My Prayers are with the people in the wake of Katrina!


I cannot believe the devastation of the Hurricane!! I came home from work tonight and turned on the news and was shocked by the death and destruction of Katrina!
It didn't seem that bad last night when I watched the 6:00pm news. Thank the Lord John is ok! He has an audio on his survival on his blog. Go visit him and give him some kind words.

God Bless you John!!

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST
PHILIPPIANS 4:13

Too much Catnip?????


I think I have been reading too much Stephen King novels when my cat begins to look like one of his subjects!! Dress her up, can't take her nowhere!! This is her favorite pose. Such a dainty modest little kitty cat.

Last night I went to my first band practice with the Praise team of my Church and played my drum. I was nervous and felt awkward, but they encouraged me to keep it up and come back for more. It was at a bachelors house and there was me (the drummer) Jim the guitar player and Phil the keyboard player. I went there at 7:30 and we played Christian music for our Church. An hour later it started to get dark and I felt weird. I used to go to guys houses and drink and sing while they played guitars and drank. I'd get drunk and end up in some guys bed. Well that was 30 years ago and I am sober now. I decided to leave around 8:30 as it was getting dark. I went to the door and Phil said to wait until the light comes on and I said "Oh I can see" as I stepped out the door I didn't see the first step so I ended up dancing sideways across the porch giggling like a girl!! As I was getting closer to the other steps I was giggling harder. I was carrying my huge conga drum and the weight of it finally helped me right myself and I got my balance just as I got to the steps, and I gracefully went down the steps and to my car. I yelled back over my shoulder "Ya shoulda seen me when I was drinking"!! I could hear him giggling as he shut his door. Hmmmpppf!
I went straight to my AA meeting and shared my experience. I didn't want to drink, but it brought me back to my wild and crazy young drinking days, and I was feeling kinda odd remembering those days and the guys I knew. I'll go back now that I know what to expect and probably play better. I think it will take quite a few practices before I get to the point of feeling comfortable and playing it in Church. Who knows. But it sure was fun!!

It isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

Sun shining on our Flag


I was training on the Southend of the Island today and saw the sun shining through the flag here and felt I needed to take it's picture. It has been beautiful here all Summer. Blue skies, and a slight breeze, weather in the upper 70's. Ahhhh I love it here!
I am too pooped to blog tonight. I come home from work and my brain is fried and all I want to do is sit in my living room or on the deck and just listen to the neighborhood.
I had the best dinner tonight! I baked a fresh salmon a friend caught two days ago and made some yellow saffron rice and corn from another friends garden.
LIFE IS GOOOOOD!
Hope everyone's week was a good one. Maybe I can get off early tomorrow and make a nice long weekend.

You can do something in an instant that will give you
heartache for life.

Is it Monday already???


(sigh)
Busy weekend, and now it's Monday!
HI HO....it's off to work I go!

You should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

The fog holding strong despite the sun!


As I was out training new drivers today the fog was hanging around the Fort Casey area. The water is just about 1/4 mile from that spot. That field had about 6 Eagles in it when they mowed the hay.
Ahhhh, today is Friday! I am tired, and ready for the weekend. Actually, I am tired and overdue for a two week vacation!! Maybe in October!

It's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

The Kiss

This was sent to me in an email.
Being a Firefighter for 15 years, it touched my heart.


The Kiss...

The photograph below shows a red Doberman licking an exhausted fireman.

He had just saved her from a fire in her house, rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard, while he continued to fight the fire.

She is pregnant. The firefighter was afraid of her at first, because he had never been around a Doberman before.
When he finally got done putting the fire out, he sat down to catch his breath and rest.

A photographer from the Charlotte, North Carolina newspaper, "The Observer," noticed this red Doberman in the
distance looking at the fireman.

He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and wondered what she was going to do.

As he raised his camera, she came up to the tired man who had saved her life and the lives of her babies, and kissed him, just as the photographer snapped this photograph.

Hmmmmmm, this is scarey.


I guess they are here to follow the Ferry to keep us safe.


