Return from the Lost Coast

Hello Everyone,

 

I'm trying to return to normal after our trip up the Northern California coast last week for a guild lecture and workshop with the Eel River Valley Quilt Guild in Fortuna, CA.  We came home on Saturday, then had a house full of little boys for our grandson's 8th birthday pool party.  Busy times!

 

 

Let me start by saying what a wonderful time we had with all of the quilters!  They were so welcoming to us, and darn good quilters too!  The Chamber of Commerce rolled out the best weather you could wish for too! 

 

Here are a few pictures from the Patchwork Math workshop.

 



Excellent use of Y-squares for a border or sashing.

 

 Quarter square triangles also make wonderful sashings and borders.

 

Here I am presenting the material to the class using my document camera which projects the material over my shoulder.  It's a great tool so everyone can see what I'm talking about.

My sister Gail and my cousin Melody were part of my "entourage".  I can't do a lecture by myself.  There is so much set up from the computer, and projector to the quilts on their stands.  Gail and Melody "womaned" the pattern sales table and they were also my "Vannas" while I spoke about my quilts.

 

Just a couple more pictures of the gorgeous area.  The morning of the lecture, Mr. Joe and I drove through The Avenue of the Giants.  It is 32 miles of cool, green, redwood forests. Breathtaking.

 



We went back to Ferndale for dinner Friday evening.  I'm in love with that little community. The Victorian homes are quite the eye candy.

 



 

 On the way home, we stopped at the historic Benbow Inn for brunch.

Here is a group photo of the entourage, minus Mr. Joe who's taking the picture.

 



We had a wonderful time in the northern part of the state.  So much to see, so much to do, and so many wonderful people.  I'm looking forward to a return trip!

Soon,
Lynn

Traveling Along the California Coast

Hello Everyone,

 

We started out our Tuesday with a visit to a quilt shop in Fort Bragg.

 

Then we made our way to Shelter Cove to spend the night with my former work colleague.

Shelter Cove is located in the Lost Coast.  I can see why since it is so remote and not easily accessible.

The Northern California coast is so rugged.  How would you like to live in the big white house? I loved the area, but I'm not sure I would want to make the drive into Shelter Cove on a regular basis.  The word of the day was "downshift" so the brakes don't overheat.  It is also fortunate that neither one of us on prone to carsickness.  I would have been "hurling" all the way down the hill!

There is a 25 mile hike along the Black Sand Beach Wilderness area.  Backpackers allow three days to make the trek.  In some areas they have to wait for the tide to subside before they can continue.  There are also many bear warnings posted.

We then drove over to Ferndale, the town known for it's Victorian homes.  The movie The Majestic was filmed here.  I loved that movie and now I'm going to have to watch it again.

We found a quilt shop!   Jacque and Sally welcomed us into their little slice of heaven in Ferndale.

It has a great classroom area lined in beautiful quilts.

Jacque made this wool applique.....spectacular! They offer it as a block of the month program.  If you are interested, and if the program is still available, you can call them at 707-786-5007.  The shop is so new they don't have a website yet.

These lockers make the cutest display area.  The nicely decorated shop is right up my alley.

Wonderful fabric selection.

I found this fabric to make a pillow for my granddaughter Harleigh.  Her pig, Kevin Bacon is headed to the county fair this Saturday.  She is so sad, her whole family is sad to say goodbye to their buddy who now tips the scales at 266 pounds.  He will go to the highest bidder on July 3rd.

We had a very relaxing lunch at the Victorian Inn.  So pretty, and quaint.

 

We drove up to Eureka, and Arcata to check the area out, then came back to our hotel in Fortuna.  We enjoyed our stroll down the Eel River walking trail last night.

 

My lecture is tonight for the Eel River Valley Quilters Guild, and the Patchwork Math workshop is tomorrow.  Maybe I should work on my talk today....NOT.  We are headed to drive The Avenue of the Giants which winds 37 miles through the stately coastal redwoods.

Soon,
Lynn

Road Trip

Hello Everyone,

 

When I said I needed a potty break.....this is NOT what I had in mind!  Mr. Joe has quite the sense of humor.  

 

We headed out early yesterday morning for our destination Fort Bragg, California via some Bay Areas back roads.  We never take a direct route and try to visit out of the way places, eat in local diners, and just plain bum around the beautiful California landscape. We arrived in Fort Bragg to this view outside our motel room.

 Dinner on the wharf.



 

 Our view from our dinner table while we watched the fishing boats return to home base.

 

More views from our motel.

 



Mr. Joe has always been the center of my world.  Instead of "hanging the moon" he's holding up the sun to light my way.

 

 

We were surrounded in beauty, from the sunset in front of us to the moonrise in back of us.

Love the reflection of the clouds on Pudding Creek.  I think I have a name for a new pattern.  Pudding Creek has a nice ring to it.

 

Here is the Strawberry Moon rising between the clouds.  What a great day of adventure, new roads, new towns, and today a new quilt shop!

Up early this morning for a morning walk.  As I walk, I am filled with gratitude of another day.  Life is so good. 

Soon,
Lynn