When we were here last, over Mother's Day weekend, I sprayed Round-up on a bunch of weeds that were in the process of taking over the area around our camping trailer. The sizable "crop" was sort of accentuating the white trash look that we try to avoid (considering that we are a camping trailer among some very nice homes, plus just personal pride), so I was on a mission. Afterward, we had some pretty warm and dry weather [during the work-weeks...] which is a perfect scenario for Round-up to work best, and it sure did. I was tickled when we drove up yesterday to see dead weeds everywhere! (When it comes to mice, ants, and weeds -- dead is a good thing). I'd totally avoided spraying anywhere near the bird/ squirrel/ chipmunk habitat so it's a little weedy over there, but not too bad. It looks much better around here than it did, despite brown and crispy weeds everywhere. At least they blend in with the dirt somewhat. AND, I'd sprayed a ton of baby scotch broom and they're all kaput, too! Yay!
It would probably be a good idea to bring in a couple of truckloads of gravel for the parking area and the trail head to the beach, but we have a dramatic milestone approaching this summer that makes it difficult to make any substantial expenditures, even including things like expanding our landscaping, which we'd really like to do. We've been in the process for quite some time now (well over a year) of obtaining a variance from the county so that we can build our house, when the time comes, a little closer to the water than what the current code allows. Current code is very strict and prohibitive, and for our situation -- ridiculous. Can't be any closer than 100 ft. from the water ("mean high-tide mark"), which might as well be a mile. What's frustrating is that the new law went into effect the year before we bought our property, and so most of the existing homes around here are all around 35 ft. from the beach, some closer. If we are required to abide by the 100-ft. law, we'd have to cut down a huge number of well-established, beautiful douglas fir trees, plus pretty much "rape" the property with major grading and earth-moving. Plus, the existing septic system and drainfield had been installed based on the old rules and the new rules could possibly mean that we'd have to even more severely limit where we could build. (We'd be talking spending our retirement years in this camping trailer since the cost of all that would be the equivalent of colonizing Mars). We knew when we bought the property that building would be a challenge, although JDub made a point beforehand to discuss options with the environmental leg of the county and our options sounded encouraging. (Mostly the laws are so stringent these days because salmon are now officially considered an Endangered Species).
[Side Note: This is all another consequence of over-population. Bring on that free birth control! Not that it would help us now, but leaner future generations would reap the benefits. Otherwise, the rules are going to become even more draconian].
Anyway. The milestone this summer is that after expending an awful lot of money with the aid of an architect and environmental specialist plus the exorbitant bribes fees to the county, we finally go to hearing in July to learn whether or not we will be granted permission to build where we want to -- which is not only based on "want", but also on what is reasonable. We still wouldn't be as close to the beach as many of our neighbors, but we'd be on lower ground so as old folks we wouldn't have to deal with the steep slopes to access the beach. It would make the difference between having "view" property as old people, or having the life style to access the beach/water relatively easily and still be able to look for agates. And it would preserve the natural state of the property without having to cut down all those trees that provide protection and shelter for the birds and critters. (The middle-class is always screwed in these situations. We see many new homes being built much closer to the water than what this current law allows, but they are mini-mansions with obviously wealthy people behind them with pockets deep enough to afford all the incredible and expensive hoops to jump through and they are probably viewed as cash-cows as far as property taxpayers).
So if we are granted the variance (we'll be so very disappointed if we are not...), we may have to at least build a foundation in order to lock it in. Maybe even a structure -- like the garage that we'd use as a "cabin" until we were ready to go forward with building the house. And for road access for building, etc., we may have to actually remove the camping trailer, deck, etc. even this early in the game. We're in limbo until July 24th, when we'll know for sure what our options really are.
OK. I've accomplished quite a lot on my proposal at this point (long ways to go, but since the deadline isn't until June 14th, I'm feeling pretty much under control. Pretty much). Tomorrow the weather is supposed to continue to be Very Nice (today was the mid-80s, so not quite so hot as yesterday, with tomorrow in the upper 70s). The weekend is supposed to be nice as well. And also? Tomorrow is my birthday. So, what'dyu think? Should I "be sick" tomorrow? So we can have a three-day weekend of nice weather at Harstine?
That's quite an adjustment going from 55 deg. with a wind chill factor of probably 40 deg. or less a couple of days ago, to 
Update: JDub knew exactly what I needed. Instead of attempting to BBQ our salmon in the gale winds (we'll do that tomorrow instead), we went out to eat at a bar & grill just off the island, right on a lake. It was nice to get out of the trailer and not have to deal with the elements. We had steamer clams! Yum! (Yes, dipped in butter, my bad). I also had some bourbon! (A Manhattan, up!) My mood is much improved. That JDub is a great guy. I didn't even whine or anything (well, much) -- he probably noticed the semi-permanent scowl on my face and knew some action was in order.
Just saying. 
I still keep getting dead. I'm at the point where I want to frisbee the 