Hawaii Cruise (part 3)

Our stateroom!. My bed is on the right, can you tell??

Sunset at sea

Every night we were treated to towel animals, chocolates on our pillow, and a copy of the next days schedule. 

This is Anna with me. Anna is one of the wait staff, and was on Dad and my South Pacific cruise a year ago. We got to know each other very well.  She actually met Dad on our first day out and recognized him.  There was a security office also on this trip, that we met on the South Pacific cruise.  I find it amazing that Anna remembered us.  It was fun to catch up, about each others family.  When you are on a ship for even a week you forge friendships. You never know where or when you may meet again.

Christmas is coming!!  Even on the ship, Christmas decorations were  showing up everywhere.  Not everyday you have a picture of yourself in summer clothes in front of a Christmas tree.

Ensenada, Riviera del Pacifico, Mexico.  We had a 3 hour stop in Ensenada, before returning to San Diego.  We did take a little trip to the Riviera Del Pacifico.  It was built by american and mexican investors and opened in 1930 as a glamorous resort and casino.  It now serves as an active social, civic and cultural center.   We were treated to a Mariachi show and Ballet Folklorico.  It was a festive fun stop.

Flying over the mountains on the way back to Chicago.
We met a lot of fun and interesting people and made a few new friends.

Happy Day

Mary

Hawaii Cruise (part 2)

This is Akaka Falls on Hilo. This falls is the longest unbroken waterfall in the state.  It was beautiful,

Of course you have to visit Mauna Loa, the home of Macadamia Nut products.  These are the easiest to purchase on the mainland.  The ship had the best white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies.  They were my sinful treat in the afternoon!

A view of Nani Mau Gardens in Hilo.  They were as beautiful this time, as when we saw them a year ago on Dad's and my South Pacific cruise.

Bird of Paradise

Hibiscus

Diamond Head from the top of the hill at the Punchbowl.

Under the Banyan Tree in Lahaina

Looking down Front Street in Lahaina

A view of Lahaina from the ship.

Sorry this is a lot later then I planned.  I came home with a cold, and it has put me under.  Spent some quality time in bed!  Not exactly what I had planned with the holidays coming.

One of the things Linda and I did while at sea was take digital workshops.  I finally got to use the photo editing, and what fun.  I learned a lot of things from the workshops last year while on the South Pacific trip.  When I got home, I had decided I would like a lap top to play with.  I took it with us, and was able to load the digital pictures, that we had taken with Lin's, Dad's and my cameras.  It is fun to be able to see the pictures "now" and edit them.  Only one problem, I loaded the cards on to my lap top, but continued to take other pictures, they are loaded on the home computer! If I could integrate them, I would.  So still have a few more photos to share.  I only took 542 on this trip.

Thank you for stopping by.
Have a great day, and happy quilting.

Mary

Hawaiian Cruise (part 1)

At Midway Airport waiting for our plane.  We are meeting my sister Linda. She was connecting with us from Manchester, Maine.  It was fun having her on the plane too.

We flew to San Diego, on Saturday, November 12 to board the Oosterdam and begin a two week cruise.  We were too arrive in Hilo on Thursday.  The days at sea are filled with activities.  A daily schedule is given, which you can check the activities you want to participate in. Then there are the meals!! The first couple of days, the seas were rolling.  A lot of passengers did not appear until Tuesday for meals.  It did not stop us.  The three of us had our sea legs right away.

This is Linda and Dad under the Banyan Tree in Lahaina.  Looks like I have loaded the pictures backwards again!  You can get the idea.  It is hard to choose which ones to show, when you take about 100 a day on each island!  The Banyan Tree used to be considered the largest one in the world. It has grown over a city block.  It sends roots down from the branches that eventually extend to the ground, and takes hold.  It is pretty impressive.

This is our ship the M S Oosterdam.  We are anchored off the dock in Lahaina.  We had to be tendered in.  This is the largest of the Holland American ships I have been on.

Would you believe I met up with two of the crew that had been on the Rotterdam, when I sailed to the South Pacific last fall.  It was fun to see them.  The amazing thing was they remembered my Dad and I.  Not sure if that is a good thing or not!  I am hopping it is good.

This is a view toward a blowhole on Kauai.  We took a tour to see the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.  One of the stops was at this gorgeous place.

Who knew there was a canyon 3400 feet above sea level. 

 What a view.  It was beautiful.  There was 2 levels of lookouts.

