Annette's Acre

I realized a couple days ago that I never posted any Houston pics.

I actually took some, too.

So, without further ado….. my recent Houston trip (all pictures clickable to biggify):

Mom and I flew in late Thursday eve (the 15th) and took a short cab ride to our downtown hotel (Marriott Residence Inn).  Thankfully short, because it was late (after 10pm local time) and it was a very uncomfortable cab.

We got checked in and up to the spacious room.  We felt very safe given our view:

Friday dawned bright and early.  We had lunch downstairs before Missy Ann came by to pick us up for the Quilt Show.  1000 booths, tens of thousands of people (over the week) and hundreds of quilts on display taking up the entire downtown convention center.  It was amazing.

Friday we shopped (pictures to follow), we ate lunch (there was a huge food court at one end of the convention center.  It was amazing!) and drug ourselves out of there late in the afternoon for dinner at a local Italian/Seafood place.  Dinner was ok, but dessert was fantastic – a pecan pie that was essentially pecans barely held together with the usual pecan pie custard-y goodness.

Mom and I collapsed for the evening and stitched a bit.

Saturday, after the usual breakfast and pickup (though maneuvering into the parking garage was simpler – we know what we were doing!) we looked at all the quilts on display and did a bit more shopping.  I expected the crowds to be bigger given it was a weekend, but actually I think they were about the same.  It was just as packed with people as it was on Friday.

The standout quilts (sorry for the choppy pictures.  TONS of people)

Santa Claus has Come… with the creator:

You can see the top of the quilt here.  Absolutely stunning detail in this.

Tribute to Tolkein – took my breath away (Definitely click on this one to see the detail)!!

More pics:  Bottom Back

Isn’t it awesome that she incorporated the Ring’s engraving in the back??

So many of the quilts on display were stunning examples of art.  Even a non-quilter like me recognized the hours of work and inspiration that went in to each one.

Hmmm…. maybe I should say “casual quilter” like me, given that I have made a couple small ones and have supplies to make a few more

We finished our shopping early in the afternoon and decided to head over to House of Blues for some lunch.  In this case, everything was good, burger to dessert

At this point, we headed back to the hotel and I got Missy Ann knitting We also hit the bookstore right across the street from the hotel and had a great time trading “Have you read this?” between us.  We both scribbled authors and book titles to check into.  I also picked up a couple magazines to add to my stash haul.  Lots of talking and laughing into the evening, which is the best part of any vacation that finds me with my stitching friends

Sunday was very quiet.  Interestingly, downtown Houston *shuts down* on Sunday!  We had very limited options for food and chose a mexican restaurant for lunch (great corn chowder).  We eventually made it back to the airport, this time in a very nice Town Car.

It’s a darn good thing we got there early. (I tried to change to an earlier flight, but it would have cost more than the original ticket)

I’m not sure what was going on, but the TSA agent at security did not like that while my driver’s license has my full name (first/middle/last), my boarding pass only had my middle and last name (Annette is my middle name – and the one I use 99% of the time).  I’ve never had an issue with this.  Phoenix TSA didn’t even blink on Thursday.

I had to leave the security line (growing longer by the minute), go back to the Southwest counter, explain to the agent that I needed the pass changed (he was just as incredulous… “But your name is on your license”  Yes, sir, but evidently that’s not good enough.), get my new pass, go back to security (thankfully one of the other TSA agents took pity on me and let me use the “employee” line as I’d already waited once) and then get stuck behind two women that thought they could just leave their liquids in their suitcase to go thru xray.  I kid you not…. two women, both were stunned that not only did they have to remove their makeup bags (where the liquids were being carried) but that they had to remove them from the makeup bag itself. And the agent decided not to argue the one quart zipper bag at this point.  Thankfully the bottles were all the right size.

I could only ask… “Where have you been for the last few years??”

Especially when they assured the TSA agent they’d flown in the last six months without having to go thru this.

Sure…uh huh.  Do you believe that??  I don’t.  Especially with my freshly printed boarding pass with my first name on it.