I was out training new bus drivers and we pull into the boat launch parking lot to change drivers, and I noticed that this NAVY boat was following the Ferry on each run. I have never noticed this before. I guess it is re-assuring for some people, but this is my little Paradise Island, and it looks like it is growing up much too fast!! There are alot of Navy personnel that take the ferry to and from the Penninsula now that the floating bridge is closed for repairs. Maybe that is why they beefed up the security. Hmmmm. This is the inlet that goes out to the Pacific, so it is vulnerable I guess.

I was driving to Oak Harbor today and started sneezing, and my nose started running. I have sneezed about a hundred times this afternoon so now I am going to bed!

Heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

My tiny town full to the gills with tourists!


Thousands and THOUSANDS of people are flooding through my tiny town this weekend for the annual arts & crafts festival.
Mid August of every year we have had this since about 1965.
I find it really hard to fathom 40 years ago we were here when it began.
YIKES!! I sure sound (and feel) like an old-timer!
I used to work at the little restaurant on the waterfront and we had to wear old time long dresses and bonnets during the two days and work our buns off with NO AIR CONDITIONING!!

Not much has changed, yet everything has changed. But I still adore this place.

Well my brother just showed up, so gotta go!

True friendship continues to grow, even over the longest
distance.
Same goes for true love.

I'm announcing a new blog friend!!



Gray Just started a blog and needs some input. He is a great photographer and he lives on my Island here. Go visit his site and say hello!

Either you control your attitude or it controls you.

Rolling around in Catnip!


YAY!!! Friday Evening!
I would LOVE to be rolling around in catnip or something to the equal right now, but I must rely on deep breathing and easy now tea. I am about 1/2 way through with the mass training that we are doing, and on top of that I must help write the Emergency Response Plan for us. Nothing comes at a slow pace, it all hits at once! But by the end of September we should be all set. WHEW!!

I am heading into the big city of Oak Harbor right now so Have a great Friday folks!!

We don't have to change friends if we understand that
friends change.

Sunset looking West overlooking Penn's Cove showing the Mussel rafts in the water and a Madrona tree

Today was another perfect day in Paradise! It was foggy in the morning and burned off by noon and got to 75 degrees. a very slight breeze. I have been busy at work training new drivers for our transit company for the new routes we are beginning in September. I will be tired and busy until mid September.
This weekend we are having our annual arts & crafts festival in town and we will have thousands and thousands of people attending our small town. I hope they spend alot of money on their way through!
Between Mary Lou and me we will have some pictures to show off I am sure!
Time for bed!

no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you
every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

On top of Mount Erie Looking towards Whidbey Island in the Distance.


I went to Mount Vernon today and decided to take a small detour to the small hill they call Mount Erie. It was a little foggy this morning, and hazy this afternoon, but you can see the Island from the mount.
The small island is in Campbell Lake on Fidalgo Island. I think it is the only island on an island in the Continental United States, or so they say.

I have alot of chores to do, so I will let you sit back and dream about this place!

A girl on the street is pointing up at the sky.
'Look, an Angel!' she yells.
A passerby laughs, 'You fool, that is only a cloud.'
How wonderful it would be to see Angels
where there are only clouds. How sad it would be
to see clouds where there are Angels.

Wild Sweet Peas


Coming home tonight about a half an hour ago I couldn't help but stop to snap this picture. I love the wild sweet peas, and sitting on the corner in front of the antique broken down farm machinery with the mountains in the background made the perfect shot!

I know I live in God's country, but every once in awhile I feel like taking a photo to show everyone what I see every day!

Ahhhh, I love it here.

If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.

-Catherine-

Wow, what a sound!!


These guys are great to listen to....not to mention the eye candy!!

They sing great romantic songs on this CD. My boss came to work and was playing it on her computer. I had to run out and buy one too!! They sing in Italian, but you just know they are singing the love song just to you! Right now I am listening to them sing "Unchained Melody" to me in Italian!! 'Scuse me while I swoon!

Well the heat is turned on again here. It is supposed to be 87 tomorrow. ick!!
This winter I'll have to remind myself of the hot weather we are having right now. When it is really hot I sit here and imagine gale force winds with frozen rain hitting the side of the house.

Well I must go listen to the rest of this Romantic CD!!

I've learned....That when you plan to get even with someone,
you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.