Busy Summer!

I had a VERY busy summer!  In June, I went to Texas (checking on our parents), then went to the Missouri TOGA (Treadle On Gathering and Academy) for 3 days and played with vintage sewing machines, taught some things, and had a blast!  I didn't get any photos this time :(.

I came home for 9 days (didn't even get my stuff unpacked) then left for vacation with my hubby.  We drove thru 7 states for 17 days (4550 miles).  I visited at least 6 different quilt shops along the way.  We went to the Amana Colonies in Iowa, then drove thru Nebraska farmland to South Dakota.  In South Dakota, we visited the Badlands, Wall Drug, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park.  

the Badlands

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore at night

We drove thru Wyoming to Idaho, where we met up with hubby's parents and his brother and sister-in-law for 6 days.  We drove down to Jackson, WY and went to The Legend Of Cat Ballou at the theater.  Those actors danced, sang, and had a fun time!

While we were in Idaho, we drove to Yellowstone National Park six different days.  Two of those days we also visited the Grand Teton's.  One day we drove across the Continental Divide 8 times!

Old Faithful

just one of the many Bison we saw

hubby's family

On the way back home, we stopped in Rawlings, WY, which is the Northern Boundary of the Republic of Texas (part of the territory that Texas gave up to pay off it's debt and become a state). As native Texan's, we had to stop there (and there was a quilt shop and disc golf course there, too).

hubby by the memorial sign

We also stopped at Fort Laramie (WY) and Scott's Bluff National Park (NE).  Years ago I stopped in Winterset, IA while driving thru Iowa, and got to see 2 of the covered bridges, so I wanted to see more of the covered bridges in Iowa.  I visited the Quilt Museum and a quilt shop in Winterset, then we visited several different covered bridges.  We drove along the Mormon Trail, and found more covered bridges along the way.  As we were driving to find a hotel for the night, we drove thru Riverside, IA.  I saw a banner with Spock from Star Trek on it, then one of McCoy.  Hubby turned around and we drove back, slowly, and kept seeing different characters from the TV series.  Turns out that Riverside, IA is the FUTURE home of Captain James T. Kirk in the series.  The town had just had a Star Trek Fest 2 weeks before.  What fun!

barn quilt in town with the USS Enterprise

Well, when I got home, I had 10 days before I traveled back to Texas (again to check on our parents).  The trip really took a lot out of hubby's parents.

So, I only got in my sewing room twice between end of June till first of September :(.