End of May

Wow! A LOT has happened since my little "contentment" posting. Sheesh!

Firstly, I got a job! Wasn't even looking! My Broker from my RE/MAX days, Charlie,(bless his heart)gave my name as a recommendation when the owner of Townsend Bay Property Management called, looking for an agent to join them! I interviewed that day and was hired to start on the 26th! I really like the job & the 3 ladies I work with. It is 4 days a week, so I still have time at home, which is very important to me. Pretty frickin' cool! :)

On Memorial Day, Seth (Tiger & Violet's papa) popped up on facebook out of the blue. He has been in a very bad situation for the past 2 or 3 years, no contact with the girls. Lo & behold, he is out, sober, clean & getting out of Alaska. He wants fix it & he'll be here on June 4th! I have a lot of hope and an equal measure of aprehension. Poor Holly is so worried for the girls well being, should he slip away again. Hopeful, too, of course. But she has done and gone through so much. ugh.
Tiger is beside herself with joy! Violet is tickled if you ask her about it, but it is all Tiger thinks & and laughs & smiles & talks about ever since she spoke with him. She has missed him terribly. I hope, I hope, I hope for the best.

Hard working Holly Rae was sideswiped by a double kidney infection. On top of work, house building and papa's coming to PT news. How much can one little mama take!?! Her house should be ready to move in the first week of August. I hope then she will be allowed some rest.

Tara rented an ADORABLE cottage uptown in Port Townsend. So cute & tiny & affordable & perfect for her. She is super happy about it. Zero is allowed to live there with her, but Lloyd has confessed his love for the cat, so his address remains the same as ours, for now....

Heidi may, or may not, be headed for a visit to Alaska. She is going stir crazy here. Not working gets a little old (spoken from experience). I hope she finds some direction soon. Until then she seems delightfully distracted by pretty boys...

Willabee is finally coming home on June 5th! YAY! We have all missed her. Her vacation has been long enough that I can just barely remember what a teenager she can be! Ha ha. I'm sure it will all come flooding back very soon! It will be very nice to have all of my kiddies home again. At least in the same town. Same house isn't an option anymore, so same town will do.

Luke man is golfing with his dad today. He has been doing a lot of shifts at the Upstage. Helping Lloyd get wood in, helping around the house. His 8th Grade promotion is coming up on the 16th or 17th of June. And on the his Freshman year! Go Luke!

And last but not least, Naomi, has been sailing and rowing her little heart out at school. these last 3 weeks are a maritime unit and ALL of her classes have to do with (or are actually out in longboats on the bay!) maritime education & themes. She LOVES it.
Last Thursday was a BEAUTIFUL sunny day, they were out sailing and almost capsized the boat when a big gust of wind came up. She said it was soooo scary. BUT! They didn't capsize and she learned how to try to avoid & prevent it. Pretty exciting!

I am feeling pretty happy. Excited about being able to have some extra $ to apply to projects around here that keep getting put off for lack of funds. Really good stuff happening.

Life isn't easy but it sure is sweet.

contentment

During the past two weeks, Miss Tiger Rae Varah learned to ride her new ($7.99! at Goodwill) two wheeled bicycle! She learned in 1 day and is now zooming up and down Berry Hill Lane on long bike rides with Luke and Naomi. She is SO happy, she even rides in the rain-serious rain!! Violet seems content to smile proudly at Tiger's accomplishment. Her new bike isn't quite ready to be mastered. She draws pictures while they are on their trips.

We have the garden all ready to plant this weekend. Last year I planted most of it on or around Mothers Day, too. It turned out great last year, so I am hopeful about this years bounty! i have taken some before shots so I can chronicle our progress this year!

All of the rain lately has made for some very cozy evenings. Toasty & warm inside, good food, a new floor lamp ($5.99 at Goodwill!) casting a golden glow. We have had friends over for sweet visits (and tasty treats!). I am feeling like the house is starting t o feel like a home-our home! Still a lot of work to go, but there is a plan and I can see that it WILL be lovely.

Naomi starts her 'maritime studies' next week at school. She'll be going out in the bay in a longboat, rowing and sailing. All classes for 2 weeks are maritime centered. She is VERY excited and uncharacteristically talkative about it. Make me happy to see her interested and engaged. Port Townsend has some great things to offer, that is for sure!

Holly has handpainted trucker hats showing at Artisans on Taylor. She was part of the gallery walk held the first Saturday of each month. There was a large turnout & her hats were a hit! She sold 3 & was very happy about it. I think a few mint juleps made her happy, too!

As it happens, Saturday was the eve of our 17th Anniversary, so we were out to Holly's show and then dinner at The Public House with Heidi. Very nice. Tara showed up to finish off my plate and visit for a few minuts after getting off of work. Then we walked back to Holly's show, hugged took pictures and headed back up on the Mtn. A lovely eve and the next day was equally laid back and WONDERFUL. Coffee, comfort, company & contentment.

Life is sweet...