April in Manzanita

     We made two trips to Manzanita in April.  We joined John and Rose at a small place called the Red Door that doesn't take dogs.  This was the first time we have left Miss Mutt Leigh.  She stayed next door.  Neighbor Janet was certain that 13-pound Mutt Leigh and 85- pound Arnold would get
along just fine.  They did, after Miss M. nipped Arnold in the ankle to show him who is boss.

Josh fuels up

Sailor jacks

   It was busy long weekend.  John and Rose's grandchildren were there for spring break.  They continued the sand design work they had begun in February.  Josh says he can't wait until my grandsons get to Manzanita in August. "They will be good labor," he says.  We all marveled at the thousands of blue Vellella vellela that had washed up on the sand.  Some people call them Japanese men-o-war; Judy calls them sailor jacks.
    I cleaned the library cottage, and visited with old library friends while I washed windows.  When Judy picked me up after an afternoon's cleaning, she was too weak to come in from the car.  So our old friends clamored out to the driveway and hung around the car visiting with her.

Janet with Carter

   Rose and I checked out 3 of the houses that family members have rented for our West Coast reunion in August.  Judy and I had planned to stay Sunday night in the house of my friend Linda, who had kindly offered to let us stay there in August.  Linda's house has spectacular views, and meets all the restrictions and requirements that we have: flat, easy access to the house and a bedroom on the first floor; great views for Judy to enjoy while she rests; welcoming to Mutt Leigh, and close to the houses the rest of the family has rented.  After several weeks of searching I couldn't find a rental that met our needs. Linda's offer was a godsend.  Unfortunately, her husband smokes a pipe constantly.  The purpose of our staying at Linda's on a Sunday night in April was to test whether Judy would be bothered by the residual smell of pipe smoke.  We lasted only fifteen minutes in Linda's house before the smoke began to bother all of us. So we hightailed  it back to the Red Door, schlepped our belongings back in, and settled in for another night at the beach.

Robert with Carter

What  note is that?

     Back home in Milwaukie, we celebrate Easter with our good neighbors and their new grandson Carter.  Carter was born on Epiphany, making him the third King in his family.  He is the apple of the eye of a whole village; not only his skilled and loving parents Kelli and Randy, but also grandparents Janet and Robert, Great-grandparents Harry, Wauneta, Louise, and Sybil, along with Randy's parents, four sisters, and extended family. And, of course, Judy and me.  Janet and Robert are keeping Carter during the day while Kelli and Randy return to their teaching jobs.  We now get to see a lot of the little red-headed charmer.
    Now we are back at the Library cottage in Manzanita, and unplanned bonus trip.  There was a cancellation, and our names were drawn in the lottery to fill the vacancy.  Fuey joined us.  She and Judy filled the house with music from autoharp and ukulele, and I sang along. Mutt Leigh claimed the end of the chaise as her guard tower, where she  can protect us from all the dogs on the beach.

Fuey

    Judy sometimes gets discouraged when she has only enough oomph to lie on the couch all day.  I tell her that means she will not miss a minute of the view of the ocean.
 

Mutt Leigh at the cottage