My European Vacation - Day Three - Champs Elysees

It is 9:30 PM and M has gone to bed. I have never seen this kid go to bed so early in a LONG time. Of course despite her confidence that she would wake up at noon this morning, she was awake at 7:30 AM. When you go to bed at 8 PM - what do you expect!!!!!

I have to admit that I am tired too - it is a lot of walking around and probably still the effects of the flight.
Back on our bikes and down town to catch the ON/OFF bus again. We had a two day pass and planned to make the maximum use of it. We took two different lines (blue and orange) this morning with interesting sites, but we did not get off anywhere. However it has really helped to orientate us in the city so it has been most useful.

Tourists here are worse than cattle. Apparently the blue bus hadn't come for a bit (they are supposed to come every 10 minutes or so) and when the blue bus arrived - the people just piled on through the rear doors barely allowing the people who wanted to get off - get off. It was a sad sight to say the least. The bus was crowded and we decided to wait until the next one which was a wise choice as it was much less crowded.

Here is M on the ON/OFF bus.

M on the ON/OFF bus. Notre Dame square is in the background.

Oh yes and first thing this morning, I found a new memory card for the camera so I was set for the day. Anyway on the first line we (M) spotted her favourite restaurant. Remember from the previous out west trip - what was that?????  Oh yes - Subway of course. Well once we got off the bus, it was lunch time and we decided to make our way to Subway. Why not!!!!!   So we had a bit of a walk - well 10 minutes and voila - there was Subway. I mean I am getting us around here like there is no tomorrow. No wrong turns yet!!!!

M in front of Subway

We took our lunch and ate it in the Jardin de Luxembourg. It was very hot in the restaurant and much more pleasant in the garden.

M enjoying her Subway lunch in the park

We should have ventured a little further so we could have had this view for lunch

Jardin du Luxembourg - you can just see the tip of the Eiffel Tower  on the right.

Then we hit the WC (cost .40 E) - at least they loos are clean so you don't mind to pay. And I think I have figured out why it takes women so long to use a public washroom. The men (NOTHING in their hands - just run in - do their business and rush out again). The women - have to take a lot of stuff into a tiny stall  - then figure out what to do with it all - then they have to get half undressed - do their business - then get dressed and assemble all their stuff. Honestly - the lines for the women's bathrooms are always long!!!!!!!

M is getting good at figuring out stuff as well and we had agreed (her idea) to get bikes and ride to Champs Elysees. No problem. When we came to a number of streets - she decided which one looked more likely to have bikes on it and she was right!!!!!   As we were unlocking our bikes - a lady asked us if we were taking one bike or two. At first I thought - hmmmm - is she really concerned for our safety???   No - it was just that both her and someone else wanted to return bikes and there was only ONE spot open (where M had taken her bike). When I released my bike - she was able to get her bike locked up. I mean this system is just the slickest in the world. I would NOT own a car if I lived here!!!!!

We haven't got pictures of the bikes yet - but we will. Then we rode to Champs Elysees. I mean - head for the river - turn left and VOILA!!!!!!   It was great once we hit the bike lane - then it was easy. Oh yes - did I mention that the bike lane is also the BUS lane and the TAXIS lane. Yes - a tad unnerving, but we have managed just fine and it works very well when you are going in the right direction!!!!!!

Then we zipped along the edge of Place de la Concorde (past the gendarmie at the US consulate where I didn't stop in the right place and was motioned forward by the gendarmie!!!!)   Then we hit the Champs Elysees. I HAD to ride part of it in honour of the Tour de France. So we went about half way up. Then we saw the bike station on our left and hopped over there and locked up the bikes. OK - so everyone can probably tell that we are tourists on the bikes as we DO NOT zip around like idiots -we tend to walk some of the intersections!!!!!

Next a leisurely stroll up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triumphe. This thing is HUGE!!!!!   The question of the day was HOW DOES ONE CROSS THE many lines of traffic to get there. There must be an underground tunnel, but NOT well marked. We risked life and limb (along with many others and ran for it!!!!)

M at the Arc de Triumphe

We decided to NOT wait in line to climb to the top of this monument. Just too many lines for everything. But we DID find the underground tunnel to get safely back to the street.

M in the tunnel to get from Arc de Triumphe to the street

A lesiurely (how can fighting the human traffic be leisurely!!!) stroll down Champs Elysees. I mean there were so many people it was INSANE. 

M on the Champs Elysees - well the sidewalk part

Yes - you say - there are not a lot of people here. You are right - this is next to the park, NOT the stores. The stores were INSANE. You would have thought people had never seen a store before. The Disney store was NUTS. We went in just for a peek. M did pick up some stuff at H&M which were very reasonably priced. Of course - there is the big face - I want MORE!!!!!   But we still have 10 days here - can't spend everything all at once!!!!

