Mother Nature and Harvey

Hello dear ones, well a lot has happened since my last post.   Do you remember that I said when we moved down here this was going to be a new adventure?  An adventure different than the last 75 years Eldon has had and 73 for me?   Well I have always heard to be careful for what you wish for.   I didn't realize I was wishing for it but Mother Nature took me serious.    We moved to Rockport Texas on the Gulf Coast in May of 2017.  THIS YEAR!!!   We have learned about the weather and if the clouds look stormy  it usually doesn't mean a tornado or hail storm  or any of the weather related clouds we are use to from West Texas.  They just fluff around and are pretty and go North.    Now we know they have hurricanes down in the coastal areas and have been watching one the weather men couldn't put a grasp on.   I told hubby oh oh this may be a goody coming our way.   Well on the 23rd of August Harvey was building and doing what hurricanes do.   He was a tropical depression then a storm not sure what he wanted to do.   Then they declared him a category 2.  We thought ok we can ride that one out, West Texans know wind, do we ever.   So we went to bed that night and woke up about 4 am with a rain you wouldn't believe, it lasted about five minutes and got an inch.  We looked at each other and thought lets turn on the TV.   Harvey had grown to a category 3 with storm serge of water what was it 8 or 12 feet.   He finished up a category 4.

We thought OK lets leave , we are not one of the ones who want to get stormed in when we could have gotten out in a safe timely manor.    We gathered up the fur babies, their food and beds.  Threw some clothes together and did remember to grab the fur babies shot records and our passports.   Guess we thought they would be checking passports at the county line or something lol.   We were prepared to stay with canned food, lots of water and toilet paper but just didn't think of us having to leave.   We were just loaded up and one of our sweet young neighbors came over and said leave.  We are leaving and have lived here forever.   Her husband was at work on a tug boat and said leave now.   We hugged and I wished her well and to be safe.   Just as we were leaving a dear friend called and said what are you doing?   We are going North, not sure where but just somewhere North.   She said come to our home in Abilene.  We have two big dogs and she didn't care.   An angel in disguise for sure.    When we moved here one house rule was to always have at least 1/2 tank of gas in the car at all times.  WHEW good time for rules.

We did move some furniture around in case windows got broken with limbs, we moved the 60 inch TV ( man that sucker was heavy) to the bed in the back and some paintings came with it.  Now when we moved the TV back to his perch it was twice as heavy carrying it.  I guess the Adrenalin  kicked in at least on my part.  I was not Wonder Woman helping Eldon carrying it back.   In fact we sat it on a towel and drug it over the floor.  Guess Wonder Woman stayed at Gingers.  We had called the rental people 4 times  that if we had hardware we would put the window coverings up.  They finally got back to us and said don't worry about it.   Our stuff and the landlords house?   OK.

We called the LaQuinta in Brady, we knew they accepted animals.  She said we have lots of room it is slow this weekend.   We thought bet it won't be for long.  When we left she said it was packed.  We weren't the only ones who came to Brady for the first night.   It took us 5 hours to get there but safe and sound were we and our little wards--Libby and Charlie.    The next morning we went down to breakfast and several people were there and some were from Flour Bluff outside of Corpus Christi.   They said it took over 10 hours to get to Brady.  Now remember we went the same route and took us 5 hours.   They had called for a mandatory evacuation.   Yea for us to leave early.   They planned to go back Monday the 28th.   This was the 25th when the breakfast happened.

Off we went to Ginger's home.   Safe and sound from Harvey.   We stay glued to the TV watching everything the Weather Channel had out there to share.   The motel across from where we had a lot of belongings stored was not holding up well.    I started laughing and laughing  and Eldon said what is so funny?   Well, when we moved here we knew we were going to move one more time either to another permanent home instead of a rental in  Rockport or another town.  We had saved the good packing boxes, folded them up and put up high so they wouldn't get messed up.   I said well at least our boxes, empty boxes will be safe.   I know I have a weird sense of humor.  A lot of empty boxes, but our attitude is that it is all just stuff.  STUFF we were out of harms way and  safe and sound with our fur babies and ourselves.

