Sewing for a Good Sunday

Yikes. Here it is 11:00 at night and I just realized I didn't report the progress on the quilts for the Quilts for Kids organization for today's Sewing for Good Sunday.

I got three of the quilts basted and two of those three completely quilted. Woo hoo! But the biggest excitement for me came about because I was too lazy to change the lead color in my marking pencil. I really needed to mark some squares in something besides white.  As I was contemplating the work it would take in dealing with those teeny tiny pieces of lead, it occurred to me.

Painters tape.

Yep, it works great as a template you can use without marking. It's the first time I used it but definitely won't be the last.

5 Free Things to do on a Sea Day

For years I delayed ever going on a cruise. I just knew I didn't want to be cooped up with a couple other thousand people, stuck on a ship at sea with nothing to do. I wanted adventure and exploration.

Now I know a cruise can provide me with adventure and exploration when we are in port. But I also can find plenty to do when we are at sea. Free things. 

Here are five to consider:

1. Learn something new.
There are plenty of activities every day to learn something new. How about a crafting class or dance lessons? Maybe tackle pickleball or learn how to plan the steel drum. You can even learn about the inner workings of the production shows by taking a backstage tour of the theater. Or perhaps find out how food is prepared by taking the galley tour. Many voyages also have guest lecturers talking about the history of the region.

2. Hang out by the indoor, outdoor, or adults only pool or relax in a hot tub.
Many ships have a large movie screen out by the pool running movies during the day and into the evening. Princess Cruises even broadcasts NFL football on Sundays on the big screen.

3. Drink for free.
While you need to pay for most alcoholic drinks on the ship, there are multiple opportunities to score free drinks. Think free champagne at the art auction and rum tasting in the shops. Maybe you will be that someone getting to drink the martini the crew made at the martini demonstration. And many cruise lines have special cocktail parties (with free drinks) for their returning guests, too.

4. Work out.
Look to the fitness room for help in staving off those extra pounds that seem to appear on a cruise. Treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, stair climbers, weight machines, and free weights can be found in a ship’s fitness room. You'll be glad you made a trip or two here when you don't have to squeeze into your clothes for the trip home.

5. Relax and enjoy the views. You catch a sunrise from your balcony

or find a nice chair on the Promenade deck

and watch the ocean go by.

Or head to the back of the ship and watch the wake.

Or catch a sunset at sea.

Whatever you choose to do, know that cruise ships at sea don't equal boredom.