By the Bay

I did a little googling and it looked like there was a national park, called Golden Gate national park.

There is indeed, however, there is also a city park called that.

Don't get confused... we did, we ended up at the city park, it ended up being a ton of walking, (my blisters had went down a bit, but I still couldn't wear shoes) but it was beautiful.

This is a national sea shore, it was cold in the 60's and windy, no wonder no one uses it!!

A fairy house in the park!

We found this Japanese tea garden, they served Japanese tea, I got a cup, it was good! I am thankful we got there early enough to not have to pay $6 to get in and then buy the tea too! They open at 9 and the garden is free entry for one hour!

They had a beautiful outdoor stage between two museums, and a botanical garden.

After our trip to the golden gate park we decided we would head down to Fisherman's wharf via cable car. Sadly we waited in line, and were on the cable car when it broke down, and they said the wait would be a couple of hours, so we got off and took an old electric train down instead 

This car is from Italy and I really liked how everything was wood and it had real lights on the inside, it was really cool

We were able to see the sea lions resting on their docks

Had a great lunch

Toured a bakery, Where I saw the largest Mixers ever! 

Then we hiked up a very steep hill to see the crookedest street

out on a dock to see San Francisco from the Bay

And finally we found the National park we had been looking for, but the visitor center had closed for the day, so we decided to try it out the next.

City Escape

.We decided since we had seen all of the tourist attractions we would head out to San Francisco, I had never been and Josh didn't remember much from his trip as a kid.
So we drove 3 hours, and booked our hotel free with points! yey!

When we got to the hotel they said parking was $50 a night! that is crazy expensive, so we looked around for a cheaper alternative, and we found one, but not much cheaper.

So we checked into our hotel, showered and then hit the town, we walked up to China town first.

Only after we got there did I even think, oh yeah, I've actually been to China... lol

China town is somewhat like the little markets in China I saw, but not totally, 

What I loved about this china town was all of the tea houses, what I didn't like was how pushy the people at the tea houses were, I did buy some Jasmine green tea pearls! yum.

To be honest, for having giant blisters on both of my pinkie toes, we did a ton of walking

The ceiling of the mall, so beautiful!

We stopped by a mall, mainly because we miss shopping in the US, but we bought nothing, because Josh refused to check a carry on and we had no space in our other luggage.

As we were walking through the mall, we saw tons of people at bars, and we wondered what was going on, it seemed they were watching a big game or something. Josh googled it and sure enough it was the NBA finals, the last game! (We are so out of touch in Mexico!) and guess what, we were walking out of the mall when we heard crowds cheering and come pouring out of bars, we headed straight back to our hotel. The Golden State Warriors had won the title! and Street partying was sure to happen! and if you are from Michigan/Ohio, we keep it class and burn couches, cars and often riot... 

There were cheers all night and some small firework type things, and celebrating, but it did not seem to head too far south :D

the view from our hotel room

The Hike

Our purpose of coming to Sequoia National park and Kings Canyon was to hike, we picked a 46 mile loop, scheduled for 4 days.
so we woke up early and got our permit and headed out.
 7:30am, it was reasonably cool.

at the trail head

What!? Yes apparently 90% of the hiking gear I own is Turquoise, and note that Josh's is all Red/Orange, why this happens I'm not sure...
a couple miles in we hit a junction

Our goal, to make it almost to the John Muir trail.

to this point our hike had been mostly flat, now the uphill starts!

My view for about half of the trip

we hiked up these granite stairs, in the sun, it was HOT! and kind of miserable, the mosquitoes near the falls were driving us insane, so we got out some bug spray. Then as we hiked up some granite stairs we heard a rattle, Josh almost had a heart attack, and we saw a rattle snake coil up for attack, we gave it a wide berth and continued on. 

We stopped a couple times for a quick break and a drink, and about 6.5 miles in Josh says, I can not go any further, I think I'm going to puke,

I told him he needed to sit down and rest, drink some water, he said no he didn't want to take his pack off and rest he wanted to hike out pronto and had a slight break down, what he didn't realize was he was getting dehydrated I think, his whole shirt was turning white with sweat.

so after a few minutes of arguing, I said fine, we can hike out (although the closest camp site where we could have rested was only a mile the other way) and it was only 10:30 in the morning...

so we turned around and hiked out with only a few short breaks, We past the rattle snake again, it rattled and I was in the lead, I stopped dead in my tracks and almost fell over! but we kept to the other side of the trail and kept moving! I think the snake scared me more than the bear! I was getting tired, with about 3 miles left to go, I had to go to the bathroom, but there was no where off the trail that looked safe. So I had to hold it for about an hour as we hiked a couple more miles, and finally I could go, as we essentially crossed a desert in the middle of the hottest part of the day, I was starting to feel like crap, my electrolytes were low, Josh had a temperature check on his watch, 95 degrees, WAY hotter than we expected, but we made it to the car after hiking 13 miles, one mile short of our goal for the day, and then to a camp store and bought some Gatorade and replenished.

