Honk honk

How can such beautiful birds be such pests. The apples are ripe and the geese are back in my sister in law's yard and she's on her yearly rampage. It's not so much that they eat the apples....it's the mess they leave behind. Now if they would stay in the bay where they belong and where I  snapped this pix as they swam by, all would be well, but they love to stop by with all their many friends and have one big poop party :o)

Inside look

Jacob and I were at Jericich Park yesterday when the kids showed up with their kayaks and canoes for their daily training session. I thought it would be fun to show you the inside of a canoe, which is not much  wider than their hips and getting in and out takes real skill or gravity will take over instantly. They were very adept at doing both and the one question I asked the little gal was.....how do you steer. She said with the paddle.  Hmmmmm.

Kayak kids

We had more fun yesterday watching the kayak team do their daily training. We were sitting on the end of a houseboat opposite Jericich dock as they took turns competing, usually two at a time, right smack in front of us, with some  sitting in  long, narrow kayaks using double ended paddles, and others kneeling in  long, narrow canoes, paddling on just one side.
They were  very successful in their latest competiton in Oklahoma, coming in first. We had lots of questions for the young people, one of which was how old are you...the boy we asked was 13....how much does your canoe cost...the one he was in cost $2,600.00. 
It was fun seeing the kids up close instead of from a distance out the window of my house....and if I were young again...what a fun sport to be involved with. I think of the young people living in the inner cities and how sad that they don't have the opportunities we have here in this beautiful part of the country.

Success

Jacob is wearing a happy face because grandma said "SMILE"....after a bunch of goofy poses, I finally managed to get him to stop being silly. He is four and such fun. Oh...and the reason for the picture is because he is getting really good at putting together puzzles...and did this one in record time.
After he finished,  we had lunch, then it was off to ride the trolley, which lead to all kinds of adventures. How lucky we are to have these wonderful times together.

 

Paddle fun

I spotted this group  as they headed away from the kayak rental place yesterday. Every time I see the "kayak rental,  $20.00 for two hours" sign, I wonder why I don't spring for a couple of hours and  get out there with all the other folks on a a beautiful August afternoon. It couldn't be easier for me since the place is just a short walk down the hill.

Eighteenth Century Drawing Room

Just for fun, here is a recording I made of the solo I used to play in high school. I found the exact verson on youtube the other day and played along, recording it with my trusty digital recorder. Mr. Cozart, our music director, gave a few of us band members music to work on and then off we went to one of the schools to play and be graded. I don't remember if I did well or not, but any excuse to get out of school was always fun.   One of the girls in my class was the designated accompaniest. Her name now is  Jeanine Jacobson and she went on to become quite an accomplished pianist and professor. Me, I am still trying to play that darn song :o)

And...a must read for anyone not happy with the way things are going in our country...maybe there is a way to turn things around.

Purdy bridge

It was such a beautiful evening while we dined a couple days ago. In one direction were the indians fishing and in the other direction were the cars moving slowly across the very  narrow and somewhat frightening Purdy bridge. My hope is that sooner rather than later there is a new road built at the end of the lagoon, eliminating the need to cross that dangerous and very old bridge and it can become a playground for all....especially the kids who jump off even though they aren't supposed to :o)

Henderson Bay

We went to dinner last night at the restaurant in Purdy. As we dined, we watched the indians set their net off the beach and haul in salmon. It was an incredibly beautiful evening, but it was hard watching the indians take over someone elses beach and make themselves at home, knowing they could do whatever they wanted and no one could say a word. Not far from them was a man trying to fish off the beach with his pole. Fish were jumping everywhere, but I didn't see the lone fisherman catch anything. The food was great but the rest left a bad taste in my mouth :o(

Faceplant

This very handsome and dignified lookiing young man is Len's son in law....and when he's not being mature and dignified.....he does this.  I haven't talked to the wife as to whether he sustained any lasting injuries, like say, to the shoulder, face or assorted bones in the arms or legs. I sure hope not.
And...something altogether different....what a mess...and ya can't blame it on Bush.

