Confederate Rose

Two years ago, Gene gave me a small cutting from her Confederate Rose bush.  I put it in water and was able to get it to root.  It grew like crazy!  I put it in the ground on one side of the grill house and it became big but didn't bloom.  I figured it was because it didn't get enough sun.  So, last Spring when it was coming back from dying back for the winter, I moved it.  I put it on the other side of the opening of the grill house.  Well!!!!!  it grew like crazy and now it's to big to be there.  Looks like I'm going to have to move it again.  Come Spring, I'll move it down to the end of the drive way and it can grow as big as it wants.  At least it bloomed this year.  It's loaded with blooms!  It's the neatest plant ever.  The flowers start out being white and in a couple of days, they go from white, to light pink, to red.  It's such a fun plant to have.  You have three different colored flowers on one plant at the same time.  Thanks Gene for sharing another part of being fun to live in Alabama.

Red/White/Blue Block Exchange

My quilt block 

fun border

Label ....stars quilting pattern

The Quilt Guild did another block exchange this year.  This time it was red/white/blue blocks.  There were 16 of us that participated. I had bought the panel with the eagle in the middle of it on one of my Mississippi trips with the girls.  It ended up being perfect for this quilt.  We are suppose to bring our quilts for " show n tell" for our December meeting.  There is going to be a contest with judges from outside of the quild.  There will be first, second and third prizes.  Sure glad I won't be a judge.  The women in our guild are the best quilt makers around...believe me.  I don't even have a chance, but it was fun making my quilt.  Won't it be pretty on the guest room bed come the month of July!!!

Halloween Quilt

the computer doesn't seem to like this pic turned the right way

Yesterday we drove out to the country quilt shop to pick up my Halloween quilt that Marilyn had quilted on the long arm for me.  When we got there, she had a surprise for me.  She had both of my quilts that I took to her, done. I was so excited to see my Halloween quilt.  It turned out awesome!  She said she could have sold it at least ten times while it was on the frame being quilted.  That tickled me.  Not that I would EVER sell it.  Just too much work has been put into it.  I hand stitched all of the embroidery scenes on it, while I was down and out from my surgery this summer. For the binding, I sewed strips of the different kinds of fabric I had used in the center, together.  It brings out the different colors of the quilt.    The quilting pattern that I picked turned out great.  All of the stitching makes up little Halloween designs.  You can't really see them on the front of the quilt but you certainly can on the back.  To date, this is my favorite quilt that I have made so far.  I'm sure I will change my mind, once I get all the others done.  Now, to bind my " red/white/cream block exchange" quilt next.

Back to Tuscumbia

Downtown on a Sunday afternoon

Our favorite little bookstore/coffee cafe.

Stage coach stop

Right after a late Sunday morning breakfast on the back porch, it started to rain.  Michelle, headed for home and we enjoyed a " do nothing type of day".  That is until Fred suggested we drive over to Tuscumbia  and go to the little book store/coffee cafe.  Tuscumbia is a fun little town.  After we enjoyed our coffee and the complimentary pastries, it stopped raining.  We took advantage of it and walked around the wonderful park with all of the geese and ducks in the pond.   On the way out of town, we went by the old stage coach stop house.  It's so fun imagining what life was like when you see things from the 1800's.  It ended up being a really nice rainy Sunday.  

Short Springs, TN.

60 foot waterfall

The fall was a lot higher than it looks in the pic

What a way to spend a Saturday!  It can't get any better than this!! Michelle drove down from Nashville early Saturday morning only for us to "carry" her back to Tennessee.  As soon as she got out of her car, we were ready to load up and drive a little over an hour to a wonderful park in Tennessee that had amazing waterfalls.  The hike took you by a stream with canyons and small waterfalls with amazing things to stop and look at.  At the end of the trail, there it was!  A 60 foot, moss covered waterfall!!  I think it was one of the prettiest ones we've ever seen.  It seems like we can always find something new to see when Fred and Elaine come to visit.  Not only are most of them " free" but we end up getting some great exercise, seeing them.

The Other Half of Hurricane Creek

nope...this isn't George!

Chuck on the dry dam

Is the " butt" going to fit?

sure was dark in there!

what a fun tunnel!

Brother and Sister

time for a rest

Fred and Elaine were baaaaack!  It's been awhile.  The last time they were here was just before my surgery.  Now, that's a long time for Fred and Elaine not to come up.  We missed them.  The first day they were here, we went back to Hurricane Creek since we had only hiked half of it the last time they were here.  At the starting point, I spotted this yellow, George kitty.  Didn't take me to long to get it to come to me.  ( just call me the kitty whisper)  There was a tunnel and a " fat man squeeze"  to explore that we hadn't seen before.  It was a fun first day of exploring with Fred and Elaine.  We just never know what we're going to end up doing on their visits.

At Little Bit of Fall

I decided to do a little bit of Fall decorating today.  I figured the gate post needed to say " Happy Fall" as you turn into Brambly Pines.  So, Chuck and I walked over to the corn field next door to cut a few corn stocks.  ( yes, we checked with the neighbors first)  The field was harvested a couple of weeks ago and they left one little area where the corn didn't do too well.  Sure makes decorating handy when your neighbors provide you with the corn stocks and corn.  The weather man said  with each new cold front that is heading this way, the weather would get colder.  I think it's time to change out my closet.  Happy Fall Y'all!!

Wine Walls ???

Remember the wine bottle walls?  Now they are nothing but three piles of wine bottles.  They had to come down to get the TT past them.  Yes, they will be rebuilt.  I just have to figure out where they should go.  Maybe a fence around my new studio's yard?  Have to think about that one.  Mean time, it looks like a couple of " Winos" live at Brambly Pines...ha.