Everything was smooth after that.  We arrived home safely Sunday evening.

On to…. the stash.

I laid this all out on the table, thus the overlaps between pictures.  Of course, I didn’t take one view of the entire pile (smack forehead).

“The Haunted Halloween” kit.  The “chart” was free, but you can see the bundle of fabric just to the right to make it up.   I took my sewing machine in for service last week, so I’m hoping to have it back and start this Thanksgiving week

16 fat quarters of fabric.  These were the ones that I just couldn’t leave without.   The purple-y dragonfly on the lower left is actually a half yard heavy satin-y fabric.  Perfect for a stitching bag.

Missy Ann, Mom and I all left a chunk at the Bohin booth.  Needles, scissors and a great chalk marker.

The bookstore magazines (Inspirations and Quilts & more) and the show program.

See the reindeer runner on the right?  Isn’t that the cutest thing EVER??  Another project for Thanksgiving week.  Hoping to find the felt at either Joann’s or another local fabric shop.  Garden of Eerie was my only purchase at The Silver Needle booth.  Missy Ann and I got the last two copies   You can also see the Halloween-y buttons I found at another booth at the bottom.  Have no clue what I’m going to do with them, but obviously that never stops the purchase….

Finally, the splurge.  This is the Halloween Baltimore quilt I’ve been drooling over for months.   It’s applique and just amazing.  If it hadn’t been for the model in the booth, I would not have bought it!   My plan is to visit a couple of the local quilt shops to see what I can find out about classes, etc, before I even attempt this puppy.  I have a kit for another Halloween tablerunner that has applique (as well as a few other techniques) so I’ll probably start with that one first

So that was Houston.  A great time, great stash and terrific company   Next year, the show is in early November and I could easily see myself wandering the booths again

Kinda fell off the posting wagon, there.

I am happy to say I did *not* end up with the flu.  I did have a bit of headache and fever for a couple days, but nothing that kept me from working at home.

Then Thursday I had Jury Duty.

It was the Best Ever!!!

I didn’t have to report until 1pm and then sat and read (Lover Eternal) for a couple hours before being sent home.

That is my kind of jury duty!

Saturday was busy with errands (salon for mani/pedi, mammogram, used bookstore with Z, quick Hobby Lobby stop).  A friend of mine had a lovely baby girl show up on her doorstep (long story, but a happy ending), so I’ve started a crocheted blanket quickly.  She’s expecting her own baby girl in April, so I’ll do it all again soon!

Sunday I finished off the current Mirabilia RR Round – Queen Mermaid:

I also watched some football (go Cardinals!!) and spent a bit of time in the BDB world with Lover Awakened and Lover Revealed.

Tonight – Dancing with the Stars, Castle, more crochet, more BDB and packing up the Blog Giveaways (finally got the right sized boxes at the Post Office!!)

Whew!!

Came home from work with a splitting headache and a bit of fever.  My flu-avoidance luck may have run out.

Day 2 of Missy Ann’s 13 Days of Halloween is up!  Go enter

I am simply amazed at the great response all of my giveaways received!  Thanks everyone that threw their name in the hats for each one.  I’ve added a bunch of new blogs to my reader

Without further ado, here are the winners:

Reader’s Giveaway – (72 entries):

RC  (Rani)

Knitters Giveaway – (166 entries):

KnittingFool

Stitcher’s Giveaway – (300! entries):

Staci

Emails have been sent to all three winners.  Congratulations to all!!

——————————————————————————–

Edited to Add:  I’ve pulled a couple names for “runner up” drawing on the Reader Giveaway.  Those winners are:

DailyMel

Laura in AL

Each will receive two of the books from their list   Emails sent!

13 Days of Halloween-themed giveaways from the incomparable Missy Ann!

I’m working thru the amazing pile of entries from my blog giveaways… next post will be the winners!

