Her studio is quite compact, but packed with her fabulous quilts.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Virginia
On to our next surprise for the day - a visit to the studio of Jinny Beyer. I had thought that Jinny was to be in Morocco, but her trip had been cancelled, so we were lucky enough to have her there to greet us and to cut our fabrics for us.
Her studio is quite compact, but packed with her fabulous quilts.
That's Jinny centre top, wearing orange.
Her studio is quite compact, but packed with her fabulous quilts.
Tuesday - Washington DC
Well, we've seen the White House, Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial, two museums and so much more. Our guide today, Mark, was just fab. He really knows his stuff, or maybe makes it up quickly.
The White House looks a little smaller than I had imagined, but very tidy. Just along the road is where visiting heads of state stay. John was there a few weeks ago. The Lincoln Memorial is wonderful. It's very grand and symbolic. Most of the city buildings are very similar in style, just the embellishments are different. The overall feel of the city is clean and safe, but I'm sure there are dodgy areas in the capital.
Lunch was a very rushed affair - 15 mins for 31 people to buy lunch at a sandwich bar. Great grub!
http://www.pret.com/us/ We stopped at the store on the corner of 11th & F Streets.
We were lucky enough to visit the National Gallery to view the Pastrana Tapestries. WOW! Four enormous tapestries worked in the 1400's by Flemish artists. They depict a Spanish battle. Just amazing.
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/pastranainfo.shtm
We dropped off our driver after a visit to Arlington Museum. A wonderful memorial to fallen US military.
Sightseers at The White House
The White House
The White House looks a little smaller than I had imagined, but very tidy. Just along the road is where visiting heads of state stay. John was there a few weeks ago. The Lincoln Memorial is wonderful. It's very grand and symbolic. Most of the city buildings are very similar in style, just the embellishments are different. The overall feel of the city is clean and safe, but I'm sure there are dodgy areas in the capital.
Lunch was a very rushed affair - 15 mins for 31 people to buy lunch at a sandwich bar. Great grub!
http://www.pret.com/us/ We stopped at the store on the corner of 11th & F Streets.
We were lucky enough to visit the National Gallery to view the Pastrana Tapestries. WOW! Four enormous tapestries worked in the 1400's by Flemish artists. They depict a Spanish battle. Just amazing.
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/pastranainfo.shtm
We dropped off our driver after a visit to Arlington Museum. A wonderful memorial to fallen US military.
The White House
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday - to Baltimore Maryland
We had a little delay in leaving Bird-in-Hand this morning. The Amish quilt store next door to the hotel opened early for us (at 8am) so we had to go shopping. Over 50 bolts of black fabrics. Pants, aprons, coast, jackets.
I loved the message on the board at the store.
'Be careful of your thoughts, they may become words at any moment'.
Taking a small (two hour) detour, we went to Hershey. Milton Hersey created a town around his chocolate factory. Yummy!
One last glimpse of Amish Pennsylvania.
'Be careful of your thoughts, they may become words at any moment'.
One last glimpse of Amish Pennsylvania.
Sunday - later that same day
Shopping, shopping, shopping.
We went to the Tanger Outlet Mall.
Enough said.
Back to the hotel early - thank goodness.
We went to the Tanger Outlet Mall.
Enough said.
Back to the hotel early - thank goodness.
Sunday - Bird-in-Hand
After a slow start we went to the National Christmas Centre near the hotel. AMAZING!
www.nationalchristmascenter.com/
No amount of writing could do this place justice. It was fabulous. The nickelodeon, spectacular.
1950's lights.
I found these two fairies under the tree.
Yours truly hammering out a tune on the nickelodeon
This 'tree' was a mass of old glass lights hanging over a very intricate train system.
Santa quilt. 19,000 1 inch squares.
Very special Christmas china
Modeled on an early Woolworths store.
www.nationalchristmascenter.com/
No amount of writing could do this place justice. It was fabulous. The nickelodeon, spectacular.
Saturday - Bird-in-Hand
Today we Kent guided us around Lancaster County. What an interesting day. We travelled a few back roads, saw buggies, scooters and bikes being driven by the Amish, horses and mules pulling ploughs. All very 'Amish looking'.
Look at any picture you have ever seen of the Amish and the way the live and there it was. As part of the tour we visited two quilt stores. Not your usual quilts stores, but store selling quilts. This is big business for the Amish. The store are quite basic and the signage simple, but those gals sure not their stuff when it comes to selling quilts.
We stopped for more than an hour at a shopping village. It was a little commercial, but still fun. Several of the stores were owned & operated by Amish or Mennonite families. Just part of the modern Amish experience.
www.kitchenkettle.com
We dined at the Plain 7 Fancy Restaurant that is part of the hotel complex. It was okay, but no worth repeating.
An early night was called for as we were getting up for the rugby at 4am. Yes, 4am!
