Adventure 939: Battle in Seattle/52

On the spur of the moment Libby called me up and said she had won corporate tickets to the Gonzaga/Kentucky basketball game in Seattle. Would I like to make the trip over? It just so happened our former neighbors, the Shafers, were making the same trip. I called, asked for a ride, and when they agreed, I phoned Libby, and off I went to spend the weekend with my favorite daughter. The Shafers dropped me off at the train station in downtown Seattle. Even though, I'm a bit of a country bumpkin, I figured out how to ride the light rail out to Libby's part of town, and then the frivolity began. I was a plus one for her regular dinner with her workmates, which was fun. I tagged along on Saturday when Libby ran her errands. I cooked breakfast a couple times, and we were massively surprised when the tickets she won turned out to be in the high rent district. We arrived art the arena, rode the elevator down to the "tunnel suites" where we found a full bar with bartender, soft chairs, a buffet of yummy food, and three or four of Zillow's top management. I chitchatted with the CFO for a while, and Libby did her best "I love this company" impression with the others. Our seats were luxuriously wide and soft, and located five rows up from the floor. The place was packed to the rooftops, and as I gazed up to where I thought we would be sitting, I counted my blessings. Sadly, GU lost, but the game was exhilarating. On Sunday, we lounged around and watched the last Formula 1 race car race of the season (Libby is an avid fan). That evening, Libby cooked us a very tasty curried salmon dish for dinner. Monday morning she took me to Bellevue to hook up with the Shafers, and we headed home. A better weekend I could not have imagined, and therefore, life is good, especially the past few days.

It's me, the bumpkin, waiting the the light rail.

Libby's co-workers meeting in real time for dinner.

Go Zags!

More bumpkin behavior. I had never been to a double decker Target Store. This cart escalator was a very cheap thrill. No children in the carts, please!

Saturdays are errand days for the working girl.

Heading to the Seattle Center for the game.

Proof of life at the Climate Pledge Arena.

The Zillow's owner suite had all the comforts of privilege you could imagine.

Pretty good seats, I'd say.

Dinner and a movie Sunday night.

Libby back at work Monday morning before she shuttled me to Bellevue to meet the Shafers.
  

Adventure 938: 2024 Thanksgiving/51

Here in the Perch we bumped butts in our tiny kitchen like raucous rumba dancers until we prepared a feast of mythic proportions. Needless to say, we were wildly successful. All of our immediate family was present. We number twelve, missing only the fathers of our boy grandchildren. Our loss. Steve treated us with a smoked turkey that he nurtured on his Traeger BBQ. We made our normal cornbread sausage stuffing, a regular turkey, and young Falcon did yoeman's work helping Mimi prepare the crescent rolls. Angela brought her famous corn casserole; Libby some puff pastry pre dinner snacks and the old timey green bean casserole; Bonnie brought her mom's china, extra serving spoons and a pumpkin pie. Leticia brought two pre-meal snacks: chestnuts wraps, and bacon and cheese wraps. Wine was served, and after dinner we laughed heartily at the game of LTR. Emily, Sarah, and Sawyer were the big winners, which is saying something because we played for real money: quarters. Mimi glowed the whole night because, of course, like most Mimi's, she relished the idea of having all her "chicks" in the nest. A good time was had by all. We can safely say, and thankfully say, that life is good, especially today.

Pre dinner preparations.

Master Falc showing off his rolls.

Libby set the table.

Part of the buffet.

Sit down for the whole family.

LTR: gambling for real money.

Falcon running laps before dinner.

Sar Bear and Angela.

Steve and TC.

Libby, Mimi, and Poppops working the mashed potatoes.

Bonnie and Emily.

Emily and Sarah.

Cousins or grandkids, either way, the pick of the litter.

Pie. Good bye.