After Harvey cleared his throat and played havoc on Rockport, being as that is where he made land fall, we saw so many bad photos of little Rockport.  Such demolished areas and the news didn't exaggerate at all.   It was a mess.  Some we talked to afterward said the eye of it was just like you see on TV perfectly calm.  Then Katy bar the door when the eye passes thru.  Some had well water and generators so just hang on but be safe.

We didn't know a soul to call to see what our home and neighborhood looked like.  The high school really got it bad and we were very close by.   Then we thought of the owner of the storage unit, a precious couple and so friendly.  I called her and she said the storage unit was perfect didn't lose even one piece of tin.   The builder of the unit was from Lubbock Tx where we moved from and has many many units.  Guess he knew how to build them fo tornadoes.   She offered to go drive by our house and see what the damage was .   They had stayed in Corpus Christi at her parents home.   She texted and we had lost part of a fence and 2 shingles.  We were so blessed, we couldn't believe it.

Wednesday the 30th we went back to Rockport, still no electricity or water or sewer but in our haste to leave we never thought about the food in the freezer or fridge.   We had just gone to the store and it was nice and full of meat etc.  I have gotten in the habit of re wrapping the meat in freezer paper and then in plastic bags.  Why? don't have a clue but sure am glad I did because it would have been pretty stinkie to clean out the freezer but nope just grabbed the bags and tossed them in the trash.  We were there about 2 or 3 hours and was long enough with no air conditioner.   There was a cerfew of 7 am to 7 pm.

We went back to Kerrville to spend the night and then on to Eldon's sister's for a couple of nights.  Back to Abilene on Sunday to Gingers.  We heard by the way of 3200 miles away from daughter Dedria that we would have electricity by the 8th of September.  So we left Abilene of the 8th of September hoping that would be a happening.    Well lo and behold we had electricity and came back to Rockport on Saturday the 9th of September.   Our thinking is New Braunsfel is closer than Abilene and would stay there several nights until electricity was up.    The fur babies were perfect this whole time we could not have asked for any better and Libby the timid baby learned to go up and down stairs.  A giant task for her so in the motels we used the steps to keep her active.  Charlie needed no encouragement.   He is a ball of fire.

There is still tons of limbs and trash lining all streets after two weeks that we have been back.  We have internet now, two days, well most of the time it goes in and out and have TV now.  WHEW gotta get our Baseball game watching back in our schedule and saw the last episode of Game of Thrones for the season.

Fence is still down but have a temporary one for the fur babies up.   This is nothing compared to what others  are going thru.

Our Dairy Queen parking lot.   Pretty and so calm and shady in the back of the DQ building.   Now all of the leaves got stripped off of the trees but now after this time the leaves have nearly all grown back.  I will not show what they looked like stripped but how they almost are.   Even the pitiful tree in our front yard has leaves back.  Mother Nature takes care of her babies for sure.  We noticed the Oleanders are blooming and I don't think they lost one tiny leaf.  They are pretty tough plants I do have to give it to them.  Poisoness  but pretty.  While sitting at the DQ yesterday there is no telling how many trucks and pickups went up the main 35.  A few cars but most work vehicles all working to get Rockport back and cleaned up and running again.

This may be up there with the most damaged of the apartment buildings.  We have seen two or three that will tie but hard to see these.   Thinking of the poor souls who lived there and we know some just left town.  Their home was destroyed and they now have no jobs.   So many, well all businesses were damaged by Harvey.   The Wal-Mart was open part way with groceries and if you needed anything else they had runners to get what you needed.  They are now open 100% as of like 3 days or so ago.   Heb is open and now the Dairy Queen all of it, Whataburger drive thru only and the Sonic is now open with full menu.   Every day we drive thru the town to see what is being done.   Slow slow but getting there.

