Summer's Gone

I spent my second summer in Port Townsend.  I'm afraid my blog didn't get any attention.  The WIFI I had was not strong enough to download pictures and without the pics, the blog entries just didn't seem fun or interesting.  I'm hoping I can do some "catch up" entries and recreate my summer.  We'll see.

FINALLY ON THE ROAD NORTH

Car packed and ready to roll.  First day is always the drive to the Motel 6 in Barstow, CA.  I've been trying to upload pictures but my wifi doesn't seem strong enough to do the job.  That is why I haven't been keeping up with my blog.

Today I decided to start writing and post the pictures when I get home to my good internet hookup.

So here goes....after Barstow, I drove to Bakersfield and got on Interstate 5 and the long, and frankly boring, drive to WA.  I stayed at Motel 6 for two more nights and arrived at Marianne's house in Federal Way on June 27th.  Next night I met up with the group of Gals from my Housing Days.  We met at the 4 Seas bar in the Seattle International District to drink a toast to Richard McIver who passed away this year. The 4 Seas was his favorite place to participate in his favorite activity, meet, greet, listen, talk and drink with his constituents.  So we lifted a glass to honor him.  "Dicky" was a friend to affordable housing in the years he served on the Seattle City Council.  It was wonderful to see so many of my friends and participate in a tribute. 

I stayed with Marianne and we went to Poulsbo to meetup with her family to celebrate her granddaughter Kayla's 25th Birthday and for me to meet Kayla's baby girl, Rooney.  It was a great family night.  Rooney is a sweet little beauty.  The weather was perfect, the food excellent and I had my first "Lemon Drop Martini" in an ice glass.  Forget the birthday cake, it's Lemon Drop Martini's from now on!

On July 1st I took possession of my summer home.  The little studio cabin I stayed in last year.  It is just as delightful this year as it was last.  I have a neighbor who is a writer from Colorado.  Andi is writing a book about her experience of having her house burn down and what happened before and after.  She has a sweet little "Mexico rescue dog" named Nellie.  Both good neighbors.

On my first weekend in Port Townsend, I left to go to Lummi Island to meet up with a small group of friends from my High School Class of 1960.  That weekend deserves a full entry so shall close for now and try not to be too frustrated about not being able to post pictures.

Working the "Before I can Leave LIST"

Well, not leave permanently, although I have a pretty good set of instruction for that too.  Want to spare my son too many decisions when I kick the bucket. 

But for now I'm just getting ready to go to Port Townsend for the summer.  The LIST is about 45 items long but I'm working my way through.  Amazing all the preparation it takes to go live somewhere else for 3 months.  My friend Sandy calls it Summer Camp and she is right on with that description.

3 months of no schedules, no responsibilities, lots and lots of free time to write and read and wander.  Actually, I used to think that described retirement!  But no, retirement is filled with "must do's"....schedules, responsibilities, and surprisingly little time to do nothing.  At least that is how my retirement has rolled out.  So 3 months of "summer camp" sounds and is wonderful.

I'm returning to the place I spent last summer when I completely fell in love with Port Townsend, Washington.  This year I have some additional fun stuff to do.  A Hawaiian style wedding in July, a get together with some friends from High School...the ones I really like.  A week "apt. sitting" in a luxury, downtown Seattle apartment....and hopefully some visits from family and friends. 

So now it is on with the LIST and only good things ahead........5 days until lift off!

Say Goodby to the Palm Tree

This huge palm tree sat in the middle of my front yard and completely blocked the view from my front window, plus blocked the light.  Then I found out critters were living in it along with bugs.  It is hard to hate a tree but let's say the Palm and I have never bonded over the five years I've been living with it.

So, when I got the mailing from a company that buys Palm Trees I jumped at the chance.  Last year Troy, the owner came to inspect the tree.  He said at that moment it had been trimmed too far up and needed to have some time to regenerate so it would survive transplant.  Troy said he would see me next Spring.....and happily, "Spring is Here" and so was Troy.  Today the tree is on a truck heading to Texas and I have a clear front yard and a little money in the bank.  The following pictures of the process will give you an idea of how big a deal it was to get this tree out of the ground and on the truck.  Most of my neighbors were out with there cameras....loving the entertainment.  I should have charged admission!

