Toronto, Ontario

Up early to visit Toronto.
Traveling by the airport we saw this hotel.

Your just never know when you may see a quilt block!

I love it.  Fill in the blank.  What a great way to recycle signs!

When do you see phone booths anymore?

What an interesting sculpture.

The CN building.  It sure looks a long way up there.

Heights are not my thing.  It was an open elevator.  You know one of those that has a glass front, and you can watch the whole time you are going up to the observation deck.  I stand with my back to the doors, holding onto Andy's hand.
I needed to at least prove that I made it.  That is Toronto out there,

Ron and Andy.
They were enjoying the view so much.  Even went down one floor to stand on the glass floor.  They have an area, not very big, but it is glass that you can stand, sit, or lay on, and look down to the ground.  Definitely not on my list.  They were just proud I got up there! 

The view is spectacular.  You can see so far.  I think this was the area you could see North.

Ron and Andy standing with the tower in the back.

Looking out toward Lake Ontario.

Another view looking out over the city.

Some of the statistics of the tower. 

The Canadian Mounted Bear

One of the adventures you can have on the CN Tower is to lean out the top tier.  The people were in harnesses, and well prepared to do this.  See the couple of red specks over the side.

They were PEOPLE!!!  Not on your life

Needed too finish off that experience with a beer from the Steam Whistle Brewery across the street. Probably why it is right there!

Frances, in the center was our tour guide through the micro brewery.  What a ham.  He was fun to listen to.

Too when was the last time you saw a pay phone on the way??

On our way back to the hotel, we drove through Chinatown.  What an interesting place.  

You just never know what you may see on a patio!
We had such a great day.  We need to come back another time and spend more days sightseeing.
Maybe next year on our way to the reunions.
Toronto was a beautiful city and there is a lot more to see.
Wait to see what we did the next day.
Mary

I know you think I just stay home and do nothing!

Not So!  We are one the road, again.

It's that time of year for the Baker Family, and Winegar Family reunions, in the state of New York.

This time we decided to change the route up a bit.

First stop was in Michigan to visit with the couple that introduced us, and celebrate Jane's birthday, and of course pick up a couple of Row by Row quilt patterns.

We had a fun evening.

You just never know where you may find a flower blooming.  Looks like a petunia seed decided to bloom in the curb.

In Vicksburg, we found a barn quilt trail.
This is one of the prettiest ones I have seen.

Down one of the country roads we saw this plane in the sky.

It was a crop duster!  I had never seen one in action. We parked by the road to see how it is done.  How fascinating.

The first completed Row by Row quilt I have seen.  I'm impressed.
I have nine rows done on mine.  Obviously, I am at a stand still for the time being.
I will be excited to get back to it when we get home.

Here is the row from the quilt store in Marshall, Michigan.

Our home for a couple of nights In Toronto, Ontario.
It was so nice.  We stayed there for two nights.

Stopped at a couple shops in Ontario.  This was a fun one.
No picture of its row.  I did a lousy job of taking pictures of the rows I got.
We spent last Thursday, in the downtown of Toronto.
My next post!
Moving along.
Mary

Barn Quilts Marshall County, Indiana

My husband loves to plan little get aways.  I had heard there was a new barn trail in Indiana, but did not have the information about it.  He got on the Internet and started checking and had some brochures sent.  He planned a little  two day trip.  This was the first barn quilt we found called "Pine Forest".  I love the pine trees and the colors were wonderful. This one was on Union Road in Plymouth, Indiana.

Here is "Basket Collection Quilt".  This one, also had a Plymouth address.  In our searching we found the barn quilts were presented on a variety of venues. This one is on the side of a house, and is probably my favorite.

Here is "Poor Handmaid Heritage Quilt" on the site of Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, Clare House in Donaldson.  As you can see not all quilt blocks are traditional patterns.

This is a free standing block called "Gristmill".

"Sweet Nectar"

Here I am in front of the The Marshall County CVB in Plymouth.  This block is called "Indiana Farmer". They had this block represented  in two colorways.  Marshall County Tourism is housed in an old fire station. (Oh, that is me!)

Cori Holzwart is the Administrative Assistant at the tourist office.  She was so helpful in sharing information about the Barn Quilt Trail.  As each barn quilt is set for the trail, a 12 inch block is made and recorded on this wall of blocks!  As I said we found blocks on the side of houses and barns, free standing, in a yard or the end of the driveway.  The Map Key was so helpful in identifying where we might find the block. 

Here is "Diva" on Lawrence Lake Drive in Plymouth. Some of the blocks were very easy to spot, a couple not so much.  We put a bunch of miles on the van locating them.  The countryside was gorgeous.  Corn had already tasseled out. We thought were were looking at eating corn, now not so sure.

