Putting Travels to Rest

Arches Sunset
Originally uploaded by JAmundsen

We've been home for a week now, and I am finally out from under the task of editing all those vacation photos. I love travel, but since I'm part of this family, taking photos is a must. AND sitting with PhotoShop (Elements for me---the others can be smarties) for hours as penance for enjoying the travel so much. I don't mind, really, and if this is all I have to complain about, then I am fortunate.

I think this photo will be the inspiration for a small quilt project--although who knows when I will ever get around to it? I have 3 "kid quilts" to finish in time for Christmas, and any number of WIPs to attend to. But, if it is meant to be it will happen.

Utah Rocks

Originally uploaded by JAmundsen

Tonight I am in Las Vegas, visiting family as we head home from a wonderful two weeks on the road, traveling to Utah for a week-long Exploritas photography expedition. On our way out, we spent time at North Rim of Grand Canyon and two wonderful nights at The View Hotel in Monument Valley. They are special places, and I never tire of return visits.

Our home base for Exporitas was Moab, Utah. What a place! Two National Parks and other natural wonders all within hours' driving distance. The scenery was spectacular, a point-and-shooter's dream; I was tempted, but did not put the camera on full automatic even once. I love my Digital Rebel, and am determined to test out all its nifty features. And, I am seriously considering integrating some photographs into a wall hanging or quilt.

Not Much Better Than This

Originally uploaded by JAmundsen

We are still "on the way" to join up with our Elderhostel group in Moab, Utah. We spent the past two nights at North Rim in Grand Canyon. The weather was perfect and we got some stunning pictures. Today, we traveled here via Marble Canyon, where we stopped at the bridge and saw two giant California Condors in flight. Magnificent. The icing on the cake, however, has got to be this view from our room at our hotel, owned and operated by the Navajo tribe, and right in Monument Valley. It is called THE VIEW, and the view certainly can't get better than this. We will be up early to get sunrise photographs, then head out at 8:30 with a Navajo guide, for a little photo expedition. Who said retirement would be boring?

I Love The Mountains....

Trail Ahead
Originally uploaded by JAmundsen

And so we are getting ready to head out again. Not to the hills this time, but on a photographic expedition to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. Elderhostel has become Exploritas--I guess the baby boomers have a problem with the term elder. In my day, it meant experienced and worthy of respect. I am proud to be an elder. But, by whatever title, we have enjoyed our previous trips and look forward to this one. On our way out to Utah, we have planned stops at North Rim of Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. We may be snowed out of the former; if so, we will head to Page, Arizona, to see Antelope Canyon.

I spent today making birthday siggies to mail out for October and November and prepping handwork to take along for the quiet times in our hotel room. I've a ton of applique to complete for Oopsie Daisy, so I surely won't be bored.

We will not be out of email, or wifi range this trip, so I may even do some "on the road" blogging.

Keeping Busy

October Basket Block
Originally uploaded by JAmundsen

Wow! It's been three weeks since I've had time to put fingers to keyboard. We spent a wonderful week traveling in the Eastern Sierras and into Yosemite. We hiked and took lots of pictures. We even saw a big, brown, black bear. Such fun, and the fall colors were amazing. Then, my best buddy, BW came down to my house for a much-needed quilting retreat. Our new project is called Oopsie Daisy, and has been featured lately in the Keepsake Quilting catalog. We both had picked up the pattern a while ago, and between our extensive stashes of 30s fabric, this one will be a keeper. Lots of applique, though, to slow me down.

This morning, I made the little October basket block for my Yahoo! Group, and I've been "cogitating" over ideas for two blocks swaps that I have to get done before we leave for Utah in two weeks. We are going out to Canyonlands and Arches with Elderhostel. I am so looking forward to this, as we've wanted to visit that part of the US for many years. Then, it will be time to settle down and face the holiday season. I can't believe how this year has flown. Time is relentless in its march, for certain.

A Quilt for a Little Boy

Danny's Quilt 2
Originally uploaded by JAmundsen

I have 6 grandchildren, but only one grandson. And now that he's 3, it's time to move on from his sweet baby quilt to a real "big boy" design. I had so much fun working with the bright, primary colors---like playing with that wonderful 64-color box of my childhood. I got the patterns for the large transportation blocks from a great book, Block Magic, and the prints are from a cute Michael Miller kids' collection. I'm thinking of a cozy, flannel back for snuggling. Because it will get plenty of use, I plan to have it quilted in an overall pattern.

Basket BOM Sept 09

Basket BOM Sept 09
Originally uploaded by JAmundsen

I was happy to be invited to join yet another Yahoo! quilting group. It's a BOM, and we're making little baskets. I had already decided to go dormant on my STUD group, since I have participated every month for the past year and my quiltie wall is pretty full. I'm still in two other quilting bee groups, though, so my swapping times are most definitely not over. The "teaser" basket pattern for September was just too cute to resist. And these blocks will be all for ME! I have a slew of leftover Oriental prints from a Sudoku top I did last year. They are so pretty and I will use them as the focus for my blocks. And, my dental hygienist gave me some very lovely silk "scraps" that she no longer wanted. The dark blue makes a perfect background for these little 6" blocks.