Just the beginning
 

Now the work begins
 



"Chain saw cutting a square around the tree to get the root ball out
 

Can you see how big the chain saw is???
 

 

This was like a huge chain saw that cut through everything and down about 4+ feet

Just part of the equipment..."Tonka Toy Time"  on steroids
 

Big scarey swinging hook...way to close to my house
 

That crane was swinging that big metal hook so close to my house, for a while I thought I might be getting a skylight
 



Here is comes

It coming out of the ground , pulled by that huge crane
 

Now that is what I cal a "root ball" even if it is square
 

Joining the other palms on the truck

Swinging from the giant crane
 

On the truck and heading for Texas
 

The yard is now a clean slate....I'm thinking it will have something low growing and beautiful by next Spring.

St. Augustine, Florida Visit

Dancing the night away

Girl's Just Got to have fun!

St. Augustine Cross
 

The Lion on the Lions Gate Bridge

Pelicans in mating season all dressed up with yellow hats.

Enjoying the Ecco Cruise

In February I flew to Jacksonville, Florida and met Sandy and we drove south to St. Augustine so I could see her new home and spend some relaxation time.  Turns out I love St. Augustine.  Sandy has a nice condo that was very comfortable and close to everything we wanted to see.  We went to a great Unitarian Church, went on an Ecco-Cruise where we learned a lot about the birds and fish and dolphins.  Ate wonderful seafood, toured historic places and went out (after dark) with some of Sandy's new friends and even ended up dancing.  It was a great trip and a great visit....If you haven't been to St. Augustine, Florida, go!  It is actually the oldest town in the United States....lots of great history and buildings to see.  So here are the pictures:

Sandy at the Hydroponic strawberry farm

Local musicians at the Farmer's Market
 

On  the Beach at the Atlantic Ocean

 We really had a great time.  I'm looking forward to going back for another visit.  Sandy actually lives on an Island across a couple of bridges from St. Augustine.  It is just the right place to be, close enough to all the attractions of St. Augustine but out of the tourist crush....I think she will be there a long, long time.


THE GARAGE SALE FROM HEAVEN

KLUTTER BUSTERS....Remember that name if you are ever in my area and need someone to organize a garage or an estate sale for you.  Sharon is the next "wonder of the world"!  When I came back from my summer in Washington (or as Sandy calls it "Summer Camp") I was determined to get real about downsizing.  I knew I needed help and the Universe brought me to Klutter-Busters.  Sharon came over and in 2 days had my garage looking like a boutique,bookstore and hardware store.  She was amazing.  All I had to do was get everything I wanted to sell into the garage and stay out of the way.  Here is what the garage looked like on the night before the sale.

 This is what was left after 2 days of selling.......and this is me and Sharon the Wonder Women

 

 

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New Year 2013

Looks like I skipped through Christmas and New Years and am now into January.  Facebook has kept me distracted from writing my Blog.  So I have to do these catch up entries from time to time.  January has been a long, cold month so far.  I got home after Christmas and spent New Years as I usually do, at home.  This year I at least toasted the New Year with a friend.  Progress!

The flu hit me on January 3rd and hung around for a couple weeks.  Not very pleasant but now I'm nearly back to normal and getting on with things.  During "flu time" AZ. went into deep freeze and we had temps down in the 20's and 30's.  Landscaping took a beating but I think I can save the majority of my plants.  Weather is get weirder and weirder....climate change is upon us.  This past summer in WA. I spent 4 months with only a couple rainy days....wonderful, but strange.

