New Pasttime

I find, since things have been fairly quiet this winter, that I have a knack for photography. As we have stayed longer in the south this year, the realm of flora and fauna experiences has mushroomed. The wonderful things that grow here, all sizes, shapes and colors are astounding! I thought the things I found on my hikes in the north were outstanding, but I was unprepared for the wonderful experiences I have had here. I saw my first gardenia in the flesh so to speak. I know to a lot of folks this is nothing but I have never seen one other than in a prom corsage! Magnolias are fascinating, a bud in the morning is a full blown flower by afternoon. Orchids grow here like roses do in the north. George insisted that I get a new camera to increase my skill and I am glad he did. I am really enjoying the new features it has that my old one did not have.

Quilt Complete!

During the various trips to Drs, I have managed to fit in a little sewing. It seems whenever we come south my quilt guild will offer the most awesome classes! This time I lucked out and the teacher sent me the directions via email. I have finished the top and I really, really love it. I am going to add one more border but not sure what yet.

I have several other projects partly completed I would like to finish before I head north so they will all be ready to quilt. Famous last words! One can only dream!!!

I Got a NEW Camera!!

I have been taking so many flower, fauna, and winter /spring pictures, that I was beginning to feel the limitations of my present camera. Don't get me wrong my camera takes wonderful pictures as long as you are close enough to your subject. Unfortunately when you are in the woods or on a mountain top, getting close to a subject is not always an option. There was a sale at Staples, on a Kodak camera which I am familiar with, (my last three cameras were Kodaks) and George and I went to look at it. It has 7x digital zoom and 12x optical zoom. My friend, Susan, told me I should have no less than 10x so I thought that was good. The sale price was pretty good also. I was going to think it over a bit, but my husband said GET IT, you use your camera so much! So I did. It is bit bigger than my last camera but I will cope. Now if I can just learn to use it. It is a Kodak Z712 IS. Susan did I do good? Funny they give you a minuscule manual in four languages. BUT the user manual, they tell you, is online! So I had to download the file and take it to Staples and have them print it for me. What in the world do people do if they don't have a computer????? Time to go out and give this baby a try.

Trials and Tribulations of Heading South!

We started for sunny Florida on the fifteenth of January. George and I stay with my mom, and as she worries about our traveling, I don't usually tell her we are on our way until we get through Virginia. Usually that means the worst of the weather is over. Hah!

It snowed before we left home so we did not leave until noon. We spent the night in Binghamton, and started out bright and early Wednesday morning. We drove about nine hours and stopped again in Hillsville, VA. I thought we would be fairly safe as we were only a few miles from the NC border. We had dinner that night at Shoney's....never again! George woke up at 2 am and he was running a high fever, ached all over, and kept telling me he was freezing. (The room must have been a hundred degrees, I could not turn the heat up any higher.) To add to the misery when we got up in the morning, there was five inches of snow on the ground!!! We delayed our departure a bit and then took off at a slow pace. The roads were a mess! George was feeling awful so we decided to go just to a hotel we like in Columbia. We were going to get there before their check in time, so we stopped at JR's first and then to Mary Jo's. I needed some fabric for a special project, and had all the measurements on a notepad. I tried to get a bolt off the shelf that was wedged in so tight, that I had to set my notepad down. A salesgirl helped me pull it out and suddenly no notepad!!! Three girls helped me look, I was so upset, I was trying to hurry because George was napping in the car, I was so prepared...and ended up guessing what I needed. We left Gastonia and headed for Columbia. When we arrived the parking lot was filled with police cruisers. They apparently were having a conference. One of the patrons parked near the cruisers thinking their car would be safe, and someone smashed their window in during the night. I think since this was the only vandalism, it was an in your face thing to the police. So sad for this lady, she was elderly and just beside herself. She had purposely parked her car in that spot for what she thought was added security. This world is so crazy sometimes.
We managed to finish up the trip on Friday, and make it to Mom's before the heavy rained started. Florida downpours are not fun to drive in when you are tired and feeling sick!

Today we spent most of the day in the ER, since we have no physicians here, getting George a prescription for his illness. Hopefully all will settle down now for the next three months or so!

Better late than never!

I try to make George a quilt each year for Christmas and also two high school friends. Actually we have been friends since we were in second grade, so that is a few years ago! I got the two friends done, but George received his as a top! I am so bad. I made it out of flannel because that is his all season choice of fabric! He chose the fabrics, the log cabin setting (navajo), the quilting design which he thought looked very southwest and the binding color. I finished it finally and he tells me he has never slept better!

Time to be more diligent!

