Sunday Quilt Inspiration: RVs

Richard has been bing-watching RV shows. The last one is about luxury RVs in the 3-400,000 dollar range. Not something we are the least interested in for ourselves, but it's fun to see what is out there in the world of big-spenders. Of course, this got me thinking of quilts with campers and RVs. And guess what? Yes, of course, there are a few. 

Indian Creek Reservoir

Every year my family makes an attempt to get together for a weekend of camping, boating, eating and general water fun. Those of us with campers try to get campsites near each other. That usually doesn't work terribly well, but it's good to have two general areas. One can escape to the other area when necessary.

After all, when many people gather in one place, there's bound to be some noise. Unfortunately, not many of us were available this weekend, but three campers and two boats showed up and brought 25 or so people for an afternoon of water sports and supper. Ahh, family!

So these pictures are some that I took in the afternoon near the waterfront. I didn't have to walk far to take them. As Richard and I were walking "home" to our camper, we saw a little squirrel who leisurely climbed this odd tree with the hole right through the trunk. I missed the squirrel, but the tree cooperated.

Notice that I didn't take any pictures of family. Actually it's because I did not want anyone taking pictures of me...it's so hot I truly was melting in the heat. Not something I want posted on social media, so I decided to abide the golden rule. How do you decide which family pictures to post? It's a tricky question for me, especially when posting on my blog. Do you feel that way? 

Going, going, gone!

Written on 7/10/2017

And we’re off! We left this morning for a few days of vacation time. The plan is to go to the Badlands of South Dakota then visit my sister.  If we still have a bit of gas (in the truck and in our own tanks), we’ll head toward Yellowstone, but that won’t be determined until we are almost done with North Dakota.  We may even throw Canada in for fun.

I absolutely want to add at least Nebraska, (Lincoln and Quilt Study Museum prepare yourselves) and the Dakotas to Across America, the button map. The quilt on which I sew a white button to each state as we visit. There are still many states that need buttons, but here out West the states are freakishly far apart! So if I add these three plus Montana (I need only a little piece of the big sky) and Wyoming that will be a huge, really huge, accomplishment.

But we haven’t even gotten to Nebraska. We left at 9:00 (our time) and drove until 3:00 (still our time) and I feel like someone beat me. We’re in Mississippi. Big whoo! I could have residency in this-here state, I’ve been here so often. (Side note: I added my own hyphen to this-here. I like it, so leave it alone.)

The problem is that the new truck is rough. Richard assured me that it would have a smoother ride with the camper holding on to our tail, thanks to the added weight. Well, I’m not so certain that’s working as planned. It’s possible that he hasn’t a clue what he’s talking about. Generally he does, I’ll admit that, but this farm equipment is rough as an old tractor breaking new ground. And yes, the camper is behind us. And yes, it’s got some weight on it. (I had a little more time to pack up some “stuff.”) And yes, I’m keeping myself busy to while away the hours.

I have a book; a quilt I’m hand quilting; my rosary; a morning nap and an afternoon nap; and Cotton needs grooming. Plus, there’s eating, entertaining the driver so he stays awake, and just general annoying everyone around me. Too bad for them they are only two—driver and puppy. Not much of a challenge. However, you’d think I could blink away six hours with all those activities. No, not quite. The achy butt and hot body are reasons for ticking away every second of those six hours. Here's to making good, smooth time tomorrow.  

Written on 7/11/2017

First thing this morning, after we got on the road, I discovered that I'd started us off in the wrong direction. Now understand that lots of things changed in the last 24 hours before our escape. Richard invited the grandies, but then we discovered they would need to be back in a few weeks and decided we could not take our planned vacation. So in a rush to beat the clock, I planned another, completely different, vacation so that Lane and Jolie would have the chance to see mountains--Appalachians rather than Rockies. Not the same, but doable. 

Then all that fell through. And we were back on the path to the Rockies. I guess my brain didn't keep up with the changes because we definitely were not in the right place this morning. We made good time today, but I got to pee only once the entire day...not my favorite way to travel. 

We're back on track--heading northwest anyway. Tomorrow we'll stop at Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, MO, because why not? It's only 20 minutes out of the way. For that I'm giving up the Laura Ingalls Wilder homes in DeSmet, SD. Maybe I'll find some of the Little House fabrics at MSQ. 

The following day we hope to be in Lincoln, NE, for a tour of the National Quilt Study Museum. My family accuses me of planning our trips around quilt places. I do not. If I did, I would have gone to Marshall Dry Goods in Batesville, AR. It was only an hour out of the way. I do admit that it's a rare occasion when a quilt place along the route slides by. 