I've got a busy time ahead for the rest of this month.  Garage sale time.  I found a women who does garage sales as her Business....Klutter Busters.  Heaven sent for me.  Again I have filled my garage with my thrifting and garage sale finds.  Collecting  has been my hobby for years but this year I am in a state of overwhelm with all the stuff I have.  Decided to put on the shopping brakes and get as much as I can out of my house and garage.  Hopefully, in the future, I will be less inclined to drag stuff home.  I'm going to move my focus to "projects"  and do one at a time.  Easier once I can actually find my workbench in the garage.  Hurry Klutter Busters!

My work with the League of Women Voters is off to a good start.  I have organized a public presentation on Immigration reform.  It happens on January 24th and I am hoping for a good turnout.  I've managed to get my news releases sent out (flu infected, no doubt) and as a result we have received a good deal of publicity.  The panel discussion will be led by representatives from a new initiative in AZ. called the S.A.N.E. approach to immigration reform.  If you are interested in more information on this group they have a website  www.therealarizona.org

At the end of the month I am flying to St. Augustine, Florida to spend a week with my friend Sandy and check out her new digs.  She finally was able to move away from Mexico Beach, Florida and is now in a much more enjoyable and supportive environment.  I haven't heard her this happy in decades.  Does my heart good! 

My most exciting news is the publication of my first poem.  I submitted to a new art and literature magazine published in Port Townsend, WA.  They accepted and published one poem.   The magazine is called "IS TOO" and is available through www.writersworkshoppe.com   The poem is called:

Beach Walking

My foot falls on wet sand
And I sink just a little
I'm not the first to walk here
But the impressions
Of previous intrusions
Have been whispered away
By the steady ripples
Of salt water coming to shore
And retreating, leaving no sign
Of who or what came before
I hear the whisper
Of my own presence
Being washed away
And I am in wonder
At the unceasing, inevitable
Movement of the water
Moment by moment
Cleansing away the
History of this sandy shore
It makes me ask
Does our being here really matter?

Thanksgiving

The day before I was to leave for San Diego, I woke up a very sick gal.  I have no idea what sort of bug attacked me but it created a pretty violent day for me.  Based on what was going on with me physically I called my family and said it didn't look like I would make it to Thanksgiving dinner.  Naturally, they were worried and told me not to even try to make the 400 miles drive.  That night I slept well and in the morning awoke feeling quite good.  I decided I didn't want to sit home and have a "pity party" being all alone on Thanksgiving Day so I pulled myself together and hit the road.  6 hours later I arrived before the turkey was done.  In fact, I had time for a nap before we all sat down to celebrate the Holiday.  As usual, the food was wonderful.  I tried little bits of everything but my appetite was not very robust.  What I did enjoy was our gathering of family and friends and the blessing of being together.  I only stayed a couple days and made the trip home with an overnight stop in Yuma.  It was probably not the wisest choice for me physically but life is short and I don't want to miss a thing!  The picture is of our gathering at the Thanksgiving table.

Dan at the head of the table, Onay on his right....as it should be.

Arts and Crafts

This was the frame I found in a junk shop

 I've been building a screen door to use as a garden gate.  I saw this done this summer while I was in Port Townsend and decided to "steal" the idea. 

I stapled on the screen and added two cross pieces

Almost finished, added embelishments and painted

Now completed just waiting for the hinges.  Nice entry to my patio

Putting this all together was quite a process but it is now complete and only waiting for me to hang it.  I like it....silly as it may be. 
 

My Night with Leonard

He's 78 years old and still so sexy it is palpable!  Not to mention his ability to go down on his knees and rise without a problem with none of that nasty cracking and popping so many of us experience.  I speak here from experience which may account for my admiration of this physical fete Mr. Cohen engages in so easily.  He "may ache in the places he used to play" but it doesn't seem to slow him down. 

I attended his live concert at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on November 5th and I'm still in a state of grace.  His voice these days is low, sultry and rich.  So much more appealing then in his early years.  His band is made up of virtuoso musicians and he features them throughout.  The "girl singers" consist of Sharon Robinson, his co-writer on several of my favorite songs and the Webb Sisters, stars on their own. 

