gifted

In my mind quilts are for sharing, giving to someone who needs to be wrapped in warmth and caring. I make quilts because I enjoy the process, gives me joy to create. With limited space I cant keep them all, so I give them away. Many have been donated for fun raisers, some I know in my heart are for a person that needs the comfort of a quilt, this is one of those, it was made for a event but didnt get it done on time, (they got a different one) so off in the mail it went, hopefully the person getting it will feel that.

first time

When I first moved to Alaska, I roomed with two other gals, one from Homer and the other from Renton Washington. The gal from Homer had a green volkswagon bug with no reverse. I dont remember all the details but one wintery day the WA gal and I drove from Homer to Anchorage. I was driving the other was taking a nap, which was a good thing because she didnt get scared like I did. Driving in the dark across this bridge, on the icy road, the bug started to fishtail, my only thought was we are going to go over the rail and die, of course that didnt happen we made it safely to Anchorage, but I have always been scared of that bridge and every time driving over it I would slow way down. Well now there is a different bridge to drive over, but I still slow way down. So last weekend I stopped and took the dog for a walk across that bridge for the first time ever, didnt look as bad as in did that cold dark winter night many years ago. The other first time was to see a bore tide in the inlet, I had never seen one all these years driving back and forth, so I made a point to drive up just to see, well it was a bit of a dissapointment, the conditions werent really right for a good show, still worth the drive.

national quilt day

Montana visit

went to montana to visit family, had not been for 7 years, took the time to do new activities, paddle board, Wild Horse Island, 9 mile hike up Six Mile, drive around the lake, and went to a museum.

Retirement

I am so excited, retirement is a reality. For so long I assumed I would work until I no longer would be able to work ie: really old, but life has change so retirement here I am. Future plans include, traveling, no more rushing a weekend to get back to work. Another grandkid on the way, more time to spend with them. Gardening, beekeeping, baking, but my most favorite sewing and quilting, there are many unfinished quilts in various stages, last winter while I was teaching someone how to make a quilt I started digging up projects to show, and was very suprised by how many were uncompleted. Be on the look out for lots of quilt pictures.

Vacation

The number one activity while on Maui is to watch the sun rise from on top of the mountain.  The process not so easy, get up at 3am, grab a cup of coffee and drive for 2 plus hours, be dressed for winter, it is cold, and I say that as an Alaskan.  Watch the sun rise over the ocean or clouds as this day was, but oh it's awe inspiring. 

After the sun rise the view is pretty special it is a volcano after all.

Even better when you have some company to share it with.

Then drive down the mountain a ways, stop at the Lodge and get breakfast.  Go back to the room get a nap, because it is on to #2 best activity on Maui.

Go to a luau, there is pit pig to eat, watch a show.

Then the sun sets on the other side of the island.  The rest of the time, enjoy the beach no camera needed. 

yearly girls Alaskan Adventure

 

 Granddaughter #1 picked this year adventure, she said we have to go to Juneau because it is the capital of Alaska.  Part of the tradition is to go somewhere in Alaska that we haven't been to before, I have been to Juneau a few times before, but it was nice to go again, and we did go to many places that I had not been to.  It was rainy the first day we got there but, then the sun came out and the rest of our trip was sunny and beautiful.  The local folks were very nice also.  I would think living in that busy place with all the cruise ships they wouldn't be friendly, but they were, one example when we were leaving, it was a short ways from the hotel to the airport so we decided to just walk, but up comes a lady in a ford explorer and say "you guys are going to the airport let me give you a ride."  So we all piled in.  That was so nice of her.

 

 Picture out the plane window as we were leaving Juneau.  The mountains, island and water are amazing.

 This is the fish hatchery, they have a window to see the spawning fish returning.  There was quite a lot of fish returning,  There was King salmon and Silver salmon.

 The touch tank is always popular, this one you were just suppose to put you finger on the sea creatures in the white floating tubs and not take them out of the tank, these brave Alaskan girls touched everything and took them out of the tank, broke every posted rule.

 This picture is from Douglas Island looking at the town of Juneau. And 2 cruise ships, one of those is the Disney ship.

                                               Saw a Montana flag, not sure why it was there.

 This is from up top the mountain, there is a tram that goes up there, there is a place to eat, a movie about the area, an injured eagle in a cage, gift shop, totem pole carving, and some trails to hike.  A great area to explore.

 

                                             Welcome to Juneau sign down town area.

                                                               The capital building.

                                                               Governors mansion.

                                               Glacier looking from Douglas Island.

                                         Tundra version of a Venus fly trap.

                         

                                                                     By a church

                             
 Looking at the airport.  It was a garden tour took a golf cart up this hill behind the airport area.

                                            Picture taken by the tour guide.

                                                       Porcupine in the tree.

                                    The brown spot right above the flowers is a baby deer.

                                Grand kids had to get their picture taken with ever bear we saw.

                                                             Flying into Juneau.