Thursday, March 29, 2012

Chicago, and other travel

Since I last wrote anything, I have been on the road a lot. Mostly this month. In Jan. we went to visit Ben and Bridget and helped them pack for their adventure to Australia. They moved there, at least for a few years. They seem to be liking it, so that is good. There was almost no snow in the mountains, and anywhere, from Minnesota to Chicago and on to Colorado. It was very strange...

Feb. was pretty uneventful. Cathy came and spent 3 weeks with us, visiting the parents and we had fun when we were together. Which wasn't a lot, when she was either at the parent's or I was in Ash River.

March, has been pretty crazy. I met up with Brenda for our own little quilt retreat in Moose Lake, MN. and we spend a few days yakking and quilting. I got a lot of quilting in, but didn't finish anything! And I ask, can you EVER have enough pizza-DELIVERED? I think not...

Oh, and don't let the pics fool you, we had more stuff crammed beside the beds and any space we could. Never know what you will need!

Last week, I just got back from a trip to Chicago with Cindy, to hit the Sewing and Quilting Expo. It was fun, as we hit the show both Thursday, and Sat. with a trip to the art museum on Friday. My body did NOT like this. We drove home on Sunday, and I crashed on Monday, didn't do diddly. I did well, and didn't buy that much at the show, which surprised everyone, mostly me. Does that mean I have ENOUGH stuff? Doubt it, there is ALWAYS something...
My sad lot...that is probably the smallest bunch of stuff I have ever bought at a show, or quilt store. Although once, I DID walk out with nothing...but maybe only once...I don't know if I should be sad, or proud....

My friend Sharon, where we stayed, gave us a trunk show of her mother's, g-mother's, and aunt's quilts she inherited. That was so cool. The next few pics are those. This is a bow tie, and it is now on MY list of quilts to make. I love it. The fabrics were great. I told her she has to find out as much info on them as she can, before it is too late. Her mom is still around.

Her mother made this one. So simple, and yet so fun. Can you imagine with all the "brick-like" fabrics that are out there now how realistic this could be? She said her mom actually went out and measured the bricks! And they had a full size bed, so I guessed that that was where the lines ended up. Hmmm...again, on my list...gets the juices flowing...
Wow. And this lovely was all POLYESTER! Imagine fighting the poly to make those hexies! Not in my blood. I am still working on my cottons! And the weird thing, was that I REALLY LIKED it! Not enough to make one, but there was just something about it that was just "fun". And certainly the colors...maybe that was it!
And a trip to Chicago is not complete without a trip to WHITE FENCE FARM for fried chicken and CORN FRITTERS. Oh man, not in the diet book, but hey, I don't live there so it is o.k., right? And they did not disappoint! YUMM.
This was the first time that I went to the actual "farm", and not the take out place. AWESOME! It was filled with antiques. We didn't even get to see it all before they called us to our table. Gee, guess I will have to go back!
Now we are off to Mpls. tomorrow to see Earl, and catch the Hunger Games. Yippee. I am excited, heard it was good. All for now! Someday I will post some quilt pictures again-mine, that is...maybe I will finally come back to blogland...