Bringing Florida Mom Home

We are back on Puget Sound, returned safely from the sun and heat of South Florida. Just in the nick of time, too.

I had a lovely flight on Thanksgiving from Seattle to Florida and even got some cool and groovy photos from the plane. At 6:30 Saturday morning, Mom and I were on the plane and ready to roll. It had been a harrowing morning but as soon as we left Florida airspace, it suddenly became glorious. We had a beautiful flight to Atlanta and equally beautiful flight to Seattle with views of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and Rainier. The rain had stopped for the day so we had an uneventful arrival. Uneventful as far as the plane was concerned but joyous for Gooserock and Mom and I back together again and this time not for just a quick visit.

This is a photo of the view Mom left.

Part of the charm of moving from Florida to Puget Sound is that although it would be quite a bit cooler, there still was no snow to worry about.

Here's a view out our window this Sunday afternoon.





Ooooops!!! Surprise!! (Photo courtesy of Gooserock)

That's not fog you're seeing, it's snow. And just up the hill from us the flakes were the size of golf balls...really beautiful to see...from inside looking out. LOL. Thanks to global warming we were forcast to have a milder than usual winter. :-)

Any way, we're here all together again and very happy to be so. Mom's furniture has not arrived yet so we'll be working on setting up her apartment later.

My new cell phone was wonderful to have. I'm totally sold on the technology. Yes, I know, I'm slow to going the 21st Century.

Happy "Day for Giving Thanks"

Dear Friends,
Not much to report but I wanted to send you my wishes for a Day of Giving Thanks and I extend it to my Canadian and other worldly e-buddies too.

I don't think I've posted this before, but one of the things I'm thankful for is all the ways that Life in this world has to protect itself and stay alive. Here is a collection of barnacles clinging to a Horse Clam shell from our beach that washed in on the tide and will wash out on the next.

Take care everyone and be Thankful EVERYDAY for all the many riches we all have in life, and I'm not talking about money.

I'm off to Florida in the morning. Talk to you all again Saturday.

Florida Mom is Coming!

Do you remember Florida Mom, Gooserock's mother?

This picture was taken Christmas 2006.

She is moving from Florida to Puget Sound in a little town about 10 miles from us! I am flying to Florida Thanksgiving morning to meet her and fly back here with her on Saturday. She is 80 and it's about time she gets settled here near us. She's ready and is thrilled at the prospect.

When she was visiting us last summer I showed her an apartment that was available thinking it might get her in the mood to think about moving here. She fell in love with it, rented it then and there. She went back to Florida, put her condo on the market (anybody looking for a super neat ground floor condo in Florida?) and started packing. We're all really excited. It will be wonderful to have her just a few minutes away from us and no more long distance phone calls. At 80 years of age, I have no idea how she got everything taken care of like she has. An awesome woman!

In honor of my trip, I bought a pay-as-you-go cell phone...my first cell phone. We bought the phone but pay $30 every two months for 300 minutes instead of having to sign a contract for 2 years or whatever.

Well, that's our news for today. :-)

Rain and Shine

As you may have heard, the Pac North Wet has been slogging in rain and mud for a few weeks now. Many recent days have looked like this.

But as recently as the end of October, we were seeing days like this one. Can you spot the hummingbird? I have no idea why he/she was still here.

Now, after all the rain, WHEN we can see the Olympic Mountains they are
snowcovered.


Never a dull moment weatherwise in the PNW.

Notes: Click image for larger view
Taken with Nikon CP7600 November 2006

HooRay!!!!!

Dems take the House!! Hello Nancy, Good bye Do-Do.

Now, please, oh please, come on Webb.

Orcas in Puget Sound

Will you all forgive me for being gone so long if I post an eyewitness view of Orcas?

I received a call that a pod of Orcas was headed south (toward us). We quick drove to a good viewing spot and didn't have long to wait. We saw several including a couple babies, but I didn't have the time or the sense to use telephoto and just stood there and shot pictures. They're small but recognizable. Got two usable views out of 95 shots. LOVE these digital cameras!!

These were our first definite sightings of Orcas in six years of living out here.
(We think we saw some fins another time.)

Notes: Click image for larger view
Taken with Nikon CP7600 November 2006