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Tuesday, May 15, 2018

On the Way to Moving In!

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Hello from Virginia!

It took longer to get here yesterday than I thought – but by mid afternoon I was pulling up into the drive at Quiltville Inn, ready to unload the first of many loads to come.

My first stop yesterday of course was the car dealership – Moby needed a 30,000 mile spa treatment.  All systems flushed, everything gone through – to the painful tune of more than $400.00.  OUCH!

I kept telling myself that this is what it takes to keep a vehicle running well for safety’s sake – and I’d rather pay for maintenance than a repair bill down the road which could be more – but OUCH.

And while I waited:

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New busy bag project! YAY!

We can call this the “test run” to make sure I have everything I need before New Hampshire on Thursday.  So far so good!

This is the Signature 60 wt 3 ply thread in “antique white.”  I have this one and a light grey to find out which one I like best – so far this is doing great. Ask for Signature 60 at your local shop, or find it at Red Rock Threads online.

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Well shoot!  How is all of this going to fit?

And you know what?  It doesn’t scream “SHOPPING SPREE!”  when you are buying things like mop buckets, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, trash cans and liners, a vacuum and silverware for 24 place settings.

And what’s with a store only having 3 twin sized mattress pads anyway? I need 16! Or maybe 20.  But 16 to start.  I guess we keep doing this one room at a time thing. 

And there were NO twin sized white sheet sets to be found at all.  I don't get that either!

(And I want cotton -- not microfiber!  Microfiber is an up-scale word for 100% polyester.  Are you kidding me?  Women of a certain age do not need to sleep wrapped in 100% polyester.  COTTON!!)

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What’s this now??

What do you mean road closed??

Evidently a bridge was out and I had to find another way – I ended up backing up, and following another car who seemed to know what they were doing – and I made it!

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I’m HERE! 

Time to unload!

This was a very moving experience for me.  I hadn’t walked through the house since the Tuesday before we closed, in the company of our realtor Maxine, the Hubster, and friends Rick & Mona who were seeing it also for the very first time. 

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But this time?  It was just me.  Me and my dream house.  Me and the vision of what I want this place to be, and to mean to the folks who visit it.

I backed up to the back porch kitchen door and began my task --

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Wildflowers overlooking the creek.

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Lovely front door knob.

Would you like a peek inside?  Click to play:


There is so much to be done - and I am so excited!

I spent a couple of hours talking to these walls (No, they did not answer back – but that’s okay!) and making plans for what is to come.

I really wanted to start in on shelf liner, but those cabinets really do need a fresh coat of paint.  There is time.  And while the weather is lovely I can see us removing the doors, taking them out to the porch to add a fresh coat after sanding things down a bit.  This will give me time to locate the knobs I want.  Oh, so many knobs!

I’m only here today – and home tomorrow, so not much more will get done really, but it was satisfying putting a box of tissues in each bathroom, a few rolls of tp, the cleaning supplies to get those rooms taken care of…and to just become acquainted.


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Housewarming candle!

It's a Bonnie tradition!

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Abandoned house on the way to the cabin by dinner time.

This little place is overgrown and hidden – there were little shack houses like this all over the area when the mills were functional and Mouth of Wilson was a factory town.  This would have been one of the houses owned by the Fields corporation, and rented out to mill workers who worked the mill, paid their rent from their earnings back to the company, and spent what was left at the company general store. 

There are so many little lost places like this.

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The green has come!

This was my first glimpse of my laneway up to the cabin with LEAVES!  There are no more long range mountain views – and won’t be until fall – but I love that my surroundings here change with the seasons.

You’ll find me doing some sewing today – I can finally put borders on a quilt thanks to my friend Kevin who bailed me out where I fell short – Thanks, bud!  (ONE 5’’ width of fabric strip short of completion and he had the fabric I needed in his Kaffe stash!)

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This binding should be finished tonight!

Thimble by TJ Lane.

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Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Vintage Quilt found in Georgia.

