Almost over...

We are packing up today...well at least taking unnecessary items to storage and trying to eliminate some of the stuff we brought with us. Do we really need so many clothes and shoes for this next adventure? I don't know and the fact that I do not know where we will end up makes the choices even more difficult.

We were invited to Manchester about an half hour north and it faces east to Seattle so killer views. I had the good fortune of walking their beach before dinner and here is what I found. I am so excited about the large piece with lettering on it! Seriously how cool is that?! Three more pieces of pottery and more bits and pieces. I wish I had more time there...it was a sea glass dream. Oh well.

Sunday I went to church with one of my bfs and was so happy to see a church full of people sharing their faith. I am sad that so many think if you believe in God you are weak or can't think for yourself. Religion has taken such a bad turn that I feel it necessary to defend myself and yet I dont question anyone elses choice to not believe. We all need to believe in something and for me I choose the Lord.
From church we went home changed clothes and headed off to golf...I have not walked 18 holes in quite some time and came home with a very painful blister. Ouch! It was just a great day being with a friend that makes me feel comfortable and honest.  Wish our lives were not going in different directions but our hearts are similar and our friendship will remain.

One more very cool photo to share with you...sorry I emailed it out to some of you already.  Jerry dug out a little tripod and was able to get this wonderful photo of our neighbor. We have so enjoyed watching the parents and two 'babies' hang out in our beach area. So very majestic and beautiful.
Only two days left in WA and while seeing old friends has been great fun, we are ready for the next stop.

Latest project...

I received this coat stand from my grandfather when I was very young. It started off a pale pink and moved onto a goldenrod yellow in my teens. For quite some time it has been a base coat white and pretty beat up. I keep defending its existence because it literally is all I have from my grandparents except good memories. So we pulled it out of storage this week, sanded it and I painted it a light soft green. Today I added grapevines and gotta tell you I am feeling disappointed. I visualized something way better than I was capable of painting on a first try. I took the photo outside to distract you from its faults but in doing so it looks worse than it is. Jerry and I are in discussion over whether I should add small clusters of purple grapes here and there. Feel free to cast your vote...

Photo does not do it justice...you will simply have to trust me!!

I will agree it is a huge improvement over what it was and will
be an asset in my cute cottage one day!!



OK I could not wait for your votes especially when I am not sure anyone really cares or reads my blog. I just added lovely little  purple grapes and voila it is soooo much better!  I so should have known everything is better with grapes!

Big Fat Headache...

I do not know if having a headache all night long and well into today is what is affecting my mood or if I am simply defeated. I know I sounded excited in my post about Lake Almanor but today I am so frustrated with this house deal I could scream. We were suppose to be moving into it in one week and instead we have been waiting another two weeks for the bank to make a flipping decision. Seriously? Yes or no! So I figure its Friday I will contact our realtor, Ditzy Deise and see what is going on. Her number is no longer in service. Really? REALLY?! My brother keeps saying to me that the fact that the house is not going thru might be a sign. I am pretty sure having your realtor disconnect her phone and not tell you is like getting hit over the head with a frying pan kind of sign. I guess we need to move onto Plan B and dammit if I dont have one. All the excitement is gone from this house and it has become a stupid bad dream that refuses to end.
We are off to the paint store...I have been doing some creative furniture painting that I will share with you next post. Thanks for letting me vent. Suggestions are welcome for that evasive plan B. 

How do we let go of the past?

As you all know we are still waiting to hear from the bank if we have indeed purchased a house in the desert. I did not know we could survive this much frustration and there have been moments we wanted to throw in the towel. However our adventures over the past month have proven to be great fun and good times so we keep on going. The past few days we have been organizing and searching thru our four storage units for items we can donate or eliminate. Its not easy when so many of them represent our life as a family and are full of wonderful memories. Jerry and I hold on to items we think those imaginary grandkids might enjoy and we cant seem to believe its time to downsize. How long do we store things not knowing if a reason will ever come? I don't have the answer and I guess as long as we both feel this way we continue on.

Every memory and photo of Timothy had a bear in it and he would be curled up in Big Bear's arms reading or hugging several as he slept. They all willing wore glasses when he had to and shared his travels. Stuffed animals were such a part of all three boys lives and I like to think taught them to love.

Look at their sweet faces and tell me how I dump them? I KNOW! We are just marshmallows when it comes to the sentimental bits and pieces of the past 32 years together. They all mean way too much to no one but us...

