Sunday, February 15, 2009

Where Do I Begin? (Warning - Long Post)

Hello everyone, yes, I'm back after an awesome week in Salt Lake City. The trip's purpose was business related, but I had some free time here and there and stayed an extra day at the end of the week so that I could meet some online stitching friends and take a trip to the Bush.

Is it possible to fall in love with a place after just five days? Salt Lake is beautiful. No matter which direction you look there are snow capped mountains. Being from Minnesota, I don't get to see mountains like this everyday!

During the week, I had time to visit Temple Square and even slipped out of an evening work function long enough to hear some of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's rehearsal (what a treat to hear them!)


The highlight of the week though was meeting up with some Legacy Board stitching friends that I recently connected with online. Now, many of my co-workers were interested in knowing why I was staying an extra day in Salt Lake - you see, many of them flew out on the red-eye Thursday night or the first flight on Friday morning. How do you explain to a "non-stitcher" the significance of a trip like this?

I started by explaining that I was going to be picked up at the hotel on Friday morning at 9:45am by a friend -- the conversation went something like this...

"Oh, you have friends in Salt Lake, how nice - have you known them a long time?"

"Well, no - I just met them a few weeks ago."

"You just met them? Have you been to Salt Lake before?"

"Well, no - I posted a note on an online needlework board asking for more information on transportation options to a needlework store."

"So you are meeting up with people you don't really know?"

"Yes, there are going to be five of them and me!"

"Are you sure you are going to be okay? Where are you going with them?"

"We're going to a needlework store in Ogden."

"You're doing what?"

"We're going to a needlework store in Ogden. This shop in Ogden is world-reknowned for its designs. The owners are two sisters -- they are like 'rock stars' in the needlework industry. They are the 'Mick Jaggers' of cross-stitch."

"Oh, well have fun. If you're not at work on Monday we'll contact the state police."

"No need to worry, these ladies only travel with needles and designer scissors!"

I guess you have to be a stitcher to really understand the significance of this trip! Yes, I met up with some wonderful ladies from the Legacy Board - Alice, Lynn, Laura, Brenda, and Cheryl - we first stopped at the Craft Center for some stash shopping and then we headed up to Shepherd's Bush where I met Teri and Tina (rock stars in my world!)



After more stash shopping, we had lunch at the Red Rooster in Ogden and hit one more shop, the Needlepoint Joint, before heading back to Salt Lake. They dropped me off at the airport in plenty of time to make my evening flight home. It was a fabulous day and I have some wonderful new friends in Salt Lake!

Before I go -- while I was away, Carol received the ornament that I stitched for her. February is her month to receive from our group participating in this exchange. This is a design from Val's Stuff; it was in one of the JCS Ornament preview issues.


Hope you all have a wonderful day!

25 comments:

Margaret said...

Cathy, you lucky you! I rarely post on blogs, but I had to comment on your trip. I'm soooo envious -- posted on Legacy as well. I loved your conversation with your workmates about the extra day in Utah -- isn't it so true? Only a stitcher would understand! lol! Thanks for telling us about your wonderful day -- rock stars indeed!

Einschies blog said...

Oh myyy, Cathy, every needleworker knows a situation like this, I had to tell it my DH and he just laughs;-)) I still know my very first stitchers meeting in my own house with 6 meanwhile stitching friends I just knew online, it was exciting;-)) Well, I also had several meetimngs with other people I just know online and they are all friendly persons;-)) Uff....

Gaby

Einschies blog said...

Ahhh forgot to say....I am envious like Margaret...I soooo want to visit a LNS and especially this one but I am not sure if this will happen in my lifetime...

Gaby

Brigitte said...

Cathy, thanks for the long post. Somehow this conversation woth your co-workers sounds familiar, lol. And thanks for the pictures. They bring back some of my most wonderful memories from my trip to Salt Lake and Ogden and SB, of course. Wasn't it terrific in there?

Cindy said...

Sounds like you had an awesome trip to Utah! The SB shop is absolutely amazing, and I would love to make it back out there again someday.

Bine said...

Oh Cathy, I enjoyed reading about your conversation so much. I asked DH to read it and we both had to laugh so much.
I am just a wee bit envious...as I am pretty sure to go there one day, too. ;)

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

Whoo Hoo, Cathy! What a fun trip! I was watching the conversations on Legacy about your trip and was so envious! Fun that you got to meet some friends and got to visit the Bush! Love the pics and the "conversation"!

Peace!

Unknown said...

Oh, how fun that you got to meet up with some fellow stitchers and go to that fabulous needlework store! So glad you got to go to Temple Square! That's a beautiful photo of the Salt Lake Temple! :)

Theresa said...

Oooh~~~ So Envy!!!! What a wonderful trip!!!!!
Your conversation just makes me smile!!! Only stitchers will understand indeed!!!

mainely stitching said...

Oh my gosh, Cathy, what FUN!!! :D I'm so excited for you!

And thank you so very much for the very sweet and thoughtful Valentine's card. :D

Katrina said...

Cathy, very fun! Love the conversation, I've had it too :-). Glad you had such a good time, Roosters is yummy.

Anonymous said...

So glad you got to visit SB. It's a wonderful shop! I laughed when you told your co-workers about meeting other stitchers. Sometimes you have to take chances in this life and, you know, I've never met a stitcher I didn't like!!

lena-lou said...

Hi Cathy, I loved your posting about your trip, people are funny about how we have this absolute trust about meeting fellow stitchers ! I would so love to visit the SB shop and meet the world famous stitching 'rock' sisters , it is an ambition of mine too, they are the best of the best IMHO :-) Glad you had such a nice day and happy memories and some good stash ;-))
Take care

Melissa said...

Cathy, I'm so jealous. Looks like you had a wonderful time. I did love your description of Tina and Teri. So, so true!

Karol said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful trip! I think if I had been that close I would have had to do the same.

Von said...

Cathy, I'm so glad you had such a great visit to SLC! I've had similar conversations with people, and my kids have given me a bad time about meeting people irl that I met online. :D

Ronel said...

Hi Cathy, glad you had a lovely trip and some awesome shopping!

Julianne said...

Cathy,

I'm so happy to read about your trip and to see the wonderful pictures.

What a dream come true to go to Shepherd's Bush. I'm so glad that you had a good time and that you were able to meet up with some stitching friends.

CindyMae said...

Sounds like your business trip ended up going very well! A business trip that ended with going stash shopping could not be a bad one!! I can understand why the co-workers seemed worried but they just don't understand us cross-stitchers!!!

Dani - tkdchick said...

Yeah I've had that reaction too... non-stitchers just don't understand.

Karoline said...

Sounds like you had a fabulous time

Lelia said...

Beautiful snowman ornament! I love your picture(s) of Shep Bush. I can only imagine your friends thinking you a nut case for trusting on-line people you've never met. I so laughed when you were sharing the dialog.

Some people just don't understand on-line friendship, do they?

I'm delighted your trip was so much fun. And, please share your treats from the S.Bush -- I see the bag, want to know what was inside!!! LOL

I have one older S.Bush still on scroll bars in my closet. I just need to find some free time -- don't I say that often?

Marsha said...

OH Cathy, you lucky, lucky girl. I'm so envious getting to go to Shepherd's Bush. Your pictures are great. 'Lo' is looking fantastic. I love it on that fabric.

Candace said...

Oh, you lucky girl! I guess it takes a stitcher to know a stitcher. What a wonderful memory!

Susimac said...

What a brilliant rtrip you have had, and Ooo I'm so jealous of you meeting Terri & Tina, like you they are Rock stars in my world. I had to laugh re your conversation, I've had many a one like that too