It's time to let go of the fear and trust the magic of new beginnings!

Have a wonderful Tuesday, friends!



89 comments:

  1. Couldn't be happier for you! I sure hope my friend Ramona gets to visit you in your new inn someday soon. She is a true blue Bonnie fan and toots your horn wherever she goes. I think you will be seeing her in NH this weekend. Enjoy!

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  2. So excited for you Bonnie and your new adventure! The inn looks marvelous! Thanks for the tour.

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  3. AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait!

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  4. the quiltville inn is going to be wonderful hope I get to come when it is open... started saving for a trip now.. love retreats

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  5. Congratulations on finding such a beautiful property and realizing your dreams! So happy for you and your family!

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  6. “So much to do!”- do I detect a note of hysteria?

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  7. What a beautiful house. Thank you for the tour. Congratulations on your new adventure.

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous. Excited right along with you!

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  9. Congratulations Bonnie. What a beautiful, magical place!

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  10. Oh I loved the tour! Hope to visit someday. I am so excited for you and we will enjoy the progress you make, please keep sharing.

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  11. That house is magnificent! I love everything about it! You were so lucky to find it! A dream come true for anyone.

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  12. If you build it they will come. ......hurry up!

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  13. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful property! Congrats again on realizing your dream.

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  14. Love the house and can't wait to see myself, So happy for you!!!

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  15. Oh, Bonnie....your new place is AWESOME!!! You are truly blessed :) Cant wait for your new book and getting it from your new place!

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  16. When you first started the video and I heard the emotion in your voice I had tears in my eyes. To watch someone's dream come true for everyone to see was so amazing. I enjoyed every second of this video. When you would reach out to "pet" the doorknobs and locks I was right there with you. I can't wait to come "pet" them myself. I love this house and it's character and history. It is as amazing as you, and you two were destined to find each other. Just think if that silly HOA hadn't forced you to look elsewhere you would not have found this wonderful old home. I love how you are sharing this journey with us. I can't wait to see you again in August at Mary's retreat!

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  18. I love it! I could see your long arm in the post office with all of those windows and track lighting, well, until the garage is done. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us! It's all so beautiful.

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  19. My heart is so full for you! The tour was terrific; showing every nook and cranny. So nice of you to share your vision. All the vintage beauty it has that you will keep and make additional memories with. I can hear the whir of machines, laughter, and chatter already!! Hugs for the stamina, energy, and funds required to make Quiltville Inn a destination for many. Allison in Plano

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  20. I am in love, and I want to be one of your guests! This is a wonderful space! Just waiting for rooms full of quilters!

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  21. Loved the tour. What a beautiful place. Wishing you all the best on this venture. Looking forward to seeing it as it progresses.

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  22. Oh boy that post office is awesome too....what an amazing house. So excited for you and I can't wait to visit :0) Congratulations Bonnie!

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  23. You are blessed and how wonderful that is! I am one of your followers who is old and not able to climb stairs, that makes me enjoy your video, it was glorious to see. May you continue with your sweet voice and make folks happy with your fantastic quilting. I read about you every day on "Quips & Snips". Praise the Lord!

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  24. The whole property is so charming and fabulous!! Congratulations on finding the perfect place!

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  25. Congratulations Bonnie. Dreams really can come true!

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  26. All I can say is: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!
    This house would be my dream too. So happy for you Bonnie and thank you for sharing.

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  27. What a Dream house!! Thanks for taking us on a tour. Those wood floors, and fun door knobs, oh my!!
    Enjoy it all, Bonnie!

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  28. Bonnie, thank you for the tour. It is exciting being there as share your dream with us. I look forward to more mini tours as you set up rooms and vignette. I already have my second $5 in the Quiltville Inn retreat savings jar. I will be ready when you are.

