On Saturday of Labor Day weekend we left our home bright and early and headed east over the Cascades on highway 2.

We stopped at Apple Annies in Cashmere for breakfast at the 50’s Diner and then shopped through the huge antique mall. After breakfast we connected to Highway 97 north to Tonasket. We enjoyed views of the Columbia River as we rolled along.

Reaching Tonasket we turned off the highway in search of Jim’s Ranch. We were celebrating Jim and Sherri’s marriage with a country barbecue reception. Jim and Sherri were married in Seattle on August 25th but wanted a casual country reception, too, at Jim’s Ranch in Tonasket. We were happy to make the drive and enjoyed our time with some of their family and neighbors. The neighbors arrived on their 4 wheelers since properties aren’t that close together. Jim and Sherri’s ranch is 270 acres. Oh and by the way Sherri has been my hairdresser for several years now.

After a few hours of enjoying good food and conversation we said our goodbyes and continued east along highway 20 to Colville to spend the rest of the long weekend with our kids. This leg of our journey was about 2 hours. We arrived at their place just as they pulled in from an afternoon of boating on Lake Roosevelt.

We had dinner together and enjoyed some Addy time before we all hit the sack early because we would have an early start on Sunday.

Our daughter in law and her mom had signed up for the Country Roads half marathon which started at 7am on Sunday. Thankfully this was a day where the smoke levels weren’t hazardous and the event could go on. I was in the support vehicle for Jamie, Linda and Addy. Jamie carried Addy in her front pack for half the event.

As I drove ahead to wait for them at different mile posts I enjoyed country scenes and some critters, too.

I’m not sure what those larger furry animals are beyond these goats.

I waited at the entrance to Douglas Falls Grange Park for Jamie, Linda and Addy. At this point I would take Addy off Jamie’s hands and head back to the finish line. While waiting I enjoyed the falls and a talk with the Ranger.

Then these folk and their buggy came along and we enjoyed a bit of conversation, too, before they headed off.

Back at the finish line Addy’s daddy met us and we waited for mommy and Addy’s other grandmother to complete their first half marathon walk. Jamie’s Uncle and Aunt were at the finish line, too, with some flowers for their big accomplishment.

Back at home you can see that Addy survived quite nicely and still had energy to jump up and down while gramps held on tight.

Time will tell if I manage to do any link-ups with this post.

I’m happy to report that today Friday the 8th of September it has just started raining here in the Puget Sound area. We are so happy to see those raindrops and hope they will wash away the smoke and ash. Speaking of ash, we left our windows open while we were away last weekend until Wednesday so we are in the process of doing a thorough vacuuming at this old house. We are vacuuming screens windows, window sills, furniture, and floors. Yikes, that soot settled everywhere. I’m getting my exercise in today. Hope you are having a good Friday.

We are keeping all the folk in the path of Irma on our hearts and minds and especially in our prayers. Stay safe friends.