So many people donated clothing, water and what have you but there are many parking lots that look like this.   There was no place to store the clothing and I know it is has soured and mildewed.   Such a shame but just can't be helped.   The old HEB parking lots did have lots of people cooking being as there was no gas or really anything but now getting back some of the things we take for granted.  There were stacks and stacks of water for  free,  we didn't get any because we thought people suffered worst than we did.  Just the way we think.

In the center part of Highway 35 they are starting to stack limbs and wooden trash to have a control burn , I forget how many tons they have so far but have not made a dent in it.

The center part with metal trash is growing also and the land fills here and around.  I just can't imagine---what a bon fire this will make .  When I see piles like this I think of bon fires, when the kids would go and gather limbs and trees to make a giant bon fire before homecoming.

There isn't a street in Rockport that doesn't look like this.

We were driving around the neighborhood and saw this.  How perfect and pretty this yard is with all the destruction around it.   Just shows the people how pretty it was and will be.

You can see the pier, well what is left of it at Fulton/Rockport.  We have been going there to eat our Sonic toaster, feed the gulls and just enjoy hearing the waves lap against a little retaining wall.  The water is brown but when we first moved here until now it was BLUE!!!!   There was another Dolphin today showing off his tricks he knows.   We know it will all get back to the Rockport we moved down here for.

When we were at Gingers we did do some site seeing and I taught Ginger how to CQ.  That angel is hooked and she wanted to make a Boho bag.  Not a little pin cushion or pouch noooooooo a BoHo bag.  This girl took the task on and did so good.  So CQers we have another one to join the crowd.

I didn't want to make a book the size of Gone with the Wind or War and Peace but nearly.

 So here we are  Brady (Gingers son), me, Ginger and Eldon.  Kent was at work.   What a family this was.  Oh and notice Libby's back part in the pic with Ginger and I.   lol  We are sort of kind of back to normal and just happy to be blessed with so many friends who were concerned about us and offers to some and stay with them.   So see?   We are truly BLESSED.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in our world .

     XOXOXO

ANNETTE

The Story of Our Move

Hello readers,   well here is the little story of our move.   I know we are not the first person in the world who has moved.   Many of you have shared your move and your doings with that "fun" adventure.  I have loved every story and certainly know how you feel.

I think I have told you Hubby does have a wanderlust and I go along and just enjoy the adventure of it all.   We did joke though at a time in our lives we said  MOVE and our furniture just folded it's self up and was waiting at the door ready to be  put into a moving trailer.   Now when we moved back to Seminole to farm we pretty well had roots.  Deep roots and really enjoyed it with raising our daughters, farming and that is where I really got involved with my art and photography business.

Onward Annette you are wandering here !!!!!!    Alright about 8 1/2 years ago we moved to Lubbock Texas.  We found our home and could really make the yard pretty, which we did.  We planted 12 trees also.  Never to many trees in West Texas.  I knew we were in trouble though when probably not two weeks in the move and hubby was looking on line at homes around the country.  He was mainly looking in TEXAS and Arizona.   Well in November or December of 2016 he mentioned moving again.  I said alright I have one more big move in me.   ( It will have to be two moves but later on this )  We spiffed up the house, you know the drill just little things that you only notice but still want it to be nice for the buyers.  We listed the house and in our market the realtor said in your neighborhood it may take 9 months or a year to sell.   We thought alright we will be tough and endure the lookers and all that go on with it?   Well after one open house  and a couple of weeks of showing the house sold in 40 days.   Wow did we ever scramble and started doing away with things.  Good Will loved us we donated so much. We did sell a few things but donated most of it. 

Where will we go?  We didn't have a clue, no kidding.   One reason we moved to Lubbock is we just needed to move and I thought ok it is close to Arizona ( in Texas world ) and we thought we knew Lubbock so that is why we chose it.   We wanted to stay in Texas, it is a big state, but you know when you rule out where you don't want to move it isn't that big.  No really !!!!  We spent two weeks wandering Texas.  LOL  no not really wandering but in one week then a separate week .   We were running out of time before the closing and thought ok we will actually listen to our hearts and God telling us that the doors are not opening for a reason.  LISTEN !!!!!!

