Friday, March 20, 2009
Quilt Shop Hop
I went quilt fabric shopping with some of my fellow guild members today. We went to The Village Quilter in Mt. Holly (about 1 1/4 hour drive) and to Mouse Creek Quilts in Howell. In between we had a wonderful lunch at Robin's Nest restaurant in Mt. Holly. It is definitely worth a return trip.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Back from Camp
We're back from a brief trip to the Adirondacks. Eric and Maryann were there too and Warren and Eric were to do some late-season skiing. They went to Mt. Titus on Thursday and it was closed. The snow had all turned to ice. The slopes were being groomed for the weekend, but they figured when the grooming was done it would be like skiing on ice cubes, so they didn't go back. The weather was wonderful (except for skiing) with bright blue sky and warmish days with cold nights. There was little snow left - mostly just in the piles by our drive. We took them to one of our favorite spots, Bog River falls, to explore and take pictures.
On our last day, after Eric and Maryann left, Jack stopped by and invited us to see his maple sugaring operation. He was just starting to tap. Larry already has a couple quarts of syrup. We learned that warm days and cold nights are the perfect weather. I can't wait to try it next year.
On our last day, after Eric and Maryann left, Jack stopped by and invited us to see his maple sugaring operation. He was just starting to tap. Larry already has a couple quarts of syrup. We learned that warm days and cold nights are the perfect weather. I can't wait to try it next year.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Check this out!
Isn't this fantastic? I saw it at the Mancuso Quilt Fest in Somerset last week. I guess I'll have to start collecting batik fat quarters.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Back to Reality
We had about a foot of blowing snow overnight and today. Quite a contrast from the topics.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Home Again
We awoke this morning anchored to a colorful pier in Colon, Panama.
We had to leave the ship at 8 AM so they could get it ready for the next group of passengers who will be on board in time for dinner. We stopped at the Panama Canal Museum and at a craft center before arriving at the airport in Panama City. We flew to Miami and then on to Newark.
We had to leave the ship at 8 AM so they could get it ready for the next group of passengers who will be on board in time for dinner. We stopped at the Panama Canal Museum and at a craft center before arriving at the airport in Panama City. We flew to Miami and then on to Newark.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Panama Canal
We spent the rest of today traversing the part of the canal from Gatun Lake to the Atlantic, this time mostly by daylight. After the pilot joined us, we still had a long wait before it was our turn to go through the locks that would take us from the level of the lake down about 80 feet to ocean level in three steps. We had plenty of time to watch other ships maneuver into place.
Finally the ship with which we were to share the locks got into position.
Once we got into the approach to the locks, the “high tech” component of the exercise became apparent – the rowboat. They apparently never found a better way to get the cables from the ships to the “mules” (locomotive-type machines that run on tracks along the canal) than good old-fashioned manpower. The row boat approached the ship,
the rope handlers, who had come aboard previously, threw a rope from the ship to the rowboat (the on-board videographer is shown here videotaping the whole process).
The guys in the rowboat attached a cable to the rope and the rope handlers pulled the cable on board and secured it.
The other end of the cable was attached to the mule
and pulled tight.
There were 4 mules, 2 at the bow and 2 at the stern that kept the ship centered in the lock. Then the lock gates closed behind us
and the water started draining out.
Once the water was down to the level of the next lock and the gates in front of us were fully opened,
we moved into the next lock, the mules following alongside.
It was interesting to see that the rope handlers had plenty of leisure time while we transited the locks.
Finally the ship with which we were to share the locks got into position. Once we got into the approach to the locks, the “high tech” component of the exercise became apparent – the rowboat. They apparently never found a better way to get the cables from the ships to the “mules” (locomotive-type machines that run on tracks along the canal) than good old-fashioned manpower. The row boat approached the ship,the rope handlers, who had come aboard previously, threw a rope from the ship to the rowboat (the on-board videographer is shown here videotaping the whole process).The guys in the rowboat attached a cable to the rope and the rope handlers pulled the cable on board and secured it.The other end of the cable was attached to the muleand pulled tight.There were 4 mules, 2 at the bow and 2 at the stern that kept the ship centered in the lock. Then the lock gates closed behind usand the water started draining out.Once the water was down to the level of the next lock and the gates in front of us were fully opened,we moved into the next lock, the mules following alongside.It was interesting to see that the rope handlers had plenty of leisure time while we transited the locks.Sea Voyager - Day 6
We awoke this morning anchored off Barro Colorado Island, home of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The island was formed when the Chagres River was dammed to form Gatun Lake, which feeds water into the locks of the Panama Canal.
