I'm certainly planning on coming.  Since we've moved into a retirement community, I'm not worried about DH staying alone.

Probably so. I always look forward to the springtime weather out there :) 

Your right, I haven’t been checking in very much.

granted, I was gone for a quick trip(and I mean as much time driving as there). Home to see folks and sisters.  I have never seen as many trucks before on I-40  As we saw the last 2 trips home .  Twice they about drove me off the road!  We have begun taking the diagonal to Heber and down thru Payson!

When we went to Las Vegas this time, truck traffic was very heavy on I 40. And more stupid drivers, not just the trucks!

Which hotel?  Just curious.

We won't be at the same hotel as last year.  Because of the Super Bowl, we couldn't get the weekend we wanted.  We have found another hotel but haven't signed the contract yet.  We can announce it when it is a done deal.  I usually post the retreat information the last weekend of October but this year Cathy will be traveling so I will post the first weekend of November so she is home to receive the reservations.  

Carolyn

We figured a whole lot of time our average speed was only 65 maybe 70 instead of 75.  Made the drive thru Heber-Payson no longer.  Some trucks and campers, but less traffic.

Traffic going out to Vegas was alot heavier than coming back.  And it rained  on the way back thru Arizona and New Mexico, Amazing seeing the dry washes running full of water, but it didn't follow us to Oklahoma, we still need rain.

Even had time to stop at Holbrook and a quick trip to the quilt shop there.  They have some nice stuff and of course I helped the economy there!!

LABFIEND said:

Amazing seeing the dry washes running full of water

my sis in ALBQ said the Balloon fiesta this year was a bust, rain, wind & cold.  The balloons were only able to go up a couple of times for short periods.  Feel bad for those folks who traveled long distances to attend. 99% of the time the weather in NM is wonderful, usually the only problem is wind.  this year it was rain.  We could use some more, it's been almost a month since our little monsoon that caused everything to turn green & grow almost overnight. 

(Aside: Judy Akers .... this is a repeat for you!)
 

One of the biggie quilt shows we have out on the West Coast is PIQF - Pacific International Quilt Show.  It's about an hour's drive from me.  In the past, Judy Akers has graciously offered to host me for the 2 days that we attend PIQF.  We always have a great time at the show, looking over the vendors' wares, exclaiming over the quilts, and enjoying each other .. and David Akers' .. company at her home.

But THIS YEAR ... so sad ... the Akers had the audacity to relocate to Colorado to build their dream retirement home.  With all the other traveling that they have been doing, Judy wasn't able to travel back to Califiornia and enjoy being a guest at my home instead of being a host.   

All of that is background for the story below ..... 

So, I've thinking (or not) about PIQF.  Whether I even want to go this year cuz 1) it would be by myself and 2) I'd need to drive to/from home each day and 3) I wouldn't have Judy's enjoyable company.

Also, because I'm still concentrating on my scrapbooking, I'm not actively quilting as much.  I'm still doing some but it's most EPP handwork.  Furthermore, once a top gets completed, I just hang it up ... I'm not really doing the quilting at this point.

But, a while ago, I had been talking (well, to be truthful, I was whining.     )  about PIQF with Tom and he suggested that we take the trailer and stay at the local Elk's club overnight.  I could attend the 2 days at PIQF, have someplace local to stay and he would have no problem in finding something to do all day in Santa Clara, et al.  It sounded like a plan!

But, I didn't mention it any more as the date got closer because I was thinking that maybe I just wouldn't go this year, ya know?

Well, Tom came into my crafting room today and started talking about what dates it was, what the times were and that he'd see if there was available space at the Elk's club.   He seemed rather enthused; I didn't want to dampen his interest so I kept quiet.

A little while late, he drops the printed trip plan onto my desk.  He does this for EVERY road trip we take ... starting point, rest/break spots, overnight spots, etc.  Very handy.

I just sorta glanced at it ... no big deal.  I knew where we were going, etc.

AND THEN.  Some time later, I noticed the title he put on the planner.  It was "PQF Quilt Show, Santa Clara, CA".

I nearly died laughing.  He's so adorable. He tries so hard to actively listen and pay attention but those darn hamsters in the wheel in  his head really do prevent him from absorbing some information (mainly from me.  LOL!)  

He knew that there were letters for an acronym involved.  He knew that there was an F, a P, and a Q .. so what he came up ... PFQ ... with seemed reasonable.

I approached him while he was at his computer and I could hardly speak for giggling so hard.  I explained it was really PIQF and wrote down the letters as I said the full name.  I'm still laughing.

He just kind looked at me and asked, "It's not PFQ .. Pretty F****** Quilts?"   OMG .. I'm dying.

He had been thinking of PDQ  .. Pretty Darn Quick.  He kinda waved his hands and said that some parts are similar.  LOL!

So, yeah, I'm going *PIQF* this year too.  LOL!