Late Summer into Autumn

It's been awhile and I feel like I've been around the world since last I wrote.  Wait!  I have!

But let me start where I left off.  The San Juan County Fair.  Great, as usual.  Roger won several ribbons for his garlic, chard, apples, and runner beans.  I won some lesser ribbons for a couple baskets.  Our friends came up and the band Clumsy Lovers from Canada were really hot.

The week after the Fair,We attended my brother Marc's investiture as a Federal Bankruptcy Judge.  Most of the family came for the ceremony and the party afterwards.  Highlights were Dad placing the judicial robe on Marc and Emily's tribute to her dad.

 We left for Twisp in the Methow Valley directly from Seattle.  Here we visited with friends of our friend Liz who promised us that we had much in common.  She was right.  The trip over North Cascades Pass was beautiful in both directions.  Cascadian Farms had great blueberries and raspberry ice cream.  We hiked near Sun Mountain, attended the farmers market, windowshopped in Twisp and Winthrop.  Meanwhile, Suzie got to play with their dog Frida.  Fun was had by all. 

Meanwhile, Roger's brother Eric brought Al back up to stay with us for another week.  I spent the time packing and preparing for my trip back to Sicily, this time with my dad, brother Joe, and his wife Cheryl.  We took Al back to Auburn on Monday, and I left for Italy on Tuesday.

We stayed the whole time in Castelbuono, the ancestral town of my grandparents. We were met by relatives I had come to know a year ago when I was there visiting with my sister Jeannette. They wined and dined us, and showed us the villa and orchards where my grandfather worked before he shipped out to America at the start of the last century. We also visited Mt. Etna and saw the sights along the Tyrrhenian Coast.

For more, click this link:  Pictures from trip to Sicily 2010

The trip back was long and arduous.  (hint, don't believe Travelocity and never travel through Chicago if you can help it)  We had a great time and I'm very glad to be home.  Time to settle in for a cozy Autumn.

Mandala

Looking back over the last five weeks since my last post, it feels impossible to bring my readers up to date on all that has gone on.  Perhaps if I just make a chronological list.

July 10- Roger leaves to take his parents to Montana.  He drives their r.v. for them 12 hours from Auburn to Anaconda, Mt.  stays three days and drives back 12 hours on Thursday, July 15.  Meanwhile, I take care of the plants, the chickens, and Suzie.

July 16- Roger meets me in Seattle for a dinner with friends from work to celebrate the life of our co-worker who died (see last month's entry).  We stay in Seattle until Sunday to attend the baptism of our third granddaughter Audrey.  This is one of those end of life/beginning of life mandala weekends.

July 20- Two days after our return, Roger's mother dies suddenly of a heart attack.  He is shocked but grateful that he was able to spend her last week with her.  Family focus turns to Roger's dad Al and his ability to adjust.  An open house is scheduled for Sunday, July 25th, which happens to be Al & Rose's 62nd wedding anniversary. 

Meanwhile, my friends Larry and Nancy come up to the island and our friend Mark starts work on kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

July 26- Al comes back to the island to stay with his two sons, Roger and Eric, while arrangements are made back in Auburn for some in-home care.  He stays with us for two weeks until Roger brings him back home on Aug 8th.  I begin dog sitting "Friday" the 12 year old lab for a week while her owners vacation at Mt. Hood.  Dog sitting involves feeding three times a day, administering love and medicine, and a little walk while negotiating the asphalt-laying taking place on their road that week.

July 30- My friend Mary arrives and agrees to follow me around to all my errands.  The highlight of her visit is attending a performance of "Henry V" in the outdoor theater at Roche Harbor.

Aug 5- Jay brings his two Turkish Visitors, Semih and Gulat.  These kind people have hosted our friend twice while he has visited their country.  They are academics in horticulture and fruit production.  We bring them to gardens, farms, the Lavender Farm.  We even saw some whales!

Meanwhile, we enjoy visits from our Seattle friend Nan and her daughter, my cousin Rose and her whole family who haven't been here since Benjamin was a baby and I'm not sure if Mariah was ever here and now she's practically grown.  Also, Nieces April and Bina and Bina's baby Ovid stay with my sister and me for two nights.  Ovid is 16 months old and he and Suzie form a strong bond.

During all this period Roger and I are still trying to do our "usual" things.  Like keeping up the landscaping business, the garden, the mowing, you get the idea.  And fun things, like another hike on Henry Island, walks on the beach at low, low tide, and evenings with good friends.  This weekend we regroup and get ready for the San Juan County Fair, more visitors, and whatever else life can throw at us.  Right now, I think I can talk Roger into taking a break from the garden for a dunk in the pond.  Later.