Baton Rouge Bonanza!

Food and Quilts and Quilts and Food, is there anything else better to keep me busy? It’s a constant battle to fight re-gaining the 30+ lbs I have lost in the past two years right back, and yet at the same time I know that food—GOOD food—not junk food—is one of life’s greatest pleasures!

I’ve thought a lot about it. Why do we struggle so much with this issue? Where is the balance between living a healthy life at a maintainable weight – and still enjoying good food, good friends, good fun? Where does that scale tip?

((If I really had to answer honestly, it tips because I can’t resist!!))

I’ve tried to leave my big meals as my dinners. And because of the meeting schedule I’ve been on, it’s always been an early dinner.

However, while in California, the hotel provided a full cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes or french toast, hashbrowns, toast, bagels, muffins, fruit, etc…and because it was there ((and included)) I ate it!

Yes, I was going going going and walking as much as possible to burn it off, but I’m a bit freaked out about all the eating out!

Here in Baton Rouge, we stopped at Fresh Market to pick up a couple yogurts, fruit, and cereal bars for my breakfast since the hotel doesn’t provide breakfast, and I’m feeling a bit better about that…

Today I did salad and soup for lunch, I feel okay about that ---but we went to TJ RIBS for dinner….and started out with THIS!

Do you know what THIS is?! It’s eggplant spears! I’d love to pass this off as a “vegetable food group”, but who would I be fooling?!? It’s strips of eggplant battered and deep fried, topped with mozzarella and served with marinara and ranch. OMGoodness! But never fear, this platter served about 10 of us, we all shared bits and pieces just to have a taste.

And you know, I ordered CHICKEN as my entrée, but it came with a side of grilled sausage! LOL! And Squash Casserole and a bowl of Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms. Low cal meal? I think not! Oh, and don’t forget the cup of GUMBO that I had to have, because after all it IS Louisiana!

I’m setting the alarm for 6am and hitting the elliptical trainer in the fitness room before tomorrow’s workshop! I’ve been told there are plans to bring Beignets to tomorrows class, and you know what? I certainly am NOT going to turn them down!

I will be amping up my gym routine as soon as I get home, but you know what? The ONLY time I want to be skin & bones is when I'm 6 ft under. Life is to enjoy ALL of the senses. It's just a balance between portion size and frequency!

Wanna see what we did today? These are the pics from the Cathedral Stars workshop!

		Cathedral Stars 1-27-2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Our lecture/trunkshow tonight was hosted by the River City Quilters of Baton Rouge, with an open invitation to all other area guilds to come attend too! We had a full house, lots of laughs, plenty of questions and a terrific evening of being together!

Laffin it up in Lafayette!

Don't you love this shirt slogan? One of the quilters came walking in with this and it just cracked me up! It is the story of my life -- I couldn't resist taking a picture, but how do you ask some one "Do you mind standing still so I can get a picture of your chest?" I did it anyway!

Yesterday’s Texas Braid Workshop in Lafayette was just a ball! I love the regional differences of teaching in different areas. I learned such things today as “There is a huge difference between Northern Louisiana and Southern Louisiana, it’s like a different country.” Really? I never knew this before, but when I asked where the dividing line was, several ladies popped up at the same time to chime “ALEXANDRIA!!” I just NEVER knew! I guess it is akin to South Carolina thinking that North Carolina is too far north, and not really considered SOUTH at all It was all in good fun, and no one from Alexandria was around to defend themselves…

And there was a FIRST for me….

This, my friends, is a Louisiana Oyster Po’ Boy! I’d never had one before! And..it was REALLY good. So good in fact, that I told myself that it was good I only ordered the half size, because had the full size showed up, I would have eaten every bit of it too!

One of the fun things for me in teaching classes is to get to see the nifty items that quilters bring to haul their stuff around. I want you to get a look at this adorable featherweight case cover!

Featherweight case cover, 1-26-2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

This was just the cutest thing! Supposedly the pattern was in a 2010 issue of Quilters Home magazine. I stopped getting the magazine after Mark Lipinski wasn’t writing for them anymore, so I missed this issue. I just thought it was so CUTE and would protect the vintage case inside. I could see it loaded with pockets on the sides to also help carry notions, etc….and if I were to make it, I can see adding a heavy duty handle or shoulder strap. Those featherweight case handles can break off on old cases, and I’d rather not be swinging my machine around by that handle if I was still hauling it around in the case.

My preferred method of featherweight hauling is in a soft sided cooler! And look what I found wandering around the Walmart near my hotel in Baton Rouge:

LSU stuff VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

See that purple cooler on the far right?! Yep..that would fit a featherweight, and show your team spirit! I love being places where school team spirit is really strong, and I believe everyone out here bleeds purple and gold

Some other fun things from class today:

One of the gals had this ADORABLE folksy purse that she had rug-hooked! There is a horse, a tiger, a rooster, a bunny, a deer, a cat and a dog! I WANT ONE OF THESE!! But I don’t think I want it bad enough to start a new hobby that would also require me to have a whole ‘nuther stash to make it Isn’t it great?

Here are the pics from today, even though it is a repeat of the braid class I taught just a few days ago, I can’t resist posting more --- the ladies were So enthusiastic and we had such a super time sewing!

		Texas Braid Workshop, 1-26-2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

After yesterday’s workshop I was driven to Baton Rouge, thanks to my chauffer Charlene and her granddaughter! I’m so glad they are taking care of my transport from place to place. I just sat in the front seat and sewed hexagons, looked out at the scenery ((Today was filled with sunshine and blue skies!)) and enjoyed the music on the radio.

Today I am meeting with the River City Quilters of Baton Rouge, for a Cathedral Stars Workshop, and an evening lecture/trunkshow! Tomorrow will be filled with a Pineapple Blossom workshop, two of my favorites to teach. Time is flying fast, and I’m counting the days until I can be home again ---