Pelican Reache

We always think we need to name everything.  Our cars have their own names, like our gold Tundra truck is called Golda and my last red Prelude was named Roseee.  So naturally, our new abode in
Desert Aire is known by Pelican Reache.

When we first came here, I saw my first pelican floating by our beach, and that set me on my lifetime quest for pelicans.  One day, we got in our new, to us, boat, that is named Mariah, because that is actually the brand name, and we went with it.  I have already blogged some shots I have taken of pelicans, but we did go after a group of pelicans on our Priest Rapids Lake, and got some more shots.

Well, the big group of them are back at Horn Rapids Dam where the Yakima River is diverted for irrigation, and also where the Pelis hang out for fish migration season.  We just love to look at them, admiring their uniqueness and they are much larger than we imagined!

But, I didn't really start this blog to talk about Pelicans, but I did want to write about what else we do here.

There are three groups of residents here at Desert Aire:

1.  Is the Boaters, and Waterbabies.  That is what we are.  We live on the edge of the Columbia River or, as close to the PUD land as possible.

2.  The Golfers, whose backyards are next to the golf course.  They ride around  in shiny, new golf carts, and of course, go to the "Club", and golf.

3.  Are the Airport people.  They have hangars, where they keep their airplanes, and are backed by the airstrip, our little airport.

So, when my coastal friends ask me what do I do out here all day, I am dedicating this blog to them.
If we want to go shopping, or to a mall, we drive 40  or so miles to the Tri Cities.

We are also close to Ellensburg, where we go to Central Washington University's musicals, or their community theater.  Yakima has a wonderful symphony orchestra (YSO).

We are exactly halfway between Spokane and Seattle, so if I need my Swedish doctors, I can get there.  Our Mattawa Community Medical Clinic, which had doctors and a pharmacy are 5 miles away, so we are set!

That is what most mothers tell their children when they are hanging out, saying they are bored.

That is what I tell my friends that wonder what we can do all day, now that we are retired in Desert Aire.  Desert Aire is a resort community on the Columbia River.  I have been here for two years, and have found many activities and new friends our age.  There is the Bible Study group, the Garden club, and the Book Club.  We do read books that are on lists for such clubs, and I just finished one I liked so much called the Lady Bug Farm, that I ordered the next one in the series.  We do have a new book scheduled, which I will begin next week.

One of the books was The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, was especially interesting, however most of the club ladies were gone for the winter, and the rest hadn't finished it.  It took a lot of perseverance to read that book, because of going back to several time eras.

OOps! I thought it was a Taser, not a gun!

I am appalled at the news.  It seems like the Police and their Volunteers don't know the power of their weapons.  I am not a fanatical cause person, but these accidental killings, even if the Killee is a guilty person, has to be stopped.  These are professional, trained persons that are our protectors, but they must know how to stop for a few extra seconds, to know what their impulsive training really means.


Our achievement tests, SATS, IQ, entrance exams, etc. are all geared towards speed, and those that just have fast reflexes, and don't thing things through.  Those that can think that fast, are brilliant, but others that wait another second or 2 to make sure there is not an alternate plan, are just as smart, but not as competitive.  I know that exams for certain jobs are required, and some, that are very qualified for the job are overlooked, because they didn't work as fast as others, and may not have finished the exam on time.  Even though they may have more insight and knowledge than those who have zipped through the exam.  There are now other methods of testing. and that is good.


Therefore, our future policemen, and those that look after us, will hopefully have many new ways of testing to choose their employees.  Impulsiveness should not be rewarded.  Their should not be time limits set for any test.  Yes, we need fast reaction times, but not at the expense of stopping that extra second or 2 to think through your mission.

Spring!

This is the lovely Lovely Bouquet that Son Jeff &Susan sent from Royal City.  It is very amazing to me, and it is still beautiful today.  It has white godeia, yellow tulips, iris, hyacinth and pussy willows!   A work of art, and it makes me very happy to see and have flowers!

I will try to add the floral arrangement I made for the altar at church, if I can find it in my collection of photos for my blog.  Goody, I picked the right one!  It was made from all the flowers from the
church Ladies gardens .  I did have a fabulous birthday, and Spring flowers and Wind Mill steak dinners always make me happy.  My cake, made by John, is my absolute favorite!!  White cake, boiled egg white frosting and coconut!  Ummm!  Back to Miracle Soup tomorrow.

!

 

It's My Birthday, and I'll Cry if I want to!

It seems like the 9's in the decade ages, right before there  is a major change a year from now, is

not cheery to me.  No matter how old I get, it does not make me feel any better.

So this is a Lamentful blog.  I do get to go out to dinner, and John made be my favorite cake, and

GOOGLE even wished me a Happy Birthday!I think it is shaping up to be a pretty nice weather day.

I even got  HBD wishes from my relatives, so I am not complaining.  

I did one job of cleaning and pick-up and 2 loads of wash, letting the sheets dry in the fresh spring air, so now I get to sit and read until we leave for dinner!  We are going to the Wind Mill in Wenatchee for dinner, which is one of my favorite places in the whole world!  So the day itself is

promising to be a good one.  I just have feelings of gloom now and again.  I am not able to get into the water yet, because it isn't warm enough.  I imagine by May, it should be warm enough.  I am

not only not getting any younger, I am not getting any thinner, either.  So I have started the Miracle Soup Diet.  If that doesn't do the job, it is starvation next.  I do like the soup, and I have made up my first batch of it.  I do think it is time for my first bowl now, so good-bye and I hope you like your birthdays better than I do today.

Onion Wine

Easter Dinner was a work of art, if I do say so myself.  It is too bad we didn't share my ham
covered in pineapples and brown sugar, and my scalloped potatoes bathed in cream, butter, cheese

and sliced onions covered with more grated cheddar cheese.  I also added sliced tomatoes to a green
salad, topped with ranch salad dressing.  I was glad we didn't have company when I left my mess.
The whole kitchen was looked like a cyclone hit it, and it was waiting for John to clean up.

After we ate, and I was involved in "The Good Wife", John got up to clean.  The one that cooks
doesn't do dished.  After loading the dish washer, he put the finishing touches on putting the food away by adding the onion slices to the tomato plate, putting it in the fridge uncovered.  He then put
his untouched glass of wine next to it.

The next day, he got out his wine and said euwe!  this tastes like onion!  We laughed and decided to call it Onion Wine!  In memory of our Easter.

Blood Moon

Saturday, April 4, there was a beautiful Lunar Eclipse, or Blood Moon.
After going to bed at 8:00 p.m., I was able to jump up at 4:30 AM and watch it slowly disappear in the shadow of the Earth. (umbra)Usually, I am not one to get up like this, but it was well worth the
display.

My husband John took the photo, and it was exquisite. The night was clear, and the moon was right
above our priest rapids lake on the Columbia River.  I will now display his photo, but seeing it live was
a sight at God's Majesty.