Living In A Fog (FLorence, OR)

We visited the Heceta Head Lighthouse (Ha-SEE-Ta) a couple of days ago.  The fog bank was sitting low and giving the area an eerie Gothic look with sunshine.  I went nuts with the camera.  I'll try not to overdue the photos.  I get the feeling this place sees more fog than sunshine.

From the parking lot and beach area, we got a great view of one of the original houses.  The house is now a B&B and the head lighthouse keeper's home.  

There were more black birds than seagulls all over the beach area adding to the atmosphere.

It's too bad a second house that probably housed the assistants was dismantled and the lumber sold.  I would liked to have seen the other one.  This one is a wonderful well-maintained Queen Anne-style home.  I just love this porch.  A great place of a cup of tea...and to have

such a gorgeous view!  So peaceful with just the sound of birds and the ocean crashing against the rocks below.  

You can see the lighthouse between the flag pole and the house.  The keepers have a short walk up a hill to the lighthouse.  Not too bad of a walk as long as you are not carrying a heavy load.

The lighthouse was started in 1892 and was first lit on May 30, 1894.  Restoration was done in 2011.  The lighthouse looks almost brand new.  The lighthouse is still active and its beam shines out to sea for 21 miles.  Making it one of the strongest lights on the Oregon coast.

On The Cutting Board

I finished and mailed my latest custom orders.  I hope my customer is happy with them.

I'm back to working on some unfinished projects for November.  I started the one below during the summer.  Now I'm not happy with the shadow coming through the face.  In the above photo of the Cupid/Angel, you can't see the print beneath her face.  Two layers of fabric really makes a difference.  From now on, I'll be doubling the peach fabric!  She is still cute despite the shadow.  I plan to finish her with some oak leaf quilting and a teal border.

This pattern is a smaller version of the one above for embroidery only.  Both are designed by Nancy Halvorsen.   I decided to add coloring to this one with crayons.  I have been following Mamacjt's blog.  She is the one that got me started on thinking outside the box or crayon box.  The regular Crayola crayons work quite well.

The instructions are easy enough.  After the pattern has been transferred to fabric, iron a sheet of waxed paper to the back to stabilize the fabric while coloring.  I did not do that this time because I had already started stitching when I decided it needed more color.   After the coloring is done, pull off the waxed paper.  Heat iron on cotton setting, cover project with muslin, and press until you smell melting wax.  Ta-da!

Next time, I will use some waxed paper.  I want to see if I can get a deeper darker coloring into the fabric.  First, I need to finish these two...so back to the projects...

Happy Quilting!

Sunshine On My Shoulders (Florence, OR)

We went downtown Florence on two different days.  We walked along the main street and the port.  We stopped often to read each building's sign that gave us a short description of their history.  One building actually slid into the Siuslaw river and was pulled back out by the owner.  The building is still standing and being used today.

We did not see any sea lions, but we did see some birds sitting out while soaking up the sun.  We noticed this Great Blue Heron has been in the same spot both times.  He is sitting on what looks like an old wharf near the town's park.

Go away.  I'm trying to sleep here.

He blends in rather well.  We almost missed him.  While taking its pictures, a motorboat went flying by and this was its reaction to it.

We need a "No Wake Zone!" sign.

In the meantime, the Cormorants were enjoying the sunshine and drying their wings.

That is the old Siuslaw River Bridge that was built by Conde McCullough in 1936.  I am always amazed by all his bridges with the beautiful art deco design and by the fact that they are still being used despite their age.  He built bridges to last more than a lifetime. Of course, the ODOT does a great job of maintaining these beautiful bridges.

oh yea, that feels soooo good

Titanic move over

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day for walking and enjoying the sights.

On The Cutting Board

I'm moving right along on my next custom order.  Of course, it helps that the pattern is already to go from Nancy Halvosen's book.  The snowman is pretty simple.

I straightened out his eyes and he looks pretty good that way.  Maybe I should make more with straight eyes instead of following Nancy's pattern.

The Cupid/Angel looks very stylish with her new hairdo and straightened eyes.  I also did a double layer of peach for the face so the rose bud fabric would not show through her face.  Seems to be working quite well.

I used a crayon to give her a little pink to her cheeks.  After coloring with the crayon, I put muslin over it and heated the area with the iron until I smelled wax.  I read it will fuse to the fabric and not wash out.

Well, time to pull out the sewing machine and get them done.

Happy Quilting!

Doing the Touristy Thing (Benson, AZ)

Benson, AZ

Cactus Wren ~ fluffing up to call his mate

We moved to Benson on Thursday.  It is nice to be back at the Escapees' Saguaro campground.  Our site is in the center this time and it is okay, but we preferred the front lots with the cattle field in front of us.  There were a lot of quail and other birds hanging out across the street.  Lots of entertainment.  Maybe when we finally lease a site, we can get one in the front row.

¯I'm calling youuuuuuu! 

