Fall Quilt Retreat Is History

We had a great time—these 12 women were so much fun and inspiration!  The location and food were the best.  The retreat couldn’t have been better!  I learned a lot and completed a quilt top for my friend Ellie-- This quilt has been a while in the making!  Ellie approached me about making a quilt for their motorhome bed as she didn’t like the bed coverings that came with the Phaeton.  Ellie picked one pattern and fabric and I made a prototype for myself using that pattern.  We decided that wall hanging pattern with added borders would not work as a bed quilt so back to the drawing board.  Ellie was in a quilt store, happened to know the woman who worked there from their days in Colorado and the two of them picked another pattern and more fabric.  I pieced the quilt this weekend and both Ellie and myself are very pleased!  Borders will still need to be added and I will then machine quilt it.  This Evening Star is going to be beautiful!

We enjoyed one last delicious brunch and then began the process of packing up and loading the vehicles.  One last stop at the Washoe Quilt Shop and we were all on our way home.

It was so good to see Michael and Emmi.  Mike is feeling OK, still very sore but doing pretty good. 

Fall Quilt Retreat Day 3

What a wonderful group of women and what beautiful work they do.  I’ll just post photos tonight:

Barb is making these adorable American Girl doll clothes—look at those tiny jeans!

All these projects were completed this weekend, Nara’s Garden, City Lights, table runners, Buttons and Bows and a Three Bean Salad Quilt

Show and Tell projects

Mary P’s needle punch projects and our gift exchange—Jane is so excited to open those beautiful fall fabrics but her joy was short lived cause when it was my turn, I stole them! 

It has been a fabulous weekend—two of our members had to head home tonight due to prior commitments—we miss them--Janet is our inspiration—in October, 2008 at a quilt retreat at Camp on the Boulder, 45 miles of horrible road from medical care of any kind, Janet suffered a severe stroke.    In spite of the debilitating results of her stroke, Janet comes to these gatherings and sews, creating beautiful quilts.  She has a wonderful sense of humor and keeps us all laughing.  Janet hasn’t let life get her down--she is our inspiration! 

Tomorrow we all head home—it has been a wonderful weekend of quilting and companionship!

Fall Quilt Retreat Day 2

On the first night away from home I never sleep well and last night was no exception--I am in a top bunk above my friend Jeane, she didn’t sleep well either as my tossing and turning kept her awake.  But we were both up and at them early this morning.  It took me all day and half the night but I finished all the blocks for Ellie’s quilt—YIPPEE!!! 

We’ve all had a great day of sewing, laughing and eating again.  Look what the wonderful cooks here at this resort provided for brunch-- Here are some of the projects the ladies are in the processing of completing: Barb’s Christmas tree napkins.

Mary’s Nara’s Garden

Tonight we had a Mexican food buffet and I was elected to make margaritas—my famous buttermilk margaritas—and no one could guess the secret ingredient—buttermilk!

   Donna, Jane and Linda enjoying their margaritas.  The owners of the resort provided the decorations including the hats! And me enjoying my margarita. 

The fish tacos, enchiladas, rice and beans were excellent—the bread pudding was to die for.  We are all ready to waddle off to bed!

On a more somber note, one of our members was unable to join us yesterday but arrived today.  Shortly after Jill’s arrival, her cell phone rang with news that one of the long time, well loved members of our community had been killed in a horse accident, Wyoma, rest in peace and may your family find comfort in their faith. 

Fall Quilt Retreat Day 1

It took us a while to get to Red Lodge today, too many quilt stores and restaurants on the way!  We stopped in Absarokee at the Cloud Nine Quilt Store and then drove to just outside Red Lodge and the Washoe Quilt Shop, one of my favorites.

Then to Cafe Regis for lunch/brunch and finally about 1:30pm we arrived at the Medicine Flower Lodge.  You would have thought we were all moving in for the duration as much stuff as we unloaded!  By 2:30, we were all concentrating, sewing away.  I ran into a snag right off the bat—Ellie’s quilt directions didn’t quite connect but a couple of phone calls later to Ellie while she is languishing on the beach and we are back in business. 

