Mountain Quiltfest or Bust!

i headed out southwest toward the Tennessee line yesterday -

This valley view is from the top of Grassy Creek Rd, about a  winding, climbing mile from the cabin. Blue skies, puffy clouds, an audio book playing -

Life is interesting in these parts.  There is ZERO GPS signal on my Verizon phone where I am due to the mountains.  So I have to go old school, watching the signs on the road pointing me toward Interstate 81 and figure the Walmart truck in front of me knows where he is going – and follow along.

And just as I had experienced a time or two before – the GPS will catch up with me and start working again within a mile from the interstate on ramp.  Tennessee bound!

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Is it Monday, Already?

I had such BIG PLANS for the past weekend -

And while I tried to make the quilt on the Design Floor my main focus – real life crept in, slowly ate up all of my available time and I didn’t get done.

But you know what?  What is more important?

Real life fun with friends for lunch and antique shopping or quilting?

Real life run back to Galax for a much desired church pew and ice cream out, or getting that quilt top done?

Real life Saturday going back AGAIN to Galax for lunch with The Hubster on his birthday and watch his eyes light up over the possibilities this vintage 1950s Carolina Pride stove holds for his workshop?

And movie night – Don’t forget movie night!

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The Quilting Day That Wasn’t!

This quilt hasn’t gotten any further along -

It is laying in the same place I left it the last time I was up at the cabin -

Sadie has been up here with The Hubster while the window re-do, roof fixing, gas range/dishwasher/microwave install has happened over the past couple of weeks.  I am the one that is out of town while he works remotely from here.  That’s the perk of his job – as long as he has cell data, he can do his job from wherever.

This quilt has been walked around, walked on, and evidently pet-surfed into a corner:

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Twice to Galax and Back Again!

I made my first foray to downtown Galax VA!

With Toni in Tow!

We’d been talking about it for some time.  Another girl’s day out where we could wander, shop, enjoy lunch and explore.

Last time it was the three of us – Martha, Toni and myself.  Off to Boone, NC we went and had a great time.

This trip however – Martha was enjoying the company of her son and granddaughter and we know how that takes precedence – so we issued her a rain check redeemable at any time with no expiration date and set out down winding mountain 2 lane highways – past Independence, VA and on to Galax.

I’d driven THROUGH Galax before – it’s an easy drive when coming from Eastern Virginia to Southwestern where the cabin resides.  I sort of knew where downtown was and always wanted to explore, but I was always coming through at the end of a long drive, shops closed for the night.

Yesterday was THE DAY!

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When Spring Comes Calling…

There are daffodils on the hillside -

Just beyond the back porch at Quiltville Inn.

Last year this time – we were still waiting to see if inspections would pass, if insurance coverage could be found, if a loan could be secured – all of those things that would allow this dream to take the next step into reality – which didn’t happen until the end of April 2018.

So I missed daffodils on the hillside.

But I found them yesterday evening as we drove over so I could inspect the new windows, the progress at both Inn & Post Office -

It’s been SUCH a crummy winter for so many, and we have had our share of it up here in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwestern Virginia.  But Spring is Springing!

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A Turkey of a Day!

Spring in the mountains = Turkey in the yard season!

This photo was sent over from The Hubster who has been up in Virginia overseeing work at the cabin and meeting contractors for estimates for the continuing renovation of Quiltville Inn – each little job getting us closer to our goal of opening for Quilt Retreats in the spring of 2020.

From what I understand Sadie didn’t know what to do with herself over the sight of this RAFTER of Turkeys in the yard.  Yes.  A flock of turkeys is called a RAFTER.  Thank you Google!

Yesterday was a day of many hiccups.  I won’t lie.  It threw me for a loop every time I turned around starting with the fact that both Facebook and Instagram were down for the count – not just with me, but globally, starting in the morning, and continuing into the evening hours.

At 8pm Eastern I could finally get a post through, but going live for Quilt-Cam was not an option.  Sorry folks.  It wasn’t me.  I tried!  I even put a bra on for this -

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When All You Wanna Do is Sew!

**UPDATE!** I am one of those users who are currently affected by the "Can't access Facebook or Instagram" issue, and the sites have been down for me since this morning.

If they don't get it fixed before 8pm, our scheduled Quilt-Cam will be moved to a future date.  Sorry folks!

There was a bit of this going on last night -

And it all started with a strip stash re-org in the Scrap User’s System!

Over the past few trips I have come home with additions gifted to the stash by others – and I haven’t had time (Or wanted to take the time) to sort them by color family and get things separated by width of strip and place them with their “like kinds” so they would be easy to use as needed.

To tell you the truth, it’s been kind of a mess behind those drawer fronts.

But yesterday was THE DAY.

And I had some help!

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What Day is it Anyway?

Dresden is exploring EVERYTHING that is UP.

It’s making things in the order fulfillment department INTERESTING!

Both he and Lola are no longer satisfied to stay on the other side of the French doors – and if they see anyone within range will meow and scratch and do ANYTHING they can to get beyond and to the other side of the house.

Things are still not great when it comes to Emmy Lou being in their picture though – to them SHE is the invader, and even though she is 19 this year and moving very slowly, the growls and hisses and territory issues are still raising their fur.

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Friday Night with the Bonniacs!

Nothing beats an evening like this!

It had been 6 years since I had taught for the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show – but I never forgot how special these women made me feel. 

Our time together 6 years ago formed friendships that will continue, no matter who moves where or how life changes happen.  If Quilting is the thread that binds us together, the friendship is the knot that holds the stitches in place!

6 years ago I received a welcome invitation to dinner at Wendy’s beautiful home, meeting several of these wonderful gals.  It was an evening of fun and food and much show & share – a great break away from yet another quick restaurant dinner out, and back to an empty hotel room.

This year we did it again – and I just could not wait for Friday night to roll around.

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