Tuesday, 28 June, Fresno to Seattle.

I woke up fairly early.  I went outside with Bella and saw that Mom's sprinklers were coming on so I quickly replaced the two that were blown.  As they went through their cycle I texted my brother to let him know the status.  It looks like another sprinkler is broken or a pipe because a big puddle is developing.  When the next cycle came on another sprinkler blew out.  Then the last cycle came on and another blew out.  The pressure is just way to high on all of them.  So I let my brother know.
Mom and I enjoyed our coffee and then I had to go to the airport.  We said our sad goodbyes.  We had a nice visit.  Tiring with all the running around we had to do, but at least she got a haircut, pedicure and got groceries and cash.  That's always good.
I got the car turned in with no problem.  Bella did her solid business on the way into the terminal so that was good.  No having to worry about that.  
There was no one in line at the counter so I checked my bag right away and easily and there was only one person in line at Security so that was good.  Easy peasy.  Only problem now is the two hour wait. But, even that went by ok.
I got on the plane.  My seat was all they way in the back and as I was walking down the isle, with Bella in my arms, I saw that there was a woman sitting in the seat next to mine.  I asked if she was ok with the fact that I had the dog (I guess they would have to re-seat one of us if she were allergic) and she said oh I was hoping you were going to sit next to me.  So we did.
She, her name is Cheryl, and I got to chatting about Bella, then about the fact that I was non-reving.  As it turns out both of our husbands are Pilots for Alaska.  We immediately texted them to see if they knew each other and they do.
We went through the flight telling each other our stories and it turns out we have another couple that we both like a lot as mutual friends.  Such a small world.  Anyway we really enjoyed each other's company.  

When we landed we had our husbands meet us and we went to Roasters for cocktails, food and to continue our visit.  It was really fun.  We are hoping to get together with them again and hopefully with our other friends, Marleen and Jim.  I texted Marleen and told her that she, Cheryl and I could be a threesome to be reckoned with!.
After leaving them we drove back to Base and to our abode that none of us had been at for three days.  It was nice to be home.  
We enjoyed the warm eve outside until it cooled off then went inside and watched TV before going to bed.

Monday 27 June. Fresno, CA

I got up a couple hours before Mom and took advantage of it by coloring my hair before she got up.

It is already getting warm. It was 96 degrees at 8 p.m. last night and already in the upper 70s at 6:30 a.m.

Mom got up and we drank coffee while watching her political programs on TV and I caught up on the blog.

Very funny (we think).  Mom had three tomato plants growing in the lawn in her back yard.  She asked my why I planted them there.  I'm like, I didn't plant any tomatoes.  I only gave you the one potted one.  Im saying, what are you talking about?  She said out in the back yard by the tree.  I went out to look.

There are three different kinds of tomatoes growing and we do not know how they got there.  Except, Dwight used to grow wonderful tomatoes back there, but he has been gone for 9 years and no one has planted any since then.  Hmmmmm!

Mom loves her iPad.  

My cousin Ken, from Seattle called so Mom and I both chatted with him for awhile.  She also got to talk to Barb.  Mom was supposed to go back up to Seattle with me and we were going to get together with Ken and Barb.  But, Mom is not feeling up to the trip.  Too bad.  Rob and I will get together with they after I return and he is finished with his training. I always look forward to getting together with them.  They are very good and fun peoples.

Mom and I went to find Mani-Pedis.  We drove across town to a place that we thought we had checked in on line for appointments, but when we got there they were booked up until 4 pm.  it was only 11:30  I called another place but they didn't have any openings until 2:30.  We decided to give up and just go to the grocery store and do the Mani/Pedi another time.

Art Texted and said let's get together for dinner.  We decided on AJs Armenian but weren't sure if they were open on Mondays.  I tried looking them up on line for their hours but that didn't work.  I called but no one answers.  We decided to go by there on the way to the grocery store.  When we got there sure enough, they were closed on Mondays.  We texted Art and decided on Applebees instead.

Right next door to AJs was a nail salon and they could take us right then so we went for it.  Normally when I get a mani and a pedi they do them both at the same time.  Unfortunately this place didn't do them that way.  Mom and I got our pedi's done at the same time and then she had to wait on me for my manicure.  That resulted in me rushing the gal, leaving before they were truly dry and then ruining three nails.  Oh well.

