March! How can that be? February was a flurry. It started off great with a week in Maui, although it's winter there too and I actually had to buy a sweatshirt. But t's the time of year when the humpback whales come to Hawaii to breed and care for their babies and we saw plenty of them. Magnificent creatures. Once home, we had one week where we had about every type of weather (except warm). It began with snow and then we had wind, some milder than normal temps and, of course, rain. I'm pretty ready to be done with winter. March has come in on wet weather. Whether that qualifies as a lion or a lamb, I'm not sure. And the temps are staying low, so we have a bit of sleet from time to time. The lawn/meadow/jungle clearing has turned into a muddy slip and slide as John can attest, having fallen on it this week.
February also saw our Elmo get his neutering (and on Valentine's Day no less). All went well until he developed a large abscess on the 5th day post-op which required a day spent in the animal emergency hospital (always on a Sunday), ending with surgery and a drain. The following week was one that found us sleeping near him on the couch (since climbing the stairs was banned) and I worked from home while John traveled so that he could be monitored. He was on 3 antibiotics, a sedative, a pain medication, and an anti-inflammatory , all of which he took without complaint. His drain and stitches came out at the end of that week and he is once again his joyful, puppy self. Tomorrow he will return to daycare and his pack which he dearly loves.
We're looking forward to a grandbaby fix this next weekend. I will meet John in California and we'll spend some time with the Bay Area contingent.
March is underway and will only last a month. April promises to look more like springtime!
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Life and All That
It has been quite a while since I posted. No excuses. I have a full life and the general ebb and flow means sometimes I don't do what I usually/always do. Lots of changes to chat about. John is trying to retire. At 70 years of age, I think it's time. And I'd like to see more of him. He still travels down to California twice a month. I know I don't plan to wait until I'm 70 to get out of the rat race. Maybe in one more year of we can swing it.
We have traveled a bit since I last wrote anything here. We are fortunate to get to experience other places and people. Recently we went to Hawaii for a winter break - Maui this time. We wanted to see whales and boy did we! Lots of humpbacks this time of year there. We enjoyed the company of great friends as well.
We are looking forward to a cruise up to the Midnight Sun this summer. Our trips may take on a shorter quality after this one - at least in distance. Once retired, we have all of the United States to drive around. And lots of time to visit children and grandchildren.
Since I last posted, we acquired a few more grandchildren. Morey is now 4 years old. Brother Wyatt arrived on September 16 in 2015. Ten days earlier, Chris and Karen welcomed Joaquin and recently Gareth married Sheryl who has a 4 year old named Tommy. We are told there are plans for more. What fun!
John and I adopted a pup all the way from Houston. Elmo arrived here in October, born on August 7. He's half Airedale and then some other stuff. He has the Airedale look but with a softer muzzle. He arrived weighing 12 pounds and is up to 60. What a guy. We take him to a doggie day care when John travels and he has become one of the pack.
We continue to enjoy life up here. We've made some great friends and always marvel at the natural beauty that surrounds us. Just a few things to iron out as we begin a new chapter. But it's all good.
We have traveled a bit since I last wrote anything here. We are fortunate to get to experience other places and people. Recently we went to Hawaii for a winter break - Maui this time. We wanted to see whales and boy did we! Lots of humpbacks this time of year there. We enjoyed the company of great friends as well.
We are looking forward to a cruise up to the Midnight Sun this summer. Our trips may take on a shorter quality after this one - at least in distance. Once retired, we have all of the United States to drive around. And lots of time to visit children and grandchildren.
Since I last posted, we acquired a few more grandchildren. Morey is now 4 years old. Brother Wyatt arrived on September 16 in 2015. Ten days earlier, Chris and Karen welcomed Joaquin and recently Gareth married Sheryl who has a 4 year old named Tommy. We are told there are plans for more. What fun!
John and I adopted a pup all the way from Houston. Elmo arrived here in October, born on August 7. He's half Airedale and then some other stuff. He has the Airedale look but with a softer muzzle. He arrived weighing 12 pounds and is up to 60. What a guy. We take him to a doggie day care when John travels and he has become one of the pack.
We continue to enjoy life up here. We've made some great friends and always marvel at the natural beauty that surrounds us. Just a few things to iron out as we begin a new chapter. But it's all good.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
WInter in Seattle (not!)
We are having a very mild winter this year. It's almost embarrassing when I look at the reports from other parts of the U.S. Rainfall here has been on the sparse side to be sure and we have had a disproportionate number of sunny days. Not typically what one thinks about when Seattle is mentioned. But, I enjoy every one of them as I walk down to the ferry each afternoon. Still a bit on the chilly side, but it is winter after all.
John was away in California this week, returning on Thursday. We had our security system beefed up when we returned from vacation. I must say that I feel better having that in place since our shed was burglarized several months ago. We've made some other changes as well which have made the place less hospitable to potential "home shoppers". Next up will be a dog. We have a plan to accommodate our long hours away on those days John is down in California. It's all about finding the right (cat-friendly) fit now.
John has been busy putting vacation photos on the computer. Soon his time will be devoted to the garden as the seed catalogues have already started to arrive. The garlic and shallots are growing merrily in the cold months as we plan what to put in as soon as it warms slightly. Since tasting the wonderful roasted pumpkin soup in Austria, we shall include at least a pumpkin or two this year. We also want to replace the dogwood that expired last year. And look at some roses. We still have a lovely (?) pile of horse manure in the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing where we could fashion a nice flowering garden.
I need to bind the quilt I completed just prior to leaving on vacation and that will be done. It's all flannel and will make a nice addition to one of the guest rooms to keep folks cozy. I'm nearly finished with a small quilted wall hanging that I am making as a gift. And there are more projects waiting their turn in the closet - oh for a bit of time.
Today we'll do some errands and then settle in to watch the Seahawks play tonight! Go Hawks!
John was away in California this week, returning on Thursday. We had our security system beefed up when we returned from vacation. I must say that I feel better having that in place since our shed was burglarized several months ago. We've made some other changes as well which have made the place less hospitable to potential "home shoppers". Next up will be a dog. We have a plan to accommodate our long hours away on those days John is down in California. It's all about finding the right (cat-friendly) fit now.
John has been busy putting vacation photos on the computer. Soon his time will be devoted to the garden as the seed catalogues have already started to arrive. The garlic and shallots are growing merrily in the cold months as we plan what to put in as soon as it warms slightly. Since tasting the wonderful roasted pumpkin soup in Austria, we shall include at least a pumpkin or two this year. We also want to replace the dogwood that expired last year. And look at some roses. We still have a lovely (?) pile of horse manure in the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing where we could fashion a nice flowering garden.
I need to bind the quilt I completed just prior to leaving on vacation and that will be done. It's all flannel and will make a nice addition to one of the guest rooms to keep folks cozy. I'm nearly finished with a small quilted wall hanging that I am making as a gift. And there are more projects waiting their turn in the closet - oh for a bit of time.
Today we'll do some errands and then settle in to watch the Seahawks play tonight! Go Hawks!
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
On the Eve of a New Year - It's a Wrap
We'll usher out 2014 tonight and welcome another year with dinner together with some dear friends. It's been a good year in all. We continue to work productively in jobs that we enjoy as we prepare for the coming retirement years in the not-too-distant future. And let's be honest, we enjoy the benefits that come with having an ongoing income source for now. As an example, we returned Monday from a 10-day vacation down the Danube river in Europe. Undoubtedly, this will go down as one of the best vacations ever!
