Home and Doing Great!

Thank you, everyone, for your good thoughts and well wishes--I took them all to heart! Everything went very well, I came home Tuesday afternoon and feel considerably improved with each day!


Family and friends have spoiled me with flowers, cards, gifts and meals.


(I even got my own box of Skittles Crazy Cores, like the ones I sent to my mini quilt swap partner.) And how do you like this pretty bicycle horn?! The card reads "Beep for service"! Hehee!


I've had one moment of inspiration this week...while reading a new quilt magazine, I got an idea for Doll Quilt Swap 7. It's all sketched out and I've ordered the fabric from Hancock's. Can't wait to get started :)

Now.....this is where I must tell you about Rick suggesting that he take a picture of my stitches for the blog to show you my 'stitching' for the week:) LOL, what a goof! (Get your own blog, darlin'!)

Actually, the rest of my week was mostly spent with what I would usually call guilty pleasures--things that just fill up time, nothing more--crossword puzzles, magazines, movies, NAPS. I did manage a little crocheting and stitching, and snipping ephemera, and then more NAPS! But no guilt here, not this week:)

Speaking of ephemera...Lucky Me!!...last weekend, I heard from Mary that the random number generator picked me for her July Give Away! I'm very excited--Mary can come across some really incredible ephemera!!

One last thought...isn't it interesting how different one year can be from the previous year? A year ago Monday we left Kansas City headed for a week in Eagle Nest, NM. Rick and I have had the best time this week remembering that trip. The photo album has been out on the coffee table for us to refer to and things have come to mind that we hadn't thought about since returning home. It really can be a lot of fun!


For example, a year ago today we spent the day in Taos, NM...a perfectly gorgeous day! We ate the most delicious lunch and the sights, the sounds, the smells were the kind that fill my soul! And now, recalling it all, I'm filled again:)

Hope you're having a good weekend...

Marilyn

Dia de Bloglandia

I have been fascinated by Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, since our first trip to New Mexico about 9 years ago. So when I read about Stephanie's and Susanna's Dia de Bloglandia, I knew I wanted to be a part of the celebration!


Dia de los Muertos...a day to pay tribute to our deceased relatives and ancestors by playing their favorite music...


and feasting on favorite foods and drink.


Sugar Skulls...


and altars surrounded by photographs, flowers, lighted candles, bread, bowls of water and other symbolic offerings dedicated to departed loved ones.
This altar is in honor and remembrance of my mom, Pat.





(The Sugar Skull pictured above is from the cover of Mexican Folk Art coloring book; and the two embroidered pieces in this post were stitched using patterns from Sublime Stitching.)


Thank you very much for coming by and celebrating Day of the Dead with me! To visit other Dia de Bloglandia posts, you can find them listed here.
I'm excited! I want to see all of them!

Marilyn

Home again, home again...

We arrived home from our vacation Monday night. We had a wonderful time on our trip to north-central New Mexico! We stayed in a cabin in Eagle Nest, NM. The elevation there is somewhere around 8500 feet. This is one of our views outside of the cabin.


Eagle Nest is located in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range.


This photo was taken on a drive to Red River, NM.


I took many, many pictures of flowers. My sweet hubby would automatically stop walking whenever flowers were nearby--he knew I would be stopping for a photo! This is in Red River.


Some of the flowers grow here in Missouri too, but they just looked so much better in the cooler temperatures. These cornflowers were in Angel Fire, NM.


We spent a full day in Taos, NM. It was our third time there and I don't think I could ever tire of it--so much to see and experience!


Taos


Taos


Taos


Outside of Taos


One of the best parts of the trip was the relief of cooler temperatures and lower humidity! This was the temperature at the cabin at 4pm on Saturday afternoon...n-i-i-i-ce!


We've sort of been easing back into life back home...but Rick is off this week also, so we're not working too hard at it. The laundry is caught up and our cat is over being mad at us for leaving but not much else...as I said, easing.

Marilyn

New Mexico, Here We Come!

I'm so excited! Tomorrow, Rick and I are heading southwest for a week in New Mexico! We love New Mexico and we love vacations!

New Mexico is a great place to be if you love color as much as we do. There are wonderful colors everywhere.

We also experience a spirit, a mood, a feel there that is filling...energizing, yet peaceful.

And, oh my gosh, the light and the skies are magnificent!

Sounds like I'm ready to go, huh? Ohhhh, yes!

Wishing you all a GREAT week and I'll see you when we return...

Marilyn