Christmas 2014

Our Christmas festivities began with our children converging on Southworth.  Bjorn and Jenny came down Monday night and joined Calvin who came after the Messiah.  The working newlyweds joined us Christmas Eve in time for dinner.  After a delicious meal of ham and scallop potatoes, we enjoyed an evening of gift exchanging.  The girls did well until the end of the evening when Ruby had a little meltdown.  On Christmas Day we packed into two vehicles and drove to Cle Elem to join the Eides for a celebration.  The cabin was cozy, but the men were kicked out so that the women could have a 'Woodland Tea"  The men enjoyed a hike in Roslyn and a trip to Suncadia and a tour of the house under construction.  Oyster Stew and Clam Chowder were followed by a gift exchange.  The next morning it was the customary sausage balls and peppermint jello.  Some of the party took a walk near the cabin before we all went to Suncadia to view the lodge and house as well as appetizers at the winery.  In the evening, Markus, Steph, Calvin, Esther and I drove to Lynden to pick up Ellen from Doug and Pam's.  Saturday we brought Calvin to the Vancouver airport for his trip to Japan.  We spent the day enjoying the sights of Vancouver.  Ellen and Steph had not been in Canada for a long time.  Fortunately, the filtered sunshine allowed us to enjoy Stanley Park, Granville Island and Canada Place waterfront before dinner at the Spaghetti Factory.  Sunday we headed back to Southworth, stopping to watch the Seahawks game at Steph and Markus as well as meeting the Bishops in Tacoma to see Rebecca and Olivia.  We had a leisure New Years week.   Bjorn, Jenny and the girls joined us for New Years celebrations on their way back from Oregon.

Bulthuises at Benaroya

I need a Messiah fix every few years, so it was off to Benaroya Hall and the Seattle Symphony with our children yesterday.  I seem to forget how long the full performance takes (2 1/2 hours).   With the exception of some of the less familiar solos of Part 2, I enjoyed the entire concert.  I appreciated the choir and the orchestra more than the soloists.  After the concert, we went to an Indian restaurant near Pikes Place Market for some excellent food and conversation.  We rounded the evening off watching the Seahawks trounce the Cardinals to secure a playoff berth.

Cold Turkey

Well, the turkey wasn't cold, but the northeast wind was brutal.  Actually, Thanksgiving day in Greenwood was stormy and wet.  It wasn't until Friday night that the cold hit.  We did have a warm time of family togetherness as Markus, Steph and Calvin joined us in converging on Bjorn and Jenny and the girls.  In addition, Steph's brother Nick spent the weekend with us.  Thanksgiving Dinner and a Seahawks game was shared with the Mike Eide family.  The food was superb as always and the Seahawks victory over the 49ers was whipped cream on the pie.  Friday included a trip to the local tree farm, sanding and refinishing the dining table, and visiting with Doug and Nancy while the younger ones went to the movies.  Saturday saw some more table refinishing and a trip to a cold expensive pizza parlor.  A late night trip home set us up for a relaxing Sunday in Southworth before it was back to work.

Long Needed Kitchen Lights

Ever since purchasing this house ten years ago we have put up with the annoying buzz of the florescent  lights in our kitchen.  Our procrastination for not doing anything about it was our future plans to remodel the kitchen and living room. (A project which continually gets put off because of $$)  We decided that we couldn't stand it any longer and purchased some track lighting.  I pulled all the florescent lights and false celling out, did a little sheetrock repair and hung the new lights.  We are enjoying the quiet of soundless lighting even though the kitchen is not as bright.

Windy Wetlands

This Veterans Day Esther and I took advantage of the sunny weather by taking a drive and a hike.  We wanted to catch some roads and places that were not too familiar to us.   We started by taking the backroads to Steilacoom and Dupont, then down to the Nisqually Delta to the National Wildlife refuge.  Though passing the area constantly on I-5, we have never stopped to visit.  We took the four mile round trip walk to the end of the trail and back.  The trail includes a mile long elevated boardwalk above the muddy tidelands.  The wind was strong and freezing.  We were a little underdressed, but we gritted it out.  After our hike, we took a drive through the towns of Yelm, Rainier and Tenino before heading for Olympia and a dinner at the Oyster House.

