Mother Daughter Weekend



This is our first time to get away, just us girls

Chelan here we come but first,

We got started just about noon – well, we got 2 blocks away and there was this sign:

GARAGE Sale
We could see baby and kid stuff in the driveway and that was all it took
( With one pregnant daughter, and one with a 5 month old , it was a no brainer )
We now have a new best friend, Kelly and her daughter Haley
photo: shoes
An hour and $100 later, we are back home with the goods. Darrell held an interesting pose, with very little comment.
Photo: Darrell

On the road again
A sunny day and Nita at the wheel, our next stop is the Sultan bakery near Monroe
Huge, messy sandwiches, large fries and delicious lemon, berry cream cake

Photo: Mimi

On the road again

Espresso bar – some like it hot, some like to cold, but all the Tanner women love coffee.

Next stop is Leaven worth. We could have spent a long time here, but that is not our goal. Jut a potty stop and quick walk through a few shops and
Ice Cream.

On the road again

Smallwood ‘s Harvest , A country Mercantile – jams, honey, kitchen things,
photos: Mimi, old pick up, etc.

On the road again.
Our next stop is our condo , I should have taken some photos, enough to say, we are very comfortable - it is now 7:00 and just enough time to settle in and then head to Wapato Point for dinner at 8:00
photo: dessert to share, Chelan by night.

By the time we get back to our condo, we are all ready to relax.
Because we need to get an early start tomorrow. The first place that is recommended by those who frequent Chelan, is

Blueberry Hills. It is hard to say whether the food or the atmosphere is better. But the atmosphere certainly is charming. The outside would never give you a clue to what is in store inside.
Photo: girls
First, you read the note outside that says take a menu, help yourself to a beverage, give your order to the cashier and then sit down.
We did have to wait a bit, but there was so much to take in. Tea pots and cups on shelves. 100’s of sunglasses hanging from the ceiling. One corner had baby clothes for sale. A cupboard full of jams, jelly’s and honey. And the entire building had blueberry lights strung around the rooms. Old fashion appliances.
Photo: eggs benedict, peach blintz, and Ma-cha-ca. Oh and a side of bacon and Joe.
The wait was worth it.
Upon leaving, we realized we could pick some gigantic blueberries, for only $2.50 a pound.
Photo: in the field
Photo: 4 on bench ( I am the one without sunglasses Ü )
We walked around Manson and found a farmers market, Not typical, but interesting. Some food, some clothes, rock, jewelry and an Owl.
Photo: Owl , with keeper. Grandma’s organic garden.

All of the area has amazing hanging baskets. They get watered two or three times a day.
Photo: Flowing flower basket

We took sandwiches to the beach. A grassy spot just steps from our condo. We watch boaters, waders, parasailing and a bachelorette party. (those cupcakes looked so good )
Photo: parachute
Next stop, pedicure at Pinky’s. Yep, that is her name. The owner is Pinky. I do not know the name of the guy who painted my toes, but I have never had such a short, nonverbal , pedicure. O, he asked if I wanted a manicure. Then he moved on to Mimi. As you can see from the photo, he had a conversation with her. Tiffany enjoyed her attendant, but we all wondered why after a nice lotion was massaged into our tired legs, it was immediately washed off.
Photos: Pinky’s sister is having a baby in two months. Toes
If you have been to Chelan, you have probably been to Campbell’s. Once again we can eat outside. Bucket of shrimp, fish and chips, Hawaiian steak bites, Blackened Ahi Salad, and little chocolate desserts.
Photo: food, desserts, girls
We take a little walk after dinner to get a better look at what was left of a house, just down the street. Standing next door is a lady who tells us the first just happened on Thursday. Her son was working on some machinery and a spark must have landed on the carpet ( and the carpet must have had some gasoline spills on it, from other projects).
Photo: burned house
We walk back and notice a B & B that looks very cute. So we walk up to the door and ask for a brochure. The owner asks us in, after she gets her two large dogs to settle down. The dogs are now in the living / dining room area. It is obvious they spent time there. The owner says she keeps the gates up to keep the dogs from jumping on the beds. After settling herself on the steps, she tells us she has had a long day. The menu for breakfast sounded good, but could not entice us to get beyond the other “features”. ( dogs are nice, but dog hair, not a pretty picture)

Tiff and Mimi use the hot tub. Nita and I watch a bit of Jimmy Stewart.
Morning coffee, muffins and blueberries on the deck.

Leisurely pack and clean up the condo. We are going to a winery for lunch – beautiful gardens and good food.
Photo: gardens, girls

Now we need to get on the road again A very slow, bumper to bumper ride for much of the trip, but home in time to gather with the rest of the family for dinner.
Photo: 4 kids.