We hit the grocery store and rushed back to Mom's to put stuff away.  We sat and enjoyed a glass of wine for about 30 min and then left to go meet Art at Applebees.

We had a really nice dinner and visit with Art.  Everyone was in good spirits and the food was very tasty.  The Giants and As were beginning their 4 game series and Art wanted to watch so we ended our dinner and visit in time for the game.  We didn't rush or anything, it was just good timing.

Mom and I went home to finish putting away the groceries and chill in front of the TV for the rest of the eve.

I did run her sprinklers and found she had two blown sprinklers.  I texted Art about it and told him I could replace them in the morning but I think the pressure needs to be turned down and I would be able to get to that.

Sunday, 26 June, Fresno,CA

I slept really well.
Mom and I decided we wanted to go out for breakfast so we got dressed and went to the Red Apple.  It is a really yummy, and very popular restaurant.  They had their specials listed on a board and in the corner of it they suggested a "Bloody Mary while you Wait"  Hello,  we'll take 2.
After our delicious breakfast we went across the street to Walmart in pursuit of pedicures and a manicure.  Their nail salon is gone.  So, we decided to go and get our hair cut.  We found a Supercuts with really good ratings.  Unfortunately we had to wait for 30 min.  But, it was worth it.  We both got good cuts.
From there we went to 2 more Walmart's looking for Mani-Pedis, but none of them still have nail salons.  The problem is that it is Sunday and regular salons are not open on Sundays.

We finally gave up and went over to Barbara's  to visit with her.
She has a new alligator in her pool.  It is pretty funny.  Bella didn't think it was so funny though.  She kept barking and growling at it.  She definitely didn't think it belonged there.

I texted Art.  He lives near by and Barbara said that he had finished the re-landscaping in his back yard.  I was hoping we could go by and see it and visit with him, but he never got back to me.
We had a nice visit with Barbara. She fixed us a pizza and salad to go with our wine.  And for dessert, we had lemon cake with lemonade frosting and some ice-cream.
We came home, watched a little TV and went to bed.

Saturday 25 June Happy Birthday Rob

Today is Rob's Birthday  53. Happy Birthday Rob
It was a rough day.  
We got up early, 6 a.m.  We went to the Sea Tac airport.  I am flying to Fresno to spend a couple days with my Mom, Barbara, and hopefully my brother.  
I'm flying standby, and we had listed on line.  When we went to the airport we checked in at the kiosk, but it didn't let me check my bag.  We tried to redo it, but it wouldn't work.  So, we asked an Alaska agent for help.  She said we had to go to the ticket counter because we had Bella.
Soooooo, we stood in line for 35 min.  When we finally got to the counter we could't check my bag because it was only 30 min until the flight and they wouldn't take it after 40 min till. I'm like, God, we've been standing in line for 30 min.  
 I went through pre check security with Bella.  I beeped twice, but we finally got through.  Rob was not there on the other side of security.  I figured I'd go to the gate and see if he was there.  Sure enough, he was at the gate counter as I approached.  I got to the gate at 2 min after 9 and the flight was scheduled to depart at 9:10.  Rob informed me that it had departed at 9:00, 10 min early.  I'm checked in for the flight and everything.  I was pissed.  Not only that, but the next flight is not until 2:45.  Oh my God. 
Now is confusion time.  It is Rob's birthday, and he's wasting it at the airport with me.  He's saying let's leave and come back, I'm thinking I'll have to go through this all over again, I'm saying, no, you leave I'll just stay here.  For the next 5 hours??!! Needless to say, I had a melt down.
We ended up putting my bag in the pilot's lounge and leaving the airport and went to breakfast.  It didn't get any better for a little while.  We were waiting for a car to back out of a parking space and while waiting for it to get clear another car zipped in and took the space.  Then, when we all got out of the cars and I practically bit my tongue off not screaming at her she zoomed ahead of us and got to the counter first cause us to have to wait for a table.  I really wanted to say something ugly to her.  Then....While waiting to put our name in I have Bella in my arms and this women who is leaving snarls at me "they allow dogs in restaurants here?!"  I sarcastically snapped back at her, "they do when it's a service dog".  Rob looked at me and said, "its not getting any easier is it?"
But it did.  Breakfast was good, having to wait killed a little more time.  After breakfast we went to Burien.  We used to have a Condo here when Rob was based in Seattle.  We went to the old neighborhood where we used to run.  We went for a nice walk through the woodsy section and then down by the water.