Back to School

This fall I dusted off my student hat and enrolled in a class at The School for Teaching English as a Second Language.  The school is under the umbrella of SPU, but is located in North Seattle near the North Seattle Community College.  I joined eleven other students in a class about teaching grammar to English Language learners.  This was my first class of four in my attempt to complete the requirements for a certificate in Teaching ESL.  I'm not sure where this will take me, but I decided to start the process and see where it leads.  The class met for three hours on Thursday nights, which made for Thursday marathons: rushing from school to catch a ferry and driving through Seattle evening rush hour to catch a 5:30 class which went until 9:00.  The hour drive home brought me back at 10pm.  I enjoyed the class and I am starting to get a feel for what teaching ESL is all about.

September Catch Up

     Lest the month pass without record, I must present a telling of some highlights.  We had the chance to see Ingvar and Swanhil two times while they were visiting from Norway.  Once was at Dan and Jan Eide's where several of the extended Eide family were in attendance.  The next weekend we had them over to Southworth with George and Kirsten.  We enjoyed both visits and really appreciated our time with Ingvar and Swanhil.  They are such a nice couple and it is interesting to hear of the Norwegian Eide history.
     We also took an annual anniversary getaway.  Because the weather was so great on the west side, we held off on reservations and at the last minute stumbled on a great little place in the community of Dungenness by Sequim.   It is an old homestead barn that has been converted to a bed and breakfast.  We arrived early afternoon and had the place to ourselves.  The property sets on a bluff overlooking the Dungenness spit and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  Esther spent a little time shopping and I poked around the marina.  Dinner was at the Dockside Grill and breakfast at the 'inn' was very good.  An advantage to being so close to home was that we made it home for the Seahawk/Bronco game.

Labor Day weekend in Cle Elem

Rather than our usual trip up north to the Cain Lake cabin for the Labor Day weekend, we joined John and Mike at their newly rented cabin near Cle Elum.  Eide Homes started building a house in Suncadia with the hopes of building more, so John and Mike needed a home away from home.  They were fortunate to stumble on a furnished cabin with lots of character.  The cabin has a lot of wood surfaces; walls, ceiling and floor are all wood in addition to log furniture.  The 'old folks' spent Saturday and Sunday enjoying  the cozy cabin and exploring the CleElum and Rosalyn surroundings.  I think Marti and Kay will be joining their husbands on weekends, rather than the other way around.

Mr. and Mrs. Markus and Stephanie Bulthuis

It's been a week since the wonderful wedding, and we are still basking in the warm shadow that it has caste on our summer.  The wedding weekend was filled with activities.  The rehearsal dinner was Thursday night at Lombardi's in Everett.  A highlight for me was Jenny and Ted's top ten warnings.  We rented a large house in Muklteo Friday through Monday nights.  We were able to fit Bulthuis' and Eides together which helped when Marti put the reception dinner together.  The wedding was spectacular and Swans Trail Farm turned out to be a great venue.  Markus and Steph planned a great ceremony complete with communion led by brother Bjorn.  Marti's Indian menu was a hit, and the toasting and dancing capped the joyous occasion.  That night we had twenty-five people sleeping on the rented premises and Monday brunch was close to fifty.  The newlyweds joined us for the occasion and spent most the day with us.  The weekend was definitely the highlight of the summer.  It's all down hill from now.  Esther begins work the middle of this weekend and I need to finish several summer projects.

An Olympic Adventure

While we have been anticipating the coming wedding, we have also been enjoying the week with Calvin and Sassa.  Sassa arrived from Japan last weekend and Calvin took the week off from work.  On Tuesday, we did an Olympic Peninsula circumnavigation.  We started the day with a quick stop in Sequim to see the lavendar; then we went to Hurricane Ridge and took a short hike.  After a lunch in Port Angeles it was off to Forks and the Ho Rainforest and a hike through the mossy giants.  Then it was off to Ruby Beach to enjoy the Pacific.  At that point it was a toss up for the return trip, so we went south through Aberdeen and stopped for supper.  It was a real pleasure to share the experience with Sassa and see the Northwest beauty through her eyes.

