9/5/13

Before and After

Today has been a bit of a hectic day. I did a few little housekeeping items, but then hopped in my car to head down to Salem to pick up my quilt from the fair. Along the way I stopped at the post office to stop our mail and to mail a certified letter. Also I needed to stop at the bank branch to reset the PIN on my debit card. I have two debit cards, one of which rarely gets used. Recently, the card was compromised and I ended up with a new card and a new PIN...which I promptly forgot without writing it down anywhere. Thus, I had to reset my PIN. It's the debit card I use when I buy fabric, and so obviously, with quilt shops in my future, I had to fix it so the card was usable. I know you understand.

Along the way I saw a Trader Joe's, which was great since I wanted to get some Clif Bars. We like Clif Bars for when we're hiking...and hopefully, my knee will cooperate, and a-hiking we will go. So with all of those little items out of the way, I went to the fair and picked up my quilt. Now check this out. It's a Before and After view of the famous wall of thread in my sewing room. Notice anything?

Before


After


Need a hint? It's red, and it rhymes with fibbin'. Need another hint? It's made of ribbon.

[Don't make me come over there.] 

As a reminder to anyone who might be new to these parts, this is the quilt I entered:



Here is the sheet from the judges:


As to the comment that the binding cuts of (um, "off") points, I plead guilty.


So that's it. Lots of excitement, now done until next year. Oh yes. They've awakened a monster. Now I will be entering quilts and canned goods with wild abandon. Even wilder if I can get Smitty into the act.

So right now I'm waiting for my very slow printer to print off some Photograph America Newsletters of some of the places we're going in the next three weeks. I can't remember where I first saw the Photograph America Newsletters, but I bought the whole series, which was recently updated. They are wonderful travel guides, not to mention being especially helpful to me as a photographer. They tell us great places to see some fantastic scenery, and they also suggest which lenses and other equipment I might find helpful, and what time of day I'll get the best light. I keep the whole database on my computer at home and print off the ones I want when we're going somewhere. And that means, of course, that I'm updating my box of tour books, maps, campground guides, quilt shop guides, trail maps, etc., because Saturday morning, we are so outa' here.

This might be my last blog post before we leave, but I've learned never to say never when it comes to blogging. Sometimes I get so many words banging around my brain like a pinball machine that I just have to write them down if I am to continue to speak aloud in a coherent fashion. I'm nothing if not loquacious. 

So to remind you, this is where we are headed this time:


Our goal is to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Pike's Peak, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon North Rim (if we have time), and finally head home via Great Basin National Park. We'll be visiting quilt shops along the way, and so suggestions of great shops you know about are always appreciated. One of you already suggested The Quilters Studio in Longmont, CO, which just happens to be right near Rocky Mountain National Park. (Thank you, whoever you are. Sorry, I can't remember.) Of course, I'll be blogging all along the way if you want to follow along.

And with that, I'm calling it a blogging day. Tonight I'm making some grown-up macaroni and cheese, which will feed us for dinner tonight, and then there will be enough to make up two ramekins for dinner on one of the first three nights out. Tomorrow morning I'm making Frozen Breakfast Burritos, and then the food will be set. The only thing left to do is pack up my, er, stuff (to put it nicely), and we'll be on our way.

30 comments:

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Girlfriend, I hope you two have the best time and that that raggedy knee minds its manners and behaves so you can see the best hiking spots on that ever so ambitious trip itinerary you have planned. Bon Voyage, I look forward to seeing the posts from the road.

Hugs to the Kittehs, too.

Sue Daurio said...

What a great trip planned! LOVE LOVE LOVE the national parks in Utah - Bryce Canyon is right there by Zion, definitely worth a look, I actually liked that better than Zion. Have a great trip. And yep I saw that ribbon, what I wonderful after picture, congrats!!

WoolenSails said...

I am as excited as you are, I was so glad you entered and that you won a ribbon. Your trip sounds wonderful and I can't wait to see all of the photos, you will be taking.

Debbie

gpc said...

Yay, love the ribbon! And boy howdy, I sure envy you that trip! :)

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I was one you had to slap - I was looking at the thread - duh!! Oh, there is lots of space there for more ribbons. Enjoy that wonderful trip, and I look forward to enjoying it thru your photos.

