Happy Hoildays

Jim and I put up our tree and hung the stocking with care in hopes

that St. Nick soon would be here.

After sailing around the world and having Christmas in other countries, I decided it was necessary to have a Christmas tree suitable for a sailboat. So I hand quilted this tree. It's decorations are family photos, antique pins, plus special treasures we've collected on our trips. Perfect for a sailboat on the move.

Sitka Deer

Thursday Jim brought home his first Sitka deer. We are both very excited and ready to try this meat that we hear so much about.

The Sitka Deer or Sitka Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis), is a subspecies of Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and similar to another subspecies the Black-tailed Deer (O. h. colombianus). Their name originates from Sitka, Alaska.

Weighing in on average between 80 and 120 pounds (36 and 54 kg) , Sitka deer are characteristically smaller than other types of black-tailed deer. Reddish-brown in the summer, their coats darken to a gray-brown in the winter. They are also good swimmers, and can occasionally be seen crossing deep channels between islands.

Their average life span is about 10 years but a few are known to have attained an age of 15.