Happy Holidays

Warm Wishes for the New Year from the Cool People at Thornbush.

Mind Boggling Month

How do I reconcile all death and destruction that went on this month with all the good, creative events?  As the beautiful golden leaves of October gave way to the bare branches of November, friends and family gathered together to celebrate the harvest, and to comfort each other in their loss. 

Good news first.  Roger and I are heading up our respective organizations this year, he is Master of the Grange for the third year in a row, and I will be the President of the SJC Textile Guild for 2014.  They won’t be easy terms, we are lucky to have great boards to help us through. 

Roger has been busy this month, first he built a root “closet” in our basement—it has a fan that will come on with a thermostat to keep it cold enough for potatoes, etc.  Then he built a new craft table for me so I could donate my bigger worktable to a new food prep area in the basement.  Then he built a new front end on the outdoor boiler for our radiant heat system.  And he’s brought in a lot of firewood on top of that.

I attended a Micro-Macrame/ cavandoli workshop by a nationally known teacher, Joan Babcock from Santa Fe.  Since the class I’ve finished a pendant and two bracelets.  I hope to have earring to match before too long. 

Check out her work at Joan Babcock's jewelry 

Roger’s birthday fell on the day after Thanksgiving this year.  Two days packed with family and friends and great food.  Our friend Shann returned to the island after ten months bouncing back and forth between Fred Hutchinson and University Hospital.  She made an appearance at the Cask and Schooner and made all of our days.

friends celebrating Roger's 58th birthday

 The major event of this past month, my sister Jeannette and my quick trip to Kansas City for the funeral of our Aunt Ruth was really a celebration. My mom and my aunt Ruth were very close growing up so we felt it was important to represent Mom's side of the family.  Aunt Ruth lived to one day shy of her 97^th birthday and was beloved by her children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  It was a privilege to be a part of that.  Jeannette and I immersed ourselves in family lore for three days.  

Jones cousins at Aunt Ruth's funeral

Evelyn and Ruth Jones, ages 14 and 18
 

 A weird week of communication blackout overshadowed this county of islands this past month when the cable connecting all of our long distance and most of our internet was severed, supposedly due to an earthquake.  Everyone experienced the outage differently, I could call Orcas Island for instance, but not anyone on a cellphone in Friday Harbor.  Here is an article in the Atlantic Monthly that describes the situation pretty accurately.

Atlantic Monthly article

The news was bad that week.  For one thing, Eric’s beloved lab, Pepper died suddenly on November 5^th.  My father-in-law made a trip to the emergency room,  two of my aunts were in critical condition one in Kansas City and one in L.A. This same week we learned that a friend’s son had died in a head-on collision on Maui,, and a horrible typhoon hit the Philippines, killing perhaps 10,000 people.

It’s hard to discuss quince/apple pie and macramé in the face of all this mortality.  And yet, I feel so blessed, to be surrounded by all this natural beauty, the great people in the Grange and the Textile Guild and my yoga class, all our dear friends, and large, loving family.  It's incongruous.  It boggles the mind.

 

 

 

The Roger Issue

Roger meets Nate at April's wedding in August
 

This post is intended to highlight whatever the heck Roger has been doing.  He always seems to be in the background on my blog but is very much in the foreground in what has been happening around Thornbush.  Roger, this blog’s for you.

 

Stripping Bark at English Camp for Weaving Weekend

You can describe Roger’s life in recent years as being divided into three parts—running his business-Thornbush Landscape and Design, developing this property, and community involvement through the Grange.  Ok, add in family matters, especially helping his dad, Al, through his transition to assisted living, but also being a grandpa.  In other words, he lives a very full life.

 

Fourth of July with Al
 

FAMILY

The Big Event since my last blog was the celebration of Tony and April’s Wedding near Mt Rainier this past August.  It was a family reunion and a vacation wrapped up in a long weekend. 

Mt Rainier Scenic Railway in Elbe

Roger especially enjoyed the ride on the Steam Train with Bjorn and his brood,  we’d taken a similar trip many years ago with Bjorn when he was a lad.



