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Friday, January 30, 2026

We're Back!


Hi everyone!

This was the LAST photo taken in Marrakech before we headed to the airport.

We had such an amazing time and there is no way to capture it all in one post, so I'll be posting things over the next little while to catch you up on all of the highlights.

There were lots and lots of highlights!

I hope many of you were able to follow along either by Instagram, Facebook and sometimes Threads.

I did find time at least once or twice a day to upload photos and videos there.

I arrived back at Newark NJ on Wednesday evening - dumping my bags in the hotel, taking a quick shower and heading straight to bed due to a 4:30am shuttle to get me back to the airport for my 6:20am boarding time for my flights home.

I know everyone is eager to know how Tula is doing.  Here's a video clip from this morning:



She is tired of living in the bathroom!  But that will continue until the weather behaves enough that I can move her back to the QPO Studio.

We are expecting more snow over the weekend starting today - on top of the snow and ice that has not melted from last week's storm due to extremely cold temps here.

I wish I could just keep her here at home forever, but with 2 other cats who hate each other, it's just not a good mix.


I know it's painful to look at, but really, she is not in any pain and is bright eyed in the other eye.  She loves pets and scratches (but not cuddles) and purrs instantly.

We are working on getting her to be okay with being held....but so far she fights it.  


Last evening trying to stay awake by stitching on the binding for Sunnyside.

As to the ice and snow situation here:


We had approximately 2" of snow first....before the ice came.  And when it came, it came already crystalized which is good in one sense as it was frozen enough that it didn't stick to the trees and cause tree breakage and power outages.

On the other hand...it just formed a very thick solid crust of ice on EVERYTHING.  It's a skating rink out there.

It's so hard you can't punch through it. Someone commented that they are calling this condition "Snowcrete" and it's the best description I've heard yet!

And with more snow starting today, it's going to be a mess for a while.

What is this? The 48th day of January?  Come on already.  This month has been going on forever.


Hubster Dave had to chip away at the ice and snow to clear the smallest section of "business area" for the dogs.

He even had an issue when the dogs wanted to go out into the woods (It's on a slope!) And they slid to the bottom and could not get up again.  

He had to use a stick, make a hole, step in the hole, make another hold, step in the hole to get to them and get them back up again.

And yes, he slipped too and slid to the bottom before being able to get them back up again, losing his phone in the process.

He was able to use his "find my phone" feature on his tablet and through the beeping and breaking through more stepping holes was able to retrieve it.


I'm kind of wishing I were back in Morocco at this point!

I have a lot to share.  We'll take it slow.

First things first - Tula to the vet, grab some necessities at the grocery store, some project stuff from the QPO to bring back here, and be ready to hole up this weekend through the incoming storm.

Today and Tomorrow are the last days for this:


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Quiltville Quote of the Day -

I've got jet lag, discombobulation, pet worries, and business things to take care of and zero motivation. 

Definitely feeling "NOT FRIENDLY!" today! 

Maybe some time with fabric and machine later this afternoon will help?

Happy Friday, everyone - 

It's good to be home!


 

22 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:21 AM EST

    It’s so wonderful to have you back. I so look forward to your blog. It is always a bright interlude in the dreary news and chaos of the present administration.

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  2. Anonymous10:09 AM EST

    I also cleared a potty spot for my corgis. They also insisted on going “off road”! We had 10 inches of snow! Short dog problems. They kept looking back at me like it was my fault! Nope! You guys are on your own. They actually had a ball. Kerry

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  3. Welcome home, Bonnie. I am sure this is not the weather you were expecting! Tula's recovery looks to be coming along really well. Isn't it amazing the way animals recover from such a change in their life? She will be a great companion in the QPO studio. Here's hoping the Groundhog has good news for us on Monday. Somehow, I don't think it will be Springtime just yet, but a firl can dream. Stay safe and stay warm!

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  4. Anonymous11:03 AM EST

    You are an animal angel, Bonnie!

