Shirley Anne’s Heart

Posted By drsao on October 13, 2009

On day 5 we visited Knight’s Quilt Shop (located on a beautiful lot with LOTS OF TREES inCape Neddick, Maine)  where a “Private Sale” had been arranged just for us – complete with refreshments and several drawings with prizes.  This shop truly epitomized the essence of hospitality and customer service!!!!  They had a paper piecing demo going on and Christmas music in the small room where the Christmas fabric and kits were  housed!    Loved the shop – loved the people inside the shop.  I can see why Michelle Knight’s shop is listed in the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of QUILT SAMPLER as one of the top ten stores in the ULTIMATE SHOP HOP! 

After strolling along the ocean cliff-walk to visit Perkins Cove we had fun exploring all of the harbor area shops – and we didn’t miss the candy store!!!!   It was a GREAT  2 1/2 mile WALK and in addition to the walk to Perkins Cove, I found myself perched on that ocean-front path for both sunrise and sunset – where I ardently attempted to capture the moment in pictures!!!

That evening we had a TRULY  unforgettable  lobster bake farewell-dinner.  Now mind you, this was my first time to see an entire LOBSTER on a plate – complete with eyes.  What a shock – prior to this evening I had only eaten a cute little lobster tail which very successfully camouflaged the original body of the critter.  Oh my – I knew I was in for an adventure when I saw the nut crackers and bibs on the table!  Yes, it was an adventure….and I was thankful for the INSTRUCTIONS on the placemats!!! 

I felt like a “CAVE WOMAN” trying to discover where the lobster meat was hidden……and I must admit that I had to cover the lobster’s eyes……I know it is silly, but I just couldn’t bear to have it “WATCHING” me.  OK – so yes, it was unforgettable – and also LOTS OF FUN.  AND NO – I DID NOT SUCK THE LEGS – I just couldn’t bring myself to do that!    Even after a glass of wine……nope….couldn’t go there!   

We sang and danced to old timey music like “WALTZING MATILDA” and, oh yes,  I did another NEW THING…….I ate mussels…..yes right out of the shell.  I am afraid I have to put a rare entry on my NOT So Favorite Things List – Mussels and Lobster Legs!!!!!

The last morning of the Quilt Tour we  toured Boston by bus and got to visit  historic places like the Old North Church where Paul Revere rang the warning bells to announce that the British were coming!   We also visited  Faneuil Hall Marketplace, where we saw  lots of  international food stalls and pushcarts full of Bostonian goodies.  Marla and I figured that we walked about 4 miles before taking the water taxi back to our hotel…..we enjoyed a pastry and coffee/tea at the CHEERS bar too.  It was just GREAT FUN!  I loved the water taxi right – it was raining and the lights of the evening reflecting off the water was just BEYOND BEAUTIFUL!

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Posted By drsao on October 12, 2009

On the 4th day we visited the Shelburne Museum.   It was amazing…..truly.  We saw  pottery, dolls, art, china, carriages, wonderful old buildings ……….it was SO CAPTIVATING.  In the evening we had a nice dinner and then had some free time.  I decided to have another go (notice my Australian speech reformation?) at knitting my socks.  I had a WONDERFUL TIME TRYING but unfortunately the socks returned to their original ball state at the end of the evening – and JUST IN CASE I SHOULD GET THE URGE TO TRY AGAIN, I mailed my knitting project HOME to myself the next day.  :):):)

On the 5th day we traveled through New England – through the Green Mountains to a wonderful “antique” town of Woodstock, Vermont!  There were countless places to enjoy lunch and it was just PURE JOY wondering through this turn-of-the-century village.  Oh, the wonders of the OLDEN DAYS!!!!

And on this day we made it to Ogunquit, Maine.  Oh the glorius beauty of the beach.  More on that later!

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Posted By drsao on October 11, 2009

On the third day of our trip we were up bright and early.  I loved the way we just put our suitcases outside our door in the hotel and then went to breakfast while the tour elves put our suitcases on the motor coach.  I was always up by 5 AM – not wanting to miss a single moment of fun (and I didn’t have a roommate so there was no one to bother – I could stay up late and get up early!)  I also had fun reading as long as I wanted to at night .  I finished THE LACE READER on this trip and it was PERFECT because it was written in a New England setting!  I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TOO – VERY ENJOYABLE AND INTRIGUING!!!

After breakfast we went to a wonderful Shaker village in New Hampshire.  It was SO INTERESTING to see how these communities functioned in such an ORGANIZED way.  Their lives were so simple and they were quite devout – although I wonder how happy they really were given that males and females were kept separate within the community. 

I love the way they produced wonderful crafts, quilts, and innovative tools.  They were always in the forefront of producing or acquiring new technology – including electric lights and an automated washer to do their laundry.  There were baskets everywhere and everything was maticulously labeled.  I wonder if Martha Stewart has any Shaker genes – I think I do!  I was fascinated with the buidings, the beautiful fall foilage and the history of the Shakers!

Later in the day we traveled to America’s largest quilt shop…Keepsake Quilting.  I thought that it was an interesting experience – I loved the great variety of fabric, kits, and quilt displays.  It was fun for me to get to see the shop – I have heard so much about it and have seen the store behind the catalog that I get in the mail periodically.  

