Signs and Silliness

Still not much going on here. I did sew most of the afternoon yesterday and hope to get another quilt top done by the end of next weekend. I started to watch the movie "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" but I guess I worked too much this past week and even Brad Pitt couldn't keep me awake and I fell asleep during the first 10 minutes. Has anyone seen this movie? Should I attempt to watch it again?

It was nice and rainy and cloudy earlier today which reminded me of...

can you guess...

Seattle!

I keep forgetting to post these funny signs for my friend & fellow Starbucks partner David. Every time I talk about moving to Seattle, David cautions me about the Big Tsunami that is supposed to hit Washington State sometime in the next billion years. I think David has watched Mega-Disasters about 20 too many times. Anyway I took this picture for David to show him that Washington State has the tsunami danger under control. If a tsunami comes, you do this:
I can't tell if you should run or climb...but the directions are clear.

There was this helpful sign on the ferry boat. In case you fall overboard or are swept out to sea by a tsunami, this is how you are rescued. By being grasped and pulled up by your neck and apparently only a small, short boat can help you. The boat on the sign looks nothing like the huge car ferry so I'm not sure what you do in that case....

Also, on the Pacific coastal beaches I saw this sign:
Wow! Beach logs kill! I had no idea there were vicious beach logs there. I used extra caution and stayed away from the logs and thankfully no beach logs sneaked up on me from behind. Click on the photo for a close up of the crazy-scary drawing on this sign. Love it!! Looks like 50s drive-in movie poster Killer Beach Logs!!!!! When Beach Logs Attack!!!!

Quoth the Raven

What I'm reading: I am finishing up a fascinating book called The Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich.

I am a nature-lovin' girl at heart and I have been fascinated by studies of animal behavior since I was a kid reading Born Free and Never Cry Wolf and every other possible living-out-in-the-wilderness-studying-animals book I could find. Ravens and crows have always fascinated me and I happened to come across this book at Borders and picked it up to read on my trip. If you are interested in these kind of science/nature books, run out and get a copy of The Mind of the Raven. Bernd Heinrich is a great scientist and a wonderful writer and I found myself getting as excited about his behavioral experiments and observations with ravens as he was. Ravens are really amazing birds--very intelligent, playful, and great at solving complex puzzles. For general info about ravens or other birds, check out the really cool website by Cornell University here.

During my recent trip to Washington State, I was able to see and photograph some ravens. This one was looking fluffy and sassy in a tree on Whidbey Island.

And this one was walking around and hanging out at the ferry from Victoria back to the U.S.

I'm thinking there's a raven quilt somewhere in my future. Maybe a looooong time in the future, but it's something to ponder and doodle.

Back in the ATL and Canada photos

Well I am back in Hot-lanta and trying to do the 50-11 things that you have to do when you get back from vacation (give the cats lots of attention, unpack, laundry, catch up on about a zillion emails, laundry, laundry, laundry, go through mail, oh yeah and do some laundry). It is nice to be home (although I do want to pick up my whole house and move to Seattle). I also am determined to organize and label all my digital photos from my trip before I forget where they were taken.

Big news: GOMEZ IS HOME!!! Picked up Gomez from the vet this morning. His new name is Gomez Mega-bux because of how expensive his vet bills were, but he is home and everyone is happy and healthy again (knock on wood!)

I promise I will get back to quilty posts soon as soon as I get settled from vacation. In the meantime here are more photos from my trip.

Arrived early in the AM in Victoria, British Columbia, and drove to Butchart Gardens. Wow! Everything that my quilt buddies Sue and Carla told me about the gardens is true--unbelievable! I took A LOT of photos for later quilt inspiration.

The Sunken Garden and here

Love the colors in this view with the purple and orange.

After the gardens, drove back to Victoria. Victoria is a beautiful city and perfect for pedestrians. Lots of fabulous shops, restaurants, harbor view, civic buildings, museums, and on and on. Walked everywhere all over town numerous times. This is the Parliament Building

This is the Empress Hotel. When planning for this trip last year, I was incredibly lucky and found an insanely great deal on rooms at the Empress since they are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the hotel--for one day only, you could get a basic room for $100 a night (they called it the "deal of the century"--no kidding). So yes, this is where I stayed for 3 nights in Victoria. It is a fabulous hotel and I hope to live for another 100 years so I can stay there again!

And while walking to Chinatown in Victoria I found this My own little piece of Quilter's Heaven--a Starbucks right next to a quilt shop!!!!!!! Satin Moon Quilt Shop was one of the 10 Best Quilt Shops in "Quilt Sampler" a while back and is a great shop! I didn't buy anything though because the US dollar is worth less than the Canadian dollar and the fabric was in meters and it was all too much math!!! It was also late in the day and I hadn't gone next door for a quad grande nonfat latte yet. Check out their website at the link above 'cause there are some great recipes as well as patterns by local designers.

Finally, check out my friend Becky's blog because she has a give-away for her B-day and check out my friend Pat's blog for info on a great upcoming retreat in FL where she will be teaching.

Lake Crescent and the NW corner of the U.S.

Hey everyone! Finally have time to post and catch up on my trip (yes I was out and about too much to post and much of the time away from WiFi). I am back in Seattle and have to go home soon :( I am going to miss the Pacific NW--I have had a great time and love it out here. Here's some more photos for my ATL friends (PS: Sue--I am glad you are reliving your trip!!!).

