Follow up

Well, here I am again. We are back from Ocean shores. Wed we spent the day doing stuff for me and Leroy gave up a day of fishing.   We went to the beach, they have a mile of dog leash beach, and we had a blast.  Iris never goes in the water but there was a shallow area tide pool and Sallee was going into it fetching her toy.  Then the toy sunk and she couldn't find it.  Off came my shoes and up rolled the pant legs and into the water i went.  Then i was calling the dogs into the water and Sallee happily came.  Well Iris who never goes into the water couldn't stand Sallee having all the fun and treats and she got brave and jumped in.  Pretty soon i had them both swimming over and back until poor Sallee just looked at me like i can't make it this time.  It took quite a while but i finally tired them down.  We took them home and then went to rain forest they have here. It is 123 acres that was donated to the city.  It is a landlocked rain forest with miles and miles of trails.  We walked for quite awhile and finally gave it up.  We have spent lots of time looking at property here just to get an idea of what is out there and what things cost.  After lunch we went to the small arcade and played miniature golf.  They have two really good and cute courses.  After all that we headed home.
Thurs Jeff and his friend and friends mother came to see us.  I was washing clothes and Jeff helped me finish.  Good thing as the top dryers were to high for me to get the clothes out of.    We went to lunch, his friend paid, and then went to the arcade and not only played a round of golf and some arcade games but we did water bumper cars.  That was fun. Then we went to the beach after they left to go home and we ran the dogs.  It was really windy so Leroy suggested we try my kite again.  Well, guess what, i got my two string not only up by myself but flew it for quite a while.  I am starting to learn control and am working on straight lines back and forth.  Then I will start on a box shape.  Leroy flew it for a while and had it doing all sorts of things.  i thought i did OK and nothing that day had bothered my menieres.  BUT, that nite I had a doezy of a meniers attach and i have been fighting it ever since.  I never even thought about that being a problem.
We left the beach on Fri afternoon, intending to be back for an agility trial in Monroe that weekend.  Well, we made it, but problem was, it was the wrong weekend.  We missed it by one.   So, what to do, what to do.  Go to the casino and stay for the weekend, called whidbey and our friend said fort Casey was full, what to do, what to do?  Well, how about stay here for the weekend.  Leroy loves the sat nite races, fairgrounds is almost free and there is always something to do.  So fairgrounds it was. We set up and then had supper.  Well, we had FRESH CRAB we had gotten before we left by the friend we met.  OMG was it good, so we had a crab salad for supper at 9 pm and then CRASH.
We are now at the fairgrounds.  Nothing fancy but hey, it works.  Today we ran errands and that is where  Leroy found and bought that silly deal to make his iPhone louder. Actually it does work.  He paid .96cents for it and we have had that much fun out of it. He then went over to the races when we came home. He only has to walk over. He goes early so he can watch the time trials.  I took the car and the dogs and went over by a little lake and walked on their trails. It is beautiful. The day turned out to be warm and sunny and during our walk it clouded over and you could just see the rain coming in. But we got a couple of miles in.
We try to walk the dogs about 4 miles/day  which we succeed in doing 50-70% of the time. But we make 2 miles at least 90% of the time. It is usually broken up in 2-3 walks a day.
So we will probably head back to the island on sun afternoon or Mon am.  We would like to get in at Ft Casey but we will see.
We have been busy organizing our photos and info for little flat Maysen as we want to get him back fairly soon. It sure has been fun having him with us.
As I sit here, i hear the races near me, not very far away.  Good thing we are flexible travelers, or this would be difficult for most people.
Oh hey, we saw a camper today in Monroe, specially built, looked like a metal pig.  Pretty unique and caused many honks and waves.  He was sitting by me at the light.

PS

I must share and will add the picture.  Our little Ella bird has taken a liking to Iris.  She tries to go up and touch her toes and then last nite she decided she would sit on her back and preen her fur and bury herself in the hair.  It was so funny.  Iris wasn't sure what was happening but when she saw it she just said, oh well.

whew

Its been a busy couple of days.  Sat we slept late and then went to ocean shores and mailed some letters, other business stuff and errands.  Took the dogs to the beach and met a dog named Gustav.  he is an Old English bulldog which is different than a bulldog.  quite the fellow but he was to tired to run with Iris which made her sad and then down right pissed off because he got every ones attention and not her.  It was pretty funny.  Then we came home and Leroy dumped me and the dogs and went back to town to meet a guy we met at the interpretive center to go fishing.  He was gone 4 hours, didn't catch anything that was big enough to keep but he learned a lot from the guy and had a great time.  Came home all smiles and talkative.  While i was at home i sat in the sun and watched a episode of the quilt show and then did some sewing.  I made two of my superior class kits and had a nice day and was just finishing up when Leroy came home.  So we both had good days. We really enjoy Ocean Shores and with each place we are we write down pros and cons, to help us know what we are really looking for.  Like I think i already said, we like the idea of this town, the layout, the way it is geared to outdoor living, the way it is easy to get around, the way it is flat and great for biking and walking, and the fact it is cheapppppp.  You can get a really nice modest clean and newish home for very low prices. So it helps us know what we are looking for, whether here or wherever it clarifies our goals better.  That's what we have wanted to do.  Look, learn, check prices, what you get for prices relatively, and what places have to offer that we need and want and like.
Today we met the same guy on the beach at 8am.  He gave me lessons on the beach rocks and tide pools and the life there and i learned oodles. I held sea anemones, star fish, learned how to find beach jade and jasper and moon rock agates and petrified wood, and sea glass.  So did Maysen but he was too cold to take pictures of today and to windy so he only saw a little bit.  We did pick up some beach treasures with him to take home.  Leroy fished and still didn't catch anything big enough but he had a wonderful time.  Then at 11 we came back to the resort and had the cinnamon rolls we ordered, Delicious.  Then a quick clean up and we went up to Port Garnier to an Indian potlach.  44 different  tribes from the west coast, Hawaii to Canada came in their canoes.  Then they come ashore and have a potlach for days where the tribes get together and visit and share cultural stories and share things.  its very cool and only happens here every 10 years.  We decided we wanted to check it out so we went down and got in on it, from seeing the boats to eating with them.  It was quite the experience and they respect their Elders so we got treated like royalty.  We had elk and crab and some of the greatest fry bread you can imagine.  Came home stuffed.  All that both days was interspersed with at least three walks a day of 1 1/2 to 2 miles each with the dogs. Leroy got a tshirt but i got a blanket today which came in handy when it was time to come home.  It was cold, windy, misty all day long and on the beach you really feel it. We saw native dances, songs, drumming, art, etc. All in all it was quite an experience which is probably a once in a lifetime deal.  To be included in a traditional potlach is pretty special. A lot of times they will simulate one at Indian culture centers or deals, but its rare to be included in the real deal.  Came home tired but invigorated from the weather and all we saw and experienced.
As i said Maysen stayed in the car cause it was cold and windy and wet so he got in on a bit but mostly watched from the car.When Maysen came out here  we got him surgery and he got a back bone, then he broke his backbone and we had to have a second surgery to fuse it but he is doing well and seems to feel fine tho days like today are a bit hard for him.  You know, the weather and all.  But he watched from the car and we took pictures for him so he will take them home with him.  Leroy wishes he could stay with us a long time he so enjoys showing the world to him.