Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Birthday Getaway

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I had a birthday last week, and have been celebrating it ever since.  Check out the cake my nephew and his wife provided for my birthday dinner!  It was layers of carroty goodness with yummy cream cheese in between the layers, and was just dreamy to eat.

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Then my husband whisked me out of town for a little getaway down to the Monterey area where we used to live.  One of the highlights of the visit was going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  If you haven't been, and ever get the opportunity, you really must visit.  The first thing I saw when I walked in was this huge school of anchovies, which was my favorite thing in the entire exhibit!  Little rays of liquid mercury, they sparkled and shimmered in a way that my photograph doesn't begin to capture.  

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I do not even know what the heck this is, but isn't it gorgeous?  Some type of sea plants I think, as well as a few tiny sea creatures.  Does it give you any ideas of a great color scheme for your next quilt?  It's mind blowing how many different plants and creatures live under the sea.

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How about these jelly fish?  They are mesmerizing to watch, but you sure wouldn't want to be touched by one.  They sting something fierce.

We had a terrific time, and learned a thing or two as well.  There was some artwork on display by a local artist, who creates her pieces completely from plastic and other litter that has been fished out of the ocean.  These plastic containers, wrappings, bottles and other miscellaneous items do untold and irreparable damage to the ocean's inhabitants and environment. Whatever we can do to reduce our use of plastic is critical.

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Here is a close up:

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Hope you are all having a great week!  I have to say mine has been terrific.  Woo Hoo, it is the first day of summer!  I am home now, and couldn't wait to get up to the sewing room.  Some happy mail (also birthday related) arrived while I was away, and I can't wait to share that with you tomorrow.

54 responses to “Birthday Getaway”

  1. Happy Birthday, Nicole. I’m so glad you’ve had so much fun celebrating. I can’t wait to see your happy mail, ‘cause I’m pretty sure it must be fabric-related. 😄

  2. Happy Birthday, Nicole. I’m so glad you’ve had so much fun celebrating. I can’t wait to see your happy mail, ‘cause I’m pretty sure it must be fabric-related. 😄

  3. Happy Birthday, Nicole. I’m so glad you’ve had so much fun celebrating. I can’t wait to see your happy mail, ‘cause I’m pretty sure it must be fabric-related. 😄

  4. Happy Birthday! Sounds like you made the most of your day. I’m all for birthday celebrations, any excuse to make a regular day special is always a good thing.

  5. Happy Birthday! Sounds like you made the most of your day. I’m all for birthday celebrations, any excuse to make a regular day special is always a good thing.

  6. Happy Birthday! Sounds like you made the most of your day. I’m all for birthday celebrations, any excuse to make a regular day special is always a good thing.

  7. A belated Happy Birthday to you! It looks and sounds like you’ve had a wonderful celebration, lots of fun, and that there is more to come. How special – as you are so (and sew) special! May the year ahead be glorious!
    Hugs!

  8. A belated Happy Birthday to you! It looks and sounds like you’ve had a wonderful celebration, lots of fun, and that there is more to come. How special – as you are so (and sew) special! May the year ahead be glorious!
    Hugs!

  9. A belated Happy Birthday to you! It looks and sounds like you’ve had a wonderful celebration, lots of fun, and that there is more to come. How special – as you are so (and sew) special! May the year ahead be glorious!
    Hugs!

  10. Happy birthday! 🎉🎈 It looks like you had a great celebration doing something fun & interesting! That cake is beautiful & I’ll bet it tasted just as good! 🎂

  11. Happy birthday! 🎉🎈 It looks like you had a great celebration doing something fun & interesting! That cake is beautiful & I’ll bet it tasted just as good! 🎂

  12. Happy birthday! 🎉🎈 It looks like you had a great celebration doing something fun & interesting! That cake is beautiful & I’ll bet it tasted just as good! 🎂

  13. Yum for the thoughtful and delicious birthday cake. Justification for getting older, is having everyone treat you just so special, cake included. I have family in Santa Cruz and had a huge gathering years ago including nieces and nephews and the boardwalk fun park that had just been renovated. Loved that the sun didn’t peak out till noon in July. Love the Aquarium and the park of giant trees nearby. Special places to keep in the heart. Happy Birthday.