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  5. Anonymous11:10 AM EST

    We have 'snowcrete' here in PA too; maybe more this weekend. Ellen T.

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  6. Anonymous11:14 AM EST

    After the week you and Dave have had, you're entitled to be "unfriendly". Janet Carroll

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  7. Katie Gomez11:31 AM EST

    Welcome home. I hope you can stay safe and warm. My Nashville in laws are not that lucky. Dark, cold, and no water for days. I had to laugh at your not friendly comment. A Woman was walking 3 dogs - pit bullish type - on the sidewalk toward me and says they’re friendly. And I said I’m not. The look on her face was priceless. May you have a wonderful day. ☮️💜 Katie

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  8. Anonymous11:39 AM EST

    Welcome home Bonnie🥰

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  9. RuthW in MD12:55 PM EST

    Glad to see you are back!! Hurrah for the Hubster and his "snowcrete climbing" abilities!! (Google does not think 'snowcrete' is a word...yet!) What a funny story! He had to have gone back into the house to get his tablet, so that was a further delay for those poor dogs waiting for help at the foot of the slope. Thanks for the giggle this morning.

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  10. Such craziness to come home to. We have only gotten a little bit of snow and some cooler temps here in the NW. I am glad to hear Tula is doing better, even tho the sight of her makes my heart hurt. If she is to become an indoor kitty, how will Flash handle it, I wonder. Will he stick around, do you think?

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  11. Anonymous12:58 PM EST

    Glad to see Miss Tallulah is recovering so well from her surgery. Hugs, sweet baby!

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  12. Karen P.1:01 PM EST

    Sorry to have accidentally posted the previous comment as anonymous . Best wishes, Tula!

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  13. Anonymous1:25 PM EST

    Glad you are home safe, please be careful in those awful conditions. I am glad Tula is adjusting. Dorothy S.

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  14. Anonymous1:37 PM EST

    Good to know Tula is doing well and not in any pain. Your voice on the videos seemed a bit deeper, wasn't sure if it was you at first. Hope you're keeping well after all your travels.

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  15. Anonymous2:19 PM EST

    O Bonnie, you are so funny, “Not Friendly”. Hahaha

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  16. Bonnie, so glad you and a great trip and are safely home. I had a kitty that had been a stray and did not like to be held. Nor would she sit on my lap or even beside me. Then one evening while watching tv with a quilt across my legs, she climbed into my lap! I think she didn't like the dip between my thighs, but the quilt offered a cushion! After that she regularly starting sitting on my lap. Once again, a quilt made the difference!

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  17. So glad Tula is ok. I can't get over how much she looks like my cat. They are twins in 2 different countries. :)

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  18. Anonymous3:29 PM EST

    When I saw Tula’s eye I knew she would loose it. My daughter has a cat that was given to her by her neighbor who had snatched the cat when it was a small kitten from a homeless man, the kitten had such an eye infection that the eye had to be removed. All is well now and the cat gets along very well, and never leaves the house!!

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  19. Anonymous5:33 PM EST

    So glad to have you back! I missed you! LOL Can't wait to read about your trip

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  20. Katherine Duffendack8:00 PM EST

    When I lived in the Adirondacks when we had ice or ice on snow I used Micro-Spikes to get around. The small spikes on the bottom of the tread that goes over the shoe, grab on to the ice, so you don't slip around.

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  21. Anonymous9:23 PM EST

    Welcome home Bonnie!! Tula is so lucky to have found you. She looks much happier today than when we last saw her. Thank you for this blog and all that you give to us quilters.

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  22. Tula is lucky to have you guys giving her wonderful care and love. Our Maine Coon, Molly, doesn't like to be held either. It's all on their terms for sure. And I'd love a shirt saying "Not Friendly" for those days we'd like people to give us a wide berth! That is so funny! Glad you're back on the East Coast, Bonnie. Get rested up.

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