Sidetrips...

Certainly the highlight of our recent trip to Wisconsin was our granddaughter's swim meet. There's no question about that. However a few strategically timed sidetrips while we were there are certainly worth talking about. The first was a trip north of Madison to Larsen and Primitive Gatherings. Oh, my goodness; what a shop! There aren't enough positive adjectives to describe this experience, I was in Heaven! Cross stitch, wool applique kits, a fully equipped quilt shop, notions and souvenirs; all extremely well organized and beautifully displayed. You can see here a few of the items that followed me home. While I was taking in every square foot of this shop Mr. Goodneedle took the car to get it washed. When he came back to pick me up his first statement was "this is the nicest quilt shop that I've ever seen".  This was completely unprompted and something that he's well qualified to pass judgement on; over the years he's seen quite a few, coast to coast! 😉

This is the outside of the shop, I borrowed this from the Internet, 

I was too excited to get a shot myself while I was there!  

The inside of Primitive Gatherings, (another online pic) the quilt samples

on the walls and displays are phenomenal and so very inspiring!

This sign was strategically placed within one of the displays. It struck a chord within me. It is most certainly true and I do not thank God nearly enough for all the many blessings that He has bestowed! I look around my sewing room today and recall how my first sewing space was in a small bedroom until our children came along and then it was moved to the unfinished basement, under the stairs, where I made the blocks for my very first quilt while the children took their naps. SEW many things for which to be grateful today. 🙏

And, as if that wasn't enough, this is the Retreat Center right next door! If I lived closer I would be in big, big trouble; this would become my home address. As you can tell, I can't say enough good things. They have a wonderful online presence, take a look! Dig around on the site, read about Lisa Bonjean and scroll through the offerings, you'll have almost as much fun as I did!

Our second sidetrip was south of Madison to Brodhead and the Decatur Dairy. A friend from church had recommended this detour and declared that this place would serve the "best grilled cheese sandwich that I'd ever eaten". I smiled but wondered to myself, how could there be much difference when it came to grilled cheese, am I right?!! A grilled cheese sandwich is a grilled cheese sandwich. Oh, how very wrong I was! Take a look at this photo and you get the idea! We ate our sandwiches outdoors on one of the few picninc tables, this is a very small place, a hole in the wall, really; but a HUGE operating dairy farm! It was such a great experience that we drove back a second time to buy cheese to bring home... and as long as we were there we might as well have another sandwich, right?  We did just that! If either of these locations are within reasonable driving distance from you, by all means check them out. Now, I am faced with a dilemma. I have these precious wool kits tempting me to begin stitching. Where do I start? I thought with the strawberry pincushion but those Itty Bitty two inch stitcheries are whispering to me loudy: "pick me, pick me"! 😉

Decisions, decisions!

Life is Good!

Ah, September!

The weather, at long last, has cooled off a bit! Brisk mornings and clear blue-sky afternoons with a slight breeze have been the norm around here this past week; it's a welcome relief~ I'm SO ready! The Dahlias are putting on a colorful show right now. We made another trip north to New England a week ago, a quick back and forth to avoid Labor Day traffic, it's all good. My mother had been hospitalized again and is now residing at a new (to her) rehab facility where she's very happy. Health-wise, she's weak; but she's content. Following that quick visit we continued south from New Hampshire to Massachusetts where we assisted Mr. G's sister with a recent home move. Having lost her husband a year ago she was ready to sell their home and forge a new path on her own. She's settling in nicely, and so is her dog, Monty; although the move was a bit traumatic for him.
Here are Monty and Augie resting after a full day of emptying boxes and wrestling with furniture! 

I read this one, start to finish, on the road trip. Being of a "certain age" I can relate well to the time period of this one, the Viet Nam war era; it's a good read.

The Barn Star quilt, my abbreviated version (56" X 76"), is together and off the design wall.  I needed to make room for the next project, a memory quilt for my SIL made from her dear husband's shirts. I've spent much time deconstructing them this week and getting everything ready to begin. There's a LOT of usable fabric in a shirt!

Stay tuned for progress on this one. I'm deeply grateful to all who've contacted me inquiring as to my whereabouts during the recent blog post blackouts, thank you! I'm fine, we're great and you're all wonderful to check in on me.

Life is Good!

It's All Good!

I've been catching up on the two block-of-the-month programs that I signed up for at the LQS. Being gone for just a little over two weeks seems more like two months when it comes to catching up on what I missed while we were away! The Cream and Sugar class (left) required two more identical blocks for November and the Aspiring Stars class offered another block this month which I was able to explore making up in varying sizes.

I'm still not sure what I'll do with the extra blocks when I actually settle on a size for the quilt! Oh, well, I'm having fun experimenting in the meantime. My "orphan blocks" box is currently full-to-overflowing. I'm going to have to get creative with its contents before I feed it any more! 

We needed to catch up with this birthday boy who turned 12 while we were traveling; yes, twelve!! 😲 We asked him to choose where he's like to go for his birthday dinner. That was easy! 

