Oh, Happy Day

We're still in the area subject to the influence of Hurricane Isaac but, thankfully, just the outer bands of weather.  Therefore, we took the shutters off the back door this morning and the light streaming in was like a shot of sunshine straight to my soul!!!  It felt like bindings were loosened from around me.

When we put the shutters up, we were expecting to receive the brunt of the storm and planned to evacuate.  As the track shifted westward our forecast changed and we decided to stay home.  Since the shutters were already up, however, we left them there.  

Shutters ready to go up.

We go through periods of clouds, blustery winds, rain and then back to sunshine.  So far, we've had very little rain and no unusual winds.   

We'll sit tight until tomorrow and then all the shutters will come down. 

While it can be frustrating to deal with all the uncertainty, I try to remind myself that its better to be prepared for what doesn't happen, rather than be unprepared for what does happen!! 

Stay safe everybody.  

Y'all take care.  

Just a Bunch of Stuff

I am still alive and well, but that wouldn't be evident from my posting schedule. 

Shutters ready to install

We're in the middle of storm preparations and have most of our shutters up.  We'll finish later today and then head out tomorrow to stay gone until the storm passes.  They are so unpredictable and, although things are looking up for us, it won't be over 'til its over!!!

Got home from our trip to find that the front flower bed is now practically a jungle, thanks to all the rain this summer. 

The bleeding heart vine gave my neighbor fits by continually falling over.  He finally got it propped up using shovels and pitchforks!!  Now, I would've just whacked that thing back into submission, but he wouldn't do that.   It pretty much smothers the variegated shell ginger that is behind it and is gorgeous.  Danged ginger hasn't bloomed worth a hoot in all the years its been there.  I think maybe twice in at least 10 years.  

See that sago palm?  I detest that thing but it's nearly as tall as the roof now.  It grew a bunch over the summer too. 

The only flowers left in that bed are a couple of pentas, but they are hanging in there. 

While we were away, we enjoyed fresh produce from the farmers' market.  Our favorite was the tomatoes.  Just before leaving Vermont to come home, I invited our "neighbors" for dinner and made Paula Deen's tomato pie.   And fresh corn on the cob directly from the farm just up the hill.  Oh, to die for!!! 

Paula Deen's Tomato Pie

Since it rained that afternoon, we had to shift our dinner over to the campground pavilion so there'd be room for all six of us, but we made do.   Besides, how fancy can you get when its pretty standard campground etiquette for everybody to bring their own dinnerware and flatware?!?  The friends did pitch in a salad and dessert.

Shortly before leaving to come home, we took a little day trip up to the town of Newport, Vermont, where we had some wonderful muffins at The Bake Shop.  Then we took a stroll around town a bit and down to the harbor. 

It was such a gorgeous day. 

Y'all take care.  

 

Trekking and Trying

I love to trek out into the hinterlands trying to find wildlife and birds.   Since moose are indigenous to Vermont, I figured I'd make an attempt to find one.  Hubby and I spent most of the day up in the wildlife refuge.  Didn't see one single moose!!!   We saw about five sets of fresh moose tracks, but not one moose!!   It had rained the night before, so we could easily tell the tracks were very fresh.   

We loved the day out, though.    We took a picnic lunch and something to drink and off we went.   Had our lunch on the tailgate of the truck.   After we left the refuge, we just went exploring the area.

Earlier in our stay, we went over to the Victory Bog which is the origination point of the Moose River which runs behind our campsite.  

This place reminds me so much of Alaska.  

We didn't walk any of the trails that were there, but that's another story. 

We have enjoyed our stay up here, but it has not been all sunshine and roses.  Hubby experienced some medical issues that resulted in an ambulance ride to the ER and then a couple of weeks of uncertainty and anxiety, including another visit to the ER.  Thankfully, he's doing very well now.  

We've also experienced some mechanical issues with the RV.  We suffered a burned out motor on the front awning, which is still under warranty.  Finally got the motor replaced, only to have that one promptly burn out too!   Turns out the manufacturer was supposed to send us a new switch at the same time, and they didn't.  So, it cost them another motor and the second time they sent the new switch.  So far, its working okay. 

Now, if we could just say the same for the awning over the slide outs.  The spring in it broke. We got it replaced and thought it was working fine.  However, Hubby was worrying whether it would wind up properly, so we did a test.  Didn't work.  The spring needs to be tightened up.  The repairman who has done all this work does a good job once he gets here, but getting him to show up is enough to make you pull your hair out.   Says he'll be here at 9 a.m. and you're lucky if he shows up that day at all!!   Heck, it might be two or three days later when he shows up.   He's the only game in town for on site repairs, though.   Try dealing with that kind of aggravation at the same time as Hubby is having health problems.  A very trying situation. 

Y'all take care.  

More Lovely Flowers

I am continually amazed at how fast time seems to fly by.  Seems we just arrived in Vermont a few days ago.  Now, we have only a few days before we leave for home after having spent two months here!!!  

Our campground has been a joy.  We're at Moose River Campground in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.  In addition to the beautiful Moose River at our door, the grounds have some lovely flowers. 

There are no fancy plants here, just tried and true varieties that thrive in this good soil.  Aren't these lilies just the most gorgeous things.  A day or so later, the other three buds opened too.  

These are all in addition to those lovelies posted in I Love Flowers.  

We've enjoyed a time of mostly wonderful cool weather and that is why we came. 

Y'all take care. 

Happiness

We sat outside tonight in the cool air.  The flames leaped high and showers of sparks swirled every time new wood was thrown on the bonfire.  The colors against the night sky were blue and gold and red and green, swirling and turning and rising before burning into nothingness. 

As we sat there mesmerized, the singer's voice poured over us like honey, bringing back memories from days gone by.  A dance or two reminded us of how we met.


The individuals gathered there in that large circle joined hands to express our love for America before bidding goodnight.  

What a  perfect evening.


Y'all take care.  

Thanks to my Readers

I know that I don't thank all of you, my readers, enough.  I do appreciate all of you.  I also am pleased that some of you take the time to leave a comment.  I read each and every one of them even though I may not respond directly.  

Again, thank you so much!!


Y'all take care.  

A Visit to Vermont Quilt Festival

A friend and I went to the Vermont Quilt Festival near Burlington a couple of weeks ago.  It was a lovely show, with lots of quilts on display and about 80 vendors.  Truly a quilter's heaven. 

Duffer by Patty Williams of Plessis, New York, was the Best Miniature Quilt. 


Bonnie Hunter was one of the instructors at the festival and her quilt called Pineapple Crazy was on display.  Wow, all those little strips and pieces!!!   Follow the link to Bonnie's website where you can see the quilt pattern in all its glory.  It is in her new book called "String Fling" which should be out soon, if not already.    Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville

The quilt which won as Best Machine Quilting was just spectacular.  Not only was the piecing just wonderful, the quilting was beyond glorious.  I can't believe I didn't get a better picture, but perhaps you can get a glimpse of the intricate stitching. 

Here's a bit better look and you can see a bit of the quilting.  

This was made by Marilyn Badger of St. George, Utah.  If you use the enlarge feature on your screen, you can see the name of the pattern that was her inspiration, as well as the kinds of thread she used.  It is made of both cotton and silk fabrics.  And, there's lots of crystals on it too.  It truly was deserving of its award. 


Another quilt that really intrigued me is this one by Carol Newbury of Troy, New York. 

The tiled look is achieved by using raw edge applique to stitch small strips of fabric, thus creating the slanted coloration. 

All in all, we had a great day.  Everybody needs a good quilt show once in a while. 


Y'all take care.