Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Natchez Quilt Show with a van of very funny ladies. Most of the "Busy Bees" are from the Fifth Ward area of our parish, but because they could not fill all of the seats on the van, they invited members of my quilt guild. Rather than drive as we did last year, Pam and I decided to take the van.
We arrived early which gave us several hours to spend at the show; then we went to a sweet little quilt shop. More on that and more pictures from the show later in the week (I took well over 100) So I'm going to share a few of my favorites with you tonight and come back to them when I can finish the editing.
I brought a book along to read during the drive thinking that because I knew so few people, I wouldn't chat very much. Well, I didn't get much reading done. I was having too much fun talking and laughing. I took the opportunity to make some like-minded friends. I'm fairly sure I'll see them again, perhaps on a bus or van heading to a quilt show.
Here's hoping that you enjoyed my little quilt show. There were at least 100 or so quilts and I wanted to really look at a few. I took detailed pictures of some, but mostly I walked slowly and appreciated the beautiful work. Talk about inspired! I just wish I could do some of this work.
Two things left: don't forget the poor people who are dealing with the flooding along the Gulf Coast. The rains continue and more people are being displaced. It's a horrible situation for tens of thousands of people.
Lastly, come back in a few days for more of these gorgeous quilts. Before going, do me the favor of telling me which was the last quilt show you attended and where it was. If you wrote about it on a post, feel free to include the link--I'd love to run over and have a look. Thanks y'all!
Richard and I love to travel along the Natchez Trace Parkway anytime we are headed in that general direction. The road is smooth and easy, there is little traffic; plus the 50 mph speed limit makes it especially safe. We jumped on the Trace in Natchez and rode it to Tupelo, where we were to get off to head toward Knoxville, TN.
While on the Trace we made a couple of stops because it's just difficult to ride along for so long and not do something interesting. Even if you've done that something before. Even if you've done that something every time you've been. Even if you've been several times.
I love the quiet and serenity of the Trace. I planned a side trip just a few miles farther north than necessary so we could go to the Meriwether Lewis Monument. I wanted to take photos of the area because I teach Undaunted Courage as part of the CCSS curriculum in my English III classes.
Within walking distance from the monument is a replica of wilderness houses of the era. This house stands near the ruins of Grinder's Stand, the house where Lewis died. At that time several houses stood as inns along the Trace for the farmers, boatmen, and others who walked or rode horseback from Natchez to Nashville, using the 500 mile route that Native Americans had cut hundreds of years earlier.
This photo shows an outline of the fireplace still visible from the Grinder home. It is all that is left of the place.
The Trace is so much more than these two stops. In fact, one of my favorite craft shops is the Mississippi Crafts Center near Ridgeland, MS. Have you had the pleasure of traveling along the Natchez Trace Parkway?
