The Baltic Sea Cruise

Perhaps many people dream of cruising over the warm seas, visiting the southern islands, basking on the sun deck. Me too but unexpectedly I decided to go on the Baltic Sea cruise in December, before Christmas  when was no warm sea, no sun, the wind was blowing on a sun deck. 
I traveled by the ferry company 'Viking Line'. It's a huge vessel of 9 decks, my cabin was on a deck 6.
We sailed from Helsinki, Finland. It was already dark and not possible to take pictures. In the cabin there was a window and white waves could be seen in darkness of a night.  
Therefore, the next morning I'd been hoped to see dawn and sunny weather. Unfortunately the dawn was at half past nine and was no sun. Through the light fog I could see 'floated by' islands, buoys, lighthouses, country houses on the rocky islands.

The huge vessel sailed between the many islands along a narrow fairway. Finally we entered the bay of Stockholm, Sweden. 'Viking Line' began to moor to the pier opposite the high cliff. Cars, passengers and I went ashore and I photographed the vessel. 

 

 

I wanted to take a walk in Stockholm, since it was about 3 hours before sending the vessel back to Helsinki. Strolling in the narrow streets of the OLd town I saw the Great Cathedral near the Royal palace, named 'Sankt Nikolai kyrka'. Inside it was decorated for Christmas. 

Free time soon passed, I was abroad and 'Viking Line' was released from the pier at time. It was enough light time to take photos and I climbed the sun deck. Finally there was no wind. Picturesque islands with small houses, lighthouses and white waves stayed behind the stern.

It quickly began to get dark and it was time for Christmas dinner. Dinner was great, lots of fish and meat dishes, vegetables, various beverages, the dessert was delicious. Christmas cake with cranberries,  gingerbread, almond brownie, Christmas gingerbread house decorated with glaze. 

 

 

The next morning in the sea the weather was fine, partly blue sky, sun rays were seen through the clouds. The Baltic Sea was quiet and cold, at a distance on the horizon I saw a lighthouse.

 

We fast arrived to the Helsinki port. When the vessel moored I went ashore on the pier and took a photo of 'Viking line' in the port.

It was a pleasant experience on a cruise on Christmas!

 

Here is my video 'Cruise on Viking Line':

Motley Monday: Birthday

As a child I loved birthday and presents. Did you? "Unfortunately my birthday is once a year" a Russian children's song is. 
Getting aged I value every year that a life or God gives me. I think that wisdom, patience and experience comes  with ages (a bit of philosophy :-). 
I love this day when the phone rings since morning, my friends are saying me their congratulations.  My loved ones are attentive to me and my wishes. Today, at the evening we have a small family party.

My congratulations to all friends whose birthday is in January!

How do you prefer to spend your birthday? to have a noisy party or to stay alone? 

Green Windowsill

It's mid-January, some plants continue blooming on windowsills. Those that bloomed in December have already faded and rest. Here are new ones.

Impatiens is covered with bright red flowers, pelargonium zonale opened its purple flowers.

Roses took a rest, here is the orchid Dendrobium, it blossoms the second winter, isn't it beautiful?

 

Poinsettias white and red are still in bloom with their colorful leaves. All these plants decorate my windowsills in January. Day by day the light time becomes longer, the sun more often appears and soon plants will feel the approach of spring. 
What about your indoor and outdoor plants now?

A New Year and My Cross-Stiching 'Wild Flowers'

A Happy New Year! I hope you've had a joyful Christmas and celebrated the New year 2018. So did I. The Orthodox Christmas is on January 7 and then the "old new year" is on January 13 (I've written here what is it?). As you can see we have many holidays in January :-) 
Here is the vintage postcard 'Съ Рождествомъ Христовымъ' (A Merry Christmas), 1900th.

I've finished my new cross-stitching, that makes me happy, I dislike when the work remains unfinished for a long time. I bought the 'Wild flowers and berries' pattern last fall. I liked that it combined bead embroideries, colored ribbons and cross-stitching. When I read the pattern instructions it turned out that you first need to embroider with beads and ribbons and then to work with threads. I photographed the process to see the beginning when I made raspberries and stamens with beads, petals and leaves with ribbons, then to show how the pattern changed.

 

Here is my new cross-stitching 'Wild flowers and berries':

click to enlarge

What do you prefer doing in winter time? If you have made ribbon and bead embroidery what is your experience?