I am Thankful for these people

From santa cruz 11

I've been hoggin' this baby everytime I see her.  Her Mama finally got to hold her for a few minutes for a photo op. 
I didn't realize until after I downloaded the picture, that Shasta was still VERY interested in Alexis!
Since we'll be on the road again, I'm hoping that this little girl will feel the connection we made early on.  We're buying all the kids webcams for Christmas so we can Skype.  I won't be happy pushing my face all over the camera, but I want her to know who I am when I see her next!
Oh!  I realize that I'm the only one in a sweatshirt in the picture.  Remember that I've lived in AZ for seven years.  Blood has thinned! Central CA is cold to me now! 
Heading southeast tomorrow to visit with Hubby's daughter and kids for a few days.  One more stop after that, then on to San Diego for a reunion with my daughter and little baby boy, Brycie!

Finding my joy

October 31, 2011
Alexis Marie

Little sleepyhead. She's wonderful.











November 2, 2011
Bryce Ashley

How blessed am I? VERY!

Over the last year I've struggled.  I kept wondering where my words were.  Where was my creativity, my joy?  I kept coming up empty.  I got nothin', man.  I didn't feel like I had anything to say, let alone anything of any interest.

I came to the realization that I was in a depression, and it had very much to do with my Mom's passing, although I didn't put it together until recently.  A complicated relationship, but we were always best friends. I loved her hugely, and I miss her so much.

The birth of these two bundles of miracles is such a blessing.  I feel hope today.  I find myself smiling at the mere thought of them.  The pride I feel for these children of mine to give themselves over completely to these babies is immense. 

I spent the day today with one of my best friends, had lunch and went antiquing and poking around a boutique.  We started whispering about the crafty things we saw and how we would remake them in "our style."  We always do that.  We're cut from the same cloth.  It's like we can see the wheels go in each others heads.  We have such big plans, but it's like since I'm a gypsy now, we don't follow through with our ideas. 

She lost her Mom a couple of years ago, too.  I recognize her lack of initiative.  She is my mirror, and I am hers. We haven't talked about that, but it's true, for sure.

But, with the birth of these babies, I'm dusting myself off, shaking some life into this skin, and will try to fill myself with sunshine, laughter, and love of life.  That is what I want to pass on to these little beings.

October 26th

October 26th.  My mother's birthday.  My brother's birthday.  My son's birthday.  Yes three generations.  Why would I not think that one of the two grandbabies due right now would not be born on this day? 
6:45 this morning I got a text from my daughter.  She's been having contractions since 10 pm last night.  After a very long, drawn out day of checking flights & doctor appointments, it probably will not happen today.  Ha!
I imagine my mother, elbowing Him; having a wonderful chuckle with God.  "We really got 'em, didn't we?"  L.O.L.  Makes me smile.  Really Big!
Love you Mom.  Happy Birthday!

The first senior moment:

And that's what happened to the dinosaurs...

Ballooning 101

How it begins...
There are big fans blowing air into the balloons and people holding the opening.
There are sections that are open, to make adjustments if necessary.
What started out as a huge space, became very close quarters!
Here's how they get them the rest of the way up.
A hot air balloon consists of a bag called the envelope that is capable of containing heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carries passengers and (usually) a source of heat, in most cases an open flame. The heated air inside the envelope makes it buoyant since it has a lower density than the relatively cold air outside the envelope. As with all aircraft, hot air balloons cannot fly beyond the atmosphere. Unlike gas balloons, the envelope does not have to be sealed at the bottom since the air near the bottom of the envelope is at the same pressure as the surrounding air. In today's sport balloons the envelope is generally made from nylon fabric and the mouth of the balloon (closest to the burner flame) is made from fire resistant material such as Nomex. Beginning in the mid-1970s, balloon envelopes have been made in all kinds of shapes, such as hot dogs, rocket ships, and the shapes of commercial products, though the traditional shape remains popular for most non-commercial, and many commercial, applications.
This fellow seemed to have trouble getting off the ground.
I was worried for him, but I later learned that he was purposely skidding along the ground to get in the correct wind lane that would take him easily to the big X where he eventually wants to land.

