Monday, January 01, 2007


Here is a reason why coming back to work after a nice time off is so difficult. This is the view off the private beach-side house of my Aunt and Uncle, where we stayed on the Puget Sound island of San Juan in Washington. I almost threw everything to the wind, sold my house - lock, stock and barrel, to move to this paradise (fickle, aren't I?).

We have been feasting upon freshly gathered oysters from Westcott Bay just around the corner, dungeness crab purchased live from the family-owned fish market at Friday Harbor, and plump pink mussels and crabs in buttery dip from the neighboring Lopez Island home of our friends George and Anne.




While exploring Lopez Island we were amazed to come upon these fabulous Highland Cattle from Scottland. They checked us out - even as we marveled at the span of their horns, and their long furry coats.







From a seaward point on Lopez Island, we were thrilled to see this stunning view of Mt. Baker, which is a familiar sight from all over the Puget Sound islands.
The inter-island ferry is how one gets from island to island. This one is shoving off from Lopez.


Finally, we boarded a train in Seattle, and had a leisurely ride home on New Year's Eve - ringing in the New Year whilst chugging along the railroad tracks, with a picture-window view of the lovely moonlit snowy volcano Mt. Shasta.



I'll write more later - but as you can see the crash is inevitable tomorrow when I report back to work.


50 comments:

won tong said...

COME BACK COME BACK WE MISS YOU WHA WHA!

won tong said...

AWESOME PHOTO'S AWESOME FUN... NOW COME BACK! BOO HOO

Trée said...

Incredible photos Terry. I felt I was there. So peaceful looking, so majestic and I loved those cattle.

Autumn Storm said...

Those pictures were almost as good as having tagged along for the trip. :-D Magnificent photos, Terry, of what was very obviously a magnificent trip! So happy to hear that you had such a great time, and that train ride home sounds like a perfect way to ring in the new year.

Doug The Una said...

I'm sorry to hear you went through all that. Hopefully 2007 will be better. Maybe if you go by plane.

:P fuzzbox said...

Great pics. Love those fuzzy cows.

javajazz said...

Doug is funny.

javajazz said...

Welcome back kids!!
i tried to copy that first beautiful
technicolour trees over the
water photo to steal and put on
my computer, much like i have
transported (stolen)
that cute sandpiper bird, who
looks oddly like me, in front of
that orange glowing universe
again by the water....
its my new desktop photo...
hee hee!
wow!
xoxo happy gnu year y'all!
xo lisa

javajazz said...

ps... the Bruboys is comin',
the whole pile of them
to play in town sat/sun.
and 5 19 year olds
will be in my little house
in 2 days!
hellllllllp!
(maybe i'll clean the bathroom
AFTER they go, instead of before!)
i'll get the beer.
that should do it.
maybe coffee.
bri wants me to fly down there
for the Bru festival
in april.
if you think you're scared to fly T,
mannnn, i dont think i can do it!

Doug The Una said...

I may have forgot to say the colors on the top two photos are completely stunning.

Thanks, JJ :)

javajazz said...

i meant every word i said.

jillie said...

With a sky like that? Who wouldn't want to just leave? I know I would. What beautiful pictures Terry...and great story. Sounds like you had a great time. Now it's back to the real world...bummer huh?

Unknown said...

We don't know you, but we live on San Juan Island because we took a trip just like yours 4 years ago! We are island people now, moved here from the SF Bay Area after 60 years and glad of it! We are on vacation all year round and love every beautiful minute of it! You WILL return!

Jean & Charles

Outdoorsy Girl said...

HAPPY 2007! What a wonderful trip! I LOVE that area of Washington. Now you're making me miss it!

Good luck re-entering the workforce tomorrow. Yuck. I face the same fate in the morn. :(

jillie said...

Just had to come and look at these amazing pictures one more time.

Autumn Storm said...

No matter how many times I look at these photos, they are just as gorgeous each time!
Happy Humpday, xoxo

Anonymous said...

so,there is a rental on the island,what do you say???Long underwear is on sale...Fresh Air,blue waters--granted,there can be earthquakes,wind storms,tidal waves,and just good ole winter weather.Oh but the sunrise and sunsets...warm fire ,fresh oysters..xoxogb

javajazz said...

man, i'd go for pretty much everything
but the oysters....!
hi G!!!
(ya i know you were talking to Autumn,
but i'm nosy!!)
next time, i want to talk to your
ear as well as your mouth, by the way!
hi T!!

tsduff said...

