Perfect Timing

It is the last morning walk of our five-day (first ever!) Blogging Vashonista Writing Retreat.  While this is our fourth year to meet together at Lavender Hill Farm, it's the first time we're "getting serious about writing!" Over the years, we've enjoyed many Vashon adventures, a lot of laughter, and not a few tears.  This year has been especially memorable and it's easy to feel nostalgic this morning. The air is crisp and the view is soft, at 6:45 am, as the sky begins to lighten. I will miss the sunrises, and the sunsets, and everything in-between.

We head out for the Burton loop, what has become a daily delight.  I'm with my typically faster moving friends, Deb and DJan.  Today, I am the pacesetter. I know there are hills coming that will literally take my breath away, and set my heart pounding uncomfortably fast, yet I eagerly set off with my comrades.

     

Sunrise as we begin our walk . . .

We slow down almost immediately for the vivid tapestry before us, snapping pictures that dim in comparison to the being there. 

It is downhill for a few blocks, before the first uphill that seems to be double the distance, and I am reminded as always of the multiple extra pounds I'm carrying along with me.  But I refuse to waste time chastising myself and listen instead to the cheerful voices of the birds and my friends.

This is our down hill beginning . . . and in the distance, the first of the uphills. 

About ten feet from the top of the first hill I stop, check my pulse (117 this morning; it was 130 the first time I walked with Linda) and I catch my breath.  Onward we go.

A little more than half way around the loop, we arrive at the Vashon Island Rowing Club.  There are already several boats silhouetted against the rising sun, and to watch the graceful ballet of experienced rowers is delightful.

We are greeted by a lovable labradoodle, and stop for a chat with his owner and a sweet two-year-old. Walking onto the rock strewn beach, my eyes searching for some of the greenish colored rocks that Jann and Sally found the day before in this spot.  Suddenly, someone calls, "Look!"

We gaze toward the water,  amazed to see what looks like a sort of oceanic sprinkler system created by dozens of clams (or some other creature), spouting (or squirting) streams of water from beneath the rocky ground.  It is magical!  (I took a cool video, but unfortunately I took it sideways, and couldn't figure out how to post it.  You'll just have to believe me!)

It dosen't take too long to find and collect a number of green rocks (which we believe are algae tinted) and others that I am hopeful will polish up in my rock tumbler at home.  (The rocks below weighed 1.87 pounds before I deposited them into the tumbler for the first polishing this morning.)

I know they really don't look very good, but stay tuned - they will be amazing--I hope! The barnacles will be gone.

Sadly, it is nearing time to return to our lovely island retreat. There are breakfasts to eat, showers to take, packing to finish.

Trudging up the hill one last time, we are greeted by this guy, who watches from one of the neighboring decks.

Oh Vashon, how I hate to say "Good-bye!"

With sad hearts and after exchanging warm hugs, the six Blogging Vashonists drive away from Lavender Hill Farm ~ October 2015.

Farm Sunday

Last Sunday I asked Kailyn if she wanted to take a little drive.  I'd been reading in an Old Stuff magazine about an antique sale that was ending on Sunday.  The address was Kelso, so I figured it couldn't be much more than about 40 miles or so from home . . . a nice Sunday drive!

We hopped in the car and she plugged the address into the iPad and away we went.  It turned out to be a bit further than I had expected,  as we left the freeway and were following signs down scenic country roads and turned onto a dead end road.  We saw this sort of hodge podge of stuff as we bumped across a big field and came to a stop. It was worth every minute of the drive.

There were lots of antiques and "vintage" garden art scattered around, some in little old buildings, some under a covered area.  I found a couple of things I felt I had to have, one being this beautiful old washbowl . . .

 . . . which has a Johnson Bros. England stamp on the back.  It's very big and deep. Originally I was going to use it for a birdbath, but now I'm not so sure.  I don't want to ruin it, as it's in nice condition.

Another treasure was this sweet little bowl from Japan.  I have a few pieces but none quite like this one. It's a little bigger than a teacup, and I'm not certain what it's purpose was.  But, it goes in my kitchen, so I bought it.  Besides, it was only $4!

I bought one more treasure, but I won't post a picture yet, as it's a gift.  If life would have worked out as planned, I would have already given it away, but this week went a little amuck. More on that later!

