Big changes coming!

Dave and I live a very quiet life. A lot of the time I'm just too sick to do anything and he has been out of a job since he volunteered to be layed off in March of last year. He took the lay off so no one with a wife and children would find themself out of a job in a decaying town where there is no work. For us it was easy to just pick up and head to a State with a possible future for him and good weather for me.

In the past 13 months he has applied for over 1500 jobs. Finally, this week he was offered a job that he will love if he gets past all the medical and background checks...he should have no problems with them, but until he is actually hired we'll just keep praying.

In the past year we didn't really know our neighbors but the recent attack against our property made it important to find out if it was just one act or if there is actually a problem in the neighborhood. We were told that in the past this was a military neighborhood with no problems but after Katrina it became a place where they moved in victims who did not embrace the fact that Texas gave them a home. Instead they brought with them the violence and bad acts of their past.

In the past 5 years almost every home on my block has been robbed or had a car stolen or they were assaulted in some way. In the past month 3 homes have experienced violence against them. I realized the house 2 away from ours was empty but I didn't know it was because his home was broken into and he picked up and moved because it was not the first time. Another retired military fellow told us he doesn't walk his dog without carrying a machetti...that's scary!

I rented this house over the internet. I told the realestate to move us into a GOOD area since I would be alone and didn't want to have to worry. They only wanted to rent the empty house and didn't care about my safety. I don't consider it safe when you have to sleep with a loaded shot gun next to your bed, but after the stories from the neighbors and the recent assault on the neighborhood, it's the only way.

This new job will keep us in San Antonio but there are nice area's and it won't take long to move there. The north edge of the city seems to be the best area. I never let the grass grow under my feet so yesterday I started to pack! Clear the walls of quilts and wash them was the first start, and fill totes with my dolls. It pretty much cleaned up everything of mine except the sewing/quilting stuff. I even broke down the kitchen and packed items I won't need in the next weeks.

This time we are looking for a single home with at least 3 bedrooms. We have reliable help this time. I'm not looking back. Instead I am looking forward to having a sewing room.



Many little quilts all washed to move




Bare walls and packed totes




Soon the house will be filled with these..oops, must take down the curtain!



Violent act

We lived in Lancaster, Pa. for years, among the Amish. We had no fear, left the keys in the car and lawn tractor, never locked the garages or barns and went to bed with the door unlocked in case someone needed to come in. Often we would wake to a pie on the kitchen table or some yummy home made breads.

Then we moved to western, Pa. Again we often left the doors unlocked at night, and keys in cars and garage doors unlocked. We had 15 years of good living, trusting your neighbors and feeling safe.

When we moved to San Antonio Texas a year ago, we realized we were on the very edge of the city where things might not be as safe as we were used to, but living on a golf course made us feel some what safe. I guess we shouldn't have left our guard down.

Since we moved here a year ago we have parked our small trailor at the curb between our house and the one next to us. My son did put a lock in the connector so no one could just hook it onto their truck and drive away. Someone was watching. Maybe one of the people who mow the lawns or maybe someone who picks up the trash.

Wednesday night while we slept, that person or person's tried to steal the trailer. Finding the lock on it, apparently they had someone try to sit in the truck rear and hold onto the trailer as they pulled away. It was too heavy and down the street they dropped it as you can see the scrape marks where it bounced to a halt in the street. They left it where it landed.

People steal, that doesn't bother me so much. But in an angry act of violence to pay us back for not getting away with the trailer, the criminal returned to the driveway and slashed the tonneau cover on our truck, ripping and slashing it in jagged cuts. For some reason they didn't do more damage. Maybe they heard me opening the door to take out the dog or maybe the next door neighbor pulled up, coming home from his night job.

If you remember my posts from a year ago before we moved, you'll remember the tonneau cover was a project my son and I made together for the trip. It wasn't a loss as I was able to patch it back up. It was a violation against my feeling safe living here. Even with the outside lights on and the police making several passes each night, I haven't slept one night. I know we were being watched. There was no way to know which house the trailer belonged too.

The lease arrived a day ago. I don't think we can sign it. After planting a beautiful garden, getting a new fence and patio furniture, I think we have to move. I feel so violated, and I was born and raised in the city of Philadelphia!  It's personal because he returned to the driveway and just didn't pull away when he realized he wouldn't be able to steal the trailer. I keep checking the locks on the doors and last night I felt very unsafe when the dog wanted to go out. He didn't get what he wanted but he left his mark and I can't get over it.

I have experienced one other act of violence against us. When my son was murdered over $20.00 that caused us to move from Philadelphia, Pa. to Lancaster, Pa. I can see the same kind of rage in this slashing. My son was beaten to death with a baseball bat. Anytime another person targets you, the fear that goes with that won't stop unless you change your situation. Maybe I'm over re-acting because of the loss of my son, but the fear is real.

ADD ON:
We were just outside talking to some neighbors. They told me that the house 2 down from me was broken into a few weeks ago. The man owned an ice cream truck and had his garage lined with freezers to keep the products in. While he was out, they took his freezers.  He has since moved! Now I don't feel so bad about being scared since he reacted in the same way I am feeling...I want to run away from here.


The finished new project




The act of violence


















The patch



Scraps

After making the French Braid I had a pile of scraps. What to do? Toss them or save them? After looking at the huge tote filled with scraps I decided to try and use them for 3 mini quilts I have agreed to trade. Now, what pattern to use?

What could be better then a French Braid! Now I have the 3 mini's to trade and the rest of the scraps will go into a handbag I have planned. Now to sandwich them and finish.



Finished



Happy Easter Flower

My son always, for as long as I can remember, buys me a pink Hyacinth for Easter. He searched all over San Antonio Texas and found one group of sickly flowers. Instead he bought me this beautiful Orchid. Thanks Dave, it's just so pretty!

Let it Snowman Quilt

I've had this quilt top made for many years and never finished it. I have a friend who has been very kind to me even when I'm not feeling good or moody from the prednisone I have to take sometimes that makes me out right nasty. She really loves snowmen so this was the week to put this quilt together and send it off to her.

Since I have 3 totes filled with unfinished projects I've decided not to buy anymore fabric unless I need it to finish one of the projects. I'm on a roll! Now to work on the Flower Garden Quilt or the French Braid Quilt.

French Braid Quilt Top finished

This is a huge quilt and today it's very windy but I did my best to take  photo's. I think it's striking! My son loves it and that matters. Now to move onto the quilting since I now how 3 ready to sandwich and finish.

French braid and Zoo fun

I've been trying to get the ladies to finish up the mini swap. I've added more of the quilts they made and more will be coming soon.

I have been working on a French Braid quilt that my Friend Sherry posted on her blog.
http://keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com/2010/01/french-braid-tutorial.html

I hope to get this top finished by early next week.

The weather has been so beautiful that we went on a trip to the Zoo. The butterfly house was so much fun! Butterflies were very friendly and sat all over us.

Then we went to feed the Lories...what fun!

And other animals

The bald Eagles were shot and can no longer fly. They have found a home at the San Antonio Zoo. What a fabulous bird!