This summer we went to New York City to visit my mom and to bury my cousin Nicole. While there we were able to secure tickets to the World Trade Center Memorial. Today, I am sharing a few of my pictures.

WTC Memorial

A message left on a tribute wreath.

Building again.

The new building reflected in the Memorial pools. 

We will never forget.

Chihuly at the Dallas Arboretum

A few weeks ago, I met my friend Virginia at the Dallas Arboretum to see the Chihuly Glass Exhibit. The work is large and colorful and absolutely beautiful. Here are a few pics

I highly recommend a visit to the Arboretum. Chihuly will be around until November.

Somewhere over the rainbow...

Back in July, when rain came to visit Dallas, I looked out the window and saw this...

More of the Holy Land

Here are more pictures from our trip to the Holy Land. The Yigal Allon Center is the home of the Ancient Galilee Boat. The boat was discovered in 1986 by 2 fishermen during a time of drought and when the water had receded. Based on nails, pottery, other artifacts and carbon dating, the boat dates back to 1 AD. The remains were so delicate, it took twelve days to extricate and another seven years soaking in chemical water and very elaborate conservation before being displayed. The pictures taken inside are somewhat grainy because we were not allow to us flash photography.

The Yigal Allon Centre

The Yigal Allon Centre

Another view of  The Yigal Allon Centre 

The foam form that was used to float the remains of the boat.

Jesus Boat

Different view

Different view

Different view

Goodbye Sweet Nicole

Today, I learned my sweet cousin Nicole passed away. She lived in the Baltimore area and was 36 years old. My heart is heavy. Nicole leaves behind her brother John and a family that is in shock and still grieving over the loss of 2 other family members this year. I am grateful and I thank God that I was able to spend time with Nicole in February when we gathered together as a family to say goodbye to Aunt Irene. The last time I saw Nicole, she had lost a lot of weight and I remember teasing her about wearing baggy clothes and maybe she should buy a new wardrobe to show off her new figure. She laughed but didn't say much. My brother remembers her not talking too much about herself and another cousin remembers her being tired during her visit... When it was time for her to leave, we hugged, kissed and promised to stay in touch...I will miss you sweet Nicole. 

Goodbye sweet Nicole. Rest in Peace.

July Guild Meeting

Lola Jenkins! Two words that made me happy I attended the July guild meeting. Our speaker this month was the vivacious and energetic Lola Jenkins from Oklahoma City. Lola shared her life's journey from millionaire CPA to losing both parents a husband and nearly her own life, to being nursed back to health and losing all CPA knowledge to becoming an award winning quiltmaker. Her stories were filled with humor as she touched on subjects all quilters are familiar with - from buying a second hand sewing machine and not knowing how to use it to recycling thrift store finds into quilt fabrics to faking mitered corners and why the glue stick is one of her favorite tools. She shared that if she had listened to what she calls a 'bubble buster', she never would have entered the Oklahoma State Fair and won first or second place in all thirteen quilt categories in the same year. Lola is not shy and has probably never met a stranger. Her big personality has taken her from interviews with Alex Anderson to an international quilt class with Craftsy. If Lola is ever in your area, her story will keep you entertained.

First quilt

Sharpie markers

Sharpie markers

Silhouette series - Ray Charles

Silhouette series - Nat King Cole

Half square triangles

Mitered corners - real and fake

Portrait of Miles Davis

Bob Marley hair is textured using yarns and fibers

Lots of thread sketching and use of color

Silhouette series

Colored pencils

All I asked was to take a picture in front of her work and she gave me this

More Holy Land Pictures

It is a slow process to view and edit photos for posting. Memories associated with the pictures make it difficult to scale down - you want to share what you saw yet you cannot show every detail or every picture for that matter. Here are a few I would like to share with you.

Basilica of the Annunciation

Basilica of the Annunciation

Church of Gethsemane, know also as the Church of All Nations

Church of the Multiplication

View into a Jewish cemetery. Mourners leave rocks instead of flowers.

Festival of Lights was a multi-day event held in Jerusalem.

A view of the light dome from underneath.

Mount Carmel

Stella Maris Church

Dome in the Stella Maris Church

View of the Mediterranean Sea as seen from the Stella Maris Church

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee

These are a few of my favorites. I will continue to post as I edit.