Summer Time This and That:

 One of the best ways to spend a lazy summer evening is with family at a Luau and dance recital.  Our youngest granddaughter, Racquel, above, has been taking hula lessons for the past few months and last night was her first dance recital.  The lady who teaches the group is from Hawaii and teaches all forms of Polynesian dances, right down to the flaming batons,  We joined the family early and got front row seats.

A Batik Workshop:

I've been looking forward to this past weekend for quit awhile.  In fact, this workshop is the very reason why I joined the Utah Surface Design Group headquartered in SLC and full of crazy talented ladies.  Intimidating, yes, but what a great group to push me along in my attempts to be creative.  The class was being taught in Heber City, Utah which is south of Park City and about 45 minutes from our cabin, where I stayed between the two day class.  While Heber City is growing at a fast pace, it still is pretty rural and offers views of Mt. Timpanogus, above, and the ski resorts of Park City, below.

Brigham City Quilt Show:

Every summer, Brigham City, Utah holds, what I consider, one of the best small quilts shows around.    Brigham City is a small town in northern Utah generally know best for peach orchards and LDS Church history.  The quilt show is held in their "museum" which is in the basement of the senior center.  The first year I went, I made the mistake of going through the main floor door and and had to ask directions which took us through a senior exercise class and down the back staircase.    I know better now.  The show. above, is hung in three smallish rooms and is FREE.   This means return visits  and the need to add to their donation box.  Below are a few of my favorite.

The New Long Arm is Here!!!!

 Isn't it just beautiful!!!!  My new long arm is finally up and running and happily situated in an12X11 and 1/2 square foot basement bedroom, the Quilt Cave #2.  It takes up half of the bedroom and the doors were needed to be taken off the closest so I could maneuver around to the back to roll the bottom leader up and turn on and off  the machine.

Road to Paducah:

 I have been thinking and talking about a trip to Paducah Kentucky for a few years now.  After Tokyo, Houston, and Lincoln, this trip was designed to pretty much finish up my "bucket list" for quilt shows and museums, though (don't tell Roger) I am sure there will be more added on in the future.  We had talked about flying to Nashville and renting a car from there, but when all was said and done, we thought a road trip was the best way to accomplish this "quest". We headed east through the Rocky Mountains, above, and spent our first night in Denver Colorado.

Chinatown Fashion Victim

Some people will wear anything to draw attention to themselves!

Okay I admit it, we both bought one as there was a terrific downpour but I did NOT wear that silly hood.  Still, they were a bargain at THB20 and probably had the added bonus of sweating a few pounds off us in the Bangkok heat!

A Fantastic Gift.

Sue Hammond painted this wonderful picture of our house in France and I just love it!  

Sue took a couple of photos and managed to capture the house perfectly.  Both Alan and I are very excited about having this painting hanging in our home when we finally return to France (which isn't long now).

Thank you Sue.