Fort Stockton to San Antonio, TX

Bob and I have been hitting some strong winds on our trip. In Van Horn, TX the winds blew so hard that the flapping of our slide toppers kept me awake all night since they sound like a herd of cattle milling around and bumping into the coach. I was able to keep the AC fan on all night when we reached Fort Stockton, which masked the sound quite well. 

We love Fort Stockton’s sign, visible from our campground.

On Thursday we drove 330 miles to San Antonio, TX, a long drive for us. The topography changed from desert to the green Hill Country along the way.

We settled in and drove over to my sister Gail’s house where we had a lovely dinner with Gail and our brother in law, Mark. Their daughter Michelle and hubby Toby have just had their first baby, Jocelyne. Isn’t our new grand-niece adorable?

On Wednesday we visited our good friends Kathy and Ron. It had been three years since we saw them last and we had  blast catching up. They took us to see a fiber arts show nearby where we saw some very inspiring handmade clothing.

Afterwards Ron drove us just south of Fredericksburg, TX where we were able to see bluebonnets. This is the state flower of Texas, and it’s appearance results in folks coming from all over to catch a glimpse, much like the fall “leaf peepers” in New England who drive up to see the colorful foliage. I can see why. The wildflowers are beautiful this time of year.

At one point we were visited by a donkey who wanted to see if we were giving out free food. When he sniffed Auggie in the car he backed up and bit the car window. Auggie slept through the encounter, and I noted that’s why he has been retired from being a service dog! His vision and hearing just aren’t what they used to be.

We had a delightful lunch at a restaurant in Fredericksburg afterwards. Bob and I would like to spend some time in this area one day! Kathy and Ron pointed out a Sunday House which is a neat piece of Texan history. If you have a minute, click on the link and read all about them.

All too soon it was time to head back to San Antonio and we said goodbye to our friends until next year,

My Keel Loom

This morning Bob and I left New Mexico and drove almost four hours to the little town of Van Horn, Texas. Van Horn is a town that has little to offer except a place to get off the road when you’re on the way to someplace else. We leave tomorrow morning for Fort Stockton, Texas.

I wanted to share about my new loom that Bob made for me. On Ravelry, the inkle weaving group has been discussing Keel Looms, which are built using the plans found in the book “Small Looms in Action,” by Elizabeth Jensen. The “keel” refers to the way the loom’s base hangs down, allowing the weaver to hold it between their thighs to weave. Before we left Mesa I asked Bob to build me one, which he did. The book calls for 1/2” furniture grade plywood to be used, but Bob instead took scraps of wood in different varieties to build it, along with 3/8” dowels. 

Isn’t it sweet? I modified the plans to include a tension peg rather than use moveable dowel pegs to tension the warp. And it weaves very well! I am able to get almost a yard of finished inkle band from it.

I’m going to have a lot of fun with this little loom.

New Mexico Fun

Bob and I have been having a lot of fun in NM. On Monday we drove back to Palomas, MX to get my permanent crown from the dentist. It went smoothly and we had a nice lunch afterwards (I recommend the veggie tacos without cheese and a margarita,) and enjoyed some shopping. 

On Tuesday I felt like checking out some local shops so I popped into the Yarn Emporium in Deming. There I met a most delightful woman, Judy, who owns the shop.

Judy and I shared so many interests and we had a blast talking fiber arts. And the shop was a real inspiration—a must-see if you find yourself anywhere near the area. Judy specializes in yarns for weaving and knitting and she is a Louet dealer, too.

I also visited Sew-N-Sew quilt shop in town, which had a very nice selection of quilting fabrics. The store was full of women who had driven in from Las Cruces for shopping and lunch. It was fun listening to their conversations as I shopped.

