whirlwind

Last Monday we leisurely traveled to Bristol, TN to visit one of my nieces. Leisure travel (stopping when you want to see whatever hits your fancy) is something I have always wanted to do. Usually we're on a timeline with a deadline and nod longingly at billboards or brochures and keep on rolling. We enjoyed our brief time with them. I don't remember the name of the restaurant where we ate, but it was very colorful with metallic flowers and designs and whimsical colors. My friend Sara would call it kindergarten art, or folk art. The food was good, but then we went to a bakery downtown that had live bluegrass music...and the BEST food. The hardest part was deciding what to go. I actually got a slice of chocolate cake with chocolate icing. And the craziest thing? I left 1/3 of it on the plate. YES... me, the chocoholic who does not believe in wasting food. I couldn't eat it all.

We didn't do the best job of choosing accommodations. The tiny motel we stayed in, while very clean, reeked of cigarette smoke. And the next morning we I pulled out one of the towels for Bobby, it was threadbare. I kid you not. We could see through several parts in the towel. White as all get all, not a spot or discoloration to be seen anywhere, just clearly very well worn (and bleached?). I don't think we'll stay there on the next visit. So when we left heading home I had a very bad headache (I assumed from the smokey room), and it eased and worsened as we headed home and stopped in various antique stores. It was a great trip.

Wednesday was catch up day, and as we headed to church, I began to feel very tired. Thursday morning I woke up to a very sore throat, congestion, and a fever. I alternated between sleeping and laundry. Friday I had no voice, and tried to get in to see the dr, knowing we had a crazy weekend ahead of us, but to no avail. So I continued using the over-the-counter stuff as much as a possible, hoping that I'd wake up Saturday and all would be well. That afternoon we got a call that they wanted us at the hospital by 2pm Sunday. (Bobby had a routine test scheduled for Monday) That was a bit earlier than we had anticipated. Saturday we slept late, and then ran errands. Sunday morning they actually called us at 9:15am and wanted to know when could we get there. I was thinking it was going to be a terrible time between not feeling well and never getting rest at the hospital. It actually turned out to be one of the most restful hospital stays we've ever had. And while I didn't feel well, I survived. I was thankful we pushed for a hospital stay for the prep. The nurses kept a close eye on Bobby's blood pressure, and while it was very high the whole duration of prep, he never exhibited the extreme problems we were anticipating. But seeing the nurses concern during some of the time made me thankful we and his dr's office had pushed the insurance company for an early admission.

And Sunday morning we found out Bobby's Mom was at the ER with a kidney stone, and my aunt was at the ER with a stroke. Bobby somewhat laughingly said it must be the weekend to be at the hospital. After everything was finished Monday and dismissal papers were readied, we stopped for a late lunch (2pm), as Bobby had not been able to eat anything since Saturday night. His choice of "soft food"?  A Hardee's hot dog. Not kidding. He said that was the softest thing he could think of.

I think I slept 10 hours last night, and if I allowed myself to, I think I could sleep the rest of the day. I can actually breath today and have almost no coughing, but I still have no voice and my temp is still around 97. Hoping I will be well tomorrow.

And we're down to one biddie. The momma hen squished the two youngest, and we think a hawk got the last three. I think it's Tuesday, but it feels an awful lot like Saturday morning.

finally...

Last Friday I turned in my quilt to the state fair. Judging was this past Tuesday. The first time I entered into the fair, I didn't know they posted winners on line, and it was several days after opening before I could go, and one of my friends told me on Facebook. I was thrilled beyond measure to find out I had placed (that was a 4th place in first time entry/beginner category). I had not expected anything at all. And several years have passed and I've not managed to enter anything since. So I've been stalking the website waiting for an answer. Tonight only the fair opened from 3pm until midnight and tickets were $1.50 in honor of it being the 150th anniversary of the state fair. So we went tonight, hoping it wouldn't rain and wouldn't be overly crowded, as we really didn't want to pay full price nor go on a weekend day with all the crowd. Not all the exhibits were open, nor some of the competitions (great pumpkins and watermelons were still being weighed, and pumpkin carving hadn't started yet, nor were flowers open), but I was glad we went, especially since when we got home I found out winner competitions on the website have not been updated yet. So had we not gone I would not have known anything...at all.

I could tell my quilt had a ribbon while we were standing in line for the cake decorating exhibit (thanks to my crazy binding!!) And here it is hanging... 2nd place in Original Pattern Category. First place was machine appliqued owls which was wonderful.

The man showing the quilts didn't pause long between quilts nor move out of the way much so it was hard to get pics. There were many incredible quilts, but I was only able to capture two others of the many that I liked.

 This one was so bright and cheerful, and I love that they used traditional blocks in solid colors, and yet it looks so modern.  So many of these quilts used the flying geese blocks, and I could just hear Mary Booth saying "OHhhh! TRIANGLES!!! NOT for me!! I simply cannot do them!" Conquering the flying geese block (the triangles pointing in one direction) is on my list for 2018.

I don't know what category this is in (wall hanging section), but I absolutely loved it. I've never seen anything like this. It's a mixture of applique, piecing, art quilt, and I imagine it's an original pattern. Everyone loved it that was watching as the quilts were turned.

So we've been, ate all the foods we could stomach (frog legs, Amish donut, Thanksgiving dinner egg roll, collard bites which I don't recommend, and a deep fried candy bar. I'm tired, but glad we went.

nnnnnoooooo!

Friday afternoon I took photographs, then we drove to the educational buildings of the state fairgrounds where I turned in a quilt. Hooray!!! I've been waiting to upload pics and and information ever since then, and thought I'd be able to tomorrow afternoon/evening since the judging takes places tomorrow morning for the category I entered. Today I just "happened" to check the website, and it says competition results will not be posted until the fair starts Thursday afternoon. WHAT?!?! I am SO disappointed! I thought I would know something tomorrow night and would be able to show pictures then as well!!! So I guess you'll have to wait until Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, Bobby got a good report from the foot doctor today, and that's one less visit we'll now have to make.

We lost a young rooster (one a momma hen hatched earlier in the spring) last night.

Visited a 2nd woodwind shop this morning only to find it was closed on Mondays...one of these days I WILL get my clarinet checked out!!!

And that's all the exciting news in our household.

change

 Stats:

 90 homes      Glenn Creek Subdivision
212 homes      Royal Oaks Subdivision
115 homes      Clifford Grove Subdivision

  41 homes      Unnamed Bryan Rd Subdivision

215 homes      Unnamed Ackerman/Hebron Church Rd Subdivision
112 townhomes

785 "new" families within 2 miles of our house within 2 years

And there's still part of a farm up for sale. (No, not my mother-in-law's).

Our world will not be the same.