So our story is for the first 75 years of Eldon's life and mine not quite,  I got to Texas about when I was 9, Eldon and I  lived in West Texas--off and on but mainly on.   So why not live somewhere else for the next 25 years and by then we will be 100 or pretty close and by then it doesn't matter.   We have come to the Texas coast for many years we think at least since 1971 on spring breaks, vacations and then a month at a time.  So why not?   So we leased a home in Rockport Texas, gotta feel like we are on vacation for a year and see how we feel before we purchase a home.  Hence the second move.   We are trying to listen to our hearts on this and if the doors open then it is the place. They have a place here called Castaways, we have filled the back of the Steel Stallion every week and donated.  We had to rent a 15x20 controlled climate storage room and it is next to be donated.   We are sizing down and trying to be vicious with the junk lol  

We loaded up our two fur babies and by the way we have never traveled with fur babies and they did so good.   We put their doggie king size beds in the back of our Steel Stallion and the behaved like troopers and even stayed in the motels with us while moving down.  We could not have been prouder of them .  They are adapting to be inside dogs perfectly.  We thought they should be because of the humidity down here.  They go in and out in our postage size yard and are perfect.  

The house is tiny, really tiny but that is ok.  Like a friend, Marilyn Paragain, said it is only 4 walls.  Right now it looks like an art gallery, most walls have lots of Annette art and one has is a painting by my friend  Jane in Italy.  xoox


We are not far from the water,   Rockport has a Blue Water beach and it is so peaceful there.  Now when we use to come and visit  we would take the Ferry to Rockpost and visit and then back to Port Aransas, bigger waves and lots of business for young people.  Remember our daughters and their friends were usually with us.   They need busy places.    Several times a week we go to Sonic and get two bacon and cheese toasters extra toasted bread and go to the beach close by.   Oh we ask for extra toasty and told them that my Mother use to burn the toast and I guess I acquired a taste for really toasted bread lol    
 

Our view when eating our breakfast.  We park on the free part of the beach because you are so close to the water.   We have paid our permit to go into the other part of the beach but when parked you are not immediately close to the water.  Anyway that is our story and finding of it all.  

                                     One of many many Sea Gulls to visit while we are eating . 

I had just fed the Gulls with my crusts off of my toaster, gotta cut down on calories somewhere. Right? 

 Now this little cutie is in our front yard only visiting.   Our Fur Babies have not seen a squirrl, in our part of Lubbock we didn't have them.  Yes Lubbock has squirrels but just not in our part.  He love to taunt the Fur Babies and the stand at the storm door and bark and bark.  Well Libby whines and Charlie uses his outside voice.  We have tried to teach him that isn't necessary but he is a guy and hard headed.

  Our Patio deck.  Nope not very big, we did have an acre in Lubbock but you know it only takes very few minutes to mow instead of us both working over 3 hours once a week to do that chore.   We still did our own yardwork and really didn't mind it at all.  Yes when in Seminole after I started my photography business I did hire the mowing etc.  I wanted the yard mowed twice a week for it to be pretty and Eldon nor I had the time then to do it.   Funny story about the mowing person, he kept saying well I do so and so on and he named a name yard.  Every time he came.  I said I don't care this is our yard and that is how I want it to be pretty for my clients in my photography.  One day I just fired him.  Called Eldon and he said oh oh I have to go home she just fired the yard person.   We did find a wonderful young man and he was awesome.  So that was good I fired the other one.  We were mostly all happy.  Except the one I fired lol


Alright, that is our thinking and doings on the big move.  One of our neighbors said the people who lived in this house had a big U-Haul truck in the drive.  We said no no this will be a 53 foot trailer on an 18 wheeler.  Kind of surprised them, but it is done and now we are fixin to enjoy our move and back to normal whatever our normal is.  For a year then who know?

