This quilt block shows a railroad crossing against a light blue salmon-patterned background. There is the end of an orange fence on the left, and in front of the crossing signal on the right is another piece of orange fence. The crossing signal has a brown post and at the top are two large two holed buttons, one bright red and one bright yellow, indicating the lights. There is a striped diagonal lighter brown, yellow, and orange strip of fabric coming out of the post at an angle representing the guard that lowers to stop cars from going on the tracks.

Block-A-Day 153 – Railroad Crossing

Tina June 2, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

I watched the coal cars and thought of stories I’d read about people who had gotten in the car to hide or sleep and didn’t get out before the coal went in.

This quilt block shows a dark green train engine from the side against a light blue salmon-patterned background. There are three white puffs of smoke represented by white fabric above the smoke stack in the front and wafting behind. The roof of the cab is a dark brown while the window of the cab is dark yellow. There are three dark brown wheels with stitched spokes below. But most important is a ribbon of red around the engine that reads

Block-A-Day 149 – Julie’s Baby

Tina May 29, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

Julie is very proud of her little train and is often seen working alongside her employee, Fred rubbing the engine to a sheen. This engine is one that actually belonged to her father. He bought it and restored it to its original beauty.

This quilt block shows a coal railroad car against a light blue salmon-patterned background. There are two white puffs above the coal car indicated with white fabric (from the engine). The coal is a dark fabric with light yellow stitching indicating the coal piles. The car itself is a deep orange. Two dark-brown wheels, the same color as the coal, are below the car with the spokes outlined in a similar light yellow stitching.

Block-A-Day 148 – The Coal Car

Tina May 28, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

His father’s family lived in Oak Creek, Colorado for a time when he was young. My husband’s grandfather worked in the coal mines. They had a large family and little money. The little kids would run alongside the tracks and pick up pieces of coal that fell off the train.

This quilt block shows a very blue railroad car against a faded blue salmon-patterned background. The roof is a bright light blue as well as the door. The rest of the rectangular car is a darker blue. The windows, one in the door and a large single window on the side are a dark orange-yellow. There are drapes in the windows that are pulled up defined by a blue pen drawing. There is a sign underneath the larger window that reads in cursive,

Block-A-Day 147 – The Vista

Tina May 27, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

People from the closest city can take the train into That Town. The citizens of That Town can take the train into the city in the morning and come home in the evening having accomplished all their errands.

This quilt block shows a private railroad car against a light blue salmon-patterned background. It's a pretty frilly car, with a pink rooftop that has

Block-A-Day 146 – Julie And The Queen’s Car

Tina May 26, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

He often took her in the engine with him. When they were at home they would spend many hours in the basement playing with the most elaborate train setup you can imagine.

This quilt block shows a railroad car against a light blue salmon-patterned background. The railroad car is a light orange box with a yellow sign on the side with black lettering that reads,

Block-A-Day 145 – In Freight

Tina May 25, 2021Block-A-Day Leave a Comment

When Scott ordered feeder pigs from the next county, they came bedded down in straw in the freight car. At the end of a few months those same hogs loaded up to go to market. Scott came to the train yard both times and cleaned out the freight car.