Huge...tiny

Son sent me this pix yesterday...talk about big and little. Len and I went on the Saphire Princess and I loved it.....him, not as much. I think your typical man would prefer doing the little boat thing and "goin fishin" :o)

Seattle

I checked the Queen Ann cam this morning and thought the pix looked like a painting. It's so beautifully peaceful. In a little less than an hour, SCOTUS will be informing us of their monumental decision on Obamacare and things will be far from peaceful. I think most of us are torn...it would be great to be guaranteed  truly affordable health care throughout our lives, but even we seniors know that isn't possible. We still pay a lot for supplemental and drug insurance. I have been a proponent of Health Savings Accounts where we pay the first dollars and then insurance kicks in, that way we think twice about running to the doctor unless really necessary.

This was a comment from a reader in our local paper this morning on this...I tend to agree with him.

The desire for healthcare reform was driven by frustration with how much it costs. Unfortunately, all the "reforms" put in place actually increase the cost of healthcare.

Keeping dependents on their parents insurance raises the cost of insurance for the parents and everyone else.

Covering pre-existing conditions increases the amount of overall benefits and this costs more.

Forcing insurance companies to cover or offer insurance to everyone raises the cost of healthcare for everyone.

Removing lifetime caps increases costs for everyone.

What will reduce the cost of healthcare is:

Medical tort reform (absent from Obamacare).
Medical Spending accounts allow patients to manage their own money. (banned under Obamacare)
Increase the markets for healthcare, allow healthcare to sold across state lines (like car insurance).
Allow catastrophic care policies (currently prohibited).
Force price competition on providers. Anyone know if your DR charges more than the next guy?
Allow the free market to determine cost of service and to increase competition.
Tax healthcare benefits provided by your employer, then you will pay attention to what it costs and will demand price reductions and plans that you want and need.
Allow and encourage others to provide services: Walgreens provides medical tests, blood draws, nurse practitioners, a variety of lab tests. If you are spending your own money, you would force price competition on providers.

None of these are included in Obamacare.

Make sure healthcare does not become welfare for everyone. Give people the freedom to choose how their money is spent and the market will force efficiency into healthcare.

I could go on…..
Get the government out of healthcare delivery and the control of healthcare.

Concert tonight

Tonight is the first concert of "Summer Sounds". There will be concerts every Tuesday evening throughout  June and July and since this is the tenth year of the summer concerts, this years performers will be those  groups voted  the best. Hmmm... our orchestra performed  once and were never invited back....hmmm.
Looking at the schedule, I will definately be watching  the Washington State Army National Guard band, the Swing Reunion Orchestra and of course, the Beatniks, since one of their group grew up just up the street from me, plus they put on a heck of a great show :o)

Another season begins

Summer just began and soon another salmon season will begin for our local commercial fishermen. I snapped this pix as a few of the boats headed out of the harbor last night for their long trip north. I felt a twinge of guilt as I climbed into my cozy bed, knowing that they will be running 72 hours straight to Ketchikan. Let's hope the weather holds and they all have a safe and prosperous season.

Constitution

I think this picture by Jon McNaughton speaks a thousand words :o) Here is more if you're interested.
And, while we're talking Constitution, I wish you would watch this video...through to the end !!
And...this...as we all wait for next weeks decision. It looks like we'd not be doing any waiting if they'd planned on paying for Obamcare with a "tax", but since we will all be forced to "buy" inurance...most feel it's going to fail. I hope they're right. In fact my one wish is that everyone would quit buying insurance...let things go through a total meltdown and begin anew.

Dance recital

Ing had her tapdance recital this morning and I managed to grab a pix of her as her group was getting ready for their performance. I only got a side shot of her, but as least you can see the fancy costumes they wore.  There were 26 groups before hers and as we got towards the end of the show, I kinda think folks were clapping partly for the kids and mostly because the show was almost over :)  Having raised just sons, this dance thing is new to me and of all the many dancers, only two were boys :o)

Thunderbird

The small saiboat in the picture is a restored "Thunderbird". A Thunderbird you ask ??  Here is an article from our local newspaper explaining things.

And...something totally different, but so many people are asking the same question.

Speaking of the press not doing their job. Maybe they will finally check this out.

Okay..one more.

Of course I can't leave out one of my favorite women of all times.

And with all the bad news we get from Chicago...it was nice to read this story. Personally, I have only good memories of the windy city.

Almost home

Son's neighbors snapped this pix of the Point Made as she steamed toward her new home. I watched for her on the webcam and out my window but missed seeing her come in.  Maybe it's because Jacob was here and distracted me too many times. My poor little boy....mama thought daddy had him and daddy thought mama had him...and finally granny had to call and let them know granny had him :o) Lordy, I am too old for this :o)

White wash chiffon

Since June is the month of weddings, I thought this pix of my grandmothers wedding dress would be fun to share. She was married June 30th, 1909 and this must have been the style then.
According to the article in the paper.....the bride wore a handsome princess gown of white wash chiffon trimmed with Irish crochet lace and carried a large bouquet of bride's roses. The groom wore the conventional black.
Grandma was married in the parlor of  her parents home in Iowa . The article says....the elegant home was beautifully decorated with an abundance of roses. At high noon with about 30 friends and relatives assembled in the spacious parlors, Mendelsshon's Wedding March was played and the bride and groom took their places in the arch of the west parlors which was tastefully decorated with several large ferns. After congratulations, all "repaired" to the dining room where dainty and appropriate hand-painted place cards directed each guest to his place. After dinner the guests enjoyed themselves on the lawn until late in the afternoon.  The newly married couple left Manilla on the  8:00 o'clock train amid a shower of rice and roses  for Memphis , Tennessee where they will make their home.

