A lunch to remember!

Yesterday, Zack flew me to Friday Harbor (on San Juan Island) for lunch!

We left out of Paine Field, passing over Boeing (where Mitch works).

It was a stunning day.

I was so blown away with the confidence and competency Zack showed as a pilot.

There are sooooo many things to think of as you fly.

Besides the amazing amount of operational things he had to do,

 he communicated with air traffic control like a pro, 

using "Flight Following" where they would let him know if another plane was in the vicinity.

It was fun to fly over well-loved places, like Fort Ebey (above) where we've camped many times.

Smith Island (above),  across from Fort Ebey,  looked striking.

It took us 35 minutes to reach the San Juan Island's.

It would usually take us at least 3 hours by car & ferry.

Friday Harbor (below).

The ferry at the dock looks pretty small from up here.

Coming in for a landing.

He made it look easy.

He parked the plane in the transient parking lot and we walked a few blocks into town.

How surreal to be sitting here when we were just at home!

A great spot to watch the ferry pull in.
This one was packed.

After walking around for a bit, it was time to head back.

Up, up, and away!

We flew over Deception Pass on the way home.

The beauty of this area is breathtaking.

Almost home.

What an incredible afternoon.

It got me thinking of all the awesome possibilities.

Thank you, Zack, for the inspiration you give me 

to push past my comfort zone

and grab life by the handles like you do.

What a gift.

The Muscle

Going through my photos, I realized I'd never shared this one.

A few months ago, Aidan's friend Spencer,

used his graphic design skills, 

to turn a photo of Aidan at park day

(where he wasn't holding a gun)

into what looks like a movie poster.

How did he do that?!

Love it!

Our pet squirrel

Glanced out the window today and had to do a double take.

This lil' guy was making himself right at home.

Awwwww....

Happy Mother's Day

“Through the blur, I wondered if I was alone or if other parents felt the same way I did 

- that everything involving our children was painful in some way. 

The emotions, whether they were joy, sorrow, love or pride,

 were so deep and sharp

 that in the end they left you raw, exposed and yes, in pain. 

The human heart was not designed to beat outside the human body and yet, 

each child represented just that 

- a parent's heart bared, beating forever outside its chest.” 

― Debra Ginsberg

And that's why all the mother's I know,
 are so deserving 
of a very...

Happy Mother's Day.

tags

Low Tide

 Last weekend the tide was at its lowest point of the year.

It was so low that Zack and his friend Trevin, were able to walk

 over 5 miles on the beach to the Edmond's ferry 

(which they rode on to Kingston for lunch).

The rest of us stayed closer to home, 

enjoying a long walk and seeing what the the low tide uncovered.

  Although it was the seagull's lucky day, 
Isabel did her best to save the creatures who weren't so happy about the low tide.

  

...which couldn't help but remind me of the lil' story I love so much:

 While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.

He came closer still and called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

The old man smiled, and said, “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”

To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out.
 If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, “But, young man, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? 
You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young man listened politely.
 Then he bent down, picked up another starfish,
 threw it  back into the ocean past the breaking waves and said,
 “It made a difference for that one.” 

~Loren C. Eiseley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a beautiful day!

Liz & Caleb

I'm a bit behind here...

but had to post these sweet photos 

of my friend Liz, who flew up a few weeks ago (from Texas),

 with the youngest of her four boys, Caleb.

They stayed here for a couple days 

and we enjoyed the simple pleasures of the beach...

 ....and a ferry ride.

It was so great to have the chance to catch up

 and share the beauty of the Northwest.

Thanks for coming all this way to see us, Liz & Caleb!