40 Years!

It's hard to believe we have been together so many years but it was so nice to have such a relaxing place to celebrate. Our anniversary was glorious with fresh breezes, sunny...not humid like we recall our wedding day! BJ is seen here on the back porch of the B&B with his book. Walla Walla gets 300 days of sunshine...gotta have that for all those grapes, but they do not have the humidity that comes with their hot days.

We had a wonderful dinner out that evening. We had a rather poignant moment. I decided to wear my wedding ring on my right hand and wore a larger ring on my left ring finger. During dinner I commented to BJ that I wonder when I can get that wedding ring on my left hand again and so I took it off and tried once again on my left hand and lo and behold it slipped on. I got all emotional as it was the first time I could do that in 5 months. A special gift for that night.

Who Would Have Thunk?

Well, here we are in Walla Walla, Washington, a town of about 35,000 and quite a little jewel. Nestled in the foothills and surrounded by vineyards and endless wheat fields it has a special beauty. We hadn't expected to find this place so charming. This is a picture of the B&B we are staying at. The couple who own it renovated this 1893 Victorian mansion and it's quite something. Very little expense was spared and the suites are just exquisite with antique furnishings. It's a lovely place to spend our anniversary weekend. Today, we headed out to some of the vineyards to taste wine and, of course, bring a little home as well.

There is a lovely park across the street to stretch our legs.

This is a photo of our bed with the painted mural on the wall. The couple who own this B&B also has started their own vineyard as well and we'll be sampling some of their wine tomorrow.

Favorite Time Of Year

This is the time of year when we get the most wonderful moons that come up behind the mountains. Last night we had one of those nights, crystal clear, mountain out and that moon so glorious. I just had to go out and stare.

"Oh My"

Yesterday I made a quick trip off island to meet with the Dynasplint lady per request of my hand surgeon. I got fitted for two contraptions, only one shown here that "helps" extend my wrist. Her first words when she saw my lack of flexion were, "oh my" so I guess that means there is work to be done. The picture shows the splint that will help extend my wrist and I have another that will help flex it. For the next two weeks I will alternate days wearing them for 3-4 hours a day and then after I see her in two weeks, I will start sleeping with it on at night. The surgeon has ordered these for 3 months! The tension can be adjusted as improvement is seen. Who would have thought breaking a wrist could be so complicated!!? I'm really hoping this will help things improve as I was getting resigned to my current wrist's condition as my "new normal". Maybe I will be able to write again left handed someday.

Happy 7th Birthday, Hank

Are you serious??? You can't be serious! It's my birthday and all I get is this old biscuit?? My cousin Oskar got ice cream...I mean, I know I'm drooling and all but still I had hoped for some of that delicious creamy stuff. I know, I know...I have a sensitive digestive system and you were worried you might see my treat later on the floor, or worse the rug. OK, I'll take the biscuit, at least it's a whole one this time not the usual half I get after dinner. But you owe me a serious belly rub later.

The Henni Plant - Indoors

One final bouquet of an outdoor plant. The geraniums are still going strong but the days are getting shorter and we have made a concerted effort to sit out on the deck for lunch when it's sunny as it's long gone if we wait until dinner. Summer goes so fast...I know... they say otherwise but I'm convinced it goes faster the older one gets. And then BJ said today "only 4 months until Christmas"...I just ignored him.

A Week Of Sun

We just returned yesterday from a week on the boat. We picked a good one as we had sun every day. We just stayed in U.S. waters since we were out for just a short time and ended up the week with two days in one of our favorite places, Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island. Great anchoring, protected from channel boat wakes, sunsets and sunrises and a wonderful trail to hike on the island if desired. It's also great boat watching as we sit comfortably secured and watch other boats come in and find their perfect spot. BJ never gets tired of people coming by in their dingy asking what kind of boat we have and why they like it. I must admit, we are not in a "cookie cutter" vessel. Yes, this is my kind of boating...sunshine, calm and a good book.

Goodbye Morgan

I thought about my Dad today. He was an artist and painted many oil paintings and sold many as well. I wondered if it was ever hard for him to part with some of his work...if he ever had regrets or felt a little bit of loss or sadness after all the planning and hard work. After today, I decided that he probably did but isn't there more joy knowing there is someone out there who actually wants something that you have created? Today was our annual library fair in town and along with the 15,000 books for sale there was also a silent art auction and about 100 items were donated to benefit the library. I decided to donate "Morgan", one of my first graphite drawings. I really enjoyed drawing him, as black people have the most wonderful shadings to their faces. I got quite "attached" to him but thought maybe someone else would like to have him. There were actually five bidders for him. He didn't go for much money but I learned today that creating has nothing to do with money. Morgan, I hope you're hanging out with a good crowd.

