What Happens in Houston...

Stays in Houston, except when it lands on Facebook.  At the wonderful Gala on the Green tonight, we had a rockin' band that played great songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's and you should have seen us middle aged and older women shaking our booties.  Oh, you might actually get to see that if those photos go on Facebook.  One glass of wine, really just one.  I love to sing along to live music and yes, I DO know all the words to all the songs.  What a FUN night!

It was capped off with a terrific fireworks display over the George R Brown Convention center.  Paid for by the city of Houston as a thank you to the international Quilt Festival and our 40th anniversary Ruby Jubilee.

I have met so many people here for their first festival and they sure picked the right year to come.  I have had the great pleasure of spending time with a super couple from Morro Bay, CA I met a few years ago on our two-day post show tour.  I look forward to having a little reunion with them each year and tonight we got to do that.  Festival is about the quilts, sure.  And the vendors, of course.  But it's about the people too and the friendships that are formed here.

At our table tonight, three quilters from Raleigh, NC sat at our table at the Gala on the Green.  It's held in the huge park, Discovery Green, right across the street from the convention center.  We did the usual chit-chat, where are you from, is this your first Festival?  Then one of them recognized me from the terrific article that was in the Houston Chronicle today.  I felt like a rock star.  They couldn't wait to go home to tell their friends they met me.  And Alice, one of them who must be somewhat quiet and shy at home, was feeling the music.  So I said, "come on, Alice, let's dance!"  And so we did, for an hour, laughing and singing and just letting loose.  Glad I met Alice and her 2 friends tonight--I think Alice will find her wild side on facebook too.

A few photos--the other day I was waiting to check in a lecture, it was early and the sun was just striking high rise buildings near by and I saw the flags flying in the breeze.  I call this "it's morning in Texas". 

We had cake and champagne for 500 or so tonight before the Gala. And it's always Halloween at festival so here is most of the Education team yesterday.

Let's quilt!

Barbara