It was a nice walk and it gave Bella an opportunity to do here business before we returned to the airport.

From there we did return to the Airport.  

Bella and I went through security, this time with Rob, and after getting all dressed again we went to the Pilot lounge and recovered my bag.  Next we went to the gate.  It was 12:45. So, I told Rob I wanted to go to the bar and have a big Margarita.  So I did.  Rob finally left me there.  He wasted half of his birthday.

The rest of the trip was fine.  I got a whole row to myself.  It was all the way in the back, right next to the bathroom, but it was ok.  The flight was smooth and I got free wine.  

Bella was awesome.  

We landed in Fresno at 5 p.m.  I took Bella out for a pee then picked up my rental car and went to Mom's

We had a nice eve visiting, sipping Margarita and ate Chicken tortilla soup.

24 June Happy Birthday Anne

Today is Rob's Sister Anne's Birthday.  Happy Birthday Anne. Tomorrow is Rob's Birthday.  He will be 53.  He is just a Babe
I was really hoping that after the sun popped out yesterday afternoon that it would be sunny today, but sadly, it is not.  We are supposed to celebrate Rob's birthday today and he really wants to go play a nice round of golf.  He also wants to go to Anthony's Seafood for a nice sunset dinner.  We'll see.
We did go for a drive throughout Pierce County.  
First we drove to Lakewood.  We went to a Safeway there because it had an Amazon Locker.  It was pretty cool.  Rob orders a couple items on line and they were derived to this little facility. Each item was in a different locker and they had emailed to codes for the 4 lockers.  Easy peasy!
Next we drove to Steilacoom which is a little village on the coast.  it is built on a hill and all the houses seem to be on tiers with each row slightly above the other and not blocking the view. There wasn't a whole lot there, so we just drove through.
From there we went up the coast to Chambers Bay.

It used to be a rock quarry, but they cleaned it up.  Last year they held the US Open here.  The players hated it.

It looks like a really hard course.  It's a walking course, with or without a Caddie.  

It's a Links course. They call it the St Andrews of America

It was really fun.  We went on a 3-mile loop and part of it took us into the course, so we got to get right up close and personal.

From there we found an Ivar's in Tacoma and had a little lunch.  I love Ivar's and their yummy clam Chowder. 

Next we went to the Museum of Glass.  It is also down by the water.  It is a museum of blown glass.  We read the reviews when we got there and it didn't seem worth the $20. each to go in, but we heard about the awesome bridge so we wandered around and checked it out.  

These were all over our heads as we walked through this section of the bridge.  It was really cool to look up at all of this.

Beyond this section were the wild light stands. 

From a distance it looked like they had plastic bags over them, But up close you can see they are like chunks of blue glass.

These were all in individual cubbies leading up to the bridge.  As you can see I am still struggling with this program.  Sometimes I can get the Pictures side by side, sometimes not quite, some times I can have writing next to the pic, but not always.  It makes me a little crazy.

Look at this Amazing Sky

From here we crossed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Gig Harbor.  There are now two bridges that cross the Narrows.  The West-bound bridge was built in 2007.  The East-bound was built in 1950.  But the original was built in 1940.  
 Construction began Sept, 1938.  From the time the deck was built, it began to move vertically in windy condition, which led to construction workers giving the bridge the nickname Galloping Gertie.  It opened to traffic on July 1, 1940.

In the early morning hours of Nov. 7, 1940 strong winds blew through the Narrows from the southwest.  they blasted Gertie broadside, directly against the deck's solid plate girder.  The bridge began undulating , "galloping", with several waves 2 to 5 feet high.  At 7:30 a.m. the wind measured 38 miles per hour. At 11:02, a 600-foot section of roadway in the eastern half of the center spa of the heaving bridge broke free.  With a thunderous roar, the massive section wrenched from its cables in a cloud of concrete dust, flipped over, and plummeted 195 feet into Puget Sound.  A mighty geyser of foam and spray shot upward over 100 feet.  Great sparks from shorting electric wires flew into the air.  PHEW!

