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.....

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 But I see and hear way too much about how Merry Christmas has been replaced by somehow less meaningful well-wishing.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.

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".

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.

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...

Living Life and a Few Other Items...

NY Eve Dinner Prep

Well, I have been very lax about writing anything in this blog lately, but the resident photojournalist keeps on taking pictures, so here is an update. As the photos show, we hosted a New Years Eve dinner for friends and had the best time! We created a menu complete with wine pairings and everyone had a fun evening. Loads of good conversation and laughter to bring in the new year. We served antipasto as the appetizer, salad greens with pear, walnuts, and feta cheese in a raspberry vinaigrette, pear and gorgonzola ravioli as the primo piatti, prime rib with baked potatoes, green beans and carrots for the secondi piatti, and an apple cake prepared with Grand Marnier for dessert. And each was paired with a lovely wine course. A tradition? Maybe.

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.


Pileated Woodpecker

So, despite a quiet winter season, there are signs of things to come. The pileated woodpeckers returned as a sure sign of spring. These lovelies are about 12-15 inches in length and the rat-a-tat-tat of their beaks at work can be heard clearly as they search for food in the tree trunks. Other types of woodpeckers have frequented the suet blocks that the resident game warden hung several weeks ago. We opted to restrict the bird food this year to suet blocks and hope they won't be as attractive to the bear population as the seeds they like. Since the friendly bruin who visited our porch earlier, we haven't seen/heard any others. The coyotes are still about as they always are, yipping during the night. Sabrina remains our coyote alert system as she growls when they come around. She and Roosevelt have become fast friends as they romp and play together. They will even sit and groom each other. It's nice for each of them to have a buddy. The light is slowly returning with sunset now clearly past 5pm! And the annual pile of horse manure has arrived right in the front yard! Right in front of the planting box where the tulips will come up. The Head Gardener will be busy. Full stop.

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.

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!







Another Good Year...

And it's 2014! Here's to a year of possibilities and joy. We enjoyed an evening with friends; good food, good wine, good stories, good feelings. A great way to usher out 2013 and welcome the new 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....

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....

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

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.

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...

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...

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.

 

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.

 

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"!

Good Time

If I could save time in a bottle
The 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!

It was fascinating to just watch them as they hunted for fish. And they can move fast! That's a picture of one of the orca whales from one of our resident pods. We also saw minke whales (stinky minke as they are known) as well as an eagle and some harbor seals.The trip started in Anacortes and went in and out of the San Juan Islands. A lovely day.

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....

Summer!

Bunnies. John discovered them under the raspberry bushes last week. They were gone by the time I got home. Mam obviously took them elsewhere for more privacy. All that straw John bought to help deter weeds has done nothing to keep the rabbit population down. Obviously it makes good nesting material :-).

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.

Since we're talking...

This week, John underwent a procedure called brachytherapy for prostate cancer. There. I said it. He came through fine and the recovery is pretty smooth-going.  It involves internal radiation, so no surgery occurred. We're grateful to have a team of very skilled doctors and anticipate this will do the trick for him. He will have check-ins every 3-6 months to confirm that the cancer has been properly eliminated, but we anticipate a full recovery. We have known this was coming this since the first of the year, so we're glad to have it completed. He will be staying home for the next month which is a bonus.

The peas are in and the Head Gardener brought in a nice bowl full yesterday. The rabbits have been nibbling the stalks so it's good that we can harvest some before they do any lasting damage.What's interesting about these peas is that they have purple pods (and flowers) and yet the peas inside are a brilliant green. We visited some friends yesterday who have a very nice garden. The secret is that they enclose it in plastic for much of the time to get that much needed heat. But they have beautiful lettuces and more. That project has been referred to the gardening department here at the Grant residence for further study.

We got our errands run yesterday and even took time to go out to Big Beef Creek in Seabeck to see if any eagles were about. We saw only one. Next year we must remember that they are usually plentiful just before Father's Day. But the weather was stunning and the views were crystal clear. Today it's cloudy and showering lightly. We'll do a couple of things in the garden, but it looks to be an inside day primarily.

And John is not the only one who is doing hard things for the sake of his health. I have been participating in a supervised dietary regimen and have lost 17 pounds so far. In 5 weeks. It's pretty restrictive (about 700 calories per day), but it's doing the trick and I feel very good. Much better than before I started on this adventure. My fasting blood glucose has normalized since the first week.  I have quite a bit more to lose, but it looks like I'm well on my way! And speaking of that, it's time to get going. We'll talk later...

The Boys are Back in Town ...

I talked about the problem we are having with rabbits in my last post. While they are very cute and interesting to watch, they have started to destroy the garden. That means war! The Head Gardener has taken to throwing stones at them. But we needn't have worried as the clean-up crew has gotten wind of them (literally) and are on the job. Two young coyotes walked down the driveway this week and began to sniff out the small invaders favorite spots. We haven't seen or heard any active "rabbit meets coyote" incidents, but the number of rabbits we are seeing seems to have gone down. Perhaps they decided this wasn't the idyllic resort they first thought and have decided to move on. Oh, John' s still throwing rocks, but hopefully they will continue to seek refuge elsewhere. Next up: planning for a fence around the garden. The honey-do list seems self-perpetuating at his point.