My Favorite Place So Far

Definitely, Birch Bay, WA. 
Granted, the weather has been perfect; 80*, sunny, and I'm sure if this was the middle of winter, my opinion would be quite different.
One of the special things about this bay is the tides. The tide comes in and goes out twice every day.
Low tide goes out about a half mile, leaving tidepools amongst the grassy sand. The tidepools hold tiny fishes and some kind of larger creature that streaks across the pool & buries itself in the mud. I also found this guy that got left behind.
The other things that get left behind by low tide are these:
I've also been enchanted by all of the Canada geese. While Hubby & Shasta went for their power walk, I mosied out to the edge of the water and just listened to them squawk among themselves while they ate. It filled me up! The seagulls would dig up shellfish then fly in to the rocky area of the shorline, drop the shells to break them, then sweep in to eat! Clever, eh?
Clamming, digging for muscles and oysters is allowed on this bay as long as you have a license. The oysters, however, must be shucked on the beach, leaving the shells there since the babies are attached to the shell.
The Thousand Trails park in Birch Bay is well run, and the spaces are wide. When we arrived, the place was packed, mostly by RVs from British Columbia. As the days rolled by, and people moved on ahead of the weather, we felt like we almost had the place tou ourselves.
I've been excited about the idea of being so far north (again, weather has played a huge part),so close to Canada. Maybe next year we can make it in to Canada, just won't be on the west coast.

Where have I been?

Oh my gosh, what a busy few weeks!  We had moved to Seattle for 10 days, visited with some of Hubby's old radio buddies.  One is now a financial planner, and the other is an airline pilot.  It was so fun to meet these people that still love Hubby to this day.  All of the DJ's that I've met over the years have all told me how much he helped them, and have such fond memories of those wild and crazy days they spent together in radio.
These three happened to work together at KPOI in Hawaii.
Another friend graciously hauled us around to Pike's Market, the famous market where the guys behind the fish counter throw fish, and various other sights.
We've been talking about coming here for years.
Really, Hubby and I could have spent allll day in this place. Our friend, not so much.
Then a little walking tour down Pike St.
Supposedly, the very first Starbucks. This place was packed!
The shipyards behind Pike St.
Then for me, it was off to San Diego for four days for my daughter's baby shower! Hubby stayed in Seattle with Shasta.
Isn't she a gorgeous mamma-to-be?  She was only drinking the lemonade :)
I had a wonderful time down there with her and all of her generous and loving friends.
Once back in Seattle, the next day we moved the motorhome to Birch Bay, WA. It's about as close as you can get to Canada without going across the border. (which we will NOT be doing, since we don't have passports. A little oversight.)
The entrance in to Canada
Canada Geese gathering here to meet up before their journey south.
We've also been working hard on Hubby's book, reading through a final time to correct any spelling errors & punctuation before it goes off to the editor and publisher! WooHoo! Finished it today. It's sent off, and we went down to a little cafe across the street from the bay for a celebratory glass of wine. We toasted the book, as well as our blessings. It's been a warm, sparkling kind of day.

Friday My Town Shootout

High & Low is this week's theme.  We're in the Seattle, WA area this week.  Just so happens that we went to the Locks in Ballard, WA today!
Completed in 1917, the locks link the Puget Sound with Lake Union and Lake Washington.  Boats as large as 760 feet in length and as small as a kayak can travel through the locks.
I think there is a difference of maybe 18 feet between Union Lake & Peugot Sound. Look how close those boats are, waiting for the water level to go down!
Speaking of high & low:

The locks are also a critical link for salmon and steelhead heading upstream to spawn. A fish ladder with 21 steps or “weirs” allows spawning fish to climb to the freshwater side. Coho salmon going up the ladder!
For more FMTS photos, check out this site!  Have a great weekend!

Friday My Town Shootout

This week's theme is to match a favorite quote to a photo from your town.

I have a notebook full of quotes that I love. I could go CRAZY trying to find photos that match any given quote!  Certainly why I chose this quote...

Considering where I am (in a Thousand Trails park in Chehalis, WA), what I see around me this week brought this quote to mind...
I am capable of "thinking" things in to a whirlwind, so this is what I try to remind myself of.

Have a wonderfully, simple weekend! And be sure to check out more FMTSO here!

Morning Visitor

They come for this:
I have no idea what kind of berry this is, but the birds LOVE them too!
I saw a little family of deer (this being the baby) the other day.  When I snapped the photo, he flinched.  I felt badly that I had scared him!