We Still Got the Snow

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 took some photos of the snow here and put them up on my Picassweb albums.

I'm Back!

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.

We tried to cram 1759 square feet of possessions into a 980 square foot apartment! Even with a generous storage unit and leaving some possessions behind we still have too much stuff. So, some is given to family, some is stored with friends, some goes to Goodwill and some goes to the dumpster.

Whew! It took more out of us than we thought it would. Finally, after three weeks, we are starting to recover and feel like doing some of things we looked forward to in Bremerton.

I took the snowy Olympics mountain picture you see at the top of this blog on November the 4th while we were still at the lake. The sunset picture was taken on the 15th from the third floor stair landing of our apartment building.

A Very Colorful Fall Season

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.

This big old Maple tree stands by the road at the north end of our lake. In fact, the road seems to bend around it so that it looms into view from either direction, towering overhead. We have enjoyed watching this giant Maple, year after year, bear leaves in the Spring and drop them in the Fall. This photo becomes a remembrance for us.

There are more photos of the Fall leaves on my Picasaweb albums.

I Couldn't Help It

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.

I split the picture between the far shore and its reflection. In the upper right you see, peeking out, our neighbors Dana and Donna's new home, still under construction. Their swimming raft is in front of their beach.

I know that Marv and Cheryl, the new owners of our home, and their family will enjoy these views as much as we have the last nine years. This is the stuff we will really miss!

Fish Plant!

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.

See also Erickson Lake Blog

Sold!

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.

This photo was taken a week ago at the top of our street. We have been able to see these views of the Olympic Mountain range most days of the year. This shot is of "The Brothers" and was particularly nice because of the low lying clouds.

You can click on the picture for a much larger view. Then, use the F11 key view with your entire screen. Use F11 again to return to a normal screen. Enjoy!

Firewood is Stored for the Winter

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.

I didn't quite fill that space to the ceiling like I wanted to, but I only put bug-free wood inside the garage. I have another half cord outside that is not so bug free, under a tarp. I plan to use that wood first.

We have a nice heat pump for heating and cooling but burning wood in our free-standing wood stove should moderate our electricity bills somewhat. And, there is just "something" about the heat from a modern, efficient wood stove. Ceiling fans help distribute the heat throughout the house. Sometimes we turn on just the fan in the heat pump system for a little while for a quicker warm up.

Rainier Mountain Festival and Kautz Creek

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.

Once we satisfied our curiosity we continued the few remaining miles to the Mount Rainier Park boundary and into the Park just a few miles to Kautz Creek, site of a number of rather spectacular glacial river rampages with amazing resultant debris fields. We hiked up a rather gentle sloping trail perhaps only a little over a mile. The pictures don't quite do it justice. You wouldn't think water could move that much huge trees and giant boulders. See the photo album.

Relections

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!

Living Waters Fellowship Picnic

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!

No music this year but the extended time of fellowship seemed to be enjoyed by everyone. It also gave us some time to start getting acquainted with out new Pastors Tom and Lisa Clifton. You can see my picnic pictures here.

I'm So Confused!

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.

Another Beautiful Day In Paradise!

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.

Besides that, the wild flowers were still quite good. They usually are wilted by this time of year. I think the late spring and the slow snow melt has preserved them this year. The Indian Paintbrush flowers were in greater abundance than they were just ten days ago.

This trip was more a tourist excursion for us. We usually put on backpacks and walk several miles on our trips but for the last two weeks I have suffered with they tell me is a bone spur in my right foot. It sure slows me down! Here are the photos on Picasaweb.

Labor Day Was Celebrated On Sunday

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!

Although the outdoor picnic was rained out, we still had the usual grilled hamburgers and hotdogs which tasted so much better than the overpriced stuff we got at the county fair!

Olivia still doesn't like the tickle monster but it was great 'he' could make it out here from Montana again.

A small album of family photos are available by invitation only.

We Attended the Kippo Reunion in Mosseyrock

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.

We were treated to a neighborhood block party with Fred playing the bass fiddle. We caught up on family doings and enjoyed a turkey dinner that everyone contributed to. Mary and her husband Mike were able to join us again from Maryland.

Pictures? Sure, get 'em here.

Trip to Paradise

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.

Kitsap County Fair

Bonita and I went to the Kitsap County Fair last Thursday. Half price for seniors all day. That is some compensation for being sixty.

Perhaps the highlight was Plasterman. He looks like a statue but put some money in his bucket and he starts to dance!

We also saw a kids tracter pull, exotic animals and some lovely flowers. See them all on my Picasaweb album.

Grandkids Stayed Over

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.

ELHOA Picnic

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.

I also created a blog for our home owner's association. Blogger is so easy to use and the price is so right - free! http://ericksonlake.blogspot.com/

Flowers On Our Deck

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.

BTW, once I established the size of the photos on this blog I no longer have to resize (downsize) them. They are automatically resized to match the previous photo when selected for uploading. How very convenient!

Whaling Days

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.

Even though these street fairs have started looking a lot the same with the rows of vendor tents it was interesting for people watching and fun because you get to eat all those overpriced but delicious foods!