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".