Faugust

No..that's not a typo, it's just what we call August in the San Juans. It's fog that causes the "early" ferry to leave 25 minutes late and causes the return ferry to depart an hour and 10 minutes late. In the fog it creeps along so as not to collide with all the crazy pleasure boats out there who may not be using their radar. So my doctor appointment at 9:10 in Anacortes turned out to be a 9:35 appointment but that was only because I was positioned on the ferry in the lower middle section, middle row toward the front...the most coveted position for any car and only possible because I took the "tiny" Subaru. Sometimes they squeeze us little folks in the middle row between the big semis...it's a real high when they give you the go ahead to park there as you are first off the ferry. So got to my appointment and the surgeon is not terribly pleased with the degree of flexion in my wrist so wants me to be fitted with a brace that will force my hand to flex...apparently I can adjust the flexion myself so he says it's not a torture device...funny, I hadn't thought of that at all until he mentioned it. So that means I get to take another trip off island in the near future during the height of tourist season. But hey, we love those tourists...we even know some of them! :-)

Left Behind

We just finished a fun visit with my sister and husband. Our little guest house is a memory making building and we so enjoy it used by our family and friends. Only one thing, we are always left behind with the incredible presence of those who have left and it lingers for several days. 'Course this is nothing new and is experienced by families all over the world but visits that cover several days seem to leave more of a void and we are so glad we started a guest book with photos 10 years ago this August. Marlys and Bob were our first guests back then and so we thought it would be fun to stage this year's photo to mirror their August 2000 photo. I think it turned out quite well but you'll have to see for yourselves the next time you visit. I think they have aged quite gracefully!

The Henni Plant

A few years ago Henni gave us this plant as a gift and like so many other plants we have in the garden it has gone through the Orcas growth stages of sleep, creep and is now in the leap stage. It grows very tall and produces a lovely purple flower but will need to be trimmed back like so many others lest it get the impression the garden is for it alone! So Henni, since you won't get out here this year, I thought you would enjoy seeing the fruits of your purchase.

Frozen yogurt..Frozen Peas..Frozen Shoulder??

Well, it seems I have at least one of the above. After a visit on Friday to an orthopedist in Seattle for another opinion regarding my chronic shoulder pain, I was informed that I have a frozen shoulder. It's probably related to the trauma of my wrist injury and the lack of mobility that my left arm has had for so long. Not much to do for it but gentle stretching 3 times a day, some anti-inflammatories and stay away from the physical therapists. It can take a long time to heal so I'm just careful to avoid those movements that cause pain and wait it out. Seems like I have been doing a lot of waiting in 2010!

Reunion

Katri and kids arrived June 19th for another Orcas visit. We had not seen each other for way too long but it did not take long, though, for bonding to take place and how wonderful to have quality time to get reacquainted. Hank was the recipient of much attention and did his part to be a good dog with little people around. Here Ava is learning that his favorite thing is a belly rub.

Part of the island experience is helping Grandpa with tractor work and thus hearing protection was needed for Ava as well. Grandpa searched for just the right hearing protection on the internet for Ava and found the perfect pair to coordinate with her ensemble!

The first test run was a little tentative but soon she was an old pro just like the boys!

Another highlight was a trip to the compost where all kinds of living things can be found...especially worms and slugs. Ava was fascinated while Grandpa turned over the dirt looking for critters, all the while holding tightly to her cookie.

Hmmmm...maybe this cookie doesn't look too great now after all.

Who would have thought the hot tub would be such a fun retreat for the 5 and under crowd, but Eliah and Ava had a great time splashing and playing while Eliah fulfilled his role as big brother tormenter by turning off and on the bubbles which initially frightened Ava but she soon adapted to the "therapeutic" benefits of white water. Hmmm...looks like that hot tub siding could use a little super glue.

Speaks for itself!

As you can see, the weather was blissful, not hot by Minnesota standards, but delightful in all other ways. A trip to Mt. Constitution and a climb up the lookout tower was fun especially since Aaron joined us on the 24th and took over as main escort climbing the steps over and over. Yes, there is a reason people have children when they are young!!

For a 2 1/2 year old Ava was very willing to try new things. She even tried a piece of pickled herring but quickly decided it was not even close in preference to peanut butter. But she did learn to like Kaviar on her hardtack...amazing. We all had a good laugh when Eliah told her to finish her "hard-a-tack"..does he somehow know the high sodium and cholesterol content of that Kaviar!!? Anyway, she is on her way to becoming a true Swede.

We are grateful for the many memories, too many to recount here.