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

A Moment of Silence

               

OFW

I can’t believe it’s Wednesday already.  Since Monday was a holiday, this week is going very fast.

I really do only have one flower this week, and it’s for my growing pile.  My partner for the Inchy Swap requested just stepping stones instead of flowers, and I sent them off today, but forgot to take pictures.  I also mailed off my Friendship tote to my partner in Sewing With Friends, forgetting to take a picture of it as well.  I was too rushed!  Four postcards went in the mail, too, but of course I can’t show you those, either!

I have now sworn off swaps for awhile.  I have enough fabric and patterns to keep me busy for the next ten years, and I might have ‘accidentally’ bought more fabric tonight at Quilt Club.  I even bought a kit to make a small Coneflower.  They have the pattern on backorder though, so I won’t get to it right away.

As you might have noticed, I like coneflowers!

My next project is to make a journal cover for my cruise to ALASKA!  I had a play date scheduled with a fellow blogger a couple of weeks ago, but something came up, and we haven’t been able to synchronize our schedules again.  I’ve never made a journal cover, but I had a brainstorm a couple of days ago, and hope to turn it into reality tomorrow night. 

As many pictures as I take on a two hour kayak trip, can you imagine what I’ll have after a weeklong cruise?  The thought boggles my mind!  heehee – you’ll be happy to know that we’ve ordered extra memory cards.

Let’s all do a Random Act of Kindness tomorrow..Sunny

OPAM and more

I’m running a little late, because I stitched well into the night last night, and was too tired to post.  So although I’m counting these items for OPAM, the official scorekeepers may disqualify me. 

In August, I finished a scarf for the Pink Scarf Project,

and several items that cannot be shown yet.  A mug rug, a tote,  and 2 wall hangings.  Earlier in the month, I made and sent 2 postcards, that have now reached their destinations.

I’m currently working on a few more postcards, and then I’m finished with swapping for awhile.  My To-Do list isn’t getting any shorter, so it’s time to get serious about getting some things finished. 

This has been a very productive weekend!  I got off work at noon on Friday, ran some errands, and then came home and put the binding on my second wall hanging while watching a marathon of Downton Abbey.  A friend loaned me Season 1 & 2 on DVD.  I think I’m hooked.  Now I have to get my hands on Season 3 before Season 4 begins later this month.  I sewed all day Saturday, finishing my little tote and my September Inchy Swap  hexies. 

Today was kayak day.  We spent some time on the water, and then took a short hike. 

 

 

 

 

And the best thing is, tomorrow is a holiday!  More sewing and relaxing for me.  Maybe I’ll work on something that I can actually show!

Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.

Henry James