It is fairly sad, that I have not posted anything since 2006. I know that my dear cousin Missy used to check often to see what we have been up to, I am sure she has given that up as a lost cause. So my new year's resolution is to be more diligent with this blog. Today is like every other day in the Northeast in the winter, gray, dull, cloudy, and that HORRID WHITE WORD....SNOW!!!! George and I are preparing for our annual trip south and it cannot be soon enough! I need to see some sun. I have seen more snow than I care to and frankly I am freezing! This is a picture of a blue spruce in our yard during the last storm. It was pretty but enough is enough. The picture next to the spruce is one of my favorite trailheads. This was taken on a lovely cold icy winter day. It was so beautiful.

Embroidery Conference

The first ever embroidery conference came to Saratoga. My friend Linda (I call her Toohey babe)..LOL..went because nothing ever...ever comes to our area..and it was only an hour away. My longarm dealer was there, so of course I bought some thread from them. To my delight, there was a Marathon booth. They also have thread, that I use A LOT! I was ready to place an order but since they were there I did not have to. HEAVEN!!
Linda and I attended two seminars, one on design placement for embroidering..verrry informative...and a seminar with Kaye Wood..after which of course we ran the the show floor and bought all of her rulers...Hey they don't call me "Ruler Queen" for nothing!!!!
Here is a pict of us with Kay. After all the weight I have lost, I wish I would win the lottery and have the loose chin skin removed..they say no matter how much I lose that will always be there..YUCK! (But five grand for a chin....I think not!)

Hiking Pal

It is always much more fun to hike with a friend...providing you can find a friend to do it with!!!
Soooo one morning I called up Jennifer to see if she would like to go hiking with me. Her mother answered and said, oh I don't think she would want to do that! In the background, I could hear Jen saying YES YES , I want to go!!!
We packed our backpacks, lots of water, a few snacks, and we went to a now favorite place of mine. This trip however was my first trip to the top, so I was not quite sure where it was..LOL.
However, we made it to the top no problem and Jen was so proud!!! We called her mom from the top on the cell..no service at the bottom...and she was a proud as a peacock.
Here is a pict of Jen after..I only took video..silly me..and they will not allow video in a blog, unfortunately, cause they were a hoot!!!

Don't miss the ice cream reward next to her...LOL!

Snow Mt.

This was my first major mountain hike of the season. Though my brother in law Tony and I did do part of the Taconic Crest Trail in May, which was about 8 miles. It had a killer downhill and I must admit that I whined alot the last half mile. However I did survive it. Then I did the 7 mile trip to Johns Brook Lodge a couple of days after Tony and I hiked. This is a backcountry lodge only accessible by foot. It is the starting spot for many of the Adirondack high peaks, so it is a popular spot to stay. The water of Johns Brook was definitely a force to be reckoned with, so rapid and deep we had to take the high water bridge, what a marvel of archeitecture that was!

But I digress..as usual!!! We decided to do Snow Mt. We could also have chosen Rooster Comb, but we did that as our first last year, so this was a new adventure. Though the weather man predicted rain, we lucked out and had a lovely sunny day to begin our adventure. The trip was planned for three of us, Elly, (our hiking guru who has done all the Adirondack high peaks many times, is a 46er, and has done all the high peaks in the White Mountains many times, as well as Mt. Washington, several times every year!), and Marilyn, (my high school friend and PE teacher), and me, the only uncoordinated, clutz of the group!

Just before we arrived in Keene Valley, Elly had a tree fall on her house, so she had to wait for an insurance adjustor to show him the damage. Since I am the slowest of the group, I told Elly that Marilyn and I would go ahead, and she could catch up with us when she was done. This was a good thing for her because she would get a chance to clean her pipes a little and we would have a good part of the distance done, which we did.

We found we can follow a trail and read the signs, and though there were many junctions, we never got lost once. A very good thing! I even survived these god awful plank bridges that you have to cross to begin the hike..those I detest but I made it..another good thing! Elly caught up with us just as we were about to come to the challenging part of the trail. THE ROCK SCRAMBLE!!! If you hiked with me, you would know the two most hated words to me are, SCRAMBLE and LADDER!!! Elly said it was a small rock scramble, but we differ in our opinion of what is termed small!!! LOL..I am so short that I have to get on my hands and knees to get up things like that...but I brought knee pads for my bad knees and that helped a lot, but I must say it was definitely a lot of work and I was a sorry sight...but to me the most important thing is I made it!!! We had lunch at the top, and had a great view of Rooster Comb. (Rooster Comb has a SCRAMBLE and a LADDER, but I did survive that too last year...LOL.)

For me the downhill is always the worst, I have terrible knees and the strain is pretty bad. I wear braces on both knees and that helps. There were several steep places on the way up that I dreaded the thought of going down, but somewhere I must have gone down those and never noticed..or they just were not as bad as I thought. I am sore, got a couple of blisters, but made it once again..and I am as Happy as a Clam!!! Till next time!!!!