After what seemed like 2 hours sleep the alarm went off and it was time to set-up the laptop, projector and the internet, ready to watch the rugby. Mr Murphy's Law prevailed and I could NOT get the game through the network that we had organised. By now we had missed the National Anthem and haka!
What to do? Phoned my son in Waihi Beach and asked for the free streaming website that he uses. There is was, no sound, but there it was.
At half time I figured the sound and we spent the same nervous 40 minutes of the second half that you all did.
How exciting to see the look on the face of Richie McCaw when the final whistle went.
After 15 mins we settled down and went to bed. Too much for these old tarts.
Look at any picture you have ever seen of the Amish and the way the live and there it was. As part of the tour we visited two quilt stores. Not your usual quilts stores, but store selling quilts. This is big business for the Amish. The store are quite basic and the signage simple, but those gals sure not their stuff when it comes to selling quilts.
We stopped for more than an hour at a shopping village. It was a little commercial, but still fun. Several of the stores were owned & operated by Amish or Mennonite families. Just part of the modern Amish experience.
www.kitchenkettle.com
We dined at the Plain 7 Fancy Restaurant that is part of the hotel complex. It was okay, but no worth repeating.
An early night was called for as we were getting up for the rugby at 4am. Yes, 4am!
After what seemed like 2 hours sleep the alarm went off and it was time to set-up the laptop, projector and the internet, ready to watch the rugby. Mr Murphy's Law prevailed and I could NOT get the game through the network that we had organised. By now we had missed the National Anthem and haka!
What to do? Phoned my son in Waihi Beach and asked for the free streaming website that he uses. There is was, no sound, but there it was.
At half time I figured the sound and we spent the same nervous 40 minutes of the second half that you all did.
How exciting to see the look on the face of Richie McCaw when the final whistle went.
After 15 mins we settled down and went to bed. Too much for these old tarts.
Bird-in-Hand PA
Emerson Resort Spa
http://www.emersonresort.com/
A lovely place to stay. Wish we had been there for a little longer.
Friday - Mt Tremper to Bird-in-Hand Pa.
What a fabulous time we had journeying to Pennsylvania. We skipped west from New York state to Tunkahanna Pa. with just one stop for extra coffee along the way.
Why did we go to Tunkahanna? To visit Endless Mountains Quiltworks, that's why! (Oh and to be interview by two local newspapers).
www.emquiltworks.comWhat fun. Jeannette and her crew at the quilt store were very welcoming, even though we surprised them by arriving early. Lunch was supplied by a local sandwich shop. Very yummy.
Our journey there was via a good highway surrounded by trees, trees and more trees - all doing their best to look fabulous in their fall colours.
Our fabulous driver, Jasmin, took over the tour at this stage and detoured us via a fabulous store that she loves. MORE SHOPPING!
www.countrycupboardinc.com
As we headed south through Pennsylvania the open filed, silos and buggies made the area become very Amish. Many of the farms have electricity to the shed, but never to the house, so the landscape is not so cluttered with wires etc.
We arrived at the Amish View Inn a little later and very weary, but a wine and pizza soon fixed that.
What a fabulous retreat in a very peaceful environment.
http://www.amishviewinn.com/
A very nice place to stay. Good night!
Why did we go to Tunkahanna? To visit Endless Mountains Quiltworks, that's why! (Oh and to be interview by two local newspapers).
www.emquiltworks.comWhat fun. Jeannette and her crew at the quilt store were very welcoming, even though we surprised them by arriving early. Lunch was supplied by a local sandwich shop. Very yummy.
Our journey there was via a good highway surrounded by trees, trees and more trees - all doing their best to look fabulous in their fall colours.
Our fabulous driver, Jasmin, took over the tour at this stage and detoured us via a fabulous store that she loves. MORE SHOPPING!
www.countrycupboardinc.com
As we headed south through Pennsylvania the open filed, silos and buggies made the area become very Amish. Many of the farms have electricity to the shed, but never to the house, so the landscape is not so cluttered with wires etc.
We arrived at the Amish View Inn a little later and very weary, but a wine and pizza soon fixed that.
What a fabulous retreat in a very peaceful environment.
http://www.amishviewinn.com/
A very nice place to stay. Good night!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Update
Sorry there haven't been any updates, but poor interent in Amish country.
Moving on to Maryland tomorrow, more then!
WELL DONE THE ABs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Moving on to Maryland tomorrow, more then!
WELL DONE THE ABs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
20th October 2011 - Burlington Vt to Mt Tremper NY
What a big day it has been.
We pulled out of the hotel in Burlington at 9am, heading south. Through miles of beautiful fall colour - gold, yellow, orange, red and purple - just wonderful. The countryside was very friendly, mostly gently rolling hills and a bit of freeway/highway.
