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Heat wave

Published
by
wiz
on July 11, 2007
in family
. 4 Comments

Not an original title but an accurate one nonetheless.

Yesterday, it was 80* at 10:00 in the morning; at 5:00 it was still over 90*. Way too hot for me. I was wilting all afternoon. I drank so much ice water I got my exercise making potty stops!

The pool was utilized and pictures were even taken. However, Peggy brought the camera down to her room last night to take knitting pictures (you have to go to her site and see the masterpieces she creates!!) so the swimming pics are still on her camera.

It didn’t cool down for bedtime. There had been a slight breeze in the evening but that died down making the air so still and stifling. Even after taking a cold shower, I was still steaming as I crawled into bed. I had taken the flannel sheets off knowing they would be far too much for the night. The cool cotton sheets were nice for about five seconds. I got out of bed, wandered downstairs where it was cooler and seriously considered sleeping down there but decided not to. On the way back to my room, I stopped off in the kitchen and filled an ice bag with ice and water. In bed, as I sat reading, I had the bag smack on top of my head in an attempt to cool me down. It helped a little bit.

All the windows in the house were wide open. About 10:00 the breeze finally returned. Of course, that made for doors wiggling in the wind and making racket. As it cooled down, I had to hunt up the blankets that had been unceremoniously strewn off the foot of the bed. Not a lot of sleep last night.

It’s cool and foggy right now. Another hot day is forecast….

Time flies

Published
by
wiz
on July 10, 2007
in family
. 5 Comments

Thirty one years ago today, I stood amidst the trees of the University of Washington Arboretum wearing a handmade, hand embroidered (by me!) dress. Beside me stood Jerry in a matching shirt. We were wedded among family and friends.

Through the years, our anniversary celebrations have varied but we hit upon a “keeper” about 20 years ago: a traditional lobster picnic at the beach. We have procured the lively lobster in a number of ways. A local grocery store had a live tank but that only lasted once or twice. Then the local fish market was able to get lobsters for us with a bit of notice. That fell through and we resorted to Jerry having the distribution part of the company special order the bugs. We utilized that source for a few years then another local store opened with a live tank. Perfect!! That was our source and we could get the bugs when we wanted them.

Yesterday was the planned day for the picnic. I drove across town and the store no longer had a live tank with lobster. So we did our picnic with all the fixings except the lobster. Did we go hungry? Not even close!

We went to Ecola State Park and feasted in the sunshine. The fog bank was hanging just off the rocks and was great to see it swirling about. We then drove to Indian Beach, the north part of the park, and walked the beach. Having worked up an appetite (ha!) we went into Cannon Beach and treated ourselves to ice cream. It was still relatively early so we stopped at the Lewis and Clark Salt Works in Seaside then walked to the beach. Lots of folks on the beach! We talked of how people come here for vacation, and we live here!!

Barney and Heather gave us a wooden plaque a while back and it states: If you are lucky enough to live at the beach, then you are lucky enough.  So true.

After a ‘light’ supper at Dooger’s, we headed home. We arrived in time to give good night kisses and hugs to the Hobbitses. From what their mom said, they had a very ‘water’ day. Chances are they will again today. The temps are supposed to be in the 80s.

Fourth of July

Published
by
wiz
on July 5, 2007
in family
. 3 Comments

The day broke brightly; the sun streaming through dirty windows. “I really should wash them,” I thought. However, the coffee sipping sounded better.

Jerry was at work early for a few hours and Peggy and Gabriel were up relatively early. The three of us were in the front room visiting. Nikolai came up about 8:00 but does he want his usual ‘good morning’ hug and snuggle?? No! He is excited: There is a doe and fawn in the back yard. He awoke, looked out his window, and there they were. He was thrilled! So we sat and watched the fawn nurse then gambol on the lawn. Pretty darn cute. Jerry came home shortly thereafter but missed the show.

First major project of the day? The swimming pool needed emptying, cleaning, then refilling. As that chore went on, I made brownies. As the boys played in the clean, cold water of the pool, Gabriel had a meltdown so he was removed and brought indoors, much to his dismay, anger, chagrin? He was mad! He finally calmed down aided extensively by his dear mother.

A yummy lunch was had with brownies for dessert, a special treat. Jerry took his nap, then the boys went downstairs for their quiet time. It was still very sunny and warm. It got up into the 70’s; not seemingly warm for the world but for here, that’s a rare summer day. After an hour of napping, I woke Jerry and we headed to the beach for a walk. The tide was rather high so we had to contend with the drivers on the beach but a pleasant walk nonetheless.

Back to the house to lounge in the sun. But, oh! Sunscreen was applied too late! Jerry and I both burned in the course of the day. Hence to cool off, we climbed into the pool! Alas, no kids to play with. Nikolai did come out but Gabriel continued to sleep. Jerry finally complained enough that he should be out there with us that Peggy woke him. The two of them came out in swimming suits. The whole family had a splashing good time. No pictures, of course, as we were all wet.

Jerry BBQed burgers for dinner with a special requested Jello for dessert. Two desserts in one day?!? Very special indeed. No need to stay up for fireworks, we would hear them as we snuggled in our beds. The sun drained the adults’ energy, well, the old generation of adults, so sleep came quickly.

A fun, busy, family day.

old folks redux

Published
by
wiz
on July 1, 2007
in family
. 1 Comment

Jerry and I had a pleasant trip to the Big City. We were able to leave home a bit earlier than expected and took a different route that put us on the interstate quicker so we had time to stop for a nice lunch on the way north.

