Freshly Picked Table Runner, Upcoming Plans and A Bear

Hello, friends!

It has been just over two weeks since my last post. We returned from a fabulous time in Philadelphia and I just got busy with work and real life.  There hasn't been any cross-stitching to share and the sewing projects I have are retreat gifts. Those things have taken up much of my time. I'll share them in a future post when I recap the retreat.

Speaking of the retreat, I mentioned in a previous post that I am donating a table runner for the charity raffle.  I finished the runner last week.
                                            
Freshly Picked is a project from a Fat Quarter Shop Sew Sampler Box. I was a subscriber many years ago. Most of the Sew Sampler projects that I knew I would never make were sold on a destash FB page a long time ago. I saved a few favorites for myself and charitable donations.
                                            

                                            
The focus fabrics were from Good Life by Bonnie & Camille for Moda. I did the quilting on my embroidery machine using a design from Designs by JuJu called Vines and Flowers. The overall measurement is 19.5" x 57". All fabrics were from my stash.

I'm also donating a lap-sized quilt but do not have any good photos of it yet. I may try to get a photo with the raffle winner at the retreat.

We've been in our NC mountain home for 3 years and 4 months. We frequently have deer and turkeys on the property. Last week we had our first bear visit.  We've had them on the road but never in our yard...much less our garage. Hubby was cleaning the upper patio deck furniture. He left the back garage door open as he went in and out. A bear came from somewhere, entered the garage, drug out a bag of birdseed, made a mess and then left. It was so cute how he walked down the paver steps to our lower lawn.  I'll try to attach a video at the end of this post but if it doesn't work, you can find it on my Instagram.

My goal for this week is to finish all of the things I have to do for the retreat which begins on September 10th. I'll be driving to Montgomery, AL on the 9th. Also, my Mom bought a condo so we will be helping her pack and prepare to move. The timing on that is dependent on when the flooring people finish. She's had a lot of renovation going on since she purchased the property. While I am thrilled for her, the timing is awful. I'm committed to the retreat but also want to be here for her.

During my two week break, I've missed visiting my favorite blogs. Hoping to do some catch up reading over the next few days.

Enjoy your week ahead and I'll see you soon.

If you've followed me for any length of time, you know I have been discouraged by linky parties. But, since I've started following Melva, I'm encouraged to give her Sew & Tell a try.

Sewcialites 3, Block 23 and Table Runner for Charity

Hello, dear friends. I hope you had a nice weekend. It was rainy on and off here but we still made it out to get fresh veges from a local farm stand.

The Ten Acre Garden is a family owned and operated flower and vegetable garden. It is a U-Pick business but they also have packaged products available so you don't have to go into the gardens yourself.

They have a sunflower maze you can walk through.  They will have a corn maze in the fall. It is a great place for family's to visit.

The dahlias were stunning.

A couple of stations for doing different crafts

A tic-tac-toe board played with painted rocks

In the sewing room I finished Sewcialites 3, block 23.
                                          
With Love Block was designed by Jackie MacDonald of Sweetfire Road.
                                            
I also assembled the first table runner for the charity raffle I told you about in a previous post.
                                                    
Freshy Picked is a flimsy. I'll share more details once it is quilted and bound.

That will not happen until possibly next weekend. As I mentioned in Friday's post, we were expecting to make a trip to Ft. Walton Beach for a funeral. My aunt passed away Sunday morning and we are waiting to hear about the arrangements. My mom is doing very well...considering.

I want to thank all of you who sent well wishes.

I will try to post a cross-stitch update on Friday. It will depend on whether we are home or not.

Enjoy the week ahead and I'll see you soon.

Quilt Along Progress and Hiking

Fat Quarter Shop released Sewcialites 3, block #10 last Friday. Little Berry Block is designed by Pat Sloan.

The fabric I am using is the Lyda Rose collection by Bunny Hill Designs, and it doesn’t have any greens it. I copied Kimberly’s (Fat Quarter Shop) selection of fabrics so my strawberry stem is brown.

We didn’t see any wild strawberries on Sunday, but hubby and I took a couple of hikes with a local group. The first trek was off the Blue Ridge Parkway (MM431) to the summit of Richland Balsam Mountain.

We reached a 6, 410 foot above sea level elevation and had some amazing views.  I think you can see Table Rock and a few other “famous” peaks. I need to pay better attention next time.

After that loop, we proceeded further up the parkway to MM417 so that we could hike down to Skinny Dip Falls.  We passed a tree name “Dragon Tree.”

Skinny Dip Falls used to flow from way up in the mountain, but Hurricane Helene caused so much damage that it is now a series of just small falls.  It was still very serene and enjoyable.

At this elevation, spring is just beginning.

Rhododendrum

Red Trillium

We had lunch on the rocks before the day ended.

These hikes were considered intermediate treks, and they were fine. We look forward to joining this group again on future hikes at different locations.

I hope you had a lovely weekend and I wish you a wonderful week ahead.  See you soon.

Ice Fest 2026

Hello, Friends!

As promised in Monday’spost, I am sharing photos from last weekend’s Ice Fest. But first, a few words about that event.

Visit Haywood Ice Fest Weekend is a winter celebration that spans five towns in our county, over a weekend. Unfortunately, due to last weekend’s snow storm, only the main event took place. That was the Ice Block Party held in our downtown. Main Street is blocked off to automobile traffic so that participating businesses can display unique ice sculptures. Food vendors and entertainment are also available. It is a true festival.

Since the event was cancelled in the other small towns, their ice sculptures were brought to our courthouse lawn for display.

Visit Haywood is the organization that sponsors Ice Fest and they raise money to promote the county’s small businesses. One way they do that is by selling items made by local citizens. I mentioned in this post I had knit a scarf to support that effort.

That was Ice Fest 2026. I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the ice sculptures.

I’ll be back Friday with a cross-stitch update.

See you then,