IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS

Two years ago I made the decision to write about my weight loss journey. I spent 3 weeks writing it, editing it, double thinking it, then finally was ready to publish it. You can find that post and the few other posts I have made about this topic here: HEALTH JOURNEY TAB at the top of the BLOG

Two years later I am still down 100 pounds and feeling fine. My bloodwork numbers are excellent and my semi-annual doctor visits are a cause for celebration rather than trepidation. He is happy to see me too, a patient who actually did what he advised.

Something I've noticed: I don't NEED new clothes. Everything from last year still fits. Amazing. I did buy a new dress, in case a special occasion should present itself. I love this dress and the new shoes:

Granddaughter Stella recently went with me to a haircut. She remembers when I was "BIG", too big to get on the floor with her. She likes to remind me this is better, and she's right:

I had a chance to go swimming with Stella recently and wasn't afraid to wear a two-piece swimsuit:

I am often asked how I do/did this. Eat smart, exercise daily. Most days I start with my favorite bowl of high protein oatmeal, find the recipe in the FAVORITE HEALTHY RECIPES under HEALTH JOURNEY

A new recipe I make frequently uses pasta made from chick peas. I got to sample them at Sam's Club, they are good. This time I sauteed some shrimp and added Bang Bang sauce. Another time I add leftover rotisserie chicken and pesto--that's good too. The bottled salad dressing is G Hughes brand, there are several varieties and all are sugar-free:

At our favorite local Mexican restaurant my usual order is Mexican Shrimp Cocktail: shrimp, avocado, onions, peppers, V-8 juice, and a "special sauce" which I have been told is ketchup. It's delicious and other than being high in sodium is very healthy:

I track everything I eat using the MyFitnessPal app. I have used the free version for years and it works well for me. My goals are Protein 25%, Fat 30%, and Carbs 45%, 1900 calories, and most days I hit these goals or get close. I can eat anything I want BUT everything I eat counts.

As for the exercise, I walk about 8 miles a day, 7 days a week, it takes over 2 hours, at a 4 mph pace. I listen to music and sing, plan my day, occasionally do "walking and talking" with friends. I do it first thing in the morning when it's warm and after lunch when it's cold. If it's raining I use an umbrella. Only storms with thunder and lightning keep me indoors:

When I travel I hit the hotel fitness center from 5-6 am. An hour on the treadmill is grueling, I don't enjoy it but I do it. So I can eat whatever I want at the great places I am often taken to:

So this is my annual check-in on my HEALTH JOURNEY. Life is good, I hope to live many more years and it doesn't matter that it took me 50 years to take charge of my heath. I did it. 

Now, let's quilt.

Barbara

TEXAS TOUR 2024 PART 1: THE QUILT GUILDS

Recently I was on my "Texas Tour 24", taking me to two Texas quilt guilds to teach and lecture. In between I had a mini-vacation in Austin, The trip was SO GOOD, it needs two posts to show it all. Next week we will look at TEXAS. This post will focus on the two quilt guilds.

First up is the Golden Triangle Quilt Guild in Beaumont. I flew to Houston where I was met by the wonderful woman who has been my contact for more than a year as we planned all the logistics. Susan came in to help me wrangle the bags while Melissa circled the Passenger Pick up area.

We had a lovely 1.75 hour drive as we got to know each other better. I love seeing more of Texas and the drive was great. Home2Suites was a lovely place to stay for 3 nights, full kitchen, comfortable bed, very  clean, pleasant employees and a good fitness center.

I always sleep under a quilt

Frig, microwave, dishwasher, dishes and silverware

after my daily 1 hour power walk workout on the treadmill

The lecture was "Time Management for Quilters", one of my most popular, and it went very well. Lots of good comments after the meeting.

Lots of quilts to show

More quilts

It is not unusual for me to see lots of Block of the Month quilts from The Quilt Show at Show and Tell. I love seeing them:

A version of Homeward Bound at show and tell by Sylvia Weir

Inspired by Garden Party Down Under, also by Sylvia

Sylvia even had Pick a Petal done--the 2024 BOM from The Quilt Show!

The guild recently held their quilt show. One of the vendors wasn't able to attend at the last minute. His wife, a guild member I believe, had their inventory for sale at the meeting. I was happy to purchase a piece:

Hanging in my studio

Beautiful selections

Contact information

The next day we gathered for the Workshop: The Village. A fun class that teaches paper piecing in the morning and super easy star blocks in the afternoon:

There were 34 students signed up! That broke a guild record. While not everyone showed up, we had an amazing group who worked hard and accomplished much:

Building our Neighborhood

After some had left--I always try to get a class photo

My stay with the Golden Triangle Quilt Guild was the perfect way to kick off a 12 day trip. 

After a 5 day mini vacation in Austin, which I will detail next week, it was on to the Quilt Guild of Greater Victoria. This was my THIRD trip to this guild, 2016, 2019, and now 2024. We start at a great BBQ place in Lockhart, Kreuz Market. This is a good place to transfer from Austin to Victoria. My friend Marcia met me there with two other guild members for the 1.75 hour drive to Victoria.

