OH MY GOD!

Why didn't Bill tell me that salmon fishing could be so much fun!  (Maybe he has a dozen of times but read on for a fishing story.....)

There are some things in life that you never think to put on your 'bucket list' and crossing the 'bar' at the mouth of the Columbia River is one of them, right along with salmon fishing in the ocean!  Dear husband has been sent out salmon fishing for years and it wasn't till this year that I said 'sure, I will come with you!.'  We scheduled a salmon trip with friends, Linda and RB down the road, to fish out of the town of Astoria, OR.  We all thought we were going to fish the Columbia River.

Well, we did salmon fish with a wonderful guide by the name of Mike.  We didn't exactly fish the Columbia River as he had fished that area the day before and caught nothing.  So bright (well not exactly daylight) we arrived to meet Mike and head out over 'The Bar'!.  The horror stories about the bar were not true that morning.  I had a ball and smiled and laughed the whole way across it.  Bill, as he knew he was going to, had second thoughts about this heading to the ocean.... (ocean motion is not his thing.)

Heading out of the harbor, dawn is just breaking, too early for anyone to be up.

Except for the happy salmon hunters (ok anglers!)  Linda and RB, and Sue and Bill.  (notice it is still dark!)

The Chinook Salmon were in season and gathering for their run up the river.  Ocean fishing is a bit different then river fishing.  There were five of us on the boat and we all had salmon tags so we were able to put out five baited rods.  We fished off of the WA coast in between 32-39 feet of water trolling back and forth.  The day was awesome; thousands of birds, swarms of bait fish, and dolphins to keep us entertained between salmon hits.

First fish brought in!

I promised Bill I would not show pictures of his chumming for us.  He was such a good sport spending most of the day just feeling ______ .  He was so happy to come back in over "The Bar" again (in worse condition then when we went out).

The end of the day's fishing!

Linda and RB with one of the Chinook (but why the small one?)

RB and Mike with the catch of the day.

And me with my first ever salmon!  

We all have our bucket lists of things we would like to see and do in life before the end comes.  Sometimes we are given a freebie in what is handed to us that is not on our list.  This day was not on my list but I am so thankful it was added to it.  We live in an exceptional wonderful world with so many unique experiences....I am so thankful that this one was given to me to have on my 'bucket list'.  Thank you Bill - I love you.

Happy free gifts of life to all of us.





 

"Ugly" can be a Challenge!

Six months ago I was at the local quilt store and Charlie, the owner, caught me at a very weak moment.  She has a yearly quilt challenge that I've participated in before and past on it last year due to the theme.  Well, this year isn't much better (gosh, I hope she doesn't know that I blog!!).  So I have procrastinated and quite frankly totally forgot that I had the fabric for this year's challenge.

The challenge is called: "Shades of the 60's".  Okay, so I am old enough to have gone through the 60's with the hippies, flower children, sit-in's, etc.  But that said I was also busy raising a family so never got involved in the cultural happenings of the time.  

To put it mildly, the fabric doesn't do a thing for me and couldn't imagine doing anything with the panel.

Are those 'magic mushrooms' ?  Rule No. 5: Entry must be suitable for viewing by any age group.  I wonder what Charlie was thinking of when she wrote that.  

And then there were three 1/2 yard pieces that came with this.

More mushrooms!!!!  So if you don't like what you have to work with - cut it up and use it as color.  Everything goes with white!

By George, I am beginning to like it !

More later as this one progresses.

Happy sunny days and quiet time to quilt.

 

Something Fishy!

Years ago Gaylen and I went to Joanne's and picked up this really whimsical fish fabric.  We were both going to make new purses for work.  Gaylen made a purse and used it.  Mine became one of those UPs until this last week!

Happy Fishing!

What to do with UPs?

If you quilt, you probably have plenty of UPs.  And you are wondering what are UPs...they are what I call Unfinished Projects.  And do I have plenty! (just ask Bill.)

I wish I could claim originality on this project but since I can't let me share with you how simple it is.

Take a quilted UP and cut it into a square.  What size - doesn't matter, just so it is square.

This was going to be a purse but now it will be transformed into a hanging bag.  I am using a 12 1/2 square and the only reason for this size is I have a square ruler that size.

If the back is ugly with a lot of stitches then add a new backing.  You will have a top, batting, and backing (or lining).

Then add binding to two sides, and zig zag the edge of the other two sides.

  Then add a little hanging strap to it.

 Tack two opposite corners before bringing up the third corner.

  When the third corner is secured than it is time to whip stitch the openings closed.

And..... this is what you will have in the end!

Now isn't that cute! (and easy).  Instead of having lots of UPs I can see I am going to have a lot of hanging bags!

Happy finishing projects.