We were planning on tubing the local rivers with Sheila, like last year, when our kids, Rebecca & Joe, show up on 01AUG of this year. But it turns out Sheila & daughter, Tess, are heading to India & Nepal at the end of the month for several weeks of high altitude trekking! So we decided to pay a short visit before their departure. After setting up camp on the beautiful banks of the Icicle River, we headed over to their place. When dinner time arrived we decided to “reward” Sheila & Tess, who that very day had completed a preliminary course that is needed to get into nursing school, which they plan to do after trekking (we wish we had 1/2 their energy!).
We decided to head to Gustavs to enjoy their outdoor terrace & their microbrews; but first we headed over to Peshastin, WA, to check out an “art yard”. Upon returning from an excellent meal at Gustavs, we had to rescue a white parakeet (aka budgie) that was trying to fly into the house through closed windows. Eventually we decided to open Tess’s bedroom window & see if the runaway bird would fly in. In due course the bird did fly in, & the window was closed. What now? Mike & Dan decided to enjoy a cold brewski & leave the final capture to the ladies. Mike & Dan are not sure what went on inside the small bedroom, but could clearly hear the shrieks & laughter of the three ladies. Finally the small bird was safely captured & placed in a cardboard box, & no furniture was broken. Since the bird was obviously a pet, the ladies canvassed the neighborhood for its owners. No one claimed the bird, but one neighbor donated an excess bird cage they had.
We decided to head to Gustavs to enjoy their outdoor terrace & their microbrews; but first we headed over to Peshastin, WA, to check out an “art yard”. Upon returning from an excellent meal at Gustavs, we had to rescue a white parakeet (aka budgie) that was trying to fly into the house through closed windows. Eventually we decided to open Tess’s bedroom window & see if the runaway bird would fly in. In due course the bird did fly in, & the window was closed. What now? Mike & Dan decided to enjoy a cold brewski & leave the final capture to the ladies. Mike & Dan are not sure what went on inside the small bedroom, but could clearly hear the shrieks & laughter of the three ladies. Finally the small bird was safely captured & placed in a cardboard box, & no furniture was broken. Since the bird was obviously a pet, the ladies canvassed the neighborhood for its owners. No one claimed the bird, but one neighbor donated an excess bird cage they had.
Early Thursday morning we hit the road for cousin Steve’s & wife, Bonnie, in Kittitas, WA. Why so early for a one hour drive? Because it was Stevie’s birthday & he wanted to celebrate it with lunch at the Snoqualmie Casino, & of course playing some games of chance. So after setting up camp at the Kiesel’s we immediately hit the road for the casino. We guess this is becoming a tradition, because we did the same thing last year (see below BLOG link). After the lunch buffet Steve headed to the cigar bar to get his birthday cigar & glass of fine, aged, whiskey; then everyone headed to their favorite gaming machine.
Dan lost his usual $20, but Corrie covered his losses; & the Kiesels aren’t talking. The big winner was Eileen, Steve’s sister. She wasn’t able to make the lunch buffet but showed up later & managed to find Bonnie at a bank of slot machine called “Hot Shots”. Next thing Eileen knows the machine was flashing a message telling her to call an attendant for a pay out of a $2452.50 jackpot! This being the digital age everyone takes out their cell phone & photographs the event. While sitting at the machine waiting for the attendant, Eileen even e-mailed the picture to friends & family; & posted the news to her facebook. Almost immediately her phone started ringing in response to her e-mails. The rest of the day was spent back at the ranch doing nothing much.
Friday Dan smoked some pork ribs while miscellaneous chores were accomplished. One of which was to disassembly our “new” vintage outboard & get it working. Thanks to Steve’s mechanical skills we soon had it running. Two interesting things we discovered are - there is no neutral - & reverse is accomplished by rotating the entire engine 180 degrees. Should be very interesting once we actually get it on our jon boat (see our previous BLOG about our “new” boat). 
Saturday morning Steve & Dan headed into the hills to look for where the elk are located as part of Steve’s volunteer duties as local “Master Hunter” in the Kittitas valley (see below internet link for more info on Master Hunters). Although no elk were sighted it was still an enjoyable three hours four wheeling in the back country. Back at the ranch more choirs were accomplished before it was Steve’s turn to cook dinner.
Sunday morning, 25JUL, after another enjoyable visit at Steve & Bonnie’s it was back to our RV spot at Evergreen State Fairgrounds. Now we count down six days until our children, Rebecca & Joe, arrive for hopefully six days of fun & sun!!!
2 comments:
Chuck and Anneke's RV travels said...
Two thoughts. That VW would look great on your property.Watch out for that outboard. I had one like that and in moments of stress, I can guarantee that it will try to kill you or at least reek havoc on property.
31 July, 2010 18:53
Corrie, Dan and Gumbo Ryan said...
Two thoughts. That VW would look great on your property.Watch out for that outboard. I had one like that and in moments of stress, I can guarantee that it will try to kill you or at least reek havoc on property.
31 July, 2010 18:53
Corrie, Dan and Gumbo Ryan said...
future "yard art" at our hopefully to be built in our life time house, is an ongoing discussion. dan wants some sort of beater auto full of flowers; corrie is holding out for a tasteful rockery w/native plants. as to the motor attached to a jon boat w/no floatation, probably a marine casualty waiting to happen? - corrie & dan 31 July, 2010 19:34
