Home

I love venturing out to see new things and I love coming home, back to the familiar, the ambiance we've created, the quiet and peacefulness of our space. Last night dusk arrived around 7:30 in time for a candlelight dinner that welcomed us home.

This morning we took a nice walk at Mission Trails park and now it's time to put things back in order. I looked forward to taking the day off, but I always forget how much it takes, the getting ready and the settling back in. There are bags to be unpacked, laundry to be done, plants to be watered, groceries to be shopped for, the things of life. I hope to be quick so that I can get back to the almost complete EnPointe bracelet.

The Seattle airport has some nice shops and this one appealed to the Grandma in me......I couldn't resist this sweet dress for Miss Malayna Pies. It looks to me like some red velvet mary janes are in order.




It's going to be an excellent week. My friend Gabriella will visit and we'll spend some beading time together and perhaps a trip to the Coronado Art Walk this weekend. Leslee Frumin is the speaker at the San Diego Bead Society and I may get to yet another meeting this year, we'll see how the week progresses.

Back in Seattle

Waiting for our flight to take us home to our little Miss Maya and our relaxing veranda.

I believe I have lost track if reality a bit...as today I pondered what was in my schedule for the next couple of weeks. I need to regroup and prioritize. It's time to get the book started which means picking colors, setting up my adobe workspace and beginning to bead and illustrate. But lest I leave the glow of our latest adventure to soon let me share our last day of Alaskan cruising.

Thursday night we made our way from Ketchikan back to Victoria by way of the ocean (as opposed to the more protected waters we'd been in) This meant I got to enjoy a lovely rocking sleep. I've got Mark thinking and he dreamt of a way to create that gentle sway in our bed at home.

Friday we enjoyed out last day of beading together








Anne, Marcia, Fae and JoEllen standing,
Carole, Kathy, Marlene and Maxie in front.

Look closely and you will see Anne, Kathy and Maxie wearing their Dancing Light. The others were minutes away from finishing as well. It was wonderful to see this piece come to life during the Span of the cruise.

This one's for Liz who loves Moose, this was the best we could do at the Totem Park gift shop and museum



We arrived in Victoria in time for Mark's birthday dinner which we enjoyed at the Ferris oyster Bar in downtown Victoria (if you go we enjoyed the upstairs) The ambiance was perfect, the oysters may be the best I've ever eaten and that's saying a lot. Mark was in sparkling good humor as we held hands and enjoyed being together. We strolled back to the boat through the lights of Victoria





It's been an excellent trip made more so by the wonderful beader's that I shared my time with and my dear husband, whose company I always enjoy.



Happy Birthday To my favorite travel partner!

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Ketchikan

Just a quick post as we leave Ketchikan with an ocean sail to Victoria British Columbia.

The day was rainy but we managed a tour of the totem pole park which was wonderfully worthwhile.





I loved the colors and the stories surrounding each of the poles.

The rest of the group traveled off to the Point where they visited a bead and yarn store And I was sorry to miss out on that. But since Mark agreed to travel with me this trip I left the free day planning up to him.

I'll meet up with everyone in our bead room shortly and see all the wonderful things they purchased.

I'll leave you with a photo of leaving Sitka yesterday, so majestic.



Tomorrow night we'll celebrate Mark's birthday in Victoria and then we arrive into Seattle and fly home, always sweet no matter how good a trip is.

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Sitka

Sitka was a lazy day for me, a leisurely stroll through the downtown, an Alaskan White beer



and back to the boat for lunch and an afternoon of beading.

The harbor we anchored in is gorgeous and more so because of the streaming sunshine, beautiful puffy white clouds and warm temperatures.



I especially love this Ansel Adam like shot showing layer upon layer of mountains receding into the haze (not to compare myself to that level of photographic expertise certainly but one does get the feeling of the depth)

The natural beauty here continues to astound me, so much out of my normal realm of experiences.

This one's for you Sandy....a nice sign in Sitka




The afternoon has been productive with half the bracelet completed if it remains a single layer and one quarter if it becomes the reversible cuff I am envisioning. The yellowy green gold, deep raspberry and dorado is a beautiful color combination.

We've just pulled out of port so no Internet soon....

I'll report tomorrow from Ketchikan!

Detour

It turns out the trip we made to avoid a Pacific storm was one of the most picturesque days. As we sat and beaded in the beautiful room with huge windows, we were treated to a spectacular show. The ship made it's way into Tracy Arms and into a very narrow fjord with sheer rock cliff on either side of the water passage. Beautiful waterfalls abounded and large pieces of very blue glacier floated by. A visual treat every few moments and just exactly what I had hoped to experience.











In the afternoon I took a relaxing hottub followed by a bathrobed session of beading in the cozy room and each glance up from the beads brought another picture perfect glimpse of nature.

During the night we ventured back out into the Pacific Ocean and the boat fell into a gentle rocking motion which made for a very nice evening of sleep.

The sun came out for our short trip into the town of Sitka and the mid 60 temps made for a shirt sleeved day as we strolled around the shops.

And now, it's back to the beads as I am midway into the En Pointe bracelet version. I have an idea to make it double layered and fully reversible.....we'll see.

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Glass

Or ice, which is really the case, but it reminds me of a piece of Steuben or some other intricately carved piece of glass





I love the cool greys of the photo.

Our cruising guide for tomorrow has arrived and we learned that we will be going to Tracy Arms and viewing a fjord from 7:30 a.m. To 4:30 at which point if weather conditions allow we will travel to Sitka.

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Seattle to Alaska

Saturday we set sail on Holland America's Westerdam for Juneau Alaska.

The view of Seattle from the vantage point of the ship was excellent.



I am pretty sure I could have lived in Seattle, except for the fact that Mark would be unlikely to join me. He is way more of a tropical traveler.

The ride was gentle and bonine kept me feeling ok although I hear there were many sick from the ocean swell, I thankfully did just fine.

Our dining table is in the aft window of the ship which affords a really stellar view.

Day one at sea was day one of the Dancing light class and given the caliber of beader on board I suspect there are going to be many done by weeks end.

Day two we arrived mid day in Juneau and Mark and I opted for bike and brew. We rode bikes ten miles along bike trails stopping first at a lake across from the glacier and then at the glacier.

Here's my sweetie looking adorable in his biking and rain gear...yes it did rain.







The ice formations were interesting and blue....an ever changing sculpture garden.

A strong storm with hurricane force winds has changed our plans from a day at Hubbard glacier to a nearby and more protected bay. I'm onboard with that change. We'll be beading and then in my free afternoon I'll be beading. Finishing up a second dream keeper in fuchsia and dorado.....it's a good one.


Internet will not be available again for a couple of days so bead well and see you Wednesday!

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