Fall Mantle 2021

 

This year's fall mantle is pretty simple. 

I bought a bunch of book pumpkins (pumpkins made out of books) at Pickin at the Barn (a vintage market in early October) from Tamara of Vintage Nest. I realized I needed more so a few days later I went to her booth at My Eclectic Home in Snohomish to get more. Yes, I can make these myself but getting the scale just right is tricky. As well, the stems she used are real and I couldn't figure out how to get a bunch of real stems in a cost effective way.

The peach coloured pumpkins are real. I found them at Trader Joe's.

The rest of the pumpkins are faux, ones I had from previous years.

I can leave this mantle as is until after Thanksgiving when I'll do a Christmas one.

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Going back to Canada

After two full years apart, I was finally able to see my parents again. The border closed in March 2020 and still hasn't fully reopened. In June 2021, Canada began to allow fully vaccinated Canadians living in the U.S. to return without a quarantine period.

I had to do the following for gaining entry to Canada.

- be fully vaccinated for COVID at least 2 weeks before travel date.

- have a PCR COVID test done within 72 hours of arrival at the border.

- sign into the ArriveCanada app and give them all the details of my trip including the address of the place I was staying. 

Both of my parents have birthdays in September so I picked a date to visit that was close to those birthdays. 

I was really nervous about crossing the border into Canada. The border guard questioned me because the COVID test was done more than 72 hours before my arrival at the border. She sent me into the building after she said "is there a reason your test is expired?" The big burly male guard inside said "you're going home right?" I said yes. He said you can go ahead. I think male border guards are better to deal with.

I needed to find a Canadian SIM card to fully use my phone in Canada. I wasted time trying to find a WalMart without being able to use the Maps app. Once I found one, I bought a SIM card but I found out that it wouldn't work after I had already purchased it. 

I tried to buy a paper map in WalMart and struck out. I got a photo of directions to the ferry from the Walmart computer. I liked the woman who worked there. She tried all she could to help me. To communicate with my family I had to be on WiFi and use e mail. So old fashioned!

I missed the 3 pm ferry by 2 cars. Many times there is a ferry every hour but not at 4 pm. 

A view from the ferry.

And a lighthouse that I spotted as the sun was going down.

I stayed in a very modern Air BnB in the North Park neighbourhood of Victoria. Sort of a studio apartment. Photos here.

I was able to help my parents with some practical things. I found a smaller filing cabinet for them to use. I helped with filling out some things online for them. I moved my mom's clothes to accommodate the changing season. I did some cleaning as well. 

Can you tell what my dad's favourite colour is?

I took them on a scenic drive on Dallas Road. Victoria is indeed a beautiful place. No photos from that since I was driving!

We went to Oak Bay Hotel to celebrate both of their birthdays which are in September. We ate in The Snug. The photo of us with our desserts is at the top of this post. We had a fantastic view. The only issue was the door to the outdoor dining area was open and it got chilly. I asked for a blanket (which they provide for outdoor diners) for my mom. I had salmon, of course. Here is the view and the sunset.

The province of B.C. started on September 13th to require proof of vaccination for dine in restaurants. Here is a sample sign.

I'll refrain from sharing my opinion on this development. 

On Thursday we had lunch at Mattick's Farm at Adrienne's Tea Garden. I felt very young there. :) I had the afternoon tea plate. Very yummy.  We ate outside.

Mattick's Farm reminded me of Bothell Country Village which was sadly torn down a few years ago. 

I enjoyed all the greenery.

I spotted some blooming wisteria on the arch pictured above. Amazing since wisteria is a spring flower.

We were blessed with gorgeous weather during my visit. It only rained once and that was at night. Here are my parents enjoying the sunshine at Mattick's Farm.

I went up on a Monday and returned on Friday.

The weather on the ferry ride back to the mainland was perfect. I spent a lot of time out on the sundeck. 

When I came to the US border, I was again nervous. My green card is expired but I have proof that my application for a renewal has been received and things are in process (a renewal notice). I didn't know if there would be any COVID questions.

The border guard just asked for my green card and renewal notice, looked at them for a bit, and didn't ask for any other papers or ask any other questions. He said quickly, you're good to go. I actually didn't hear him and paused. He said you're good! What a contrast with the Canadian border. 

There is an inscription on the Peace Arch 

that says "May these gates never be closed." 

How ironic! Those gates were closed for a very long time!

I plan on visiting my parents again in a few months. I praise God for keeping them healthy during these past 2 years, despite some health scares.

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Dahlia Festival

There was a one day Dahlia Festival at Triple Wren Farms in Ferndale, Washington on Saturday September 4th. I asked about four of my girlfriends to go but none were available. J was my companion.

Ferndale is about a 90 minute drive north of us. Entry was 10 dollars a car. I had prepaid.

There were food trucks and a folk band playing. For lunch, I had a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich and J had a Rueben sandwich. This was the food truck we bought from.

