Summer took long enough to get here! Okay, okay, so it isn't officially "summer" on the calendar yet, and "summer" may have started for others with the end of a school year or Memorial Day Weekend, but for me summer starts when our camping season starts. And it was late this year for us...
Last week we (finally) found our way with friends to the Conejos Camp Ground located in the Rio Grande National Forest. It took us a little over 3 hours to drive to our destination. It is remote and there is absolutely no connection to the world because there are no cell towers in the area.
We spotted three big horn sheep a few miles from the campground! I was excited about that because that means that I have a "new" block to include in our camping journal quilt. While I have plenty of postcard patterns that could be used, I don't want to overuse many of them.
Dave got to celebrate the anniversary of his appearance to the world while we were in the wilderness by fishing. He isn't much a sit on a shore of a lake type of fisherman, but he really enjoyed fishing the creeks and the Conejos River. The river ran along the edge of our camp site and the sound of the water was calming and enjoyable (and convenient, allowing us to be near the camper).
But we also ventured out to another area. The first time out was not properly planned. We ALL walked away from the truck with nothing but the phones for cameras and fishing gear. Greenhorns! We should have had water at the very least... Sorry about the blur in the picture, but the road was rough.
We have been enjoying adventures with these friends for 26 years, including our exciting journey to the dinosaur tracks at the Picketwire Canyon last November. Good times, good laughs and good memories!
The trout needed to be 16" or longer to be "keepers" and Dave finally caught one that would would have made a great dinner. But, sadly, it got away... WITH a favorite lure. BUT I happened to have the camera to capture the moment!
My blocks included... ✔larger star, ✔open space, ✔a pine tree trunk, ✔a barrel cactus, ✔campfire.
I still have a few more kits that are ready to go, but I will need to prep a few more for future trips.
While we were "unplugged" the fourth block in the Santa Fe Trail Sew Along was published without a single issue. Woohoo! Did you see it? The snowflake is a type of a log cabin block, cut once on a diagonal and a "spine" inserted. It is easier to piece than it looks and it is generous in size with the intention of trimming down to size to guarantee that the completed square is 12-1/2 inches. Get the pattern (free until July 22) and link up for a chance to win a free FQ. The linky party will be open until July 1.
✔ I have my personal paper doll quilt blocks prepped (ok, they are only pin basted and have no binding, but I have to move forward) and as soon as I get the two blocks I passed on to my Mom with the clothing patterns, I will get the tops assembled and quilted.
Even though we got home on Saturday and it is now Tuesday I feel like I am still playing catch-up. And having that small taste of rest and time away makes me only want MORE! Wah...
I think the biggest problem is that I haven't been sleeping well. We have had several days of temps in the 90s and we don't have central air. We have been sleeping with the windows open because it really does cool off nicely once the sun goes down, but it has also been windy. A gentle breeze would be fine, but we have had gusty nights. We have two window units that have been recently put into place and, fingers crossed, we will be resting peacefully with windows shut and keeping cool.
I made some fresh fruit pops to enjoy during a hot afternoon. Fresh strawberries, blueberries, some applesauce and a splash of apple juice... they are quite refreshing!
What are some of your favorite ways to keep cool?
Leave a comment... I'd love to hear your suggestions.
Quilt Happy!
Melva
Linking with:
To Do Tuesday at Chris Knits & Sews
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch
Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting
Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch
Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland
26 years of friendship and fun - how wonderful! Looks like you all had a great time together. Glad you at least have photo proof of the fish that got away, and hopefully the lure can be replaced (my husband is a fisherman as well, so I understand the favorite lure thing). Those summer camp prompts are so fun!
ReplyDeleteGreat post - and of course I am so jealous - missing our RV - but life goes on. Enjoy your friends and the free outdoors!
ReplyDeletelooks wonderful! glad everyone was able to do things they enjoy!
ReplyDeleteOh the fishing--and hanging with friends--looks so fun! Hoping to do some of that this fall!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful family camp experience! I've been on the Conejos River, but only in New Mexico when we stayed in Chama. Lots of beautiful land up there, too. I hope to have some kind of camping vehicle again in a couple of years and be able to have some times like this again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely camping spot! I agree--it's always good to get away and who wouldn't want more of that? Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeleteSounds and looks wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like everyone is having such a great time - can't beat summer camping!
ReplyDeleteLovely camping spot, sounds you had lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteFun and great time with friends! Thank you for linking up today ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat times camping with friends, Melva! Keeping cool in the summer is a bit of work! Growing up in Cañon City, with no AC, I learned from my mom, and it still works well here in Rapid City, where the humidity is higher. We close the windows and drapes any time the temp will rise past 85. We close the east facing windows as soon as the sun hits them if it’s going to be very hot, or not until the house temp rises one degree. The south windows are next, usually by mid morning, but right away if we are expecting 90’s. Finally, the west windows are shut around noon time, and at 2 pm the East curtains can be opened; we wait to open the windows until it’s cooler outside than inside. Last year we used the girls old science fair and 4-H display boards (foam core) in the windows as well, and it worked so well, we bought a case in exactly the size of our bedroom windows to make placing them easy. The result of this closing down system, is that I can keep the house between 72 and 76 until about 5 o’clock, even with students fanning the front door most of the day! We will get our central air fixed eventually, but this works for most days. If we had the altitude you less humidity that you have, it would work. The only days we suffer are when the lows are In the 65-70 range, which thankfully, is not often,
ReplyDeleteThe fishing looks so fun, it's been too long since I have fished. Love the new block for the Santa Fe Trail and paper doll blocks. Thank you for sharing in Put your foot down.
ReplyDelete