Simply XSBaggage

Olympic Discovery Trail

We're so blessed to live in an area where we have so many great hiking trails. One of the more popular trails is the Olympic Discovery Trail, which follows an old railroad bed.

We recently hiked a small portion of it on the east end of Port Angeles.

The sky was overcast, but it sure made the 'greens' pop!

This is a wonderful, wide trail. We headed east from the scenic overlook parking lot at the top of Morse Creek. The trail follows Hwy. 101 for a short while, and winds around the Gun Club. But you're soon into the woods and heading down into the ravine.

The covered bridge across Bagley Creek is an upcycled pedestrian walkway from the Kingston ferry terminal.

We tried to get Gracie to take a drink, but she was afraid of the running water. 

We continued walking up the other side of the ravine for a little way, but since this was an unplanned hike and we didn't bring water bottles or snacks, we turned around and headed back to the truck. I'm anxious to get back out there, though, and explore more of this trail. 

Dogs and Dreadlocks

At the Sequim Open Aire Market, we see a lot of doggies. This one is a regular visitor:

She gets lots of attention, and clearly likes it!

A dog with dreadlocks. I love the little pink barrette in her 'hair'. 

I can't remember what kind of dog she is, do you know? The Market is very dog-friendly and we see all kinds, colors, and sizes.

18,250 Days Ago

600 months ago, 438,000 hours ago, 5 decades ago, 50! years ago! Phew! No wonder I'm so tired. Yep, yesterday was my Birthday, and I'm half a century old now. And guess what? I didn't wake up feeling any different today. 

Well, maybe a little 'heavier', from all of the dining out I've been doing the last two days. But I went for my walk and did my crunches and stretching today so I'm not feeling too guilty about the four-layer carrot cake I ate yesterday. Or the rhubarb crisp with the homemade vanilla ice cream that I had the day before.

Or the yummy bread, and steak dinner last night. 

Umm, maybe I'd better go for another walk today. And sticking to salads and carrot and celery sticks for the next week might not be a bad idea either. Well, it was good while it lasted.

I have to show you one of the Birthday cards I received:

Have a great day! I need to go register for AARP now...

White lilacs

White lilacs from our backyard lilac tree. Love the spicy-sweet smell. 

I'm not sure how old the tree is, but our home was built in 1934, and I wonder if it could be as old as the house?

The limbs of the tree are scraggly and moss covered. Every year I'm amazed that it can summon up the energy to grow leaves, buds and then blooms. 

I'm glad it does, because I thoroughly enjoy these puffy white blooms.

Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts 2009

The festival last weekend was great. Beautiful weather, big crowds, lots of familiar faces, and, ohmygosh, was I ever happy to see the 'smoothie people' there. (Remember I raved about them last year?) This is their booth, just in case you ever see them at a festival, ya know? I highly recommend the strawberry-banana smoothie. 

The festival started Friday, and though a four day festival can be really tiring, one of the things I like about doing it is, I can set up Thursday night and I don't have to tear down until Monday evening. I walked to and from my home each day and opened up my little 'shop'. 

*warning: rant coming* When I arrived to set up on Thursday, I was disappointed to find that they didn't place me in the same spot as last year as I had requested. And then, the spot they gave me had a car parked in it. I had to wait an hour before the owner of the car showed up to move it. *ugh* The show had a new 'Vendor Organizer' this year and I hope she took away some feedback from the vendors and will hopefully be a little more organized next year. I know it's not an easy job, but I think you really need to keep your vendors happy if you want them to return next year. Okay, end of rant.

At least I was placed next to my friend Sheila from Smoothie Essentials, so we could give each other a break once in a while. Also, I was at a great vantage point for people watching. The view from my booth:

I loved that I had customers come to the festival specifically to find me. Some were customers replacing their handbags from last year, and some were new buyers. Thank you to everyone that came by! Here's a special customer sporting her just-purchased handbag from me: (She's my Mary Kay director and a real sweetheart!)

My sales for this festival were up from last year, which I am incredibly grateful for. I know a lot of people are struggling and I'm so thankful for the encouragement and support from all who stopped by, whether they purchased from me or not. That's one of the best things about participating in a show.

I'll be back at the Sequim Open Aire Market this Saturday. The weatherman says we're going to have continued sunshine throughout the weekend. Yippee!!

Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts this weekend

It's that time of year again! The Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts starts today. There'll be over 125 performances of music, dance and theater from around the world over the next four days. There's also a street fair, which I'll be a part of. Music performances are played at five different venues around town, and when you buy a weekend pass you can attend any of them. 

This is my third year as a vendor. It's the longest festival that I participate in, four days, and it can be exhausting, but it's so fun to be there and see all the familiar faces and hear the variety of music being played on the lawn. My booth will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am - 7:00 pm, and Monday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. If you're in Port Angeles, come by and say HI! I'll give a 20% discount if you mention that you read my blog!