Roger and Anita hike Paradise
 

 

We also got to hike around Paradise with my family on a beautiful morning amid the wildflowers and vistas. 

 

Roger with In-law Bill Yake

Just this past weekend we were able to reminisce with many of the same family members at Barrecas Thanksween.  Roger likes two things in particular about these gatherings—the great food and jamming with the “Outlaws and Inlaws” Yesterday, Bill and Roger on guitar, Marc on keyboard and Joe on bass.
 

 

HOME

Chickens and Orchard Expansion dominated the year.  But the garden and firewood gathering are mainstays.
 

COMMUNITY

 

A blue sky weekend for the Fall Farm Parade

 

Grange Events were big this year.  Most recently, they co-sponsored the Fall Farm Parade.  As the Master, Roger also attended the State Convention at Ocean Shores in June.  He writes a blog, too.  It’s at:  San Juan Island Grange

Of course, I could go on and on about what Roger is up to.  Just remember in reading future posts, that Roger is there keeping things running, generating new ideas every day.  Now that I've covered Roger can the Suzie Issue be far behind?

Sorry for such a long delay in publishing this Thornbush Report.  Part of  the problem is I want to try out Wordpress but haven’t even had time to work that out.  So I am still using Blogspot for the time being.

I absolutely love summer!

This is what happens when you wait 8 weeks between posts: 
A.  4th of July parade - No Coal!
B.  Jury Duty in Seattle
C.  Harry visits from Colorado
D.  Leif's memorial in Federal Way/family gathering
E.  Encampment/Dan Hicks
F.  Ken and Lisa visit after 25 years
G.  Weaving Weekend/Darby and Jennifer
H.  Granddaughter Lenora comes for a week
I.  County Fair/gang visits

Throw in a terrible cold and sewing up two quilts for the twins and is it any wonder I haven't had time to post anything?

So people not into reading blogs can stop here.  My Table of Contents lists it all.  Maybe a few photos:
A.
Fourth of July--No More Coal - click on this link to see Roger and I parade down Spring Street with 80 of our closest friends to protest the possibility of Coal shipments through our pristine Salish Sea.

C.  Roger's cousin Harry is a retired elementary school principal from Grand Junction, Colorado.  He travels on his bike around the country each summer and is something of a troubadour.   Roger's dad Al invited him to play at the Retirement Home and he put on a nice concert.

D.  Celebration of Life for Roger's brother Leif who passed away last month.  Spent the weekend with family and had two nice get-togethers at Lil's and at Guy and Brenda's.

Lenora, Ethel, Corbin, Audrey, Bjorn, Iliana
 

E.  Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks played town the same weekend as Encampment.  We went to both.  I Scare Myself
F.  Ken and Lisa visit Thornbush for first time.  Good friends in college, have not seen Ken since Roger and my wedding twenty-five years ago.  Great visit, long overdue.  Here's a pix at the Lavender Farm.

G.  Weaving Weekend was the first weekend in August.  Roger and I did our usual shtick with sticks.  I was already feeling poorly then, but managed to get through it and join Peggy Sue at a lovely dinner with our sailing friends Gene and Jennifer as well.

Note cedar hat that won a blue ribbon at the Fair a month later

H.  I Absolutely Loved the week I spent with my granddaughter, Lenora.  I think she had a pretty good time, too, reading, coloring, watching movies, and play dates with other seven-year olds.  It's your turn next year, Iliana!

Lenora in the corn with the sun in her eyes
 

Also, I gave the twins their birthday presents four months late.  The quilts and a major cold were two of several reasons I didn't get my Fair Challenge "Sheep Happens" finished in time.

 

 

 

I.  Everyone loves the County Fair and the gang participates in the Zucchini 500 races.  At first I was going to enter one of my cardoons.  They are pretty impressive this year.  But then I thought, been there, done that.

Barry measures Cardoon height
 

Another highlight was when Diane won the Throne of Games at the art raffle.

