Friday Finish!

 I finally finished the kid's quilt. It is another piece from the set I won from The Whimsical Workshop, years ago. I still have some pieces left, so it should be enough for another quilt. This one I hand quilted around the black lines on the larger circles and the designs. The bad thing is, I used black and the backing was a lighter flannel print, so it shows through. After this I will use the machine and do simpler quilting, so I can used two colors to match both sides. I plan on making more with the leftover fabrics I have and donating them to a shelter.

As usual, this week went by too fast to do half of what I wanted to do. Lots to do around the house and yard and trying to get out, when we can. We spent one day at the lighthouse and got a nice walk in, before it started to rain again. I never get bored of the views.

This week I will work on cleaning up my room and trying to get a few things finished. Next weekend we have the windows coming in, so I have to move all the furniture in most of the rooms and no idea how I can find the space to move it far enough from the windows, so a good time to clean out the clutter.

I always find time to enjoy a few quiet moments and joy in the simple things and last night it was the lunar  eclipse. The clouds cleared up in time to enjoy watching it and see the night sky. The nights are cooler, so it is always nice to sit on the porch to relax before bed. I hope you all had a good week and can enjoy cooler temps.

Paddle time!

 Last weekend we got out for some paddling and one day for some beach time. I am still working on my projects and hopefully I will have the kid's quilt done by next week. We also had a company come for some new windows, since ours sweat so bad, they mold and this way I have windows that are double paned and easier to open.

We went to the island on the weekend, less travel time and no traffic to sit in. We took the boats and paddled into the bay, following the coast line and landing at a cove. The cove is nice since there are no people, just the two of us and beautiful views of the bay.

While there, we saw a lot of egrets in the cove and in the trees.

When we got back, I was walking in the cove and spotted some birds on the spit of land and waded across. I expected the birds to take off, but I moved slowly and they paid me, no mind. I caught one Oyster Catcher, getting a meal, thus the name.

He kept running away another one, who was trying to get it, but then he stopped and dropped it in front of what I assume, is a younger one, from the darker beak. It was so fun watching him and their interaction.

On Sunday we got to the ocean side, early enough to beat the crowds and enjoyed swimming and watching the terns. There was a lot of them, following a school of fish. 

This weekend we have rain and tomorrow we get new gutters. The company also does those and I was able to get a good deal on both, so happy about that. I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

Weekly Happenings!

 

This week I am still working on my new projects. I have been working more on my quilt so I can get that done and will have two to donate. The Christmas piece, I can work on a bit at a time and have ready in time. 

Today the boys had other plans so I decided to go to the island and bring my kayak. The tide was up so I was able to paddle in the inner cove and explore the little inlets along the way.

At the first spit of land, I spotted a laughing gull that was hanging out with the regular gulls.

And only one Osprey was in the nest, when I paddled by.

The coves were filled with activity, lots of shore birds.

And on the outer area along the shore, I finally spotted two Oyster Catchers. 

It was a nice day to get out and I was able to cool off before the tides got too low. At home I also have some new visitors. I think they are younger hawks, since they are staying in the neighbor's yard and squawking all day.

I hope everyone had a good week and are not in the flood or fire areas. It seems so much destruction lately and my prayers go out to everyone.

Fun and not so fun!

 Our camping weekend was good and bad. With the summer crowds, it was hard to get to the dog beach but we were able to get there for a bit, before the crowds came in. In some ways it is better than the main beach, since the waters are higher and no seaweed. It was nice to go for a swim and let Bean have some fun too.

One day we got a walk at the point. It goes along the ocean with areas to walk along, a rocky shore.

It also has a variety of birds along the bush side and I was lucky enough to spot a pair of Cedar Waxwings.

I was finally able to get out in the kayak and paddle in the inner coves. It was a nice day and nice to get out for some time to unwind and enjoy the local shore birds.

  The bad thing was, when I got back, I found out that Bill had locked himself out of the trailer and the keys were in the trailer and the spares in my purse, in the trailer. It seems it has happened to others. We had to get a locksmith who destroyed the lock by drilling it, so that cost. The good thing is, I was able to find the same lock with spare keys for less than 40.00. 

Today we picked up the boys and took them to the island for a swim. The tide was up  and the main beach was crowded, so we swam in the cove. The boys loved it and we all swam across to the land on the other side. I will definitely go back when it is not crowded. I spotted a lot of birds hiding on the other side, so I will bring my little boat and camera, next time.

I hope everyone had a nice week and can enjoy some fun time this weekend. We still have high heat, so I can only stay outside so long. 

This and that Friday!

 

This week I was working on a few projects. I wanted to start a baby quilt from an extra panel I had. I got it together and will be following the black outlines with black pearl cotton. Keeping it simple so it has a bit of puff from the quilting, but not too tight. It is a nice project to do by hand for when I want to relax and not think too much.

This weekend I planned a trip to the local campground. I cancelled Thursday since it was raining and it gave me more time to get ready. Then Bill got sick, then I got it, so we are doing ok, but not up to par. Hoping to be able to do a little paddling in the cove, so hopefully I will be better tomorrow. 

This is our site, I thought I had gotten a front row but am further back, but still nice to be at the camp.

We got a little rain in the afternoon, but it ended quickly. After dinner we took a ride to the fishing beach and just enjoyed the views and watched the fishing boats as they headed back to port.

Then we went to the lighthouse and I caught this guy, fishing in a big puddle.

The waves were building up, so quite a few surfers were at the ocean side.

It is always fun to follow them with the camera and grab that shot, when they are in the sweet spot. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. We have good weather, so it is nice to be at camp where the air is always cooler.

Another week!

 Lately it seems I can never get enough done in a week and all the plans I had, went out the window. I haven't had as much time to work on projects, but slowly working on my stitchery.

We have gotten out for walks, the pond is our favorite place. Always a nice walk and lots of critters to enjoy along the way. Today we took the boys to the pond, for a short walk. They got to see one of the turtles and loved watching it swim around. For some reason the turtle was just as interested in them and kept swimming up and looking at them. Even the smaller one was coming up and looking at them.

After we went to the beach and I had fun, swimming with the boys. Bill took the photo from his chair on the beach, so a bit grainy.

Nick wanted a photo that I could send to him. He found a board on the beach and made a bench, for us to sit on. 

I hope everyone had a nice week and improved weather. We finally have nice days without the humidity, so it is great to get out again.

Friday Finish!

 

While on vacation I couldn't resist getting a few things at the quilt store. One item was a pattern by Patch Abilities. This was a fun one to do and I was able to have something new to add to a wall, that needs a few things. 

I didn't follow the pattern exactly, but I never do. I added some glitter thread in the light for fun and a flower box window on the building. 

Today we finally got out of the house and went for a walk. It has either been too hot or too smoky to be outside. Today we had a break and it wasn't too hot for a short walk at the bird sanctuary. Lots of birds and critters and we had fun standing on the deck and watching 3 snappers, two were males competing for the female.

The Green Heron flew by and landed in the tree.

We also spotted two young Red Bellied Woodpeckers.

It was nice to get out and hopefully we can do more this weekend. It is hard in the summer with all the tourists, and the beaches reach capacity early in the day. I hope everyone is doing well and not stuck in the smoke zone, it is horrid here, so I cannot imagine being in areas with the thicker smoke.