We Get Back Into The Swing Of Things At Home

Janet's being Mrs. Crabby Pants because she doesn't want summer to end.  We are also summertime fans, but unlike Janet, we are going to take in our stride.  We are getting used to being back at home and word on the street is that we will be going back to Camp USA soon so certain people can go on vacation.  This year they have decided to mix it up and go for something really different - they are going to the UK!  Do you believe it?

We went for a walk along Bowker Creek to see how the restoration was coming along.  I was off my leash and decided it was time to let those cheeky ducks know that we were tired of them mocking us when we walk by on leash.  Actually, I was still on my now filthy leash, but nobody was holding it.

No worries, Janet.  Do you see any ducks in sight?  They will know to fear me, next time we swing by.

In March, Janet ordered a quilt kit from Craftsy.com.  She pulled it out this week to take a look at the pattern and get started on it.  She was shocked to find out that some of the fabric was missing.  After emailing Craftsy, they responded saying the missing fabric was in the post.  Janet was even more shocked!

Thus far, Janet says this is her favourite quilt.  The photo doesn't do it justice, but the background fabric is kind of a caramel colour.

Food!  The people had Cobb Salad.

Janet even made the Blue Cheese Dressing!

On Oak Bay Avenue, there is a new shop that has been there a couple of years.  It's called The Whole Beast and they process all their own bacon, sausages and sliced meat.  Phil went and purchased a selection along with some Fol Epi bread.

Delicious sandwiches.

One of Janet and Phil's new favourite restaurant is The Next.  It's a Japanese restaurant and they go for cooked Japanese food as they have a favourite sushi shop.  Check out what they had - in addition to the food and wine, Janet had Crab Soda to mix with her wine!

Mr. No Longer A Baby was dining and facetiming at the same time.  He was shoveling pineapple (likely the cans he stole from our house!) and said, "look Yaya...it's a big one!"

Look what Janet found three weeks after M + D + F left?  Wonder who put this little set up in the cupboard?

Correction Notification!  Previously Janet mentioned that Meg and Raeleigh were 40 years old.   This is incorrect!  Meg is 40.5 years old and Raeleigh is only 39 years old.  Janet really wishes someone would mistake her for being 40 years old!

We are pooped!  It's been a tough day.

Camp USA - Part Two

Lots of times, Janet forgets to take photos when we go somewhere.  This time, however, she took lots of photos at Camp USA.

They had cocktails!

And more cocktails:

They visited a new distillery showroom on the main street where Brownyn and Phil did a tasting.

$5.00 for five 1 ounce tasters!  Talk about a cheap afternoon out.

Best buddies!

Who would have thunk these two would go to a distillery tasting?

They had this really cool brandy with a whole pear inside.  They attach the bottle to the fruit blossom and the pear grows inside.

Pear Brandy was $40.  Pear Brandy with whole pear inside was $85!

Do you think maybe Phil had one too many at the tasting?

Unlike myself,  running free and wild like the wind!  Even though I didn't get to go for Mexican food, I love Camp USA.

They went back to the Taqueria for lunch again.  They said the food is delicious!  Sometimes we doggies get to go and we can sit on the patio.  Janet and Phil have been going to Hood River for more than 30 years, but Janet thinks the Taqueria was either Meg or Bronwyn's discovery.  It's in The Heights which is the upper level of Hood River.  Past The Heights, you come to Tucker Campgound where Janet says our kids spent many days in our trusty old tent trailer.  Now Janet says she needs an r-pod trailer so we can go "camping" in the "wilderness".

Fajita!

There are many barges and tow boats (push boat is this case?) on the Columbia River as it is a huge working river.

We came home on the late ferry, so Janet and Phil had dinner in Port Angeles at a restaurant that has been there for years, but they have never tried.  Time was of the essence as we (actually, WE were already in the car at the ferry!) they had to get back to the car in time for the ferry!  Thai food at Jasmine Bistro.

Everything was delicious, but the highlight was Dungeness Crab Fried Rice. 

We were good doggies so were allowed to come on to the people deck.  Truth be known, only Noodles would have been a naughty doggie, but she was so tired from the car ride that she forgot to be bad.

That's Janet's hand and unknown strangers feet.

 Look at this beautiful cruise ship in the harbour when we arrive.

Good night and sleep tight!

That teeny tiny head off to the right belongs to Bronwyn.

We Go To Camp USA - Part 1

We threw all our goodies in the Volvo and hit the trail to Camp USA.  It was super fun!

