Running Between the Raindrops

Our day started with sunshine as I took the dogs for their morning walk.  Then it was off and on rain, but never as hard as yesterday.

The scenery as we drove thru Oregon down I-5 is gorgeous as long as you like trees.

It was pretty funny that as soon as we hit the California border, the rain stopped.  The sun seemed like an intrusion on a peaceful, easy-on-the-eyes day.

Then we arrived in Yreka and let the dogs out for their walk.  Within minutes the rain had begun again and with it came wind.  Brrrrr.  I finally got some use out of the scarf I brought along.

Our neighborhood had some problems last weekend--two cars were stolen, one from inside the garage, and one other suffered a break-in where everything in it was stolen.  We're anxious to get home and make sure everything at our house is intact.

Heading Out

We left Mom's about 11 a.m. today.  We'll be back in 6 weeks for her 99th birthday party.  I think she needed a rest after all the activity while we were there.  It was a lot of fun, but I am totally pooped out after all the meal prep and clean up.

As we headed south, we saw this interesting bridge near Nisqually Flats.  Gary figures they have tented it to paint inside the plastic.  Intriguing looking bridge.

We drove in and out of some beautiful rainstorms and a couple of very scary ones where we could barely see the road.  Not as bad as Colorado is experiencing, but still didn't feel great to be driving in it.

We are now at Hee Hee Ilahee again--Gary loves this place. It is clean and easy to park and the hot tub feels great after a long driving day.  As we got here the sun was shining on this park, but there were dark clouds all around us.  Just as I finished walking the dogs, the sky began to darken.  We'll see what tonight brings.

I met a man walking his dogs and saw my first white Scottie!  She was so cute, but really didn't want to pose for this photo.  They did what we did when Tule first became an only dog and was miserable. They got this Scottie her own pet, a rescue Westie.  We got Elsie for Tule.  It worked--all these dogs are happier for having a housemate so they are never alone.

Tomorrow--Medford or maybe Yreka if Gary isn't too tired from driving.

Thunder, Lightning and Rain!

My idea of the perfect evening.  It was a gorgeous day--overcast, then sunny,  then the storms.  I really enjoyed it.

The day was fun.  Mom wanted one more look at the estate sale we found yesterday.  Nothing left by the time we got there, but on our way home we found this delightful little treasure on a corner in Edmonds.

Then the Peterson family came for a fun gathering.  We always have such fun catching up on each others' lives.  This time my sister and brother-in-law came, too. My sister is in black and white in this photo.  

It was a great day, but I'm still pooped from yesterday, let alone the dinner prep tonight.  I believe I'll hit the sack.  We begin our trip home tomorrow.

Two Days in One

For some weird reason, Mom's wifi didn't work last night, so no post. I'll try to get both in now.

Yesterday we took the Kingston Ferry from Edmonds (love that short ride) and drove to Bainbridge Island. Found Churchmouse Yarns and Teas and both Mom and I did some shopping.   It was a nice, cool, overcast day.

 Then Gary suggested we go to Poulsbo for lunch.  He had an ulterior motive--wanted to eat at the same place we did last time and have more of their clam chowder.  After our lunch/dinner (it was about 3 p.m.), he took the dogs for a walk while Mom and I wandered up to the Scandinavian shop.  I bought a variety of things and Mom got a new lefse griddle.  At almost 99 she thinks she needs a new lefse griddle!  Sounds good to me!  I'm usually the one that makes the lefse at her house.  ; )  The town has amazing murals on the sides of the buildings--very cute Scandinavian community.

Today I made bread for Mom and cookies for my nephew, then took Mom to Costco.  We had Mom's two remaining close friends over for salmon dinner, Buck and Johnnie.  Gary did a masterful job of cooking the salmon and I made the rest of the dinner.  On our way home from Costco, Mom spotted an estate sale and we both did a bit of shopping.  I'm so glad we are in the RV so I can take home our new round oak coffee table.

