Kingston, Day 3

Marilyn tightened up the weaving on my basket and redid the top (because once the weaving was tighter, there were gaps at the top). She said it was really good for a first effort, which is nice to hear. It has the potential to be another obsessive activity for me. Once I start, it's easy to just keep going, step by step.

Hail, from Kingston, WA, day 3. It's been a great day.

One of the things I really wanted to do while here was to get to Port Townsend to see and hear Bruce Bode at his church, Quimper Unitarian Universalist. I checked the schedule on the website, and it only when through May, so there was no guarantee that he'd be speaking the next couple of Sundays. Therefore, I got myself ready and drove to Port Townsend this morning. Quimper has two services of a Sunday morning, one at 9:15, and one at 11:15. I arrived about 9:45, and the early service was still going on. I thought, "That doesn't sound like Bruce." I asked to make sure that I hadn't misread the times of the services, and one of the ushers told me, "He's just running a bit long. The next service starts at 11:15." So Remy and I had a short walk, I met a couple of people, signed the guestbook, and got myself a name tag.

During the service, there is a time for welcoming guests. Bruce comes down the aisle with the microphone and brings it to visitors so they can tell a bit about themselves. When he saw me, he was surprised, and we ended up having a very quick little chat right there in the service about getting together later. He was due back at a Family Camp event right after the service, so we exchanged numbers and will try to get together tomorrow or Tuesday. (As it turns out, it didn't sound like him because his voice was worn out from various activities at Camp.) The drive to Port Townsend from Kingston is not long, and it is very lovely and relaxing, so I don't mind heading back up there.

After the service, Remy and I had a lovely meal at Cafe Laurette in Port Townsend, then drove back to Dick and Nancy's, where I helped Nancy with some baking -- a real pleasure since I don't bake anymore - and then we got ready for their evening activity, a group of singers who potluck for an hour or so and then sing for an hour or so. This was their final gathering of the season, so there were lots of requests for favorite songs. The sopranos appeared to outnumber the altos, so I sang alto. It was also handy because Nancy was singing tenor and was able to sit next to me and share her music. It was a really lovely, fun group of people; and the gathering was held at the gorgeous home of Mel and Kathy. Mel took the time to tell me a little bit about the structure. Many of the timbers used in the floor and moldings came from maple trees that had been on the property before the area was cleared for the house. There is also a Russian or Finnish fireplace, an enormous structure designed for efficient use of firewood to heat the home. The outside was covered with soapstone to conduct heat into the house.

People keep asking me how long I'm staying. I tell them I don't know. It depends on Dick and Nancy, when I will visit Rob & family, and what else I might want to do in the area. I do love it here.

We'll see.