Reflecting

I have been cleaning one of the flower beds this afternoon and this morning I transplanted a few little flowers in the greenhouse that had taken their sweet time in coming up.  These activities always give me time to think, sometimes that is a good thing, sometimes not.
 
As I was digging around in the dry soil of the flower bed and moving the soil back to where it belongs after the obnoxious pocket gophers went through it, I was thinking about the devastating floods in the lower Ohio River Valley that I had been keeping track of for over a week.  I was glad my garden was still in tact and thought about all those who had lost theirs.
 
  First, let me say that there is a reason God planted me here, I have no desire to live by that much water, but I love visiting that area and that is why I am interested in keeping track of what is going on there.  We have been through the area that is flooded and I find it sad to see the acres of farm land we have seen, underwater.  Even though we comment that we know we might see it that way some day.  The day has arrived.

I have also been checking in on the Paducah flood wall several times a day.  The Convention Center is its own island now, it sits on the Ohio River side of the flood wall, not within it and I have never figured that out. 
   I always look forward to going to Paducah.  Perhaps it is that we leave the leafless trees, the brown and nearly lifeless flower beds, last year's fields of decaying corn stalks and wheat stubble in CO and as go east and we enter Missouri, spring is unfolding.  There will be a few red buds left and as we travel further east, the dogwoods are usually blooming.  Their lovely, white flowers remind me of dancing fairy lights, tucked in among the other trees.   

Last year's trip to Paducah ranks as # 1.  We were able to view Hollis' outstanding exhibit, "Imagine Hope" at the AQS Museum, I ran into two ladies from a class I had taken at the museum several years ago, met up with  friends who I have gotten to know through the Internet and we all had a picnic lunch on the AQS grounds and had supper with them that Friday night before attending the Ricky Tims performance at the Carson Center, plus I was traveling with good friends.   

  I did receive word from Joedy that a friend died That Friday night, after we returned to the place we were staying, I received word from Joedy that a friend had died that day.  I knew that Darryl had been diagnosed with cancer 3 weeks prior to that and was not doing well when I left, but it was hard to believe as I had just seen him the previous August when we had our 40th class reunion and he looked fine. 

  The other thing that occurred that Friday night was a visit with a woman who I had never met before.  She and other members of her family were getting together that weekend to visit with her sister who was dying of cancer.   Little did I know that night, that I would come face to face with that very thing 11 days later on May 4th.  Tomorrow will be the day my sister called me and told me she had cancer.  Julie died 5 weeks later. 

  So with all that reflecting today on people and places and how quickly things can change, I am reminded that I should take each day as it comes and enjoy it.  Thank God for the blessings He has bestowed upon me. Do my best to ignore those people in my life who are demanding and selfish and not allow them to drag me into their unhappiness and dissatisfaction with their life.  And remember that it could always be a lot worse and pray that it never is. 


This bleeding heart always greets me when I return from Padcah and it is especially pretty this spring.  The butterfly was given to me by sister a few years ago. 



Paducah, KY

  We could hardly wait until April 18th arrived this year so that we could head east to Paducah, KY and the AQS Quilt Show and it has now come and gone. 

  A week ago we were enjoying supper with friends at Logan's in Paducah and later attended the Ricky Tims show, which was great!!!  The music he played Friday night was beautiful and his stories hilarious. 
  He gave a one hour program at our Guild 11 years ago.  Hmmmm, I wonder if he would come again for the same price???? 
 Friday was our final day in Paducah, as we packed and left for Colorado the following morning.  We had a wonderful time and some more good memories were made. 

 

  One of the most interesting things we saw while attending the show were the restrooms outside the Pavilion or Bubble, as I referred to it.  These were "Royal Restrooms", NOT the regular port-a-potties one sees strapped on a trailer hauled from place to place. 

   The inside of these special restrooms was very impressive.  Thought I would skip the obvious part one would find in such a place and go to the luxury side of the place. 

