August Random

Happy Friday friends!

August isn't my favorite month. Everything is so dry, it's too hot and Target has the back to school supplies in my face. Even though it's not my favorite, I have had some good stuff going on here.

One evening I offered to drive Hubby and friends to dinner in a cooler location. I didn't tell them where we were going and I was impressed that they trusted my judgment.

I drove them to the Lummi Island ferry where we made it just in time to walk on and walk off.  That's how it feels because it is a short trip.  A cool and beautiful trip.

We sat on the front porch of the Beach Store Cafe and we actually got chilly sitting in the shade.

Later that week we drove to Winthrop for lunch.  Yes, it's a long way to go for lunch but it is a beautiful drive and we enjoyed our day trip very much.

This week I have stuck around home because we had seven large trees taken down.  Ice storms and wind storms were becoming stressful.  We called in an expert and he agreed with our choices. There was only one tree of the seven that we are mourning but we do have a lot of trees.  It is Phase I of a much larger project.  Hubby and I are DIYers and we knew we needed the pros for this job. They were fantastic!

I also stayed home this week because a wasp flew up my pajama pants on Monday evening and stung me. I do have bad reactions and though I wanted to ignore it that wasn't possible. Stinging, itching, tightness, swelling and pain on the back of my calf.  And my eyes get puffy.  I'm pretty much shot when I get stung as the Benedryl knocks me out.  I'm better today but I do have a 3 inch bruise on the back of my leg. #ihatewasps  

Since the back to school supplies are at Target I am in a panic about not tackling enough projects this summer.  I cleaned out the linen closet, donated two garbage bags full of  linens to the thrift store and now I'm pretty much over it. 

I am still floating in my pool for one. It's pretty great, actually.

You will all be relieved that I got my sample of my old book to scrapbook finished. Yes, after making one I am prepared to show twenty other campers the how to's of this little project. Hahaha

Next up a two week vacation. I guess August isn't sooo bad.

Down River

Hubby was off last weekend so we took a little trip.  Our first stop was an RV recycling and parts place in Centralia.  It was kind of a bust for us 

 We had lunch at the Olympic Club in Centralia.  Great history with a hotel, restaurant and theatre.  A little junkin' after lunch and we were on our way.

 Our destination was Jeremy and Rene's float house on the Lewis River.  The girls were out to greet us when we drove up.

Best welcome ever!

 Staying on a float house is a bit like a cruise; however, you're going no where but still on the water.  This was good for me because I do have a history with boating.  Remember these trips?  Fraught. With. Danger.  Staying on the dock here,  here and here and then getting out there.

Sheryl, Shelly and Chris, I did ask Jeremy to explain his electrical system.

 It is so much fun on the dock and we must have looked like we were have fun because these guys going past on their boat couldn't resist stopping and introducing themselves.

 Y'all know how graceful I am.  It was a modern day miracle that I made it to our cottage safely the entire weekend as it was on a separate dock.

After a fat boy breakfast on Saturday morning we put on our barn boots, and crossed the road for the trailer tour.  It is impossible to decide on a favorite. Jeremy and Rene have started  Down River Trailers.  

Jeremy and Rene with their new babies!  It's not a complete family picture though as Tin Lizzie is parked in storage and the Jewel is in the shop. 

We went to visit Jewel and I fell in love.  She has a lot of potential, so I can't wait to see what they do with her.  And she has a pretty, pink stove and fridge.

We drove into town for a craft show and lunch. Someone spotted a Cardinal in the blackberries. Hit the brakes and turn around!

Then it was back for a great evening of  Jeremy's home brewed beer, playing corn hole and the best brisket, ever.

Thank you Jeremy and Rene for a wonderful weekend!  We had the best time and it was fun to meet your new trailers too.

Third and Final Stop

Hubby and I left George, Wa on Monday and drove to the Tri Cities.  Hubby had training there for the week.  Our hotel was on the Columbia River with an urban trail along the river.  It is a gorgeous trail for walkers, runners, and bikers with parks along the way. 

The first evening we went for a walk and I thought, MY these baby daddies in the Tri Care are a bunch of hands on Dads.  They all had the kids in the strollers and were everywhere. In groups even, which it is more common to see groups of moms out walking with the babies than dads.  Hubby and I soon realized they had ulterior motives.  The baby daddies were all playing Pokemon Go.  Hhhmmm.

 Hubby got up early and went to work every day and I slept in, then enjoyed a hotel breakfast and a walk along the river.

 Cruise ships were in port two of the mornings.

There were swinging benches along the trail and they were hard to resist.

 I went shopping at the mall a day and junking a day.  The Uptown Mall is old and the signs are great.  This is also where Spudnik Donut Shop is located. I would love to have the Tahitian Room sign for in front of our Aloha but they are still in business so they need their sign.

 Of course, I was poolside and happy about it.

 The first two days were cold and wet and then it got hot and dry.

Real hot.