Here is "Bluebirds".  Ron said the pattern looked like bluebirds before he knew what the block was called!  He is learning.

"Corn and Beans" on the old Lincoln Highway in Plymouth.

"Star of the Fair" on Michigan Road in Plymouth.

We stayed in Syracuse, Indiana, at the Brook Pointe Inn.  It was a little off the beaten path and so lovely.  It is situated on a large plot of land surrounded by woods.  There was a wonderful screened in porch on the back with great rocking chairs. I was hoping to see some deer, but no luck.  The singing of the birds though was so nice. 

Ron found out that there was an old stern wheeler that sailed in the evening.  After a great supper at the Frog Restaurant in Syracuse we were going to take a ride.  Our supper at the Frog was an adventure.  It is right on a canal of Lake Wawasee.  You can sail your boat right up to the restaurant and eat on the dock.  It was so neat to watch the people, boats, ducks and wild swans.  They even have their own pontoon boat that takes people on trips around the lake.  They even help with the Sunday church service on the lake. 

We got to ride on the Dixie Stern wheel Paddle Boat, which sails on the North Webster lake.  We had a beautiful trip around the lake.  Our captain gave us historical and current facts about the boat, lake and people living  around the lake.  It was hard getting off the boat, it was so much fun.  Even though it was 7:00 in the evening, I was glad I had my hat on.  We got a bit of sun.  There were a lot of people on the lake having fun boating and swimming in this heat.  It was still in the 90's in the early evening.

Tuesday we were up bright  and early to resume our back road traveling. I did get to stop at one quilt shop in Warsaw. Now how can you not stop and pick up a couple of pieces of fabric!!

"Farmers Daughter" on Filbert Road in Tippecanoe. There was a bonus one of a " Lone Star".

"Lombardy Lily" was on W 17th Road in Argos.

Ron found this sign and I thought it was appropriate for us quilter's.

It was a great get away.  My Father is not doing very well, and I have been under a lot of stress.  Ron felt it would be good to take this little trip.  I keep my cell phone with me 24/7, which is new for me.  I am one of those that only kept it on once in a while. 

Today I was with Dad as we celebrated the 4th of July.  Instead of an outdoor BBQ it was inside.  It got up to 100 degrees today. The chef at Alden Gardens is positively fabulous.  His chicken and ribs are so good.  I wish I could cook like he does.   Dad called later this afternoon to let me know they were having lobster tails tonight for dinner.  He is in good hands when it comes to food!  Actually, he has a lot of wonderful people caring for him.

Hope everyone is having a great day. 

Mary

One the road again.

Last Tuesday we went to the "Quad Cities" area. We visited John Deere Harvester.  Went on a tour to see how these big machines are made.  Now I am not a farmer, but it was interesting.

Had to check out the American White Pelican.  These birds do fascinate me. 

Checked out this quilt in  LeClaire, Iowa. American Pickers are based in this town as well.

Straight No Chaser, was the group we went to see.  They are a 10 man a Capella group. We saw them on public TV. They are on U-Tube as well.  Andy, our son had given us tickets to see them, as our Christmas gift.  It was a great show.  The auditorium was packed.

Saturday, I drove to Grand Rapids, Michigan to attend a baby shower for my girlfriend Linda's, daughter Becky.  Linda and I have known each other since we were in 6th grade.  That is a lot of years ago.  This is the quilt I made for the baby.  Becky is due May 7th and it is a girl, but they have not revealed her name yet.  We started a baby pool. I have April 30th. We all seem to think she is going to come early.  

This deer decided to come visit in Linda's backyard.  It was so good to be able to catchup with Linda and her sister Gayle.  It has been a long time since we have had the chance.

Sunday afternoon I drove to Jane's house in Lansing.  It was fun getting together with her too.  On Monday, she and her friend Sharon took me to 3 quilt shops in the area. It is always great to meet up with other quilters. Sharon is making a t-shirt quilt for her granddaughter.



This is one of them. Kean's Store.  It used to be an old fashioned dime store. Several years ago they turned it into a quilt shop and gift store. This store is in Mason, Michigan.  We also went to "Around the Block", in Portland, "Everlasting Stitches" in Holt.  It was a fun day.  We met another friend, another Mary, for dinner that evening. 
On Tuesday it was finally time to drive home. I had such a great time with everyone.  It was good for me to visit with them.  We have always helped each other.  I came home feeling like I can tackle all the things ahead of me.  Friendship support is a great thing.

I did get the hand quilting done on the two needle keeps I have been working on.  Only the binding to go. Maybe tomorrow I will have pictures to show of a couple of finished projects.

Have a great day sewing or quilting.

Mary