Islands...

Islands are gradually becoming home for many of my extended family. One of my sisters has lived on an island in Puget Sound for more than 40 years, raising three kids who moved away, then gradually moved back to the island of their birth. With spouses and kids, that makes eight. On the other side of the world, my nephew moved to an island for work, and stayed to raise a family and put down roots. My sister (his mom) and husband bought land nearby, and plan to build a house there and put down roots of their own. That's seven out of twelve.

On DW's side of the family, Whidbey Island is becoming home to a growing number of family members. First our niece moved to the island for work, and married an islander. They just bought a house on acreage near the middle of the island, and have sunk even deeper roots. A year ago, her parents bought property on the north end of the island, and are building a house there. In a year, they will move, along with my mother-in-law. Another niece, who grew up on Whidbey, now lives at the south end of the island; her parents just bought a house between Freeland and Coupeville. That's eight of the fifteen of us, pulling up roots and planting them in new soil.

I could live on an island, I think... as long as I can drive off it and go for road trips. And as long as there are mountains within view. Kind of sounds like Washington, doesn't it?

Family snow...

A day in the mountains (snow!!) is often how my sister chooses to spend her birthday, and this year, I tagged along. There were three generations in my sister's van, and we're going to spend the afternoon sliding down the hills at Stevens Pass.



Heading east on the ferry, out of the rain and into the snow


The nordic area at Stevens has lots of parking, warm bathrooms, and lots of sledding hills. We pulled on snow pants and more layers under warm jackets, and the kids were off and on the hill before we knew it.

This dog was dressed as warmly as I was!



My nephew is a snowboard instructor at Stevens Pass; he met us with a couple of cool snowskates that the little girls took to like ducks to water.







The day couldn't have been better: plenty of fresh snow, comfortable temperatures, lots of giggles and laughter.

I was glad of the hours spent in the snow, especially with my family. The way things are going, it might be the only snow play I will get this winter.

Christmas day...

It's a tradition that I treasure, and look forward to every year:  Christmas day with my sister. When our parents died a couple of weeks before Christmas, we began this tradition of spending this special day together. Our family loved this holiday, and our parents made it special for their three daughters. And we've done what we can to continue their tradition.



So early on Christmas morning, DW and I get up early, and catch a ferry to the island. We start the day at our niece's house, have breakfast and share hugs and talk, watch the little girls open their gifts, eat more breakfast, play games, play pool, and if we're lucky, watch the snow fall.

Then we move the party to my sister's house. We cook dinner together while we snack on brie and crackers and sometimes grilled vegetables, then sit down and have dinner and wine. This year we made mini tamales together, for an appetizer. And my sister made three kinds of enchiladas for dinner, along all the toppings and a big green salad. It was a great meal, shared around a table full of laughter.



Then before the little ones crash, we open more presents. DW and I spend the night, so we sit up late with my sister and brother-in-law, a few special hours just the four of us.

Horse fix...

In my family, one little girl in each generation has been a lover of horses... me, then Jessica, and now Ella. I made the journey to the island today to watch her riding lesson, and it was a joy to watch how confident she is around horses. From collecting her mount's tack and setting it up in the grooming stall, taking down his halter and walking out into the pasture to collect him, then brushing him and cleaning out his feet, she was comfortable around this big guy. She only needed help with bridling and tossing the English saddle up on his back, then she was on and riding out to the arena for her lesson.

Her mom and I leaned on the arena fence and talked while we watched, and I remembered watching Jessica learn to ride at just about the same age. I always dreamed of a daughter that I could teach to ride, but that wasn't to be.

My horses are long gone, so I'm so grateful to have a niece and a grand-niece to carry on the tradition... and to give me a horse fix whenever I need it.

Pacific Beach...

We're at the ocean with my husband's family for a few days of down time... walking on the beach, flying kites, eating (of course), drinking good wine, and lots and lots of talking. We've done this the past few years, sort of a mini family reunion that we take turns planning. This year was our turn, and we decided the beach was calling our name.

This morning we had a lot of rain, and a hunt for glass floats. Not on the sand, but rather in the deserted campground. Kids and adults searched, and at the end of the morning, DW and I had found ten, including an inscribed globe of blue, one of only a dozen like this.


In the afternoon, once the rain stopped (and we'd changed to dry clothes), we headed for the beach. We set up chairs and snacks, settled down with books to read, and DW and Bruce got out their stunt kites.






























Then home to our side-by-side houses to cook dinner, play games, and work on a puzzle. And at the end of the day, we watched a perfect sunrise from the back porch of our rental house.

