Outside

Walking views from Alaska. John can hike about, although he has to keep an eye out for the friendly animals that abound in Anchorage.

I think the weather is changing for the better now that we had two days without rain. Yesterday was a day to go outside without a sweater or a jacket although the wind did come up and it was cold. I intended to wash the white plastic chairs that have turned ugly. I had no idea plastic took on the look of gray mottled dirt. I am hoping a little bleach and soap will do the trick but it is going to have to warm up a little more before I attack that project. Winter is having a tough time leaving this year and from all the news reports the entire country has been under a weather siege. I wonder how Paula is doing back in Arkansas with the horrible flooding that has taken place. Last I heard all was well and her family had just returned from a camping trip. I am wondering if it is the same area where the flash flood caught so many unawares and people are still missing. It is hard to imagine that so much rain could fall to send a river cascading down into a camp sight in the middle of the night, no warning, and lives were lost in seconds.

Here at Port Orford the whales come in and scratch their backs on the rocks in the harbor. We stop here to watch awhile hoping to see one or two, but so far they remain illusive. Daughter Pat and I went up to Whaleshead for clam chowder, the best in the area, although it is more like a potato soup with onions, celery and bacon with the taste of clams although I have yet to find one. No complaints though, as the chowder, whatever it is, is really delicious. It must be for us to drive seven miles to get some,or maybe it is the fish and those huge round potatoes, rolled and dipped, that keeps us coming back. The restaurant windows overlook the bay where the huge whale style rocks are. There are other rocks further out to the south and between them and the whale rock is an open sea area where the whales do play. We saw a couple of them playing as the sun shone on their black bodies but they do not stay up long enough to get a really good look at them. It is fun to know that they are there and it is good to see the patterns they make playing in the water so you can follow their antics, but . . . the illusive words . . . I am still waiting for one to breech up and out of the water so I can say I actually saw a whale.


So today as the weather heats up and we find we have summer finally, go outside and enjoy it. Granddaughter Erin surprised us with a visit last evening. We have her with us for a few days and it is such a joy. She looks great. She is off for a few weeks and is getting ready to move into an apartment in the city and is very excited. She was telling us how hard it is to find anything and how fast you have to be when you do find something. There are always someone ready to pounce on an opening and it turns to be 'first come, first served'. She is very excited as it means less driving time to and from work. She can give her car a rest and take city transportation and save money . . . imagine having to pay four dollars a day to cross a bridge, now she will be on the 'other' side of the bridge and her savings can go into her rent. Rents in the city are extremely high, how people can afford to live in downtown San Francisco, or any big city for that matter, is the latest mystery. I better stay put as my landlord is very kind.

Make today a day of rest. It is Sunday and that is what you are supposed to do . . . lots of nothing. Enjoy. Hugs to all.