Mad Hatter Shower

     It was a busy weekend in Southworth.  The Bulthuis, Bishop, Eide and Rubesh clans converged on our home to enjoy Steph’s Wedding Shower for the women and a boating adventure for the men.  The women had an Alice in Wonderland Mad Hat Tea Party, complete with crazy prompts and unique delicacies.  The men got in the kayaks and canoes, and because of the heavy wind headed for Harper Launch and Park rather than Blake Island; which would have presented an impossible challenge on return to Southworth.  The short route provided enough excitement and helped work up an appetite for a BBQ back home.  Most folks left Saturday evening, but a few stayed over Sunday to help make 400 samosas (Indian appetizers) for the upcoming wedding.

Remembering Mom

Our goodbye to Mom was a slow ten year process that culminated in her passing away last week.  Shortly after my dad passed away in 2004 Mom started to show signs of dementia.  She moved from her apartment to Meadow Green to Silverado Memory Care facility.  We had a good week as a family remembering and honoring Mom.  We even had the opportunity to go to Mt. Baker together and spend some time in Mom's favorite setting.  The graveside ceremony and memorial service at Bethel Church went well, followed by some extended family time at Aaron and Jen's.  The following link made by Aaron and Sue was played at the memorial service.  http://youtu.be/cJyhmtpWdXo

Mechanic and Mountains

"Let's wait for that repair until I get back from vacation," I suggested.
"Where are you going?" my mechanic inquired.
"Just some exploring in Idaho, to places we have never been in the south central area."
"You should go to Stanley.  It's the greatest place at the base of the Sawtooths.  We go there a lot to snowmobile."
Little did we know that this lead would pay off with so much enjoyment for Esther and I.  We headed out at the beginning of the week, traveling across the northern swath of Washington on Highway 20: North Cascades Highway, Winthrop, Republic, Kettle Falls.  Then we started dropping down the length of Idaho: Sandpoint, Coeur D Alene, Moscow and the surprising tourist trap of McCall.  We had been reading about Stanley for most of the trip and anticipated it as the highlight of the week.  It did not disappoint; in fact it exceeded our expectations.  We stayed two nights, which as you know is an exception for this rambling couple.  We were fortunate to find accommodations given the week of the Fourth.  The best way to describe Stanley Valley is the Teton Valley without the crowds.  The majestic Sawtooth peaks dominate the horizon.  The scenic Salmon River meanders through green meadows.  Redfish Lake is similar to Jenny Lake in the Tetons and Lake Louise in Banff.  The highlight of our time was an eleven mile hike up to Alpine and Sawtooth Lakes.  The Sawtooth peaks towered over the pristine mountain lakes.  The 'popular' trail had a few other hikers, but we felt alone in the vast wilderness. Stanley and the Sawtooths definitely earned a place Bulthuis vacation lore.

Long Beach Biking

This past weekend we joined Tim and Karen deLacy for couple of nights in Long Beach.  We took our bicycles and planned to enjoy the 8.5 mile bike trail that winds through the grassy dunes along the beach.  We were quite skeptical about the weather but hoped for the best.  We were fortunate to get a window between rain showers.  We made one way on the trail before eating our lunch under a shelter during a downpour.  Then it cleared up just long enough for us to return to the car.  We enjoyed the cozy cabin and were entertained by Maxer's (deLacy's dog) silly antics.  We ended the weekend by jetting up to Lynden to see my mom as she has taken a turn for the worse.

Summer Begins

My summer began with special guests in Southworth.  A good friend of Jenny's got married last weekend on the westside of the Sound so Jenny spent the week helping her friend and entertaining out of town guests.   Our house became part of the hosting and Ada and Ruby got to spend a lot of time with Papa as Farmor was still working hard at school.  Bjorn came down midweek as well and spent time with out of town college friends.  The girls and I made trips to the beach, to local parks and out for a canoe ride.  I was grateful for the nice weather.  The week ended with a trip to Cain Lake with Markus. Steph and Nick to test some Wedding dishes that Marti had made.

