Well, coming from 78 degrees in Tampa on Monday to Albuquerque's 30 degrees and a 40 mile an hour wind, then 10" of snow the next day took it's toll on me!
I have a raging "old fashioned sore throat" which does not begin to describe the pain that I am in. I did not know your throat could hurt so much! Got some anitbiotics and some pain medicine and am feeling much better (although that is realtive!)
That put a stop to my Christmas plans, as I did not want to infect my 83 year old mother and small nieces! I have not been out of bed since Friday night (except to go to urgent care on Saturday morning.) Today is the first time I have felt like even turning on my computer!
On top of feeling rotten, on Thursday I wrecked my car. Could not stop in time and ran into the back of this little old man!
So I bought a lottery ticket, hoping to win $54 million. No such luck.
Have a very merry christmas!

Cozumel Cruise and almost starting a terror alert in Tampa Airport!
Ok, I have not posted for a month, but I have been busy! On Dec. 13, I flew to Tampa and the next morning my friend Lyncia and I left for a 4 day Carnival cruise from Tampa to Cozumel. Had such a fantastic time, the cruise was great. I did not win in the Casino, but Lyncia won $700.00 on three quarters in a slot machine. I kidded her about my feeding my quarters in so she could win. We went on a shore excursion and swam with the dolphins. If you ever get a chance to do that, do not pass it up. It is indescriable.
This cruise was a trial, and since we liked it so well, we will probably take a New Year's cruise next year. I have nothing but good things to say about Carnival (except that I did not win ANY money).
My return trip was not so successful. We had gone to the beach after landing in Tampa, and then rushed back to Lyncia's house to pick up my luggage for a 5:00 pm flight. At the last minute, I was gathering up stuff, including a large squeeze bottle of lotion and a small travel set of BeautiControl products that Lyncia gave me.
DID NOT EVEN THINK OF EITHER ONE OF THESE LIQUIDS!
I had bought some bangle bracelets, and they set off the alarm. That made everyone take notice, and then when they x-rayed my bag, you guessed it. A LARGE very disagreeable woman who looked like she should work in a prison exclaimed YOU HAVE A BOTTLE IN HERE! I was mystified and said that I did not remember any bottles, and then she said YOU HAVE A CORD IN HERE! I told her that it was probably my cell phone charger, but by that time she told eveyone else in line behind me to go to another line. I was expecting the storm troopers at any moment.
The woman who acutally searched my bags was very understanding, and confiscated my NEW large squeeze bottle of Bath and Body Works Body Butter, but did let me keep the travelsize bottles (which she put into a plastic bag inside the travel case!) Go figure.
Anyway, when I fly to Dallas for New Years I will be VERY CAREFUL.
When I left Tampa it was 77 degrees and sunny. When I finally landed in Albuquerque after a stop in Kansas City, it was 35 degrees and the wind was blowing about 40 miles an hour! At least it was not snowing (yet).
When I got up yesterday it was cold but no snow (still). About noon, it started snowing and did not stop until about 7 PM and there was about 3 inches of snow on the ground. While that may not seem much to you people from the frozen north, it is a lot for Albuquerque.
When I got up this AM, there was more snow, and I ended up with almost 9 inches. And it is still snowing! STayed home all day and worked from home, which was a nice change.

Now I have a scratchy sore throat (could be the change in climate, do you think?_)

I have been given the task of being a Santa's Helper. My grand nieces want a kitten for Christmas. My niece asked me to go to the shelters and look for two kittens.
It was absolutely heartbreaking! Row after row of beautiful kittens and cats, and they will be destroyed unless someone adopts them! And Albuquerque is a small city, I can imagine the problem in larger cities must be even more heartbreaking. But Albuquerque did enact a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance and there is a $150 litter fee. So we are working on the problem.
I would have taken everyone of them home with me, but circumstances prohibit it (space and my alpha female would not be happy!)
WHEN I win the lottery, that is where my money will go....
We did not find the perfect kitten, but are continuing to look.

Just so you have some reference, this is my alpha cat Babycakes (the maine coon) and Fuzz Bucket (solid black.) Yes, they were both homeless when I took them in. This was a odd, as they do not

usually lay on the same piece of furniture!

There has been a thread recently on Quiltart about people not updating their blogs! I am very guilty, but the fall in Albuquerque is so busy. Everyone wants their event to be available to the thousands of people who come to the International Balloon Festival. I was in three back to back art shows, went to Houstonm had lots of out of town guests and still worked fulltime! Whew.....
Anyway, I got a website for the Hands exhibit http://www.handsasart.org/ The organizers are still requesting more hands.... More later, as I have a house full of company

This is a very interesting site. I have two friends who do not exist. I asked them how they missed out on getting counted!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 49 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

This is another strange thing, my son and I both have 49 other people with our names!

My how time flies!

It just does not seem possible that a month has flown by since I posted last.
October is always a busy month in Albuquerque, as that is the month of the International Balloon Fiesta. I am not as involved as I used to be, as my pilot brother-in-law has sold his balloon (drat!!), but we do go every year to see the new shapes, eat good food, shop and see the fireworks. The fireworks this year were spectacular!
If you have never seen 700 balloons floating across the fantastic New Mexico sky, you have never lived.
Fiesta always involves lots of company and I was also involved in two art shows. I was juried into a Social Justice show at my church and created a piece called "Make Love, Not War" with a great Jimi Hendrix quote. I also have two pieces in the Members Show, and am showing pieces at a local cafe, Alfredo's. My walls look very bare, as all of my art is out on display.

