Unfinished Buniness

Nope, that is not a typo.  This really is about unfinished bunnies.

I'm on a quest to finish an "undisclosed number" of "projects" before starting anything new (not counting the new crocheted shrug I started two nights ago!  Augghhh!).  Lately I have not been too good about finishing things.  Starting something new is Just So Much Fun!  Am I right?

Actually, I love this little rug and am very excited to see it so near completion.  Several years ago I came across a painting on an art website - see the color copy of the painting in the upper left corner of the photo.  The artist was listed as "unknown" - so no one to be upset at me if I copy it!

I thought the composition and colors and of course The Bunnies would be perfect for a hooked rug.  I filed it away for awhile, then set about converting the color copy to an enlarged black and white copy, then to red dot, then to the linen background.  My rug hooking teacher, Anita White, helped me pick out the wool.  I wanted to stay pretty true to the painting.  My straw is a bit darker, and my bunnies are not quite as detailed, but I think it is translating very well overall.  I plan to frame it.

Question is...  how long will it take me to get there?  I hope to show you Finished Buniness very soon!  (Spell Check really objects to my word Buniness...)  Maybe putting it here on the blog will give me a little extra motivation!

Vacation Memories #4 - Whale Watching

One of our favorite vacation experiences was our whale-watching tour.  We started our journey in Gloucester Harbor.  As we left the harbor, we saw this wonderful sailing ship.

 This is the view from the top deck of the whale-watching boat.  Below was another deck with a dining room.

 Another sailor enjoying a beautiful day at sea.

It took about 2 hours to reach the area where whales had been spotted by other boats.  We were 33 miles out from the harbor!

 This is one of our first sightings - a humpback whale.  Many photos were taken that day!

 Lots of watching over the side of the boat.  And lots of running back and forth every time someone spotted one on the other side of the boat!

 This is another whale-watching boat in the same area.  The captains of all the boats are able to communicate with each other - which really helps find the whales!

 It is possible to see the whale's spray from a long ways away!  Spotting that is one of the best ways to find the whales.

 Here are several swimming together - pretty close to the boat!

Now very close to the boat!

 This one swam right under the boat with her calf right beside her.

 I thought it was so interesting how the color of the water changed depending on the direction of view.  Look at this blue...

 The sun and clouds created an amazing image.

 Here's the blue version!

The entire voyage took almost 6 hours - but it was worth every minute.  We saw 7 different humpback whales - with many sightings of each one.  Each whale has a unique tail pattern.  (I was not lucky enough to get a good shot of a tail up out of the water.)  The whale "experts" on the boat were college kids studying marine biology.  They did a fantastic job of helping everyone have a good experience.

 If we ever get back there, we'll do this again!