I noticed that Barb who is sitting next to me was rattling around, searching and searching for something, I asked, “what did you lose?”  The answer, “my quarter inch pressure foot.”  Well, this is serious, how do you make a nice 1/4 inch seam with no 1/4 inch pressure foot.  I helped her look, she went completely through her bin of fabric and projects, shook things out, searched everywhere, the foot had been laying on the front of her machine, now it was gone.  Someone said, “did you look in your pockets?”  And about that time Barb started laughing and here is where she found her pressure foot--

She is wearing one of those supposed to help your aches and pains magnetic bracelets and the foot attached itself to her bracelet.  Gave us all our first huge laugh for the day.

This was Donna’s little project for us, a napkin that when folded looks like a Christmas tree—it would be really cute in Christmas fabric!

Jane is concentrating very hard trying to machine quilt and the rest of the gang is just sewing away.  Dinner was delicious as usual and now we are all back hard at work on our various projects. 

Scrambling Around

That’s what I did all day except for the two hour nap I took, scramble around.  Michael thinks he can cope with Emmi for company while I attend my quilt retreat this weekend.  So, I scrambled around getting all my things gathered together—it’s a good thing we have a big truck!

When I got up this morning, thought I was coming down with something—thinking I caught a cold from someone in the hospital.  At lunch time I was fairly miserable and laid down, 2 hours later Emmi set up a huge fuss—Lonn and LoraLee had come over to see about Michael.  Tonight I feel much better, maybe it is just allergies which I get this time of year.

Michael is sore and a little slow on his feet but continuing to improve.  The surgeon called today and told us the tumor was malignant but of the non-invasive kind just like he thought.   So, that was good news. 

Our weather has definitely taken a turn toward winter, cloudy with a blustery, cold wind all day.  We did get out and take a couple short walks.

The Crazy Mountains have a new blanket of snow.

I am taking the laptop and will post a blog with photos of all the cool projects I am sure the quilters will be working on!

We Are Home

The surgeon came around just after 7am this morning and said Michael could go home when he was ready but not to rush “things” if you catch my drift.  So, just a little after noon we were heading out the door.  By the time we stopped at Wal Mart with me rushing in and Michael sitting in the truck—picking Emmi up at Nat’s, and getting fuel for the truck, we hit home around 3pm. 

Michael is sitting/sleeping in his chair and there is one happy little dog keeping him company For those of you who know my husband well—have you ever seen him wear anything but Wranglers???  Those are sweat pants he is wearing, I promised not to post a full photo, only his legs! 

Emmi was berserk when we got to Nat’s, howling, jumping all over us, I think the poor thing missed her Mom and Dad!

Hospital rooms are good for something: I almost finished this little wool project—Paulette, what do you call these little things??  Don’t look too close at my stitching—this was a first for me but I am totally hooked!

It is so good to be home, we are certain Michael will get a little bit better each day and soon we will be thinking of heading south.

Still On The Mend

When I left Michael after 10pm last night he was still doing well and I expect more of the same this morning.  He just seems to be so relieved to have this stage of the game over—makes for a great patient!

Now, me on the other hand, I may need a surgeon after the night I spent on this hotel mattress that came over on Noah’s ark.  But, its almost 5am and I’m up drinking coffee—I’ll head on over to the hospital in a few minutes and get my patient going! 

And thank you Rick!  I too didn’t want we RV bloggers to forget Bruce and Margie—I borrowed Rick’s idea and his photos placing them just above my blog list—by clicking on the photographs of Bruce and Margie you can go to their blog as long as their daughter Stephanie maintains it as Rick said. 

All Is Well

Michael was taken into surgery about 9:45am and by 10:30 Dr. Stockdale was out in the waiting room telling me all was well.  The surgery went well and Michael is in a hospital room sitting up drinking a strawberry milkshake and playing solitaire!  He told me he feels incredibly relaxed now that the surgery is over—probably the leftover drugs???

