Adventure 869: A View from the Perch/8

Full week of action here at the Perch. Judy attended three workout classes (Me, one). We took a field trip with our new friends from Michigan for a stroll through Manito Park and a coffee at the Rockwood Bakery. We found a new series of trails to hike just minutes from the apartment, and just today Kevin and Kelsey came over for breakfast to share the news of their recent engagement. It's very exciting to see them embarking on a life together. Judy also got to have a little Falcon time, and I put the finishing touches on the side table I made for between the chairs. Some people wonder what they'll do after retirement. For us, there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the week for everything we'd like to do. So, basically, the report is: Life is good, especially today.

Kevin, who lived with us until he fell madly in love with Kelsey, prepared an elaborate proposal. 

She loved it.

Maybe you can tell.

Celebratory mimosas.

Hiker babe.

Chances are good that we'll spend some time here.

Selfie of the day. "Say Cheese."

I added the storage rack, which right now houses Judy's ten year journal.

The addition makes the table quite a bit stronger.

Time will tell as far as this space is concerned.

 

Adventure 868: A View from the Perch/7

A couple of good days to be alive just passed: Father's Day and grand daughter Sarah's birthday. We spent most of the afternoon on Father's Day at my longtime friend, Pat's house. Quite a few folks we have known the past fifty-some years and their families showed up. Judy, Steve, and I handled the BBQ, sizzling some sausage and shrimp. The families brought side dishes and desserts. The weather was a bit flighty, but the hearts were warm. Tonight, we had burgers and ice cream cake over at Steve and Bonnie's for Sarah's birthday. She's fourteen. Both she and her sixteen year old sister, Emily, brighten our world. They're smart, hard working, and creative: Most certainly the product of good parenting. Like many other families, we're proud as punch, and certainly adding more good humans to the planet makes life good, especially today.

My friend, Pat, our Father's Day host. We've known each other for 58 years.

He owns sixty acres along Hangman Creek. This is his orchard, full of Asian pear trees,, cherry trees, and various apples trees. He''s hoping for a good crop this year.

There they go! Up to the park.

Most of the acres are natural, but Pat has an area he keeps park like for events like this and bigger.

Pat and Judy are checking out the BBQ pit I helped Pat finish two years ago. It's a smoker, a BBQ, and he's just about to add an electric griddle. Pretty cool.

My favorite grand daughters enjoying themselves at the Father's Day BBQ.

From one party to the next. Steve and Leticia jibber-jabbering while the burgers cook.

Yum!

After dinner, before ice cream cake, Sarah, Falc, and I went over to the park.

And for sure there are remote control cars to be driven.

Birthday girl made my night. Sarah restored that red cabinet to house her art supplies. It used to be in my father's garage and was originally a very rusty yet sturdy slate grey steel cabinet. It's been in my garage for the past decade or so.  She customized it to fit the color palette of her side of the room. Love it.

Emily, our other super young woman, has rented a Viola for the summer just for fun. She already plays the violin, but decided she needed the challenge of a new instrument. Very cool.

Just fourteen, but grabbing life by the tail.  "There art thou happy, Romeo."

Adventure 867: A View from the Perch/6

We're a month and a day into our life here at the "Perch". We've met several folks, all of whom have interesting stories. We're amazed at how quickly each day passes as we continue to adjust to our new surroundings. Our move reminds me of how I felt when I retired from teaching. My comment then: "When you pull your hand out of the bucket, you're simply out of the bucket." The water barely ripples, and so soon no one remembers you were even there. I feel a little like that now. Shortly, after the sale, we had the urge to drive by our old house. Our reactions were different. Judy felt happy that the new owners really loved the house, and that it was a perfect fit for their needs. I scowled and thought as we drove by, "What are those people doing in my house?" But now I've moved past that feeling. I feel good each time I walk into our new home. It feels more comfortable each day. The food continues to be good, the service is better, the construction workers are diligently "punching" out the finishing touches on the building, and the general feeling of the place is warm and welcoming. By this time next year, the gardens will be ready, the pickle ball court will be finished, the wood shop will be operating, the population will be at full occupancy, and life in general will move apace. In the meantime, I've built a couple of custom furniture pieces for the space, and our only angst is the "rug". It's all about the rug, and until it arrives we'll not be able to finish the decorating. Everyone should have such problems, and it makes me realize that life is good, especially today.

One of our air plants bloomed. Amazing!

Our sandhill crane is visiting Liz Ulmen's garden until the landscaping is done. We'll stick it into the water feature after it's completed.

For now the TV sits on top of the dining room table. After the rug arrives, the TV will be mounted on the wall. In the meantime, I'm trying to watch less news, but when I do, I live mostly in my MSNBC silo; However, I still sometimes ruffle my feathers listening to the disingenuous blather spewing from the right, all the while trying to keep my own self-righteousness in check. After all, as the song says, "It's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way." HA!

I customized this shelf to keep for our keys just inside the front door.

I also made this side table to go between our chairs. Both pieces offer some satisfaction.

Adventure 866: A View from the Perch/5

Almost a month in to this new paradigm, our main chagrins (First World Problems) are that we're still waiting for the "rug", and we're struggling to use our monthly meal money. Poor little birdies! The arrival of the rug will allow us to finish our living room decor. More guests will help us use the meal money (Come on over).  We have discovered that we're driving more, especially against the grain north to south. As we become more accustomed to the northland, that will diminish. It's certain that every conceivable American amenity is available very nearby, so our connection with the Southland will lessen over time. On a pleasant note, we're still in love with the light that enters our space. We have late morning sun followed by soft afternoon shade. The landscaping proceeds apace, and soon our view will overlook a very well designed common space on the ground floor. Workers continue to "punch" finishing touches on the complex. Mostly, those efforts don't affect us. In reality it's no small thing to wrench a 36 year tap root from the ground, but every day we feel more secure in our decision. We've already met quite a few interesting people. "Everyone is Someone" as they say in Luchenbach, Texas. Judy has availed herself of some of the class offerings, and I've developed a routine for my Tai Chi studies in the aerobic room, which I call the dance hall. In addition, I've been walking the trails behind Whitworth on a fairly regular basis. So, all in all life is good, especially today.

There are quite a few trails behind Whitworth University. I found this idyllic place; I plan a lunch date with my Bunny very soon.

We've revived our Sunday family dinners to help use the food money.

Our kitchen space is quite nice, but over time we'll use it less and less.

Art shot: Perch mates in the lobby.

Our cardinals like their perch.

I have managed to get in a bike ride, too. 

We're pleasantly surprised at how much room we have in our main room. This is where I do battle with the "Wiley Cager" who is currently ahead by  $.28.