Due to the war and other events the bridge was not rebuilt until 1950.  They due to congestion to Gig Harbor the second was added in 2007.

Gig Harbor is a cute little town. It is one of several cities that claim to be "the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula". It used to be know as a boat-building town.  Commercial fishing still happens here.

Cute little boutique!

We wanted to go to Anthony's Seafood for sunset dinner, but it was still a little early.  Soooo, we decided to play golf.

Highlands Golf Course in Tacoma.

This was a really fun course.  When you look it up it says, "When we say, "Half the Time, Twice the Fun" we mean that a round of golf takes less than 75 minutes." It was really fun, and it only took us about an hour to play the whole 9 hole course.  We even had to wait on several holes.  We had Bella with us and it is a walking only course, so we asked if she could come with us and they said yes, just keep her with you and don't let her run all over the place.                                       She was so good.  She'd just sit and wait for us to hit the ball and she was so happy.  Such a sweet heart.
From there we went to Point Defiance.  It is a really cool place.  There is a lot going on here and we definitely need to come back and spend more time exploring. 
We went to Anthony's and had a nice dinner and a yummy berry shortcake dessert.  No sunset though because it was still overcast.
From here we went home to our house on wheels.  It was a really nice day and a nice Birthday celebration for Rob.

Thursday, 23 June Ft. Lewis, WA, Tacoma

It's loud, overcast, chilly and dreary this morning.
But, we are healthy and together.  Bella is doing much better. Her lump is almost gone.  The part where they shaved is no longer red and inflamed.  That makes me happy.
We sat outside for a bit drinking our coffee.  Rob is talking about going over to McCord to look at their RV park.  We are supposed to stay here for a week and then move over there for a week.  We may go early if it is nicer and available.
Bella and I are going to fly to Fresno on Sat to go visit the family.  Rob has training the 26th through 28th and he will be staying in a hotel in Seattle.  So, it would be a good time to go.
It got to cold to sit outside so we came in and worked on the blog.  It rained off and on all day.  
We did go to the McChord side and looked at their park and I do like it better.  We asked if we could extend our stay over there an extra day leaving July 6th rather than the 5th.  Rob has a trip and doesn't get back until the 5th.  He doesn't want me to have to move the rig to Sequim by myself.  I don't think it is any big deal.  We'll see.
The weather here is depressing and it is really affecting my mood.  I really want to move on to a sunnier place.
We went to the BX to check it out and drove around both bases a little bit.  This used to be two bases.  Ft Lewis is an Army base and McChord is an Air Force Base now they are combined into one giant Joint Base Lewis McChord.  
I've spent a lot of time at Ft Lewis.  When I was in the Army Reserves with the 128th Army Hospital we came to Lewis for our two weeks Annual Training here at Madigan Army Hospital.  The next year I did my ROTC Advanced Camp for 8 weeks here at Lewis, and then the following year, while I was the HHC Commander for the Transportation BN, I did my 2 weeks Annual Training here at Lewis. Years later, while we were living in Tahoe and Rob was based in Seattle with Alaska, I would come up here every year to complete my required yearly Helicopter Simulator Training.  I had the choice of doing my Sims either here or Los Alametos down by Seal Beach, Ca.  When we would do it as a unit we would fly the helicopters down to Los Al and do our training there.  Later when I was with the Aviation BN and then the BDE I would come up here.  I could fly up for free on Alaska and we had a car and condo up here so it made sense to do it here.
Anyway, after driving around for a while we came back to the rig.  I stayed here and pouted and played video games while Rob went to the gym and worked out.
When he got back I continued to play and he did some trip planning
The sun popped out for a little bit.  First there was a shadow and then it was reflecting off the headlight of a car parked next to us and right into my eye.  It was amazing how just the 30 min or so of sunlight lifted my spirits.  
We went to the dining hall for dinner.  It was OK, but not nearly as good as the food was on the Coast Guard Base where they had the cooking school.
After dinner we came back and watched a movie we had rented from the Red Box.  Then we played wii Golf. Rob kills me even at wii golf.  
We went to bed.

Wednesday, 22 June Portland to Ft Lewis.

