Hand work progress

I did make some progress on the cross stitch. 

Someone was happy I was home last night. 

Emily did a little crochet on the balcony and was working on this kit.

I added a row or two here and there on this griddle stitch crochet blanket. More than a row or two had my hand cramping up, so I limited the stitching to a couple rows a day. I got the yarn from Walmart in Vermont when I was up at my parents, and the crochet hook was found in my Mom's button and things tin. I'll have to return it the next time I am up there. Dad is still with us but is towards the end. My dilemma, I've got a nice head cold from the trip. Don't want to spread that to them.  A college visit today with Em, Mammogram Saturday and next week Thurs-Saturday in Nashville with Em for another college visit. I've also not worked, other than a few hours before Alaska in over a month. My siblings have their hands full with care and have a company helping out to be there when they are unable as well. One is flying up again Wednesday for a week as well. I'll chat with my sister today and see what she thinks. I might be flying out again tomorrow, but we will see.

 

Alaska recap

 The last half of the vacation was a cruise from Wittier to Vancouver BC. Technically the kids have been in another country now! He he he. We arrived home about 8:30 this morning. The dogs were happy (Bear and Grandma's Scruffy got along well while we were gone). I took a nap and got up a bit after 1 when I heard the thunder. The cats were so happy I was home... and I need to trim their nails.

I picked up a head cold before hitting the cruise...and was not the only one sniffling and coughing. Nothing major and I did wash my hands repeatedly while on the ship. I think everyone had it by the end. It was a very long day of travel. We got off the ship a bit after 9AM but could not go through security at the airport until after 2:40PM so it was a long waiting day. I did get some cross stitch in while waiting.

Onto the photos. 

Looking out from our balcony on our suite. We had a nice big room, balcony and big bathroom for a week while we did the Inside Passage Cruise from Wittier to Vancouver BC. I already miss the special lounge we had, the butler and all the chefs preparing the food!

Friday, the kids and I did a sea kayak tour in Ketchikan. It was raining and cold, but we had a good time. Seems raining there is normal and they just power through. The scenery reminded me of Maine. The kids were together and I was paired with a person from Fr. Lauderdale via Maine. It was a really nice paddle.

Because of the constant rain, I didn't get photos while paddling but we did see a deer swimming, lots of eagles, a seal and lots of pretty starfish - purple if you can believe it!

We did the 4th of July on the ship going through the passage. We left the ice behind at this point. Emily and I did a couple of the evening shows - a musical recap of the theater hits and a celtic type show. I missed the comedy show the last night - my partner in doing things was not well the last couple of days.

Docked for the day. I think this was Skagway but could be wrong. We did a 6 hour tour here, a little town with panning for gold (liked the first spot better), a salmon bake and train ride, then ended with a saloon/brothel museum. Seems Aidan didn't eat or drink enough water that day and had a little pass out spell (second in 5 months..). He was all better after. He sure know's how to worry me! The staff were great and we got him some water and food and he was much better shortly after. I think this was our Wednesday.

Aidan and I visited the Mendenhall glacier in Juneau on Thursday. There were some pretty flowers around. 

This was the waterfall to the right of the glacier.

The glacier has gotten much smaller over the years. I believe this was taken near the visitor center... which you could reach out and touch it about 90 years ago! It is crazy how fast it is disappearing.

This was one of the glaciers as we cruised past. I can't recall the name. We had a great view from the balcony.

We enjoyed an afternoon watching the otters play in the water as we sailed by.

The glacier water was this amazing aqua.

The suite came with binoculars. We enjoyed using them to spot all the wildlife. Eagles, moose, bears, caribou, sea otters, seals, and dahl sheep.

The boy and I enjoyed high tea. Quite a few new to us meals as well. Aidan tried and liked escargot, among other meals. He is our foodie. 

 All in all, not many photo's taken the last week but we did enjoy our trip. The kids are sleeping/enjoying a room with only them in it today. Emily took the dog in with her. The cats have been all over me. I put the chickens out to play in the tall grass. The garden is very overrun, but there are a few things in there growing. Maybe a couple pumpkins? I need to go explore in there once the thunderstorms stop. Maybe later tonight. 

Grandma did great with the animals and was so happy to head home with Scruffy this morning. She left some breakfast and lunch things in the fridge. 

I suppose I need to unpack and figure out home life again!

Emily booked a college tour tomorrow for us Tuesday and then we have Vanderbilt next week. Good thing I told work I'd be back on Wednesday and not Tuesday!

McKinley Explorer

 This was the helicopter ride to a glacier yesterday.  My first time in a helicopter and the put me in the front! The pilot was great. 

We got to see the top of Denali on the flight back.

It was a clear day today and we were blessed with awesome views of denali all the way to Anchorage!

I'm thinking i should get a lottery ticket!

The kids and greg enjoyed the zip line adventure.  So far, everyone is doing great, maybe a little sleep deprived.  Time change and no nighttime is a very weird combination. 

I added a few rows of crochet to the blanket. I just do a row (130?), then rest. I've learned my lesson and don't want a hurting hand. I tried cross stitch, but the train was bumpy at that point. Plenty of stitching time the next week.

I'm amazed at these photos I took today on my phone. I might have dropped my phone and cracked the screen 2 days before we left. My android S22 ultra was out of date, so got a refurbished S25 ultra. I should be good for 4 years!

