Some New and Some Traditions in October

The blog has been so spotty lately.  I don't have time to post because I am out there enjoying post able events and trips.  Anywhoo, let's get caught up, shall we?

First up, something new!  We stayed in our first AirBnB.  We were trying to camp with Jeremy and Rene' and Larry and Shelly.  We couldn't find a date, then we couldn't get reservations, finally we scrapped the camping and went to the city and stayed in the Big Red House.

Our house was cute and it was cozy because when we arrived our friends had cocktails and seafood risotto waiting for us. The drive was rainy, windy with serious traffic.

Saturday morning the sun came out and we went for breakfast at Belltown Brewery.

We visited the market.

I wanted the pretty peppers but I didn't want to carry them all day.  

We wandered downtown and then took the monorail to Seattle Center.  We had a lovely visit at the Chihuly Garden and Glass. I love that place,  It never gets old.

 The garden has matured since our last visit.

Mr. Chihuly has a trailer collection too.

We had tickets to go to the top of the Space Needle at 4:30.  Perfect time for us and we were excited to see the new glass floor.  Warning: If you sell me a ticket for a 4:30 time slot and then I have to wait in line for 2+ hours, it won't be pretty.  We got a refund and left it for next time.  

On to the Rhein Haus for some bocci ball, the Huskie game on TV, beer and dinner. It turned out to be their Octoberfest that evening.  Oh my!  That was fun.

It was so good to have time with our trailer friends in the city. I love these peeps!

Karen and I have a tradition of making dinner for each other for our birthdays.  We fuss.
It was a special birthday for her this October.

We do a new cocktail, dinner, presents, candles and cake, in other words, we celebrate the birthday girl.

Hubby made us Silver Bells for our cocktail.  We have had them at Oliver's Lounge.  They were created for a hospital Seattle Christmas Gala and have become a tradition for that event.

Hubby and I have a tradition of camping at Silver Lake in the fall. It's just the two of us and we play cards, cook, nap and read and hike and nap and read again.  It's perfect.

This year was really perfect as the sunshine was glorious, and the fall color has been amazing this year.  Since it was October, we couldn't rent a canoe.

Pork loin and twice baked potatoes on the bucket grill for dinner, yum!

Cooking in a Dutch oven is new to us.  I bought a Dutch oven for Hubby at a swap meet this year and he was wanting to try it. He took a class on Dutch Oven cooking at Nile Valley from Scott and Renee, so he had some knowledge.

He decided to try biscuits and gravy.  Full disclosure on biscuits and gravy and Hubby and I... we only allow ourselves to have it once a year.  It's yummy and fattening and we know that. Once I know we are having it I don't want to be disappointed with burnt gravy and gooey biscuits.  Right?

No disappointment here.  Oh my goodness, it was delicious.  We use Jimmy Dean hot sausage and a lot of black pepper.

And since biscuits and gravy weren't enough we also drove to Glacier for Wake'n Bakery coffee and cookies. It took a lot of hiking to justify biscuits and gravy and cookies.

Reading in the sunshine, yes please.

We have a small heater, flannel sheets and wool blankets to keep us warm.  It's fun to camp in the fall and cozy up. There were two other campsites with campers so it's quiet.

Morning coffee is pretty dreamy when you're camping.  Photo credit goes to Hubby.

 Good stuff and a lot of fun.  Now we are home and Annie is winterized and ready to go into the carport for the rainy season.  I am subbing quite a bit and Hubby has a new schedule.
Fall and home feel good.

MIA in May, My Mom, Maryhill and Catching Up

In the ten year history of this blog I have posted frequently, infrequently and with no schedule.  That said, I haven't gone an entire month without a peep.  May was the exception.

In May the teachers are tired and in meetings. I was substitute teaching a lot  Sometimes it's a field trip day. I got on the bus with 67 third graders and went to the Bellingham Light Catcher Museum. I consider it a success as no third graders were lost.

We celebrated Mother's Day and birthdays.  My sister Kathi and Hubby and Max have May birthdays.

My Therapy Thursday gals and I went to Seattle for an over night stay at the Camlin.  We shopped, enjoyed good food, we swam and had some therapy. It was Leslie's birthday so that was a bonus too. It was at the very beginning of May and it's what probably got my body and soul ready for what was to come.

I watched the royal wedding, several times.  It was everything I dreamed it would be for Prince Harry and Meagan and for myself.

Louis Litt was there, in character, he looked as though he was day dreaming about a mud bath or a cat that didn't belong to him.

 I got sick in May, allergies, strep throat, a nasty cold, sinus infection, ear infection, blah, blah, blah.
Doc said I was run down and asked me to lay low for a long weekend.

 In May, my Mom got sick. She was diagnosed with cancer and it is aggressive.  Mom has dementia so we are not treating the cancer.  Hospice has come in to help us keep Mom comfortable.

JUNE

The first weekend in June Hubby had his weekend off so we joined friends in Maryhill for some camping.

 We stayed at Peach Beach RV Park and loved it!

 Hubby and Jeremy were reunited...

We went for a private tasting at Maryhill Winery.  It is gorgeous there and the wine is good.
There were a lot of friends and fun at the winery.

The first  night Jeremy and Rene' made dinner for us and it was crazy good.  We hadn't seen them for months and had a lot of catching up to do over steaks and prawns.

The next night friends came to our site for dinner.  I had gotten a small bucket grill and Hubby used charcoal in it for the pork loin.  It was our first time using it and it works! 

 Hubby mixed some Bee's Knees for a cocktail.  He was busy with cocktails, the pork loin on the charcoal BBQ and asparagus and margarita prawns on the gas grill.

 

We had a good time in Maryhill.  I'll share more next time about our trip home.

I wanted to get the blog caught up and let friends and family know how my Mom is doing.

We got home, unpacked and I went to see Mom that night (Monday).  Mom always says she's fine and has a really beautiful attitude but we know she is experiencing pain and that she is ready to see Jesus.  On Tuesday morning I could tell things were worse for her.  I have two sisters and a brother and we all live close to Lynden.  It is a blessing to share this time with them and my Mom.

At this time we are requesting only visits from family. Please pray for peace and comfort for Mom.

I've missed y'all and I will try to write more regularly again.  Take care-