The experience with the Viking cruise line is nothing short of excellent. And the river cruise experience was such a contrast to the previous ocean cruise we took in 2004. First of all, the ship is smaller (only 144 rooms) and intended as a floating hotel, not an all-inclusive playground in itself. No casino, theater, multiple restaurants, climbing walls, pools, etc., etc. The intent is to transport you comfortably to places along the river where you can explore off the boat. Not many "optional" excursions, although there were some. The tour includes visits to the surrounds at each port of call accompanied by a local expert guide with time on your own as well. The towns along the river are simply lovely with rich history and cultures. The boat itself is a comfortable place to enjoy meals and conversation. Unlike the ocean cruise where we saw very few people (despite there being about 1500 on board), we had the opportunity to meet and get to know some interesting people who we hope we will encounter again. Funny how some pairings work and others just don't. There were other interesting people on the boat that, having met, you know you won't be spending more time with. But we will hope to see new friends Rudy and Dee, Bill and Judy, and Derek and Pat over time. Great folks.
The boat is comfortable. Our room included such niceties as heated floors in the bathroom, a great shower - and twice the size of the one on the previous ship, daily service and nightly turn down by our housekeeper Gabriela, and king size bed. We opted to have a balcony, but probably wouldn't have missed it during these colder months as we spent very little time on it. But the scenery was nice. The boat moved primarily during the night and there was never any movement detected. We even got to see some transfer through the locks along the river. Upon mooring, while the river sped by at quite a current, the boat was so securely tied that it was motionless. We did travel our final leg into Budapest during the afternoon, arriving in the city at 10pm. What a spectacular sight that was! Along the river, on both sides, the city and it's beautiful large buildings were lit up like a fairytale land. We stood on the deck and listened to the program director (Vlad) tell us the history of the city and the landmarks as we took some night time photos. I don't know how one would see this sight if not on the river that travels between the two sides of Buda and Pest.
We stayed on for two extra nights at Le Meridien hotel in the city. We opted for a tour into the countryside to visit the small village of St. Andrew (I can't recall the Hungarian translation for this) before checking into the hotel. We ate dinner with our friends at a 100-year old restaurant where we enjoyed authentic Hungarian food and tolerated some very loud Hungarian folk music. We had enjoyed a regional Hungarian fest on the boat one evening, complete with folk music and dancing. John was even pegged by one of the dancers to get up and dance - and he did! I should also mention that he was not shy about dancing in the evenings when we would go up to the lounge after dinner. And one evening he even initiated getting up to do the waltz during a music trivia contest. A dark horse to be sure.
The mostly eastern European staff gathered and sang Christmas carols for us on Christmas eve. They were truly something special. Each one was warm and attentive. We went on a market outing with the Chef and enjoyed some specially selected mulled wine and sausages. And we enjoyed the food prepared on the boat. Most days it was all three meals provided onboard. Always an interesting and varied menu for selection. I could go on, but we will always remember this trip. And yes, there were penguins on this trip :-)
The experience with the Viking cruise line is nothing short of excellent. And the river cruise experience was such a contrast to the previous ocean cruise we took in 2004. First of all, the ship is smaller (only 144 rooms) and intended as a floating hotel, not an all-inclusive playground in itself. No casino, theater, multiple restaurants, climbing walls, pools, etc., etc. The intent is to transport you comfortably to places along the river where you can explore off the boat. Not many "optional" excursions, although there were some. The tour includes visits to the surrounds at each port of call accompanied by a local expert guide with time on your own as well. The towns along the river are simply lovely with rich history and cultures. The boat itself is a comfortable place to enjoy meals and conversation. Unlike the ocean cruise where we saw very few people (despite there being about 1500 on board), we had the opportunity to meet and get to know some interesting people who we hope we will encounter again. Funny how some pairings work and others just don't. There were other interesting people on the boat that, having met, you know you won't be spending more time with. But we will hope to see new friends Rudy and Dee, Bill and Judy, and Derek and Pat over time. Great folks.
The boat is comfortable. Our room included such niceties as heated floors in the bathroom, a great shower - and twice the size of the one on the previous ship, daily service and nightly turn down by our housekeeper Gabriela, and king size bed. We opted to have a balcony, but probably wouldn't have missed it during these colder months as we spent very little time on it. But the scenery was nice. The boat moved primarily during the night and there was never any movement detected. We even got to see some transfer through the locks along the river. Upon mooring, while the river sped by at quite a current, the boat was so securely tied that it was motionless. We did travel our final leg into Budapest during the afternoon, arriving in the city at 10pm. What a spectacular sight that was! Along the river, on both sides, the city and it's beautiful large buildings were lit up like a fairytale land. We stood on the deck and listened to the program director (Vlad) tell us the history of the city and the landmarks as we took some night time photos. I don't know how one would see this sight if not on the river that travels between the two sides of Buda and Pest.
We stayed on for two extra nights at Le Meridien hotel in the city. We opted for a tour into the countryside to visit the small village of St. Andrew (I can't recall the Hungarian translation for this) before checking into the hotel. We ate dinner with our friends at a 100-year old restaurant where we enjoyed authentic Hungarian food and tolerated some very loud Hungarian folk music. We had enjoyed a regional Hungarian fest on the boat one evening, complete with folk music and dancing. John was even pegged by one of the dancers to get up and dance - and he did! I should also mention that he was not shy about dancing in the evenings when we would go up to the lounge after dinner. And one evening he even initiated getting up to do the waltz during a music trivia contest. A dark horse to be sure.
The mostly eastern European staff gathered and sang Christmas carols for us on Christmas eve. They were truly something special. Each one was warm and attentive. We went on a market outing with the Chef and enjoyed some specially selected mulled wine and sausages. And we enjoyed the food prepared on the boat. Most days it was all three meals provided onboard. Always an interesting and varied menu for selection. I could go on, but we will always remember this trip. And yes, there were penguins on this trip :-)
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Seasonal Ramblings of a Tired Woman...
Gosh it's been a while since I posted. Long enough that a new season is upon us. Autumn turned out to be less rainy and more cold than usual up here. That meant we had some gloriously sunny days long into the season, but had to get out the long winter coat and even hats before anticipated. December, however, has not been the "coldest" month as usual, but it has been the windiest! We had a fierce windstorm go through on Thursday night, leaving us without power for most of Friday. In all, almost 250,000 customers of our power company were impacted during the storm. I went to work (un-showered) on Friday and the hospital and the City had power. We enjoyed a warm house and access to running water late yesterday.
Out of the past 5 weeks, John has been in California for 4 of those. He was home all week during the Thanksgiving holiday. It was just the two of us for Thanksgiving, so it was quiet and we experimented a bit with the traditional menu, leaving out some of the usual items and substituting a cheesecake for the usual pies. We enjoyed having a four-day weekend to rest and relax. But we missed the usual family crowd too. Next year!
I am going into Seattle today with two friends to see the Nutcracker. It is a unique production as it was designed by Maurice Sendak, one of my favorite go-to children's book authors (Where the Wild Things Are) and it's the last year it will be performed. After the performance, the assorted spouses will join us for dinner.
Tomorrow I will officially begin to pack for our Christmas trip. We are going to take a river cruise down the Danube over Christmas. The Christmas Markets will be in full swing and we have other excursions as well - visit the countryside depicted in The Sound of Music, visit Mozart's birthplace, sample Vienna sweets, and more. We'll stay on 2 extra nights in Budapest to see a little more there. I hope to blog a little while we're on the trip. We'll see what the technology allows on the boat. So, until then.....