You could cut dahlias to take home. It was $1 a stem, plus a fee for a bucket and snippers. If I go back next year, I'll bring my own bucket and snippers. 

Each row of dahlias was well labelled with a QR code to scan for more information about the variety and ordering for later. Dahlias are planted in the Spring.

At random places, there were dahlias artfully displayed on the ground.

There were multiple bouquets on display. I wish I had taken more photos of the bouquets.

We ran into J's supervisor who was there doing his photography hobby. We cajoled him into taking our photo with his great camera (we'll see that one later) and also one with his phone (at the top of this post).

We stayed about 2 hours which was about the right amount of time. I now have about 20 dahlias in multiple vases at home. 

I loved it so much! Better than the tulip festival, better than the lavender festival, for sure.

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College Drop Off

The moving kicked off on Thursday Aug 19th when J and A set off by car for California. 

They took 2 days to get to Los Angeles. They stopped in Yreka, CA for the night.

J did all the driving. The majority of cars were going 75 plus in CA and J wasn't comfortable with A driving and A wouldn't be comfortable going that fast.

On Saturday they did a bit of shopping and drove around to get a feel for the area. On Sunday morning they visited a Presbyterian church nearby.

Move in process started at 1 pm on Sunday afternoon. A had to have a COVID test done (administered on campus) and they verified other health requirements such as other required vaccines. The COVID vaccine is not required.

A moved into his dorm. He kept missing his roommate and I joked that he was actually a robot. J never got to meet him.

This is A under the bells. They are from the original Biola building which was located in downtown Los Angeles.

Sunday night there was a Torrey event (the Honours program) and J happened to meet a family from Ottawa whose daughter is attending.

On Monday morning J said goodbye to A and began the drive back.

A had "Torreyentation" on Monday and Tuesday.

I flew down on Wednesday morning out of Paine field (which is fantastic).

View of Seattle.

I flew into John Wayne airport in Santa Ana, which is closer to Biola than the airport I used last time - LAX. My wait for the rental car was really long and that area wasn't air conditioned.

My first assignment was to drop some things off for A. I was still dressed for Seattle so while I waited for him I was dying in the heat! Here is the thermometer in the rental car at some point during my visit.

I got to see his dorm. J took this photo soon after they arrived. He hadn't unpacked at this point. 

I wish I had a photo of his room once he'd properly settled in.

Wednesday night there was a Torrey event in Calvary Chapel with worship and a speaker.

I took this photo of Calvary Chapel in April when we visited and did the drive thru tour of campus.

 Afterwards there was a reception with hors d'oeuvres. I met A's mentor for the Torrey program. He got his PhD from the University of Toronto and his two sons were born in Canada. We had a brief chat and I quickly realized he was a good fit for A.

A will have this mentor all the way through the Torrey program. I met one of his new friends in his Torrey cohort (small group) and connected with his mom whose name is Mary. They are from Nashville. We got along very well.

Official orientation started on Thursday. There was a banner welcoming all the undergrads by name.

That is A's name circled. You can click on the photo to enlarge.

I bought a sweatshirt from the campus store. I didn't have much to do during the day. 

I love this fountain. I was tempted to get in, since it was so hot.

There were regional meet ups in the afternoon. Ours was Pacific Northwest which included Oregon and Montana. We connected with 2 girls who went to the same middle school as A. Our pastor's daughter and her parents were at this meet up as well. I met a mom who lives in Bothell. We got some good information from that meeting.

There was a CMA dinner that night outside under a giant tent. After the dinner, the dean spoke as well as various faculty members. 

I got a photo of A with his roommate!! His name is Tucker. He is from Colorado Springs and is in the same things as A (CMA and Torrey).

Following that event there was a welcome for all the students from the president out on the big lawn. 

On Friday parent orientation started at 9 am. Spiritual development, Safety, Heath, Wellness, and Academic Success were the sessions that I attended. 

A and I had lunch in the cafeteria with the Hitchcock family. Here is the view from the outdoor (covered) seating of the cafeteria.

In the afternoon, I  played hooky and went to an upscale mall 30 minutes away, just for fun.

That evening there was a free BBQ for everyone on campus. Long line. It was worth it.

I ate with A. We had a great chat. 

Next was the worship service and goodbye. 

I saved this photo from the President's Instagram page.

Saturday I picked up something from pharmacy for A in the morning and went to Long beach which is a 30 minute drive from La Mirada.

It really is a long beach. So much space!

I found these hibiscus flowers on a random light industrial street near the hotel.

I checked out of hotel at 1 pm and dropped off medication for A when he had a break in between activities. I was "breaking the rules" since we were supposed to say our goodbyes Friday night and leave. I hugged him and left. I killed some time in Santa Ana and then went to the Santa Ana airport. My flight was at 7 pm.

The only tears that I shed during my trip was when I prayed for A at the end of the Friday night communion service.

Here is the beautiful sunset view from the plane. 

I'm very content with his college choice and I know that he will be happy there. Setting one less place at our dining room table seems so strange!

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Vacationing as a Couple

Sunset view from the hotel terrace.