Linblad ships are the only ones allowed to stop here, enabling us to walk some of the trails used by the researchers. We saw a blue and yellow poison dart frog, which didn't stay around long enough for us to get a picture. The air was full of the sounds of cicadas. But they were no match for the howler monkeys. The neatest thing was seeing and hearing the monkeys.
After our hike we watched the ships coming to and from the locks while waiting for our canal pilot. 
Then the canal pilot came aboard and we headed for the locks that would take us out of the lake to the Atlantic side.
Linblad ships are the only ones allowed to stop here, enabling us to walk some of the trails used by the researchers. We saw a blue and yellow poison dart frog, which didn't stay around long enough for us to get a picture. The air was full of the sounds of cicadas. But they were no match for the howler monkeys. The neatest thing was seeing and hearing the monkeys.After our hike we watched the ships coming to and from the locks while waiting for our canal pilot. Then the canal pilot came aboard and we headed for the locks that would take us out of the lake to the Atlantic side.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sea Voyager - Day 5
One of the neat things the stewards on the ship do when they fix up the rooms is to put the bath towels into a different shape each day. This is one of our favorites.
This morning we took a zodiac ride around a small island in the Gulf of Panama where lots of seabirds can be found. We saw lots of brown pelicans
and frigate birds,
including males with their red pouches inflated.
We also saw lots of brown boobies and blue-footed boobies. 
In the afternoon we visited a small village on the island of Taboga near the Panama Canal where our hotel manager’s family has a home - the tall one in this photo. 
There was also a neat church.
Then we sat near the entrance of the canal with Panama City in the background and LOTS of other ships around, waiting for our canal pilot and our chance to start through the canal.
It was after dark by the time we got underway.
Stay tuned for lots more canal photos.
This morning we took a zodiac ride around a small island in the Gulf of Panama where lots of seabirds can be found. We saw lots of brown pelicans and frigate birds,including males with their red pouches inflated.We also saw lots of brown boobies and blue-footed boobies. In the afternoon we visited a small village on the island of Taboga near the Panama Canal where our hotel manager’s family has a home - the tall one in this photo. There was also a neat church.Then we sat near the entrance of the canal with Panama City in the background and LOTS of other ships around, waiting for our canal pilot and our chance to start through the canal. It was after dark by the time we got underway.Stay tuned for lots more canal photos.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sea Voyager - Day 4
Overnight we crossed from Costa Rica into Panama. This morning we snorkeled around the island of Granito de Oro (Little Grain of Gold)
in Coiba National Park, a beautiful unspoiled area of tropical islands. We saw several fish we had not seen before and enjoyed the beautiful clear blue water.
in Coiba National Park, a beautiful unspoiled area of tropical islands. We saw several fish we had not seen before and enjoyed the beautiful clear blue water.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sea Voyager - Day 3
This morning we visited a botanical garden on the property of an American couple who has been there for over 30 years.
We saw orchids,
many different heliconia,
and other neat plants. We also saw fox bats resting in the tents they had made from palm leaves. Very cool.
In the afternoon we kayaked up the Rio Esquinas, which didn't look much different from other mangrove-enclosed rivers we've kayaked on. Including the bird life, which included white ibis and snowy egrets.
We saw orchids, many different heliconia,and other neat plants. We also saw fox bats resting in the tents they had made from palm leaves. Very cool.In the afternoon we kayaked up the Rio Esquinas, which didn't look much different from other mangrove-enclosed rivers we've kayaked on. Including the bird life, which included white ibis and snowy egrets.
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