It’s Mountain Time!

Balm to my soul, this is my bliss!

I arrived in Virginia yesterday afternoon, the van full to overflowing with groceries, quilt projects, items for Quiltville Inn – my clothes for a week, my backpack with my laptop and busy bag – It’s full on Christmas mode time.

There is a definitely “elevation line” as I climb up and over  the mountains on highway 16 leading north out of Wilkesboro, North Carolina.  the road rises steadily through Miller’s Creek, through Wilbur (also nicknamed  “the flats” by us) -  and up toward the Blue Ridge Parkway before finally reaching Jefferson, NC and onward to the Virginia state line.

The roads were clear with no snow until just before the parkway – By the time you have gone under the parkway overpass, temps have dropped 10 degrees from the high 40s to into the 30s and snow is still visible along the sides of the road, in yards, fields, farms, and definitely on the mountains in the distance – the remains of 20’’ of snowfall a couple of weeks ago.

Brrrr, baby, brrrr!

Sadie had the right idea -

Groceries were offloaded and put away, projects set in the cabin studio, suitcases and other items brought in to their destinations – and then the one thing I had been dreaming of for the past 4 weeks or more – a good long afternoon cabin nap.  No traffic noise, no neighbor noise – no mail to get out – just time for battery re-charging and THEN down to the cabin studio.

First this happened.

I cleaned out the “leftover parts department” from a cabinet in my sewing room at home.  Left over bonus triangles, four-patches (Oh my gosh, I think I found enough to finish my Jewel Box Stars Leader & Ender challenge quilt!) and some  other stuff that just needed to be pitched. 

Do these four-patches look familiar to anyone?  They were left from last year’s Checkerboard Rails challenge! 

Oh yes, this is getting cuter by the minute!

What a quick fix!

One more border to go!

Way to let the fabric age to perfection! Evidently it takes 26 years to do it right. LOL!

I wish they never stopped putting the dates on selvages.  I love to see how long something has been archived before I put it to good use, don't you?

No matter the age - it is the “Right” rusty red – and out of the cabin stash!

I am so happy to find this piece in the cabin stash and have it gone - but also have it be the same era as the other fabrics in this UFO quilt top.  Some how it just works.  And isn’t that what matters?

I’d love to find a black/white stripe to use as binding – but we will see.

There were pork chops on the grill, garlic mashed potatoes and salad for dinner, followed by a family tradition of Home Alone on the TV with a fire blazing in the hearth. There was much hand quilting of Baptist Fans on the never-ending Oak Leaf quilt.  Life is so so so so good!

On the play list for the next few nights - Holiday Inn (We've already watched White Christmas) and perhaps a good long series of Harry Potter to hand stitch to.  I know that's a weird combo, but whatever floats the boy's boats and keeps our family in one room at the same time minus phones right?

We are missing Jason this year, but we plan on a video call on Christmas day.

Good morning, world!

Son Jeff, Sadie and I caught the sunrise this morning while the Hubster caught a few more Zzzz’s.  Sunrises are my favorite time of day up here – especially in the winter when you can see the sun rise behind the ridges in the distance.  I feel cheated if I miss a sunrise.  They just set my day on course.

The course for today?  It’s already started around here.  Jeff and Dave hung a new roller shade in my cabin studio over the sliding glass doors so that I can filter out some of that sun that is just too much too much too much when trying to work at my computer.  I think they deserve a grand breakfast after their early morning efforts while I sat typing this blog post.

There will be a wander over to the Inn later.  I have some things to drop off, and there are decisions to be made on building out the hearth underneath the wood stove in the den to meet insurance specifications.  We may be heading over to Lowes to pick out what tile I want and figure out how we are going to edge it.  There is some “wood plank” looking tile that may blend well with the original wood floor that is already there.

But then again – we women can change our minds at any given moment and maybe I don’t want it to MATCH – maybe it needs to be it’s own decorating feature?  So we will see what they have to offer. 

I have already been given the kabosh on ANYTHING hexagon related.  LOL.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

String Star quilt photo shared by Kevin the Quilter.

I am up to this challenge - are you?

Joy and happiness to close out 2018 and full on focus for 2019.

Have a peaceful joy-filled Sunday, friends!