I know it is 100 degrees in the northwest and we are that plus some, but really…summer is over.  Schools start back here soon and Sojo is sleeping in her own bed back in Bangkok.  That means summer is over.

I can’t get over how quickly summer flies.  It is truly my favorite time of the year.  Even in the dead of the dry heat of the desert.  I love, love, love it.  I think it is the memories of being a child.  Or it could be being the mother of a child or the grandmother of a child that congers up the sense of freedom that comes with summer.  The freedom to stay up later and watch the stars come out or catch lightening bugs if you are an easterner.  The freedom to watch more TV on a rainy day.  The freedom to eat watermelon until “it comes out your ears”…isn’t that what our mothers told us?     The freedom to run barefoot.    Endless days in the pool or at the beach, the zoo, the Children’s museum, walks to the playground and the library. Blowing bubbles.   One of my very favorite is …flying ribbon kites at the beach.    And there are those refreshing baths after a long day of play.  The very best part of summer though is gathering the whole family together and knowing that we all share in the joy that this part of summer brings.  Nothing beats summer and family togetherness.   Little ones…just make it extra special!  And so…until the next time…adios summer. 

I am definitely a beach person.  I like to think that I was a mermaid in a previous life.  Due to my extreme fear of water over my head, I probably drowned.  Hence, still leaving me with a yearning for the sea.  If I find myself too long without having the opportunity to gaze upon the sea, I find myself longing to be sitting in the sand and watching the ebb and flow of the sea.  So, being here for a month with “peak-a-boo” views of the bay from the house and a short drive or a very long walk to the beach, I am in near heaven.  Put a toddler into the mix and it is pure heaven.  Now for a taste of heaven….

Ah, the feel of warm sand on your toes.   Building sand castles together.

  Running with Gong Gong.  Enjoying the sun on one side and looking at fog on the other.

And then, you finish it off with a stop for chocolate ice cream (Italian non-dairy ice for this little one). Yummy!

Ron arrived almost a week ago and I have not blogged and have only shown the labyrinth to him and “walked” it “Sojo’s way”.  We have been having fun walking the streets and sharing in the life of this small port town and a precious little girl’s life.  Riding her bike….

Ron checking on his email at the cafe by the pier.  Life is good:)

Gong Gong taking a walk with Sojo and walking the labyrinth…  

Reading story after story after story after story.  I know more about toddler books than I knew before…for sure….Curious George, No David and all sorts of board books.

I thought that being with this sweet one for over a month and knowing that I would see her again in 2 months, I wouldn’t feel sad about leaving her soon.  Wrong…already feeling sad as I think about not seeing her daily and watching the ever changing things in her life.  I need to change my thoughts to simply focusing on the many memories I will carry with me and the blessings in my life having had this time with her.  Count your blessings Helen….

Okay, so I am a whimp when it comes to weather.  Kind of like Goldilocks … this day is too hot, this day is too cold, this day is “just right”.  Well, the last two days and especially today, has been just too cold for me.  It is in the 60’s and I know that doesn’t sound that bad, but when you come from AZ where it is 108 today in Tucson and probably another 10 degrees or more up the pike in Phoenix, this is darn cold.  It is the dampness that gets me.  Chills me to the bone.  And what pics can you take in dreary weather like this?       How’s that for “socked in”?

Well, I do still walk the labyrinth, even when it is dreary and I still love the feeling it gives me…peace..serenity…thoughtful thinking…openness to God…contemplation…releasing…receiving…returning.  All good stuff. 

And then, there is always sweet and funny Sojo.  The weather doesn’t matter…hot or cold, dry or wet…she is still a hoot and brings a smile to my face.

Playing “newssssspapppper” on her new bike.  She squeals “newspaper” just like an old time newspaper boy as she throws a piece of paper from the “basket” her Baba made for her.  Note that we are inside here.  Could it be, it is too cold outside?  Whatever…she is a hoot as she hollers “newspaper” and throws it at us.  This is from her favorite TV show “The Backyardigans”.  Thank goodness for a dose of Sojo to warm us up.