POSTCARDS BATTLE CANCER
FIBERART FOR A CAUSE AT INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL- HOUSTON
Fiber artists from around the world have donated more than 2300 fiberartpostcards to raise funds for the American Cancer Society at InternationalQuilt Festival-Houston. Choose a wonderful fiberart postcard for each $30 donation to the AmericanCancer Society. Payment is BY CHECK to the ACS with 100% of funds raiseddonated to the ACS. The first 1000 patrons will receive a special ribbon,"Postcards Battle Cancer."The Fiberart For A Cause booth will be on the Main Aisle in SpecialExhibits.Fiberart For A Cause has already raised $53,000 and our goal for IQF-Houstonis to raise the total to $100,000 donated to the ACS in only eighteenmonths.
Visit http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACSFundraiser.htmlfor a preview of the fiberart postcards and more information.
Questions? Send an e-mail to: Virginia@VirginiaSpiegel.com

My latest works, this was created for a challenge show. We were to use orange, green and purple. Of course, I had lots of all the colors (except the green, but I did find enough to accent with it.)
Top is Cosmic SwirlI which is paper pieced and hand applique (I now remember why I do not like either technique!!!!). Bottom is Cosmic Swirl II which is a simplified Ricky Timm's convergence pattern.
To the right is a FFAC (Fiber Arts for a Cause) postcard. It is in honor of a very dear friend, Carleigh Hoff, who lost her battle with bone cancer a year ago.
This show is at Beautiful Spaces Gallery 416 Central SE in Albuqueruque 505-883-4815. The show will be up for a month. If you are in the area, call for hours and drop by.

Karey Bresnahan has requested that artists send a hand to the International Quilt Festival in Houston , and this is my take on a hand. My hand came out much smaller than I thought it would (more like a child's hand) but I enjoyed creating it. I was working on a challenge using green, orange and purple, which may have influenced my color choices! I used my multiple rings and red fingernail polish and made it a "Peace Hand for Houston. "
If you are interested in sending a hand, send them to
"A Show of Hands"
% Q Inc
7660 Woodway, Suite 550
Houston, Tx 77063
(Must arrive no later than October 15)

See the Creative Spirit Center (http://www.creativespiritcenter.org) where the hands will have a permanent home.

Are You Right or Left Brained?http://www.blogthings.com/areyourightorleftbrainedquiz/

***You Are 20% Left Brained, 80% Right Brained***
The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.
The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Rainbow Artists information

September 16, 2006
I am a working artist who also has a full time “non-art”job. Since I have had to close my creativity studio and return to work full time, my art time has become very limited.
This has necesstiated scaling down my work. I am working on much smaller pieces than I used to. I have branched out into photography, am working on a series of “Fabric Fragments”, a series of prayer flags, and a series of fabric postcards for the Fiberarts For A Cause. FFAC is a fundraising initiative where fabric postcards are created and sold for a $30 donation to the American Cancer Society. These particular postcards will be displayed at the Houston International Quilt Festival.
I also continue my work with multimedia collage, and encaustic work.


These are 3 postcards created for FFAC. Not for Sale. They are titled Lone Star Echo, Lone Star Grid and Lone Star Radiating



Another postcard created for FFAC. Not for Sale Titled Cat Staff

Chaos Fiber wallhanging, approx 24” square, machine pieced, hand quilted $ 150.00

Dreams Quote reads “From where you are you can hear their dreams” Dylan Thomas. Fabric Fragment 13.5” x 16.5” $35

Universe Quote reads “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” Ralph Waldo Emerson. Fabric Fragment 12"x13.5” $30.00
Prayerflags Various sizes, Oriental Kanjis surrounded by coordinating fabrics $35
Make Love Not War, encaustic collage, 14” x 16” Quote reads “When the power of love becomes stronger than the love of Power, we will have peace. Jimi Hendrix” $ 250.00 Currently on display at First Unitarian Church, Albuquerque NM

You're Right. Quote reads “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford. Fabric Fragment, 12” x 16.5” $35.00

Ok, here goes! This is my second attempt at a blog, and hope you enjoy browsing my musings and photos.
I found this on another blog, and thought that it would be a good way to introduce myself. IT is called the ABCs of me:

Accent –Southwestern?? Is that really an accent (but I do still have some Texan drawl left)
Booze –Give me wine, wine, wine
Chore I hate –Housework of any kind (especially cleaning bathrooms)
Essential electronics My computer
Favorite perfume – Au nautrel
Gold or Silver –both, and as much of each as I can get
Hometown –Currently Albuquerque, but I am a native Texan
Insomnia –Naturally
Job title –Senior IT Technician, MCP
Kid(s)-One son, David who lives in Dallas
Living arrangements – Single, with cats and plants (BUT I am not a little old lady!) Ask anybody who knows me!!!
Marital status - Divorced
Number of scars –C Section and a few minor ones!
Overnight hospital stays –When David was born ( 5 days with a backrub every night), C Section and Biopsy
Phobias –BUGS!!!!!!
Quote –Dance like no one is looking, work like you don’t need the money and love like you have never been hurt!
Religion –Unitarian Univeralist
Siblings –An older brother, now deceased, and a younger sister
Time you usually wake –6:15 (Drat!)
Unusual Talent –I have no idea….
Vegetable I refuse to eat – Brussel Sprouts!
Worst habit –Chocolate
X-rays – regulary, if you count the infamous mamogram
Yummy foods I make – My grandmothers Peach Cobbler
Zodiac – Pisces, all the way

Somehow, I seemed to have lost the D, but that is OK