 

Adventure 937: A View from the Perch/Kevin-Kelsey Wedding/50

We made a long weekend out of celebrating Kevin and Kelsey's wedding, which was held in Mazama, WA. We dilly-dallied on the way over, rolling through the neatly cut wheat fields, sliding down some prehistoric rock formations into Grand Coulee, and meandering through Northeast Washington until we got to the magnificent Methow Valley. We're about a week away from peak fall colors. The aspens are just now turning and the Tamaracks are a cold week or two away. The wedding, designed, officiated, and orchestrated by the couple and their close friends was simply wonderful. Our Air B & B was comfortable and we enjoyed another unplugged weekend: No wifi, no TV, no news. Nothing but the joyous wonder of two people committing themselves to each other with their closest friends and family as witnesses. It's apparent that good friends help make life better. We didn't really suffer from internet withdrawal because Mazama does have an excellent bakery and brew pub, so it wasn't like we were adrift in the wilderness. We also went to a very nice farmer's market in Twisp on Saturday morning. But clearly the wedding was the highlight. Kevin and Kelsey's  friends prepared the wedding feast, the wedding music, and the group reveled in their joy for each other. Judy and I were honored to be included. This morning, a beautifully blue fall day, we decided to drive back to Spokane via the high NE Washington passes. We traversed Loop Loop, Waucanda, and Sherman Passes, which, dressed as they are in fall splendor, proved extremely pleasant. It was a feel great weekend, and once again affirmed that life is good, especially today.

Our little cabin in the woods was very warm, well appointed, and cozy.

We slept under this down comforter with the windows open to let in the crisp mountain air. Veery nice.

On Friday night, the group met at the Mazama Public House. Very good beer and grits.

 

The "friends" gathered round the fire.

Saturday morning scone.

Followed by the Saturday morning chocolate croissant.

Followed by the Saturday pecan donut at the Twisp farmer's market.

Our little cabin in the woods.

Judy and Kelsey.

Judy and  Kevin's sister, Andrea.

The wedding ring.

One of two wedding feast tables.

Kevin and Kelsey approached the wedding ring from two sides. My shot of Kevin wan't good, but Kelsey seems quite serious.

The couple presenting each other before the altar.

First dance.

We stopped at the summit of Sherman Pass to catch the view.

Great day. Great weekend.

Adventure 936: A View from the Perch/Stehekin Getaway/49

It's still birthday month, but our planned getaway to Stehekin served to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We started talking about it after we had family camp in Chelan a few years ago. Neither of us had been there before, so we made it happen. Coincidentally, when we moved into Rockwood we met a couple, Jim and Roberta Ellis, who have a "place" in Stehekin and have been regular visitors there for over thirty years. It was our good fortune that their monthly visit matched our visit. They showed us around for most of the morning on Monday and introduced us to quite a few of the locals. Their generosity was as warm and perfect as the weather. Stehekin itself is absolutely stunning. The place is home to around eighty full time residents, half of whom are related to the original homesteaders. There's no cell service, no TV, no church, no bar, and very little wifi. It takes a special kind of person to survive there. Two quick stories help define the place. As part of the tour, Jim Ellis took us to the "gas station". When Jim got to Stehekin thirty some years ago, you'd put gas in your rig, write your name in a notebook, and leave cash in the coffee can on top of the pump. A few years back some punk visitor started stealing the cash, so they had to change the system. It's sad to see, but the honor system is still alive and well in Stehekin. Second, on our way out this morning we stopped at the community garden which is tended by a man named Carl. He was sitting in the morning sun, smiling. I noticed his bare feet right away. They were darkened by the dirt. It was clear that he loved his earth, his avocation, and his garden. I dared not disturb his peace by asking for a photo. He is emblematic of the people we met while we were there. It's as clear as the dirt between Carl's toes that life in Stehekin is good, especially today.

Lake Chelan is fifty-four miles long. Fields Point, nine or so miles up lake from Chelan is the Ferry landing take off point to Stehekin. 

The trip up lake to Stehekin takes about two hours and forty-five minutes.

A local resident spent her time meditating.

Our view as we came into the landing at Stehekin.

First stop. The bakery. Oh, my!

We stayed in Wagon #4.

My Bunny getting settled.

Our little wagon.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are part of the package at the Ranch. We kept up our cribbage tradition.

Stehekin has a one room school house that educates through eighth grade. Currently, there are ten students. We're standing in front of the old school, which is now open for tourists to  visit.

Jim and Roberta's "place", which, when we met them, they represented as a cabin. Not so much. Jim designed and built the thing himself (with a little help from his neighbors setting the logs).

Jim and Roberta live right below us at Rockwood.

This is the view of some of the cabins at the ranch as taken from the front of the cook house.

Cowboy coffee was a constant on the firebox. No "stinking" decaf, Buster.

Selfie of the day: Us as we watched Stehekin disappear in the wake.

As way leads on to way, we're ever glad we made our way up lake.