 

 

But the biggest thrill came at the end of the Zucchini 500 when The Romney Bus and Flower Power joined in a mass suicide on the Ramp of Death:

  You are probably used to me adding a bit of sad news at the end of my posts.  Unfortunately, this post is no exception.  Last Saturday, the Downrigger restaurant burned down.  At least no one was hurt.  We all have memories of the Downrigger and before that "The Mariner".  No telling at this point if it will be rebuilt or not.

The end

Turn, Turn, Turn

The Byrds version of To everything there is a season - please link to this YouTube recording while you are reading this blog.

My brother Joe always manages to tie his blog up with some philosophical theme.  He would have been a good homily writer.  Here is his website for those who don’t have it already:  Joe's latest blog

Trouble is that saying “to everything, there is a season” just isn’t true for me this month.  Everything happens at once!  The planting and reaping part—all happening this month.  I’ve been picking strawberries like crazy, shelling peas, too.  At the same time, we’ve been planting squash, corn, beans, and more.

Roger with bok choi and scapes
 

 We’ve been coming—and going all month.  I just got back from the ANWG Conference in Bellingham.  That’s Association of NW Weavers Guilds.  I stayed in Higginson dorm.  That was a leap back in time!  Plenty of eye candy for the fiber artist.  And the campus was lovely this time of year.

 

WWU must not have suffered from the caterpillar plague that overwhelmed us this Spring.  Roses and Alders and apple trees completely denuded of leaves.  But, the leaves have almost all grown back.  I’ve heard these pests come for four years and I believe this is year #3.  Each one has been worse than the year before.  Friends, you may not want to visit us next May and early June.  I cannot guarantee what it may look like around here.

 Now I’m back and Roger has gone to Ocean Shores for the State Grange Convention.  You’d think a farm organization would know better than to put their yearly convention in June.  So it’s just me and the chickens—and Suzie, of course.

 While I was in Bellingham, Roger constructed a staircase from the mudroom porch down to the new loading dock at the back of the house.  How convenient!  Do you think if I left more often perhaps more major projects would get done around here?

 

There’s been a couple weddings, and sadly, a funeral.  Roger’s brother Leif died this month.  He’s been in late stage Alzheimer’s so it came as no surprise.  But still, very sad.  He would have turned 59 on June 30^th.  And a time to be born—two more granddaughters for members of my book club.

 

two month old James in the CUTEST tee shirt
 

The service group that I belong to is winding up its year while at the same time, the Textile Guild action is heating up as I try to line up a new Board for next year when I take up the Presidency.  I need a Vice-President!  Anyone?

And now it is time to post.

 

Spring Celebrations

Four ex-Metroids gather in Anacortes to celebrate retirement
 

This month’s blog entry will include Roger and my trip to Canada to celebrate our 25^th wedding anniversary, a visit by brother John and Marilyn, a Family open house in memory of Roger’s uncle Don who died in February. A trip to Olympia to stay at a friend’s cabin on Henderson Inlet, a visit to see my great nephew James, a visit to celebrate Bjorn’s birthday and take the grandkids to Red Robin, a potluck dinner with visits by two more brothers, their significant others, and my girlfriend Liz, a trip to Lopez for the Third Annual Lamb, Wool, and Goat Festival, and a host of related events in honor of moi’s 60^thbirthday.

VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver, B.C.

Roger with another Taurus
 

Canada

Twenty-five years ago, Roger and I flew into Victoria Harbour from Lake Union. Then we rented a car and drove all over Vancouver Island for our honeymoon. In honor of that event, we went to Victoria again. But this time, we drove to Vancouver,BC, took a ferry to Salt Spring Island,took a ferry to Vancouver Island at Swartz Bay, and from Victoria Harbour, took the Black Ball Ferry to Port Angeles, drove to Port Townsend, took a ferry to Whidbey Island, drove across DeceptionPass, and took the ferry home from Anacortes. That’s six ferry rides if you’re counting. I always wanted to do that.

Black Ball to Port Angeles
 

One of the many highlights of our trip was staying at The Beaconfield Inn, a B&B that we stayed in the first night of our honeymoon.  Gary and Warren have only owned it for the last nine years, but were more than accommodating by giving us the same garden suite, champagne, directing us to Cafe Brio for dinner and being excellent hosts.



