Aug12
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Aug11
San Juan Islands Part 2
The waters were calm and the ferry ride was most enjoyable. Within minutes we arrived at Orcas Island. We eagerly began our road trip around the island, admiring the magnificent views along the way to our first stop at Deer Harbor. Although the skies were cloudy, the marina was busy with both boats and kayaks.
We continued our drive to Eastsound, and were delighted at the extraordinary yard decorations we saw.
We stopped at New Leaf Cafe for brunch and took a short stroll through the town.
Next we headed for Rosario, a gorgeous resort on the water.
Our next destination was Moran State Park. We passed this painted barn and quaint little egg stand along the way.
Constitution Point featured a beautiful view of the water despite the clouds.
All too soon it was time to make our way back to the ferry and continue on our journey.
Aug7
San Juan Islands Part 1
On Tuesday we drove down to Anacortes and took the ferry across to San Juan Island. The skies were partly cloudy but the view was breathtaking. The west side of the state is completely different from the east side. Puget Sound was resplendent with islands and tranquil waters. The hustle and bustle of the mainland was left far behind.
We drove off the ferry upon our arrival in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island and I noticed quaint shops and restaurants on the way to our hotel. This town had a definite tourist feel to it. We spent most of our time driving around the island, stopping at a variety of landmarks as constantly admiring the marvelous views of the water, the marinas and the beaches.
The two sights known as the American Camp and the English Camp were established in the late 1800s as a result of the Pig War. An American shot a British pig and it sparked a war. Both sights have hiking trails and we chose to spend our time at the American Camp.
The Alpalca Farm captured my heart. These docile creatures were intent on grazing in the fields and I was delighted when they posed for photos. There was an interesting gift shop with a variety of items made from alpalca yarn. One of the staff was knitting and creating tiny pumpkins.
The Lavender Farm was magnificent. We were able to view the younger plants as well as the mature ones. There were also canopies and picnic tables in the area, and a sign indicating that the area would be a perfect venue for a wedding.
Snug Harbor and Roche Harbor were two of the resort areas we visited. Views of the water were spectacular and the marinas were quite busy. The throngs of tourists at Roche Harbor were similar to those of Friday Harbor.
Deer were everywhere on this island. A few were brave enough to dart across the road while many of them just stood along the side, searching for food in the dense forested area.
We were delighted to find an outdoor concert held at a park behind the museum.
The two days flew by and we were soon back on the ferry.
Jul30
Christmas in July
My friends here chide me constantly because I head south to Mexico at the first hint of snow in the fall. Stay for the tree lighting. Stay for Christmas. Well……I did experience Christmas here in Leavenworth. The setting was the Upper Valley Museum on Wednesday night. I even have some photos to prove it!
The tree lighting? I prefer to watch that online where I don’t have to brave the frigid temperatures or contend with the traffic jams caused by all the tourists who invade this quaint Bavarian village.
Last night I enjoyed a spectacular performance of My Fair Lady out at The Fish Hatchery. I am amazed by the local talent found in Leavenworth Summer Theater. And what a setting in the background! The occasional drone of a helicopter as well as the smokey haze are constant reminders of the wildfires at this time of year.
This afternoon we went to Wenatchee to see Momma Mia Here We Go Again. Excellent music and a great cast. Cher hasn’t changed a bit over the years and we should all be like her at that age.
I did find time to visit my tree in Cashmere the other day. Even though it’s still completely green it is still absolutely gorgeous.
This will be my last post for a while as I’m off to the San Juan islands for a few days. Come August I will have more photos and anecdotes to share.
Jul22
Happy
It’s been a while since my last blog post. I’ve had a lot going on in my life lately with little time to sit down and reflect on paper what’s been going on. This post will be kind of a hodgepodge and will definitely be all over the place.
I’ll begin with a question I received from someone in my past. The question……….He asked “Are you staying happy?” Interestingly enough, when this person was a part of my life, we were both struggling with similar issues although we were unaware of it at the time. It’s amazing how drugs can mask your true feelings. His question has haunted me and it has raised quite a stir with some of my friends here in Leavenworth, so much so that several of us are still pondering this very question. And I wonder how many of my followers will be thinking about this.
This past week has been one of the most fabulous weeks of my life. It’s hard to find words to describe it. Vacation Bible School (VBS) was held at Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene. 216 children were registered and I was blessed with the opportunity to be a rotation leader in the preschool imagination station. While the children were delighted with the activities in our craft and play area, their facial expressions and gleeful comments spoke so much more. Their excitement was contagious. For many, VBS is a regular summer adventure and church life is a constant. But then there are those who have never set foot in a church before and have never held a bible in their hands. This week was definitely an incredible experience for all the adult volunteers as well as all the children. VBS is definitely the highlight of the time I spend in Leavenworth during the summer.
The writing course I have been taking is drawing to a close….only two classes left. I have decided that the memoirs I am writing will be dedicated to my granddaughter Maddie. As the memories surface, they become more important than ever to be written down for posterity. There are so many things about my own parents that I wish I knew about. Unfortunately they are no longer here and neither are all the others who could provide me with some insight. I told my daughter that there will be stories included that she has never heard about before. Too often we wait too long in life to ask certain questions, By then it is too late to find the answers.