Out of the past 5 weeks, John has been in California for 4 of those. He was home all week during the Thanksgiving holiday. It was just the two of us for Thanksgiving, so it was quiet and we experimented a bit with the traditional menu, leaving out some of the usual items and substituting a cheesecake for the usual pies. We enjoyed having a four-day weekend to rest and relax. But we missed the usual family crowd too. Next year!
I am going into Seattle today with two friends to see the Nutcracker. It is a unique production as it was designed by Maurice Sendak, one of my favorite go-to children's book authors (Where the Wild Things Are) and it's the last year it will be performed. After the performance, the assorted spouses will join us for dinner.
Tomorrow I will officially begin to pack for our Christmas trip. We are going to take a river cruise down the Danube over Christmas. The Christmas Markets will be in full swing and we have other excursions as well - visit the countryside depicted in The Sound of Music, visit Mozart's birthplace, sample Vienna sweets, and more. We'll stay on 2 extra nights in Budapest to see a little more there. I hope to blog a little while we're on the trip. We'll see what the technology allows on the boat. So, until then.....
A very Merry Christmas rant
I want to know what is up with the increasingly defiant, stand-your-ground movement to wish people a Merry Christmas. It's as if Happy Holidays is some kind of personal affront. I don't believe I have ever seen a rule regarding what one may or may not say in the way of greetings during this "holiday season". But I see and hear way too much about how Merry Christmas has been replaced by somehow less meaningful well-wishing. I guess it depends on your filters.
I say it's okay to share your wishes for happiness in whatever form floats your boat. I don't feel offended or demeaned by any sentiments that wish me happiness or loving thoughts celebrated by whatever holiday or path you follow. I have known and have friends who are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Wiccan, Agnostic, Atheist, and am fully supportive of those no-doubt Druidic ancestors in my family tree. Personally, celebrating the solstice is good for me. It was, after all, in place before the "Christmas" label was assigned to this time of year (despite historical facts). And as for the season, believing in the magic of Santa is for many (myself included) a wonderful feeling to have; to believe in goodness, sharing, and delightful wonderment. In those personal preferences, I don't discount others who believe in something quite different. I am pleased that they choose to include me in their thoughts during this season of many names. So enjoy and celebrate the Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,and Blessed Be. It's all good and we can't have too much of that.
I say it's okay to share your wishes for happiness in whatever form floats your boat. I don't feel offended or demeaned by any sentiments that wish me happiness or loving thoughts celebrated by whatever holiday or path you follow. I have known and have friends who are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Wiccan, Agnostic, Atheist, and am fully supportive of those no-doubt Druidic ancestors in my family tree. Personally, celebrating the solstice is good for me. It was, after all, in place before the "Christmas" label was assigned to this time of year (despite historical facts). And as for the season, believing in the magic of Santa is for many (myself included) a wonderful feeling to have; to believe in goodness, sharing, and delightful wonderment. In those personal preferences, I don't discount others who believe in something quite different. I am pleased that they choose to include me in their thoughts during this season of many names. So enjoy and celebrate the Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,and Blessed Be. It's all good and we can't have too much of that.
Monday, September 1, 2014
September 1, 2014
That's the date on the calendar and it reminds me that I have not posted in a long time - perhaps 4 months! Well, I've been busy. I feel busy. But maybe the year is winding down and we'll have some quiet months soon. Everything in balance, right?
The summer has been fabulous up here - loads of sunshine and warmer weather than I necessarily like. But it has been lovely. The New Orleans trip was a lot of fun. I'm so glad my sisters and I had some time together on our own. Next year I will be presenting a session at the conference (the reason for New Orleans) and that one will be in Orlando. Maybe we can get together again out there! My aunt and uncle from Indiana spent a week here in July and we played tourist with them. Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics was probably one of my favorite day trips with them.
The home front has been puttering along. The garden has produced more than ever under the attentive eye of the Head Gardener. He is successfully growing broccoli and Brussels sprouts for the first time and we have winter squash and loads of runner beans. I am making and freezing zucchini bread which will be a nice reminder of summer this winter. Carrots are actually growing this year and should be a tasty addition to our table before long. We have three tomato plants that are growing a large number of the lovely things. And I have been freezing bags of blackberries for making jam on a free weekend. We don't work at growing the berries, but my Head Gardener and Horticulturist does the gathering. Soon it will be time to put the shallots and the garlic in the ground so they can grow during winter.
We have had some deer this summer, making regular visits and not doing too much in the way of damage, except that they clipped the raspberries down to about chest height and the bounty was reduced to an occasional handful; nice with yogurt, but not enough for jam or a pie. Otherwise, except for one gigantic raccoon, we haven't seen other wildlife in the garden this summer.
We recently traveled to California to celebrate the second birthday of that precious grandson. He is adorable to the max and it's just delightful to see him grow and develop. How sweet to hear him say "C'mon dada" or "Mama, help me!". Of course, this being his second birthday, there are lots of "no" accompanied by a precocious turn of the head. And while we were there we had an opportunity to spend (a little) time with the grown-up kids, getting to hear and see what is going on in their lives.
Before we know it, Autumn will be here in full regalia. Some leaves are beginning to fall already and we heard a large crash in the woods earlier this week as a tree (probably an Alder) fell (nature's tree trimming getting underway). It actually rained this weekend, bringing in cooler temps. We are looking ahead to a vacation in December. But before that happens, Autumn will require some of our attention.
John still goes to California twice a month and will continue that until he decides otherwise. I have a full plate at work, even some Saturdays on the horizon. I was just selected for a position on the Nursing Practice Advisory Group and am excited to contribute to my profession at the state-level of policymaking. And, as I mentioned earlier, I submitted an abstract for a session at the national conference this next year and it was accepted. Very exciting! Lots to keep us busy through the "quiet months".
The summer has been fabulous up here - loads of sunshine and warmer weather than I necessarily like. But it has been lovely. The New Orleans trip was a lot of fun. I'm so glad my sisters and I had some time together on our own. Next year I will be presenting a session at the conference (the reason for New Orleans) and that one will be in Orlando. Maybe we can get together again out there! My aunt and uncle from Indiana spent a week here in July and we played tourist with them. Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics was probably one of my favorite day trips with them.
The home front has been puttering along. The garden has produced more than ever under the attentive eye of the Head Gardener. He is successfully growing broccoli and Brussels sprouts for the first time and we have winter squash and loads of runner beans. I am making and freezing zucchini bread which will be a nice reminder of summer this winter. Carrots are actually growing this year and should be a tasty addition to our table before long. We have three tomato plants that are growing a large number of the lovely things. And I have been freezing bags of blackberries for making jam on a free weekend. We don't work at growing the berries, but my Head Gardener and Horticulturist does the gathering. Soon it will be time to put the shallots and the garlic in the ground so they can grow during winter.
We have had some deer this summer, making regular visits and not doing too much in the way of damage, except that they clipped the raspberries down to about chest height and the bounty was reduced to an occasional handful; nice with yogurt, but not enough for jam or a pie. Otherwise, except for one gigantic raccoon, we haven't seen other wildlife in the garden this summer.
We recently traveled to California to celebrate the second birthday of that precious grandson. He is adorable to the max and it's just delightful to see him grow and develop. How sweet to hear him say "C'mon dada" or "Mama, help me!". Of course, this being his second birthday, there are lots of "no" accompanied by a precocious turn of the head. And while we were there we had an opportunity to spend (a little) time with the grown-up kids, getting to hear and see what is going on in their lives.
