Movie Outing

We traveled into town to watch a movie in a real movie theater. The movie, The Final Destination 3D, is about a group of kids at a car race. One of the kids has a premonition of a deadly race-car crash. He helps saves the lives of his peers and Death sets out to collect those who evaded their fate. Yeah, a teenager movie, but I wanted to see the 3D effect and it was good. The last 3D movie I saw was back in the early 1950’s. The biggest difference I noticed was that now the glasses have plastic frames instead of cardboard.

Mean while Debbie is sewing screening for our cat condo. We are building a structure to mount on the out side of a small window which will be a “pass-through” from the motorhome to the outside. When it’s completed the cat will be able to go outside on his own. A second phase will allow us to relocate the cat box outside. The frame is being made with pvc fittings and pipe and is collapsible for transport. The screening is heavy duty pet screening. I will post pictures as the project progresses.

Broken Sewing Machine

Debbie broke her sewing machine right in the middle of a quilt. Being mechanical I took a look but the sewing machine as it turned out is as mysterious as is quilting. Of course these things always happen on a Sunday. Can you say football? I found a repair shop nearby in Everett and promised to transport broken machine and it’s pouting operator to the shop first thing Monday morning. In the meantime I called expecting to get a recording telling me when they open. Imagine my surprise when a person answered the phone and advised they would be open for another hour and a half!

Here we are just 30 minutes or so later at the repair shop.

For some reason I ended up in the shop with Debbie, oh I remember I had to carry the one ton machine in. They told her a week to repair. Oh no! Not a week without a sewing machine and she’s in the middle of a project! Debbie didn’t think they would, but I asked anyway, if they had a loaner she could use. Much to her surprise they gave us one! She’s back in business and not in my business!

On the way back to the car she spotted a fabric store. I didn’t follow.

The cat and I waited in the car.

Block Party

Last night we were invited to a “block party” by our neighbors the Stanfields. They are at the end of the “U” on our street here at Port Susan. We have already met some of our neighbors and last night we were able to get acquainted others neighbors we've missed. We even met a few previous residents who have moved off the block. One thing they all have in common, besides location, is being a great group of people. I understand that block parties are uncommon here so I feel fortunate that the Standfields stepped up and that Debbie and I are part of the “block”. The Standfields were outstanding hosts, serving up strawberry margaritas, hamburgers and hot dogs. They even offered turkey burgers.

Today was football day and for the first time in a long time Debbie didn’t have to share it with me. Debbie had started knitting socks a while back and Helene became interested in doing a pair of her own and last night at the block party they made plans to get together today and work on sock knitting. That left Helen’s Jim and Debbie’s Jim with nothing to do but watch football all day.

Below Debbie is working on a photo album of our trip to Italy last July. Our kids who invited us along on their trip look on from the picture on the table. Thanks again guys we had a fantastic time! Some of you may realize this is an older photo because you saw the finished album a while ago.

Well, I kind of ran out of photos re-sized for the blog except for cat pictures and in deference to Frank I put in Debbie’s photo instead.

Crab Feast

Wednesday, August 26th

The crabbing was good today and this evening we had a crab banquet at Rich and Les Ann’s. Dick and Gail presented Les Ann with a pair of fox fur earmuffs they acquired in their travels in Alaska.

Les Anne models her earmuffs while Debbie checks the buffet table or maybe it’s the drink table!

The crab is all set on the newspaper table cloth.

A closer look at the crab. They were caught this morning. Rich cleaned and cooked them and we’re eating them this evening. They are the best. We have to savor these because the crab season ends next week.

Dickie imparts some of his wisdom to the group.

Dick and Gail

Tuesday, August 25th

Today Dick and Gail stopped by for a visit on their way home from Alaska. They setup camp next door to us.


Rich is taking Dick out crabbing tomorrow. Hope they have a lot of luck.

Chittenden Locks

Monday, August 24th

Today we went down to see the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks with Rich, Les Ann and Martha. They are the busiest locks in the United States. There are two locks, a large one for large commercial ships and a second smaller one for pleasure craft. The locks connect Puget Sound with Salmon Bay and ultimately, Lake Washington. The City of Seattle has made a tourist attraction of the locks with walkways around and over the locks and a fish ladder with large viewing windows.

Here the smaller lock is raising boats heading toward Lake Washington. The lock are not powered, using water pressure for their operation.


A shot from behind. You can get an idea of how high the boats are raised. The doors leak a little.

Here are some boats leaving the locks heading to Puget Sound. The other boats are waiting for their turn in the locks.


One of those waiting boats made it into the lock and is trying to tie up to a cleat. The sides of the lock ride up with the boats to minimize damage.

After watching the boat traffic a while we walked over to the fish ladders.


The salmon are just starting to pass by here on their migration to spawning grounds.





Back up on top we visited the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden where I had a chance to try the macro setting again.


Debbie found one of the gardens residents.


We left Ty at home today so I was able to get a close up of his favorite thing to chase.


On our way home Martha took us all out for lunch at a restaurant on the sound near the locks. The view was great. Thanks Martha!

Ty Loves Riding in the Car

Saturday, August 22th

Ty loves riding in the car. He's almost like a dog hanging out the side window while we're driving. His top speed in only about 15 mph. Faster and his big air scoops for ears start to fold and he comes inside. Here are some pictures while we were driving around Port Susan.

Going Past Our Windows

Wednesday, August 19th

Today started early with the sound of a diesel truck idling next door loud enough to wake us up. Might not have been that early. It was a large propane truck making a delivery next door.

Around 10:00 our own truck was due to arrive but it was hopefully not a delivery truck! No it's a service truck for our septic tank. Hills Septic Service arrived right on time to pump and inspect our tank. After 365 days of use we have to have this service done on our lot here at


Port Susan. We are only here during the summer so we only need this service every few years. It requires removing a 26" access hatch. Not sure what else is involved because at this point I stopped supervising. I guess this is one job that the worker doesn't have anyone looking over his shoulder while he's working. The job took about fifteen minutes and we received a good mark for our bacteria.

Later that after noon another arrival showed up. A tractor with a hydraulic arm on the back. At the end of the arm was a lawn mower. It was mowing along the side of our road.


The tractor stopped across the way and raised the arm. Then went back down the road cutting the foliage at the side of the road from the surface to a height of 3 or 4 feet.


All the while our watch cat kept an eye on everything.