It is interesting how one can while away the day when you have no responsibilities. No laundry to do, no toilet to clean, no meeting to go to.  The “E” family had a visit to “great-grandma’s” planned so I am whiling away my day at an internet cafe in uptown PT today.  Had a yummy Curry Chicken in a Spinach Wrap with broccoli salad and a latte while I have gotten caught up on email and face book.  It is a dreary day…So dreary that a picture would have looked like a blob, rather than a jazzy pic of the gloom.  So…no pics today of that.

My plan is to sit here for a bit and chill doing a whole lot of nothing and then mossy on back.  Now is that mossy like in the green stuff that grows in the woods or mossy like moving slowly.  No dictionary and spell check seems to know it is a word, but doesn’t tell me if it is the right mossy.  I hate to misspell.  Anyway, I plan to walk on back rather slowly and drink it all in.  Unless of course, it is raining and then I may do it as quickly as possible.

A bit of Sojo …  This morning she told her mama that she had to go to “timeout”.  Tara obeyed and then asked why and Sojo said, “you no listen me”.  Ya gotta love the innocence of a child.  She would not relent and Tara spent a whole lot more time in “timeout” than I have ever seen Sojo spend there.  Goes to show that Sojo must think it is a very long time.  And no, darn…I didn’t get a picture of all of this.  I took one with Tara’s camera and forgot to with mine.  I spent most of my time, holding in my laughter at it all. 

Sojo was reciting her ABC’s this morning.  T & D use this as a way to get her to wait for something she wants to do and they cannot do it right then.  They tell her to sing one or two ABC’s and then she can do what she wants to do or have what she wants or whatever.  It is so cute to see and hear her sing her little heart out for what she wants to do.  And no, darn…I didn’t get a picture of this.  I was taking a picture with Tara’s camera again.

So just what do I have pictures of today?  The farmer’s market yesterday.  I bought Tara that lovely basket the other day.  No room in my suitcase or great need for anyway, so why not enjoy the perfect market basket while here?  Fresh farmed picked and organic carrots, scallions, broccoli, snap peas, zucchini and chanterelle mushrooms for a stir fry dinner and homemade veggie soup for Sojo.  The market is on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings.  Live music, fresh organic veggies…all good stuff. 

And who might that little hippie chick with the groovy market bag be?  Could that be my first born and only daughter?  Why by golly it is.

One more photo from yesterday.  A normal every day occurrence here on the streets of PT…  Some days it is Mama and one fawn, other days it is two like this and some days, it is simply a couple of young bucks in velvet.  No one seems to care as they nibble flowers.  If they care, they put a wire “deer” fence up and the deer simply go on to the next house.  We have seen a Mama and fawn right in the back yard and in the side yard.  No one can quite figure out how they got there, but they did and we all loved it.  There is more wildlife here than on the 5 acres they had in PL.

My dear son-in-law’s mother dropped me off here to do some email checking and a blog entry.  What can I say… Quiet…a bit of jazz music in the background…sailboats docked or sailing by…a scheduled ferry now and then…people on the pier…an occasional kayaker…kids on the beach and I have been here for more than an hour already.  I could sit and look at the ebb and flow of the water all day long.  The only thing missing is an open window to hear the ebb and flow and get a bit of a breeze.  It is actually quite warm today after a few cloudy, cool and drizzly days.

It is hard to beat summer in a small bay town.  I know there are similar things in Tucson, but you can’t walk to them.  I am seriously, I mean seriously thinking about checking out houses mid-town or maybe Civano (eco-village like community) where you can actually walk to the store or a market or something.  The mailbox, just doesn’t do it.  Last night we went to a free concert on the pier.  Tonight there is free music at the food co-op.  The farmer’s market is tomorrow morning.  I am going to go home and make a point of finding things out of the ordinary to do.  I know Tucson is a hip town and I am going to find a way to get immersed in it.  I know I won’t find a view like the one above, but maybe a mountain view or one with a fountain in the middle of it. 

