We’re Home…

…safe and sound! We took the Black Ball Ferry instead of the BC Ferry and must admit we loved how fast it was!!  Also as you drive off the ferry you go through customs…Everything is done in one step and one wait!  AND the best part~ the Ferry docks in downtown Victoria…this is the first building you drive by

…gorgeous isn’t she…our Legislature Buildings!

Everything looked wonderful at home!! Tulips were still blooming…

Ted, our wonderful neighbour mowed the front lawn for us so it was a VERY welcoming site!  The backyard was a different story….the grass must be a foot tall!! But she is GREEN!! 

And then there is the mail…YIKES!

  See those parcels…YES they are for ME!! 

Look at what Ulla from Finland sent me for Christmas…a gift!!  The only thing is it came after we left…  Inside was this lovely pincushion, needle case (which will really come in handy NEXT holiday!!), a heart shaped cookie cutter, some grey wool roving (to make Finnish sheep!) and two chocolate bars…and they WERE delicious! THANK YOU SO MUCH, ULLA…what a lovely surprise to come home too…

What’s this another parcel??  Yes, I won Linda’s give away…quite awhile ago…

Do you remember this gorgeous pillow, well I won it and it is even nicer in ‘real life’!!  Penny from Sew Take a Hike Blog gave us a tutorial on how to make the roses using knit fabric. Now I can make them myself… or at least try…

Penny also sent an extra gift (you shouldn’t have…but so glad you did!!)  Gorgeous wool…which I will felt after the laundry is done!  THANK YOU SO MUCH, PENNY!!

And this?…hmmmm…It’s from Dawnie, another blogging friend from Australia…hmmmm…Inside was a lovely note and this darling Digby Dog Pincushion Pattern by Anni Downs!!  LOVE it!!  How thoughtful of you, Dawnie!   And look…Dawnie had Anni write a message on the pattern!!  How cool is that?  THANKS SO MUCH, DAWNIE!  Isn’t the world of blogging wonderful!!

Now..for the world of reality…and UNDER the bed…YIKES!! This isn’t all fabric…is it…?

 

No…it’s not ALL fabric…I have books and patterns and wool…and I do see a towel over there…Yes, it’s definitely a towel…I have my work cut out for me… :o)

Have a super Sunday and Happy Quilting!!

The Great North West….

We are currently in Port Angeles, Washington, staying at a KOA RV Park tonight and will catch the 8:20 am. Coho Ferry to Victoria tomorrow morning.  If all goes well we should be home by noon tomorrow!

As I walked the pups around the park for their last walk of the day I snapped a few pictures for you to see what the great North West is like…a little different than the desert!

Giant fir trees instead of cactus…

and don’t forget the mighty cedar…ahhh smells wonderful!!

Lots of cute little signs so that you don’t get lost in the woods….

Grass instead of sand…

Salal covers the forest floor…instead of tumble weed..    Dandelions instead of gorgeous desert wild flowers….  Tulips instead of flowering cactus….

Flowering cherry trees instead of flowering yuccas….

  Spring rockery flowers instead of more wild flowers…

Totem Poles instead of Palm Trees….

And BIG bears instead of Road Runners…

AND did I mention RAIN instead of sun!! 

Are we there yet?

Just give me a dog park and I’m happy!!  I even like washes..dry washes that is…it’s a little cold here and my feet are wet!! 

  On the quilting front~ More stitching…Baskets of Life..

Have a super Saturday and Happy Quilting!

Homeward Bound…

Well we are heading home…tonight we are staying at a KOA camp that could easily be the setting for a Stephen King novel…dark and gloomy with lots of fir trees and hardly any other campers…. Creepy…but the good news is..we are just outside of Portland, Oregon which means we should be home tomorrow!  Whooopteeedoooo!!  It’s great to go on a holiday and leave Winter behind…BUT there is NOTHING like going home!

I did lots of stitching today…working on the Baskets of Life blocks by JAM (JoAnn from Wool Crazy fame..) It’s a good thing that it’s suppose to look primitive because my stitches are all over the place!!  The road was SO bumpy!  Get ‘er done is my motto…here’s a peak…

See~ there are three stems without flowers…this is where I will appliqué three woollen stars.

Also I HAVE to show you my LAST quilt shop of this year’s Snowbirding trip… all good thing must come to an end!!  The LUCKY quilters of Salt Lake have got two award winning shops…both voted in the top 10!!  Material Girls Quilting was featured in Quilt Sampler Spring /Summer 2008!  I was lucky enough to pop in for a quick visit on our last day in Salt Lake City.  I was only able to get a few shots at the entrance to the shop but I think you get the idea!

There was an overload to the senses walking into this shop.  So much to see..I loved all the baby quilts..you can see some of them in the picture below.

The quilter’s economy is going strong…look at how busy this shop is…at first I thought there must be a sale happening..but no…just a lot of quilting happening in Salt Lake City!

Salt Lake City and area have an abundance of Quilt shops…the Quilter’s Haven and Material Girls Quilting being just two of them!

So that’s it for this Snow birder's Shop Hop for 2010!  Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did?  Do you have any favourites?  I know I do..!  Who knows.. you might just get to visit some of these wonderful shops!

Have a fun Friday and Happy Quilting!!