  14. Yum for the thoughtful and delicious birthday cake. Justification for getting older, is having everyone treat you just so special, cake included. I have family in Santa Cruz and had a huge gathering years ago including nieces and nephews and the boardwalk fun park that had just been renovated. Loved that the sun didn’t peak out till noon in July. Love the Aquarium and the park of giant trees nearby. Special places to keep in the heart. Happy Birthday.

  15. Yum for the thoughtful and delicious birthday cake. Justification for getting older, is having everyone treat you just so special, cake included. I have family in Santa Cruz and had a huge gathering years ago including nieces and nephews and the boardwalk fun park that had just been renovated. Loved that the sun didn’t peak out till noon in July. Love the Aquarium and the park of giant trees nearby. Special places to keep in the heart. Happy Birthday.

  16. Well, I was actually thinking about you yesterday as I was filling in the two gopher holes in my garden!!! Grrrrr. I should maybe let the gophers live in my gardens this year as the hail took 99% of what I had planted anyways!! I think your birthday is close to my anniversary, June 10. Happy Birthday, Nicole. I’m looking forward to seeing your birthday purchase!!

  17. Well, I was actually thinking about you yesterday as I was filling in the two gopher holes in my garden!!! Grrrrr. I should maybe let the gophers live in my gardens this year as the hail took 99% of what I had planted anyways!! I think your birthday is close to my anniversary, June 10. Happy Birthday, Nicole. I’m looking forward to seeing your birthday purchase!!

  18. Well, I was actually thinking about you yesterday as I was filling in the two gopher holes in my garden!!! Grrrrr. I should maybe let the gophers live in my gardens this year as the hail took 99% of what I had planted anyways!! I think your birthday is close to my anniversary, June 10. Happy Birthday, Nicole. I’m looking forward to seeing your birthday purchase!!

  19. Happy Birthday Nicole! Love the underwater world and I can see a purple and green quilt one day…beautiful colors!

  20. Happy Birthday Nicole! Love the underwater world and I can see a purple and green quilt one day…beautiful colors!

  21. Happy Birthday Nicole! Love the underwater world and I can see a purple and green quilt one day…beautiful colors!

  25. Happy Belated Birthday! Beautiful pictures thanks for sharing and I can’t wait to see what you did get for your birthday.

  26. Happy Belated Birthday! Beautiful pictures thanks for sharing and I can’t wait to see what you did get for your birthday.

  27. Happy Belated Birthday! Beautiful pictures thanks for sharing and I can’t wait to see what you did get for your birthday.

  37. happy birthday Nicole! I need to go to a trip to the aquarium. It is one spectacular place.your cake looks delicious. My favorite carrot cake by far!
    Mary

  38. happy birthday Nicole! I need to go to a trip to the aquarium. It is one spectacular place.your cake looks delicious. My favorite carrot cake by far!
    Mary

  39. happy birthday Nicole! I need to go to a trip to the aquarium. It is one spectacular place.your cake looks delicious. My favorite carrot cake by far!
    Mary

  46. Happy belated birthday! Monterey bay aquarium is one of my favorite places to go to, i never get tired of their exhibits! I also love their quilt they have displayed as you walk in, I so want to make it!

  47. Happy belated birthday! Monterey bay aquarium is one of my favorite places to go to, i never get tired of their exhibits! I also love their quilt they have displayed as you walk in, I so want to make it!

  48. Happy belated birthday! Monterey bay aquarium is one of my favorite places to go to, i never get tired of their exhibits! I also love their quilt they have displayed as you walk in, I so want to make it!