Chattanooga Bound!

Morning came WAY too early yesterday. I was up at 6am because some things STILL needed to be packed for this 10 day adventure. There were clothes in the dryer that weren’t quite dry when I went to bed, you know how that goes?

But I was on the road a little bit before 9am, praying the rain would mostly stay at bay – It’s just NOT as fun to take a road trip through the mountains in the hosing rain as it is to have it moderate. I really wanted some beautiful sunshine, but truth be told – a bit of cloud cover is easier on the eyes and keeps the glare down. At least I was consoling myself with that thought as I made my way down I-40 westward toward the Tennessee State line!

I get SO excited when I see the mountains appear in the distance! This is where I was, getting closer to Asheville NC…and I could see them…just peeking ahead of me toward the horizon:

See them there? Dang straight ahead….yep. Mostly covered in clouds, but they are there!

This route is greatly populated by trucks, but luckily they are not allowed in the left hand lane so you can pass them as it gets steeper and more windy:

Hello Tennessee! It’s great to see you again! The last time I was through this way was in March for Mountain Quilt Fest at Pigeon forge. Was that only MARCH? It seems farther away than that, so much has taken place since then!

Can you see the clouds just sitting on top of the mountain there? I guess they don’t call them the “Smokies” for nothing!

I drove and drove and drove and stopped for gas when the light came on telling me…stop now, or run out on the side of the road!

When I pulled off, there was a little sign that said “Visit Historic Sweetwater 2 miles”. Do you know what the word “HISTORIC” means to me?? ANTIQUE MALLS! So I pulled out my phone and googled Sweetwater TN Antiques and BINGO!!

Can you feel my excitement and anticipation building already?

How about the view up this quaint little street? Can you see the “MAIN STREET ANTIQUES” sign??

Or how about this one:

Doesn’t that quilt bock on the side of the building just stop you dead in your tracks?!? This shop was WONDERFUL..in fact, there was a whole collection of wooden quilt blocks that you could buy to hang on your barn, your garage, the side of your house….where there are not fabric quilts, there are painted wooden ones! LOOK!

Aren’t these great?! And there were more!

I loved all the old farm tools too. Something in this shop for everyone! I loved the wild goose chase block with the pink setting triangles! Definitely a bold color combo..LOVE it! ((Pink and red and yellow and black and blue? Oh YES!))

Here was a bear paw tucked up on top of the cabinets. Seeing it next to the chair there should give you an idea of the size of these quilt blocks.

This shop just had the coolest stuff. Look at this old nail/screw hardware bin just filled with OLD bottle caps! I’m not sure what I would do with them, but they were all colors and varieties and interesting to read the labels. Kind of like pawing through my baskets of scraps and crumbs! A lifetime collection of bottle caps.

I desperately wanted this spool cabinet. But honestly? Where would I put it? But I LOVED it! I didn’t love it over a $1,000 dollars worth though!

I was amazed at this 1920’s electric stove! Can you imagine trying to cook your Thanksgiving Dinner on this little thing?! Maybe it was apartment sized. And I’m sure it beat cooking on a wood stove…but boy, am I glad to be a MODERN girl!

Quilts were scattered everywhere, but not as many interesting ones as I’ve caught other places. Quilt-seeking is a treasure hunt, and sometimes you find cool ones, sometimes you don’t….

Antique Quilts, Sweetwater TN 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

This is the last shop I visited:

And it was HERE that I met my downfall!

Solid red, solid cheddar!! With cutwork applique! My heart nearly stopped! You know, cheddar has ALWAYS been a solid for me. Not really ever a print. The prints are more butterscotch color in history….and when someone says “CHEDDAR” in my mind it is a solid. And here it is in all its splendor…..but do you see what is sitting on TOP of it?! DO you need a closer view?

I saw this case first – do you see the beautiful design on the side, and the inlaid wood detail on the top around the handle?

I spun around looking for the machine it went with…and there on the table behind me was this beauty:

Serata hand crank machine, circa 1910. Vibrating shuttle bobbin….gorgeous decal work, though worn from hard use. I was drawn to this machine like moth to flame…I love seeing machines that have had a HISTORY of constant use. A “pristine” like new machine doesn’t hold as much interest to me as one that was used by someone who loved to sew and sewed often.

Did I dare look at the price tag?! It was hanging by that string there, attached the screw at the top.

****GASP****

$165.00!!

