Faith, Folklore, and Friends

                                                             Photo by Dan Bush The harvest moon shows up tonight.  The full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, it is said that the moon's light is so bright that it helps farmers extend their working day to gather their harvest. I see the moon,           the moon sees me.                        God bless the moon,                            ...

On September 25, 1962, Loretta Lynn became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. On Tuesday night, fifty years later, we all celebrated. One doesn't have to be a fan of her music to appreciate this gutsy lady's rags to riches story. This is her beautiful home in Tennessee--a little different than the one where she lived with her family in Butcher Holler. My daddy always loved her, but he called her Roletta instead of Loretta.  She probably didn't mind. Congratulations to this strong, talented woman.  I hope she keeps singing many, many more years.

Here is the complete view of the wall hanging that was at the fair last week.  I love making these art quilts, and it is not that hard after you make a few.  I never use a pattern for my art quilts. The first thing you have to do is see it in your mind.  I have made several using sunrise or sundown as the theme.  The most important thing is to start with some really beautiful background fabric.  Most like this will range from $10 to $14 dollars a yard.  I used less than half a yard on this one. I had the elephant template that I had used on a baby quilt years ago.  The elephants are the same except for size.  You can do amazing things with a copy machine these days.  The giraffe came from another project, and the tree I drew freehand.  Using WonderUnder, I made the animals and tree, then ironed it to black fabric. After the items are cut out, place on your background fabric carefully and pin them where they need to go. ...

  I always try to attend the county fair, but it isn't nearly as exciting as it used to be. Some brave leaders at the elementary school I attended would bus all the students who wanted to go into town for the "School Day at the Fair".  We always went with our dollar which would last all day because rides were ten cents and most of the day was spent standing in line.  You had to be careful not to be tempted by the heart-shaped jewelry which was lovely but cost 25 cents and that could really eat into your ride budget. Our parents warned us about the people who worked at the fair, the ones with tattoos and cigarettes, because they thought just working at the fair made you dishonest.   Watch them, they said.  One year, we even heard about a girl my family knew who fell in love with the merry-go-round operator and left town with him when the fair ended. That was the last we heard from her! Back then, I was shy, although I know some of you...

Y'all know that I try to take quilts to the fair every year. Here are some of the ones that won after the judging on Tuesday. There is very limited space to exhibit at the fairgrounds, so this wall hanging is folded...you are only seeing a fourth of it. Some of you will remember that hummingbird fabric in the center.  It only took me two years to get it in a quilt. Machine quilted scrap quilt.  This one won third place, but there was lots of competition.  This is the most popular category. Machine quilted appliqued falling leaves.   Again, this is only one fourth of the quilt.  Hand quilted crib quilt. I didn't enter any canning items this year, but I love seeing all the winners.  It looks like a huge, beautiful pantry. The fair will be here until Sunday night.  Local peeps, you still have plenty of time to check this out!

The Rattlesnake Saloon was opened on Labor Day, 2009.  Dining there is an unique experience. It is way out in the boonies in Colbert County, Alabama.  It is hard to get to, even for locals, but they have had visitors from all over the United States and many countries throughout the world. Sitting comfortably under the huge rock overhang, I couldn't help but think about the people who have sought shelter there from storms or heat.  I can imagine the Native Americans using this place for a meeting area or a dry place to camp for a while.  Not so many years ago, it was used as a pig pen. They have good food and live music and a hitching post if you want to ride your horse there.  Most of us were picked up in a pickup, called the "Saloon Taxi", that runs from the parking lot to the restaurant continuously while they are open. The Rattlesnake Saloon is aptly named.  During construction, workers unearthed a mother rattler with twelve babie...

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson       The love of beauty in its multiple forms is the noblest gift of the human cerebrum.                                                                        ~Alexis Carrel   Keep your faith in all beautiful things; in the sun when it is hidden, in the Spring when it is gone. ~Roy R. Gilson A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterat...