Seeing More of America's History & New Quilt Started

After a great time at Parent's Weekend,

the hubs and I said goodbye to our cadet at West Point

and headed down to Philadelphia.

Independence Hall

A couple years ago we visited the famous historical

sites in Boston and drove down to Quincy

to see the home of John and Abigail Adams.

Liberty Bell

This visit to Philadelphia allowed us to visually fill in

even more pieces of the Revolution.

Site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence

So much of the styles and designs of this era are my favorite.

Like these chairs.  Maybe it's weird that I get excited about

chairs but I've always wanted a bench in this style.

I've have never quite found one but maybe I'll do a little

more active looking now.  In fact, I'd like to incorporate

a little more of the Colonial style in our home.

It turns out these chairs are all just replicas.  Except for

that one at that head table where George Washington

presided--it's the real deal.

I couldn't get enough of the houses in the historical area.

And another love of mine:  window boxes.

And shutters.

And these doors.  And all these colors.

(I loved seeing these styles in England and Ireland, too.)

More window boxes.  

I kind of felt like the Beatles should be walking across...

I took a silly amount of pics but it was all just

so perfect, especially with the fall weather and leaves.

Btw, we did grab some Philly Cheesesteaks

'cuz, you know, when in Philly....!

Also when in Philly, you have to run up the "Rocky Steps"

which we did, and then take in the view.  I hate to downplay

the Italian Stallion's major moment, but those steps are

really easy to run up--and I'm pretty out of shape these days.

Of course, I didn't run miles and miles first like he did.

Hubs had a great time with all of this.

So did every other visitor there.

Like I mentioned earlier, seeing all of this colonial style has me

thinking how I've always wanted to bring that into my home.

I don't really like to decorate so I don't mess with it much but

this has me inspired.  From a quilt perspective, I'm not really

big on those from that era but I can do some research there

and could pull out bits and pieces of ones I do like.

Quilts!

Yes, I'm finally getting around to our favorite topic.

The latest project around here is my grandson's I-spy quilt.

As I usually do, I made a trial block.

Now work with me here:  I'm making them in the 

Polaroid Picture style, each having a shadow, so this

is what I've come up with.

Aren't these two so cute?

I put in some good hours and ended up with 110

of these just as the sun was setting.  

Now to see what size of a quilt this will all make

after I get the "shadows" on them all.

 I have to be pretty quick about it because I need to

have this completely finished by this weekend

when my grandson turns 2.

And btw, his teensy (6lbs 8 oz) little sister arrived just fine.

Happy quilting!