  I had to purchase some bread from Kirchhoff's.  Actually we purchased a lot of bread from there.  We never ate lunch there though and it is one of my favorite places to eat lunch.  I did find out that the "Stranded Cow" went out of business.  They had some excellent sandwiches.  One place we did eat was Patti's.  It is located southeast of Paducah in Grand Rivers, but it is well worth the trip.   We love the pork chops they make.

  We enjoy walking around the settlement and checking out the various stores they have.  I think the wind chimes they sell at one store have to be a favorite.  The foliage and flowers were beautiful.

 

  I ate at the Whaler's Catch when I was in Paducah in 2008.  The food was just as good this time as last.  I had crab cakes, probably again too.  We don't have too many of those in Colorado, so I eat them when we are at special places like the Catch.  We ate outside on the lower deck, first for that and it was a lovely evening. 

  One of our first stops was the Finkle building downtown.  I had a good visit with Judi at her booth, Mamaws Hand dyes.  Marc held things down while we visited. 

  Then off to the Museum.  The place I was very

anxious to visit as Hollis Chatelain's Imagine Hope Exhibit was there.  I was so excited to see all of the pieces together in one place along with the photographs that accompany the pieces she has made.  If anyone should get a chance to view this exhibit, jump at the opportunity.  It will be at the National Quilt Museum until May 25th of this year. 

  We saw a number of other beautiful quilts there, especially those darned miniatures.  I would go blind trying to make one of those, but they are intriguing. 

  This is the view of one of my favorite spots on I-70, the east side of the bridge that allows us to cross over the Missouri River.  It wasn't all that inviting on Saturday when we crossed over it.  In fact we drove in heavy rain through most of Missouri on our way home.  I guess that is why they have so many more trees than what we do out here on the plains, more water, lots more water.

  We met a number of interesting people along the way this trip.  On our way to Hermann, MO, one of our regular stops as the Stone Hill Winery is located there and we needed to purchase some of those delicious garlic dill cheese curds.  Maybe a little wine too.  We stopped and talked to a farmer who was getting ready to work the field in order to plant soybeans.  We had been debating what they were getting ready to plant, so we stopped and asked.  I think we surprised him. 

  Renee and I ran into a gentleman when we were on our second bread buying trip at Kirchhoff's.  He was very interesting to talk to.  Judy and I were needing some fresh air after we were in Hancocks of Paducah for a short period of time that first evening.  We were sitting on the bench and met a woman who gives rides to quilters around Paducah, at no cost.  It is her hobby the week of the Quilt Show.   I might mention that Hancock's is one of the MUST stop at least once places, during a trip to Paducah.   At one booth we met a woman who was born in India, but has lived in this country for 35 years.  Her family has made block printed fabric for 7 generations.  The information she shared with us interesting.  She is one of those people who keep me coming back as she loves what she does. 

  

  I finally put all the items I purchased on the trip away today.  Not very timely, but I finally had time.  It was a great trip, I hope we will be able to make a few more in the years to come.

New class

I have been taking the Sumptuous Surfaces class on Joggles from Sharon B the last few weeks. I finally have the first piece stitched.

We were to draw a design and then we were to stitch the first piece in neutrals, which is a little challenging. I found out that there isn't a big difference between white and # 712 perle cotton when it comes to color. Especially when I took the photo.

The threads in this piece are perle cotton, #'s 5, 8, & 12--14 different colors; silk thread--6 different brands, 9 different colors; Marlit; embroidery floss---3 different colors; wool; 16 different types of beads or shells; covered rings & covered fly tying brass thing; and 14 different stitches.

This is the first time I have done any pulled thread work, made bullions, will most of these stitches are a first. I have done stem stitch, french knots, back stitch and the buttonhole stitch. I am going to have to do more pulled work as I like it.

I have enjoyed the class. They are currently working on the second piece, but I won't get to the other piece as we are leaving for Paducah on Sunday. Can't believe it is finally time to go on this trip!!!!