Lots to share..

but that will have to wait for another time.    For now, I am home to stay for a few weeks.   It all started on April 13th, a meet and greet on a Friday followed by two days of class; the next weekend a 3 1/2 drive for a 3 day weekend to State College PA;  then followed by a 2 hour drive for a 4-day weekend in Ocean City, MD; and, wrapped it up with 350 miles to Lowell, Mass for 5 days.........so I have missed  my WIP's post, and Oldest UFO post and probably a TUSAL post.    2,000 miles on my car in under four weeks and four weekends in a row away....good thing Mr. Wonderful has been Mr. Wonderful about it.

I take my iPad with me and not my laptop and I am not 100% savvy on posting and uploading pix to my blog from my iPad.   Challenged is probably better than saying not 100% savvy.  Case in point, I was trying to add 'pins' to my 'map' on Facebook and confused my sister when I somehow posted I was in Ocean City and not Lowell, Mass......keep them guessing is what I say.  No one really knew where I was!!!

For today, this is what I wanted to share.  It was so beautiful.   ~~Walden Pond State Park~~

View as you descend from the main road.

This is the view Thoreau had from his cabin.   

On the ride home this morning, my daughter and I took a detour and stopped in Concord, Massachusetts to visit Walden Pond.   Walden Pond, made famous by Henry David Thoreau, is a beautiful place.   It was well worth the hour detour off the interstate and the hour to walk around the pond.  We would be wise to live simply as Thoreau strived to do.

Once I catch my breath I will share posts of purchases, anecdotes, finishes and more Walden Pond.  I am looking forward to a weekend home (after going to my guild meeting of course) and playing in my gardens!

More goodies from Massachusetts

Technically from New Hamphire but acquired on my recent trip to Massachuesetts.   Does this happend to everyone?   We sorted and gathered items to donate at the Savers Store - like a Goodwill store.   We stopped, donated and then shopped and came away with more than we left?   What is up with that???    This is some of what I got......

I have a collection of Hoosier Glass vases. I don't know why these fascinate me.   Could be a woman I met at a friend's house party who conducts past life coaching told me I probably lived in the 1930's (?? huh?) Anyway, I am drawn to things of that era. This is what I was able to snag up at Savers - for only $1.99 each! Yeah!

It's hard to read but is does say "Hoosier"

I added these to my existing collection of Hoosier Glassware. Maybe I like these vases because I tend to be 'thrifty' and can't justify the higher cost of the other Hoosier Glassware. At any rate, I may have reached my quota of Hoosier vases since I have run out of room atop my dry sink and pie safe.

I don't know what I plan to do with them....a couple in the back are collecting wine bottle corks and I do use them for flower arrangements. 

Another not so good pix that doesn't show they both have the poinsettia pattern. 

I also snagged this cutie of a glass dish.   I recognized the pattern as Princess House and it matches the mugs I treasure that were my mother’s.   I think I might have paid $4.99 and if any of you remember Princess House prices from those home parties of yesterday, you know I got a deal.  

Off to Massachusetts

I spent a long weekend with my daughter's in Massachusetts.   One lives in Philadelphia and the other in Lowell.  Philly girl and I try to trek up a couple of times a year.  So much fun and so much laughter and over so quickly.    We crammed much fun and activity into 4 days and tired out our little New England transplant.   Thursday we arrived in record time and is was fun chatting and catching up.   Friday, we went to the New England Textile Museum.   I've got to hand it to the Massachusetts Arts and Cultural Commission......they have the most awesome museums.    The Textile Museum is a must see.   We grabbed a quick dinner and then off ot Derry, New Hampshire to Amy's weekly knitting group.  More laughter til the tears rolled.

On Saturday, Heather and I convinced Amy it was time to move up to a better sewing machine.   Three hours later we walk out with the Husqvarna Sapphire 835.   Oh I want one.   My current machine is a Janome and I have never warmed up to this machine.   I kept thinking it was a learning curve moving from a Singer to the Janome but 5 years later....I am just not feeling it with the Janome.   But I am sidetracked here....more on my machine dilemma in an upcoming post.  We rounded out the day with a trip to an Indian Restaurant.   WOW!  Mine was supposed to be mild.   Hot hot HOT.   But good.  Sunday we went to Old Sturbridge Village - what a nice way to spend the day. Here's my girls......had to take a few since they were not acting serious.

These lovelies were in with the quilting section.

And what did I find in the building with the fire arms were displayed but an excellent collection of needlework items.   In addition,  artisans were on site working in the blacksmith shop, the soap making barn, the tinsmith's were all so knowledgeable and professional.   It was a very enjoyable day. 

 Such ashame  I couldn't get better shots through the glass cases.

 This one was awesome.   Enlarged detail below.

 Stitched family record rather than written in the family bible

 One of the things that stood out that I liked about the 'village' was it

was not all manicured.  It looked like you stepped back in time.

Whew!

EDITED - It has been a busy busy week that ended with a drive to the Boston area on Friday.  I am spending a long weekend with my youngest daughter.   My trip starting by picking up my eldest daughter in Philly first to go with me. 

Yesterday we went to the New England Sheep and Wool Event in Contoocook NH.  It was a miserable day weather-wise.  I sure am glad we all got the brightly colored rubber pull on boots at Target before we went.  Otherwise is that a great day, just me and my girls.   I got this really nice merino-alpaca blend and pattern for a fisherwoman's shawl.  Since we were chilled to the bone, we headed off to Concord to find a place to eat.  

Once we had our lunch, we went off on an explore!  We found ourselves at Center Harbor on Lake Winnepausaki  (sp??)  in New Hampshire.  Of course, we settled into a fabric/quilters heaven.  I picked up some William Morris prints, fat quarters for $1 each and a pattern for a quilt for me called the Hokey Pokey!  Here they are resting in the nesting baskets my daughter gave me for Mother's Day.  There was a cross stitch store and a yarn store...like we hadn't seen enough yarn already.  Then a drive on back roads and a stop in Lake Squam for coffee before we hit the interstate back to Massachusetts.   I think I am in love and could move to this area in a heartbeat.    Thank you Anna for the spelling of Lake  Winnipesaukee.  Anna is originally from NH and commented about the beauty as well.

So scenic, so picturesque, just so gorgeous and peaceful.  It was a pretty as the picture.

Back to my daughter's and snacking on chocolate covered strawberries!  and playing with our purchases.  




I managed to do my quilt class homework and get all my layers arranged and pinned so I will be ready for Tuesday's class.    The other part of our homework this week was to make a label for our quilts.   I declined the piece of the iron on fabric that we were given to write our names on to later iron on.   Silly ladies.....I cross stitched my label!

Today we went to the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Mass.   The featured exhibition was Amish Crib Quilts and it was not a disappointment.  Afterwards, all three of us were ready for naps.    Bought some bobbins for a ridiculous $2.95.   Must be because Lowell was the home to dozens of mills and back in the day probably had a couple hundred thousand bobbins!

There has been a little stitching, a little shopping, a lot of giggles and fun.  The ride home tomorrow and back to work.