 The park in front of our hotel has a summer music series.  Rock bands on Thursday evenings, 5-9, with a food truck round up. The music was great and we had a lot of fun people watching.

It was a hot summer night to remember.

 Friday morning we checked out after breakfast and went to find the new Country Mercantile in Richland.  Y'all know how much we LOVE the Country Mercantile in Pasco so we decided to check out the new one.  They carry everything that the Pasco store carries so we loaded up.  We had an ice chest along for just this purpose.  When we finally checked out, the checker asked if we were having a party.  Nope, it's all for us.  It's so great to have a freezer full of tamales and enchiladas.  The chocolates are gone, so no need to stop by and visit us.  There is some bread and butter left.

If you haven't been to the Country Mercantile I do not feel sorry for you because I have been bragging about it for years so you HAVE known.  I can't help you if you haven't taken me seriously and gotten in the car with your ice chest and gotten the goods.  That's all.

 Once we got in the car and I started looking at the map I realized we would be within two miles of Bale Breaker Brewery.  We wanted to see their operation.  We played a game of corn hole and then got back on the road.

 Slow down, there is a view point ahead and I am ready to see a pretty view without having to hike to get there.  A short stop.

 Our next stop was Thorp for some junking and peaches.  We bought four boxes of peaches so y'all know what I'm doing this week.  Millions of peaches.  By now the Jeep is getting pretty full.

We took the back roads to Cle Elum and stopped at Twin Pines for a late lunch/early dinner.  We had never stopped there and always wanted to so we did.  And we were glad that we did!

By now we are starting to realize that we still have a long way home and traffic is going to be messy on 405 so we take the goat trail.

Hit the brakes! Neither of us have ever actually seen Snoqualmie Fall.  One more stop!

 And that my friends is how a 5 hour trip home becomes a 10 hour trip.

We took three trips back to back in 8 days.  The first four nights we slept in four different beds, we put a lot of miles on the Jeep, we didn't drive past anything worth stopping at and we had a lot of fun and laughs.

Now, we are home... until Friday.

Live and Learn

I learned a lot on my trip to Winthrop.  On the way there the lessons began, Shelly and I learned that we do not need to stop at the flea market in Concrete ever again.  I don't recommend anyone stopping there.

I learned that I need a bicycle built for two to put on the back of our trailer.  Even if we never take it off and ride, it's cute.

 I saw hardware on a screen door that we need to add to our door. Hubby just built the door and we were wondering how to finish it.

 I love the tooled vinyl and what great idea to use it on the cabinets.

 I learned that I need to up my propane tank game.  Annie's tank is pretty boring.

I met Kim and she showed me the back of her dinette cushions.  I would never had guessed but she'd spray painted them with marine vinyl spray paint.  Brilliant!

 I loved Sarah's trailer's name, Whiskey in a Tea Cup.  I need something with Huaka'i Annie's name and my SOTF number.  Preferably something cute.

 Next up is something that I wish I could say was new knowledge but I've been told this little nugget of brilliant information before and honestly, sometimes I am a slow learner.  I asked Sarah if she had sewed her awning and she said, no because I did everything else I ordered the awning from Marti's Awnings.  

Rene told me, Kathy told me, Sarah told me.  I've been told many times and probably as far back as almost two years ago.  Unfortunately, I didn't listen and I thought I could sew my own.

I started last fall, winter came and I put it away, but I knew I had to get it out this week.

 I have been stewing and sewing and am so frustrated.  When I began I imagined great success, cute scallops, coordinating prints and straight seams.  I actually was photographing as I went so I could post a tutorial on the blog.  Hah!  That would be the blind leading the blind.

I sew a day and then stare at it and stew a day.  Tomorrow is another sewing day.

Next time I shall take the good advice I am given and order the awning. 

Remind me.

Jean and I tried to buy another trailer over the weekend.  The owner said no but I haven't learned what no means when it comes to vintage trailers so we'll see. 

If Road Trips and Vintage Trailers were subjects in school I think I'd give myself a decent grade.  An A for effort but some points off for not listening.  Probably a solid B+ overall.

A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people. 

-Will Rogers

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One more thing I learned about is the word learned. I did some checking this morning because the word learned seemed awkward.  It turns out that it's correct usage.

 Which is the correct past tense of learn –learned or learnt? Well, the answer is simple. Both are correct. Yes, both learned andlearnt may be used as the past of learn depending on which form of English you’re using. Learned is used in American English, and learnt in British English. But these days, due to the influence of American English, learned is also being written in Britain.  So, in short, both the forms are correct. The only thing to remember is – whichever form you use, be consistent. Don’t use both learned and learnt together.

There’s just one case where only learned is used – whether British or American English. This is when used as an adjective meaning “possessing or demonstrating profound knowledge”. For example, ‘a learned person’ or ‘a learned response’. In this case, learned is pronounced with two syllables – “learn” and “ed”, unlike learned as a verb where it’s just one syllable. -The Write Corner