Thank you for stopping by to see what is going on in Annette's world today

XOXOXO

Annette

The Cart before the Horse and Wanderlust

Hello dear readers.   I know you might be thinking what is she up to now and where is she?   Well have a glass of iced tea and I am fixin to tell you.

I am fortunate, I think, to have a hubby with a giant wanderlust. It has passed down to daughter also.  Me?   Dear Readers I am just happy as a lark no matter where I am.  Oh I may gripe a little but I am here and when I look into the mirror I do gasp at what stares back at me but just glad to be here---wherever here is.  

Now at one time Mr. Graves wanted to move to Australia and South America.   Not on the same parcel of time  but that is two places I can remember.    I did say no,  I guess everyone has to have a party pooper,  but now  I wonder what our life would have been like if we did.   Do you ever have hind site like that at times?   His Daddy was game for Australia, he was the kindest and most quiet man you would have ever known and would not have guessed he would be game for an adventure like this.   He was game for going to  Australia, it really shocked me.  

We have moved  to Rockport Texas, a coastal town in our Texas (on May 12th)  and I will share that whole experience with you but next post---Pinkie Promise.   So I am putting the cart, what we are doing, before the horse--the moving part.   Funny saying isn't it?     Today I just want to say hello and thanks for hanging in there with me and wanted to share of few pics of what we did a couple of weeks ago at our new place of residence.  Now I do have to say Rock Port is not hustle and bustle and driving on the defensive all the time.  It is taking a while to just slow down and enjoy life.  

I have to admit we might be some of those people who you see on TV when a big storm is coming they go to the beach to check out the waves.  I didn't ever think we would be like that but there was a tropical storm in the gulf and we looked at each other and loaded up our tired from moving bodies and off we went.   Now we know how excited Brett, Piper and Kathy Austin ( they surfed and surf still in Florida).   Brett is now in Heaven but you know when we jumped in the car to see the waves he was grinning ear to ear.

Now one way to get to the  Port Aransas beach is on a Ferry.  The shortest way, well if the ferry time isn't giant.   If not into Corpus Christi and then to Port A.   The wait time is sometimes large but the little flashing sign said wait time  15 minutes.  We thought was a joke or we were in the twilight zone.  Nope a very short wait.    

 

One of the Ferry's that tote us across the water.   Sometimes big ships come in and we wait to watch them, seems like putter thru.  There was one going thru the channel but it was in high gear.  A lot of times you see Dolphins showing off in the water ride over to Port A.  

 Now after your little wait the patient people who work for the Ferry company  ( I guess that is what you call it) they point to you which side and where to park your cars.   You turn your car off and just enjoy the ride. 

 

 This was the Ferry we rode over to Port A. All of them are named.   So I guess William was a good guy.  I will have to look it up how they are named. 

 

                                                         Now this is a hat!!!!

 Some people get out of their cars and some don't, it just depends on your mood.   Do you want your hair to blow all over the world of just wait til you get on the beach.   An 18 wheeler was on the right side of the ferry we were loaded on and I wondered if it rolled a bit or if the brakes really hold it still. 

 

Well I guess this was for extra protection to not to roll, boy howdy that would really cause some excitement if it rolled around wouldn't it? The truck stayed nice and still.   It was not parked to the very edge of the front of the ferry either, usually when you are up front you are pretty close to the little"bridge" from the ferry to the ground when docked.   I guess  the truck front  needed a little extra room.   I am not sure how these little cables will hold that big truck but I will not question.   Maybe next time.   Daughter did ask I we knew all the Ferry people by name now.   LOL, no but will get there I bet.   Y'all that know me, know that I am not shy for visiting people and am not a snob. I think sometimes I embarrass my family but hey they will talk back to me or ignore me.  RIGHT?. 

