Ecuador - From Volcano Glacier to Amazon Basin

The quilt returned to Ecuador for Thanksgiving. I guess it enjoyed visiting in 2008 and thought 2009 deserved a repeat visit. David, our taxi driver, our 18 year old guide and I made a visit to Cotopaxi National Park. We started out hike together until we made it to a rest lodge that served hot coco. David, the taxi driver AND OUR GUIDE decided to stop for coco and thought that this was high enough to hike. I on the other hand had never been so close to a glacier on the top of a volcano and decided to continue to the 5000 meter height where the glacier rests, alone.

In the above picture you can see that it is snowing, and where I fell on the glacier. My pants and more importantly, the quilt piece got stained red from the volcanic ash. I don't know if it will wash out. On the trip back down the side of the volcano I got caught in a blinding snowstorm. It's ok though, as I trudged along I kept muttering about how much good chocolate and water can accomplish when they are left in the car.

Over my left shoulder you can see the lodge. I climbed from the lodge up to the glacier across the red ash.

The quilt enjoys a motor canoe ride up the Napo River. It was not quite what one might imagine; the seats were rather luxurious.

This is the Napo Wildlife Center. Our hut is the one in the center with the white lattice under the porch. This place met and exceeded our expectations.

October - The Quilt visits Disney Parks

During the long drive down to Florida, I was able to complete 3 full flowers (I finished another 2 on the return drive). This marks the first time that Hannah and the quilt have traveled together. For security purposes, no pictures of the two of them appear together.

The Peters contingent was amazed to find our family name carved into the beach. We, wink wink, don't know who would despoil nature by writing graffiti on a public beach!

Animal Kingdom, note the large concrete tree in the background. Yes, those are animals carved into the trunk. And, no, we are not responsible.

Disney Magic Kingdom's Main Street. People already lining up for the electric light parade. Cinderella's castle looming in the background.

Flick, from Ant's Life, poses with the quilt.

The quilt visits Epcot. What says "Epcot" more than the lake with the big ball in the background?

Finally, Snow White visits with the quilt. She not only scared me, the children and everyone else within 3 square miles, she scared the quilt. I'm not sure this flower will be able to face being incorporated into the quilt.

No, I've not been twiddling my thumbs!

I must apologize for the delay in posting. I've actually been quite busy. I finished piecing the Summer Reading Program T-Shirt Quilt and took it in to Sally (through Quiltology) to be quilted. It turned out beautifully. I especially want to thank her for doing such a speedy job. The only thing left now is the binding and loops for it to hang. But take a look, isn't it beautiful? This first picture is a detail from the reverse of the quilt. I had already pieced the front before the 2009 T-Shirt came out, so decided to include it on the back.

In addition to Abe, the back of the quilt has..... the backs of the T-Shirts! Sorry, I thought it would be a clever idea. The shirts are in order beginning in the upper left corner. It is interesting to see how they change over time. The early shirts were simply a listing of the sponsors, as time goes by, the numbers of sponsors increases and logos are added, the shirts backs certainly become more complex.

Here is the front of the quilt. I'm very happy with the front, the design worked perfectly. The center medallion is composed of the first two year's shirts (T rex Reads and Reading is Art-rageous) surrounded by jean material. The next ring around the center is composed of shirts from 2002, 2003 and 2004. Readers @ Play is set off in the corners and Zooray! and Book a Flight fill in. Finally, the outside band of shirts is composed of 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. The shirts repeat in order in such a way that each shirt gets a corner.

Hannah's quilt made a trip to her mother's graduation. Here I am with Laura outside the Decatur Civic Center. She graduated from Richland Community College. Congrats Laura!

Here is Laura again, flanked by her daughters Hannah (left) and Sarah (right). Well, actually Hannah is on Laura's right and Sarah on Laura's left, but you know what I mean.

And, of course, the quilt wanted to travel further afield than Decatur. It insisted on another trip to Costa Rica. I HAD to comply. This photo was taken on the grounds of Tabacon Resort near La Fortuna. In the background is the Arenal Volcano, yes it is erupting that is not clouds at the summit but rather rock and volcanic dust being discharged into the atmosphere. Scary huh?

When did it get to be March?

The beginning of March saw the completion of the 6th row! The next row marks the 1/2 way point. It really is amazing how the pattern is becomming visible. In the pictures the vertical rows of large flowers are very evident, in person and when you click on a photo and view it enlarged, the vertical rows of small flowers also can be seen quite easily. I hope April brings lots of progress, we'll just have to wait and see. Until then.

Panama

I don't think I'll rehash the horror stories of my trip to Panama here. Let's just say that I won't be returning to Panama City anytime in the near future.
The top picture is the large red flower of row 6 making a full transit of the Panama Canal. The same flower visited the rainforest home of the embera indians. There was a beautiful secluded waterfall and pool for swimming.

February, is it really here?

I'm happy with the progress made on the quilt during January; added 4 flowers. Next week part of the quilt is going on a trip! Where? Of course I'm not telling, you'll have to check next month. I will tell you this, it is a nice warm spot.  It also involves a man, a plan, a canal.

State of the Quilt: New Year's 2009

The quilt travelled for New Year's 2009, destination ... Southern California.


Hiking at Torrey Pines Park, Pacific Ocean in the background.


On the beach at Torrey Pines Park, after climbing down the cliffs.

The lighthouse at Loma Point, Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego. Quite a nice hike, the highlight was seeing the California Quail.

Spanish Village in Balboa Park, San Diego.

Can't visit San Diego without visiting the zoo.

The morning we left, it was 36 degrees in Laguna Beach, with a heavy frost all along the Canyon Road.

The quilt is coming along quite nicely. I think the next month will show a lot of progress... Until then.