We have had a full agenda with visiting several areas so now I am behind on posting our touristy visits.  Today, the cold front has hit Arizona with high winds and rain.  Not to mention, a lot colder and very dark outside.  Sounds like a good day to stay indoors and do some catching up.  So, here's our first touristy visit with nature photos:

Patagonia Lake State Park

Our first tourist stop was at the State Park that everyone has been telling us about.  It was a gorgeous day where flowers were a-bloomin', bees were a-buzzin', and cow were a-mooin'.  

Moooo?

 Wait! What?  Yes, there were cows in the state park.  It is a free range area, so it is not unusual to find cattle blocking your path.  Not to mention, watching where we walked.  None of this walking and searching trees for birds unless we wanted smelly shoes.

Itchy head?

 

 

We did not see too many birds.  We heard them, but could not locate them in the high trees.  Maybe if we spent a few days there we would find them.  We did see some different ducks and one lone Great Blue Heron sitting in a tree.

No one can see me....

On the Cutting Board

I finished all three mug rugs!  I will be posting one a day on Etsy for $9.50 each.

 I started working on my last two rabbits.  I hope to have them posted before the end of this week.

Happy Quilting!

How Do You Say Good-Bye in Bird? (Huachuca City, AZ)

Yesterday, we spent a good part of the day packing or trying to remember where everything went.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I bought more stuff!  It's like trying to fit size 13 feet into size 10 shoes!  That's what happens when I don't keep things where they belong.  Sigh!  Lesson learned.  I must stick to my #1 rule:  if I don't have room for it then I must not need it.  Anyhow, I managed to get everything packed away.  It just took a little longer and a lot of juggling of stuff.

We spent some time talking to our friends/co-workers one last time and we took our last walk around the Preserve.  I will miss all our new friends along with all our new bird friends that we came to know so well, but we will be back.

The Vermilion was cooperative by landing on a lower limb so I could get a better photo.

Even the Rufous-backed Robin came out to peek at us.  I haven't seen him in a couple of weeks.

You are not gone yet?

Today, we said good-bye to Patagonia.  As you can see, a very unique town.

I'm not going to miss the Gila Woodpeckers hogging all of the hummingbird's food.  I was a little worried they would break the feeder.  They are too big for the feeder.

Hitch watching a Gila Woodpecker

We did not go far to our next destination.  We are about a half-hour down the road at Quail's Ridge RV Park in Huachuca City.  We have driven by this campground on our way to Sierra Vista and it is nice.

The cats are not happy because it is back to harnesses and leashes again.  Can cats mope?  Because I swear that's what three of them were doing after they came in from their walk.  We are only staying here for a few days so we can visit some areas nearby then it is on to Benson for a week.

On the Cutting Board

Before packing up my sewing machine, I sewed together three mug rugs.  Now I have lots of hand sewing to do!

Happy Quilting!

Our Last Week at Patagonia

On The Cutting Board
I thought I would have a lot of free time to get caught up on my quilting projects.  Well, I was half right.  We are staying fairly busy, but not to the point that I am too tired to work a little on my projects.

I ironed together two rabbits and three Uncle Sams

And....I sewed all the feet and wings for all eight mug rugs.

Great Horned Owl
I can't believe how lucky I was to see this Great Horned Owl!  Visitors kept telling us about sighting them, but I wasn't finding a single one.  Every once in awhile, I would hear one hoot with no luck in locating the owl and now I can see why...

I was walking with a visitor and showing her some of my favorite spots for bird watching when a huge bird flew across the creek and landed in a tree.  Using my trusty 500mm lens, I was able to identify the big bird as a Great Horned Owl.  I explained to the visitor where I was looking.  Just as she spotted the owl, he flew away.

I groaned because I didn't get a very good picture and said "oh no, he flew away!"  The visitor said she was still looking at the owl.  I thought she was saying she saw where he had landed.  It turned out we were looking at two different Great Horned Owls!  And this one....was a LOT closer!   What a day!  I got my photos!

On the Road Again!

We leave the Preserve on Monday, 12 March.  We have plans to visit Bisbee, AZ before we go back to Benson for a week.  Then we are off to Yuma, AZ to check out another Escapees campground.  We are on the move once again!  Happy Trails!

Visitors Are a Coming! (Patagonia, AZ)

Today, we are waiting for Dan's sister, Kristy and her husband, Dick to arrive.  It'll be so nice to see them again.  Kristy is an excellent quilter.  Her quilts are amazing!  Yep, looking forward to some quilt talk.

Say's Phoebe

Of course, that is not all we will do.  We have most of today off thanks to a couple of volunteers coming in today.  We plan to take Kristy and Dick for a walk through the Preserve.  I hope we have some good wildlife sightings.  There have been no sighting of Coatimundi lately, but that can change.  Mr. Owl is starting to show himself a little more.  The Javalina have been sighted everyday usually eating the watercress at the creek.  They are such health nuts always looking after their girlish figure.

Spotted Towhee

Shhhh! Squirrel is trying to sleep...

ZZzzzzzzzzZZzzzzzz

zzzz...uh?

How's this for a cute pose?  I'm too cute for my fur!

On The Cutting Board

All right!  Two more mug rugs are ready to assemble, but I'll wait a couple of days so I can visit and talk quilts.  In the meantime, I have one more Cupid to embroider.  That will keep me busy in the evenings.