We think we were very clever in that we realized that the yellow line of the ON/OFF bus was right by our hotel. And we could catch the yellow bus very close near the Place de la Concorde which is at the bottom of Champs Elysees. So we meandered over to the bus stop. On the way - we found this store for Marian.

What are those goodies??????

Why - it is a store devoted (I think) to just selling macaroons!!!!  We didn't buy any - they were quite pricey and we  have seen others!!!

OK - NETBOOKS suck when you are trying to do stuff. 

Then we hopped on board the yellow bus (no crowds of rude tourists at this stop) and then the bus took us pretty much to our hotel. Not even a five minute walk!!!!   How is that for getting around. Oh yes - not before we passed the Sex Shops and the Moulin Rouge!!!!!  It is very hard to get pictures if you are NOT on the right side of the bus - then all your photos has someone's head in them!!!!!   Will have to do some serious editing on those ones. 

We hadn't really had much time to explore around our hotel, but it is very near Place Republique which is a HUGE square (OK - rectangle) with MANY MANY streets all running into the square. We found a small grocery store and picked up some provisions. I wanted some fruit!!!!  All those croissants and breads are killing me!!!!

We also found a small cafe that we could have dinner - so after hitting the hotel and dropping our stuff off - we headed back to the cafe. Remember all the chairs face outward in the cafe so we had a great time just people watching. We have decided that this area (while still touristy) is not huge like some of the areas and that is just perfect. No one trying to sell us stuff and not a single miniature Eiffel Tower in sight!!!!  While we were people watching we came up with more observations about Paris - here are our insights:

1. The split between people who own bikes and those who take the public bikes is about 50/50 - hey why would you own your own bike when these ones are taken care of for you - no parking the bike - no worries about it getting stolen. (Can you tell I like the bikes??)

2. The number of scooters and motorcycles (well we had a discussion about what were scooters, what were motorbikes and were those other tiny things - mopeds or mini-bikes?????? - anyway the number of them is insane!!!!

3. Almost all the vans are TAXIS

4. I think we have seen ONE SUV the entire time

5. Paris drivers are incredibly PATIENT - you hardly hear a horn honk and TRUST ME - there are MANY TIMES when back home - we would have laid on the horn.

6. NO ONE respects the traffic signals - OK - so the cars do, but bikes and people do NOT!!!

7. People ride their bikes/scooters/motorcycles in whatever. We seen a lady - very chicly dressed with beautiful high heels on her scooter or was that a motorcycle?????

8. You could do a FABULOUS book - just of the doors into the courtyards here (or maybe the windows or the grills on the windows). Each one seems to be different - the doors anyway and even the windows - so many different styles. They are fascinating!!!!   I took lots of pictures - I will try to post another day.

9. NO BUGS - I love this part - we sleep with the window wide open and no screens. Of course - then we have the noise of the street which usually lets up around 11 and starts again at 6 AM. I must remember to close the window - or else get up at 6 and close it. 

10. Eating in a restaurant is very expensive, - I mean - we saw a double cheeseburger for 22 E tonight. No - we did NOT order that!!!!!

Well there you have it - we have set out a plan for the rest of our vacation - we did that over dinner and now have to find the reservations and timings to make it all happen. At least we have good internet where we are so that should not be a problem. 

I see it is 10:30 PM and time for bed!!!!!!   

Oh yes - as I mentioned yesterday - the quilt store I went to was closed. Well Marian looked up another one for me and it is three metro stops (or a short walk away!!!!). M is going to have a good sleep in and I am going to investigate!!!!

Have a great day!!!!!!

Ciao!!!! (Bonjour!!)

My European vacation - Day two - The Eiffel Tower!

I forgot to tell you about our sleep last night. I lay on my bed last night and dozed, then dozed some more and finally decided I needed to get changed for bed and get under the covers. After reading a bit - I was out around 11:30. Only to be WOKEN up at 1:30 by the damn phone ringing!!!!!!    Someone - the front desk????   is saying "I have your camera or was it phone?" and I can't even remember whether it was in French or English. I hear all kinds of commotion in the background then the person asks "aren't you from Brasil?". No Canada - and I hung up. I was ticked off because then I thought I would not be able to go back to sleep, but that was no problem. I was fast asleep soon enough.

After a leisurely start to the day - we got up at 8 AM, we got ready and decided to bike down to Notre Dame first and then grab a croissant there. No more of these carb laden breakfasts for us - too expensive and more than what we need.

