Camping

LK and I have just returned from two whole weeks of camping. We haven't had that long of a holiday in years! We went to Mt. Vernon Thousand Trails in Washington - again because it is our favorite. We read, swam, canoed, picnicked at ocean beaches, slept, and went for walks.

Pictured below, canoeing on Cranberry Lake at Deception Pass, our campsite B29, LK cooking. He brought our espresso maker along and we even had fresh Americanos every morning! Water flower (not a lily), Thai picnic supper at Anacortes beach (Washington State Park), and my perfect s'more.

If you know LK, you know he LOVES live music. We caught a band called the Walrus at Bellingham Bay and we dined to jazz at Skylark in Fairhaven. LK is sporting his live music smile. The dog? She sat in front of us at Bellingham bay so politely watching us eat our picnic from the Colophone Cafe. I just know she wished we would share.

This season brings back so many memories of last year at this time. The week before we left I was overcome with a paralyzing deep sadness remembering my mother's suffering last year. We had gone camping, even though it was hard to go. We'd kept in touch with my dad. My mom was being increasingly tormented with unkind voices. This was the last season of her life. We had camped at Mt. Vernon, gone to family camp, then to Whistler for LK's family reunion and as we were preparing to leave we got the call that Mom had died. During our holidays, though, we made several side trips to visit mom at her home. For this I am thankful.

This year, we camped a bit earlier. I plan to go to family camp again. LK wanted to head to Whistler too but I said not this July or August and he understood. Packing up and heading to the same places was hard and I wondered if I'd be able to experience joy on this holiday. I did. Most of the sadness was in the preparing to go.