By the sea

I finished the hand quilting on my mermaid quilt. I wanted to work on it as I sat beside the ocean. 

I love the process of making quilts from beginning to end. I will put the binding on this when we get home.

The embroidered squares added to the fun.

The back of the quilt is unique also.

It looking like the perfect day here for some beach sitting.

b

Coastal

We are on the gulf for a month of sun and fun. The first night here there were fresh caught shrimp on my plate.

There is always a small knitting project and a good book beside my chair.

b

 

The sun will come out

 tomorrow. We have been having chilly temperatures here in Texas but tomorrow we could be back on the golf course and in the pool.

In the meantime I have been doing a lot of handwork and reading here in the camper.

I love the colors of this afghan. There are several more colors to add.

We are looking forward to the Gulf of Mexico next week.   b

Hello Joe

                         We made a trip to Trader Joe's and I love this place. 

These plants were outdoors. Back in south dakota it is a negative temperature.

I'm going to enjoy this salsa with chips in my lawn chair outdoors. I hope you dont think I'm weather shaming you with this post.

b

Just create

I enjoy looking at the account Where Women Create which got me to thinking about where I create. It's a little challenging here in the camper. Thank goodness some of my creating can be done in a small space although I do miss my sewing machines.

Hand quilting, knitting and embroidery can all be done here on the couch. The back window provides a lot of light.

 

Mr b and I take turns at the small table. He does his paint-by-number here. He also misses his tools and mostly his wood lathe.

But a short break allows a person's creative juices to flow again.

b

Bohemian grunge

I was thrilled to visit the flagship store of Magnolia Pearl in Fredericksburg, Texas yesterday.We have been hoping to catch it open for six years.

It's designer Robin Brown definitely is in a league all her own.

While I was admiring the fashions worn by celebrities like Taylor Swift and Johnnie Depp, Mr. b was busy looking at the architecture of the building.

Everything including the building is repurposed.

As is most of the fashions she creates.

I'm about 50 years to late for this look but it was a lot of fun to see.

b

Super Bowl

 Did you watch the big game last night? I honestly tried but I just don't get it. Then I turned the half time show on and I'm not into rap. The commercials? Well honestly I'm to serious for that kind of silly.

We did however help make a super bowl of soup. We brought pheasant that our kids hunted and made Wild Rice Pheasant Soup. Minnesota wild rice isnt easy to find in Texas either. My brother wanted to treat his Texas friends to a Dakota specialty.

This soup is so good it should be served under glass. A quart of cream, a half pound of butter, bacon and more. 

Insert: Flour sack towel I just finished.

I hope these texans appreciated the effort this soup took from one border to the other.

Side note: Happy birthday Mr. b

b

His and hers

 My hand quilting project at the moment...

 He finally got set up for painting here in our camper.

 b

Make do

 I had a rotisserie chicken I needed to use up and I love anything creamed and over bread. But we didn't have biscuits. We don't live to far from a grocery store but it involves going into the city and the grocery store we use charges at least a hundred dollars to get out of.

Enter Pinterest...we're in a camper so no fancy ingredients (buttermilk), no fancy equipment (rolling pin or biscuit cutter).

I added a little vinegar to milk to make buttermilk. I used a cake pan recipe so just poured my batter in it. The convection oven button on our microwave gets used alot. This recipe for cowboy biscuits is very good. I skipped all the extra ingredients it called for in the melted butter.

 We travel light.

 Creamed chicken over biscuits

Cowboy biscuits will be my go-to for biscuits from now on.

Those salty canned Pillsbury ones can just stay on the shelf.

b

Being mindless

 Two days ago I was admiring these pansies being sold outdoors at the grocery store.

Pansies are my favorite.

I used a new dishrag pattern on the top yellow rag. I like knitting dishrags as they are mindless so I will be going back to my old no pattern pattern.

We woke up to snow this morning. I hope that's the last of it here.

b

Friday stew pot

 We are in for some cold days here in texas so I thought some chicken and rice soup might be appropriate. But I'll use any old excuse to make a pot of chicken soup.

Might as well paint a chicken while my soup is simmering.

And if you're wondering what else I've been working on...

Friday calls for a Friday flour sack towel.

b

Goat

 I have been embroidering fabric squares for a new quilt so I needed some fabric inspiration. There is a charming quilt store not to far from our rv park so away we went. I thought two fat quarters would provide me enough inspiration but...

Even better I bought 12 complimentary fabrics and goat soaps at this same shop.

Mr b loves reminiscing about growing up with goats on the farm.

I'm just looking for some skin relief. Texas has very hard water. Look for me to make my own goat soap using dried milk when we get home.

b

Texas

 We have been in texas a week now. The last few days have been chilly but I came across the border wearing shorts and a tee. We laugh at people wearing winter coats and caps here. 

The first order of business was to make a pot of chili dakota style with beans.

I stamped a flour sack towel with chili's and finished it already for hanging on our camper oven handle.

 

Our first excursion was to the Bergheim meat market for some german sausage.

 

My next mission is to find goat soap and cheese. There are alot of goats in this area. I need to find out what their purpose is then I will let you know...   b