The bike station is just around the corner from the hotel and with M's help got the machine to spit out two temporary memberships and then released two bikes - we stuffed our stuff in the basket and we were off. A word of advice to anyone who is thinking of using the bike system - well it is loads of fun, and not that bad at all. However we could not adjust the height of one of the seats and it was pretty high. So I felt like an idiot riding the thing, but we managed just fine. Honestly from our hotel - we go down ONE street and we have arrived. No turning - NOTHING!!!!!   (A word of caution - bikes don't have to worry about ONE WAY STREETS) A tad harrowing considering the width of the street and with traffic parked on one side - there is not really a lot of room for a bike and a car. But we managed no problems. Found a place to dump the bikes off and we were off for the day. The nice thing - these bike stations are EVERYWHERE and it should't be a big deal to get to the other places we want to go - again - one street basically in a different direction and we are there!!!!!   Paris is pretty easy to get around - we haven't gotten lost yet!!!!!

We grabbed a croissant from one of the MANY small cafes and sat in the square at Notre Dame and ate while we watched the crowds in the square. Hey where do all these people come from????????  And certainly NOT a lot of english to be heard.

Then we were off to find the on/off bus station which was a five minute walk from Notre Dame - hey did you notice that Notre Dame is our HOME BASE. Well it sure sounds like it!!!!    Anyway - we went for the TWO DAY option on the on/off bus and I am sure glad that we did that. We saw many many of the famous sites of  Paris today - the Louvre, Arc de Triumph, Champs Elysees, the Eiffel Tower, the Opera House - well the list goes on and on. We had decided that we would stop at the Eiffel Tower and spent the greater part of the day there.

Upon arriving, there is a SEA of people under the tower. Where to begin to make sense of what is the line to get in and what isn't. Well we ended up in one line and from there we started our strategy. Aha - there is a line for reservations -  but how does one get a reservation? So while M waited in the line, I went and asked (and you know - my French is coming in pretty handy - we haven't had any issues getting anything  at all and most people would speak English if we did) - anyway - reservations are made ONLINE and MUST be booked at least TWO WEEKS in advance. Marian - did you hear that???????   TWO WEEKS in advance at a minimum. Well at least for this time of year.

Back to tell M about that story. I mean we are in a line (a two hour wait to buy a ticket) and we don't even know how much it costs or anything. OK - we should have checked, but this adventure is more fun. Then I walk around while M waits in the line to see what other options there are because there are lines everywhere or so it seems. Groups - doesn't apply to us, but WAIT A MINUTE - there is a MUCH shorter line if we walk up the tower. WHY NOT!!!!!!   Back to the original line - get M and we get in the line to buy tickets to walk up. Well now there are two lines here - one to buy tickets and then a line for those with tickets. We have met a young Canadian couple at this point and we decide to split our resources - M and the husband go in the line where you have tickets and the wife and myself stay in the line to buy tickets. Their line was MUCH shorter than ours and somehow (I won't ask details) they ended up in the "TO purchase tickets" line but way ahead of us. So we joined them and shortly we were walking up the stairs. But not before our bags were searched and we went through a X-ray machine!!!

The walk was amazing and we took some pictures. First off - the entire tower is amazing - the base of it is HUGE. I mean you can't imagine (unless you have been there) the scope of that base. We walked to the first floor and had a peek around. Great view and the walk - it was nothing. Then we decided to walk to the second level as well. Again that was no big deal - I know you are wondering about knees - well Advil is a wonderful thing. I felt like a spring chicken - well almost.

And instead of paying 13 E to use the elevator, we paid 5 E to walk up. Saved money and got some exercise. After walking around the second level, we decided to bite the bullet and go all the way up!!!  Had a bit of a wait while we purchased a ticket and then qued up to take the elevator (no stairs) to the top. WOW - I am not a keen one for heights, but the elevator was gentle and slow and I even took pictures on the way up. The view - it is spectacular. I mean - it is gorgeous and of course if you really want - you can have a glass of champagne (for a price) at the top. Hey - I'm too old for that so I just went to the loo instead!!!!   You know how it is when you get older - and someone told me this - when you are older, NEVER pass up the opportunity to go to the washroom!!!!  And now I can brag that I took a pee at the top of the Eiffel Tower!!!

