When the storm was over!

Yesterday was spent confined to our hotel, setting up a temporary sewing circle in a corner of the lobby. The staff of the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC were fabulous...a credit to their hotel. This a reenactment of trying to get outside...


Some of these were consumed...


Knitting and sewing done...and lots of chatter too.


Lots of wind and rain, but we were warm and snug. Other areas have not fared so well, and our thoughts were with those trying to find sanctuary. The Potomac was full of debris...


But the much photographed squirrels were out and about.


Today it was still COLD and wet...but we ventured out on a Trolley Bus tour (fabulous staff...Sooner Steve and Mike) and saw the memorials...all of the museums and Arlington were closed. The town was so very quiet...giving us a great view and easy access to memorials to Lincoln,


Jefferson


and Martin Luther King.


My Dad served during the Korean War, so I was in awe of the memorial to those who served there.


Almost frozen, Loz and I made a glamorous pair in our matching LILAC spray jackets... OMG I am wearing a pastel???? Note to self...never try to buy a spray jacket when a Hurricane is bearing down on you and expect both colour choice and a size that fits...we looked like a pair of lilac puff balls...but we were dry!


Off to Houston tomorrow!
Cardygirl xxx



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Hurricane Sandy that is! We are safely bunkered down in our Washington DC hotel. We have fudge and chocolate covered pretzels....we are hoping that will meet our food needs! Who knows what the next day will bring, but we are fine and have stitching ready to go! At present all is pretty quiet with light rain...hoping it does not get too bad, but the city seems well prepared.


We arrived at lunchtime and then spent the afternoon racing around the major sites in case we do not have another chance.


It is a beautiful city...so much history...something beautiful everywhere I look. It would be lovely to see it when there is not a hurricane heading our way.


Wish us luck!
Cardygirl xx



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Location:Waiting for Sandy!

Yesterday Loz and I decided to investigate Amish country with a driver, as the public transport in the area is very poor and many shops are situated away from main tourist drag. We found a great shop, Hannah's Quilts, after a recommendation from some Dutch quilters. Well, I think Hannah was rubbing her hands together with glee as, after the arrival of two more friends, some Amish quilts were purchased. Beautifully hand quilted with the makers initials, date and place...lovely!


We also investigated Lancaster itself and an old graveyard....amazing to wander around.


Still amazed by squirrels...we saw this little chap!


Cardygirl xx


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A proud city

New York has been amazing! A fascinating city with so much to see and do...we have barely scratched the surface, but our feet remind us of how much we have walked...and walked.



Finally we have the street system worked out and are navigating quite well. Every now and then we need some directions, but everyone is pleased to help...lovely people who think we talk strangely...oui!


Today we strolled 5th Avenue...went to the stunning library and Bryants park, saw a mass in St Patricks Cathedral and lit a candle for my mum. We were dazzled by the diamonds in Tiffany's, admired the fashionable shops, went to the top and bottom of the Rockefeller Centre and gazed over an overcast New York...beautiful.


I love walking the streets, hearing people talk and seeing how they live...so much fun!


We have been so impressed by the pride New Yorkers have in their city and the brave people that serve them...the police and fire departments. We had the good fortune to meet a delightful officer...here I am with one of NY's finest!


Cardygirl xxx
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Lost in translation?

On our travels there have been some funny signs to share...


not sure I really want to eat here...


Interesting...hairy tonsils?


Not sure about this either...


Odd name for a loo....


Interesting new jewellery range??


What do they say about back rubs??


Do they do other colours?


Holiday season for grass?


We are a bit tired!


First day of skating at Rockefeller Centre...


Companions who add so much fun!
Cardygirl xx

And the fun continues!

We are still in Portland, Oregon...a beautiful city with lots of friendly people. It has been a lovely introduction to the US. Yesterday was spent visiting an antiques mall...so much amazing stuff that you would never see in Australia. I am yet to transfer some pics from Loz's camera of my purchase there, not an antique quilt, but a lovely coat, perfect for the cool drizzly weather here.


We have seen lots of fabulous Halloween decorations...lots of fun. Even tried candy corn!


Yesterday we were very fortunate to share shopping and a class at Holly Hills Quilt Shop with Bonnie Sullivan and Kathy Schmitz. They are such lovely generous ladies and we had a ball. Loz was like a star struck schoolgirl meeting her idol, Kathy...she forgot all about us and headed off with her new BFF! Oh well, infatuations come and go, we knew she'd come back to us...eventually!


Poor Kathy is still recovering from the reaction Lea and I had to seeing a squirrel(complete with nut in mouth...very cute!) for the first time...it is hard to concentrate on driving when two silly Australians are screaming.."OMG it's a squirrel" ...and Loz is trying to cope with being a front seat passenger ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD...thanks Kathy for being so gracious and understanding!


The workshop was so much fun...we have made journal covers! Their new book is fabulous and I think we have depleted the shop supplies.


Today has been spent exploring this beautiful city...


Saturday markets, Museum of Contemporary Craft, Powells bookstore, a bit of retail therapy (soft orange leather gloves) and then a trip on the cable car...a slightly nervous but VERY GOOD friend conquered her fears and came with me...how good is she?


