For the second straight weekend, the weather in Washington has been summer-like and rejuvenating. And, for the second straight weekend, we have worked non-stop in our yard and garden.

I am too old for this! We started with a mountain of soil. The problem: The soil is at the top of our 2.5 acre property and the garden is at the bottom of it. The solution: Susan has to fill wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow and wheel it down to the bottom of the property to go in the garden. The outcome: Our first vegetable garden in 7 years!

It was not all work and no play. It was actually a lot of fun. We took breaks, sitting in the sun and I have to say, my tan is in late summer form already. I may not have that much Indian blood but what I do have serves me well in the tanning department. Every night, we went out to dinner, last night being the most fun going to Porter's Place with my brother and his girlfriend. More on that in a later post. And that much hard work all day lends itself to a great night's sleep!

In addition to the box garden with tomatillos, lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets and swiss chard, we have three pots by the garden with rhubarb, zucchini and cucumbers and two pots up by the house with tomatoes. We still have a bunch of herbs to plant, oregano, cilantro, parsley and of course, catnip.

This is only the beginning, this year. Next year we have even bigger plans. Who knows, we could be a farming household by this time next year.

Enjoy the summer!

Proud Mama

Yes, while they are away playing on a beach in Romania, I still have news to report. My son is no longer a teacher in Alaska but as a parting shot, he was named the "Staff Person of the Year" in the LKSD school district. What a perfect way to end his two year experience there.

Some day I believe he will realize the amazing experiences he was able to have in those lonely two years. But for those years, would he be the musician he has become? Would he have the appreciation for his profession? Would he know how to skin a fox? It truly was like being in a foreign country and it is something we will all be able to remember via his blog entries.

Come home soon Kale and congratulations!

If they were here....

We went to the Tahoma National Cemetery today to visit Mom and Dad. It is a very special place on Memorial Day and it is the kind of place I know Mom and Dad would be proud to have as their final resting place, if they were here.

If they were here, with the beautiful, sunny weather I am certain I would have them over for a BBQ. Mom would show up in her pink outfit, happy as a clam just to have somewhere to go. Dad would find her a comfortable chair from which to reign for the events of the day. He would bring her a plate which would have to include Cheetos, red licorice and of course, a cup of coffee. If they were here, they would have been married for 65 years!

If they were here, I would love for them to meet my son's new girlfriend and Dad would clearly fulfill his duty to embarrass my son in front of her but I am certain he would be very smitten with her.

If they were here, they would be so proud of their family. They would dote on their new great grandson, Haywood and Dad would most certainly declare how he had to special with Briana for his mother. I can just hear Dad boasting of Jordan's prowess on the baseball field "you should see her throw the ball!". And Dad would most certainly chime in with the rest of us urging Casey to fulfill her brilliance and earn her GED. Mom would be so proud to know that her two grandsons had both become teachers, following in her footsteps. Both would have been so glad to have their oldest daughter near them again and by now I am sure would have spent a few weekends in Sequim with them. Dad would rave about Beth's museum, Mark's art and certainly would be proud of Steve who is about to run a marathon!! Dad would be anxious to see Barry and Lori and hear all about Lori's trip to Thailand and he would be ever so fretful about Lin and Candy, however, he would also be very proud of the way his oldest son has kept his attitude hopeful and certain of better days ahead. In a perfect world, those days would include a complete family gathering, including his two grandsons and four great grandchildren who have not been together for such a very long time. That would make them happiest of all, if they were here.

If they were here, my Saturdays with Dad would continue. Off to Shari's for breakfast, no matter what time of day it was, one hotcake, well done, crisp bacon and if he was really hungry, one egg over easy. Once nourished and full of coffee, off to Wal Mart to buy supplies which would most certainly include his nicotine gum because the Wal Mart brand was so much better than Nicorette. I could take Mom to the beauty parlor to get her hair done. She may not have said much but I know she felt good when she had that done and she was always so beautiful.

If they were here, they would tell me how much they loved me. And even though they are not here in body, I do hear them tell me that every day. So, I guess it shouldn't be, if they were here but rather, they are here with me and for that, I am grateful.

Happy Memorial Day

Washing away Winter

So many ways to wash away winter, not the least of which is the fact that for at least three days, my son is home. Oh how a hug can brighten up my world.

As I waited for him to come home I decided that I would wash his car for him. It had been sitting under a carport, of sorts, since he left in January. This year we used a water absorbing thing in the interior so that it did not grow mold inside. But there was nothing we could do about the outside. Five months of pine needles, pollen, rain, snow and mud combined to make it just a nasty looking piece of work. But it cleaned up very nice and I couldn't help but think as I was washing it that it was kind of like washing away the entire winter. I was washing away his past for him and now he has only a great, sunny future full of love, new adventures and summer.

Then, of all things, this weekend has been picture perfect weather, mid 70's, light breeze, birds singing all day long, reinforcing this whole theme of washing away the winter. I know that the rain will return but it won't be winter rain anymore.

We will have a BBQ today with Grandma and Grandpa and we will finally be able to meet the girl in my son's life. Again, the first BBQ of the season, the first meeting of someone who could very well be in my son's life forever, therefore in mine, and I am really looking forward to that. I hope she likes us as much as I am sure we will like her. When we throw that first horseshoe or hit that first croquet ball, winter will be officially gone and summer will have arrived.

Finally, I am back on track with weight loss and fitness and am not only washing away winter weight but that winter mentality that had me thinking there was no reason to pay attention to myself. It's just me and my man and he loves me no matter what. But life is simply more enjoyable in the summer, with a healthier body and healthier mind.

Winter is in the rear view mirror and sunshine is shining brightly through the windshield again!