After our look around and trying to take a picture of the two of us (by ourselves) we qued up to take the elevator down. Back to level two and then took the slanted elevator down to level one where we decided to have lunch. Although it was about 2 at this point so it was a late lunch. We ate in one of the restaurants there - but I wouldn't recommend it. Although the food was good - it was pricey and I didn't think it was a good value (yes miss cheap skates here!!!!). I think we have learned that the sit down meals here are way more pricey than they need to be and you can have just as good a meal grabbing something on the go  - like at the cafeteria also on the first level at Eiffel Tower. Well live and learn - at least we can say we ate in the Eiffel Tower. Don't forget I have miss fussy eater with me so it is NOT worth our while to sit down.

Rather than wait for the elevator down, we decided to take the stairs again and before I could stop M - she is off down the set of stairs that we came up, DESPITE the fact that there was a BIG flashing DO NOT ENTER sign. Of course - because these people are coming up and we are going down. Let's just hope they let us out at the bottom and DO NOT make us come back up. When we got to the bottom - the guy was going to do just that, but some girls ahead of us (why do the girls NOT pay attention) managed to get the security guard to let them out and we followed. After taking some more pictures of the Tower, we walked across the Seine and took pictures of the beautiful fountain and then went in search of the bus stop.

We took the remainder of the tour, but I really wanted a nap. I was tired and wanted to put my feet up, but that was not an option - the bus was full. When we at last arrived at the Notre Dame stop - I was revived a bit and we decided to so a little shopping along the VERY TOURIST part of town with all the tourist stuff they throw at you. M picked up a couple of things and then since the quilt store (YES THERE IS A QUILT STORE IN PARIS) was very close by - we walked to the quilt store. M kept saying DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING????   AN address would be nice - HEY I told her - I have it under control and yes I led us RIGHT to the quilt store. I mean - I am in my element. Must be all that geocaching that has honed my tracking skills. Anyway we arrived at the quilt store to find that it is closed. Well not closed, but they are closed - on vacation (as are a number of other places). Want to know the dates it is closed - oh yeah - the entire time we are here!!!!!    CRAP CRAP CRAP - that means a certain someone has to come back and get me something when she comes here!!!!   It is not far from Notre Dame!!!!!

Then M was tired and wanted to come back to the hotel. We had a discussion about being on vacation and being tired and all that. I mean the evening was gorgeous. Anyway we settled on getting some take out (hot dogs on a baguette with swiss cheese!!!!!) which we ate - again in Notre Dame square - do you see a pattern here??????   Then we got our bikes and biked back. I LOVE LOVE LOVE those bikes. They are so cool and every where you go - there are lots of people riding them - locals and tourist alike. I don't know who rides them more, but I bet the locals outnumber the tourists. I mean you really can't ride one and NOT smile - they are that cool.

We planned our day for tomorrow while eating our dinner and it should be relatively relaxing - NOT!!!!!   Poor M cannot keep up with me. You would think that youth would be way faster than age, but that is NOT the case here. Although I have to say that the couple of times I had to get up from sitting for an extended period of time- my knees creaked to attention and then needed a bit of oiling before they would do anything. I feel like a cripple!!!!!!

We have extended our stay at this particular hotel for an extra day. It is very centrally located for us to get anywhere and we have the bikes so why not. Now we are relaxing - M has fallen asleep - I told her not to miss that night of sleep, but she says she just had a hard day - up too early!!!!!   Good grief!!!!

Throughout the day we have made some observations about Paris. Here are our top 10
1. They SMOKE A LOT here and is it just the locals?????
2. It is a very clean city - there are garbage bins everywhere and people use them
3. There are TOILETTES everywhere. I mean the French know how to treat their visitors!!!!!   Of course there are lineups, but at least there are TOILETTES
4. Even though lots of people smoke, there are few butts around!
5. There are a LOT of police around and sometimes you see four or five in the same police car. I mean why do they need so many in one spot and there are LOADS of police cars around
6. There are ARMED army guys everywhere with GUNS - machine guns that are probably loaded and they go in packs of three. At least it keeps anything from happening!!!!!
7. While there are a lot of bicycles - they are vastly outnumbered by the amount of scooters and motorcycles. WOW - every size, and colour you can imagine. Including pink ones, one with roofs and lap covers. Oh yes - the French love their comfort!!!!
8. There are cafes everywhere and the chairs all face outward!!!!   No it would not do to have your back face the street - no you MUST face the street so you can watch the people!!!!
9. People ride their bikes wearing just about anything and everything. High heels, suits, short skirts, dresses, you name it. Even saw one person on their cell phone.
10. People DO NOT text here like back home. Perhaps because most people are from another country and do not want to pay roaming charges, but phones are NOT as prevalent as back home and you know what - that is GOOD. I think M is going through withdrawal which is why she is so tired!!!!!!