Camp Colman

The school year ended with a bang.   I accompanied my sixth graders to three days of outdoor education at Camp Colman.  It was the first year in many that we took the sixth grade to camp.  It turned out well and I am sure it is the start of a new tradition.  We weren't sure about scheduling it the last week of school, but it turned out to be a nice closure to their elementary school experience.  The camp staff led the students through classes as a varied as squid dissection to a vertical playpen (climbing challenge)  I was fortunate enough to sleep in command central and leave the boys cabins to the parent chaperones.  Camp Colman is a great facility on Case Inlet with a private lagoon for boating and swimming.  The week ended with a celebration (graduation).  Another school year in the books.

A Week With Granddaughters

     This long neglected blog will finally get a new post.  Several factors have contributed to a gradual lack of activity.  For one thing, life has been fairly routine in Southworth the last couple of months.  In addition, I have found that the presence of Facebook has slowly taken away my sense of purpose in maintaining a personal website.  And my last excuse is that my blog host site (blogger) no longer cooperates with my photo website (Flickr) making it more difficult to post pictures with my entries.  But despite these feeble reasons, I will plod on for personal journalling purposes.
     Well the last week has been anything but routine as we took care of Ada and Ruby for the entire week.  Jenny was in Georgia visiting her sister and Bjorn had work all week.  Esther and I decided to each use our two personal days for the year which neither one of us had conveniently spent.  We alternated days and covered the short week.  Fortunately, the week was somewhat pleasant weather wise and many hours were spent playing on the beach, going to parks and hanging out in the yard.  Ada and Ruby got to meet our small group and go to an elder's and wives potluck as well.  We enjoyed our time with our granddaughters very much.

Full Circle

Ironically, we end our mission sojourn at the first mission we visited several years ago.  Sonoma is a favorite destination for us.  The surrounding countryside and the historic town square next to the mission seem to draw us in.  Several years ago we visited the Solano mission and first caught the ambition to visit all 21 of them.  So it is fitting that we should end here.  It was also the last of the Spanish missions to be built.  We stayed at a favorite motel that has very nice garden grounds and a nice facility.  The past few days we have driven through windy winery laden roads and enjoyed shopping and strolling in Healdsburg, Windsor, Geyserville, Calistoga and Sonoma.  Oddly, we don't stop at the wineries, though we do enjoy driving through the vineyard laden hills.  Our final days of Spring break will find us enjoying some time with Ellen in Sacramento.

'Mission Completed'

Well, as of today we have visited all 21 Spanish Missions.  Our last two were Mission Delores in San Francisco and San Rafael Arcangel.  The San Francisco mission is adjacent to a huge basilica (which is impressive in itself) It features the twenty-one missions in stained glass windows.  The San Rafael Mission is a recently reconstructed replica.  We will still visit the Sonoma Mission again on our way back to Sacramento of Friday.   But having finished our mission hunting by noon, we headed to the Sonoma Coast to enjoy the newly exposed sunshine.  We had a nice drive along Tomales Bay and up to Bodega Bay.  The sun roof on the Scion was open the whole time and we soaked it in.  We are spending the night in Santa Rosa and will explore the area some more tomorrow.  We found a great hike on a nearby 'mountain' to end the day.

Soggy Sight Seeing

"It never rains in California; it pours, man it pours."  Those lyrics never rang truer than today for these tourists that are no strangers to precipitation.  We managed to squeeze in three missions between some pretty serious downpours.  We visited the missions in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Jose (which is actually in Freemont).  The Santa Cruz mission is a minimal presentation of the original, with a small chapel and gift shop.  The Santa Clara mission has been absorbed into the campus of Santa Clara University and tastefully presented.  The Mission San Jose is more typical of the rest with an impressive restored chapel and adjoining museum.  The highlight of the day was actually the food.  For lunch we had unbelievable sandwiches on a toasted 'Dutch crunch' roll at Ike's Sandwich.  Then for dinner, we stumbled upon an authentic Japanese sushi and ramen bar near our SF airport hotel.  The ramen was outstanding, second only to Calvin's ramen bar in Tokyo.  Tomorrow promises to be a drier day, but I'm sure we will not be as impressed with our meals.

