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Tuesday, December 03, 2019

Willkommen in Nürnberg!


We made it!

I met up with my Quiltville Goes to Bavaria travelers at JFK airport, New York – and other than the flight being extremely bumpy, it was uneventful and I slept through at LEAST half of it (missing the breakfast portion!) which was something that never happens on a flight – I was THAT tired.

But that enabled me to hit the ground running the moment we landed in Munich and started the process of gathering luggage (There are 42 of us total!) and making our way to the bus for our first excursion of the day – A leisurely time strolling the streets of Nürnberg and enjoying not only the Christmas markets, but the all around street scenes and shops and restaurants – Oh, this is so wonderful!

Sunday, December 01, 2019

Those Busy Sew & Sews!


Look at them go!

One side benefit of running a retreat and checking on the retreaters in the morning?  They FED ME BREAKFAST!  And oh, it was so yummy!  You haven’t lived until you’ve had a sausage and cheese grits casserole -

And just so you don’t have to go without it, it has been suggested that we start a “Quiltville Inn Favorites” to help with other groups’ meal planning.  Things that work great in large batches for 12.  Things that can be made ahead and frozen for those who are driving in.  Things that are easy to prepare from grocery store pick up items purchased on their way into town for those who are flying from further a field.  Just favorites.  in BIG BATCHES.  

So be watching for that to happen in the future….like down the line when life slows down type of future.  But the ideas are flowing and it is taking on a life of its own!


Pardon the overhead-light-itis!

The dining room is a great gathering place!

And I love that everyone can sit at ONE LARGE TABLE so everyone can talk to everyone else and not miss any of the great conversations.


It has also been determined that we need APRONS!

Martha Claire is busy making lasagna, and protecting her shirt with a dish towel.  Hey, whatever works!  But I will definitely be bringing some aprons over.

And can I just say that the smell of meals cooking in this kitchen – all those delicious aromas -  really makes this place feel like a HOME!

And I just may have to watch my diet if they keep feeding me!


There has been much stitching by the comfort of the wood stove!


Holly is bound and determined to finish all the blocks!


And the design walls are being put to good use!


It is so fun to see what everyone is working on!


Something Christmassy!


ZERO problems with running irons and machines at the same time!

HOORAY!


Hurry up and shoot the photo already, Dad!


That is so much better…LOL!


it was extremely hard to pull away and leave!


But my heart is full – that they are making themselves at home!

From here Dad and I left Virginia for North Carolina and turned the car toward Greensboro.  We stopped at the mall in Winston Salem to visit Jeff for lunch on his lunch break.  We made it to the airport in plenty of good time.  I dropped Dad off and headed home to pack for Germany.

Only 4 hours later his flight still hadn’t left and he was calling me with updates. 

The dilemma of him stay8ing the night in Greensboro at an airport hotel and trying to fly out in the morning, or to fly to Chicago tonight and stay there and catch a flight to Phoenix tomorrow was decided by the gate agent telling him that there is no seat availability on ANY flights leaving Greensboro tomorrow.  The Sunday after Thanksgiving is a mad house of holiday travel.  He would have better luck trying to catch a flight out of Chicago.

So as I write this my nearly 80 year old dad is now on a plane bound for Chicago and I don’t even know if he will be able to find a hotel room on a busy holiday weekend. I hate the idea that he will have to sleep in the airport.

And he, in true Wilkinson fashion said “It’s an adventure! Let’s see what happens!”

And now you know where I get it.

I hope by the time I wake up at 3am to post this (Yes, I am writing this before going to bed because it is the only time I can. I will post it from the airport) there is a text telling me that all is well and that he is tucked in safe and warm for the night and his flights for Phoenix are all arranged and all is well.


***MORNING TIME!****

Luckily, dad’s connecting flight to Phoenix was ALSO delayed and he was able to make it.  He landed in Phoenix about the time I woke up to hit send on this post.

All I keep thinking is the lyrics “By the time I get to Phoenix, she’ll be rising…..” Remember the Glenn Campbell song?

Whew!  So glad you made it, Papa – have a good sleep.  I’m off to catch a flight!




Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Too many people get lost listening to the noise of the world, instead of to their inner self. Listening, really listening is one of those things I am focusing on right now.


3:40 a.m. and I am headed to the airport! Greensboro to Atlanta to JFK and I will meet up with our Quiltville goes to Bavaria group and off we will go!

Stay tuned for the continuing saga!



Saturday, November 30, 2019

When Hearts are Full to Bursting!


Quiltville Inn Beta Test Retreat is in Full Swing!

Can I just tell you how much this means to me?  I know you’ve been hearing about the progress for the past year and a half – every little detail.  I talk about it and talk about it until you have likely heard ENOUGH ALREADY.  But did you ever have a dream you dreamed was impossible, but you went for it anyway?  And when it came to fruition, and you stepped from simply dreaming into reality – you couldn’t find the words to express your gratitude?

That’s me right now.  And I’m teary eyed as I’m typing this because these ladies mean so much to me!  They gave up a good chunk of a holiday weekend to come TEST. ALL. THE. THINGS.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving, 2019!


From my house to yours -

Wishing you health and happiness and time with those you love.  And soft gentle memories of the ones who are absent from us all.

Yesterday was a day of finishing touches. Each day the “to do” list gets shorter and shorter.  And I am learning that some things can just be put on another list to happen later.

There is a lot of truth to the saying “It is what it is.”  And I am standing back and smiling, focusing on all that has been accomplished in the past year, not on those things that have to wait a bit.

Things got hung on walls in the Hen Den!  These big barn quits and folk art paintings on wood are HEAVY and we really did need 3 people to do them.