My Heart's in Dallas

Everytime I leave Dallas I leave a little bit of my heart behind. I've travelled there countless times over many years and it always feels like home to me. Maybe it's the way Texans say "Darlin', ma'am or sweet tea?" that gets to me. Or maybe it's the fields of horses and steer, blue bonnets and crepe myrtles in bloom, BBQ, fried catfish, a good steak, country music and the sound of a steel guitar. Then again, it has always begun with a visit with Grandpa & Grandma Fetty which makes it true that Home Is Where The Heart Is

Rest in Peace, Grandpa, We Will Miss You


Harold William Fetty
October 21, 1928 - December 22, 2008

Another HD Christmas

Santa delivered many Harley Davidson items this year. Besides the new engine husband received earlier this month for his bagger, he got some HD shirts and I found an HD leather fleece-lined biker jacket and canvas sneakers under the tree. But the best gift of all was the heating element that was installed into my motorcycle seat. The little switch on the side is just too cute. It's gonna be the bomb on chilly rides. I've been known to say if it's below 80 degrees -- "I'm cold!"

Now I can roll in toasty comfort!

Christmas Ornaments

I got the opportunity to sit down and make my annual ornaments while the ham baked and Dean Martin crooned to a White Christmas. Thanks, Allison, for the suggestion to make one from the photo with my mom on the Plaza in KC. She's going to really like it. The other two are from our memorable ride this year to the Grand Canyon and Sedona. 2008 was a very good year.

Destination: Kansas City

We said our goodbyes to St. Louis and counted our blessings for the good travel weather we've had for the final leg of our trip to KC for husband's work party. This is the 2nd year we've gathered on the Plaza for our holiday dinner at Ruth's Chris. This year, I had



the Ahi Tuna and yeah, several glasses of wine. In fact, the Gran Marnier gets passed around as we toast our boss and good fortune. May good fortune be with you, too.

A St. Charles Christmas

While husband attended his conference, I strolled along Main Street taking in the Christmas festivities and holiday shopping while a light snow fell upon this small little historic town. It just couldn't have been more festive and I found a knit shop and antique district to boot!

Destination: St. Louis

Husband had a 2-day work conference outside of St. Louis, MO and I tagged along for the trip.They put us up in a swanky suite at the Ameristar Casino & Resort Spa and we had a nice dinner with company officials from Chicago. Two of them (including a wife) ride Harleys so the conversation was good all night with bike stories and road travels. No one should go to St. Louis and not see the gateway arch. It's an amazing sight.

A New Shelf

What do you do when you run out space in your hobby room? Add a long shelf above a closet door. In my case, mom had this shelf in storage in her garage and I dusted it off and hung it up for an expanded display of sewing notions.

Turning Twenty Quilt

It was nice to set the knitting aside for a day to complete a quilt top for a special someone's Xmas gift. A rotary cutter and strip piecing made quick work out of the kit I purchased from Gramma's Calico Cupboard. I have been a customer of Betty's for at least 20 years and inspired by her talent in combining fabrics and antiques. The kit includes twenty fat quarters. A fat quarter is created by cutting 1/2 yard from a 44/45" wide fabric then cut in half to measure 18" x 22". The finished quilt top measures 70 1/2" by 86 1/2". I plan to gift it and then take it back to hand quilt it after the holidays.

A Night on The Plaza

Mom and I went to Kansas City over the weekend to take in the Christmas lights, some shopping and the wonderful oyster bar at McCormick Schmicks. We topped our busy day off with a chilly carriage ride around the Plaza.

Get The Heck Out Of Dodge!

My trip out west greated me with a light snow. My meetings went well and I was able to stop at a couple of western stores along the way. Only in Dodge can you see the steer draped with holiday lights.

DIY: Another Reconstructed Suitcase

Here's the before and after picture of the $2 vintage Samsonite suitcase I found recently at the flea market. It's a larger version of the several suitcases I've reconstructed before it. I think my inspiration comes from childhood memories of watching my Aunt Blondie recover old trunks with contact paper. Instead, I use my favorite pinup cowgirl fabric from Alexander Henry. Suede fringe, brass tacks and a star concho bring it all together with western flair. Most appropriately, I'll be loading it up for an overnight business trip to Dodge City this week. Giddy Up!

Turkey Leftovers

Thanksgiving was plentiful at my house with a 26.66 lb turkey for only four people. In fact, I'll probably sprout tail feathers by the end of the week from ingesting so much turkey. I could have went the made-from-scratch way to fixing a pot pie tonight but instead took some quick shortcuts to make a delicious left-over favorite.

29 oz. can Homestyle Veg-all
2 c. chopped turkey
Sliced onions & pepper to taste
8 oz evaporated milk with 2 Tbs. cornstarch
2 Pillsbury roll-out pie crusts (flaky goodness!)

Combine and bake at 425 degrees until brown.