The Beginning of the Adventure at Mom's

We began our adventure at Mom's with her washing machine
breaking with the first load we washed.  It is almost 18 years old, so we convinced her she really needed a new one.  Then we started discovering the problems with buying a new washer and dryer now that they make them all bigger. Her utility room was designed around her existing washer and dryer.  There is no way the new ones will fit in the same space.  We finally stopped at Sear's Outlet and lo and behold! There was one set small enough to fit in her space.  It wasn't what she wanted, but nothing she wanted would fit in the space. She would have had to remake the doorway, cut down the door to size, etc.  Major expense. When you are 98 years old you don't want to spend a lot of money to get new appliances.  I am happy to announce that the job is done--the new set will be delivered Wednesday.

Mom's yard is beautiful--everything is blooming. Her tulips are gorgeous!

The Peterson branch of the family all live in the Seattle area now, so several of them are coming out tomorrow.  It is kind of like going to the farm for the city kids.  I have to say the goats are a hoot.  We had some salt fish  left from Christmas, so today Gary made pickled fish.  Petersons love pickled fish (salmon, not herring), so they will be thrilled to see a jar each to take home.

Tule is having a hard time on Mom's hardwood floors--just too slippery.  She gets her feet all tangled up, but manages to extricate herself each time.  We have been trying to keep her from going down the stairs to the back yard and barn, thinking it is too much exertion for her.  Today she got disgusted with our efforts and just blazed a trail down the bank full of bushes and flowers--it is a very steep bank.  Gary says she is just like my Mom--stubborn and nobody is going to tell her she can't do something when she thinks she can.  hahaha!  He is right!

We took the dogs for a walk around Dogwood Lane this afternoon (beautiful) and our wonderful dog that usually heels perfectly decided she should drag me all the way. Where does Tule get her strength at age 13?  At home she moves fairly slowly. Maybe the drizzle and cooler weather is more her style--not too cold, just right.  (Hmmmm, sounds like me.)  Both dogs had a ball sniffing all the wonderful new smells.

Heading to Grandma's House

We started the morning with a mini-family reunion.  Our niece Kristina and her two children were in Astoria to tour Fort Clatsop and other area sights (Anders had studied Lewis and Clark in school this year) and we all met for breakfast at the Pig N Pan--our favorite Astoria restaurant.  We felt so bad for them that it was raining, but decided that meant for an experience to match what Lewis and Clark had when they wintered over outside Astoria.

After breakfast we headed toward Seattle with stops at our favorite spots--Home Bakery (so many Scandinavian treats to choose from) and The Berry Patch where we bought Mom's traditional marionberry pie.  Yummmmm.


Traffic was the pits from Olympia on.  Lots of stop and go--but I have to admit it was better to be going the direction we were most of the time.  This photo shows traffic going the opposite way--except it wasn't "going",  it was standing still.









At the exit to Edmonds, Elsie started to realize where we were headed. By the time we got to Westgate she had awakened Tule and they both were on the alert, getting more excited every block we passed.  It is so cute to see how much they enjoy coming here.  We went down to meet the 5 new goats who moved in since we were last here--a mom and 4 babies who are more like teenagers.  They just stared at us and the horse came over to say "hi".  I wish I had taken the camera.  Maybe tomorrow if there is no rain.

Yarn on the Hoof!

As we drove away from Medford this morning, Gary couldn't resist this pose--no wind today.  It made for much easier driving and I certainly was a more relaxed passenger.  Weather was great, until . . . but I'll save that for later.








Gary says to tell you that all the lumber mills along I-5 are producing lumber again which tells him the building industry is coming back.  The logging trucks were busy hauling lumber-to-be.







This area is home to lots of sheep.  I couldn't help but think of the yummy yarn that will be coming our way from these gorgeous creatures.






So the weather was sunny all the way to Portland, then the clouds found us.  By the time we got to Astoria, drizzle was with us.  I love the drizzle, but it made the ramp slippery for poor Tule.  So I finally found a negative side of rain.  We went out to dinner with Gary's cousin, Mike and his wife Julie, then came back to really cold icy-feeling rain.  Of course I needed to take the dogs for their last potty walk of the night in this icy cold heavy drizzle.  That little tan box in the bottom right side of the photo is a heater.  Both dogs are trying to hog it. Elsie keeps trying to move Tule out of the way, but Gary won't let her, so she is stuck with the second tier seating in the bed.

It was a fun evening with cousins and so nice to be cool at bedtime.  Tomorrow we get to enjoy breakfast with one niece and her two children.

Blowing in the Wind

Whooooeeee!  Gary got a workout driving the RV in this wind.  As we neared Truxel Road, Gary decided this would be a good day to drive up Hwy 99 instead of I-5.  It is definitely the scenic route.  We went thru places like Live Oak, Gridley and Biggs and saw lots of "baby calves" to quote Judy Fisher. Evidently when Gary goes duck hunting, the guys eat out at a variety of places along this stretch because he was able to point out many restaraunts and knew what they serve and how good they are as we got close to Oroville.  

