Catching Up #2 (January & February 2016)

Now at least, I am in the current year!

We always start out the year with a New Year's Day Rainbow Ride led hosted by the Ks. It is our "FROSTY" ride (First Ride Out Starting The Year).

 

Seems this year that the ride is appropriately named as we pass the frost along the Interurban Trail

 

The ride brings us to an Alpaca Farm

 

And they get up close and personal

Can you find the duck in the icy pond?

My "stick bird" photo (or tree bird) is out of place but I have no place else to put it. I was on one of my solo rides in our neighborhood and found this bird.

And they get up close and personal

 

There were a few indoor activities to enjoy in January as well.

We got to see Lucy perform in her first gymnastics exhibition.

 

Lucy on the far left. Mom is always telling her to raise her arms up high when she finishes a move.

 

Getting ready for a tumble!

 

Another indoor activity was a trip with the Senior Center that my friend B-A and I took. We toured behind the scenes at the Issaquah Theatre. Very interesting.

 

The Stage is set for an upcoming show

 

As we walk through the bowels of down under we see some directives for the staff

 

This is underneath the stage in the music pit.

 

A lot of electronics and other gear are kept in this room

 

 

Upstairs we go into the wardrobe room

 

Walls all around are lined with shelves like these with shoes, belts, ties, and any other accessory you can think of

 

There are the wig shelves

 

Our guide tells us all about wigs an wig makers -- it is quite complex

I also got to spend part of a day with Lucy (and Kaitlyn too but she was napping most of the time) as Sarah visited Jaydon's school for their Valentine's Day party.

We read stories and did art projects and Lucy was so pleased to have me one on one without her brother and sister!

 

 

Kaitlyn woke from her nap just at the end of our time together and the arrival of Mom and brother.

More outdoor fun yet..

As I was waiting for the ferry to bring me to Whidbey Island for a (hilly!) ride with Vickie, what should arrive but an Aid Car!

 

A little worrisome to see this when you are about to board the ferry

 

Backed all the way down the runway to the ferry

Turns out that a ferry worker had an "episode" and I have no idea what it was. They did wheel him on a stretcher back up the runway and he was sitting up and looked ok. Whatever it was he could not work, and with one staff person down, federal regulations do not allow the ferry to take passengers. I had to wait for the next ferry -- which was only about 20-25 minutes. But wouldn't you know it would MY ferry!

Also had a couple more rides in February.

 

Not as clear in the flesh, but this was a very interesting cloud formation

 

Mural in the town of Arlington

 

Couldn't resist this "double" fence reflection

 

As we arrived in the parking lot to unload bikes

B-A and I joined Cindy on one of her rides and so enjoyed the sunshine that we could not resist being Grass Angels...

The last ride for February was for Kristin's birthday. Kristi laid out a scavenger hunt course and put us in teams to ride around town to find stuff. The only photos I have that are worth posting are of Lucy at the Library reader and in front of the Opera House, two of our clues.

 

 

G'ma pulling Lucy in the WeeHoo

 

Phew -- a busy month.

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Catching Up #1 (November & December 2015)

The end of 2015 was not only busy with Holiday stuff. We also had a lot of weather, and both Susan and I ended up doing something about health issues (we are both fine and no biggies at least for now). My biggest news on that front is that I now have hearing aids!!!! And those are making a very nice difference for me as I can now hear conversations around the table and from across the room. There are still a few of my very soft spoken friends that I struggle to hear -- but I can now at least hear them!

November brought us a couple of windstorms and one in particular was huge!

Big power outages and many big trees blown down, debris was everywhere -- on the roads, in people's yards and on playgrounds.

 

This tree came precariously close to a house

 

Workmen had a lot of work

Not to be outdone, we had ice and fog visit us as well.

 

Fog on my neighborhood ride

 

Frost on our lawn

 

Fog at the curbside only -- and I stayed clear of it

Then came December! Still cold, foggy at times, but we had some sun too.

 

Silver Lake on a foggy morning ride

 

Silver Lake the next day on a clear morning ride

 

A bike ride stop at the Honey Stand on a sunny day

 

My Friend B-A finds just the right honey

 

We still had icy creeks hanging on

And then we traveled to Leavenworth for the annual pre-Christmas family gathering.

 

The "serious" photo

 

The photo where everyone has to change places from the other photo

 

We had a few more Holliday celebrations and gatherings that brought 2015 to a close.

 

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Errandonnee 2016: 1; 2; 3

Sunday, March 6, 2016

First I will say, as a few of my friends have reminded me, I have been neglectful in blogging! I do have some things to share and to document for myself, and will now hopefully get to doing that. Most likely those posts will be more photo journaling than actual writing.

Now about the Errandonnee Challenge. You will recall the coffeenering challenge I did...

