Tartan rug.

 In the first year that I went to crochet class some of them were discussing tartan rugs and said how easy they were to do.

I wasn't convinced, one of the more experienced crocheters bought in a pattern book to show me. I took it home but everything I read confused me even more.

I took it back and said that I would leave it for awhile until I could understand patterns.

After holidays, tartan rugs came up again and a couple of members had brought theirs in and again said how easy they were.

Always up for a challenge, I decided I would make one without a pattern. I bought the wool, yes, yes, I know I do have plenty but I wanted to ve sure that I had enough of each colour.

This was to be smallish and just for me so I choose navy, light blue, cream and white. I was keen to see how it turned out so I did rush it a bit finishing it in two weeks. I was go8ng to fringe it but then changed my mind, nah should have fringed it. Again I took the quicker way as I wanted to see the finished project.

I have started another so that I can improve on it, it's also a little larger. Blue one is 100 by 120cms. New one is 135 and hopefully to 140 oe 150 and fringed.

JFK airport

 Our flight to Honolulu was an early one. We were on holiday so booked a taxi to collect us at 4am. It was in fact an Uber but no bother. The day before we were advised who would be driving us. He arrived early and we were ready early so we left at 3.45am,  nice quiet drive that didnt take as long as we thought but better to be early than late.

Going through Customs, I had learnt before that it's shoes off for everyone over twelve so my shoes, perfume and tablet went in one tray handbag and backpack in another. First tray came through but backpack tray went to the side, they put it through again, same thing. Some young girl collected it and asked if I had powder in my bag, I said yes and then indicated that it was in my dilly bag with other toiletries. She took it out and then with the rest of the tray took everything to a machine and proceeded to shake some powder on to a square of kitchen paper and then it went through the machine. I didn't see a negative but she bought it back to me and said it was okay to continue. As I tend to get patted down or a wand passed over me 75% of the times that I fly, it was just a hiccup although that was new.

No other dramas and on to Hawaiian aircraft. I do like them, they have an announcement warning before the meal or drinks service, ten minutes prior saying that it will be commencing and last for approx 30 minutes and ask that no one uses the corridors in that time and surprising no one did and it was a quick service. Wish other airlines would do the same.

Newark day two

 Still suffering so it was a slow day with a short walk to Newark Penn Station and back again.

We visited a whole food market, all sorts of products , lots of fresh foods and also lunch or dinner options. We were looking for cough soothers as my cold had developed into a cough.

Nothing like that so bought some lunch and then we parted ways. Me back to hotel for z sleep and Warren to find z chemist.

Newark

 Our bus tour finished at either Newark airport or back at the New Yorkers hotel,  we had three nights St a hotel in Newark booked before flying home.

Not a great deal to do in Newark, Def didn't want to go to any museums so we took a walk to a cathedral. I was suffering the aftermath of a cold and felt that I was running z temperature but we got there and back, clocking up 8.75kms. 

Massive and so old.

This was another church building on the way.

We started with breakfast at Dunkin Donuts, our first time there as on tour everytime there was a DD at our break spots, the queue was very long.

Phili, last day of tour

 I went for a walk after breakfast, it was our lastest time to leave at 9am.

This was what I was after.

Nice little park alongside a fire house just 100 metres from the hotel

A mural on the side of the building

Then Beni Franklin.

Philly

 Short hop to Phillidelpia. We stopped off for morning tea at Biden centre in Delaware. After a short stop to see Rocky, we were taken to the Reading market for lunch. What a crush that was and we only had forty  minutes.  Had to order and then wait for it to be made.

Warren and headed to a quieter aisle and ended up in the fruit  and vege market, he bought some bananas and nectarines while I fought my way to the restrooms. Again it was a queue, we got out of there as soon as possible.

We have already had a tour of the city but were taken to the information area and given two and a half hour to explore or waste. Can't get into rooms until 4pm.

