NASHVILLE TO ASHEVILLE

We spent the night just outside of Nashville and had a head start on our long trip to Asheville.  There are lots of  'villes' in this neck of the woods.  As we moved east, the hills started rolling and became more and more pronounced.

As soon as we crossed into North Carolina we stopped at a visitors center and took this picture as we started into the Great Smokey Mountains.  Not too far in, it began to rain.  By the time we got to Asheville, though, it had stopped.

When we arrived in Asheville, we parked and spent a few hours wandering about downtown.  Here is the historic Jackson Building, a 13-story Neo-Gothic style skyscraper completed in 1924, the first skyscraper in western North Carolina.  We loved the gargoyles. 

Darrell was very excited about seeing Grove Park Inn.  We have heard so much about it and were always envious of those that attended the Arts and Crafts Conference held there in February annually. 

Unfortunately, the Inn has been updated and remodeled.  Darrell was sorely disappointed.  The outside is beautiful, they haven't messed with it, but the inside was poorly re-done.  We had asked about spending the night.  The price for a small suite was over $1500.  The cheapest room would have been in the new addition and may or may not have a window - at $360.  Nevermind.  We stayed at a Hampton Inn downtown.

But while we were here, we took a look around.

The front of the Grove Park Inn, built circa 1913.

One of the two large fireplaces at each end of the lobby.

Looking out the back, off the terrace where there Sunset Diner is located.

The back of the hotel with the Sunset Terrace.

The lobby (re-modeled)

While here I thought I'd enjoy the fire for a few moments.

FRANKLIN TO NASHVILLE

We left the Indianapolis area, specifically Franklin where he's been staying, and headed to Louisville.  Darrell has a client there and he wants to stop and visit with them - and visit his furniture.

Although we aren't drinking coffee at this time, we still stopped at Starbucks in Franklin to get our morning tea.

We had a great visit with his clients and then headed out to Nashville.  I had wanted to see more of Louisville, but we ran out of time.  I thought I would see acres and acres of thoroughbred farms, but was told, no they aren't in this area, the farms are more prevalent around Lexington.  

The conference table Darrell made for his client's business.

A lonely horse farm.

Between Louisville and Nashville, we stopped at Lincoln's Birthplace Memorial Park.

The little log cabin is enshrined in this huge neo-classical monument.

We arrived in Nashville a little after 4pm.  It's Saturday night - there were partiers everywhere.  There seemed to be a lot of people heading to concerts at arenas and other venues.  The traffic was heavy and the sidewalks were full of people in shorts and cowboy boots. 

We made our way straight to the capital building in the center of town.  It was closed, but we walked around the outside and admired it and the view.

TO INDIANAPOLIS

I left this morning to join Darrell in Indianapolis.  He's been teaching there at Marc Adams School of Woodworking all week.  He wraps up his class today.  I'll be picking up a rental car at the airport and driving out to meet him.

Lots of corn fields around the school.

MODERN FANS TOP

I got the top of the Modern Fans quilt done today.   I've started in on the backing.  All while getting ready for my upcoming trip.

First things first, our morning walk.

I also put the two pieces together to finish this Splendid Sampler 2 block.

MAKING DAY

Today was a day for making things.

It started with a morning walk, of course.  But, we hurried home to get started on processing our tomatoes to make some ketchup.  Usually Darrell helps with this, by turning the crank on the food mill.  Since he was going to be out of town this week, we invested in an attachment for my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer that could do the job for me.  It worked great!

I've got the tomato sauce in the slow-cooker making ketchup.

I ran into a little problem when I realized that we didn't have any hot water.  You can't can tomato sauce without hot water.  I need hot water!  Here's another thing Darrell usually does.  Our water heater's pilot light tends to go out occasionally and he goes down and fixes it.  I didn't want to have anything to do with that, so I called a repair man.  He got here about 4:15pm and was done by 4:20pm and only charged me $115.29 to reconnect a wire that had somehow come loose.  I want to say it is almost worth it.  I can't live without hot water for very long.  I appreciate that they came out on the day I called.

Anyway, after I got half the tomatoes processed, I went up to the studio to work on Modern Fans.  

I got all of the rows sewed together into rows of twos.  It's coming out great.  I love it.  I've begun to think about how to quilt it.  

SEWING LOVE

I love sewing these curves.  It's so satisfying when they come out so smooth and ( I won't say it ) perfect.  Oops, I said it.  I love it.

I listened to podcasts  ('Hidden Brain' and 'Just Wanna Quilt' )and the time just flew by.

My favorite awl is an essential tool.

I sewed on row together - look how great the circles line up and that point!  I love it.

SEWING CURVES

It is very satisfying when these curves turn out so nice.  

I've been waiting for the fabrics I ordered to get here so I could work on the Modern Fans project.  They finally got here yesterday.  I ran them through the wash - and tried to iron and refold them - which is difficult when they're in a 4 to 6 yard chunk - then I was really excited to get going.

I took Darrell to the airport this morning.  He's headed to Indianapolis to teach a class starting Monday.  He'll finish it up on Friday, when I'll join him.  We are renting a car and driving south and east, exploring the area.

I also discovered this morning that I missed posting City Sampler block 71 last week on Instagram.  That means I blew it for the 100 days of posting a block every day!  I am so frustrated!  I haven't been posting anything but City Sampler blocks on my Instagram, so now I don't know what to do.  I'm out of the running for prizes.  It's pointless now.  

Aarrgghh!

Happy Autumnal Equinox.

NEW SOLIDS

I spent  a good part of the day dealing with this month's delivery of Kona Solids from Circa 15 Studios.

MORE APPLIQUE

It's another Splendid Sampler 2 applique block this week.

I was busy doing other things, but I did get the parts and pieces prepared for this block.

It rained last night.  Our morning walk was clear and dry, but the colors in the park were spectacular.

BH2 DOUBLE DAY

There were two new Moda Block Heads 2 blocks today.

And I got another Tape Measure block done.

TUESDAY TRIO

I got three blocks done today - one of each project.

And I donated my 93rd pint of blood.  I got a purple wrap and some apple juice.

Lots of little pieces.

Finished.

Third block of Tape Measure.

M blocks of Lettered