We did all the usual gigs:
Went to The Taqueria for lunch (a couple of times!).

Here we are!

We doggies didn't get to go this time, but Janet says they have expanded their patio area.  The patio is really the highlight of The Taqueria.  Their indoor seating is improved, but still kind of sad and you leave smelling like you slept in the deep fryer.

 

However, the food is always delicious.

Chimichanga!

Taco Salad with extra guac!

Bronwyn spent a fair bit of time strong arming convincing Phil he needed to try kiteboarding.  He had a full retinue of excuses, all of which fell deaf on Bronwyn's ears.  In the end, they did go, but watching Phil put on his 20 years old (and pounds) wetsuit was well worth the price of admission.

Bronwyn's friend said all he needed was a disco ball above his head!

Suck it up, Dad....there's a zipper that needs to go up!

See that teeny tiny little dot to the left hand side of the photo?  That's Bronwyn on her kite board.  The equally teeny tiny dot on the ride hand side of the photo is Princess Bronwyn's personal staff on a Jet Ski making sure all is well in the water with Princess.

Janet was shocked at how large the kite was.

And how pretty it was and could make a really cute quilt pattern!

Janet and Phil made a bullet like trip to PDX to hit Costco, Target, Walmart and of course, Fabric Depot.  For those not familiar with the area, the Columbia River forms most of the border between Oregon and Washington State.  There are train tracks on both sides of the river.  This super long train was waiting for the track to clear before it go forward.  Hood River is located in the Columbia Gorge.

This is a very small fraction of the train.  It had 5 engines.

They bought boneless Prime Rib Roast at Costco and had it for dinner one night.  Having the roast enabled Mikey to make his "Classic Mikey" breakfast!  Is there any meat leftover after the Mikey Classic - kind of doubt it!

Check this out - fresh tumeric at the grocery store.  Who knew?

There is a huge Mexican population in the Hood River area.  This area is very beautiful with tons and tons of fruit orchards.

Why is it that the best places to lay down are on quilts that are on the floor?

Four quilts in the photo - the one Noodles is lying on was Mike and Bronwyn's Christmas present; off to the right hand side that you can see a very small amount of is a pattern called Morning, Noon and Night; to the right of that is Cotton + Steel Mochi fabric quilt.  To the left of Noodles bum is one of Janet's favourites that she has to sew on the binding and at the very back is the Liberty Hello Kitty quilt top.  Good night!

Finley Family Fun!

We had a VIV - Very Important Visitor!  Finley is so important he travels with an entourage of two who do all the heavy lifting for him....AKA Mom and Dad!  The entourage feed him, dress him, take him places, watch his every move and admire how cute they think he is.

They arrived on a Friday at lunch time and left Tuesday morning.  They tried to squeeze in some activities.

They went to the Marina to look at the seals and feed them.

This cutie could flap his fin to get attention and some snacks.

And look how cute this is - just like me lying on my back when I sleep.

Several trips to the park were in the works.

That's William on the left hand side.  He is 5 years old and can ride a bike like a seasoned pro!  He is son to Meg's school friend Raeleigh and grandson to Janet and Phil's friends Karen and Ken.  Meg and Raeleigh and Ken and Karen have known each other since the girls were in Grade 8!  Did we mention they are both 40 years old now?

Noodles cheered them on.

When we weren't down at the park, Mr. Important ate.

and ate.

and ate some more!

Yaya bought this cute **co-ordinating** outfit at Uniqlo in Tokyo.  The train shirt is a huge hit!  Shirt $7!  Shorts $7!

Phil's friend Peter came by on Friday to have their weekly drink after squash.  Finley called out "Great Grandpa" when he walked into the kitchen.  Meg had to do some real fancy footwork to explain why there was confusion over 70 year old Peter and 91 year old Brian.

She had several options, but the two she stuck with were "it's the red shirt" and "it's the grey hair".

To the average human or canine, these might look like paper clips.  To a two year old child, they are bunnies!

The bounty from Rancher Janet's garden just keeps rolling through the door.   Pattypan squash!

We are being best buddies.

When Finley was finished with his iPhone, he left it beside the recycle he was playing with.  Yaya looked high and low before she finally came upon it.

Those empty bags held two dozen corn.

Before we knew it, they packed up and were gone!  We are sad!  It's so quiet in our house now.

All that's left of their visit is the empty sippy cup.