Guess what is now riding shotgun on the floorboard of the passenger front side of my car?! Look at that detail where the handle is!! **SQUEAL!!!**

And of course, this is all justified by the fact that I sat in the car for what seemed like for hours on Mother’s Day while DH went in to the golf shop for “Just a minute” and came out wielding a new golf club that I KNOW cost more than this machine did….Equal opportunity purchasing, right?

Thank you Sweetwater, for your welcome beckoning! It was a great couple hours of browsing! I’ll definitely keep you on my map and perhaps hit you up again the next time I’m through this way!

AUUGHHH!! HACKED!!

Well, I have joined the ranks of those who have been officially and unceremoniously HACKED!

Sometime today around 12:03pm eastern, some hacker using some unknown program was able to access my gmail account. How do I know the time frame? By the time stamp on the mass emails that bounced back due to “permanent failure” when the message didn’t arrive at places due to that email address not being functional anymore. My whole email address book was used to forward SPAM to unsuspecting people. I’m sorry folks, if you received something from me --- just know it wasn’t REALLY from me!

When I tried to access my email to look up an address, around 3:30pm eastern—I got a message saying something like “login or password incorrect”. I thought that was funny, but retyping the info didn’t help matters, and I knew I was spelling things right…and I started to panic!

I was having to do all of this from my phone, because I didn’t have internet access in any other form while sitting on the side of I-40 somewhere outside of Chattanooga!

The process actually worked pretty well, gmail has my cell phone # on file, and I got a text message with a new authorization number to prove it was ME –and I reset the password.

At this time there were over 70 emails from people asking me if I knew that my blog had been REMOVED ((yes, the screen said REMOVED when people tried to access it)), and where did it go?!! You see, all I was worried about was my mail, not knowing that google had shut down BOTH my blog AND my email for “security purposes”.

What would I do if the whole blog was just GONE? Poof? Just like that?! Or my email for that matter?

I’m now in the process of re-passwording everything. Tell me this. How are we supposed to come up with secure passwords that are long enough, include numbers and be case sensitive, and have it be something WE OURSELVES can remember?! LOL!! Everything needs a DIFFERENT password. No two passwords for any sites I visit should be the same as each other. How can we keep this straight?! How do you keep track of 14 different passwords? And they should change every 90 days or so. ((At least according to DH who has to change all his passwords on his work computer etc that often))

SO that’s my night daymare of a day. I’m glad all is back to functional. This is more excitement than I want to deal with!

The Two that Won The War ((Generals!))

I’ve got two envelopes ready for addresses! WOW! I was really amazed at the response for the Civil War General panels! This was really fun!

And funny too, since Bingo-Bonnie left the following comment on my facebook:

“Just read your last post and thought at the end you said to be sure and enter a chance to win some C.W. "Pantie"s hahaha”

Remind me next time to NOT be sipping tea when I read things you say!! The word is PANELS! CIVIL WAR PANELS! LOL!

So here we go with our winners!

Winner #1 is TRESSA!

She writes:

“I'm usually not a Civil War reproduction girl but my two oldest girls (ages 10 and 8) have fallen in love with a Union spy named Elizabeth Van Lew who lived in Richmond, Virginia during the Civil War. As we've read about her life and contributions I have learned to admire her selfless acts of service and I love what her headstone reads, "She risked everything that was dear to her - friends, fortune, comfort, health, even life itself - all for one absorbing desire of her heart - that slavery might be abolished and the Union preserved." She made her own cypher and General Grant was ever appreciative of the information she smuggled to him. To remember Miss Van Lew I'm making my girls a Civil War quilt and calling it, "Elizabeth". I would love a panel of the Generals that Miss Van Lew hoped would win the cause she gave everything for. Thanks for chance to win.”

I’ve emailed Tressa to let her know – her email is visible in her settings so I was able to contact her! Tressa, just need your snail mail address and the panel will be on its way to you!

Winner #2 is BrendaLou!

She writes:

“My children are direct descendants (on Father's side) of Robert E. Lee and (on my side) of Gen. US Grant. I've been making the blocks from the Civil War Diary Quilt (both books) on a weekly basis for a long time now. I made a Dear Jane in 2001 and one daughter has claimed that for herself. The other daughter asked for a Grant/Lee quilt so that's why I've been doing the CWDQ blocks. I'd so love the panels to complete this quilt!!!!”

I’ve contacted Brenda as well…..wasn’t this FUN!? Like I said, I’ll have to see what ELSE I can dig up and get rid of bless someone else with!

