A Visit to Ballard~

Butch heading over to his construction trailer~

It was a wet, rainy day in the City & everywhere else in Western, WA too...   I had to get up early...  to accompany Butch to his job site in Ballard.  I'd been wanting to go down & see how the self-storage building was progressing from the almost empty lot that I'd seen in Sept.

From across the street~

As you can tell from the photos, things have changed a lot!

Working in the rain~

The building will be five stories when completed, with a drive through at ground level.  It's always amazing to see a building going up - especially if it's one my husband is doing.

Looking down the front~

This day though - was one filled with sadness...   Later in the morning we attended the funeral of the owner of one of the sub-contracting companies that Sea Con has used for many years.  I'd only met Terry a couple times, but with the first warm handshake, I knew that all the things I'd heard about this man had to be true.  His personal warmth, character, caring attitude & life filled with the love of his family & many friends... cut way too short at only 58...

We were part of a 50 car procession that took us from the Holy Apostles Creek Orthodox Church in Shoreline, to the graveside service at Lake View Cemetery on Capitol Hill, non-stop.  Six motor-cycle police officers escorted the motorcade several miles through heavy traffic & stormy weather, without incident.  (Many people honoring the tradition of pulling to the side of the road as the procession passed.)  At the gate - the officers stood by their bikes & saluted as we entered - bringing tears to my eyes...

We all stood in the wind & rain, listening to the words of comfort - our hearts & minds full of the memories of a man who left his indelible stamp on all who had the honor of knowing him.  Rest in Peace, Terry...

Coming to Terms ~

Rascal & Mischief watch a pair of Seagulls

The going has been tough - each day a struggle.  I cancelled Cassidy's ride on Farah in the Snohomish Easter parade.  After months of being stalled, I felt that she's just too full of energy to be a reliable mount for our young Granddaughter - inexperienced at riding, in a parade setting with all the noise & commotion.  Instead, we worked at home all day on Sat.  Butch burnt the brush pile that had been accumulating all winter & cleaned out his truck.  I raked up at the top of the woods, finishing the last trail.  We both hauled more of the debris from the storms down & burned it too.  We sat out & watched the fire during the nicest evening we've had so far this year.

Butch & Mischief

Easter Sunday, both our girls had plans with the "other" Grandparents, we could have fit in by doing a morning brunch, but I couldn't motivate myself, knowing that they wouldn't have had time to spend the day & that it would have been more hectic than restful.  Instead, we put the Beagles in the back seat, stopped for breakfast on the way & drove to Whidbey Is.  It's been our favorite "get-away" for almost 30-years.  Close enough that we can do the drive & still have time to relax.    We hiked the beach for a couple miles, enjoying the sunshine, breeze & smell of salt air.  We stopped a couple times to watch boats going by & I found several small agates.  

A pair of Seagulls flew circles overhead, then settled on a rock just off shore.   Something made me think of Rowdy & Kitt, maybe they were letting us know that they were near...  We stayed until late in the day.  A week since Kitt's passing.  On the drive home, Rascal came up front & laid down in my lap.  He somehow knew that I needed him...