About this Blog: Bread making recipes, knit and crochet projects, wood working, gardening, digital imaging, travel, cruise ships, Labrador Retrievers, and more....

About the Header Image: Idlebrook Wendy Darling Evensen "Wendy" one of our four Labrador Retrievers.

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Monday, September 30, 2013

Needlework Update - September, 2013

Good morning,

This month's update has some different items than you've seen before.

Above is a special order vest I made for a very nice lady.  I enjoyed working with this soft lavender yarn.
This is a cowl scarf that is also spoken for.  It is hand knit of hand dyed and hand spun merino wool.  Gorgeous and soft in a fabulous color!
This Sea Sweater is in our on line shop, EvensensProductions.com as I write this.  It is child size four and features sea grass in a basket pocket, three angel fish, and six sea shells.  It is accompanied by a sweet pink octopus.  Such a cute outfit for a sweet little girl.
This Christmas Tree sweater is also in child size 4.  The tree is decorated with toys, sports equipment, and ornaments.  So cute!  It, too, is in the shop as I write this.
This is something new to the shop.  :)  It's a dog sweater for a small dog.  I really had fun with this and will surely make more. 
 These three little turtles are very special.  They will each go into the shop with matching baby blankets.
 Two more turtles...
 ...hatched this month, too.

And, finally for this month, here is a vest in Ladies size 54"-58".  I was asked if I make made items for larger ladies so made this for the shop.  It's so very soft and lovely.  I took this image at an angle and see now that I have to take another for the shop.  The vest is symmetrical in real life.

That wraps up September projects. What did you make this month?  I love seeing what you knit, crochet, sew, cook, and grow.

All the best,

Lois
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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Travel Tip

Good morning,

Just a brief travel tip today. 

As I drop off luggage to the porter as we are boarding a ship or anywhere your luggage leaves your sight, it pays to take a picture before it is rolled or pulled away.
Of course, it's also important to have the usual tags with your name and contact information.  I always add a colorful crocheted disk that I can show to the porter when we are picking up luggage.

And, finally, take pictures!  It is amazing how much easier it is to show a picture of any missing luggage to those helping you find it than it is to describe a bag that probably looks like most of the other bags in the terminal.  I have adopted the policy of taking pictures of my luggage as I come and go.  With the wonders of digital photography, we can immediately see those images and show them to anyone else who needs to see them.

Now you can relax and enjoy your trip.  :)

All the best,
Lois

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Port Canaveral Beach

Good morning,

This beautiful white sand beach is at the mouth of the channel at Port Canaveral.
It stretches all the way South to Miami's South Beach.  Gorgeous!

 Enjoy,
Lois

Friday, September 27, 2013

Sailing Out of Port Canaveral

Good morning,

Here we are at the beginning of another week long cruise aboard Freedom of the Seas sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida.
This view is looking down the starboard side of the ship of the cruise terminal we have just left.

Ahead is the opening of the channel into the Atlantic Ocean. 
 Also in port is our sister ship, Grandeur of the Seas.
 Other traffic keeps a safe distance.  :)
 It is fun to be able to see other Royal Caribbean ships from this angle.
 Grandeur is a Vision Class ship.  We spent a great deal of time on board Splendour of the Seas, a ship of the same class.

 As a friendly greeting as we pass we blow our horn three times, Grandeur responds in kind, then each ship blows her horn one more time.
 There are plenty of waves as we each go off to our next port of call.

 We also exchange waves with people lined up to say goodbye.
 We pass dredging equipment as we leave the port.  Port Canaveral is enlarging to be able to accommodate Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, our sisters and the only ships in the world larger than the on on which I am standing to take these images.
 Good bye, Port Canaveral!  See you next Sunday!

If you would like to watch us on web cam while we are in port on Sundays, there is a link in my right side bar.

Enjoy,
Lois

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Portofino Breakfast

Good morning,

Ah, the elegance of eating on board a cruise ship.  Today's images are of breakfast aboard Freedom of the Seas

Above is French Toast served with chocolate sauce, strawberries, and whipped cream. 
Steak and eggs for the hearty eater.
And, this is my favorite:  salmon, poached eggs, spinach on sourdough bread.  Yes!

Enjoy,
Lois

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Captain's Welcome Aboard Party

Good morning,

The Captains' Welcome Aboard Party is one of the highlights of every cruise.  Above you see Captain Tor welcoming guests.
He tells everyone about the ship then introduces his senior officers and department heads.
Here comes a handsome one now!
The officers greet the crowd and give a brief explanation of what they do on board.

 This lovely lady is the Environmental Officer.
 Royal Caribbean takes the care of the environment very seriously.  This officer explains that almost everything is recycled and that nothing is thrown overboard.  She asks that all guests help to keep the oceans clean.

 We all know who this is.  For some reason he gets the biggest round of applause.  ;)

 After this event a formal dinner in the dining rooms is served. 

For those who don't want to get all dressed up and go to a formal dinner, there are other restaurants on board with a more casual theme.

Enjoy!

 Lois

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Ice Carvings

Good morning,

Only one image today, but what a pretty one!  These are ice carvings prepared by the Culinary Team on board Freedom of the Seas.  How very elegant!

There is so much talent here.  :)

Enjoy,
Lois

Monday, September 23, 2013

Lovely Chandelier

Good morning,

Here's another little space on the ship I don't think I've shown you before. 
This is the lovely chandelier at the entrance to Leonardo's Dining Room, one of three formal dining rooms on board Freedom of the Seas.

So pretty!

Enjoy,
Lois

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Flowers

Good morning,

Regular readers of this blog know I love flowers.  We have an excellent florist on board Freedom of the Seas so I am definitely in the right place.  Some friends were on board with us who received the flowers above in their suite.  They were ready the leave, but the flowers were still so perfect that they left them in my care.  Aren't they pretty!
The story is the same with this arrangement of orchids.  They lasted for three weeks!  How pretty!
These fresh white roses were a gift from another friend.  I received them in the evening when we went to dinner so I took a picture in front of the mirror with flash as soon as we got back to our suite...
...then took more images in the morning with the sun shining through the translucent petals.  
 Wow!  Pure white and so perfect!

Enjoy,
Lois