Before we know it, Autumn will be here in full regalia. Some leaves are beginning to fall already and we heard a large crash in the woods earlier this week as a tree (probably an Alder) fell (nature's tree trimming getting underway). It actually rained this weekend, bringing in cooler temps. We are looking ahead to a vacation in December. But before that happens, Autumn will require some of our attention.
John still goes to California twice a month and will continue that until he decides otherwise. I have a full plate at work, even some Saturdays on the horizon. I was just selected for a position on the Nursing Practice Advisory Group and am excited to contribute to my profession at the state-level of policymaking. And, as I mentioned earlier, I submitted an abstract for a session at the national conference this next year and it was accepted. Very exciting! Lots to keep us busy through the "quiet months".
Monday, May 12, 2014
Well, really...
What a slacker I have been. Truth be told, I just haven't had time to sit and do a blog. We are busy! Since that last post, we've been to see Karen and Chris in LA and had a great time. We went up to Griffith Park Observatory (what a great view) as well as other spots. Chris is a wealth of obscure LA historical information which made it interesting and fun as we drove around the city. In late March we had friends from across the pond. M&C stayed with us a few days before we all made our way to Maui for a week. We had lots of fun and I never tire of the Feast at Lele. Then back to the burg for a few days before they set off back home. Right after that I hosted a wedding shower for some friends. And just a week ago, those friends got married and what a moving and meaningful ceremony that was. And the celebration after wasn't bad either! It was at a venue of Chef Tom Douglas and the food was delicious. Then we danced to 80s music before taking ourselves home on the ferry. Tired but happy.
I passed a certification exam recently as well. Officially Board Certified now - which is NOT the same as certifiable - although there are days. Am I done with school and such yet? Not sure. I am really liking my job these days, though. It pushes me just enough and uses my skill set so that I feel useful and productive. Still, I am on the "5-year plan" as it's known around the house. Hoping to retire and do all the other stuff I want to do, but have little time for just now. Ahh! I am starting a new watercolor class tomorrow night. I finally found one that is held in the evenings. I am looking forward to that.
The season seems to have turned finally. I believe Spring is truly here (in the way that Spring comes to Seattle - less rain than usual). We are promised an entire week of sun and no rain. I bought the hanging pots of fuchsias yesterday and they are on the porch. That is an annual signal that the sunny months are upon us. We have had tulips in pots, in boxes, and in the ground for weeks now. They are putting on such a show. Last week we had a deer walk through the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing. Sabrina was very excited to see this large animal as she jumped from window to window to follow its movements. The head gardener has noticed hoof imprints in his garden.
So, perhaps I can be more diligent about writing about this place. Next week we will have lived here for 5 years. It's still a great place to "be". I will be in Cali in a few weeks for a wedding. Nice place to visit - but I'm glad we don't live there. Next week I am in New Orleans for a conference. My sisters are coming to join me and we'll have a week of face time! That's gonna be all kinds of fun. Really.
I passed a certification exam recently as well. Officially Board Certified now - which is NOT the same as certifiable - although there are days. Am I done with school and such yet? Not sure. I am really liking my job these days, though. It pushes me just enough and uses my skill set so that I feel useful and productive. Still, I am on the "5-year plan" as it's known around the house. Hoping to retire and do all the other stuff I want to do, but have little time for just now. Ahh! I am starting a new watercolor class tomorrow night. I finally found one that is held in the evenings. I am looking forward to that.
The season seems to have turned finally. I believe Spring is truly here (in the way that Spring comes to Seattle - less rain than usual). We are promised an entire week of sun and no rain. I bought the hanging pots of fuchsias yesterday and they are on the porch. That is an annual signal that the sunny months are upon us. We have had tulips in pots, in boxes, and in the ground for weeks now. They are putting on such a show. Last week we had a deer walk through the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing. Sabrina was very excited to see this large animal as she jumped from window to window to follow its movements. The head gardener has noticed hoof imprints in his garden.
So, perhaps I can be more diligent about writing about this place. Next week we will have lived here for 5 years. It's still a great place to "be". I will be in Cali in a few weeks for a wedding. Nice place to visit - but I'm glad we don't live there. Next week I am in New Orleans for a conference. My sisters are coming to join me and we'll have a week of face time! That's gonna be all kinds of fun. Really.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Betwixt and Between,,,
I just ordered 1/8 of a bison and 1/2 of a pig to put in the freezer. I feel like a homesteader or some such type. Between canning and freezing and the mountain of horse manure that is sitting on the front lawn, I do feel like we live in the country now. Spring is peeking out to see if it's time to burst yet. The daffs are up but not in bloom, and there are buds on the trees and rhodies as well. But we still have winter to go. Next week hints at snow and the temperatures are still in the 40s.
It has been and continues to be a busy month. Today, we will go wine tasting on the Olympic Peninsula - an altogether pleasant way to spend an afternoon. There will be chocolate to accompany that wine as well. Next weekend we will attend an annual fundraiser to benefit a local school. It's what I would call a charter school. The fundraiser is always a good time. It's mystery dinner theater put on by the parents. There will also be silent and live auctions; usually handmade items created by the children or local goodies. It's a favorite evening out for us.The last weekend of the month we will go to Los Angeles to visit daughter Karen. We are looking forward to the sunshine that promises.
John has been battling the respiratory virus that is going around. Fortunately he was able to stay put, rest, and recover this week. I have kept a close eye on him as the flu is also around and is a nasty variety this year.
Come March, we eagerly anticipate a visit the latter half of the month with our friends, M&C. They'll arrive form England, get their bearings over a few days, and then together we are off to spend a week in Maui. Hopefully, we will not arrive too late to see a whale or three. Even so, we enjoy the island effect and the relaxation that infuses one's soul there. In April, I will host a wedding shower for a friend. By that time, Spring will truly be bursting. It's all good...
It has been and continues to be a busy month. Today, we will go wine tasting on the Olympic Peninsula - an altogether pleasant way to spend an afternoon. There will be chocolate to accompany that wine as well. Next weekend we will attend an annual fundraiser to benefit a local school. It's what I would call a charter school. The fundraiser is always a good time. It's mystery dinner theater put on by the parents. There will also be silent and live auctions; usually handmade items created by the children or local goodies. It's a favorite evening out for us.The last weekend of the month we will go to Los Angeles to visit daughter Karen. We are looking forward to the sunshine that promises.
John has been battling the respiratory virus that is going around. Fortunately he was able to stay put, rest, and recover this week. I have kept a close eye on him as the flu is also around and is a nasty variety this year.
Come March, we eagerly anticipate a visit the latter half of the month with our friends, M&C. They'll arrive form England, get their bearings over a few days, and then together we are off to spend a week in Maui. Hopefully, we will not arrive too late to see a whale or three. Even so, we enjoy the island effect and the relaxation that infuses one's soul there. In April, I will host a wedding shower for a friend. By that time, Spring will truly be bursting. It's all good...
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Living Life and a Few Other Items...
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| NY Eve Dinner Prep |
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| NY Eve Dinner Wine |
January has found us busy with work, but we have made time to have some fun as well. Of course, our local football team, the Seattle Seahawks, have provided us with much to enjoy! They will play in the Super Bowl tomorrow! Go Hawks!
