Last Day on Camano Island ~

 It was another cloudy morning.  Butch went to the bakery & picked up cinnamon rolls, coffee & tea for our breakfast.  While he was gone, Finn & I took a walk around the little park.  It was another perfect western, WA morning.  I admired the huge western red cedars at the top of the hill.  The names of the native plants came to mind automatically.  I've missed them.   

View from the Lodge~

When Butch returned, we sat in the camper & admired the view out the window.  Ben texted that he & Jentry were on their way.  We packed up our things & loaded the Explorer, just finishing as Ben & Jentry pulled in.  The trailer was hitched in no time.  The girls were waiting at Jentry's.  Butch helped Jentry get the trailer parked.  

Skyla had picked up the string she needed for her violin.  She's playing violin again, along with trumpet!  Both girls are excellent on the keyboard too!  I love it that they both love music!  The kids had tried to glue the old string back in the peg.  Ben managed to get the peg cleaned out.  After heaven knows how many years it's been, I put the new string in place & we tuned the violin with an app Skyla had on her phone.  I managed to play the full scale!  Jentry had been in the kitchen making up a salad for our lunch.  I heard her laugh & she asked me how long it had been?  Just a rough guess - 50 years!  I'd played from the third grade to high school.

Skyla & Josie~

Today, we went to the State Park.  It was much quieter than a couple days ago.  The day had stayed overcast & mild.

Butch, Skyla, Finn & Jentry~

Jentry was grilling hot dogs & Finn thought they smelled wonderful!  She'd made a pasta salad & soon we were all enjoying lunch.

Finn goes swimming!

Finn waded right into the water & went swimming again!  

Skyla & Finn!

Skyla & Finn had a grand time running on the beach!  She reminds me so much of myself at that age.  Our mood was somewhat subdued, knowing our good times were coming to an end.  We all walked the beach & out to the end of the dock.

Skyla, Finn, Papa, Josie & Jentry~

Finn wasn't worried about the dock at all, until he stuck his nose near a piling & the dock moved up!  He jumped back a foot!  

Eagle top left & red barked Madrona Trees~

We packed up & said our Goodbye's...  We followed the kids out of the park & back to where they turned left & we turned right...  

I-405 Southbound~

It wasn't long until we were back in the traffic, but at least it was moving.

Finn in our room~

Our goal was Cle Elum.  We made a reservation on our way & ended up with a very nice large room.  We were sad to be leaving our family behind & heading home, even though we were getting used to our road routine by now! 

There was one year we took our little Apache camp trailer & camped all the way down the coast to northern, CA & the Redwoods.  Then all the way back in just over two weeks.  (Long before reservations were needed & the campgrounds were mostly empty.) We called ourselves the "Traveling Hoge Gypsy Family"!

The bright spot was knowing we'd be visiting family in Sheridan in a couple days!

Thanksgiving - Washington to Iowa~

It was 2015 & our last Thanksgiving on the Homestead.  We still had no idea that we'd be making changes - anytime soon - or that it would be our last there...  We all know though - how quickly things can change.  When the holiday's roll around - I have those times when I miss so much - being closer to the kids & grandkids.   I even miss the soggy wet days occasionally. 

The Cottage~

Now, I won't miss the Cottage as much, since we have the Cabin!  Most of our friends think we're a little strange now.  Why would we want to be out there - when we have a nice warm house?  I have no explanation - except to say it's what we've always done.  I'm happy we made the decision to place it closer to the house on cold nights!

11-15-15 From the Cottage porch - south

  The view above, from the Cottage porch, was after 25-years of clearing, cleaning & planting.  The Cabin view will be different too, we're adding a sliding door.

From the Cabin - south

I worked to clean up the west edge of the timber last year, taking out dead limbs, trash, grape & Greenbriar vines.  My plan is to improve this view too.

Main trail Inland Isle Ave.

I'm working on trails again.  We were so lucky to find a place in town, tucked away in a corner where I can still work in the woods. There we had woods - here a treed lot is usually - timber.

Main trail 11-21-18

 It took a while to figure out where I wanted the trail to start, but it was a logical place.  It works fine, just behind where we put the Cabin.  As the photo shows, there's plenty of trash to be hauled away.

Merlin's Grove

The green glass gazing ball has found a new home.  Surrounded by marigolds in the summer, rather than Western Red Cedars.  I do miss the ferns though!  Finding a ground cover that works in the Timber will be a challenge, let alone getting it started.

The following  three photos were taken 2015 - Thanksgiving in WA~

Three Fingers Peak

 The view from behind the barn of Three Fingers was always changeable.  Friends used to say we should have built a house up here rather than the barn.  I always wanted to climb at least part way up this peak.

Farah in her pasture~

Farah...  I hope Renee gives her extra carrots!  I'm so pleased she's comfortable & well cared for.  February can't come fast enough!

Cassidy, Ben & Mason!

The best part of our Thanksgiving Day, any day for that matter, was when the girls' & their families drove in the gate!  Ben was up from Oregon visiting his dad, stepmother & sister Madi.  He came for dinner & to spend time with his cousins Cassidy & Mason.  These first three were so close in age with Ben born in 2000, Mason 2001 & Cassidy 2003.

11-18-18 - Skyla & Josie on their new trail!

 I was thrilled when Jentry sent photos of our two youngest Granddaughters working on a trail through their own woods!  Skyla was born in 2011 & Josie 2012!   All the kids are growing so fast! Faster, since it's now longer between visits.
Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with family, friends & fellowship!