During the month of April, I’m participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge for my 4th year in a row – 3 of which are on this blog. Each day, except Sundays, there will be a post for the letter of the day as well as keeping with my personal theme of Quilts and Quotes. Feel free to leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you! Also check out the other A to Z’ers in the comment section of the Official A to Z Blog Page.

Waterwheels are often associated with grist mills and dutch windmills. For me, I think of steamboats on the Missouri River. The Mighty Mo is dotted with buried, sunken steamboats.

The 1856 Steamboat Arabia was discovered, excavated and is on display at the Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, since 1991. It is one of the finest displays ‘in progress’ in the world. It is well worth a few dollars and your time.

There was only a single life lost on the wreck of the Arabia.

“The owner of the mule was intereviewed shortly after the sinking of the Arabia. He reported that he tried his very best to free his mule, but it was just too stubborn and would not leave the sinking steamer. The mule, however, would tell a different story for the reins were  discovered as they had been for 132 years — firmly tied to the lumber mill jack.” I wonder how many of the people then were as doubtful as I was when I first read this story. Mules happen to be very good swimmers.

So for this Letter N quilt block, chose this block pattern.

I couldn’t resist giving it a ‘watered down’ appearance. (chuckle)

This one is slightly larger than 6 inches (6 3/4), but we will make it work with a little fudgin’.

Join me again tomorrow for more of the April A to Z Blog Challenge 2017!