Lucky Duck Dreams said...

Have a fun trip!

Quilting Babcia said...

Cut-off points indeed! Have a fabulous time - so glad your knee is responding to the anti-inflammatory med. p.s. That's quite the thread wall!

Brown Family said...

Have a great trip. I wish we were going on one!

Teresa in Music City said...

Have a wonderful, safe trip! Will be following along and enjoying it with you :*)

Junebug613 said...

Can't wait to see what your trip brings! It's like you're taking us with you (without actually having to!) Safe journey!

Janarama said...

Happy trails to you ..... until we meet againnnnn. OK, I'm showing my age now. Have a wonderful trip.

That ribbon looks great on your wall. Pretty soon you'll have a wall of ribbons.

Dasha said...

Well done on the ribbon. I enjoyed reading your blogs while you were constructing the quilt. I have travelled part of the way you are going, but oh, such a long time ago! Would love to be a passenger with you guys ;-)

Sher S. said...

Have a fabulous trip. Share lots of photos (you are very good on that count). I envy you going to all the quilt shops, my dh isn't very willing to stop at those. Love your RED RIBBON!!!!! Lots of room for many, many more. Hope the fur kids enjoy the trip also. Safe travels.

Celtic Thistle said...

Sure that red ribbon is just the start of a collection!

Have a wonderful trip.

Lynne said...

The judges' comments must have given you a lovely, warm feeling.

Donna said...

Enjoy your trip. Wonderful comments on your quilt! Congratulations!

Lyndsey said...

I can see lots of ribbons in your future with the current lone red one being just the start. I'm feeling all warm and happy for you!

Your trip sounds wonderful and I will be on the edge of my seat waiting for the pics. Have you got a knee support for use when you hike? I also use walking poles especially on steep areas whether walking up or down. They certainly help reduce the wear and tear on my knees and hips.

Dana Gaffney said...

Both of the times you mentioned picking up the quilt you showed such restraint, no mention of the RIBBON you'd be picking up. I'm so glad you had decent judges, I've read some horror stories, nice to see more positives than negatives. :)

Debbie said...

Yea! Noted the ribbon right off....congrats again. Glad you got feed back from the judges. Many times you do not.

Snoodles said...

I'm confident that there will be a growing collection of ribbons there! Glad your knee is improving, and praying you have a safe trip, making lots of good memories! (And that Smitty doesn't shoot out the door again!)

Tami C said...

I'm so glad you knee is improving and hope that it will behave for your trip. Glad to see the first of many ribbons in it's place!

You might want to visit Ruth's Stitchery in Colorado Springs. Even though my mother-in-law has moved up to Denver, she still loves going to Ruth's. They are at 4440 Austin Bluffs Parkway and their phone# is 719-591-1717. http://www.ruthsstitchery.com/

Regular Store Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 9:00AM-6:00PM
Thursday only: 9:00AM - 9:00PM
Sunday: Noon - 5:00PM

Have a wonderful trip!!

LethargicLass said...

boy does that red ribbon sure brighten up the place! :) Any better idea on what day(s) you'll be by SLC?

legato1958 said...

I am so glad that you won a ribbon! Your quilts are delightful and filled with heart, and sometimes cats, and are gorgeous!!

Susie

quiltzyx said...

Good thing you're planning to enter more things into the fair next year - that ribbon looks a little lonely. Hopefully it will make friends with the spools....

Nice comments on your quilt too. :)

I see that you & Mike are planning to do a lot of, um, parking on your trip. heeheehee
Grown-up mac & cheese? That would have adult beverages in it? As long as you're not planning to drive after eating it, that's OK, right?

Bon Voyage! I'm looking forward to the pics.....

barbara woods said...

Have a great trip, we love pictures of it

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

The ribbon looks wonderful- it goes with everything just perfectly!

Marla said...

Will you be going through St. George, Utah? If you do, not only are their several wonderful quilt shops there, That is where Superior Thread is too. And since you love thread, that place will give you a guarantee meltdown of threads love!

Marla said...
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Kate said...

Looks like a fun trip. Looking forward to seeing your photos. Enjoy and safe travels.

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Congrats on the ribbon!