On the hike down my pinkie toes started to hurt like nobody's buisness, when we got to the car and I took my shoes off my pinkie toes were a blister, the entire thing. I had gotten blisters smaller than that when we had went hiking last. I think a new pair of hiking boots is in order.

We decided to spend the night in a campground in the park and head out in the morning. And I vowed next year we will do it again, only next time we will finish it.

The Tourist Trap

We got all of our shopping done yesterday and headed out to see the big sites!

Most National Parks have a nice sign you can stand next to and take a picture, some have even added a nice pole for you to put your camera on so you can set up a timer... nope, this the sign. basically on the side of the road and no pull off!

Of course we saw the most famous tree of all.

We also were able to walk through this huge tree!

 Then we wanted to see Moro Rock, and drive through the other tree, sadly the road was closed, so we had to take a bus, Moro rock was a crazy climb, but there were some awesome views!
Then we took the bus past the log you can drive through, it looked a lot like the tree we walked through, and we headed to Crescent Meadow, on our way we saw a black bear with her cub, I said to Josh "I hope that is the only bear we see"
So we got off in Crescent Meadow and began to walk around the path, and we hear this noise as we turn a curve and a BEAR! Josh didn't see it at first, he was looking closer to the path for a squirrel or something, and I was looking about 15ft off the path at this bear digging in a log for bugs, I grabbed Josh's arm, and said, "There is a bear" real calm, Josh replies "What?"  I point again and just say "bear" panic starting to set in. Frozen in place, Josh replies "Oh S#&% Just keep walking"
So at a brisk walk, we walk past the bear, and I took this gem over my shoulder you can see the bear digging in the log over Josh's shoulder, it was a brown bear cub, and never saw us. Please note his panic face.

We made it to our destination safely, although from the bear on I was in super aware mode thinking every noise I heard was for sure another bear! But we made it to Thorpe's log, where he turned a log into a home, it was really quite neat!

Day 199

Our day started early, 4am, we headed to the airport and grabbed some breakfast.

I had this traditional Mexican breakfast, green sauce, slightly soggy tortilla chips, cheese and chicken, with beans. Sounds not delicious, but it really is!

Then we boarded a plane and headed to the USA! Our destination: Fresno

Check out this really cool decor in the airport, it was one of the neatest I've seen.

We grabbed our car and checked into our hotel and set about getting our food items and a few other things we would need for our backpacking trip.

Day 198

I closed up the house and prepared Mr. For vacation with full food dishes, water dishes and a clean litter box

I watered the plants, filled the pool, the water evaporates fast here since it's so hot and dry.

Mr helped fill the pool

I did a little bit of ancestry, and with some luck, I found my Great Aunt's first husband, and his family. They had some awesome names, Rubina Ruthinia , Ruel... So if you are looking for baby names , those are some unique ones for you :)

Then we headed out to start vacation

A nice cool drink sounds good doesn't it?

Day 197

I did some last minute things around the house,

And this guy hung out and relaxed.

And he tried to wear my flip flops...

Day 196

I got back to reading today :) I was happy to have that time and to be able to browse the new books my library has put in their system since I last read :)

We also saw a jack rabbit 

He was in the construction site next door.

Day 195

I was going about my morning, when I walked into my closet to find this

This isn't the first time, I don't know why he thinks it's ok to sleep on my pants and push them off their shelf, he doesn't go on Josh's side of the closet at all!!!

Followed by his weird need to sleep on my flip flops where ever they are.

You can see the edge of my flip flop next to him.

After finishing my chores for the day, it's sewing day! So I finished adding the border and basted this quilt

This is my backing

I had to piece it, only the second one I've ever pieced, usually I use a sheet.

How should I quilt it? Should it try free motion? This will be the first quilt I keep... I'm afraid to ruin it with free motion, since I've never done it before...

Day 194

I started off the day with this adorable guy

I worked on laundry, and cleaning, all the while he stayed close.

This is what the office looks like, will all of this fit in our backpacks?

After my chores were done, I worked on sewing

I finished my May BOM

Then did a little sewing on this WIP, I started this I think over 2 years ago. This will be the first quilt I plan to keep for myself.

And the sky was beautiful tonight.

Days 192 & 193

We had a pretty low key weekend,

After hanging out at home and going to the gym Saturday, we didn't feel like cooking so we ordered Pizza Hut, it was close to the same, but still different.

On Sunday Josh mowed the lawn, and I cleaned the pool, and we hung out at home.

We did make dinner, a dish called Italian wonder pot, similar to our chick en lo-mein one pot dish, but worse, it was not delicious at all.