Well - at first I thought I had forgotten the battery for my small camera, then I found it. Now however I have realized that I forgot to bring extra memory card for the big camera. And I filled the stupid card today. However I had my small camera with me and M had her big one, so we still got pictures. Tomorrow - I will try to find a new memory card.

Yes - we are having so much fun - well M has to pick up the pace a bit, but overall we are having fun. Got to work on that food thing of hers or we will be eating burgers and hotdogs on baguettes all week!!!!!  I want a beer at a cafe watching the people!!!!   I might have to just go by myself!!!!  

No geocaching tonight - it is now dark and I have to say that I am tired myself.

I will try to get pictures loaded in the morning, but for now you just get the story.


Have a great day!!!!


Ciao (bonjour!!!!)

My European vacation - day one

travel days are very tiring. We got on our flight to Paris at 7:30 PM. M in her brilliance and desire to sleep on theplane decided to NOT sleep the night before. I think she is going to be in big trouble, but let's see how that goes. Marian was our taxi service to the airport and Sparky ad Sammy came with her. Of course when we got out to get our bags out of the bag of the van, they decided they wanted to come on vacation too and both of them ended up out of the van. Fortunately we were quickly able to herh them back inot the car. Silly girls - then they were very sad that they couldn't come with us, but I am sure they will have fun at their sleep over with Kaylee!!!

We had to wait in line for over 1/2 hour to drop off our luggage, but then we were whisked through security and had a bite to eat and loads of time to board the plane. We had decided to pay a little extra so we culd have extra leg room on the flight. So we were near the back of the plane by the exit door - each of us on opposite sides of teh plane. However when we arrived - the view from the window - well there was no window right at this spot. Darn! Since I had a couple sitting next to me and there was currently no one sitting next to M - I decided to sit with her. then this GIANT of a man sat down with M, and I was stuck in the middle!!!! At least there was plenty of leg room! Once the flight got started, I found a row with NO ONE in it and took over that spot. Had a great, albeit short sleep on the plane and soon we were having our snack before landing.

Was fun to fly over Ireland and England and see how varied the farm lands are from Canada. Very higgledy piggledy compared to our grid system.

We get off the plane, go through customs and arrive at the luggage carousel. Oooops - there goes my suitcase and we missed it so had to wait for the next go around.

GOt our lugage and then off to catch the train to Paris. We easily found the train and made it to Gare du Norde where we switched from the train to the Metro. Two stops later and we arrive at our Metro Stop - REpulique. Asked at the information girl in the Metro where our street was and we were on the streets of Paris!!!!! After looking about for a minute or two - there was the street and there was the hotel!!!! I mean we had NO problems getting here at all. Almost too easy!

The hotel lobby is so small that we had to wait outside while a layd with her husband and stroller were asking some information. Well it isn't quite that small, but was just easier to wait outside!!!! Yes we were at the right hotel, but our room was NOT ready. WE knew that since we were arriving at 11:00 AM. We rejigged our luggage and left it in the lobby (not what I wanted, but that is what everyone else did). Then we were off. We had our guide book and were going exploring!

We walked down to the Seine - it is about 1 Km from the hotel. Disney has transformed some of the Quais beside the Seine into a BEACH. Who would have known!!!! Sand castles, places to relax and lots of sand!!!!! In the square in front of Hotel de ville, you can play beach volleyball!!!! Only Disney would do that!

We found a small cafe (OK - so it is hard to choose which one!!!) so we could have breakfast. What did we have - well baggette, croissants, pain du chocolate (little rolls with chocolate in them), real orange juice and hot chocolate). Yikes - my arteries are hardening as I think about that. All that BREAD - we had better do a lot of walking to get rid of those calories!!!

We went to Ile de France and looked at the HUGE line to get into Notre Dame and decided it would be better to come here first thing in the morning to avoid that long line. We stopped at some of the tourist shops - holy cow - there is so much of the same!!!!! On our walk down Rue du Temple to get to the Seine - we noticed tons of jewlery shops but all selling to wholesale only. And a button shop also selling only to wholesale - DRAT.

Well time to get back to our hotel as we are both tired and need a nap. Poor M (in her sleep deprived state is listless and practically dead!!!) The hotel is Hotel Bruxelles Paris and the room is cute!!!! WE actually have a triple - so one double bed and a single. Guess who got the double bed? But no worry it was a bed.

We also got access to the internet - 5 E a day and only ONE computer. Ooops - my iPad got connected first so she was ticked about that, but hey we have managed!!!!

The keyboard to the iPad works like a charm and much easier to write a blog from the keyboard than the keyboard on the Ipad. No pictures though - those will have to be added in later. Sorry.