On Wednesday Bob and I visited the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum, considered by many to be the best museum in New Mexico. It features so many aspects of the area’s history, including the Mimbres, a prehistoric tribe which was part of the Mogollon (pronounced Muggy-on) people who settled in the area. The museum has a fine collection of Mimbres pottery. You may note that many of the Mimbres bowls have holes in the bottom. These were former cooking bowls that were later placed over the face after the individual died, the hole being punched out to allow the soul to escape. The museum also features paintings, quilts, woven blankets, toy trains, dolls, vehicles, gems, and household items from historical times.

On Wednesday afternoon Bob and I checked out a local winery, Lescombes Winery & Tasting Room where we sampled some of their red wines and bought a few bottles to take home. A delightful day, one we will not soon forget. So much to see here.

From Tucson to Mexico

 I had almost forgotten how much fun traveling can be. On Saturday, Linda and I set out to find some fun places to visit. I was saddened to learn that SAS Fabrics had closed, and that Grandma’s Spinning Wheel was only allowing people in by appointment, one person at a time. I feel guilty just browsing when I’m only one of three people per hour shopping, plus Linda and I wanted to go in together, so we crossed that place off my list. Instead, we went to The West, a volunteer-run store specializing in needlework supplies and gifts. I have rekindled my interest in tatting lately so I wanted to see what they had. As it turned out, they didn’t have tatting supplies except for a couple of shuttles but they did have some nice scissors I needed. Next we drove over to the Quilt Basket, a great shop with beautiful fabrics and lots of samples to tempt a sewer. No tatting supplies, though. We realized that we were in the same plaza as Grandma’s Spinning Wheel so we decided to knock on the door without an appointment. We explained to the saleswoman that we were both fully vaccinated so she let us in together. Nice! We both found some small items we had to have.

After that, it was on to Pita Jungle where we sat outside and enjoyed a lovely lunch. This was the first time either of us had eaten at a restaurant in over a year and we enjoyed it thoroughly, sitting outside on the deck with a pleasant breeze. The food was great!

Later we returned to the park and had fun hanging out together with the menfolk, checking out their new motor coach and seeing the trains run, just for us.

This park has a very active railroad club of which Chuck and Linda are members, but usually when we visit the trains have been put away for the season, so this was a real treat.

On Sunday it was time to say goodbye, and Bob and I headed off down the road to Deming, NM. We’ll be here for the next couple of weeks.

And on Monday we drove 45 minutes south to Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua, Mexico to get our teeth cleaned. I also needed a root canal which I’ve been putting off for a while. It’s been two years since we’ve been to Mexico and the town was pretty quiet. We were told that the vaccine rollout has been slow and this affects tourism here.

After our appointments, Bob and I ate lunch at the Pink Store and shopped a little before driving home to Auggie. We’ll go back next week for my permanent crown. In the meantime, Bob is going over the motor home with a fine toothed comb and I’m finding things to do as well. 

Traveling!

 Bob and I have been working hard packing everything up and moving things into the motor home. We finished Thursday and left about 1:00 for our first trip in a year and a half. It felt good! We drove about 2 hours to Tucson and have settled in through the weekend, visiting our friends Chuck and Linda (and their Corgi, Tucker.) It was so good to see them after such a long time. We hung out all afternoon and into the evening, then this morning we all drove to the Sonoran Desert Museum. 

This is a place we haven’t been to since we were here years ago with our friends, Mike and Retha. It was a beautiful day and we walked all throughout the museum (most of which is outdoors.) They have quite a nice collection of local plants and animals, plus gorgeous vistas.

Afterwards we stopped at a restaurant and bought some takeout food which we ate back at Chuck and Linda’s house. Linda and I did a little local shopping and we have decided to shop a bit more tomorrow. It has been so long since we’ve done that, and we are looking forward to a girls’ day out.

To Idaho and Back

Last week I flew to Idaho to visit my daughter Emily, her husband Anthony, and their four children. I felt like the groundhog coming out of his hole after a long long winter! And I did not see my shadow. A lot of people have asked me what it was like to get on a plane right now, so I’ll tell you.

