Cheesy Riders

Charles finally made good on his birthday present to Elaine, and took her on a ride on Queen Latifah.  We had gotten together to bottle Riesling, but discovered that it was still fermenting, so we have to postpone that.   Instead we did some tasting for blending, deciding on a 90:10 blend ratio of the 2006 Syrah:Cab Franc.  That being done, we wrapped Elaine in ballistic nylon, had her climb on the Queen, and let Charles and Elaine take off. 

Cheesy Riders

Hot time in Eastern Washington

Here some pictures from our recent trip to Eastern Washington the first weekend of June.  It was hot all over Washington, and we experienced the high 90's near Grand Coulee Dam--hot enough so that they cancelled the tours down into the dam--if it gets too hot the elevators don't work....

 

motocycle diaries eastern washington

Motorcycle Diaries Memorial Day weekend: I was not...

Motorcycle Diaries

Memorial Day weekend: I was not on call. It was supposed to be a partly cloudy days, with a high in the mid 60's; maybe some rain here and there. We were getting over some ghastly respiratory infection. (Parainfluenza, I am told-but which one? 1, 2, or 3?) We would have liked to try an overnight trip, but we hadn't planned for any accommodations, and with our general health, would we be able to enjoy it? So we decided on a day trip--but where? We finally decided on a day trip up to Mulkilteo, up Whidbey Island, over to the the Skagit valley, maybe up Chuckanut to Bellingham, and then back to Seattle.

We left around 10 am and went to REI to get a drink tube for the platypus so I could take a sip of water when the coughing jags hit. This turned out to be a very smart idea. So we headed up I-5 to highway 525 W to the Mulkilteo ferry. One thing we noticed was the easy traffic on 1-5 seems like everyone had already headed out of town. Once we got to the ferry, we found loads of cars waiting for the ferry...and we just went around them. There must have been at least 2 hours of waiting cars, but motorcycles are allowed to get on and disembark first on Washington State Ferries. We got to the ferry landing just as one left. We had to wait 20 minutes or so to load (first in line!) for the short crossing.

Got over to Whidbey, and followed WA-525 up the island to Coupeville, where we stopped for lunch at the Tyee Restaurant (http://www.tyeehotel.com/). Lots of locals.

Off on the scoot, and taking WA-20 to Deception pass. We parked on the south end of Deception Pass and walked up the west side to the north end and then back. Although the day was cloudy, Deception Pass was magnificent as usual. We certainly did see lots of motorcycle traffic crossing.

We then headed north on 20 and continued east outside of Anacortes, across the Swinomish Channel, into the Skagit valley. We took a turn north at Whitney to the Bayview-Edison road and traveled up through Bayview to Edison to the Old Edison Inn where we had oysters, calamari, and beer. We had learned about the Old Edison Inn from an article in the Pacific Magazine which described the establishment:

Old Edison Inn
Edison; 360-766-6266
Mosey into this country-corner tavern and set yourself down for oysters just about anywhichway you want. Throw back a shooter or two for starters — a saucy singleton in a shot glass. Move on to the Grilled Oyster Scatter of just-right-battered bivalves fresh from nearby Samish Bay. If oysters ain't your thang, reach for a burger (hali-, ham-, salmon
or chicken) or carve into a juicy steak. Wash it all down with one of the 14 beers on tap or an adult beverage from the full bar. On Sundays and some Saturdays, kick up your heels to live music.

Some day we will go back for the dancin'.

Then on home: Back down the Bayview-Edison road, across WA-20, where it becomes the La Conner-Whitney road. At La Conner round about we went east to Conway (Chilberg road to Best road to Fir Island road). At Conway we went south along Pioneer highway through Stanwood. At this point I had planned on going south along the coast to Tulalip, but being confused we continued on Pioneer highway to Silvana, and to I-5. Then we took I-5 back into Seattle.

See pictures of our adventure here:

Motorcycle Diaries 05262007

Here is the newest member of the family...Daddy's pride and joy

Finally the patio pictures. As you may know Charles and I finally plunged in and put in our door in the back. What began as a door in the laundry room blossomed into a side patio, and will probably include a pond in the lower yard, if my husband has his way.

Here is our side yard a few years ago, after we put in the raised beds.

We started, or rather, our contracter, Dennis, started the work in mid December in the laundry room. There was quite a bit of plumbing work to do to move the washer and dryer into the closet space we had--the water was there, but not the drain. Also there was a considerable amount of plumbing in the wall where we wanted the door. But we got the door in by Christmas. At the same time, Dennis did some drainage work. With all the rain we were able to see exactly what our drainage issues were, and we got all the side yard gutters to drain down to the lower yard.

Then, during January, the work on the patio and retaining wall began. Here is a shot during the work.


As you can see, quite a bit of dirt was moved into the lower yard. The rock retaining wall was removed and replaced with this block wall, plus Dennis built up a planter box for my herbs.

Then by Super Bowl Sunday, we had the patio complete, and here's Charles and me enjoying ourselves in the sunshine.



We were able to use some of the pavers we already had, and then add to it for the patio. We have a random mix of charcoal and natural pavers in three different sizes. We will need to add some colour, I think. Down in the lower yard, on the north side (there where the blue tarp is) is where Charles is thinking of a Koi pond. John will be here this weekend, and Charles is hoping to get all sorts of inspiration.

Here is a shot up so you can see the famous door.
It is actually very nice finally having a door, and not always having to use the garage door to go out.

We aren't finished with Dennis...he is off this month working on a house on Camano Island. Our next step to to get a side walk up from the patio to the upper yard. That will include some rework of the retaining wall up there.

We also have some inside work for him to do--finish up the wine storage, and add a large closet/storage area in the basement bedroom.

We have yet to name our patio. We are thinking some thing like Piazza Bitzinni. We can consider a name of your choice for the right amount....Piazzi Gianni, Piazza Golden Boy, Piazza Emilia...........

I have had several comments on the state of the commissioner's skin. It is not the Rio Seco on his face, it is a secret masque of beauty, which I will share with you.
1. Clean your face.
2. Spread Vitamin E Oil on your face, and eyelids.
3. Lather up some Dove Sensitive Skin Soap and apply to face.
4. Next, spread Walgreens Alpha-hydroxy lotion on face.
5. Then, spread St. Ives Apricot Scrub on face.
6. Follow with Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, spread on face.
7. Follow with Queen Helene Mud Masque, also spread on face.
8. Let dry for as long as hour. For a special treat, put cucumber slices on eyes.

This is what the commissioner had on his face.
Now the commissioner looks like this......

It is a picture of a cat with a little hat.

New Orleans has provided us with lots of memories and pictures. Here is one typical picture at the New Orleans Guest House on Ursulines, just outside the Quarter in Treme.
Not sure how the Guest House, or its proprieters, Ray and Alvin, are faring. We are hoping to be able to go back there next spring for Jazz Fest

The commissioner
I cannot lie; this delightful photograph was taken by my husband of the Commissioner of the the Rio Seco Arroyo. Looks like the commissioner has some of the Rio Seco on his face.

This is my first post and I have no clue what I am doing. Here is a picture, just to show that I can post a picture, which is what I am going to be doing on this blog. This was a picture taken in Ireland in September 2000 on the Dingle penisula.