    And please, as you travel this road and share with us, remember you cannot be everything to all people. We all have limitations. We know you will be doing the very best you can for as many of your quilting fans as you can and we appreciate it so much. So please, please don't let those people who make thoughtless remarks and selfish requests bring you down at all or make you feel inadequate or like it is not enough. It never will be for those people around whom the universe is centered. For the rest of us, we are beyond thrilled for you and ourselves for what we can share and experience right along with you. Enjoy!! Enjoy!! Enjoy!!

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  29. I am repeating myself : this is simply a DREAM!! And I wish you every possible success!!!👏👏👍💐🤗

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  30. Congrads on seeing a Dream start coming to life--right now--Walmart is having a sale on their one line of cotton sheet sets and they do have twin--in fact I am on my way there is bit to buy a second set-(reg price was $20 now they are $11--and I can only use cotton and I have discovered that in the last couple of years everything is going back to part cotton/polyster--for health reasons I do not ever do polyster--and as this is the one whole cotton section that is on sale--I fear they might not be getting all cotton ones in again!!) you could also try online to see if this line is on sale!!

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  31. Congratulations Bonnie! What an awesome house. It is absolutely gorgeous and is perfect for your quilting retreats. And the post office is such a nice addition as well. I wish you the best in your new space. Have fun finding all your furniture and decorations to make this yours. Thanks for sharing with us. Excited for you.

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  32. I just googled Mouth of Wilson and a photo of your house came up. Thanks for the tour Bonnie. I am so excited for you.

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  33. Oh Bonnie...so excited for you (and all of us ready to book quilters!!!) Thanks for all of the hard work and love that you are putting into the Quiltville Inn. We appreciate it and are looking forward to spending time there!

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  34. So beautiful! It is exciting to see the house and post office. I will be waiting to see what you do with it step by step .

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  35. So exciting, it's like a storybook with so many adventures ready to unfold. Not to mention all the fabric to unfold. :)

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  36. I love old houses and your's is a definite keeper. Oh the fun - enjoy.

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  37. Oh Bonnie!!! What a glorious Inn you have!! A dream come true!! I loved the video and found myself planning the contents of each room right along with you!!! I couldn't be more happy for you!! I look forward to all the updates coming!! Cheering you on from Cypress, Texas!!!! xox

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  38. Thank you Bonnie for sharing this Special Day with us. I love the house so much. I remember my grandmother's house having door knobs and plates like yours does. Just as you are "petting " the knobs, I want to "pet" all the floors. Oh, they are just so beautiful. Quiltville Inn is truly a dream in the making!!

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  39. Anonymous12:44 PM EDT

    Wonderful Bonnie and what a great place to come for quilters for a nice quilt-holiday.
    Well done girl!!!!!!!

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  40. Beautiful Bonnie, I am so happy for you. I did hear you say you were going to tear down the general store as it was beyond repair, that you were going to find someone to salvage it. I was thinking man if she needs any signs made that to use some of the wood from a old building that was already on the place might be nice. Or even to put some of the old wood together for one of those quilt blocks you find on homes and barns. But that was just me thinking. Hugs to you I am so excited to watch this new venture unfold, I just can't help thinking you putting everything together feels like it is a life quilt. Blessings and prayers. Thanks for all that you give and share so freely.

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  41. What a gem you have found! Thank you for sharing. For those of us who will never have an opportunity for such an exciting endeavor, your sharing is generous and an indulgence for us. It is all so very gorgeous. Congratulations on finding just the right spot to make your dream come true.

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  42. Thank you so much for "letting" me tour your Quiltville Inn. I am so looking forward to being there someday. All those windows, all the lovely moldings and woodwork and Oh!! Those doorknobs with the old locks and hardware. What a wonderful dream you've had and how thrilled I am that you've achieved it. I can't wait to enjoy the setting up of this great venture. Loretta McGinn

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  43. Thank you so much for the tour. Congratulations it is really beautiful. I think you have a wonderful idea. What Fun!! I wish the best for you Bonnie.

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  44. I've been wondering about the partial brick wall off the back porch...what is it? It does look like the foundation to a building...is it? Glad to hear you're pushing for cotton sheets. We ALL thank you. Only time my husband bought sheets since we were married and they were poly - OH NO. Do I need to say we used them just a couple of times. The heat was awful but the pilling on them sealed their fate!

