Lucky 7's

First I must apologize for being so behind...I'm behind in EVERYTHING! I've been working like gangbusters on finishing up the baby blanket I'm making for my Step-daughter. We are having a shower for her the 14th...of this month! I'm about halfway on the edging (about 95% done)...it's a knitted edging that's kicking my butt! I'll post pictures of the completed project.

I'm not one to let grass grow under my feet, life's too short! So...I'm taking a pottery class once a week! I've wanted to do this for a very long time! I think the last time I sat down to a potter's wheel was in the 6th grade...trust me it was a long time ago! My first class was this past Thursday...so exciting! Next....WEAVING...Julia I need your bedroom for a larger Loom/Fiber Room!

Last but not least...I had the most wonderful surprise on Wednesday of this week! I finally heard the voice I've been imagining for quite some time...my buddy Shona from Scotland called me! NOW I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HER FACE TO FACE!! Shona, THANKS again for making my day! I told hubby that he'd better prepare for all-nighters...it's gonna be like we are school girls at a slumber party~~talking ALL night long!
In turn I had to call Bobbi and give thanks to her for pairing us up for Secret Pal 8! This "Chick" has a sixth sense about her...or a crystal ball!! Doogie? We had a GREAT time chatting, and she's another I can't wait to meet! There are just some people out there who "click"~~know what I mean? Bobbi is another GREAT friend!!

Now...a short Part 2 version of our trip:

This is the Gowan Lodge, which holds the welcome center for the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. This lodge happens to be the former home of one of Shona's ancestors, once I mentioned that fact we were treated like Royalty! The body of the house has been closed off to the public because of the support structure being compromised over time, it used to be a place where many could stay...can you believe that each room had a bathroom?! We're talking late 19th century here...my mother didn't have the luxury of indoor plumbing until they moved to the town we live in now...in 1953! This lodge is down in a very deep gorge, the road is so steep that back in the day of the Model A & T Fords they had to use reverse to get out! We saw some great OLD pictures of family members and people who "partied" at the lodge! Boy, they had some real interesting parties! If you look at the picture...the room at the top was where the bar was! I envisioned a FIBER ROOM myself!!


Which by the way is original to the house!
Speaking of which...the first thing I saw when walking through the forbidden door was this nice piece!

Truly I never imagined the house/lodge being so HUGE!

We packed a small picnic for the day and walked a few of the trails but didn't take the one we should have, simply because I'm not accustomed to dry heat hiking, this day it was about 105 degrees!


The Gowan trail was straight down to the bridge...which meant, we came straight uphill on the way back!

I'm sure most have heard of Virginia's Natural Bridge, which is about 35 minutes from my hometown...and when you compare the size, Tonto Natural Bridge is much larger (sorry the pictures just don't do it justice) .
Here's a shot we took from above:







This is a picture taken from below...borrowed from the Park Service.

See how big?! This still doesn't give you the image I have in my minds eye! Darn it, I should have hiked down to the bottom!





Here's Virginia's Natural Bridge:

Similar....yet different?!

Man...I have so much to talk about and no time to do it! I'm sorry but I've gotta get back to my knitting...baby blanket's gotta get done in the next 7 6 days!! I'm so behind on my MS3 project, clue 2 was posted yesterday and I'm still on clue 1...because of the baby blanket!!

I'll be back...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'