My Great Alaskan Adventure

I don't know if I can get my whole story in one post or not.  There is so much I want to share and at the same time I don't want to go overboard, no pun intended. 

This is my first look at the ship I was going to live on for 9 days.

I had never been on a cruise before; had my doubts about being on a ship for that long of a time. I'm claustrophobic, I just envisioned small, narrow places and not being able to breathe.  I'm so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and walked that gang plank onto the ship (I'll stop the puns soon).

As you step onto the ship you are told to do this, do that and you just do, so it is surprising to me that the picture they take of you at the first stop can turn out half decent.

I had a room with a balcony, that was a must, it was on the 10th deck, had to take an elevator.   When I stepped into the hallway I did a little panic dance and told my cabin mate to walk fast very fast down the long hallway.  Once I got into the room and saw how big the sliding door to the balcony was, I was okay.  I overcame a lot of moments like this and am quite  proud of myself.  The anticipation and excitement of doing something SO unfamiliar was helping to override my nerves.

That is my cabin mate in the one picture.  She is 'one' of my adopted daughters; the daughter of one of my best friends.  She has been on many cruises and trips to Europe so she was a big help in teaching me the ways of the seas. She is the one that talked me into going on this tour.  There were 119 in this tour group.

That Sunday afternoon and for most of Monday we were out to sea.  I spent this time exploring my home for the week, with friends. 

We were at the back of the ship watching as we were leaving Seattle, WA.  I started really loving the trip at that moment.  It just felt good.  Free, open, wind, time to enjoy.  I got my first example of the food Sunday evening; I knew then, I was in trouble.  I had heard about the food thing from people; but to experience it was something else.  I became kid in a candy store.  The food was excellent!

Oh yes!  They had cupcakes, it's good sign.

The first night we passed another ship and I just thought it was so cool to be passing ships in the night.....

I started my Monday morning with having my coffee brought to my room; room service, it's a good thing.  Did that for the rest of the trip, and added breakfast a few times to it.  And did it at night time a few times.  There is just something about a cup of hot coffee, on the balcony, on the ocean/sea looking at the 'TV of nature.'  

 got up really early, so really needed that coffee fix quick.

Yep, did this a lot.

Monday night was the first formal dinner.  We gathered in the Atrium lobby.  The decorations were so beautiful.  It almost felt like being in a palace.  The first picture is actually 'part' of the ceiling.  Hope you can tell it has lots of mirrors.

This picture shows the glass elevator on the left side.  I thought this was the most beautiful place inside the ship.  It went up 3 stories, and was the gathering place for concerts throughout the day and night.

We dressed up!  I wish I had known I was wearing my wrap as a cape, I'm sure I didn't do that the whole evening.  I blame it on the fact that I did not have my 'sea legs' yet.  But, my good friend Rita, looks her lovely self.  The cruise was made better by having good friends to share it with. 

This is some of the lovely ladies I traveled with.  We had most of our dinners together and some of the tours.  We have Rita with her daughter and mother, Dawn my sweet cabin mate and Shirley one of my lovely friends.

The end of Monday. By this time we had gotten far enough north for the nights to start looking more like day than night.

Since Tuesday has tons of pictures(does that scare you?)  I think this is all for right now.  

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog and look at the pictures, I hope you found it fun.

Not Much of Anything

I don't have much to show for what I've been doing with my time.  I have made more of the coasters that I posted about some time back. Made more of the wrapped bowls.  And been trying to get the backyard looking less like Winter since we 'finally' got Summer!  I've had visitors for the weekend.  And, I've done a lot of playing!  I am getting ready to go on my first cruise ever!  North! To Alaska!  I am excited.  I will be going on 4 excursions, to see the glaciers up close, animals up close and a train ride up high.  Riding a catamaran through the Fjords hoping to see lots of eagles and whales.  I WILL be having room service each morning, early, since that's the way I roll, and then sitting on my balcony drinking it and enjoying the view.  I hear it may rain, it may be foggy, whatever,  even if I have to pull blankets off of my bed to wrap up in, I WILL have coffee on my balcony at least one time.  Paid extra for it, will use it.

I did finally made the Gum Drop Ottoman by Amy Butler. My talented daughter 

gave me the pattern a loooong time ago.  I used material from Joann's Fabric's. I did make mistakes, that's why I used material that was not too expensive.  But, I'm going to make one using a bit nicer material.  I won't make the same mistakes but I'm not expecting perfection out of me, yet.  I love this ottoman and IF I put in the right amount of filler it will hold up my feet better!  Go figure.  It was fun to make and I love the style.  The picture isn't great, but just deal with it.  Sorry, did that sound snippy?  

My nephew saw the recipes of my mom that I had framed for my daughters, my sister and myself.  He sorta, kinda, hinted that he really liked it and would really like to have one too.  So, this is what I did for him.  He doesn't have it yet, but I'll get it to him.  The recipes are in my mom's handwriting; one is on scrap paper with some scribbling on it, it suspiciously looks like something his mom, my sister would have done.  Just saying!    I made a copy of one of the pages out of my mom's beat up cookbook, I just love that old book.  It is so old fashion and looks fun in the background, the other little pictures are from the cookbook too.  There is also a recipe from a newspaper which is dated back in the 70's.  I hope he likes it.

Have to put in at least one plant picture.  Last year this cactus had one or two blooms on it, this year four!  They don't last but a couple of days but the color is SO spectacular, they almost glow.


Anyway, that all folks!  The next blog should be all Alaska!