My flight north was at 6:15 am and only had 38 people on it. I arrived two hours before and was pretty much the only person in the airport except for TSA agents. I breezed through security and found my terminal. When it came time to board, we were all waved forward in no order and we could sit with seats between us. Not so on the way back, a flight with an 11:40 am departure. The plane was completely full. I got an aisle seat next to two people who slept the whole way. Apparently Southwest no longer attempts to socially distance their passengers.

I tried not to touch surfaces like the tray table. People were good about leaving their masks on. No one took our temperature. The only time we were asked if we felt healthy was when we checked in online. Having had the 2 doses of vaccine, though (plus two weeks) I felt pretty safe.

And the visit was just wonderful. What a joy to be able to hug family again. Emily and Anthony picked me up at the airport and I had four fabulous days playing with the kiddos and visiting with the adults.

Little Luca was as adorable as his pictures and the girls and I enjoyed painting, making things from clay, paper beading, and playing games. I had brought Silas a book that he loved and asked for throughout the day, and he liked his Jungle Buddies. I cooked meals so they wouldn’t have to and baked bread. Such fun!

The weather was a bit off and on, with rain sometimes, a little hail one day, and then bright sunshine the rest of the time. Sunday was nice and we drove into Boise to visit the zoo. The older kids had a great time running around and little Luca was snug in his stroller, sleeping the whole time.

All too soon it was time to leave but I back brought with me a lot of great memories. We’ll see them again in August when we drive the motor home to Idaho on our way back to Arizona.

Bob and Auggie missed me but were happy to see me home again. And now we have the big move to do. Six months is a long time to be away from all my activities so they come with us, and that means a lot of work. Yesterday we had a guy come and wash the motor home so I stayed in and sewed up a couple pairs of cropped pants. And made pizza. Now the pants are done and I will be spending a lot of time each day lugging things over to the MH. Ugh. I really don’t enjoy this part, and it’s harder because we haven’t done it in eighteen months. But it will get done.

Traveling Time

I hope you all are doing well. It’s hard to believe the pandemic started one year ago this week and it became real to me when I started sewing masks for my grandchildren. I remember it being very upsetting to think that they would have to experience this. Now hopefully we are coming out the other side of it. And after making 178 masks, I’m ready to stop making them.

Bob and I have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and our bodies handled it well. In a couple of days we’ll be past the 2 weeks post-shot and can consider ourselves immune, or a least safe from a serious case.

Our daughter, Emily has had her baby! Little Luca was born Thursday afternoon at home, with his family around him. At 8 lbs, 13 ounces, he’s a good sized little fellow, and mother and baby are doing well.

I can’t wait to meet him, which I’ll be doing on Friday because I’m flying to Idaho to visit and help out for a few days. The timing here was crucial...my immunity had to be complete and we will be getting the motor home out of storage in a week and a half in preparation for our trip east, so there really was no wiggle room with our dates. I’m so excited! Bob really wanted to come but we decided it would be best if he and Auggie stayed back. Auggie is 15 years old now and we don’t think he’d handle the stress of a plane ride very well.

I’ve been knitting, sewing, and weaving like crazy the past several months. Here’s what I sent off to Luca:

A pin loom baby blanket

A tiny teddy bear, a crocheted doughnut rattle, booties, hat, mittens, a little mouse...

...and some Norwex baby items. Some things I forgot to photograph. Today I made him some pants. But they are a surprise so I can’t show you.

Bob made Luca a wooden baby rattle—it’s beautiful.

Bob has been busy making other things as well. Here he’s working on a bowl, and you can see the wishing well he built for our front yard. He made the bucket, too!

And here is the handle he made for one of my favorite spatulas. 

Once I get back from Idaho we’ll start loading up the motor home and closing down the house. It’s a big job. I don’t leave any food in Arizona, and most of our clothes will come as well. Even though we’ll be heading into summer we may hit some cold weather on our way back this fall. And I bring a lot of crafting things as well. Ah well...

We are looking forward to our trip across country. Stay tuned! I’ll be blogging more often as we get back on the road.