Poor Elsie had to endure a lot of "rumble bumps" because of the wind. That means she spent most of the trip trying to scoot under my legs. We really don't both fit in that space, but she made it happen.

We went past his duck club,which sure doesn't look like much, but provides them with plenty of ducks (and one broken leg a couple years back).

Our traditional stop in Corning at the Olive Pit allowed the dogs a chance to get out and stretch their legs.  A strawberry patch is next door, so I got 6 baskets of yummy, red, juicy strawberries.  

We drove thru road construction most of the way once we got on I-5.  

At one point this wide load truck decided to change lanes without looking and we nearly nailed him.  Thank the Lord for Gary's skillful driving and good latches on our cupboards.  

The first mishap of the trip happened before we even left home.  As I put the last load in the freezer, I broke the freezer latch.  So we're keep it closed by using a bunjy cord to hold it securely with the frig door.  One more repair when we get home.  

Gary came up with the perfect way for Tule to enter the RV without stressing her poor hind legs.  The chiropractic adjustments and accupuncture have done wonders for making her stronger, but the ramp makes us feel better as we know she isn't overdoing. At 13, she is doing amazingly well.

For the first day out and all the wind we endured, it still was a very nice day.  Tomorrow we are heading on to Astoria.

Surprise!

Surprise!

Nov. 4 was Mom's 98th birthday.  My brother was going to be in town anyway so he decided to have a surprise birthday party for her at Anthony's restaurant in Edmonds on the waterfront with all her friends that are still alive.  I got the silly idea it would be fun to be a fly on the wall to see this--emailed the thought to Britta who said, "Let's do it!"  Soooo we flew up to SeaTac early Sunday morning and managed to surprise Mom AND my brother and her friends.  Here is how it went . . .



Britta and Gary and I got up at 3:30 to be at the airport with the sunrise.  Gary dropped us off and went back to go to church and let everyone know what we were doing.

When we got to Seattle, we decided to scope out the restaurant and make sure our plan would work.  They were really excited to help us.










We went to Costco, got a cake and candles, then drove back to the restaurant where we hid behind a bush in our rental car until Monte and Mom arrived.

We then scurried in and hid around the corner while the restaurant staff helped us get the cake ready with lit candles.


With the hostess taking photos, we walked into the party singing "Happy Birthday". Everybody joined in and my brother thought "Why are they singing now, we haven't even ordered yet?"  Then he spotted us.  What fun to see his face.

Then Mom spotted us and had the same jaw dropping eyes bugging out reaction he did.

It was a lot of fun for everyone.

After lunch, we all went back to Mom's house for birthday cake and coffee and more visiting.  She looks pretty good for 98, doesn't she?

It was a short visit as Britta had to be back for work, so it was off to SeaTac in time for sunset on Monday.  We couldn't quit grinning the whole flight home.  What a fun trip full of memories.

Family Fun

My brother and his wife and sons arrived at Mom's yesterday for a short viist. I'm so happy I was able to see them, too! His boys are the best kids ever, very sweet and lots of fun. We visited and joked and enjoyed being together.

Now I am at the airport, ready to get home after too many days away. Seattle got a nice rainstorm last night so I was content with the weather. I'm not really ready for the heat at home, but I'm very ready to see Gary and the "girls" (our dogs).

The convention is over

I've been absent from the blog for a few days, as Britta pointed out to me. It was because I was in Bellingham, WA at the Daughters of Norway convention. It was so much fun being around so many other Norwegians. The first thing I noticed is that they all were wearing my favorite colors--lots of green and orange and purple and teal. And there were a lot of blondes that you know must be really blonde because their eyebrows and eyelashes were as blonde as mine. There was entertainment and lots of essential meetings and goodies and great stuff for sale, as well as raffles. I wish I could post photos because I won the raffle of an amazing wooden bowl that was painted black with red rosmaling on it. I was sooooo lucky! Our lodge founder has a gorgeous bunad (Norsk costume) that no longer fits her because she lost weight. I didn't lose weight so it fits me perfectly and I got to wear it today. I felt more Norwegian than ever in that beautiful outfit.

Now I am back at Mom's in beautifull Woodway. Tomorrow my brother and his family will be here so I'll get to see them this trip, too! I got to see my sister on Wednesday before I left for Bellingham. It has been a great trip, but I have been gone long enough. I got to talk to Gary every day, but I've been going thru dog withdrawal--I need to see my girls! At least I get to go out and give a dog biscuit to Mom's neighbor's lab each day I am here. She has begin to expect it whether I am here or not. It helps when I miss our dogs too much.

The weather has been my idea of perfect--some rain, some clouds and when it is sunny the high is about 75 or less. Today was 73. Gary told me it was 100 at 2 p.m. in Roseville. Yuck!