razor clams

David, Sam and I went to the ocean over Valentine's weekend.  We took the motor home and thought we could easily get a camping spot...I mean who camps in the winter time right... Luckily a few days before we went I looked on line at the state campground and to my surprise they were full! I couldn't believe it.  I did however find a smaller one down the street that still had some sites left.  Since it was Valentine's (not why we went) we decided to make stake and lobster for dinner.  It was delicious. We did decide to go though because there was a razor clam dig.  David's never done it before and I have only went a few times with other people who knew what they were doing and I just gave them my clams so I really didn't know what to do with them after either.  We had to get a license, buy some rubber boots (I had some) and buy a clam gun to get them with.  You can only dig on certain days and times.  You have to check the state web site to see where and when.  Our first attempt went ok.  They were a little harder to spot then I remembered and a little more work to dig them. That could be because we are getting older I guess.

David's first clam

my first clam

some of the clams

The first day we got about a dozen together but seamed to dig like 50! David's back got sore so we stopped for the day.  I wanted to try again the next day.  Right before low tide is the best time to try.  We went again the next day and were a little early so we weren't finding much, but then the it must have been time because all of the sudden they were everywhere.  David didn't want to dig that day because his back still hurt but I did and I got my limit of 15 in about 30 minutes.  Yea.... It was really packed to because it was gorgeous day out and Presidents day so lots of people were off work and out of school.  Once we got home David cleaned them while I showered and cleaned up.  Then I made some homemade clam chowder.  It turned out pretty good for our first time.  We will probably go again next year.

all cleaned and ready for the soup

clam chowder

Arizona

I know I don't post often but sometimes I really think I don't have a lot to post about.  I mostly just go to work or on vacation, so here is another vacation post.  After having a busy and hectic holiday season David and I finally got a chance for a little get away in January.  We went to Arizona to visit my relatives.  We coordinated the timing so David could go to the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction at the same time. At the time we planned the trip to Az. I was blessed to still have all my grandparents.  Unfortunately before we made it to Az. my sweet, sweet Grandmother Dora (on my Dad's side) passed away.  Right when we got there we went straight to my Mom's parents wedding anniversary party.  They were celebrating 69 years! Not only did I get to spend a little time with them I also saw some of my aunts and uncles I haven't seen in years! We didn't stay to long, we got there late and everyone else was finishing up.  That's ok though we wanted to watch the Seahawks playoff game that was about to start.  Yea, the Hawks won! The next Morning we headed to the car show.

This one was a big year for the show, a collector named Ron Pratt was going to be selling off most of his private collection which contained some of the finest cars ever, worth millions (each).














After we got a chance to go there we meet up with my grandpa Swift and got to check out his new place and took him to the Olive Garden for dinner.  The next few days we went back to the car auction and back to my grandpa's too.  He took us to see where my Grandma's ashes are kept.

 We also had breakfast with him and got a chance to visit and catch up some.  It was nice to get to spend time with him and my other relatives too.  I told my grandpa I would write a blog about this trip and post some pictures too.  It took me a while to post though because I was planning on going back to Az. 2 weeks later to watch the Seahawks plan in the super bowl and post about both trips.  We had it all planned out.  We had our flight booked our car reserved, we were going to stay at my aunt Patty and uncle Duane's house, we even bought a parking pass to the game.  We new the tickets would cost a lot and had budgeted for that but everyone told us the game tickets would go down in price so we waited to purchase to the tickets and after waiting and watching the tickets kept going up, and up, and up... I heard of people paying up to $14,000 per ticket on the top level! It was just crazy! at those rates I would rather have bought a car at the auction.  Needless to say we didn't go. We watched the game at home and had David's family over.  David could some great bbq for us.

 

 Luckily we could cancel everything for a full refund.  This weekend we are going to try our luck with razor clam digging....Maybe I will post about that to if it goes well...

Family Fun

I'm so happy the summer is here not only has it been sunny and hotter then usual but I get to spend more time with my family.  I'm expecting my 20th niece/nephew this summer.  Unfortunately they don't all live close.  I wish they did!  First I got to spend a day with Penelope and Scarlett.  We had so much fun.  We went for pedicures, went to the park, watered the garden and many other fun activity's.

Then the very next day 4 of my nephews got to spend an "Hour of Fun" with auntie!  This started with a trip to the Rootbeer store.  Where the boys all got to pick 2 pops each.  One for now and one for the car ride home to Spokane.  We then went to Black Bear (frozen yogurt) the boys loaded up their bowls with lots of yogurt and candy.  Surprisingly I refrained from having any. I'm trying to cut back on sweets but man its hard!  Our last stop was to RiteAd.  The kids each got $5 and 5 minutes to spend it.  Most of which they spent on junk food of course.  I offered to stop off at the park on the way hamoe but only James wanted to so we skipped it.  They had to head home soon anyway.

