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Monday, October 9, 2023

Little quilts, and big and little boats

There have been attempts made several times over the past few weeks to get a post written, but I never got farther than opening the "new post" window.

However, I do actually have a couple of small tops to share. From a pattern Pam Buda gave to our Circa 1880 Club when she visited us last July (based on a little quilt made and gifted to her by her friend Karen S., of Elgin, IL), I made these two little cuties. They measure 9 1/2" x 13 1/2".


It is a sweet way to use up leftover blocks and pieces from our Circa 1880 quilts. I planned to make one with a black fabric for the sashing and borders, but it just didn't happen. As I dug through fabrics to see what I wanted to use, these two seemed to be playing nicely, so I picked them. I am very happy with them--but I still might make a black one someday.

For those who were interested in the items I shared in my last post (back in August), I did draw names, notify those chosen, and get them sent off--I just never wrote a post to share that info. But Grace, Denise, Terry, and Cathy K. have all received their little packages.

But there is another chance to throw your hat in the ring. A friend was cleaning things out of her sewing room. She had 2 extra copies of this book. I took one copy for me, and this one is to share with someone who would like it. Mention in your comment if you are interested in the book, and I will do another drawing in a week or two.




I spent almost half of the month of September in travel. We got on a big boat (the Zuiderdam) and cruised with friends again from Quebec to Boston, with several stops along the way. We enjoyed walking around Old Town Quebec.


Saw some glorious sunsets over the water.


Visited PEI, Cape Breton, and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Saw lots of these...


...and visited the Lucy Maud Montgomery memorial park, and the Anne of Green Gables house, PEI National Park, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum, and the cemetery where the majority of the bodies recovered from the Titanic were buried. If you haven't yet sensed a theme, I love historical things, and I am sparing you from most of the photos of the many other historical places and monuments we visited.

Did some of this (in a little boat--kayak, actually) off the coast of Maine (yes, it was foggy--but fun)...


...had a delightful visit with these good people while there...

(for those who may not know her by sight, that is Wendy the Constant Quilter in the cool shades, with her hubby, Gordon, behind her). Always a treat to be able to spend time with them. Thanks for taking the trouble to meet up with us!

In Boston, before flying home, we only had a chance to visit a handful of the sites on The Freedom Trail, but the one that touched me the most was the newest addition to the trail, The New England Holocaust Memorial

This had me feeling so much emotion. It is pretty amazing. You can take a virtual tour at the link below. I know it isn't the same as being there, but it gives you an idea of the well-thought-out layout and design. https://www.nehm.org/visit/virtual-tour/

Then a couple of weeks after we got home, Hubby and I headed up to Idaho for a few days. We did many things, but our main objective was an afternoon kayaking trip to a little cove off the Snake River created by a spring. It can only be accessed by water, and hubby has been kind of obsessed for the past couple of years, with getting up there and seeing the spring. It took less than an hour to paddle to the spring from the rental place. The water was glassy for much of the way.

In the photo above, where the light-colored, downward pointing triangle-ish shape is seen on the darker rock wall ahead, it pretty much points down to where the little cove is off to the right of the river, as the river bends away to the left.

Inside the cove the water is clear, and the color of turquoise. Such a peaceful, magical-feeling place. We had it all to ourselves for about 15 minutes. Then we headed back upstream to turn in our kayak and drive to the little creamery in the nearby town. After a couple of hours of kayaking, I think you earn an ice cream!

The next day, before heading home, we visited a "relocation camp" where 13,000 Japanese Americans were wrongfully held during WWII. This is all that remains of the structures, but there were large signs with photos and information placed around the grounds to help you understand what went on for these American citizens who were denied their rights.

It was a sobering experience. Hard to believe this happened in our country.

That concludes my travelogue post. 
I can't believe I let so many weeks go by without a post. Shame on me. In my defense, we have had family staying with us since August 1st, and they are my priority right now. But I do hope to be back again before October is over. Maybe I will finally take down all the patriotic mini quilts and get up the fall and Halloween colored ones. And maybe not. ;)

Until next time, be creative and be kind.

Janet O.

Just a little taste of fall from my neck of the woods. It was a bit past peak color when I got this photo, but still pretty.

24 comments:

  1. Good to see such a fun post from you!! Your travels sound like you had sooo much fun and you look so happy!! I really miss the beautiful fall colors in Sardine Canyon and Logan!! And your small tops are really cute!! I especially like the mustard one!!

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  2. Oh how fun!! I love your travelogue...and those little quilts are just darling. So glad you got to see Wendy, and I too would just love to see that hidden spring.

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  3. Funny how we did pick the same photo of our fun moment together! Oh those little quilts! They are sensational. I especially love the yellow - of course! Your Utah view is just gorgeous!

