san juan islands.........here we come!

We are finally leaving for

Bellingham, Washington and

the San Juan Islands Friday morning!

This will be our home away from home

friday-monday a.m.

Schnauzer Crossing Inn

Bellingham, Washington

Our room!

The "Queen Room"

Actually, this will be Bryan's home away from home

Saturday to Sunday evening.

The Misty Blue Yonder

You can see now, why he is soooo excited!

Then we will take the ferry over to

Friday Harbor on San Juan Island

We will be staying at the

Friday Harbor Historic Inn

Our view!

everyone take care

and we will
see you back after the 31st!

Tag.........I'm it

I've been tagged by Jessamyn

So here goes.........

7 random bits of me

1. I love the smell of new books. If I am at the bookstore, you may see me sniffing the inside pages.

2. I used to love eating raw peeled potatoes and mayonnaise and onion sandwiches growing up.

3. I played Gretel in our third grade play of "Hansel and Gretel".

4. I used to save my allowance for two weeks, and then go to the horse stables near home and rent "Pinky" and ride all day in the desert across from our house.

5. My daughters convinced me to get a tattoo when I was in my late 40's.

6. I ran (jogged) two 10k's when we lived in Holbrook Arizona.

7. I have a phobia about frogs/toads! Any size, shape, color, type. If it's a frog or a toad, I don't want anything to do with it. Unless, of course, it's the play ones my grand babies play with! :)

A familiar place....

Feels like home! Even the rain every day!

Bryan loves being out in his canoe early

in the morning, when the steam is rising off the lake!

There was plenty of mud for playing in....

or for finding worms!

Brody eating a healthy lunch!

Journey enjoying sharing time with Papa

All nice and cozy watching our chef prepare dinner!

The ladies enjoying the view from the porch!

Our own "a river runs through it"

Bryan, Jessamyn and Asher enjoying the quiet beauty

Thanks Hawley Lake! We'll be back!

Seeing RED at Chipotle's

Want this badge?

Bryan and I were at Chipotle the other evening, and noticed several women wearing red shirts with different wording and both included the word RED in large lettering. We both commented on it, but neither of us knew the reason for the shirts........til now. If you are also seeing RED, and you aren't aware of its origin or purpose, click on the badge above, or go to http://www.joinred.blogspot.com/. It's a good thing to learn about something that makes a difference.

Where It All Began - November 2005

I am sharing this with you because this is a cause that is important to me.

My brother Kenneth and I dedicated February to November of last year training for it, and will dedicate about six months of training to it this year. It is the Breast Cancer 3-Day. A walk that covers 60 miles in three days. Funds raised benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust.

I would like to take you on a journey.....starting in November of 2005.

Jessamyn and Cory started "Team Juanita" in 2005. They are the beginning of the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk for our family. I had heard all the "spots" on the radio referring to this event, but never considered doing it, until they brought it close and personal to all of us with their amazing journey!

Cory and Jessamyn making their "Team Juanita" shirts for the walk!

Day One! I can still remember waiting anxiously for them on this first stop. Asher and I were so happy to see their smiling faces come out of the sea of pink!

Day Two. Still going strong and collecting quite a support team!

At this point, they still had another 9 or 10 miles to go!

The 3-Day 2006 - Juanita's Kids

This was our gathering place. We ate, were entertained, wrote in our journals, visited and met other walkers and watched all the walkers in various degrees of suffering!

It was amazing! The final walk from the holding area, to our closing ceremonies. The energy is so high and emotions are overflowing. You can imagine, after walking 60 miles over three days, you are overwhelmed!

At the closing ceremonies, as the survivors come in, participants raise their shoes in the air to honor them. The Breast Cancer 3-Day flag that was raised at opening ceremonies, to mark our beginning, was raised once again, but this time it was a blank flag. The absence of wording symbolized a world without breast cancer; without men and women dying or suffering, without need for a Breast Cancer 3-Day, and without fear that the future will have to face breast cancer.

These were the Memorial Tents, representing each city that hosted a 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. The walkers were encouraged to write notes in memory of some, and notes of encouragement to others. Or to just pen their reasons for support.

This was our "home" away from home for the two nights we were on the walk. A two man 6.5 X 6.5 tent! We had porta-potties galore and showered in big rig trailers. All the comforts of home!

One of our many cheering supporters! Little Brody was only a little over a month old!

Asher was wearing his "My Nonnie is Walking" shirt! Both babies were at the opening ceremonies which started at 5:30!
I loved this picture! This is where that quote "A picture is worth a thousand words" is so appropriate.

Kenneth and I crossing the 60 mile mark! What a wonderful feeling and what a wonderful journey! Unbelievable!