What Happened to Summer?

No, I mean, really....what happened to summer?  It is, after all, gone.  G-O-N-E.  in retrospect, it seems we returned from our Alaska cruise....Scotty must have just beamed us down....re-entry was July 4th...with Jessica and Pam and Rob to welcome us home.  Yay! Red, white and blue berries to start the day!

 

 

We enjoy great food, and then a trip to the Port to watch the fireworks from the boat.  

 

 

There are a few days of fill in work for me aboard the whale watch boat.

 

We find time for outdoor music concerts around town.

 

We ARE the concert, along with our ukuleles, as the San Juan Preservation Trust celebrates the Mt. Grant purchase!

 

Mt. Grant on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

 

 

I finally paint the front and back doors....a project calling me for several years.

 

Steve replaces several rotting deck boards and then we clean and stain all the decks.

 

 

We have a few happy hours down on our boat, with the ukuleles.

(And the dogs, and the gin 'n tonics)

 

We met friends for coffee dates down at the harbor.

 

We take the dogs out for evening drives and chase rainbows.

 

 

I plant many flower pots and enjoy them all.

 

The new window For the boat FINALLY arrives and is installed.  Oh yes, and several more boat projects get crossed off the list, before new ones appear.

 

I walk most mornings with my walking buddies, Jo and Linda..

  

....and Sparky.

 

Some mornings it's just Sparky and Nan.

 

The fields are mowed and baled.

 

Jessica comes home for San Juan County Fair week!

 L

 

OH, wait!  How can I forget elephant ears at the fair!!!??

 

And it seems there are BLUE ribbons for Farmer Steve!

 

We have to hang out around the horse arena, just for old times sake.

 

I go to Seattle and watch Jess teach one of her nursing college classes!  Couldn't be prouder as a Mom and a teacher by profession!!  Strange to witness: my daughter operating in two careers, one in medicine and one in education, both of which were my goals once upon a time.  

 

 

We spend a little time volunteering for Marine Mammal Stranding again, which often calls us to the beaches.  This evening the seal pup has appearently re-entered the water.  Yay!

 

 

We try to get out to our campfire circle each evening and throw the ball for the dogs....and of course, marvel at the incredible place we call home.

 

In August, we welcome our friends, Tim and Ramie and their mom, Miss Norma to Froglanding.

Google "Driving Miss Norma" to see what they have been up to!  It's quite a story.

 

We grab every opportunity to play ukulele and encourage others to join the fun!  Here Ramie joins us for a rousing chorus of Jambalaya while Tim cooks...yes, jambalaya for our supper!

 

Ok....I guess now I see....just "what has happened"....summer didn't vanish...it was fully lived!

Hints of winter lurk.  Uhh ohhh, just around the corner?

 

 

 

Adios, Summer 2016!  We had a grand time while you were around!!

Homeward Bound

Departing Sitka the all aboard is 15:30....or 3:30 p.m.  Just as well....it's a blustery and rainy afternoon.  We are glad to be back aboard, with a whole sea day ahead and half if another one.  Great way to wind down the cruise.  

The captain comes on the speaker system and says since everyone is aboard we will leave a little early.  The weather is not "the best" and there is a storm front and after we're clear of it, there is another one. (Hum, I think). We will have some "wind" and possible 15 meter seas.  Oh well.  Who hears that?  15 meters....do the math, that's 3X15...=45 FEET???  (Very few do the math or realize that one meter = 3 ft.).  Ok then.  

Yep.  Restless seas for sure.  

Dinner still goes well!

Scott, Lori, Don, Lynne, Steve and Nan enjoy shrimp cocktail all around!

Since it's going SO well, why not the piano bar too?

It's a fun evening of singing around the piano....lots of old favorites.  

 

Upon return to our room...who should await us....but...

....the towel monkey!!!  And what do you know...the towel monkey works his magic charm ( it's actually dark after 10:30 p.m.) and as the ship carries on with the the "rock 'n roll" motion of the ocean...I am rocked to sleep.

Steve puts our morning breakfast order on the door.

Who will do this at home?

In the morning we are sure we are sailing along through the second weather front.  Take a look at the waves in the pool!

Here's a little look at the sea from our balcony in the morning!

We follow our usual schedule with a visit to the gym and then the main dining room for a wonderful breakfast.  There are no lines today!

We notice the daily New York Times in the holder by the elevator has been replaced by little white bags!

Next we find ourselves invited to the "Medallion Ceremony."  What's this about?  We have no idea, but, yes, we will be present!

First, it's about mimosas and fine music.  

Wow!  Then it's about the presentation of a "Copper Medallion" to passengers who have cruised on Holland America Line for 100 days at sea!?  Us? All we have to say is, it didn't start that way!!?

There are also Silver, Gold and Platinum Medallion awards....one gentlemen had 1,180 days at sea on HAL!!!  (He also dressed as Santa! ......Honest!)

Off to a lovely champagne brunch for all the returning customers.  Can't pass up that!

Somehow the day slips by.  Another fine dinner, and trip to the piano bar.  

Victoria, Canada is the next, and the last, port.  The wind never really "sets down" and although we are almost on time into Victoria, the docking takes extra care and patience.  All clear to go ashore at 1:45 p.m.

A tug awaits our arrival, just in case the Maasdam needs a little "push" this way or that.

The gangway is down and Victoria supplies the flower lamp-post!  

Our plan for today is simple.  We will ride the horse drawn carriage and tour downtown Victoria....just as we have done over the years with our daughter. Jessica....since she was 11 years old! (Just had the 40th birthday in June!!)

Steve and Herbie.

Don and Lynn  think Herbie and  Molly make a terrific team.  

Time for back aboard for us.  One last afternoon to enjoy the ship...and that we do.  Lunch and then off to the pool!

The breeze is cool, but the water is warm.

Then...off to our stateroom to pack....all those clothes we didn't wear!  What were we thinking?

Not thinking.

Steve says, champagne helps the packing pain.

I think he's right.

Our last dinner is great, as always...and there is a big round of applause for the dining and culinary staff.

It's the swinging napkin thing.  

Of course there has to be another visit to the piano bar.  Then, all the luggage is piled out in the hallway.  One more sleep....although we'll have no recognition of traveling...and we will awake tied fast to the pier in Seattle.  

The party's over.  Wait...there's a song in that!!