Anyway - then M decided to have a REAL nap and I was sitting here with nothing to do. I got myself prepared and went geocaching!!!!! I found the first one no problem except that there were lots of people around and it was garbage day in Paris so had to wait for the garbage men to finish the street and then I went and found it no problem. There was supposed to be a lot of travel bugs in this cache and I had my eye on a couple, but there were both gone when I arrived. Ha - there is someone just ahead of us it seems. I left one - a coin that Carol had unearthed and then I went in search of another one, but I didn't find it. It is intimidating when the security people from Hotel de Ville are just across the street - I guess they won't go away so I just have to search for it!!!!

Made it back to the hotel - I mean really it is so easy to get around here. Haven't got lost ONCE. I seem to have this keen sense of direction (no I did not use the GPS) and very easy to find our way back to the hotel and down to the river.

I had left the key with M (asleep in the room) and after banging on the door - I had to get the hotel staff to let me in!!! It took a while to get her moving, but finally we went out for dinner. THere are mre cafes in our neighbourhood and after going around the corner - we find a McDonald's, A KFC and a Buffalo Grill. We chose the Buffalo Grill - yes M hasn't developed a keen sense of experimentation at food but she had better learn - I am NOT eating at chains for the rest of the vacation.

Then the ppor kid was practically comatose by this point so back to the hotel.

The weather was werid all day - sunny, then cloudy and NOT too warm. We were glad we had pants on, although I am sure you would have been fine with shorts. And sweaters. Of course M thinks she needs to buy a COAT and the one she saw was only 289 E!!!!!

It is so fun to poke your head out the windows here - no screens and everything looks so quaint!!!!

M crawled into bed and added blanket to her bed. She just woke up and my goodness - she had sweat pants, two blankets and the coverlet of the bed. I was sweating just looking at her. It is NOT that cold and I see she has the window open again. Actually we have TWO windows in our hotel.

My knees are KILLING me - both of them!!! I can see it is going to be an Advil kind of vacation and LOTS and LOTS of stretching. Drat!!!!

But today instead of walking we are going to rent bikes. My goodnesss - the bikes are EVERYWHERE. They are CHEAP and basically to be used to get from A to B, not for touring. So we are going to ride to the river and catch the On/OFF bus and have a tour of the city.

Anyway - let;s hope we can get M a little more awake today and a little more adventurous with the food and life will be just fine!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!


Ciao! or should I say BONJOUR!!!!!!!

That's what FRIENDS are for!!!!!

I have the BEST friends in the entire world.

To make a long story SHORT - I had a quilt that URGENTLY needed the binding hand stitched down. I was running out of time (when am I not!!!!)

Marian (the VERY BEST FRIEND in the whole wide world) arranged with some of my other friends to come and help stitch the binding down (she didn't even ask me). And surprisingly with very short notice - they came. Six people ended up coming on Friday to help. I mean does it get any better than that??????   It was SO NICE to see everyone again and get caught up on the summer news (oh yes and the binding did get sewn down)


THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU ladies - I so appreciate the help and the company.

The binding BEE

 And what did the girls do while the ladies worked????

Sammy and Sparky - NAPPING

Kaylee - destroyed a toy!!!!  (what else is new!)

Yesterday I taught a class on hand quilting. I do very little hand quilting, but once you have the technique down - well it is like riding a bike - you never forget. I have a couple of small projects that I want to hand quilt - I must put those on the TO DO list.

Since getting home I have been rather lethargic - partly due to the weather, partly because I am getting ready for another adventure and I was just moping around the house. Then it hit me what the problem was - I DID NOT have a list of things to do!!!!!!   Once I made a list - then I became more energetic and FOCUSED. See what five weeks away can do - I forgot everything I had learned!!!!

Well I have been ripping through my list of TO DOs. Amazing what we attempt to get done as we attempt to get ready to leave. What do we think we are???   Superwoman or something???

One of the things on my list was to get several e-mails out. However I had trouble with Outlook when I got home so was reading e-mail off the web site (which I didn't like). I had so many e-mails (you don't even want to know how many) in Outlook that I was having trouble deleting e-mails which is ironic if you think about it. I decided yesterday that it was time to update my Outlook - I had version 2002!!!!!   Yep - 10 year old software. I broke down and bought 2010. Installed it and of course - I'm not sending - I'm not receiving. The program isn't responding. Well all that crap. Anyway - GUESS WHAT - with a bit of perseverance and threats to call for assistance - I got everything working!!!!!!!    And now that I have ONENOTE and tons of more options in e-mail - I PROMISE to myself to clean up the inbox. Of course - DELETE works just as well and much more quickly!!!!!!

