Nothing Like Cooking Over Campfire!

 Spent Thanksgiving Weekend with Dexter and took along our grandson. What fun and was good to be back if only for a short stay. Gave the RV a much needed bath and got it ready for the winter season. 

  One thing you discover when you own an RV, they put the valves, lines, switches, what have you, in the most awkward places they can think of. In order to winterize, we needed to by-pass the water heater; that sounds easy enough. Just turn the by-pass valve to winter position, okay, got that, umm, could someone please tell us where the by-pass valves are?? Oh according to this they should be at the back of the water heater Okay, so ummm, now how do we get to them??? Ha gaining on, it just remove the vent cover underneath the refrigerator where all you can see is a bunch of wires. Oh sure that is the first place one would look, NOT. Anyway panel removed and way in behind that bunch of wires you spy it, okay, that's the hot water line done. Now, where is the by-pass valve for the intake line? Oh after searching here there and elsewhere, How about if you reach down as far as you arm can go into that small space behind all those wires, where no one would think to look and well, I'll be darn if I stretch my fingers just a little bit more we can turn that hidden valve. That had better be it. Let's try to drain the tank again as the first time all we did was flush it out good.  
 
Oh how I wish I had had my camera going on video. You see, Paul is standing there ready to remove the drain plug, telling me how the first time he did it he stood way to the side expecting the water to come shooting out but it just ran out slowly. And as he is telling me this he reaches out and starts to unscrew the the plug and Whoosh the water came out in a geyser giving him an unexpected shower. I couldn't stop laughing, It was like Dexter said Oh Yeah Gotcha!! hahahaha

 That done, we got a nice fire going and taught Dylan the joys of making the best hot dogs ever by roasting them over the campfire. Yum. He was pleased as punch helping PopPop (carefully) put wood on the fire, roasting his dinner, and joys of joys, we even let him "tend" the fire making sure all the bits of wood burn down. Nothing like seeing the world of delight in a child's eyes.  
  We played games, took walks, chatted about all the things in that child's wonderful brain that never stops. Though the weekend was cold, we had a good time. 

I have to say I really miss living in the RV. Being back there just brought it home even more so. I love our apartment but look forward to the day life will change again. Until then....

Day Of The Labyrinth

 November 21, 2020

  What a fun day! First off after a good two weeks of cloudy, drizzly to down right rainy days without hardly a glimpse of the sun, Today was beautiful. Sunshine, low 50s, perfect November day. We had no choice, we had to get out and about. I remembered reading about a local church that had a labyrinth behind it so hey now there's a plan. We looked it up and headed out. It was at the Silverdale Lutheran Church only about 5 mile or so from us. Had a bit of a let down when we got there as the parking lot was chained off. Hmm, well, that's rather unfriendly, but hey, not going stop us. We decided to park at the mini market across the street and found ourselves walking around the church to the maze. Funny, cause we both said at the same time would be our luck to get caught trespassing at a church LOL. Found the labyrinth and I did a contemplative walk. There is something calming and centering about doing a labyrinth.

Well, After doing this I had the thought, hmm, maybe there are others in the area. So I did some googling. Did you know there is a organization called The Labyrinth Society and it's worldwide, Wow, that's cool. Checking around there I found out there are at least 180 in the state of Washington! Amazing. Bringing that closer to home, there are at least 9 in Kitsap County. Now I'm excited!

 

Looking at the different ones listed, we decided to check out Halls Hill Labyrinth on Bainbridge Island. We were not disappointed. Met Paul's cousin Sheryl there and had a fun afternoon walking the maze, the park, discovering this and that here and there.  The labyrinth here is beauitful, and yes, the energies while walking it well, I tingled. The stones inlayed with shells, agates and other whatnots. I wish I had had taken close ups of the intricacy of the designs. Guess there a reason to go back!  I was just so enthralled by it all. 

  

The same artist, Tom Jay, who designed and built the labyrinth also created this bronze prayer wheel. It spins and when you spin it nine times around repeating your prayer out loud or silently a bell rings sending the prayer out into the universe. Of course, we just had to and what a feeling when the bell rang. Couldn't help but giggle a bit. 

We also discovered a couple of other fun things as we walked about. All and all, a perfect day and I look forward to go back there as well as discovering some of the other labyrinths in the area. 

What a cool looking mushroom

Elandan Gardens

We had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Dan Robinson Today! Known as the Father Of The American School Of Bonsai. His passion for his art is such amazing energy. The Elandan Gardens where he and his collection resides and a true wonder. What a gift I was given today. This is but a small sampling: