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.

This and that!

 This week I have been working on a new project and started another. Before we went on vacation, I wanted something I could work on. Of course I never did work on it, but at home, it is a nice project to work on, a bit at a time, since it will take me a while to finish. It is one of the designs from Kathy Schmitz's Merry Minis Workshop. It comes with 100 designs and several patterns you can make with them.

My problem was, my freezer paper did not stay put, so my design was traced badly, but I fix things as I go. It is in one color, but I am adding a bit, here and there, to give it more pop. I also plan on adding a few areas with glitter thread.

During our trip to Maine, we visited a view places. One was Baileys island. It is a long peninsula so a nice drive with views of the inner bays. We went to the very end, where there is a large gift shop and views of the ocean. I spotted a day beacon on one island.

And on another, a lighthouse.

There was also a memorial for lobster men, near the shop.

We wanted to have lunch by the water, but one restaurant there, was closed, so we went over to the next one. At Dolphin Marina, they allowed dogs outside, but they have to stay under the table. I am not sure, but maybe because it was a late lunch,  I could get a lobster, but the sides were things I couldn't eat and they didn't cater to changes in the menu. It was really nice to sit and relax, with beautiful views and we had a very attentive waiter. 

Another restaurant we went to, was the next day. We did some shopping at the outlets and drove to the docks in Haraseekeet. They have a take out menu and allow dogs outside. I got steamers this time and we enjoyed a nice lunch at the docks.

If you are in Freeport, another great place to stop is, Cottonweeds quilt shop. I got some nice tea towels and a pattern, I am working on and should finish this week. I got a baby panel and didn't realize it goes across, not down, so I will have to rethink it for a quilt.

I hope you all have a nice weekend and a relief from the heat.

Vacation part III

 I tend to pack a lot in a week, I love seeing new places and there is plenty to do in the Freeport area. Less than a half hour, we went to Mackinac Island for a walk around their paths.

The paths go around the island, so a lot of views of the ocean and the islands. We could see an island in the distance. On one was an old fort.

I realized when I got in closer, there were seals, sunning on the rocks.

There were lots of places to get to the shore, so Bean loved that.

Another day we went for a paddle on a lake above Brunswick. It started on a river, into a nice sized lake. It was a bit windy and I forgot to get my seat cushion and gloves, so it was a wonderful paddle, except for being uncomfortable.

And one day we went for a bike ride on the Lisbon rail trail. It was a nice paved path, along a river with waterfalls along the way. The nice thing about paved trails is, we can take Bean in the carriage.

On the way back we saw a big dam. A lot of rivers with dams to control the waters, during rainy and dry seasons.

And every day after dinner, we went for walks. There were a lot of new trails in the camp, that went through fields, into woods and up and down stairs. I definitely got a lot more exercise that week. Now it is just hot, too hot to even go paddling, so hoping to do some swimming this weekend.