Words cannot express our thanks for all the kind thoughts and prayers sent our way throughout his illness.  Thank you all so much.

Fall Has Gone

A gray, cloudy, cool, breezy day-- and two fat horses.

I spent the day getting projects ready for my quilt retreat that starts this coming Thursday.  I will go only if Michael is doing OK, of course.  Ellie—I got all the pieces cut out for your quilt.

Nat came for lunch and we had leftovers from that wonderful meal last night.  Even had some of the chocolate torte—Nat thought it was pretty good, too.

We are all packed and ready to leave very early in the morning—decided not to take the motorhome as the weather is supposed to turn crummy—maybe even some of that white stuff.  There is a nice hotel in the parking lot of the hospital and we have reservations there. 

Thanks to every one for their thoughts and prayers.

Dinner With Friends

It was time for an East Boulder Valley party and we decided it was time for us to give one.  Out of our usual group, Boo and Terry couldn’t join us—they are in Sedona on vacation.  But Robyn & Claire, Nancy & Geoff and George & Shirley enjoyed a great meal with us.  We have the best of friends here on the East Boulder, just a wonderful group of people.  The conversation is always good and Emmi gets lots and lots of attention.

I grilled a filet mignon roast, made garlic mashed potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts and made a salad for which Nancy created the dressing.  For dessert I whipped up a chocolate flourless torte—oh my gosh, why did I even bother with dinner—should have just eaten cake!  What a great meal even if I did cook it myself!

Picked tomatoes off those vines again today, those purple tomatoes are a heirloom variety and very tasty!

Hunting season started today and we told this guy if he would stay between our fences he would be safe. 

Busy Friday

Michael worked on the Jeep most of the day and I cooked and cleaned.  We are having a dinner party Saturday night and I did a lot of my food prep today—makes for an easier day tomorrow.

In the late afternoon we ran into Big Timber to get flu shots (wanted to protect us against flu bugs while we are in Billings next week), some mouse poison, and a stop at the quilt store.  Cinnabar Creek is having a 25% off sale tomorrow and they graciously let me purchase today—I had a birthday gift certificate I hadn’t used yet. 

Jeane’s sewing machine needed attention so we drove out to their house to pick up the machine so Michael can work on it.  We so enjoy Jeane and Steve’s company—we had a glass of wine and good conversation before heading up the Boulder.

Leftovers for supper and we are kicked back and relaxing now.

East Boulder road. 

Oops, I Forgot

Vera asked in a comment on last night’s blog for this recipe—here it is, enjoy!  We enjoyed it again this afternoon when getting home from Billings.

Chicken Tetrazzini (Southern Living, September, 2010

Makes 8-10 servings

12 oz. vermicelli noodles (I used fettuccine as that was all our local Wally World had in whole wheat)

½ cup butter (I used ¼ cup butter and the rest olive oil)

½ cup flour

4 cups milk (I used skim)

½ cup dry white wine

2 TBS chicken Bouillon granules

1 tsp pepper

2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided

4 cups diced cooked chicken

1 (6oz) jar sliced mushrooms, drained (I used fresh mushrooms and sautéed them in a little olive oil for just a bit)

¾ cup slivered almonds

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare pasta according to package directions

2. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in milk and wine; cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 8 to 10 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Whisk in bouillon granules, pepper and 1 cup Parmesan cheese.

3. Remove from heat; stir in diced cooked chicken, sliced mushrooms and hot cooked pasta

4. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish; sprinkle with almonds and remaining 1 cup Parmesan cheese.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until bubbly.

I halved this recipe for Michael and it worked well. The recipe states that it freezes beautifully.

A Quick Trip To Billings

For us it was a quick trip—left here just before 7am and we were back in Big Timber retrieving Emmi at Nat’s before 3pm!  Michael’s test went well, we won’t know any results for a few days but we expect it to be nothing.