That is going to be part of my TO DO when I am back. I have to get the paper (or communication) side of my life set up. That is going to be tough - but I am ready to be ruthless. It's got to go!!!!!!

On that note - I have one more e-mail to sent this AM - then I have Monday Motivators. I've missed the girls and looking forward to seeing them.

Don't forget to call a friend today - they are the best thing in the entire world!!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!

One Block Wonder

Back to work!  Taught a class on One Block Wonder yesterday. This is one of my favourite classes and definitely one of my favourite quilts. The problem is that when you start making these - you want to cut up everything to see what it would look like.

Here are the blocks the girls made yesterday......

Blanca

Also Blanca

Daphne

Erica

Linda

Another Linda (obviously!!)

Lynn

Maria

Maria (same fabric - who knew!!) which way do you prefer?????   This way????

How about this????

or this??????    Too many choices!!!!

Micaela

Shelley

I SHOULD have taken pictures BEFORE they cut the fabric. Drat!!!!   I can see that my blog story/picture taking skills have deteriorated whilst on vacation. We had better fix that!!!!!

Anyway - if you haven't taken one of these classes - you should consider it. There is another one scheduled in the fall at the Hobby Horse. On October 29 to be exact. Give them a call and get signed up - it is a FUN FUN FUN class. Lots of work, but LOTS of fun. And the end result - well who knows. But you know you have a fabric in your stash that you were going to use for stack n whack - well it will work for one block wonder and is more fun!!!!


Got to run and get prepared for my class today - hand quilting and it's full - 11 people - who knew!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Geocaching Saskatchewan style - wait there is a quilt at the end of this blog!!!!!!

I introduced my parents to geocaching a couple of years ago and they have become fanatics. Too bad that in Saskatchewan, the caches are few and far between - well fewer than in other places!  And for some reason we did not geocache in BC - hmmmm - we had lots of time. And only got one in Alberta. Well that was THEN - this is NOW!!!!

On day 1 - Caroline and I decided to try our luck with a long hike on an island between the Battlefords. No problem - WRONG. We ran into a bit of mud, but no disasters - then a major DISASTER - mosquitoes. I am not kidding - STUPID me was out in shorts with NO BUG SPRAY, although I had a long sleeve sweater on despite the heat. Lots of long grass - let's just say we hustled - oh yeah - instead of turning back - we forged on. Then we came to a washout - literally the road (the island is a sandbar) had fallen into the river because of the high waters. We tackled rose bushes to get past the washout. Quickly found the cache which was even further into the woods (were we not isolated enough???? - the hike was almost 1 KM). When we arrived back at the truck, my mom asks me "what was in the cache???". Hey - I didn't take time to check - just signed the book and  left in a BIG hurry. My legs were COVERED in mosquito welts. I thought I was in for a bad day.

We attempted several others that day - some successful and some not. Oh yes - we found one that we thought would be very close to the road - it was a perfect spot - a nice view point of the river. BUT no - we had to traipse through another field and found a box of books. After exchanging two books, we hiked back to the car. No mosquitos - well fewer this time!!!!

After the girls left to come back home - we could get down to some serious caching. I mean we were out for at least 12 hours and only had to come back home because the sun went down!!!!!

Besides the mosquitos - it was an interesting experience.

Let's just say that caching in rural Saskatchewan brings its own challenges. Something else to remember - there had been a LOT of rain.

What does that mean???   Well things grow fast and thick and high with lots of rain.

Side of the road where a cache is hidden on the other side of this clover

Clover almost as high as me in places. It was thick like walking through dense underbrush. The ditches were steep at this part, but thankfully dry

See how steep the silly ditch was and you can see my previous path through the clover

That's the stone marker (no not for the cache) and my dad in the background

Stone marker for an old school built over 100 years ago. School is long gone. Geocaching in a learning experience here. So many small towns, communities and all of them gone and markers like this are all that remain. 

Close up of plaque on the stone marker for Lynne School.

Where the cache was hidden - yes MORE deep grass. 

We were not in the municipality where I grew up and this next bit was new to me.

A summer road??????

Hmmmm - obviously not well used!!!!

See what I mean!!!!!   We did not have to drive on this one, and the ones we did drive on - were in better shape than this one!

We also passed many sloughs on the side of the road. In some cases, the road was literally a ribbon through the slough. Yikes - let's hope my Dad is a good driver!!!!!

We encountered MANY ditches that were full of water. 

So full that the cache was FLOODED out. We must have hit three or four that we could NOT access because of high water. Here you can see I need to go 6 M west right into a bug infested slough. I THINK NOT!!!!!!

