A living Masterpiece

We spent the day in Zion National Park? While watching a short video at the visitors centre, a phrase was used that stuck with me, and thus the title of today's post. Sometimes from far away all we see is rock, and if you have ever planted a garden, you will know that rock does not support much life, but when you get up a bit closer, you see the park is so much more than rock.(although the rock is definitely the main attraction)

If you look close you can see two climbers on the wall, and No, it is not Mr.O and I.

We took a short hike along the river through part of the canyon.

At one point while driving along it seemed we were almost completely surrounded by the stone monuments. There was rock ahead of us, to the side of us, and if you check out the side mirror, there was rock behind us!

As you can see there is rivers, trees, plants, wild life...lots of life; and the rocky masterpiece has a life of it's own too, because it is constantly moving and changing from the effects of water, wind and natural shifting of the earth. Who knew rock could be so interesting?

Another interesting thing I noted was all the colour that is blended together, and it is stunning! Sometimes as a quilter, I have not only heard others, but have said it myself a time or two...no that is a red/brown, and all my browns are more orange/brown(you can insert green, or beige or blue here) and to my minds eye, there are red browns, pinky browns, orangey browns, greyish browns all together in this canyon, and it is a masterpiece!

Nature is the art of God.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

BUT IT's A DRY HEAT!

We spent the day in Death Valley National Park. It was 94 deg. F or 34 C
Dry heat or not, that is a pretty warm day. I am slightly sunburnt and more than slightly tired so this post will be a condensed version of the day.
If I had to describe what I saw in 10 words or less, I would have to say; Scenic, beautiful, rugged, extreme and "other-wordly".

Miles and miles of burning hot sand. I took my sandals off and that lasted for about two minutes...the soles of my feet were burning hot; back on with the shoes!

Looks like our driftwood, but it is worn by the sand and wind...no water here!

I know, I know, I promised no more tree pictures, but I couldn't resist. These were across from the gas station we stopped at. The look like they are in bad need of a "trim".
Speaking of gas stations, and other-wordly...check this out......

Almost $1.50 per gallon more than what we generally paid!

You probably don't realize it, but we are 5500 ft above the dried up lakebed below. All that white is not snow, but borax and salt that works it's way to the surface.

Believe it or not, there is life in the desert...the prettiest wild flowers and the quickest little creatures!

Have you ever done that as a kid? Stick your arm out the window while driving along and let the wind wobble it around....ok, ok, just chalk it up to me getting too much sun!

The earth almost literally bubbles up and releases salt on the surface. Check out that sign...we went from almost 6000ft above sea level to almost 300 ft. Below sea level in about 1 hour!

Before I turn in for the night, I am answering a request to show you my "treasures" from yesterday's shopping binge? Are you watching Sue?

The beige and black for backing for a quilt I am finishing and the aqua for pillow cases

Cause I always need neutrals and I love the texture of the other one.

French General linen towelling...need I say more?

This will make this.....

..... For someone I love, for a birthday or Christmas gift , one day.

And finally, just because I loved it...and that should be reason enough!

When I don't have any ideas, I pick up fabric and start working with it and something happens.
Geoffrey Beene

What a Day!

That should read "what a couple of days"!!!
Yesterday, we went to kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park. That marked the end of our visits with the giants. I know you are probably sick to death of "big tree pictures" but these things are amazing! We were at 8000 ft. elevation and I noticed it in my breathing when hiking some of the trails to see the sites.

General Sherman is the largest tree in the world, by volume. You really have to see it to believe it! Mr O has wanted to see this since he was a young fella, and now he has, and I have the pictures to prove it! One more thing off the bucket list.

This tree fell and it was easier to make a tunnel through it than to move it. This tree has been laying here for almost 100 years...even in death these trees live on.

There was not enough space to make two lanes for traffic, so one lane went to the left of the tree and the other lane goes between two others!

Can you see me there?

Ok, I promise, no more trees. Now, if you have been following along you will know we have done a fair bit of mountain driving...well after yesterday, Mr. o decided it was time to get our brakes checked. So bright and early this morning he found the Honda dealership, which was a little out of our way, but they agreed to fit us in with an appt. well, that was going to be at least 3 hours at a service station...BUT while I was in the shower, not only did he find a Honda service centre, but he also found a wonderful quilt shop just 5 minutes drive away...Can you guess where I did my waiting?

I forgot to take a photo of the outside of the shop, but it as the cutest name...
Bolts In The Bathtub. I spent over 3 hours there and I had to smile every time I heard them answer the phone... " good morning, Bolts in the Bathtub, how can I help you?"

Its hard to see but here are some bolts in the tub.

And a few more in an antique Belgian baby bathtub on a stand.

Can you spot the little silver tub with patterns in it?

Yes even the rest room had bathtub border paper and accessories!

And what's a tub without a rubber ducky? As your order is being tabbed, the receipt stays put with a rubber ducky to anchor it.

Rubber duckies hold all sorts of necessary items. How cute is that!

All the while, there was a replica of a vintage radio playing easy listening Diana Krall music. I spent a lovely time there and for once I was finished and ready before Mr. O. so I went over to a little Organic Cafe and I had a lovely lemonade spritzer and a chicken, spinach, cranberry and feta wrap.....yummmm. Before long we were on our way to Death Valley.

Doesn't the last photo remind you of a bargello quilt? I found a quilted bargello bed runner on Etsy...have a look...

I think I have been away from my sewing machine too long...I see patterns and colour palettes for upcoming quilts everywhere.

We ended our drive at a refreshing and quaint oasis in the desert.

Furnace Creek Ranch.

Mr O and I spent the evening on our rockers on the front porch of our little cabin, listening to old time cowboy tunes softly playing on our car stereo... Home On The Range and Down In The Valley etc.

Does life get any better than this?




Happy trails to you
Until we meet again
Happy trails to you
Keep smilin' until then

Who cares about the clouds when we're together
Just sing a song and think 'bout sunny weather

Happy trails to you
'Til we meet again