We pre-registered at the hospital for Monday’s surgery and had a delightful young nurse named Abby run Michael through the paces of pre-surgery.  She was funny, matter of fact and just plain nice. 

When we asked what time the surgery was on Monday she grimaced and said, “I don’t know.”  Now, I was an operating room nurse all my adult career—when a doctor’s office schedules a surgery with the operating room for any given day, the doctor’s office is given a time.  The pre-operative department of any hospital also has that time. 

Well, thanks to our absolutely wonderful Senator Baucus from Montana and his health care bill drafting cronies with their hands in the pockets of the big insurance companies—now, any person needing surgery has to be pre-approved by their insurance company before the surgery can technically be scheduled.  The insurance companies are overwhelmed and Abby said she had patients “scheduled” for surgery on Friday, as in tomorrow, who still didn’t know what time they were to report to the hospital.  Sure makes it hard to plan anything Mr. Baucus!  I guess the poor folks that don’t have insurance know  what time their surgery is scheduled????

The weather was perfect today, we took the car and came home with the top down, not bad for October weather!

East Boulder Valley, Boulder River and a whole lot of deer eating Stuart’s hay crop!

Cooking

I love to cook—in a former life I thought about opening a catering business or a restaurant but don’t think I want to work that hard now.  My neighbor and friend Shirley subscribes to a ton of magazines while I only subscribe to one but we trade magazines back and forth.  Shirley subscribes to Southern Living and because I am originally from the south, I find tons of great recipes in that one!  Today I made Chicken Tetrazzini with real Mornay sauce—it was wonderful and Michael even liked it—he doesn’t do chicken very well, prefers beef.  I cut out some of the fat by using skim milk instead of whole and olive oil in place of some of the butter.  But, the problem with trading magazines back and forth is I will be reading about some great recipe, the article will say turn to page such and such for the recipe and I will go to find the recipe and someone—I won’t name names—has ripped out the recipe!  Guess what we will be having the next time we go to George and Shirley’s!!

Michael changed out the tires on the Jeep today—when we sold the blown transmission Explorer it had new tires and we sold it without those new tires.  The ones on the Jeep were just OK so Michael decided to get some use out of the newer tires.

I quilted a table runner today and am getting started on my friend Caryl’s beautiful small quilt—it is going to be all custom so in spite of being small it may take me a while. 

We are off to Billings tomorrow for one more test before surgery on Monday.  Emmi is staying with Nat.

Facebook is a wonderful thing (sometimes)—I have reconnected with another friend from the past, Ina—she and I went to nursing school together in Arkansas many moons ago.  My grandmother made Ina a baby quilt when her daughter Lindsey was born—that was 29 years ago!  It has probably been close to 15-16 years since we spoke.  I phoned Ina today and we had a great time talking and talking.  She and her husband live in Virginia near Washington D. C.

No photos tonight, I keep getting a Live Writer error message. 

Wood Cutting

To have seen my husband today one would have never known he was so ill less than a month ago.  He felled nine huge dead pine trees on the property belonging to our friends Robyn and Claire-- Not a bad view for cutting firewood is it?  We left the logs in 12 foot lengths, loaded them into our dump trailer with the mini-excavator and hauled them home.  Michael will cut them into firewood lengths as we need the wood.  It was my job to pile all the trimmed limbs—I may not be able to walk tomorrow!

After firewood cutting we rushed into town to take some things to our insurance agent to be mailed today and had coffee with Jill at Cinnabar Creek.  We stopped by our local gas station whose owner is running for county commissioner—I made him smile when I wrote a check for his campaign and picked up a sign to go on our fence down by the road.  Our neighbor Dava likes to celebrate the seasons and it makes my day when I drive by their place and see these guys grinning back at me—one year Dava decorated hay bales for every major holiday—we always look forward to seeing what she comes up with. 

It is only 7pm but I am certain I hear my bed calling me!

