Sunday, July 27th 2008 20:03:12 By Jackie Comments July 27 - Another week ?? A quick update, that begins with Thursday. Jery & I went to Kalispell to look at an Independent Living facility for his Mom. And - to visit my folks. We found a lovely place for Mary, complete with a quilter behind the desk! Well, she wasn't quilting . . . . she noticed the t-shirt Jer was wearing -- a t-shirt I'd brought home from an event, and she asked him if he quilted. That conversation opened the door for a first rate tour of the facility! My folks are doing really well. Each day finds Daddy a wee bit stronger. AND -- I bought a bicycle that afternoon. It had been at least 10 years since I'd been on one, and probably 20 since I've owned one! I tried it out in the parking lot to determine with my wimpy knee could handle it. Answer is yes, if I don't overdo. I've found I just can't make it up the 2nd hill between here and the lake - and back - and that of course, gives me a goal! The quilt show is coming along. All the quilts are assigned a position and that info is listed and printed in this year's new show booklet. Quilts are beginning to arrive. The big labeling / sorting begins on Wednesday. Today I'm walking with Barb, hopefully later making it closer to the top of hill #2, and packing for a teaching trip to Petersburg, AK. I leave a couple of days after the show, and need to be organized! So -- that's the week in a nutshell . . . . quilt show, parents, bike . (and riding) . . . .

Tuesday, July 22nd 2008 20:32:59 By Jackie Comments July 22 - WHY have I been so silent ?? Gosh -- I'm truly amazed that I've been home nearly 2 weeks, and quite honestly I've been on the go almost constantly during that time. First it was checking in with my folks, who are doing better and better with each passing day. Daddy is so thin -- but his memory is working MUCH better, and he's learned how to totally get around their house, and they've done some 'out and about' shopping -- MUCH better. The sad thing is that he doesn't remember anything about his experience in the hospital and care center -- just shy of 3 months -- and he's wanting to get the knee replaced. Mother & I are both cringing, as we know what he's been through, and we're really not certain that he's strong enough to do it again. Time will tell . . . . we're trying to keep him on hold until he fattens up a wee bit. (photo from the '07 show) On the Home Front - it's getting close to the annual Eureka Montana Quilt Show, which I chair with a group of dedicated women. All the quilt registrations are in, and listed. I have my 'maps' of the buildings (their walls - hanging space) and this morning I'll begin the layout process. We have 370 quilts this year, and of those most are LARGE so it's going to be a challenge. I think I'll put some soft background music on . . . clear the decks on the back side of my sewing table space, and have at . This is generally a 2-day process. After the initial layout, I need to re-work a few things to make it fit - beautifully! The show this year is August 2 --- you might want to plan to join us - there's still time!

Tuesday, July 8th 2008 22:17:44 By Jackie Comments July 8 - Arrivederci, Italia Saturday - late afternoon - was Venice. We stopped in the suburbs and hopped on a bus to the Grand Canal. The architecture was & is beyond words -- absolutely GORGEOUS!! Then, Sunday morning we headed to the Dolomites, the Alps area near the Switzerland border. It's an amazing area and is much more Swiss or Austrian than Italian. The buildings look like Switzerland --- as do the mountains. EXQUISITE! And now, we're in Milan for our final evening before tomorrow's flights home. Arrivederci, Italia !

Monday, July 7th 2008 13:17:07 By Jackie Comments July 7 - last week in Italy It's not difficult to identify this leaning tower! I had an adventure this day, taking a bus from Lecchi to Siena where I caught a train and changed in Empoli -- to Pisa. David is carefully living in a lovely museum in Firenze - though this duplicate is in a Piazza, and the best we could see as we had only one day and no museum passes (! -- plan ahead for those!) Right in the heart of Firenze, a few blocks 'behind' the Duomo we found a fabric shop! Owned and operated by 3 sisters, they had a full range of fabrics, including some older Hoffman Christmas prints high on a shelf in their 3rd room. On Friday, after twice enjoying dinner at Malburghetto Restaurante in Lecchi, we all took a day's cooking class with Chef Simone. Our favorite dish -- and the one which prompted the decision for the Cooking Class is a Ravioli with Pear Sauce. And, of course, the BEST Tiramisu EVER! Plus other goodies. A really fun experience. We bid goodbye to the Villa on Sat. morning.