Quilting Grammy, Dora is about 100 miles from Springfield , Mo. We live 11 miles out of town, West Plains. I think we are 3 hrs. from Joplin. We are only 15 or so miles from Ark.border. We love it here. As I sit this morn with a roaring fire, hot cup of tea, looking out over our 60 acres the black angus cattle are dotting the hill side, the sun is beaming in the window. Just don't get any better then this. We built our log home back off the road. Oh & by the way, we are on black top. Hate those gravel roads. My goal is to be in a magazine with our home. It is very unique. This area is VERY friendly & help-ful. Have just a few neighbors but they are there when you need them. We sell fresh eggs ( free range chickens) have met alot of people this way. We have a Little grocery- general store about 2 miles so if we need something we can run there. My daughter is a realtor & I will ask her if there are any underground houses for sale. will let you know. Would love to have you come here. Oh & by the way we have a nice quilt shop & 6 others a short distance. Just come on down!!!! Donna, The Rustic Quilter

DJ - ah by West Plains, huh? You MUST be a regular at Viv's - great shop! What other sewing/fabric/quilting shops are there? We live not quite an hour from there and go frequently to the town - It is such a nice place.

When we moved to the Dallas area 20 years ago, all we could think of was when we could leave. Now DH is retired and I will be next May. Our children live in Austin, Denver, Chicago, and LA. We like our house and are close to lots of shopping, medical care, and a good airport. When it gets too hot, we try to stay inside a lot. Ditto when it gets colder than we like. Besides, I just got my longarm set up and would hate to move her!!!

Nancy, Actually Viv's Is only 3 miles from my house on CC. I live 3 miles west of her.Actually I have not found too many fabrics there. All of my pieces are very primitive, dark colors. I go to Ozark Quilt Sampler in West Plains, one in Willow Springs & Cabool. I am going to be doing a demo at Orzark Quilt sampler on Oct 16.Since we lived in our barn as we were building our home, I couldn't sew on my machine so I have made yo-yo's almost the size of a full bed so far.Then I made a EEP hexie from Laurie Simpson's book , then I have a EPP Grangmothers's Flower Garden started for my daughter. I now have my sewing romm a little set up & have a quilt almost all put together for our oldest GD. We have 20 GC & my goal is to make all of them a quilt for when they get married. Our oldest GD turns 24 this coming Sat & no plans for marriage, still in college. Any way where do you live?? Please stop & meet me the next time you go to WQest Plains. I would love to meet you. I met Connie-Chigger Holler & Jamey- Dogwood Quilter at the Springfield Quilt show. Do you know either of these gals. They were so much fun.
Donna, The Rustic Quilter

DJ - we are practically neighbors! We live close to Mansfield. Ozark Quilt Sampler? Is that the "new" shop on the strip mall on the edge of town?oh yes! Connie and Jamey go to the same "quilt group" in Mountain Grove monthly as does "Friendly Quilter" (Lynn)What hours will you be there at the Sampler a week from Saturday - I may just show up. - nice talkin to ya!!

Nancy, You know those 2 gals???? Yes it is the new one in the strip mall. I don't know for sure the hours yet will let you know. What is the group you all go to? I have also on here looking for some one to help me with hand quilting. Are there any in your group that hand quilt? Would love for you to come to the shop. Hope to see you there. Donna, the Rustic Quilter

I'm in a little town east of Toledo. In 1979, my husband to be and I walked from where I lived at my mom and dad's about a half mile, saw a house for sale and have been here for almost 30 years. It's the same school district I grew up in, and the same one Dad went to, but of course then it was a one room school house.
At the time it was the house no ones else wanted, it wasn't even looked at, but it was perfect for this do it yourselfer and his "no, it goes there' wife

DR! I forgot the name of the group - they were the quilters that were featured in the Cabool quilt show a couple months ago - did you go to that? I don't know who in the group does hand quilting, but I'm sure they do! Very talented ladies. If you would like to go to the next meeting, let me know and I will send you all the particulars - you MAY want to pm me - :-)
Nancy

I love where I live, BUT I hate that it is so seasonal we have the area to ourselves for the summer months but during the winter months we are tooooooo crowded. I just stay in as much as possible. Of course if I won the lottery I would move to an area that is not so seasonal but is still in Florida cause I love the sunshine and the beaches.

Do you have any problem with all the hurricanes and storms?

to quote a song "mama im comin home"
grew up in spokane wa ended up in ohio courtesy of the us army and 2 husbands but my 3rd wonderful husband and i are moving to washington state when my youngest gets out of school this june CAN NOT wait it will not be here soon enough the only thing i am going to miss is small town life and my 2 older sons but they are adults now and have their owns lifes time for us to live ours now.

I love the picture of the canine friend. I had a malamute wolf cross for a friend too. He came to me as a stray and stayed for life. He was huge, about 140lbs and with his paws on my shoulder was taller than me. We called him Old Man because he seemed to be just a little old man in a big fur coat. He was my best friend and guru. He taught me to never run when walking would do, always check everything out before committing to it and to turn around three times before sitting down. He liked cats too and always had to a feline companion to keep him company when I was at work. He even raised three orphaned kittens once. He would corner them and then give them a good cleaning with his tongue. They would be sopping wet by the time he was done, so they would crawl up into his thick fur coat to warm up and take a nap. I still miss how he would come up and put his big head in my lap to let me know all was well with our world.

Love where I live. Even as a child I was leaving Colorado and heading west. Made it 37 years ago and am here to stay. Weather is mild and nothing keeps me indoors. Love the beautiful mountains, ocean, lakes and all the quilt stores. Have you ever sewn outside?

I live in GB. moved to this area because of husband's promotions 26 years ago, what a culture shock, no big stores ,no proper street markets selling everything including fabric/fruit/haberdashery/veg/fish etc etc. That was just the shopping, the people were SO different, did not travel even to city for shopping, and now having movedonly 12 miles further west the people are GHASTLY , intransigent/petty/pathetic and honestly weird.
Love the countryside [always lived in country] my Doctor is wonderful as is my home but the nearby neighbours are so dreadful, spiteful/two faced and as with many in the area will only speak when it suits them; was warned of this by a lady who lived below me and had been there for 30 years.
I would return "home" --more north but it has changed so ,been flooded with thousands of immigrants who demand everything is done for them/their way ,so am trapped and have to make the best of a bad job. Plus am now even further away from quilt/fabric shops and even those that are near-----went yesterday to one to buy hand quilt needles ,they only had two sorts to offer; the fabric CLEARANCE was £6 per yard,and had only 3-4 stencils AT LEAST twice-three times the price I can buy fron US, didn't stock king tut or sewline markers.

lucky you----would love to join you.

I love where I live THREE seasons a year. However, I hate cold and winter...PA is not where you want to be in the winter...at least not me. Last winter was so cold and it just kept snowing. I wont move because two of my children and five of the grandchildren live close to us. If the kids ever leave the state...I am headed for a warmer climate! Maybe VA or NC.

I love my big, old Victorian farmhouse in CT. When the kids moved out, I moved my stuff into their rooms. I love the town, even though there's a LOT more traffic than when we moved here 38 years ago. Right now it's beautiful. I love all 3 seasons that we spend here.

I also love spending the winter in Tucson. It's fun having a city life during the winter where it's warmer (though not hot by any means!) than CT. Lots to do in Tucson, and I love the desert - so very different from CT. And, as I've said so many times, Cathey's (local Pfaff, Viking, Brother dealer) has lots of classes & brings in nationally known teachers for 'Sit 'N Sews - what more could I ask for?

I envy you alot. I want to move there but my family is here and would be hard. However you never can tell.