Random Catch Up

I'm baaaack.  May was a little crazy, in the best way.  In all my years of blogging I don't think I have ever missed an entire month, until May 2019.  May is always my busiest month for subbing.  I squeezed in a of of fun too. Let's get caught up.

Danny and Jess visited us from Michigan the first week of May.  We had a good time being tourists with them and visiting at home.  Danny finished his Master's degree at Grand Valley University and Jess completed her first year as a math prof at GVU.  It was a good time for a break for them.

Hubby gave them a cast iron crash course for their summer camping trips.  He made biscuits and gravy one morning.  Bo helped like a boss.

The one night almost everyone was home, Katie had to work so it's the gang minus one photo.  She was able to see Danny and Jess other nights.

Hubby and I went camping at Port Townsend.  It was Annie's first ferry ride.  We met up with our camping crew and had a great trip kicking off camping season 2019. 

We camped at the marina and enjoyed the farmer's market and the Rhodie Fest in town.

May means yard work and this year we (Hubby) took out the trees around the patio.  Then built some curbing and planted new trees.  The winters have been hard on shrubs here and ours were getting old. So, a fresh start!

 We all know how one thing leads to another and the patio was no exception.  Hubby  installed drip lines in all of the flower beds.

We took or patio from drab to fab.

We added outdoor living room furniture and we were still able to keep the dining area. I am loving coffee time in the morning with my fire and all of the lights in the evenings. 

 Jodi had the pie pals over for strawberry pie and her Specialtea.

I went on a Sisters on the Fly camping trip to Bay View State Park.

It was a really nice event with a lot of chill time.  That is my favorite part of SOTF, you can do the big organized activities or do your own thing.  It's perfect for this introvert.  A day in La Connor with old friends and a new friend, biking the dike trail, lunching and visiting the galleries in Edison, sitting around the campfire and enjoying the sunsets, yep, that was perfect.

Morning coffee in her peignoir, my friend Kathy knows how to glamp.

On Monday I am leaving for SOTF NW Gathering.  I have been prepping the trailer and my wardrobe for days.  Three more sleeps! It actually starts on Wednesday but I have a prefunc with a pool.  #poolside

After some kicking and screaming I left the book world and got a Kindle.  I have resisted for so long.

Annnnd, I love it!  I use the libby app on my iphone , it's a Washington State library system that I can use with my Lynden Library card.

I just finished two non-fiction books, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother's Will to Survive and Flat Broke with Two Goats.  Leslie, I think you'd enjoy the goat husbandry more than I did but I muddled through and it was interesting. 

Now school's out for summer and I am heading for some beach reads.

I saved the best for last in this rather lengthy post.  Sam and Katie are engaged!

It is wonderful to see Sam so happy.  Katie is delightful and we are excited for her to join our family.

Sunshine and the Super Bloom

Hubby and I went to the desert for spring break this year. Mark and Karen came with us and Kassie's parents and friends were there too. Hubby's Mom shares her timeshare with us and one of our favorites is Wyndam in Indio.  Thanks Es!

 Karen and I love coconut cake and Tommy Bahama has one of the best coconut cakes. It ties for first place with House Without a Key on Oahu.

 When our guys were still traveling with us, we tried to have an educational day on our trips.  Once they were gone that fell by the wayside.  You may remember the Palace on Oahu or Pearl Harbor with the guys in earlier posts.

This year we brought back the field trip and went to Joshua Tree National Park.  It was in full bloom and we had a good time hiking so we actually went back for a second day. 

The field trip days are back!

 It was fun to climb on the rocks or walk on the trails. We packed a lunch and entered the park at the north entrance and exited via the west entrance on the first day.  The second day we used the south entrance and after some time in the park we left the way we had come in that morning.