Last weekend, we reconnected with some friends that we haven't seen in over a year. We went to see a local production of a play called Clever Dick at the community theater in Poulsbo. The play was billed as a British farce and they gave it their all. But with England's harshest critic and resident authority on-things-British sitting in the audience, it was a set-up from the start. It's hard to get that British humor right when the actors are American and trying, with varying degrees of success, to imitate a British accent (or one of them at least). Forget the innuendo and inside jokes. The saving grace was the main character played by a true Brit (as far as we could tell). But the theater itself was a delight; seating only 100 people and right up close to the actors. Good fun.
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| Pileated Woodpecker |
I am trying to incorporate yoga into my daily routine now. Improving my fitness is my resolution for 2014. I have lost 55 pounds this past year (5 more to go), so now my aim is to maintain that and get fit. Yoga is kicking what is left of my butt! Good to have a baseline, right? No where to go but up.
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| Cat Naps |
My other resolution is to create more space for creativity. Whether that is quilting or watercolor or who-knows-what, I intend to allow myself the time needed to engage that side of me. Someone pointed out recently that when she passes on, no one will remember her for all the emails she read/wrote or all the Facebook postings she made. Time to stop wasting time. Life is to be engaged, experienced, and enjoyed. I'm in!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Another Good Year...
Last week we enjoyed a visit with son Jake. He arrived Christmas Day and stayed until Sunday. Christmas was a lovely break in the middle of the week. I could easily do that 4-day work week thing on a regular basis.
We've had a mild winter thus far; only one day of snow and just a couple weeks of truly "cold" weather. There hasn't even been much rain. At least the light is growing by a couple minutes each day and that bodes well. Spring will not be far behind.
My resolutions for 2014 are to improve my fitness and make time to be creative. We have some home projects to complete this year and some wonderful travel planned. I'll keep you posted....
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Solstice, Where Art Thou???
The Solstice can't come soon enough. We have less than 8 1/2 hours of light now. I'm all about quietly gathering in at this time of year, but I look forward to the light returning.
Yesterday, we mailed cards to friends near and far. One box ticked. Today, we will send packages with gifts and love to family spread far and wide. That will feel good. Suddenly, it feels Christmas is upon us. Last weekend, my friend and coworker N took me to a wreath-making activity on Sunday. I had no idea what to expect, but it was really fun! And I came home with a beautiful, gigantic wreath about 3 feet across! We are still working out how and where to hang it.
We're going to breakfast with our good friends B&T this morning. We always look forward to catching up and sharing stories. Then we'll putter around finishing up the weekend "chores" and watch some football. Seattle is having a super year and we'll watch them right into the Super Bowl (my prediction).
John returns for week #2 in California tomorrow and I will have another busy week at work. The bitter cold has lifted and now we see some 40 degree temperatures, so no snow in sight (so far). I had the opportunity to spend last Saturday in an all-day watercolor class. It's very hard for me to allocate time to it at home, so a class structure helps. The style of the instructor was quite different from the one I used to have in California, so it was a stretch for me. That's not a bad thing. Maybe that will be my personal project this year - to make the time needed to engage with the paint.
Our Christmas will be quiet. Son Jacob will arrive for a visit on Christmas day. We're looking forward to that. And with that, I'm off to deck some halls! Falalala....
Yesterday, we mailed cards to friends near and far. One box ticked. Today, we will send packages with gifts and love to family spread far and wide. That will feel good. Suddenly, it feels Christmas is upon us. Last weekend, my friend and coworker N took me to a wreath-making activity on Sunday. I had no idea what to expect, but it was really fun! And I came home with a beautiful, gigantic wreath about 3 feet across! We are still working out how and where to hang it.
We're going to breakfast with our good friends B&T this morning. We always look forward to catching up and sharing stories. Then we'll putter around finishing up the weekend "chores" and watch some football. Seattle is having a super year and we'll watch them right into the Super Bowl (my prediction).
John returns for week #2 in California tomorrow and I will have another busy week at work. The bitter cold has lifted and now we see some 40 degree temperatures, so no snow in sight (so far). I had the opportunity to spend last Saturday in an all-day watercolor class. It's very hard for me to allocate time to it at home, so a class structure helps. The style of the instructor was quite different from the one I used to have in California, so it was a stretch for me. That's not a bad thing. Maybe that will be my personal project this year - to make the time needed to engage with the paint.
Our Christmas will be quiet. Son Jacob will arrive for a visit on Christmas day. We're looking forward to that. And with that, I'm off to deck some halls! Falalala....
Sunday, December 8, 2013
It's the Holiday Season
Thanksgiving has come and gone. We had the nicest of times with our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. They traveled up from California and arrived on Thanksgiving day just in time for dinner! It was a long day with a 15 month old strapped into various seats, but we sure were thankful they made the trip. Long distance grandparenting is difficult and every moment counts. Hopefully we were able to provide a restful place for them all to land, though life with a 15-month old is rarely restful.
The Christmas tree went up the weekend they were here. Now I just need to get cards done, and presents wrapped and mailed. That will happen next weekend. John will return to California tomorrow and I have a busy week at work, so not much else will be completed during the week. Yesterday, I attended an all-day water-coloring class. And today we will Skype with some friends, I will get laundry and grocery shopping done, and then I am going to a wreath-making class in the afternoon. See what I mean? Time speeds by up here.
December is the coldest month up here, according to those who know. It has not dissapointed. The overnight temperatures have been in the teens and daytime barely gets above freezing. Some days it hasn't even made it that high. Fortunately, it has been dry and no snow has made life difficult. Down here in the holler, we have a dusting that has persisted on the ground this week. The power went out for a brief spell on Monday, but otherwise we are staying warm. Without our usual rain, the sky has been clear and blue every day. Beautiful
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Thankful---You Bet
Whoosh. The sound of a month gone. October was spectacular; bright, clear days and no rain to speak of. And now November has arrived with shorter, grayer days and some rain. The furniture on the deck was covered up weeks ago and the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing has seen the last of mowing for a while. The Head Gardener was busy planting bulbs yesterday in reassurance that Spring will eventually arrive. But for now, it's the quiet time of the year.
We did have a visitor last month. A young bear made its way on to the porch one evening. We heard an unusual noise about 8pm and looked out the windows but failed to find the source in the pitch dark. As we settled back into our TV-viewing positions, another ruckus was heard, this time seemingly right outside the window. As our local hero, known only by the name Pajama Man, opened the front door (armed with his super hero tools: a flashlight and a walking stick), a small bear was exiting down the front steps and across the driveway. He had been on the porch and we heard him bumping into the chairs there. As is almost always the case, where there is a small bear, there is likely a bigger bear nearby. PM prudently closed the door and remained inside, allowing the visitor to exit gracefully. The next morning we observed the (already empty) trash can overturned as well as several other bits disturbed in the quest to find a food source.
I am working on a flannel quilt that will be a nice addition to the winter bed. It's taking a hiatus for a few weeks until I can order a little more fabric. In it's place, I am anticipating our small visitor for Thanksgiving. And his parents, of course. The grandson will make his first trek to the Pacific Northwest in time for Thanksgiving (just) and we are getting ready. By the time he arrives, the house should be properly childproofed and I have already stocked up on toys.
The newest addition to the household, Sabrina, has been a positive influence. She is very friendly and playful, not allowing Roosevelt to be stand-offish. They race around the house after one another several times a day and then take a reprieve, often napping on the same bed. Roosevelt may even be losing a little weight!
I stumbled on a new commute pattern recently and have shaved at least 15 minutes off each end, giving me back 30 minutes of the day! That might not sound like much, but at the end of a 2-hour commute it's a welcome break. And with the time change and darkness falling just after 4:30, it's nice to arrive home even a wee bit earlier.