The day was warm and after a quick ‘hi’ to my folks, Jerry planned to head off to the zoo to pass the afternoon. I was planning to take Mom out for coffee and a good chat. Didn’t happen that way. Daddy wanted to go shopping. Jerry did go to the zoo while I took the folks shopping for a new, different style of walker for Daddy. He found one that would serve but did not want to make the purchase as he does not need it yet. Mom looked at me pointedly and so I voiced the fact that he would be needing it and I was here with the van to easily transport it back to the Home. He relented without much arguing.

Then it was off to Office Max. I followed their directions and ended up going east on 45th instead of west. After some time they said if I’ve passed over the freeway, I’ve gone too far. Well, we were going away from the freeway and they realized I had been given wrong directions. You must understand, I have not lived in Seattle for over 30 years. Anyway, we found the store but I knew Daddy would not find what he was looking for…and he didn’t. I started to suggest another store and Mom again looked pointedly at me and shook her head. So I followed her lead and clammed up.

Back to the Home to go over paper work. It turns out some papers that they thought I had have never been filled out and/or filed anywhere. So they’ll contact a lawyer (grandson Matt) and get that going. In the meantime, I can do nothing as the paperwork is sequential.

We went out for Chinese food for dinner. It was barely 5:00 so we beat the rush which was good as we had a ferry to catch. After dropping the folks off at the Home, we headed through town to the terminal. The day was gorgeous and warm. The hour ferry ride was delightful. However, it did take a wee bit longer than the hour. As we approached the shipping channel in the Sound, a container ship was steaming north from Tacoma. They obviously have the right of way over a ferry so we had to slow down to allow them room to pass. That was kind of fun.

We moteled in Bremerton then hit the back roads home. We came upon a driving range and as we had our golf clubs, we stopped and each hit a bucket of balls. Then down the road again, stopping for lunch in a little town and ice cream in the next little town.

All in all, a pleasant two days.

old folks

Published
by
wiz
on June 29, 2007
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

A trip to the Big City is in the offing tomorrow.  My folks are doing well considering their age.  However, the inevitable will happen, and we need to be prepared.  Some of the “final” paperwork is taken care of but there is more that we haven’t been able to complete long distance, hence the trip.

Our hope is that all will be completed tomorrow then when we make a trip, it will be purely for visiting, no business involved.

Jerry and I will be taking the long way home as is our wont.  Ferry ride to Bremerton then the back roads south.  Maybe even stop and play some golf along the way.

More bulletins as they are warranted.

Stage fright

Published
by
wiz
on June 22, 2007
in family
. 5 Comments

We attended Nikolai’s first dance recital last evening. The dress rehearsal the evening before was a smashing success, as Peggy tells us, so we were looking forward to it.

Alas, things did not go as smoothly for the performance. As we waited for the music to start, we could hear crying back stage. Yep, it was Nikolai. But the group of four, two boys and two girls, did make it out on stage. Madison, Nikolai’s partner tried to do the dance but she got no help. The other little girl was in a similar state as Nikolai; the other boy just stood there. They were motioned off stage. I had hopes of them regrouping and trying again in a little bit but that did not happen.

Fortunately Peggy got a couple pictures from rehearsal. Nikolai was looking dapper indeed!

Aye, me hearties

Published
by
wiz
on June 19, 2007
in stuff
. 3 Comments

I was aboard the Lady Washington today. As many of you know, she was in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie under the assumed name of Interceptor.

I walked the deck where CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow and young Will Turner had their first ‘heart to heart’ talk concerning Will’s father. I touched the mast rigging that Will was swinging from as the conversation ensued. Alas, there was no ship’s wheel, merely a rudder. The wheel had been added for the movie.

Below deck was a movie souvenir from the crew. Not the movie crew, as I had first been told. It is a piece of the Interceptor signed by the ship crew who worked the ship; no autographs by the CAPTAIN or Will.

Beautiful day on the Great River. (mixing movie lines…) I snapped some pics. Enjoy!

Lightfoot rides on

Published
by
wiz
on June 8, 2007
in just me and school
. 3 Comments

I was home early from school today, and the sun was shining. I decided to take Lightfoot out for his first ride of the year. We went a mere ten miles to view the Great River but it was very pleasant. I have hopes of riding more this summer.

And speaking of summer–the school term is almost over. Two finals next Thursday and that’s it! Whew! It’s been a long haul.

The high school awards and scholarship presentations were last evening. Someone donate a sum of money in honor of Jerry for a scholarship for a soccer player. Thus, the Jerry Boisvert Honorary Scholarship has been born! I expect it to have a long life.

Ever on…

To the sea.

Published
by
wiz
on May 27, 2007
in just me
. 2 Comments

Jerry and I went for a walk this evening. We ventured west with hopes of arriving at the beach. Success! The access road had been flooded all winter and spring. These last few weeks of minimal rain has allowed some of the water to recede. We had to carefully skirt around two large puddles but we did make it to the dunes overlooking the Sea.

I can now plan some walks on the beach; something which I have missed.

Ever on…

Fore!!

Published
by
wiz
on May 27, 2007
in family
. 2 Comments

Nikolai made his golfing debut today. He and Pepere went to the driving range. When Pepere first mentioned going to Nikolai, oh, the excitment!!! To go and really play golf!!! It was cute; both had their bags of clubs to load up into the van.

This is the first of many times doing golf “stuff” with Nikolai. He watches so much golf with Pepere that he has the understanding of the game. Now to put it into action.

A future event is to go to Highlands Golf course, have Nikolai pick out a kid’s putter (which Pepere will buy), and practice on the putting green. This will be quite different from putting on the grass in the front yard. What a treat that will be!!