And now... The Ocean!!!

 If you've been reading my vacation posts - you know that we had a few destinations in mind. But everything else was kinda suggested by locals.

We are now at one of the destinations that we really wanted to get to... that was one of our goals....that was on the vacation schedule..., and it was TOTALLY worth it!!

Is that not TOTALLY gorgeous!!!

and the area is so untouched ( so don't ask , cuz you know I won't tell where ha ha!!)

Oh PS - its going to be photo laden again!

One day my friend asked me... mountains of beach?  and I said both. He said - that doesn't exist... and so!!

The photo to prove it is SO!

The coast is just so rocky and I think it is so beautiful!

Can't you just imagine Pirates here too?

Every so often - we send our kids *Proof of Life* photos. and try to make them jealous that they have to work and go to school.   Its payback!

There was a crab shack that I really wanted to go to. WM loves fresh seafood, and I really thought he Would love it... Check out the view from the crab shack.

Want to know how the crabs get to us?   Crab Traps!!!

There was a Barrier to slow the ocean water down - and on it there were a bunch of Crab Trappers - so we took a walk. and check out this seagull - I caught it in the photo!!!!

Now I know why I don't swim there tho!!!

Poppies!!!

It was so awesome - and we ended the day with another little Wine tasting.

We still haven't mastered the selfie and filters - so love us as we are ;-)

Skyline Drive

 We are back to our Vacation photos ;-) 

We saw this one way road and it looked pretty cool - so I was driving and up we went.....

It was very very steep - and very narrown

and on the passenger side... it dropped off pretty quick

but it felt like you were on the top of the world

Until the husband screamed  - stop getting so close to the edge!!

and I told him - i just wanted to see what you see

and he threatened to sell my fabric if I got closer

I am a huge Johnny Cash fan.... so as we kept driving up I started singing:

 

" I drove her out of my mind"   ( but I might have changed it to him.... The husband was not impressed.

Johnny Cash - I Drove her Out of my Mind

Finished or Not Finished Friday

Happy Friday you all!!!
So.... I will sadly admit to not having a finish this week.,.. but!! Do not be sad for me!!

I went on a little Vacation - and I had a blast and I can NOT wait to get back to all my quilty projects now!!!!

My Husband And I headed to the West Coast 

And we had a blast!!

Of course!! More Pics to come!!!

So Link up your awesome finishes ( or not finishes) 

so I can Ohh and Ahh about what you worked on this week!!

********************************

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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WINNERS!!! and.... dreamin' of the Ocean

That was so fun to read about ironing... I sorta thought I might get some snarky answers - but you all... I learned a lot about how we all think, and how we organize our quilting days!! LOOOVE it!!

So Iron EZ offered two free bottle holders to my readers and the winners are.....

Preeti of https://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com/

and Beth - Beth doesn't blog but she was so excited... she never wins anything... so we helped change her luck!!

Thanks Quilters!!
and for those of you who didn't win - you can still purchase one with a 15% off Discount

Use code AQ15off at http://myironez.com

And because I have you...

Ocean photos....

I absolutely LOVE where I live, and wouldn't trade it for anything. But I sure love it when we get a chance to see the ocean. 

I feel like I should be gearing up and heading out to fish on these boats... I would totally love that!
and then come home and make fresh clam chowder... oh ya!

and you know - the drama of Black and White - still one of my favorites

I found a sand dollar!

It was pretty whole, but I left it there

The picture took up less space in my bag ;-)

See you Wednesday for LONE RIDER Clue #5

Simply Sensational Summer Scrap Quilt

Designed by Kevin the Quilter.... 

Is slowly but surely getting there!!!

I sorta like it!!  I tell you - Had I seen this I would have been - no way - Its too hard - but  I think that is the beauty of Mystery Quilts - You make something you may not have just because you are intimidated - and each time I learn something new... a new technique,  a new thought process, or just a new quilt idea in general .

I have the other three corners laid out and ready to stitch, and then we will keep on going and see what I make of it!!

