We had a surprise on Sunday, clear blue skies and fluffy clouds. It was a one day event but we were grateful. The days here in NE Washington State have been like the following photo for a stretch now. Several fires are contributing to the smoke filled skies.
This photo isn’t the worst of how the skies have been but it gives you an idea of how our usual layered mountain views are hidden by the smoke.
Onward to the Hodgepodge…
Hello Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you, Joyce!
1. What’s something on your August calendar you’re looking forward to? Or dreading if that’s easier to answer.
It is soccer month for our Grands with parks and recreation here in town and that is something I always enjoy. It’s the month that the folding chairs live in our vehicle ready to place on the sidelines to watch youth soccer.
2. August 5th is National Oyster Day…do you partake?
I do enjoy an occasional Oyster.
How do you feel about pearls?
I think pearls are elegant.
Here I am way back in 2008 wearing pearls to a ‘Tea Bridal Shower’.
3. Tell us about a time when you felt like ‘the world was your oyster’.
I think this phrase fit best with my High School and early college years. Carefree days, lots of choices, no huge responsibilities, still living at home, school achievements and awards, college acceptance letter, summer beach days, part time work, trip to the East Coast, and tours in England.
4. Trip Advisor lists seven islands in the US that require no passport (for US citizens). If you’re answering today from outside the US you’ll still need to produce yours. An-y-way, have you been to any of the seven? Let’s pretend you get an all expense paid trip to one this month…which one do you choose and why?
Catalina Island California~Martha’s Vineyard Massachusetts~Mackinac Island Michigan~Key West Florida~South Padre Island Texas~or Kauai Hawaii
I have been to Mackinac Island way back in the early 70’s. Greg was at Catalina Island for a school trip when he was in the 5th or 6th grade.
Twenty Six miles across the Sea, Santa Catalina is waiting for me…
This is a rare view of Catalina Island from Huntington Beach.
I lived in Southern California for 37 years and never ventured to Santa Catalina.
I would take an all expense paid trip to Catalina this time of year. The other spots, weather wise, are too hot and steamy for me this time of year.
Here are some photos I took on Mackinac Island. Heidi, Faye and I stayed in Michigan with Peter and Ruth who owned a cottage on a lake. Peter and Ruth generously entertained us at their home and took us up to Mackinac Island where we rode bikes around the island. I remember buying Mackinac Fudge and I have a letter opener that I bought for a souvenir.
I’m surprised Trip Advisor didn’t mention Whidbey Island in Washington State or the San Juan Islands.
5. Sylvia Plath is credited with the following-
“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.”
Agree or disagree? In other words, how do you feel about this month?
The quote doesn’t resonate with me.
Growing up we started school right after Labor day so August became the back to school shopping time. That was always exciting. There were big sales in downtown Los Angeles that we’d enjoy going to. We found great bargains at Buffums and in the wholesale shopping district.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
We are in full swing with Vacation Bible School this week. I love the theme this year. I’ll share more on Thursday.
Happy August everyone!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Hi Ellen,
I’m sorry to hear about the wildfire smoke. It’s amazing how quickly those beautiful mountain views can disappear. I’ll be praying for rain, for the firefighters, and for everyone affected.
I smiled at your answer about “the world being your oyster.” Those carefree years really do feel full of possibility when we look back. Your photos from Mackinac Island brought back memories too. As someone who’s hoping to visit Florida next year, Key West would probably tempt me, but Catalina certainly looks beautiful.
It’s encouraging to read about your involvement in Vacation Bible School. I love seeing churches invest in children and point them to Jesus while they’re young. I’m looking forward to hearing more about this year’s theme.
Have a blessed week, and I hope those clear blue skies make a welcome return very soon.
Beatific Blessings,
Steve
Your pictures are so neat, Ellen! From the beautiful blue skies to the beach to Mackinac Island- just lovely. Our church is not doing VBS this year due to what we thought would be construction during this time at the church. Construction has not happened due to a series of unfortunate events (the evil one does not want more space- we are convinced of dark forces thwarting the building process but we know that if God wants it to happen, it will!). Anyway, I hope your VBS goes well. Our late summer and fall used to be all about soccer so I get the folded up chairs in the car!
I hope the wildfires are under control soon. The smoke is awful.
Summer is flying by, school starts here for my grandson on August 18th.
Years ago me and a girlfriend took the ferry over to Catalina Island just for the day.
It was a fun day! Take care, enjoy your day!
How wonderful to have clear skies even if it only lasted for a day! The soccer sounds fantastic. I hope all the Grands have a great time. Life was so simple when we were younger with no responsibilities. Fantastic photos from your travels!
…I wish you many blue sky days with rain thrown in for good measure.
I love that you shared the photos of Mackinac Island. They are so fun. 🙂
I also like your memory of the big sales in Los Angeles, I bet that was fun. We would go to the suburbs of Milwaukee to hit the back to school sales. Both my aunts lived in the suburbs of Milwaukee when I was a young girl.
Have a great VBS!!!
xo
I’ve been to Whidbey Island! Gorgeous.
Yesterday we had smoke from the fires. Today, not so much. I do continue to check the news. Enjoyed your “old school” pictures.
I love the photos of Mackinac island that you shared. That’s the one I most want to visit. Glad the air is clearing somewhat from the fires. Hope you’re having a great week!
My middle grandson is playing soccer and baseball this fall and the oldest is all baseball so there will be lots of time on the sport fields. I enjoy it though and am happy to live near enough to see some games. I read a Michael Connelly book set on Catalina Island recently and it made me want to see it in person. My daughter had a mini-moon to the San Juan Islands when she got married and they loved it. Have a great day!
We’ve been having very hot weather the majority of time and sadly smoke filled skies from Western wildfires, so it has not been the best summer.
We visited WhidbeyIsland a few years ago on your suggetion and enjoyed driving around it and having a delicious mussel dinner. We took a cruise around thepretty San Juan Islands, also, on that trip.
Martha’s Vineyard and Key West were favorite places to visit when we lived on the east coast, also the Isles of Shoals located eats of New Hampshire.
Hopefully your air quality and views will improve very soon. It is good to read that someone else loves Mackinac Island. I think the secret to being there is finding a time when there aren’t many tourists – if that exists.
So many people are dealing with those wild fire skies! It’s awful.
Always nice to read your answers and see the photos.
Yes, James will be starting soccer soon too. Love you in those pearls. Like your answer for #3. We were at Mackinac Island in ’72 for our honeymoon. Nice pictures you took. I agree with your answer for #5. How nice you are doing vacation Bible School. Take care.
The VBS theme looks like lots of fun. I’m so sorry to hear about the wildfire smoke!
You know I’m loving those vintage photographs – cheers to the grand memories!
A single day of clear blue skies after a stretch of hazy ones is its own kind of gift — that valley shot with the fluffy clouds is stunning. We’ve learned on the road to grab those bright-sky windows fast, because they never seem to last as long as you’d like. So glad NE Washington handed you a good one.
Hibernation seems to be the theme this summer, with wildfire smoke and ash clouding the skies from east to west. I hope the air is soon clear and healthy! I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun watching the grands play soccer. VBS is always fun and I look forward to hearing about yours!
(My blog feed has been weird this week. Many posts did not show up and now, today, they have come out of hiding. I have a hard enough time keeping up as it is! 🙃)
I hope they get those wildfires contained quickly. You look very elegant in your pearls and all the photos are fun