Rock Hunting

Today, new friend Wanda and I drove to the other side of Port Angeles to seek the elusive “turtle rock”.  A beautiful jade colored rock with raised white spots.  After collecting a batch you take them home, wash, and shellac to bring out the green coloring.   A permanent wet look.   My collection will be located next to the house near the downspout. 

Wanda is a talented artist painting in oils, watercolor and currently, silk painting.  We made a quick stop today at her art instructor’s home in Port Angeles to pick up a few supplies.  Karen Sistek.  Wow.  Her work is absolutely stunning.  

Karen was chosen as one of only nine artists to paint a silk banner to hang at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington D.C., in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution.

As we were entering Karen’s studio, she pointed out a beautiful little fawn with huge soft brown eyes (he thought he was hiding behind a small clump of grass) in her backyard. He was born just a few days ago right there behind the house.  The little guy was making his momma proud by holding perfectly still.  We will be seeing fawn around our place in the next few days.  We had a lot of pregnant doe around our house this spring.  They have been hidden for a while, but will soon be making a grand appearance with their new family in tow. 

Interesting People

The most interesting people retire to our area on the Olympic Peninsula.    People from all over the world and all professions and trades.   Ages range from 50 to over 100. 

Here is the story of one of our fellow Sunland Golf and Country Club members.  I think you might find it interesting and inspiring.  http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007705280306

Olympic Cellars

We are enjoying a glass of wine on this warm, sunny afternoon,  “Working Girl White”.  Never thought an Olympic Peninsula wine would win over our eastern Washington favorites.  But, the Olympic Cellars Winery has our heart and satisfied our taste buds.  Only a few miles from our Sequim home base, the winery is owned and operated by three feisty women, better known as the Working Girls (Molly, Lisa and Kathy).   We met Molly and Lisa and they convinced us to join the wine club.  We receive a 20% discount off prices every time we purchase wine.  We commit to 12 bottles a year.  Oh, that will not be a problem.

Starting in July the winery has a concert every Saturday evening at 7 p.m. with great music and wine.  Local seafood chowder and salads are available at each concert provided by Mystery Bay Seafood .  A favorite is Crème Tangerine; a Beatles knock-off band. 

Housed in a 121 year-old historic barn, a 100+ year old hand-crafted tasting bar, farm land that they have preserved with a small vineyard and a 100 year old bell that rings in the harvest. Time and time again we run into such historic locations and determined entrepreneurs on the Peninsula. 

2012 Port Townsend Kitchen Tour

Yesterday, Kelley and I and three new friends toured eight homes on the 15th Annual Kitchen Tour.  All of the homes were fabulous.  Not only were the kitchens interesting, but the homes were spectacular—every one included a stunning view of either the water (Oak Bay, Discovery Bay) or the Olympic Mountains, sometimes both. 

While in one of the homes, the Tour Publicity photographer asked to snap our picture.  We’re famous!  May be seeing the photo below in the Peninsula Daily News.  HaHa! 

All eight homes were spread out in the country side and it took a good six hours to see them all.  Great way to explore the Peninsula and laugh with new friends.

Caption (written by the Publicity report for the PDN): Sequim's Kelley Jensen (left) and Terry Main consult the tour passport description of Milt and Kathleen Taylor's kitchen on the 15th Annual AAUW Kitchen Tour sponsored by AAUW Port Townsend and its University Women's Foundation on April 28. Jensen and Main joked they were making a list of projects for their husbands, and, as reported by other tour attendees, stated they attended the self-guided tour of 8 kitchens in order to get decorating ideas, explore the Chimacum area, and support a community project. Proceeds from the popular annual kitchen tour support scholarships and education projects in East Jefferson County, including literacy and phonics programs for kindergartners, math programs for 3rd graders, and Career Days for 8th graders. For more information, see www.aauwpt.org.

Time In A Bottle

Thirty-eight years ago on April 20, 1974 at 2 p.m. we married.  And it seems like yesterday.  It was a big wedding held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the traditional vows and a special song sang by a nun with a beautiful voice and her guitar.  She sang from the balcony and music filled the church.  It was a beautiful day.

And we are looking forward to many new adventures, fun times and endless beautiful days.  Life is good when you live with your best friend and soul mate.  How did we get so lucky?

Time In A Bottle lyrics
Songwriter: Jim Croce

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day 'til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go through time with

Fort Worden

Day trip with some girlfriends to Port Townsend for breakfast at Salal Café (good food, but be forewarned—they are slow), nearby Fort Worden for a short 4-mile hike, and then a little thrifty shopping back in Port Townsend.  

Fort Worden along with the heavy batteries of Fort Flagler and Fort Casey, once guarded the entrance to Puget Sound.  These posts, established in the late 1890s, became the first line of a fortification system designed to prevent a hostile fleet from reaching the Bremerton Naval Yard and the cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett. Construction began in 1897 and continued in one form or another until the fort was closed in 1953.

Besides a brilliant blue sky and spring flowers (red rhododendrons and flowering cherry are spectacular right now) to enjoy on our walk along the cliffs of Artillery Hill, we stopped along the way to poke into the battery stations (see picture on the right) built along the bluff.  It is apparent that big guns and many soldiers once manned these areas around the turn of the century.  Fort Worden remains intact with the old barracks, common buildings and officer housing—now used for small businesses and gatherings. 

As for the shopping, take note that Port Townsend’s Habitat for Humanity store is more like a great antique shop rather than a true thrift shop.  Lots of local artists sell their work here, too.  There was a vintage headboard made into a bench that would be an interesting conversation piece for some one.  Not really my style, but very cool with ornate carvings.  Creative re-purposing idea.  Will be back to browse through the store again—so much to take in.

Travel with Rick Steves

As host and writer of the popular public television series Rick Steves' Europe, and best-selling author of over 50 European travel books, Rick Steves encourages Americans to travel as "temporary locals." He helps American travelers connect much more intimately with Europe — and Europeans — for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay. Mike and I have watched these shows for years and love Rick’s humor and practical approach to traveling.  We hope to visit a few of the highlighted European locations someday.

Rick grew up in Edmonds, Washington about 50 miles from our home (via a ferry ride from Kingston to Edmonds) and this is where we get our SUV serviced.  Our vehicle had an appointment for servicing yesterday and we made plans to combine little work with a little pleasure by visiting the Rick Steves’ Travel Center in the old downtown district.

In 1976, Rick Steves started Europe Through the Back Door (ETBD), a Edmonds-based business which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a well-traveled staff of 80 full-time employees. ETBD offers free travel information through its travel center, website (www.ricksteves.com), European Railpass Guide, and free travel newsletters. ETBD also runs a successful European tour program with more than 450 departures — attracting around 11,000 travelers — annually.

The Center is very understated and not really a tourist destination.  But, it was fun to see Rick’s hometown of Edmonds, Washington, pick up some travel information and view Rick’s office which overlooks his old junior high school.