Away too long...

I know, I know...I've been away far too long. But I've been busy. Really. Winter was a madhouse of activity. I expected Spring and Summer to quiet down. At least for a little bit. That didn't happen...not at all. In fact, I think we got busier. Sailing club activities always kick in during early Spring. Randy is busy racing and I try to get out for a "Susan Sail" periodically...and actually did get out a couple of times. A Susan Sail occurs when the winds are light, the weather is warm and the sun is out. It's not Randy's favorite time to sail because we're not heeled over to one side, holding on for dear life. During a Susan Sail, I'm in charge of gin & tonics for everyone on the boat. And I make a pretty decent G&T.

Also, there's yardwork. Here in the PNW, it seems yardwork starts mid-January and goes through the end of October...or November if you're like us. Since we'll be heading to Shaw next week, we've been busy pruning, cutting, pulling and hauling. We brought it all on ourselves...we were the ones who wanted the pretty landscaping.

Now, everything is mature and needs attention...constant attention...constantly...over and over and over again. When we finally get tried of pruning it, we just cut it off at the ankles. We did that this last weekend with two Leyland cedars. We planted them about 6 years ago and they were 5-ft tall. Randy has topped them for the last 3 years and we finally took two out on Saturday. Even topped, they were well over 30-ft high. That's a lot of tree by anyone's standards. And it's also a lot of tree branches to haul up a hill, lift into a trailer and haul out to the garden debris recycling center.

And I've been trying to get some quilting and knitting done. I working on another entrelac scarf. This one is going better. The pattern is easier for me to follow and I like the yarn. I'll post a picture when it's done. I'll also post pictures of the quilts, wallhangings and pillows I've almost completed. I've got the binding to sew on the wallhanging for the Shaw Island silent auction, and the openings on two pillows to sew shut. The pillows are for sailing friends. And I've got two other quilts that are still a secret. I'll post pictures of them when they're done, too.

But I digress. That happens a lot, too. Especially as I get older. My mind wanders...I have no control over it.

I have had a lot to say (and consequently, a lot to write); but as you've read, I just haven't had the time to do it. I'm hoping that once we're back on Shaw Island next week (did you hear the shouts of joy go up from my house - oh, wait, that was me, wasn't it?), I'll have the time to blog again.

There'll be pictures and tales of island life.

The internet connection there goes live June 30 and friends will be sailing in 2 days later.

Have I said lately how much I love that little island?