Our first stop was the New England Maple Museum.
http://www.maplemuseum.com/
40 litres of sap makes just 1 litre of maple syrup. They boil the living daylights out of it, stirring constantly and depending on the temperature makes lots of different types. My favourite was the dark amber. We heard how the American Indians have been making maple sap into syrup for centuries. Just fascinating. Sampling is a very important part of this whole process. Of course, the ubiquitous giftshop was at the end of the tour and we helped with their stock turns by buying biscuits, syrup, candy, mustard and other really lovely maple related things.
Just 1 mile down the road was an old covered bridge. Built in the early 1800's, twice in the 1920's it was washed down the river. In the recent Irene storm the water came up to the deck of the bridge. That was a significant height. No pictures as my battery was flat, but someone will help me out tomorrow with some, I'm sure.
Still driving south we were now in New York state. A long tail of traffic that was going nowhere indicated an accident ahead and we were warned that it could be some time before it was cleared, so Jasmin turned that great big bus around and found another route. A few extra twists and turns and we were in Queensbury for lunch. The place we were planning on going to was about to close, so we ate at Golden Corral. $12 included all you could eat from a buffet that a cruise ship would be proud of, plus as much soda or coffee as you wanted. The tip was tagged in there too, so very easy. Yummy pumpkin pie.
By now we were running very late, but after more twisting and turning along country highways we arrived at Log Cabin Quilts, near Albany NY.
http://www.logcabinfabrics.net/
Luckily the house is above the store and all thirty of us were inside that door in a flash. We were very lucky that the store was having a moving sale. Fab little store, very friendly folk - oh, and nice fabrics too.
From there we had an hours driver - in the dark to our luxury spa!
http://www.emersonresort.com/
The rooms really are that luxurious!
Til tomorrow, night!
We pulled out of the hotel in Burlington at 9am, heading south. Through miles of beautiful fall colour - gold, yellow, orange, red and purple - just wonderful. The countryside was very friendly, mostly gently rolling hills and a bit of freeway/highway.
Our first stop was the New England Maple Museum.
http://www.maplemuseum.com/
40 litres of sap makes just 1 litre of maple syrup. They boil the living daylights out of it, stirring constantly and depending on the temperature makes lots of different types. My favourite was the dark amber. We heard how the American Indians have been making maple sap into syrup for centuries. Just fascinating. Sampling is a very important part of this whole process. Of course, the ubiquitous giftshop was at the end of the tour and we helped with their stock turns by buying biscuits, syrup, candy, mustard and other really lovely maple related things.
Just 1 mile down the road was an old covered bridge. Built in the early 1800's, twice in the 1920's it was washed down the river. In the recent Irene storm the water came up to the deck of the bridge. That was a significant height. No pictures as my battery was flat, but someone will help me out tomorrow with some, I'm sure.
Still driving south we were now in New York state. A long tail of traffic that was going nowhere indicated an accident ahead and we were warned that it could be some time before it was cleared, so Jasmin turned that great big bus around and found another route. A few extra twists and turns and we were in Queensbury for lunch. The place we were planning on going to was about to close, so we ate at Golden Corral. $12 included all you could eat from a buffet that a cruise ship would be proud of, plus as much soda or coffee as you wanted. The tip was tagged in there too, so very easy. Yummy pumpkin pie.
By now we were running very late, but after more twisting and turning along country highways we arrived at Log Cabin Quilts, near Albany NY.
http://www.logcabinfabrics.net/
Luckily the house is above the store and all thirty of us were inside that door in a flash. We were very lucky that the store was having a moving sale. Fab little store, very friendly folk - oh, and nice fabrics too.
From there we had an hours driver - in the dark to our luxury spa!
http://www.emersonresort.com/
The rooms really are that luxurious!
Til tomorrow, night!
Seems that some folk are having trouble posting a comment on the blog.
Here's my email address so you can take it direclty.
Lesley
lesleychr@xtra.co.nz
Here's my email address so you can take it direclty.
Lesley
lesleychr@xtra.co.nz
For your information
You do know that at the bottom of each post is 'older posts'? Would hate for you to think there was only one page.
Comments
We're waiting for them!
We would love to hear from you. It's not that we miss you all, but we'd love to know you are still out there.
We would love to hear from you. It's not that we miss you all, but we'd love to know you are still out there.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Shelburne Museum
Wednesday 19th October, 2011 - Burlington Vt.
Shelburne Museum
We were all amazed at the variety of 'stuff' at the Shelburne Museum. This is one not to be missed.
http://shelburnemuseum.org/
Electra Havermeyer Webb used her wealth and connections to share her vast collections of paintings, rifles, eagles, clothing, circus memorabilia, quilts, paper and more - so much more. The museum is set in 10 acres of park. There is a train and engine, a steamship, covered bridge, circus house, mansion, general store, jail, schoolhouse and many other restored and reclaimed buildings.
