Meanwhile, in a World Away -

Jason has been exploring South Dakota over the past few days and has sent us the most amazing photos – including a live video chat while watching the sunrise over the Badlands yesterday.

He is seeing so many amazing aspects to this beautiful country, and I know that even though this is a tough time for him in so many ways – it is also a time of self-discovery and reconnecting with family on a deeper level.  Simply because there IS TIME.

He sent this photo of a buffalo just grazing out next to his vehicle as he drove on by.  How amazing is this?

This photo of the Badlands is so full of color and texture – and I am so glad he is experiencing all of this. 

The first time I visited the Badlands I was about 14 years old.  My dad, my two brothers and I drove from Minneapolis back to San Jose California – catching all of these same sights along the way.

I remember all of us wearing red and blue striped rugby shirts, the Wilkinson Family “uniform” just so Dad could keep tabs on us and know where we were.

It was my first time seeing buffalo roaming.  It was my first time seeing the wonders of the Badlands and finding beauty in such a desolate wonder.  It was my first time going on cave tours and learning about stalagmites and stalactites and all of those things that the ground above hides below.

It was also the first time to see Mount Rushmore, and Jason sent us this photo from last evening:

Mount Rushmore is one of those wonders that you really have to see to believe, and a photo will never do it justice.  I am boggled by how these likenesses were carved and chiseled from the face of a mountain.

I love that my son is experiencing the same sense of wonder and awe that I also felt earlier in my life – I only wish I was sharing it with him in real time!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch INN – this was my yesterday with much pounding and sawing.

The gutter guys arrived right on time and began their job of pulling off old fascia board and molding, in preparation for new guttering all around the house on both levels.

 While the retreat ladies were packing up to the left of the house in the drive, the gutter guys were setting up saws and other equipment behind the QPO to the right of the house, leaving me to park in front of the QPO. 

I had to catch my breath a time or two as 115 year old molding was being ripped off the house – and tossed to the ground.  But I know this is for the better because without gutters, wood siding will continue to rot. There are not enough coats of paint to stop the rot.  Gutters are needed.

When it comes to things like this I ask myself “What would the original owners have wanted you to do? What would they have done had they lived now?”  GET THE GUTTERS!

And this was SO FUNNY!

I had gone to the front door as retreaters were going through their pack up routine to check on things, and to start the gathering of the laundry.

This sign was on the front door.  Quilt Pox! LOL!  Click to Play:

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A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on Oct 5, 2020 at 7:32am PDT

These ladies had a wonderful and SAFE retreat!  I am so glad. Their laughter will be missed, the shenanigans and abundant creativity remembered.  And we will see them again next year.

With such a crazy “run between” day – Throwing Monday mail order processing into the mix of folks leaving, overflowing laundry tackled, gutter guys banging and sawing – the MOST I could really get done in the patchwork department was to kit a few more Nearly Lemoyne blocks.  And stitch up TWO.  At that point I hit the brick wall and headed home.

These two!

Zoey Jo and Ivy Lea are now BOTH claiming ownership of the top-of-the-crate real estate!

Ivy says “But I was here first!”

My reply: “You girls better share the space, or you are BOTH going elsewhere!”

No actually, that open mouthed photo was a huge yawn from Ivy, and they both settled in together, right as rain.  What a pair!

Today – More gutter activity, hopefully some piecing time, and a chiropractor visit late afternoon.

Quiet Tuesday ahead, well, except for the sawing and hammering and….but you get it!

Anything happening from your side of the monitor?

Are you feeling the pull to make some string pumpkins yet?

Sharing some Punkin Patch love from Patchwork Playground, her version of my Punkin Patch Quilt found in my book String Frenzy! This quilt looks adorable even without the borders as shown in the book pattern!

Through the month of October, the PDF pattern for my Punkin Patch Table Runner is on sale at half-price for only $5.00! No coupon needed!

I love this one that Jen made, using a neutral background instead of black!  What background do you see on yours?

Melinda Keppler's Appalachian Autumn!

She writes:

“I just finished the machine quilting of my Appalachian Autumn Quilt. I had a large collection of orange/fall type fabrics so I was easily able to make this from my stash. I only purchased a few extra grey fabrics so it would look more scrappy. I love it! Thanks, Bonnie, for another great pattern.”

Beautiful finish, Melinda!  The pattern for Appalachian Autumn is also found in the digital pattern category of the Quiltville Store.  You can be pulling fabrics and stitching pumpkins and/or autumn leaves in MINUTES!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

I was talking with a friend on how to feel more productive. One of the biggest things is to not feel guilty over the creative stuff you own, or bad about what you don't own.

Don't compare your studio space to anyone else's - whether you are stitching at the kitchen table, taking over the dining room, or using a small space in your basement, it doesn't matter.

Create in the space that is yours.

Whether it is messy, or clean doesn't matter. What matters is that you allow yourself the time to do what you love even if it is full of mistakes and false starts. No judging on yourself!

There should be no GUILT in QUILT!

Now get in there and do it!