Monday Meandering 9 - 18 - 2017

FABRIC SHOPPING!  (in Lancaster, PA too.)

From left to right: backing for TAW, sashing for a set of blocks from FCQ EQuilters,
and  a bright choice for a pillowcase and a baby quilt. 

Oranges for the stash, bunny print for future pillowcases,
blue for binding the streak of lightening quilt,
 and deep green to bind the TAW.

Once we hit Reading, Pa where we were attending a Barbershop Harmony competition, we also did a little outlet shopping.  Let's just say I've been having really good luck on when I've chosen to go shopping.  I hit a Talbot's outlet and was looking for summer clothes.  Can I just brag that I got 3 pairs of crop pants, 2 knit tops and a lovely knit jacket for less than the full price of one pair of pants. YES!  I'm going to do a little altering on some of the clothes but I'm quite pleased with my haul this time.  As a little side note, I use to shop Talbots frequently when I worked full time.  Since I retired -- not at all.  But this outlet shopping post-season really was a great deal.  

Friday afternoon and all day Saturday Pat and I attended the Mid-Atlantic District competition in Reading, Pa.  Friday featured quartets and Saturday (starting around 8:30 am!) the choruses.   The Virginians did really well and were pleased with their 8th place finish.(Out of 22.)   Just a side note, the winners from the district competitions go on to International.  And, there are some wild card spots.  Rumor has it there is a good likelihood 4 choruses will go to Internationals from MAD. (I know sounds weird but Mid-Atlantic District=MAD.) I haven't been to a competition for years so I was happily surprised to see a large number of younger men singing in both quartets and choruses. 

After two days of barbershop harmony I was ready to stay in the hotel and read while Pat watched our USC Trojans finally beat Univ. of Texas instead of attending the last MAD event.  The next morning we headed home stopping to pick up Kona at Jenny's house. I hit the couch to read but was soon sleeping!  

I'll let my goal list from last week speak for itself. (I think I just heard it say UGH!) 

Sept 11, 2017

Make lotto blocks for retreat oops – didn’t happen

Prep a project for retreat √ at least it’s started

Finish placemats√

Mail pillowcases Eeks, nope

Do some serious fabric shopping! √

Enjoy Barbershop singing competition√

This week should be much better! I've got a week and a half before my retreat so I need to get my projects all cut out and ready to go. 

Sept 18, 2017

Make lotto blocks for retreat

Mail pillowcases

Wash, iron and put away new fabrics

Bind Streak of Lightening Quilt

Load Christmas Trip Around the World quilt

I'm linking up with my regular Monday group: Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, Oh Scrap and Moving It Forward (when it is posted.) 

That's it from me.  I'm looking forward to some quality time in the studio this week.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie

Vacationing and Celebrating

Wow, could it be possible?  That young man I met in English class at the University of Southern California has been my friend and husband for 39 years? Yep, we are celebrating 39 years of marriage. Wow, but I thought I was just a teenager a few moments ago! 
We've been having a wonderful time hanging around in Lancaster, Pa after spending a day and night with Kevin and Aimee and another with Jenny and Sophia.  Brian's working in Virginia not far from our home.  Go figure.  

Last night we stayed at the B. F. Hiestand House in Marietta, Pa.  Innkeepers Dallas and Pam were so very hospitable.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  And, Quincy, their beautiful yellow lab was a great gentleman greeter.  If you are looking for a unique stay in the Lancaster area consider visiting B. F. Hiestand House, a wonderfully maintained Victorian mansion.  Pat and I spent a lovely couple of hours on the wrap around front porch chatting with other guests and drinking wine.    


Today we spent most of the day driving around Lancaster County visiting quilt shops.  I think we hit 5 of them and by the fifth one I was getting tired and Pat was probably exhausted.  I hope he had as good a time as I did.  Monday I'll share my finds with you.  We were also able to find a couple of tables to go with some rockers we ordered at home... same recycled milk jugs.  Once the chairs come in I'll share some pictures.   


We shared the tomato we picked while still green from our lone plant that is growing on our deck.  We figured we couldn't leave the tomato for a week -- the birds would have gotten it for sure.  So the tomato was carefully placed in the back cup holders of the truck, brought in to both Jenny's and Kevin's houses.  We remembered to bring it with us when we left for Pa.  And, it was the highlight of our lunch. A little cheese, a few crackers, the tomato and half a banana... a perfect easy picnic lunch.

We are now up near our house in Greentown, Pa.  We both knew a visit to Kundla's for barbecue chicken was absolutely necessary.  As usual, we had to stand in line for a while.  As we shuffled forward we came in sight of the grill filled with chicken halves. All the meat is barbecued on big grates.  Below is one of the two men it takes to flip the chickens. Another grate is placed over the top of the birds and both the bottom and top grate is turned over.  Yummy stuff!  Can't you just smell that good barbecue smell coming off these grills? 

We added cole slaw and beans with sodas.  Yummy stuff for sure!  There's Pat waiting in the sunshine for our chance to order.  

Thank goodness they give out big napkins and even bigger wet clothes for cleaning up afterwards.  When we lived here we would buy several chicken dinners and freeze them.  They were great to pull out when I didn't want to cook and so darn reasonable.  

Tomorrow we are headed to Bethel Woods, formerly known as Woodstock, to attend the 50th anniversary concert of the Beach Boys.  Should be a lot of fun. Then Monday we're loading up some wood that came from our property here...red maple.  I'm sure Pat will make something wonderful from it.  Hum, maybe a quilt ladder?  Then it will be back to Jenny's for a few days and on to home and newly refinished floors.  

Some knitting is getting done but no quilting although it has been in my mind as I was shopping!  

Happy quilting all!