Unlike last year at Monet's house in northern France where we got to see copies of Monet's paintings, here I was less than a half inch way from four of them. Add to that paintings by Manet, Goya, Degas, Cassatt and more. The Rembrandt was out on loan. Darn!
The Circus House is n enormous horseshoe-shaped building that houses a circus parade of 500 1:12 scale hand-carved animals. AMAZING! At one end is a full circus, complete with audience of 3,500 pieces. These were all carved by Edger Decker Kirk, a railroad brakeman, over a period of 40 years. He did these with a pocket knife and foot-powered jigsaw, in his spare time. They are meticulously painted and just perfect.
Words do not do it justice, but anyone planning a visit should allow at least one whole day to wander round the park. Make sure you have a ride on the carousel too.
A quote in Electra's bedroom, stitched in redwork onto a cushion. "We live in deeds, not in years."
What a great afternoon.
As we had a little time up our sleeves we headed for the Vermont Teddy Factory. Darn! It closed 5 minutes before we arrived. No amount of tapping on the windows got us any attention. So, in a fit of sulking we went to the Christmas Loft instead. Our driver phoned ahead and they weren't due to close at 6pm - 40 mins later. Who wouldn't stay open for a bus load of women?
Quite an amount of damage was done to various credit card balances and we left at 6.45pm. Ho ho ho! It was great fun. Barney, wait til you see what I've bought for you!!!!
Back to the hotel for dinner and a wine. Off to bed soon as we're on the road again tomorrow.
Night!
http://shelburnemuseum.org/
Electra Havermeyer Webb used her wealth and connections to share her vast collections of paintings, rifles, eagles, clothing, circus memorabilia, quilts, paper and more - so much more. The museum is set in 10 acres of park. There is a train and engine, a steamship, covered bridge, circus house, mansion, general store, jail, schoolhouse and many other restored and reclaimed buildings.
Unlike last year at Monet's house in northern France where we got to see copies of Monet's paintings, here I was less than a half inch way from four of them. Add to that paintings by Manet, Goya, Degas, Cassatt and more. The Rembrandt was out on loan. Darn!
The Circus House is n enormous horseshoe-shaped building that houses a circus parade of 500 1:12 scale hand-carved animals. AMAZING! At one end is a full circus, complete with audience of 3,500 pieces. These were all carved by Edger Decker Kirk, a railroad brakeman, over a period of 40 years. He did these with a pocket knife and foot-powered jigsaw, in his spare time. They are meticulously painted and just perfect.
Words do not do it justice, but anyone planning a visit should allow at least one whole day to wander round the park. Make sure you have a ride on the carousel too.
A quote in Electra's bedroom, stitched in redwork onto a cushion. "We live in deeds, not in years."
What a great afternoon.
As we had a little time up our sleeves we headed for the Vermont Teddy Factory. Darn! It closed 5 minutes before we arrived. No amount of tapping on the windows got us any attention. So, in a fit of sulking we went to the Christmas Loft instead. Our driver phoned ahead and they weren't due to close at 6pm - 40 mins later. Who wouldn't stay open for a bus load of women?
Quite an amount of damage was done to various credit card balances and we left at 6.45pm. Ho ho ho! It was great fun. Barney, wait til you see what I've bought for you!!!!
Back to the hotel for dinner and a wine. Off to bed soon as we're on the road again tomorrow.
Night!
Competition
Wednesday 19th October, 2011 - Burlington Vt.
What a day!
Leaving the hotel at 9am we headed north to Essex Junction to visit Yankee Pride Quilts. Judy & her team made us very welcome - including organising an enormous plate of cookies, a gift of fabric and an Anti depression kit, containing all sorts of useful items, including two chocolates.
http://www.yankeepridequilts.com/
Judy had introduced us to Martones, a deli across the street. They make the very best sandwiches. Making 30+ sandwiches in less than 45 mins is no mean feat and these sandwiches were huge. Several people took photos to prove how big they were. None of us could eat the whole sandwich. I would highly recommend Martones to anyone visiting the area. The latte was perfect and very hot too.
http://martonesmarket.com/
Leaving the hotel at 9am we headed north to Essex Junction to visit Yankee Pride Quilts. Judy & her team made us very welcome - including organising an enormous plate of cookies, a gift of fabric and an Anti depression kit, containing all sorts of useful items, including two chocolates.
http://www.yankeepridequilts.com/
Judy had introduced us to Martones, a deli across the street. They make the very best sandwiches. Making 30+ sandwiches in less than 45 mins is no mean feat and these sandwiches were huge. Several people took photos to prove how big they were. None of us could eat the whole sandwich. I would highly recommend Martones to anyone visiting the area. The latte was perfect and very hot too.
http://martonesmarket.com/
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