Les and Me
We have known each other since grade school. Even though she moved to the East coast long ago, we have stayed in touch. She makes an annual visit to the Northwest to see her brothers and if we can work it out, we get together too. This year we spent a day together. I picked her up at the airport and we drove to our old neighborhood. We stopped at the corner drug store, which is now a café and had lunch and compared pictures of our grandkids. Then we drove around and took photos of each other and of our houses, schools, library, etc.
The time to say goodbye came too soon, but as she left she said…
I love you, I will pray for you.
Now as I reflect on our friendship I wonder
How can two people, who are so different get along so well?
She knew what she wanted to be very early – I still don’t
She was always at the top of her class – let’s not talk about that
She is Jewish I am a Christian
She does not eat pork - I love bacon
She has very creative ideas – I just follow the rules
She prefers the red eye flights, - I avoid red eye flights
(hates to waste daylight time) (very inconvenient )
She does not write long letters – I write long letters
she reads my long letters - I search her daughters notes on FB
There is an element in friendship sometimes you can’t put your finger on it, but it involves an appreciation for each other and tied together with love.

Breakfast Back Home

After a week of being served the most wonderful meals, I had to ease into my real world. So I opened the granola that Sharon Z gave me, tossed on strawberries ( fresh from our garden, picked by Darrell ) and topped it off with whipped cream. Then I decided to take it outside to the front bench.I closed my eyes to the weeds and savored the moment. An almost perfect morning.



You have to wonder about that person who has time to linger over her meal, close her eyes to chores, takes pictures and then posts it.

Wondering?

The best true baby story I have ever written

The Best true Baby Story
Our friend Lisa (brave beautiful and bubbly), mother of 7, took a train trip from Seattle to Bloomington, Illinois, with her family. Yes, all 9 of them, on the train for 2 ½ days. The children range in age from 6 months to nearly 11 years old and in activity level ranging from rocking in arms to maximum energy. That by itself would attract attention. The youngest, however, must have attracted the most, because one of the other passengers on the train crocheted the little fellow a colorful afghan.

Hawaii No sunrise, No Aloha

I cannot begin to talk about the week, without explaining how the atmosphere of this fabulous trip changed so tragically. Very tragically.

A week on the Big Island, Hawaii. Tiffany is celebrating 10 years of service with BDA, and Anita is the event manger. I am the Granny Nanny and Damon is along to “help”. There are 80 in the group, 40 employees, and one guest each.

Accommodations: The Fairmont Hotel – need I say more.

We arrived on Sunday afternoon, and on Tuesday morning, the headlines of the local paper read:
Murder at the Fairmont. It sounded like an Agatha Christie Mystery. But it was real. Susan, one of the BDA employees, celebrating 15 years of service, was brutally murdered by the boyfriend who came with her. Right in the hotel. Right next door to other BDA employees, who heard her cry, but not in time.
All the planned activities of the day were cancelled. The BDA owners gave everyone the option to go home early, to withdraw from any and all of the company gatherings.
One BDA employee asked the owners ( they are Jewish) if they could all hold hands and pray. They said yes. Many commented that it was just what they needed. ( Prayer IS the best thing we can do.)
Grief counselors came that afternoon and were available for the rest of the week.
Details were reported in the Hawaii and Seattle newspapers. Her memorial was this Saturday.

There is much more that could be said , but I will leave it there.
For Susan, there are no Alohas , no more sun rises, no goodbyes – hopefully, we will greet her in heaven.
For me, it is a chapter in my life that will haunt me for chapters to come.




Spending hours with Sebastian, walking along the flower gardens, the warm air, and the music and cuddle time were a pleasure and privilege, and a comfort. There was lots of good food, too, especially key lime pie and Kona coffee, and a breakfast buffet that would not stop!
There are a few photos in my camera. Most of them are of Sebastian. I wish I had taken more of the surroundings – the colors are out of this world!

Ever wondered about that exit to West Seattle?

Ever wonder what to do if you miss the exit to West Seattle from I-5?
(I don’t want to talk about it)

So you have GPS? Does it recognize road under construction?
(Getting out the Kleenex)

Did you have too much coffee this morning?
(Don’t even think about stopping at the McDonald’s on 4th & Lander)

Why am I on 4th and Lander?
( don’t want to talk about it )

Getting low on gas?
( more Kleenex)

Feeling sorry for yourself?
( check out the Mercedes convertible, top down, trunk slightly ajar with bungee cord holding it down, and pouring rain)

Running out of Kleenex?
( on sale at Bartells )

Me and Sabrina are dry and………almost in West Seattle
(don’t want to talk about calories )

Happy May Day

This is the first year that I will not be leaving May baskets at my neighbor's doors - My children are grown and gone, my little neighbor Emily is still sleeping and my grandson is too small. But pretend there is a little cone with flowers , and at the bottom, a candy kiss, at your door - it is from me!

Blessings on May Day

Proverbs 1:23 I will pour out my spirit into you, I will make known my words

( those are words to ponder )