Kingfisher Cove

Dog Days

It’s been (and continues to be) a l-o-n-g couple of weeks with Stephen Colbert on vacay (probably not due back until after Labor Day), and also HOW IS IT ALREADY LABOR DAY? Jeeze. The Puyallup Fair (ok, the Washington State Fair) starts tomorrow! How is that possible?

What I wish is that we were planning a trip this upcoming month to San Diego for Quinn’s 2nd birthday. We missed his first birthday when Bailey was badly injured last year. Truth be known, the main reason we won’t be going this year is because Bailey just can’t be left with anyone. She is so old, and not doing all that well (although better than expected at over 17 years old—mostly the issue is incontinence with both numbers…). After losing Mojo and now with Bailey, it’s just sad out.

Wylie is *pretty much* back to normal, as far as showing up, being lovable, but she’s still acting weird. John discovered, after forgetting to close the garage door a couple of nights, that a CAT has been sleeping on the black soft-top of his Solstice convertible. The fur is light colored, white-ish, and it may somewhat explain some of Wylie’s weird behavior. The laser stares at the deck steps; the lengthy disappearances, apparently hanging out in the gully; the perching on top of the barbequer on the back deck, keeping an eagle eye on that gully. Today we had an impressive thunder and lightning storm and she was out in it, later blasting through the pet door sopping, drenching wet. Is she and this phantom cat buddies? Adversaries that has her stressed out and On Watch? We have not seen this cat, nor have we heard any altercations. It’s just…weird. But she seems healthy and shiny and loving and hungry, so there’s that. And no, we haven’t taken her to the vet. I know we ought to, just to check her out, but…we haven’t. Yet.

But I miss my little Quinn so much! I ache. I just LOVE this new video Nate posted recently of them on another train. They are both so adorable, and Quinn flashes the biggest smile I’ve ever seen once the train starts to move. (Also, Nate and his kissing Quinn’s head. I used to do the same thing all the time with Nate! I couldn’t help it! His little head was so kissable!)

 

I’ve been working each day in the glass studio, slowly chipping away on my big project. Here are a few hints, but I have a long way to go.

First, did you know that glass bits fired in the kiln…

…turn into glass dots?

Yep, it’s a science-y thing. I love glass dots! I have lots of dots!

And here are some fleeting hints:

I now have a bunch of grinding to do. Which is not my favorite activity. Maybe I’ll don my headphones, connect to Alexa, and listen to some podcasts I have lined up. While grinding.

Also, soon, I need to hunker down and make a shitload of lasagnas for our upcoming neighborhood potluck. And before I do that, I need to ream out my freezer so I will have ROOM to stick them. That is going to be a helluva challenge, because that damned freezer also needs to be defrosted. Ugh.

I’d rather grind glass.

Just can’t get enough of this! (Screenshots from the video).

Friends, Glass, and Famous People

Just about to head into the glass studio (or should I water the deck plants first? Or maybe make a sandwich, since it’s lunch time?) Hmm.

Helen and Ron came over Wednesday and stayed the night, so they could then head to Puyallup to visit Helen’s brother, who has been undergoing chemotherapy. We had a wonderful and relaxing visit out on the deck with a fire in the fire table. It rained, and it was rather cloudy and dreary (although warmish), but we were under cover so we stayed dry and comfortable. Had some snacks and drinks and yapped while music played over the outdoor speakers. When John was at the Hydroplane Museum the previous day, Chip Hanauer (legendary hydroplane driver) came by with his buddy Billy Gibbons from the rock band ZZ Top. So I told Alexa to play ZZ Top music and we bobbed our heads and jutted our jaws to “Legs” and “Cheap Sunglasses” among others. So fun! John took these pics at the Museum!

Here below, they had Billy sit in the cockpit of the Miss Wahoo and light off the motor, which he was tickled about. (Apparently he’s quite a motorhead, with a remarkable collection of hotrods).

Helen brought along some excellent steaks and we had a yummy dinner and a fun evening continuing our yapping. She also brought me fresh eggs and tomatoes, peppers, and garlic from their garden!!!!

(I feel bad that I didn’t get a pic of Ron! Too much yapping to remember to take many photos…)

We’ve been rather worried about Wylie. Since Mojo disappeared, she has stuck close and has been loving and cuddly (and normal). But in this past week, her behavior has really changed. She’s been gone for long stretches of time (which makes us worry incessantly), she’s been “weird” (or more so than usual) with a strange avoidance of being on our bed, although she’ll sit on the little steps at the end of it (that John long ago built for the wiener dogs) and acts like she wants to come up, but just can’t, OR she’ll jump up and land on my hip and refuse to come down to the covers and then she’ll launch from my hip to the floor. She’s also been meowing a whole lot. She’s always meowed a bit, mostly trills, but she’ll wander around the house and almost yowl. A couple of times now John has gone outside to try to find her (she wouldn’t respond to being called, which is also unusual), and then eventually find her hunkered down in the gully. All very un-Wylie-like. Since she pottys outside, I don’t know her “elimination” status, so I wonder if she may have a urinary tract infection (or something)? I think we’re going to take her to vet Monday and have her checked out. Last night I had a chance to cuddle with her and I sort of “palpitated” her body, seeing if she was any pain, and there was no sign of that. (John told me he’d done the same thing). She almost acts kind of traumatized. I said to John, “I just had a terrible thought—what if she found Mojo’s body?” But, it’s not like the two of them were buddies by any means, and up until this week, she’s been her normal self. Weird. (Yeah, I know. Cats are weird).

