Amazing Time at a Mega Event!

Yes, I've been quiet lately.  After finishing the memory quilts, I went to Ohio!  This past weekend was the Midwest Geobash at Wauseon, OH.  My family (Team Free Range Lobsters) camped, cached, ate, biked, shopped, socialized, and, if time was left over, slept at the Fulton County Fairgrounds!

Team Free Range Lobsters
3inaTree, scrapcat, Tristan39, WikidKriket, and PopLob

Corey playing Giant Jenga

Taking the time for wine tasting during the Poker Run.
A Poker Run is like a road rally visiting businesses in the local community.
Other stops included an ice cream shoppe and a bakery.

Nothing going on here.
Move along.

SUPERSTARS!
Robyn and Corey conquered the hill!

Dad at the Adventure Hunt.  Everyone "found" a
commemorative geocoin.

Corey and Robyn hamming it up!
Completing another challenge.

Elisa and Lorna posing with Signal, the Groundspeak mascot.

Theme of the weekend was Halloween in July.
Lorna felt this lil' fellah needed a hug!

Lots of great biking trails.  Out geocaching with Jeremy.

We even got a little caching done!

TOTALLY exhausted!
Team FRL completing another challenge.

One more picture before we head home!

It was a weekend I'll never forget (and I've recorded it all on my journal quilt). We had an amazing time and are already making plans for next year!

Have a great week!
Elisa

Annual Trek to Upper Lower!

Every year my family takes day trip to the Tawas/Oscoda area.  It's stunning!  It's on Lake Huron - just north of the thumb on the mitten!

No stops at the quilt shops this year (the one in Tawas City has closed) but plenty of adventures!

Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse

Team Free Range Lobsters visiting Paul Bunyan

Another shot of Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse

Jon is doing what boys do

Jon, Lorna, Corey and Robyn

Funny thing to find at the point, eh?

Must stop for putt-putt.  Dad was chilling in the fudge shoppe!

And you must stop at Marion's before heading home!

Tomorrow I should be able to (finally) post some finishes!

Elisa

And Who is Watching You?

I'm just a few days shy of showing you a finish.  I have to wait until the recipient sees it, but, I'm SO geeked! It took me awhile to get it started because, given the fabrics (old clothes) to work with, I had absolutely NO idea what to do with it.  As with words, I'm rarely at a loss for ideas... LOL!  I can't wait for you to see it!  I normally would never combine those colors, etc, it it's SO darling!

This is the first time in over 10 years I've had the summer "off" (I still have a full-time job but I'm postponing an additional part-time job until this Fall).  Is this what it's like to have time for myself?  I've been attending picnics & BBQ's, walking through the park, meandering around the zoo, gearing up for the summer Zoo concert series. In a few weeks, my family is heading to Ohio for a geocaching adventure (classes, vendor booths, poker runs, mazes, giveaways, tinfoil hats).  I'll be sure to share the pictures.

One thing I'm surprised about is all the beautiful animals loose around Michigan.  My nephew, Jonathan, laughs.  "They've been here all along, Aunt Elisa!"  I guess I'd been too busy to notice.  So, since I can't show you quilt pictures, would you like to see whose been watching me on my mini-adventures?

Luc - Erie Metro Park

I looked up from a geocache and this is what I saw.... 

... and then turned around to see this beauty!

Just hanging out.

Michigan is SO blue!  So refreshing in this awful heat!

I mis-heard the news.  They meant there was a rabbit
population explosion - NOT exploding rabbits!

Family of swans in the Vernal pond.  Papa ducked this photo!

I could flood this blog with beautiful flowers.
They're EVERYWHERE!

Sitting on a bench at the zoo.  Looked up & over my shoulder
and this is what I saw!

I also have oodles of new zoo pictures, but I'll save them for another day.

Take care!
Elisa

Titanic Marker in Mount Clemens

I've finished another strip in my journal quilt. I actually had to cut more squares. I thought I'd get bored with it after awhile, but I'm fascinated in watching it grow! Also making great headway on a memorial quilt. Unfortunately, my SKoW quilt is suffering - I fear my group will drop me the next round.

I was out in Resurrection Cemetery in Mount Clemens when I came across a very interesting headstone:

It's the stone of one of the Titanic survivors. He lived his life in Detroit. Pretty neat, eh? Here's a close-up of the ship:

I'm on a 4-day weekend so I hope to have something to share this week.

Happy stitching!

Elisa

 

Lake Erie Metropark - Rockwood, MI

Not much excitement in my quilting world - just finishing up some projects.

I did have an amazing time geocaching & picnicking at Lake Erie Metropark with my family (Team Free Range Lobsters: scrapcat, wikid kriket, 3inaTree, PopLob, and Hockeyman40).

Wanna see some pictures?

If you look close, you will see a freighter out on Lake Erie.

Enjoyed a walk through their marshlands

Counting frogs, turtles, dragonflies, & ducks

Sun is setting

They're just kidding, Jon!

Walking through the Phragmites

 

A reward for walking the Nature Trails in 95 degree weather! 

As seen from a hidden trail!  Only those that know.... know.

Even more stunning in person!

Team Free Range Lobsters:
scrapcat, wikid kriket, Papa Tree, LilRob, Hockeyman40 & Mama Tree
Poplob & Lil Tree were smart - they were back in the shade!

Weather is supposed to cool off this week!  Hopefully I'll have some quilting to share!

Happy Summer!
Elisa

Keepers of the Cache

For anyone not lucky enough to visit Michigan, you are missing many stunning parks, nature trails and lakes.  Had the urge to get out and geocache yesterday.  Stopped into the West Bloomfield Nature Trails and look who was watching me?!?

My new caching buddy!

Then, today, I worked an early schedule so I can go out to play.  Each geocache held a small surprise for me!  Stopped at Marshbank Park in Waterford.  

Guardian at the Cattail Bridge

Serenity Overlook was... serene...

Then finished my day in Dodge State Park where I saw 6 adult and 5 baby swans!

Bath time!

Beautiful!

Tis the season to hit the Metro- and State- parks.... can't wait to share!

Happy weekend!
Elisa

Time is Flying!

Can you believe that I finished another strip? LOVE my journal quilt!

I've also completed two more Anni Downs embroideries for the upcoming strips.

One for Father's Day (with some funky bees):

And also Independence Day:

Now back to my appliqué blocks!

Happy Sunday,

Elisa

P.s. One more thing to share... Spent Saturday participating in the Heritage Park/Rouge River cleanup with a group of fellow geocachers. I am now too knowledgable on the stamina of the non-native, invasive buckthorn - aargh!