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Let's say it was NOT memorable from a pleasure point of view. I knew it would be an uncomfortable trip and was not disappointed. 

I'm happy to report that I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I was at the gate at least 60 minutes BEFORE the flight was to leave. Positively loads of time. However, the airport was busy (Monday morning), and more and more people have NEXUS passes, so that line was long, but not nearly as long as the other one. It took time to get through security, but again, I ...

 The Winter season has ticked over down here in the Southern Hemisphere.  The weather has been fine and sunny, although the temperatures are definately getting much cooler.  We had great weather for our caravan club weekend away.  It was a long weekend with Monday 3rd being a public holiday, King's Birthday weekend to commemorate King Charles birthday.  Although his actual birthday is in November, it is celebrated in June.  Why?  It all goes back to King George 11 and the cold English winter weather, he started this tradition way back in 1748.  He had a November birthday, and announced ...

And another uneventful day of travel is behind me. I'll admit that I'm a bit shallow sometimes! Hey -- we're allowed to be that way once in a while. This was an exceptional year of travel for me, and a while back, I wondered if I would make 25K status with Air Canada. That would allow me Zone 2 boarding (always a delight) and two free luggage (up to 50 lbs), which is essential in what I do. That happened a while ago, and well, a couple more flights got booked, and hey -- can I make it to ...

We've been away on a caravan trip for the last week or so.  Our destination was Cambridge, and we had a nice leisurely time getting there.  The first stop was the Gumtree Motorhome Park at Taihape.     Checking out the sign, I wondered what the overseas visitors would think, there are no koalas in New Zealand.  Although there were plenty of gum trees in the park.

Gemma travels quite well in the car, but I suspect she just puts up with it.  But once we get to our destination, she bounds into the caravan, jumps up on the bed, and ...

We went out exploring one afternoon, driving an oval shaped route from Gore and back through the countryside, a road we hadn’t previously traveled on.  And goodness me, on reaching Clinton we discovered this sign, we had just driven along the Presidential Highway!

This stretch of highway between Clinton and Gore acquired unexpected fame in the 1990s when Bill Clinton and Al Gore were respectively president and vice-president of the United States. When President Clinton visited New Zealand in 1999, a photograph of the road sign was presented to him by the United States ambassador, Josiah Beeman.

Hello, Mr ...

Today I'm happy to announce the Virginia Quilt Museum QAL pattern is Ready! Details below and at my video today!

If you are new to my community, welcome! I'm thrilled to have you join Wendy and me for this wonderful quilt along! it's going to be SO fun to see all the different variations from this amazing Antique quilt. 

*** Virginia Quilt Museum Quilt Along Pattern is ready!***

It started with an antique quilt that I saw shared from the Virginia Quilt Museum.  I loved it and showed my friend Wendy Sheppard.. she loves it too!  We wrote ...

I've spent a little time on my first Noah’s Ark Stitchery, and finished one.  It’s only small, but after all, every little bit helps.  I had to go shopping the other day to buy some black Perle no.5 thread as I had run out.

Two rabbits, done

So where have we been on our South Island trip these last few days?  St Arnaud was on my wish list for this trip.  I remember travelling through this tiny alpine village back in 2018 and remarking that I would like to stay here for a night or two ...

Our caravan club weekend continued at Solway Park, Masterton.  The weather turned cold and wet, then back to warm Spring weather again.  With half of Robin’s birthday carrot cake still remaining from last week, I had frozen it to keep it fresh, defrosted it and there was enough to share with our caravan friends on Saturday morning tea.

Morning tea in the sunshine

Who doesn't love a Farmers Market?  This was being held just a short walk away behind the grand stand, so we wandered over to see what was available.  Mmm, fancy cheese, I couldn't go ...

Our weekend was spent in Woodville (about 90km each way).  We were invited  to attend a caravan rally (with a different group) and it was nice to catch up with several couples we had met up with over the years at different rallies.  One of the highlights for me was the craft display.  Although I didn't know it was happening ahead of time I had several hand stitched items in the caravan, so I could take part too.  There obviously is a lot of talent in this group, with everything from knitting, quilts, toys, hardanger on show.  I certainly ...

Last weekend was spent away in the caravan at a rally, and the weather was wet, wet, wet, with just a few fine spells in the mix.  But the ground was sodden, my shoes were covered in mud, guess I should buy myself a pair of gumboots, otherwise known as Wellington boots for those who don't know what I’m talking about.    No wind though, so that was a blessing.  We didn't go too far, just up the coast to Foxton Beach.  Gemma came along too, of course.  No dogs are allowed in this camp, I'm not ...

