Vaccination Achivement Unlocked

I started haunting the appointment websites for our area at 6 AM on the first day we were eligible. No appointments were available. I would retry every fifteen minutes or so, and after about 2 hours, I scored an appointment in our city for the next morning. Just a short while later, Russ managed an appointment about 30 miles to the north, but for the afternoon of the first available day! So we got our first doses. I got Pfizer; he got Moderna. 

All done and waiting my 15 minutes.

Even the tulips know it's time to rise.

A celebratory treat. Fruit and yogurt smoothie.

I almost cried when I was taking the picture. I hadn't realized how much stress I has been enduring. I thought that I was fine, and we were isolating and wearing masks and being careful, but now that we've started the vaccine process, it is clear that I didn't feel safe. I was so scared of getting COVID and then passing it to someone I love.

This rabbit enhanced my morning meditation.

Enjoying outside company on our newly rebuilt deck.

Finally finished (including the fence).

We've experienced a couple of weeks of better than usual spring weather. Like way better than usual, which would be 50 degrees F. It has been in the low seventies all week. Russ really got after the yard work. Everything is ready for summer enjoyment. We have been using our side-yard deck to eat our meals again. It is also a great place for an outdoor visit (with my parents this time). The farmer's market is open again, so I have been excited to get back to some of the spring foods that are now in season.

Chef salad with tofurky, egg, and beets.

Asparagus tart. Goals.

Tart with green salad for dinner.

Baked salmon with dill, asparagus and potato.

I am so optimistic about the near future. Just knowing that in three more weeks, I'll get that second vaccine dose and go out and embrace life again thrills me. We've started making plans.

The afghan on our bed. I made it and usually meditate sitting on it.

Cherry blossoms on the walk to the farmer's market.

Speed Queen and Feeling Fine

Lately I just have this undeniable feeling of vitality filling my senses. The fine spring weather here in the northwest helps tremendously, but I have optimism for an improved future. We've continued to go walking and hiking in our local area, which I enjoy. I've also spent one day a week with my vaccinated parents to do our laundry. We usually walked (they walk every day) while the first load was running. Our dryer stopped working, so I ordered a new laundry set since both machines were 22 years old. I took some time to find replacements made in America to a more robust standard that should last another 20 years, a brand called Speed Queen. Unfortunately, everything is in short supply, so we waited a month for delivery. I did enjoy spending several hours a week with my parents, but I'm glad to have in-house laundry again. 

Mom and Dad with their dog, Chili.

 

Ready for loads.

Delivery team.

 

We walked at Chambers Bay again, and also hiked a new-to-us trail, the Tiger Mountain Trail. We usually do these adventures on Tuesdays. We drive by this one frequently and the parking lot is always packed full. Going out mid-week is the best way to avoid crowds around here. We only saw 6 people all day on Tiger Mountain. It was a beautiful day out with a surprise view of the Olympic Mountains from the Cascade Foothills.

We did see three riders.

Avalanche Lily

Distant Olympic Mountains with power lines.

Chambers Bay's lone tree.

Train, barge, and golfers only.

Our local farmer's market is open again, so I'm appreciating the fresh food that is now available. Last week, beets, arugula, and goat cheese were all there, so I made a beet risotto with goat cheese and arugula. So yummy. It's good to try a new recipe and like how it turns out. The market also provided some salad greens (greenhouse grown), so we ate salad for the first time since the season shut down salads last year. What a treat!

Beet Risotto.

Shrimp and grits with beet greens and broccoli rabe.

Wild mushroom quiche.

The quiche with a blue cheese and pear salad.

Potato soup.

 

Easter felt weird this year. We usually have a lovey meal with family and friends, this year, nothing. But I did take a picture of the colored eggs I bought at the farmer's market. I guess the farmer has several varieties of chicken making a rainbow of eggs.

 

Copalis River and Copalis Beach in the R-Pod

The R-Pod is out after a winter of stationary waiting. We drove out to Copalis Beach, Washington and met some friends that also have a trailer. It started out as an opportunity to visit with friends that we haven't seen since early in the pandemic (also an outside visit), but it was so nice to get the R-Pod back on the road. The drive from home is short, only about two hours by car, but towing the trailer makes it slower. We stopped and had sandwiches for lunch on the way near a public access boat ramp on the Satsop River.

Ready to leave home.

Nice parking spot.

The Satsop River

Tuna salad sandwiches for lunch.

 

As soon as we arrived at the Copalis River RV Resort, we were able to set up in our reserved spot right next to our friends. They already had a fire going in their fire pit. I was ready to relax and do nothing but catch up and drink wine. Every site here is provided with a stack of wood at no additional charge. The sites also have plenty of wooden chairs and benches, plus birdhouses everywhere. It is a great spot for bird watching.

First night festivities.

Our truck with birdhouse background.

More birdhouses at the trailhead to the river.

Our sites set up for the duration.

Saturday was the one nice day predicted, so we went to the beach. I was surprised that it was not crowded, but we were north of the main tourist area at Ocean Shores, so perhaps we just chose our location well. We walked down the spit to the mouth of the Copalis River. Watching the sandpipers run like crazy in a huge flock was my favorite part of the excursion.

Morning view of the river from the RV park.

Breakfast egg sandwich.

The Copalis River from the footbridge.

Bridge to the beach.

Walking the dog.

It is nice that this beach is vehicle free.

Busy, busy birds.

Wind and wood.

Someone left their sparkly boots.

Fish taco and fries.

A quick shot of the Fish Shack.

Good food, delivered to the car.

We ate parked on the beach at Ocean Shores. The restaurant did a good job with socially distant ordering and delivery to the car.

Wine around the fire.

Keeping the fire going strong.

Dirty rice dinner in the R-pod with a gin and tonic.

It was so nice to get out and see something new, and to visit with friends. I'm ready to do more short getaways like this.