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  4. (Little Penpen) your trips look fantastic! Great photos! I love your little quilts. And I love Kathleen Tracy, so yes, enter my name in the giveaway. Enjoy your fall!

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  5. PEI is on my bucket list! Your photos just put an asterisk next to it.
    I just started following Kathleen Tracy's DAL so of course her book would be welcome inspiration.

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  6. I graduated from a high school in North Miami, FL and we were "the Pioneers" thus that name on the book caught my eye as well as all of the wonderful pictures of your travels. I am interested in the book, and would like to purchase one. Any info would be appreciated.

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    1. Carolyn--you are a "no reply" blogger, so I cannot respond to you personally. If you Google the name of the book with Kathleen Tracy as author, you will get multiple purchase options.

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  7. Welcome home! I love the History and Museums. Following Kathy Tracy's SAL. Would love her book. 😍 Super cute mini quilts. Kayaking, oh my, just get me the Ice Cream!

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  8. What a neat trip well two actually :) Thanks for sharing photos and letting me be a part of your adventure. I love your two minis. I think it real neat how you display your minis. Sandi (aka kwiltnkats)

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  9. I love your little quilts, you always pick such beautiful fabrics to make them. I would love a chance to win a copy of A Prairie Journey, what a great book! Your trips look wonderful, glad you had such a good time. I always look forward to your blog posts.

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  10. Your fall colors are better than ours, lucky you. How wonderful that you and your husband have been able to enjoy traveling since he retired. And to spend time in Maine with Wendy is so special. Your sweet minis are just big enough for snack mats -a mug of hot chocolate and a cookie. My grandkids love them, and DIL has asked for more for Christmas.

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  11. Firstly, I love your two latest mini quilts. What wonderful travels you have been on. Places I can only dream of visiting. Weren’t you blessed with perfect weather for your paddle to see the spring. Yes, an ice cream was well deserved. There was internment of Japanese, German and Italians during both world wars in Australia, even if they had been here for ages. About an hour from here, in the town if Cowra, there was a Japanese POW camp in WWII and the prisoners broke out one night. Several list their life in the process. The locals always looked after the graves and a wonderful sister city relationship has developed. There is a large Japanese garden and Peace Bell in the town, so at least there had been some good come of it.

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  12. I would love to add A Prairie Journey to my bookshelf! I enjoy both Pam and Kathleen's work. You've given me a few places to add to my bucket list.

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  13. Kathleen Tracy is a favorite, thanks for offering this book!

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  14. That's an incredible header photo! So many beautiful colours. How wonderful to find such magic kayak spots.

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  15. Your little quilts are delightful. I love that each tiny block has 9 different fabrics.
    Your September travels sound wonderful--such great places and people to visit. The Holocaust Museum, then the relocation camp--it's good people aren't letting the memory of those awful, heart-wrenching times die.
    (As you can tell, I figured out how to allow myself to leave comments.... Hooray!)

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  16. Glad you had a good time visiting some of Canada's hotspots. If I was living closer, I would have met you in Quebec City.

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  17. Wow! I thought I had already commented on your latest post. I wonder if I neglected to click on publish. Who knows? I love your little minis, especially the blue bordered one. That is the loveliest color of blue. I'm glad you had a great time in the northeast. It's such a great colorful part of the country this time of year. We made it to Sardine Canyon before the colors were gone. Even though it was past peak time, it still looked beautiful. So many memories of driving through Sardine to visit relatives further south. I noticed someone has cultivated a big patch of land on the north end. Sigh~
    Enjoy the rest of the season. I wonder when we'll get our first snow in the valley.

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  18. Love to see the travel photos! I'm glad you got to meet up with Wendy and Gordon.
    Your two littl quilts are just adorable! Amazing how different they look with light or dark backgrounds. Love that yellow!
    There is a great book about the Japanese camps, I'll let you know if I think of it. I read it many years ago and was also shocked that this happened so recently in our history. Learning history is such a wonderful part of traveling.
    Thanks for sharing your adventures with us!

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  19. WOW! I love your post. I'm into historical sites as well so I enjoy hearing about your travels. You must tell me more about the spring. Where in Idaho? My sister lives on the snake river (and she has kayaks!) Love your little quilts.

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  20. Wow! I'm a teensy bit jealous that you got to spend time in the land of Anne! It's definitely on my bucket list. I'm not really jelly; you totally deserve such a delightful trip! Your photos of the trip are wonderful! I'm glad you had such a wonderful time! Nice sunset pic over the water, too!! :)

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  21. That trip looked wonderful. I would love to throw my name in the hat for the book Thank you : )

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