My How Time Flies

Ok, so it's been over 3 months since I last blogged. I have no excuse. It's been a long, hot, smoke filled summer here in central Washington. We were inundated with smoke from multiple forest fires in the area, one of which set records for it's size and number of homes destroyed.

Have I mentioned that it was hot?

The middle number is the temperature in my studio (above the garage -- ac was set to 73). The lower number, the temperature outside....

This is what one of the worst days looked like outside my window.

And sunsets that looked like this:

Then there was the evening we went outside to plant this lovely rose mallow....

....and had my first encounter in the yard with a reptile of the slithering variety -- my biggest fear. Yes, I'm phobic about them. Will not even look at a picture of one.....I was told by the Bearded One that this was of the harmless variety. Doesn't matter, I don't want it in my yard! It took me a month to get off the patio. I'm still not venturing onto the upper bank area where all my garden is....

But then we went camping. First it was here, absolutely wonderful after all the triple digits.

Then it was camping among the Ponderosa pines in Eastern Oregon.

And presenting a quilt to a special camping friend....

And that is what I've been doing for the past 3 months......

Why I quilt

A very special quilt for a very special lady -- We love you BEV!

The Cool Factor

At long last.....our little "Honey Bee" trailer is more or less completed and, more importantly, it is inspected and licensed. There is still a list of several little things that need to be completed, like lining the inside, giving it the water test, making hatch props and those darned round fenders.

But, today we took it on it's maiden voyage down to Shelton, 1-1/2 hours away for the inspection by State Patrol. (It was Shelton today or closer by sometime in the middle of September.) We also wanted to stop and get Dad's advise/help on how to install/mount the new fenders. That issue is still being pondered.

Meanwhile, on the way south a commercial van passed us. As they passed, they honked and waved. The passenger also stuck her head out the window and gave us a big thumbs up and a huge grin!

Yup, THAT'S why I wanted a cool trailer. Or, as somebody on our WetWesties list said, something that doesn't look like a Rubbermaid container from Walmart. It's all about the "Cool Factor."

Autumn Like No Others

It's not often that we get such glorious colors here in the Pacific Northwest. Usually our rainy, overcast weather keeps the nights too warm. But, October was dry and clear allowing the nights to get nice and cold -- just what the leaves needed. In the 20 years that I've lived here, this is the most colorful Autumn. It has definitely been equal to those of my youth spent living in the Hudson Valley.

Alas, rain and wind are expected for the next few days so the leaves will all be gone soon. Naturally, we were thinking about doing another VW campout. I guess it's not a WetWestie campout without rain!

Check out the jumbo mushroom growing in the backyard! I'll have to go get a ruler to really show just how big it is! But seriously, it is at least 6" or more across! Thank goodness Arlo doesn't like mushrooms. At least I don't have to walk the lawn smooshing all the little, brown ones that Miss Sneakers used to eat!

On a quilty note, the Blooming 9-Patch is FINALLY completed! That's 2 UFO's down, one to go. I'm counting flimsies as completed at this point. I am going to try to make a concerted effort to get them quilted before 12/31 but, we'll see.....pictures to come....it's just so darn BIG!

It Rained....

.....And then there was sun. Glorious, wonderful, October sun! It stopped in time for us to have a nice, dry potluck. You try to put all the potluck food from 31+ busses on two tables, under tarps!

If you camp in the Pacific Northwest on a regular basis, you MUST have an advanced degree in tarp hanging.

Arlo's bored. Tired of being cooped up in the bus, but afraid to go out in the rain. You never know when that evil thunder might sound.

Yup, that's a transmission all right. Hhhhhmmmmm.........