Merritt Island and points north (Far North), December 19-January 3

Yippee!  No repairs!  We've learned from our friends Jann and Gary that when you get into trouble on the boat, you just tie a knot and hang on.  That sounds like what we were doing the first few weeks of December.  Thankfully, it wasn't necessary around Christmas.

That last week before the big holiday was spent finishing up several sewing projects for presents and preparing to fly out to Portland, OR, where we have two treasured grandgirls.  Our friends, Roger and Marcy, hosted a big party for family and friends just before we left.  The party featured a variety of luscious homemade soups and the annual nighttime boat parade.  It must have been the longest parade they've ever held with 90+ lighted boats.  The theme this year was "Redneck Christmas."  Just use your imagination.  There were some very funny entries.

These people threw every Christmas light they owned on their boat

 Wayne and I also traveled over to Orlando for our annual cookie making extravaganza with Harlan and Patty, an old and treasured family tradition.  Patty, Kaylin (her granddaughter) and I mass produced nearly 100 decorated sugar cookies.

The Cookie Ladies - 2012

Then on to Portland, Oregon.  As usual at this time of the year Portland is wet and cold but the presence of two grandgirls, Amelia and Paloma, warms things up.  Michael and Wayne spent our first day there installing a new, woodburning stove.  It was a wonderful addition to their family room and the space quickly became our favorite gathering spot throughout our six days there.

It works!!

My daughter-in-law, Monica, and I cooked up some delicious meals together.  The internet helped us to master tempura cooking.  We discovered that vodka is the key (hic!) and, before long, were tempuring every food in sight - mushrooms, shrimp, broccoli, asparagus, onions, potatoes. 

Yum.  Tempura and more tempura

Michael, Monica, Amelia and Paloma recently became enthusiastic chicken farmers so we enjoyed really fresh eggs supplied by their four beautiful hens.  This would explain the many chicken-themed gifts we gave them for Christmas.  The placemats above feature chicken themed fabric, as do the napkins.  Napkin rings are made of chicken wire print fabric.

Paloma and one of four talented egg layers

The week included a trip to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, www.ricenorthwestmuseum.org, a stop at Krispy Kreme doughtnut shop and not nearly enough time at Powell's Bookstore, www.powells.com.  I doubt that any other bookstore in the US has such a wide variety of books, new and used.  I inquired after two obscure books and, of course, they had them in stock.

Krispy Kreme, our favorite stop for junk food

  Monica, who shares my quilting interest, joined me one day for a shop hop of downtown Portland quilt stores.  We found that bright, bold contemporary colors and prints were most on display at the three shops we vsited.  As one of the shop owners put it when we asked the reason, "Think Portland in the winter.  We have to have bright colors."  Two highlights of our shop hop - the gigantic collection of well organized buttons at Josephine's Dry Goods Store and the friendly official shop baby at SewPo.

Josephine's Dry Goods
The wall at the back is solidly packed with boxes of hundreds
(maybe thousands) of buttons

A few of our favorite people - Michael, Monica, Amelia and Paloma

Our time here in Merritt Island is winding down to a close.  This Sunday we'll begin the next leg of our trip and expect to be in Vero Beach by early next week.  Great weather.  We are feeling some sympathy for all you Northerners.