We celebrated the equinox this last week. On the morning of the equinox we woke to a beautiful blue sky with Stanwood buried in a heavy ground fog, but with Mount Baker and the Cascade out clear and bright. Everything was as it had been except for one small thing - it was cold. The daytime temperature had dropped into the high fifties - low sixties. The air had a bitter edge. Just the kind of temperatures needed to turn the leaves' colors. We haven't gotten used to the cold - assuming that if it's bright it must be warm.
Another sign is that the last of the anchored out boats has been pulled and put into storage. Saturday the launch ramp, around the next point, has been doing a land office business. Our neighbor, Olstein, pulled his boat and towed it off to the storage yard for the winter.
We're having to break out the warmer clothes.
Last Sunday we left Tri-Cities and took up residence in my brother Randy's house at Desert Aire. We got a chance to visit with my Mother and installed some new software into the store's computer. The computer upgrade went well but I couldn't finish the job because I was missing a cable. Monday I went back to Tri-cities to get the right cable. Nowhere in the Tri-Cities was the desired cable to be found. Would have to look for the cable on the West side of the Mountains. Found it in the first store I tried.
The last time we were at Desert Aire, Ricki asked us to collect some beach driftwood for her garden. We delivered the treasures and spread them around her back yard. Ricki was delighted.
We decided to head back over the hill on Tuesday. The surprise was that Ricki decided to come back with us. We left about 9:00 and chose to return over Steven's Pass. The Steven's Pass highway is mostly two lanes and so it takes longer. But, it is very beautiful. Steven's Pass is north of Snoqualmie Pass and so we got to the "coast" north of Seattle, closer to Everett.
We hadn't made any plans for entertaining Ricki, but her request made it easy. She just wanted to sit on the deck and soak in the ambiance. The weather cooperated and gave us clear days. We didn't spend all our time on the deck, but it did get a little cool in the afternoon. The solution - a beach fire. We had a nice fire on the deck and with an afternoon of a cool day, a fire is every bit as nice as a summer night fire. We didn?t roast any marshmallows but basking in the heat was glorious.
We didn't spend all of our time on the deck. Wednesday we went to La Conner.
It eventually became obvious that Ricki's secret agenda was driftwood. The trunk full that we had brought her had only wetted her appetite. Ricki's main mode of transportation is a mini-van. Thursday, Ricki and I scoured the beach for appropriate pieces of driftwood. Rather than carry Ricki's treasures from their resting to our house, we used the "Jon Boat" as a wagon. Fortunately, the tide was fairly high, so the boat could be loaded and pulled parallel to the shore - worked good.
Once we had the driftwood at our house, we still had to schlep it to the mini-van. We filled the van to the gunnels. Ricki was a happy camper. Ricki returned to her world on Friday.
Sunday was the soirée hosted by Linda and Randy to celebrate the plans for Brian and Jennine to start a new life with their engagement and by moving to Palm Desert, CA. The party was at Randy's house in West Seattle and we elected to ride south with Randy and Linda's good friends, the Minears. Janet Minear had damaged her knee and had to be on crutches. Getting her up and down all the stairs in Randy's house was a real challenge.
The party was super! Randy and Linda pulled out all the stops. The catering staff had a very handsome spread and Randy provided a nice assortment of adult beverages. The weather couldn?t have been more perfect - bright and in the high sixties.
Jennine's parents and brother and his family were there. All of Randy and Linda?s relatives and a large contingent from Desert Aire were there. And, of course, a bunch of Brian and Jeannine?s friends to wish them well in their new life.
Our time on the island is winding down as we have to pay the last month?s rent this week. We?ve been here almost 6 months! It's been wonderful and we will definitely miss our beach life.