MAGS VISITS NOVEMBER 9-14 PART 1

Best friend Mags just came for a visit and we had so much fun! Most of the snow from our most recent "weather event" had melted but there was still a small amount to be seen, which added to her northern Colorado experience.  Here's what was left in my back yard:

After pickup at the airport, we went to Bonefish Grill for dinner.  It's a great fish restaurant in Johnstown, a little community adjacent to Loveland, near Fort Collins.  This place is wildly popular and famous for its "Bang Bang Shrimp."  We soon realized from the huge crowd that it was Wednesday, AKA "Bang Wednesday," and the signature dish was el cheapo!  After waiting to be seated for close to an hour, we ordered two different specials and that Bang Bang Shrimp for an appetizer.  Worth the wait!!!!



Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer, Bonefish Grill



Mags chose the mahi mahi with lobster

 The rest of the visit was full of fun, family, friends and food.  We spent a day hitting the fiber and fabric stores, starting with Lambspun in Fort Collins.



Photos of Mags and me at entrance to Backporch Cafe, connected to Lambspun in a parklike setting.  Sister Stacie joined us for lunch at this charming eatery.

I"ve given up getting these two pictures to post correctly-sorry for the neck strain!

Next we hit Your Daily Fiber, a great little place in Fort Collins.  The owners carry a number of products from local fiber producers, including their own alpacas, llamas and yaks.  At the YDF ranch, the herds are guarded by Great Pyrenees dogs and to our surprise, we heard that their llamas also defend the smaller alpacas.  Two llamas recently took on a coyote who had his sights set on a young alpaca and (sadly) it was a fight to the death for the poor coyote.  Amazing courage from the llamas!







We sewed as well during Mags' visit.  Buddy Sandy Lueth, a designer of handmade totes and purses whose patterns are sold nationally, spent the day at my house teaching us a paper piecing technique for making intricate placemats from a design by Judy Niemeyer.  The pattern is called Cappuccino:

Mags took to it immediately and chose a similar color scheme because it complemented the granite in her kitchen.  I selected a gray, blue and brownish look for oversized mats for my nightstands.  Batik is the fabric generally used for these complex pieced designs and it is a joy to work with.

Here are some photos of my house set up for three people to sew.  I love my sewing room but it doesn't have enough space for three people, machines and cutting spaces.  So we took over the kitchen and dining room and it works great!



Meet Sandy's dog Daisy, who loves to hang out with the girls.



Our small sewing machines in action.

I must give a shout out to Quilter's Stash in Windsor.  Mags and I bought our patterns and batik fabrics there and it's the "go-to" fabric shop for local quilters.  Owner Patty and her mom as well as Carolyn, Susan, Cheryl, Michelle and Anna Marie make shopping for fabric, patterns and notions a great experience!