Here in Honolulu, is the Punchbowl, the National Cemetery of the Pacific.  It is a beautiful setting.  Our father is a WWII veteran.  When our mother passed away 6 years ago, Dad wanted her ashes placed here.  That is what we did.  There are formalities that must be adhered to.  Her  internment was the second scheduled of seven that day.  The flag at the front entrance flies at half staff while any funeral or internment is happening.  Once they are done, the flag will then be flown at full staff.  It was a beautiful day.  The gentleman that took care of the formalities for us was so kind and caring.  We were able to decide the inscription that will be on the front of the niche where we placed her ashes. 

At the enterence to the Punchbowl.

After the ceremony at the Punchbowl we went to "Uncles" to celebrate Mom's life.  We had a wonderful lunch of fresh seafood.  We were on pier 38, right where the fish is brought in.  You cannot get it any fresher.

What trip to the island is not complete without a stop to Hilo Hatties.  This shirt is in the Guiness Book of World Records. The largest ever made.  This is Dad and I.  Oh, everywhere was decorating for Christmas.

Hawaii 5 0!  Book him Dano!!  We were right in front of where King Kamehameha's statue. It was so neat to see a real scene from the TV show.

Across the street from the statue is the "Iolani Palace"  This one side of it.  The front was being set up for a function that was going to happen on the day after we were gone.

In the Palace is one of the most remarkable quilts.   Queen Lili'uokalani was forced to step down during her reign. She was imprisoned for 8 months in a upstairs bedroom of the palace.  While there she was imprisoned she began a crazy quilt that records pieces of her history.  No pictures were allowed in the palace.  I did purchase a small book that describes this beautiful quilt.

I will write another post and show more pictures from the islands.  The only low part of this trip is only getting to spend 4 days in the island, and 10 days at sea.  There is so much more to see in the island.  I can do a blog with just scenery pictures, one with only flowers of the islands, and one with Dad, Linda and I.  I am sure no one wants to see over 400 pictures.

So on another day I will show a few more.
Thank you for stopping by!!
Mary

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day. At 2:30 this afternoon there was a celebration of all the Veterans that live at Alden Gardens in Aurora, where Dad lives.  Mary Ann, their activity makes the day very  special for all the Veterans.
We do not take enough time to say "Thank you".
This is my Dad and I.  He is 90 years old.

Here is Dad and my husband Ron ready for the celebration.

I really have not been just sitting and doing nothing.  Here are two "tiny" quilts that I have made. As you can see , they are not very large. That is only a 12 inch ruler between them.
I have been working on Christmas ornaments,, cars, and gifts.  It is that time of the year.
Secrets!!!

These are a couple of the Thanksgiving cards.  I am working on several different Christmas cars.

Tomorrow morning, Dad, my sister and I are off on another trip.  Linda is flying from Maine to Midway airport, where Dad and I join her and continue the flight on to San Diego.  We board the Oosterdam and sail to the Hawaiian Islands.  We will spend 4 days between 4 islands, and sail back to San Diego.  The round trip will be for 2 weeks.   I am gathering handwork to keep busy with. 

Happy Thanksgiving.
I'll write when I get back.

4 Patch Challenge

Good Morning!  Last evening at Prairie Stitch's we had our last Scrap Club meeting.  Sandy our instructor had posed the challenge to make 4 patches, exchange them with other members of our club and make a quilt using the blocks. The quilts needed to be complete, as they were going to be judged.   What a wonderful variety of quilts were shown. 

First up was Susie's entry.

Glenda's entry was having artist growing pains.  She decided to add applique to the lower corner that morning.



Pat made this adorable minature.  She used the concept of the Disappearing 9 patch for her entry.  The back side of the quilt was also made up  of the same tiny blocks.
Pat was one of the winner's.

 

Donna made this cute Welcome banner.



Jo used her 4 patchs to surround this great paper pieced block.

Jinnie made wonderful stars.  She was a winner, also.

Jan M. put her blocks on point and used this wonderful cheddar fabric to surround them.

Mary R. used her 4 patches. plus a few more to make this wonderful quilt.

Jan H put hers together like an Irish Chain. She did fancy quilting in her solid colored blocks.

Sandy, our leader made this wonderful quilt. 


All of these quilts are winners in my book.  Some of the ladies made a lot of 4 patches to exchange, and others not so many. You received back the same number your brought in to exchange.  Several chose to add even more to their end creations.  Instead of one winner, two were chosen. Beth and Kathy, employees at the quilt shop were the judges. 
It makes me want to work on a 4 patch quilt. Several other projects and trips had been on my agenda instead.

I have been busy working on projects for Christmas, which I will share in a couple of days.

Have a great week.