Worth The Wait

It's done... at long last! Don't ever give up on long-abandoned projects. This table topper is a prime example. The hand embroidery on this piece was begun in 1975; it languished, all but forgotten, for many years until it was rediscovered approximately five years ago. I persevered with the handwork; month after month, as time allowed, until it was completed. In late April I picked it up off the "to quilt" pile and loaded it onto Sundance. I finished the binding in the car last week. This makes me smile and serves as a reminder that all things we love, in due time, are worth even the longest wait.

Life is Good!

Happy Surprises (On The Road, Chapter 2)

While we were gone this past week, visiting my parents in New Hampshire, we had the privilege of riding along on one of the only U.S. Mail boats in the country.  This is the Sophie C., moored    and ready to take on passengers for a two hour cruise. Lake Winnepasaukee is dotted with islands, 365 to be exact. Only 264 of those islands are inhabited; they are served daily by the U.S. Mail boats at seven ports all summer long.

This is a wider shot, just look at those pretty fluffy clouds
and the lake and mountains beyond; it was a beautiful day.

The shoreline is dotted with beautiful year-round homes and seasonal summer cottages.
I chose this one as the one I would like to own, just a simple place with a nice view. 

This was the first mail stop, there was no one there. Our cruise happened to be the premier
trip of the season, the full complement of summer guests will begin arriving in the next few weeks
and the mail service will pick up. Apparently, during the "high season", children bearing coins line up to board the Sophie C. when she ports, buying ice cream from her freezer. As the boat pulls away the
children typically crawl up on these pilings and dive into the lake as a way of seeing her off.

The next stop was Bear Island, the Sophie C. had a welcoming committee there.
Mail was dropped off at this Post Office and letters were carried away in return.

For one of the many islands to be inhabited there need only be a single home.
This island boasts a single, lovely, log cabin and boat docks; this summer home
 was once owned by the daughter of U.S. President Grover Cleveland.

Dad and me supervising one of the mail "drops". In this port there is a swing arm
mounted for the mail bag to be left hanging after the waiting mail bag was retrieved.

I don't have many requirements while traveling, but... a fried clam roll at this little
seafood stand in Winnesquam is one of them. It's worth waiting a year for.
Here Mr. Goodneedle is learning that the Fryolater is out of commission and there won't
be a clam roll on my plate today; I'll have to settle for a lobster roll.

Tables for eating are all outside, some under cover; each with a lake view!

Here's close up of my lunch. The way I look at it is this:
any day that a lobster roll is a consolation prize for your first choice
is a VERY GOOD DAY!! It was absolutely delicious.

This little seafood stand welcomes diners from the water side...

...as well as from the street side!

One of the nicest surprises was this one... my Mom and Dad and their new car!
They were excited to show it to us, and we couldn't be happier for them!

And now... for the biggest surprise of all. The one I promised you and told you that
you wouldn't believe. Well, am I right?     (Laura P. this is for you!)
 

Life is Good!

 

On The Road...

Me and my Mom on Wednesday at Quilted Threads in Henniker, NH. 
Thanks, Mom, for indulging me and making my quilt shop quest so much fun!

... to New England last week saw us celebrating Father's Day with my Dad, and a milestone birthday with my Mom just two days later. Yes, we left the downed trees and yard wreckage here at home to deal with until our return today; hey, celebrations cannot wait! In return for our decision we were blessed with glorious weather, great food, a ride upon a U.S. Mail boat and two of the best quilt shops that New Hampshire has to offer while we were away! Read on for a recap of the Goodneedles' radical roadtrip; these will be posted in installments, with the quilt shop-hop being the first to appear.  Last Friday we packed the car, and Hannes, and headed north to visit with my family in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire for the better part of this week.

A peek inside Quilted Threads reveals just a small bit of the treasure-trove of fabric and quilty inspiration that await behind the door. Quilted Threads is a beautiful, bright and spacious shop; located in a former quintessencial style New England home, it is chock-full of a wide variety of fabric, patterns, books and notions. The sales staff is friendly and knowledgable, encouraging customers and promoting classes; wonderfully tempting quilt samples fill every available bit of wall space, enticing even more purchases!

Me and Mom, again, she's a trooper... accompanying me on yet another quilt shop
buying trip last Tuesday; and on her birthday too! Thanks, Mom, you're the best!

There's no surprises at Keepsake Quilting, the flagship quilt shop in the Northeast U.S. If you've ever browsed through their famous catalog you know what the store has to offer... everything! One addition to Keepsake is their Outlet (discount room)! Housed in the area that was once Keepsake NeedleArts it is filled with pre-cut kits, remnants, gift items and Keepsake medleys that are out of season; all reflecting a very nice price break. I came home with some pretty fabric treasures to add to my low-volume stash. I've decided that it is finally time now to stop collecting and start cutting into my accumulated collection!
I'll never have any quilts if I don't begin.

Life is Good!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment: "Sophie C. and Lobster for Lunch"
Plus, something you never would have expected from Mrs. Goodneedle, I promise!

Laying Claim

I am laying claim, you can follow this blog by clicking on the button on my sidebar! Just so you'll know, from what I understand, Google reader is going away for good on July 1st.

Life is Good!