Now in a part of the 15 minute wait I did have to snap a pic of these off shore rigs.   Almost positive that is what they were doing,  either stacked-waiting to be put to work out in the waters or maybe some repairs.   Not positive which one but I did  see some cranes and figured being worked on.  

 This was taken from our  1996 Painted stallion.  Of course it is red in color and may become the BEACH RIDE.   We will see how that works out.

 

This pic was taken while in the line to get back on the Ferry and back to Rockport.  

 

                 Some of the little ferry watchers, might have to be painting material for Annette.  

Here I am.   Hi y'all and glad to be here.    Waves looking good and there are some dots out there and those are humans waiting for the right wave to come.  The now greying big time hair is blowing in the wind, or did you notice?   

 Dear hubby on the pier for us to check things out.  Had to be a good day for us even the fee for everyone was waived that day.   There were several people standing at the gate just looking etc and when we left I went over and said there is no fee for today.  They thanked me and their group of many smiled and just walked on in.

 

                                                        One more pic of Hubby.  

One of the reasons we came, to see the waves.   We didn't expect to see surfers but got a treat to see them.   

 

                                        Enjoyed watching them all  "Ride the Waves"

 Saw this girl a lot, she did outshine a lot of the surfers but know our Piper would really do awesome with these waves. 

 Now these peeps have got to have patience, waiting and waiting in the sun and heat for one good wave.  This was just a tiny amount of surfers on the right side of the pier.  The left I think had more and there were lots more on this side.  Someone was just to lazy to get them all.    Hummmm me maybe?  

 

There ye be, I didn't take tons of pics but you got the jest of how exciting it was out there.   I didn't take pics of the rock jetty with the lapping waves.  I didn't want to get my camera wet and if we hadn't been in the 4 wheel drive Painted stallion we probably would not have gotten very close to the jetty.   Where you usually park was under water or soggy as all get out.   

 

This ex surfer is the one who took our together pics.  He use to be a surfer but hurt his back really bad so he said he surfs thru the camera.   Now looking into the future I see a painting of this young man soon.  

 

                                  Some of the notices on the pier.  Boooooo Lionfish  

 

There was this young man on the pier, probably about 8 having the time of his life, cutting up fresh bait.   One of his poles had hooked the under part of the pier and between the surfers and his dad got the pole free for this little guy to fish more.   

 

Another character we visited with, he comes down to Port A as much as he can is going to move full time soon.   I just had to catch this and his trailer of goodies.  I asked him-----let me guess you are going to fish?  He just chuckled and the convo began.  

 

 

There you go the pier, oh I could have written more about the stories but didn't want to bore you.   Lots of camera out and snapping up a storm.  I bet next storm we will be there again.  

                             Here we are, surfers in the background and being semi beach bums.

There you go dear readers.   Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is happening in my world.

XOXOXO

Annette 

The 100 Pound Rule

Hello there, March is here and boy have we ever gotten some dandy sand storms.   Like we had to put all the outdoor furniture on the patio rug to keep it flying around like Aladdin's magic rug.    Of course if the rug would really take us on a magical trip that might have been fun also.  The temps have been very warm for us this time of year but you don't hear hubby and I complain at all.   Love warm weather.    The next post or so I will tell you what we are trying to do about that.   An adventure for us and I guess I should have been keeping a little log about it.   Hummmm, might have to conjure that up.  

I am not going to mention February except for it was our beautiful granddaughter's 25th birthday.    Now all I have to say is wow !!!!!!    I cannot believe she has approached that magical age.  Way to go Princess.   Now I know some of y'all might be numerologists or thinking in that line, so please    get this in your noggins.    Hubby will be 75 in April, baby daughter will be 50 and our granddaughter just turned 25.    There has to be something magical going to happen to all three of them this year.  Right?   Can't wait to see if any of you have a thought on that one.