 

...here is my swag from that as completion of two years of "Teaneuring". Well, the same person who does such a fantastic job of coordinating that challenge, Mary G., does an annual errand running challenge and this is what I am attempting to complete.

Simply put, one must complete 12 errands in 12 days by bike or run (I think that is a new addition this year). There are (of course) rules. About 16 rules. I'm not going to go into detail here, so if you are at all interested in seeing what I am doing, or in joining this fun challenge yourself, go to www.chasingmailboxes.com and read all about it.

For the past three days I have been battling a crud of some sort and thought I might have to ask Mary G for an exception to the dates rule. I had renewed hope this morning after a great night's sleep which made up for no night's sleep the day before, an appetite, and a positive look at getting into the shower! When any of those things happen, I know I am on the mend.

Forecast from our weather people is for rain most of today and thunderstorms. But I saw a window of opportunity at 7:30 a.m and took it! I had three little errands I could run on a loop from home and that would put me up to par for the challenge. I was sure I could do this even with recuperation consideration.

Errand #1 -- Post two pieces of mail

 

Errand #2 -- Recycle a few things

 

Errand #3 -- buy some antihistamine

 

 

When I started the ride I felt just a few light rain drops which continued to grow in number for the first few minutes. Could "they" be right about a thunderstorm coming to this area at 7:30?? But though the sky was dark the rain did not develop and I had no storm to ride through. When I finished my last errand, the sun was actually playing with me so I added a mile to my ride. My legs were a bit rubbery as evidence of my recent bout with that crud, but I had no hills to conquer so I was fine. But not fine enough to feel I should take a longer ride (or tempt fate about that rain).

My "paper work" (one of the rules):

• Miles for three errands -- 4.3
• Photos are above
• Description is above
• Categories (another rule): 2 Personal Care (antihistamine and recycle culled stuff from my wardrobe) 1 Personal Business (posting mail)
• My observation:

 

As Mom always said -- Spring is just around the corner.

 

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Teaneuring Bonus -- #8

Saturday, November 14, 2015

There was a cold and rainy forecast for the day, but my early morning eye out the window showed a calm and dry roadway. I could most likely squeeze in a bike ride!

Susan had a taste for breakfast sandwich and we were out of eggs. Next best thing -- an errand run to McDonald's where I could also get my bonus teaneuring trip in ;'-)

 

Teaneuring at McDs??? As I always say, these trips are not all about the tea ;'-)

 

Yep, we are at McDonald's

I bundled up quite heavily and started my ride by about 8:45 to cheat the rain that was coming by late morning or early afternoon (they said).

 

Our rain gauge out our front window. A dry spell!

 

Put on my stormsocks against the cold but my toes ended up a bit chilled anyway

 

Red on red

I feel so fortunate that I can start riding from my door and have a decent 15-25 mile ride (depending on my choice dictated by weather, time and energy level). The neighborhood roads I ride are very light in automobile traffic, and this morning I see a few joggers and many walkers -- most with the exercise inducing dog at their side. I stop for several photos but don't want to linger too long as I am trying to beat that rain.

 

Some fall color lingers

 

At first look I thought there were more than one tree here. I walked around it to confirm -- it is a multicolored single tree

 

Beyond the rainclouds, the sun shines onto the Olympic Mountains

I had a fine time meandering the neighborhoods and made my way to the highway to cross over to McDonalds. I rolled my bike inside without asking and no one bothered to notice or say anything. The customer count was low and I tucked my bike into an inconspicuous out of the way spot, got my goods and sat with my tea. I normally use my own mug (to be a little green), but needed some evidence that I was here ;'-).

 

I often ride this route (minus the McD stop) and try to vary it a bit which I did today. I ride through a couple of school grounds, but today I took a path I have not taken before. It led me behind the buildings and showed me a piece of artwork I would not have seen.

 

The butterfly emerges

 

The climbing wall at the front of the school

With only minor meandering, my return trip home is basically the same route I took to get here, but has a different viewpoint. As I ride along the road, I don't know how, but I spotted some graffiti art in a very hard to spot place.

 

This view is looking back on the road from where I was riding. In essence, one cannot see this art from that perspective.

 

There is a ravine here that the bridge I rode over crosses. I don't know how the artists did it, but they got the bridge side decorated.

The photo of the graffiti is deceptive in that it looks like one could simply stand by the wall and art away. Not so. The bridge is up high and the ravine is below it. This is as close as I can get to it for a photo, so some is left out of the picture.

All too soon it was time to get home -- not too soon for Susan who was awaitng her breakfast sandwich deliviery. And guess what -- the sun was out and accompanied me for my final few miles ---- and stayed out the remainder of the day! So much for weather forecasts around here. I may have been just slightly over-bundeled, but the morning 39 degrees did hit my toes a bit! It was quite nice to get out early in the morning however, and I had a grand time for my self.

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