I've been trying to find a time to take Mallory and Andrew to Red Robin but it just hasn't worked out yet, However I did get to hang out with Mallory all day last Monday.  I asked her what she wanted to do and she said make a cake.  So we spent quite a bit of time making it just right.  She even got to crack the eggs!  Before that though we stopped for a donut.  I asked her if she wanted to go the donut shop close to home or the far one with crazy donuts.  She picked the far one with crazy ones, but when we got there she just wanted a plain chocolate long john.  We had McDonald's for lunch then played in the sprinklers in the back yard.  It was a fun day.

I do really wish my family lived closer so I could spoil them more often!

UTAH

David, Sammy (dog) and I decided to go on a road trip this year for our family vacation.  It's not Europe but it was just as fun!  We took the motorhome and headed out toward Utah.  The first night we didn't make reservations and was worried about the campsite being full.  Luckily it not only had openings but we were the only ones there!  Which surprised me, because it was a Saturday and pretty nice out.

Farewell Bend State Park

 

Next we ventured on to Nathanael's (my brother) house.  We got there a little later then thought though, driving in the r.v. was slow and we lost an hour time change.  Thankfully Mary-Anne had made us a yummy dinner and Kim (or Isaac) made dessert!  It was great getting to play games with them after even though it was only a few hours.  The next morning we headed onto Moab.  I had no idea there was so much to do and see there.  We went to Arches National Park, Canyonlands N.P.  and Dead Horse State Park. 

double arch

Landscape arch

Delicate arch

Besides all the beautiful hikes we went canyoneering!  I was pretty nervous ahead of time but loved it!  This included hiking and repelling!

Morning Glory bridge/arch which we repelled down from

Moab is know for it's 4xing trails so we rented a modified jeep and the next day did some off-roading.  David really enjoyed this part, but me not so much.  I guess I didn't know what I was getting into so it scared me when it wasn't going as I imagined.  Although David pretty much knew what was going on he said it was more adventurous then he thought the trail would have been.  After we got back I googled the trail name "Steel Bender" and found out it is one of the most extreme trails in the country!  We took Sammy to but she slept during most of the 5 hours it took to go only a few miles.

Steel Bender Trail

I totally could have stayed a few more days but in the morning we had to start our way back.  We stopped at Goblin Valley S.P.  for one night.  The weather was nice and we had tons of fun climbing on all the formations.  This place was pretty cool but the pictures don't do it justice.

Goblin Valley

 We took 2 more days driving back and stayed at winery's both nights.  Hopefully we can go back someday and venture to other great places too!  All and all everything went well, even the weather.  We also had fun trying to take "selfie's" (photo's).  I tried to save a few good pictures for Christmas cards still.

R.V. FUN

        I have lived in Washington for about 25 years now and have barley seen anything local!  I've worked on Saturdays for so many years that only left Sundays for exploring this area.  Every time I took vacation it would be to go somewhere cool, fun and far away! Usually warm and sunny too!  Last year we took the r.v. to long beach, where I had never been and decided that this years we should plan a vacation right here in Washington!  We did just that.  There is so much to do and so much to see we planed 8 days in the r.v. and went mostly around the western border.  Many of my clients told me about some great places to see.  We started out up north at Fort Warden (port Townsend) then went west toward the coast, stopping first in Sequim where we had the yummiest breakfast at the Oak Table here I ordered the house specialty.  Apple Pancake!

Then we went to the Olympic game farm.  It is a place you drive though and get to feed the animals.  They only get wheat bread.  The animals are mostly former movie stars.  One of the bears can wave at you.  It was pretty cool!  The buffalo are very big up close, kinda scary even! Except there was a baby buffalo.  He ran after us for more when we were driving away so of course we ad to stop again!

This one was a baby buffalo

Next we went by the Dungeness spit.  It is the longest spit in the world (I think)  It is 5 1/2 miles long.  there is a light house at the end but we didn't walk out to it.  We drove by Crescent lake.  It was beautiful.  The lake was so clear and blue you could see the bottom. 

Next stop was Ruby Beach.  It was gorgeous!  We even went back the next morning too!

Sammy playing in the ocean

Here is a cool tree at Kalaloch beach, where we camped for the night.

We stopped a few places along the road the next day.  One was the Giant Cedar Tree and another place we stopped was the Westport winery, where they had a really cool outdoor area with lots of sculptures and stuff!  David liked this ship.

Next stop was Fort Stevens, Or.  We stayed there a few nights and got to walk around all the gun stations and grounds.  We hiked about 10 miles here. Even Sammy, poor girl, she was a trooper and did great!

 We headed east on the 84 and there was a lot of beautiful waterfalls along the way.

Finally we made it to Mary Hill.  I have to say this is one of the nicest camping areas I have ever seen!  There isn't a lot to do here but the river was nice and the view beautiful.  We skipped lots of rocks.  The lots were huge!  They all had plenty of sunshine and plenty of trees too!  We had plenty of room to play bocce.  There is a winery, concert venue, art museums and a awesome full size replica of Stonehenge.  It was built as a memorial to war veterans. I had know idea this even existed ad only a few hours from home!  The whole trip was wonderful and the weather was perfect too! I can't wait to go back to several of these places again and explore even more local areas!