It’s been an exhausting yet exhilarating few weeks. We are getting settled, unpacking boxes, acclimating to a new time zone, a winter that consists of green mountains, and watching cherry red trucks haul dirt up the hill for the art barn foundation.

Moving Dirt

I thought (a bit belatedly) to host a Valentine’s Day Groundbreaking party, and planned for a local affair but I was really thrilled that some out-of-towners came too, and made a weekend of it!

 

 

Friend I have known forever came over, too…

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As did their parents who I have known most of my life.

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We ate a lot of cake!

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Quilters hung out with non-quilters (in efforts to lure them to the dark side).

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And the strongest woman I know, Yvonne Porcella, made the trek, too. Founder of SAQA and one of my greatest mentors, I was so honored that she came.

Her humor nearly surpasses her strength…

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She also wanted to made it very clear to me that she got dirt under her (freshly manicured) nails during the groundbreaking.

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Alex Anderson came too! (Below, far right)

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And more old friends from high school…

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There was the ceremonial dig. (The pink silk scarf on the shovel was hand-dyed by Yvonne.)

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Others got into the spirit of it, too.

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And we laughed. A lot!

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And took advantage of a surprisingly warm day.

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Some of the guys…

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It is really starting! I can’t wait to post progress pictures.