Mission Hunting Resumed

After a two year hiatus, we are back on the trail of the historic Spanish Missions of California.  We had completed visits to 13 of the 21 missions and today we visited numbers 14 and 15.  After spending the weekend with Ellen in Sacramento, we drove down to the Monterey Peninsula to pick up where we left off.  San Juan Bautista is the only mission that adjoins a section of the original El Camino Real.  They old trail by the rest of them has been replaced by paved road or plowed up into fields.  This mission sits in a quaint small town in an agricultural valley.  Many old buildings still comprise the town's streets, but it hasn't sold its soul to tourism.  The other mission we visited was one we have often peaked at but never gone in.  San Carlos Borromeo Carmelo sits on the outskirts of the swanky town of Carmel by the Sea.  This mission is beautifully restored and is a functioning parish church.  We unfortunately had to deal with rain and cold weather which put a damper on the enjoyment of the mission gardens.  We are spending the night at a cozy motel in Pacific Grove just blocks from lighthouse point.

Bishops, Boykins and Bulthuis

image, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

Henry and Rebecca Boykin will be moving to South Carolina next month. Henry was fortunate to receive a new military assignment twenty minutes from his childhood home. We took the opportunity to invite the newlyweds and Jack and Sue to a Southworth salmon bake. Henry needed a Puget Sound ferry ride before heading east. We had an enjoyable afternoon of conversing and outdoor strolling. We will miss having Henry and Rebecca around, but it is wonderful that they can live near Henry's family.

Calvin's 'new' car

Calvin's 'new' car, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

Evidently I instilled a proclivity for old cars in my sons. Since Calvin is on his own with a job on the other side of the 'pond' (Puget Sound, not Pacific Ocean) it was time for him to buy his own car. As I helped him hunt for one, it became obvious that he wanted an older car in good condition and low miles rather than a not so old car with a lot of miles. He was a little particular on color as well. After about a month of scouring craigslist and checking leads, he zeroed in on a 1990 (his birth year) Toyota Corolla with 122k miles in amazing condition. So I guess we have to chalk up one more Toyota on the Bulthuis fleet list. I only hope that this one will be as reliable as the others.

New Job at Nintendo

Calvin gets a job, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

There are many transitions and milestones in life. Some pass without notice, while others are celebrated with much fanfare. At the end of January, Calvin was hired at Nintendo in his first full time job after college. It is not only a milestone for him; as parents we are celebrating all three sons graduating from college and gainfully employed. Calvin was looking for a job in the Seattle area that utilized his knowledge of Japanese. He is hired as a game tester with translation responsibilities as testers of the English version communicate with Japanese programmers in Japan. He is adjusting to work life; and after a week of commuting from Southworth to Redmond, he was offered weekday lodging at cousin Sarah and Mike Hauer's until he can arrange more permanent housing. We are excited for him and look forward to watching his career develop wherever that may bring him.

Congratulations Markus and Steph

Engagement Party, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

Sunday was not only the occasion to cheer the Seahawks into the Super Bowl; it was also the family's opportunity for an engagement party for Markus and Steph. While the Bronco's were taking care of the Patriots, the Bulthuis' and Eides were honoring the newly engaged couple. Though the engagement took place in December, Markus and Steph were in Sri Lanka visiting Steph's parents for the holidays. The Greenwood gang put on a great salmon dinner to toast the couple. For dessert, we donned our Seahawk attire and moved to a different house to cheer on the Hawks.

Celebration at Seabrook

big dinning room, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

Ever since our first Seabrook experience several years ago, we have been anxious to share the experience with the Eides. We anticipated the appreciation that Eide Homes might have for the unique housing development. We rented one of the larger houses which facilitated our group very nicely. After a night in Southworth with everyone, the accommodations felt very spacious. A real bonus was the large dining room; and since food is at the center of many of our traditions, it was important. The weather was exceptionally nice. We spent three days and two nights in the seaside getaway, walking the beach, riding or strolling through the 'town,' and playing games. We missed having Kelsea, Markus and Steph in our company and thought of them often. We started the new year off with a big bang.

Chelsea Moore's Wedding Port Gamble

Chelsea Moore's Wedding Port Gamble, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

On Saturday we had the opportunity to witness my teaching partner Don Moore's daughter Chelsea get married in Port Gamble. The venue was classic, a small historic chapel and an elegant reception in a nearby hall. Chelsea's new husband, Allen Slade is from South Africa. The couple met through Bethel Church in Redding, where Chelsea has worked for several years.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day 2013, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

Christmas Day brought Jack, Sue and Ellen to Southworth for a relaxing day of conversation and good food. Calvin patiently put up with the older generation. I insisted on a ham for dinner as it was our family tradition. Ellen split her time in Southworth and Olympia. We had a short extended Bulthuis get together in Lynden later in the week.