Last night I was at the senior center with some friends. Gary and Trish travel over an hour and a half to come to Leavenworth. Other local talent join them and it varies from time to time. Country music is the theme except for the first Saturday of the month when it’s Gospel. In another lifetime I used to go to Forbidden Flavors or Happy Mike’s back in Winnipeg for music on Saturday nights.
I’m still hyped from VBS. The songs are are still running through my head. I’ll end this post with some of the pics I took during the week.
Jul8
What I’ve Been Up To
These blog posts seem to be getting farther and farther apart. There is just so much happening here in Washington that I find myself out and about constantly and haven’t spent much time at home. This means I’ve been taking lots of photos and having interesting adventures but there has been no time for writing. We went to church this morning in Cashmere and then out for brunch to 59er Diner. I told my friend that I was determined to stay at home this afternoon and organize photos and do some writing.
Organizing photos has become quite the challenge as my phone and my laptop do not appear to be on speaking terms lately. This means I need to email photos and then download them and finally put them into albums. This is a very tedious process and today’s task is going through an entire month’s worth of photos.
Now down to what has kept me busy. Where to begin…………
I enjoy walking and I live in a delightful neighborhood close to the downtown area. Here are some of the sights I see along the way to the Senior Center:
In addition to my usual activities at the senior center as well as teaching fitness classes, I enrolled in a memoir writing class and joined the Bavarian Book Club at the Leavenworth Library. VBS (Vacation Bible School) at the Nazarene Church is only a week away. My friend Linda and I are rotation leaders for the craft and play in the preschool division. We’ve been decorating our classroom and perfecting crafts for the kids.
Other festivals and events make this a busy time of year. The Farmers Markets have begun. Founders Day in Cashmere and the Accordion Festival in Leavenworth were followed by July 4th. Although fireworks have been banned here due to the dry conditions and the high risk of forest fires, there was lots happening in Leavenworth.
The day began with a pancake breakfast at Lions Club Park served up by the 4H kids. Kinderfest followed with a bike parade and numerous activities for children of all ages.
I’ve enjoyed a variety of music this past week. Yesterday at the gazebo a talented accordionist and yodeler entertained us. Earlier in the week I attended a dress rehearsal for Sound of Music up at the amphitheater. Last night was Gospel night at the Senior Center.
On Friday we were in Wenatchee picking up our instructor t-shirts at Wellness Place and decided to go to a movie. Won’t You Be My Neighbor was our choice and it was a great tribute to Mr. Rogers. A word of caution…….remember to bring your tissues. It is a little tearful.
I somehow found some time to return to the Nutcracker Museum. Last summer I spent about three hours there but I was pressed for time and only had an hour this time.
Tomorrow is Monday and the roller-coaster starts up again.. The morning will be spent preparing for VBS. Then lunch at the Senior Center. Then writing group. Then book club. A day in the life………….
Jun30
Founders Day, Cashmere, Washington
Founders Day was celebrated in Cashmere, Washington last weekend. On Saturday we braved the 90 degree temperatures and took in some of the festivities. Cashmere is my favorite town in this state and is also home to my tree that I photograph constantly throughout my stay here.
Cashmere was originally slated to be called “Mission” but there was a conflict with the name as it was already being used by more than one town in the state. The town of Mission was incorporated on July 1, 1904. In 1909 telephone lines were installed. Paved walks were next in 1913 followed by electric lights in 1914. Paved streets arrived in 1919.
Cashmere is a charming town that boasts the Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village as well as Spirit of America, a tribute to 9/11. We began our afternoon on the grounds of the museum where a barbecue was being held along with a small flea market.
Next we explored the outdoor area at the Pioneer Village.
We then headed over to Riverfront Park. There was nonstop entertainment featuring local talent. A handful of vendors were selling everything from kettle corn to jewelry. Helicopter rides were available for brave souls and a children’s activity area was quite popular.
An added feature was the steady stream of rafters on the river.
After a few hours the heat got to us and we decided to return to Leavenworth before the ping pong drop from the helicopter and the grand parade. Back in Leavenworth the accordion festival was in full swing. Alas there are only so many hours in a weekend…………….
Jun22
This Weekend in Washington
Is it really Friday again already? It was just Monday!
The Accordion Festival started yesterday here in Leavenworth. There will be music galore throughout the weekend at the gazebo and in the Festhall. Saturday will feature a parade throughout the town. I enjoyed all of this immensely last year.
But I have different plans for this weekend. I’m going to Cashmere with friends to take in Founders Day celebrations. A barbecue and time at the Pioneer Museum are on the list. Upper Valley Connection are performing The Little Mermaid again this year. One of my friends will also be on a float in the parade.
The real kick-start to the weekend happens tonight at Icicle Junction. The Nazarene Church is holding a mini-golf and pizza event for the kids and I am one of the many volunteers. Here’s a shot of us all at last year’s event.
