Cliff's Journals and A Horse Called Hummer

I noticed that Jim hasn't been adding to his blog lately, so I'll bring you up to date. We've been getting positive feedback on both Cliff's Journals and A Horse Called Hummer. Jim was recently interviewed on the KIT morning radio show, spoke at a Yakima writer's group, and had a story about his books published in the Selah paper. He's now starting to work on a second novel.
He also stays busy working in his vegetable garden, and we're now starting to enjoy the fruits (vegetables) of his labor. His first tomato was picked yesterday, and he's managed to bring in a few zucchini before they've grown too big to carry. The same can't be said for his turnips, however, as we've had a couple approximately the size of bowling balls. Fortunately, Keith and Marie Forney, along with their son Wes, paid us a visit last week and were coerced into taking a few home to Wenatchee. Marie even claimed she was happy to do so. She is a true friend, and we enjoyed spending time with them.

Bluegrass and Bratwurst

A couple of Sundays ago Pastor Teske and his wife, Florence, invited a group of people to his home for an afternoon/evening of bluegrass music and a bratwurst barbecue with all the fixings. The music was fabulous as was the food. My good friend Connie Lehmann was there so we enjoyed a chance to visit. Connie's uncle and two of his sons were in the band as well as two others. They were so versatile that you never knew from one number to the next who would be playing which instrument. Connie's uncle had made many of the instruments as well; they were all beautiful. We're already looking forward to next year.

Seaside

Every so often some close friends and I travel somewhere together and spend a few days seeing the sights, playing board games, eating out, eating in, enjoying the pool and just having a good time. Late this spring, four of us went to Seaside, Oregon, and stayed at a Worldmark timeshare for six days. We had great accommodations facing the ocean and once again had a wonderful time together. The weather was windy but that didn't stop us from enjoying walks on the beach. We enjoyed watching the kite boarders as well. For whatever reason I took my camera but didn't use it, so will post a couple of photos from earlier excursions. Norma Foisy, Jan Munson, Christina Ashbaugh and I made the trip this time.




Above: Norma, Sharon and Christina feast on bon-bons at the Worldmark Camlin in Seattle during an earlier trip. While there, we also went to the Daniel O'Donnell show and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sharon, Christina and Norma enjoy the pool at the Camlin. We always try to fit in some water aerobics during our trips.

Jan, myself and Marilyn enjoy one of our eat-in dinners while on a trip to Birch Bay. We barbecued on the deck before enjoying our private hot tub.

Norma, Marilyn and Christina brave the elements during one of our earlier trips to Seaside. The Worldmark timeshare is in the background.