Family time...

A break in the weather. My sister, niece, and great nieces in town. We met for lunch at the Issaquah Brewhouse (where I had perhaps the world's best grilled cheese sandwich), then we headed for Snoqualmie Falls to check out the lower falls park.



We always go to the upper falls viewpoint, but this time we decided to check out the lower viewpoint. We got a bird's-eye view of the power station, the roaring Snoqualmie River, and the new boardwalks.



The girls and Dave solved a geocache together.



The star of the show was the stupendous flow of water over the falls. From the lower viewpoint you don't get to see the whole waterfall, but it was still an amazing sight.



A section of the original water pipe was cut into rings, to walk through.



A brilliant yellow shrub was in full bloom, covered in water droplets that sparkled in the sun.



There's nothing like getting outside and exploring with family.

With family...

Easter has become a day to gather with DW's family, to catch up with our busy lives, and share the blessing of food on the table. The nieces are beginning to move away, so the family is growing smaller. But most of us still live near enough to get together, and I'm grateful for that.

There was plenty of food to share (there always is in a family with a lot of avid cooks). Ham, scalloped potatoes, garlicky green beans, rolls, and yams. But these chicks made from deviled eggs stole the show. With carrot noses, caper eyes, and decorated with dill weed, they were completely cute.

Giving thanks...

Cranberries, Brie, pecans, and rosemary, tucked into little pastry cups. My contribution to the family Thanksgiving this year (along with my favorite soy glazed Brussels sprouts, and a few bottles of wine).

Today was all about amazing food, sitting down at the table with my in-laws to share a meal, and spending hours of precious time with my second family.

Eclipse day...

In a clearing in the woods, on beautiful Whidbey Island, we gathered to watch the sun rise above the trees, then watch the moon move across the sun and out the other side. It was magical and special, even though we didn't get to see a total eclipse.

The last time our little telescope was set up for a solar eclipse was in 1979, when we watched the total eclipse from the desert in the Tri-Cities.

I remember that day so well... we took the morning off from work, walked out into the desert near our house, and set up the telescope ready to project the eclipse onto a white card. We watched, worried that the clouds would keep us from seeing this amazing event. And half an hour before the eclipse was to begin, the clouds parted, leaving a wide band of sky bare for the sun and the moon to dance. It was an experience I will never forget.

The boys ready for the show

Playing around with a colander full of tiny half-moons.

Showing off those stylish glasses.

And while we didn't see a total eclipse today, we had a pretty great time together, one we won't soon forget.

Whidbey Island blooms...

My hydrangeas at home are starting to fade, but here on Whidbey Island they're in full bloom and gorgeous.

I'm looking forward to a few days with DWs family, camping out on our niece's wooded five acres. Three days of fun and good food, spent with some of my favorite people, topped off with a solar eclipse. And some backroads touring with my camera, something I've not had time to do lately.

And they're off...

In my husband's family, everyone's favorite uncle is a retired Thoroughbred breeder and race horse owner, and for years when he came to town, we'd sit and talk horses. I miss that he's out of the business now. I loved researching pedigrees for him, and wish I could do that work again.

We still love when he comes for a visit, and this time DW's sister and brother-in-law arranged for us to spend an afternoon at Emerald Downs. They are part-owners of a horse that races here, and I was excited to see him run. We had a couple of private boxes right up front, and they even arranged to have a race named for Dee (he was tickled!).

Oh, and did I mention the Corgi races? More on the wee doggie races in another post.

Enjoy...

My handsome husband and his beautiful sisters

Outriders, ready for the first race

Because "we" were sponsoring the first race, we got to go to the saddling paddock before the race

My favorite entry (he didn't win, but oh, my... he'd make a great dressage horse!)

Dee, with the "Dee Williams Purse" on the readerboard

Waiting in the winner's circle

Number 7 won going away

I've never been in the winner's circle before!

The guys called this tall gray a giraffe, with his long legs and high head carriage and skinny rat tail.
I love his name: Snowball's Chance.

Second trip to the owner's enclosure to watch the horses come in.

Arrom Bear heading for the saddling paddock

Rocco Bowen up on Arrom Bear, ready to run

Bear finished 5th. They later found out that he has a bone chip in his knee, which may end his career.

Engrossed in the Daily Racing Form

The last race was a mile, which means the starting gate was right in front by the grandstand. A bird's-eye view for us!

My favorite was the No. 5 horse, English Kitty. No. 9, Stuck River, won the race.

Look at all those bay rumps, side by side in the starting gate.

And they're off!

Stuck River won it easily

Family photographs before the last race