The Trip Remembered...

 Greetings!

We have been home since October 20.  We didn't know we were tired and road-weary until we got to our respective homes.  Rae started getting sick with a virus while we were in Sacramento.  She is still coughing but getting better.  I am glad to be home but very grateful for the good times we had.  In 46 days, we traveled 7200 miles and were in 20 states and D C. We met and spent time with wonderful people. 

The last days of our trip were very special, "icing on the cake", you might say.  In Nevada, we visited with Rae's 97-year-old Aunt Mildred and cousin Louise who were absolutely delightful to be with.  Then we drove through South Lake Tahoe to Sacramento to spend 2 1/2days with my daughter Emily, her husband Micah, and my grandchildren,  Isabella, Noah and Kai. The family left this week on a mission on behalf of Restoration Life Church in Sacramento to Las Glorias, Sinaloa, Mexico. I was glad to see them before they went.  If you would like to know more about what they are doing, they will be updating their blog at http://5family.wordpress.com/.

The fall colors were spectacular coming home to Oregon.  We stopped at Pioneer Quilts new location in Clackamas before even going home.  It is a wonderful, spacious, well appointed location, and with the same friendly people and atmostphere as before!  We were asked "are you two still speaking to each other?".  I guess after such a long trip together, you might wonder.  The trip was great, we are still friends, and in fact, we are already talking about the next trip...

My son Steve is celebrating his 40th birthday this weekend with a Halloween Party here in Portland. It will be fun to celebrate with him and his friends. Rae and I will be hosting a Fall Celebration and potluck on November 8 at her house for our friends from Pioneer Quilts.  As busy as we were on the road, we haven't skipped a beat back here at home.  Each of us is back at our sewing machines, and I am organizing years worth of photographs...a long overdue project.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner...

A big "Thank you" to all our hosts, family and friends, who made our trip so enjoyable!  You and our good times together will not be forgotten.  Love,

Ellen