Around the Block Tour- Welcome to NH
I’m so excited to be here to blog this week as part of the Quilting Around the Block tour - let me welcome you to NH. I moved here when I was in college, married a native, and have never looked back. We have a distinct set of seasons here - Winter (over it), Spring (can’t wait for it), Mud (when can I break out the flip-flops?), Summer (Not nearly long enough), and Fall (Beautiful). We are known by many names, the most famous being The Granite State because of the natural mineral that is plentiful here. We used to have a mascot….
He fell down a few years ago…I still miss him.
My husband and I are mostly empty nesters (with the exception of the grandchildren who drop by for visits on a regular basis). We waited a very long time for them to arrive in our lives, and they do keep us active, and young. They have also helped us to discover something I never knew about the state, courtesy of petting zoos in the area. We know many of them…but until last year, I’d never seen a real, life Peacock. I saw TWO last year…and the males are as beautiful, and colorful as I’d heard about. The females are very drab and colorless - nature works in mysterious ways.
That blue is amazing!
Besides wildlife and granite, we are also known for our lakes…we have many of them nearby. You can cruise on a leisurely mailboat to the summer camps which are still in existance on Lake Winnipesaukee (that’s a great way to spend a summer day!), or you can become more adventurous and spend time with friends on their waterskiing boat. We like to switch it up a lot - and I am a great co-pilot (and camera-woman).
Riding on the lake like this on a beautiful afternoon never gets old.
It’s a wonderful state to enjoy all around. My husband is a hiker, and he absolutely loves getting away to the trails as soon as the snow melts, and he always brings me back some spectacular views. Like this one…
I believe that this is part of the Presidential Range in the White Mountains.
One of our main industries in all seasons is tourism, so if you have the opportunity to come and visit, you will find a lot to do and to see, and the scenery is amazing. Our state flower is the Lilac - which comes into bloom next month, right around my birthday. That smell always makes me smile. And our state tree is the birch tree, which makes a nice accent against all that green. So, with that in mind…here’s the block I designed for you…
Until I went looking, I had no idea I had a ‘granite’ fabric…but here we are!
Like all the blocks in the series, this block will finish at 6” square, and this is completely free to you. You may download the pattern here. The state and the trees are applied with fusible applique.
Have you been following along with us on this adventure - everyone enjoys a good road trip. You can always visit the main page for the hop here to find the schedule for who is where…
The last two states on the tour were:
March 28th - Maine (Quilt Fabrication)
April 4 - New Mexico (Windmill Quilts)
April 11 - You are Here!
Coming Up!
April 18 - New York (Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio)
April 25 - Maryland (Flying Parrot Quilts)
May 2 - Delaware (Orange Blossom Quilt Design Studio)
But wait, there’s more…I haven’t mentioned Prizes! There are Prizes for those of you who are playing along with this blog tour, not just the travel stories and the free patterns.. Dragonfly’s Quilt Shop is the organizer working on this, and she has organized prizes for patticipants. Entrants will enter along the way by participating in each of the shops, and the prize winners will be drawn at the end. Don’t miss your chance to win!
But Wait - There’s More! Coming 04/11 noon - #watchthisspace!
Welcome…
Hi, I’m Linda Pearl - quilter, teacher, designer and blogger, and I’m happy to have you here. I’d like to tell you a little bit more About Me…
Coming Soon - The New Hampshire Block!