So, as I said, it's the quiet time of year. Not much else to report here. I am blessed and thankful every day to have the opportunity to live in this place and to share that living with my beloved mate.
We did have a visitor last month. A young bear made its way on to the porch one evening. We heard an unusual noise about 8pm and looked out the windows but failed to find the source in the pitch dark. As we settled back into our TV-viewing positions, another ruckus was heard, this time seemingly right outside the window. As our local hero, known only by the name Pajama Man, opened the front door (armed with his super hero tools: a flashlight and a walking stick), a small bear was exiting down the front steps and across the driveway. He had been on the porch and we heard him bumping into the chairs there. As is almost always the case, where there is a small bear, there is likely a bigger bear nearby. PM prudently closed the door and remained inside, allowing the visitor to exit gracefully. The next morning we observed the (already empty) trash can overturned as well as several other bits disturbed in the quest to find a food source.
I am working on a flannel quilt that will be a nice addition to the winter bed. It's taking a hiatus for a few weeks until I can order a little more fabric. In it's place, I am anticipating our small visitor for Thanksgiving. And his parents, of course. The grandson will make his first trek to the Pacific Northwest in time for Thanksgiving (just) and we are getting ready. By the time he arrives, the house should be properly childproofed and I have already stocked up on toys.
The newest addition to the household, Sabrina, has been a positive influence. She is very friendly and playful, not allowing Roosevelt to be stand-offish. They race around the house after one another several times a day and then take a reprieve, often napping on the same bed. Roosevelt may even be losing a little weight!
I stumbled on a new commute pattern recently and have shaved at least 15 minutes off each end, giving me back 30 minutes of the day! That might not sound like much, but at the end of a 2-hour commute it's a welcome break. And with the time change and darkness falling just after 4:30, it's nice to arrive home even a wee bit earlier.
So, as I said, it's the quiet time of year. Not much else to report here. I am blessed and thankful every day to have the opportunity to live in this place and to share that living with my beloved mate.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Unplugged and Reconnected - Vacation!
We have been away on vacation for two weeks. It's great to be unplugged from all the devices which tether us and use so much of our time. And, likewise, it was great to reconnect with each other, with friends, and new and old places. The art of socializing in a real and non-digital way. And where to begin? Photos will no doubt follow, but I can get some words down now. We left on September 12, traveling first to Las Vegas where we picked up our flight to London's Gatwick airport aboard Virgin Atlantic. Once there (arriving the next day), we checked into a hotel not far from the airport, the Copthorne Hotel, where we could catch up on sleep before the next day's travel. On Saturday, we met up with friends Ian and Gill at the airport and flew to Pisa where we picked up a car and drove 2 hours to our digs for the week, Il Casolare di Libbiano. We stayed in the same room as last time and enjoyed the same hospitality as well. Berta and Andrea (owners) treat you like family and no request is too much. We met up with the other two couples, Mervyn and Christine and Chris and Anita, when they arrived shortly after us. During the week we enjoyed taking day trips to lesser known and smaller towns. We had visited the larger, busier places on previous visits so it was a treat to discover these lovely hilltop towns such as Lucca, Cortona, Buon Convento, Monteriggioni, Colle di Val d'Elsa and more. We happened on a (very large) lake not far from Cortona, quite unexpected and lovely. We also visited a winery near Montepulcino. John and Ian visited Certaldo on Friday as well as another winery and a monastery (not together!). Each evening we gathered for pre-dinner conversation and appetizers. Dinner is always at 8pm at the Casolare and most nights it was served outside as the weather was very pleasant. Although there was internet available this time, the connection was not reliable so it discouraged much "browsing", although the weather reports were helpful.
On Saturday, the four couples traveled back to Pisa airport, deposited the cars, and returned to Gatwick. We said goodbye to the others there and continued on with Ian and Gill to their home in Pulborough for the night, meeting their new puppy, a black Labrador named Rhum. After a night's rest, we all went on to their vacation home in Salcombe on the coast in Devon (leaving little Rhum at home with the pet sitter). Ian made the trip very special, not missing an opportunity to show us something interesting every day. On the way down, we stopped for lunch at Stourhead Gardens and enjoyed a walk around, made all the more special because there were community choirs competing throughout the estate. It was 4pm when we left to make our way on to Salcombe. Gill prepared a nice supper of spaghetti bolognese which we all enjoyed. On Monday, we went to Cornwall in search of the Eden Project and, hopefully, a cream tea. We found both successfully. The Eden Project is an amazing eco-creation and there was lots to learn and to enjoy. The cream tea was also an amazing creation of scones, clotted cream, and strawberry jam (and tea!) and I enjoyed every bite. On the return trip, we drove into the little Cornish fishing village of Mevagissey where the streets are so narrow it was a wonder we could actually turn into some of them. We came back across to Devon by ferry at Torpoint - chain pulled one. On return we went to the Victoria Inn for supper. On Tuesday, we wandered around Devon, first walking out to the Lighthouse at Start Point before going to Slapton Sands where they commemorate a secret (until recently) training exercise for D-Day in WWII that ended tragically for many American troops. We went on to Dartmouth and had lunch up at the castle before heading on. We had time to visit the Overbeck's Gardens and estate before ending up at home for a dinner of salmon prepared by Gill. And I finally learned how to prepare runner beans! On Wednesday, we started back to Pulborough. going via the Dartmoor National Park where we had a standoff with a highland wooly (picture to follow), and visiting the White Hart pub in Wilmington for lunch. We returned to Pulborough and enjoyed a very nice dinner at The Horse Guards Inn that night. All of their food is locally sourced with the producers listed right in the dining room. On Thursday, Gill and I retrieved their older dogs, Tali who is 14 and Jura who is 7, both black Labradors. Rhum was very happy to see her new pack mates. We accompanied the dogs on a walk on the South Downs that afternoon. The fellows raided Ian's garden for some good vegetables and Gill made a traditional roast and Yorkshire pudding for our last meal, even using apples from their orchard to make an apple crumble.
We were certainly grateful for the generous hospitality and enjoyed every moment of our vacation. On Friday, Ian dropped us off at Gatwick and we began the 24 hour journey which eventually saw us into our house at 10pm (local time) that night. We are adjusting our body clocks to get back to Poulsbo time. We picked up our two felines on Saturday and have the unpacking and laundry done, a few groceries laid in. After enjoying two weeks of pretty sunny weather, it had been raining constantly here in the Pacific Northwest. Last night, prepared to stay awake until the extreme hour of 8pm, we lost electricity and resigned, we went to bed at 6pm. That worked well until 3am and we have been up since. John will go to California tomorrow and I will return to work on the other side of the water. We may not be well-rested quite yet, but we are rejuvenated and recharged. Ciao...
