Design Wall Monday 9/23/2013 and vacation pics

Nothing on my design wall today.  I've been on vacation and have only been doing hand work lately. I hope to get back into the sewing room this week.  First, though, gotta pay bills, take care of laundry, and bring Bax home from boarding.

One of the things we did on vacation was visit the Pensacola lighthouse. We've been to that area almost every year for 30 years, but never have visited the lighthouse before.

Pensacola Light

 

We climbed 179 stairs to the top. Going up was fine, no problem. Coming down hurt my knees and my muscles were sore for three days!

Stairs inside Pensacola Light

 

First order Fresnel lens

 

The view was spectacular from up there. From the light you can see the naval air station and the area where the Blue Angels are based.  Next time we go, it will be on a Wednesday when the Blue Angels are practicing for the public (they're not, now, due to the sequester). You can also see all of Pensacola Bay and much of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Pensacola Naval Air Station from top of lighthouse

 

View to southwest from lighthouse

 



On the grounds, we saw these shrubs with these beautiful berries. Does anyone know what they are?  I've never seen anything like them before.  Each berry is about 1/4-3/8" diameter.  The shrubs were about 8-10 feet tall and were clustered together to make a hedge.

 

 

So even though I don't have anything on my design wall today, I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times. I hope that's OK anyway!