July & August in the NorthWest!

Just a few pictures from traveling about the area. Will took me to the Walla Walla River on a fishing trip he and Chris usually make. We went by the Grand Coolie Dam...another great reminder of the FDR term of office. He fished the river and caught "tons" of fish...all of course, catch and release. The native trout are beautiful. He also saw a rattle snake on the trail but despite his best efforts couldn't get a picture. Suki loved the hike and the water. She's such a wonderful addition to our family; we try to take her everywhere! There's also a town just north

of Wanachee called Levenworth. No, not a prison town but a bit of Belgium and Holland. It's much like Solvang but without the windmills. We loved it (very touristy!) and agreed to go back and stay a couple of days in the fall. Wanachee was wonderful too. But the pictures are on my cell phone and still unsure how to download them here.

We drove up to Moses Lake to visit with our friends Dennis and Nancy. They are drifting about the Northwest (from Colorado) until their daughter decides whether she's moving to Alaska or not. She's a teacher and you'all know how difficult it is to land a job in that field at this time of the economy. We all played 9 holes of golf while Suki and their labs played in their 5th wheel.

Suki, not use to being neglected by her owners, messed in their home which leads us to believe she still has much training to endure! Nancy was great about it but embarrassing for us.

This last week of July, Mary came to visit from SLO. It was fabulous to have her here and we tried our best to give her a fun vacation. She and I went to Walla Walla where we investigated some local history (same story everywhere...Native Americans used and abused by the Eastern

White folks coming West for treasures and land) and had fun shopping and browsing. The Macy's Store there is a old converted movie theater...great place! And little cafe's everywhere.

The University (School of Social Work) is there and it's a 7-Day Adventist School (thought you

would like that Roland!And it's $525 per unit!). On Thursday, Will got off early and we headed to Seattle bound for Whidbey Island. But of course, the ferry line was a 90 minute wait so we didn't arrive until 7 or so. Was wonderful to see the view from Tessa's Useless Bay home, check out the new house in front of hers, meet the neighbors' who are related to friends we have here in Richland, and frolic about in Langley. We did get the ferry the next day to Port Townsend where we walked, ate, shopped and hung out for the day. I had my cards and tea leaves read which cheered me and gave me much hope. Fabulous town and most assuredly we will be back.

Still reading summer books as book clubs are on break until August. Fun book: "The Art of Racing in the Rain", "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" and "The First Wife". Our community group discussed "Death" and poetry and next time is "Art."

We are both "ocean sick" meaning we miss the ocean. Will hasn't surfed since Folley Beach in SC so you can imagine how out of shape he is...paddling out was his everyday workout. He's spoken with Matt and Samantha more lately and loves hearing from them. We are talking about traveling somewhere so he can surf the warm waters...before he forgets how!!!

His cousin Terri arrives soon from Arizona. So we are off to the Columbia Gorge and beyond. Blessings and summer fun to you all.

June, 2011 Kannon's Birthday & Kristina's SF Visit

The end of May I made a very long drive to Pleasanton & Woodland to see grand kids and to celebrate Kannon's 9th birthday. It was over 13 hours and I was "dazed and confused" upon
arrival. Welcomed by Tom & Martie, I went to bed and arose to a fabulous breakfast and a visit to my 16 month old granddaughter's home. It was a wonderful week between the two residences

with time for the adults as well as the children. I even got to celebrate Tom Dote's 70th birthday at the Buckhorn in Winters before driving 1/2 of the long drive home.

Will and I had some time together before he left for New Jersey...for work. He had an audit he wasn't looking forward to but did get to see Phil and have dinner before he had to resume his work. I left, again for a very long drive, this time 10 hours. I met my friend Val Slankard from

the foothills of California and many fun times of my past, at Ashland, Oregon. We went to graduate school together for social work and the reunioning was a blast. We saw several plays.

The best was "August, Osage County" an intense story of yet another dysfunctional family from Oklahoma. Written by Tracy Letts' and given the Pulitzer Prize; the play is hailed by the New York Times as "probably the most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years."

It was both hilarious and sad. 3 acts and honestly we couldn't wait to get back to the next act to see what was going to happen. Not only did I enjoy my friend's company and conversation but I forgot how wonderful Ashland is. I've been going there since 1973 or '74 so the changes are evident but the town has such charm. I had forgotten how beautiful it is in Summer. Many of my visits were in late fall. I only wished I could have stayed longer...both in Ashland and with Val.

I have two new friends, Betsy and Bonnie, both clinical social workers. Imagine that! We celebrated a 40th birthday (that's over 20 years ago for me!) and promised to get together more often (works for me!) soon. On Friday, June 24th we drove to Portland for a promised "Woodstock" weekend at Will's former boss' home. He lives in a beautiful Valley on 6 acres of green Washington country with 6 llamas, 5 cats and a black lab. His house is a gorgeous red/golden log cabin with at least 3 bedrooms and several fireplaces. We went to a Portland restaurant, and an old Theatre for a concert and totally enjoyed the ambiance of Dennis' home. We got home on Sunday and I left Monday for San Francisco to visit my cousin Kristina and her family from N.C.

San Francisco is such a fabulous town....we had both sun and fog. Kristina and Mark rented a 4 bedroom home in the Richland district not far from Golden Gate Park. The first day, Kristina and I took all 3 kids (her two: Kaitlyn 4, Jake 6 and her stepson Zach, 12) to Mill Valley to Muir Woods. Lunch in Mill Valley and then hiked the Redwoods of Muir Woods. Serene, quiet and filled with tourists, it wasn't as quiet as I recalled. As everywhere in the summer "too many tourists" which of course we were! We did so many fun outings: Moscone Center for a Children's Play shop, Golden Gate Park for the Children's play grounds, the Oakland Coliseum
via BART for a baseball game with Florida, Fisherman's Wharf for lunch at Alioto's and on to Pier 39, and the Japanese Tea Gardens where Tom & Martie, Will, Justin, Maia & Marly all joined us. We also took the kids to Max's on Geary for dinner with Tom, Martie, Will and I. It was fun to meet Mark's sister, Michelle who lives in the City, and to have dinner with my friend Debby Jeter in the "cool" Mission area at a Peruvian restaurant which Will and I LOVED but if you asked us for a dish description, we can only say it was fabulous! And desserts to die for.

So the last month feels like a whirl wind...and we are again settling in to "home sweet home...away from home." Will leaves soon for another audit in Ohio where the weather is hotter than here. Mary Peracca and Will's cousin Terri are scheduled to come visit soon. So come on up, weather's better and lots of water with our three rivers: Columbia, Snake and Yakima!