What a great week so far! I started out Monday morning with every intention of doing my taxes. Then, that naughty, adventurous voice in my head said, “Why do taxes when you could walk the Poetry Trails in the Olympic National Park?” My responsible self always gives in to the adventurer, for better or worse.

Tango and I went first to the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, about 15 miles away. I asked lots of questions about camping in the park and drove in another 5 miles to check out the nearest campground. Sweet, classic, old school Forest Service campground in the forest. We could not go any further into the park that day because of foul weather and snowy roads, but we did find one of the Poetry Trails that were near the Visitor Center. The trails were super easy, and I loved coming across the poems, which were on signs. My favorite so far, “Tree House”, by Shel Silverstein:

On Tuesday, I was able to further procrastinate on my taxes because we took a day trip to Whidbey Island. A friend and her family own an ancient beach cabin over there. My friend, Cathy, had to mow the lawn over there and take care of some other things and asked if Tango and I wanted to go. Huh what?! Of course we want to go. The land has been in the family since the early 1900s, when her great-grandfather set up a fishing camp there. A small community formed, comprised mostly of other folks from the Seattle area (Snohomish) who came over on weekends to catch the huge King Salmon. Eventually, they built cabins.

Sequim is in the center of the map. The red pin shows the northern side of the Island, but we were on the southern tip near the “d” in Island.

The best way to Whidbey Island from here is to catch the ferry in Port Townsend. Cathy paid around $20 bucks roundtrip for her and the car (senior rates). I paid the senior passenger rate of $3.95 round trip. Tango was free, of course. Once we boarded, we left Tango in the car and went up to the lounge area for the 30-minute ride. Amazing.

Bridge of the ferry heading out of Port Townsend

Seating area upstairs

View of Port Townsend from the ferry

From there, we had about 30 mins in the car to the family place. We parked near a sidewalk that passed in front of the beach houses. Cathy’s family has two wheelbarrows in their spot, which we loaded up with our stuff and some supplies for the cabin. We rolled them the short distance down the walk to their cabin. Cathy mowed, I swept, and Tango ran on the beach. I scrounged for curved driftwood that would work for a driftwood wreath. It was gorgeous there, and I am so blessed to have been invited out!

This map zooms in on the area. You can see Sequim, Port Townsend where we got the ferry, Keystone where we landed, and Clinton, where the cabin is, more or less.

The cabin, with a few modern add-ons

Beach view

I love this driftwood fence on a house we walked by

Back home, I got a start on my driftwood wreath. It looks nice laid out on the picnic table. I will build it up with a few more pieces I find this summer.

The trip made me super eager to further explore Whidbey Island and the San Juans. I am headed out in a different direction at first, but, if it works out, I may get up to the Islands this summer. If not, then this fall for sure, after I return to Sequim.

Today, I procrastinated again by painting! I have had the urge for quite some time and finally bought some beginner supplies. Then I bought a few more things and a tabletop easel, which I set up in my sewing area.  So far I have spent about $150 dollars at Michaels. I am interested in abstract things, like flowers. I checked out a stack of books from the library and have been watching U-Tube videos. I am surprised by how much stuff is on there and how much I have learned. I spent a few weeks learning about the paints and surfaces, then learned how to do backgrounds. Now, I am starting some flowers. I am pleased with my first attempt, although I can see all the areas that need improvement. My plan is to paint while I travel around this summer!

For now, my sewing area is a painting studio. You can see some of my background experiments and all the supplies!

My painting debut! Abstract cherry blossoms. They are everywhere around here!