Sunday, March 25, 2018

Sunday Sew-In? Snow-In!

“Snow in April is abominable," said Anne. "Like a slap in the face when you expected a kiss.” 
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Ingleside

Well, it's not quite April but it's close enough. Close enough to April not to be snowing around here. But it is. So while I work on my typical sew-in projects of figuring out patterns, cutting fabrics, filming tutorials I also get to watch the snow fall. And you get to see a couple photos I snapped.
That's a band of snow hanging off my car's roof rack. Weird.
You also get a short video of the baby kitties. They don't weigh four ounces each anymore!

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Embarkation - Boarding a Cruise Ship

It's Cruise Ship Saturday! Today we're talking about embarkation.



The day you get on a cruise ship (embark) is the same day the previous cruise’s passengers get off the ship (disembark). The ship must be cleared of every single passenger before new ones are allowed to board. A delay in the ship’s arrival, in customs, or in passengers not disembarking when advised can change the timing of when you can board. Bring your patience. Processing and loading 2,000+ people is not a quick nor easy process despite how many staff are present. Whether arriving earlier or later, there is usually a line. Getting to port too early will have you waiting at the terminal. Arriving too late may have you missing the ship. Arrive no later than two hours before departure.

The specific check-in procedure varies with the cruise line but the process generally follows an order:

1. Luggage Handling
One of the first things happening at the port will be the passing of luggage to one of the numerous porters. Keep the carry-on with you. Don’t hand over anything containing medications, passports, or cruise documents. The porters will load your luggage onto a cart. The carts are then transferred into the terminal. The luggage is scanned to check for weapons, alcohol, and other prohibited items. Bags will arrive at your cabin sometime in the afternoon or evening.

2. The Long Line
Around the same time luggage is dropped off the line begins outside the terminal. Lines can be long. Very long. Thousands of other excited people will be checking in within the same few hours. Sometimes you will be able to check in and go straight to the ship but other times you may be directed to a waiting area to sit until being called to board. Many times there is a backup somewhere, whether at the security line or at the check-in desk or in the waiting area. While being in line behind hundreds of other people might be enough to make you decide never to take another cruise don’t let it. The process may not appear smooth and it may not be fast and it may not seem efficient but it works.

3. Security Screening
A security screening occurs inside the terminal. As at the airport all items – keys, bags, phones, computers - are placed on the belt for scanning. Unlike the airport shoes aren’t removed and there isn’t a concern about all liquids fitting within a certain size clear bag. Passengers walk through a metal detector with additional screening occurring if necessary.

4. Health Questionnaire
At some point in the line or while at the check-in counter you will complete a short health questionnaire. It’s important to be healthy when traveling on a cruise ship so passengers are expected to be honest when answering the questions about gastrointestinal and cold and flu symptoms.

5. Checking  In
To expedite the time at the check-in desk have passports, cruise documentation, and health questionnaires out and ready. You may have to provide the representative with the payment method you plan on using for onboard expenses.

6. Cruise Card
At check-in each person is issued a magnetic strip card similar to a credit card. Your picture will be taken for the card. Your picture isn't seen on the card but when cruise personnel scan it they will see the photo on their device. Keep that card handy. It is your cabin key and your onboard "charge card".  It also helps in keeping correct counts and determining specific passengers missing after a port stop and is used to account for passengers during the muster drill and during a real emergency.

7. Boarding Photograph
One of the first of many photo opportunities happens before stepping on the ship. The embarkation photo is usually taken in front of a ship-themed background. There is no obligation to purchase this or any of the photos the ship photographers take of you. If not interested in having the picture taken give a simple no thank you and walk on by.

Once on the ship, it's time to enjoy!

Friday, March 23, 2018

The Friday 15

“The more material we lose, the less we have. The less we have, the more we win.” 
― Anthony Liccione

This week's Friday 15 was a breeze.

3 items sold on eBay.
9 leftovers from tutorials
1 flubbed key fob project
1 bag of leather making supplies. (At least I think that's what they are.)
1 pencil that lost its eraser went into the trash.
Another week of 15.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Golden Circle Tour, Iceland

It's Wanderlust Wednesday! Today we're talking about the Golden Circle Tour in Iceland.

“The problem with driving around Iceland is that you’re basically confronted by a new soul-enriching, breath-taking, life-affirming natural sight every five goddamn minutes. It’s totally exhausting.” 
― Stephen Markley, Tales of Iceland or "Running with the Huldufólk in the Permanent Daylight"

Being the travel planner/booker/arranger/idea person in my family, a cruise is actually the best chance I get at having a vacation. My work is done ahead of time and the ship does the rest. But there are times we like doing land vacations.

Iceland is one of those places. While cruise ships do go to Iceland, those voyages are expensive. And I'm cheap. So when the price over Thanksgiving Break dropped to bargain basement prices, we jumped on it.

Thank goodness. We soaked in the Blue Lagoon. Spent time in the cafes and restaurants in Reykjavik, saw the Northern Lights, and took a Golden Circle tour.

It was full day tour around Iceland's Golden Circle.
We checked out Crater Kerid where the blue water contrasted with the red and green walls.
We climbed hundreds of icy wooden steps to get great views of the Gullfoss Waterfall. We've heard new steps have since been installed.

Got sprayed by the Strokkur geyser. They don't rope those things off like they do in the US. Get too close and you'll get wet.

 Got to hang with some Icelandic horses. I called this one Tina Turner.
 Made a stop at Þingvellir National Park.


Which one thing was the best? Well, all of them.

As we saw the sunset over Greenland on our flight home, we knew we'd have to get there someday, too.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Make a Garden Apron - Tutorial Tuesday


For today's Tutorial Tuesday we are making this quick and easy gardening apron. Not a gardener? Turn it into a sewing apron, teacher apron, or a gift for someone else. It's a simple project great for anytime of year!

Handmade gardening apron

Makes an apron measuring approx. 11” x 21”

For this project you will need:

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, and link to the tutorial video. 


Looking for more storage ideas? Check out these other projects!

Otherwise, you can just view the gardening apron tutorial right here: