Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats

“Closed for the Season”

Yes, we are now back in North Dakota for a short visit; it seemed like a good idea when we booked our tickets in July. We are in the midst of another North Dakota blizzard which started on Christmas Day and will continue into Monday. Many of the roads are closed now so we’ll be spending lots of time together. Good thing I stocked up with lots of food before the snow started. The fun will continue another day or two with games including prizes.

Thank you so very much for all the warm Christmas greetings and other comments you’ve left for me. I’ve enjoyed reading them all and will be able to respond to them soon.

What I Learned Today:

Sixteen people sure eat a lot! It’s good that my mom taught me to cook in quantity.
Giving out food assignments to my kids also helps lighten the work load.
Going from 78 degrees to 7 degrees in 2 1/2 hours was a shock to my system.
Thunder and lightening can occur even during a snowstorm.

Question: Who did you share Christmas Day with?

Visitors from 45 countries have stopped by Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats and have left approximately 600 comments. I’ve replied to almost all of them, except for the ones caught in my spam filter. That’s taken a bit of work and my husband can vouch for the fact that I’ve spent a good chunk of time sitting at my computer. I’m flattered to have almost 200 followers already. Those are pretty good statistics considering this blog is only eight months old.

Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs is hosting a special linky party for bloggers to post their five top posts. So here’s my year-end review highlighting some of the top posts.

Tu-Na?

Find out who Tu-Na is.

I introduced myself on my very first post Tu-Na? and explained the significance of that name. I have my five year old grandson to thank for that inspiration. It was a real “light-bulb” moment.

2. Tu-Na Travels: So Where’s the “Loot”?

Every pirate keeps their loot in a treasure chest. I guess that makes me a quilting pirate and this was my treasure chest.

This summer, my husband and I traveled around the entire state of Minnesota visiting and shopping at 72 quilt shops on the annual Quilt MN Shop Hop. I wrote about our adventures such as going for a sailboat ride and some of the delicious meals we ate. Each day I featured a quilt shop (two shops on Day Six of the hop) on this blog. While I could have chosen any of those posts (after all I met some very nice shop owners and staff who were more than just “Minnesota nice”), I chose Tu-Na Travels: So Where’s the “Loot”? because it was very fun to write. I could think of no better way to introduce all the stuff I bought on the hop than pretending to be a pirate. After all, some of it was such good buys that I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I can honestly tell you that I was rolling on the floor laughing out loud (for real) as I wrote and then read aloud this post. My husband even had to come to my desk to see why I was laughing so hard.

3. Tu-Na Travels: Tu-Na Helper’s Side of the 2016 Quilt MN Shop Hop

This pic was one of the first ones we took using our selfie stick. I think we need practice with it.

My husband guest wrote a post Tu-Na Travels: Tu-Na Helper’s Side of the 2016 Quilt MN Shop Hop telling his impressions of the trip and why he went along on it. Yes, he was lovingly nicknamed Tu-Na Helper since I put him in charge of photographing the shops while I interviewed and shopped.

4. Tu-Na Quilts: Presenting Anne’s Flower

Don’t let the curved seam on the stem scare you from making this block. It’s rather easy. This block uses a method I called “Piecelique” which is a combination of piecing and applique. I wanted to design a block that was pieced and kept the applique to a minimum.

Anne’s Flower was my first block that I designed. It is available at Tu-Na’s Pattern Shop on Payhip here.

5. Tu-Na Eats: Apples, Apples, and More Apples

I use an older point-and-shoot digital camera, but it takes really good pics.

Life was very busy this fall as we tended to an abundant apple crop. The post Tu-Na Eats: Apples, Apples, and More Apples gives you an idea of what we did with all the apples that we harvested. By the way, we are still eating apples and our oranges are now starting to turn color.

What I Learned Today:

Picking only five posts is very hard to do since I like all the posts I’ve written or I wouldn’t have included them on my blog.
Sometimes it’s nice to “toot one’s own horn” because it may go untooted otherwise.
I’ve “met” some really nice people through this blogging community and I thank you for reading my posts, following my blog, and leaving comments. I am so glad you stop by and I hope you’ll come back again.
Eight months sure went fast.

Question: Tell me about your greatest accomplishment or memorable moment from this year. Here’s your chance to “toot your own horn,” too.