From Abu Simbel To Dublin!

Good Morning from Dublin, Ireland!

My body clock has been a bit jerked around and since it was light here at 4:30am and birds were chirping in the hotel courtyard beyond my window - I'm up.

It also means I've finally had some decent restorative sleep after arriving from Cairo yesterday afternoon.

You can only imagine how nice it is to go from 115 in the shade desert to a beautiful 62 with a slight breeze.

As stated in my ONE post I was able to upload to the blog by phone app - internet connectivity was a big issue while we were cruising the Nile, and I just threw up my hands and went with it.

While we were in Cairo, our days started pre-dawn and went past bedtime - so I also made the choice to just live in the moment and enjoy my travelers, partaking in everything, rather than sequester myself in my room trying to get enough signal to post photos.

I know you get it! 

Abu Simbel Temples to Ramses II and the love of his life - his wife Nefertari.

When statues are 65 feet tall and you have to turn your phone long way to get it all in -

Are there words for this?

How did they do this?

And the awesome thing with these two temples is that UNESCO jumped in with the saving of the temples when they needed to be moved piece by piece to save them from being lost under water to a reservoir that Egypt truly needed.

I can't do the story justice - but here's a video: Click to Play:

Grab a cuppa and watch -
It will help you appreciate this place so much more!

And did I mention it was hot?

All of my selfies this wholoe trip - I look like a drowned, boiled rat.  We drank water non stop.  We searched for shade wherever we could find it.

Fantastic!

There is something that happens deep in my soul when I stand in ancient spaces such as this.

I look at my own little timeline in the span of things - realize just how insignificant a blip it is, really - and double down on my desire to make the most of it I can.

Paint still visible on the ceilings.

SO HOT!  But still smiling!

Around every corner, something amazing.

Very few of the temples we visited had descriptions of war - this one was different.  There were chariots and warriors - there were depictions of beheadings - This was a temple for a different kind of Pharoah.

The faces captivated me.

From every angle!

Depiction of slaves - I think?

I stood in this place and felt so small!

Nefatari's temple off to the right.

Impressive!

Notice the feminine column!

This temple was a much friendlier space!

Inner chamber

More hieroglyphs 

Once again, standing in ancient spaces - 

Walking up to the Temples -

I tried to do some "Reel" type videos to post to facebook/instagram but you know what? I don't like them! You miss the whole surrounding view with the phone upright instead of landscape so I'm going back to the "old way" of trying to fit more in the frame instead of less.

My last view of Abu Simbel and the temples -

What a difference a few hours makes!

My group heading back to New York was shuttled to the airport at 12:45am after our farewell dinner together.

I stayed behind as my shuttle arrived at 6:30am to pick me up for my flight to Dublin.

And here I am.  One trip completed, another just beginning as my first group of Ireland travelers arrives this morning and I'll be there to greet them.

Yes, I brought two suitcases - one with clothing for extremely hot Egypt, and one with more milder wear (LONG JEANS! OH MY!) for Ireland - plus that gives a bit of room for souvenirs and the stitchery kits I brought for everyone.

There is so much to catch up on.  So many photos. I don't know how I'm going to post it all -

And while this is all going on - did I mention that the retreat house is being freshly painted while I'm away?

It's just SO MUCH happening.

But thank you for bearing with me.

And this is still going on:

While Bonnie's Away, The Quilters Will Play!

My feet won't be back home in Virginia until June 26th - so while I'm gone we are having a PDF pattern sale!  30% Off ALL PDF patterns through June 30th using coupon code DIGITAL30 at purchase!

Please note that code MUST be used at time of purchase to receive the discount. No code - no discount.  And I'm not going to be around to issue refunds.

And because my Craftours groups will be working on some fun stitchery stuff while we travel - I've made the same projects available to EVERYONE!

Favorite Things!

Simple embroidery on Essex linen of a frisky cat peeking out through the flowers is surrounded by a border of pretty patchwork – a match made in Stitcher’s Heaven!

Quilt Size: 18’’ X 18’’

Celtic Stitchery!

Cairdeas (car-jiss) is Irish Gaelic for friendship, goodwill or alliance. 

Originally designed for my travel group to Ireland – Now you, too can stitch up a favorite Celtic knot surrounded by sprightly patchwork in all of the green shades of the Emerald Isle!

Full color photos, graphics and optional construction methods for scrappy success!

Quilt Size: 26’’ X 26’’

Optional but helpful for both patterns: Bonnie K. Hunter's Essential Triangle Tool and either the Simple folded Corners ruler, or the Simple Folded Corners Mini for pieced border. Sulky Stick 'n Stitch to print the embroidery design. (May also simply tape to a window and trace if desired.)

Traditional rotary cutting methods and foundation paper-piecing options are given for those who don't have access to these rulers.

Both of these patterns are now available in both the Quiltville Store and the Quiltville Etsy Pattern Shop. 

Your 30% discount will be applied after you use the code DIGITAL30. Again, code must be used for discount to happen.

And yes, the code applies to ALL PDF PATTERNS through the month of June!  

This is the time to pick up those patterns you've been wanting - get them while they are on sale!

Quiltville Quotes of the Day will resume upon my return home.

Thanks, everyone - I'm wandering off to find a coffee and some breakfast before heading over to meet my first Ireland group -

Have a wonderful weekend!