While we were away on our two concurrent caravan rallies, there certainly was plenty going on.  We arrived at Esk Valley Camp to find the ground wet and very boggy after a lot of rain.  New members Peter and Ruth got bogged down well and truly so a group of of good keen blokes pushed and pushed trying to get the motorhome out of the holes it was digging itself in.  That didn't work, so Robin was called in to tow the van out onto (hopefully) drier ground.

Robin to the rescue

Luckily the warm and cosy club room ...

Our holiday was coming to an end.  Driving on to Feilding we caught part of Cyclone Dovi as it was passing by.  It poured all the way down to our next stop, but luckily we missed the wind while traveling.  Always a worry when towing a caravan in high winds.  We stayed the next two nights at the Coach House Museum.  Even though we had been there recently, it certainly was worth another visit.  As we entered the museum, we experienced New Zealand as it used to be, when the settlers arrived.  Dense forests full of birdlife, which had to ...

These has been plenty of things planned for our ICA Rally while we have been touring around.  And today was one such outing that I have been so looking forward to.  A visit to K D’s Elvis Presley Museum in Hawera.  K D Wasley has been an avid collector of Elvis Presley records and memorabilia since the 1950s.  This was a real treat, and something I had been looking forward to with great anticipation.  I’ve been an Elvis fan ever since I heard him sing Love me Tender, when I was a young girl. 

We were warmly welcomed ...

Here we are, still on our ICA (International Caravan Assoc) trip.  After a week or so of gloriously hot weather, we had days of torrential rain.  The weather forecast promised us rain and colder temperatures, and it wasn’t wrong.  Just a bit of a shock after all that really hot weather we had been enjoying.  Sunday morning was time to move on, and I must admit that some of our group with bigger motorhomes were rather worried, as we were parked up on rather sodden ground.  Only one motorhome needed help in the end, and Robin was happy and ...

Over the long three day Wellington Anniversary Weekend, our Caravan Club was running the bi-annual Regional Rally, and we were joined by Wairarapa and Wainuiomata clubs.  This was held at Naenae College, the weather was  hot and sunny, and we were grateful to have several large shady trees to sit under.

Some of the vans at Naenae College

Our caravan club members

The highlight of the weekend, as far as I was concerned, was the mystery bus trip to Taylorville – I’d never been there before so it really was a complete mystery to me.  The bus arrived and we ...

We spent last weekend away with our caravan club friends, just a small group this time with four caravans and four motorhomes staying at the Coach House Museum.   A visit to the museum while staying here is always a must.  Inside the museum was a treasure trove of all thing to do with farming and agriculture.  A grand selection of carriages, gigs, carts, plows, all sorts of horse drawn implements.  Even a few early cars which would have been the envy of all in the area at the time.   Shearing, milking, and blacksmith tools, and a great array of John ...

 Today is Veterans Day! I spent the day at the Veterans Memorial Museum. We set up a table and "nominated" about 20 more Veterans for our QOV quilts. 

On a day like today, I wish my father was here. He would have joined me today and helped out. I feel close to him when I can honor veterans. My best friend and father!

One of the people we signed up was a WAV - Navy woman Veteran. She got so emotional that we would honor her with a quilt. She joined about the time I would have, if I would have ...

 Sorry. Saturday I had nothing to show. Sunday (yesterday) was cleaning the house. We were getting ready to have a clean house to come home to. Can you believe I actually put my stuff away?! No worries,  I will pull them out when I get back. 

Bowling was last night. What an awful night of bowling! We did get 2 games. My awful games were 138, 158, and 135. So much for a high average. I beat Patrick on the first one, then he kicked my butt.

Right after we headed down to Portland to send the night at the ...

Finally we are off on a caravan trip - the weekend was spent with our caravan club buddies, not too far away at Betts Farm.  Our previous caravan club rally had been cancelled due to Covid lockdown, as had our planned 3 week trip north.  So there was plenty of news to catch up with our caravan buddies.  The night ended with a lovely sunset, always so nice to see the gorgeous colours in the sky.

Lovely sunset

The weekend rally seemed to be all about eating and a little drinking.  Glenys was celebrating her birthday on Saturday so she rushed ...

Kara and I (Teri) are having an amazing time at Baltimore on the Prairie—teaching, catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones. We will fill you in on our event next week. 

This week, as we near the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, I would like to share with you a current exhibit at the National Quilt Museum—NEVER FORGET: Quilts from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. My husband and I stopped to visit the museum on our road trip to Nebraska, and we found this particular exhibit both beautiful and gut-wrenching. I confess that it kept ...