Ma and Pa Kettle

Just down the road from our place is the small town of Chimacum, Washington.  Just a few buildings at an intersection make up the town, but what is remarkable about the place are two former residents, Ma and Pa Kettle.  Yep, they were real people living here in our county—a hillbilly couple with fifteen children.  If you are not familiar with them, Ma and Pa Kettle are comic film characters of the successful film series of the same name, produced by Universal Studios, in the late '40s and '50s.

Ma and Pa Kettle were featured by Betty MacDonald in her 1945 best-selling novel, The Egg and I.   (Chimacum has a road called the Egg and I.)  The success of the novel spawned the 1947 film The Egg and I starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray, also co-starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride as Ma and Pa Kettle.

The little grocery store in Chimacum has actual photographs of the Kettles posted on their wall.   And the actors portraying the couple do resemble the originals.   Read the book and watch the movies—they are a hoot!

Some locations across the country have famous historical figures…we have Ma and Pa Kettle. 

Living Aboard

For over 30 years, our dream was to live aboard a boat.  The boat of choice was a trawler over 40 feet, preferably a Nordhavn or a Krogen.  Both are full displacement and able to take to the seas.  We took lessons, chartered a vacation in the San Juan Islands on a Nordhavn, and owned several smaller boats (26 foot, 31 foot)—giving us the basics to know how to operate a larger boat.  When it came down to making retirement living choices, the cost of living aboard was beyond our means.  I know others will live aboard a boat much smaller and older, but for us, having a newer, well maintained, and roomier sea-worthy boat for traveling the open water was a must. 

It still hurts a little when you walk through the boat of our dreams.

Absence

Sorry for the absence.  I have been in a bit of a funk lately.  A few months back my knee started acting up.  The last two hikes (attempted over the last two weeks) I get to 4 miles and the knee locks up and is painful to bend.  Going downhill is the worst.  Same thing with golf, I walk nine holes and the knee seizes up.  So, I have been putzing around the house (still cleaning out closets) and doing some watercolor.  Doctor appointment is scheduled the first week of November.   Up until two days ago, the autumn weather has been glorious; this lay-up is frustrating when there are trails to be walked.  Lots of spectacular colors out there.

Part of deal when our parts start to age.  I am a firm believer that you have to keep moving to stay young.  Get the repairs needed, pick yourself up and keep on trucking. 

And not to worry I will get going and start the journaling again.  There are so many interesting and fun activities around here—impossible to stay in this mood for long.

Go Golf

Looking for a game?  Sunland's active golf calendar has something for everyone.  In addition to our annual and special event schedule, Monday offers a 9 hole Twilight competition followed by dinner, Tuesday hosts a weekly couples tournament; Wednesday, the traditional "Men's" day and Thursday includes both 9 and 18 hole ladies competitions. With summer's light extending to after 10:00pm, a few evening holes can easily extend to a full 18.

This year I took up the game of golf.  And I am addicted.  Not a good golfer by any means, but it feels great to get out on a beautiful golf course, get some exercise and enjoy a few laughs.  Weekly, I play with the Lady Niners on Thursdays (our field day players in the photo left).  They do not take the game too seriously and are very forgiving of the new player…that would be me. 

Mike and I occasionally play a game and we frequently join in on the Twilight competition together.  A great way to meet new people both on the course and at the dinner afterwards.  And once in a while I will join a foursome of gals and we will play a game on Mondays.

Today we had the annual Awards Banquet for the Lady Niners and the official season will end this October.  But, for those of us staying over the winter, we will continue to play as the weather permits.

In the beginning, I was horribly intimidated by the game.  But it is just a GAME.  Get out there and have fun.  I did and so glad I did!

Babes in Coupeville

The “Bus Babes” (formerly known as the “Bus Hobos”) made their way to Coupeville, Washington this week.  We caught the bus in Sequim (all day $2) and rode to Port Townsend to catch the ferry to Whidbey Island.  Whidbey Island has a free shuttle or small bus to Coupeville.  We spent the day visiting little shops and ate fish and chips at Tobey’s.  I found a handsome new doorbell with an engraved pinecone.  Made by a local artist AND it matches our new house numbers.  Score!

Weather was/is unbelievable (Indian Summer weather for the last week and for the next two weeks) with cloudless blue skies and pleasant temperatures in the high 60’s.  So nice for our visit to a picture-perfect seaside town.  Riding the bus you can sit back and soak in the views—water, mountains, quaint little towns and farms.

Coupeville was founded in 1852 by Captain Thomas Coupe and is the second oldest town in the State of Washington. The town continues to preserve original pioneer homes with a variety of historic architectures including Queen Anne, Saltbox, and pioneer Block Houses. Coupe's original home, built in 1853, is one of the State's oldest. Coupeville's limits overlay Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve established by Congress in 1980 as the first and one of the largest such reserves in the nation. Its 22 square miles (57 km²) encompass farmlands, Fort Ebey State Park, beaches, parks, trails and 91 nationally registered historic structures.

We ended the day with ice cream and freshly made waffle cones.  Long day, but loads of fun. 

Age is All About Attitude

September is a mild month in south central Washington.  Sunny days with a bit of nip in the air.  Lots of crops ready for harvest including the grapes in the vineyards.  Normally, the grape smell overloads your sniffer this time of year, but the nearby forest fires in the Cascade Mountains have created a heavy smoke in the valley overpowering the harvest scents.

To hell with the smoke, we went riding!  Harley riding with the family.  Mike’s parents have a beautiful, new cherry red Harley trike and they know how to use it.  You would never know they are 83 and 78 years old.  They look fabulous and are having the time of their lives.  (Picture at far left)  Five hours of seat time up to Chinook Pass and back; they never missed a beat. 

Along with Mike’s sister, Barb, and husband, Jerry, and Jerry’s sister and brother and their spouses, we made a gang of Harley (and Honda) riders. 

Our destination on Chinook Pass was Whistlin’ Jack for lunch.  But, of course, it is all about the journey not the destination.

First Friday Art Walk

A good percentage of the population in Sequim is represented by talented artists.  And every first Friday of the month from 5 – 8 p.m. they share their work in galleries and businesses in the older section of Sequim.  (The Map for the self-guided tour is available at participating arts venues or download your own map here.)  One of my companions, Wanda (photo at left), was enjoying the glass exhibition.  Both of my friends (photo below, right) are very talented artists and their paintings were displayed.

The September 7 Art Walk Color Theme was BLUE, but of course I forgot and wore a bright red shirt! Next month I will make sure to follow the theme.  I certainly stood out in a sea of blue.

Many of the locations like the Rainshadow Roasting Company featured live music, wine, and appetizers for the “art walkers”.  The weather has been especially warm this week and most everyone spilled out onto the sidewalk to enjoy the balmy evening.  Sequim takes pride in their people friendly streets with plenty of benches and colorful late-season bloomers. 

 

If you are visiting Sequim at the beginning of the month, I highly recommend attending the Art Walk.