Cruising

The news from Whidbey Island is good! We had a great visit to Spokane last weekend to visit the cathedral and remember our Karen. It was 99 degrees, hot, hot, but we loved driving around to favorite places. We returned the next day to Libby's in Olympia, and it was hot there, too. We did get our chores done as she prepares to sell her house and move to West Seattle. Our visit to see her new townhouse and lunch at Alki was great! Tomorrow we are finally getting away for a cruise on the Karen Marie, our Newport 30 sailboat. We have been so busy either with guests or activities we haven't been out except one short weekend in June. We hope to try out a few new spots, and it will be our first trip through Deception Pass with our own boat. This trip will be short, home for two days and then right back out for another week. I'm planning meals; Jim is getting gas in the engine, and we are going shopping this afternoon for needed supplies. I will take along my knitting. I have one sock finished from a pair, and I may take that as a small project. Last week I visited Michaels and bought more cotton yarn, at $1 a ball. I can knit those warshrags in my sleep and everybody is getting them. My friend, Jill, has had more than anyone because she keeps giving them away to family! I'm down to the bright orange and lime green colors now, so I think I'll get to keep those. As soon as it cools off, I will start on Libby's log cabin blanket. I bought lots of beautiful wool to knit her a blanket for her living room sofa. It'll be nice on cool northwest days. Happy summer days to everyone! Jim and Virginia on Whidbey.

Whidbey Island Race Week

We are in the midst of Race Week now-Jul 16-July 22. Jim and I are co-chairs with another couple to do breakfast every day. Up at 5:30 and then off to the Yacht Club to watch the racers straggle in after a day of sailing and then a party each night. The sponsors set up booths and party apparatus (with live music) each evening in an enclosed area just for sailors. They are having a good time!!!This year we are still unsure of the number of boats registered. Some say 85 and some say 96, (with as many as 5-10 crew on board) but there are also some 40 tenders, or helper boats with places for crew to sleep, eat and make plans for the next day's race. The first two days they've raced in Penn Cove. What a sight to see them all together out there. We hope the weather holds and they get wind each day. Breakfasts are going well, but we have long naps every afternoon since we are up and out before 5:30. I'm going a little late this morning so I can get some more sausage gravy ready to feed the hungry hordes. At night I knit a little more on either washrags or a hand towel. Summer on the island-what fun!!

Patio Flowers

Our patio is new this year, and all the flowers are blooming for the first time. It is a joy to see them every morning. We sit outside and have coffee, enjoying the great view and the birds flying overhead.

More Warshrags!

I am knitting away, and the latest warshrags are shown here. That MasonDixon book has created a monster knitter. I have projects lined up for months!

July 4th picture of Jim.

Jim, the Karen Marie and his crew took first place in their class for the Thursday night racing series. Good work for Four Old Guys in a Boat! We get to keep the trophy at our house.

Happy 4th and July to All!!

Our 4th started early this year. We had the annual picnic on Sunday the 2nd with our own kids, Libby, up from Olympia, and Scott and Missy, flying in from SoCal. We were joined by the Liebman clan, (Kendra and kids, Kyle and kids and new girlfriend (with her daughter), and Bruce and Jill. ), and new boating friends Janet Schlaifer and Mark Casteel. Great food! Good fun! Beautiful day! Our patio was the star of the show with everything blooming and lots of room for sitting in and out of the sun. We added a few games this year. Giant pickup sticks, lawn checkers and badminton.
Libby stayed an extra few days, and Missy and Scott didn't leave till Thursday. Miss and I got a trip to Ana-Cross Stitch yarn shop where I added to my stash! Oh, no...here I go again. She got wool for socks. I bought wool on sale for Libby's wool blanket. I continue to knit washcloths. I saw white ones for sale in a really neat gift shop, especially for exfoliating your face!! Libby got three to take home with her, white, pink and white, and cream colored. I have completed two more for a gift. After this run, I'll think about finishing my socks, and then on to something else. No more yarn! I'll have to go on a yarn diet now.
Jim and I are busy preparing for Whidbey Island Race Week, the week for sailboat races hosted by the Oak Harbor Yacht Club. We are the co-chairs for the breakfasts served every morning for the entire week. We have been attending meetings getting ready, hoping we get lots of sailors in for big breakfasts before their races.