~I'm Missing Vermont and New England as a Whole!~

Red Covered Bridge, West Arlington, VT

Several years ago, my DH and I went to Vermont in the spring, and every year at this time I start missing it. We had never been to that part of the United States and decided it was high time. So we boarded the plane here in good ol' Boise and took off. During this trip we had 2 'rules' - no freeways (or tollways, which is a very foreign concept to us here in the West) and no eating at fast food or 'chain' restaurants. We wanted to experience the back roads and taste of local cuisine. Oh my, what a trip we had!! No reservations, just purchased two airplane tickets for Albany, NY and reserved a rental car. And hit the road we did! Logged 980 miles on a PT Cruiser in 6 days, took in parts of Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and back to Albany, on back roads and only 37 miles of freeways/tollways, and saw the most beautiful countryside! This was our favorite place of all - West Arlington, Vermont! Oh, man! So every Spring, I revisit those roads and the fun time we had driving down little country lanes, turning corners to see the most quaint villages and covered bridges. I was in love again - with architecture, townships, and beautiful old churches and cemeteries, covered bridges........ all the things that we don't have out here in Idaho. And every spring I see it all again in my mind and feel the ache to revisit. Not only am I suffering from Spring Fever right now, but I am in 'New England Withdrawals'. Not a good disease to have......

I have an update from my 'Finish it Friday' Night with my girlfriends. This is my friend Sarah who machine quilted a baby quilt.....

And this is my friend Tracey who pieced a baby quilt..........

And girlfriend Kim who was scrapbooking Valentine's Day photos......

And then there was my quadrant of the dining room table filled with 5-6 unfinished smaller projects.........

which turned into.......

I framed two cross-stitch and a punchneedle projects that night, finished a pillowcase, stuffed a couple of pillows/pin keeps, and the stack green and gold nine-patch blocks really are pinkeeps that I sewed together, just ran out of time to stuff with walnut shells and oak shavings. So see, you really can get a lot done at Finish It Fridays. We girls hum those machines along, crop those photos, and make the night profitable. We really have a great time. We missed you working with us, so won't you come next month? Our next meeting is April 3rd from 6 - midnight. We have a potluck, so bring your favorite dish to pass, or just come with project in hand. I'm the house down on the corner, so come on over!