And!! I cleaned in my studio a bit - I have 2 scrap boxes - these are the large boxes - They weigh about 8-10 pounds each and they are all yours... I have two - they are $20 for flat rate shipping - if you want one of them email me at:  AlyciaQuilts   @  Gmail . com ( remove the spaces)

First two to claim them - i can bill you thru paypal and Bam! They will be heading your way for lots of scrappy goodness!

Update... The Scraps are happly rehomed!! Whoot Whoot!!

and just because

It was a crazy busy week

and a crazier Weekend - but 

We all need some Serenity...

Off the coast of California.

I am ready to go back

In the meantime 

I will share the photos I took from my last trip....

and bore you to pieces

Scrappy Pieces

Ha ha

Linking to:

Love Laugh Quilt : Monday Making

Ems Scrapbag : Moving it Forward

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts : Design Wall Monday

Sum of their Stories : Handmade Monday

California Day 3

So the "Real" Reason we went to California was for my cousins wedding.  but you know - you have to make things all about you first - ha ha

The morning of her wedding we went to the Newport Aquatic Center and learned to Paddleboard.

It! Was! Awesome!!  I highly recommend it

BUT! Since my friend ( who was teaching us) said there was a pretty good chance I could fall in the water - I left my cell phone in the car - so... no photos!

We did however take a groupie at the end  - to prove that none of us fell in!

we went pretty early in the morning so we could get back, eat lunch and take showers. But see all those boats in the background? As we were getting out a TON of these things started launching - it was practice time!!


See! The boys clean up nice! This is them giving their undivided attention to their Grandpa
I am sure he is telling an amazing story ( he has lots of good ones)

And the Happy Couple!! My Cousin ( in the wedding dress!!) had a beautiful outdoor wedding. It was so fun - all of my cousins except one made it- and all of our kids made it - so it was pretty cool.

Their *officiant* was his brother. He is one of 3 boys - and each  boy has taken a turn - officiating for the others. and I tell you - that was just the BEST!  there was a LOT of humor in their vows, and we were left laughing a LOT

See!

The wedding photog captured this one and we died!

I have no idea who the lady in orange is - but the rest of us!

are related

The party lasted late into the night

and it was so fun

What a great time to catch up 

Altho.... It's kinda weird being the adults

Just sayin'

Back to Cali

When you are so SO close to the beach

You really don't want to stay in the Hotel

After Our Arrival and afternoon of Dolphin Watching

The next Day

we headed to another beach over in Laguna

it was high Tide

and it was awesome

The boys!

We all were able to go and it was so great.

I love doing things as a family - and of course,

when they are older it is harder to coordinate...

But so glad they agreed to be a part of my goofiness!!

The tide kept messing with our sand castles 

so one of them drew a line to keep the ocean out.

You see how well it worked right?

As the boys were out surfing

this Seal just started swimming out with them - 

he swam between the boys and was just happy

mom might have been happy to see him moving on....

and you know

at the end of the day

A good novel

and a tiny bottle of wine

Ha ha

I did not know they sold wine in tiny bottles

It was hilarous

and of course

I got teased that I Should get out of the house more often!

Out on the Ocean

We got to California - dropped our Luggage and headed out right away to the Beach!!

I mean - when you are land locked you have to head straight to the water!!

So we went Dolphin Watching! (PS - this might be a little  photo heavy!)

 Aren't they Beautiful??

This is not us - but this is the type of boat we went out on!

The seats were sorta like saddles - with backs - and instead of a saddle horn you had the silver thing in front of you. We were pretty glad that we can all ride well - it served us well as we went up the 10 foot swells!!

This is the Harbor Resident

He came to say Hi as we were heading out!

We were out for quite a bit

and most of the time my camera was in its bag as I was too busy holding on

and truth?

Most of my Dolphin photos are like this

See that little splash in the middle 

Ya! That's a dolphin

but some were like this! and you all can bet I am framing one of these!

Look how close they come to the boat!

Shark or Dolphin????

and then we have the harbor guards!  ( ha ha)

This was an awesome thing to do - I am glad that I have a chiropractor and that there was a glass of wine at dinner - but WOW!!! It was so awesome!!

The company we went with was called Newport Landing Whale Watching - and our Captain was amazing! You were supposed to see whales - but they were avoiding us - the dolphins tho!

Totally worth it!!