A Room with a View...

I just got home late last night from my long anticipated trip to New Zealand.  I'm still feeling a bit wiggy after the very long hours in the air, time change, date change, etc., but couldn't wait to share everything with you !

My flight began in San Francisco where I began the long 13 hour flight to Auckland...and from there to Palmerston North.  I had instructions to keep my camera ready and managed to snag a few shots from the air of the beautiful countryside below me.  This was my first "room with a view"!

My main care person, Erilyn McMillan met me at the airport and snugged me up in her home for the week.

My room was very spacious and had two large windows/glass doors that overlooked her backyard. She has no ordinary backyard...hers is complete with a pasture and beautiful sheep!  I fell head-over-heels in love with her sheep and she even has them named. :)

In charge of the sheep was her beautiful, lazy, old, deaf dog named Chloe.  When I'm traveling I always miss my dogs as much as I miss my husband so Chloe was a good substitute for the week so I had something to pet :)  This was my next "room with a view".

After snugging in my room and unpacking, Erilyn took me for a trip to the ocean...wow!  I got to see a new ocean and a new coastline in a new country.  Third "room with a view".

I was the Rose City Quilters guest speaker and judge for their annual Tote and Gloat celebration.  What a fabulous event this is!  Quilters from all over New Zealand attend and they have a GREAT way to fill their small show with quilts.  They start the day with an almost 2 hour show and tell where quilters from everywhere show their quilts and those that choose, have their quilts hung in the show.  So as they quilts are being admired on the stage...once done they are passed down to be hung in the show.  Once the show and tell is done everyone is invited to admire them again in the show.  LOVED this!

After this part of the celebration, I was their guest speaker and had the privilege of sharing my linen wholecloth quilts.  When I present this trunk show for guilds, I love to watch the women enjoying the quilts afterwards...I've always said I wanted to get a picture of all the hineys in the air and the quilts being loved...finally got a good shot of this!

I was also asked to be the guest judge for their Challenge Quilts.  At first I was a bit nervous about doing this as it is such a huge responsibility.  I found that this was something I enjoyed doing...each quilt had a story with it explaining the process and the inspirations.  The stories, the techniques and the thought processes all came into play.  Yes, there was some "sucking up to the judge" that took place...I won't mention any names but a particular quilter....hmmmm....Liz Gates???  came to my mind! :)

Three full workshops, a speaking engagement, judging and  two long flights later I'm home.  My trip to New Zealand is something I shall never forget...it's one of those heart moments that will be with me forever.  I am ever grateful for the heartfelt hospitality provided to me by my care person Erilyn...for the open arms and enthusiasm by the entire guild...the amazing "family style" dinner celebration at Dianne's home...and to Alison  for taking such good care of me on Tuesday.

So with that said, I had to share my final picture of Chloe caught in the middle of a big yawn...

Big Hugs of Gratitude to the Rose City Quilters...Cindy :)