What other hazards did we encount

Another summer road. No problem? Well look again 

Oh yes - this was completely submerged - I don't think this is passable even with the four wheel drive. It was frustrating because when we hit a road like this - we had to detour and sometimes couldn't get at it from the other side or would find the cache submerged in water!!!!!!

BIG holes in the road and sometimes even closed roads - I forgot to take a picture!!!!!   And yes - there was another cache at that rock on the right!!!!   My Dad and I made a good team - what I couldn't find - he found. Actually I think he had a better count than I did. 

Down trees. This was on a good enough road - we could go around the tree, but on other roads - well we had to hike in. 

Bridges - ah bridges. Well we clambered under, over and onto MANY bridges including this one in the distance. And once we read the clues and actually found the cache - there was NO NEED to do what we did!!!   Ah - all the fun of geocaching.  

Yes - I got smart and put pants on. Here is a sampling of the mosquitos!  This was the front part of my legs which are NOT the yummy parts

We also had our run in with burrs

And more burrs!!!!!!

And mud - let's not forget the mud!!!!!   (These are my cycling shoes by the way!!!)

Oh yes - my cycling shoes took a beating - not on the trip, but while geocaching. Why you ask????   Well - let me tell you the story!

Back to the island between the Battlefords. There are four caches in total on the island - hey - it is a HUGE island. The bridge to the island is pretty much in the middle - so two caches on one side and two on the other. Last year - we managed to get a cache on either side - the two closest ones. Caroline and I managed to get one of the farther ones on the more densely vegetated side. I knew the path on the other side was easier to access and to make short work of it all - I would ride my bike!!!!   Now there are trails all over the place and in keeping with some STUPID philosophy and because it is hard to watch the GPS while riding - I also took the fork to the right!!!   WRONG!!!!!   Next thing I know - I am riding in 6 inches of WATER!!!!  (Hey - it was hidden by the grass)  I almost make it through and just couldn't get the last couple of feet - so yes - I had to put my feet down - no I did NOT fall). Needless to say - my shoes took a beating. They were instantly soaked. After looking at the GPS - crap - this was NOT the right way. So back through the water and then on the other trail. Then took a right turn again - this time through MUD. After checking the GPS - no the right fork was NOT the right one AGAIN. CRAP. Then up and down through some gullies - roots, tree branches - crap - I need a MOUNTAIN BIKE not a touring bike. However I persevered and made it to the cache. Yeah!!!!!   Let's just say that the trip back to the truck was quite quick and very uneventful.

On my way back - I stopped at the other cache because I knew it had travel bugs in it. Only to find the caches, the bag protecting the cache and EVERYTHING in the cache FULL OF WATER. CRAP - it was a mess. Then I grabbed the bugs and went back.

Later in the day I decided to check this cache out on line and saw that there was ONE MORE BUG in the cache. CRAP - I wanted to rescue it because of the water damage so back to the island - back on the bike (no mishaps this time) and SAVED the bug!!!!!


It was a good day and we found some CLEVERLY disguised caches......

Eagle eyed Dad found this one (there was a jar inside the tin) amongst all the other dead trees!!!!!   I'd still be looking for that one!!!!

How about this for clever!!!!!   It was upside down in a garden!!!!   Hey - I found this one. I guess I am better in an urban environment!!!

And yes - some were ordinary finds!!!!!

Found this magnet in one of the caches. I thought it was appropriate for our days work. And while we hated to give up - we did have to give up on a few - the ones with the water and others that we just could NOT find. All in all - I think we found over 50 of them in 2 1/2 days!!!!!

To add a quilty flavour to this post - I think I will have to make a geocaching quilt. Here are some ideas I found on the internet.

geocaching quilt

And here is another - MY FAVOURITE!!!!!

Geocaching quilt

Here is the link to JOE TULIPS blog (the lady who geocaches and made this quilt!!!)

Joe Tulips blog


The other thing I forgot to mention - on day 2 of our geocaching experience I decided to download the geocaching app for the iPad. OMG - this is the most amazing app EVER. We found lots of caches in the area using the iPad. I was tentative at first wondering how much data I was downloading and wondering how much it was going to cost me. I found out it doesn't use much so we used it a lot. It is so much fun and EASY - well easy to get the information - doesn't make it any easier to spot them!!!!!!

After coming back from vacation I really really want to make quilts for my family and friends. I see all kinds of things that would be fun for them. And like I need more quilts!!!!!   OK - got to schedule some time in for that as well. 

On that note - I had better get out of here!!!!!

Ciao!!!!!!