Bremen

Had to check to see where the Bremen was and when I saw smoke...I didn't even have to look on the map....she's on her way along the northwest passage and was at the smoking hills.  Take a look at August 2012 and you'll see what I'm talking about.  What a neat trip for a bunch of lucky folks.

Driver Dan

 

 

 

Dan Stoican Sr 12/29/1923- 7/18/2013 Dan passed away peacefully at home with his loving family at his side on July 18, 2013. Born in Havre, Montana, to Anna and John Stoican, Dan was the eldest of three brothers. In 1937, the family moved to their farm in Longbranch, WA. Dan graduated from Vaughn High School in 1942. He served in the Army at Camp Roberts for two years, and went on to complete his teaching degree at Central Washington University 1951. He earned his masters degree in education in 1956. Dan's teaching career began at Moxee High School in the Yakima area. The next 35 years were spent teaching industrial arts and driver's education at Peninsula High School. He was popular and loved by everyone, especially his students, who gave him the nick name "Driver Dan." In June 1953, Dan met Joyce Jacobs and they married the following August. They resided in the Gig Harbor area for the next 54 years where they raised their three children Dan Jr. (Lisa), David (Stacy), and Mary Ann (Gordy) O'Dell. He also is survived by his seven grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Special heartfelt thanks to David and Stacy Stoican and their children for the incredible support and care provided to Dad during the last three years. Please join us for a celebration of Dan's life on Friday, August 9, 11:00 a.m., Gig Harbor United Methodist Church, 7400 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor. He was a well-known, life-long Gig Harbor resident who touched many with his warm smile, kind soul, and fabulous sense of humor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Peninsula Hawks Scholarship Fund, C/O Mary Ann O'Dell, 4315 74th Ave Ct. NW Gig Harbor.

Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on August 2, 2013

Dahlias

At the luncheon yesterday, my friend Beth brought these beautiful dahlias, the darkest orange dahlias were from  tubers she brought from the Rothschild House in Port Townsend, where she played when a child. She brought one for each of the girls, but when all was said and done, we forgot them and everyone went home without. Of course that didn't break my heart :o)   I arranged them and set them on the dining room table to enjoy. As the sun slowly sank, with  it's light shining  through the window, I couldn't help but grab my camera and get a shot of its glow in the amber glass.  What an end to a perfect day :o)

Lunch bunch

What a fun afternoon....the gals from the Class of 58 met at my house for lunch. It was potluck so wasn't a lot of work for anyone....there was enough wine to float a battleship and for some reason....maybe because anti gluten is the latest rage, we had 3 fruit salads. Luckily I made a potato salad which hit the spot...and one of the gals brought a fresh strawberry rhubarb pie.  I am so thankful I didn't have to drive home as I am afraid I might have fallen asleep.

Evening glow

There are oodles of kayakers in the harbor and my camera caught this fellow totally immersed in his own reality. I have a two person kayak and hope to use it before summer's end. I can't think of a better way to escape the rat race !

Hummer

This little humming bird often sits on a metal bar under the feeder  on my front porch and nervously watches the world around him. I managed to get the front door open just enough yesterday to get a picture, though it's definately poor quality. I love watching them zip, zap and zoom around the flowers, chasing each other away. My porch is ablaze with color which  definately attracts these little flying wonders.

Trolley

The girls and I rode the trolley yesterday. We got on at the bottom of Rosedale Street, listened to it labor up the steep hill on  Pioneer Street, stopping in front of  Burger King and the transit parking lot to pick up and drop off, then down to Soundview, across the freeway to Inn of Gig Harbor,  over to Uptown, with a stop in front of the entrance to Marshals,  back across the freeway to the transit stop where we had a 9 minute wait to get back on schedule, then back down Pioneer,with visions in our heads  of the two trucks that went crashing into  the Harbor Inn at the botton of the hill. We rode it to the other side of the harbor,which took us past Harbor Ridge School, then down past Anthony's restaurant and back to the spot we got on. The driver was very nice, the girls and I  enjoyed, and that was that. It cost a quarter each for the girls and granny rode free.
At uptown a young man got on and searched his back pack for fare...by the time I dug in my pocket for a quarter, a young woman hopped up and gave him enough change. He was very grateful and I thought..Gig Harbor is such a great place to live.