Some of my blog friends who are also retired have mentioned that holidays can become just another day, but one without the regular routine. I know that feeling too, so I try to do something a little special on such a day. Monday was Labor Day, but we were back home, the picnic was over, and there it was, just another day.
So I planned a destination walk, my favorite go-to activity to perk up a ho-hum day. We chose the Bellevue Botanical Garden, where we could combine our love of gardening with some woodland trails and enough walking to last a couple of hours.
Here are some of the scenes we enjoyed on this sunny morning.
The Yao Garden was lush and green and peaceful.
The borders were full of late summer color and texture.
After two hours in this lovely garden I was content to go home and enjoy my own little bit of paradise.
After a beautiful end of summer weekend, the rain returned last night and this morning, off and on. I got in a quick walk first thing, and then hurried back home because Jill and the kids had arrived.
We gathered to say goodbye to Tiny, Isaac's cat Sandy's little 6th kitten, who struggled for four weeks to live, but finally gave up. They found the tiny kitten in the middle of Isaac's bedroom floor when they arrived home from the island last night. Sandy had moved the rest of her litter under Isaac's bed, as if to protect the rest from the ills of the world.
Tiny now rests in the back of the rose bed, under the protection of the spirit of Leo, Jill's long ago pet.
We were all kind of sad as we went our separate ways. Jill and the kids had a busy day planned of shopping and organizing, this being their last day of freedom before school starts tomorrow. I made a date to meet them at 3:30 in the afternoon to treat them to frozen yogurt before they went off to soccer practice.
Then Tom and I spent the rest of the morning and well into the afternoon working at our neighbor's house again. We've just about got all of the donation items delivered or ready to deliver. Tom has the hazardous materials ( household and yard chemicals) ready to take to the appropriate place when they open on Thursday. The main living portion of the house is done. The basement, garage and attic await a dumpster or whatever provision someone besides us will be making to take care of what is left - trash. We'll spend some more time there tomorrow, and then our work there will be coming to an end. Being neighborly has it's limits.
The kids were fine and all was well when we met up with them this afternoon. The kids had helped their mom with a huge grocery shopping trip and other errands.
Tomorrow it's back to school. Summer vacation has come to an end.
Even though I no longer have to go back to work and school, this time of year always makes me a little melancholy. Endings are hard.
And yet there are many new beginnings too. And continued fun for us retired old folks. And a soccer match to go to at the stadium on Wednesday, and again on Saturday! And the Seahawk football season begins this weekend! And soon kid's soccer matches. And, and, and....
And sunshine again tomorrow!
It was a beautiful Labor Day Sunday as we arrived via ferry on Whidbey Island.
We arrived about 10:30 but there wasn't much action yet, as the folks who had stayed over were just getting going.
The kids spend a lot of time over on the bay side beach, which was crowded with kids as the tide came in. somehow I never got my camera over there.
Once the lagoon filled up, there was some boating action here too, and just some playing around on the dock.
We finally launched the official picnic about 3:30 with the raising of the Phosie-Gertie flag and the anthem.
Yes, it's a construction zone. This was one reason for the scaled down function this year. The Phosie Clan was missing, and we were missing a few Gertie cousins too.
The old vintage cabin, a beach original, and built by Phosie offspring, has been demolished. The property was bought years ago by cousins in the Gertie clan, and they are now erecting the second new cabin in our compound.
We did the water balloon toss, which I was in, so no pics, and then there was time to go out on the lagoon while food was being assembled.
And then there was eating.
And a candy hunt for the kids.
You've gotta' grab quick!
There was more visiting and lots of free range kids running around. I took a little walk as the sun set.
Lots of cars and kid's bikes along the beach road.
A few kids still enjoying their last few hours of freedom.
As the sun set on another family picnic, adults clustered inside to visit and eat dessert, kids roamed freely, and others took quiet walks.
Tom and I headed home after dark and a wait at the ferry dock with other tired folks who had spent a lovely day with friends and family on the island.
