Friday, June 17, 2016

Two Thousand Two Hundred Excuses

I have an excuse for being AWOL.  2,200 excuses.  That's how many miles we drove on our trip to the Pacific Northwest.  Here is Willow's (Two) Week catch up with Susanne's Friday Fave Fives.

1.  Time with my brother is especially precious. It is just the two of us. For many of our adult years we have lived thousands and thousands of miles apart, but now it's easier (less than a thousand miles!).  I have been pondering how to describe relationships among siblings.  Maybe this is how.  My husband has my heart.  My brother has my history.  Because he was older than I, my brother bossed me, protected me, helped me.  (I wonder how many potential dates or boyfriends my brother scared off...)  This photo captures our love for each other and our joy at being together.


2.  The World's Best Neighbors gave me a 'celebrate retirement' present!  The Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham Knitting T-shirt!  Here I am wearing it while I 'knit with a goat'.  (Goat provided by older brother)


3.  Visiting the communities where we lived for many years provided lots of opportunities to visit people.  Church friends and former college buddies.  So many lunches and dinners.  One evening, we spent three hours at one (sort of semi-fast food) restaurant talking, eating, laughing with people who included the college professor who was my department advisor.  Three hours!  And we could have talked for another three hours if the shop hadn't closed at 9pm.  (For the record, the staff seemed to enjoy our rowdy, joyous laughter, our switching seats at the table, our passing of the old college yearbooks around to share pictures and stories.)

4.  One day, we decided we wanted a quiet hike.  We needed the tranquility of a forest.  There is no place like the Pacific Northwest for hiking under fir trees and beside streams.  (LOOK!  WATER! and GREEN ferns!)


5.  People have asked if we are bored driving an sitting in the car all those hours.  The answer is no.  Fortunately, we travel well together.  I had lots of time to knit and read.  Here are a couple of samples.  Hats for my niece's family.



Those 2,200 miles passed like a blur.  But now I'm home and my garden is calling to me.

14 comments:

Monica said...

What a wonderful way to spend two weeks! I miss my siblings so very much. Seems like the older I get the more I miss them. :)
I have a hard time knitting while traveling because I want to see so much...

Barbara H. said...

What a wonderful visit! I have 5 siblings but we're scattered in 4 different states. I saw all my sisters about 3 years ago but haven't seen my brother in about ten. It's been nice to keep in touch on Facebook.

Funny about the shirt - and the knitting buddy.

What a gorgeous little oasis on your hike!

Hollace said...

Loved hearing about this. I wish I could have met you while you were in the NW. We went to Cape Disappointment last weekend on the Washington coast and enjoyed our Pacific NW. Maybe someday our paths will cross!

ellen b said...

Glad you had a good road trip with time to catch up with your brother and old friends. I love that ferns grow wild up here. Have a wonderful weekend.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful trip! I love living near my two brothers for the first time since 1973.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

I lived in the Seattle area for two years when I was younger. It is beautiful there. I love the colour of your hats!!

Mereknits said...

So glad you had a wonderful time, your trip looks so beautiful.
Hugs,
Meredith

nikkipolani said...

Great photo of the two of you -- I love that you are gripping his arm ;-) Lovely that you could enjoy greenness and lushness that rarely to be seen in SoCal.

Wendy said...

Looks like you had a great trip.

snoopydogknits said...

Happy gardening after all your travels. Love those little hats! Ros x

Faith said...

it looks like you had a marvelous time!! LOVE the nature photos of course!! happy weekend!

Karen said...

I love road trips! It sounds like you had a great time on this one. For a moment, I thought your present was the goat! I am blessed to have three brothers (no sisters) and the relationship with each of them is something I treasure.

Susanne said...

I love that picture of you and your brother. So nice that you were able to visit and to have some lovely hiking thrown in for good measure. The goat and knitting made me smile.

Gracie Saylor said...

I'm so glad you had a good trip...a wonderful way to celebrate your retirement! I treasure the times my sisters and I are able to be together since we are spread up and down the west coast and can appreciate how you enjoyed being with your brother. Your knitting shirt is delightful and I admire the wonderful knitting you did and seeing some of the beautiful sights you saw :) Welcome home! xx