Oh so tiny

My daughter in law's sister took this picture near her home recently in Petersburg, Alaska. I'm hoping mama is not far away.  One year they took in one they had rescued and it created all kinds of chaos. It especially loved the couch :o)
And for something entertaining....another of my daughters in law loves writing and because she threw her back out...she has been doing a little more  the past few days...check out her blog :o)

Fresh paint

The Lucia has such a nice paint job. It's an every year task and always a challenge getting it done when you live in rainy Washington.
Sis sent me the Hurricane Ridge viewcam link this morning...check it out.

Bottoms up

Bottoms up, for all to see, and it doesn't look all that bad, but then I'm not an expert on boat bottoms. No sooner was she lifted, they put my other son's boat in and I see, thanks to the marinetraffic site, he's just north of Kingston on his way home. This is a crazy time of year to say the least.

Workin fool

Spent three hours mowing this morning...washed two loads of clothes....made a run to Costco for necessities...MacNaughtons... carrot cake...oranges...and bread. Let summer begin :o)

Point Made

Welcome to america. You're looking at the newest addition to our family. The Point Made was built by a long time canadian fisherman turned cannery owner and it was time for him to finally part with his baby. He built the Point Made himself, in his backyard with plans that he bought, hence the reason for the name, he made his point, he could do it himself.....of course with a little help :o) She's a steel boat as you can tell from the rust you see at the waterline, but let's hope it's not as bad as it looks :o) I think son needed a project and now he's definately got one :o) Lot's of mother's prayers will  be added to the mix !!!!

Oh...and our concert went great last night...I put my trusty digital recorder under my chair again and this is what I came up with....lots of flutes, trumpets and french horns, but it will give you an idea of what we are playing now. Hard to believe we have been at this for 8 years and there is no way we would have even attempted these songs then.  8 years ago I wouldn't have been able to share our music as easily either. Thank you  Soundcloud:o)  Now if I can get a decent audio editing program, I could get rid of the clapping, talking, banging and bumping. Be patient..I'm lookin :o)

Last snow

I'm hoping this is the last snow at Paradise this year. The weather man says we're going to finally get a few days of warmer weather....let's hope it's a few weeks.
Tonight is our concert...I love playing the music, but I'm thinkin, if I were sitting in the audience, I might just be lookin at my watch...especially during  Brandenburg Concerto #2...course in that one, I'm not playing :o(  It does make a difference :o)  
Here is a video of my favorite song....when we played it in band, it was much more fun for the flutes...in orchestra the strings get all the good stuff :o)

June snow

Brrr...it's cold this morning...hard to believe the first day of summer is  just two weeks away  !!!!

Youngun

Today is my youngest son's birthday. He is quite a bit older than he was in this picture, maybe 30 years older, but is still as good looking :o) 

Truancy

Yesterday was the Blessing of the Fleet. I opted to stay on terra firma and watch the happening from shore instead of from the boat and as I roamed  among the folks at Jerisich park, taking pictures along the way, I got a  kick out of this fellow, sitting happily in his small, wooden sailboat, visiting with folks who passed by. He was the picture of contentment :o)

Joshua Appleby

As I was checking my favorite ship cams this morning, I was curious about the name of  a  ship that was anchored off Fort Lauderdale. It was the Joshua Appleby, a  United States Coast Guard Buoy Tender. Of course, the name Appleby caught my attention because we have ancestors from Rhode Island with that name. So...I checked Wikipedia and don't ya know, that's where Joshua was from. Here is his story and who knows, he is probably related to us.
Joshua Appleby (December 5, 1770—October 11, 1846) was an American lighthouse keeper remembered for having lost his life in the Great Havana Hurricane of 1846.
A native of Rhode Island, Joshua Appleby served as keeper of the Sand Key Light in the Florida Keys. On the day of the disaster, the hurricane began battering the lighthouse at ten in the morning and, eventually, all of Sand Key was submerged and the lighthouse destroyed by the gale forces of wind and tide. Appleby, his 51-year-old daughter Eliza, and his 11-year-old grandson Thomas were swept away to become additional victims of the hurricane which was calculated to have caused the deaths of at least 255 people.
In commemoration of the long-ago loss of Appleby, his family and the lighthouse, the United States Coast Guard  commissioned, on August 8, 1998, Joshua Appleby, a St. Petersburgh-based, 175 ft. Coastal Buoy Tender named in honor of the keeper.

And..for something totally delightful...watch this :o)