Autumn Flyer Train Ride

Go Postal and I gave his Dad this trip for his birthday this year. A snapshot through a moving train window doesn't really capture the beauty. It was an early and cold start in Spencer when we boarded the train at 6:15. This 22 car train had several antique dome cars brought in just for this day. We sat in a normal Amtrak passenger car. We arrived in Charlotesville for lunch and to a sunny 70 degree afternoon.

There was an eleven year old next to us that was with his father and grandfather for the day. He knew all the engines, what time they normally were scheduled to pass and at every milepost what train yard we were approaching. His nose never left the glass.

I would love to return to the area sometime to see the Universtity of Va, Monitcello, and drive on to Shenandoah National Park. But this was a great way to have a relaxing day and spend time with a couple of great guys. We finished off the evening with a BBQ dinner and grateful we were going to get an extra hour of sleep before church!

Halloween Fun

Our Next Relay for Life Raffle Quilt Begins

Mom had these Moda fat quarters in her stash...so I have added some chocolate and more pink dots for the border. There will be a pink ribbon backing fabric from Northcot's Quilt for a Cure line. Hope to get it peiced at my upcoming quilting retreat in the mountains. Its going to be a pattern called lovers knot from the Quiltmaker's Gift pattern book. I will hopefully have it ready to start selling tickets by the New Year!

BYOP

Buddy went with Go Postal and I to a BYOP (Bring Your Own Pumpkin) party last night and he came prepared with a pattern book. I carved the skull and cross bones and Go Postal did the Haunted Castle. The little saws and scoopers that come with these patterns sure beat the butcher knives we used to use as kids for details (not to mention safety). Thanks Off Camber for a great party...most people would be scared of all those pumpkin guts all spread on their driveways!

Lookin Spiffy

I was very proud of the deal I spotted when I found this Ralph Lauren suit on the Clearance rack for $119, all it needed was the cuffs to fit Go Postal! We finally had a chance to get it out this weekend when we attended a wedding. His cousins that he grew up with (they lived just across the street) came back home for the event. I hadn't met JB yet as he lives in Kansas City...but it was fun getting to hear a few of their stories. It was a pretty Fall day and the wedding was simple but elegant! And his favorite part....the chocolate truffles they gave away as favors and instead of yout typical punch a big bowl of sweet tea!

Surprise Quilt!

Our Bee made this as a surprise "good wishes" gift for a member that will be having surgery next week. I think we really suprised her. We each started with a snippet of the border fabric and the pattern for this "Hearth and Home" block. I love the way everyone's turned out a little different based on their fabric choices/values. This group suprised me last year with my 4oth quilt, don't quilters make the best friends?

My job was to bind it and I didn't finish it until Sunday morning (sitting at the hotel in Asheville) so I decided what a better way to get a nice photo than to hike with it and display it against God's Fall color pallete atop Tennant mountain.

Tennant Mt Hike on Sunday

Sunday was much warmer....so we headed again to the Blue Ridge parkway. But this time we were on a part I have never been too before, South of Asheville. The leaves had a little more color here due to the higher elevation. We parked near Black Balsam and hike up the trail to Tennant Mt.

Here is Dairy Queen and Whole Wheat at the top with a view of Looking Glass Rock in the distance. We stopped in Hendersonville on the way home for Mexican and it was a great ending to a full weekend of fun.