I was thinking ( oh oh Annette was thinking, that could mean trouble) the other day that I should take a few pictures of one of the Crazy Quilt blocks I was doing.  Sort of a step by step of why and what I did.    A received a block from the talented Brenda Sandusky on the theme of Downton Abby.   Now I don't watch  that at all, I know I guess I am the only one in the world who doesn't watch it, it was a fun block to embellish.  

First off I usually don't use the pretty soft colors she uses so that alone was a challenge for the bright colored Texan. 


So here goes----what I did and what it looks like during the process and some of my thoughts.
  

The block came beautifully sewn together like this.  Brenda had attached the Shibori ribbon at the top.   I added the pale green pleated ribbon and the pretty wired ribbon on the lower left.  I forgot to take a total from scratch pic.   I wanted some more of the darker color of the ribbon at the top somewhere else on the block, to me it just makes it flow better.   Do have to say this couple look pretty serious, I will see if I can jazz them up and maybe the will smile? 

 

The next thing I did was add some of the pretty purple family lace in the lower left corner.   I just was afraid the darker color of the fabric might draw the attention off of the pretty ribbon and the unsmiling couple.  

 

Time to start adding stitches and playing with the block.  I really had to use my noggin' on this block, remember I usually don't use such soft pretty colors.   The ribbon on the lower right was first.  I folded it over and  pinned it on.   Rayon thread I love, lots of sheen to it.   I used a Y stitch, the lazy daisy stitch and just a straight stitch on this part.   Sometimes this is my cop out stitch combo.   

I then went to my pearl thread and made a vine sort of,  I never usually sketch it off,  well in my head I do.  Lots of twirls and wiggles and some lazy d. stitches.  I do like this green with the purple fabrics.  I guess you could call it sage? Maybe?

Now it is time for the upper right corner.  I dance around the whole block and don't stick to one section for very long.  I guess a good waltz dance.    I did want the thread to stand out some on the block.   Still looking plain to me.  

 

I did do a little stitching on the girls hat and the guy's tie, I didn't think I could anything to make them smile so I thought ok will make Brenda smile.    On the Shibori ribbon I did little roses of coordinating silk ribbon.   I really like that stuff and the Fargo roses and french knots just filled in nicely.  I am surprised I had any of these colors.    

On the pleated green ribbon I did a little stitching so it doesn't feel left out.   Then as you see some more vines and french knots on the fabric under neath it.   I used more thread for the flowers and then just could stand it any longer and added some darker silk ribbon Fargo roses and BEADS !!!! Gotta have my beads-whew I was having withdrawals there for a second.   I did have some purple family tiny bugle beads so added them on the lace.  

  

I did some little rose buds to the left vine with little Lazy D. stitches with silk ribbon.  The upper right flowers grew as did some clear sequins.  I am about to say ENOUGH !!!! I need my beads.   Now I did work on the  Shibori ribbon and fixin to show you up close.  This block still looks so plain.  REALLY PLAIN.    I am fixin' to put my 100 pound rule I give myself.    The block needs to have BEADS !!!!! LOTS of them.  

 A close up of the upper dark colored ribbon.   I had to make myself stop with this, the pink just added pretty and notice I put purple beads to the pretty fabric on the right and around the Downton Abby fabric.   I am losing control here.   

 

The lace needed bling and a tea pot  so buttons were perfect for this English type embellishing.   

 

These photographed a weird color but had to show again.  Making sort of a trail with the buttons and then added more BEADS !!!

See the difference the buttons made?   I would have been so plain and look at the green pleated ribbon, it is nude.   No beads.    Well we will fix their little wagon.   Beads to the rescue.

 I bet you sneaked a peek with the other beads---on the green pleated ribbon and on the flowers in the upper right.   I was going to put on more, not quite the 100 pound limit in beads but I knew this was part of a Round Robin and didn't want it to yell    "LOOK AT ME"

So here you go the finished block for Brenda.   I forgot to take more pics but bet you got the idea how my brain works when I play with CQ.   

Thank you for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.  

 

XOXOXO

Annette