The Hampton Inn was fine, even though lots of renovations are ongoing. Mostly I was thrilled to find hard boiled eggs at breakfast--the first time since Covid! I eat a hearty, protein packed breakfast after a hour-long hard workout each day:

I saved the eggs for lunch

Victoria Art League, a lovely space to meet in. The guild begins the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag--one of only two guilds I have been to that does. Means a lot to me.

This guild is one of the few that serve refreshments--I can vouch for the homemade brownies!

Lunch--Market Salad from Chick Fil A with the two added eggs

This guild asked for a Trunk Show instead of a PowerPoint Lecture so I filled a large suitcase and that's what I showed. The Beaumont guild benefitted from that as they got to see them too, although I didn't go into detail with them.

In the afternoon we started the 9 hour workshop "Love Your Layout". Some students had worked ahead to make 4" pieced blocks so they were ready to play with the 3 layouts. Some used the afternoon to piece those blocks--both options are fine:

The next day we worked on those layout options. I was pleased with the progress:

Donna got busy and even finished her project with borders

Carolyn, my contact and chauffer, made great progress even while performing all her guild duties

A few days after I got home, Jo sent me a photo. She had made 12" blocks as she wanted a bed size quilt. I taught her how to recalculate the math for the sizes needed for the layout. Here is her 88" square finished top:

We always need that class photo:

All too soon, it was over. The next morning I was up early for the two hour drive to the Austin airport. Arriving with plenty of time, I spent the first hour power walking the long concourse. It worked, I got in 4 miles, worked up a mild sweat, and didn't run into anyone:

Happy to say I had "traveling mercies", all flights on time and uneventful. I am already looking forward to my next Texas Tour--most likely in 2026.

Let's quilt. 

Barbara

INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL 2023 -- PART 1

 There is so much to share about Quilt Festival, there will be two posts about it. The first is about my teaching experience at Festival.

After working in the Education Office for 24 years I "graduated" to the other side of the desk. My friend, Vicki T., checked me in as Faculty--it's official now:

The first class was Western Sun, the most challenging of my 3 classes this year, and the one that taught the most: 

Ready to Go

Happy Students

Lest you think teachers just show up, there is  a lot of prep that takes place months in advance. I ordered the Template sets for the Kits, had the Pattern handouts printed, prepared all the supplies needed for 75 students, and shipped 3 boxes of teaching supplies to Houston a month ahead of time. 

Once in Houston, it was time to assemble the 25 Kits for Western Sun. My King size bed was the perfect place to do that:

Laid out and double counted

Everything stuffed in a resealable bag

The class was a great success and I was riding a big wave into the next class, Antique Rose Star by Machine. I love to teach this class and students love the big trick they learn that makes a Y-seam so easy:

Ready for the day

Some Student work, still in two halves for a very important reason:

Happy students at the end of the day:

In the blink of an eye, it was Day 3 and Disappearing Patchwork was up. My sample is a neutral quilt because I wanted to prove to myself I could work with only Neutrals. It was a struggle but I like the result:

Ready for the last day of teaching

It is so much fun for me to see the fabric choices of the students. This class did not disappoint. Some Student work:

Happy students at the end of the day:

A copy of the Class evaluations are given to the teacher after class. Let's just say, I am keeping all of these in case I ever have a bad day and want reassurance I am doing what I was born to do, sharing my love and passion for quiltmaking with those who want to learn. Awesome teaching experience all around and I hope to repeat it with new classes next year.

The other goal I had for the week was to get in the daily exercise I am used to. Each morning I hit the Fitness Center for an hour and a half, starting at 5:30 am. I usually had the place to myself:

A little sweaty

30 minutes on the Elliptical Trainer

Power walk for one hour, 4 MPH

Three times I swam in the beautiful rooftop pool, loved that. No pictures of the two piece swimsuit because, in photos, it looks way too much like lingerie!

Eating smart is important while traveling. I started each day with a high protein breakfast. Lunch was often part of a big salad purchased at Phoenicia Market, or oatmeal and protein bars. Dinner was more eggs or Chinese from a local place, rounded out with Muscle Milk shakes I brought from home:

Salad, hummus, pita--at least two meals here from Phoenicia

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS: 

Daily breakfast, eggs, bacon or sausage, a big bowl of fresh berries and skim milk in my coffee

As expected, I was up 3 pounds when I returned home. Two days later they were gone, two days after that I was down 2 more. Getting right back to my normal diet and exercise routine works!

I love the Hilton Americas hotel. It is my home every year (except last year), since 2008. It feels like home, I am an honored guest and the relationships I have built over the years are priceless. 

One of the best is Brenda C, who takes such good care of me. We email a few times during the year to catch up on our families. She is the best! This year I gave her a quilt to give her granddaughter who just bought her first home:

We are almost the same size--she was so surprised to see me this year

A gift for her granddaughter

My view

Homeward Bound top I brought to give to the new owner

I LOVE  a full moon

This class sample is what I slept under--I love quilts on hotel beds

This week could not have gone any better. I was filled with gratitude as I went home. Next year is a BIG one, the 50th anniversary of Festival and I will be there. I certainly hope to be teaching again, a few new and exciting classes as well as doing a few other events. I will apply, time will tell.

Next week I will share more about the quilts and special friends I was able to see and hug.

Let's quilt.

Barbara