On Saturday, the four couples traveled back to Pisa airport, deposited the cars, and returned to Gatwick. We said goodbye to the others there and continued on with Ian and Gill to their home in Pulborough for the night, meeting their new puppy, a black Labrador named Rhum. After a night's rest, we all went on to their vacation home in Salcombe on the coast in Devon (leaving little Rhum at home with the pet sitter). Ian made the trip very special, not missing an opportunity to show us something interesting every day. On the way down, we stopped for lunch at Stourhead Gardens and enjoyed a walk around, made all the more special because there were community choirs competing throughout the estate. It was 4pm when we left to make our way on to Salcombe. Gill prepared a nice supper of spaghetti bolognese which we all enjoyed. On Monday, we went to Cornwall in search of the Eden Project and, hopefully, a cream tea. We found both successfully. The Eden Project is an amazing eco-creation and there was lots to learn and to enjoy. The cream tea was also an amazing creation of scones, clotted cream, and strawberry jam (and tea!) and I enjoyed every bite. On the return trip, we drove into the little Cornish fishing village of Mevagissey where the streets are so narrow it was a wonder we could actually turn into some of them. We came back across to Devon by ferry at Torpoint - chain pulled one. On return we went to the Victoria Inn for supper. On Tuesday, we wandered around Devon, first walking out to the Lighthouse at Start Point before going to Slapton Sands where they commemorate a secret (until recently) training exercise for D-Day in WWII that ended tragically for many American troops. We went on to Dartmouth and had lunch up at the castle before heading on. We had time to visit the Overbeck's Gardens and estate before ending up at home for a dinner of salmon prepared by Gill. And I finally learned how to prepare runner beans! On Wednesday, we started back to Pulborough. going via the Dartmoor National Park where we had a standoff with a highland wooly (picture to follow), and visiting the White Hart pub in Wilmington for lunch. We returned to Pulborough and enjoyed a very nice dinner at The Horse Guards Inn that night. All of their food is locally sourced with the producers listed right in the dining room. On Thursday, Gill and I retrieved their older dogs, Tali who is 14 and Jura who is 7, both black Labradors. Rhum was very happy to see her new pack mates. We accompanied the dogs on a walk on the South Downs that afternoon. The fellows raided Ian's garden for some good vegetables and Gill made a traditional roast and Yorkshire pudding for our last meal, even using apples from their orchard to make an apple crumble.
We were certainly grateful for the generous hospitality and enjoyed every moment of our vacation. On Friday, Ian dropped us off at Gatwick and we began the 24 hour journey which eventually saw us into our house at 10pm (local time) that night. We are adjusting our body clocks to get back to Poulsbo time. We picked up our two felines on Saturday and have the unpacking and laundry done, a few groceries laid in. After enjoying two weeks of pretty sunny weather, it had been raining constantly here in the Pacific Northwest. Last night, prepared to stay awake until the extreme hour of 8pm, we lost electricity and resigned, we went to bed at 6pm. That worked well until 3am and we have been up since. John will go to California tomorrow and I will return to work on the other side of the water. We may not be well-rested quite yet, but we are rejuvenated and recharged. Ciao...
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Are We There Yet???
We're going on vacation! Finally! It's been a long year since we last went away for R&R. We're in the final preparation stage now: the packing list is made, clothes are being ironed, suitcases are being filled. Italy here we come! We leave on Thursday for London and then onto Pisa Saturday to drive to Libbiano. We'll be joined by three other couples who are dear, dear friends.
I have a list of "must-get-done" items today. Then the workweek will be abbreviated and off we go. That black cat I mentioned in the last post has now joined the family. We've named her Sabrina and she's acclimated to the easy life quite quickly. She and Roosevelt are working things out, but it seems to be going well. Her timing has meant that we have to coordinate her stay with our vacation plans. So, Tuesday she will go to the vet for a full check-up, shots, and an evaluation for spaying. Then Wednesday, she will return to the vet where she will board during our vacation and get said spaying performed while we're away. Perhaps she'll forgive us? Meanwhile Roosevelt is all set to go to his kennel on Wednesday. More forgiveness? We'd prefer to keep them in their home when we're away, but we ran out of available offspring who can house-sit when we moved up here.
Also on Tuesday, we have a consult scheduled with the Kitsap Conservation District folks to come out and look at possible projects to open up our stream. They are giving grants for projects to enhance the salmon environs and sent us a letter saying our stream is eligible for this money!
We had a lot of rain last week, primarily all on Thursday night. John was away and I guess I slept right through the storm as folks at the bus stop were talking about the multiple lightening strikes and thunder during the night. Well, either I was tired or maybe my hearing is going. I think I'm glad I missed it. I do like a good night's sleep :-).
Ciao for now...
I have a list of "must-get-done" items today. Then the workweek will be abbreviated and off we go. That black cat I mentioned in the last post has now joined the family. We've named her Sabrina and she's acclimated to the easy life quite quickly. She and Roosevelt are working things out, but it seems to be going well. Her timing has meant that we have to coordinate her stay with our vacation plans. So, Tuesday she will go to the vet for a full check-up, shots, and an evaluation for spaying. Then Wednesday, she will return to the vet where she will board during our vacation and get said spaying performed while we're away. Perhaps she'll forgive us? Meanwhile Roosevelt is all set to go to his kennel on Wednesday. More forgiveness? We'd prefer to keep them in their home when we're away, but we ran out of available offspring who can house-sit when we moved up here.
Also on Tuesday, we have a consult scheduled with the Kitsap Conservation District folks to come out and look at possible projects to open up our stream. They are giving grants for projects to enhance the salmon environs and sent us a letter saying our stream is eligible for this money!
We had a lot of rain last week, primarily all on Thursday night. John was away and I guess I slept right through the storm as folks at the bus stop were talking about the multiple lightening strikes and thunder during the night. Well, either I was tired or maybe my hearing is going. I think I'm glad I missed it. I do like a good night's sleep :-).
Ciao for now...
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Summer Break
I guess that's what I have been having - a break from writing this journal/blog. Summer has been absolutely great up here. Loads of sunshine and lovely temperatures in the high 70s and 80s. But I haven't shed my windbreaker jacket for the daily commute in the morning as it still feels cool (50s). By the afternoon, when I'm ready for the hike down the hill to the ferry, I wrap it around my waist or stick it in my work bag. But soon, I think, I'll be needing it for both directions and even a little more. Last Thursday we had the first taste of actual rain again, and it was a torrent.
The sun is setting before 8pm now. Just a month ago it seemed to be light well into the evening. And some mornings, particularly on my early days (catching the 5:30 bus), I need to put on the outside light. Summer is gracefully leaving.
We traveled down to California last weekend to celebrate the Grandson's first birthday. It was a fun break in the routine and so good to see him up close. He has changed much in this year and how quickly it seems to have gone. We will see him again at Thanksgiving this year and expect to see even more changes. My guess is he will be saying actual words as he certainly has intentional conversation now. And so serious about it.
Son Jake is up for a visit this weekend. We're enjoying the company and having a really good time. Today we will take them to the Olympic Music Festival after brunch at the Port Gamble General Store Cafe .
We are making a new friend in the form of a black cat who was discovered sleeping in a chair on the front porch Thursday. It's not willing to get close yet, but it does appreciate the food I provide. It will stand yards away and meow at me. We think it's sheltering under the shed which, hopefully, will keep it safe from the coyotes who are on the prowl in the early mornings lately. I wouldn't mind having it as a pet but we're on a short timeline for that as we are going on vacation soon. Roosevelt is not as sure.
The sun is setting before 8pm now. Just a month ago it seemed to be light well into the evening. And some mornings, particularly on my early days (catching the 5:30 bus), I need to put on the outside light. Summer is gracefully leaving.
We traveled down to California last weekend to celebrate the Grandson's first birthday. It was a fun break in the routine and so good to see him up close. He has changed much in this year and how quickly it seems to have gone. We will see him again at Thanksgiving this year and expect to see even more changes. My guess is he will be saying actual words as he certainly has intentional conversation now. And so serious about it.
Son Jake is up for a visit this weekend. We're enjoying the company and having a really good time. Today we will take them to the Olympic Music Festival after brunch at the Port Gamble General Store Cafe .
