The next journey begins...

Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures. 

Yes, we are blessed! We are off once again on a road trip.  It was 50 degrees and sunny when we left about 9 AM yesterday.

We spent last night in Rochester, MN. We had a great Airbnb, Porch on 4th.

We didn't stop at any quilt shops or yarn shops! There really is nothing I need but I'm sure I'll find things as we go along. All of the shops we passed are within a few hours of home.

It was a gorgeous day and many of the flowering trees are in bloom. 

We drove the back roads through various Amish communities. Many of the people were working outside - in the fields with horses or in gardens. At one of the Amish schools, everyone was outside playing. I know the Amish really don't like their pictures taken so I restrained myself.

We spent time at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse campus. We both graduated from UW-L 49 years ago. Wow! Where does the time go? There is a new student union and a new science building since we last visited and so much more! It is the last week of the semester - we saw students studying and many enjoying the sunshine and 70 degrees.

Student Union looking north and to the left

Student Union looking north and to the right

When we arrived in Rochester, we found Quarry Hill Park and Nature Center. We both felt that we needed some time outside and some exercise. It was sunny, 63 degrees, and very pleasant.  

We found lots of geese and goslings as we walked around a pond.

There were some decent reflections even thought we had a breeze.

I caught reflections of this group of children too! 

We walked some of the trails and found some interesting things.

This retaining wall was constructed over 100 years ago as part of the quarry operation. Since 1980, hundreds of classes of students have used the wall as a training site for technical rock climbing training techniques. In 2003, the wall was restored so classes could continue.

I asked Ray to get in the photo for some perspective and he began to climb...

Further on we came across this large fireplace, protected behind a huge fence that I could easily get my phone through to take a picture. It was built more than 100 years ago with limestone from the quarry. Reading various signs provided us with a little insight to the history of the area.

On our way back to the parking lot, we took a trail down by the river. It was pretty and peaceful.

If we lived in the area, we'd definitely be regulars at Quarry Hill. 

After dinner, we walked around 'our' neighborhood. There were lots of people out doing yard work and/or enjoying the evening. We talked with one guy who had a neat sculpture that he had made beginning with a bicycle tire. We also met some dogs. I thought a cute little one named Lucy was going to follow us home. And then there was this ear of corn: 

"Water towers are generally built for a purely practical purpose, but the Libby Food Plant executives had a different idea. Built and installed in 1931, it served as an entertaining as well as functional structure during one of the most difficult periods of American history, the Great Depression. Anatomically accurate, the water tower is built as an enormous ear of corn, and attracts curious visitors and tourists. The tower is now a part of the Seneca Foods Complex and is now a historic relic towering at 60 feet (18.288 meters)  over the skyline and serving as a distinct landmark for the town. Lit up during the night, the tower is hard to miss and is a fun detour if you're looking for off beat local attractions to visit." ~cityseeker.com

We also spent some time visiting with our hosts. We'd enjoy coming back to this area and we'd love to stay in the same Airbnb.

A finish and more

America's Game is a donation quilt that is about about 57" square. I found some baseball fabric when I was cleaning out fabric drawers a while back and thought someone might enjoy a quilt made with baseball fabric. 

I free-motion quilted this with a meandering stitch using Aurifil #1103 red thread.

The back is the same small blue/white dot as the sashing cornerstones. The red is more of a dark wine red rather than the cherry red in the following picture.

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Recently I came across a reference to a blogpost, How to Scrappy Improv any Patchwork Block.I saw her photo using scraps to make a reverse churn dash block and I decided this might be a good, fun, stress free way to use some of the small scraps I have. 

gnomeangel.com photo from Internet

I enjoy improv quilting and have PLENTY of small scraps to use. So I worked out measurements and got busy. I began sewing small scrap pieces together then began using parts of orphan blocks and partial blocks that I keep in baskets. 

First overflowing basket

Ray decided to join in the fun. I think he enjoyed going through the baskets and picking out pieces because he kept returning to play more!

2nd overflowing basket

My first block looks a lot like the original photo.

I couldn't wait to get 4 blocks done so I could really see the secondary design. I have started adding some neat pieces for an eye spy quilt.

The 21 individual parts of each block are close to being done. Then I'll just need to assemble the blocks. Sadly none of my 3 overflowing small scrap baskets looks any different!

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On Tuesday, we'll leave on a journey that will take us north and west. We plan to spend some time in Jasper, Alberta, Canada but first we will enjoy our time getting there. And later we'll enjoy the days getting home - they'll be filled with more adventures.