After Lake Quinault, drove back north to the Hoh Rainforest for hiking in the forest (click on the link for info on temperate rainforests). Had lunch in the town of Forks on the way (famous for being the site of some of my favorite books: the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. Did not see anyone resembling vampires but perhaps a possible werewolf or two and the very retro diner in town)

After lots of hiking in the forest, decided that while I was here, might as well drive to Cape Flattery, which is the uppermost northwest corner of the continental U.S. Lots of driving but it was worth it for the view!!!! It was a beautiful day for being at the end of the country. Wow! More driving back south to Lake Crescent Lodge in the national park. Had a great dinner overlooking the lake

and spent the night at the lodge. Up early, early, early, to catch the ferry to Victoria, British Columbia. Stay tuned for views of Canada tomorrow :)

Quinault

Am staying at the Lake Quinault Lodge for a couple of days. The lodge was built in 1926 and Franklin D. Roosevelt stayed here.

Look blue skies and warmer weather. First, an awesome breakfast of sweet potato pancakes and coffee and then a 5-mile hike in the Quinault area. Is is possible to have this many shades of green?

I wish I could express how amazing it is out here. Everything is so green and the air is so crisp and clear and I have no allergies--I can breathe for a change --hooray! Trees that are so tall and are hundreds of years old, make you feel very small.

For all my friends in the ATL who are sweltering, here are some cooling photos for you

So this is the forest, minus the banana slugs (I saw two! They are huge!!!!) and the skunk cabbage (yes it smells like a skunk).

This is the view from my blogging spot. I don't think I want to leave!!!!

To the Pacific

Left Whidbey Island to catch the ferry boat to Port Townsend. Ferry boats = lots of waiting so worked on some stitchery while waiting & ferrying. Port Townsend is an absolutely fabulous historic town filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants.

This is the most amazing building!

Most stuff was closed so grabbed coffee, hit a couple of antique shops and headed to Port Angeles. Port Angeles was not so charming but had a quilt shop called The Quilted Strait. Loved the quilt shop! Bought some fat quarters and a pattern and saw some beautiful quilts on loan from a local designer. Back in car and headed west to the Pacific Ocean.

The weather stayed like this all day and it was chilly. And I loved it! It is just so beautiful out here.

Actually it reminded me of when my dad used to take us to Sault Ste. Marie (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) in May (to beat all the tourists) and everything would be closed and it would be freezing and we would sit and watch boats go through the Soo Locks. (Mom, the temperature was exactly like that).

No swimming or even toe dipping in this water. The black sand and smooth rocks on the beach were incredible.

North by Northwest

Hello from chilly Washington State! Everyone I've talked to has said this is the worst spring/worst weather they have had in a long time. I don't mind it though because I am out of hot, humid Atlanta!! After having coffee and the best doughnuts in the world, traveled north from Seattle to Whidbey Island.
Look at all the shades of gray in the landscape. The mountains in the background are the Cascade Mountains, which got snow the past couple of days (good thing I'm not headed that way as I didn't bring snow gear!!)

I love lighthouses so went to see this lighthouse at Fort Casey State Park

Also saw native Pacific Northwest wildlife:

All together now: awwwwwwwww

lots and lots of birds on the island. I have no idea what kind of bird this is but it has great colors

All is not just fun and bunnies though, I have been getting daily updates from my vet about Gomez. Gomez was really doing badly yesterday and the vet was really worried about him which made me worry about Gomez even more. But today the vet called and said he thought Gomez has turned the corner and is on 3 different medicines and no catheter and seems to be doing better. I am so relieved. It was so hard to leave to go on this trip with Gomez sick and the price of gas and the instability of everything. But I had planned this for a long time and had all the tickets/reservations/money saved, etc. so here I am having fun, getting rest, enjoying the rain, and drinking lots of coffee in spite of everything. More from the next WiFi place.

Wet Paws and Flopping Ears....

Was the local pet weather report in SEATTLE! Yes along with all the Gomez medical drama, I was busy getting ready for my vacation. I was prepared for rain (courtesy of my new fancy-dancy rain coat from REI), but the wind--apparently it was windier here than it has been in decades (hence the flopping ears). It was windy!!! And cold--in the low 50s. But I am lovin' Seattle and walked all over town.

First stop: The Mother Urn--Starbucks at Pike Place Market. The store is much smaller than I thought it would be. I lost track not only of how many Starbucks I passed but also how many cups of coffee I drank.


Pike Place Market was the best. Look at those veggies!!! I think all I would need is a fork and a saute pan and I would be set to live here at the market. I wanted to buy..oh one of everything but settled for a pint of raspberries to have as a mid-day snack.
Yes, I saw the famous fish-throwing vendors. Actually the person I saw dropped the Dungeness crab he was thrown.

Did I mention that I love Seattle???? Even with the weather. I walked all over town and took a zillion photos. Seattle has really great historic buildings and is wonderful walkable city.

Another place I could live in easily, Elliott Bay Book Co. They have over 150,000 titles here and the store is a fabulous historic building with wood floors and shelves and shelves of great books. With the baggage restrictions, I couldn't get that many books so settled for one on Seattle architecture.

More soon....