Other highlights have included me learning to "talk" American...apparently I "talk" funny! I can now be understood by the locals to a certain degree...Loz even heard me say "thank you very MURCH"...OMG I have turned into Elvis!
Enjoy the snaps, I will keep posting as we have access!
Cardygirl xx


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Gone to America!

Well, despite lots of obstacles I made it to the airport and off we headed to the USA. Lea and I had a night in Sydney, then went to the airport. Numerous repacks of leas bag ensued, but we finally made it.


There was even an encounter with the doppelgänger of a friends ex...cue Cardy calling out "Neil" and coughing loudly! You had to be there! We have met some lovely people who have pointed us in the right direction to our hotel, lovely border security personnel...no Cardy, the other right hand...it was a long flight after all! We looked like a bizarre quilting convoy, dragging our bags along the streets of Portland. So I will try and keep in touch, as we journey around America.


Cardygirl xxx
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Still no Kevin here!

Well...a bit of an absence as we frantically try to regain some semblance of "normality". Not that we are having much success at present. Rather than being the most boring of bloggers raving on about renovation glitches, kitchen suppliers going bankrupt before yours is made, changing temp accommodation yet again and family illnesses, I will show you some snaps of what progress has been made in the house stakes...

just waiting for a BIG window...

just waiting for some fill...

oh dear Kevin McCloud where are you with your pithy analysis of the renovation process????

No sewing as such, just binding this quilt for Miss E's dear Robert...he is certainly a much loved part of the family now (don't get excited, Miss E had to finish the last bit of binding for me!).

My journeys in Blogland have been very sporadic of late with all that has been happening. I will be a bit absent for the next few weeks as well, a long planned (but now poorly timed) journey is about to begin with some dear friends...I will soon be around waving a bit of red, white and blue!

Wish me luck!

Cardygirl XX

Feels like Groundhog day?

Well, it seems like we are repeating our days over and over again...if there is no rest for the wicked, I must have been REALLY naughty at some stage! There is so much happening and all remains focused on family, renovating and finding our feet in our beautiful new city.

 Not being settled in the new house has left me feeling somewhat adrift...it will settle and realistically with all that is happening it is the least of my worries!

One dear blogging friend recently remarked how she loves seeing the renovation pics...it was a bit like Grand Designs goes Cardy! All I can say is that I wish dishy Kevin McCloud was around to smooth my furrowed brow ( now I will be in trouble with DH!!!!). Hopefully it will not be like GD episodes where the homeowner gets pregnant and there is a massive cost over-run! Here is the leadlight window waiting to go in and make the house look super cute. 

And the retaining wall waiting to be filled. Some suggestions are being made that it would be a great plunge pool...might make us very popular neighbours!

On the sewing front, there is little to report...a case of the mind is willing but the body too tired! to back this up...can you believe that we have been in an apartment about 200m from a large Spotlight for two weeks and I haven't even been through the door as there has been neither time nor inclination...yikes!

My FIL remains very ill...sadly at almost 89 years of age we start to wear out. This is hard for him to accept but it is a privilege to be able to be there to support him in this part of his life journey. 

Finally, on a happier note, Molly has taken to city life with gusto! The beach, lots of walks and the never ending thrill of meeting new people and smelling new dogs' @#%*! 

Thanks for reading this...I feel like there is no sunshine here at present, but the clouds will clear!

 Cardygirl xx

Some semblance of normality?

Much has happened since I last posted. 

 The move has occurred, eventfully as expected with everything we do lately! Thunderstorms, forecasts of hail and high winds, had ourselves and the removalists scurrying like ants. Finally after two long and tiring days the truck was loaded and the house was oddly bare and quiet. Time to move onto the next phase in our lives. While it was funny to leave the house, when the quilts and embroideries were removed from the walls, it didn't seem like home any more. I will miss all the love and thought that went into building the house, and of course I will cherish the happy memories of the times spent there as a family, but our new lives in Newcastle will be fabulous!

Before I left town, we had one last "craft" night...so nice to see the girls and a bit surreal too, surely I will be back next week? Lea made the most fabulous sewing machine cake to celebrate the occasion

...and it was yummy too! Not a great deal of sewing done, but lovely to chat, the group has been meeting in one form or another for 21 years...my how young we were!Lea has some more pics here. I shall miss their chatter, inspiration and gentle support through those testing times in life...it wasn't all about sewing, it was all about sharing too.

These girls are one of the hardest things to leave!

Sadly in the midst of all the moving, my father in law suffered a heart attack and is still very ill in hospital. Fortunately we are now close by so we can visit often. 

So, as you would imagine, there has been little time to stitch. A few cross-stitches at night is all I have been able to manage before I drop into bed. But this week I plan to have some hand-piecing at the ready for some quieter moments...fingers crossed! Here is my interim stitching spot.

 Now, back to the reason for moving....the house continues to progress, frames for the extension are erected and the roof will go on this week. it seems never ending, but it will happen!

And, on a lighter note, here is our very non-citified Molly- her eyes are still on stalks as she becomes used to the city...so many dogs and so many people and cars! Pushbikes, motorbikes and even someone on a kayak! She had never seen the sea before, but quickly cottoned on to the idea of a dog friendly beach (with so many friendly dogs too!). I think she will quite like it here.
Thank you for all your kind wishes...it will be good to be settled again!

Cardygirl xx