Where In The World Have I Been?

Well, I've been gone for 2 weeks and had a great time. My friend, Betty and I had talked about taking a trip for several months so we left on March 4th and headed south. We had some plans to stop and visit a couple of different friends and then just do sight seeing in between stops. The very first "sight" we saw was this tree with about 30 bald eagles in it, just south of Council Bluffs, IA on I-29. Wow, what a sight it was!!!

There were more eagles in a couple of other trees and many flying around over the water. We estimated that we saw 90-100 all together. I had always felt really lucky to see one or two but this was just over the top!!!

We traveled down through Missouri, Arkansas and to Biloxi, Ms. and then to Tallahassee, Fl. In Tallahassee we visited the MacClay Gardens. They were beautiful!!!

The moss

Azalea's, Dogwood and Palm Trees

Brick Path leading to the house

From the MacClay Gardens, we went to the Goodwood Plantation Museum and Gardens. It's in a residential area in Tallahassee now but don't think it was when it was built. The house and furnishings are outstanding, the gardens not so much but they are working on getting them restored.

After leaving Tallahassee, we headed for St. George Island, Fl., to see Grace and John. We spent 3 delightful days with them on the beach. St. George Island is small but has some nice white sand and we left a few foot prints there. It sure is different than Iowa!!

Betty enjoyed sitting on the beach, listening and looking at the ocean. We saw dolphins in the distance one day.

The lighthouse on St. George Island



Brown Pelicans on the posts...

One morning Betty went oystering with John and we had fresh oysters and shrimp for dinner that night..yum, yum, very tasty. The next day, we "girls" went to Panama City to a quilt shop "Quilting by the Bay". It was fun to visit the shop as I had been on their site many times on the Internet and probably had even placed an order or two. We all purchased a little "something".  Betty and I left St. George on Saturday morning, March 10th and headed for Trenton, Fl. to a Craft and Quilt Festival, it was a good day for sure. I'll be back in a day or two and tell you about that day with a lot of pictures to show you.  It was wonderful and lots of "quilt" eye candy for us. Sew until I come back, I hope you have a Stitches kind of day and I'll see you soon...

Imagine My Surprise!!

I got the March newsletter this morning from Quilt University and always enjoy reading Carol Miller's thoughts on any number of subjects. Then I decided to go directly to Quilt University.com and check out the new classes and Student Commons to see what was posted on there. I looked at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival pictures, checked out the Orchid Extravaganza and then decided to look at the Eleventh Annual Virtual Quilt Show from QU.  Can you imagine my shock when I scrolled down looking at the winners in the Applique catagory?  My Dad's fabric portrait was one of the 5 winners and one of two with Honorable Mention!!! Honestly, I do not even remember entering my piece for consideration in this contest, honestly!!  I am completely shocked and it is such an honor and my Dad would be so proud of this. Those of you that read my blog know that Dad had passed away in January of this year.  I'm sitting here crying right now, this has really been an emotional start for my day but I'm so, so proud and I thank everyone who voted in the virtual QU quilt show.  Whew, I am overwhelmed but so, so honored...sew until next time, I hope you have a Stitches kind of day........