Sister Celtic - We want to come back! When's the next Ferry? Man alive, we had the most fabulous time at your place! (not talking about the excess poundage I managed to put on whilst there) :-) Yum. Thanks for the glorious time we had with you. Those pics of the Bear and I gettin down were great :-)

tsduff said...

Trée - Those pics don't even do it justice - I'm no photographer. That sunset was splendid... an ideal for all sunsets. As for the cattle... ha ha we stayed behind the fence. Did you see the size of their HORNS? ;-)

tsduff said...

Hey Autumn - yes, we had a good time. All the way around. I think it had to do with the company as well - seeing my Auntie and Uncle was priceless. They are so dear - it was a trip well taken. That the scenery was so fabulous was an extra special bonus :-)

tsduff said...

Doug - thanks for the condolences. We enjoyed some giant artichokes with the crab... even carrion birds chow down on them :-) Trains are better, trust me.

tsduff said...

Meg - thanks :-) I love to see your sweet face around here. Hope all is well with you - starting the new year all fresh and new is a blessing given to all of us.

tsduff said...

Ah :P Fuzzbox - my funny friend. Those cows were downright hairy
:-D Like Texas Longhorns who need a haircut. Thanks for all the laughs this year - your poetry, although usually "blue" is funny as hell.

tsduff said...

Lisa - yes, Doug can be quite droll.

tsduff said...

Lisa - so you are a sandpiper in another life? Perhaps that is your totem. That sunset was like another world - truly we were in another world while we were there. It is so unspoiled and beautiful there.

tsduff said...

OMG Lisa, you are flying down in April? !!!!!! Oh boy oh boy - I can't wait. Let's see - I'll come pick you up... we'll go to the City San Francisco)... no wait, we'll camp on Mt Diablo... check out the Muir Woods (redwoods on the coast) go to Tomales Bay where we can walk on the beach (they have excellent oysters there I'm told ;-) HO HO HO you can have shrimp instead) oh, we'll hear the boys play live jazz - MAN ALIVE, what did you say??? Get didged before you jump on the plane - that should help :-D Okay Terry, calm down. I need to tell Bri to lean on you... wouldn't it be loverly to see you?????

tsduff said...

Doug - isn't it amazing that a cheap digital camera can record such an amazing sight? I'm still pinching myself to see if it was real!

tsduff said...

Lisa - I know you always mean what you say.

tsduff said...

Jillie - actually it was an amazing real world up there for a few short days... so pristine and unspoiled. sigh. But this reality bites - work is really like death and taxes. It just keeps happening. Yeah, bummer!

tsduff said...

Jean - How completely exciting to hear from you! We dream of moving away from here, to a world where life is much slower and peaceful. I've been visiting my Auntie and Uncle on San Juan Island for more than 20 years, and the pull to move there has almost become intolerable! My Sweetie is ready and willing - now if only I can tie up some little nagging financial matters, we might just wind up there. I'm game.

tsduff said...

Happy Hump Day right back Autumn :-) Hope your day/night was not too busy at work. I'm about to get even more buried here at work because it is tax form time... I'll be here on weekends before too long trying to get them all done. Love to hear how you are doing. Why is it that the only time one gets to relax is on magical, whirlwind trips that are way too short? Then it is back to the same ole same ole grind. sigh.

tsduff said...

Sweetie - the sunsets, the clean crispy air, the birds, the oysters.. fires on the beach.. all of it would be nothing without you. I'm ready. Let's go. Tonight.

tsduff said...

Lisa - you know, oysters taste yummy - I promise!

tsduff said...

From Jeanne:

Happy new year!
I've been trying to comment on your blog for two days, but I can't open it without causing our computer to lock up and/or shut down.
I wanted to say that the first picture has the quality of an Alfred Hitchcock film, almost like a viewmaster scene. From me that is quite a compliment. I love that larger than life feeling.

tsduff said...

