Now We're Done!..... Well, the Garden Needs Work.

We spent the day painting the porch.

Santa Monica

We're home after a few fun and interesting days in southern Cal.  In spite of the so-so swing music, the Hollywood Bowl was a spectacular sight with its thousands of patrons stacked up the hillside.  We had our picnic dinner before the show in one of the boxes that hold about half the seating.  They have hanging tables and just enough room for 4 chairs (a few have 6).  A couple of days were very hot for Santa Monica and we spent a long time at the beach, eating breakfast, playing in the sand and jumping waves.  While there we saw the smoke of a brush fire and then the planes swooping down to sea to gather up water to drop on the fire.  It seemed to be quickly under control.  This was a repeat of what we had seen from Tim's hillside the day before.  The rest of the time we played with Sydney and Cameron (very cute), went to music class and exercise class and swim class and to the park.

Fun at the lake

Summer is almost over

 
But good memories remain

Hi everyone! The first week of school has been crazy but my classes are looking good. I am really enjoying my communications and math classes. The new girls in DG are really nice and it has been fun getting to know them and introducing them to all my friends. Wish I could be in NY with all of you this weekend, have fun!!!!!!

Another good fishing trip

Nathan and I went on a half day trip today and caught a lot of Calico Bass.  Tui cooked a great dinner.

Weekend in the Mountains at Lake Wenatchee

We spent a really fun weekend with some friends at Lake Wenatchee. The weather was hot and sunny (for Seattle people that is still a thrill.) And, the nearby canoeing/kayaking from the cabin was very interesting. We were able to paddle up the deep and slow moving White River- it gets it's name from the color of the water; it must be glacial fed; and, passed many hours on one of the sand bars swimming in the freezing water. The sandbar was covered with animal tracks including cat, heron, deer, possibly turtle, and many others we couldn't identify.

We also did a 3 hour float down the Wenatchee River on what was supposed to be a 1+ ie. moving flat water, but for the last mile or so was a series of class 2 rapids. I think it testimony to my and my friend Laurie's paddling ability that we got our inflatable sea kayak which was towing 2 kids on 2 inner tubes, through the series of rock gardens with only a few bumps and bruises. We lost Margo's inner tube at one point, and she got bumped about but managed to keep ahold of Ben's tube through that ordeal.

It was really terrifying.

Bob had Liam on 2 other inner tubes holding on to an inflatable river kayak which sat much higher above the river, and so had better visibility to see what was coming, making it easier to avoid the holes and rocks. Liam also fell off at one point but only banged his pinky toe, and Bob caught him before he went down the river alone. Bob lost hold of the sea kayak during one of the rapids and
wound up floating in the inner tube with no way to stear.

I may never go on a river trip again without a guide. Bob, says it was fun. Ben never wants to do it again, and Liam is undecided.

Here are a few photos:

Off Shore Fishing

Nathan and I went fishing last week on a 1.5 day trip and did very well catching 5 Bluefin Tuna, 2 Dorado, and 2 Yellow Tail.  Last night we did a great barbecue cooking the fish belly and heads and searing the tuna fillets.