As we wandered the shop, we couldn't help noticing that this was a very special place.  I asked the owner if we might peek inside this adorable play house and she said that the grounds were open, and we could look wherever we wished!

So, we went inside and I just wanted to stay and play!

The kitchen was a little girl's dream!

I especially loved this piece.  There was also a darling little ironing board and iron.

Can you believe this miniature pay phone!  The little house also had electricity.  

The beautiful garden was well protected by this gentleman!

The lush greenery and flowers were a haven for the birds and the bees!

I asked Kailyn to pose in front of the garden shed.

Inside the garden shed . . .  

Inside the chicken coop.  

We got a kick out of watching the chickens and cows.

Doesn't this look like the perfect place to sit a spell?

There are many more pictures that didn't make it into this blog.  As we were paying for our purchases, I asked the owner about the place.  She told me they had been there over 25 years, since they married.  She is the gardener, and her husband enjoys building and decorating with their treasures and findings.  The prices were amazingly good, considering it was certainly off the beaten path.  I plan to return and take my friends with me!

As for my crazy week, here's a bit of what has happened.  My friend Deb and I had planned weeks ago on a little beach antiquing trip, and we were supposed to leave Wednesday morning.  I've been really looking forward to spending time with her, and I could hardly wait to get our mini adventure started.

However, my husband and I learned that his oldest and dearest friend, Dave, was diagnosed with another brain tumor, (they found the first one a year ago) but this one was on the other side.  He has glioblastoma, a pretty deadly brain cancer, and the surgeon wanted to operate as soon as possible.  It had grown to the size of a walnut in less than a month and was in the speech area of the brain. Our friend and his wife (my good friend, too) were told to meet with their pastor and prepare for the worst.  My husband rarely breaks down, but did after talking with them on Monday.  I decided I needed to stay here and support my husband and friend during the surgery, instead of going with Deb, as the surgery was scheduled for Wednesday morning.  

It was the right thing to do, although it was one very long day.  The good news is that the surgery went well, the tumor was removed, and amazingly, our friend is already home from the hospital!  It was all pretty scary, as we were with them when the doctor told them (prior to the surgery) that there was a real possibility that his speech would be affected.  After the surgery, he was in recovery for a couple hours. We waited until he was in ICU and took turns going in to visit for a short time.  I didn't cry in his room, but I couldn't help the tears when I got back to the waiting room.  We were all hugging and crying. Dave was talking coherently, and even joking, despite being in pain.

Surprisingly, the doctor had told us right after surgery that Dave would stay in ICU for two days, and then it would be about six more days until he would be able to go home.  I guess there are numerous neurological exercises or tests he needs to pass, as well as physical things.  He passed with flying colors, days ahead of expectations.  Pretty powerful!  Of course, the battle isn't won, as he starts radiation in eight days, and then there will be chemo again.  But, we are all grateful for more time to spend with Dave.  He's a pretty special guy!

Finally, last Sunday at church, there was an urgent notice in the bulletin that a lead cook was needed for the middle school Bike Hike.  Guess who volunteered?  I think I'm a little bit crazy, as this is a camping trip and I pretty much dislike camping and dirt!  But, Kailyn offered to go along as my assistant, and I decided it might be fun.  There's a ton of preparation to be done, but once there, except for cooking, it shouldn't be too bad!!  We're going to Farragut State Park in Idaho, and I checked it out.  It's gorgeous, and I'm hoping Kailyn and I will get a couple nice hikes in when we're not prepping, cooking, serving and cleaning up!  Today I baked up three double batches of brownies and wrapped them individually for one of the desserts.  Tomorrow we meet at church for packing in the morning, and we head out after lunch on Sunday.  

I know I'm a little crazy, but I'm looking forward to this "working vacation".  I may not like camping, but I love nature, so it will be good.  (I'm having my husband take the seats out of my van, and I'm putting a blow up mattress in it for me to sleep on.  I am not sleeping in a tent on the ground!) I checked the weather and it's high 70's - low 80's and 0% chance of rain for the next ten days.  It's going to be great!  

Deb and I rescheduled for the following week, so we'll still have our trip to look forward to. 

Life is pretty darn good right now!

Milestones

My baby girl, Kailyn, turns twenty-one on Monday.

I'll leave for work, and she will pack her car and head north,

choosing to celebrate this milestone with her first best friend, her sister Jessica, who lives in Bellingham.

