Grace and Love

I was going to write this story for Father's Day.  It's a memory of my Dad and me.

I am the oldest of four children.  My sister Kathi, my brother Ken and my little sis Jodi grew up together in a busy household.  It was rare that I had my Dad or my Mom to myself after the siblings were born.  I don't remember a time as an only child.  I guess I never really thought about time alone with my parents because we felt the love as a family unit. Now kids need one on one time and helicopter parents.

I am blessed with so many wonderful memories of our family.  Saturday yard work, camping trips, road trips, extended family gathering, Sunday morning church and Sunday dinner, holiday picnics, Christmas, pets, good food, hard work and New Year traditions. The list of our good memories is long and fun to think about, especially now that my parents are gone.

That said, there was that one time I was on my own with my Dad.  I don't have any photos of the day at Birch Bay but it's clear as can be in my mind.

One of my earliest memories, I'm guessing I was 3- 4 years old, was at Birch Bay.  My folks rented a cabin with friends.  A lot of friends in a little cabin.  Bill and Janice and their kids, Don and Sandy and their kids, Uncle Ed and Aunt Twyla and their kids.  Now when people mention that they have a cabin it usually means they have a 5 bedroom, 3 bath house in the woods or at the bay.  Back in the early 60's, a cabin meant a cabin!

It took two pick up trips to get all of the baby bassinets, high chairs, strollers, trikes and play pens to the bay.  Now baby gear folds down for travel.  No nanny taken along either, just Aunts Clarice, Nelda and Judy coming to stay in the evening so the parents could have a night out.

There wasn't paid vacation for the dads and honestly they probably wanted to go to work during the day because it was a little crazy.  Toddlers and babies, Gary was the only one older than me.  The moms made a big breakfast, sent the guys off to work with their packed lunches and then drank coffee and played pinochle.  In the afternoon we went to the beach. The Dads came home, drank beer and grilled dinner.  They had Saturday with us and then we packed up and went home.

One morning we ran out of milk so it was decided everyone would walk to the Birch Bay Market.  I rode my green (with red fenders) tricycle on the path.  This is the trike pictured below which eventually was ruined when the Fuller Brush man rode over it with his black Rambler. 

That's another story.

  

It was fun and exciting to have someplace to ride. We got to the store and the moms decided the kids could pick out a tootsie roll pop.  They were in a stand on the counter, where you could order fountain drinks.  I wanted cherry.  Either Gary, Terri, Kathi, Ricky, Mike or Linda  got the last cherry. I was given orange.

I was probably very tired. It was the end of the week and sleeping conditions with all toddlers and babies in one area wasn't conducive to sleep.  I was past the age of taking regular naps.  

What happened next was a total, full on, melt down,

It is a vivid memory of me pedaling and crying and screaming all of the way back to the cabin. I don't remember getting a spanking but I may have and I deserved one. We got back to the cabin and I was put in bed, my tootsie roll pop was set on waxed paper for later.

When I woke up my Dad was there.  In the afternoon! Everyone else was at the beach.  At that time you could leave your kids napping in the cabin while you went to the beach.  Don't judge my Mom, it was a different time.

It's so vivid what my Dad did next.  He asked why I was there.  I can remember feeling ashamed that I had behaved so badly and had to take a nap but I told him everything. He said, "let's go."  We got into the pink Mercury instead of going to the beach. He drove to the drive in at Birch Bay. Without asking me what I wanted, he ordered for us.  He ordered banana splits!  This was crazy. My Mom only ever let us get a kid's size vanilla cone. When we went to the drive in for dinner we could get a burger and a coke or a shake and fries.  The end.  There was no negotiating.

He popped down the glove box and set that banana split down for me.  We enjoyed our ice cream and then went to the beach.  My Mom was surprised to see us.  We had our Dad for an afternoon on the beach. Not only did I get the banana split but the heavy plastic boat it was served in.  Ooh, the other kids were jealous.  The boat was something new and cool to dig with in the sand.

