Over the weekend my friend Debbie and I retreated to Suncadia Lodge on the east side of the mountains. It was a combo of nature, nurture and reflection. We had massages and sat in the hot salt pools until dark. It was sprinkling out, so we were lucky to have them all to ourselves. We had dinner in, watched a movie and relaxed - all toasty by the fire. It was just what I needed.

In the morning we woke to glorious sunshine and a cool fall day. The views were amazing and Suncadia's acreage goes on for miles, so we walked and walked, taking in the fresh air. It was nice to not have the background freeway or airport noise I am used to at home. Getting away from it makes me realize how much noise pollution I live with. No wonder I have to wear earplugs at night!

I love Debbie. She is one of my dearest friends. We always have such a great time together, and I am truly grateful to have her in my life. She has the gift of knowing just what to say or not to say to me when it is needed, and she reminds me that it is alright to feel my feelings and most of all she makes me laugh! I have a lot to thank her for...

Thank you, Debbie, for the last eight years!

Bake Day

Every once in awhile Troy and I like to have a bake day. This usually means making Jill's cinnamon rolls and some variety of cookie. We are definitely getting better because this batch turned out YUUUMMY. The cookies on the other hand were another story. Troy tells it well on his blog here: Troy's Blog

Uno Manano (aka Troy and Steve)

Troy and Steve making fire (Jack supervising)


Me man. Me make fire. Me make BIG fire.

A dear friend of mine, Linda, and her husband Chris took a group of us out on their boat for lunch. Linda wanted to do this last summer as a graduation gift but was diagnosed with mouth cancer. She spent the last year going through countless oral surgeries, radiation treatments and hyperbaric chamber visits. She is now cancer free and feeling back to herself. We are so thankful and really wanted to celebrate her recovery. All of us "wise women" decided we would let the spouses join. :)

It was an amazingly beautiful day in Seattle. We left out of Elliot Bay and motored up the sound to Bainbridge Island, into a little cove called Pt. Madison, where we anchored and lunched. Everyone who wanted could take a turn at the wheel, but we mostly sat in the sun and told stories. We had a great time! Thank you Linda & Chris!

Leaving Elliot Bay Marina

Troy at the wheel

A beautiful brick cottage covered in ivy. (Not good for the brick, but very beautiful)

Yours truly




A great picture of Marilyn looking very nautical

Nan at the wheel

Debbie and Gail soaking up the sunshine

The boat, Flying Colors

Last weekend Troy and I traveled with our friends Dennis, Kari & their daughter Taylor to Steamboat Rock State Park about four hours east of the mountains from us. We wanted to head over and see a laser light show off of Grand Coulee Dam. The light show was ok but the scenery and weather was A+. Except for the drive home. Boy oh boy it was hot! Here are a few pictures of the canyon we camped in. This was a lot of fun...too short but we both wouldn't mind going back.

"Hello!"

Steamboat Rock State Park

(this is a great spot for a camping trip...lots of grass, sandy beaches, and bike riding, and it was very clean...nice for a State Park.)


Canyon at Sunset...turning purple
more canyon

Grand Coulee Dam

more dam

Troy jack hammering at the visitor center

Outside temp as we were sitting in a traffic jam due to an accident...yuck.

Junior Rangers

Sorry about the delay in getting this uploaded. My previous Junior Rangers post didn't work. But, then my awesome husband (yes, he's helping me compose) showed me how to resize the video. Thank you Troy!

This weekend Troy, Steve, Cole, Carmen & I went to Teatro ZinZanni. TZ is a dinner theatre. It is a traveling act that rotates every few months. For our show, we were entertained by Maestro's Menagerie. We were entertained by music, contortionists, comedians and opera singers. The entertainment is interactive, so between meal courses the cast walks through the theatre doing silly things with the audience. We had a lot of fun watching the "creepy" human Count Dracula (the Maestro) sneak up and scare Carment. The staff highly encourages fancy dress and gaudy accessories...hence Cole's facepaint and Steve's wacky sun glasses. A little girl came up and asked Cole if those were real tattoos. She explained it was body paint. :) Too cute!

The best part of this experience is the fun you have with family & friends. Steve,Cole & Carmen are like family, and it was so fun to celebrate a long end to Carmen and Steve working consecutive 100-hour weeks at work, and to have the family back together again. All-in-all the meal was amazing, the company great, and there was fun to be had by all!