I've been gearing up, and by gearing up, I mean sewing my brains out. 

Oooh, there's a peak of my fabric stash mess. It's getting out of hand. Want to see more?

I can't believe I just showed you that! Hey, maybe the fabric elves will come while I'm at the Festival and straighten this mess up.

A perfect day for a hike

Sunday was a beautiful day and I took some time off from my sewing to go on a hike with my son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons

We went up the Elwha River valley to the Whiskey Bend Trailhead and hiked the Humes Ranch trail. It's like a sea of green as you hike through the old growth timber.

The trail is nicely maintained. 

The boys got a free ride in.

And Lindsay really got a work out!

We stopped in the meadow at Michael's cabin for our picnic lunch.

And a little 'Dad and me' time:

So sweet!!

Baby Miles was enjoying himself too:

What is it about boys and sticks? He had at least one stick in his hand all day. 

The hike to the cabin is about 1.5 miles in. Rested and tummies full, we headed back out. This time 'the little man' wanted to walk.

He's a great little hiker already!

Until it got close to nap time.

The wind blows

I spent last weekend in Sequim, at the Irrigation Festival. It was my second year as a vendor for this event. I have a few vendor friends who participate in all of the other festivals and events in our area, but they don't do this show. Why? Because the weather can be a little dicey. And this year was no exception. A weird wind storm started up in the morning and continued all.day.long. 

Most of us (vendors) spent the day in our tent with our arms raised holding onto the frame of our canopies. Yeah, that's fun.

I've done windy shows before, and so I think I'm pretty prepared with lots of weights, clamps, and bungie cords. Lots and lots of bungie cords. But still, that wind was shaking up my tent. And the dirt. Don't even get me started about how dirty everything gets. 

But I really have to give props to the Sequim-ites. They came out. And shopped! In that horrible wind! 

And that really made it a worthwhile weekend.

Here are a few photos of my booth set up:

I went home Saturday evening and prayed all night long that my booth would survive. I arrived Sunday morning, not knowing if my booth made it through the night. Some of the vendors had their canopies damaged and blown away during the night. Let me tell you, I was so thankful to see that it was still standing. Although it moved two and a half feet from where I had set it up! 

Sunday was a much more pleasant day, and I got to see some friends that I hadn't seen in a long time and do a little visiting. 

So that was the beginning to my outdoor season. Next weekend is the opening of the Sequim Open Aire Market. I'm looking forward to seeing familiar faces there, and I'll be really hoping for great weather. Come on out if you're in the area!

Welcome to Lake Crescent

If you ever make a visit to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state, you must make a trip out to Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. I recently made a couple of trips out there (it's about 20 minutes from my home in Port Angeles.) 

On a Friday I drove out to deliver an order of products from my business that will be available for sale in the Gift Shop at Lake Crescent Lodge Resort. As you turn off of the Highway, you're greeted by hanging moss and huge ferns.

It was a sunny, blustery day and the lake had white caps on it. The setting here is breath-taking.

See what I mean?

Lake Crescent was formed by glacial activity. The ridges surrounding the lake are steep, and the center of the lake is as deep as 624 feet!

There are rooms in the Lodge and also quaint cabins for rent. I could have stayed out here for a week, but, sadly, I had to get back to work. 

The gift shop opens May 8th, and I'm going to use the excuse that I need to get some photos of my products, and make another trip to the lake.

Fingerprint Friday - Being grateful

Over at Pampering Beki's blog, she does a feature every Friday called "Fingerprint Friday". Her idea is taken from a Steven Curtis Chapman song that goes like this:

I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god

She invites other bloggers to join in and give their interpretation of how they see God's fingerprints in their daily lives. 

I took this picture recently on a hike at Lake Crescent. 

It's so easy theses days to focus on the negative. Just turn on the evening news, read a newspaper, or talk to family and friends about the current state of our country.

Now, more than ever, we need to turn to God with thankfulness and gratitude for what we do have. I have a book by Greg Laurie called 'For Every Season', and in it he uses this verse:

  "Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men." (Psalm 107:8)

He talks about how, in the Old Testament, King Jehosaphat took an uncommon approach when his enemies waged war against him. He ordered his people to sing to the Lord "Praise the Lord for HIs mercy endures forever." (2 Chronicles 20:21)

God sent an ambush against the army, and they were destroyed. God's people were able to go into this situation giving thanks, because He was in control.

Do you remember to thank God for the blessings he gives you every day? I know I fall short constantly. I'm so busy praying for needs, that I often forget to thank Him for all the times He has helped.

What would happen if we spent more time praising and thanking Him? I'm going to try to spend just as much time thanking Him and being grateful as I do asking for His help.

And I'm betting His 'fingerprints' on my life will be even clearer to me!