One of the reasons we moved into town was to avoid the deep snow that seemed to always fall in greater abundance in Mason County. Over the last ten days or so Belfair has gotten about 14 inches. Where we are now in east Bremerton we have gotten 'only' about 12 inches. It has been just as difficult to get around in this area with ice chunks in many of the local streets.
I'm back - after a long process of moving. Somehow, apartment living isn't quite like living in a separate house. I miss our home on the lake and I keep telling myself that it was indeed time to move on.
Usually, in the Fall around here, the Maple leaves turn a yucky brown and seem to just "rot" off the trees. But this year has been an exceptional one for colorful Fall leaves.
The last two days the surface of Erickson Lake was rippled by the wind but last Tuesday morning it was just like a mirror. I couldn't help myself. In my robe I went out into the early morning cold down nearer to the lake to take a photograph.
Last Wednesday, October 15th, we got our semi-annual batch of trout planted in Erickson Lake. It's really quite a simple process. A specially constructed truck drives up, rolls out a long tubular plastic chute, releases the water in one of several tanks and several hundred pounds of trout slide out into the lake. Simple, but somehow fascinating to watch.
We accepted an offer to buy our home! It is sad to leave but we have had a wonder nine years here. I hope the new owners take good care of "our baby". We wish them the very best.
No posts for few days but I have been a busy guy! Here is a picture of the firewood I got cut, split, dried (just in time!) and stacked in our garage last week, just before the rain and cooler weather came back. All Hemlock this year from a blow down in my neighbor's yard in that big storm last December.
Saturday, Al Lind and I went to Mount Rainier again - can't get enough! This time each year the Rainier Mountain Festival is put on in Ashford, Washington, site of the famous Whittaker brothers 'Rainier Base Camp' and mountaineering store. It affords the opportunity, should you be so inclined, to schmooze with Jim and Lou Whittaker and many other famous mountaineering legends.
The early morning sun first appears on the treetops on the far side of our beautiful Erickson Lake, then slowly illuminates more and more of the opposing shoreline. Before the usual light breeze starts blowing the lake is much like a mirror punctuated by the occasional fish feeding on surface.We enjoy this spectacular view most every sunny morning. Who wouldn't want to live here? It's time to turn this treasure over to the care of a younger couple. And they really ought to be standing in line to buy it!
Sunday after church we attended our church picnic. John and Connie Streib were, once again, the gracious hosts for this annual event. It was indeed a very pleasant time. I can't remember when every single dish I tried tasted really good!
Guess what? You might think it is spring, perhaps Easter by the faithful blooming of these Easter Lilies in our yard. They seem to be confused because they bloom this time each year! Strange.
My hiking buddy Al Lind managed to get a day off work to extend his Labor Day weekend so Tuesday we went back to one of our favorite places - Paradise at Mount Rainier. We wanted to see the newly built visitors center which is replacing the Henry M. Jackson VC. Also, over 2 million dollars worth of renovations have been done to the historic Paridise Lodge. Its massive roof has been replaced and all the seams are sporting bright new copper flashing. I have included several photos of the exterior and interior.
We got together on Sunday instead of Monday for our family Labor Day gathering. Temperature was in the low sixties, so no swimming, but the sun did come out between rain squalls and the grand kids caught several bass!
Saturday morning we made the two hour trip south to Mosseyrock, Washington where my cousin Karen (Kippo) Breed lives with her husband Fred. Karen and Fred have been so gracious hosting the Kippo clan, my mother's side of the family, for five out of the last seven years since we started meeting again.
Long time hiking friend Al Lind and I went to the Paradise area of Mount Rainier Saturday. Because of construction on the new lodge and scarce parking we ended up driving down from the parking lot and started hiking about 500 feet lower on the Lakes Trail. Besides the gorgious views of Mount Rainier we walked through meadows full of wild flowers, explored a lovely stream and fed the camp robbers (birds). Web album.
Bonita and I went to the Kitsap County Fair last Thursday. Half price for seniors all day. That is some compensation for being sixty. 
The grandkids stayed with us last Saturday through Sunday morning. Of course they are the neatest grandkids ever, so what else can I say? We took them to the picnic and they were well behaved. I purposely picked a photo that obscures their faces because we don't want their images used improperly. Friends and family can email us for online photo albums with a private address.
We had our annual Erickson Lake Home Owner's Association picnic last Saturday. There were a few less people than last year but we had a good time and it was enjoyable to see and talk to some of the the neighbors that we don't see too often.
This is a picture of some of our hanging flower baskets that line our deck. I don't know the names of any of them but they are sure pretty and have been blooming non-stop all summer long.
We went to "Whaling Days" in Silverdale today. It was our first time attending. This street fair is more like the bigger county fairs because it has an area for thrill rides. The county park on the waterfront in Old Town is an ideal place to have it since the closed-off streets don't really obstruct traffic like they do in most other fairs.