My sister in law belongs to a farm cooperative sharing program; we went with her to the barn while we were visiting her home, she shared with us some of the root vegetables that were part of her take this month. Carrots, potatoes, onions and beets that were all perfect. I cooked the beets in the Instant Pot when I returned home and made the most delicious salad. I'm linking here to the recipe that I used if you love beets the way I do and you'd like to try it. Mr. G doesn't share my affection for this vegetable, I didn't even need to share even a bite! 😉

I've been spending the evenings in front of the TV working on this Vintage Christmas Sampler. It's so cute. A few more weeks and it will be ready for a finish, just in time!

Sew, that's what's been going on around here; and, at long last, the weather has taken a decided turn toward winter.

What's going on where you are?

It's all good!

Life is Good!

From Here to There (and Back Again...)

No, we didn't travel by helicopter, but we have only just returned from a quick visit to New England with my Mom and Dad; this trip had been planned for months. It ended up being a different kind of visit this time, as my mother was in the hospital for the duration of our time there, she suffered a compression fracture a few days before our arrival. Due to a shortage of nurses, and hospital staff in general, half of her stay was in the Emergency Department. This was my view as I waited. My husband, Dad and I alternated visits which were limited to one person at a time. I found this helicopter landing pad really quite entertaining and scary at the same time; the pad itself is just behind the wooden fence, directly behind that is the street (2 lanes) which separates the landing surface from the houses in the background! During my "waiting" time I witnessed numerous landings and takeoffs, holding my breath each time! 😲 I couldn't believe how "tight" this space appeared. By the middle of last week Mom was finally transferred to a room on a floor, out of the E.D. One thing after another led to a symptom cascade which delayed her transfer to a rehab facility until yesterday. I spoke with her this morning and she sounded good, her attitude was positive; that's over half of the battle right there. I was fearful that she would get discouraged; she wasn't happy about a plethora of things (you name it) at the time that we had to leave her to come back home. But, as of today, she sounded ready and eager to put on the back brace and get to physical therapy, we'll see. Baby steps. 

I did what I could to help Dad while staying at the house; all those things that he wouldn't necessarily think of (or want to do): cleaning the house to within an inch of its life, laundry, stocking the fridge, cooking, etc. In the afternoons more waiting time was spent sitting out in the backyard with needle and thread, that helped to keep the mind and hands occupied. 

This little painted rock was discovered on a bench outside of the hospital near the parking lot. 

Thank you to whoever leaves these great surprises that put everything all into perspective! 

What a day brightener!

This sweet photo popped up in my photo memories yesterday from exactly eight years ago. What a coincidence. Back in 2014 Mom and I took an improvisational piecing class from Lynne Tyler at Quilted Threads in Henniker, NH. We had such a wonderful day and made such great memories there! If you're so inclined, would you please lift my mother in prayer for strength and healing in the days and weeks to come? She's got an uphill climb to gain back to where she was, but we know what the power of prayer can accomplish, the more the better, one can never have too many prayers! Her name is Harriett, God knows who she is; please know that I am deeply grateful. I'll keep you posted on her progress here. 💗

Lots of passenger seat time on the drive back home yielded much progress on this piece. I still have a blossom to finish and the bottom of the finial to complete, but it's coming right along. 

These followed us home in the trunk of the car. 

You can take the girl out of New England, 

but... (you know the rest!)😉

Again, heartfelt thanks for your prayers!

Life is Good!

 

So Close!

 This is a repost from April 13, 2009.

I hope you'll enjoy reading (or re-reading) this timeless story; it's a sad reminder that timing is, indeed, what it's all about!

Holy week always calls to mind an experience that I had when we lived in Europe over ten years ago. The American Women's Club had planned a day trip, by bus, to Milan. I was excited about going, I knew this would be my once in a lifetime experience to view Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Last Supper' on the wall at the Cathedral Maria del Grazie. We arrived in Milan shortly before noon and traveled as a group to a nearby restaurant for a leisurely lunch before we all took off for an afternoon of sight seeing and shopping. Only two of us were headed for the cathedral and the painting, everyone else peeled off to go shoe shopping. We hiked the seventeen or so blocks, stopping to check our map several times along the way, and arrived just shortly after 2:00 PM. We planned this intentionally knowing good and well that almost all European shops and businesses close between noon and two o'clock for extended lunch hours. We entered through a dimly lit side door to be greeted by an extremely elderly lady sitting at a table surrounded by handwritten signs, in every language imaginable, she appeared to be manning the gate post through which we were required to pass; and she looked quite stern. As we approached she started furiously pointing to one of the signs, written in a language I didn't understand. I had a sudden, sinking feeling that something wasn't quite right when my eyes fell upon a sign scrawled in English, I couldn't quite believe what I was reading. I looked at my friend for confirmation, she had discovered the sign at the same time I did: "No Last Supper viewings after 2 PM!" We were confused, seeking clarification we turned back to the woman at the gate, she continued to point and gesture toward the sign. We were too late, it was that simple, we'd missed it by only minutes. It reopened to the public the next day, at 9 AM, we'd be back in Geneva by then. She offered to sell us a "Last Supper" postcard. We each bought one. We strolled through the garden as we exited and looked at some beautiful statues and some artwork on the walls, but the sheer disappointment over what we had missed was palpable. So close, and yet, so far. My Dad always says that close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, I'd have to agree with that. We boarded the bus later in the afternoon for the ride back home; our group was showing off their purchases: lovely Italian shoes and leather purses. We each had a map; and, oh yeah, a postcard!

