ABC Wednesday--N is for....

So last night I was telling my husband that it would be ABC Wednesday N and I had no idea what to post. His very creative response was Nothing--N is for Nothing.  Well, not for nothing have hundreds of bloggers made it to the sixth round of the ABCs and never have I seen one of them post nothing.

NO! We regularly post the normal. And that is exactly what I am going to do--

Go normal!

Only problem is, in order to do that you have to find some definition of normal.

At the beach where we visited over the weekend, it is apparently normal for huge tree trunks brought in by the ocean by extreme high tides to hang suspended from the cliffs. Perhaps it was not brought in by the tides, but grew there and fell as the normal erosion of the cliffside took place over the years.

We also had normal weather for April on this trip.

What is your normal mode of transportation? Do you like to go back seventy or eighty years like these guys?

Fun! but I'm not sure I would be  comfortable in the old car in normal freeway traffic. Those big rigs swishing by can be scary as it is.

Of course, the norm for traffic at home is sometimes more like this:

The time is coming up that my normal day must include quite a bit of this as I work up to near twenty miles of walking in a day--a norm for me for the next 3-Day for the Cure which I will do in November in San Diego. 

All in a NORMAL day's blogging!

ABC Wednesday--N is for...

N is for Nightlife on an Alaska Cruise.

I've been describing all the neat stuff there was to do during the days of our tour and cruise. Side trips, sights, adventures. But then night falls and what do you do?

I've described the Cruise Ship as a city unto itself. In size--population so to speak--it is certainly smaller than my small rural Eastern Washington community. But in amenities, it is closer to the metropolitan areas we think of as city. The ship has fancy restaurants in addition to its elegant main dining rooms. It has a variety of bistros and lounges, a casino. And it has shows. A cruise ship has its own small orchestra, its own dance troupe, its own comedians, its own singing sensations. You can choose to spend your night in the Crooner's Bar listening to the old favorites, or go to a full production show. OR, you can sit back in your jammies in your suite and watch old Love Boat episodes.

The first night's nightlife consists of muster drill.

Our muster station was in the Universe Lounge, whose Art Deco styling would host more fascinating shows on other evenings.

The Princess Theater was always ready for an event.

The dance presentations were some of the best, featuring music and styles from around the world.

And when all was said and done, you might go back to your room and find...

ABC Wednesday Link Site--Its originator.

ABC Wednesday--N is for...

eagle in flight, Olympic National Park, Washington

This is National Parks Week!

While visiting Olympic National Park over the weekend to participate in Washington Coastal Clean-up Day, we learned that this is National Park Week. We were presented with a wonderful evening program about the history and riches of America's national parks.

~

The first area to be set aside as a national park was Yellowstone--first in the world--followed by Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Mt. Rainier. Our Mt. Rainier National Park was established in 1898.

The early days of the parks were not well organized, and the National Park Service was not formed until 1916 and a ranger corps established some time after that. Early rangers had to do everything from law enforcement to latrine cleaning. Rangers now specialize--interpretation, education, law enforcement, maintenance, administration.

The parks have come a long way from when this photo was taken in Sequoia in 1928.

More than 300 National Parks, National Monuments and other sites are administered by the National Park Service, and the idea spread to many other countries which have set aside areas special to them as National Parks.

Here in Skagway, Alaska, in part of the Yukon Gold Rush National Park, a ranger explains the history that is spotlighted here.

Cultural artifacts are highlighted at locations such as Wupatki Pueblo National Monument in Arizona.

Wukoki Pueblo, Wupatki National Monuments, Arizona

Parks are protected homes for critters--the elusive ones such as this pika..
...and the little show-offs such as this "camp robber" who followed us posing for two miles.
Rangers can interpret the environment for young and young at heart.

Grove of the Patriarchs, Ohanepecosh, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington

The variety in our National Parks is overwhelming, from a peek at the peak...

Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington

...to an arching span...

Arches National Park, Utah

...caves...

Lehmann Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada

...ocean beaches...

Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington

...canyons grand and small...

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

...more glorious mountain views...

Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

...what water does in small or large occurrences...

Zion National Park, Utah

We have learned a lot over the years about the residents of our National Parks, so that this by zoom lens...

bear in the meadow, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington

...has replaced this for the protection of both the bears and the humans.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1928

And we know that in order to participate for our enjoyment...

ready for a backcountry hike, White River Campground, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington

...we also must participate in the parks' protection and preservation.

Washington Coastal Clean-up Day, Olympic National Park, Washington

Ken Burns, who has produced a documentary The National Parks: America's Best Idea, was in Seattle on Monday speaking about the film and previewing some clips from it. We weren't there either, but you can hear his interview from earlier in the day on KUOW here.

Visit more Ns at ABC Wednesday Round 4.

Say thanks to the ABC founder at Mrs. Nesbitt's Place.

A Quilter's ABC--N is for Nine Patch

Other Ns for ABC Wednesday can be found at the ABC Wednesday Anthology blog or by following the links at the ABC Mr. Linky.
Thank you to Mrs. Nesbitt, whose idea brought this ABC into the blogosphere. She needs help to continue it. If you can help her with the meme, let her know.



N is for Nine Patch

It is, perhaps, the simplest of blocks, but can make an striking or elegant quilt. This one is on our bed--black and bold nine patch blocks set with a bright funky flower between. The blocks are from the first nine-patch swap that I did with my online quilt guild Washington State Internet Quilters.
Color and setting make a difference. These floral and off-white nine patch blocks--from another swap--are actually set in almost the same way as the black ones. Instead of the alternating applique flowers the nine patch blocks are side by side with sashings of a contrasting color. Amazing how different they look!

I have made many very different quilts with nine patch blocks, but the photos are on computer that is being repaired and the quilts are in the hands of others.

ABC Wednesday--N is for...

You can learn all about ABC Wednesday

and see who else is playing at Mrs. Nesbitt's.

N is for

National Park Inn.

If you enter Mt. Rainier National Park from the west, you will soon reach Longmire. This area was first developed in the late 1800s by James Longmire who constructed a lodge to take advantage of the mineral springs in the area. The area now has many historic buildings, including the National Park Inn.

Whether you just stop for lunch, or sit for a while on the porch to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, it is a delightful experience at any season, and a good respite after a long hike.


In the wintertime, it can be a good place to warm your toes after being out on the snowshoes or cross country skis, which can be rented here for an outing if you don't have your own.

beccause there is an ample supply

of wood for the fireplace.



And if you have booked a room for the night there is a cozy game and reading room.

The snow does eventually melt, and the Inn is just as wonderful in the summer, but most of these pictures were taken during Easter weekend.

Remember, Easter was early this year. Though that doesn't seem to have mattered. We had rain, snow, hail and sunshine within the space of twenty minutes yesterday.