Jeanne - you are so kind with your comments. I love Alfred Hitchcock films, and I thank you for your view. Sorry you are having troubles with my site. Blogger is quite fickle at times, and more than once I've been tempted to ...scratch that... I HAVE screamed!!! Chin up at work - take extra good care of yourself, you hear?

javajazz said...

oops, maybe the Great Bear was talking
to Terry...sorry, i'm all confused!
anyhoo,
i think oysters taste
really odd,
they scare me
but most food does anyway
cuz i'm insane...

did i say i was flying to anywhere?
my son is already "vibing" me
cuz i'm being all neurotic...
not only about travelling
but having company
and trying to figure out
where to put everyone
(including myself)
and where to put stuff
so theres room for everyone.
i was NOT a hostess
in another lifetime
i was a selfish eccentric
hermit set in her ways...
plus i think my totem
is mouse.
not quite sure why...
tho that sandpiper kind of
looked like me,
all squished and teeny.

hey, full moon, man!

flying..whew, cant do it...
i'd need to get
more than didged
to get on a plane
at this point...
pretty much
everything weirds me out.
tho i do like walking on beaches
and peaceful beautiful places....

ps, i notice
you guys keep talking about
carrion birds...
i saw this on Doug's site as well,
whilst i was snooping about...
well, i just want to say,
i didn't think they allowed them
on the plane anymore...
i think you have to check them in
with your luggage now...
not sure,
you'll have to check
with your airlines...

ya, if i got anywhere near
the you know what festival,
Terry town is waaaay too close
for me to not visit...!

Doug The Una said...

Artichokes and crab? Bless your heart. How you've suffered. Is there anything I can do?

tsduff said...

OD - so nice to see that smiling avatar of yours - I like it. Happy New Year to you. Man Alive - I saw your list of states you went to this past 2006... awesome! Washington is one of the top best spots for me here in the states... I was amazed to see such beauty right here in my homeland. What kind of job is that you have, letting you get all that lovely time off to travel? I'm jealous!!!!!! SO, how was your back to work today? :-D

tsduff said...

Okay Lisa - so take the train! My sweetie found an Amtrak for $400 to Martinez... not too far from this part of the world :-) I'll have the artichokes and crab ready. Oh, and btw - I didn't see any of that lovely hair flying around on the sandpiper - couldn't possibly be you. How would you hold your flute? :-)

tsduff said...

Actually Doug, there is. Would you please pass the melted butter this way?

Thomas J Wolfenden said...

And of course you went by train!

Is there any other way to travel?

javajazz said...

no hair on the sandpiper?
it must have blown away
on the beach.
now i'm just a short squat
funny little hairless thing.
its best to go unadorned
in my golden years, i reckon.
who's gonna hold the flute?
2 answers...
1. my butler
2. i am the flute.
3. its time for coffee
and fine tuning
before 4 19 yr olds arrive.
i have cleaned out my bedroom
but i'm having second thoughts
about having smelly teens
inhabit my sacred space...
maybe i'll grab a hotel room somewhere....
so much for being a graceful hostess...
(helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllp)

Autumn Storm said...

Morning Terry, queen of boogie, you. :-D Hope your day is a good one, x

won tong said...

WELL CATCH THE NEXT FERRY AND RIDE LOPEZ ICE CREAM IS WAITIN FOR YA!

Minka said...

Wow, that is one vacation and Holiday I wouldnæt mind being on. The first picture takes teh crown though. The colours, it almost made me pack!

Agnes said...

Ahhhh....Terry, visiting your blog is always like a peaceful trip to far-away lands. I can drift off into a dream every time. :) Love the pics. I'll go halfzies on the beachfront property. Let's just throw it all to the wind and become new, peaceful, relaxed people. hee hee
Hugs and love from here to there.
Aggie

jillie said...

Good morning Terry...not to worry. I didn't drink all the wine, in fact, I haven't even opened it. That one is saved for a VERY special occasion. It was a gift from my friend that they brought from France and it's too hard to find here. Maybe if I lived in NYC I could get a wine broker to get it. But I'll tell you one thing...I just can't wait. My taste buds are watering even this early in the day!

Anonymous said...

go for it ,post the dance series,My,queen of booogie.(pda)I LOVE YOU gb

Kyahgirl said...

I love the pictures you show! The San Juan islands are so lovely. I would love to live on Orcas!