This is what 7am looks like, driving from Sun Lakes, AZ down to San Manuel, AZ for my workshop day with the Copper Thimble Quilters!
The sunset was glorious, but trying to shoot photos of saguaro cactus along the side of the road while riding shotgun proved to be a difficult task! Still, the desert at sunrise is a sight to behold.
It’s a two hour drive down from my Dad’s place to San Manuel, and it is ALL so scenic. The mountains in Arizona are rocky, forboding and full of history.
San Manuel was built in 1953 as a company town to serve the then-new San Manuel copper mine, mill and smelter complex. When copper prices fell in the late 1990s, the mine and smelter complex shuttered both operations in June 1999. The closing saw 2,500 people lose their jobs. The mine and smelter were permanently closed in 2003. source
San Manuel is still a thriving community with a very active quilters guild, who aptly named themselves the Copper Thimble Quilters!
View of the Galiuro Mountains from near San Manuel as we drove into town!
Even through the bugs on the windshield the view was breathtaking. We even had a bit of rain, but not enough to wash that windshield cleaner. No matter –This was such a great way to see parts of Arizona that I had never seen before!
And the quilters, they came to quilt!
And we had the most awesome time!
Blocks were quickly assembled!
Even the menfolk popped in to show their support and make sure that we were behaving ourselves! Ha!
Try your layout this way, without sashings.
And then see how it changes WITH sashings!
Or maybe face them all the same direction for echos of 3 D boxes and geese in mirror image!
And whatever you do, don’t forget to pose!
We had such a fun day. You will find the free pattern for Pineapple Blossom under the free patterns tab at the top of the blog. Click the image below if you are unable to view the slide show on your mobile device. You’ll be taken to the photo album for viewing.
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| Pineapple Blossom, San Manuel, AZ 2015 |
The drive home
We made it back to Sun Lakes by 6pm, where I let my dad spoil me with grilled chicken and salad for dinner. I couldn’t keep my eyes open past 9pm --- we are watching The Roosevelt's, a series I missed when it first aired on PBS. Fascinating, but only made it through the first episode before I drug myself off to bed.
The first morning that I can sleep in and not have to be awakened between 5am and 6am by my pesky alarm clock since I left North Carolina LAST YEAR! ((I have been gone since December 29th)) and guess what time I woke up this morning? 6am. On the dot. Dagnabitall! Oh well, I can also NAP today!
Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!
Bonnie Dear, your body clock is on east coast time---so--if you got up at 6 am, it was really 8 so you did get to sleep in---had I known you were coming to San Manual, I would have postponed camping trip and joined the guild to see you again!!! what was I thinking? LOL....I see some gals from Phoenix that I remember from your trip to Tucson last year. I seriously didnt think there was a guild up there! There used to be a quilt shop (cant remember the name, but Jeri' designed quilted Quickies) and there used to be a HUGE supply of fabrics and great stuff at great prices in the hardware store up there!!! if you get a chance, ask the gals about it! you wouldnt be disappointed! :-) ---Where do you meet for workshop?
ReplyDeleteDon't you love the wide open space clear blue skies in AZ? AZ and NM are really my 2 favorite states.... land with'nothing' but nature on it for many miles... LOVE THAT>
ReplyDeleteBKH group always have smiles on the faces, happiness in the heart...and a great quilt going in the achiness.
Smiles, JulieinTN
Looks like a fun time was had by all. I love all the color combinations and smiles. I was surprised to see my friend Anne and her husand in the slide show. I'm so jealous! I hope to some day get to take a class with Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteSounds like...and looks like you are having a wonderful time! I can see your heart smiling from here. Enjoy yourself and rest while you can...we will be right there in the background cheering you on 😀
ReplyDeleteVery interesting blog. A lot of blogs I see these days don't really provide anything that attract others, but I'm most definitely interested in this one. Just thought that I would post and let you know.
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