ROAD TRIP!!!!

We are taking a road trip!  I love road trips!  Our schedule has us taking short drives of less than 5 hours each day, allowing us time to stop in quaint and off road locations.

 

 

Traveling across Kansas you would think that there was nothing to see what rolling hills, corn and farm houses, but with an app on our phone, we found some interesting places to stop and view.  Here is the latest easel--and painting.  Too bad it was such a rainy cloudy day--the notes say when the sun shines on the sunflowers, they sparkle!



Down the road or up the road, whichever fits you, we find this lovely Cathedral of the Plains, located in Victoria, Kansas

German immigrants statue on the corner across from the Cathedral--interesting to learn the history of these small towns

We are stopping at Presidential Libraries and Museums along our route--one reason we took this path--here we are in Abilene, Kansas where we visited Eisenhower Presidential Library/Museum



Here is the resting place for Ike and Mamie

Inside Eisenhower's birthplace home, we peek into one of the bedrooms to view two quilts that were made by Eisenhower's mother

In the opposite bedroom, we can see a handwoven blanket woven by Eisenhower's grandfather--

Quite an interesting entrance to the museum, where a special exhibit about WWII was on display

Back on the road, another off road visit--food!!  good cheese made from local cows--we have our nibble bits



Independence, Missouri--Truman Presidential Library/Museum--I remember visiting here when I was younger, but this mural is all I can remember about that visit

Whistle stops train with Bessie, Margret and Harry 



We were so close to Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery--we detoured to visit my father's gravesite.  I visited here last in 1974 when we had the burial service, so before we went I did some research online to find the location of his grave.  All I remembered was a tree!



Do you know how many trees there are in the cemetery??  But, we found it with the grave number--S995--way in the back of the last row of the S's




"Catalyst: Colorado Sculpture"

 

What better place to exhibit landscape sculpture than Denver Botanic Gardens?  Lovely gardens dotted with stone, resin, metal and ceramic works of arts--a nice walk through the gardens on any day is a delight.  Walk with me as we stroll through these paths to view these twelve artists' work.  "Catalyst:  Colorado Sculpture" is at the gardens through January 12, 2014.

 

 

How about 15,000 handmade ceramic leaves?

This wall is created by Kim Dickey

"Mille Fleur"

We pause to take in the beauty of the border flowers.

"Spiral Dance" painted aspen tree trunks

Nancy Lovendahl is the artist



Carl Reed is the artist for "Ring for outliers"

Three related forms along the waterway

Colorado Plein Air Painters in the Gardens 

Patrick Marold designed "Stepped Mound"

created from cable wood spools

Yoshitomo Saito "Colorado Loop"

Emmett Culligan

"Crew #4, Crew #5, Crew #6 were on display a short distance apart

Pard Morrison "Schneewitchen"

I like the contrast between the frame of the sculpture and the building in the background

In the prairie area, you will find this interesting piece by Patrick Margold

"Shadow Line, Fall Equinox"

Nancy Lovendahl with her "Fractal Echo"

The Lily ponds had added interest with three lovely works of art.  This one by
James Surls--perfect location!

Another wonderful piece by Yoshitomo Saito is located in the Bonsai garden

Linda Fleming's "Refugium"

Looking between the lines..........

"Marker's Mark" by Terry Maker

 

Another wonderful piece by Linda Fleming greets you at the entrance to the garden

super walk through the gardens

Those Bonnie Hunter Gals............................

Those Bonnie Hunter Gals are meeting today, but I'm not with them as we are on the road back to our winter home in Texas.  I already miss those gals and knowing that today they are gathering at Wooden Spools, sewing away on their project, makes me a little teary eyed that I'm not there with them.  Thanks to my friend, Judy, who introduced me to the Bonnie Hunter Club gathering........making new friends, learning new techniques, sharing some laughs and joys makes one happy!

Blue Ridge Beauty! 

Holy Toledo! in batiks!  Absolutely Susan!

Judy shared one of her fall creations with the group

And the fall leaves stitched into the border

This is a Bonnie Hunter mystery via Quiltmaker's magazine--ran for three months

Love it!  even though it's in purple--what a fun perky quilt

Judy presents her finished "Holy Toledo" quilt--nothing but shades of blue and browns--smashing!!

Judy was busy on her last quilt retreat--here is her first complete on the four day adventure--love the sheep and sheep fabric!

Another one of Judy's retreat finishes--this looks difficult!

Now, this one is fan-tas-tic!!  Simple, fast but so unique!

 

Susan, on right, has her quilt top to show off--looking for border fabric to finish up this elegant quilt

Cheryl (another one of those Cheryl gals!) had this quick jelly roll top to show off--

Cheryl was looking for backing fabric--I think she found it with the top fabric--this will be a colorful quilt to top anyone's bed.

Thanks gals for a great summer--I'll be sewing with you throughout the year!!