01-30SEP26 - Sultan, WA

Tuesday, first day of September, our tractor guy, Jack Morse, arrives AM to bushhog back two acres (last here JUL2025).  He will also use tractor to load the downed maple tree debris into his truck for removal; and does some other small jobs.  After he leaves Dan fire up ride’em mower to do small areas large tractor couldn’t do.

Thursday, meet with Dan Tapia and Tom Seery about preparing house for possible listing.  Dan Tapia was recommended as a possible Realtor.  Tom is a general contractor giving his thoughts on house, buildings, and property.  And he could be contractor for repairs.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, mostly working on trimming plants and shrubs to move back one foot back from outer walls of house as recommended by Tom & Dan.  Then hauling wheelbarrows of our work to our large debris pile; and do some mowing.

Labor Day, Monday, Dan starts pressure washing Lawn Mower Shed and its metal roof.  Mid afternoon we head to a neighbor’s house across the road, for a Neighborhood gathering/potluck.  These events used to be annually Labor Day weekend to bring friends together and celebrate end of summer.  This is first one post Covid; a great time, long overdue🙃!!

Wednesday, 09SEP, Dan starts day with dental; then continues pressure washing mower shed; Corrie heads out for medical.  At noon Liz & Dan Tapia (realtor team) show up to do exterior photos & drone overflight of house & property.  Thursday Dan pressure washes 2/3 of mower shed roof and all exterior walls of green house; followed by mowing.  Then starts packing for tomorrow’s flight to NOLA.  Dan is going back to our old home of Houma, LA, to help our son Joe try and finish renovation to his rental house he has been working on forever.

Friday at 4AM Corrie drives Dan to recently opened light rail station in Lynnwood, WA.  Dan has to Delta flight to New Orleans out of SeaTac airport.  Rather than park the Fiesta at a parking lot at over $200, Corrie will drop him at the new station in Lynnwood and go home, avoiding rush hour thru Seattle.  Turns out train costs $3 and gets you there in one hour; Corrie doesn’t have to deal with rush hour.

Saturday,12 Sep, Dan doesn’t do much just trying to get over jet-lag.  Joe, wife Bethany and granddaughter Coraline are in Tennessee and should be back tomorrow..  Sunday not much done; Joe and family arrive and start “unpacking” and unload the jeep from the trailer.  After all that is done Dan heads over to visit and have dinner.  Dan will stay in rental house which is pretty complete; lots of items on check list; big item is kitchen cabinets.  Dan will stay in rental house for peace and quiet😊

Monday AM start helping Joe with rental house.  Dan trims back overgown bushes from front of house; and backyard crepe myrtles.  These were trimmed by Dan and Corrie 10 months ago.  Then Dan starts masking trim work and painting trim around doors.  Dinner at Joe & Bethany’s.  Tuesday trims and cuts up yard debris for future disposal; finishes painting trim and starts caulking door jambs.  Wednesday Dan mostly caulks interior door jambs to dry wall; then cuts up construction debris into four-foot long pieces and removes nails for disposal.

Thursday was cutting plywood rectangles to cover rotted flooring of backyard metal shed (extremely hot inside unventilated metal building.  Pick up construction debris and yard debris to load into Joe’s truck for dump run.

Friday Joe makes dump run.  Meanwhile Dan replaces old back door outside light with new LED model.  Removes old, non-working motion sensing light from rear corner of house that covers back yard. 

There appears to be no way to tell where power was coming from for this light?  So Dan spends rest of day testing every plug of house and wall switch to find out what circuit breaker they receive power from.  There are two circuit directory’s on inside of power panel.  One is old and fallowing apart.  Both have some wrong labels, and no idea what circuit 19A is for??

Saturday,19SEP, in Dan goes over his work on circuit breakers in main fuse box with Joe.  Then they trouble shoot two switch boxes that have hot circuits they shouldn’t!  Eventually all straight.  They work on installing baseboards Joe has pre-cut.  Call it a day and get back together latter at Joe & Bethany’s for excellent BBQ of flank steak and boar/deer meat sausage.  After reminiscing/conversing its time for Dan to say his goodbyes, he flies out tomorrow☹

Sunday early Dan heads to NOLA airport, turns in rental car and catches first leg of flight to LAX.  Layover at LAX and fly on to SeaTac; picked up by daughter Rebecca and on to Becca’s; reunite with Corrie and Rocket at Rebecca’s and catch Kingston Ferry and drive home with Corrie and Rocket.

