Saturday, July 16, 2016

Friday Harbor

We traveled by ferry to the quaint town of Friday Harbor.  I loved everything we saw and did this day.  It was so picturesque.

Mt. Baker makes a stunning backdrop for pictures of this area.

Mt. Baker get ready for a close up!

That is Anacortes, Washington in the background, the port in which this particular ferry departs





A nest in the piling that is hold the pier in place.

Beth is getting a little better at taking selfies, not as  much chin.


We passed by Decautur,  Blakely,  Orcas, Shaw and Lopez Islands before arriving at San Juan Island, home to Friday Harbor


entering Friday Harbor


so charming

and delighful

striking

so lovely

I love the color of the sail covers and bottom of this sailboat

more Friday Harbor boats

colorful buildings

two wacky sisters being greeted by this shop host

who wants a smmoooooccchhh?

Yes, I took a picture of a sign for Ace hardware.  I was impressed that there was a mom and pop hardware store here.

125 year old elm tree

Most beautiful sister under the 125 year old elm tree.

The underside of the elm tree.  I love the curving branches all twisty and pretty.

Flower boxes in front of a store

I've recently become fascinated by steam punk.  There were three lamps in this shop window.  This one of 'guts' was my favorite.

I took pictures of the books in the two bookstores we visited so I could come home and request them at my library for free.  I was particularly interested in "The Charms of Authur Pepper" and "The last Bookaneer"

And all of these might interest Sully

A little corner store who advertise in the window the goods you may find inside.


crackle paint worthy of a photo

a pretty building, color and all, especially the gable trim.

A picnic area on the way to the docks.

My gorgeous sister Eli

more scenic harbor

boats

This little guy was hanging out next to the fish market~he looks like he is posing for pictures

fresh crab $9.99 a pound~ and these seemed large to me?

beautiful

You can tell my husband may have influenced what I take pictures of.

This is a cute little craft.  Does it have room for my hot tub though?

so pretty

These folks were helping this man cast off his sailboat.

He called out "See you in a few days!"


just needs a frame

for Stacey

another cute little place

This was a busy bookstore.  Busy with customers and busy with books.  See how high they are stacked on the floor?  In the shelves they were two and three rows deep.  A sign on the doorway as you enter promised "Computerized Inventory"  It had to be or you'd never know what treasure was buried within. While we were browsing, the proprietor took a phone call.  Someone was looking for a particular book.  She thought she might have it in the recently acquired box of books that was beneath the desk (WHERE?)  She'd have a quick look as those books under the desk have not been cataloged yet.  She was going to call them back.  My favorite was the shelf that held books by local authors.  I chose a mystery for me and a biography for Stacey.

After browsing the bookstore we headed to a local pub to have lunch.

I had fish and chips and Eli had a salmon fish taco?

This was my favorite store in Friday Harbor.  This place was all about lavender.  (Which by the way, was in full bloom all over the island, so lovely)

Lavender ice cream, pet spray, tea, soap, lotion everything you can think of. . .lavender style

kidding around

the best coffee at San Juan Coffee Roasters! for REAL order some!!!

Heading back to Anacortes.

bye bye Friday Harbor, I hope to see you again someday. . .

Days 9-15


Last month I was blessed to be able  to see my sister and her boys on the beautiful Whidbey Island of Washington.   I hope I was able to be a blessing to my sister while she was missing her husband, who was commercial fishing in the Bering Sea of Alaska.

I am still savoring the memories I made and relishing in the love of/for my sister.

Driving around with my beautiful sister.  I haven't quite got the hang of taking selfies.  I can't figure out how to get rid of my chins!

We drove a bit through the town of Oak Harbor so I could catch a glimpse of houses.  We spotted this wonderful garden in place of lawn.

Everything was planted here.  In the center of this photo is Asparagus that has gone to seed.  I love the way the fruit trees have been trained to follow along the fence.

Having coffee with Eli

At the beach, wild roses in abundance.

Beautiful Eli and her loyal Charlie

the beach and the water is the Straights of Juan de Fuca

sisters!!!!

At the Thursday farmers market lettuce is $3.50 a bag and spinach $4.50 for a 1/2 pound bag.  Isn't this just the cutest display with the antique table cloths and everything so neatly ordered?

Celebrating Eli's birthday with Italian food.  I had baked ziti.  Austin's girl Elena is a sweetie.  Blake hates having pictures taken BTW.

Mi Familia

Down in another little town on Friday so I can purchase souvenirs for my men back home.  See the mountain peeking in at us in the background?  Mt. Baker

hermanas

soeurs

Mt. Baker

Mt. Baker

sorelle

Friday night Eli treated me to a local play.  The production of South Pacific.

I heard "Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair" "Bali Hai" "Some Enchanted Evening" and my favorite "Happy Talk"  and others in their entirety.

Saturday it rained off and on all day.  We cancelled our plans to hike and picnic.  Instead we watched netflix all day and ate egg salad made with eggs from Eli's chickens and lettuce from her garden.  That is the true color.  It tasted wonderful!  Did I mention the two bags of Tim's Cascade Salt and Vinegar chips we ate also?

This is how Eli and Charlie spent our rainy day.  Notice how she covered him up just so?

And he isn't complaining!

Sunday at church is Super Sunday every Sunday with a potluck and preaching after a meal for an early home time in the the afternoon.  It was Father's Favorites as the theme.  I bough a bunch of Rhubarb for $3.50 at the farmers market just enough to combine with frozen strawberries for a pie.

I also made my Dad's favorite, Beth's Potato Salad.  The crock pot contains baked beans.  My Dad loved them all. 

a cuttie at church

dessert table

After we came home from church Eli took me for a walk through the neighborhood.  We went about 3 miles and I took pictures of berries. . .

flowers

and cedar tree berries
Eli gave me old bread to feed her chickens.  I think this is Pearl.  Yes, all 5 chickens are named :-)


Only four chickens are pictured here.  The 5th one was broody so she choose to sit on a nest.  If I lifted the door of the nest box, she presented me with her fluffy backside and I was able to pet her. . .several times.

That is enough for one post.  everyone will be tired of me and my posts.  Finally something interesting to write about.  Next post, Friday Harbor!!

Friday, April 15, 2016

Around the House



A superb camping trip with my men.







 A new rug to brighten things up in my kitchen.



 Pictures of Trim Healthy Food, just because everyone needs food pictures now and then.

 Bacon Cheeseburger Salad, Red Zinger Tea



 Zuppa Tuscana with faux-tatoes

 Okra Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

 
 
A "Good Morning" greeting from the Lord.
 


Two and half hours in the garden, 520 calories burned.




A humerous picture from my helper this morning.