Having said that I found it interesting (and I did) I wouldn’t give Keepsake Quilting a high rating on hospitality or being helpful, for that matter.  I am totally convinced that a very important part of successful marketing is providing an atmosphere of HAPPINESS and FUN.  Later in the week we went to another quilt store that did just that – refreshments, smiles, an enthusiastic welcome,  and extreme helpfulness – and guess what, when people were happy and presented with coffee and brownies, they spent lots of money!   🙂   Although I enjoyed my time at Keepsake Quilting,  I would have had WAY MORE FUN had they allowed picture taking inside the store!  🙂

Near Keepsake Quilting were other WONDERFUL stores (I had a wonderful time at the BELLA  BEAD STORE) – and I found a great yarn store where the people were friendly and helpful…..so I bought needles, a pattern,  and some beautiful fall colored yarn to knit the socks that I have been wanting to make for years!   The yarn shop was fabulous and I could have spent hours in there!!!!

When we got to Vermont at the end of our third day I did settle down to KNIT  MY SOCKS….with visions of a cute pair of completed socks (in gorgeous fall colors)  to commemorate my trip.  WELL, size 2 needles are VERY SMALL and the double points were slippery.  I HAD TO START OVER 6 times because I kept making my stitches too tight and they got dropped  (this is NO EXAGGERATION)  but finally I got the stitches loose enough and got about an inch knitted before my entire SOCK slid right off one of the three needles.  SO, given that it was 1:30 AM, the yarn was quickly returned to its original BALL STATE with visions of success for my next FREE TIME KNITTING OPPORTUNITY.

It was really a wonderful third day.  I really enjoyed EVERYTHING – especially the DOUBLE RAINBOW that we saw from our motor coach on the way to Vermont!  I keep trying to figure out which day was my favorite – and I can hardly choose because there was something good each day – but I really enjoyed Day 3 a lot!

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Posted By drsao on October 10, 2009

On our second day of the New England Quilt tour we went to Lowell, Massachusetts where we visited the New England Quilt Museum.  That was really fun – I loved seeing all of the antique quilts – and I was wishing that we could take pictures!!!   I finally figured out how to turn off the  flash on my camera (and it was so easy that I am embarrassed to say that it took awhile for me to remember!!!)  In the end,  I did get a few  pictures (and that was allowed as long as there was not a flash!!)

As we traveled throughout New England, I was lucky to have a bus buddy from Australia  (I think the appropriate word is bus mate!)    I REALLY ENJOYED being with Kay and I LEARNED SO MUCH about Australia.  I even learned how to chastise an athletic team when they aren’t doing well!  HAVAGOYAMUG!  (I hope I remembed this correctly!!!!  I did have to practice a bit because one has to make all of the words flow into one…..HAVE A GO YOU MUG!) 

 Oh yes, and FYI you do not pronounce the “R” in Melbourne…..Kay is from “MEL-BUN.”  🙂  I not only had a wonderful time on this trip but I also audited  AUSTRALIA 101.  🙂

Later the same day, we traveled into  New Hampshire to visit a 200 year-old  cottage surrounded by country gardens.    Can you imagine – 200 years old – so charming and rustic.     In one of the rooms of this cottage we actually saw a replica of the Big Bad Wolf peering from under the bed quilt pretending to be grandma – evidently this was the  inspired setting for the 1948 Golden Book version of Little Red Riding Hood.  Marla was lucky enough to get to put on the Little Red Riding Hood Cape!!!   That was fun!!!

We really enjoyed our  five-course lunch!!!!!  It was WONDERFUL!   I took a picture of the lunch menu – and of course I took a picture of my lunch!  To  be honest, I am still thinking about my pecan pie!!!!

I think that one of my favorite parts of this day  was wandering into the gardens and the greenhouse filled with herbs and plants!   It smelled SO WONDERFUL in the little gift shop!    I loved all of the herbs  and spices!  I would have LOVED to have just bundled up all of those aromas and teas  and carried them home with me!!!!      And…..of course I liked this experience because there were cats dozing in the sunshine surrounded by pumpkins and other reminders that autumn has arrived!!!  It doesn’t get much better than this!

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Posted By drsao on October 10, 2009

If you ever get the chance to go on a Country Heritage Tour – you have my thumbs up on the New England Fall Foliage Tour!  Imagine 54 quilters (or friends of quilters – or sisters of quilters) off for a week of adventure.  We started in Boston and then made our way up through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.  We had the BEST TOUR GUIDE imaginable – Vicky!  Vicky was entertaining, funny, enthusiastic AND she was A1+ organized.  Just for the record,  she kept us organized too.  Our driver, Rene, was also so kind and patient – I often thought of the Country Western song this week as I watched Rene day after day “WAITING ON A WOMAN” X 54.  🙂

Here is a sample of Day one in Boston.  I love Boston – so much history – it is awe-inspiring.  I love the architecture, the people (and their charming accents), the brick sidewalks and streets,  the harbor, the statues, the weather vanes, golden domes, the restaurants and historic taverns, the fresh salt-inspired air – and the gentle and sometimes not-so-gentle rain that fell on the churches, cemeteries, street entertainers, and US!

AND YES – I ACTUALLY MADE IT WITH ONE CARRY ON BAG and another “day bag.”  WHOOPEEE (if you could have seen me travel BEFORE this you would have been  totally impressed!  I can’t wait to tell my brother, Fred, who will be amazed and astounded to know that my traditional two travel bags – filled to the 50 lb limit that HE ALWAYS HAS  TO LOAD INTO THE CAR when I travel to MO – was replaced by one 25 pound bag on this trip!!!!)

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