Welcome to the July 2004 BLOG.

July 31, 2004

This from Linda and John:

Dear Friends and Family, We are getting ready to head south, although by a very circuitous route. After Inger and Frank left for another few days at Denali, Roger and Anita joined us and we went to a few places we hadn't been before, and some old favorites. Of course we stopped at Tenakee for two days to enjoy the hot springs and just hang out. Unfortunately, this time there were no kind boaters or fishing boats at the dock to offer us crab (we had been given 18 Dungeness crab, total, at last count on the previous trip), so we made do with nachos and spaghetti until we could come in contact with some seafood. Our next stop was Warm Springs on Baranof Island. There is a pretty big water fall at the head of the bay and you could see salmon leaping up and a seal putting it's head high out of the water looking for them!

Our first night there we rafted to another Grand Banks, and there were nine huge fishing boats rafted four deep all around us. The opening for a day of salmon fishing was the next day. We talked to various fishermen and later, while we were sitting on the boat, there came a knock on the door and there was one of the fishermen with a bag of four huge frozen salmon (beheaded and gutted, luckily!). The next day we thawed them just a bit to separate them into individual salmon and put three back in the freezer. We baked fourth salmon using Mom and Barb's marinade on half, and butter and lemon on the other. If anyone wants the recipe, let me know, it was great!! The next night we had salmon cakes and the next day at lunch, salmon burgers!! By this time we were looking for crab.

At Warm Springs there are three hot spring pools in succession above the waterfall, on the river below the lake. The first pool is about 125 degrees F, the second cooler (maybe 105), and the third a bit cooler. There are also two tiny places (just enough room for one person, really) right beside the raging river, that are cooler still. We went up in the evening and spent time in the pools. I didn't walk around much because it was very rocky, but it was fun to be sitting there in the warm water listening to the eagles screech and the water roar.

We had totally flat seas the next day, all the way to Tracy Arm Cove, where we stayed that night, and the weather was high clouds and sunny. We saw whales. Lots of whales; literally tons of whales. Humpbacks. They breached, they put their tails up, they flapped their pectoral fins. We were surprised to find them sleeping on the surface as we motored along - a couple of times we initally thought they were logs! One sleeping giant (if I may plagerize) woke up with a snort, swam away and then breached two times leaping high out of the water. How do such big animals do that?? He then flapped pectorals for awhile before he dove. We were so close we could see his blow holes quite clearly.

There were more iced bergs at Tracy Arm when we went up to look at the glacier, compared to the first time we were there this spring. There was a huge ice flow in front of the glacier, made of big bergs and flat ice, and it kept us from getting as close as we had previously. It was an amazing site, maybe 1 1/2 miles from the glacier thick with ice. We anchored again that night at Tracy Arm Cove, and saw a little black bear on the beach. That was the beach just next to the one next to where I had been walking Cody for the evening!!

At Taku we prevailed upon a friendly crabber to put our crab pot down, but no luck. We finally did get crab, and great ones, too, from a crabbing boat on the dock in Juneau, but had to visit a restuarant to get king crab. We saw people who had those, though. One has to be an Alaska resident to catch them, and you are allowed 20 per family per season.

That's about it. We had one adventure in Juneau - Cody almost got eaten by pit bulls! We were walking in the woods and John said, "pick up Cody," just as woman said, "please pick up your dog." She was living on the beach with her three kids (hopefully for the summer, only) and her two pit bulls were loose. I held Cody and slowly rotated as first the big dog, then the smaller of the two dogs circled me, snapping upward, and Cody growled (not too smart - he forgets he's a poodle, and small at that). The woman followed the dogs around me, and the kids followed her, until both dogs were caught. Then they fought about who had let them loose. Cody was still growling as we walked away.

Better go. John is at the boat having the oil changed and it's time for lunch. Miss you all.
Love,
Linda, John and Cody

July 30, 2004

JAKE 
Jake is in town!

P.S. Ann's birthday is the second of August!

July 27, 2004

A lot of the family is still in town sorting things out after Alene's funeral. We were going to picnic on the beach yesterday, but there was an influx of very annoying small bees. So we grilled in the backyard, and that worked just fine.

