Kammeyer Korner

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Biking in Washington

We left on Thursday afternoon and enjoyed our trip up to Mountlake Terrace where Mom lives; we met up with Aaron and Toni Kasper there. Toni and I work together at the hospital. Mom had dinner ready as well as homemade rolls and cinnamon rolls; it was relaxing to sit out on her deck and visit while enjoying the beautiful weather.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Family Dinner at Matt and Katherine's

July is Matt and Katherine's turn to host the family dinner which was last Friday night. We all got together for hamburgers, Polish Dogs and Hot Dogs. It was fun to sit and chat and just spend time together.

Megan and Brayden's visit

Our niece Megan (Conger) Kinghorn and her son Brayden came down for a visit. Megan's husband Aaron is flying fighter jets off an aircraft carrier somewhere in the Pacific Ocean and Megan will be joining him in Japan next month where they will spend the next three years. She made a quick visit to Portland to see all of us before she leaves Seattle.

Our 4th of July

Amazingly, I got the 4th of July off. I was surprised since I was 4th on the list. To celebrate our Independence Day James and I went to the Mt. Hood Stake flag raising and breakfast. James helped set up and went early. I joined him an hour later. There was a nice program with the flag raising, someone spoke, a choir sang two numbers, we sang and then ate French Toast and link sausage. It was all very nice. It is good to be reminded of all that has been sacrificed so that we can have our freedoms. I thought of the people who gave all, and the ones who I know who have fought in wars--specifically my dad. It has been a while since I said the 'Pledge of Allegiance' and that was nice too.

Later James and I worked out in the yard and I made Nordi Bars to take to the BBQ. We were invited over to Aaron and Lauren's annual block party. When they celebrate, they go all out!

After the dinner, James and I left for a couple hours so we could take a motorcycle ride. We were able to ride down roads I have never been in in the 23 years we have lived here. That was a lot of fun!

We ended up back at Aaron and Lauren's where the people on their block let off fireworks that reminded me of the 4th of July's from my childhood where we would sit along the shore of Puget Sound at Edmonds Beach and watch the skies light up. The difference was that these skies were lit up constantly for 1-1/2 hours--with many different colors-- Many times with more than one mortar set off at the same time. It was spectacular!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

A few days with John, Anne, Titus and Ginny

It was really hard to choose pictures this time, I wish I could choose more than five, but, a'las, I can't.

John and Anne arrived in the afternoon of Saturday the 29th of June. Since they moved to Entiat in eastern Washington, it makes it a much longer trip, around 5 hours.

We had a nice visit that night and then attended church the next day and Matt's family came to dinner that afternoon. (Aaron was on business trip to Ohio and Lauren was busy with friends from out of town. Josh and Kaija were not able to come either.)

Monday James and I joined John's family and we headed the 40 miles up toward Mt. Hood to Ski Bowl. Ski Bowl has a 1/2 mile slide as well as small cars to ride around tracks, bungee jumping, hamster balls, tubes, really quite a few activities. It was a very warm day, but up on the mountain, it was only around 85 degrees. Everyone had a great time...and went home sunkist.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Vashon Island

We started out after a wonderful breakfast and headed to Lincoln Park in West Seattle. Lincoln Park is special because it is where James asked me to marry him. We rode our bikes along the Alki Beach shoreline and passed the very spot. We rode a little further and then turned back because we wanted to make the ferry to Vashon Island.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Seattle in the Sun

We headed north towards Seattle last night in the pouring rain with our bikes on the back, wondering if we would be riding our bikes as planned or seeing Seattle by foot in the rain beneath an umbrella. We only had half our group because, sadly, Chuck, Robin, Pennie and David could not make it. We thought of them often and wish they were here.

When we arrived, Mom had soup ready for us and then in the morning she had breakfast on the table at 0900. I tried to tell her she didn't need to do this, however my words were futile. I have to admit that her cooking has been much appreciated.

We left after breakfast at 1000 and headed for Lake Forest Park and the beginning of the Burke-Gillman Trail, where we started our ride. The trail is a 'Rails to Trails' that is an old abandoned railway corridor that dates back to 1885. We rode along the shoreline starting at the north end of Lake Washington through lush greenery and past some very interesting (and expensive) homes.

We arrived at Gas Works Park and the skies were sunny and warm. The view of Seattle across Lake Union was beautiful as we watched the float planes overhead on their way to the San Juan Islands and saw kayakers and other boats before us.

Gas Works park contains remnants of the sole remaining coal gasification plant in the US. The plant operated from 1906 to 1956, and was bought by the City of Seattle for park purposes in 1962. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in January of 2013.

The last time James and I rode the bikes to Gas Works Park was in 1982 and Aaron was in a seat on the back of James's bike. We had fun then and I wish we had visited the park by bike more.

By now we had rode 15 miles and our sitters were sore as we continued another three miles to the Hiram Chittenden Locks, another favorite place of ours.

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, built in 1911 and often nicknamed the Ballard Locks, provides a link for boats between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of the Ship Canal, which connects eastward to Lake Union and Lake Washington.

We watched boats as they entered the locks and the water would rise up or fall allowing the boats easier access to either Lake Union or Lake Washington. We walked over to the fish ladders and saw a record number of salmon as they worked their way along the ladder. We were horrified as a fish got stuck in the netting that he was suppose to go under, but he jumped up into the net instead. We were relieved when after wiggling and flopping he finally fell through the net.

From there we walked over to the gardens for lunch and then got onto our bikes for the 18 miles ride home. The ride back was just as beautiful, but our faces were sunburned and our sitters were VERY sore!

Mom had fresh rolls and cinnamon rolls for us when we got back home. The rest of the evening we had a hard time staying awake. Tomorrow we are taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island.