ICLW August 2013

Well reader if you have been following me you already know what I'm going through and have been through.  If you are new to my blog let me first of all say, "What took you so long to find me!  I've been waiting for you!".

All kidding aside now I'll fill you in on what is going on in my life.

Right now my husband, a soldier in the U.S. Army, and I are on vacation.  During this vacation of which we are mainly staying at home to save money we are deciding on which way to turn with regard to the infertility treatments.  On the agenda for this week is an appointment with Pacific NorthWest Infertility via phone.  We will be discussing the options of donor eggs and donor embryos.

Big price range from about $3,000 to almost $19,000 per treatment.  I would very much like to have a baby and, for me and now J feels the same, having a child of our own genetics isn't a priority.  We may just opt to do donor embryo adoption.

We did one cycle of donor eggs in May and though we had two perfect blasts neither decided to make a home in my uterus.

Now we did do a little bit of fun over the weekend.  Here are some photos for you to enjoy.

We went on the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad tour.  If you are a train enthusiast then you'd enjoy this ride.  If not then I wouldn't suggest going as it is pretty much a guess what you are looking at tour since no tour guide is there to fill you in.

Washington Sunshine

Well its grey again today.  I've been told this is the normal Washington Sunshine. 

Its cold too.

Ya know I've been here almost four years, September marks that anniversary, and I'm still not adjusted to the weather patterns.

I do love the fact that while the rest of the US is broiling I'm cool here but I don't like thinking that its almost July and I'm still wanting to reach for a long sleeved heavy sweater or light winter coat before I go outside.  Heck even indoor the temp is only registering a  cool  66 F right now.  "Sun so hot I froze to death, Susanna don't you cry for me!".

Plans for this weekend are going to vary depending on the weather conditions.

1. train ride near Mt. Rainier
2. picnic on the beach
3. shopping for groceries

Please let it be a bit sunny for even one day!!!  I can get groceries any time but I'd rather have a bit of sunshine this weekend.

Sequim Lavender Festival

The annual Sequim Lavender Festival is the third weekend in July and this year we decided to attend at the last minute.  We were quite lucky to get a place to stay in Sequim so I shouldn't be too picky, right?

Sequim is actually only 3 hours, with leisurely driving, away from where we currently live.  We could have just gone for the day but we decided that we wanted to stay two nights so that we could fully enjoy the town and surrounding area.

J and I have been on vacation since 1 July and the best breakfast we've had so far all vacation was not at Clark's Chambers Bed & Breakfast, of which we stayed at over the weekend, but at Hampton Creek Inn which is a new B & B located in Randle, WA.  Oh the place we stayed at had a decent breakfast but I did not partake in anything but the oatmeal.  If you are going to ask your guests if they have any food allergies then basically just ignore them and have a fit about having to accommodate them then just don't bother to ask them and state that you can't accommodate them.  Sheesh I've never felt so unwelcome at a breakfast table in my life, especially one that I'm paying for.  The Hampton Creek Inn made every effort to accommodate my food allergies.  They made individual dishes, supplied a menu to choose from, and even had vegan options of which I know don't cause me to have an allergic reaction.  So no I would not recommend Clark's Chambers B & B if you have food allergies.

One of our stops along the lavender farm route was the Jardin Du Soleil.  They had the best looking lavender displays, see the photo above I took,  and gift shop of all the farms in the area.  However we did not pick our lavender here as the garden was a bit over run with people and I just detest a crowd.  We ended up further down the route at the Lavender Connection where we did end up picking our own lavender. J was nice enough to do all the clipping while I chose what varieties.  We went with the culinary lavender as I can use it in teas.  Lavender is really good for chest congestion and J does get a few colds in the winter.  Oh and the best part yet, the Lavender bunch was free for active duty military.

While wandering about the town of Sequim in search of antique shops we drove up a dead end road where according to our Nuvi there was supposed to be an antique shop.  Of course there was none to be found and according to Bill and Jeanne there never was a shop.  However, we did meet two nice folks that have three Shetland Sheepdog.  Just the breed that J has been wanting to get.  He had one as boy.  So after playing with their dogs we were given a business card of a breeder and dog rescue in Port Angeles.  We'll probably be calling them this week.  I'm leaving it up to J to make the call as he is the one most familiar with the breed.

While in Sequim we drove down to the Audobon Wildlife Refuge and Railroad Bridge.  It was a nice walk in the park but we were sorely disappointed to find that the Audobon center was closed until noon that day.  We had places to go and we weren't about to hang around for it to open up.  No big deal we went here just last year so I have photos of the place.  This year I was able to walk the whole paved route without my cane.  Last year I made it only part way before my hip slipped out of joint.

Yet again we didn't make it to the Dungeoness  Spit Wildlife Refuge.  Time was running short and it was raining.  I'd rather not be caught out on a 5.5 mile long sand and gravel spit with wild weather.  No thank you I'd rather not get wet and sucked into the ocean.  Maybe next year we'll finally make it to the light house and back.

Maybe tomorrow I'll tell you about our trip to Port Townsend.

Letting Go

Photo by my husband, J taken yesterday.

Yesterday we took a steam engine ride through the town of Chehlais, WA.
It was a nice ride, though it did hurt my back a bit with the train lurching at start up on each end.

We went shopping at the outlet stores where I purchased a pair of Tony Lama's for myself.  After trying to fit my hiking boots into a set of brush stirrups I realized that I needed a pair of cowboy boots.  I have no boots in my closet that would have been appropriate for riding if I chose to do so in the future.  I had no shoes with heels on them except for dress shoes and I'm not going to wear high heels to horseback ride.

I finally purchased a swim suit.  It was two years ago that my favorite swim suit bit the big one.  Yes, I'm that particular when making a garment purchase that it would take two years to replace an item that I had for a decade.

I also purchased a pair of jeans.  Finally I found the heavy weight, no lycra, no spandex all cotton jeans that I so love.  When did they get so difficult to find?

Between the 1.25 hour train ride and shopping we stopped for a bite to eat a Kit Carson's in Chehlais.  I won't be eating there again.  Okay so I was desperate for a meal.  I missed breakfast and lunch.  Service was slow, the tables and booths weren't all that clean and J's steak was not served medium but well done.  He had it taken back where they again attempted to get it to medium and it came out medium well, acceptable but not all that great.  My sandwich, when I removed the toothpicks, fell apart.  Anyone ever heard of proper sandwich architecture?  A sandwich cannot be properly eaten with toothpicks inserted into it.  It could be hazardous.  The waitress was slatternly in appearance and mannerism.  Yup, that is the best word to fit her.  No one likes a smart-ass in dirty clothes and unkempt hair in the serving staff.  Making a joke is one thing but actually meaning what you say in an off-handed remark deserves one of a lowered tip.  No, I didn't lower her tip but I should have done just that to her.

So today I'm going to let it go.  I'm going to start afresh and let the bad wash over me and back to those who sent it.  Karma is going to be reversed.  My life is going to be easier if I just turn my back to those that wish to offend and keep walking.

We'll see how long it lasts.  I'm on vacation and I intend to end my vacation relaxed, not miserable.

My train of good hopes and dreams is moving forward and I'm riding with happiness in my heart.  All those that wish me good karma come aboard.   All those that wish me negativity will be left behind.

We are now headed out on our next leg of our journey.  More photos to come of our adventures across Washington State.