2014

This past year has been an exciting adventure with lots of travel.
In February Ernest and I took part in Quilt Camp at Sea with an 11-day Southern Caribbean – Panama Canal cruise, April 11 – 17, 2014.
It was wonderful and my students were terrific. The cruise had something to offer everyone. While we were busy in the classroom, Ernest was off to cooking classes, dance lessons, spinning sessions and Trivial Pursuit contests. We met each night for dinner and dancing which was great fun.
We had a wonderful time connecting with the students and exploring new and wondrous places. We started off in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and made our first stop at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. Ernest and I went on a stingray tour and got to feed them.
Our next stop was Oranjestadt, Aruba. It was a return visit for me and we split up to take different tours. I went to the east side of the Island and to an Ostrich farm and Ernest went on a submarine dive.
In Willemstadt, Curacau I managed to scratch something off of my bucket list! I went swimming with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center. It was wonderful and I still smile when I think about it.
Going through the Panama Canal was very interesting and I am glad we got to see it. At Gatun Lake we debarked for a jungle tour and that was a wonderful speedboat ride down a river and then into the jungle inlets! We got to see numerous birds, lizards and best of all the monkeys.
At our stop in Limon, Costa Rica we chose to go to a Sloth Sanctuary. It was fascinating and we learned so much. While there we took a canoe into the jungle and then hiked further in for a guided hike.

Our next trip was to Dallas Texas for a family wedding and to visit dear friends. The blue bonnets were in full bloom and I went crazy with my camera. I am now using one of the photos to create a new landscape project.


In June I took a photography course from Canadian photographer Andre Gallant. It was all organized by Ricky Tims and held in La Veta, Colorado.
It was an amazing experience and I learned so much. Every morning we went out on photo-shoots and then spent the afternoons editing. While out on a countryside photo shoot, Andre took a photo of me and I really love it. I was so happy at the time and I think he captured that.
We each made a photo presentation and mine was Flamboyance. I was able to use a friend who is a belly dancer and my garden. Below are four photos from my presentation. Photographers came is from across America and I made wonderful new friends. We now keep in touch through a Fifty-two Week Photo Challenge on line.



In July I travelled to Cheyenne, Wyoming to teach for the Wyoming Quilt Guild. It was a wonderful convention and I really enjoyed the students and organizers. I stayed at the historical Mabel Norris hotel.
La Veta in the summer is a magic place and the kids love to come home during that time.

This year we enjoyed family visits from our son Jason and 3-year-old granddaughter Paloma who took over all our pets and bossed them around. She took part in several art classes, went hiking and met some miniature donkeys and goats. It was so much fun.


Our daughter Maddy and husband Tony came for a short visit and we really enjoyed our time together. We made a trip to Old la Veta pass and the ghost town. We had some wonderful meals and shared a lot of laughs. It was hard to see them leave.

I taught for Quilts Inc. this summer in Portland, Oregon – one of my most favourite cities in the United States. Every evening I managed to slip out to some favourite restaurants along with a three-hour visit to Powell’s’ Book Store, the largest bookstore in the states.


In early October I taught for AQS in DesMoines, Iowa. This is such a beautiful city and I have always enjoyed teaching here. I returned to the heritage housing development Beaverdale. This area is made up of 1930 brick homes that are so quirky and charming. Every evening I made sure to eat at a local French restaurant and it was wonderful.


I finished up this year with a full slate of classes and lectures at the Houston International Quilt Show. This was the 40th anniversary and what a celebration it was. I made the record as one of the oldest teachers on the roster …34 years of teaching.

Our furry family has grown with two little dogs named Lulu and Teddy. They had been in the Walsenburg pound for six long weeks. When we saw their picture in the local newspaper, we had to do something about it.
Here is a photograph of the four little dogs. Coco and Lulu are down front with Tino and Teddy in the back. Ella Fitzgerald our beloved Great Pyrenees is now 14 years old and still looks after the cats on the porch.


2015 will be a busy year with travel and teaching. I am taking a three-month sabbatical as a special reward for turning 70 years old in March.
I have accepted invitations to teach in North Carolina, Tennessee, California, Texas and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Ernest and I wish you all the best in the coming new year. Hopefully our paths will cross while I am on the road or you will venture to the La Veta area.