Wedding Weekend

 We were invited to attend the wedding of our SIL's brother.  
Our daughter asked us to forgo the festivities and watch the baby instead. 
 We needed to bring him over to the wedding venue for photos after the wedding then home after that.  This is the wedding quilt I made for Cam and Haley. 
 I don't think I got a photo of it after it was quilted though.

Since we were camping and didn't want to move our camper just for the weekend, we rented an Airbnb.  It was called Bear Holler.

  Nice place.  

A log cabin in the woods.

Since it was a 4 hour drive with no stops we actually took our time and made a few stops. 

Two of those were at quilt shops. (of course). 

 First was at a shop called Sew Much Fun in Gastonia, NC. 

 It was an amazing shop with LOTS of modern fabrics.

There was so much to choose from I just walked out with nothing, LOL.

It was overwhelming!

The other one was called the Carolina Cotton Company. 

 This shop also had lots of fabric. 

 Honestly if you are looking for any team fabric they have it all here!

Once we got to the cabin we settled in and waited for our assignments, LOL. 

 The kids came on Friday and we had grandparent duty for the night as they went to the rehersal dinner. Papa and A loved rocking in the rocking chair on the porch!

The day of the wedding was a gorgeous one.  

We got baby A all dressed and delivered him to the photo shoot.  

Papa and Gigi even got our photos taken! 

 Isn't our little man so handsome!?

After the festivities, on Sunday it was time to travel back to our camper.  

We sure did miss our boys while we were gone.  

They were SO happy to see us when we finally got back. 

 Again, we made a few stops along the way. 

We stopped in downtown Hendersonville to look around.  

Next we went to Bat Cave (but shhhhh don't tell anyone else where it is!)

  We stopped at the Apple House and got some apples.

(good cover, wink, wink)

Next stop was Chimney Rock.

You can see the rock above our heads on the left.

We didn't hike there though.

We stopped at Lake Lure Flower Bridge too.  

Does Lake Lure sound familiar to anyone?

It's where Dirty Dancing was filmed! 

 We drove through the actual area, but spent more time on the flower bridge.

We found Mr McGregor's garden while we were there!

There were many painted bears scattered throughout the garden.  

That's Lake Lure in the background

I will end here for now.

I have more to write but need a break.

~XOP~

Visiting in NC

We have been in NC since we left Ohio.  
We have spent lots of time with Avery and his parents. 

 I am trying really hard to be choosey about which photos I share of him as his parents don't want too many photos out on the internet.

This is our set up at the campground. 

 As you can see we have added a screened in porch. 

 I'm pretty excited about that.  We put the boys in there but it doesn't have a floor and *someone* (not naming names, Cole) has figured how to go under and possibly out. 

 Oh well, I will use it to sew in!

See these 2 knuckleheads!

I was walking outside one day when I saw 6 of these lillies. 

 Someone told me they are called rain lillies. 

 SO pretty!

I am sharing just a few out of the HUNDREDS of photos I have taken this trip so far, LOL.

I have some from the mountains but that's for another time. 

 I am trying to go in order of events, LOL

 

He is literally the most adorable baby!

He loved being in the pool.  He kept trying to *catch* the water! 

OK, back to regularly scheduled blogging now.  

Finny was helping me sew my economy blocks for my economy fox quilt.

Every morning the boys cry to go outside.  

Finn has even begun using the "Outside" button to tell us he wants out also.

He didn't used to want to go outside with his brother.

This is them chilling in their tent.

I'll probably have a few more posts soon.  Lots happening.

~XOP~

Lincoln Travels, Berlin, Ohio

We have been on the road again, hence the lack of posting.

First we spent 10 days in Berlin, Ohio.

Our friend Kailie was camping there and so were her folks, so we got to meet and hang out!

Chris and I went to the local garden center. 

 They have the cutest fairy garden things!

Kailie's mom and I hung out one day and went to several quilt shops.

It was so much fun to find yet another quilty friend!

We went to the fireworks one night with Jana and Rick (Kailie's folks).

It was one of the best fireworks displays I have ever seen!

This was out set up in the campground in Ohio.

Which Cole is the real one??

Kalie, Jana and I all made a Mondo bag together.

  Then we made a pouch but I didn't take a picture of mine yet.

