A Bit O' Ireland

In July we went to Ireland for 2 weeks. We saw so any beautiful places. It's so green, cause it rains everyday!!! Here's just a few highlights of our trip.

Who are these guys?
Columns on the Giant's Causeway on the Antrim Coast.
Gayle on the Giant's Causeway.

Ross Castle outside of the village of Kilkenney.
Local residents on the way to Ring of Kerry.

The town of Kilkenny is famous for their jaunting cars. Here I am with Billy the jarvey.
We saw this scene a lot in the countrysides of Ireland.
Fishing boats in the fishing village of Cobh. This is the town where most of the Irish famine immigrants left from.

Celtic crosses in Drumcliffe, where William Butler Yeats is buried.

Here's and old road on our way to Kilkenney.

Irish Thistle

View of the Aran Islands


We discovered sheep are the local residents.
On one of days in Dublin, we ventured to the Wicklow Mountains and toured Glendalough and Powerscourt. Below is the 1200AD Monastery area of Glendalough, which means valley of two lakes.
The Cliffs of Moher were a spectacular view. Although you can't see, the golden lower cliff was full of puffin nests.

Green pastures were everywhere. This photo was taken on our day excursion around the Ring of Kerry.

An ancient portal tomb in the middle of Ireland.
Dave and I at the Cliffs of Moher
View of Cliffs of Moher from opposite side.

View of Kilkenney Castle.

Dave exploring old rock walls in the Burren.
Gayle kissing the Blarney Stone.

Sewing up a Storm

I have managed to sew quite a few quilts together this last year. Here is one that I am actually keeping for ME! It was a block of the month and took a year to complete. The binding is not finished, but you get the idea. It's called Secret Garden.



I had so much fun making this colorful quilt/twin bedspread for my granddaughter Brynnley. I wasn't planning on giving it to her this year, but I loved the fabric so much I made it before I couldn't get the fabric anymore. But since she will be in a "big girl bed" by January, this will be on her new bed and I'll give this to her for Christmas. Thanks goodness I planned ahead on this one. It's called Ladybug Hug.

I have made one more Halloween quilt, but it is in the middle of being top stitched, so when it comes back, I'll post a pic of it. It is the cutest one yet.

Family Reunion with my brothers

We ventured back to the Bay area last week to visit my brothers, Bob and Rick. It had been 2 years since I had seen them.


On our way we stopped and camped at Sequoia national park and walked among the huge sequoia trees. Here we are standing at the trunk of one.

And I thought things got big in Texas. Here I am standing next to a large yucca flower growing on the sides of the roads near the park.
We took a trip to Saratoga. Here is me and Rick standing in front of the house we grew up in.

Below is the 3 of us goofing around on the boardwalk and beach at Santa Cruz.



On Saturday, Dave, Rick and I rented bikes in San Francisco and rode for about 8 hours and 20 miles or so around the Presidio and Golden Gate park. It was a beautiful ride, a crisp day and lots of fun. Next time we plan to ride the Golden Gate Bridge and go over to Sausalito. My hind end was sore for a few days, but very worth it.
The 3 of us in front of the Golden Gate bridge.
Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National park on our drive home. Lots of water going through this park in the spring and we saw many beautiful waterfalls.

Crappy Day!!!

Okay, so what are the odds that on our way back from American Fork Canyon, while riding in the car with the passenger window down, I would get pooped on by a bird! Not very high odds, but it happened none the less!!!!!!!!!!! Gross!!!

BEARS!!, Oh MY

On our first day through Sequoia National Park, Dave and I went on a 3.4 mile hike up to Topakah Falls. We didn't expect to see bears on our route, so we were quite surprised when we came across one in the meadow by the stream about 100 yards away. Imagine our surprise when on the way back, we saw the same bear eating bark from a tree about 20 feet away. I'm glad he wanted only tree bark, cause we were close enough to be dinner! But I got some great pics and movies.

We spotted this small black bear in the Round Meadow the second day of our trip at Sequoia.

At Round Meadow, we saw 3 bears feeding on grasses in the meadows. The bear below was not afraid of getting close either. We just came across him on our way around the meadow. He crossed the wooden path and continued into the middle of the meadow to enjoy the tall grass. But he was watching me closely as he crossed over. I didn't move an inch until he went on a bit further.

All in all we saw 9 bears in Sequoia National Park, all small black bears and one quite large one in Yosemite.

Does anyone speak Parseltongue?!!

We still have sssssnakes in our backyard! For the past several months we have been trying to get rid of snakes. Just when I thought they were gone, I found 3 more! This guy and his girlfriend were in my window well this afternoon!!! I don't mind one snake, but two together means babies!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Scrapbook Pages for Pat!

My friend wanted me to show a few scrapbook pages that I have done to submit to the store where I design. Since they haven't been bought by the store yet, I can display them here. Enjoy girlfriends!!


Star Box with Lid

Memorial Day Folded flowers


Mammarazzi

Travel Sign

Catch a Wave


Tanked

The Narrows
Arches

Enjoy Nature
Campout


Camping Trip