The memory is so clear for me as a four year old.  I can remember what I was wearing, it was a navy sun suit with white smocking on the bodice and at the waist.  I can remember the windows down in the pink Mercury and my Dad's arm out the window. I remember pure joy on my Mom's face when she saw my Dad show up unexpectedly. The morning's incident was over, all was forgiven.

I am so grateful for the grace I was given that day. I had been a brat, I was disciplined and forgiven and loved.  My Dad and Mom parented with grace and love and some fun and treats.  They treated us like they treated each other, using the love of their heavenly Father as a guide. I sure miss my folks.

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.

Finding the Good

Last night Hubby and I had a million things to do at home after work. Our family has had some changes and stresses lately, good stuff, but big decisions.  We decided to leave our responsibilities and go to town to the home improvement stores and then to Kulshan for a sandwich and a beer.

Sometimes you just have to step away.

We weren't looking for the good but it found us.

At Kulshan, we asked two young women if we could join them at their table, they were at the table that we know to be the warmest spot outdoors. Hubby and I visited, made some decisions and enjoyed dinner. Then we started chatting with our table mates.  We had such a fun conversation with them. I think I recruited them to be Sisters on the Fly! It was so fun to get to know these women, to laugh with them and enjoy a beautiful spring evening.

On our drive home the sunset turned wild with color and light bouncing off the mountains.  As we approached the Wiser Lake roundabout I asked Hubby to turn and stop at the lake.  We enjoyed the sunset with an elderly couple that were fishing from the shore. Sometimes it was difficult to understand their English with a heavy Asian accent but we visited and laughed with them.  They weren't just fishing, they were catching.  Nooo, they don't eat them, but they have friends that will.  Apparently, it was hilarious that anyone would eat them.  But they enjoy catching and fishing and were happy to share cooking and preserving tips with us.

Sometimes it's easy to focus on all of the bad in this world. The media shares the news of horrible things happening.  Last night was a good reminder for me that there are a lot of good people and that there is middle ground over a beer at Kulshan or while sharing a glorious sunset.

I'm so glad we played hooky from responsibilities last night.

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.

And it's March

Last week was mid winter break. It felt like I'd just had a vacation with so many snow days in February but this was different.  I stayed home in February and it felt good.  This break I got out and that felt good too.

On Thursday Karen picked me up and we went to Burlington to do some shopping. I am a coupon queen, reward hoarder, Gap family shopper.  I needed a spring wardrobe boost for under $50. Success at Old Navy. We went to Target too.  Yes, we have a Target in Bellingham but the Burlington one is better.  We had lunch at the Train Wreck, always a good idea. The sun was out and it was a pretty drive.

On Friday Franny had an estate sale scheduled and I made plans to go with my sis, Jodi.  There was a lot of photography equipment as it was the estate of an US Army photographer and his wife.

I brought two cast iron pots home to Hubby.

 He worked on them on Saturday,  they are seasoned and ready for camping season.

The quilt made from an army blanket and lined with flannel is really interesting and is just the right size for a camp fire lap robe for me.

 Jodi and I met up with Chris, Kim and Shelly at the sale.  Chris asked us if we wanted to shop her studio... Uhmmm, YES!

I am going to paint the table for the sitting room, the table in there now is too low and has bugged me long enough.

 The mountain picture is from the estate sale, I have a similar one from my parents and I'd like to hang them together.  I'm hoping to collect more of that style.

 The old radio is getting a paint job. It's not going to work for the spot I intended but I'll find a spot. The top lifts up and I hope to find a cooler to fit inside.

 We usually go for coffee after shopping at an estate sale but that morning went so long that we ended up having lunch at The Mill. A long, laughter filled, delicious lunch with inspiring women.  

Yes, please!

Friday night Sam and Max stayed here. This mama is always happy when the guys come home.  We went out for breakfast on Saturday. Sam went home and Max stayed for the weekend.

That was a fun filled long weekend, just what I needed. Now it's back to eating at home, walking and working on the projects I purchased.

This text is from Max, and I thought y'all could use a laugh.

I am working on a second edition of the cookbook I wrote for the guys.  Apparently, I left out tater tot casserole and taco soup.  It has caused some angst.

Enjoy a wind free day, my friends!