Independence Day in Skagway, Alaska, III

These pictures even passed the inspection of Mr. Blueberry Eyes.  I guess he thought they were cool enough that he agreed that I could share them!

 There were street entertainers.

 Then there was the egg toss.  Last year they broke a world record for the most people participating in the egg toss.  I love this action shot of Mr. Blueberry Eyes catching the egg that CM tossed to him.

 After several rounds, they had the contestants that were left turn lengthwise on the street.

 A team of girls won the championship.

 Then there was the tug-o-war.  Our kids, with a few more tossed in, formed one team.  They kept progressing through the play-offs until they actually won the championship! They were pretty proud of themselves.

 Julie and I didn't fair so well with our team.  We were soundly whipped!

- Nanette

Independence Day in Skagway, Alaska, II

                                   Then we met Pop Rod.  He stood there with his mountain man knives and our boys were drawn like magnets.  He seemed glad to share his knowledge and stories.  I'm always drawn to storytellers.  Everyone does it differently and every storyteller has something for us to learn.  We loved it.  So did he.

 He invited us into his antique car.  It was a gorgeous eggplant color.

 Then he had us pose by the hood.  We were having so much fun it caused a scene and strangers stopped to take pictures.

 Here's some more scenes around Skagway.

 Here's a great new way to grow carrots.

Then we spread our lunch on a picnic table - potato salad, tofu sandwiches, grape juice, chips and crackers, vegies. It was chilly, but dry. - Nanette

Independence Day In Skagway, Alaska

Skagway, Alaska...Its a place of contrasts.  In the winter, it is home to a mere 800 people.  In the summer, curious cruise ship occupants flood the streets, hoping for a bit of the sights and flavor of the Klondike Gold Rush days.  It is a place of snow peaked mountains and it sits on an inlet of the sea. 

 They know how to celebrate, too.  We decided to join the thrill seekers on the 4th of July.  We packed a big lunch and all of the kids into the car and drove 2 1/2 hours.  I suppose we are a border agents' nightmare - two moms, assorted children that nearly have to be physically untangled.  No fathers.  But we were well armed with passports and letters of consent from the Papas.  They made us get out while they recorded all of the passports, and then we were off.

 We arrived just in time to run breathlessly to catch the parade.

 Like the Whitehorse parade on Canada Day, it was varied and expressive of a melding of cultures

 and times gone by that don't want to be forgotton.

 My children and I had listened to a historical fiction book called "The Mystery on the Chilkoot Trail", so we had a skeleton idea of the nature of the Klondike Gold Rush.  We then went to this National Park center downtown Skagway and watched a documentary on the subject.

 The Scottish bagpipes  put on a spectacular and moving display.  When they played a moving rendition of  "Amazing Grace", this bagpiper had a river of tears flowing down his cheeks. 

When they played a lively version of  "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" small children instinctively pressed to the center and danced with abandon.  -Nanette

Upcycling At Its Best

I found this felted wool sweater in Julie's stash and felt drawn to the dusty blue color.  It seemed that it wanted to be something.  Now, I'm not one that can just craft without a plan and a pattern, but this one seemed to defy anything expected.

 The neck edge seemed to beg to be the opening of a purse.  Julie and worked out the concept together.

 I reinforced everything so it wouldn't stretch with use and added lining.

 Laughing Water made the roses. The pictures don't do it justice, but here is the finished project.

 I think it is in the running for our favorite projecct so far.

- Nanette

More Snapshots

 We just fell in love with this little hat.  I had had this denim fabric with embroidered cherries for years in my facric closet and it finally found its purpose.  I can't wait to see who buys it.  It is the perfect size for a young girl.

 The other evening, Julie was sitting on the sofa with a pair of scizzors and a floppy mish-mash of brown fabric.  It looked like a mess.  But then, she laid out a perfect tree on a piece of felted sweater and viola!  There was the start of a hand bag.  I think it is amazing!

 The leaves are made of clay buttons that she had handmade a while back.

 So, lest you think we are the perfect crafters....

We haven't seen the living room floor for three days!  As I started to take a picture of it, Sammy, Julie's Border Collie, ran into the middle of the mess and posed. He even held the pose 'til I clicked the camera! -Nanette

Crafty Kids

My kids are having a blast!  They picked up with Julie's three boys as if they'd always known each other.  There is a trampoline, a fort, some cliffs a bike-ride away.  I was a little concerned about Laughing Water, being the only girl, and quite a girly-girl at that.  But I needn't have worried.  She is just one of the gang.

They are, however, finding some time to craft and learn new things.  Laughing Water learned to make these lovely roses from felted wool sweaters.  Julie has taught her quite a few things, which is good.  I think that Laughing Water's crafting style is more like Julie's and she learns easily from her.  I tend to be a more uptight, must-have-a-pattern type of crafter, but Laughing Water and Julie tend to fly by the seat of their britches, and turn out some truly lovely things.  Julie's teaching style fits Laughing Water better.

 Mr. Blueberry Eyes has gotton into the spirit of things, too.  He really has a phobia about me posting pictures of him and I've had to promise him that I wouldn't post any of him.  I'm disappointed, because I have some super sweet pictures of him crafting.  But, I did get permission to show his handiwork.

 He is working on a modern art painting that I think will be great.  I'm not usually a modern art enthusiast, but he seems to be on a modern art kick lately, so, of course, being the proud mom, I'm suddenly a modern art lover!

 Julie's boys know how to make the coziest, nice looking mittens out of felted wool sweaters, lined with fleece.  They have financed some great  projects from the sale of them.  Before we even came here, Mr. Blueberry Eyes said he wanted to learn how to make them.  He is anxious to sell some to finance his horse. 
 At first, learning to make mittens AND run a sewing machine sent him to the edge of his tollerance, but with patient help from Mama and Auntie Julie, he soon started turning out some great stuff.



 The grin on his face showed a feeling of great accomplishment!  I'm so proud of both of my kids!

-Nanette

Canada Day II

The flavor of the Yukon came through in the celebration parade.  You felt the spirit of the natives...

 More contemporary looks...

 A little fun... (He is saying hello to Julie's son, CM, here.)

 Some dance girls...

 The "Mountie" on the white horse was quite a card.  She backed her horse up to our kids, making them back up.  Then she made a little jump and the horse "pooped" a pile of candy. 

And, of course, the fire truck presence is required at any parade!  - Nanette