Earlier this week, I saw a deer standing among the fruit trees when I arrived home. She was quite large. It looked like there was a face-off happening between the deer and a rabbit who was standing firm at the base of the plum tree. She saw me through the window and seemed undecided about which way to go; toward the bushes on the road side of the house or to the ones that lead into the woods. So, I went out on the deck and she went back into the woods. We are discussing having a dog, but to be fair to the dog, we really need to be home more often.

John was away last week, but arrived home Thursday evening.  Always nice to have him back. He will be home for about a month now before he returns to California for an office check-in. During that time, we anticipate the visit of one of my sisters and brother-in-law over the July holiday. Just a kick-back and relax sort of visit. Our summer begins properly on July 4 when the weather stays consistently sunny and warm through September.

Here are some more pictures...

Rabbit Math

Rabbit Math. You know. Where 1 + 1 rabbits don't equal 2. We seem to have grown into a rabbit resort. We have rabbits any time of day in every place in our yard. Big ones, small ones, and in-between ones. Apparently they live about 8 years and are here for the duration. We have looked on the Internet for ways to get rid of them and are offered several suggestions: planting marigolds and lavender, spreading bone meal around, putting up fences (dug 8 inches into the ground), spraying coyote urine around (and just who is going to make that coyote spray anything anywhere?) and, finally, getting a dog. Maybe...
Meanwhile, Roosevelt watches these new invaders from the windows and he doesn't seem too pleased about the situation.

Speaking of new invaders, John has happened on some mice in the yard which jump. Yup. That's right. They jump. And there's a species of mice out here that are actually called Pacific Jumping Mice. I wouldn't make this up. If one of these ever gets in the house, I will be staying at the local hotel until it jumps right out the door. My trusty mouse-catching mixing bowl isn't going to do it for this one. I will be looking at nets fairly soon.

John has been here the past two weeks. He will disappear to California on Monday for a few days. It's been nice to have him here. We have eaten on the deck nearly every night as it's been very mild, in the 70s. He will miss the return of chilly temperatures when they return this week. He has been gardening up a storm. He planted some blue peas this year and they are putting on quite a show. Unfortunately, he discovers two of the plants had been chewed clean through at the bottom. Those pesky wabbits are pushing their luck now.

The weekend is flying by. Tomorrow, I will plant some annuals that I bought today. Some will go out in our little memorial to Zoe and some will go into a big blue pot on the deck for some summer color. I also bought a nice tomato plant and will put it in a pot near the deck where it can get lots of sun. We actually do get lots of sun. It just starts a little later here. Summer will suddenly be here on the 4th of July and will last until well into September. And when that happens, there truly is no more beautiful place...

Just Smiles...

Our anniversary was Wednesday! John made dinner for us and we reminisced about these past 14+ years. A lot has happened. We feel very good about where we are in life right now. And yesterday, we gave ourselves the gift of a new dining table and chairs (and one bench). It's a lovely Amish-built set, built from maple, and should hold whatever number of family or friends come to dinner. We weren't expecting to buy one as we went in "to look". The electronics store where we were dropping off an old printer for recycling wasn't yet open and this took our eye. Once inside though, the table and chairs were there and the rest is "history". They delivered it 3 hours later.

We also did our errands which involved a drop at Goodwill and a stocking-up visit to Costco. After the table delivery, there was still the banking to do, groceries, a trip to the office supply store, and to the Home Depot. And just to make things interesting, as John was mowing, he got mired in a still- too-wet spot down near the woods. After he tried for way too long to get the damned thing unstuck (pushing, pulling, placing this and that under the wheels), we brought the little Honda 4WD down, through the rock cairns, hitched up the tow rope which I had in my just-in-case kit, and pulled it out. That was pretty easy and did the job quickly. The bigger question was how I was going to get the car out of that small area through the cairns. Team Grant came through as John navigated me with lots of arm waving and sign language and finally we got the car positioned  to squeeze forward through a pair at the end of the yard. The day ended with dinner on the barbie, a video, and bed.

Today, we are having breakfast with friends at Port Gamble. John will take his camera "just in case" we spot any whales. Maybe I'll get some weeding done today. It promises to be a beautiful day, around 70 degrees. The rabbits are still here. Apparently they have found refuge under the shed. They can be seen nibbling here and there most any time of the day. One coyote walked through the yard one morning last week, but we haven't heard them in the night recently and they haven't found the rabbit hotel. We haven't put up any bird feeders this spring in hopes of deterring the bear from making us a regular fast-food stop on his spring wanderings.

Finally, we went to California over the holiday weekend to spend some face-time with the grandson. An absolute delight! He trued 9 months on Wednesday. He's doing all the things he's supposed to do at that age; pulling himself up, finger-feeding himself, putting everything in his mouth for close inspection. And his personality is lovely. He's a sprite. He will soon have words to say and will be more mobile as he figures out he can move laterally around furniture and, finally, independently across spaces. It won't be long. John and I enjoyed just holding him and interacting with him; just to get the reward of one of his twinkling smiles. I can't wait for the next opportunity to "play".