• Go to bank for vacation money – check
• Wash a few clothes – check
• Figure out what projects to take (L*K Halloween Flips and Shoal scarf)- check
• Pack – check
• Watch Glee – check
• Watch Top Chef – check
• Catch up Facebook games – check
• Get Kylie to watch Farmville on Facebook while I’m gone – check
• Decide what books to read on trip – check (Kindle – the whole Amazon catalog is available to me.  Current book: Born of Night)
• Blog – drat…..

My streak for October blogging is broken  So sorry!

I’m taking my Kindle for reading.  I would love to take Jamie & Claire, but dragging an 800+ page hardback around in my carry-on isn’t appealing.  They’ll just have to hold until I get back.

Leaving here shortly and returning home late on Sunday, so probably no new posts until I announce the giveaway winners sometime on Monday!

Take care, all

Sunday, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I had to stitch on something Halloween!

I pulled out my pitiful start on L*K’s Halloween Double Flips from earlier this year (I had the top border, the bat and beginning of a moon).

Since mid afternoon on Sunday, I’m now here:

Fabric: Platinum Belfast (32-ct linen)

Threads: As designed, except black/white border is black & white Anchor and “Spooky” is in DMC (missing the blasted WDW!)

I think this will be my travel project for Houston

Kylie and I are on Twitter.

Her ID is “woobie331” – Woobie is what I’ve called her for several years.  I can’t even remember when it started or where it came from.

The following exchanges had her very excited this afternoon….

Mal Exchange:

malcomreynolds: Finally figured where @YoSafBridge [Saffron] disappeared off do. Should’ve guessed… old habits die hard, ‘specially with her

woobie331: @malcolmreynolds oh, that crazy lady.

malcomreynolds: @woobie331 She’d be my kind’a crazy if she weren’t so willin’ t’ risk my crew’s life

Kaylee Exchange:

Kaylee_Frye: Serenity’s core ain’t off, but she’s feelin’ real cold today. Might just be me, thinkin’ and dreamin’ too much. Time for hot cocoa!

woobie331: @Kaylee_Frye it’s always time for hot cocoa!

Kaylee_Frye: @woobie331 Cocoa ain’t somethin’ we get a lot of ’round here, but if ‘Nara or me make it, seems the whole crew comes runnin’.

woobie331: @Kaylee_Frye that’s tragic. I suppose you could make a cocoa stash when you do get it!

Kaylee_Frye: @woobie331 *giggles* Any sorta ‘stash’ ain’t gonna last long ’round here. Not with Jayne stormin’ through the kitchens.

woobie331: @Kaylee_Frye drat

Kaylee_Frye: @woobie331 It ain’t a bad thing, baobei, means when we do get them things we don’t get real often they taste that much better.

woobie331: @Kaylee_Frye can’t argue with that ^^-

She had a *huge* grin on her face.  Amazing how happy one can be when conversing with a fictional character….

I admit, if Mal ever responded to me, though, my grin would be just as big  I was excited when Castle friended me on Facebook LOL

Yesterday I had something done I’ve *never* done before…

I had my hair colored

The gal that cuts my hair has been gently suggesting a little color for months.  Once I confirmed I could keep much of my grey (I like my grey hair ) she knew she was going to convince me.

I rather like it!

For two days this past week, I hacked websites.

Of course, this was in a controlled environment and the ultimate goal was to code web applications to protect against the *real* hackers out there.

I work for a prominent credit card company and unlike this blog, we have a *lot* of information on our web apps that would make a hacker just giddy. Protecting our cardmembers’ information is easily the highest priority.

I learned that *one key* on the keyboard can open up a whole world of information on poorly-coded/insecure sites. I tell you, it was downright scary!

I also learned that phishing is far more successful than it should be. Can you tell the difference between these links?

http://www.ebay.com

Ebay.com (should not work, for example only)

Ebay

On the face of them, they look quite innocent. And all will lead you to the referenced website….. eventually. The last one is particularly sinister since you can’t actually see where you are going!

If you are interested in learning more about website security, try these sites:

HackThisSite – Yes, a place to learn all about hacking and security.

Open Web Application Security Project

Now I’m off to look at locks for my house…..