Saturday, June 28, 2014

Lovely Pacific Northwest

Thursday's weather seemed like it might be alright, so we headed out for our next adventures.  Our Michigan visitors thought a trip to Port Townsend sounded fun.  We started with a ferry trip from Edmonds, a short drive to Port Gamble - such a very sweet little burg.  Of course, the General Store did call our names for coffee and cinnamon rolls - it was, after all, about 11am.

We drove on to P.T. and had a very nice day.  Just walking along, looking in the shops - we found lots of things that looked good, but only bought at the vinegar and oil shop.  Then headed over to Doc's at the Marina.  Our visitors enjoyed some very tasty clam chowder and we shared a crab and artichoke sandwich.  Oh delish!

We then caught the ferry to Whidbey Island,
[looking back at "our" campground - where we always stay].  On the island we drove into Coupeville.  A very sweet little town,

J and A found an old building, that used to be the Meat Market.
That had belonged to a distant relative - so it was fun to find it.  

 We then found Sunnyside Cemetery, where some of this same family are buried.  Isn't it lovely countryside?


And look what I found,
They did have a couple of taste treats that we just "needed".  

 Is this the real me?




 We returned to Seattle via the Mukilteo ferry - don't you just love all these fun Indian names?

Friday morning we headed to the University of Washington, to visit the Conibear Rowing Building.  Located in the dining room is the boat talked about in the recent book, "The Boys in the Boat" (2013) by Daniel James Brown.  It is the story of the University of Washington men's rowing team who won at the Olympics in 1936 [to Mr. Hitler's displeasure].  Fascinating!



We also did a drive-by of the "ducks".  I've shown you them before.  This neighbor last featured graduation, but we have now moved to the World Cup -


It is a little difficult to see but it spells R I O, in the tree.   Oh so clever!

Having fun!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Eastern Washington


Crossing Snoqualmie pass


After our assorted company left, we headed out in the motorhome for Toppenish - to the Yakima Nation RV Park.  It is a really nice park, very well cared for, spacious and our home for 3 days of RVW festivities.  As always, we had a great time.  This time the theme was Potlatch.  As usual we had a potluck on Friday evening, highlighting the vegetables and fruits that are in season.  Saturday morning was a book discussion about "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd.  A very good read, if you are looking for one - and a great discussion.  Saturday afternoon was a wagon tour of the cities murals - painted on the sides of buildings all over town.



We even found one fellow doing some restoration of one of the murals,
In addition to the historical murals, each year they have a 24 Hour Mural in a Day project where an entire mural is painted by multiple people over the course of 24 hours.  Fascinating.

The Hops which are grown in this area supply 80% of the worlds hops.  Amazing.  As was the building - it is all done with paint,

A Potlatch is a Northwest Native American celebration - a gift giving feast.  So Saturday evening each of us brought along one of our best/favorite dishes to share, we gifted some friends who are moving out of state with a lovely Pendleton blanket and each of us received a lovely parcel from the club.  It was a new LED flashlight.  [nice for wandering home in the dark, after some card playing]


Another great week-end.  A warm, sunny drive home.
 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Almost summer

We continued with a bit more strawberry jam [previous blog] - so that I have enough to give some away.  Always fun.

Di and Maggs arrived on the Victoria Clipper on Saturday.  Delightful time visiting and catching up on the past couple of years,
On Sunday, we met up with Alex and Yvonne,
They are from Katwijk, Netherlands.  I got to meet Yvonne last year when Caro and I went to her quilt bee gathering.  We couldn't schedule a quilt gathering at this end, but I will get to visit her bee again this summer.

All six of us got to dine together on Sunday.  Sadly our brilliant plans for BBQ'd salmon were a bit put off with the rain, but we did still get the BBQ working.  Just needed a jacket to turn the fish.  There is a reason that they promote Copper River salmon.  Delish!  And just in Caro's honor, we had to have strawberry shortcake for dessert,



On Monday Yvonne and Alex and I headed east to Snoqualmie Falls.  It was awfully "misty-moisty" but still a thrill to hear the roar of water of the Snoqualmie River.
We did some shopping afterwards and then found a lunch place in Issaquah.  As we were leaving lunch, headed to the car, we noted a quilt store new to me.
Next visit I will have to ask about the name.  How to pronounce it as well as it's genesis. This is a very nice store with lots of bolts.  After another quick stop and dropping Alex back at their RV, Yvonne and I visited another lovely quilt store very close to the RV park, Keepsake Cottage.  [Caro, it is still as wonderful as when we visited last year]
Heading out with the RV this week-end.  

Friday, June 13, 2014

Ain't life grand?

Well, at least I think mine is terrific.  So many fun things happening.

Monday was CTA.  Our skills lesson was using a "French Curve" for shaping pattern pieces, especially when alterations are required.  Our speaker was the Umbrella Lady.  She sells the frame, patterns and teaches classes.  How fun to think about an umbrella unlike anyone else.  We ended the year with our annual salad and dessert potluck.  Oh so tasty.



It's really hard to do this all justice and not gain a gazillion pounds


I made peach upside down gingerbread.  One of my favorites.


I had my girls on Tuesday.  The school year is about over, so just one more regularly scheduled date


Wednesday was a work party day for CTA for the Stanwood Summer Fair.  We make a fabric animal that kids are allowed to stuff and sew closed.  Our task was 150 chickens, helped with 4 cutters and 4 sewers,



We were working at Shirley's summer cabin.  Wonderful outlook

Thursday was my regular church ladies bridge group.  I didn't win the high score.  :-(

Friday (today) was strawberry freezer jam day (after jazzercise).  I didn't make strawberry last year, so had some catching up to do.  Luckily, a berry farm about 70 miles away has a farm stand very nearby - so no excuses for not enjoying some fabulous berries.


When all was said and done, we actually made 30 pots of jam.  So I guess we can have a couple to give away and have lots of fresh strawberry flavor all winter.

Our friends Maggie and Di arrive tomorrow from Great Britain and on Sunday Yvonne and Alex arrive from Noordwijk, Netherlands.  Busy days.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

I'm mighty proud

Today at a local park was the ceremony for my oldest granddaughter to "move up" in Camp Fire.  She is now in the high school age group, Horizon Club.


Also there was her beautiful mother,

and her younger brother and sister
If I do say so myself, they sure are a good-lookin' family.  Very fun afternoon - and here were three generations of Camp Fire Girls,