And now we are stuck with leftovers :(

Day 191

After running errands, I headed home

I decided to finish this week with sewing and go back next week to my regular schedule.

I finished my April BOM

I'm trying not to use the same fabric in any two blocks.

After Josh got home we headed to the gym and decided to have a dinner put, we split a bottle of wine and listened to music while we were out at dinner, I find I don't have much to talk about these days when we are together, but it was a nice dinner out. I enjoyed it :)

Day 190

I had my first run in with the Mexican medical system.

We had to go get our yearly check ups to have a discount on our insurance. So Josh's HR lady kindly made our appointment at 8:00am, thanks...

So I woke up early got ready all while having a terrible headache. We met Josh's safety and Maintenince manager at the hospital, a private hospital, so he could translate for us. We went in the door marked Urgencias (emergencies), and signed in. We had to give them our dates of birth and our address, the lady checking us in spoke English. 

Then we waited a bit and the DR. dressed in a suit came and brought us back, then they separated us. Thankfully I know the routine, so I was able to get by without spanish :) they took our blood pressure, and our pulse, and then our temperature, they took our temperature with a regular glass thrermometer under our arms. I couldn't tell you the last time I had my temperature taken like that!!!

Then they took our weight and height, but the nurse was shorter than me, and wasn't able to get the stick above my head, so I'm not sure what she wrote my height as...

Then they had to do measurements, the measurements were completely inaccurate, she measures my bust instead of my chest, she measured my hips over my belt...she measured my waist where my ribs are, so I'm sure all of those are super accurate...

Then a more senior nurse came in to take our blood... My least favorite part.

They took our blood slightly below the elbow which is different than I've ever had it done before,and it hurt the whole time, but no bruise ! So that was awesome!

In the hospital too, there is no privacy really, they have people's x-Rays hanging up, papers out where everyone can read them, at least there were curtains to close the rooms off, and everything was stuck in the 1950's, I heard them typing records up with a typewriter, they had files of forms to fill out, not much was on a computer it seemed. 

The nurses even wear these cute hats :)

Over all it was a good experience. I won't be so nervous the next time.

I was not feeling super well, so when I came home I drank some water and then napped for a bit, when I woke up I still had a headache so I took some Tylenol and eventually it went away, so I wasn't super productive, but I did dishes, and I finished my March BOM.

Only a little behind... 

I've also been asked what am I going to do until August when I can re supply my self for quilting projects :)

Well, I think I'll go back to only sewing on Tuesdays, and doing my other hobbies the other days, after i finish this week out with sewing :)

Sewing wise. I have my BOMs to work on,I'm behind, I'll have to assess what fabric I have here and what I can use or need to pick up next time I'm home,

I have my first rainbow block swap quilt to add a border to, Baste and quilt then add binding.

Then I have a pillow I need to finish for my Grandma I started like 5 years ago, and I have mending to do... I think that will keep me busy :)

Day 189

To be honest I feel like the day got away from me.

I talked to my parents and my sister,

I did dishes and ironing, a little sewing, but nothing amazing, oh and they finally took our screens to be redone after the hail broke through them!

Day 188

I spent most of the day working on my quilt.

Borders done!

Now to wait until I head home to pick up my batting and backing!

Day 187

Josh left for work probably around 6:30 in the morning and didn't come home until 8:30!

This gave me plenty of time to finish all of the laundry, do a quick work out, 

Finish sewing the rows, and then sewing all the rows together!

Only borders left before this top is done!!!

Then we made chicken lo-mein it was delicious and super easy!

New

Well yesterday I started to put labels on my posts,
and I went through and labeled every single post I ever wrote. What a handy tool.
but now, if you notice some of the posts for some reason have been updated and moved to the top, I don't know why... sorry!:(

Beautiful

I'm lucky to live in a place so pretty, and thankful to have a great place to work where people want to get out to see it as a work group!

Sewing group get-together

I am part of an on-line sewing community that I was invited to by a friend from high school. She is the only one I had ever met in person. The last time I saw her we were in high school, and at the time, we weren't super close. Fast forward 13 years and I'm heading to South Dakota, to stay at her house. I was a bit nervous, staying at people's houses worry me because I think I have some quarks that people might be wary of, and that I lose hair like I should be bald by now...

But, despite my nervousness about staying at her house, and the fear of the group taking a vote after I left to kick me out, I really enjoyed my time there and learned a few new skills! 

I learned how to make bags, with zippers, thanks to Miranda! :)

I picked up some fabric for a man quilt

And for my vintage quilt, I still need to pick out a pattern

And some for my stash 

I loved shopping at shops that aren't my regular shop, and I loved the gifts the girls so thoughtfully picked out for me!

I can not wait for next year :)