 I want to give a shout out to one of my favorite fashion bloggers, Sheaffer. I wanted comfy walking shoes that were more like a sneaker and she found them for me.  They were great in the park and for morning walks, and just to wear with shorts or jeans. I'm wearing them with my favorite skort from Macys. These skorts are comfy for walking and great for camping and can be dressed up and worn out for a casual dinner. I have black too. And I think I may have to order the orchid print for Hawaii.

 The west park entrance has a cute little street of artists' shops and galleries.  All are closed midweek.

 I had a fun trip with Hubby.  I make the trip arrangements and get us there and set up and he then takes over and does the driving, mixes the cocktails and grills. #teamwork

 I wanted to pay tribute to U2 and their album Joshua Tree and my peeps are willing to play along with me.

Our travel day to get to PSP was a little crazy.  Our flight got changed due to the 737's falling out of the sky. We decided to only use carry on luggage. Seven nights, eight days and one carry one.  Stay calm.  It was a challenge for me and my shoes! Another blogger I follow is Shay and she has posted about packing cubes several times.  Her and her husband travel with their four kiddos and she loves the cubes.  And now so do I.  I drank the packing cube kool aid and loved using them. In one small/medium cube I packed 3 swim suits, 3 cover ups, 2 skorts, 2 tees for walking, yoga pants, sports bra, 1 tank and socks.

 Besides the packing cubes and an educational field trip, I have one more trip tip.  Instacart! I created a group cart for Karen and I, we filled it with breakfast items, we each did a dinner, a picnic lunch, snacks, liquor and sunscreen and lotion.  It was so great to have our groceries delivered within an hour of our arrival. Especially since our travel day was hectic.  Our stop in Seattle involved a bus, two trams and very brisk walking on the people movers to make our flight.

It was a wonderful trip with a lot of relaxing by the pool.  #poolside

Next spring, the Big Island of Hawaii for ten nights.  Aloha!

In the meantime we are getting excited for camping season,  Hubby is practicing his Dutch oven game plan.  One night we did rustic bread, baked spaghetti and a chocolate caramel cake. Delish!

Okay friends, I think we are all caught up and I need to clear the dining table today...

Yep, it's going to take all day.

Four Camping Trips and a Hotel Night

Hubby and I took off with Huaka'i Annie, our '57 Aloha trailer for the long, long trip in August. We took Snoqualmie Pass, stopped for lunch at DRU BRU, brewery number one.

Our first overnight stop was for two nights at Elk Ridge Campground along the Naches River.

I love this campground! Tent, RV spots and cabins, movie night, the river, the twinkling lights display at night, and the wonderful owners. Tim is the campground marriage counselor, he comes out and helps your hubby back into your spot.

The selfie isn't what is significant about the photo.  It's the rock wall pool in the background. Two days of floating, yes please!

We left Elk Ridge to attend the annual Nile Valley Rally, a private rally hosted by friends, Steve and Rita and Ben and Denise. Yes, our vent was up.  We turned out of one park and into the next, the Jim Sprick Community Park. The rally hosts rent the park and we have it all to ourselves.

On to Camp-Heep-A-Fun!
Oh Denise and Rita, you are the best!

Nile Valley Rally is a summer camp theme and we can earn badges, take classes, flamingo float, enter the rubber duck race, go to potlucks, and have an open house for the public on Saturday. 

Since Annie is so small, we used a trailer dolly and flipped her around, so our front window had the river view.  I took this pic out of the window and I am guessing Hubby is reading instructions for something.

It's dry camping so we rely on our battery for lights and fans and solar lights.

Liz taught a wood burning class. Students made leather bracelets.

I taught a Old Book to Scrapbook class.

Every one's book turned out so great.  The creativity was just overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Hubby went to a cooking with a Dutch oven class.  He is psyched to find some cast iron and get cooking.  There was axe throwing too.  Lisa led a domino necklace class. Something for everyone on Friday.

Saturday morning we all cleaned up and got our trailers ready for the bed making inspection and for the public open house.  I think we clean up pretty well considering it's a 3 minute campground shower and no power.

I love my peeps!  It was fun to be neighbors.