It's nice having Rob home.  

I thought it would be fun to take Rob up to that little golf course that I played on Monday.  We are supposed to leave the RV park by noon and we would have plenty of time. I figured if we started at 9 like we did on Monday we'd be back no later than 11.
As it turned out,  Rob discovered that a huge container of nyjer bird seed decided to empty itself in the storage compartment under the rig.  Rob was starting to pack patio stuff up for the move when he discovered it.  He had to take half of the stuff out of storage in order to clean it up.  That took awhile.
We needed to take Bella for a walk so we could leave her while we were gone so we took her to the trail I discovered yesterday.  She is so funny once she has been somewhere she goes way out in front like "little miss know it all"; "hey, I've been here, I know where I'm going, just keep up".  
Anyway, it was about 10 when we finally got to the golf course and there were a bunch of people.  

It was not very pleasant today.  There were two girls infant of us and they talked really loud (loudly?) the entire time.  Plus they were slow so we had to wait on them as well as hear them.  Even on the last hole we could hear them gabbing in the parking lot.  It was obnoxious.  



After golf I took him to Chuck's Produce.  It is such an awesome store.  We loaded up on veggies.  They also had the taco stand so I got a taco salad and Rob got a burrito to go.  I ate my salad on the way back.  I was starving.
We got back and loaded, secured, and hooked up lickety split.  Rob took off and I went by the office to check us out, turn in the cable box and the entrance cards and then Bella & I got gas and hit the road.  Rob had to stop for fuel as well so I figured I'd catch him on the road, but I never did.
I finally called him when I was about 20 miles from Ft Lewis and he was 17 miles behind me.
I checked us in to the Campground at Lewis and then went to find our spot.  We are back in the woods again and unfortunately right up against a road.  Worse yet, we are under the flight path for the helicopters heading into Gray Army airfield.  And still worse, we are about a quarter of a mile from I-5. It's really noisy.
Rob arrived and we got the rig situated without getting divorced and set it all up.  We have lots of room for Bella's fence, so that is nice.

After setting up we naturally need to go and do a walk about.

The camp ground is situated along the American Lake on Ft Lewis.  Unfortunately, we are not on the lake side, remember, we are on the highway side.  

Anyway, its a big lake and there is a rec center where you can rent boats, kayaks, standup paddle boards. 

There is also a convention center located near by.  It was a nice walk.  We stopped in at the Adventure center and picked up brochures of the area, Tacoma, and Leavenworth which is nice, we will be going there in a couple weeks.

We walked back to the rig.  Then we sat outside and ate and read our brochures.  It got a little chilly so we came inside, watched TV & went to bed.

Tuesday, 21 June

Today is our last day on Hayden Island, so in keeping with tradition, it is laundry and cleaning day.  Getting ready to move on to the new place.  We did our little walk, had coffee and caught up on the blog while I did laundry.  It was really busy in the laundry room.
It is partly cloudy today with a lot of blue around the edges.  Not to bad.
I finished the laundry and decided to do a walk about with Bella.  She is not supposed to wear her harness because of her lump so I have to connect the leash to her collar.  It isn't as comfy as with the harness.  I want to find somewhere we can leash up for a short distance and then let her off.  While in the laundry room a woman was saying there was a park just outside of this RV park.  I think we will go look.
We walked out of the park and there was a field across the street but it wasn't very big and I didn't think it was what she was talking about so we went on.  We walked through a portion of the Mobile home park and found a pathway.  Now you're talking.  It led out to the river.  It was a really nice jogging trail that followed the edge of the mobile home park and the river.  

It was really pretty.  These people in their Mobil homes have some awesome decks with amazing views.  





We came across a really cute little Gazebo sitting out there on a point.  Lovely place to sit and contemplate the world.