Also on my to do list for the weekend are visiting a friend in hospital, buying tickets for summer theater performances and regular Sunday church services. My characters are talking up a storm today so I will dive into my current work in progress once I get this post up.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Jun18
Today and Yesterday
Today is Father’s day. The last time I celebrated Father’s Day with my dad was in 1976, months before he passed away. He never met his grandchildren. He missed out on so many milestones in my life and in their lives. My dad was my world and I think of him often, not just on Father’s Day. This is one of the last photos ever taken of us together.
As a child, I remember creating elaborate cards with interesting verses for my dad. We often enjoyed barbecues on that day with my Auntie Jan, Uncle Harry and my cousins. I have fond memories of those childhood Father’s Days.
My dad taught me how to ride a bike and how to drive a car. He taught me the importance of getting an education. Although he was around when I received my first university degree, he was already gone when I achieved subsequent degrees and diplomas. He never lived to see his grandchildren graduate from university, but I know he would have been proud of them as well.
Today is June 17th. Back in 2012 I was one day away from my first knee replacement surgery. And I was convinced that I was going to die. My mom died after having the same surgery and I was terrified that I would meet the same fate. Not only did I survive that first surgery, but a year later I found myself having my second knee done on June 17th.
Today is Father’s Day, June 17th and I am in Leavenworth, Washington. My children and my granddaughter are in Canada, so there are no family barbecues for me today. Instead, my day has not shown a hint of Father’s Day as I once knew it.
This morning I passed on the church I usually attend and went to Faith Lutheran with my friend Karen. To my surprise, I knew several of the congregants although it is an extremely small church. People from my fitness classes, bridge group and the senior center were there. The pastor was Hispanic so I got to practice my Spanish with him. The service was interesting and different from other services I have attended here in Leavenworth, in Canada and in Mexico.
We then headed over to the First Methodist to bid farewell to Pastor Denise. Although this is not my usual church, Denise had become a familiar presence here in town. She came to the senior center often and attended many local events here and in Cashmere. She will be missed by the community.
Now I know it is definitely not proper church etiquette to take photos during a service, but those of you who know me know all too well that my philosophy is that rules are there to be broken.
The first photo was taken at the Lutheran church. I was determined to get a photo of the pastor in his garb. The other photos are of the incredible artwork on the walls of the church.
This next photo is on of Pastor Denise at the Methodist church. Note the ladies wearing hats, a tribute they had decided upon for Denise’s last service.
And now it’s time to call one of my best friends who lives in Toronto who is celebrating a birthday today. Happy Birthday Deborah!
Jun10
Writing About Life
As a young child, I delighted in writing short poems and creating birthday cards with rhyming verses. I even continued to write throughout my teens. I began a novel but somewhere along the line the magic vanished. When depression and anxiety entered my life as an adult, I began to journal. Next came the publication of two self-help books. I then discovered the art of blogging. Unfortunately the journaling has fallen by the wayside at the moment, but a new course in writing memoirs has taken its place.
This week’s homework entails finding a childhood photo and sharing a memory. This has proven to be quite a difficult feat as all the family photo albums are back in Canada and I am not. While I do have countless photos of my own children stored on my Seagate, I have only a handful of myself. I think my appearance as well as taste in clothing has changed significantly over the years. The bonnet and dress have been replaced by jeans and t-shirts.
Another writing challenge that has occupied my time recently is an article to be published in Scoop, the newsletter at the Leavenworth Senior Center. I submitted two articles last summer about my life in Mexico. The article I’m going to share in this post was co-written with my friend Karen. We are two of the instructors in the S.A.I.L. program here in town and highly encourage seniors to attend these fitness classes. We both recognize how the exercises have enhanced our health and well-being, and are eager to share this experience with others.
Here is the article:
STAY ACTIVE AND INDEPENDENT FOR LIFE
(S.A.I.L)
The Senior Falls Prevention Study was undertaken in 2003-2005 by the Washington State Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The WSDOH recognized the need for a program and sponsored research in social marketing in 2005-2006 aimed at how best to motivate seniors to participate. Also in 2006 S.A.I.L. instructor training was developed and funding provided by the WSDOH. In 2007 the results of a study of the participants showed improved balance, mobility skills and leg strength, as well as a reduction in fear of falling. Further research continues to support these findings.
S.A.I.L. is a strength, balance and fitness program geared towards adults 65 years and older. The activities have been designed to help seniors to stay independent and active as well as to prevent falls.
S.A.I.L. is evidence based as participants are assessed regularly by experienced and skilled instructors trained by professionals associated with Wellness Place in Wenatchee.
Classes follow a format of warm up exercises, aerobics and activities that promote balance, strength and flexibility.
Due to the nature of the program, a doctor’s consent is required prior to enrollment. Please drop by to observe a class and obtain the necessary forms.
The one hour classes are free of charge and are held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10:30 am at First Baptist Church, 429 Evans Street, here in Leavenworth.
We hope you will join us soon!
iamkaren23 