Denali

 It was a bright and early start today. Up at 4:30am to get to the main lodge for 5:10ish. We had a bus tour into the National Park today. Wonderful tour guide. Amazing knowledge.  We have a helicopter ride in a few hours around Denali then the three of them are ziplining this evening. 

I'll be adding more stitching to this blanket. I might have picked up things at the quilt store and the fiber store. Well, Emily got yarn and patterns for two projects. I got a wooden embroidery ornament to make, some Alaska themed batik FQs and a small quilt kit.

My crew.

See, hubby does exist 😀

Caribou.  We also saw a moose and goats.

Alaska

 We made it safely to Alaska.  Little snafu with hotel but figured it out. Very long day of travel. Have not seen darkness (night) since we arrived. Headed to Denali today where wifi is not as good so posting now.

Photos loaded backwards. So yesterday we did a riverboat tour in the afternoon. A stop at a simulated vilage was interesting to learn how the people lived here before the first interaction with the outside world in the 1800s.

Caribou.... which are reindeer.  Did not realize that.

The morning we went to pan gold!

Emily got the most in her sack of soil of the four of us. $35. She had the gold put into a bracelet. I had my $15 put into a little necklace container. Little gold bits.

There was a train ride to the mining area.

Panning for gold.

After some sleep the first day we went to the university of Alaska fairbanks to see the museum.  They had a new planitarium so we saw the aurora show. Lots of info about the wildlife and people. A nice art gallery and a neat sound room. 

This is mt. Rainier taken from the airplane near Seattle. 

Summer Ravelry UFO challenge.

Posting this a little early as I will be travelling! 

Finishes from the last quarter. These two big guys got finished this quarter. The hexagons were a multi year project with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

 

Another multi year RSC project was the birds in the air blocks. I did one of these in 2015 and it was gifted as a wedding present. These both stay with me!

The bear paw graduation quilt will be the push for this coming quarter. 

 The list of UFO's -

 1.) I know I have at least one more cut somewhere to fill that open spot for a 7x6 setting. *** found the parts in a baggie!  These are hand pieced.... and might need a little fixing along the way on some of those middle joins. From Inklingo lemoyne stars.  The blocks are 4.5 inches.

 

2.)  I think it's a 6.5 inch cut center of greys and 2.5 inch strips. Finishes 10 inches. 

3.) Midget Applique quilt from Sentimental Stitches. I need to add more flowers and leaves and the vines... and the last border. Hand pieced and hand appliqued. Started January 2015 as a car line project. One block a week.

4.) triangle pyramids. started June 2024. I need to find these!

5.) Midget block collection - I started these in Vermont in 2010! I have a light blue for sashing.

6.) Erin's Butterfly - I made the wings in 2021.  Need to add one more set of wings... thinking 9 is a nice number? These have been machine stitched onto the background. Need to add body and antenna to each. Also need to add 1 block in another color.

7.) Flying Snowballs - hand pieced shoo fly and flowering snowball blocks in blue, purple and green from 2025. Will plan to machine piece them together into a top about 84x84.

8.) Aidan Graduation requested quilt... for after college as he wants a queen size Bear Paw in civil war style green and blues. This is about halfway sewn into a top. 

9.) I forgot I had this. It is a cute birdhouse wall hanging but is foundation pieced, which I dislike. Maybe I can deal with it enough to get this done? Or rework it?

10,) This is a kit I purchased mid-90s - butterfly's. I think all the parts are there and I did start arranging them.

11.) Quilters Patch. A sew along that I completely did not meet my goals on in 2022. One block is done.

12.) Alternate BITA blocks from RSC 2025 collection

** I need to get a photo of these

13.) 16 patch blocks from 2.5 inch squares

** I need to get a photo of these.

14.) chicken blocks... these have not had much love this year.

15.) Bittersweet Briar - pattern in Kim Deihl's book and kit of fabric.

16) Brimfield Awakening EPP. I did start this and have the first fabric thread basted in purple!

17.) Bonnie Hunter Mystery - On Ringo Lake - maybe step #2?

18) Bonnie Hunter Mystery - Grassy Creek (2020) Think I am on step #4.

19.) 30's log cabin tulip quilt.

Quilt Tops: 

 20) Ella Maria Deacon Blocks. Hand pieced, machine stitched together into a top. Patterns from Sentimental Stitches.

 I need to measure and see if it is happy with it's size or not. All my quilts seem to have a mind of their own!

21) Vermont Quilt Festival Booth Hop from either 2008 or 2009.  it is 71x71.

22.) Y2K Joann's BOM - quilt top

23.) 1857 Quilt Along Top - This one is in the hoop for hand quilting as of December 2024. ** Might unpin this one so it doesn't rust and do something smaller first with the big BITA on the frame...

24.) Spring Hexagons - not sure if this wants to be bigger or not.... 

25.) Triple Irish Chain - green. 80x80 I think. I did find both fabrics extra with it... Might need a green or cream border first or both... Made in the early 2000's. circular feathers in open spaces.

26.) String of Beads is a top. I do want to add green circles to the meeting points of the green peels I think as well. The yellow ones really helped the colored parts of the peel flowers. I need a new photo of this one as I did get it to a top on 10/5/25. I promise!