BR: Heidi, Darcie, Paul, David, Ann, Bob, Dick, Randy
FR: Anna, Barbara, Evelyn, Laura, Marlene

Bet you can't guess what's happening, here?

July 23, 2004

Writing from Dick's. Alene's funeral is today. RIP
Dick is still under Dr's orders to take it very easy, so we're doing just that. He does seem to be mending nicely after having had a cardiac catheterization, and angioplasty.

Up early today to get this picture. New yacht moving from Marina/builder to Dakota Industries for testing and water trials before shipment. About a million dollars a foot to constuct, we are told. Four stories tall and over 120 feet long. I'll have to track down the rest of the specs.

July 21, 2004

Whoa!
Dick gets an angiogram - Ann goes to TX - Evelyn goes to The Canyon -
Dick is resting comfortably. My Ann darling has arrived at her hotel. Evelyn helps celebrate Emma's birthday. These are busy times.
My dad continues to remain stable and upbeat, w/o lithium. Frances is in Manistee, MI, vacationing with her daughter at the Lakeshore Inn. Boy, I miss that place. Over the last twenty years or so, I was there at least fifteen times. Great summers!

Garage sale photos are: HERE 

July 17, 2004

Aunt Alene, Laura's sister, has succumbed to pancreatic cancer, after a relatively (less than a year) brief bout. We are relieved that her suffering was short, and she will be sorely missed.

Laura, one might recall, is Bob Smock's brother Dick's wife. For those of you keeping track, Dick is also my father in law.

Speaking of my Dad, what a difference since he got off lithium. He has been a much more normal sort of fellow, these last few days. Yay!

Evelyn has spent a week at Lang's Horse Camp, a regular riding experience for the last several years. Those photos may be found
HERE 
Strangely enough, she carried this small doll with her, everywhere?

July 12, 2004

Late in the day, to be sure. A front yard picture would reveal that the scooter was ridden today, (the cover is off) and that the top is down on the Saab, indicating that it was also in service, this day. What fun! Great weather, here in the Pacific N'West!
This has been a well kept secret. However, once Jacob gets here, in a few weeks, that secret will be out. We here in the San Juan Islands, don't get the Seattle Rains! However, as I was indoctrinated early on, we don't let that particular secret out!
Therefore, you are heretofore sworn to secrecy!
Just say, 'YEAH, it rains all the time. . .'

July 11, 2004

Evelyn's birthday party a success! Sunny and fair. Waterslide, dunking for apples, general mayhem and a lot of screaming.
See it all,
HERE 

July 10, 2004

Forgot to mention that a JULY PICTURES page is now available.
Hoping for nice weather and warm temps today; Evelyn's birthday party with her friends is happening in the backyard.
While considering the ramifications of writing a more 'real life' type blog (i.e. not simply all the 'good' life and happy snapshots type) it dawns on us that we are neglecting to mention another life/death situation that is occurring right here in Anacortes. Namely, Laura's sister Alene is succumbing to pancreatic cancer. This has been pretty fast moving, having only been diagnosed within the last two years. Last one year, we think. It was inoperable when discovered, and Alene is due to leave us, within a few days. This is the DR's best guess at survival time, and we know from experience that these estimates may vary to some extant.

July 09, 2004

Dad's life is a series of ups and downs, perhaps more pronounced than what the rest of us might consider 'normal' ups and downs. His downs now mean being unable to communicate, feed himself or get dressed. Fortunately, these are not too frequent - yet. During his up periods he can do all those things, but is still pretty deaf, and unable to remember recent events. Like what he just told you, or did yesterday. Sometimes remembering things like how to set the thermostat or work the telephone are beyond his scope.

July 04, 2004

Happy Independence Day. Boom.

We have decided to address a real life issue, if this is to be a real life BLOG. If you do not agree with this notion, it would behoove you to let us know?

The issue in question would be Dad Smock's health. At age 79, he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's for over ten years. 'Bi polar', or manic depressive (if you prefer) for over thirty years. The Alzheimers component (as they are now calling it) to his Parkinson's, for about five years. The bottom line? His short term memory loss (along with these other issues) is beginning to seriously affect the quality of his daily living. Let alone what it might be doing to Fran's.

July 03, 2004

Pictures from the trip to Michigan are posted. Click
HERE to find them.