Beaconsfield 1988
 

Beaconsfield 2013

Another highlight was Salt Spring Island, one of the Gulf Islands.  Here is a picture of Roger on the top of Mt Maxwell looking South toward Orcas and San Juan Island.

Once we got to Port Angeles, we had a look at what used to be the Elwha Dam, which was removed a year ago.  Lots of old stumps remain.

Elwha River Restoration

At theTextile Guild Quarterly meeting on Orcas, Lola Deane talked about living in Pakistan and brought examples of the textiles she collected among her many journeys abroad.

 

Green Ghost or Anita in a Burka

Frere Jaques and Souer Marilyn

 

We are always happy to have a visit from John and Marilyn from far off Richland.  They got in on some unseasonably good weather here on the island.  And we took advantage of it with a trip to South Beach and American Camp.  Unfortunately, we had to run out on them to go to Roger's family event in Renton.  Hopefully, they have some fond memories of wildflowers and Cafe Demeter.

 

Olympia                                                                                              

Hard to describe how nice it was on Henderson Inlet on May 5^th:  The people, the setting, the weather, the food . There was music and laughter and tons of clams at low tide on Monday morning.  I loved it.  Thanks to all who contributed.

Roger and I (and Suzie) were able to stop in and visit April and her new baby on that trip.  They live one inlet over from Henderson.  What a pleasant afternoon.

 

 

 

Tired yet?

We got home from Olympia, after stopping in Everett to take Bjorn and the kids to Red Robin for lunch.

This gave us two whole days to prepare for the big celebration, Anita’s 60^th and Christina’s 70^th birthday potluck at Thornbush.  The weather was still great!  Would it hold?  Tension was mounting.  People were coming, then they weren’t, then they were.  Would there be enough food?  Do I know how to grill a whole salmon?  Would there be enough musicians?  Was there enough time?  Only time would tell. . .

     Success!

 

The weather held, the food was great, people came, and the musicians played on and on until almost midnight.  Early the next morning Jeff, Kathy, Liz and I boarded a ferry to Lopez for the third annual

Lopez Lamb Wool and Goat Festival

 

When we weren't admiring the little goats, the smart herding dogs, and the beautiful fiber and fiber arts, we drove around Lopez and beachcombed.  here's a picture of my sister-in-law Kathy skipping stones at Spencer Spit State Park.

And so the celebration continued, dinner at "The Place" with Marc, Nancy, and Liz, and the next day at the spa with Liz.   Ahhhh.  As one of the many birthday cards I received quoted, "To be rich in friends is to be poor in nothing".

The Nature Issue

In March, our thoughts turn to Spring and we look for signs of it everywhere.  This month’s post is about the flora and fauna of Thornbush in March.
 

Such as Turtles

First, though, I need to document a great trip to Olympia for my niece’s baby shower.  We stopped at Nisqually Nature Reserve and saw baby great horned owls plus a lot of other wildlife.
 

And Mergansers

 

On the way home, I stopped in to wish Corbin a happy first birthday. 
 

Ethel helps Corbin unwrap--what could it be?



Spring time walk up Mt Young where Madronnas flourish.   





Madronnas on Mt Young

 

This crossbill is recovering from slamming into the window

Ahh, red flowering currant.  Can the hummingbirds be far behind?

Soopolallie - Shepherdia canadensis

Now that you've stayed until the end, I will tell you the bad news.  Fourteen chickens killed by a mink on St Patrick's Day. Mink massacres in the past have also occurred in March.  Is it because the stream is so high now that they come up from False Bay?  We still have eleven barred rock in the compost yard, but all the beautiful garden chickens are gone.  We won't be getting more chicks for awhile.

Eagle on the snag

Another vociferous sign of Spring, the eagle sitting on the snag just above her nest.  And it wouldn't be March without the Skunk Cabbage on the stream.  I think we can safely say that Spring has arrived. Next month--avalanche lillies!

Skunk Cabbage