Just a few pics of the reason I am here…beyond the coolness of the breeze, the coolness of the vibe and the bay view.

Having fun here in Port Townsend, trying to keep up with email in cyber cafes and the library. Walking everywhere, getting lots of exercise and fresh air.  Drinking lattes while I type and just enjoying life in general as I try to keep up with Miss Sojo.

We took a little hike today in the woods.  Sojo found a “walking stick” just her size and loved it.  I have even found the neatest labyrinth     nearby that I walk as often as I can.  I seem to make at least 2 trips a day uptown and/or downtown and just around town.  Only thing missing is my man.

Yesterday, we were headed to the beach at Fort Worden and I said to Sojo, “let’s bring Gong Gong to the beach when he gets here”, and Sojo exclaimed in her sweet and oh, so happy voice, “that’s a good ideeaa”.  You really need to hear the extra e’s and a’s in the “idea” to get the excitement in her little voice at the “ideeaa” of bringing Gong Gong to the beach. 

It was a cooler and more cloudy day than what I have been experiencing.  Prior to yesterday, the weather has been just about perfect here in Port Townsend.  Yesterday and today are more normal for this part of the country.  I won’t complain just yet, but am anxious for more sun and blue skies. 

Our day at the beach was quite fun.  Sojo was bundled up in jeans, a sweater and a funky hat and enjoyed the sand and even putting her tootsies in the cold water with her Mama.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of the two of them rolling down the hill in the sand because my battery died.  Could be because I have been taking so many pictures.   

I love watching her run in front of me.  I have a lot of pictures of her doing that…walking or running.  She is so much fun to be around.    

Yep…just another day at the beach with our sweetie.  Here are some pics of us downtown at the beach having some ice cream yesterday. 

And some fun at the playground and a little snuggle with Popo.

I am missing my man and the monsoons, but it is gorgeous here in the Pacific Northwest.  The temps are in the high 70’s low 80’s, I am told.  All I know is, I need a light jacket in the morning and evening and short sleeves during the day.  I can snuggle up in the blankets at night and enjoy the blue sky days.  And, I am enjoying Sojo, in yet another environment of her little life. 

She was a hoot to travel with: And, was a pleasure to travel with.  She is a good traveler.  The plane was loaded with little ones and they were not all quiet little ones.  She was the best little traveler of all. 

Settling into life here in Port Townsend; a small Victorian town that comes alive in the summer with all sorts of things to do.  The E Family lives in “uptown” and through the trees you can see the water.  We do a lot of walking to the cafes and small shops in uptown and walked “downtown” this morning.  More shops and places to eat and right on the water.  We can walk to the library, the park and the farmer’s market.  While the E Family is visiting D’s sister and family, I was on my own.  I walked to the Wednesday afternoon market and bought all sorts of goodies for my dinner.  No pics…I was overwhelmed and simply forgot with all the delicious delights abounding everywhere.  I bought zucchini, Walla Walla onions, potatoes, cucumbers, spinach, romaine lettuce, a salmon fillet from Alaska and a fresh loaf of bread.  That is my dinner tonight.  I will be sure to take pics of the market on Saturday. 

Did I mention there are all sorts of activities going on too?  A Fiddler Festival and Fireworks on the 4th.  A jazz festival coming up and a writers conference.  T and I plan to attend an afternoon workshop for that.  Dale is doing a week long jazz conference.  Nice place to spend a month in the summer.  The best part is this:  But, still missing this:  Sojo keeps asking me, “where’s Gong Gong?”.  I say, “He’s in Tucson”.  Sojo asks, “he’s waiting for us to come back?”.  I say, “yes, sweetie, but he will be coming here to see you soon”.  Soon…