Merry Christmas

May you and yours be poor in misfortune this Christmas
and rich in blessings
slow to make enemies
quick to make friends
and rich or poor, slow or quick,
as happy as the New Year is long.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all!

Beauty break for the day

Here is my attempt at adding a wonderful video - Astonishing Landscapes Vol 2.

The "Astonishing Landscapes Vol 2"  time-lapse video is the second installment by Dustin Farrell and Crew West in what Farrell says on his vimeo page will "probably" be three.The video shows off Arizona's and Utah's iconic landscapes and even has a shot of the Flagstaff Observatory in action. Follow Dustin on Twitter @dustin_farrell and bug him for a third video.

Take a beauty break and watch this and relax!
Click on the link below the picture.

Enjoy.

Astonishing Landscapes Vol 2

Finished H&H for Sendai CQ square

Ok I finally finished the square embellishment for the Sendai block for Leslie. Here's the photo for the finalized piece.

Final

Seam detail

Lace Seam detail

Seeding detail

FInished Name tag

Finally finished my Crazy Quit Name tag.
Here's the picture:

More work done on H&H for Sendai block

Okay I've been busy on the block and it's almost done.
Here's another picture of the work so far..
Enjoy.

Latest stitching on Crazy Quilt Square for Hearts and Hands for Sendai quilts

Here's some pictures of my latest embroidery on a square sent to me by Leslie in Colorado. It's a crazy quilt square made for the Hearts and Hands for Sendai Crazy Quilts being made by the Crazy Quilt International online group (http://tinyurl.com/45omqde).

 I promised Leslie I'd post some pictures for her. The square is not fully done. Have gotten a good start. Added the crane as for a wish of recovery for the region. I think it is turning out well so far. Am still contemplating what else to do.

Enjoy.

Full block as it is today - still needs lots of work.

Lace and embroidery - seam not finished yet

More lace - amd still going to add something to this.

Lace flowers enhanced - this one is finished.

Crane partially outlined and flower below.

Detail of three seams

Wildlife in my front yard

It's that time of year to think and see the wildlife in my yard. Over the years I've managed to get a few pictures.

One Morning I was really surprised by a group of coyote pups gamboling all around my front yard. (This is what happens when I forget to cut the grass.)  Their guardian (mother?) was lying just under the hedge watching the group. For some reason she thought my front yard was a good playpen. And play they did!

Mom said this is a good place!

What's here?

What is that?

Okay I've got something to tear apart! Mine! All mine!

There's got to be something to pounce here somewhere!

Hmmm. What's this?

Ah! Now I'm going to get him!

You ready to give up?

What is that person doing?

Who are you?

Sleeping Coyote mama

Ah, ha! Gotch'ya again!

Then of course there are the "long legged rodents (i.e. deer)  that love to much on roses! We have a small herd of these beasties in our small acreage. Caught photos of one young buck a short while back just leisurely munching grass in my front yard. Was able to get some good photo's out my dining room window. This fellow had no fear.

Illusion of Control

Below is a song I heard while at the restaurant tonight. This song always hits me hard. The feeling of wanting to run away; to get away from the pain - this song always reminds me of this. The singer jokes a little about this song but there is an inherent pain there that the jokes don't hide. I wonder who she was?

Enjoy.

David Wilcox - Eye of the Hurricane

Lighthouses

Was reviewing some of my pictures a came across some I took of lighthouses. Mom had decided she wanted to take pictures of Washington and Oregon lighthouses. It sounded like a cool road-trip so I joined her.

Truly, how could one go wrong taking pictures of these beacons of maritime hope. They stand tall and point the way home for those who may be lost at see. Too many of them are becoming automatic or being decommissioned. It is a shame things are trending this way. Somehow, relying on automated machines seems the height of folly. Technology is fine when it works but it takes so little to wipe it out and then what are you left with. Look at what happened in Japan earlier this year . It wasn't the huge earthquake but the tsunami that crippled the area. Sometimes old ways of doing things by hand are a good thing.

Here are a few of the lighthouse and coastal pictures from that trip. Enjoy.

Walkway up to Grays Harbor (Westport) Lighthouse, WA

Grays Harbor (Westport) Lighthouse, Grays Harbor (Westport) Lighthouse, WA. Standing 107 feet tall, it is the tallest lighthouse in Washington, and the third tallest on the West Coast. It was lighted for the first time June 30, 1898. http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=117

Spiral staircase inside Grays Harbor, WA,  Westport Lighthouse

Wave off Ocean Shores,WA

North Head Lighthouse Washington -Constructed 1896. North Head is one of the windiest places in the United States. On January 29, 1921, winds were clocked at 126 mph before the instrument blew away. They have frequently been measured at over 100 mph. The light was automated in 1961.
http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=116 

North Head Lighthouse Washington

North Head Lighthouse Washington

North Head Lighthouse Washington

Wildflowers and rocky shore below North Head Lighthouse WA

Rocky shore below North Head Lighthouse WA

Cape Meares Lighthouse Oregon from walkway. Cape Meares lighthouse sits at the north end of the beautiful 20-mile Three Capes Scenic Loop along the Oregon coast. Construction of the lighthouse began in 1888. The light was lit for the first time on January 1, 1890. Though the squatty lighthouse was only 38 feet tall, located on a 217-foot cliff, it could be seen for 21 miles. The lightstation consisted of the tower and two oil houses. In 1895 a workroom abutting the tower was added.
http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=134

Cape Meares Lighthouse Oregon with it's big red lens

Red lens in Cape Meares Lighthouse Oregon. This is still a working lighthouse with a wonderful view.

Wild flower off of walkway to Cape Meares Lighthouse Oregon. I still have no idea what this flower is.

Close-up of unknown wild flower off of walkway to Cape Meares Lighthouse Oregon

Three Arches Stacks at sunset  just South Cape Meares Lighthouse