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.

 

Life is Good and Missouri Loves Company

Trashion Fashion entry-Tin Woman

Today is the last day of Summer.  I am at my computer recovering from yesterday's oral surgery placing a titanium toggle bolt in my upper jaw to get ready for a new crown.  Right now there are at least a dozen sparrows taking a bath in my new fountain bowl.  (see last post).  Looks like there are some juncos and a redheaded finch of some kind mixed in with them.  The tyranny of the harvest has begun.  Roger is picking the last of the fava plants that I will need to shell.  We haven't planted the overwintering garlic yet but it hasn't rained for a long, long time so there's no hurry on that.

 

 

But I should start where I left off mid-August.  The picture above shows my entry in the Trashion Fashion show for the first year.  I won a prize for best use of recycled materials, namely, deer fencing, an aluminum air duct, dog and horse feed bags among other things.  Note my beautiful silver slippers courtesy of my neighbor Lunnette.

 

That was the first night of the San Juan County Fair.  Later that week, our friends joined us.

 

The "Conundrum" vs. "George Simpson Memorial Truck"

They took part in the Zucchini 500, picnicked at Jacksons Beach and other wise enjoyed themselves.



Life is Good



The week after the Fair, my brother Marc and his friend Nancy visited.  Then it was off to Missouri with my friend Liz to visit family and see the sights.  We started off in Kansas City, staying with Liz’s cousin Fred.  I was able to visit my Aunt Ruth who turns 96 this Fall.  I hadn’t seen my cousins Donald or Dannie since childhood and I got to meet their children and grandchildren for the first time.

 

 

After Kansas City we drove to St. Louis and stayed with my Aunt Sallie.  Ann and Melanie drove us all over and introduced us to St. Louis neighborhoods such as “The Hill” and “The Loop”.  We saw the Missouri Botanical Gardens and spent a day at The City Museum (a must see).  Leaving St. Louis we dropped down on old Route 66 to visit my cousin Steve and his family.  Then we hit a hellacious storm outside of Springfield but the next day temperatures dropped from the mid 90’s to a comfortable 75 degrees. 

 

 

We stopped in Branson long enough to see the Shanghai Circus and then dropped into Arkansas at Eureka Springs, (the little Switzerland of the Ozarks).  The next day we visited Chrystal Bridges, a fabulous museum of American Art in Bentonville, AR.  Finishing our loop of the state back in Kansas City we flew back to Seattle on September 10^th.

 

I thought I would miss all the good weather the N.W. was having while we were gone, but the last ten days have been very pleasant and a relaxing wrap up to the summer.  Life is indeed, Good.

 

I'm Living in a Postcard!

The Garden in July

Fourth of July Parade


Community Marching Band

All the Ellisons took part this year.  Roger and Eric marched with the National Park and their dad rode in a shiny red convertible. 

Riding the Train Great Western Island Railroad



Find out more about it at:  Riding the Train Great Western Island Railroad  Roger's is not the only railroad on San Juan Island.  We took a ride on Wayne and Barbara Zimmerman's 7 1/2" guage train and visited the model village.

Encampment

Practicing for the Candlelight Ball at English Camp

Yes, once again we dressed in the period garb of 1859 and visited with similarly dressed folks camping down on the parade ground at English Camp.  San Juan Island National Park

Weaving Weekend

Roger makes a Trellis

We planted ourselves under a huge maple tree at English Camp on the hottest weekend of the year.  Probably the best place on the island as the breeze was wafting from Garrison Bay.  We'd spent the week cutting a pick-up truck full of willow withees, alder and ocean spray sticks to use in making wattle fences, plant teepees and trellises.  We were part of a much bigger group of basketmakers, spinners, weavers and other crafting people creating some living history for the National Park each summer.

Art Project - concrete and pebble mosaic addition to the Fountain

I spent a week making this pebble mosaic bowl and building a tiled tower for the water feature in
our courtyard.  I'm quite proud of it and it didn't occur to me until I started writing this blog that it looks a little like a toilet bowl.  Even has a nice tinkling sound.

Blogs are good because one can take a step back, review the recent past, and come to the conclusion that something was accomplished as the summer whizzed by.  Next winter I'll look back at this post and maybe appreciate these events even more.  Because when they were happening, I was always feeling rushed and anxious about the next event around the corner.  Even now as I type this, I am worried about all I have to do to get ready for the Fair this coming week.