Monday (21SEP) mowing and outside chores.  Tuesday Medical and more outside work; Corrie paints front door of house.  Wednesday Corrie works in garden and landscape; Dan works on straightening the tool/lawn tractor shed.  Thursday AM Dan takes off for bi-monthly lunch with CG Academy Classmates in the Seattle area. Today was also grandson Mason's 13th birthday.

Friday 25SEP, before lunch pack Toad and we head to Pitre’s in Silverdale for grandson Mason’s 13th birthday (which was yesterday) and to assist daughter Rebecca with both grandsons’ multiple athletic events this weekend (son-in-law Raymond returns tomorrow from Army training).

First event is Jaxson’s high school JV football game at 7PM; so Dan and Rebecca drive to that.  While Corrie Chauffer’s Mason to soccer practice.  Jaxson team (Central Kitsap HS) has a home game against Tacoma Lincoln (aka Abes).  The Abes are rated number six in Washington state for their state division ranking.  And their quarterback is rated number one in state and now has full ride scholarship to Stanford.

Jaxson is 9th grade and one of ten freshmen on varsity team.  Which means he only plays if his team is way ahead or way behind.  Game is close and Jaxson doesn’t play.  Also in attendance in the stands was Grama Carolyn (apparently a minor tiktok media star, with 1.6M followers, who lives nearby in Port Orchard).  She is known for her upbeat dance videos, family moments, and authentic “live your best life” style.  All the students knew her; and you would it was a visit from an A-list celebrity.  Back to Pitre house and bed after very long, long day.

Saturday AM it is off to Mason’s soccer game in Olympia, long drive.  Back to house waiting for Raymond’s return.

Soon after his return all six of us head to Il Lucano Italian restaurant in Gig Harbor for grandson Mason’s belated b-day family dinner (birth date was 24SEP).  Mason is future foodie and wanted good authentic Italian food (we were not disappointed).  Then home to veg out.

Italian Restaurant | Gig Harbor, WA | Il Lucano Ristorante

Sunday the Pitre’s drive to Everett for Jaxson’s soccer game.  We and Rocket follow them to Jaxson’s game in our Toad.  Location of game means we catch our usual ferry to Edmonds and drive north to game site; after game we can finish our drive back to our house.

Turns out the team goalie injured his hand last week and is out of commission for three weeks.  So Jaxson who has trained as goalie and played several games as goalie couple of years ago has the job.  His prior experience and his height led to a 3 to 1 victory.  We head home to mow & relax after a hectic weekend.

Monday 28SEP; great weather for outdoor chores; Corrie works on flowerbeds surrounding the house; Dan attacks blackberries and mows.  Tuesday steady rain most of day.  Dan pressures washes last part of roof of the lawn mower shed; pressure washer starts running rough so Dan calls it a day.

Wednesday; last day of September, no rain; Corrie has medical and runs errands; Dan changes air filter and spark plug on pressure washer and finishes pressure washes lawn mower shed roof.  But pressure washer still not working right; time for a real small engine mechanic.

01-31AUG26 - Sultan, WA (⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽ games)

Saturday (first day of August) wake up to cool and cloudy, with threat of rain.  First soccer game of day is Jaxson’s; shortly after start of game rain squall moves thru; all payers soaked.  After game head to Poke Oasis for lunch and then to RV to dry off.

Back to soccer fields for Mason’s late afternoon game (not much playing time for Mason and four others?)  Then off to The Fairhaven Restaurant for excellent/different dinner!  Back to RV to relax, dump sewage tanks and hook up Toad to RV.

HOME | The Fairhaven

Sunday early AM drive RV with Toad already hooked up to RV over to soccer fields.  Park entire rig & hooked up Toad in overflow parking.  Since it cloudy and cooler than yesterday we leave Rocket unattended in RV.  Allowing us to watch both the boy’s soccer games - 9AM (Jaxson game).