Did I say she was excited to get an iPhone?

Christmas Break 2013, a photo by The Enforcer on Flickr.

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

On Sunday evening, we enjoyed the traditional Christmas Eve clam chowder and gift exchange with the family. Markus and Steph were in Sri Lanka. The girls were excited but patient as we all opened our gifts. A highlight was a surprise iPhone 5s which I gave to Esther. She had no idea and surprisingly was very excited about it. It's hard to imagine that we have held off all these years. It's hard for a Dutchman to shell out that much for a phone.

A dandy dancing holiday start

Ada's ballet performance, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

Our Christmas celebrations this year started with a quick trip to Bellingham as soon as school was dismissed. Ada participated in a ballet performance "We Danced Our Best for Him" at the Mt. Baker theater. She was a dancing donkey and did her daddy proud. The whole performance was very good. The emotion and message gave a great start to our Christmas festivities. It was a short trip to Lynden as we decided to celebrate a gift exchange with Bjorn and Jenny in Southworth as they made their way to Oregon.

Southworth Son Returns

Home in Southworth, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

The day before Thanksgiving, Calvin returned home from his Asian adventures. After graduating from ICU and working in Tokyo for the summer, he went to India with Sassa to visit the orphanage where she volunteers. After Sassa left to go back to school, Calvin traveled alone around India and Thailand for a month. You can read much more at
http://calvineb.wordpress.com. It is good to have him home after so long. He celebrated his first Thanksgiving in four years. While continuing to do some free lance work by correspondence, he is looking for full time work here. hopefully, he can find something that incorporates interpretation and translation.

Fourteen and a half years ago John Snell was hired as the youth pastor at Harper Church.  Bjorn was in junior high.  Over the many years that John and Sugar served at our church, they have greatly influenced the spiritual lives of hundreds of young people.  Our sons are no exception.  Each one of our boys were closely connected to the youth group and spent a lot of time with John and Sugar: worshipping, praying, learning, gaming, and traveling.  Esther and I are eternally grateful for God's work in our sons' lives through the ministry of John and Sugar.  Esther and I also became friends with John and Sugar and enjoyed many hours with them.  Today, Harper said goodbye to this beloved family.  John will become the senior pastor of a church in Kent, Washington.  We are very excited for them.  We will miss them, but we wish them the best in their new home.

Arizona transplants

The Peak's new home, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

For twenty-seven years we have lived on the Kitsap Peninsula as kinship loners, having no relatives nearby. All of that changed this month when Doug and Nancy Peak moved from Arizona to join us on the peninsula. Nancy is Esther's second cousin; and after living in Mexico and Arizona for the past twenty-five years, Doug accepted a job as a GED teacher at the Washington Correction Center for Women in Purdy. He has been working in corrections for the past ten years in Arizona. While feeling a little chilled, they are excited to be in the Northwest, close to both of their families. Doug and Nancy have been living with Esther and I for the past two and half weeks as they looked for a home to rent. Tonight they spent their first night in their new home in uptown Gig Harbor. It is a convenient location for Doug's commute, and Nancy hopes to get a job in Tacoma which is a quick trip across the bridge. Welcome to Kitsap Doug and Nancy.

safe in her winter berth

winter berth, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

My enjoyment of Autumn is always hindered by a subconscious nagging that my boat needs to be put away for the summer. When the chore is accomplished, I can embrace the season without restraint. Today I can fully embrace the beauty of Autumn. Last weekend Tim helped me pull up the mooring anchor and trailer the boat. This weekend I cleaned up a very scummy hull. A maritime friend was telling me about an invasive species of mussels from Asia that is becoming prolific in the Sound. Well, I found them on my hull, plugging up through holes and clinging to any metal bolts or nuts. The boat is ready for a cover and the winter, safely beside the house.