Every once in awhile though, I do pause, look around, and wonder how I  lucked out to live in such a fabulous place.

Rolling into Fall

Relaxing at Thornbush

Jay spent the first week of September with us and we worked him so hard he had to take naps any way he could.  Thanks, Jay, for all the hard work bringing in the firewood.  We will be appreciating it all winter long.

Cheryl, Cathy, Antoinette at HS Reunion

I took Jay home on the 9th and continued on to my friend Mary's house to help put on our 40th High School Reunion.  The weather was fabulous, the food scrumptious, and a good time was had by all.  Here are three of my best friends from high school catching up on the last decade or so. 

I thought things would kind of quiet down after the reunion--but no, they've gotten busier instead.  The weather has been great (trying to make up for July).  So I've been re-staining all the window trim, doors, and the new carport posts whenever I have a minute between guests. 

Also, all the clubs/organizations I belong to have reignited their activities now that Labor Day is over.  I have many duties associated with the Textile Guild, the Soroptimists, even the Grange.  I attended a day long symposium on prairie restoration that my cousin Rose helped put together last week.  Rose flew in from Boise for the event and practiced her speech on stewardship in our cottage into the wee hours.  It was a very informative symposium.  American Camp Prairie Restoration



Miles explores Thornbush

Then a rare treat--a visit to Al from his great-grandsons--all three of them.  Clare brought her three-month old Rafael, and Niki and James brought Miles and Austin.  Miles just turned two and Austin is not yet a year.  The last time niece and nephew saw Thornbush they were eight and ten (?)  and James' wife Niki had never seen the place.  The weather cooperated and the day was only marred by the yellow jackets who would not let us sit outside.

Austin, Miles, Great Grandpa Al, and little Rafa

Today it was back to work on the carport.  We brought a big chunk of the tree we cut down last month to the mill and carved out the boards we will need for the rafters, plus a few extra 2x6's.  We got caught in a downpour.  The sign of things to come now that it is officially Fall.

Late Summer 2011

Canoers greeted by Lummi Nation in Friday Harbor Marina

Oh Wow, it is already September and I haven't updated since mid-July.  Don't you love late Summer?  The hot days, the cool nights, all the ripe fruit!  It feels like I was racing from one event to another over these last six weeks.  But now I can see a break just ahead as summer winds down.

Summer 2011 included the usual Shakespeare (Winters Tale) and live music (Abbie Road Live) and visits from friends.  This year the Canoe Journey brought 12 tribal canoes from around the Salish Sea to our island before they joined scores of other canoes landing at Swinomish on the Skagit.



Karen Haas of Hudson Bay, Fort Nisqually



Hair and Clothing Styles of 1859 demonstrated

We squeezed in an afternoon at the Encampment at English Camp.  I wandered around in 1850's garb and had my picture taken by Japanese tourists.

 Bjorn's family visited in early August.  Always a pleasure to have the grandchildren around.  Audrey has to do everything her big sisters are doing.

Soil Fertility - Four Approaches

Lunnette resplendent in Drug Store packaging

Roger and I got very busy the following week getting ready for the fair.  The garlic was picked and sorted, I had some textile projects to finish, Roger had to buy a brand new chainsaw to take down the tree we will need to mill for carport rafters.  The tree is down and cut up but we still haven't dragged it to the mill yet.

And then the week of the Fair.  Surprisingly, no guests this year, but we were still mighty busy with our various booth duties.   The Trashion Fashion show was a highlight, as well as Roger's panel discussion on agricultural techniques for the Ag Resource Committee.  Oh yes, we earned some red and blue ribbons as well.  And ate more than our share of elephant ears.

Lynn kayaks with Don as an escort

We had to rush off-island on the early ferry Fair Saturday to our next adventure.  Across the state on Highway 20 to Kettle Falls where we joined five good friends on a houseboat on Lake Roosevelt. Four days on the boat.  We had a hot tub, ukuleles, good food, kayaks and floaties, waterfalls and a little trouble with the battery.  Bookending the trip we got to stay with my brother Joe and his wife Cheryl, play more music and see the Colville Fair.  Stayed overnight in Seattle area to help celebrate my brother Jeff's 60th birthday/10th anniversary in Woodland Park.

