epilogue

I realize I kind of left a big gap in my little travelogue for you!  To continue on with our September trip to the Las Vegas, NV, area---

 We did more hiking and walking in the Red Rocks National Conservation Area, returning to a different area of the park on this day.  This trail was a little hard to follow, as it was a lot of working our way up through bolder fields.  We did this in the morning, so we didn't mind the heat as much.  It was a beautiful hike and a good experience as I'm trying to condition myself to not be so fearful of heights.  Some bright little flowers along the trail, and one of those prickly pear purple flowery things!

I realized I don't really have much to show for quilt shop fun during this trip.  In addition to visiting Quiltique, which I wrote of in my last post, we tracked down 2 other quilt shops in the listings for the city.  Sew Little Time was a small fabric shop in a strip mall, also selling machines.  Not impressive nor friendly, I'm afraid that the name reflects the length of my experience there.  Can't win them all!

The Christmas Goose was another stop, and despite a name that seemed like a flashback to 1980, it did house an impressive collection of fabrics, patterns and samples.  They had an adjacent large classroom area with a group indulging in something creative.  The focus in this shop was a lot more towards traditional and Civil War repro fabrics, but they also had some good seasonal picks.  I also picked up a nice little travel light there.  It did help me accomplish a little more nighttime needlework, although we were winding down on the days (and nights) left in Vegas.

Often, when I visit other quilt shops, I am much more focused on their displays and merchandising than on actually shopping for myself.  So not very interesting to share!  It's things like this method of folding and packaging pre-printed panel cuts in a bag that can be hung and kept orderly.  Those panels have always been a source of frustration for me at Bear Patch.  They are hard to display in a neat and orderly method.  We pre-cut and price the panels individually, and fold them in a basket.  Even if there is one of the panels open and displayed, customers understandably feel the urge to unfold those panels.  That usually leaves a wrinkled mess because they don't end up refolded the same way.  Just like those pesky road maps that never collapse back to their original size!  Well, at Quiltique, I saw their panels done this way with a picture of the entire panel on one side of the bag and the actual size of a portion of the print visible on the other side of the bag.  I need to try this out!

We did take one night to go down to "The Strip" and walk a few blocks, get dinner, and see some of the sights while shouldering our way through the crowds.  We ambled through the Venetian shops, alongside the canals complete with gondolas.  Just window shopping here, as most of the places were very posh designer names that don't really fit with my lifestyle!  I did enjoy seeing a small rare book shop, and admired the 1st edition Mark Twain Huckleberry Finn book priced around $11,000.  I left that one behind for someone else, and just imagined everything I could do with that money if I had it in my hands!

This is kind of dark, but it was part of a beautiful autumn display in one area of the hotel lobby/ casino. 
White pumpkins and gourds with black tendrils and foliage.

This was an art display of thousands of blue/green ribbons hanging from the very high ceiling over a water pool.  They swayed slightly with the air movement. 

We traveled on Spirit Airlines for the first time for this trip, thinking we would test out just exactly what this "no-frills, bare bones" approach to air travel would feel like.  It turned out fine, but there are plenty of little rules to pay attention to.  Luggage and carry-on and personal items became very important to clue in on so we didn't unintentionally end up paying for more than we expected.  Even the timing of when you reserve your spot and plan what you are bringing makes a difference in the fare.  Even though we don't have to absolutely fly the cheapest way possible, it's nice to know up front what we are paying for.  We did have one combined suitcase to check, but with a fee for going over 40 pounds, we had to pack carefully.  That's why I ended up wearing my hiking boots home!  Not such a sophisticated look, but it got those heavy things out of the suitcase!  Which brings me to ask the question-- If their main reason for limiting weight is to economize on fuel, as they state on their website, why does it matter whether those boots travel on my feet or in my suitcase??  They get to the destination either way, but in the suitcase they cost extra!

This trip ends with a very sad epilogue.  We left Las Vegas on Saturday, September 31.  On Sunday night, October 1, the mass shooting occurred.  I learned of it early Monday morning, and couldn't believe that this had happened in the midst of where we had just been vacationing.  Walking on the same streets, by the same hotels, near the concert venue, along with other people who may have become victims that night.  And a black cloud of the thought of that shooter walking amongst everyone, too.  I come away with no great conclusions about the meaning of life, the politics of gun control in our country, nor the culture that sustains such a strange city of contrasts.

a day in the desert

A tenacious little tree growing out of the rock.
I wonder if the roots will someday become large enough to crack the stone?

From the Red Rocks National Conservation Area.  It's easy to understand how the land was formed when you can see it open like this.  This summer we bought the National Park Senior Pass, and it has already paid for itself on the trip here!

Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are easy to get to and memorable.

My hiking companion.  He's a keeper!  
This was in the Spring Mountains National Conservation Area, just northwest of the city.

I brought along some paper piecing to work on, but forgot to bring a light.  The lighting in the living room area of the condo leaves a lot to be desired, once the sun goes down, so even though we've enjoyed a couple good movies on TV, that doesn't mean I have very many pieces together.  This little section is part of the Round We Go series from Sue Daley.

A couple of things that have made an impression on this trip:

Most people here are not born here.

The highway system is really good.  Back at home, the highways are always damaged by the freezing/thawing cycle.  Plus, less than half of the year is available for a lot of the roadwork that needs to be done.  Around Las Vegas, we have driven on wide roads that seem like new all the time!

We are within a couple miles of the famous Strip, but have enjoyed all of the things to do away from there!

We have found some good local restaurants that I would recommend:  DW Bistro for shared small plates for last night's dinner, The Bite for breakfast and Lindo Michoacan for good guacamole!  Since we have stayed away from the casinos and big hotels, we have really lucked out on finding these places that have excellent food and service.

We visited one quilt shop, Quiltique, so far.  It was a very nice shop with great displays and friendly people.  And since they have Victoria Findlay Wolfe in the store for a lecture on Friday night, I'm going back for that!  Yay!