Off To Livingston

I woke several times in the night thinking of Bruce, Margie and Annie—rest in peace Bruce and Margie and may your family find comfort in their faith.

It is another beautiful day in Montana although on the cool side at 20 degrees when we got up.  Parts of Montana are known for the wind—just ask JB and Brenda.  In Friday’s blog I mentioned milkshakes at the Judith Gap Mercantile.  JB left a comment stating they would have to try one of those milkshakes—can’t believe they would ever want to go near that part of Montana again.  Sure hope they plan on stopping in to see us if they come through Montana on their way south this fall.

I am off to Big Timber and Livingston with an errand list a mile long and a meeting scheduled for 5:30 in Livingston. 

And just look what my garden grew and my name isn’t Mary—remember I pulled my tomato plants a few weeks ago when it looked like the temps might drop below freezing.  We hung the plants upside down in a cool, dark basement room-- I didn’t grow the pumpkin, Wal Mart did.

OK, home from the meeting, didn’t get all the errands accomplished—one took a little/lot longer than I expected—oh, well, tomorrow is another day.

Senseless

I start my morning out with coffee and blogs—when I popped onto Stu and Donna’s blog I read with disbelief about the deaths of fellow RV bloggers Bruce and Margie.  While out for their walk in Pismo Beach, CA, yesterday, they were struck down by a car, killing them both.  They leave behind adult children, grandchildren and Annie, a miniature schnauzer.  They and their poor families have been in our thoughts all day and I just can’t find it in me to write about my day today.  Bruce and Margie, rest in peace and Lord, please comfort their friends and family. 

Multiple Blog Postings

Barbara from Me and My Dog has been concerned about her blog reposting multiple times after she reads it, corrects a misspelled word or adds a line then hits publish again.  A reader had complained that she was getting multiple emails stating “there is a new blog”  when there actually was only a corrected one.

Someone correct me here if I am way off base but—we all can correct our blogs in Live Writer by retrieving the blog, correcting it and then re-publishing it.  That does not mean there is another copy of the blog out there in cyberspace.

But what it does mean is that if a reader has subscribed or is a follower and has set their setting to be notified each time a new blog is posted, that reader will get an email when a blogger posts a new or corrected blog.  It is up to the reader to change their settings, I have all mine set to “do not notify me when a new blog is posted.” for each blog I subscribe to. 

Hope this helps and /or hope I am correct.

Happy Anniversary

Our wedding day photograph—the stuff on the porch roof is 8 inches of new snow.  Don’t we look happy and younger??  It was just the greatest day.  We were married 16 years ago today in a snowstorm at the home of our good friends Jill and Terry just up the road from where we live today.  My life has been so wonderful since marrying Michael—I made some major mistakes in my former life and regret them so much—but when I married Michael life just got all straightened around.  The two of us are so compatible—we like the same things, love where we live and just enjoy being together.  Michael is the best husband!

Where did our wonderful weather go—at least it isn’t snowing as it was 16 years ago but it is raining and much cooler.  On our walk this morning we spotted this youngster

Some fall berries still on the trees and some fall foliage

Made 6 half pints of caramel apple jam from some Costco apples that had gone too soft for eating Repotted my geraniums and herbs from outside pots to inside ones—Carol from My Third Act talked about bringing inside her beautiful geraniums and I thought I would give it a try this year. 

Made pizza for lunch.  Michael has been busy winterizing the motorhome—I think he is about done??!!!

Tonight we are going to dinner with Jill and Terry to celebrate our anniversary. 

We Did It Again

I should have stayed home and quilted today but the weather was just too gorgeous again.  Michael mentioned a couple days ago that he would like to visit Sapphire Valley just southwest of the tiny town of Utica, Montana.  So off we went.

North to Harlowton—JB and Brenda, we noticed parts of your roof along the way—then north to Judith Gap where we finally stopped in at the Judith Gap Mercantile for their world famous milkshakes—Michael had strawberry and I had black raspberry—delicious!  The Mercantile is now owned by a woman with a delightful English accent—she has turned the place into a restaurant/store/motel.  On Friday and Saturday nights she serves gourmet dinners, we may have to gather a gang and take off for Judith Gap one evening!