The car is packed…I’m on my way! I’ve packed

• Trunkshow quilts
• 7 cases of books
• bernina machine
• sew ezi table
• clear acrylic table top table ((just in case))
• African quilt parts for Baby Michelle
• insane piecing project for next book in the pipeline
• 2 quilts that need the binding stitched down
• hexagon quilt in progress
• laptop bag
• suitcase

Did I forget anything?! I’ve got plenty of books to listen to while on the road. LOVE that. I’m printing out things to see/do in Chatanooga for late this afternoon/evening and tomorrow morning…..it’s 6 hours drive from here, but who knows what antique malls will slow me down on my way!

OH!! And I have to send a special Thank You out to Penny Landrum who sent me these two fabulous piece of African fabric! They arrived just when I got home from Texas!

The colors aren’t true….they are NOT this bright yellow..that’s my KITCHEN FLOOR! LOL I was using the phone, taking pictures in the evening with overhead light. But can you see the families holding hands?! AWESOME! I’m going to use parts of this in the border. Not sure what I’ll do yet…but I packed MORE than I need to get the blocks done, and then I’ll start playing!

And I know I’m behind….these are the class photos from Friday’s workshop in Tyler!

		Cathedral Stars, Tyler TX 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

And off I go!

Evening Edition! Free Kindle/Nook Book--

Book Description:

Song of Renewal received glowing acclaim upon its hardcover release. Now, Emily Sue Harvey has dramatically expanded this extraordinarily touching work to allow us to experience its riches at new levels.

The Wakefields seem to have everything. Garrison is a hugely successful graphic artist. Liza is an active member of the community and a patron of the arts. Their 16-year-old daughter Angel is bright, beautiful, and a gifted dancer. At the same time, though, they have traded away many of their dreams. Garrison gave up a future as an accomplished painter to make money. Liza suspended her own dancing career to raise a family. And Angel is setting aside her ambitions to live her mother’s dream.

When Angel gets into a car accident that kills her first love, the Wakefields’ lives turn on a dime. While Angel lies in a coma from which even the best prognosis is devastating, Garrison and Liza sit by her side, their once-passionate marriage in tatters. As their heartache over Angel builds, Garrison and Liza struggle to rediscover who they once were—and who they were meant to be. They come to realize that it will take everything they have within themselves to heal Angel, heal their hearts, and renew the power of their love.

At once romantic, inspiring, and empowering, Song of Renewal is a rare bauble of a novel, one with something to say to every family.

And these reviews are straight from the Amazon page:

“Thrilling read for all crime and mystery lovers!”– Crystal Book Reviews

“James LePore really knows his stuff. I found myself really pulling for Chris as he struggled with his dilemma, and hoping that he would find the best way to protect his family. I was also pulling for Michele, trusting that she could overcome the life that led her to lose her daughter. If you are into a good thrilling read, then you should definitely check out Sons and Princes by James LePore. You will NOT be disappointed!”– Confessions of a Real Librarian

“LePore is a wonderful storyteller, captivating the reader through his prose…. As the twists and turns develop and the story begins to solidify, you will be shocked by the choices and actions that take place within the novel.”– Books: The Cheapest Vacation You Can Buy

“Lepore had me hooked from the very first line, which is not hard to do when you’re asked to envision body parts showing up in a suitcase…. An absolute must-read!”– The Celebrity Café

Yup! Already downloaded it and it is ready to go to Alabama with me! The usual advice applies – download it now, or it might not be available later. And check the price before you click BUY – just to be sure it is still free!

Click HERE to get the free book from B&N.

If you haven’t commented on yesterday’s post yet – the giveaway for the civil war panels is still on-going! I’ll draw the two winners Wednesday morning, so there is still time to leave a comment there until I draw!

Mahhhhhvelous Monday!

I mentioned in yesterday morning’s post that Lisa and I were headed out to Pilot Mountain! And head out we did!

I haven’t hiked Pilot Mountain in a couple of years, and I was itching to go! It’s nice to find girlfriends who will get me OUT of the basement and go do something healthy – like moving my body – and something soul enhancing – like going up a mountain side and enjoying the beauty and wonder of creation.

First…I over-shot the exit! Lisa and I were coming from two different directions, and so we had picked a meet-up place. There is a Sam’s Club headed North on I-52 that is a great “leave one car in the parking lot” kind of meet up place—and because the trees have leafed out so much I blew past it! No problem, that’s what cloverleaf exits are for, right?

