Cousins, crafts, and cars

 While in Seattle we stopped at my cousin Janis's house to meet her daughter Rachel's two sons, Wyatt and Barry.  These are two cute boys!  And they love Nascar Racing, thanks to the tutoring of their dad Tim.  We were treated to big smiles for long lost cousins.

Quilt Museum in La Conner, Washington

La Conner boasts a lovely quilt museum in an old, restored Victoria house near the canal.  My favorites were these vintage crazy quilts, circa 1886.  The detail and diversity of each patch, not to mention the embroidery, were outstanding.  Family stories were stitched into every piece.

The upper two floors of the museum held changing exhibits.  These beaded quilt tapestries caught my eye.  Below is the panel "July" in a calendar series.  The artist also dyed lots of the fabric he uses to enhance the incredible beadwork.  

Vehicles, old and new.  We had to do a bit of truck/car/motorhome rearranging once we arrived in Washington.  So here's the new blue Ford car, the replacement motorhome, and a nostalgic look at the Bering Straight which currently resides in Ken and Barb's yard in Washington.

Seeing Seattle

Ross and I arrived to a warm welcome at Elisa and Jake's in South Lake Union.  After a short night on the town (mmmm, martinis . . . ) we returned to their home for a late night dinner that featured chicken and fresh veggies from Whole Foods.  Yummy fresh vegetables are such a treat to us tired, snow-bound Alaskans!

Junie and I took an early morning walk to the space needle.  Since she wouldn't take my picture, I had to settle for a self portrait.

Now, I love my "artsy" shot of the space needle reflected in the Jimi Hendrix Experience Museum building, although I have received comments that it looks like a palm tree, or worse . . . 

Here are two round orange things I enjoyed in Seattle:  a large, garrish, painted labyrinth on the pavement outside the museum and glazed, roasted grapefruit for breakfast!

In the afternoon we were treated to a wine tasting class with Elisa, Jake, and some of their friends.  Hard to tell from this photo if Jake or Ross had fun, but that lovely French lady knows how to have a good time with wine.  We sampled pinots: three whites and three reds, from Oregon, California, France, and Italy.  I must admit, my favorites come from the Dundee area in the Red Hills, Oregon.

On Down the Alcan

So here the are largest skiis in the world. We thought of you, Paulie!

Next stop, Quesnel, British Columbia, where we visited with Archie and Hennie, the wonderful in-laws of our wonderful neice Mary.

The Rest of the Alcan

We stopped at this perfect little road house for the advertised "Best Cinnamon Buns in the World." Alas, they were not baking that day.

 But look what we found at Toad Creek Cafe: my favorite Canadian food (next to butter tarts, that is), poutine. This dish consisted of french fries, motzarella cheese, smothered in canned gravy. Truly a feast for the arteries.

The Road South from Alaska

Ross, Junie, myself, and our trusty white Chevy pickup with uber large and nice camper left Kenai at 6 AM, Monday, March 20, 2012, bound for the AlCan and points south and east in the Lower 48. Weather: cold, Roads: clear, Enthusiasm: high!

We crossed the boarder into Canada at midnight and kept driving. First night spent in the cab of the truck on the side of the road with the heater running since we hadn't tried out the camper heater yet. The first morning dawned, cramped and bright, and we had great road cafe breakfast at Haines Junction, Yukon Territory. Views of caribou herds, buffalo, and the occasional moose and sheep were inspiring.

Oops, I'm sleeping as we drive along (Ross was awake and driving) and wake up as snow is flying into the windshield. The truck caught a tire in the snow and pulled us into a snow bank. We were buried on the passenger side, Junie landed in the front seat, but the truck was running and the camper in tact. What should drive by, but a tow truck??? Well, it took the second tow truck, growing darkness and cold, and some imspiring moves by the driver, and we were pulled out and on our way! Enthusiasm level: relieved and still optimistic!

Here are a few photos before and after Jake and Elisa's wedding ceremony in Ibiza, Spain, June 30, 2011. It was a Jewish ceremony (note the yamakas on the men!) on a wonderfully sunny afternoon at an organic mountain ranch. Thor is represented in these photos with his own lovely bride Erica and her sister Christine who came along for more Kendall Style Fun. Yes, Jake broke the glass and repeated vows in Hebrew! The late afternoon ceremony was followed by a toast, cocktails and snacks, dancing with a live band interspersed with the different courses of dinner, a dessert bar, and then a discoteque for more dancing and glow in the dark eye-wear, before the bus ride back to the beach at 2 AM.

Outlet Cape Summer 2009