Getting some quilts done

I was able to get three quilt tops done while at Bear Cabin.  I used orphan blocks from Linda H. to put together a "hockey" quilt.  Also had flannel with hockey motifs for the backing.  It's nice to be able to make some quilts that work for boys.  

I also put together a four patch with fabrics I got in February from Chris' stash.  Chris was a hostess at the AZ retreat I attend, and lost her battle with pancreatic cancer earlier this year.  It made a bright, cheery quilt.

 

I enlarged this liberated pieced center also from Chris' stash for another bright quilt.

  It's so much easier for me to get tops done when I have some orphans or pieces parts to work with.  I also bordered this panel of tropical birds for another quick quilt.

 

Quilt camp

I had a lot to do on my return home.  I had two big queen quilts to quilt for Pat.  I wanted to get them done so that I could take them with to a planned trip to Bear Cabin Inn where I was meeting up with friends from Phoenix.  

I did get them done, but not without a hiccup.  Measure twice, cut once is a lesson I keep having to learn.  I measured out lengths of backing--Pat had bought lots of homespun yardage to use for backing.  I sewed the lengths together, loaded them on the longarm frame...and I thought it looked a little short.  I place the quilt top on the backing, and it is--very short.  I had to take it off the frame and add pieces to each of three lengths.  Arrrggghh!  No pictures of the finished quilts.  I meant to do that at the retreat where we could have tall people hold up the quilts, but forgot.

Got back and quilted a top for Yetta, who had so kindly donated a number of tops for Dr. Kaufman, and also a finished quilt.  

Grandbabies!!

We finished off our vacation staying with the kids.  The boys have grown so much, and we were there to enjoy watching their first forays with solid food.

It was a wonderful visit.  We came home to clearer skies.   Fortunately, the fire near Los Alamos, was north of us and not a factor in our air quality.
 

Lava Hot Springs, ID

As far as our trip goes, we saved the best for last.  We discovered Lava Hot Springs, ID.  We camped in town at the KOA before discovering our favorite spot, Big Spring campground just north of the town of Lava Hot Springs.  It was everything we wanted...Cooler high country, early spring flowers, not too many people.

 


We spent our days just lazing around, and every evening we went to town to enjoy the huge pool and then finish off with a soak in the hotter pools.  The water was amazingly clear with no sulfur odor, and very hot.  It was one of the best hot springs we've ever been to. 

On our way to Colorado to finish our trip we went through Soda Springs, and caught their captive geyser. It was pretty spectacular.  

We also filled up a couple of bottles with their natural soda water from the spring.  Dale enjoyed it...I preferred my store bought bubbly water.  

Also happened to catch the slag pour at the Monsanto plant near there.  Probably the closest I'll get to what looks like an active volcano.  

The drive through Wyoming and Colorado was uneventful, though I have to grit my teeth and just get through Denver.  I don't enjoy going through traffic in a big rig.