Yesterday, Rick and Colleen left at 6AM for Seattle, flying to Houston to see their son, James and his family. So here I am with my pal Sunshine, who is now fast asleep on her bed, as I write.

To go back a little. When Colleen and I went through Roslyn on Friday, where she used to live, I was reminded of when Ann and I came through and stayed with them, and Rick took us over to the little town. It is more than having The Brick of Northern Exposure fame. Right now the old town hall is raised up in the air while a foundation is being put under it. These folks value their history! Also, one of the churches in town is having the same thing done. No tear down and replace here. The most unique place in Roslyn, I think, is Cemetery Row. There you will see individual cemeteries for each ethnic group, religious group, etc. Slavic countries are represented, as are the Italian, the Irish, the Catholic, the Jewish, the Black, the Chinese, and then a miscellaneous cemetery for those who don't fit in any of the categories. Colleen says she thinks they are still burying people in the same way. What a hoot. Roslyn and many of the little towns around were coal mining towns, and many different peoples headed to them for work at a time when labor was badly needed.

Saturday we drove to Yakima to take some items to a shelter and to a thrift store where the money earned goes to cancer research. We took the Yakima Canyon route, as the interstate had been closed due to an accident. It was a beautiful drive, and I can only imagine what it must look like in late spring when everything is green. The geology is fascinating, but I can't tell you what it is, because I don't remember what Colleen said...senior moments you know.

Coming back from Yakima we saw why the interstate was closed. A tractor trailer truck had jack-knifed off the road, and down the hillside. It was pretty bad. I hope the driver survived.

I pointed out a huge open nest on a pole, and Colleen told me it was an osprey nest: that the electric company put up big telephone poles, and then moved the osprey next to them from the high wires. A high five for the electric company.

Around here at the house are Great Horned Owls, and Colleen showed me pictures of the owlets from last year, two of them. We can hear them hooting away at night. I hope I get to see one.

Yesterday, gale force winds were emptying the bird feeders, blowing furniture and garbage cans around, and even a very heavy ladder was toppled. It blew all day, and into the night. It is calm out now, and shortly I am going out with Sunshine and pick up the yard.

Life is good.
Adieu, Adios, Mahalo,
I love you all,
Sally