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  45. Watch out for Kohl’s sale on The Big One 100% cotton sheets. They were $20 for a set recently and nice sheets (speaking as a woman of a certain age myself).

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  46. Thank bunches for the tour; your excitement is palpable!

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  47. Oh I so loved this tour of your new places! I'm excited for you, and all of us as your followers...I can't wait to start reading about your new adventures!

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  48. Fabulous tour! I’d like to book my visit to Quiltville Inn right now!!

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  49. That tour was fantastic. This story is sort of like "Gilmore Girls" meets "Elm Creek". Now you need a Sukie St. James in that beautiful kitchen. Enjoy every moment!

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  50. Thank you for such an awesome tour! My childhood was spent in old farmhouses that had a mish-mash of so many of those old door hardware pieces, and the original rolled glass windows, so many memories came flooding back as I could feel the ambience and smell the scent of old wood and flooring as you walked through each room. Such an exciting new adventure for you!

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  51. Oh Bonnie thank you for the tour. I could never manage the stairs but would love to come and rock on the porch and to meet you in person. All I can say about Quiltville Inn is WOW! Just WOW!

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  52. Quiltville Inn is only a 38 hour drive from home...I'll have to check it out in person!! Looks fabulous and I'm looking forward to seeing you create a masterpiece from this beautiful home. The location is just perfect and so peacefully beautiful.

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  53. Thank you for sharing your dream. It's perfect and is meant to be!! It has your name written all over it. So excited to see how you will bring it to life. It will be more beautiful with your touch added to it. Now I can dream that someday I can visit Quiltville Inn and sew the day away, rock away on the porch for the evening and sleep under a Bonnie quilt. 🙂💕. Enjoy your new adventure!!!

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  54. Bead board,wainscot, ship lap on my! Turrets window seats wonderful. Congratulations!

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  55. Oh Bonnie! Thank you for sharing. You couldn't have found a more perfect place for Quiltville! Congratulations!

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  56. Bonnie - I'm so excited for you! Quilters will come from near and far! Leah and I plan to attend and meet up with the gals from Washington State that we met on the Alaskan cruise from 2 years ago. Can't wait! Best of luck to you!

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  57. Congratulations Bonnie! I am so excited for you and I can't wait to book at YOUR Quiltville Inn!

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  58. It is fantastic Bonnie, loved the video. Hopefully i can visit sometime 😍

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  59. Oh Bonnie! I am soooo excited for you. I hope that there will be a way for "singles" to come to quiltville inn. I don't belong to a big group.

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  60. Contact Nicole Curtis from Rehab Addict. She might take those tubs for you. You could watch her show to get renovation tips and tricks.

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  62. Such a WONDERFUL place. I'm so excited for you. I hope I get to visit some day.

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  63. Thank you so much for sharing your Quiltville Inn, I enjoyed the tour tremendously and share in your excitement. I have some books I would like to donate to your library just let me know when you will be accepting packages and I will ship some books off to you. I look forward to your next post to see how things progress!!!

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  64. How wonderful for you to have this oopportuity!! I am so envious of all the lucky ladies that will have the amazing opportunity of attending your quilt retreats there. I live in South Africa, so will obviously never have that luck.

    Wishing you many years of happiness in your new venture and I will enjoy it with you on your blog!!!

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  65. How exciting for you! I hope to be a visitor once you have it all ready.

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  66. So excited for you - that was a great tour around the new place. I think it's gorgeous. Equally delighted at the bay windows - we are in the process of purchasing our next home and it also has bay windows - not as large though - something I've always wanted as it's shouts out for a window seat - and our place has 4! The view is beautiful too and I do love that dogwood outside. And the porch. Would love a porch like that!!! Wishing you every success with this new adventure.

