Trick Or Treat

Will ya look who's ready to go trick or treating. Amazing what can be accomplished with photoshop.
I still haven't bought any treats for the kiddies yet. I should buy skittles and things not chocolate, but of course will buy snickers, milky ways or three musketeers.
The downtown stores give candy to the kids so the city will close off the main street for a couple of hours to ensure their safety.
Here I go again, but what's wrong with people keeping their kids in their own neighborhoods. It's not like they don't get enough junk as it is. "When I was a kid" we had very few neighbors, and I remember going to the house of a very grumpy old man who he gave us dried bread. Lordy, if one did that today, he would probably be putting his house back together come November 1st.
Here's Halloween advice from a dentist: Let your kids eat their sugary booty in one sitting because enamel-eroding acids linger in the mouth for 20 minutes after each snack session. Guzzle then brush and be done with the whole thing.

Let Her Go Jack

The crew on the Lucia is getting ready to let the net go in the morning fog.
The local commercial fishermen are into week two of the fall season. Last week's fishing....just one day..... was very poor outside the harbor, but those who went to Hood Canal did well. Chum salmon is the catch of the day and the eggs are in great demand. Personally, I wouldn't touch caviar with a ten foot pole, but love good barbequed salmon.

Point Defiance

Ingrid's first visit to Point Defiance Zoo seems to be a big hit. How lucky we are to have such a wonderful zoo and aquarium so close to home.

The park includes a wonderful beach for all to enjoy plus, farther on down 5 mile drive is Fort Nisqually, where you can travel back in time and experience life in Washington Territory during the fur trade era. It is a living history museum where volunteers and staff, in period clothing, demonstrate the crafts of the 19th century and engage visitors in historic dialogue during the Living History Days and other events throughout the year.

A Hudson's Bay Company outpost built in 1833, Fort Nisqually was the first European settlement on Puget Sound. The original site was on the beach and plains above the Nisqually River delta in the present town of DuPont, Washington. With a diverse work force of American, English, French Canadian, Hawaiian, Irish, Native American, and Scottish laborers, Fort Nisqually was a bustling center of trade that expanded into a large scale agricultural enterprise.

It looks like Ingrid has lots to learn about our history and what a fun way to start.

Paulo's Place

Paulo is home again. It's hard to believe a year has gone by since this young stranger arrived on my doorstep on a cold, rainy October evening after a long flight from Croatia via Germany, Florida, Chicago and at last, Seattle.

He is the grandson of my father in law's brother, the only one of 8 siblings who stayed behind in the "old country", no doubt to take care of the older family members and inherit the family home which is in a small town on the island of Brac, not far from the town of Split on the mainland.

Paulo was determined to meet his american relatives, but when he arrived here, he had no where to stay, so ended up staying in my basement. Thank goodness I don't throw things away and thank goodness for the Goodwill, as I gathered up enough of everything to make it a cozy place to live.

He was here 7 months, long enough to begin to really feel like family and long enough to meet a really sweet gal. Time will tell if he will be returning. I know it will break his grandfather's heart if he leaves, plus, the family home will be his if he stays. Jobs are scarce on the island and he is very skilled at working with stone, does that surprise you when you look at the houses? He does great granite counters and is very proud of the work he does.

I am thinking that if I ever get enough gumption to make that long, miserable flight across the ocean, his mom will for sure have a place for me in her home :o) And I know Paulo would be so thrilled to show me their home/compound which consists of a huge garden, chickens, fig and olive trees, goats which they raise for milk and meat...gasp.....!!! They are pretty much self sustaining other than having to buy bread. Can you imagine!!!

Time Out

It seems the financial crunch has also hit the new museum , so builders are taking time out, thanks to the fall through of the sale of a piece of property they own. The piece for sale is where they had planned on building the new museum, but when this site on the water became available, it was too beautiful to pass up. Let's hope things turn around soon as they are supposed to be moving things out of the temporary museum. Maybe the government bailout could help, just call it another earmark.

Prayers For A Fallen Soldier

One of my favorite blogs is the Anchoress and last night she made a plea for prayers for a fallen soldier. One of the links she included was to another blog that included the song that Jean Valjean sang from Les Miserables. It is one of my favorites.
I have always been puzzled why any man would go to war. After reading this excerpt from Lt. Col. David Grossman’s famous essay: “On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs,” I think I understand.
[...]“Then there are sheepdogs,” he went on, “and I’m a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf.” Or, as a sign in one California law enforcement agency put it, “We intimidate those who intimidate others.”