We left my car in the parking lot, and up the road we went! And soon, very soon….I could see Pilot Mountain just beckoning me in the distance!

Isn’t that just an amazing looking spot for a hike?! The trails go all over, and there is a great view from up top…only…..

When we GOT there…the park was closed for REPAVING!!?!??! They weren’t letting anyone in, and said it would be closed most of the week. Bummer.

We chatted to the workers for a while, and we decided that since our plans had been NIXXED and we had come all this way – that we would re-route ourselves and head back south a bit…and then EAST…and get ourselves over to Hanging Rock State Park!

After all, the day was lovely, temps were mid-cool and there probably won’t be a lot of Mondays left like this before summer fully sets in around here…

But, It is MONDAY for crying out loud, and life has a way of throwing conspiracies in our path!

MORE roadwork! This, my friends, is what we refer to as a “North Carolina Traffic Jam!” Which usually means construction, or slow moving farm equipment that can back up traffic for miles. I have a theory that the guys in the green/orange vests at Pilot Mountain called ahead to these guys in the green/orange vests on the way to Hanging Rock just to put off our bliss of nature just a bit longer! But it didn’t work. We eventually got past them and on our way up the windy road to Hanging Rock.

1.3 miles? Not a problem! Until you realize it is UPHILL ALL THE WAY!

But LOOK at that new green! And how it glows with the sun shining through! I really wished I could bottle up this smell and send it to you, it was that fresh and amazing out there. I love being in the mountains!

The mountain laurel is in full pink splendor and exploding bouquets of beauty everywhere along the trail!

It was too beautiful for words! Besides…it was so steep we were breathing too hard to be able to speak the words even if we wanted to! LOL!

Here it is! the Stairway to Heaven! We’d only passed two people at this point, and they were coming DOWN…with YOGA MATS under their arms? We are still trying to figure out just WHERE was flat enough to DO yoga up on Hanging Rock – The rock stairs go up and up and up and up and up…

Shelby and I stopped to catch our breath before going up any farther. Okay…that was an excuse. *I* stopped to catch my breath, and to tie my shirt around my waist before going up any further. All that exertion and temps were starting to climb. I just wanted to sit and love on a cute Shelby girl a bit before going further!

That Shelby is quite a poser! And too cute not to snap pictures of! I’ve never had experience with toy sized dogs before, and I really enjoy having her little person-ality around! She is the perfect size, the only thing missing is a PURR!

And Miss Lisa is pretty great to have around too!

Up and up and up and up – You mean we are going up HERE!? Yes. We are!

Almost There! I can see the view from the trees! ((And aren’t trees that grow up through solid ROCK just an amazing example for life?! I love life-lessons, and I know there is one for me in the fortitude of these amazing rock anchored trees!))

This is the view south, Winston Salem and Greensboro are somewhere out there….we are UP on top of the world!

That is one super rock climbing dog! She really did do most of it herself..jumping those rock steps as if they were hurdles! But LOOK at this view?! Can you see why we are so happy to be here?

Glorious scenery in every direction. There is NO ONE up here…not a soul – but Shelby, Lisa and myself. Oh. And one buzzard who kept swarming – must have been thinking that Shelby looked like LUNCH!

There just are not words for this kind of beauty. This is looking toward the North. We are about 10 miles south of the Virginia state line as the crow ((Or buzzard)) flies! The only sounds we hear are the buzzing of busy insects, the sound of the wind through the tree tops far below, and the beating of our own hearts from the climb.

This sky of scattered clouds mixed with blue and sunshine would continue to gather and shower us with a huge thunderstorm come later in the afternoon, but for now, all was perfect.

I could have sat here forever. Time stopped up here. Yes, there were mountains of STUFF at home, but somehow, I needed time out on THIS mountain to refresh my soul. STUFF can wait. But these moments – time out with nature, and a friend – those are too priceless to put off!

Things I continue to ponder and apply from this day trip:

• Don’t quit due to a detour!
• Slow down and enjoy the view!
• Take time to appreciate flowers!
• Stand steadfast in rocky places!
• Dance and climb while the sun shines!
• Laugh! LOTS!
• Consider the unconditional love of dogs, and apply it!
• Don’t be so busy that you pass up TIME with friends.

And--

Never let a chance to walk barefoot through moss pass you by!

Happy Tuesday, folks!