we snorkeled a lot. you are on a Key/Reef system so its not that deep - even 30 feet out you could still stand up. 

But everyone needs to head back to the house every so often - this was my view from the deck.

Not a bad one!!!  ( that black thing is the roof of our golf cart - remember every one drives golf carts - there are VERY few cars on the island)

Another friend  (the iguana) K was in a Hammock and one ran under him and up the tree!!

We also sent fishing from the pier. We had our own pier about 100 yards away. So J - the caretakers son took us fishing off of it. That was a lot of fun. 

Remember the coconut trees?   Coconut Water!!!! Fresh from the tree. its supposed to be very healthy, so to be honest, I didn't really care for it. I put mine in the fridge, and liked it a lot better cold. But I just like regular water ...

I leave you with one more Beach photo...  We had to be up bright and early again the next day - of course, we have another adventure to head out to.... 

I will tell you I loved the relaxing day. We are not so good at relaxing - you probably aren't either. Its hard when you know you have things to do/ This day.... I mastered it!!!!

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