June in Skagit County

My parents came up to WA following our trip to Nevada for my cousin's wedding. We always have so much fun when any family members visit and this trip was no exception. The fun began the minute we picked them up from the Bellingham airport and started driving back south to Anacortes.

Our first stop was at a shellfish farm on Samish Bay where we scooped up a bunch of mussels and clams for their dinner that night. What amazing weather we have had thanks to a crazy El Niño - I'm used to warm fleeces and jeans in June, but not this summer! My parents have typically had pretty bad luck with weather, so this year was a real treat because they got to see Skagit County in all its sunny glory!

After visiting the shellfish farm we swung by my office and checked out the nearby fish plant where I was hoping to buy Dungeness crab from fishermen I knew that were likely to be nearby. The plan worked perfectly and we left La Conner with three crabs for the carnivores....who subsequently had a massive shellfish dinner in our backyard.

The next day we headed into Anacortes for the annual Waterfront Festival where my father gaped at a big Corvette show, I gaped at all the nasty food for sale, we all laughed at the fast boat building competition (I was rooting for the brewery even though their boat wasn't looking too hot), and we gorged on ice cream. Following mental stimulus overload, we chilled out while taking in the great view of our awesome town from Cap Sante.

Next day - off we went to Tweets...the best breakfast place in Skagit County! Not only do they have great food, but they have my favorite magnets. I had to share these two. The owner is a riot here and they don't mess around when it comes to their eggs.

 Awesome magnet #2. Nuff said.

On our way back to Anacortes from Tweets we stopped so I could show my parents the R/V T'ilus (pronounced "tea loose" which means "small unidentified clam" in Lushootseed...the local tribal language). I think I've already put up a few photos of my team's new research vessel, but I like this one! It was fun to give my parents a glimpse of some of the toys I get to play with for my job.

I was able to squeeze in a day off to play with my parents out in the islands. We took the ferry over to San Juan Island since it had been years since my parents had been to Friday Harbor. I had just finished lecturing my very excitable mother about how it was really rare to see orcas from the ferry when the captain came on the loudspeaker and announced that a pod of orcas were located just off the bow of the ferry. Way for wildlife to show me! We watched the pod from the open deck for a while and then moved inside when the ferry pulled away and started to move toward Friday Harbor again. Even from the inside of the ferry my mother stayed fixed on the prize with binoculars and watched the orcas until she couldn't see them anymore. Pretty cute.

 Hanging out at Lime Kiln Point State Park on San Juan Island

What a great day on the island! We checked out the beach at Cattle Point, the shoreline at Lime Kiln, ate lavender ice cream at the lavender farm, and wandered around Roche Harbor in search of a decent margarita. We were not successful in that endeavor....these turned out to be the worst margaritas we had ever had which is why we are making our sour faces.

I had to work the following day, but Jay had half the day off so he took my parents to Whidbey Island to gather some oysters for their dinner that night. This Dungeness crab took Jay to task for disturbing the intertidal peace (note the claws sticking up out of the water). I love crabs and their feisty attitude.

We had such a lovely visit with my parents.....it is always really hard to see them go. But it is easier when we know we will see them again soon! In just a few weeks we take off to NY to celebrate my mom's 70th birthday in the Adirondacks! We are heading the the Cape first with be with Jay's family and then we will be off to the solitude of loons, lakes, and mountains. I can't wait to be in a place that makes my spirit soar.

The weekend after my parents left Jay had to work on a manuscript as part of his PhD....so I headed down to Seattle to drink good beer (Fremont Brewing Company) with good friends. Life is good people. Appreciate every minute. I do!

More photos here: https://picasaweb.google.com/111221596171793333099/June2015?authkey=Gv1sRgCIXA5KD58ZmkhAE

Desert solitude and family weddings

Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada is quite the incredible desert environment. I always think of David Attenborough when I'm in harsh ecosystems....I can practically hear him saying in his wonderful accent "even in this dry and hot environment....there is life." The film would cut to flowers, insects, and good ol' David crawling on the sand. Of course, he is right. Life evolved the most amazing capabilities for living in tough environments (these desert species make humans look like serious wimps). It was awesome to spend a day and night in the desert tracking down the plants, birds, mammals, and insects in this inspiring place.

We came to Nevada to reunite with my father's family from Michigan. I had not seen my cousins in about a decade. My two cousin's kids had grown up and we were headed to Vegas for one of their weddings. I'm not much of a city person, but the desert is always a huge draw for me. So we booked our flights with two extra days, landed in Vegas, picked up our rental car and got the heck out of the city so we could fry like eggs in the wild sun. We arrived in the park late at night in the dark and pitched our tent under the stars. The desert heat was much more successful than my alarm clock at dragging my ass out of bed in the morning. Thus, we got an early start to the day thanks to the high temperatures in the tent.

Bighorn sheep!! BIGHORN SHEEP PEOPLE! Do you hear me!? I went searching for these last year in Joshua Tree with no success (you can read about that here). And then Jay and I drive around a corner in the desert early in the morning and there they were! Totally unexpected! I practically fainted in excitement because there were not one, but TWO bighorn sheep. YES!

 Big male beauties blending right into their environment

 New bird for us! Black-tailed gnatcatcher - male in breeding plumage

This is a tarantula hawk wasp. This crazy huge insect delivers the second most painful insect sting in the world. We didn't know that when we approached to take photos - it pays to be naive. Why the name? Well, the bad ass wasps actually preys upon real tarantulas. Crazy. Could life be more awesome?

 Amazing desert colors. If only we had been here in low evening light! 

 Hot and happy

The petroglyphs in the park were incredible and gorgeous. But this series really caught my eye - are these bighorn sheep gaining weight?? Pregnant??

Stunning

 Quick change! The Barbers and one Dimond take on Vegas for a wedding.

My cousin Erin, Jerica (cousin-in-law), Gemma (Daniel's sister), and cousin Stephanie

 My cousin Todd and his daughter, Chelsea

 The happy couple!

 Daniel, Chelsea, and me

Father-daughter dance....

Could they be more adorable?

It seems that no matter where we go with Diane Barber, a ferris wheel appears that we HAVE to go on. I wasn't thrilled about the idea but in the end, I'll admit, it was kinda cool to be up there.

 Looking down on Vegas

Our family time ended the next day after we all had breakfast as a group at a restaurant with insanely large portions. Although our time together was super short, it was lovely to see almost everyone (we were missing my cousin Troy and my uncle Rollie), meet new significant others, and get quick updates all of their lives. My younger cousins (technically my first cousins once removed) are all done with high school or college now, have great partners, and are doing such good things with their lives. It was also lovely to meet other members of the Self family and discuss Michigan craft brews, among other things!

Instead of spending the day on the crowded Vegas strip after breakfast, Jay and I headed back to our resort with my parents to get some exercise and pool time. That evening we ventured back onto (into?) the big strip and hit up a nice Italian restaurant that had fantastic food and the largest pepper grinder ever?

Jay and I flew back to Washington the next day and my parents stayed south to check out some national parks. They took this photo at Bryce Canyon and I think it must be my new favorite.... true love 49 years after their marriage. Daniel and Chelsea are just getting started on that awesome road. I hope their smiles are as big as my parent's smiles 49 years later. I bet they will be!

All my May photos are here: https://picasaweb.google.com/111221596171793333099/May2015?authkey=Gv1sRgCOOgitaP2YzgwgE  Desert and Vegas photos are at the bottom of the album......