Sailing Away

 It was the perfect thing to do on this day after such a disappointing presidential election. We left it all behind to go dig in the dirt.

Washington is a blue state. We elected all of the Democrats that were on our state ballot. As with the national outcome, there were a few clouds in our blue sky, but the water was calm and there was fresh snow on the mountains. 

It took us two hours to get to the Whidbey Island cabin because of heavy, slow traffic getting through Seattle, but once we arrived we got right to work.

I planted tulip bulbs and Tom and Jake planted the native Oregon Grape and Nootka roses that Tom raised from cuttings and divisions he took last year from plants growing here on the lagoon dike.

They are working together to try to turn our dry sandy front yard into a mostly native garden that can sustain itself through our summer drought. 

After we broke for lunch Tom took over the bulb planting while I drank coffee, finished reading the newspaper, skipping most of the political news, and ran an errand. 

By then the sun was sinking low in the sky. I walked  over to the beach and sat on a log, enjoying the peace of the place. Jake joined me for a bit before continuing his beach walk.

I walked on the beach road, easier for me than walking on sand, and stopped to get a photo of my favorite Rugosa Rose. Here are late red rose hips, golden leaves, and a fresh bloom. We don't easily give up summer around here. 

From the road I captured this photo of the layers of land and water and mountains and fog and clouds. Life, too, is multi-layered. 

Back at the cabin we relaxed for a short while, continuing conversations that had been going on all day. It was so good to spend the day with Jake.  I learned so much that I hadn't known about our brilliant, coping, neurodivergent son. 

As the sun was setting we were back on the ferry, homeward bound. We stopped for a quick Subway supper and more conversation.

We arrived back home where Jake lingered for more conversation before finally calling it a day.

What a good day it was! Now we are ready to move on. We have yard work to do here under a glorious blue sky. Rain is coming, but like everything else, we'll deal with it when it gets here.

What will be will be.