If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath–a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.[...]

Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, “Thank God I wasn’t on one of those planes.” The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, “Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.” When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.

Say a prayer for this unknown fallen soldier.

Cabo Sunshine

This is what I found in my email this morning. Humph!!!! An old classmate is stuck in Cabo/Pedregal, for not one, not two, but three weeks of constant sun and warmth. Doesn't he know it's 34 degrees here this morning. Doesn't he know that the wind howled yesterday and blew rain and leaves all over the place.
He said his wife is the one "guilty" of buying the time share. He thought it was a bad idea as the place hadn't even been built yet. But she proved him wrong and he is not too proud to admit it.
I hope they have a wonderfully relaxing time as they have had a lot of heartbreak in their lives these past few years, and I hope he gets sunburnt at least once :o)

Lucia Leaving

I know this picture was taken a few years ago because of the house building project going on behind the lighthouse. A couple days ago I showed what it looked like when it was just two little cabins by the water. Now it's just one little cabin and a soon to be two story home. Eventually the little cabin, which is a boathouse, will be remodeled into a fantastic party house, though still looking like a boathouse as there are two huge garage-like doors with windows, that roll up under the ceiling when they want to open things up.

Crunch

Speaking of "Deltas", this one went crunch this summer while fishing for sardines off the Washington coast. The crew had plenty of time to get into the skiff, the sea was calm, and if the coastguard hadn't threatened the captain and others standing by, able to help, they feel the boat could have been towed in to a sandy beach and once the tide was out, things taken care of. Instead, the coastguard screwed around until there was diesal spilled all over the place and one boat needlessly crunched. Sometimes government should just get out of the way and let those who know what to do, do it.

One Of Many

The boat you see leaving the harbor is another Delta. What I mean by that is, it was built in Seattle at Delta Marine. In the company's early years, it built many a seiner and this was one that the mexican

government purchased hoping to help their citizens get started in the fishing industry. Most were neglected, no doubt due to lack of pride of ownership, and most are now back in this country again, privately owned, restored and busy doing what they were built for.

I can tell this picture was taken quite a few years ago because the two little cabins on the water behind the lighthouse have now been remodeled into a beautiful home.

Itsy Bitsy House

I showed you the back of the tiny house that is for sale for $595,000.00 the other day. Here is the view from the front. Other than it being on the wrong side of the bay, it would be a fun place to live. I guess I am spoiled because I like being on the busy side of the harbor where everything is within walking distance.

I must say, the house on the right with the unsightly gangplank to the water doesn't do much for the view. When it was new, it would reflect the sun, blinding anyone looking that direction. Maybe a coat of green camouflage paint is in order.

Toilet Tips

My friend and I put in a brand new toilet in my basement. The old one put in 41 years of faithful service before it croaked. Somehow the tank cracked right down the middle and I discovered it when I stepped into a pool of clean, clear water. What a relief it was to find the crack because my mind had conjured up all kinds of theories as to why there was a new swimming pool in the basement.

It is an American Standard, made in Mexico. My gosh, you'd think it would be cheaper to make them in this country, considering the cost of shipping an item as heavy as a toilet.

With the first flush, I now know what people are talking about when they say it isn't really a water conserver cause it takes two flushes to do a really good job. Anyone going to Canada any time soon?

Hellooo In There

Hellooooooo in there !!!! My granddaughter, Ingrid, is busy checking out the fish pump on her papa's boat. She is 19 months young and as you can see, very inquisitive!!!

The pump is used to suck the sardines or squid directly from the ocean into the hatch rather than trying to lift them onto the deck as there can be 50 tons and more enclosed in the net.

Stern View

This is what the museum and Shenandoah look like from the water. I wish I'd been there to watch the moving process. You really have to marvel at the way those movers move things around.

When my hubby fished in the San Juans, I used to take the boys down to visit. The first time I took our 2 oldest boys to Friday Harbor was when they were ages 1 and 4. We stayed just up the street from the dock at the old San Juan Hotel. We all had to share the same bathroom, and there was a rope with knots at each window in case of a fire. One evening we all went down to the Shenandoah and had a fantastic dinner cooked for us by Tony Janovich, the owner/skipper. It was one of many memorable visits to a special little town , and one of the best.

White Boats

Took a walk this afternoon in the gorgeous sunshine. It was a frosty morning that we woke up to, in fact it was our first frost, but it warmed up enough to allow lunch outside, lawn mowing and just plain walking. I think folks are making sure they grab every bit of those rays, cause soon there will be none !!!
I walked out on the Tarabochia/Ancich dock and checked out all the boats, noticing that there is a project going on on the Memories. I mentioned the sawdust to the owner and he said he was lengthening the house. I hear remodeling a house on a boat is a whole lot tougher than a house on dry land because of nothing ever being square. I wish him luck.