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  67. Bonnie I did not know that "Microfiber is an up-scale word for 100% polyester." I am so excited to see how Quiltville Inn is going to look when you are finish. Please keep the house looking as it was when the family who built it. I just love older home. Check to see if the home is on the Historical Home list. A home that is like your's might qualify for the list.

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  68. Thank you so much for the tour!! God has truly blessed you in His timing and yours. I hope you will continue to give tours as updates are made for those of us who won’t be able to retreat there due to the bad knees and stairs. It’s exciting, though, and you can bring your world to us as you always do!! Other people have thrown out ideas to you...I think it would be really cute to have one or both of your clawfoot tubs in the sewing areas to hold scraps, etc. Congratulations on finding the house and a new, improved life without so much travel, where you can do even more of the “home” type things and still have an income.

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  69. Thanks for sharing this I am excited for you. Ramona and I will see you tomorrow!!!!! can't wait!!!

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  70. Thank you for the tour. What a lovely place. Waiting anxiously until the day the yayas from Lafayette IN can come for a visit. Will there be space for you to stay as well?

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  71. Absolutely gorgeous. Congrats. X

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  72. What a beautiful place! Hope I get a chance,acne to visit and sew with you.

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  73. What a beautiful house! I love all that old wood and hardware and it is fun hearing all of your plans. Congratulations!

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  74. Loved the tour...hopefully, I can see it in person! Happy for you.

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  75. Beautiful! How exciting for you. I have lived in old houses (250 years old) and they have so much charm and character. I just love them. Are you planning on moving to this area permanently?

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  76. What a gorgeous place Bonnie.
    Hope to come in the future!
    Congratulations again. May your new venture be blessed.
    Yoka Bazilewich

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  77. Oh, Bonnie! This tour was just phenomenal! Congratulations!! I'm so excited for you!! And you KNOW that WE are all excited - one person noted "only 38 hour drive!" And I'm thinking the rest of us are looking that up, as well! hehe
    How fun!

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  78. congratulations - it will be magnificent! I can envision it all. Nothing like this in the bay area of San Francisco that would be under a $1M, if you can find it. It just doesn't exist. Lots of work ahead - you got this!

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  79. You are literally bubbling and it is so much fun to hear all about it.

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  80. Thanks so much for the tour. Your home is so beautiful! Consider the Target Threshold brand of sheets. I can't say enough good things about them! They are super soft. They are large enough with a generous sized top sheet. They have an extra elastic around the corners so they stay put. I love mine!

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  81. Loved the tour! Quiltville Inn is going to be a wonderful retreat center! So happy this is happening in Virginia! Have fun “setting up house”!

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  82. Such fun to see your new quilt house. It is just beautiful. I'm almost as excited about it as you are, well, maybe not, but . . . . !! Thank you so much for the tour. I'm happy for you. Wish I could go shopping at antique stores with you to find all the things you need to furnish the rooms. That would be such fun. You will have a blast. Congratulations to you. I KNOW this adventure will be a huge success.

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  83. Bonnie I can feel your excitement and just love the look of the new home. Can't wait to follow all you do in the posts you write. I'm going to start saving in my piggy bank for a trip to visit if I'm lucky. Much love and luck to you from the U.K. Xx

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  84. The house is perfect for a retreat center. I am so excited for you! I hope I will get to visit one day.

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  85. I am so happy for you. I enjoyed the tour of your new home. It is just perfect for a retreat! Good luck.

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  86. I'm so excited for you and love the new "retreat". It makes me think of my Grandma giving me a big hug--it's very welcoming :)

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  87. Love the house. I would love to live there.....

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  88. Thank you for sharing your beautiful house. Your comment about how many people had touched that do it knob just made me smile. Whenever I see old houses, I always wonder about the people who lived there. Their stories, lives, legacy. I know you will make this a place everyone will feel welcomed into. Congratulations Bonnie. I hope one day to visit, but in the meantime I hope you share a day before opening video that shows us all your progress. I can't wait to see quilts from retreats hanging from those beautiful porch rails, and smiling guests right next to them!

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