The Waters

"We have no borders on the waters."

We quietly went downtown to to the harbor before going on vacation. We saw in drizzle a majestic event called the Tribal Canoe Journey.

Though the tradition of dugout canoe travel is historic, it's been revived by tribes of the region. It is great to watch--Jake said he'd always wanted to see a canoe come in. You don't know what they are saying in song but catch a glimpse of the experience it must be through the sound of their voices. A few hundred miles, several paddling days. Uniting peopled tribes. To usurp "it just isn't there any more."

There are 10 practiced Canoe Rules for any such event. Eleven if you count: "Never, never call a canoe a boat." But the ten are more like philosophies.

I like Canoe Rule two, regarding real trust: "Respect and trust cannot exist in anger. It has to be thrown overboard, so the sea can cleanse it. It has to be washed off the hands and cast into the air, so the stars can take care of it. We always look back at the shallows we pulled through, amazed at how powerful we thought those dangers were." 

Togetherness, Redemption, Peace within. Beautifully universal themes. Every one that participated finished safely.
It was a great way to spend an afternoon in the place where we live.

(Port Angeles has a Japanese sister city, as well.)

Gem State (Part Two)

As soon as we got there, we ...well, we slept.
But then the next hot day, we went to a wedding. A perfect one involving a really fun couple. See?

Oh, the power of the blogger. (me.) Here's another. (I love you, Brock. I really really do.)

Shout out to bridesmaid/sister Kaeley who got her Learner's permit. Yay!

Great Uncle Mark was a hero at the luncheon. "He looks like my Grandpa and he's fun, too."

I say he was great, I tell ya. After the family visiting from the wedding party left, we left to Uncle Mark's cabin in Island park.

We played with cousin girls every chance we got.

At the end of the week, Jake and I had the opportunity to visit BYU-I and that was overdue. So yes, after the "sweltering" welcome luncheon, I pushed Jake into their state-of-the-art greenhouses and stood with relief amidst the greenery. And in front of the cool-wet air system. My moment of "home."

We saw Donkins, Dormans, Jenkins, all good friends.
While in Rexburg we hopped over to the Hospital to meet my new niece, Mercedes, born that day...

And then after all that we said our good byes in a gentle, well wishing rain,

We stopped at a roadside stand in Yakima for Rainier Cherries (which with a chocolate reserve saw us through) and came home where some slept on and on.

This is NicWoo reporting, completely un-sunburned!

Gem State (Part One)

Have I ever mentioned that it takes us about 16 hours to drive to the one and only Idaho?
Well, I'm sure I have. But we had a wedding to get to. An hours old baby to visit. Cousins to revisit. Kitties to wrangle.

Let me show you around.
First, it is a complete luxury to have a place like this for your childhood. The view hasn't changed yet. At night, Pocatello splashes on the hillside in twinkles. And the sunsets are panoramic.

Your kids get to sleep in the same sheets and blankets you did.

Grandparents with raspberry stalks to get lost in, like you did.

Instructions in farmer-talk for anything that could be considered transportation. And you know the feeling.

I mentioned kittens. I liked kitties just as much. We took two well cared for fuzzies home with us (You're welcome) and the rest went to be mousin' barn cats...

"Country Roads, take me home:"
48 hours driving+ fun in Island Park, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Blackfoot+1 week= 2,500 miles.

Our Summer Lovin'

Well, not to deceive you, it isn't all love all the time.
This is what getting sprayed with the garden hose by a little sister looks like

on a very mild summer day.
And: Yes, I'm looking at you... This would be a good time to mention the motto at our house,

"I love you -anyway."

Did I say it was mild? It is like air conditioning, no matter the direction of the breeze. No complaints, but really all snow capped mountains and salty straits aside, I'm just grateful I planted cool-loving veggies. Go figure.

And I am loving the projects. We can leave the doors and windows open and it isn't too hot to paint and craft and try out reupholstering. What's not to love about that? I'm pretty cas' you know. If you stop by, I want you to think of our house kind of like a little lake house or something. I do. I love it that way. A good first house.

(new light fixture, house numbers, door paint upcycling: $17)
Plus (scary lady in a picture frame at goodwill to kitchen-hit message board: $4)

(dining spot do-over: $17 fabric included)

("Grandma's pink bench" Before...)

 (...one tiny puncture wound and surprisingly just a few folds, tucks and a once-again pneumatic staple happy man later...)

(newest addition to living area!!  "After," I mean. $9 for clearance upholstery. Apparently I'm the only one in this town that loves hounds tooth.)

And I love that it isn't too hot to cook inside. Because then it's the best of both worlds.

"Nicole's Crab Cake Spécial"

"Honeyed Radish simple side" 

(The lovely old scouters/mountain climbers in our ward are saying that every 7-10 years approximately, this little area of the world "skips summer altogether." And I suspect, if they're chatting about it, this is one of those years.)

I guess I should love, then, that my one of my little tomato plants is a "Siberian" Russian heirloom. Hiding out in my little greenhouse to stay warm.

...Okay, Lovely Lady. I can't stay mad an other moment. Summer's on!