The best news is today we have been invited to our friend's resort, campground, cabins, burger ice cream joint and B and B in Lake Almanor CA. Its near Shasta and suppose to be beautiful and again a new destination to add to our adventure! We will be there July 1-15 and we both plan to go to work helping to run the place! I have been eying the wonderful floating chairs at Costco and think I may have a reason to bring one home! What could be better than leisurely floating on a lake? I KNOW... its heavenly! I guess the morale of this story and pretty much everything that has come our way lately is this~ flow with it. With an open mind and heart you might find yourself having a really good time and doing the unexpected!

Gracie

As all of you know Grace has a very strong attachment to me...ok fine...an obsession with my whereabouts. As a mom whose darlings have flown the nest I find her endless love comforting. My man on the other hand finds her devotion to me annoying. Of course after a glance at his photo

we can all see where his heart is at. The two of them are inseparable...

So here is my problem lately...Grace has become even more neurotic and anxious over us being apart. I realize we have moved this year way more than any pet should have to. Honestly tho if the CAT can handle it why oh why is it making her so nuts?! She comes into the bathroom to peek around the shower curtain to be sure I have not sneaked out and will rise from a dead sleep if she cannot see me. The other day she had an anxiety attack in the car and could not breathe or stop shaking. So here is my question to you and it pains me so to even consider it. On May 13th she and Chloe were curled up together in their bed driving to San Diego. I parked the car and carried Chloe into the vet's while Grace waited anxiously in the car.  I can't help but wonder if Grace is missing her and somehow fearful of being left behind because Chloe did not return? I don't understand what she is going thru but will admit there is a definite change in her personality and I feel badly about it. Maybe she just needs a permanent home and yard to be happy again and THAT I can understand.

On a brighter note the sun is shining brightly today and the water is beautiful and sparkly. Its the first day since we arrived that I have been comfortable enough to put shorts on. I miss being warm and sitting outside in the evenings. Maybe this is the week that we can do that and I look forward to the chance.
Thanks for dropping in!

Father's Day!

I have noticed this past week on facebook many of my friends have their dad's photo for profile. I feel badly I don't even know where I might have a photo of my dad and for sure not on my computer. I don't want to give the impression he wasn't impt to me growing up but honestly it all seems so long ago.
So to celebrate my favorite dad, Jerry, we drove up to Bainbridge Island to meet Philip, Kim, Sarah and Megan for a very late brunch. I was very anxious and worried about this meeting because we do not have a great relationship. However we are only here for a month and its almost over so off we went.

 I must say it went extremely well and it felt exactly like it should when you are with your grown up son and his family. The two little girls are 2 1/2 and almost one and couldn't be cuter. We enjoyed the opportunity to try and make a memory for them of who we are. The sad part is who knows when we will ever see them again. I am also feeling a bit sad that I didn't appear in any of the photos especially when I was having a really good hair day. I just hate to not capture me on those rare days and I would really have enjoyed having a photo of the 4 of us. What are you going to do? Just smile....!
On a brighter note Ky gave his dad a gift certificate to Tides Tavern here in Gig Harbor and we are so looking forward to our cold beers with fish and chips! What a perfect gift from a sweet young man. I guess the thing I like best about fathers day is the dad in my life gave me three sons to love.

Sea glass

The other day my man drove me to Port Townsend just so I could scour the beaches for sea glass. If I was ever to live in Washington again in would be in PT...I just feel good when I am there.

I don't understand my fascination with sea glass and my willingness to spend hours bent over searching for its tiny discarded pieces. I guess I relate sea glass to one's life~you begin all shiny, new and perfect. Then life begins to toss you around and sometimes treat you badly with its lessons and finally you lay upon the shore. I like to think someone will still find the beauty in you no matter what your size or color and want to treasure you forever.

This is how much I have collected so far..we found a few larger pieces on a Whidbey Island beach. Jerry even found two small pieces of pottery which is oh so cool! I am thinking I may try to find a small drill so I can actually make art with some of these. Otherwise I just like how they look in a  large shell or glass jar.

Well here I go...

I have been thinking about dropping out of facebook and starting a blog where what I want to say actually might mean something. The reality is I wrote this piece I really liked and fb said it was too long so I eliminated words I felt needed to be there and then after all that...no one really noticed. I am so frustrated with the amount of time I waste on Facebook and fingers crossed this is a positive alternative. When both of my sons starting blogging I thought why not~ so here I am. I hope you find me and my world of  some interest...I will try my best to do so.
Today was the nicest day we have seen in Gig Harbor so far and while I made every attempt to take advantage of it...just not enough rays. Its funny because this month here has been so enlightening for Jerry and me...we closed the NW chapter and we have moved on. Its always nice to return a place you have been a part of and not have regrets about leaving. That is not usually the case for me and so I am always delighted when I feel relief to be gone.
I am heading off to read...something I simply do not do enough of..why is that? Oh right. The computer.
Thanks for dropping in.