Home again

We had our last morning in Hawaii on Monday and an exciting morning it was.  There were a group of whales – Humpbacks go there in January to March to breed and calve – in closer to shore than any we had seen previously.  We did see them everyday we were in Hawaii.  This day we had a fantastic view of them and we were convinced that there was a female giving birth. 

My camera only has 6x zoom… We figured they were about 400 yards out and we had a very good look at them through the binoculars.

Then there were about 50 turtles feeding and we again got to look at them up close – like a couple of feet away. 

And I know I said I wasn’t going to show the dead fish, but this is too intriguing… Two days out and the fish is shrinking as the crabs feast on it…

I had a day off work when we got home.  I planned it that way as I knew I had to sew a block for the 2015 Canadians bee swap.  This is a Bonnie Hunter block and the original tutorial for it is found here http://quiltville.blogspot.ca/2005/06/scrappy-mountain-majesties.html

Our bee bunny of the month wanted bright modern fabrics paired with low volume.  Hopefully I did it right. She asked that we not sew the four pieces together as she wanted to play with layout.   I love how it looks.

I have to make two Valentine’s postcards this weekend so I’m lined up to sew…  What do you have planned for your weekend?

Janet

Friday Night Sew In Report

My friend Linda P and I had a lovely FNSI – although it took place mostly in the late afternoon.  Most mornings when we first get up we sit out on the lanai and sew, but yesterday in the morning it was so windy that we had to retreat inside to do our morning sewing.  There were lots of interesting things on the beach … (I won’t show you my dead fish pictures :))

And the wind surfers were out in force…

By late afternoon the strong wind from earlier in the day had lessened and the sun wasn’t too hot for us to sit out on the lanai.

 

Linda stitching away on her cross stitch.

And me stitching on my Grandmother’s Flower Garden.  added these two new flowers.

  

I need one more flower to complete this row.  I hope to get it added in today.

How did your FNSI go?

Janet

A Crabby Day

Literally…. I got some great looks at crabs today.  Two large ones.  The surf is high and was coming in and these boys just didn’t seem to know what to do…  They were both good at taking an aggressive stance though…

The one above was trying to climb a retaining wall.  he certainly blended in with it.

I bought a piece of Shashiko cloth and thread in one of the local quilt shops and have whipped it up over the last two days.

This is intended to make a small pillow.  Aren’t the colours lovely?!  I think I will pick up another one so I can have a pair of them.

Today was for beach walking, ocean dipping, reading and an afternoon trip to the aquarium, which is a ten minute walk away.  It is so interesting and we have a week pass.  I think we’ll be back there a few times.

Aloha…

Janet

A holiday post

Is it okay that my first post of 2015 comes to you from Hawaii where I am on holiday?  We are in Maalaea, Maui staying in a condo with our friends Linda P. and Judy.  We are right on the beach – the surf pounds outside the screened door, humpback whales provide constant delight as they cavort in the waters.  We have walked the beach, gone swimming and snorkelling, identified birds and fish, all right outside the door.  A fantastic holiday.  I am posting from my new tablet, so learning the ropes for a new adventure in computers… And I have even found some time for sewing. 

My January hexies, made for Anne-Lise in Denmark, went in the mail the other day.

One of our birding conquests – the Hawaiian Black Necked Stilt, or Ae’o, a rare bird – yet we have seen hundreds at the wildlife refuge which is a short walk up our beach.

And an early morning beach shot…

Ahh…

Janet