As we traveled down the two-lane highway on our return home from Lincoln, Nebraska I had set the repairs and hand quilting aside since I just couldn't do it anymore. My hands were a little tired and my eyes said "no more" - they would no longer focus clearly as we moved down the slightly bumpy highway.
You know that saying about having enough coffee to thread a sewing machine while it is running? I felt like that was what I was doing most of the day since the two-lane highway wasn't silky smooth. Threading the needle and trying so carefully to take the proper sized stitches and getting the needle in the right place... all a challenge. And I was done with it.
I took in the view and the smells of the freshly cut fields of hay...
I was taken back in time to my childhood and my days in 4-H and "fair time".
I participated with some of the home economics classes like sewing, knitting and crocheting. There was an interview and the fashion revue. I can't recall if it was my first year of second year of 4-H but the date and time for the interview was mid-week and in the afternoon in a small town about 30 minutes from our house.
Now, as a child I don't EVER remember showing up late for anything. I mean ANYTHING. My parents were prompt people and taught me that if you are 5 minutes early, you are on time. And 10 minutes early was even better.
Back to the interview day... I remember running down the stairs from my bedroom and interrupting Mom's tv time (General Hospital) asking "Isn't today the interview for 4-H?"
She jumped up off the couch and told me to change my clothes and get ready. FAST! Now remember it usually took 30 minutes to get to the extension office... I know that she was speeding... and praying that a state patrol didn't stop her. We made it there in record time! In just 20 minutes she dropped me to run in while she parked the car.
I had made it in the nick of time! Keep in mind that there were many afternoons that I would spend at the pool, so the fact that I was home was a big surprise.
I don't remember much else. I don't remember how the interview went. I don't remember how my projects did... though I know I had a Grand Champion, a Reserve Grand Champion and a couple first places but I could not tell you what projects they went with. There was a long skirt for Sewing I, some small projects for Knitting I and Crocheting I... and I was the only one from our club to go on the next year with Knitting II.
It's been a few years since then... whew!
And apparently I really liked red and purple... I remember wanting to use the two colors together in a project and was told no by both my Mom and the knitting instructor. I was just ahead of the trend of the red hat society ladies! haha!
There were some gorgeous sunrises and sunsets over the fields...
A friend from high school still lives in the "neighborhood" where I grew up. I say neighborhood loosely because the closest neighbors were a good distance away. She lives about 1-1/2 miles from my childhood home... she took the pictures below.
And my second block caught me dreaming of an upcoming trip that Dave and I are planning for late February along the Gulf Coast of Texas... Sand and Sea.
We have had some suggestions from friends...
"Corpus has some really nice museums, and good beaches, and there is Surfside RV Park & Resort if you are camping. And the USS Lexington aircraft carrier is there to explore, if you like that sort of thing. Galveston has a great beach and beachfront area, great architecture to see just walking around the historic area as well as historic home tour, a couple of gardens you can tour, fishing piers, an entertainment pier and a state park."
"Mustang Island State Park has just opened for beach camping again."
"Definitely check out the ferry ride in Galveston bay. It’s free and you might see dolphins among all the bird varieties!"
"Kemah, just north of Galveston, is kinda’ nice. Quaint shops and a boardwalk with restaurants (and beer for Dave). Been there a few times."
Do you know of any additional "Must See" attractions?
Do you know anything about the space center? Where is it located? Are there tours?
Leave a comment to let me know. I'd love to hear from you!
Stay Piece-full,
Melva
Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series
Linking with:
BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Main Crush Monday at Cookin’ Up Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
A Time For All Seasons BOM at Sew Incredibly Crazy
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WOW at Esther's Quilt Blog
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
A Time For All Seasons BOM at Sew Incredibly Crazy
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WOW at Esther's Quilt Blog
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese
Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Sounds like a good trip. No help here on visiting Texas. Only was there once on a layover.
ReplyDeleteIt's not far from Galveston https://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/space-center-houston/19562/?gclid=CjwKCAjwtO7qBRBQEiwAl5WC28l58untMYdFCYc5EswbBzZHYYhnLFT_KFa8qNIe_NXwKELRkUZrQBoClkEQAvD_BwE
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteIt looks like you had a nice trip. Pretty sunrises/sunsets and sweet blocks!
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing your 4-H projects! I am embarrassed to confess that I don't understand exactly what 4-H is, though. Is it kind of like Girl Scouts? Red and purple together are one of my FAVORITE combinations, too!
ReplyDeleteI don't know the local attractions of the Gulf coast area, though I've been to Galveston once, many years ago. When Paul and I stayed in that area, only one year, we stayed in Magic Valley Park in Weslaco, and we liked it. They had all the usual amenities and lots of clubs going in the winter - though I didn't go to any. LOL. Report on the Park. Bear in mind that was over ten years ago, though. I did drive over to a great quilt shop in Harlingen, Texas, closer to the coast, and went to a quilt show in Pharr, west of Weslaco, so there is quilt activity down that way. It's the wrong time of year to watch them burn the sugar cane fields, which is quite an event and amazing if you didn't grow up with it. The flames leap dozens of feet in the air sometimes.
ReplyDeleteGotta check out the worlds largest fishing rod while you are in the neighborhood. Nice story and I look forward to the additional blocks. Thank you for linking up to Put your foot down.
ReplyDeleteHi, Melva :) I'm not familiar with Texas at all, but Scott is from Grand Island, so I *am* familiar with Nebraska roads. It can be so pretty.
ReplyDeleteFun blocks, but unfortunately I can't help with attractions.
ReplyDeleteI just love reading your stories! Thanks for sharing your blocks on Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of 4-H, so I was interested to research that a little further, and I enjoyed your trip down memory lane. Your latest log cabins ably capture the colours and feel of your trip and trip to come, lovely.
ReplyDelete