A weekend with the girls

Cramer Pumpkin Patch, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

We got our grandparent fix this weekend. Bjorn and Jenny went to Vancouver Island for a wedding, so we were recruited to take care of the girls for two days. The weather was great, so we were able to do lots of activities outside. After enjoying the Seahawks game at Mike and Marti's, we walked over to the neighbor's country pumpkin patch to indulge in some agritourism. On Columbus Day, we dragged the girls to see mom and then checked out the newest Eide Homes in Bellingham and Birch Bay. Of course, a stop at the park and McDonalds was our concession to their active needs. It was fun to once again spend time with our granddaughters who are growing up so fast.

The Cascade Loop for Anniversary

Winthrop on Anniversary, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

We waited until the last minute to decide on a destination for our anniversary weekend this year. We had Victoria on our mind, but we wanted to wait to see what the weather brought. As the weekend approached, it became evident that a dry weather destination would be preferable. Booking a stay late meant that there wasn't much available in Leavenworth. So we decided to do Leavenworth on Saturday, stay in Pateros in a motel that we really enjoy, and then go to Winthrop on Sunday and return on the North Cascades Highway. A couple of hours in Leavenworth was enough and then it was off to pick up our annual box of apples at Smallwood Orchard. Esther always enjoys some time at the antique mall in Cashmere, so I got an afternoon nap in the car. The sunny weather held through the evening as we enjoyed a walk and dinner in Pateros. The next morning we made our way through the Methow Valley to Winthrop. It had been at least ten years since we last visited and decided that not much had changed. Esther did find a decorative treasure in one of the stores and we got to watch the first half of the Seahawks humiliating Jaguars in a Mexican restaurant. Unfortunately, the pass was clouds and rain, though we caught a few glimpses of the majestic mountains towering the highway.

Labor Day Weekend

Enjoying seafood BBQ at Taylor Shellfish Co., a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

We spent another Labor Day weekend hanging out at the Cain Lake and having a shellfish BBQ. Weather was better than expected, which gave the swimmers and boaters lots of time in the water. Everyone was able to make it for part of the weekend. Markus and Steph had to miss the BBQ and of course Calvin was in Japan; but we did get to Skype him at the cabin. It looks like we will start school on time this week though we had a nervous week as the teachers had voted to strike if a contract was not agreed on by September. Fortunately, the union and district had a tentative agreement by Friday night, and everyone could enjoy the weekend.

Elliot Bay

Elliot Bay, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

This being the last week before I go back to school, I decided to take advantage of an unusually windy morning and head to Elliot Bay. The wind was moderate throughout the morning and I made it to Alki lighthouse in a couple of hours. Getting past the point and into the Bay provided a challenge because of the weakening wind and contrary current. Once in the bay, I headed for the city waterfront as I had never sailed that far into the bay. Fortunately, traffic was light; but unfortunately, the wind died. I motored back out to the sound and the late afternoon wind really picked up providing a delightful sail home. My GPS recorded 24 miles of ground under my hull for the day. Who knows how much water!

patio project

finished product, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

After years of suggestion from Esther, we finally decided to tackle a flagstone patio for our front yard. We often use the area in our attempts to enjoy the sun, but avoid a prevalent north wind off the water. I was reluctant to make a patio here because of what lies beneath (part of the septic system:) I assumed it would be a three to four day project. One day to excavate, one day to level the sand, and one or two days to lay the flagstone. Right! more like eight days! The first two days went as planned, but placing the stones was an extremely tedious process of guess and check, cut and chisel, and then get lucky once in a while. In the end, we were quite pleased with the result. Now we'll see how it holds up.

A Short Trip North

Vancouver bike ride, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

We brought the girls to Lynden this week and celebrated Esther's birthday and John and Kay's anniversary in Greenwood style. On Monday, Esther and I went up to Vancouver for the day. It had been three years since we had been to the city. We rented bikes near Stanley Park and rode about 20 miles around the park and city using the sea wall and designated bike lanes. We went around Stanley Park and False Creek, then to Grandville Island and back over to Gastown and Canada Place. We ended the day with some very spicy Thai food and got back to Lynden in time to help tuck the girls in bed. Tuesday was spent picking blueberries, fixing the sewer leak and cleaning out the pen for the arrival of Elvis and Elron, the new Greenwood goats. Wednesday evening we all enjoyed the feast that Marti and Jenny prepared in honor of Esther and John and Kay.