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. ~Greg Anderson

We are close to being ready. There is laundry to do of course and the packing but we have good lists so that should go smoothly and quickly. I just need to figure out Lightroom, a photography software that Ray uses. He wants things changed so it can travel with us. I need to move many thousands of photos and a catalog. I think I finally have it somewhat figured out. Hopefully I'll have it conquered within the next 24 hours. Then maybe I can find an extra hour or two in the sewing studio.

I'll try to let you know what's happening along the way. We aren't expecting warm weather but keep your fingers crossed that we do not find winter!

Catching up

Where do the days go?

I have a finish. The Flip Flop Quilt is done. I found the fabric when I was cleaning out fabric drawers. Thinking it would be a good quilt for summer, I decided to get it done. 

I machine quilted this donation quilt with a walking foot and straight lines both vertically and horizontally using Aurifil #1135 yellow, 50-weight thread. 

This quilt measures 55" by 55".

The back is a black dot fabric with the extra flip flop fabric.

Since I last blogged ...

• We attended the University of Wisconsin Marching Band Spring Concert. We go every year with a group of friends. It was Director Mike Leckrone's last concert - he is retiring this year after 50 years as the band's director!

• I finally blocked this scarf that I finished knitting in February.

• I began and finished the podcast of Friendship Album 1933. I thoroughly enjoyed listing to it.

• I decided the borders of this red/white quilt would be more squares from my 2 1/2" square collection. Now I just need to get this sandwiched and quilted.

• I've started another quilt using 2 1/2" squares. This one will use all batiks.

• We spend a pleasant day with my brother-in-law and his special lady. After lunch, we visited the New Melleray Abbey, a Trappist monastery, near Dubuque, Iowa.

     We were able to see their beautiful church.

     I loved the windows

     and this unique organ.

• I've done some baking. First I made 4 batches or chocolate chip cookies

and then 4 batches of big ginger cookies. They are not all for us!

• I've spent some time playing with my Cricut Maker. I bought a pattern for a guitar box and was amazed at how hard it was to make. I must have failed gluing in elementary school. These are versions 6 and 5. Whew!

In the next picture, you can see the box part.

I also made some bookmarks. Someone is graduating from preschool and I though these would be fun.

• Ray mowed the lawn for the first time this spring. I snapped this picture on Friday because a wild turkey was crossing our lawn.

On Saturday we had quite a spring snowstorm. I snapped this picture from the porch through the screen.

Sunday we woke to a beautiful day.

One thing I haven't done is erase my white board. I have this message left from Easter where I usually write grocery lists. Although he has to reach rather high, Griffin writes a message every time he visits. I always hate to erase it.

"hi I was here. I like to write stuf. Griffin"

I guess there are a lot of things I haven't done . . . so this week I'll try to accomplish a little more on my to do list!

A few projects finished!

I have a few projects completed.

Last year Ray and I attended Brynn's Blanket Party.  She has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and is treated at University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital aka American Family's Children Hospital. At her party, we all made fleece blankets to donate to the hospital. We will most likely be traveling at the time of the party this year so I made a couple of blankets to give her to donate.

The dachshund blanket has a red back and is 54" square. I tied the front and back pieces together like people normally do with a square knot.

The gray and pink blanket has a pink back and is also 54" square. Ray and I cut a small slit at the top of each pair of front and back pieces. Then we pulled the two pieces through the slit. It took more time but turned out cute.

The Pink and Yellow Flannel Baby Quilt is done. This donation quilt is about 47" square.

The quilt was folded and I did not get on the floor to flatten it.

I made this quilt as a rectangle 5 squares wide and 10 squares long. Then I cut from the upper left corner to the middle point of the right side. I also cut from the bottom left corner to the same middle point of the right side. I sewed the two cutoff pieces together matching what was the top of the quilt to what was the bottom.This piece became the left half of the quilt and was sewn to the right half. I couldn't find instructions so I decided to try it my way and it worked fine!

The front is all flannels that I found in my stash. The back is a brushed cotton that was also in my stash. I used some of the leftover fabric from the front on the back. 

The quilting is a stipple with small flowers. I used Aurifil #2423 pink 50-weight thread.

I also finished Deb's Extras. My friend Deb gave me her Kaffe Fassett layer cake scraps at a quilt retreat last summer. I cut the pieces to 5" squares and made this quilt. The small blues squares are made of fabric from my stash.

This donation quilt finished at 50" by 59". I quilted this with a carnation motif using Aurifil 50-weight #1231 lime green thread.

The back is a green that was in my stash and seemed to look good with the front.

I think I have 16 quilts in the donation pile. I'm not sure how much sewing will get done before we leave in May. I have lots of projects started so if I find some time, I definitely have something to sew.