How Time Flies

I cannot believe, once again a month has passed, and I have not blogged!!! Bad Bobbi, bad, bad! I seem to be inordinately busy at the moment, which I love...I hate being idle, it makes me nutso! George asked me what I would like for Mothers Day and I told him I wanted new hiking boots. And...in order to get them properly, we had to go to NH to get them!!! There is a wonderful boot maker there (Limmer) that has been there since the early 1800's. They are really a marvellous piece of construction. They measured me also for custom boots but I have to wait 2.5 years for those. So in that time frame I will be an awesome hiker or no longer of this world...LOL..

The area near the bootmaker is a hiker's heaven, very beautiful, and thousands of trails, the most famous of which is of course those to the peak of Mt. Washington. Mt. Washington is my ultimate goal. My aim is to get to the top...I care not if I climb down. It is one of the few huge peaks with a road, so I will arrange for George to pick me up! Since it is over 6,000 feet, it will take a lot of doing but that is my goal!!! I may have to arrange a couple of nights in a hut, not sure, but time will tell. While we were in the Mt. Washington area, we visited Pinkham Notch which is a starting place for several trails up Mt. Washington. They have accomodations, meals, a gift shop and hiking supplies, etc. I got George to hike up to Crystal Cascade, it was a short but beautiful hike and the day was breathtaking! He was so glad that he did it. The pictures above show George having a little rest before we crossed to the last steep ascent to the cascade. The second picture is at the Cascade..it was so beautiful...I also took video of the water, you cannot imagine the power of that water unless you hear it!

37 years

TODAY IS OUR 37TH ANNIVERSARY!!!! We are so busy this week, but we are planning a little get a way next week.

I guess I had better do a little better about writing in my blog, a whole month has gone by and I have written nothing!!! Shame on me!
We made the long trek back from FL with no problem. It is a long and boring trip, and since the weather can be so iffy, we took no side trips. It was so beautiful when we left FL, the high 80s and the first morning home it was in the low 20s high wind, so we nearly froze to death..LOL.

I am back to quilting up a storm, I inherited a huge stash from my cousin so I am busily rearranging my sewing room to accomodate it. Jen is on vacation next week so she is going to "help" me...that should be fun...LOL..

I had planned to hike the Taconic Crest trail this week (should have done it last week) because it snowed here and up on the trail there must be at least 6 inches of snow and the trail which is rather obscure at best is practically invisible now...even after it melts it will probably be very muddy. Oh the joys of spring.

The flowers are valiantly trying to peek out. The deer ate the last of the tulips..sigh..so it is all daffodills for them from now on, they don't like daffodills...

That is it for the moment..keep tuned!!!

Where has the time gone?

We started from home in mid January in a huge snowstorm. Struggling our way toward the warm south. We diligently checked the temperature as we slowly made progress further and further south. By the time we were in South Carolina, I was ready to shed the winter boots and the down vest. I was smart this year, I packed an easily accessible short sleeved shirt for a quick change. What a pleasure to see the sun...we had gone days with no sun up north. Now we have been here for nearly a month, I can hardly believe it. I have been sewing up a storm..and I do mean storm. But I am not looking forward to the weather at home..sigh..now if I could just bring this lovely weather home with me. Cause even if it is chilly here in the am..it warms up in the pm..and it is sunny EVERY day!

The New George

After much trimming, growing, trimming...etc. George decided to ditch the beard. I absolutely could not believe the difference! I had to keep looking at him to see if it really WAS George.
Here is George before and after!

Do you believe it? I am finally getting used to him as he is now, but it took a while. Everyone says he looks ten years younger..and I think they are right! (But I did love the beard.)

Christmas Greetings

It hardly seems possible that Christmas has come and gone again. All the shopping (god bless the internet), and the sewing morning till night! All of it a memory now!
I did manage to finish the flannel quilt for George that I had planned. It was the first time that I have ever used wool batting, and it was quite an experience. Since George likes it so much, I will have to give it one more try..LOL..
Here is a pict of his quilt, "Snowy Pines".

High Peaks Hopeful

Funny that I waited until I was 59 to do something totally "out of the box." I always admired the beauty of the Adirondack mountains, having lived within reach of them all my life. However, NEVER did I ever imagine myself at the top doing the admiring!!!

On my 60th birthday, after considerable training by my hiking partner, Elly Strode, I climbed two of the 46, 4,000 foot peaks in the Adirondacks, Cascade and Porter. We began the climb at 8:00 AM, and finished at 6:06. It was the most physically challenging thing I have ever done in my entire life, and the most AWESOME!!!