Window With A View ----

I’m writing this from the Philadelphia airport! I took a very short and very bumpy flight from Baltimore to Philly and am waiting for my flight home to Greensboro.

Can you see downtown Philly in the distance? I love seeing the barges on the water too, don't you? :c)

Some have commented asking why I flew to Baltimore in the first place ---- well, the biggest reason is because I do whatever I can to save the hiring guild expenses.

My original thought was to drive up here to Delaware…..stay until tomorrow, and then drive tomorrow straight to Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia for the Virginia Consortium of Quilters “Celebration.”

The only problem with that plan was that I would arrive in Virginia completely toast after white knuckling the steering wheel for an “at least” 5 hour drive from Dover to “somewhere near Roanoke.” The 4 H camp where Celebration is held is in a well-hidden-off-the-beaten-path place called Wirtz, VA.

In looking online at airfare, it actually cost way less for me to fly into Baltimore and have the Dover girls come get me…than it would have to fly into Philly, and the driving time for them is about the same. It also cost way less to fly this leg of the trip instead of driving it ----and it best of all is going to leave me less tired.

So I arrive home in Greensboro tonight about 5pm --- I’ll load up Shamu and and head to Virginia in the morning --- and get ONE NIGHT to sleep at home in my own bed! It’s worked very well for all involved.

My little hop, skip & jump flight lasted all of about 25 minutes ----and it was the same kind of propeller plane that I got to fly in Alaska! These are actually pretty fun --- if you like roller coasters.

The view from a dirty plane window!

Here we are crossing the Chesapeake Bay ----bound for Philadelphia! the propellers look curved, but they are not – they are just in motion and that’s what the camera is picking up ---

Another couple of minutes and I’m seeing the land on the other side! And there is the reflection from my lap --- HEXIES ready to sew!

After the couple days of rain we had this week---things are really starting to green up! I love seeing the aerial view and the “patchwork” appearance of the fields. SO NICE to see the trees leafed out and fully green!

More of the shore ----heading Northeast toward Philly!

what a beautiful world we live in -----even the patterns of the clouds creating shade add depth and contrast to the landscape!

I’ll be on my next flight heading south to Greensboro in about 45 minutes ---- better send this off and get myself over to my gate ---

Ladies & Gentlemen, thank you for flying Quiltville Air ----we hope you enjoyed your flight. Please check your seat back pockets to be sure that no quilting paraphanalia has been left behind or we will feel free to confiscate it for ourselves ;c)

iPhone-o-Gram! BWI Bound!

On our way to the airport in Baltimore!

Just crossed the bay bridge on route 301. Gorgeous day on the Chesapeake Bay!

And check out the size of this osprey nest!!

Cathedral Stars in Dover!

How can three workshop days go so fast?

Time has surely flown, and this morning I’m on my way home to North Carolina. I’ve had a great time with the ladies here in Dover ---I hope I can come back again!

Cathedral Stars is always a fun one to teach – there is so much going on in this quilt with the Jacob’s Ladder Blocks and Star blocks……and I love how things start to turn from simple units INTO something that starts to look like a quilt round about lunch time.

Our workshop went until 4pm and then Deb stole me away to go see some nature – we drove out to the marshy areas nearer the bay -----and I got some great pics of the area from a look out tower --- and then we went to Pickering beach to walk around a bit, grab some photos --- we spent our time up-righting horseshoe crabs that had found themselves upside down on the beach when the tide went out ---flipping them back over and helping them get back to the water….crazy, I know, but it was fun! I got some videos and will try to upload them later ---

I’ve really appreciated the hospitality that has been shown while I’ve been here. I’ve been in very good hands! They don’t call this the “Helping Hands Quilt Guild” for nothing!

Here are the photos from the workshop:

		Cathedral Stars, Dover, DE 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

At one point I needed to go outside where I could get cell reception to make a phone call. The sun was shining warmly – and I sat myself down on a granite bench ----within a minute, this little guy had come to not only say hello, but to jump right up on the bench right next to me….and then right onto my lap!

What a friendly guy, and a great purr-er! I guess he wanted someone to share the sunny spot with!

He was just as sweet as could be. When I asked about him, I was told that he actually lives next door, but considers the church his back yard too!

Look at him ----begging for more petting ---and seeming to say “I don’t suppose you have treats in your pocket, do you?!” I am such a push over!

Sweet guy – saw me heading back toward the entrance doors ---- and made a bee line to follow me….

Oh what a meowing ruckus to be let inside! Sorry, dude! Quilters Only!!

Petting him sure makes me piney for my own house, my own bed, my own purry furry by my side ----and with that, I’m headed there!

Have a great Wednesday, Everyone!