Downtown LA is something to behold at night.  Now referred to as "LA Live" it is a fun place to be.  People watching is a hoot and there are many places to eat and drink and stroll.  The LC fans were out in great numbers (sold out concert) and not all of them were oldies....I met a couple of fun younger women who had driven from Las Vegas that day to see Leonard.  I also enjoyed a parade of women wearing their Fedora hats in his honor. 

My only complaint was the rude and late arrival of so many people after the concert started.  It was so bad that Leonard apologized "for starting on time" and asked that the theater lights be turned on so people could find their seats.  Later in the show he played the first song, "Dance Me to the End of Love" again so we could enjoy it uninterrupted.  Sadly, I was unable to get any pictures of Leonard but at his age, he has eliminated the "meet and greet" time after the concert.  He was on stage for over 3 and a half  hours with only one break in the middle....he was filled with energy and literally skipped on and off the stage.  My pictures show my joy at this "Bucket List" event.

Nokia Billboard, Leonard Cohen Sold Out!

Ms.Happy face @ a "Bucket List"event!

LA Live Plaza

My dinner Place

New Friends from Las Vegas

My Concert Tee

Highlights of the concert included a solo performance of "Alexandra Leaving" by co-author Sharon Robinson and one of my true favorites "Anthem".  A sample of its lyrics follows:

...The birds they sang at the break of day, "Start Again", I heard them say. Don't dwell on what has passed away or what is yet to be.  Ah, the wars they will be fought again.  The holy dove, she will be caught again

Bought and sold and bought again, the dove is never free

So ring the bells that still can ring.  Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything...that's how the light gets in....

Another of my favorite lyrics is a verse in "A Thousand Kisses Deep"....it really speaks to me .  It goes like this:    ..

..And sometimes when the night is slow, the wretched and the meek, We gather up our hearts and go, A Thousand Kisses Deep.

And finally, though I could write for hours to include all the lyrics I love in Leonard Cohen's songs and poems, I will just share a few and hope to raise your interest in learning more about this amazing poet of my time.  He sang this song and it is hard to choose only some verses but the following especially move me....

...The light came through the window, straight from the sun above and so inside my little room there plunged the rays of Love.  In streams of light I clearly saw the dust you seldom see.  Out of which the Nameless makes a Name for one like me.  All busy in the sunlight the flecks did float and dance, and I was tumbled up with them in formless circumstance.  Then I came back from where I'd been.  My room, it looked the same - But there was nothing left between the Nameless and the Name....

Those lyrics talk about experiences I have had in meditation where the Nameless and I become one....with the dust and will all there is.  Love Itself.

So my night with Leonard was well worth the 800 mile drive and the substantial investment.  He "took me to a place of grace" and left me there.....a wonderful place if one must be left.  No "broken Hallejulas" here.

   

                                       

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Settling In

My new Swing

I still don't have my blog editing figured out.  The text that appears below my pictures was suppose to be up here so I'm afraid this posting is a little confusing.  Anyway, it is all about the work I did on my backyard after being away for the summer.  I'm loving the way it looks.  I hope you do too.

View from the patio




Path to my Wagon Wheel Corner




This is the rabbit proof area for planting flowers



The grass &rosemary green area



New Rock Lined Path

My Patio Area

A view to the backyard

Cactus and Agave area filling in

Alittle outdoor art on the Living Fence

So I've been home from my summer travels for almost a month now.  Still not completely unpacked, hard to believe but true.  I spent a couple weeks feeling overwhelmed with being home and actually having to keep a house and yard and live a "real" life.  I hated the way my yard looked.  The summer had not been kind to it so I called Gilbert and we got busy.  Now the hard stuff is done and it looks so good and I am busy with planting and doing the little "tweeking" things I love to do.  Purchasing a garden swing was a totally frivolous expenditure but it brings me such joy to swing that I just did it.  The beautiful Park in Port Townsend with the old fashioned glider was such a place of tranquility for me I wanted to replicate the experience at home.  Here are some pictures of the results of all the work Gilbert and I did.