Field Trip, Quilting, Walking

School is out!  Last week was super busy.  Monday we took a field trip to Elk Creek Falls and the largest Western Red Cedar tree east of the Cascade Mountains.  It's a long bus ride and the falls are about a 4 mile round trip walk to see all 3 of the falls, but our class made it! It is a series of 3 waterfalls, the middle one being 70 feet high.  

Upper Falls

Middle Falls - 70 ft

Lower Falls - 50 ft.

giant cedar - hard to get the perspective of size.

We also had field trips Tuesday and Wednesday digging for garnets (Idaho's gem) and a museum for Idaho history.  Thursday was our end of school BBQ and awards. 

I finished quilting my Ultra Violets quilt and gifted it to our music teacher.  This wonderful woman has been volunteering for 15 years in our school teaching music, art, organizing our monthly hot lunches (yes our students normally bring their own lunch) and putting on amazing winter programs.  Her youngest child of four kids was leaving our school this year, moving on to junior high. She will continue to volunteer for music but is cutting down on other activities. She loves purple and has been so generous over the years to myself and the other aides and teachers, giving us gifts for every occasion.  I have an incredible number of quilts and didn't need this one.  I took a couple pictures in my pasture.  She was thrilled to receive the quilt and overwhelmed.  She received some other gifts as well and is so giving as a pastor's wife, it was hard for her to be on the receiving end!

Saturday I participated in the Maniac Dam Race.  I am a walker, not a runner. I took the first picture at the viewpoint where the race started.  This is the highest straight axis dam in North America and third highest dam in the country.  The reservoir is 53 miles long and this dam is just 8 miles from my house.  

 Looking down from the top.

Another view.  For a year in the late 90's we had to drive up and over this dam to get to town while the bridge in the distance was being replaced.  It made the trip MUCH longer!

 Beginning of the lake.

My high school mascot is the Maniac.  I had my picture taken with him after the race!  Normally the top of the dam is closed and has been since 9/11 but for this occasion with ID you can cross the dam and back.

Linking up to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

A New Bed Quilt for Me!

I have had a very busy March and not as much sewing as usual, but I did accomplish a few things.  This top was actually completed Saturday.  I started it at a quilt retreat at the beginning of March.  It gets added to my HUGE pile of quilts to be quilted.  

Back story on it.... Last fall I was with friends at a quilt shop and the owner was showing us a quilt she was going to make for her granddaughter.  The pattern was Blueberry Granola by Madison Cottage Design.  I already owned the pattern and ran back and got 3 charm packs of the Catalina Ultra Violet line by Marti Michell.  I got home and looked at my pattern and realized 3 charm packs would only make a baby size quilt.  I found a FQ pack online of the entire line (28 fabrics) and eventually cut it all up into 5" charm squares.  I only have 8 squares left out of all those 5" squares! 

I got the border fabric at my LQS, she didn't have the whole line but happened to have a stripe and the black.  This will be new a top quilt for our bed.  I have always loved purple floral fabrics!

I had a closeup, not sure where it went and I have to head to work!


Linking up with Judy L at Patchwork Times.