Love those 80's glasses! I used to joke that I "wore" Kailyn most of the first 6 months of her life, either in a front pack or her personal favorite, the back pack.
I canned peaches with her on my back that summer!

A rare moment when she was sleeping!

She started life as a twin, 

(ultrasounds in those days were kind of fuzzy, 

and while I still have it, 

I wouldn't know how to download it)

but her sibling died en utro at 20+ weeks.

I had been put on bed rest 

(with a rambunctious 18 month old).

Yet Kailyn's twin died anyway, 

and I spent the rest of my pregnancy

worried about the left over twin 

(who would be Kailyn one day). 

Her daddy looks so young!

 I don't have a photo, but my first memory in recovery 

is of her daddy sitting next to my bed,

cradling her head in his big hands,

softly whispering words . . . I don't recall what,

watching Kailyn stare steadfastly into his eyes,

and silent tears of gratitude 

flowing from my own,

she was alive

she was safe and sound

with all the important fingers and toes

and ears that could hear

and eyes that obviously could see.

Kailyn helping mommy make a cake!

I was old when she was born, 

and as soon as she was cut loose 

I reminded my doctor not to forget 

about my requested tubal ligation! 

I was, after all . . . forty!

Older parenting isn't for the weak, 

yet I've often felt it's what has kept me young 

(at least at heart . . . the body is still very much aging!)

One of my favorite pictures, Jess was the dress up queen.
But you can tell by those rosy cheeks who the wild one was!

 Jessica was barely two when she received her built-in life-long sister-friend, alternately cooing at Kailyn or informing me importantly, "Mommy, my baby sister Kailyn wants you!" or pushing the cradle or the swing so hard 

Kailyn nearly toppled out!

Once she walked up to her infant sister, as I was holding her, calmly reaching for Kailyn's tiny hand. I thought Jess was going to kiss her little fingers, but instead she chomped down hard! In a shocked, strangled voice I shouted for my husband to "get that child away from here!"  Perhaps Jess was merely demonstrating her alpha status . . . which I'm now told was firmly held until she left for college. 

Apparently, forgiven . . .

The girls telling their Dad, "We want this tree!"
which is several feet too tall for our living room!

High School Graduation!

 Today,  21 years later, the bites and the fights are distant memories.
Kailyn's first choice to celebrate this day is to drive across the state
and spend it with Jessica, (who has been given doctor's orders to rest,
thanks to a recent diagnosis of mono!)

In another week, Kailyn will be back in Ellensburg
and I'll be back in my classroom without her
and I'll be missing her calm assistance;
her patience working with students.
The entire class will surely be in mourning!

Having her choose to stay home unexpectedly
I was remembering dreaded moments from high school days
high drama
sleepless nights
disharmony
constant tripping over too many shoes . . .

Instead,
there was peace
long adult conversations
frequently coming home
to a tidy, organized house
dinner cooking (or waiting)
welcome company and
valued assistance in my classroom

There is a saying
"When God closes one door, He opens another."

Kailyn's choice to not return to France felt like a closed door.
Instead, it was an open door opportunity to
get to know my daughter as a person,
not flesh of my flesh, but as an individual, separate, unique.

I've always loved her; I always will.
But, over the past three months I've discovered that I really like her,
enjoy her company, value her opinions; appreciate her insights.

I thought it would get old having her in my classroom for three months.
I thought she would get bored of it, or sit and read (like she used to do!).
After watching her, and listening to her, I am thoroughly convinced,
she's going to be an amazing teacher.

What a gift the past three months have been.  Kailyn is not just my daughter, she's become a trusted friend. I'm really going to miss her, yet, ironically, I doubt if I'll be sad when she leaves.

Instead, I'll be happy that my friend is returning to her studies (and her boyfriend!) and, like any good friend, I'll look forward to good times spent together in the future.

Nick, Kailyn and David.
 Last Friday night we went to Nick's jazz concert.
On Saturday we spent the day seeing Ellensburg,
the surrounding areas,
and took a walk along the Yakima River. 

Kailyn and I enjoy our hikes, and one of our favorite ones is at Moulton Falls.
I'm already looking forward to our next adventure.

 Milestones . . . birth, special events, and birthdays. 

Turning twenty-one is a big one!

Happy Birthday Kailyn!