Thursday 31 December 2015

December 31, 2015!

Last night was another gorgeous sunset and I'm guessing tonight will be close to the same.  I've enjoyed looking at the crane lit up with Christmas lights each evening.  I think my dad was one of the first electricians in Vancouver to string lights up on the cranes in the 1960's.  He told stories of stringing them as the cranes were working swinging high over the downtown streets.
 I went for a walk along the quay and as I exited my condo I noticed there were still areas of frost in the courtyard.  These leaves looked so delicate.
 These ones were even more beautiful to me.

Out on the quay the pampas grass was frozen in the wind.
 Behind me I heard some chirping and spotted these little chickadees.
 This guy turned his back on me just as I took the picture.
 Roses still blooming despite the cold weather.
 Bare trees in the landscape strip between the boardwalk and brick walkway.
 I heard a buzzing and saw this drone overhead...great I hope there isn't a camera attached.
 The mountains to the east are snow capped as are all the local ones.
 The paddle wheeler on the right is called the Native and the one beyond is the Samson IV.
 Reflections of the supports of the hotel above the river.
 The Samson IV is permanently moored for all to visit.
 The world's largest tin man got a recent paint job and is all shiny and smart looking again.
 He has a guardian looking over him.
 At the crest of the sky train bridge you can see a four car sky train, beyond is the Patullo Bridge, then a train bridge and to the right you can almost see the new Port Mann bridge.

 The train bridge rotates to allow larger ships and barges pass by.
 Love locks on part of the chain link fence.
 I walked down to the Westminster Pier Park, old logs hold up a huge sand bed where you can play beach volley ball on the sand.  Too cold today as you can see by the lingering frost.
 I love the look of old drift wood.
 As close as I could get to the underside of the sky train bridge crossing the Fraser River.
 I have yet to cross over on the sky train.
 Four large train cars are part of a permanent art installation.
 Here is some information and a suggestion to take selfies in front of the display.

Walking back and looking at the Alex Fraser Bridge crossing the south arm of the Fraser.
 Many playgrounds and school yards have these fish that have been painted by school children.
 There is a long expanse of these fish along the river.  Love the polka dot guys and the very realistic one on the right.
 At the River Market there is a walkway over the railroad tracks decorated with colourful lanterns for the season.
Our new convention centre is that building on the right of the photo.

 This beauty berry plant is a favourite of mine.
 Another rose still in bloom.
 Can you imagine what those Palm Trees are thinking of this cold weather?
 Have a lovely and safe New Year's Eve I'm looking forward to see what 2016 has to share with us all!


Wednesday 30 December 2015

Sunset and meet some world travellers!

Last night as I was sitting stitching in my chair this view caught my eye of the gorgeous west coast sunset.
 About a minute later and a different camera orientation it looked like this.
 I went outside onto the quay to catch the pinks across from my place.
 Looking over toward the Alex Fraser Bridge the colours are a bit paler.
 Floating upriver with the tide I spotted these guys.
 Love this double H bridge.
 Looking west toward Queensborough...
 and the railroad bridge and the Queensborough bridge beyond.
 East looking up river and the pinky purples coming out.
 Soft mauves a minute later.
 Slowly drifting with the tide.
 Here are the world travellers, I ordered some books from Farm Chicks Quilts, formerly Buggy Barn quilts and on December 1st I was notified they were on their way.  They headed off to Spokane on the 4th and then to Los Angeles on the 7th.  On the 10th they left and arrived in Seattle on the same day.
 At 10 p.m. they departed from Seattle to Vancouver where they departed at 2:07 a.m. to...wait for it Osaka Japan!  They then left Osaka again at 10 p.m....

 ..taking a slow boat to Vancouver arriving on December 24th and departed at 2:21 for yup...Japan...they departed Japan again on the 24th at 6:35 back to Canada!  They arrived at the sorting facility on December 28th at 1021 and departed...

 two MINUTES later!  I was coming home this afternoon and saw my postman was here so I went to see if he had finished loading the 104 boxes in our building.  He looked at me and said I have a package for you!  I asked if it was from Reardon and he said yes!  I then told him it had been to Japan twice!  He answered lots of air miles on this package...too bad I couldn't collect them.

 On December 14, I contacted Pam to let her know of the first trip to Japan, today I let her know that the package finally arrived.

Hope you have a safe and Happy New Year.  May all your packages make it safely to their destinations.

Tuesday 29 December 2015

Changing things up.

Remember my baby Bionic Gear Bag? Well I decided to change things up.


After taking these pictures I realized I had put in the wrong zipper, I had intended to have a pink not teal one.


So I took off the teal and sewed the pink one on...twice. Why? Because I sewed it opening the wrong way the first time.


The front side of the bag has a tray, I like to have the closed zipper on the left so when you open it up the tray drops down.


With the left over quilted remnant I made myself a little thimble case for my Roxanne thimble. I've decided this BBGB will be my hand sewing/appliqué bag. I'm pleased I took the time to change out the zipper.


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