We followed the path for a mile or so and then it ended. So we had to walk through the MH park again.  We went down one street until it ended at a "T".  Hmmm I thought go right.  So I did and it led right back to the street we first entered the park in.  Wow, that was nice.  It was a pretty little one-mile or so loop.  Very scenic and Bella could be off leash.  She probably wasn't supposed to be, but there was no one there to yell at us.
We went back to the Rig and goofed around. 
I discovered that my window seals are all filthy.  I'm sure they were never dusted or cleaned for the year this RV was sitting at LAX, so I started a new project.  I only got half of them done.
Rob is flying into Portland Airport at 5:15 and it was time to go.  I had no idea how traffic was going to be so I wanted to give us plenty of time.  From here, it is funny.  You can take I-5 north across the bridge and go up into Vancouver, then take 205 back over the bridge South back into Portland or you can go South on I-5 across the bridge over the river and then East.  They are basically equal distance, just depends on traffic.  We went south.
We found the airport and the terminal, made a pass and then found the cell phone waiting parking.  I was about 20 min early so figured that would be a good place to wait.  I was just pulling into it when Rob called and said he was here.  Awesome, so, we drove back to the terminal and picked him up.  Bella was sooooooooooo happy to see him.  
We drove back to the rig so Rob could change clothes.  He was still in his uniform.  We walked the looonnnnng way to the Island Cafe. It follows the west side of the island almost to the end.  We found a street and crossed over.  It brought us out right by the Tomahawk moorage.  
The cafe was packed.  They had a band and everything.  This is the first time Rob has been here and my 3rd.  I guess I like it.  We sat in the bar while waiting for a table and then a counter that overlooks the river came open in the bar so we moved to it.  It was a nice view.  Some baby Geese came to visit as did some grown-ups and we got to watch boats passing by.  It was fun.
We walked back the short way.  It is the way that Rob, Bella and I normally go.  It is about half the distance as the river way.  
We got back, watched a little TV and went to bed.

Monday, 20 June

I woke up really upset about Bella's lump, but at 6:00 in the morning there isn't much I can do about it.  We went for a quick walk.

I had my coffee, checked email and checked out face book. I did a quick upper body work out and then showered. I took Bella out for a longer walk around the RV park.  There are some really pretty spots in here.

Artis (she has pretty rainbow hair) came at 7:55 to pick me up.  We drove to Vancouver, WA (just across the river) to Pine Crest Golf course about 30 min away.  It is a real cute, nine hole, walking only course.  Artis has a small carry bag that she uses for just a few clubs and then let me borrow her pull cart.

Kate and her friend Claudia joined us.  We had a really fun round of golf.  It only took us an hour and 40 to play all nine. We went to Starbucks afterwards for coffee and a pastry.

Artis took me to Chuck's Produce in Vancouver on the way home.  It is amazing. Tons of fresh produce; an amazing deli section, they were making fresh tacos, burritos or taco salads, while you wait.  It was awesome. I bought some slicer tomatoes and some fruit.  Then we came home.  She lives here in the RV Park. She is a very cool lady.

I came in and immediately looked more closely at Bella's lump.  I could see a red spot.  It looks like it is where she got one of the booster shots earlier this month, but I don't know which of the three was at that spot.  The red spot looks pretty red.  It seems odd that you would still be able to see the injection hole after 12 days.

Anyway, I called the vet that I met on Saturday at the Gay Pride festival.  She had given me her card that had a 50% discount for first visits. They were booked up for the afternoon but said I could come at 8:00 tomorrow morning.  The more I talked with the receptionist the more I wanted to find and emergency clinic.  I told her so and she put me on hold and then came back and told me I could bring her in at 5.  It is noon .

I called Santa Rosa to find out which vaccines were given where.  That Dr. called me back and said it was the Rattlesnake and it would take about 6 weeks for the lump to go down.  At least now I know which injection was there.  So then I was wondering if I still needed to take her in.  So I called my vet in Temecula and explained the situation to her. They didn't like that the site was still red so said to keep the appointment and take her in to see the Vet here.  

So, to kill time I paid bills, went for another walk, and then at three we left.  The vet is on the Portland side of the Columbia River and the bridge gets really contested in the afternoons.  I figured we could go there, find out where it is and kill time over there rather than here.  There was a park near the vet so we played there.

The vet was very nice.  She didn't really like what she was seeing so she shaved the lump to get a better look.  It didn't look bad, but she also didn't like the fact that it was red at the site.  So, now we have her on antibiotics something for the pain and swelling and we are doing warm compresses.