Keys to the rooms were on our seats when we were picked up. Starting to get cold again so it was very welcoming to take our bags to the room.

As we had only managed a banana for lunch, we set off for China town, it was six blocks straight down the road.

I saw chicken and eggplant on the menu and Warren asked about egg and tomato, our two favourite dishes from China.

Neither disappointed, it was so good. One of the best and cheapest meals we have had for dinner since being here. Two dishes and rice, two cokes and two spring rolls for $40.

Yesterday for lunch we had two coffees, ham and cheese crisconant avo on toast with some yoghurt and cereal and that was $55. USA so about $70.

 

My avo on toast.

An Amish farm and house

 The main things I wanted to see and do on this trip was Niagara falls and Amish country.

Totem pole outside of the house

The church benches, dishes for the meal and hymn books travel to the host  family. Church is held every second week from 8.30am for about three hours then they have lunch together.

One of the cows. This is no longer a working farm just for tours.

Barns painted up

Some of the livestock.

Horse and buggy that they get around in. Some do have cars and phones but they are only used for business.

Tobacco harvester

Park run at Anacostia

 Bus stop was about a ten minute walk from hotel, cost $2.25 each to go one trip. Feed the money, no change. We travelled 17 stops or 30 minutes and had another ten minutes walk to the start.

Every one was so friendly even just chatting to people on the street. I did the bar coe scanning. After we met some of the runners at the local Cafe. I ordered and went to pay  and discovered that it had already been paid. Not sure which one did it but I thanked the table.

Sunny day but windy.

A block full of food trucks

Amazing murals around the city and amazingly, no tagging.

Had to find the big chair

Button to press to go across the road and it talks! If it is a big red hand, it says Wait! Once the walk sign comes on it then says "you can walk, you have 25 seconds" neat hey.

Another mural, this one was one of three on a wall and done as a mosaic. 

We were in an area that never had segregation.  

This was my lunch at Capital city Cafe, it is a community Cafe. One guy was doing the coffees and food but there seemed to be minders and one gave us a free coffee voucher as we had a longer wait. We were people watching as no dramas at all.

Washington DC

 We were dropped at Capitol Hill for a couple of hours before checking into our hotel.

It was cool and windy but the sun was out.

We walked from one end to the other almost 5kms. Squirrels were in the park, a young couple were feeding them, this one came within about half a metre.

Warren particularly wanted to go to the fountain where Jenny from Forrest Gump jumped into the water. It was fenced off but we found a gap where people were going through. It's memorial day weekend and apparently parades and all sorts happening tomorrow and Monday.

Smithinson institute, lots of students playing on the greens.

These kids were flying kites and practising cheerleader dances.

View from our hotel, we are only 2.5kms from Capitol Hill

Dinner from last night. Place called Moe's, similar to subway, add what you want. Didn't realise the plate was going to be so big neither of us could eat it all, cost $17.

Niagara Falls

 Only a short hop to Niagara falls from Toronto, about two hours. Stopped off at the floral clock. 

 Warren and I set out for a cache, most of our stops have a cache which is great. This was a traditional as well as a virtual. 

Next stop was at windfall cable car.

Can see the cables. Took 12 minutes to go over and back and $22. Several of our group did it. I researched info to go with the photo. Seven cables and 250 feet above the water.

 Lunch at Niagara.

Can walk

across to USA

We went into the park and took our first photo of the falls.

Drowned rats but from the rain.

Getting dressed to go on the boat ride.

So windy and misty on the boat

This is the American falls

Walked behind the falls, down tunnels, again got wet but not as wet as on the boat.

Toronto

Cold but at least it wasn't raining. Shops apparently don't open until 10am.

On the way to the centre just a quirky vehicle 

Had to have a picture with the large sign.

Stunning churches

Colourful birds along the way.

A gold dome, couldn't find anything about it.

Fountains little Times Square

We did a harbour cruise, but it was freezing cold, had to have the hood up but I did take a photo of a Swan.