Halloween Fun

I had fun this year carving a pumpkin. I found one of the design sheets in an old Halloween box from when the kids lived here and set about marking it on my pumpkin. It took about 1.5 hours but I think it turned out great! And the best part is that I carved it on a "reusable" pumpkin that I bought at Michael's so next year we have it too!
You wouldn't recognize Larry but he is under all this! We went to a fabulous Halloween Party with our Prune Hill Friends

Invaded by BIG bugs

First the Grand-daddy long legs is making out under the eve with his lady friend.
Then we have the BIG spider in the bedroom!
And then the spider in the kitchen. I think we need to spray or something.

Jack and the Beanstalk...almost

Once upon a time, there was a wisteria plant that wasn't very happy just living on the deck. It aspired to much greater things. It wondered what it would be like to see across the river and down to Portland. But, alas, how could this be. Then one day, the Wisteria plant realized it could reach up and over the roof and to its delight, found a tall, tall antennae. This looked like the answer to the dream. So... up, up, up it grew to the very top of the antennae. But, the big mean ogres Linda and Larry didn't want it there since it now had grown into the wind meter, the rain meter and was inviting all its friends to climb up with it. So, the vine was hewn down, banished to grace only the deck. Linda and Larry lived happily ever after.

Camping at Potlatch

We camped for the past 3 days at Potlatch State Park on the bottom end of the Hood Canal. It was fabulous! We arrived Friday night about 8 pm, just as the sun was setting, and it had been raining off and on since Centralia, WA. We were hoping and praying that we would be able to have a break in the rain to put up the tent! And we got just that. For about 40 minutes, it didn't rain at all. We got the 10x10 foot canopy up, then put up the big tent under it, unloaded the sleeping bags, cot and inflatable mattress and we were ready! Good thing!! Then it got back to business and rained steadily all night long. It was wonderful to lay in the tent listening to the pitter patter, and sometime the solid pounding of the rain, knowing we were safe and snug!

Saturday morning, we took our time getting up, read a book in bed as it drizzled outside. We hoped the weatherman was going to be correct that it was going to clear up by noon and improve over the weekend! and it did! We had 3 great days, got home this evening! Only takes a little over 2 hours to drive there, it is about 30 minutes west of Olympia, WA. Well, I decided that I was going to try my hand at dutch oven cooking and it was a BIG success. On Sat night, I made a big pot of apple cobbler, the neighboring campers were very impressed and thankful to share, then last night I made a delicious potato, onion, carrot and little smokies stew in gravy. Yum!!

We liked the location of the campground right on the Hood Canal but the campsite itself left something to desire and was TOOOO close to the neighbors. Good news for us is that they didn't come until Sat about 5 pm and left Sunday about 10 am!

Lorilynn, Sam and Addie came to "camp" on Sat around lunch and stayed the day. We drove up to Lake Cushman, kayaked and picnicked. We watched Addie for an hour so Sam and Lori could try out our kayaks! Addie is a fish, she just walks right out in the water up to her chest and then wants to kick and "swim".

I have wanted to try flying my kite from my kayak for several years now, but the wind hasn't cooperated, or I couldn't get it up. So, Dad helped me out by taking it out about 25 feet and helping me launch it since it has such a long tail. It is just a small lightweight gusseted kite, perfect for the kayak and it worked! I had such fun having it drag me around, and then paddling back out to the middle of the lake and having it pull me back towards the shore. As I said, it was a fabulous weekend! Dad and I ended it today by stopping in Union, on the Hood Canal and kayaking for about 2 hours around the area to Alderbrook resort and back. Saw about 8 sea lions in the water, popping up to check us out. Wow, guess I am ready to go back to work tomorrow. Oh, no, not really, I want to be back camping and kayaking and relaxing!!

Dad turns 65!

Wow, how time flies! We have been married nearly 30 years and Dad turned 65 today! We are moving towards OLD and we are not sure we like that! Oh, well, OLD is certainly at least 80.

Proof I am not too old!

somedays, I still feel every bit of 59, but it is a nice thought that I am not too out of shape. Or at least I have this game buffalo'd!

Refinishing the Eagle Project sign

About 1992 Kevin received his Eagle Scout award. Part of it involved creating and mounting this sign on the cover for the park behind our church. Every summer for years, Dad and I have tried to remember to put another coat of clear sealant on it so it will last through the rains here in the NW. It was made of laminated plywood and over the years the weather has started delaminating some of the letter areas.
When we moved from our home for 2 years, no one kept the sign up, so we decided to go up to the park yesterday and do some upkeep on it. I had to scrap off the very dried outside layer of weathered plywood exterior, but it cleaned up nicely. The P and A letter sections fell off. But with a new coat of clear sealant, it should be good for a couple of years! Lots of memories in this park. When we were done, Dad and I flew his new kite!

Banff, kayaking and Lake Louise

Just got home from a fantastic day! We spent the AM in Banff, walked a bit in town and toured all the shops and then drove up to beautiful Lake Morane and Lake Louise which are 2 of the most beautiful alpine turquoise lakes you will ever see. We thought we could go kayaking on them, but you can't unless you use their canoes and pay $40 an hour which we weren't about to do since we brought our own kayaks, so we walked around and took gobs of pictures.

Then we went looking for a lake that we could go kayaking on and about 30 miles up the road we found Emerald Lake, it was a deep turquoise and we paddled around for about 2 hours. It was fabulous and we had fun until about dusk, saw a deer too! At the end of the lake was the most incredible MILES long waterfall down the side of the very hi mountain that was loaded with a snowy glacier at the top. They are amazing to look at. While at Lake Louise we sat still and listened and you could hear the ice cracking over the mountain as little pieces of them fell!

At Emerald Lake we found this very unusual duck, well Momma Duck with her 11, yes count them!, ducklings all in tow! So Cute!

And on the way home the big Banff Elk herd was grazing by the side of the highway so we saw them!

So tomorrow, we are planning on biking around Banff a bit by the river and then floating down the Bow River in our kayaks from Banff to Canmore, about 3 hours they say with a nice steady and sometimes swift current but no rapids. We put in just beyond the falls thank goodness. There was a gorgeous rainbow there today! More pictures when we get home and can download them!

Wii Fit

Not bad for a 59 year old! wish my knees felt as young. Granted, this is the best score I have gotten, it is usually in the 45 range!

Dad and my New Sewing Table

For my birthday Dad told me he would make me a nice big topped sewing table.It will be 7' x 7 ' when done with the front 3 feet in a drop down leaf. It will go in Jenni's old room with all my sewing stuff and I can't wait!

Roses

I love my roses! They smell so good and look so pretty and even though they prick me and need weekly attention to keep them blooming and looking their best, I love them!

They started blooming this year the first week of June. I have 30 now, I lost 2 this past winter.

My friends at work gave me this one years ago.

Renaissance of a House

1980

2000

2005

2006

Fall 2008

2009

Seaside Oregon

Last weekend Dad and I drove my Miata to Seaside, OR and spent a wonderful afternoon and early evening with Becky's family and Lorilynn's family. I can't get these pictures to go in the correct order so just enjoy!

The joys of youth - to not feel how very cold the water is!

It was about 65, sunny and no wind so it was great at the coast!

I wanted to go on the Bumper cars too, but they got the last ride of the night and had so much fun!

Sand, wonderful, warm sand.

Mother's Day gift

For Mother's Day this year, Dad cut up the hot tub and then we purchased a new rectangular, offside umbrella for the deck. Once we get the deck sanded and repainted it should be really nice!