John and I took a little field trip Thursday to a glass shop in Rochester, a tiny little burg about 1-1/2 hours away. I’d found the owner’s website and it looked like she had a fair amount of supplies and glass. I needed some large clear glass sheets, something I don’t have in my glass supplies because I typically order 12” x 12” sheets and I needed 24”. So, not knowing if we’d be entirely successful or not (I didn’t bother to call ahead), we headed down there and it was nice to get out and about. Kind of a small hole-in-the-wall place, but she was very friendly and she had a few folks working at a work table, doing stained or fused glass projects. She also had some lovely finished creations displayed. It brought back memories of the stained glass classes that John and I took at our glass shop in Burien. There were instructional times, but a good part of it was just work time and having access to tools and grinders and stuff that I hadn’t acquired yet. Plus the camaraderie of the other people and seeing the development of their own projects. ANYWAY, she had scant glass in the COE that I needed (“coefficient of expansion”), but I got lucky because she did have two large sheets in the clear and she cut it for me into the sizes I wanted (it would have been difficult for me to cut because I can’t easily accommodate those large sheets). So, yay!!  It was kind of pricy, but I liked doing business with a relatively local shop and also not having to pay exorbitant shipping costs from ordering it online (and then have it arrive broken…)

So I guess I’ll go make me a sandwich. Then water the deck pots. THEN head to the glass studio!

Watch Quinn's sheer wonder of being on a train. (I just love all those expressions of joy and awe!)

 

 

Vignettes

Can you even believe that it’s basically “late summer?” Technically that’s not true until well into September, but I think most of us view the latter part of August as the Big Wind-Down. And here we are. Ultimately, it makes me sad (because I look forward to summer from November through May). But this year is different because there is Nate and Sandra’s move to Washington to look forward to come December. I just can’t WAIT!!!!!!

Their house sale has closed and they are all moved in to their rental house. Nate and Quinn and I did Facetime the other day, and he gave me a “tour” of their place. And Quinn high-fived me via phone screen! Lol! Nate is continuing to attend Naval schooling in San Diego (regarding sonar systems) and the poor guy has to attend from 11:00 p.m. until about 4:30 a.m. What a godawful schedule, that’s got to be hard for all of them. 

John and I have been watching binging the TV series “Outlander” and we’re now in the 3rd season. Netflix only showed the first two so we had to temporarily sign up for Starz for seasons 3 and 4. (And apparently they’ve been greenlighted for seasons 5 and 6!) It’s very good! There is a time travel element, and much of it takes place in 1700s Scotland. I would say it’s a very well done historical bodice ripper. Lots of drama and angst, but not what I would call “soap-opera-y.” Well, maybe a little. But the characters attach themselves to your heart and soul.

I’ve also been (as usual) escaping into books books books. I must, in order to escape the perv-tyrant that is trump and his cult followers. Beyond disgusted with humanity these days. Some books I’ve read (and they were all good!):

Chances Are (Richard Russo

We Were Liars (E. Lockhart)

Good Girl, Bad Girl (Michael Robotham)

What Alice Forgot (Liane Moriarty, who wrote Big Little Lies)

Louise Penny Chief Inspector Gamache books (working up the series)

I’ve been considering getting a kitten. I guess I’m waiting for the right opportunity to present itself, because I don’t want a kitten for just the sake of “having” one. I want a special kitten! I’ve looked into checking out the County’s Kitten Rescue, but they insist that the cats they adopt out be inside only, and I just can’t guarantee that. I understand, but just can’t guarantee. So, I’m keeping my eyes out.

I’ve also been puttering in the glass studio, beginning work on a big project. But that’s all I’m gonna say about that for the time being.

Looking forward to seeing Helen and Ron on Wednesday!

And I leave you with this. Watch his little hand.

 

Connections

I just have to begin with this adorable photo of Quinn with his besties, Callie and Nikko!

They are the sweetest dogs! I got to know them quite well when I was staying with the kids in San Diego for those two weeks when Quinn was born. We became good buds!

I sure miss that little boy! Oh, man. (Just look at those little flip flops!)

