Monday, July 20, 2015

Was I AWOL??

It seems like the past few days/weeks have flown by and were busier than usual!  I have missed blogging and am glad to finally take the time to make a post!

I have been checking your blogs, and it seems like everyone is moving along, having good days!

Much has been going on and I have tons to tell!  I even have stitching to show!!!

But first, I am so sad to read that Prairie Schooler is closing up--they are retiring!!!  I just caught a glimpse of the the final charts they've released--lovely, of course, but I hate to see them leave!  I think they're my favorites!

I've had a foot in the road recently--I already told about my trip to Fargo for my Music Convention!!  Here are a few photos I never shared.  I'd never been there before, so we took a tour and got to see a few sights around the city. We visited The Heritage Hiemkomst Interpretive Center, where we saw a Stave Church and a replica Viking Ship.



 

We also attended a wonderful piano recital at the Presbyterian Church.

My favorite was probably the Fargo Theatre, complete with the Mighty Wurlitzer.  A lovely man demonstrated the organ, and then accompanied a silent movie--one with Buster Keaton!!!  It was so silly but very funny!



I guess I never said that I was elected to national First Vice President, and will serve that for four years.  Then I'll step up into the National Presidency!  A big honor!!
Here is a poor photo of part of the installation, and also the lovely roses from my state, that were left in my hotel room!!!  So sweet!



I headed back to Memphis for a quick trip, and did my fun visit to Stichers Inc!!  I always pick up a few things, but didn't get them photographed yet!  I bought a few lovely threads from a friend on Facebook.....


And, I went into a wonderful fabric store, that had little shopping bags full of fabric scraps for $6.50!!  Well, I have never been one to walk away from a bargain!  There was one full pound of fabric in the bag!  I couldn't see in the bag, so that made it even more enticing!! THEN, when I got home I grabbed it and I LOVE my new fabrics!!  These are perfect sizes for little ornaments.  Most were Moda Fabrics--so cute!

 

My husband had an annual meeting in Destin, FL. It was at the SanDestin Golf & Beach Resort.  We drive there almost every year.  It's so pretty there--we love the place--but it was terribly hot!!  Oh well, it was a nice change of scenery.  Now he had a Saturday night meeting.  I needed to get back home so I didn't have to miss church because I'm the organist and it's hard to get a sub!  Our city has just gotten an air service--I mistakenly thought it was jet service.  I really did!!  So my husband took me to the airport in Destin to fly back alone to Madison MS.  Can you imagine the look on my face when I was told to get in this contraption????


It was an 8 passenger prop plane, and we had nine passengers, so a cute little 9 year old girl sat in the co-pilot seat and off we went!!!  What an experience!!!!  Very loud.  Very not luxurious!  Very much NOT what I was expecting!  It did bring back many memories of flying with my father in a 4 person plane--as a child!  Well, the good thing was that it took 1 hour/20 minutes to get home, and it takes about 6 to drive because the traffic is so bad!! Below is a photo of the pilot flying....this was my view!  You can barely see a little hair bow in the co pilot seat!!!


I just got back last night from Brevard Music Center in Brevard, NC.  It's about 30 minutes from Asheville.  We flew on Delta--not the above-mentioned air service!!  LOL!!!
We spent one night at the Grove Park Inn--one of my favorites!!  So beautiful and up in the moutains!  The left photo is the Inn--the right photo is my view from my breakfast table!  Gorgeous!

 


I found this so unique--the various donut flavors are on dowels, stuck in a section of a cut tree!  Isn't that different??

Then it was on to Brevard Music Center.  They have an open-air amphitheater and the music just flows around the mountains....so lovely!  This photo shows the orchestra getting ready for a performance.


We had our meetings and meals in a lovely room, overlooking trees and a lake with geese!  They had  beautiful Steinway in there!



I've gotten quite a bit of stitching done!  I will have to show more as I can get it collected up!  I desperately need a finishing day!!!  I don't want to ever have a stack as tall as one I had about a year ago!!  I stitched this sweet little BBD St Patrick's stocking on the plane. Isn't it cute??  It's on a hand dyed 30 ct. linen.  So fun!  I will show more finishes later--and I did stitch all 3 of the Lizzie Kate Sled Dudes!  I showed a finished one previously, and I've got to finish the other 2 on the sleds!  I really like those!


When I got home from Brevard, there was a wonderful envelope from England waiting for me!!  It was from sweet, sweet Jacquie, and I just knew I would love whatever it was!!  She sent a precious note to me, written on this beautiful lavender-themed note card.  A little package wrapped in pink tissue was in there--and it contained a wonderful handmade lavender sachet!  I LOVE IT!!!  Jacquie stitched some pretty lavender on it--TINY count--very lovely!!  And it just smells divine!  Thank you so much for thinking of me, Jacquie!  I have enjoyed our friendship so much!  I think of you when I walk by and catch a delightful whiff!!  I will put it somewhere that I want to smell sweet, but right now I have to leave it where I can enjoy looking at it!!!  Many thanks, friend!


Well, this was a LONG post, but I have been out of pocket!  I will post some finishing soon, I hope!!  I really want to jump into that stack of fabulosity!!!!  

I started stitching another of the St Patrick's stockings, because it was the most convenient thing to start then!  I am going to recycle some old stitching, and I have some great ideas for those things.  So, keep in touch and I will share all of that soon!

Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon!
Frances












11 comments:

butterfly said...

What a lovely post lovely photos lovely stitching .
I went in a small plane like this a couple of times loved it.

Vickie said...

I believe the smallest plane I flew on was a 16 passenger plane. Did NOT like that. The noise!
I am glad you have been having great adventures.

Robin in Virginia said...

Congratulations on your BBD stocking finish! It sounds like you have had a number of fun adventures. Thank you for sharing the photos!

Robin in Virginia

Beth said...

Some wonderful travels Frances. I enjoyed all the photos from Fargo.

Daniela Bencúrová said...

Frances, a wooden church is great!
Did you have a lot of beautiful experiences!
Greetings!

Angela Tucker said...


Frances, what beautiful pictures! I love to do history "stuff" when we travel. I always learn something new.

Grove Park Inn just went on my bucket list! It is breathtaking...

I flew on a plane that size from Miami to Key West. I called it a "puddle jumper". LOL Not a flight attendant in sight. LOL

Kaisievic said...

Wonderful post! Well worth the wait! I love the Stave church - they are fascinating, aren't they? Congratulations on becoming National vice president, but I am sorry, I need to ask of what organisation? Also, great stash, too.

diamondc said...

Hi Frances: I flew on a eight passenger plane in Belize, having the pilot so close felt strange to me.
Congratulations on your new position, as Vice President position.
love the little gift from Jaquie.
I am totally in love with the fabric grab bag, wow such a lucky pick.
I like all your pictures, I like seeing peoples trip pictures, that organ looks so majestic.


Blessings
Catherine

Sally said...

Fantastic photos and lovely stitching!

KimM said...

Beautiful post and lovely stitching.
xxx

Mary said...

You have the nicest, most interesting posts! I always look forward to reading them. And, your stitching and finishing is fabulous.