Things That Make Me Happy (a.k.a. Thanksgiving)

For many years we celebrated Thanksgiving at my brother's home in Austin, Texas. Roy and I would drive from Mississippi through East Texas and pick up my parents for the large family/friends gathering. This year Linda and I ate the buffet at Golden Corral. The food was acceptable but not memorable. A good thing and a sad thing--we didn't have all those delicious leftovers. But we were thankful for many things!
I had the neatest surprise recently. I love to make and mail fabric postcards. One I sent in 2007 turned up in an estate sale and was returned to me. What a delight to know that someone had placed this little card among her keepers. An additional surprise was to see that the postage stamp pictured the image of my Baltimore Album quilt. At the time I had these stamps printed, first class rate was 41 cents. Did you know you could get stamps printed with your choice of images (for a small fee)?
Click to enlarge any picture.

I have made progress on the three cats fabric collage, beginning on the left with Rahrah. Her coloring is a strange mixture of tan, gray, orange, with a hint of darker stripes irregularly placed.

Tarbaby is in the middle, with his solid black fur, highlighted by some sunlight from the window.

Elizabeth is done with shades of lavender and purple for a little whimsy.

How does Elizabeth know when I'm working on her image? She didn't pay any attention to the piece as I worked on the other two cats but had to be close enough to supervise her part!

Another thing that makes me happy--the dedication of my daughter Linda to fostering kittens. She was recognized in a monthly feature as "People Who Make a Difference" in our newspaper. She not only fosters kittens but will take kittens with ringworm and treat and bathe them to get them back to good health. Here is a link to the article and pictures in the Hattiesburg American.

August and Vicksburg Old Man River Quiltfest

My Round Robin Pathways is enjoying another successful quilt show appearance. It won a 3rd place (white) ribbon in the Old Man River Quiltfest in Vicksburg yesterday. This is a new show hosted by Kay Elliott's Stitch-N-Frame Quilt Shop and Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Mississippi Ag Museum in Bloom was also a 3rd place winner in the Vicksburg show. The five sections are 36" high and a total of 10 feet wide when hung together. The sections are
Birdhouse by J. Marcus Weekley, Gulfport
The Mule Barn by Martha Ginn, Hattiesburg
Wagons and Roses by Cathy Reininger, Madison
Small Town Mississippi by Julia Graber, Brooksville
Print Shop by Rita Warnock, Madison

Mississippi Ag Museum in Bloom

Kitten update: My latest foster kittens (Hops (pictured below), Brenner, Eleven, and Nancy) for Southern Pines Animal Shelter have been sent on a transport up north. During the week I had them, they needed lots of socializing to learn that people are kind and loving. Tough job but I love doing it. My two-year-old cats pouted the entire time the little ones were in the garage.

Our Pine Belt Quilters show entry deadline has passed, and we are doing the registration and catalog paperwork and finalizing display plans. October 7-8-9 will be here in a flash.

There is tragedy affecting our neighbors and friends in South Louisiana. We have seen unbelievable devastation from flooding, but it is heart-warming to see all those boat owners rescuing people and pets. No waiting for federal troops when neighbors can help immediately.