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!

And the windows are MARVELOUS!!

I just can’t get over how wonderful they look.

All of the original moldings are still intact -

We lost no vintage charm in the upgrade -

What we gained is priceless – no drafts, working screens (that can slide up or down depending on whether you want windows open from the top or bottom!) and the tilting ability to clean all windows from the inside of the house.

The windows also come completely out so you can clean inside outside and then put them back in place.

That sliding screen thing is AWESOME – now you can look out the windows without having to look through a screen.

This is one of the window seat windows in bedroom 4 – the room that had the WORST windows with rotting frames and sills.  You’d never know it.  This is just so amazing to me that they were able to do 31 windows as professionally and as quickly as they could – and they cleaned up all of the mess and if you hadn’t driven past the house in a few days you never would have known that anything had happened at all. 

No debris left behind.  I am one happy customer!

Bedroom 4 now has a headboard!

All I am needing now is a box spring/mattress set and this room will be ready for sleeping.  Every step we make we get one step closer to being where we want to be.

Headboard detail!

I am so grateful for friends who made such wonderful offers of furniture!

Smiling through new windows!

Here too.  All in.

But the improvements don’t stop here.

New gas range and microwave in the cabin kitchen!

This morning’s oatmeal for breakfast -

I’m cooking’ with gas, baby!

This is also such a huge improvement.  The 20 year old white electric stove with the old style coil burners went home with the gas installation guy who wanted it for their weekend place.  Fine with me! Haul it away!  

Another worker happily adopted and carted off the old white microwave.  So glad – the beeper on that thing played a tune that drove me nuts!

The 20 year old white noisy dishwasher was replaced by THIS!

SO QUIET!  And the capacity – oh my!

This is how I know I am officially old.  I am over-the-moon excited over things like new windows, gifted bedroom furniture and replacement appliances.

And that is okay by me.

Next up for the cabin is to replace the blue counter tops.  I haven’t been a fan of these since the first time we saw the place – and that will happen in its own time. 

Yesterday's #IGquiltfest was Share a Recent Finish.

This is last year's Quiltville Leader & Ender challenge - Checkerboard Rails, finished less than a year ago. While this year's challenge, Jewel Box Stars is now a top, it hasn't been quilted or bound yet, so I am sharing this one.

Our next Leader & Ender challenge starts in July! Be watching for details.

Pattern/directions for Checkerboard Rails available on my blog under the free patterns tab if you want to make your own!

Today – I’m giving my friend Toni a tour of what we’ve done so far at the Inn, and then she and I are headed out for a round of antiquing fun and lunch on the town.

Don’t forget: This happens tomorrow!

What: My video interview (including a tour of my cabin quilting studio) for the Quilt Alliance's StoryBee series

Why: To celebrate National Quilting Day

When: All weekend long starting Saturday, March 16th

Where: The Quilt Alliance closed Facebook group, Quilt Alliance Story Circle.  (Click and JOIN!)

This is a special PRIVATE GROUP event so you will have to join the group to access the interview.

I had a great time doing the interview by camera – this was the crazy day that I couldn’t get a strong enough signal at the cabin, so I drove 7 miles to the Quiltville Post Office and did it from inside.  You won’t want to miss it.  And it should tide you over until we can do Quilt-Cam again.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Our hearts and minds are like parachutes. They don't work unless they are open!

I woke this morning to the news of the shooting rampage in Christchurch, New Zealand. So absolutely senseless and contrary to the name that lovely city bears. We need to open our minds and our hearts to each other. We need to get beyond violence, hatred, bigotry, racism and learn to embrace those different than ourselves.

Scrappy Mountain Majesties quilt pattern also found under the free patterns tab at the top of my blog.

Have a lovely Friday, everyone -