Steppin' Out With My New Friends!

Wild double-bloom daffies on the hillside.

And that sky!

If you could see what is outside right now, and what is coming overnight through tomorrow - you'd know exactly why we took this nearly-60-degree chance to soak up a bit of sunshine and vitamin D before it all hit.

Last week the daffs weren't up.  Yesterday - there they were!  A welcome sign to Gail's Quilt Buddies who are at Quiltville Inn on retreat this week.

It was cool in the shade -

But by the time we'd huffed up the hill after walking down by the river, those coats were mostly tied around waists.

March in the Blue Ridge.  You've just gotta love it - because it doesn't do any good to hate it!

I love sharing my favorite little waterfall spot!

I have no idea what that weird reflection is toward the top of the photo - but it's the only one I took.

We hiked up past the old Halsey place -

There were cattle in the pen to greet us.

I love to hear the ooohs, and ahhhs, and speculations on what this place could have been in its hey day.

We'll never know.  And folks around here understand that it is the LAND that holds the value, not the old dwellings.

It's not like anyone is going to subdivide around here.

Instead, we'll enjoy it for what it is -

A glimpse into days-gone-by and a wonderful place to get a good long leg stretch in after hours of sitting and sewing.

All the way to the NC state line and back!

I'm so glad we did this!

I don't think anyone will want to be walking through the weekend!

I woke to a skiff of snow this morning. It's a stay in and quilt till you wilt kind of weekend ahead.

I'm okay with that!  There is good food coming out of the kitchen, great conversation, laughter, time for naps if you want - fires in the fireplaces and warm beverages all around.

It's that HARD FREEZE coming tonight that I know is going to take the Daffies out. *SIGH*  I'm going to try to cut some today and bring them in to enjoy, because they certainly aren't going to survive this winter freeze.

I'm glad that the apple trees haven't budded out yet.

Now those chestnuts?  They can freeze all they want because I'd be happy if they weren't as plentiful as they were last fall.

But I hate to see the daffies go when they are just getting started.

Things are coming together for our Hearts 0f Hope Sew-Along!

(Extra bonus points if you spot Lola's paw!)

There is a whole lot of trimming up to do, and then I can get that last border on.  I love how ideas that are only in our heads become reality when we put them to fabric - often looking much better in person than in dreams.

On the Quilter's For Ukraine GoFundMe that feeds directly into Together Rising for their efforts in Ukraine - Check this out!

Click to add your donation.

You have helped raise over $37,000.00 benefiting Together Rising's boots on the ground efforts to help the Ukrainian people.

THANK YOU!  And Keep it Up!

Every little bit is helping.  ALL of this will be going directly to Together Rising in their continued efforts to provide real support - boots on the ground support - for the people of Ukraine.

Gudrun is hosting a HOPE Sew-along using her HOPE pattern.  Many of you will already have this pattern from a previous fundraising sew-along she hosted, but for those who don't have it - ALL proceeds for both printed and digital patterns and the Hope for Ukraine fabric bundles are going to be donated to Together Rising through our joint GoFundMe, Quilters For Ukraine.

The Hope for Ukraine Mini Mystery Stash Builder Bundles are 6 half yards of blue and yellow fabric. This is 3 yards of high quality quilt shop fabric for $30. The Stash Builder Bundles are currently listed as a preorder while new fabric stock arrives and is cut and bundled. 

• Hope for Ukraine Mini Mystery Stash Builder Bundle
• Hope Quilt Pattern printed version
• Hope Quilt Pattern PDF version

We are doing this jointly, because we are stronger and can make a bigger impact when we work TOGETHER.

Of course you don't have to purchase anything to have your donation count.  Just donate whatever you are able from your heart.

Seeing yellow and blue wherever I go -

As soon as those last borders are on Hearts of Hope, it becomes a pattern writing weekend.

I had a huge talk with myself over the last few days while trying to crank out too much stuff.

Who imposes these deadlines?  ME!  Who can change the deadlines? ME!

I'm working toward having new patterns ready this coming week, but if we push it a week due to also needing to work on Hearts of Hope, I think you'll understand.

If patterns aren't ready to go live Monday or Tuesday, we'll just post them when ready.

Maybe you need to cut yourself some slack this weekend as well?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Sometimes one of the possibilities we haven't exhausted is just moving the goal post forward a bit.

A bit of realistic goal setting goes a long way.  And goals can ALWAYS be reevaluated.

Where there is a will, there is a way!

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This is Carolyn's Celtic Solstice quilt-

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Celtic Solstice is available as a digital pattern in the Quiltville Store.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!