And noon (Mason game).

Jaxson’s team wins and now plays championship at 130PM; Unfortunately they play same team they lost to yesterday; same result and a silver medal.  Jump in rig and head home to unload the RV and mow some of the lawn.

Monday around lunch Dan heads to Pitres to help as needed since husband Raymond training with Army in South Carolina.  Tuesday, 04AUG, takes Jax to sail camp (same one he attended AUG last summer) and pick him up in afternoon.  Wednesday AM (05AUG) chauffeurs Jax to sail camp, then makes small shopping run.  In afternoon picks up Jax and takes him to Panther Lake so he can fish with soccer teammate, then Dan goes back to house.  Jax to be brought home from fishing by friend’s dad.

Thursday Raymond gets home.  Friday (happy b-day🎂 Dan); hot and humid day.  Pick Jax up friend’s house and take Jax to last day of sailing camp.  After picking up Jax early from sail camp; take both grandboys to Jax’s tournament soccer game in Gig Harbor.

Saturday beignets made by Rebecca for breakfast.  Lunch at Boat Shed restaurant in honor of Dan’s b-day yesterday.  Jaxson soccer game early evening; back to their house and bed.

Sunday AM up and morning waffle breakfast at Waffle Stop with Raymond, Jaxson & Mason.  This a Sunday “routine” for Raymond and boys.  Jaxson’s third soccer game of tournament in Gig Harbor, 7PM game.  So after game ends, Dan jumps in car and drives around and through Tacoma to get home to Corrie and Rocket at 10PM.

Monday, 10AUG; get RV out of garage and start preparing for Wednesday departure.  Start mowing and walk behind mower breaks; but ride-em keeps working.  Tuesday take walk behind mower into Woodinville Saw & Mower for repair.  More rid-em mowing; prep’ing RV for tomorrow’s departure.

Wednesday AM start trip to Forks, WA; five hour drive and ferry ride.  Including beautiful portion of US101 from Port Angeles thru NE corner of Olympic National Park to small town of Forks.  We will be meeting Rebecca, Raymond and boys who will be there for short family vacation.  Set up camp; Rebecca, Raymond & boys will be staying in a B&B in Beaver, WA.

Thursday AM we drive over to the B&B and take one of their cars to Devils Punch Bowl, Lake Crescent.  Punch Bowl is off the Spruce Railroad Trail where the grandboys jump off cliff into Lake Crescent every year for last three years.  Nice moderate hike to get there.

Then back to our individual abodes to take care of dogs, eat and relax.  We go back to the B&B for dinner of grilled brats and hotdogs.  Also check out boys fishing off public dock at Lake Pleasant County Park.  Back to RV for bed time.

Friday early AM to La Push, WA for surf fishing.  Jaxson has been avid fisherman for several years and lately got “hooked” on bass fishing.  So Dan contacted friend/CG Academy Classmate, Mark Mercier, who lives in Port Angeles if he would take Jaxson fishing in local area around PA local area (could have been fresh water or whatever).  Since we would be staying in Forks, Mark graciously volunteered to drive from PA to La Push, and show Jax how to surf fish (Mark would provide all necessary equipment and bait!!!)  Mark has been avid fisherman freshwater, saltwater all over the US for many, many decades!

So we all met at Lonesome Creek Store and Resort in La Push at 9AM; Mark in his mini RV; us in our Toad; Rebecca & grandboys in their car.  Paid $10 each for all day parking adjacent to 1st Beach (that its name).  Mark was first on beach with his wagon full of fish gear.  We caught up with him for a great four hours on the beach.  Raymond showed up hour later and fourth parking pass purchased.

Jax caught the first fish of the day on first cast (surf perch).  Mark was fantastic teacher and they could have limited out on surf perch but already had too many fish to clean.  Mark taught Jax how to clean the catch; and Jax decided to clean them all after one demonstration.  These were the first fish caught by Jaxson that he did not release; and first catch he has eaten.  Great day, great friend, great fun!  Back to abodes to take care of dogs and then meet up at B&B to try the fish.

