Sand in the cracks

Our last trip to PC before the move was fun. We took Luna out in the boat for the first time. She was not anxious, as we expected. She loved the wind and watching the world go by. Our neighbor gave us a pile of  seafood so we ate well. We took kayaks out to the river down from Cloverdale. It was VERY windy, making wakes on the river and hard paddling. We were also able to take the Jannie K out to the river mouth for a nice sunny day on the beach. 

 

NOT a smooth move

Well, after going back and forth ad nausem about the right timing to move to the Methow, we decided it was too complicated to get work done up there from long distance so we decided to take the plunge and move into the old farmhouse while work  is completed around us. First we had to finish cleanup after our lousy renter; Sarah agreed to help us because it was a big job. Two of the rooms needed all the carpeting pulled up, along with some subfloor (due to pet urine). It was a huge job and B about killed himself getting it done. 

We formalized plans to have a local contractor build a shop building for us , expected to be done by September. We arranged with a Portland realtor to list the house and turned ourselves inside out to figure out the move. Long distance movers were outrageously expensive so we opted to hire our own trucks, with volunteer drivers, and hired crew for loading. I was super stressed about it so B sent me to PC with Kristin for the load up. After B and his two buddies left to head north, Bug and I followed later that day. The move turned out to be a nightmare, with mistakes in how the trucks were loaded and unloaded and a nightmare of boxes left in the wrong place. 

 

The move was tough. We didn't get rid of a lot because the new house was expected to be about the same size as Portland house. However, we didn't plan well enough for where to put things until then. We are now buried in boxes.

A Day for Mothers

Only got to spend Mothers Day with Bug and Jess. Still fun, we went to Berrydale Park and played croquet under the pine trees. 

 

The tip of the peninsula

We decided to go bigger this year for our winter birthday trip. We picked southern Florida, which B had visited before -- briefly -- but I had not. We decided to center our trip on Miami, from there going to the Keys and the Everglades. The weather cooperated (April) and was not too hot and not rainy. It was a good trip. We drove east from Miami to the Gulf and B swam in the ocean and I picked up shells (just like always). It turned out to be much farther to drive to Key West than we expected so our trip south was quick, we stayed just one night. Not much time to explore, unfortunately. B had wanted to go to Dry Tortuga but it was a multi-hour boat ride and I was worried about sea sickness, so we did not go. 

Key West

Key West yacht

Miami Little Havana sidewalk

Little Havana

Very bad Miami aquarium

Mural at our Miami motel

Decommissioned missile base southern Florida

B and his reptilian buddy at National Park

Not the roadside sign you expect to see. No wayside pitstops with panthers about. 

Miami Beach (ultra-lights at sunset)

Downtown Miami

Beach park south of Miami Beach, very old lighthouse

Crazy hotel north of Miami-- Hard Rock?

Alligator in the roadside ditch (naturally)

Cypress swamp

Old-school Miami mansion 

fancy art covering a cabinet in the mansion

Dock built of cement to look like a galleon

Little Havana domino players

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B and his buddy, baby alligator

 

Springtime for LeahBeth

Traveled north a few times early this year, once for Leah's birthday and another for a ski weekend with Leah, Michael and friends. 

 

The Last of the Big Time Surgeries

Well, for the umpteenth (seems like) I had another surgery in January. It was hopefully my last. I was prepared for a complication or negative after-effect but was amazed I came out unscathed and had a quick recovery. The only downside was to find myself lactose intolerant after the surgery, a common side effect of intestinal surgery I'm told. Bummer but nothing compared to past issues. 

 

Ice, Ice, Baby

Another hellacious ice storm this winter. We expected to lose more walnut branches but were lucky this year. Thank you 2024.

 

All the World's a Game ...or stage. Whatever.

This winter we hit our third (?) anniversary of our dinner-and-game nights with our neighbors. It's been a hit with everyone and encouraged me to occasionally cook more interesting things (menu's been pretty dull since my hospitalization). Games are supposed to be good for my post-stroke brain so I have my own reasons to be a fan of the evenings. Aside from hanging with good friends of course.