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.