It's time to shut this blog down. The mornings are crisp and cooler. The evenings are still enjoyable on the deck. There has been no rain for quite some time. We'll be heading south on Thursday Oct 13 and returning to our Winter world.
Thanks for following along.
Today is my 70th birthday and we celebrated by spending two nights at Pacific Beach WA. Overcast and upper 60's, typical Washington Fall weather. We enjoyed the sound of the waves and relaxing on our deck.
Homecoming Senior Year
Katie and Derek went hiking on Saturday, so Jack and I spent the night at their place with Rowan and Franklin. Maddy had Homecoming. (the beauty in the middle above)
Mornings here have been foggy with the sun coming out around 10AM. We'll be in phase 2 of our packing upon our return from a quick ocean getaway tomorrow. How many phases are there? We'll see.
Jack and I took some of the famous Shelton Mary Tamales to Tacoma today and watched the first half of the Seahawks/Atlanta game with the Katie, Derek and the kids. Another L for the Hawks, but we enjoyed the visit.
The first day of Fall and it was a perfect 70 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze. I walked at Bayshore Preserve and saw an owl.
We are in the stage 1 packing mode in preparation for the trip South. Jack is packing stuff into the boat that will stay here. The tomato plants are in the compost. Best crop ever.
I arranged Winter storage for my car and scheduled mail forwarding.
Jack and I have a mini vacation at Pacific Beach next month for my 70th birthday.
Thanks to my binoculars and Google I was able to get some information on this "superyacht" that sailed by our place yesterday. It turned around at the bridge, apparently deciding it was too large to squeeze underneath (at high tide!).
C Jewel is a motor yacht with a length of 34.75m. The yacht's builder is Nordlund Boat Company. Inc. from United States who delivered superyacht C Jewel in 2003. The superyacht has a beam of 7.31m, a draft of 1.83m and a volume of 199 GT.
We had another long overdue visit this week when Denise made the trek from Mukilteo to spend two nights in the Casita.
Denise and I met in 1974 at King County Medical Blue Shield. I was going on vacation, and she was my backup. We have been friends through many adventures from our crazy 20's to weddings, childbirth, and now into our 7th decade.
I hope we can convince her to make the trip South for a visit this year too.
Currently 80 degrees, very windy, and smoke from the fires in Eastern Washington has reached us. There is a haze over Pickering Passage, and it is not pleasant to sit outside. The flags are showing us we're getting the wind directly from the East.
Jack and I took the Ferry from Kingston to Edmonds for a long overdue visit with family. My brother Randy, sister-in-law Judy, and cousin Gaye. Always a fun visit and nice to catch up with them.
Jack and I don't like crowds. We also don't like driving too far, especially if crowds are anticipated. We do like boats and marinas however and if there is some good food served all the better.
Our timing was perfect to Percival Landing in Olympia today for the Harbor Days festivities. A slight drizzle and free parking at the meters. Not too crowded, a beautiful walk along the pier checking out the old tugs and beautiful yachts moored in the marina. We walked on board the Sandman tug, built in 1910. A fascinating history worth checking out if you like old boats and local history.
On Sunday the tugs will race. Years ago, I attended the races. Maybe next year we'll go back for them.
I like the vibe in this area of Olympia and could easily live in one of the waterfront condos when I win that lottery.
Olympia Harbor Days | 3-Day Festival Featuring the World's Largest Vintage Tugboat Races!
Quick visit by Gary, Suzy and baby lamb/dog Aisha(hope I spelled that correctly) on Tuesday August 30. It's nice to see friends when everyone is so busy these days.
Today, Sept 2, I hope we've seen the last of the 90-degree temperatures. Yeah, yeah its' 117 in the desert but that's a dry heat!
Jacks' tomatoes are getting ripe so B.L. T's tonight after gorging ourselves on fresh caught Salmon and Sea Bass.
We have a couple more social visits on the schedule then we'll be shutting things down here and heading South in mid-October. I'm skipping my 50-year +2 high school reunion because. Well because! This info is classified with my therapist.
Jack and I are going to the Olympia Harbor Days tomorrow. Vintage tugboats, a marina, food, etc etc.
Seahawks pregame coming up so this may be short.
One thing Jack and I have enjoyed this Summer, aside from the Orcas which was a highlight, is sharing with our neighbors. Salmon, crab cakes, clams, oysters, pickles, flowers. We have some great neighbors here.
We're already looking ahead to our departure. A fair amount of planning goes into it. (Thanks to Jack) We are the best renters ever. This place is immaculate when we leave. We've been invited back for 2023, and like Jack said, "If were upright we'll be here"
Go Hawks!
Jack and Gary C. had a great fishing trip on Monday in Westport. Good weather, good water conditions and despite the 3AM wake up Jack said it was his best birthday ever. They brought home a bunch of Silvers and Sea Bass.
While they went fishing, I cut some Sunflowers at a U Pick Farm in Tumwater. Probably one of my favorite flowers. Unfortunately, there was a fatality on Southbound I-5 around the exit I wanted to take. A semi smashed into an overpass and the WSP had to shut down the freeway. I was stuck on the freeway an hour a half before I could detour.
Looking forward to Labor Day Weekend and Olympia Harbor Days, then lunch with brother, sister-in-law and cousin the following week.
Happy 70th birthday to mi Bombero and happy 16th anniversary to us!
Today is the last day for keeping King Salmon caught off Westport. Good luck to Jack and his brother. Fish on!
UPDATE: The boat limited!
Hiked the trail at Jarrell Cove State Park and ran into Nadine. She was off leash when I first saw her. I'm surprised she didn't bolt into the woods
The Harstine Island cougar has been spotted again at the South end of the island. Jarrell Cove is at the NW corner of the island. There are plenty of deer for it to eat however I still carry jingle bells to alert her to my presence should she be nearby.
The Orcas have headed North toward Everett and Whidbey Island.
The heat has subsided for a few days.
I'll admit I like the misty cooler mornings as opposed to the bright sunlight crashing in from the East at 5:45AM.
Weather reports from our kitty feeder down South state that it is miserable with monsoons in the high desert, flash floods, daytime temperatures hovering around 106 and of course none of the rain reaches the valley.
Not much else going on. Might take the boat out next week.
We have been so fortunate to view a pod of Biggs Orca's swimming back and forth through Pickering Passage since July 4th. According to experts, the seal population in the South Sound has been culled. My observation is that seals are crabby, stinky and territorial. The Orcas are happy and well fed. Katie and Rowan were able to view them Tuesday afternoon as they passed quite close to our shoreline. "Coolest thing I've ever seen" says Rowan.
Madison was here for the overnight visit as well and joined us for some Ladder Ball and some of Jack's "amazing chicken" (says Rowan). Perfect weather in mid 70's. We had a birthday cupcake and gifts to celebrate Rowan's 9th, which is on August 18.
The weather seems to be heating up again with temperatures in the upper 80's on Saturday. Mid 90's on Monday.