It was a busy week getting ready for my lady friends, Carol and Margaret, to come over for lunch on Friday, and we had so much fun! I made a quiche, berry salad, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Go me. Heh. I’d also planned for Margaret to spend the night and have dinner with us, but we evidently got our communications crossed, as she didn’t stay. We had a great afternoon, even though the sun really didn’t come out (so there wasn’t the BLUE water or BLUE skies), but it was plenty comfortable to be out on the deck.

 

Lots of excellent conversations, and John joined us, too. (He enjoys my lady friends).

John had a Hydroplane Museum shindig to attend last night, so he made a trek to the Men’s Wearhouse in Olympia and bought himself a suit. He has an old one (quite nice), but it no longer fits him, moths had gotten to it, plus it was time for a new one anyway. He later got a new belt (and tied his shoes). He cleans up quite well, doesn’t he!

This gala was a huge fundraising event for the Museum, and the “Who’s Who” of hydroplane boat racing were all there, including drivers past and present (yep, Chip Hanauer), boat owners, broadcasters, crew chiefs, SeaFair dignitaries, and generally a lot of rich people. Tons of folks there that John has known over the years, including his long-time buddy, Nate Brown. I think he had a ball! (I didn’t go because: dog; not excited about getting gussied up; logistics; etc. Totally fine about it). John arrived at the fancy hotel on Lake Washington a little early and took these pictures of the two ends of the venue with the hydros on tilt:

They actually had filet mignon instead of rubber chicken! (Why is it that fancy hotels always have weird carpet?) Since John is normally in his jeans and sweatshirt, all the guys did double-takes to see him in a fancy suit!

We had quite the light show Friday night. My friend, Helen (in Oregon) had mentioned that they were pounded with it, then about three hours later, it hit us. Actually, I think the brunt of the storm didn’t quite pass directly overhead, but the lightning was amazing (with thunder rumbles more in the distance). Every few seconds the entire sky would light up, all over! When I headed to bed, the clouds finally opened up and the rain sounded like our metal roof was being bombed. Impressive! (I love thunder storms. As long as they don’t start fires. Which they are wont to do).

A Few Fun Things

Still reeling after the weekend’s back-to-back mass shootings with weapons of war. Twenty-two dead in El Paso, TX; nine dead in Dayton, OH, with at least the former now designated as a hate crime. Continuing my absolute loathing of this horrible *president and the party who licks his shit-encrusted…boots.

Since Thursday, John’s been crewing on the 1980 Griffon Miss Budweiser restoration at SeaFair for their exhibition performances between races. This is the same hydro he crewed on at Tri-Cities two years ago (when I accompanied him and it pushed 100° the whole time!) Actually, it wasn’t all that much cooler in Seattle this weekend! I didn’t go along because, as I mentioned before, the pits are small and there are only enough pit passes for crew members. It was fine. A little lonely here, but John did come home each night. And I enjoyed how beautiful it was HERE! I think he had a lot of fun, but he was tired!

Here below, that’s John on the far right holding the rope. (Click to enlarge)

 

(Above: old fart racers hanging out! Lol)

(Above: The crew! John’s in the back, 4th from right)

Cool stuff! The 1979 Miss Squire Shop that John has been working on restoring at the Hydroplane Museum the last couple of years still has a l-o-n-g way to go, but maybe it’ll be finished by next summer? Maybe? If so, chances are John will have the opportunity to drive it! Squeee! Then, come hell or high water, I’m getting me a pit pass.

Over the weekend, I chatted with my DIL, Sandra. They are almost fully moved in to the house they found to rent (after selling their house). From the outside, it looks similar to the style of their old one, but it’s almost twice as big! It looks very nice, but it’s sort of funny because there are a lot of 1970s original styling inside. Apparently a 96-year-old vet owns it! It’s about 3-4 miles from their old house, and only about two minutes away from Quinn’s daycare, which makes it very convenient. They have their names on waiting lists for both housing and child care for the Naval base in Everett. I sure hope that all works out for them. It’s good that they won’t have to report for duty until mid-January, so they’ll have a fair amount of Leave to take for their move and getting settled up here.
(I can hardly wait!!)

I also learned that Sandra’s orders will be for the base clinic, which is what I hoped for! She could have possibly been assigned somewhere in a 90-mile radius, but thankfully the Navy is being sensible and have them together on the same base. (You never know…)

Pretty cute! It also has a large “sun room” that they’re using as Quinn’s play area.

Two Mass Shootings Within 24 Hours

WHO NOT TO BLAME FOR MASS SHOOTINGS:

1. Videogames
2. Lack of prayer
3. Mental illness (women have mental illness, too, but 98% of these shooters are young, angry white men with easy access to killing machines)

WHO TO BLAME:

1. The shooter
2. White nationalist terrorists
3. White nationalist terrorist leader Donald Trump
4. Everyone who supports Donald Trump
5. Anyone who votes for do-nothing Republicans

In Which Quinn Keeps Trying An Apparently Godawful Lemon

These days, a hearty laugh with goose honks is absolutely warranted. (Highly recommend watching in full screen view for the ultimate effect!)