Aftermath

We were hit by a fast-moving storm on Thursday afternoon and hit hard! I had just stepped back inside the house after letting Hannes outside when the wind picked up and the power went out. I looked up and saw leaves and limbs flying past the window with a speed and intensity I had never seen or experienced before. I grabbed Hannes and ran to the basement. There was rattling and trembling outside the house follwed by a short period of torrential rain. When I dared to lookside this is what I saw. Thankfully there was no injury or damage to our home. This 100 ft. oak passed within feet of the corner of our home.The driveway cracked beneath the weight of the tree.

This root ball stands ten ft. high.
The following photos show damage and destruction alongside our driveway:

The trees that were snapped and twisted off were done so twenty five feet off the ground.

Another uprooted Oak.

My husband's car could only pull in the driveway a short distance,
the driveway closer to our home was completely impassable.

The clean up begins. Our son and his chain saw arrived and helped too; we couldn't have done this without him. We worked late into Thursday night, not calling it quits until some headlight-aided raking was done.

It was all very scary, but nothing compares to the fear and worry associated with my husband being on his way home during the storm. I didn't know where he was or how bad the conditions were on the roads where he was. I later learned  that he had to cut his way home through downed trees with a borrowed saw; the road that leads into our neighborhood looks like a war zone.  I can't remember ever being happier or more relieved to see his car pull in (or as close as he could get) to the driveway. Through all of this we remain thankful to God for our many blessings and to family, friends and neighbors for their help and concern. We've got our work cut out for us, literally, for weeks to come.
Life is Good!

Clean Plate Club!

Robin and Strawberries pattern from Bonnie's Garden

I am happy to report that I am a member of the clean-plate club! Three BIG projects have been either completed or passed on to their new homes, bringing with that a feeling of freedom and accomplishment! And so, with a clear consicence, I have prepared handwork to accompany me in the car on a roadtrip to New England. I will happily be whipping down binding on my tabletopper and hand embroidering the edges on this precious wool appliqué piece while I'm away. Yes, I have loaded my clean plate up, with strawberries this time... yum!

Life is Good!

It's The Little Things...

I cleaned out the Bluebird house the other day, I was well aware that it had recently been occupied by a familly of Black-Capped Chickadees. Apparently, they didn't all make it. Long-since fledged, they left half of their eggs unhatched. This is sad, I don't have any idea why only three of the six eggs hatched, but this is what was left behind. I cleaned out the house and it's ready for it's newest occupants. Can you believe how TINY these eggs are? Right now we have 6 Carolina Wren eggs in a miniscule nest nestled down in the Boston Fern on our side porch, I'll keep you posted on the progress; it's these little things that eggs-cite me!

Life is Good!

I Need This...

... like a hole in the head! That used to be an expression that I heard growing up; it most certainly applies in this case. I do not need to add another project to the LONG LIST in any way, shape, or form! And yet,  I bought this pattern because it spoke to me (with a loud voice too)! I'll spend time this summer shopping around and collecting fabrics, (always one of the most fun parts of planning) for that next quilt. I am thinking about using wool for the appliques and mixed neutral cottons (as shown) for the backgrounds; I love the acorns but likely will add  a vertical applique border of strawberries too.
I have continued to add to my "soup pot" of low volume fabrics for the Chicken Soup quilts I am planning to give to my children for each of  their family's recuperating reserve. It may well be high time to quit collecting and simply commence with cutting for these stash quilts. It's hard to say "when"! How do I know when enough is enough?

Life is Good!

A Piece-full Summer

So, you know already that I'm in love with Presencia thread for piecing; it's 60 wt. and 3-ply, the best of both worlds for fineness and for strength. This thread takes up virtually no space in the seam allowance and leaves practically no lint whatsoever in the bobbin area. After today my babysitting responsibilities are taking a summer break, and while I will miss spending Mondays and Tuesdays with Gregory and Lynnleigh I've been busy planning my summer projects: days full of piecing are stretching out before me! In anticipation of these marathon sewing sessions I ordered a few BIG cones of basic colors from Miss Rosie, they arrived last week and I'm now I'm all set, ready to stitch the summer away; it seems like it's been a long time since I've spent any serious sewing time.

I don't know how many of you caught Wheel Of Fortune last night , this was the final bonus round.
Yes, of course, the solved puzzle was "QUILTING"! The contestant missed the word, so did I!
What can I say? I have no excuses, except to repeat my former statement: 
"it seems like it's been a long time..."
Here's wishing you all a very PIECE-full summer.
Life is Good!

Got Inspiration?

Click here and you'll be inspired for sure...

this should be a daily prescription.

Life is Good!

Standing The Test Of Time

"All Are Precious In His Sight" 55" X 65"

This picture is from a previous post, six and a half years ago! The pattern is called "American Melting Pot" as published in McCall's Quilting magazine somtime back in the mid 1990's.  I added the applique border after taking a Sue Nickels workshop on machine applique, creating my own version.  In this photo the quilt is pin basted for quilting on my domestic machine, this one pre-dates Sundance. Imagine my surprise, this week, when I traveled to the Capital City to meet up with a fellow blogger in real life and she gave me this wonderful gift:

Don't you just love this precious little dolly/ friendship block? The quiltmaker/blogger is Pam Lincoln from over at Mama Spark's World. I have followed her for what seems like forever and literally jumped at the chance to meet her when she contacted me to let me know she'd be in North Carolina for a visit! We had the very best of times, albeit short; too short! In the friendship block that she made for me I have decided that  Pam is on the right and I am on the left (she's recently been to the beach and has a bit more color than me!). I am thankful for this friend and am already planning our next get-together, perhaps a year from now. Some things: friends and patterns, just stand the test of time!

Life is Good!