Family Vacation

Lake Sutherland:

Lake Crescent:

More Lake Sutherland:

Salt Creek:

Mt. Storm King Hike:

For Posterity

So everyone will know we aren't exaggerating when we say that the weather this summer has been dismal, here are the statistics:

June:

• 85+ degree days: 0
• 75 to 85: 2
• 65 to 75:  19
• 55 to 65:  9
• high 78

July:

• 85+:  0
• 75 to 85: 7
• 65 to 75: 23
• 55 to 65:  2
• high 82

August: 

• 85+ days: 1
• 75 to 85:  13
• 65 to 75: 17
• high 85

So out of the whole summer, June 1 to August 31, we only had 22 days above 75 degrees, of those only 8 were 80 degrees or higher, and our highest high was 85.  We didn't make it to Point no Point once this summer. 

A Visit to Duvall (say it with the accent on the Du...)

My cousin Lyn and her family live in Duvall, which is really only an hour from Seattle, but is worlds away when you have to take a ferry to Seattle first.  I've been wanting to go see her on her mini-farm for quite some time, but hadn't made the effort until this summer.  Actually, they've only lived in Duvall for a year, before that they lived in Woodinville for several years, which is a bit closer than Duvall.  I never made it to visit them in Woodinville, though. 

Anyway, my sisters and I planned a trip, made lunch provision assignments, and eagerly awaited the day.  Unfortunately, Tifanie got sick a few days before the trip and wasn't able to join us, but Corey, Hyrum, Jonah, Landon, Jillian, Kylie and I all made the trip.  The girls and I walked across on the ferry, then piled into Corey's van and headed out.  It took a little over an hour to get there thanks to some road construction, but the drive was very scenic and it was nice to get to visit with Corey. 

Lyn's family lives in a cute farm house built in the 1940s, right next to a dairy farm.  She homeschools her kids, Henry and Fern, and they have an amazing "classroom" all around them.

Hyrum, Jonah, Fern, and Henry eating their lunch

Lyn, Me, Corey, and Landon.  Lyn's mom and my mom are twins...can you see any resemblance between the cousins?  Maybe a little? 

 After lunch, Lyn took us on a tour of the farm next door.  It's a fully functioning dairy farm. Lyn's house was the original farm house, but the owners built a bigger home down the road.

Right on the other side of Lyn's garden fence are about 100 of these "cow-gloos", so dubbed by Henry and Fern, where the baby cows live.  They are taken from their moms shortly after birth and live here until they are "teenagers".  Not sure how I feel about that, but I'm not a dairy farmer. 

What farm is complete without barn cats?  There were several kittens running around. 

Here's where the teenagers hang out.  After seeing what they live in, I don't feel so bad for the babies in their little igloos!  These guys were knee deep in muck.  What a stench!  It's obvious they're teenagers...they have easy access to outside and a pasture through the door on the far side, but they prefer to be inside, wallowing in the mire.

Here's the barn.  The teenager cows live in the second level, which slopes down to the ground on the far side.

Lyn's garden is amazing!  I have serious garden envy.  Even with the dismal weather we've had this summer, she has a jungle of a garden.  Fourteen huge rhubarb plants, tons of kale, chard, green beans, tomatoes, zuchinni...incredible!  She gave us lots to take home. 

We were only able to stay a few hours since the girls had a young women's activity to get home to (kayaking...yeah, they're getting hooked!) but I had a great time seeing Lyn and her kids in their element.  Next time we'll stay longer! 

Hiking with the Cousins

We had to get in one more activity with Scott and his family before they went back to California.  We didn't have enough time to go too far, so we hiked from Fort Ward to Blakely Harbor Park.  It's about 2.5 miles round trip, just long enough for some exercise and fresh air, but not too long that the kids complained.  I'm always amazed when I'm with my dad to hear about the many things he's accomplished that I don't know about.  As we were hiking down the trail, he kept pointing out the sections he had helped develop.  He's been on the Park Board for several years and has done so much to make the parks on Bainbridge Island beautiful and fun for all of us!

Our group at the trail head.

Elizabeth and Scott ended up carrying their littler ones for part of the hike.  They're such good sports!

Almost a Family Reunion

Another year where we almost had all the Swolgaard siblings home at one time!  This time it was Tyler who was missing.  Next year it will happen for sure...right?  Everybody promise this time? 

Breaking the Curse

We did it!  We camped for three days and two nights at Fort Flagler and didn't get rained on!  Whoo hoo!  The last two times I've gone up there, the first two days are beautiful, but then we wake up to rain on the third day.  I was getting a little worried that we were cursed.  But not anymore! 

Corey's family, Tif and Mariko, and Ben, Jill, Kylie and I went up Monday afternoon, set up camp and then hit the beach! Brad was able to come up for the day on Tuesday, and we explored the bunkers, then played on the beach again.  After weeks of gloomy weather, it was so wonderful to be able to sit in the sun and feel HOT!

Yay for the beach!

Doors at Battery Paul Revere...remember my infatuation with doors?  I still have it! 

Super spies!

Kylie and Ben tried to get across from the sand spit on Marrowstone Island to the sand spit on Indian Island.  They almost made it, but the current was a little too strong!

Matzo loved chasing seagulls.  He's a good camping dog!

One of the sea creatures they found...

This head washed up on shore, not sure where it came from...

 My brother, Scott, and his family are in town, and they also joined us Tuesday, along with my dad and Nathan. We tried to get them to come up early Tuesday to enjoy the beauty with us, but they didn't arrive until late afternoon. We were still able to enjoy time together around the campfire roasting ginormous marshmallows and telling goofy stories.

Some of the boys!  12 of my parents 14 grandchildren were all together...

next year we're going to get ALL of them!

You can't tell from this picture, but these marshmallows are HUGE!  About the size of 4 normal marshmallows!

Wednesday was even more beautiful than Tuesday, and we played in the bunkers with Scott's family, then had a picnic in the field. Scott and his gang left after lunch, Tif also had to leave, my mom (who came up Wednesday morning) and dad and Jeff went into Port Townsend for lunch, so Corey and I took the kids back to the beach, because come on, when the sun is out where else would you want to be?!

Scott & Elizabeth's gang!

Once Mariko saw the playground, she didn't want to go anywhere else!  She loves swinging.

What a pampered pooch!  He was the only one who used the umbrella.  The rest of us were more than happy to be in the sun, finally!

Kylie is a great cousin.  She spent a lot of time with her younger cousins (and siblings), holding their hands...

and giving them rides!

And Jillian is a great cousin, too!  She loves holding Landon.  He's such an easy going baby. He never fusses and will let anyone hold him. 

We stayed out on the beach until about 3:30, then went up to get ice cream cones to cool down!  I'm so glad we were able to spend three days at Fort Flagler this time.  I think my camping for the summer is done, so I'm very happy it ended on a good note!