We're ready!

Okay, so we were ready, but wow, not ready for that many people!

There were so many visitors. Larry and Shelly went for a walk and while they were gone I had a line up to see their Airstream.  Crowd control!

After open house we went for ice cream at Elk Ridge.  Huck and Bean ice cream is crazy good and has the best story.  The owner, Izzy, started the business when she was 11.  She is 14 years old now and is restoring a vintage trailer to sell her ice cream.  Her little sister works for her.

 

 Saturday afternoon everyone brought their flamingo float to the river and we relaxed.  Hubby floated across the river to take photos of camp.

 Our neighbors, Cindy and Wade relaxing by the river.

 Larry and Shelly floating the natural lazy river.

Saturday evening after burgers and potluck we enjoyed the closing ceremony and got our badges.
Our rubber duck came in first place so we won the cash.

Some people are always working...

Sunday morning we enjoy sweet cream pancakes and raise funds for the local fire station.

Then it's time to say good bye.  

The third stop was Yakima for Hubby and I.  We enjoyed Bale Breaker Brewery and Guerra's food truck. Then we checked into a hotel for the night. 

I had the pool to myself. We took an uber (remember we had Annie hitched up to the Jeep) to dinner at Cowiche Canyon Kitchen and Icehouse.  Yum! We had long, hot showers and a king size bed.

Monday morning we took the back roads to Moses Lake where we stopped at Ten Pin Brewery for lunch. A stop at Safeway and we were off to our next destination.

Smokiam RV Campground in Soap Lake is a very well maintained park with a lot of amenities.  I was excited about the pool... until I got there.  I went in the morning, every chair had something on it, no one was actually sitting on a chair, there were 23 children and myself in the pool area. Uhm, yeah, I wasn't happy.  I went to the office as it clearly stated (in two languages) no one under 14 could be in the pool area without an adult. I was not willing to be any one's adult.

It was disappointing.  After the office lady kicked all of the kids out of the pool, she left and they all hopped back into the pool. 

I had high hopes for this campground for family reunions or Sisters on the Fly gatherings but unless you come with your own tribe you'll have a tough time using the amenities.

We did relax in our site, read a lot and played cards.  Max and Kassie came for dinner and that was fun too. The scenery is very pretty. The bathrooms are new and nice. Besides the pool area and unfriendly people it was a nice campground.

We spotted this little Hanson Love Bug on our trip and I did talk to the owner.  He wasn't willing to sell but I'll keep checking in with him.

 Next stop was at Max and Kassie's house. We had a great visit and it's fun to see them settling into their home and marriage.

 Bo likes to lay in Annie.

On our way home we stopped at Flyer Brewery at the Skagit Airport.  It's a great setting, marginal beer, good food and boring wait staff.  I'll let you decide.

 Then it was home for one night where we did laundry, got groceries and packed up to leave again.  This time we went to Silver Lake with my family.

 No family trip is complete without Jeans bars and licorice.

 Jeff and Kathi tented, Bill and Jodi car camped and the kids tented. Ken took his camper.

 There was a shelter behind our spots and that was fortunate as it rained most of the time.

 Aurora was the cutest little camper.  It was her second trip and she is 3 months old. Her Mom is pretty determined to camp.

Hubby and I played pinochle with Jeff and Kathi and reminisced about what a great card player our Dad was. It was good to get together, remember Dad and Mom and all our camping trips with them. 

This is a long post and it should have been five, but one and done!
Elk Ridge Campground
Nile Valley Rally at Jim Sprick Park
Best Western Hotel in Union Gap* not camping but hey we needed to shower and stretch out.
Smokiam RV Park
Silver Lake Park

Hubby went back to work today, school starts tomorrow and fall is in the air.
The mornings are foggy, the nights are cool and I am freezing peaches... must be the end of August.

We are thankful for all of the safe miles we had, the fun with friends and family and a beautiful summer.
Good stuff, my friends!