Life is Good!
...timing is everything...

In Search of Sunshine

We took a little drive last week in an effort to escape to the sunshine and some warmer temperatures; we found both! It was a quick trip; and, believe it or not, I scarcely can, there wasn't even ONE quilt shop stop along the way. I'm not sure what that says about me, 😉 but I'm not going to analyze it. We had a marvelous time just being together, most of which was spent in the car. 

                    With views like this... ꜛ

...and eating dinners al fresco, with views like this! ꜛ

W found restaurants in the Florida Keys to be more than pup-friendly; what a delightful experience. 

After we left the Keys we traversed the lower part of the state toward the Gulf side 

via a scenic Loop Road off the Tamiami Trail (US 41) through the Everglades. 

There was no shortage of wildlife to observe along the Loop Rd.

It was peaceful, scenic and other-worldly along this unhurried route, 

it took us a little over two hours to travel the 24 mile long Loop Rd. 

After that, we moseyed our way toward home at a leisurely pace, stopping and staying here and there along the way. We found what we were searching for, abundant sunshine, and banked a bunch of happy memories to boot! But, in the wise words of Dorothy: "there's no place like home", it's great to be back. 

Life is Good!

Too Quiet?

Have you missed me? I know that I entitled my last post "Keeping It Quiet", but you might have noticed that I have been very quiet over the last few weeks-- too quiet! The truth is that we have been gone, cruising the Pacific and enjoying the sunshine of the Hawaiian islands. Our flight back to the east coast was anything but quiet; flying from Los Angeles to Atlanta on Saturday was one rowdy airplane ride full of Rams fans on their way to the Super Bowl! 😲 This was one scenario that we never, ever would have even considered when booking our flight late last summer. Timing is everything. We did have a wonderfully relaxing time away, catching up on some reading and taking in some movies that we had wanted to see. I spent the afternoons on board the ship working on some hand embroidery which I will show here soon. As always, Dorothy knew best: it is great to be home again, there's no place like it!

I will certainly miss English teatime in the afternoons, though. 

My latest mission includes searching for the ultimate scone recipe!

😉

Life is Good!

May, You Say?

It's May Day today! I don't have a May Pole to dance around but I feel as though I am running in circles. The obvious question would be: "where did April go?", it honestly slipped past in a blur. I am going to be better about keeping up with blog posts. Earlier last month we traveled to New England to celebrate my Dad's 90th birthday. It was a fun time together with family.
He celebrated the occasion with a giant jelly doughnut. The weather was dreary while we were there, snow sleet and freezing rain during the concluding days of our visit. I attended the MQX show in Manchester, NH while up north; took a hands-on class; "Hardcore Heirloom Feathers" from Deborah Poole, it was a terrific experience. I hope to get some practice time in soon, while I still retain some of what I learned. When we arrived back home it seemed as though spring had EXPLODED during our absence. (Photos top left and below)

We kept our two youngest grandchildren for a few days last week. They enjoyed working for their after school snack! The results were oh, so sweet. They are growing up too quickly-- that time passing theme again. Sigh.

We had fireplace doors custom made by a blacksmith in Vermont. Luckily we were able to save on shipping and pick them up while we visited. They fit like a glove. We have removed the gas log and will burn wood going forward. Mr. Goodneedle decided that it was silly not to use the resources that are abundant on our own lot for energy savings inside when the weather grows cooler. We are forever cleaning up dead, fallen trees on our lot; there's a never ending supply right outside our door.

The neighbor's pasture that is adjacent to our side lawn has been planted in red clover, it began blooming last week and is resplendent in its crimson glory right now, the morning sun brings it to life!

Because I am woefully behind on my "to do" list and I must be held accountable, I have the April "Be Attitudes" block fused and ready for edge stitching and details. I did get this under the presser foot while it was still April; so, technically, this counts as a check in the April column.

This was the early morning view out the front window this morning. You can see why we have decided to burn wood! 😉 There are three deer in this photo, can you find them all? I need to spray Liquid Fence (non-chemical deer deterrent) around my emerging Hosta and Day Lilies; used once a week for three weeks and monthly after that, it trains encourages the deer to stay away through the repulsive scent. Yuck. But, it works-- for the most part. (Clue: the third deer is behind the one on the right, you can see its bent neck just behind the head of the deer in the foreground.)

Really-- why aren't they rolling in Red Clover? 

Wishing you a lovely May Day today, 

what beauty lies just outside your door?

Life is Good!