WALK IN THE REDWOODS

We perused the list of walks in the Redwoods National Park, decided on one that started at the Big Tree Wayside.  Once we found it (that took a u-turn) we stopped for a photo at the Big Tree.

There were lots of trails, we decided on one we thought was a loop trail, the Cathedral Trees trail, but turned out not to be.  It was a beautiful walk, plenty to see.  There were twists and turns, ups and downs, and lots of stepping over roots and rocks.  We saw not only Redwood trees, but lots of ferns and clover ( I was amazed at all of the clover ). 

Yes, that is Darrell standing at the base of that tree.

Plus we encountered a few Banana Slugs and Snails, too.

 

It was a lot of fun - until we got lost.  There was very little signage and we had no map and no internet service.  We encountered a runner and told him we were lost.  He had a map and gave us some directions.  We headed out that way and got lost again.  I got very frustrated and tired, and thirsty.  We eventually encountered the same runner again.  He gave us directions again, we even took a picture of his map.  And we got lost again.  We ended up back in the same spot where we first met the runner, which was near the road.  So, Darrell walked back to the pickup on the road (scarey, because there were no shoulders) and I walked to the Prairie Creek Visitors Center in hopes of water.  

I got a little worried that it took him so long to get back to me.  I began to think he'd been run over on the road.  But, he finally showed up, safe and sound (he had stopped to take pictures ! ).  We made our complaints to the staff there and they agreed the signage was horrible and they've been trying to get it fixed.  They gave us a complaint form.

I got my passport stamped, bought some stickers and then we were off, headed south again.

We love this park though.

SAYING GOOD MORNING TO BABE AND PAUL

 We left our horrible motel in Crescent City heading to the Redwoods National Park.  But, first, we had to make the obligatory stop to take a selfie with Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe.

Good morning!

CRESCENT CITY LIGHT HOUSE

 After dinner we drove over to see the Lighthouse.  I got out my sketchbook and made a quick sketch.  The wind was too cold, so I painted it later, back at the horrible motel.

It's an interesting place.  The lighthouse is out on a little rock, not far from the shore. But, sometimes the tide is in and the road/path out to it is covered in water, as it was when we were there.

DAY 5 SKETCH

 Here we are on vacation, spending the night in a horrible motel in Crescent City.  And today's 7DaySketchbookChallenge's prompt is "Something Brown".

Hmmmm, the only thing I see in this horrible motel room that's brown is my brassiere.  So I tossed it on the bed, sat down and sketched it.  

ON VACATION

 Darrell and I left early this morning, heading south.  The ultimate goal is Pasadena California.  But, there will be lots to see and do on the way there and back.  Our original plan was to stop at Fort Vancouver on the way down, but since we left so early we decided to pass it by this time, get it on the way back, and head straight to the Oregon Caves, about 460 miles, 7+ hours of driving.

We arrived about 3pm in Cave Junction, stopping at the Visitors Center there in town, then headed up the windy road to the park.  When we go there we walked up to the Visitor Center and got another stamp in my NPS  Passport.  Neither of us was not interested in going into the cave (I'm a bit claustrophobic) so we walked around a bit.  I sat down to sketch the lodge, but discovered I'd left my sketchbook in the pickup.  So, I took a photo and made some notes and sketched the Visitors Center later.

This is the 1924 Chateau, which is closed for now, awaiting funds for much needed repairs and upgrades.  It sits atop the large stream coming down off the mountain side.

The opening for the guided cave walk.m

They let us walk a short way into the cave.  The temperature dropped significantly to about 40 degrees.  Brrr.  

We walked up the hillside on a very nice trail.  Since it was late in the day we didn't go very far and we had a ways to go yet.

So off we went, hoping to make it to Crescent City for the night.  It was another 69 miles, a bit over an hour and a half.  Since it was the beginning of Memorial Weekend the hotel prices were sky-high with most places being pretty well booked up.  We ended up in a horrible hotel called Front Street Motel, right on the main drag.  I now wish we had paid the extra $100 to stay in a nicer place.  This place was scary icky and smelly.  Yuck.

We did manage to find a good Thai restaurant for dinner though, The Kin Khao Thai Eatery.  Good food, very busy, too.

DAY 4 SKETCH

 Here is today's 7DaySketchbookChallenge.  Today's prompt was Fruits or Vegetables.

I have not much of either in the house because we are leaving on vacation tomorrow.