Saturday, 15AUG, on the road early in our Toad to go to Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center, which is main visitor center for the Olympic National Park.  Get there five minutes before opening, 9AM, and find out there is already two hour wait to get into park☹️  Turns out because of routinely not having enough parking they open parking at 8AM and when its gone – one car out/one car in.  Why no notice of this on their website?

Back to RV (two hours wasted).  Very short walking tour of “downtown” Forks.  Since we have been here last couple of days we have noticed a line of people outside Forks Art Center?  Apparently there is a “free” museum dedicated to Twilight vampire show(s).  You can walk up, but turns out you get free reserved time if any left, then you wait (donations gladly accepted).  We passed.

Next was John’s Beachcombing Museum, as per RoadsideAmerica.com:

John is no geriatric hippie plucking pretty seashells from the sand. Known as the world's greatest beachcomber, he's pioneered what he calls "extreme beachcombing," ideally suited to the rugged, rocky, remote shores of northwest Washington State. He hauls what he finds back to his former plumbing repair shop, which he opened as a museum in 2014. John rarely throws anything away, and estimates that in 40+ years he's salvaged over one million items, which fill the museum and spill out into displays and monuments that he's built in the front yard.

John's Beachcombing Museum, Forks, Washington

Back to RV for nap; then off to the Pitre’s B&B for last get together before our departure tomorrow AM.  Sunday AM (16AUG) up early and de-camp and hook-up Toad to RV.  On the road to Kingston Ferry; and finish drive home from Edmonds Ferry Terminal to house.

Not much done during the week:  empty RV; medical appointments; Dan continues battle with blackberries; Corrie washes RV; trimming vegetation; Dan washes both cars; mowing; couple invasive blackberry vine piles reduced to chips; Dan fixes headlight on RV; dumps RV waste tanks; then mows some more; then take out dinner from Harvest Kitchen; try supposed fresh Dungeness crab from store – terrible will be returned!

Sunday, 23AUG, finally a “measurable” amount of rain in AM.  Juvenile bear spotted on driveway and later on main road (no pics). Dan works on front roof fan of RV, gear drive to raise roof cover broken probably cheaper to buy new fan?  Dan catches early evening Edmonds ferry to be with grandson Mason Mon/Tues.  Dad Raymond still training with Army in NC.  Mom Rebecca taking son Jaxson fishing for two days at Joint Base Lewis/McCord.

Monday sunshine returns not much done just get grandson Mason to soccer practice in early evening and then supper together at Chipotles.  Tuesday not much done other than taking Mason to “private” soccer coaching session.  Followed by “dirty sodas” at Suburban Sips.  Wednesday AM Rebecca returns and Dan is off to catch next Kingston Ferry and drive home.  Mid-afternoon Jack Morris of Morris Tractor (contractor we have used for four/five years) comes by to scope out and bid on tractor jobs Dan wants done this year.

Thursday, 27AUG; after lunch realtor comes by to inspect property/house for possible listing.  Then Dan catches ferry back to Pitre’s to spend night to be Mason’s chauffer for tomorrow’s early AM soccer game.  Work day for Rebecca and Raymond deployed.  Friday morning (the 28th) Dan and Mason jump in Toad and head to soccer tournament at Starfire Soccer in Tukwila (where we have been many, many times before).  After game Mason is handed off to a teammate dad, and Dan heads back to Sultan and home.

Saturday AM both of us up early and in car back to Starfire for second soccer game of tournament for Mason.  Strong, steady rain, but not in area of game.  Meet Rebecca at game; after game we head home to nap.

Sunday Corrie under the weather so Dan heads to third and last soccer game for Mason in this tournament.  Meets Rebecca and Mason there and heads home after game.  Dan starts some mowing on rid-em mower until cutting blade drive belt breaks (part already on order with Amazon).  Has to finish with walk behind self-propelled mower.

Monday (last day of August) lots of outdoor work on garden beds and shrubberies.  Dan finally gets new drive belt for ride’em mower, fixes and mows some more.  Also first day of school for grandboys.