tierneytravels

Stories from the Road, Part II

tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

This post is a continuation of my post Stories from the Road, Part I, about my recent road trip across 4 states in the Eastern Coast of the United States as well as the new journey/road I am on as a widow after the recent loss of Terry the Quilting Husband (TTQH) my partner of many years.

Thanks for all your comments on my previous post and here is a continuation of the story.

Stories from the Road Continued

If you remember from the previous post, my awesome sister drove me across 4 states on the Eastern Coast of the U.S. to visit family. In Upstate NY, we hung out with Terry’s family including his two sisters who are quilters.

It was heart-warming seeing the quilts that Terry and I have made his sisters and mother (who passed last year) over the years. Here is an example of one on the back of a recliner in the their living room:

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Sunday 12/16, one of Terry’s older brother (TTQH was the youngest of 7 children) and his wife had a wonderful get together at their home to celebrate Terry’s life. It was an evening filled with much memories and laughter. It was a bittersweet family reunion and I kept thinking how much Terry would have enjoyed it but my sister kept reminding me he was there in spirit.

Always Time for a Quilt Shop Visit

On Monday 12/17/18 my sister and I went with Terry’s sisters, who are quilters, to lunch and then to their favorite quilt shop – the Joyful Quilter in Glenville, NY.

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Image credit: joyful quilter.com

My sister, who is not a quilter, was a good sport and hung out in the quilt shop, sitting in front of one of the gorgeous high-end Baby Lock sewing machines on display and working on her graduate school coursework.

The Inspirational Airbnb

My sister loves Airbnb and found us a delightful place to stay in Troy, NY while we were in Upstate NY. It was near downtown Troy which is actually quite charming and each morning we went to this wonderful little coffee shop for breakfast (and I had avocado toast for the first time which is actually quite delightful!).

All about the 2 bedroom Airbnb apartment we rented were inspirational quotes and signs. Here are a few examples:

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It was a perfect place to stay, very comforting, cozy and charming. It was fun to be sharing an apartment with my sister for a couple of days and just hanging out in the evening chatting about life over tea.

And speaking of tea, the apartment also had a little humor we discovered as we looked through the cupboards for our tea cups:

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Exploring Tarrytown

On the way back to Baltimore (I was flying back home out of BWI Airport), my sister and I stopped for the day in Tarrytown, NY.

Tarrytown is a charming town on the Hudson River and was ranked by Forbes as Among To 10 Prettiest Towns in America.

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We had a fun wander around Tarrytown and when I needed to go to the bathroom a local shopkeeper recommended I walk over to the library.

The library! If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know how I feel about libraries – I love them! My sister was enjoying chatting with a shopkeeper and she encouraged me to take my time and wander about the local library.

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Tarrytown NY is a historic area and the library was filled with historical art and sculptures. It had an amazing main room where patrons were sitting and reading. If you look closely in the photo below you will see one of the library patrons so comfortable he is napping!

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I wanted to go hang out with a book (and maybe sneak in a little nap) at this delightful library!

My family and TTQH’s family would love me to move back to the East Coast to be closer to them and if it was not so expensive, Tarrytown might be an option. Once I get further down the road in my new journey as a widow and dealing with my grief, I will evaluate where I want to live my new life.

The Flight Home

The flight home was sad at first as I left the comfort of time with my families (my biological and my adopted Hogan family) and knew what waited for me back home was the reality of my loss and my new life as a grieving widow.

However about half way into the flight I gazed out my window seat and really looked at the beautiful landscapes of the earth below and somehow felt hopeful and peaceful and that I could make it through this.

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Postscript

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, I hope you had a Merry Christmas (or Happy Christmas as some countries say) with family and friends. I have a dear old friend staying with me right now for 5 days and she, I and Mike the Miniature Schnauzer spent a wonderful Christmas evening at a mutual friend’s house. We had a wonderful board game playing night with her children and Mike got to be worn around in his backpack by my friend’s 12 year old daughter.

Mike loves to be in his backpack, here is a photo from my May 2018 post, The Road to Retreat (Via Cannon Beach)  , with Mike riding around on TTQH’s back, happy as can be!

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Feature Photo by Jaromír Kavan on Unsplash

Published by tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

Quilter, crafter, obsessive tea drinker and lover of all furry creatures (especially dogs and cats) - join me on my tierneycreates blog as I share stories from "A Crafter's Life".

22 thoughts on “Stories from the Road, Part II”

  1. I loved reading about your trip Tierney…especially all the lovely people you have surrounded yourself with in life! I also love that you know the things that speak to your heart and fulfill you and you make time for them. I know this is a stage of life that you never wanted but I also believe you are going to embrace it and make the very most of it! TTQH will be so proud! I love you!

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  6. These last few weeks have doubtlessly been a whirlwind of activity and crippling grief. I’m so glad to see your friends and family are providing the company and support you doubtlessly need. You’re doing an amazing job of soldiering on. Keep taking care of you.

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  12. I popped in to see what you’ve been up to and read the news of your husband’s passing. I know it is really tough for you but it is good you are accepting love and support as you are. Your memories and the comfort of his spirit with you will help. You are in my thoughts. SuzanneG

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  14. Thanks for posting again. It is good to hear how you are doing and that you had a warming visit with family and are now home with a friend. It is a tough road ahead but you are brave (even if you don’t feel like it at times). Don’t hurry in making life changing decisions but you will probably know when and what to do at some point. I think you would like the East Coast….but then again, I feel you would make the best of any location….as long as it has a library and some decent outdoors.

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  16. Thank you for sharing your new journey Tierney. I admire how you are moving forward with life on a path not chosen.
    What a perfect airbnb place and it’s awesome you still have your sense of humor, the mug is too funny.
    I’m happy too that Mike had a new friend take him for a ride. I love the picture of him and his tongue riding on TTQH’s back.
    I’m thinking of you 🤗

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  17. Tierney, thanks for sharing the last two updates and I’m really glad to see you’ve got some amazing, caring people around you as support. Thinking of you and sending all my best wishes with making the adjustment to being back home.

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  18. Tierney, I am beyond words with compassion and heartfelt thoughts for you during this time of grief. You allowed us a glimpse of your life and shared your wonderful husband and his talents through your blog. Everyone that followed your and his path together is certainly grieving along with you. My thoughts are with you and when you feel it is the right time I will look forward to buying you coffee or just giving you a hug. Sending prayers for you, Janet

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  19. I loved both these posts (even if I fell behind in commenting and liking the past few weeks). I’m sorry for the reason for the trip, but am very inspired by your pluck and courage…and your great photos (as always). And I love that tea cup, by the way :))

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