Where have I been?

Monday evening's sunset in Nevada.

                                            

Tuesday was more Nevada, Utah and the Great Salt Lake, a real oasis. It was the first green we saw in hundreds of miles. Isn't the blue of the lake the most amazing color? I see a landscape quilt in this photo.

      From Utah we continued into Wyoming. No matter which direction you look, it is the same. I am in awe of the early settlers who came here in covered wagons on dirt paths, not even roads. I am sure I would not have been a good settler. Where's the quilt shop?         

Actually, we passed several very large signs for quilt shops along route 80. DH would have stopped, but I really wanted to get home. Another time, maybe.













On the way to Ogallala, Nebraska, where we would stay for the night, I photographed this coyote sculpture.
Doesn't he look lonely? Maybe, he is calling his mate.






It has been really HOT! 101 Tuesday and Wednesday.  We traveled through the remainder of Nebraska and most of Iowa on Wednesday, where we visited more family near Cedar Rapids.

This is DH's Great Aunt Alyce, she is 94 years young. Doesn't she look great? She is as sharp as when I first met her 27 years ago. We had a wonderful time, although short, with her and her family.

I completed this wool applique table mat Tuesday. I purchased it at Pinwheels during the April Shop Hop. It won't be returning home with me, so I am sharing it here. I had never done a wool applique by hand. I liked it, so there may be more in my future.

We said good bye to our family in Iowa this morning to head East toward home. We've seen the Mississippi River and Lake Erie. Crossed state lines into Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. One more day, and I'll be home. This is a wondrous country. Full of amazing sights, but as Dorothy said,"There is no place like home"

Til next time,
Mary

After the Wedding

My niece's wedding was wonderful. She was absolutely beautiful, and everyone had a great time.

We left The Brasada Ranch Sunday morning and made our way to Crater Lake in Oregon. See the snow in the foreground! Apparently, it was snowing and freezing rain the day before. The color of the water is a really deep blue, and there are no streams that feed the lake. The water level is kept in balance by evaporation and rain/snowfall. It was awesome!

After Crater Lake we headed south towards California. This was the view of Mt Shasta through our front windshield. It is mesmerizing how beautiful the volcanic Cascade Mountains are. There will be nothing on the horizon, then you round a corner, and this is what you see. 

Sunday evening and Monday morning was spent visiting with family. We don't get to see them often, so it was a real treat that was over all too soon. By 2pm, DH and I were on the road again. This time heading east on Route 80 across California, through Reno, Nevada, and on to Elko, NV. We had planned to stop there for the night. But there was some sort of motorcross event occuring and no rooms were to be had. (A fellow traveler search for over an hour to try to find a room.) So, on we went another 50 miles to the east. Would the Super 8 in Wells have a room? It was 10pm (1 am Eastern time) and this quilter was getting grumpy! DH came out with room key in hand. Yeah! We grabbed our belongings, headed up to the room, and now it's time to sleep.

Til next time,

Mary

Sew Time

It has been overcast and rainy the last two days, but that didn't stop me from setting up "Charlotte" on the porch to sew. It was a bit chilly, but socks and a sweatshirt made it comfortable. I've only had time to sew on her twice since we left Maine; Indiana and Wisconsin. So, I was enjoying my time with her.

I have been working on Oklahoma Backroads from Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Site. I began the quilt in October 2011 while in Pennsylvania, as my traveling project. There will be 100 blocks in the quilt of which 30 are shown. I love how the colors bounce around. 

The wind began to pick up,taking my pieces for a ride,so I moved my work station to the hall in the cabin. Just enough space to work comfortably.

I finished sewing the corner triangles to the rectangles(100 of them!) and the remainder of the center four patches. Then I called it a day, time to get ready for my niece's wedding this afternoon. 
This is my gift to her and her new husband:

The pattern, Warm Wishes, is from Quiltmaker. I titled it "Warm Wedding Wishes"

Til next time,
Mary

Quiltworks

Thursday morning DH and I visited a wonderful quilt shop, Quiltworks, in Bend, Oregon. It is only 21 miles from Sisters, where they will have the outdoor quilt show on July 14th.

I love the little quilt over the doorway with Bend in the circle. I was greeted by Mary Ann as I entered the store. A lovely lady who graciously showed me all the shop had to offer. Patterns by local quilters, new fabrics, books, and classes offered. DH took photos for me as I explored the shop.

This is the inside with quilts hanging from the second level balcony. I love the dream sign in the window, just what I was doing. 

Another view, with more wonderful quilts and fabrics.

 The classroom is a nice open space on one end of the shop.

Current class offerings are displayed on the walls. 

The unique feature of Quiltworks is the Upstairs Quilt Gallery. On the first Friday of each month a new local quilter and fabric arts group are featured. 

This month the quilter was Candy Woods...

 and the group was Pacific Photos 2 Fiber.

If you find yourself in Bend, Oregon this is a real gem that you don't want to miss.

Til next time,

Mary

Brasada Ranch

We arrived at the Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte, Oregon yesterday. High desert region of the country, which has a beauty all its own. This is the view off the back porch of the cabin. The air is filled with the smell of Junipers and sage brush.

I tried to get a picture of a cottontail bunny, but it ducked under the log just as I snapped the picture. Then three jackrabbits decided to play tag. Needless, to say I was too slow with the camera to get them.

This is the last view of Mt Hood from the front porch. It is barely visible in the center of the photo.
We will have two days here for my niece's wedding, so I hope to do some sewing today.