J and I had a milestone event this past week. We took a short vacation without the boys. They weren't interested in going on a vacation this summer. That made me sad initially but I decided this was an opportunity for them to learn and for J and I to enjoy time alone. We realized they were responsible enough to be alone for two nights.  I REALLY wanted a vacation this summer, even a short one! I love nice hotels and I love not cooking for a few days. The boys had leftovers the first night and A cooked the second night. I typically only cook the evening meals. 

Before we left I asked for some recommendations from friends for places to see and places to eat. Three of the four were hits. One was a miss. We left on Wednesday morning. We drove along Chuckanut Drive, which is the slower, more scenic road from Burlington (just north of Mt. Vernon) to Bellingham.

We hoped to have lunch in the town of Bow, but the café that looked very inviting was closed on Wednesdays.

We stopped at Samish Bay Cheese where J bought some specialty cheese. I said hello to the cows.

We also stopped at Bow Hill blueberries. We bought some blueberry juice which is very yummy but also expensive. Not for drinking quickly.

We had lunch at Skylarks Hidden Café in Fairhaven (the old town part of Bellingham). This is a very popular spot. We put our names down and had to wait about 20 minutes. We wandered around Fairhaven for a while and found this store named after me!

actually it is called Sweet Bellingham

The food at Skylarks was delicious. I had a chicken salad and J had fish and chips. We ate outside on the sidewalk.

On a friend's recommendation we went to Henderson Books. A huge used bookstore. I wish I had taken a photo of books of the super high shelves. It is the largest used bookstore I have seen, except Powell's in Portland. 

We had supper at Bellingham Cider. We ate inside because the sun was really beating down outside. Unfortunately, there was no A/C inside so we weren't very comfortable. I had kale caesar salad.

In the evening we read books on terrace and took the sunset photos.

We stayed at the Hotel Bellwether. We stumbled upon it last summer (see photos here) and J really wanted to come back and stay there. It is a boutique hotel, which means that it isn't a chain, such as a Marriott or Holiday Inn.

The view from the path by the hotel is amazing.

Our room was quite large and included a large soaking tub (similar to the ones at Oak Bay Hotel). It had a small balcony with a view of Mt. Baker. You pay more to have a view of the water but I was quite content with our room.

On Thursday we had breakfast at Old Town Café. Very yummy. I had a breakfast sandwich. J had an omelet.

The main activity for the morning was hiking to the Sehome Observation Tower on the campus of Western Washington University. It was a 25 minute hike uphill. We didn't see many people on the trail.

There is a tunnel on one of the main trails but it was closed.

The Sehome Tower (pronounced sea home) is quite the impressive structure.

View of Mt. Baker

Me at the top of the tower

We could see our hotel in the distance.

a very zoomed in photo

Next we went to Boulevard Park on the water 

and grabbed coffee from Woods Coffee. Our lunch was simple take out from Trader Joe's which we ate back at our hotel. In the afternoon, J waited while I explored a quilt store - Two Thimbles. A well supplied store. Next I explored Penny Lane antique store.

We had dinner at Colophone Cafe. The food was disappointing. Rather dull. My Caesar salad's dressing was not creamy but was mainly vinegar. We did enjoy eating outside and watching some swing dance couples practicing in the outdoor square nearby, called Fairhaven Village Green. 

There was a BBQ and concert on the hotel's terrace that night. We thought it might be fun to go to it but there was a 15 dollar entry fee and the food wasn't included in that fee. We decided to skip it. 

On Friday morning we grabbed a quick breakfast from Starbucks/McDonalds.

The hotel had bikes (labelled with the hotel name) near the front door and we asked about them. There are free for guests to use so we decided to try them out. I haven't been on a bike for probably 20 years. I felt pretty shaky and didn't want to do any sharp turns. Pedaling was no problem, just feeling stable. We biked on the path that went near the hotel. Thankfully there weren't many people on the path to have to navigate around. 

We checked out of our hotel and drove south on Highway 11/Chuckanut Drive towards Larrabee State park.

It was so quiet here. We only saw about 6 other people. 

We had lunch in the town of Bow at Farm to Market Bakery. J tried posole stew (Mexican pork stew) and liked it. I had a turkey sandwich. There is a garden surrounding the building and we ate outside. We brought some baked goods home for the boys to enjoy.

The last "vacationy" thing we did was stop for Dutch Brothers coffee (iced) in Marysville. 

Random observations about our getaway.

The Bellingham restaurants don't put ice in the water they give you. We had to ask for it every time. We'll have to ask our friend who grew up there to help us understand that one. 

J and I had a good time focusing on each other. We tried to NOT talk about the two Vs: virus and vaccine.

The only place in Bellingham that made me wear a mask was the quilt store. 

Everything within Bellingham is a 10 minute drive away. Quite nice. 

Lots of places were closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This was surprising to me. I thought Monday and Tuesday would be closed days. Wednesday seemed to be safer but maybe places can't find enough staff?

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