Judith Gap is also famous for the windmill farm—massive windmills rising out of the former pasture land. That is a pickup truck at the base of the windmill to put things in perspective!

At Eddie’s Corner (it is a gas station/casino complex) we turned west and headed to Utica.  Jill told us the bar (that’s all there is in Utica) made great hamburgers but I had packed a picnic and we elected to munch as we traveled instead of stopping.  Just outside Utica via gravel road is Sapphire Valley—beautiful scenery but not much else. 

On the map we both noticed a road traveling south out of Sapphire Valley connecting with the road from White Sulphur Springs and Harlowton.  We asked in Sapphire Valley about road conditions and were told we would have no problems on the road in our Jeep.  It was a gravel road—all 50 miles!! of it—but in extremely good condition.  On the 50 miles we saw 2 vehicles.  The countryside was beautiful, forested, massive rocks rising out of the forest and the South Fork of the Judith River followed the road.  We had a great day!

The sun was so bright most of my photos look washed out. 

Another why we live in Montana kind of day—life is good.

A Drive Up The Boulder

Another beautiful fall day—just gorgeous, warm and sunny.  We took a long walk then I started cooking—I made six dozen cookies, some for Nat and some to freeze.  Nat came for lunch and I made a homemade chicken pot pie that was to die for—very good, Michael was impressed!

Took Marti’s Thimbleberry Safe Haven quilt off the frame--

and loaded one for Aunt Margaret.  But, I kept looking out the door at the gorgeous sunshine knowing winter is just around the corner.  About 3pm we decided to take a drive up the Boulder.  Perfect day for it, I packed a little picnic snack, we loaded Emmi into the Jeep and we were off.  It is just after 7pm and we are just getting home.  The Boulder road becomes gravel/rock/pothole after pothole just a few miles above us so the driving is slow going but the scenery makes up for it.  I was hoping to see an elk, or a bear, or a moose but all we saw were deer and wild turkeys. 

Up the Boulder

A sacked out Emmi

Life is good, my dear husband is feeling so much better and I am so thankful that is so. 

One Long Day

This was our view traveling to Billings this morning, sunrise over the Yellowstone valley. 

We left the house at the awful hour of 6am, dropped Emmi at Nat’s and arrived at St. Vincent’s Hospital 15 minutes early for our 8:30 appointment and proceeded to wait almost a hour to be called.  After the CT scan we ran a couple of errands and then it was to Dr. Stockdale’s office who was very prompt today.  CT scan of Michael’s kidneys was normal, yea hoo!!!! 

One more stop at the internist office for a quick follow up, then Wal-Mart and Nat’s to pick up Emmi.  We sat and visited with Nat for a while before heading up the Boulder.  Just out of Big Timber I hear this vehicle rev up behind us and I see out of the corner of my eye some crazy old @#$#@ on a motorcycle right beside us—it was only Sarge out for a evening ride—we pulled over and chatted beside the road.  He has moved back to Big Timber—we enjoy seeing him around more.

Michael is so much better—it is such a good feeling to see him without pain and feeling as if he is on the mend.  Thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers.

Our view on the way home, sunset over the Boulder valley. 

Quilting

Finished that Thimbleberry quilt for Marti today—hip, hip hooray!!  Took me most of the day in between coming upstairs to switch clothes from washer to dryer.  One of these days I am going to count how many times in a day I go up and down the stairs—a lot!

In spite of my discouraging him, Michael decided to use the chain saw today and cut some smaller aspen trees.  He also used the skidsteer to pick up the wood and haul it—he put the wood downstairs so I can use it in the downstairs stove.  Tonight he says he is more tired than he should be for so little work but only a little sore.

It was 20 degrees this morning and my deck planters are done—frost on the pumpkin, everywhere.

