Glacier Park in Montana

I never get tired of going to Glacier Park. I think this is the 3rd or 4th time. If I could have a home in one other place it would be in Montana. It suits me like a snap button shirt and John Deere boots. ;-)

Here is Adina at the edge of Lake McDonald.



The water was crystal clear. These pebbles are under water.



We were there on a calm day so the reflections in the lake were stunning. I could sit and glaze at this view all day.



This is on the way up to the summit.



We were lucky that on the day we visited the "Going to the Sun Road" was at least open as far as the Logan's Pass visitor's center. They were started to prepare the road for the annual winter closing and this road is now closed (as I just saw on the park website.)



This was shot at Logan's Pass, where there was a bit of snow on the ground and quite breezy. We would have explored for a while up there, but it looked like rain was on the way, so we drove back down to Whitefish for a nice dinner lakeside and then returned to our inn for an evening of knitting.



The next morning we got up early again and headed back to Seattle to catch our flights home the day after that. Of course, we had to stop at Paradise Fibers in Spokane on the way back.

This vacation was way too short and since I got home to pure chaos, it seemed like a distant memory the second I got to the inn. Sigh. I love being home, but I am looking forward to our next mother-daughter adventure!

On Sunday, I'm giving a lecture for the Hands Across the Valley Quilt Guild in Amherst, MA -- close to my favorite yarn store. But I'll resist a quick stop over because Adina will be coming for a visit for Thanksgiving and a trip to Webs Yarn is sort of an annual tradition.

The last workshop at the inn is next weekend (with Larkin Van Horn -- there is still room in the class for any of you last minute sign up type people!) and then I'm hoping to finally get back in my studio.

Bound for Montana

We were on the road to Montana at the crack of dawn. Not even the local coffee shop was open yet! I had to be content with a little chocolate for a caffine fix.

We took the ferry back to the main land and had smooth sailing from there on. It was funny the way the GPS system kept insisting we return to the road while we were in the middle of the water.

We drove straight through to Spokane - our first destination. We just had to stop at Paradise Fibers, a yarn shop I had discovered when I was searching for some Chunky Misty Alpaca (a fabulous soft and thick yarn) on the internet. Too bad I forgot to take a picture, but this shop was located in back of an adult "book" store! It wasn't in the same shop, but in the building behind. It was a very unassuming front door as it looked like the back to a warehouse -- which it sort of was -- a warehouse of yarn! Once you were through the door you were immediately in yarn paradise. Both Adina and I dropped some cash at this place. The people who worked there were very helpful and friendly and gave a great tip of a place to have lunch. Again, my memory fails me, but was within 10 minutes of the shop and had delicious food and great mint lemonades.

This is a shot from the Wild Horse monument, looking away from the momument and back in the direction we had come.



Here is Adina, with the horse monument in the distant background on top of the hill. I know it is hard to see in the photo, but it was composed of a "herd" of horse silhouettes. A marvel sight!



Finally we arrived in Montana. We got there probably between 8 and 9 at night. Whew, that was one long drive. Our lodging was at the Hidden Moose Lodge in Whitefish. We immediately when to our room and went to bed.



Our room was on the left hand corner, right where the walkway is leading.



We were going to be in Montana for two full days, so we decided the the first day was going to be devoted to exploring the town and shopping! We made a good haul. (No, Nordstroms is not in Whitefish! That was from Seattle.) Adina was being good and buy mostly Christmas presents. (She is so organized!)



I bought myself some John Deere cowboy boots! It's been a very long time since I bought cowboy boots and I was pleasantly surprized to find that they now came in a round toed style! My feet can't take the pointy toed ones any more. But these were very comfortable. I got the John Deere colors only because it was the most practical color choices for wearing around the inn and our crazy dogs -- besides I like green. There was a very pretty patchwork boot, but I was afraid the dogs would scratch them up in no time.



I also got several long sleeve shirts, including a flannel one with snap buttons! I love snap buttons. I use to make my own snap button western shirts. (I wonder what happened to them?)



I can't remember the last time I actual bought clothes for myself. It was wonderful fun, especially shopping with Adina!

So that was our shopping Montana day. The second day was our touring day when we drove to Glacier Park.

Whidbey Island and the Four Sisters

The story continues . . .

Before leaving downtown Seattle, we, of course, had to visit the flagship store of Nordstroms to visit the shoe department. Adina found a few things to try on (not shoes) and so we saw the very elegant dressing rooms!



After our shopping, we had lunch at a wine bar. I forget the name of it, but Adina is making a face (just for fun) because she hadn't wanted to come in the place because it was a wine bar! But it turned out to be an excellent place for lunch (even if you don't like wine.)



Then it was off to Whidbey Island. It was fun to take the car ferry - something I hadn't done since I lived in PA.

This is the view from the front door of the Saratoga Inn on Whidbey Island. It is owned by the Four Sisters, Inc. The name of the company was part of the reason I choose it as a place to stay! It was a lovely inn and the staff was very friendly and helpful. They even packed us a nice bag breakfast on the day we left because we left at 6:30am.



Here is Adina on the front porch.



The first day we walked around the town of Langley, which is where the inn is located. It was a very quaint town with beautiful views of the sound. We even found a yarn shop. That evening we found a fabulous little restaurant, Prima Bistro, for dinner and discover that they had my favorite - sweetbreads - as an appetizer. That settled it - we came back the next night, too! Everything was delicious.

The second day we drove around the island, stopping in Coupeville for lunch and also discovering the small shop that was used in the movie Practical Magic. We drove up the island as far as Oak Harbor -- mainly because I had forgotten to bring my camera battery charger and had to get to a camera shop where I can get a replacement!

On the way back down to Langley and the inn, we found a great little pottery shop and discovered that they were also having a fiber art exhibit! So Adina bought a nice set of mugs and I admired the fiber art of Janet Steadman. Beautiful work!

This is a picture of the sunrise as we left on Tuesday morning at the crack of dawn.



So began our 10 hour drive to Whitefish, MT.