Well, I have to admit I haven’t been very diligent about updating my blog, but I’ve been on my *Wild, Wild West* adventure and have been having one heck of a time trying to get back on an East Coast schedule.

My husband, Charlie, has always wanted to see the Grand Canyon so over the winter we decided to plan a trip to Arizona.  It was quite a challenge trying plot out exactly where we wanted to go and how to allow time for getting from destination to destination.

Our travels started out in Phoenix and the next day we drove up to Flagstaff.  There we spent the night at a lovely Bed and Breakfast called Conifer House.  Then we set off for Winslow which is a very, very small community and home to a beautifully restored hotel known as La Posada.  Actually renovations are still in progress, but it was a delightful experience to stay there. 

Next we headed to the Grand Canyon with a side trip to Sunset Canyon.  The Indian ruins, by the way, were fascinating!  Our final stop was in Sedona where we stayed at a fantastic B&B, Casa Sedona.  Sedona was marvelous. 

After having picked up my 430 digital photos yesterday–all I can say is that the photos don’t do the beauty of Arizona justice. 

Amazingly our itenarary fell into place with no mishaps!  Every experience along the way was such a delightful surprise.

My only trauma was during the last stages of packing when I had to decide if I was going to carry along a stitching project.  Ultimately, my decision was to leave the stitching at home.

I hate the hassle of worrying whether or not my supplies will be confiscated going through security even though I know I can safely take a cutter instead of scissors.

Then there’s the issue of lighting and magnification.  If I’m stitching on 18 count I definitely need my Dazor lamp, and if I’m stitching on 13 count my project is usually too large to conveniently carry on a plane. 

Then regardless of where we stay the lighting in the room is rarely adequate in the evening for stitching.  I do know of avid stitchers who will carry extra bright light bulbs with them and I think that’s a great idea, but not one I’m tempted to try when flying.

Bottom line is that I knew from past travel experiences my husband and I would be busy sightseeing all day and lingering over gourmet meals in the evening so needless to say, my needlepoint stayed home.
I must confess, however, that I had moments of stitching withdrawal.  On several occasions we had long periods of driving through desert scenery, and I knew I could be stitching something! 

Then there were those times when we arrived at our destination earlier than anticipated, and I got to *sit around* relaxing while Dear Husband napped.  Another moment of stitching missed.  The good news is that I got to read during those times, and that’s almost as important to my sanity as stitching.

Now if I could just come to grips with not packing so many shoes when I travel, I might be able to squeeze a project into my suitcase the next time! 

Didn’t get to visit any needlework shops, mostly because our travels took us off the beaten paths.  I did notice there were several in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, but we didn’t get to venture past the airport.

Anyway, now that I’m back, I can get back to stitching in between documenting my 430 photos!

Thinking of Stitching . . .

Caroline