Zipping on Down the Line, Literally!

While on our awesome vacation to Alaska this summer, one of the stops on the cruise was to Icy Strait Point in Hoonah.  I loved that all the shops there were Alaskan owned and operated.  The soaps in the soap shop smelled amazing, I wanted to buy every one!

We got to see more totem poles, I really liked this one.

One of the other things we saw was this zip line station waaaay up the mountain.

There was a waiting area at the bottom, where I was taking pictures of the people coming down and they looked like they were having fun!

So even before the beer started, Kelly started having us "placing bets" on which rider would come down first.  Six come down at a time and we were there a while!

 

It looked like so much fun, five of us decided to go! 

After about a 1/2 hour ride to the top, and after being told to walk about five minutes down the dirt road (watch out for bears!), this is what it looked like once we got up there.

FYI, it's about 5,330 feet long, about a 1,300 foot vertical drop, 60+ mph speed, 300 feet highest point from the ground and a 1.5 minutes ride of your life!  Ready?  Now let's go have some fun!

This is what we saw looking down.  I don't know what's worse, not knowing what's down there or seeing how high you are.  Don't forget, I DON'T LIKE HEIGHTS! 

The gmen ready to go...

This is supposedly a camera crew from the Travel Channel.  They said something would be aired this month, but I haven't found anything yet. 

Getting strapped in.

What we looked like from the bottom, just coming out of the clouds.

There we go!!!

Lucky me, I came in first.

Now I would love to say I have a video of my trip down, but because I chose to wear the stupid goggles so I wouldn't lose my glasses, I didn't push the button properly to record it!  Oh well, I guess that means we'll just have to go back.

This is a blurry picture from our trip down, Meghan had her phone a rolling!  Coming out of the clouds was so cool, everything just appeared right in front of you.  That's our ship on the left.

For someone who doesn't like heights, I've been on a zip twice and I'm ready for my next trip!  I know there are zip line places near us, there just might be an afternoon of fun coming up soon.  Or maybe I should just take another balloon ride?

Travelling Pattern Winner and Lots of Houses!

I know Wednesday has come and gone, but I did actually get a winner for the travelling pattern, it's just taken me this long to post it!  Between packing up the house and football, it's been just a little crazy around here.  Anyway, Nathan helped me pick and it was DJ!  I promise this wasn't planned, because she happened to be coming over the following day and I was able to give it to her then.

 

I wish I had looked at everyone's finished piece before starting mine, I think I changed the colour of the writing at least three times!  I think the fabric I chose made some of the floss seem very dull so I wanted to brighten it up a bit.

As a side note, I did send out emails to all of the stitchers to ask if it was okay to post their finished picture and link.  Everyone said yes, except those that never responded.  For those that didn't respond, I still posted their picture with the link to their blog.  So now I'm wondering, is that really an okay thing to do as long as you're giving them the credit by linking to their blog?  I know I don't have a problem with someone posting my pieces as long as it's linked to me, but what about everyone else?  Thoughts?
So, if I have messed up anyone's link or picture, please let me know so I can correct it.  Or, if you'd rather not have your picture and link shown, I'll remove it.

AND... here we go, almost thirty "Count your Blessings" from Shakespear's Peddler.  

 

Astrid, that's me!

Carolyn 

 

Cucki

 

Sharon

March Ann

 

Mary

Erica

McKenna

 Lindsay

 



 Cath

 

Lynn

Ariadne

Kathy 

 

 

Dani 

Julie 

Kate

Christine

 

 

 Kath

Unfortunately no picture or email to ask, hasn't blogged since Dec. '12.

 

 Michelle

No picture on her blog, haven't received a response from my email yet.

 

Lesleyanne

Sally

 

Mouse

Jo

Erin

Lynda

Nataly

Terri

Patty

Karen

And the wonderful stitcher who started it all, Daffycat!

 

Thanks so much Daffycat/Sharon for making this a fun project!  I hope everyone has enjoyed looked at all many ways this has been stitched, I love how each one is unique.  I'm looking forward to seeing it move on and stitched again and again... 
Get busy DJ, I want to see what you come up with! xox

 

Summer Blog Hop

She's at it again, Jo @ Serendipitous Stitching is hosting a Summer Blog Hop with Home as the theme.  My fabulous stitched postcard is from Penny @ Larkspur Lane.  I really like this piece, especially with the kitty in it! 

 

Here's what home means to Penny ~

 

"For me, home is a place filled with the people I love and the things I love. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to have my little family under the same roof, and whether it is an old quilt, or cross stitched piece from my grandmother, or an old dish or butter churn from my great grandmother, they are all things that link me to the past, and are all part of what makes my home feel like home to me."

 

Be sure to check back to Jo's blog at the end of summer to make sure you haven't missed any postcards.

 

"Count your Blessings" Travelling Pattern is Moving Along

With much embarrassment, I'm finally ready to pass along the "Count your Blessings" travelling pattern.  I received this from Carolyn in June, just before leaving on our trip to Alaska. 

My excuse for the delay? 1) Not being able to get it kitted before leaving for our trip to Canada and Alaska (not that I stitched much anyway!)  2) Trying to find it again once we got home, in the midst of packing to move.  3) Finally getting thread and then kept changing my mind about the colours after I stitched it!  4) Having a great idea of posting pics and links to all the other stitchers before me and realising I really should email them to get their approval first.

This is a work in progress.

 

So, are you ready?  This pattern was started back in February 2011, by Sharon @ It's Daffycat. 

 

 I was the lucky 30th winner and here's what I've got so far, it's not finished to my liking yet!

Here are the original rules...

 

If you would like to be part of this new Travelling Pattern there are a few rules:

 

1.  Comment on this post, saying you would like to be part of the Stitcherhood.

 

2.  By leaving this comment, you agree (if you are chosen) to stitch the design and send it along to the next person in a timely matter.  If this means dropping everything in your rotation to concentrate on this project... so be it.  If you can't brings yourself to do this ~ don't sign up.

 

3.  You must have an active blog to participate.  If you have a blog but never post to it ~ you won't be chosen to be the next stitcher.

 

4.  This is a giveaway-type Travelling Pattern.  That means you must follow it from blogger to blogger to enter each time it is ready to send along.  Commenting on this post doesn't make you a guaranteed part of the Stitcherhood.

 

 

I'll be picking a winner on Wednesday, August 21st... good luck!

 

Way Behind and a Quick Catch Up

I'm just a little behind on blogging, I can't seem to get back in the groove.  I also can't seem to catch up on my blog reading, I miss google reader!  I like Feedly I guess and it will have to do. 

We've got way too much going on here trying to find a place to rent.  But I believe our search is over, we just have to sign a lease and move in!  I know what I'm going to be doing this week and it won't be stitching.

Here's a shortened version of what's been going on...
 

Making cappuccino ice cream.  

 

My chosen sister, Karen, eating said ice cream!

 

Stitching with Karen.

 

Max not impressed with the Alaskan puppy!

 

Having fun at our friend's party at the lake.

Celebrating Gammy's birthday with a smoothie.

 

Celebrating DH's birthday with his sugar cookie "cake".

Enjoying a yummy frozen drink at the Old Mill Bakery Café with my gmen and nephews.

 

Seeing a mermaid in Ellicott City!

 

Disturbing display at the antique store.

  

Nathan lost his first tooth and unfortunately swallowed it!  The tooth fairy made up for it when he left a picture of a tooth for her. 

Coming up on the next post - The "Count your Blessings" travelling pattern is ready for its next stop, could it be heading your way?!