Allow me to introduce you to the students in the Sunday School class I taught until yesterday. From L-R: Savannah, Natalie, Michael, William (Will), and Addie. Savannah is Natalie's friend and was just visiting for the day. Two of my students are not present in the photo. I could brag on them but I'll spare you. Simply put, I will miss them.

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Last night at Craft Club we made Mug Rugs. A Mug Rug is a smaller, quilted version of a place mat; large enough to place a mug and a snack on but, again, smaller than a place mat. The quilting style is a more contemporary form fashioned after Japanese paper placement. I'm not exactly sure what that means but it sounded good when I heard it. This quilting style is more flexible. You don't have to sew in straight lines or cut the fabric a certain size. Anything goes! For someone who has difficulty with both its a great alternative to traditional quilting.

I found the fabric at Hobby Lobby. They were arranged in fat stacks. I had to buy four fat stacks in order to get all the patterns I wanted, which means I have a lot of fabric left to make many more Mug Rugs. Unfortunately, I don't have a sewing machine to make them with. I think, however, I will add a sewing machine to my Christmas wish list for 2011 so I can practice making Mug Rugs whenever I wish.

If you are interested in making one for your home, tutorials are available through the internet. One that I found interesting is located http://www.ryanwalshquilts.com/2010/11/dresden-wedges-mug-rug-tutorial-bliss.html.

Happy sewing!

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Friday night I had dinner at Ralph Brennan's Red Fish Grill on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. As the sign boasts, Red Fish has been voted the best seafood restaurant four years in a row, and for good reason. I had the best fish I have ever eaten in my life at this restaurant on Friday night.

I ordered the signature dish, the Red Fish. It was absolute perfection. The blend of spices and flavors made every bite delightful. I used to eat pizza every time I went to NOLA but I'm afraid after Friday my heart belongs on Bourbon at the Red Fish. It's just that good.

The atmosphere was fun. The manager, Brent Applewhite, was attentive to our every need and the service was spot on. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

So, the next time you're in the Big Easy and looking for a bite to eat. Walk on over to Bourbon Street for a dining experience that is hard to beat. If its a Saturday afternoon, you just may see me there. Bon Appetit!

The Celestial Tree stands in Gulfport near the railroad tracks, its branches stretching and reaching up and out enveloping space and sky. Declared a Mississippi Asset it is registered on the Mississippi and Louisiana state registers. The tree is rooted on a lot near the railroad tracks. According to the owner, on whose land it stands, the tree is about four hundred years old. It has survived the effects of physical and metaphysical forces; a relic of Mississippi's past. I found its beauty and fortitude inspiring. When I imagine the Tree of Life I picture a tree similar to The Celestial Tree; grand, majestic. These surprising discoveries bring an element of surprise to my days creating memories I will cherish long after I leave Mississippi.