We come back to the Island and went to the Island Cafe on the river for dinner.  Artis and Claudia said they were going to be rowing at 6:45 and I thought it would be fun to watch them.  We got there at 6.  Unfortunately Happy Hour had just ended.  But we (I, but did share a little with the Bell) had fish and chips and 2 margaritas.  We left at 7:45 and never saw anybody rowing on the river.  The place was packed and the river was really busy so it was pretty fun.

We came back and watched TV, gave Bella her pills, did a warm compress and went to bed.

Sunday, 19 June

Today was a fun day.  It was pretty with blue skies when Bella and I went out for our pee.
We had our coffee, worked on the blog and finished up my pivot work and sent my final time card in to Brittany.  I think I may be officially retired, again!
Kate and Joe are putting the final coat of stain on their friend Linda's deck.  They said Bella and I could hang out but we decided to do stuff here instead.
But, at 1:00 I packed a pack with water, a bottle of wine and a jacket and we walked over toward the moorage.  I figured I perhaps should eat something since I hadn't yet and it would be a while until dinner.  So we stopped at Taco Bell and had a couple tacos.  We ate them there and when finished continued walking.  Bella seems to have a belly issue?! The closer we got to the Moorage the less comfortable I felt about having Bella there.  The house that they are staying in actually has three floating decks and there is a pretty significant gap between two of them.  I kept thinking about what if she fell in between the gaps.  How would I get her out.  Plus, I wasn't sure about her belly and where would she go?!  I finally decided to take her back.  We were literally at the gate when we turned around and walked all the way back.  
Now my dilemma was leave her locked inside or leave the doggy door open.  Rob had expressed fear of the fence falling over or someone opening it and her getting out and panicking and getting lost.  If her belly is bothering her she will need to go out.
Finally I removed a section of fence, made sure the rest was secured and left her inside with the doggy door open.  I prayed she would be ok.
I walked back to Kate and Joe's.  I got to the gate and called to be let in, but there was no response.  I called her on her cell phone and got voice mail. Hmmmm, what to do.  I considered climbing over the fence, but I had on white pants and was afraid they may have cameras.  I pondered for a little while longer when I noticed a car was getting ready to leave the parking lot so I waited for the gate to open to let it out and then snuck in after it.  This gave me an opportunity to take some pictures. 

First, here is at the deck that Joe, Kate and Linda have been staining.  They also built that screen to give them a little privacy.  I am standing on the ramp that everyone has to come down to enter the moorage.  It is right next to their house.

 Next, this is the Front of the house that Kate and Joe own.  They have it rented out now and will be putting it on the market very soon.  They don't want to maintain it anymore and only want to come here to visit, not live.

Next, this is the back of Kate and Joe's house.  They have a nice lower deck for sitting out and having planters.  Plus they have an upper deck where they have their hot tub and can sit out and have coffee in the am if they wanted to.

I continued on down the passage until I came to where Kate and Joe are staying. I found her in her grubby staining clothes watering plants on her deck.  So, I finished the watering while she got a shower. I took advantage of the opportunity to take pictures of the beautiful decks with all the amazing plants and flowers.

Not only do they have pretty flowers and plants, but they have really fun planters and decorative objects.  Everything is nautical of course.  There are things in the plants, hanging on the walls, up on the roof, down between the decks, everywhere you look.  It is really a fun place.

We grabbed salad fixings, wine and potatoes and went over to Linda's for dinner.  She was pretty excited to be able to put her furniture out and enjoy a cocktail on her newly completed deck.  We had a lovely Salmon dinner and watched the final quarter of the Warrior's basketball game.  Sadly they lost.  We enjoyed the deck and chatted with people who floated by on paddle boards or in boats.  When it was time for good byes Kate, Linda and Jill decided to walk me part of the way home and show me how to get to the other side of the island from their house so I could walk along the water.  We took a quick photo..

Then said hello to a gaggle of geese and took one more moorage pic.

 We then set off for home

It was such a lovely evening.

The walk was wonderful.

Linda is on the left, then Jill, then Kate.  Linda lives in Houston in the winter.  

It's a little difficult to see, but that is Mt Hood in the center of this picture.

They turned around and I continued on.

Bella was so happy to see me when I got home.  We went out for a quick walk, then watched TV and went to bed.  When we were in bed I was petting her and felt a big lump on her shoulder.  Oh no.