Frontera Quilt Guild Class - Sensational Stars! Hurricanes were a major influence on my recent trip to the Lone Star state; the birding mecca of Harlingen my destination, and quiltmaking my purpose for being there. A little storm known as Dolly, only a category 2, didn’t even set off alarm bells in my head for, after all, surely this minuscule hurricane must be little more than a strong thunderstorm. My first inkling of a problem at hand came via the telephone. Program Chairwoman, Jan Beaman, called to ask if I would share her home for the duration as there were NO available hotel rooms in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Hmmm! Perhaps the baby hurricane was more worrisome than I thought.
As my flight winged its way south from San Antonio, I began to notice increasingly large swaths of water, flooded fields, roads, and even rural ranch homes surrounded by muddy moats. My hostess greeted me with thanks for going ahead with the trip given the circumstances. I, in return, thanked her for the offer of her home for the next few days, beginning to better understand the challenges associated Dolly’s aftermath. “Our workshop space had a little water in it, but it wasn’t too bad. We aired it out, and worked there all day yesterday with open doors. I don’t think the smell will be too noticeable,” the apologetic Jan explained.
Then, there were the streets, or rather the sides of them. Each curb was stacked human-head-high with branches, leaves, and other storm detritus. Backyard fences lay drunkenly astride alleyways, prone where the storm had tossed the twisted timbers. My planned birding adventure might be curtailed too, another victim on Dolly’s wrath.
But, the Texas ladies, sturdy and resilient to the core, showed up for class just as if it were just another summer day, ready to design and sew. And, sew they did, with remarkable aplomb, laughing along with their instructor, as each new concept was introduced. What I had never before experienced, though, was the amazing productivity of the Frontera Quilt Guild. At the conclusion of Sunday’s class, students were about as far along as expected, with completed designs, and a little completed stitching.
Monday was my big birding adventure, under the capable and cheerful leadership of locals Judy and Viva. Stop number one revealed none of the Red-crowned Parrots at their normal roost. A huge tree lay across the road, possibly signaling an end to this roost site. Then it was off to a flooded resaca, birding in Judy’s personal wilderness of a back yard, and to Resaca de las Palmas, the newest state park, not yet officially open. Groove-billed Anis awaited at the trail entrance, an indicator of some of the wonders of this refuge. However, the wonder soon turned to misery by black clouds of mosquitos swarming each human body. Maybe that’s why the anis were hanging out at the entrance where there was a little more breathing room. The bloodthirsty little buggars just followed us right back to the car, and about 40 of them climbed right in with us. Some serious swatting enlivened the drive to Sabal Palm Grove, where there were still plenty of mosquitos, but at a more tolerable level. Turns out that hurricanes are good for mosquitos, with all the flooded ground providing ample breeding grounds. I wonder if these little pests are capable of laying eggs, hatching, and morphing into biting adults in less than 20 minutes. Sabal Palm Grove was all that I had hoped for, and it even produced a life bird, a Yellow-green Vireo.
After lunch, we proceeded to South Padre Island and the World Birding Site: The Boardwalk, however, our walk ended before we even set foot onto the famous birding area. Much of the railing was lying on the marsh grasses, although the base seemed sturdy enough. A quick turn around revealed luxury beachfront hotels with gaping holes, with signs of destruction obvious throughout the island.
The big surprise came Monday night, at the Frontera Quilt Guild General Meeting. While I was busy birding, the ladies were stitching away. All but one student, showed up at the meeting with a finished product, a first! Kudos to this enthusiastic and energetic bunch.
Now, those of us that live in the desert don’t think much about hurricanes. While I was aware of the second baby storm, Eduoard, swirling across the Gulf of Mexico, it never entered my mind that our paths might actually cross, but they did. Upon checking in at the airport, the gate attendant announced that there was a weather advisory in Houston due to the arriving storm. A delay was possible. But, I wasn’t worried, because I wasn’t going to Houston; Dallas was my layover location. What didn’t occur to me was that this particular flight had an interim stop – in Houston. Descent into the storm revealed thunderclouds within other clouds. As each cloud boiled up within the stormy cauldron, I began to truly understand the power of this superstorm we call hurricane, even if it was just a little one.
Hi Gail,
Frontera Quilt Guild Class - Sensational Stars! 
Cooper's Hawk Nestling
Quilt Colorado 2008, held in Estes Park, CO held extra special treats for the faculty. Nestled at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park, this small mountain community is the gateway to high elevation adventures. One among us, Paula Nadelstern, had never before been here, and had never traveled the highest continuous highway in the U.S. Being the enterprising sort, she arranged for a party bus to transport us to the heights of the Rockies, complete with a picnic dinner, a charming bus driver/host, and wonderful company. We were ten strong in all: Sonya Lee Barrington, Sharyn Craig, Carol Doak, Jan Krenz, Marsha McCloskey, Paula Nadelstern, Sue Nickels, Katie Pasquini Masopust, George Scilianon, and yours truly. We saw amazing wildlife, including the majestic Clark's Nutcracker who waited for us at the bus stop, close-up views of elk, and equally stunning scenery. We even found a snow field in which to play. I'd tell you more, but made a pact which is inviolate: "What happens on the party bus, stays on the party bus!" Thank you Paula, for making this magical Summer Solstice evening possible.
Photos by Jenny Lisignoli
Memorial Day 2008 was memorable in many ways, mostly for the good friends that share their world with me, and the wonderful places that we explore. On this day, we investigated Ojito Wilderness Area, northwest of Albuquerque. Here, we found fantastical geologic shapes, dinosaur bones, petrified wood, and great photo opportunities. For more fabulous photos, check out my friend, Steve Elkins', website. Once there, click on Ojito Wilderness Area. It was an incredible day. Many thanks to Jan Cummings, geologist, for arranging and leading this trip to a seldom seen jewel of the southwest.
It was a week in Paradise, or more specifically, Quilter's Heaven. the As a teaching experience, the Empty Spools Seminars, held at the Asilomar Conference Center on the spectacular Monterrey Peninsula in California, cannot be topped. My students and I worked together for five consecutive days. This gave me time to present new information in a way that could be more easily absorbed and retained, rather than trying to cram as much teaching as possible into one six-hour class. Students were able to take the time to develop their designs, as well as time to stitch. As the projects progressed, we were able to trouble-shoot technical stitching problems relative to individual designs, and everyone learned from this experience.
An owl came to stay the night. Not just any owl, mind you, but the female Great Horned Owl that is one of the Hawks Aloft educational ambassadors. Our educators had taken her to the Festival of the Cranes in Monte Vista, CO, for the weekend. Since the owl lives at a facility in the mountains east of Albuquerque, we decided that it would be best if she spent the night with me, so I could return her this morning.
Ever wonder just how much a roll of toilet paper can weigh? I thought that this had been rescued in time, but I was wrong, as were my hand-knotted bathroom and hall rugs. Three days later and musty smell is still here. 