Little House, Big Price

If I were rich, I'd buy this little house, even though it's dwarfed by a monstrosity next door. It belongs to a long time Gig Harbor family. The eldest member passed away not long ago and his children would like to sell it as the property taxes are probably killing them since it's waterfront. I used to stop by and visit when my kids were young and always loved the little kitchen nook that looked out over all the boats coming and going. No doubt someone one will come along with $595,000.00 dollars and a fancy yacht, will tear the house down and replace it with another monstrosity. Very sad indeed.

Home At Last

The Shenandoah is home at last!!! This was her second trip along Harbor View Drive. Her first was to the site originally planned for the Gig Harbor Historical Museum, on Burnham Drive. When this outstanding site became available, thanks to the landowners giving the museum a break on the price, down the road she went again. She was built here in the harbor and here she will stay.

Many people spent their summers working on her through the years, and one prominent crew member was musician Krist Novoselic, former bass player for the rock group Nirvana.

Tree Planter

A few years ago we drove up to see, for the first time, the damage done by the Mount St. Helens eruption/blast in 1980.
The area was totally devastated and a person has to see it with his own eyes to begin to fathom the damage that was done.
In the distance below is the Toutle River, and it is that river that rampaged down it's bed, destroying everything in it's path.
The sculpture of the Tree Planter, done by Georgia Gerber of Clinton, Washington is in recognition of those involved with the salvage and restoration of the Weyerhaeuser lands from 1981 to 1987. Over 18 million seedlings were planted on 45,500 acres of company land, located in the blast area.

A True Veteran

I see the Veteran is on the cover of Wooden Boat magazine this month. She was built right here in the harbor at Skansie Shipyard for Vin Skansie and his brother, Antone. Many a friend of mine spent his summer vacation crewing on her in the San Juans, hoping to catch their share of what was then very plentiful, Frasier River sockeye salmon. I am going to have to find a copy so I can find out who owns her now and what port she calls home. "Uncle Vin" was the epitome of the word, gentleman !!! Early in my marriage, we rented a tiny cottage from him and his wife, Olive, which was right next door to their tiny home and right on the water at the entrance of the harbor. They had no children so loved the time they could spend with my oldest, who was then just a toddler. I can still picture the two of them heading off to the dump in his old truck, Nick standing on the seat, tucked in right beside him...gasp....those were the days before carseats and seatbelts.

Our Economy

This picture makes me think of the financial condition of our country.

My son took this picture a few years ago when one of the marinas caught fire and burned completely, along with all the boats tied up inside. I noticed it when the fire started, then watched it grow and grow until I thought maybe I might have to evacuate my home. Luckily there was no wind at the time and the marina next to it was saved, plus the boat you see at the dock in the picture, thanks to the superb work of our local firemen.

Mi Casa Es Su Casa

I am addicted to view cams, and the Princess cams are my favorite as they have taken me in and out of many a port through out the world's northern and southern hemiphere. A few years ago we took a cruise from San Pedro, CA to the mexican riviera and back. I had noticed when we were in Puerto Vallarta that there was new construction going on, and now that the northern cruises have repositioned to southern cruises, it's possible to see what they are building. Be it condo or hotel, I don't think I would like to be there during a hurricane. But, I would love watching those massive ships maneuver into port each morning from the comfort of my own home.

Will I look like my mother?

I was reading an article about Oprah's mother running up a huge bill at a clothing store. I guess she feels she doesn't have to pay because the store was not supposed to give her credit, ever again!!! Personally, I think Oprah should pay the bill , then give her mom a nice fat allowance each month.

What really caught my eye though, was how much Oprah looks like her mother. Kinda like, this is what I will look like in 20 more years if I am still alive. More and more I see my mother walking beside me in store windows and mirrors when I shop. Mom lived to age 80, then decided she'd had enough and went on a non caloric diet. I doubt I would be that brave...let me miss one meal and I am a mess.

Cultural Campus

The dream of a Performing Arts Center is one of the items on our wish list. We have needed a place for our musicians and artists to show off their talent and the meeting on Oct. 7th, 6:30 pm, at the new YMCA, will give us a chance to voice our feelings. The land right next to the new historical museum would be a great place for such a facility. Keep your fingers crossed and get out yer check books :o)