ON THE ROAD-PART TWO

Much excitement driving across the Mojave Desert into Needles, CA! A lightning thunderstorm that was as beautiful as only the great Southwest can offer. And then it began to rain. The first squall was heavy but do-able ... most likely because we were able to follow a truck.

However, during the second squall we were on our own. The rain came down so hard and fast the little center stripe markers that stick up above the surface of the road were underwater and it was most difficult to see exactly where the road was.

As we came up to the crest of a hill just before descending into Needles the shoulder of the road was lined with trucks. I said to Mike, "I wonder what they know that we don't." but we kept going and found a room in Needles for the night.

When Mike checked in he found that they had been without power most of the day - during a high temperature of 115; 27 power poles had been knocked down due to wind and flash flooding; and the road was closed just beyond the town of Needles. Now we know what those truckers knew that we didn't!

The next morning the freeway was truck central as the road east opened up to traffic ... we shared the road with all the trucks that had been stopped for the night plus all the new ones that joined us on their trek headed east.

Next destination: Grand Canyon National Park.

ON THE ROAD-PART ONE

A little background: Our son Toby and his family are moving from San Diego to Boston where he won the Principal Trombone Chair with the Boston Symphony. We are driving their car across the country for them safely transporting Toby’s many horns and several boxes or irreplaceable arrangements of excepts … his music stash.

And so our adventure begins.
DAY 1: Flew to San Diego; met up with Mike’s brother and his wife; had a picnic lunch on the campus of San Diego State University while Toby teaches the last lessons for his trombone students before he leaves the west coast.

Spent the afternoon and evening walking through Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. Got to see all the animals who were more active in the evening when the temperatures began to cool down. Highlights for all of us were being able to see the koala bears and the pandas.

DAY 2: Mike and his brother worked during the summers of their high school years as counselors at Camp Pacific in Carlsbad and wanted to drive up and revisit past memories. We had a great time chatting while wiggling our toes in the sand and waves of the surf.

In the afternoon we drove to El Cajon so I could visit with Darlene at The Quilters’ Connection to deliver patterns and to pick up a quilt sample I had loaned her. What a great shop with lots happening. Be sure to drop in and see her great collection of batiks and brights if you are in the area.

The evening was spent attending a gala affair under the stars with the San Diego Symphony and the Salk Institute. The black tie affair began with champagne and hoers devours, followed by a delicious gourmet dinner, a concert line-up of light classical favorites mixed with special guest artist John Pizarelli and his trio. How fun that their encore presentation was "Get your Kicks on Route 66" the very route we have planned for our trip to the east coast.

Oh my … what a heavenly evening!

Day 3: Sailing on the beautiful San Diego Bay with Captain Mike on the Kiwi! Thank you Garret and Toby for making this a most wonderful afternoon.

The rest of the day and part of Day 4 was spend helping Toby finish up with packing, getting the house ready for the final walk-through with his landlord, and getting Toby to the airport.

And then we were off ... on our way following Route 66 as far as we can to get to Boston. More stories and pictures to come at the next stop where there is Internet access in our room.

ON VACATION

Oh my goodness! Being on the road more weeks than being home makes being home like being on vacation! I loved everywhere I went but it sure is good to be home even it is for only a couple more days before I have to leave again. So, where have I been?

July:
Our second annual Statler retreat in Sisters. We started with a day touring the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show for inspiration checking out the quilting on lots and lots of quilts. We had some great sessions working with the Creative Studio software, fun with our clam digger challenge to practice our Auto Sketch skills, and some fast and furious badminton games in the evenings.

Then I was home for just a short week repacking for a quick weekend trip to San Diego to see the grand babies and hear Toby in a summer concert with the San Diego Symphony.

Back home ... just enough time to do a quick load of wash, repack, and then it was off to Long Beach for the first West Coast International Quilt Festival. As with any project, getting started with the "first" is always a little rough. There are some bugs to be worked out but I'm sure the festival will be even bigger and better next year with even more vendors, another awesome quilt show, great classes to be taken by super teachers, and lots and lots of eager and happy shoppers.
August: Back home ... do another quick load of wash ... and then off to Alabama to help my daughter learn how to can and have a little bit of vacation. We did go to one quilt store while I was there. I got to meet Becky of Sew What! in Oxford. Becky was so nice to invite us to visit her guild meeting the next day. Eryn and I thought we might make it but the call of vacationing activities was just too strong. Thanks for thinking of us, Becky.

Eryn and I did have a good time canning beans and tomatoes. I'd never heard of Rattlesnake Beans before but they canned up just like regular beans and the stripes disappeared when the beans were cooked just like the man said. We ended up with 35 quarts of tomatoes and 14 quarts of beans. Eryn makes a mean pot of bean soup to get her through the week once the school year starts up for her at JSU again. All of that canning helped me remember some of the more simple things I enjoyed before quilting took over my life!

Eryn and Frankie: "Oh Dear! What are we going to do with all of these tomatoes?"

After getting home from Alabama, we had our annual Scrappy Sister Retreat here at my house. We've been retreating every summer now since 2000. We have an organized strip exchange and then work on the challenge project ... piecing a quilt top using the 2 1/2" and 4 1/2" strips we've exchanged. We've had some pretty amazing quilts come from our exchanges over the years.

We had the additional challenge this year of working all weekend in a record setting heat wave for our usually mild Pacific Northwest. But not to worry, on Monday we were back to our usual rain and mid-60's weather. Sometimes, I think we're going to go crazy with this wild 40 degree swings on the thermometer!

I do need some help from all of you deciding just what to do for borders on my Retreat Challenge quilt. Post your vote in the poll at the top of the page as to your preference for Design 1 with the square in a square border or Design 2 with the half crystal block border. This is a new pattern I'm developing for release at Fall Market in Houston this year. It also needs a name - any and all suggestions are welcomed!

And, now where am I off to next? In just a couple of days we leave for San Diego ... another concert, and then we're driving our son's/daughter-in-law's car to Boston for them. They're flying and getting settled with babies, meeting movers, and getting set for rehearsals and various recording sessions to start with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Toby.

It's been a busy busy summer ... and I've loved every minute of it! Good times with family and friends are just the best and never to be taken for granted.

JULY DRAWING WINNER

Sorry for being a little bit late ... you didn't miss the announcement, I missed posting it.

The winner for our July drawing for a free medallion of your choice (or a piecing pattern) is ... (drrrrrrrum rollllllllllllll!)

CLAUDIA WHITLOCK

Claudia, I'll be posting this announcement in my yahoo newsletter also, so hopefully you catch up with your winnings one place or another. Send me an email as to which medallion or piecing pattern you would like to add to your library and I'll get the file off into cyberspace for you ASAP! You can find all of the designs to choose from in the catalog.

Claudia won with a lucky number 9 drawn from THE HAT. And now we'd best begin our list for the August drawing.

How to get your name into THE HAT? It's simple ...easy peasy ... just post a comment on my blog or make a purchase during this month and your name is added to the list.

What are we hoping for this month? On (or near VBG) August 31st I will be drawing some lucky winner's name for your choice of ...
... a copy of one of my books (Curves That Connect or Blocks that Connect - your choice)
... or 3 Statler block designs of your choice

Keep those machines purring and humming and stay cool in these hot August days!