Friday, November 8, 2019

Bi-Monthly Check In

I seriously did not mean to take such a long break from my blog.  However, it has been an exciting last few months.  We made several out of town trips, including one overseas.

One thing we try to do is visit the freshman grandchildren once they are settled into their dorms.  For this trip we headed up to Boise, Idaho.  The college is right in the center of town and it is a beautiful setting.

Driving home, we hit an early snowstorm in the Sierras.  Maybe it will be a water filled year for us.  


I had taken some hand sewing for the car trip and found it humorous to see the carpet in the hotel matched my project.




Once we returned from that trip, there were Halloween costumes (no pictures yet), a fall table runner, my October Gridster Bee blocks for Lisa (IG nymblefyngers), and a bow tie for a grandson to make.





My sister from Alaska came to visit and we got two of her quilts quilted on the longarm.  I'll have to get pictures from her for those, but they were as beautiful as her other ones have been.

Then it was off to Prague for a river cruise on the Danube with my sister, brother and their spouses.  The trip was amazing with incredible sights and so much history.  We enjoyed stops in Pilsen, Vilshofen, Passau, Regensburg, Melk, Vienna and finally Budapest.  There was so much to see and do along the way, but we loved the quaint little town of Passau and the much bigger town of Budapest.  I'll share just a few of my favorite highlights.  If you want to see more, I posted some on my IG account (needledmom).






The town of Pilsen was so pretty and colorful.  It had been under Communist rule until 30 years ago and all buildings were painted gray.  Imagine how busy the painters must have been!









See the Lipizzaner Stallion poking his head out?  These were elegant stables.






The first two days at home were busy trying to get the house up and running after several days of power outages from the fires.  We live just a few miles from the Reagan Library and were grateful to the firefighters who were able to stop the progress before it reached us.  It was a bit unnerving to get an emergency alert on our cell phones in the middle of the night while we were in Prague.  Those calls were followed by texts from our children asking us what they should pack at our house for evacuation!

I finally got back to some sewing yesterday.  I'd missed it.  I quilted and finished up a heart quilt for our great grandbaby who turned one today.  It is backed in such a soft pink minky fabric.  The pattern is a freebie from Connie at Freemotion By the River.  As well, I made and mailed off my November Gridster Bee blocks to Allison (IG quiltstudio62).




Hopefully, I won't be gone as long next time.

17 comments:

  1. You have had exciting times while you have been away from your blog. My goodness, so glad your home was safe from the fires. Fabulous architecture to be seen everywhere on your cruise. I love the Lippizaner horses. To watch a performance of them is truly an amazing thing. Love those Gridster blocks. They are so happy and colourful. It's lovely to visit your blog again after such a long break.

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  2. How special to share such a wonderful trip with your siblings! I'm so glad your home was safe, although it must have been a worry when you were so far away.

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  3. You are really been busy! The photos are beautiful of Prague - especially the colorful houses. I am so grateful that the fires missed you once again, it has really been a stressful 2 years for you with the fires. Your baby quilt is adorable and I'm so glad you like the heart pattern! Hugs

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  4. Hi Mary you have been so busy,I always love seeing all your beautiful work,well done and Thankyou for sharing your lovely pics with us xx

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  5. I've been enjoying your photos on IG. It looks like it was a wonderful trip! So sorry for the stress of the fire though. Life is so full of challenges. I'm glad you're home was kept safe.

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  6. I can't imagine the feeling of evacuation notices while you are a continent away. Your photos have been fun to see. Did you do a Viking cruise? My son was just in Europe including Prague and really loved it. Lastly, the hotel carpet photo is perfect for your little blocks.

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  7. I'm so glad to hear your home was spared!! The fires in California are scary, especially since I am just over the border and know the fires could easily happen here as well. Your trip was obviously amazing!!! Were you able to see the Lipizzaner Stallions perform? Bucket list item for me!! Connie's patterns are so darling and your quilt is no exception!

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  8. Wow -- what a wonderful last few months you've enjoyed! That maple leaf runner is gorgeous. And I'm impressed with the bow tie! Do you have a pattern you use? Your Prague cruise looks magnificent. What beautiful sights! Very glad your home stayed safe from the fires. That's something we worry about for our son and his family. It's hard! Happy to see you!! :)

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  9. So happy that your home (and many others as well as the Library) was spared from the awful fires. I love that maple leaf runner, so very striking. And your string blocks too.

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  10. Your trip looks wonderful and I really like those hearts in that baby quilt. super cute.

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  11. I am so happy to hear that your home was safe from the fires. That must have been so scary!
    Your cruise sounds wonderful. It was fun to follow you along on IG.
    You've been super productive in the sewing room, too. The hotel carpet photo is a hoot.

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  12. What stunning photos! There is so much to see in the world!

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  13. Life has been a whirlwind! Such lovely photos, and sweet projects! I’m quite smitten with the hearts baby quilt!

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  14. Love your pictures and your trip sounds awesome. Isn't amazing how busy we get, but it sounds like you accomplished a lot during that time.

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  15. All your photos are amazing and it looks like such a wonderful trip. You've definitely been busy!

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  16. I found the matching carpet and the blocks very humorous too! Lovely sewing all around. I am hoping for a wet winter too. I really really enjoyed and loved the overseas travel photos. Can't wait to visit those places one day!!

    -Soma

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  17. Thanks for taking us along on your trip... I really enjoyed them all.
    I think quilters see patterns everywhere...tiles usually but now carpets.
    The university looks impressive...xox

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