As I sit here in the RV typing this, a train is passing Edmonds. One of my favorite memories is the Doppler effect as the trains go thru town.  It is a melancholy yet peaceful sound that makes me think I'm at home.  I must have heard that sound at bedtime growing up because now I am ready for bed.

Two Fun Days

We got to Mom's on 9/11 and had a great time visiting with my cousin, Denny and his wife, Sandy from ND.  My sister and brother-in-law came over to collect the fish we brought for them and we had too much fun trying to take this photo. Sandy finally gave up trying to get the perfect photo, so you get a bit of a blur, but it shows how much fun we three cousins had.

Sandy and Denny and Tuffie left this morning in their new car.

Mom and I ran errands and ended up eating lunch at Dick's.  I had heard about how great they are and finally got to taste one of their burgers.  In and Out still has them beat.  : )

Tonight we celebrated 60 years of marriage of Bill and Joanne, long-time friends of the Clouston family.  We ate at Anthony's in Edmonds and watched the ferries going back and forth and a beautiful sunset.

They live in Hawaii and Joanne still dances in the shows for tourists (and she's in her 80's).

Amazing, isn't she? And she is hilarious, too.  We had a great couple of days.

Peterson's Haulers, Day Two

It was 100 degrees when we got to Medford last night.  Phew!  It was nice this morning, but heading for another hot day.  It is 90 degrees in Salem as I write this.  I was hoping we were getting away from the heat.  Maybe it will be cooler
in  Edmonds at Mom's?

So far the only difficulty has been at lunchtime yesterday when the generator decided to quit working--made for a pretty warm lunch inside the RV.  But it decided to start working again when we stopped for the night and today is working just fine.  And the broken freezer door latch didn't like bumpy roads, so I kept having to get up and reload the fish in the freezer that we are taking to Mom.  I should have taken a photo, but didn't think of it. Duh.  I did make a list with freezer door latch repair at the top.

It was fun to see a hay truck as we drove along today--brings back memories of those big trucks delivering a load of hay to our little barn as I was growing up.

Outside of Eugene Gary noticed there was no traffic heading south.  Then we saw why--a terrible accident had happened and was still being cleared.  As we headed north, the line of stopped traffic was over 6 miles long. People were standing outside their cars and trucks,walking dogs, chatting.  I'm sure the line got even longer because the cars were still blocking the road as we drove past.  We were thankful our side of the freeway was still moving and said a prayer for those in the accident.  It looked pretty bad.

Now Gary is enjoying the hot tub at this beautiful RV park--Hee Hee Ilahee--I love the name!  The dogs and I are heading out for our second walk since we got here.  They know this RV park and definitely enjoy walking the perimeter and smelling all the good sniffability.

Peterson's Furniture Movers

Heading to Seattle to spend a bit of time with my Mom.  This trip we are hauling a lamp and coffee table for my nephew from his Placerville uncle.  On the way back we will have an old stool of Mom's that my sister is giving me.  Nice!  It feels so good to be back in the RV again after our long summer of not being allowed to use it--doctor's orders.  I'm feeling great now--having a ball trying more new foods each week.

We left home Monday morning after I counted the offering at church.  Along the way we saw remnants of lots of grass fires.  Outside of  Redding there was a huge fire--the Clover Fire, according to Gary's research.

Lake Shasta has the lowest water level we have ever seen.  So sad to see so little water in the lake.

Mt. Shasta was almost completely without snow.  That is another sight we've never seen.  I am afraid it really is going to be a very dry year.  Maybe this winter we'll get lucky and have some nice rainstorms and lots of snow.

Our old girl, Tule (13 1/2 now) is in amazing shape for her age, but is getting weaker.  I am still not allowed to lift her weight, so we got creative and fashioned a sling to go under her hind legs.  This way it is pretty easy for us to get her in and out of the RV--with Gary doing most of the lifting.  She is so good about accepting this help.  Going for walks works just fine, it is just the steps that are a problem.   And--Elsie is being very good about staying out of the way while we are getting Tule either in or out.  We have such good dogs!