Stolen Moments

Summer for Wally is not so relaxing!  The company he works for (School Specialities, Inc.) publishes products primarily for schools, just like the name says!  So for this company, summer is high gear/no holds barred and they work, a lot.  For Wally this means long days and usually 6 of them in a row.  But..every once in awhile, grace abounds and he is off early enough in the day for us to escape to the water.  For us, because we are blessed, this means a mere 5 minute trip to the south side of town to Marine Park where we can set up our beach chairs and haul out our picnic dinner and enjoy some late afternoon sun.  There's no "planning ahead" for these moments.  So over the years I have learned to be extremely adaptable to be able to make dinner plans on the fly.

Fortunately, I have some handy dandy products that help:  hot/cold bags, a picnic basket that is ALWAYS stocked with cutlery, plates, bowls, cups, vinyl tablecloth, napkins, "trash" bags, matches, towels, etc.  A beach bag that always has our beach towels, swimsuits, sun screen, etc. and another bag that always has waterproof sandals, camera,sunglasses,  clothes for when the sun goes down and the temperature immediately drops 10+ degrees and of course a BOOK!

Yesterday was such a day, and here's what we get to enjoy....just minutes from our home!

 That's the Lady Washington, a 1700's tall ship that is currently hanging out in Bellingham!

 Lummi Island

The view south!

That's Wally!  It's not warm enough for me to brave the waters yet, it's got to hit 80 degrees before I'm willing to enter those frigid waters!

It's not just for keeping things cold!

 Dinner!  Polenta with carrots and spinach and andouille sausage...fruit salad.

 Looking south, that's the Olympic Mountains in the background!

 Sunset!

And back home....dessert awaits:  apricot/cherry upside down cake!  Urp!