I always love a trip to Amish country. 

 The landscape is so serene.

 Eventually though, it was time to hit the road and travel to NC.

The boys are such good travelers!

Just look at that adoration in Finny's eyes for his dad!

More to come of our travels in NC and some baby pics!  

Guess who turns one soon??

~XOP~

Celebrating

My father-in-law turns 87 this month.  

Much of the family met up at my brother and sister in law's lake house to celebrate.

  It was so much fun. 

I thought I would share a few photos of our group.

This is Chris's dad with all of his children.

Chris is the third on the left.

My FIL and MIL and the kids

I managed to get a couple of photos with 2 of my great nieces (they are sisters).

Thadd brought Pepper and she rides in the car like a trooper!

That was the best part of this weekend.  

Today we got news that a very dear friend lost his fight with brain cancer today.  

We have been friends with them for almost 40 years now.  

We have seen the birth of 5 kids between us and

 they were able to be at both of my daughter's weddings.  

We went to see him a few months ago, right before he lost his speech.

  He got to see photos and videos of Avery and 

we were so fortunate that we made the long drive to visit with them!  

I brought him a brown scapular that had been touched to a relic. 

 I told him to wear it and Mary would watch over and protect  him.  

I sure hope she helps him into heaven today. 

 RIP, my friend, know you will be missed!

Hug your loved ones a little bit tighter tonight my friends.

~XOP~

More of the Reject's Retreat

 So...where did we leave off?  

Oh yes, the rest of the retreat! 

 First up was our trip to Sarah's in Lawrence.  

This is Traci modeling in front of the shop. 

This is inside the shop.

It was a great shop and one everyone should visit!

Paula found the cutest pineapple pin cushion!

After some shopping we went back to sew. 

 I managed to snap a quick selfie with Mel. 

 I may not have said it, but I missed these ladies so much!

Traci made the cutest pink elephant bag!

Just look at that flap! 

 I think it was my favorite part of the bag, but the peanut lining was pretty sweet.

We headed to Liberty and Angela Walter's shop, Quilting is my Therapy.

It was cool to say I have gone there but it really was not anything special. 

I enjoyed the other shops more, actually.

I did get this terrible photo of me and better one of my friends though, LOL.

The coolest thing, to me, were these angel wings!  

I have seen other people use them but never saw any myself.

There was the big pair you see me in above, and there was a little pair for kids next to it.
  OF COURSE, I had to sit down and take a selfie with the children's wings!  LOL.

Now on to talking about the things I was working on.  

My daughter, Shelby, drew a dragon in 2006. 

 This is the modified version of the dragon. 

 I wanted to make him into a quilt, BUT, did not have what I needed with me to actually do anything other than make the binding, SMH.

I made binding for another top that I finished while at retreat. 

 It is a Christmas gift, so I can't show the actual quilt top though.

This is a pic of the quilt top AND back and binding!!  
WOOT WOOT!!  
I sent this one to Liz to quilt for me as soon as I got back.

I bought these Kitty Corn fabrics to make a buffalo plaid quilt top at the KC Maker shop.  

This one is the Buffalo Plaid free pattern by the Empty Bobbin. 

 I can NOT believe how quickly it went together. 

 This will be for me.  

I am thinking that I will be adding the cat in the jack-o-lantern from the panel to the front of this one.

  I just ordered a back today, the same green kitties that are on the front.

The Knotted Thread has a bunch of this line packaged for backs (5 yard cuts).

If you are looking go check her out!

I finished a little bag also, but again, it's a gift so I can't share it right now.

No trip to KC is complete without having some BBQ.

We went to Jack Stack on the first night.

I had the brisket and turkey.  

Honestly, the beans were the best part of that meal!

I know, I know, turkey?

 But when it is done right it is the BEST!

This was more like lunchmeat.

I was pretty disappointed

Not everyone in our group loves BBQ 

(Who are you people?)

We went to another place called Q39.

It's a newer place but I have to say the brisket was the best I have ever had!

It melted in my mouth!

So for now, this concludes my trip with my buddies.

Never fear though, we are getting together again in November!

Traci owns a quilt shop in WI called Something Quilty.

She is having a retreat from the 3-7 of November.

Want to join us?

Give her a call!

I would love to meet you!

~XOP~