Benefits of living close to work

One of the drawback of living in CA was the long drive to work.  Have now replaced the 30 minute drive each way with a 30 minute walk to and from work.  Note 15 of the miles each week are on a bike.  I am surprised no one has done a study on proximity to work vs health.

FEBRUARY 17

A Good Day to Be A Boy: Not a Good Day to Be a Dog

Lottie had her knee surgery on Tuesday; to repair a damaged ligament. The boys and I drove her to a country vet about 1 hour North of here in Mount Vernon. I saved us $2,000 by driving her up there!

 Very Elizabethan.

After drop off we did some Tumbleweed Adventuring (I call it that when you follow your whimsy.) We had a marvelous pancake breakfast in a small town café located next to a Card and Coin shop (!) --great for Ben who found some baseball card 'must haves'. And, the café was across from a toy store that had Lego for Liam to spend Christmas money on. That was a fun morning.

We then decided to travel south in search of bald eagles along the Skagit River. They come by the hundreds to feed on the salmon carcasses every winter. We counted at least 10. We visited an alpaca farm that we happened to pass by,  and witnessed the white alpaca in the photo below spitting at one of the brown ones. Very funny. She sounded just like a human spitting.

 Such a beautiful day for a road trip.

 

 Isn't that a funny toed hoof?

 

Then we stumbled on what we thought was a junk yard, but turned out to be the house of a "folk artist" who makes wonderful pieces from other people's trash. He calls it "unart." Here are some photos of his stuff. He talked to us for over an hour....probably lonely. He was a very funny and interesting person; quite the philosopher. We enjoyed his company.

 My absolute favorite. Try and identify some of the dress adornments.

 Here's something you all could do with wine bottle corks....

 

 

That night, after Liam had gone to bed, he called down from upstairs to say "That was a really good day.!" Yes, indeed.

Between the trees.

President's Day Essay and a 'Tinier' House Update

I am copying Liam's wonderful essay written in honor of President's Day. In the essay he alludes to "Bertha" which is the giant boring machine that is supposed to be carving out a new highway below Seattle. Bertha has been stuck a few hundred feet from it's starting point for the last year. Here's the essay....

George Washington

George Washington was the first president of U.S.A. He served as a leader in the American Revolutionary War vs. the British. He lead them to victory. I am writing about him because he was the first president and there are many stories about him, so I thought it might be fun. My favorite story about him is “George Washington and the cherry tree.” It is about young George getting a hatchet from his dad. He has fun, but accidentally cuts down his father’s cherry tree. He tells the truth and his father forgives him. Once settled in, he married a widow and soon dies of a sickness. I think that we should have more presidents like him. If we did, I think America would become an even bigger tourist attraction. We could then build more good stuff and get bertha done with. Woo, won’t you be happy then! No. More. Bertha!!

And now for the "Tinier" house:

 This photo is supposed to remind you of the photo we have of Jack looking out the window of the shed at the lake.

 Liam home from school with the stomach flu.

Will this winter never end?

Already have about 2 feet of accumulated snow on the ground and forecast is for 8 to 12 inches more between now and tomorrow night.  Had to cancel bridge in Albion (again) because of the winter storm warning predicting high winds and blowing snow.  As if that's not enough, the high tomorrow is supposed to be 12 and the low -8, with similar readings the rest of the week.  Can't wait to leave for Sicily.

Grandpa shoveling his way to the wood pile so we can keep warm

Vandals

Cam's disapproving look.