Summer was late coming, but we're managing to pack as much into it as one of any regular length.  School started for island kids on August 31st and now it is Labor Day Weekend.  I'm skipping a lot of details, about captured foxes and feral kittens.  Crops that succeeded and crops that failed.  Potlucks and visitors, books we've read and plays we've seen.  And an admission--I didn't get one project started that wasn't already started before summer began.  The mosaics didn't get made but the waterlilies did bloom.  No sewing got started but I did organize the craft room.  And the beach gate is finished but I haven't spent much time at the pond.  I guess I've got a few more things to cram into the last three weeks of summer.

July 2011



The out of town guests begin arriving:



Tom and Roger play croquette on July 4th



Dad and Rosalie at The Downrigger

My Dad, at age 89, took a bus to downtown Seattle, got off at the Convention Center, found his way to the BelAire Shuttle bus stop, rode the bus to Anacortes Ferry Terminal, waited for two hours for the ferry and walked on for me to pick him up in Friday Harbor to visit with my sister and myself for five days over the Fourth of July holiday.  I was so proud of him!

The date has been set and the invitations have been sent for my Dad's 90th birthday party here on San Juan Island.  June 9 & 10, 2012.  This will be a Barreca family reunion as well.  That means the countdown has begun.  I have 11 months to get this place in shape.  I started last Sunday by sending Roger up a ladder with a chainsaw.  He limbed up or cut half a dozen trees.  Amazing how much more light comes through!

preparing for Soroptimist entry in Fourth of July parade

I participated in the Fourth of July parade as a clown.  The theme was: Life Is a Laugh in a Costume.



My brother Joe's blog  always has something relevant in it.  This time he talks about (among other things) the 50th reunion of his 8th grade class.  This Fall we are celebrating the 40th reunion of my high school class and I have been helping my best friend from High School who has volunteered to host a barbecue in September.  We have been trying to use Facebook and Classmates.com and other websites to find and invite our former classmates.  Roger heard a news story about Facebook making reunions irrelevant--no need to meet in person when you can catch up with each other's lives in the cloud.  

It is amazing the memories that one can resurrect just by leafing through the yearbook.  We had a relatively small graduation class and add to that the fact that I was the editor of the yearbook . . .  I'm feeling a lot more connected than I thought I would be to these OLD classmates.  More on this subject after the reunion in September.



We hosted a potluck at our house last Friday.   It's good to get the social obligations out of the way early in the summer.  That way, the place is looking good (the lawn is mowed, the fire pit carved out from the overgrown brush) much earlier than it otherwise would have been.  Along with weekly potlucks, July brings Shakespeare on the lawn, the arrival of 100 tribal canoes, an arts festival, the Lavender Festival, among other events.  Summer is in Full Swing!





Happy Solstice!

Attended the Fremont Solstice parade with a bunch of my best buddies.  This was one of those packed Seattle weekends which included a spa day (including facial and pedicure) for me and a plant-run for Roger.  The evening finished up with a Greek meal in Wallingford and a concert by our friend Jay Hamilton at the Good Shepherd Center: Honor.  We also visited Dad for Father's Day.  And managed to squeeze in a trip to Costco, of course.

Progress on the Carport!  See these three beautifully tapered columns?  Notice the very attractive cement bases?  Can you picture the size and shape of the carport to come?  Setting these poles up was a big milestone.  The next step, placing the rafters, will involve not just milling the lumber, we will actually have to go out and cut down two or more trees to harvest logs long enough to span the roof. 

Before we do that, we are going to take out the lower branches from the nearby doug firs to get some more light coming through on the west side of our house.  It is amazing how much vegetation is closing in on us and its time to hack it all back!

Here's a picture of Suzie teaching a five month old pup, Millie, how to drink out of the fountain.  One of my many projects planned for this summer includes a mosaic bowl addition to the fountain.  I've also got some waterlilies coming up.  I've had to place a net around them to protect them from predator poodles.

Sorry for the flash at the bottom of the photo.  This is my new art piece.  I bought it from Mary McCulluch Art Walk Studio Tour.  The colors match my kitchen cabinets perfectly.  



approx 2 lbs of strawberries

And finally, strawberries!  Here's a picture of one day's harvest.  With about 50 plants in the main garden and another 25 or more in the kitchen garden we should have plenty of shortcake this summer.