Life on Lummi Island

BJ's plan was to celebrate her birthday with two friends, hanging about and having adventures. The chosen spot was Lummi Island, which is one of the San Juan Islands close to Bellingham. She rented a "cabin" with one grand view...



In the background is Mt Baker, one of those Pacific Northwest volcanoes. I was standing on the deck when I took this picture. Here is one view of the deck...



We spent a lot of time on this deck. The moment we arrived we knew we would. We ate all of our meals on that deck. We had many conversations there. We moved into the sun; we moved out of the sun. And it was the perch for many photos.

Here is the birthday feast:



One day we were sitting at the second table, and heard a lot of racket in the bush below us. I was convinced it was a bear because it was so noisy - bears often make a lot of ruckus when they are in the bush. Here is what we saw from the deck:



We had visitors...




A mom and her baby... How close does one have to be to get this picture?

This close...



I have officially had deer slobber on my hand... That's gotta be one of those MUST DOs before you die...

Seattle to Bellingham

On Sunday, I spent most of the day with Julie and Ryan in Seattle. We went to the Supermall in Auburn, Washington. Google Maps said 40 minutes but they did not figure in missing the exit.

Once off the exit, signs direct you towards Supermall Road, and then there is no getting lost.







Auburn is not a slight distance from Seattle, and I needed to get on the road so we had dinner "out."


Clouds, clouds, clouds all day in Seattle. Most of it with rain, rain, rain. BJ gave me hope - sun in Bellingham. Alas, though, it was fleeting. My evening journey to Bellingham was wet in a sopping kind of way.

The next day, we woke up to plenty of blue!
Lake Padden, where we went for a walk.








Outside Pier 1, where I spent my Christmas gift certificate from BJ (just wait until you see my beautiful purchases!), we found a tree which I named the "Dreadlock Tree."



It was equally stunning from near and afar...



Our second walk of the day took us here:



Thanks, BJ, for a most incredible day!