I made a wonderful beef stew for lunch and tonight we are snacking on homemade bread—no wonder we can’t lose any weight!

See the marks on these aspen trees??  Those are the marks made by the bear Michael and Emmi surprised last Thursday evening.  And we have discovered the situation could have gotten really bad—the bear was dining on a deer carcass underneath some heavy undergrowth.  Most bears don’t like to have their meals disturbed!!

Tomorrow we are off to Billings, more tests and doctor appointments for Michael.  Should be nice weather and we can take the little car.

Blue Monday

This is what our weather looked like all day, a little rain, a little cloud, a little blue sky.  Not much rain, could have used some more.

Had so much to do staring me in the face this morning and just couldn’t seem to get going.  I love this time of year when it is dark later into the morning—I come awake when dawn hits so this time of year I get to sleep in! 

We took a quick walk as it was raining then I finished unloading the motorhome—didn’t take me as long as I thought it would.  Hopefully I found everything that might freeze—many years ago when we still had a Jayco 5th wheel, Michael and Jazz had driven to Tucson by themselves while I left on a business trip.  When I got to Tucson and the rig, I kept telling Michael I smelled something rotten—looked and looked—couldn’t find anything.  I left on another business trip, same thing when I got back—there was something rotten in that rig!  Finally found a box of what used to be potatoes—oh, my—I threw the plastic box and all in the dumpster!  UGH!  So, I try now to be really, really careful about making sure anything that might freeze is out of our rig. 

Made us a quick lunch—I brought home some of the shredded beef we had cooked at the quilt show—made bar-b-que beef sandwiches, roasted potatoes and salad.  And Rollie—I opened my jar of pickles—those pickles are so good, it is like eating candy out of the jar! 

After lunch I headed to the quilting studio.  I managed to get one row completed before I just couldn’t go any more.  All morning I had thought I was getting a sore throat and after lunch my tummy was not right—so I did something uncharacteristic  for me—I went to bed in the middle of the afternoon—slept almost 3 hours and woke feeling much better.  I can’t afford to get sick, my husband needs me!

Michael made popcorn for dinner, we have a fire in the fireplace, Emmi is asleep on the ottoman by my feet—life is good.

Last Day

We are home and grateful to be home!  Both of us slept like logs last night—the trains must have taken a rest on Saturday night!  The quilt show didn’t open until 10am this morning so I had time to blog read and enjoy my coffee. 

We weren’t as busy serving food today as yesterday it seemed but the guild did take in a nice sum of money selling concessions.  The guild uses the money for charitable projects all year such as Quilts of Valor or quilts gifted to the police department and women’s shelter in Livingston.

Everyone was anxious to get into the show this morning to see who won the prizes.  I was proud of myself—I picked a few of the winners as my choices—the show isn’t judged, the prizes are awarded by popular vote from everyone attending. 

Remember this quilt—it won first place in its category as well as Best of Show.  It was my favorite and come to find out, I know the quilter—she is Char Devine Edwards wife of Larry Edwards who owns the Grand restaurant in Big Timber.  

This quilt belonging to Dawna who helped in the kitchen won second place in its category—another of my favorites.

This is another lone star that I liked, this quilt won first place in its category.

And then my friend from Big Timber—we ride to guild meetings together—won two ribbons for her two little less than 2 feet square miniature quilts—the size of the tiny pieces is miniscule—mind boggling!  Each little piece is less than half an inch!

And, I had a surprise this afternoon—a couple walked up to purchase food and said, “we read your blog.”  It was Carol and her husband—they recently purchased a motorhome and are starting to get into the traveling mode—Carol is also a quilter.  Carol—leave me a comment sometime so I can reconnect with your blog. 

The show closed at 3pm and we began cleaning up the kitchen, another crew began taking down the quilts and frames—within less than 2 hours a 200+ quilt show was history.  Michael had the Jeep hooked to the motorhome and after hauling all my gear over to the rig, we left for good ole home.