Fort Worth Forest Park Miniature Railroad, and How I Trace My Patterns.

A couple of weeks ago, Doug and I loaded up the kids and went to ride the rails at Forest Park Miniature Railroad, in Fort Worth. I used to take the girls when they were little if we visited Fort Worth, but this was Doug and the boys' first ride. All of the train ride pics were taken with my phone.

Doug, filled with excitement!!


Two pics of the boys and I.



The ride is about 5 miles and takes about 40 minutes. It crosses over some really high bridges and through/past a bunch of pretty interesting places!


The REAL train going over head: some cargo train.


Another view of the cargo train, and some people fishing. The little girl was so cute! She waved when passed, both times! The second time, though, she was so excited she dropped her minnow.


The train passes through some really nice shady areas.



The day were were there, the Dallas Low Riders Association was having a big show. They were just setting up and getting started as we passed, but we saw a lot of pretty neat cars. There were even more driving in as we were leaving!






Halfway through the ride, the train stops for a break and you can get out and buy a soda and popcorn. William, Aldous and I waited while Doug went for a soda and treat.


I asked William to go stand by the train, but he was a little afraid of it, so he sat down and wouldn't turn his back to it. Silly boy!!


Our stopping depot. You can actually catch the train here, too.


Aldous enjoying a big drink of water!!


And William scarfing down my soda.

That's all! We had a great time and the boys were worn out by the time we got home. Makes for good napping!


How I trace my patterns.
Ingredients:
Pattern
Sharpie
Pattern tracing paper/fabric. I use pattern-ease or easy pattern usually but they were out and I had to get this kind with the uber-annoying grid lines on it. bleh.

I use a lot of Ottobre patterns, from the design magazine. They LOOK crazy hard to figure out and trace, but after you've done a couple it's not that hard.


I like my pattern paper/fabric to be thin enough to see easily though, although this gridded one is a BIT thinner than I prefer.


Because I use a lot of sizes and have a lot of patterns traced, I put a lot of info on each piece. When ever I clean up after a mad sewing frenzy, I always have random pattern pieces lying about and all the details make it easy to get it put back where it belongs.

Name of garment piece and #
Name of garment and number
Issue of magazine
# of pieces to cut
size
seam allowance and fold instructions.


These are kept in manila envelopes with the magazine, with all the sizes and garments in the same envelope. As I get more traced, as my children grow, I will make an envelope for EACH size. I have already done that with my Kwik Sew for Toddlers, Kwik Sew for Babies and Kwik Sew for Children books.

Plano Balloon Festival

Fun times at the Plano Balloon Festival last night!!


We got there at 6ish to watch the balloons fly. This is what they looked like as they were getting ready. It was pretty cool to watch!!


William was excited to be there!


Here some of the balloons are setting off.


There was a huge crowd and I think I read they were expecting 95,000 visitors. I think they meant over the course of the festival (three days), not just Saturday night.


This is a jack-in-the-box.


The boys


Part of the festival. I didn't venture into that pit.


The beautiful sky, with most of the balloons flying.


William dancing around on the grassy/muddy hill.


Doug and William are heading out to forage for food.


Another view of the balloons and the crowd.


Terah, Mike, and Audrey


OOOh, Daddy's back with corny dogs for the boys, water for me!


Aldous enjoys his first corny dog.



REALLY, REALLY enjoys it!! (he at all of his, then the "naked" hot dog William picked bare of cornbread)


William claims to like corn dogs, too but really he just likes the cornbread.


Terah and Audrey



A band started playing some 70's r&b tunes, and Aldous was super excited!!!


Getting darker!!!


Doug and William.


Playing on the hill.


Audrey playing with "her" phone.


Aldous waiting for the fun stuff to start.


OOh, a bit of fire!!!


Hurray!! Finally!! How pretty! William and Aldous loved this and William clapped.


Eating a bit of funnel cake. We had to wait in a long, long line to get that cake!


Doug watching the balloons.


The "twinkle" glow...they glow on and off, on and off.


Audrey rolling around.



William polished off a bottle of water, and then it was time to go.


Actually, I wanted to stay for the fireworks, but William requested to go home, brought me my shoes and said "shoes on, please". So we headed home! Aldous was sound asleep before we got to the car.