We stopped at a little RV park in Cabool, MO. We prefer state and national parks but when it's time to shut down the engine, we take what's available.  It's a bit too crowded with RVs for pictures of tonight's romantic little getaway, but Richard noticed a robin and a pasture full of cows. 

Celebrate!

Wide awake and looking
for a bottle from DeeDee.

Our youngest son celebrates a birthday today. He is 33 now. The middlin one will be 35 in two weeks and the oldest makes 38 in July just a few days before our 39th anniversary. And somewhere in all that celebrating I get to retire. Lots of changes for us, but by the grace of God, all good changes.

And of course, there's this little addition to the family. She came for a visit last night so I could help mommy with a little English homework. Good thing I've read Hamlet. 


 I enjoyed holding her, giving her a bottle, burping her. It's always wonderful to have a baby in my arms. Of course, in no time I had her sleeping. How sweet is this?

While there may be lots of celebrating, and with it much stress, there's also many opportunities to relax and spend time with each other. One way we're doing that is to visit with my sisters this weekend when we go camping at a nearby campground. We take turns cooking meals for whomever shows up. 

Everyone in my family is invited...my seven sisters, their children and grandchildren, and usually a few friends who show up. Sometimes those friends are significant others to a niece or nephew. Sometimes they are young friends to the preteens and younger children.

Marley hiding so I don't know
who ate my pear.

I am really looking forward to this family gathering. It's always fun and energetic and a great way to connect with the family that I don't get to see very often.  Richard and I are sharing a double campsite with our oldest, so Amelia will be right next door all weekend. I plan to set up my hammock and rock her. She loves to nap with her DeeDee. 

What are your Mother's Day plans? Are you lucky enough to be able to spend time with your family?

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: C A M P I N G

Marly and a friend had a campout. Let me rephrase that: Marley, a friend, Jenny and Adam had a campout. The girls are seven; they are not brave enough to sleep anywhere away from at least one adult. They also have not gotten to that age when a child wants to sleep anywhere so long as they are away from all adults. 



They asked to sleep in our camper, to which Richard agreed. Interestingly, they ate supper in the house, packed clothes then took baths in the house, and went out to the camper well past their bedtimes. Begging Adam to come sleep in the camper because "momma can't protect us from the big monsters." I suppose she can handle the little monsters. 

I began wondering whether I could find any camping-themed quilts on Pinterest. It turns out that it's not difficult at all. Take a look!

What are your thoughts on camping? 
#fleurdelisquiltsonpinterest

How a Quilter Travels

I am almost ready to go camping. Or maybe vacationing. Or maybe just have a staycation in the camper!  lol  It doesn't matter to me where the camper spends the night. If I'm in it, I can get some quilting done.

First, I made several quilt kits.  I thought I needed to hurry, so I put these together quickly, but they'll make some nice quilts. Because I don't know when I'll get to any of the kits, I wrote some notes to remember my original plan.  I'm likely going to forget what my intentions were and mix things up. Now, that's okay, but the problem would be that I wouldn't end up with the quilts I need.  In some cases I even included a cone (or two) of thread. 

Here are the four quilt kits: two pink baby quilts (at the top) one in a tumbler design, which I cut on my Accuquilt Studio cutter; the second one is a simple rectangle block. I cut 5" squares (finished) and then cut those in half. My plan is to mix up the squares for a fun, easy baby quilt. The tumbler will be a bit different because I cut half of the squares in a solid light pink that I bought after Mother's Day. I plan to alternate the solids and prints. 

The peach quilt on the lower left uses a new design that I created last week. I want to write a pattern for it and need to sew up a second quilt to make sure I don't miss any steps. I think it uses scraps and a Kona off-white.

The last one is a Drunkard's Path quilt using Kona cream (maybe?) and scraps. Some of the fabrics will appear in all four quilts, but once they were out and pressed, I hated putting them away and starting over again. Besides, the pinks worked. I may be sorry later and get sick of those pinks!

I couldn't take the idea of leaving behind the Quilty 365 blocks. You never know when the iron is hot! I may have a minute and an idea. 

And if I'm going to bring the circles, I need to bring the plaids. 

And always, some solids. So now that all of this is in the camper, I just have two things left...the Bernina and the container of tools (scissors, pincushion of pins, needles, thread, snips, bobbins, etc.) I've been using those, so they will stay in the studio until I know the camper is pulling out. Luckily I have the best husband, who will stop at a quilt shop for a thimble. So I don't fret about forgetting anything, but it is easier to have the things than to find a shop. 

Happy Quilting,