So, I found these ceramic veggies I had, dusted them off and sketched them.

DAY 3 SKETCH

 Today's 7DaySketchbookChallenge prompt is Vase or Pitcher.

Here's my take:

Yes, I know.  I made it taller to fit onto the page better.  It's the only 'pitcher'-like thing in my home that I could reach without a ladder.

ANOTHER SKETCHING CHALLENGE

 I'm doing the latest 7 Day Sketchbook Challenge from Susan Yeates.  Day 2's prompt was "Something Round".

I sat out on the deck (so nice) and sketched after a morning spent in the garden.

30 MINUTES ON MONDAY

On today's Brave Patch Monday Sewcial I made this during our 30 Minutes of Play.

 

BIRTHDAY FLOWERS

 Darrell got me a nice bouquet of flowers for my birthday yesterday.  I found a canvas, dusted it off and rounded up my acrylics and brushes.  And painted.

FINISHED ON FRIDAY!

 I made the binding, in the morning, from the cutoffs from the backing on Nebula.  I sewed the binding on to it while attending this week's Finish It Friday.  And I finished it - it's finished.  It is Finish #7 for the year.  Done!

NEBULA OFF THE Q24

 Finally finished the quilting on the Nebula quilt.  It was touch and go there for a while.

SKETCHING MINIs

Darrell wanted to go to Southcenter Mall to exchange some pants he bought.  I brought my sketchbook.  While he was dealing with the checkout line, I stepped out into the mall and was surprised to see this concession that was renting 'mini' vehicles to kids.  

This dad was walking behind his kid, in the pink jeep, with the remote that controlled it. 

Who knew...

 

MONDAY MADNESS

We had a good time today on the Monday Sewcial.  First it was 30 Minutes of Play.  The prompts were a personal color, mine was Sultry Maple (?), shape=curve, inspiration=something from the kitchen.

Here's what I made:

Then I made this week's Art East Quilting's Mini Charm block:  #20 The Lightning.

 

ALL THE BLOCKS

 I worked on the Crushing It's parts and pieces this morning.  After I counted, I realized I was still three blocks short.  I needed both black and 'red' 5" squares cut and sewn together and trimmed.

Once I got all of the parts ready, I started sewing on the last of the black 'orange peels' to complete the circles.

I counted again.  And, hurrah, I now have 35 'blocks' and the 'white' backgrounds all done.

Ready to assemble the top.

TEAL WEDGE

 I inserted curvy bits into the teal wedge and joined it with the big parts of my Greensleeves project.  Looking great.  Now what?

I HAVE PASTELS

 We were talking about pastels the other day.  It made me curious about how much I had.  I found this box that I used regularly (oh my, it is heavy - built very sturdy).  

I also have boxes (BOXES!) of brand new pastels that I have never opened.  And lots of pastel stix and pencils.

LUNCH ON THE SIDEWALK

 It was a beautiful day.  We went to lunch at Portage Bay Cafe in West Seattle.  We sat outside at a sidewalk table.  Good food, good time.

NUMBER NINETEEN

 I made Art East Quilting's mini-block, number nineteen, today.  

The Storm Cloud.

HERE'S AN IDEA

I decided to practice making curves.  And I'm going to do it using a little Charm Pack I've had around for a while.  It's a collection of rainbow colors in 2-1/2" squares.

I'm going to take one square at a time and make a block around it using fabrics from my scrap buckets that match, color-wise, the little square.

About half way through this first one I thought it would be cool to then cut it into a circle and then piece it into a square.  Another thing I could practice.

So, here is the first one.

 

MONTH FOUR BOM

Seattle Modern Quilt Guild released month four of this year's Block of the Month.

#SeaMQGBOM2023

I made four of these:

REARRANGING

 I spent a few minutes rearranging and editing the parts on Greensleeves.  It's on the design wall.  This weekend I'm taking another workshop and think I'll be making parts to add to it.

MONDAY AGAIN

It's Monday - that means it's time for Brave Patch Monday Sewcial.  And first, it's 30 Minutes of Play.  Sherri Lynn and June joined us today, along with a lot of new folks.  Here's mine - continuing with the same fabrics, pretty much.

After our 30 Minutes of Play at the beginning, I got caught up on the Art East Quilting little blocks.  A new block pattern is released every Monday.  I had two to do today.

#17 The Balloon

#18 Churn Dash