Blessings and Joy

Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain for all those who celebrate.  May the year ahead bring you joy and peace.

Skyline Part Two

Skyline Drive Fall Colors

The colors are still turning, should be at peak for a week or more, depending on where you are driving.  The oaks are still green, so that peak will be later, but the maples and gum and ash are in their glory.  The Parkway was filled with cars and people, each wanting to see all there was to see.  I could hardly get to the western overlooks safely, so will content myself with another trip after the oaks turn.
The last photo is a quilt representing Wind Cave Park in honor of the National Parks sesquicentennial...our group is certainly not the only one to do Parks quilts.  This one really caught my eye, and as it uses a technique I am currently trying out on one of my quilts, I wanted a photo to inspire me.  This one was done by a quilter in Nebraska.  

An Exciting Day in the Life of a Quilter

 Today a goodly number of the artists who made quilts celebrating the 150th anniversary of the National Park Service met at the Library of Congress for a tour and reception with a showing of the book in the Science Reading Room at the Library.  My oh my, what a thrill!

Back in the dark ages, when I was in graduate school, I used to use the Library for my research.  It was a far different place then, and yet has not changed at all.  The look is very much the same, but the procedures have definitely changed.  Much more security and movement control, you now need a special permit to use the main reading room.  They have preserved the historical structure though, and it is indeed lovely.  We haven't built anything like this since the 1930's.  The Jefferson Building was built in 1897, the Adams in 1938.  The Madison addition in 1974.  One of the highlights was a talk by Constance Carter, who recently retired after 50 years of service in the Library.  What a character, and what marvelous knowledge and life experience.  I can't wait until she publishes her life story!

Today brought back memories galore and brand new thrills..... a banner day, to be sure!

The Magical Geomorphological Mystery Tour....

The beautiful ridges on my trip to see my son in Seattle last June .The Basin and Range province is one of the most fascinating, I think.  But then again, the state of Nevada alone has enough varied geology to keep an army of PhD candidates busy for a very long time.  The Columbia Plateau....California.... oh my, California has such a weird and wonderful geomorphology too.  And the Cascades....There are just too many places that fascinate me.  Too many to ever really master.  But that is okay, it just means interesting reading for the rest of my life.  :)

A Preservative Free Treat

Tonight I am speaking at a Quilt Guild meeting, and decided to make fruit and nut bars.  A non-sequitur?  Not exactly.  When I need to think, I cook.  Usually.  The two quilts are challenge quilts to commemorate the U.S. space program for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.  I am speaking on my approach to challenges, so this seems appropriate.  I haven't ever laid out my actions in a sequential manner, so this will be a first too! Not quite on the same scale, but....

Shenandoah Fiber Festival

I do love fiber festivals! This one was in Berryville, and there was much more than I remember from years ago.  (Why am I surprised?)  The food was surprising acceptable (thanks Boy Scouts) and the vendors were full of yummy fiber and fabulous tools.  I bought.... well, fiber!  Fleece, yarn, and even a beautifully turned shawl pin.  Petting fiber ranks right up at the top of my sensory favorites!

So this is year two and a half of a five year plan to renovate and redecorate my sweet little camper trailer.  I have resealed windows, re-resealed one window, replaced a screen, replaced hardware, and sanded, cleaned and repainted the main room.  I have removed a bed and table, and ripped out old fabric.  My plan for next summer is to check the seals and redo the roof if needed, replace the floor and paint the ceiling.  Maybe replace the counter as well.  When I get through, it will be AWESOME!  If only it was closer so I could work on it in-between Pennsics.  Ah well, it is what it is, and I am loving not sleeping in the damp and mud.  And NO EARWIGS! Still lots to do.