preparing to leave the island

This week brought lenticular clouds to the naval air station, a hint of rain, and a reminder of the mountains and an upcoming trip. Time to finish up the projects from the last trip, check notes, and get ready to leave the island.

So the day was spent organizing. I organize linens and bedding (i.e. sleeping bags and air mattresses), cooking and eating gear, and our green box (the keeper of staples and then some). Mike makes sure the stove and lanterns work, that we have enough tarps, rope, and, of course, the tent.
Equally important is the organization of my yarn and reading material. And a repair of the failed repair of my ancient chair. I found my writing notebook and realized I never blogged any of the material I carefully wrote  from the April trip. Alas, the thoughts will have to be stored away for the future.
We start our preparations early, we don't leave for a week and half, but this gives us time to think of all of things forgotten. And then there is the food. And the checking of the weather forecasts to see how much hot soup might be needed. These late spring trips can bring weather surprises, we have had snow, and we have gotten sunburn. Makes for interesting times.

sad day on the water

We watched "Big Red", as it has been referred, sail out this morning on what has become it's last journey. A report from the person we refer to as "the spy" was it was to be it's last run before the new second hull goes in the water. The second hull has the capability to foil, lifting it out of the water and producing greater speed. Speed, being the ultimate quest. Artemis has been a major source of entertainment for all of us on Seaplane Lagoon. They have become our home team, members of their staff have been in our shop. We've followed their movements. Noticed all their comings and goings. We have all gotten so used to the size of the AC72s that the AC45s now look small to us. And while it is a stretch to justify the expense of this whole campaign, they are truly beautiful to watch as they harness the power of the wind. But natural forces are strong, and perhaps even too strong for Artemis, the goddess of the hunt.

be prepared

We are leaving on Sunday for a much needed holiday of fishing, knitting, reading, napping, eating, napping, reading, and fishing. The six month span from the last trip in October to the first trip in April always seems long to us. We have endured the "holidays", the cold and colds, the dark, the lack of most regular exercise and too much time spent indoors. So we looking forward to just sitting outside in the sun. And probably the wind, hopefully no rain, and this year, no snow is forecast. The air will be clean, and we are leaving behind electronic devices. No TV, no internet. Well we really don't watch TV, but we both seem to have an attachment to the internet. Fortunately smart phones have not found their way into our lives yet. I'll have to save up all those things I want to look up. And I will have to live without the sports page for a few days. Our house sitter will leave them all for me. So if  Timmy pitches that perfect game I can read about it later.  But now the order of packing.
I have been working on my knitting projects for weeks, gathering yarn, knitting bands for potential tams. After the wool, comes the reading material. After that my yoga props, this is a good trip for yoga in fresh air. And I finally did the much needed repair on my chair. The seat gave way the last day of a two week trip in September. This chair has traveled the world with me, but it's needed some maintenance. None of the fabric pieces are original. We have replaced tents, sleeping, bags, stoves, air mattresses and vehicles and I am sitting in the same chair.  As usual I will probably have enough projects for a month, not a week. But at least I will be prepared for the next trip.

Hopefully it will be warmer this trip.

But after the projects comes the food. We have discussed menus.  I am gathering the appropriate picnic items. The small cooler, cloth napkins, and thermos are packed. Potato chips, have to remember to put them on the shopping list. We always know we are on vacation when we are eating potato chips. There was one year I hit Safeway at the last minute, and came home with bags of both Fritos (for Mike) and Ruffles (for me). They were not small bags either. I think I'd had a rather harried day at the office. Fortunately the piano shop does not usually produce such harrowing days, and we can probably last on one bag of chips. Mike is in charge of  breakfast, and the main chef for dinner. My job is lunch. With the addition of my fancy plastic sandwich holders I got very creative on my sandwiches last year. It's always hard to get creative sandwiches into small plastic bags. And then there is afternoon snack, again my job. And we are bringing the Kelly Kettle which allows us to make tea streamside, A very handy device, considerably cheaper when we added it to our equipment.
Finally come the clothes. I love this trip, t-shirts and jeans, with layers of warmth to go along. But no special clothes to go out to dinner, the most I think about is packing bright t-shirts that show off well in photos. There is footwear of course, not to be taken likely, the conditions may call from jandals, to gum boots. And extra socks. I think somehow the girls scouts must have had packing lists that always included extra socks. I must be prepared.

annette funicello

Words from the shop this week:
Rhys: at 8, I wanted to marry Annette Funicello
Agnes: at 8, I wanted to be Annette Funicello
Douglas: at 8, I was Annette Funicello

spring garden

blogging inertia

The garden is springing forward like it does every year. And every year I forget how wonderful it is. The cat is agitated with all the finches at the feeder that he can only dream about catching. And the piano shop is full of pianos. Thoughts come and go at times when writing them down is not possible. And when the time presents itself to distill them they disappear, or become transparent.
The appearance of the dogwood blossoms is a sign of preferred seasons that offer trips to the mountains. A much needed trip to the east side of the Sierra is planned for later this month, a time for fishing, reading, knitting, and collecting one's breath.
Below is my favorite recent photo. We have in the shop a very small Mason Hamlin grand, 5'4". An unusual piano that has fought us more than most in it's restoration. But this little piano does not know that it is a small piano, and is producing a sounds to rival it's larger Steinway cousins. The photo is of Rhys voicing a hammer for this piano.

scotch soda bread

Scotch soda bread is baked the weekend after St. Patrick's Day, when you have leftover buttermilk and sour cream that you don't want to waste. Scotch Soda Bread contains those odd bits of dried fruit lying around the cupboard too. And just for kicks, I threw in pecans. Waste not, want not is the motto of the Rettie kitchen. What is leftover on Saturday morning in the way of veggies goes into some egg concoction, and rather than turning those dead bananas into bread (sort of joke, since I rarely bake banana bread) I make smoothies. Smoothies are often made on Sundays as well, when I've scoured the bargain shelf at Dan's Produce. You can get some good 99 cent bargains. My grandmother Agnes would be proud of me.