Hi Honey, I'm Home!

On our way to the airport from mom's in Garden Valley Idaho - the biggest celebration of all was taking place.

There wasn't really anyone around as we began our journey down to Boise about an hour-plus down the mountain.

Just a couple of cars ahead of us, and one big semi truck who turned right while we were turning left -

But you should have heard our cheering from inside the car!

A stop light!  There is a stoplight at the junction where hwy 55 meets hwy 17! And it is FUNCTIONAL!

For more than 30 years there has been a need of a stoplight here.  Traffic going north and south on Hwy 55 with no stop light made it impossible for any vehicle on Hwy 17 to make a left hand turn - and on holiday weekends, the line to turn left back toward Boise could be miles long.

A stoplight!  A working stoplight!  Such a small mostly unnoticeable thing - but not to the residents of Garden Valley who dread summer holiday season like the plague.

It wasn't functional on Saturday when we went down to my niece Elizabeth's 14th birthday and soccer game.

It may have been turned on by Monday - but no matter.  We saw it Tuesday.  And long may it blink from green to yellow to red....hooray!

Garden Valley, Idaho is accessible via Idaho State Highway 17, which is also designated the "Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway" according to the Garden Valley Chamber of Commerce. This highway winds through picturesque mountain scenery and along the South Fork of the Payette River.

Click to Play:

We stopped before the light so I could get one last bit of video -

And a quick selfie before heading to the airport.

My favorite Garden Valley Barn -
Things are a bit backlit here because it is a morning photo with the sun behind the barn - but I couldn't resist.

And yes, mom got her hexie quilt.  Her big, giant, beautiful, one of a kind hexie quilt. It was a highlight to present it to her.

On the guestroom king sized bed.

A perfect fit!

(But this thing is giant!)

And to think she hated it so much she was going to throw it away??

No, it's not made with designer fabrics or a fabric "line."  These fabrics have been gleaned and gathered over decades and pieced over the span of at least 10 years.

It might not be made in the current rage of fashionable colors. But there is so much of my mom in here.

And I love it all the more for that.

It has all of her favorite things stitched in - and there will never be any doubt as to what my mom valued most. (The popcorn is still my favorite!)

Little house in the woods -

We spent much of our time puttering in the yard (And yes, I brought home another helleborus from her yard to plant at the inn...this time one with a deep purple bloom. I'm hoping it survives.  It came home in my backpack - had to be run through the security x-ray twice, and then hand inspected...because...of course.  LOL!)

Hexies were stitched through hours of OLD 1970s TV shows.

McMillan & Wife, the old Hawaii 5-0 (Book 'em, Dano!) and episodes of McCloud.

A 4 hour marathon of Gone With The Wind took up much of Sunday afternoon while I stitched...and they both snored in their chairs.  LOL!

The next one started.

I stitched all the way from Boise to Atlanta. I napped from Atlanta to Bristol.  And we arrived home in Mouth of Wilson about 1am.

I'm moving slow today, but the Muddy Creek Misfits are due to arrive at the inn around 3pm - so I better get a move on.

It's great to be back.  It was wonderful to spend time with family, but Virginia is home.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Isn't aging such a wonderful thing? 

But it lifts my heart to realize that my 1970s playlist is what they'll be playing in my nursing home! 

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!