Sand Castles

Saturday was the sand castle contest in Cannon Beach.  We were so lucky it was not raining!  It is so amazing to see what people can create out of sand, and then when the tide comes in it is all washed away.  We enjoyed seeing the whole process from the beginning forms and how the sand is packed to hold up, and then on to the sculpting. 

Cruise 2

I think that our favorite town was Skagway.  It had all the charm of a small town - population 800.  They have as many churches and saloons, because during the gold rush days those in charge felt they needed some good with the not so good. So they decided that before you could build a saloon you had to build a church.  Yea.  We took a bus trip to the summet where men climbed to seek gold.  Amazing that they made it over snow packed mountains.  So here are a few of our favorite photos. 

Cruise 1

Sorry for so long to post pictures from our cruise, we don't have access to the internet very often.  Here are a few of the pictures and I will try and post again to show some more. 

REDO

 Things are changing at the Beach.  CARTM, the recycling center has been remodeled.  We were at the grand opening today.  They have reorganized and cleaned out a lot of stuff.  They now have a place to sell created art pieces from  other "junk".  It was fun to walk around and see what has been done.  There were many inspiring projects. 

We have also done a bit of fixing up the beach house.  We put a book case at the end of the hall way, and are waiting for some more items to fill up the shelves.  We also put a new quilt in the master bedroom that we hope everyone will like.  There are now matching quilts in the second bedroom.  In the hall we put up picture shelves and a starfish hanging.  Gary also put up new towel hooks in the bathroom.  We now have plenty of room for towels.The walls look a little bare, but I am sure we will find just the right items to put up. 

Also in the spirit of remodeling, Moe's has been remodeled.  They opened up the dining room, more tables, painted yellow.  But they still have the same benches and tables that make the place Moe's.  I didn't have my camera to take a picture but will add one as soon as we eat there again. 

We are off on our cruise on Sunday, hopefully I can blog, but if not then when we come back.   

Proof

You can tell by the pictures that we are at the Oregon Coast.  We don't pack swim suits we pack rain coats!  We spent most of the week cleaning out Grandma's house, and on Saturday Gayle joined us for a Mother's Day picnic.  Then we headed for the beach.  We didn't even care that it was raining we had to go for a walk on the beach.  Gary was also practicing with his new camera and did some close up pictures of some flowers.   Hopefully it won't rain the whole time we are here.

Happy Birthday

Thursday we went out to dinner for Elise's 8th Birthday.  It was just family as she will have a kid party later.  Here are the highlights.

The girls shared some corn!

Being young means that you can sit on the table and eat lemons.

And younger sister hogs the camera.

Lots of presents to open from Grandparents!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELISE

Pickle Ball

We finally got a chance to play Pickle Ball.  It was a beautiful day, 55, and I had a Saturday off.  We headed to Monument Park and joined a group for lots of fun.  Pickle Ball is a cross between tennis and ping pong.  We play with an oversize paddle and a whiffle ball.  the court is smaller than a tennis court but we still get a work out.  Here is a picture of Gary playing, but I did play too. 
After playing all morning we came home to Advil.  We were both out of shape!! We do plan to go back although we do need  a lot of practice.

Nook Holder

since I haven't blogged in a year, the Blog world has changed.  I am trying to get used to the new format.  Ugh!! I have change in the technological world.  Otherwise I love change.

Anyway, I loved what Naomi (DIL) wrote about unfinished projects.  Her blog is listed on the side, and you can link it there.  She talks about her unfinished art projects, but I can relate to it in the quilt world.  I love to start something new, but then it just becomes a UFO and nags at me until it is complete.  I am getting better about not starting something new, or about buying new fabric to start something new.  Right now I don't have any quilts that are cut and started.  I do have several wool projects that require handwork and am trying to work on those.  I also have several fabric groupings that could be sewn up, but since I haven't actually started them I am not counting them

So this week I did a little fun sewing and made a stand for my Nook.  I read in bed at night with it and like it propped up.  For a while I rolled up a towel and leaned the Nook on it, but it never really stayed for long.  I found this on Pinterest and it works great.   Here is where I found the directions  http://mypatchwork.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/ipad-e-book-reader-beanbag/

Quilt Finishes 2013

After seeing Naomi's blog  (DIL) start up again and enjoying it so much, I decided that I should try and blog again.  Since not  much is going on in our life right now, except the cold weather I thought I could at least show the quilts that I have finished this year.  Yes it is only January and I have 3 quilts finished.  Really it is only one quilt that I finished this year, the other 2 were at the quilter's in December, but I just got them back and then put the binding on.  So I count them as finished in this year.  

The first quilt is one that I bought at an antique shop in wheeler Oregon.  I call these rescue quilts, as basically it was just a top and I put a backing on it and had it quilted.   My husband keeps asking what am I going to do with it and I said I just did, I rescued it.  

The second quilt is a scrappy hexagon quilt that I finished on our Oregon trip this fall.  They are 2" hexagons, and I used the Primitive Gatherings Little Primitive fabric.  I am very happy with it as it looks good on my brown couch.  Not sure that I would make another, it is fun to make the hexagons but not so much fun sewing them together.  

The last quilt is Farmers Wife.  I was tired of using dark fabrics so I tried something lighter and I am pleased with the way it turned out.  I found a setting that was different, setting every other square on point .  I liked the "modern" look that it gave the quilt.  Also it really stretched the squares that I had, only 42 squares. 

Now I have 4 other quilts at the quilters and as soon as I get them back I will bind them and post about them.  I did 4 BOM last year, waaay too many.  So this year I am just finishing up things that I have started.  Betty