Sept. OPAM and more

I don’t have a lot to report for September.  I spent much of the month preparing for, enjoying, and recuperating from vacation.  As part of the preparations, I made a journal for my travels.

 

Because of a big storm at sea, we didn’t make it to Ketchikan or Victoria, but I’m not remaking the journal cover – LOL!  It was well-used while we were away.

 

 

I also made and mailed 4 postcards in September.

I’m currently working on another batch of postcards, and plugging away at my Warm Winter Blessings BOM.

I received my Sept hexies yesterday from the Inchy Swap.  These are from Karyli, and are perfect for my pink project.  I haven’t started anything yet, but I think I know what I’m going to do with the hexies in the near future.  Stay tuned!

We’re starting to see the first signs of Fall around here.  Temperatures have been  cooler, and it gets dark earlier each day.

It’s not too cool for kayaking yet, though, so we spent a couple of hours on the river yesterday.  The water was so perfectly still, that we got some great reflections.

 

 

 

 

 

We were joined on out paddles by a heron, several geese, and a few ducks.

 

 

 

 

And that sums up my September!  Now I’m off to do more sewing and get a head start on my October finishes.

Kindness matters……Sunny

Hexies and Totes

There’s been good mail at my house this week!  Yesterday I received a surprise package from Anthea.  She sent me a lovely little blue tote, a hexie pin cushion, and two fat quarters.  I had admired some gumboot fabric that she used recently, and now I have my very own.  I also found out some time ago that Anthea has an aversion to blue, so she is in ‘therapy’ to overcome it. 

I also received a hexie from Raewyn, as part of a postcard exchange that we did.  Her stitching is amazing.

And here are the postcards that I sent earlier this month, and have all been received now.

Today, my tote arrived from the Sewing With Friends Swap, from Mhairi.  I just love the colors, and it held some special tea bags, and a fat quarter with Koalas and Kangaroos.

It’s been like Christmas around here the last couple of days.  Thanks ladies!!  And now I’m heading down to the sewing room.  I’m suffering from withdrawal…….

Be kind to fellow swappers…..Sunny

North to Alaska!

We have been off the ship for over 48 hours and flown across the country and through 3 time zones since we returned.  Yet I can still feel the sway of the ship.  Ever so gentle, side to side. 

Our first full day was spent at sea.  I didn’t think I would get seasick, but I was wrong!  I adjusted after just a few hours, but I highly recommend the wrist bands. 

I spent some time lounging outside, and there’s a giant screen behind where dh is lounging, broadcasting the football game.  I positioned my lounge chair so I could watch the game as well as the ocean.  Blankets are cheerfully provided. 

This is what much of Alaska looks like from a cruise ship.  We saw mountains, clouds, water, and if you enlarge this, you will see a glacier right in the center.  It rained every day, but mostly at times when we were somewhat sheltered on our excursions, or still on the ship.  It’s not called ‘rain’ in Alaska, it’s ‘liquid sunshine’.  And if some blue sky is somehow visible, it’s considered ‘cloud failure’.  LOL!

After docking in Juneau, we took an excursion to see whales, the Mendenhall, and feast at a salmon bake.  Our whale quest was highly successful!

 

 

 

Do you think the people on this boat got a thrill?

 

 

After leaving the whales, we went to Orca Point Lodge for a salmon bake.  Ya gotta have salmon in Alaska!

Our next stop was Mendenhall Glacier, which is only a few miles outside of Juneau.

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There were salmon in the pond near the Visitor Center, and if you click on the third picture, you will see kayaks beside the little iceberg.

After we got back to the ship, several floatplanes landed near us.  Although Juneau is a state capital, it cannot be reached by road, so floatplanes and boats are everywhere.

 

 

 

The next day found us in Skagway, where our excursion took us along the Chilkoot River, where we saw Eagles, bears, and seals.  I’m very disappointed in my photography skills, but I still have the memories!

 

Mama bear above, and this is her cub.

 

The front of this building was adorned with worn backpacks used as flower pots!  Very cool.

DH was heading to a knife shop when I spotted this sign in Skagway.  No knife shopping for me!

 

The next day was spent cruising Glacier Bay.  This was probably our coldest day, but it was too beautiful to stay inside the ship!  Brrrr..

 

A Humpback whale breaching.

 

 

 

 

For those of you who requested Alaska pictures, these were the highlights of our trip.  Over the next few days, I plan to set up a new Page with more narrative and many more pictures.  If you’re interested, come on over!  If not, I’ll be getting back to some sewing soon.  Fiona Pfaff is back from the spa and raring to go. 

Be kind this week…..Sunny

Wordy Wednesday

Look at the postcard that came in my mail today!

This is from my good friend Maria!  We have a thing about pelicans, and I am in love with this one.  Thank you so much, Maria!!  The detail is amazing.  There are tiny little ducks on the water, and the  pelican has a cool eye.

Last week, I received this from my partner Judy, in the It’s a Sister Thing Swap.  We could make anything at all for our partner, and she crafted a CLOCK!!  How cool is that?  Thanks Judy.  I’m still deciding where to hang it.  The sewing room seems obvious, but the color will clash terribly with my walls.

And here’s what I made for my partner. 

I liked it so much, I made two at the same time, so I have one for myself, too.  It’s an Eleanor Burns pattern from “Quilts from El’s Kitchen”.  Those little aprons are so adorable.

I mentioned that I was planning to make a travel journal for my trip to Alaska and here it is.

Front/Back

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now all I have to do is pack and go!

Chef Robert Irvine from Restaurant Impossible was in town over the weekend!  We’re fans of the show, so we spent time outside the restaurant, and we did get pictures of Robert.  We couldn’t get reservations for the reveal, but we’ll try to go in the near future.  Here is is getting ready to lead the owners in to see their ‘new’ restaurant.

Let’s see, what else?  Some kayaking pictures?  The place we went this past weekend was nearly impossible to get to because of the horrible roads. 

 

 

 

 

 

Then when we  arrived at the boat launch, our car was attacked by ginormous bugs.  I don’t have any pictures, because I was freaking out and jumping around trying to get away from them.  Once we got in the water we were fine.  I think the bugs were black horse flies.  I never want to see them again!

I think that gets me caught up for awhile.  No hexies this week, and Fiona Pfaff is going to the  spa tomorrow, so I need to get her packed up tonight.

Adios for awhile…….Sunny