We are making a new friend in the form of a black cat who was discovered sleeping in a chair on the front porch Thursday. It's not willing to get close yet, but it does appreciate the food I provide. It will stand yards away and meow at me. We think it's sheltering under the shed which, hopefully, will keep it safe from the coyotes who are on the prowl in the early mornings lately. I wouldn't mind having it as a pet but we're on a short timeline for that as we are going on vacation soon. Roosevelt is not as sure.
John took some photos of a couple deer who wandered into the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing last week. They had a look around and calmly left. They even inspected the apple tree and respectfully left it alone. Those 3 apples are our entire fruit harvest this year. But that's 2 more than last year! We also seemed to have hit on a tomato plant that will bear tomatoes for us up here in this not-quite-hot-enough environment. It's a derivative of the Early Girl variety and we have enjoyed many yummy toms.
So, life continues up here in the Pacific Northwest. There is little to complain about and much for which to be grateful. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be? We'll take every moment.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Life in the Holler
The house martins left. Two weeks ago today, they all took off as is their habit. I don't know how they decide who will return the next year. Maybe it's the same mating pair and the kids all have to find their own spot with a mate. But they get real chatty for the few days just before they leave as if they are all talking about the trip ahead. Since they live just outside our bedroom window, it's pleasant to hear them twitting in the evening.
The rabbits are still here, making their morning and evening visits to the grass and clover. On Friday evening, we had a visit by one of the young coyotes. He ran around the yard excitedly nosing into the usual rabbit haunts before he disappeared into the woods. Just this afternoon, I saw a pair of bald eagles overhead, on their way over the woods. Lots of action here down here in the brown dog holler. As for the humans, we have had a lovely weekend. Actually we have had a month of sunny, temperate weather. I have even had a few days when I didn't wear even my windbreaker to work as it's been cool, but not chilly, in the morning. Walking to the ferry in the evening has been on the warm side.
John picked me up from an earlier park and ride on Friday and I was able to leave work early, catching the 3:45 ferry. So, we went to dinner at Sogno di Vino in Poulsbo and thus began the weekend! Yesterday, we managed to get in a trip to the nursery in the afternoon to pick up a few more annuals to fill out the flower boxes on the deck. John has cut down an amazing lot of nettles along the road side of the yard. And he picked just about the last of the raspberries for this year. Just in time as the blackberries will come in very soon. He's taken some cuttings of the lavender and is putting them in some magic potion to propagate as I write.
It's hard to believe it's the last weekend in July. We are anticipating our vacation in September now. All the plans have been made and it's only the packing to be done. Italy here we come! In the meantime, the month should pass quickly as we both have much work to do. John was able to return to his regular schedule of visiting California twice monthly. And I have lots happening at my work to keep me busy. So, to August I say "Bring it on"!
The rabbits are still here, making their morning and evening visits to the grass and clover. On Friday evening, we had a visit by one of the young coyotes. He ran around the yard excitedly nosing into the usual rabbit haunts before he disappeared into the woods. Just this afternoon, I saw a pair of bald eagles overhead, on their way over the woods. Lots of action here down here in the brown dog holler. As for the humans, we have had a lovely weekend. Actually we have had a month of sunny, temperate weather. I have even had a few days when I didn't wear even my windbreaker to work as it's been cool, but not chilly, in the morning. Walking to the ferry in the evening has been on the warm side.
John picked me up from an earlier park and ride on Friday and I was able to leave work early, catching the 3:45 ferry. So, we went to dinner at Sogno di Vino in Poulsbo and thus began the weekend! Yesterday, we managed to get in a trip to the nursery in the afternoon to pick up a few more annuals to fill out the flower boxes on the deck. John has cut down an amazing lot of nettles along the road side of the yard. And he picked just about the last of the raspberries for this year. Just in time as the blackberries will come in very soon. He's taken some cuttings of the lavender and is putting them in some magic potion to propagate as I write.
It's hard to believe it's the last weekend in July. We are anticipating our vacation in September now. All the plans have been made and it's only the packing to be done. Italy here we come! In the meantime, the month should pass quickly as we both have much work to do. John was able to return to his regular schedule of visiting California twice monthly. And I have lots happening at my work to keep me busy. So, to August I say "Bring it on"!
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Good Time
If I could save time in a bottleThe first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day till Eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you...
(c) Jim Croce, 1970
My birthday was this past week. I celebrated my 60 year mark. And many people took the time to send me their good wishes. I've really come to appreciate the gift of time. I am very grateful to those who shared some of theirs when they sent a thought, a card, an email, made a phone call, picked out a gift, ordered flowers, or spent some of their hours or days with me. Time is probably the best gift of all. So, I just want to say thank you to those who shared some of their time with me. I love to celebrate my years and I look forward to many, many more.
My sister Karen and brother-in-law Gary traveled out to visit. They arrived on the Wednesday and returned to Tennessee this past Monday. My sister doesn't enjoy flying, so it was a big deal for her to do just that in order to spend time with me. We had a great time. It's so beautiful here at this time of year and I was glad they got to see the Puget Sound at its finest. We visited Port Townsend, took in some local wine tasting (I was the DD - designated driver), and even went whale watching. And we saw whales! Finally!
On Saturday night, we invited some friends to go with us to Edmonds for dinner. So, we met up at the ferry and walked on for the 25 minute ride. Then we walked about 5 minutes from the ferry to Cafe de Paris where we all enjoyed good food and good conversation. Afterward, we walked back to the ferry for the return trip.
Our visitors weren't here very long when Gary spied a yellow jacket nest under the eaves. It was in a place that we usually watch as there are house martins that nest under/inside the eave of the chimney facade (we have a gas fireplace so there isn't a real chimney on the house). And I'm always looking for nests since we have seen them build some tiny ones in the past. So, they must have worked fast to get this one done and what a structure it was. It appeared to be about the size of a rugby football. The exterminator came out on Monday about 7pm. He told us a nest of that size holds about 2,000 yellow jackets. He assured us he got the queen. Nasty work. I'm glad someone does it.
This weekend we're recovering from al the fun of the last weekend, catching up on chores. Gary mowed the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing for us last weekend so at least we can see the rabbits as they munch the clover. One of the little fellows even found his way up onto the front porch this week. That was very upsetting to Roosevelt who clearly regards them as rodents in need of a whooping. Today John harvested the potatoes. The crop is at least double this year. We'll be sharing them with friends The weekend before last, I took all of the saved blackberries form last year out of the freezer and made 21 pints of jam. Looks like tomorrow I will do the same with the raspberries John is bringing in every day.
The days are starting to get shorter as the sun sets now about 9pm. But the weather is warm and sunny and the colors are brilliant. If only I could bottle it....
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Summer!
It was a busy working week for both of us. We had rain up until Wednesday and it has been drying out since. Summer has finally arrived. Sunshine and warm temperatures (in the 80s) is the order of the day. Those warm temperatures have warranted a severe weather alert in the region, warning people to take precautions against heat stroke. It's all relative, right?We did some of our errands yesterday. Today we will get our outside chores done in the early part of the day while it's still cool. Then we'll take a break until it's time to make dinner on the grill. Dining on the deck has become an anticipated part of the day. I plan to wash windows during my outside time and make blackberry jam in the afternoon.
This coming week brings visitors. My sister Karen and brother-in-law Gary will arrive on Wednesday to stay through the holiday weekend. I will work Monday and Tuesday and half the day on Wednesday before meeting them on the ferry. John will pick them up from the airport. After that, we will enjoy the company and showing off the area when it's at its most beautiful.
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