I have been searching the internet for a day spa in Amsterdam, or close to there and it isn't quite as easy as I thought it might be to find just what it is I perceive a Day Spa to be. Here on my side of the ocean there are any number of Special Deals or packages which include any number of specialties, but, there when you read the information on a site I was lucky to find, it isn't quite so simple or defined. Hmmmmmmm
I thought it might be nice to treat myself and my best friend to an overnight stay at a Hotel and Spa in the heart of Amsterdam. Apparently this Hotel has just recently opened amid a lot of fanfare and there are a number of videos on You Tube showing what the amenities and various treatments are available. Something so out of my ordinary lifestyle so as to be rather a decadent idea. Just thinking about a body massage does make me really, really want to have a day out at a spa.
The thoughts of a full Hammam body wash and massage sounds their video makes it look so soothing and relaxing, something my best friend just wouldn't treat herself with and neither have I ever done so.
When I return from my vacation I think I will investigate the various spas in my area and see if I can't find one to retreat to once in awhile, after all, each and every one is entitled to some form of pampering, don't you think? Have you ever treated or been treated to a spa day or weekend? If so, how did it make you feel, RELAXED and PAMPERED right?
I have been working away at cutting strips and little 2" squares
for my hexagon take along project and taking up slacks for my mother who seems to have shrunk at least 3 inches since I last measured her inside seam. Yeouch!
Sew no actual quilting for me today, other than watching You Tube videos on that new Hotel and Spa in Amsterdam which convinced me that I must indulge myself. I will post one day from Amsterdam and let you all know how simply marvelous I am feeling after my stay there.
Thank you for dropping by with me today and I trust you had a perfectly good one. I would like to meet those who do drop by to visit, so do leave a comment every once in awhile.
13 Sleeps before I finally get myself on that airplane! I do not understand just where yesterday went, certainly I accomplished much of the "to do before I leave" list.
I remembered to take check on the hand project I will be working on whilst away, you know those times where there is a lull in activities (hopefully not too many lulls).
When I discovered my paper pieces had dwindled I decided then and there I had better print more. I printed off 30 8.5 X 11 sheets of these little jewels. After the whirlwind day of cleaning the entire top floor where I more or less live for the better part of any given day I decided to give this body an early night of relaxation. Out came the scissors and the sheets I had printed off earlier and the cutting up began. While all of this cutting was taking place I listened rather than saw many of my favorite television programs.
Lately, I have maneuvered away from "Law & Order" or "CSI" and even "Criminal Minds" shows to the Food Network and this season of programming has brought "Top Chef", "Chopped" "The Great Food Truck Race" and then the Canadian Food Network shows too, like "Top Chef Canada" and another one with Gordon Ramsey "Master Chef", I sort of lost interest in "Hell's Kitchen" it was nothing but yelling and words used I would rather not hear during my evening of viewing pleasure! Anyhow, I think you get the picture. So while watching some of my favorites last night this pile is what I managed to accomplish! Not bad, eh???
I still have about 13 pages to cut up, but this was a good start, enough so that I will have no interruptions in my carry along project. I have also been slicing my way through many of my fabrics. So far I have a box filled with strips which, if time permits before I leave I can then cut into 2.5 squares and have all ready to grab and sew. The only thing I cannot do for my flight is to load up my usual 10 needles with thread to make the progression in sewing smoother. This time, on the flight over I will just have to rethread each time I run out. Oh well, hopefully the flight won't be a bumpy one.
Here is what my project looks like to date. I confess I haven't devoted much time to it these past few weeks and though I have missed my pleasant evening hand sewing time I was just too exhausted to even consider picking them up.
In total I have 26 flowers and all surrounded with the white background. They are colorful wouldn't you agree?
Thats all for today folks. Do stop by and leave a comment, I would like to get to know those of you who take the time to come and visit. While it is true this blog isn't strictly about the "Q" in QUILTING, it is as I state in my title "A Quilter's Sandwich And Everything Inbetween", so drop a comment by introducing yourselves, it is always great to know the names of those your having a conversation with.
No matter where in this wide and wonderful world your living in have yourself a perfectly wonderful day today.
August 1st already meaning only 16 more sleeps until I leave and board that airplane, can you feel my excitement mounting?
TODAY is a CIVIC HOLIDAY in Ontario, formerly named "Simcoe Day" after Canada's first Lieutenant Governor Lord John Graves Simcoe,
or "Emancipation Day" in the African Canadian community, here is an interesting look back to the African Canadian Culture as interpreted through the SERMONS and NOTES for Black History Sunday - The Rev'd Fr. Theadore Hunt . This in particular I found most interesting. Getting back to the present year 2011, many fetes and events are planned all over the province for people to participate and enjoy. I wonder just how many of us reflect back to that time when people of color were not free, where peoples of other nations were maligned for their backgrounds and ethnicity? For instance, at the Historic Fort York site in Toronto, Ontario one can take in how life in the Fort was back in 1793, battles put on by true blue reconstuctionists and wearing authentic uniforms. The visitor to Old Fort York will enjoy life the way it was and marvel at the futuristic skyscrapers surrounding the Fort today, from the outset the scene must be quite the conundrum. IF your at all interested you will find great images of Fort York here at this site. What is so interesting is this was the "quilt" era, when people left their homelands to dare fine themselves taking a risk in crossing the wide expansive ocean and through many endured hardships on board a wooden sailing vessel finally landed onto the shores of North America and began to somehow after all they had endured to set up housekeeping and business' right then and there. A most interesting blog site is The Proficient Needle you will see some pictures of pioneer quilts from this era during the time when soldiers inhabited Fort York and Pioneer Settlers began inhabiting the area chartering villages and towns not too far from the Fort.
You might also enjoy some of these pictures from Flicker photostream , and a rare book titled Three Hundred Years Of Canads's Quilts
which is a rare book and if you ever find a copy and don't wish to keep it all for yourself, let me know, I would love it.
It is wonderfully interesting to look back into the root stem of the wonderful world of quilting, that these women who endured unspeakable hardships, left their homelands for a chance at a better life only to face many many more obstacles in their paths of which they never knew existed and through sheer determination having to face them. Face them they did and from their stark and very humble beginnings the great cities grew up around them, such is the case of Old Fort York in the very heart of downtown Toronto and the pioneer settlement resurrected on land not to far from the fort where people can go and experience the way life was then, of course, even Pioneer Village doesn't make it look as harsh as it was written to have been. Somehow this very holiday we are celebrating here in Ontario today somehow relates to quilting! Looking back through our history is the easy part, but if I had had to live it, well, I do not believe I would have had the courage.
I want to thank you for stopping by to read what I have had to say today, sincerely, this is a day for reflection, no it isn't about the giving of gifts or the attendance at church services to give thanks, but reflect upon all of those brave men, women and children who arrived on the shores of North American in the early 1700's and settled the many villages, towns and cities we now inhabit and in most cases we take for granted?
