Wednesday Lunch With Friends

> Wednesday, July 18
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> Having lunch with Gail and Dwayne was a highlight of our stay in Prosser. They live in Grand View but have spent winters in Concan where they attended our church and played the golf course. Dwayne even sang in the choir.
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> They suggested Mexican food at El Caporal in downtown Prosser, so we met there at noon. Food was different from TexMex but tasty enough, except for the salsa, probably Pace from a jar and nothing like Mama Chole's. Dwayne mixed some ranch dressing into his and made a southwestern dip, unusual to me but usual for him. My taco salad had a chalupa shell base and big chunks of seasoned chicken.
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> After lunch they insisted we follow them to their house (turning at the Forsell and Waneta intersection) and then tour the area. Their office/trophy room walls and shelves displayed many accomplishments, trophies, memorabilia, etc. but mainly Dwayne's years as a ball player, especially as the King and His Court. He persuaded Jim to try on his jacket and pose for photos. So much fun! We also learned about the ball field at Liberty University named after them.
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> The four of us rode in their car to various points of interest: the hospital where Gail worked for 35 years, the dairy farm they owned, other dairy farms, places owned by golfing buddies, garden areas, etc.
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> By 3:30 we had to leave and move along to other activities in our plans. Saying goodby was suddenly sad when they said they would not come to Texas this year. With long travels becoming harder for them, they will stick closer to home. Will we ever see them again? Maybe, but only if we come back to their area.
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Wednesday Morning Tastings

Wednesday, July 18

After breakfast and research, we left the hotel to look for the closest wineries. Not far! We could have walked, but most didn't open until 10.

We also saw a B&B around the corner, Seven Gables Pensione.

We met interesting wine merchants and bought a couple of bottles.

Tuscany Dinner

Tuesday, July 17

Recommendations to have dinner at the Tuscany Restaurant proved accurate. We both ordered the salmon, a thick fillet grilled and topped with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and bleu cheese. I wasn't too sure about the bleu, but it worked well.

However, the star of the plate was the pasta under the salmon, thin spaghetti tossed hot with lemon wedges and artichoke hearts, maybe a touch of butter and olive oil. Yum! I will recreate that recipe soon.

Bedtime! Finally!

Horse Heaven Hills Brewery

Tuesday, July 17

After checking in and unloading, we headed for downtown Prosser to find cool adult beverages. Our first stop was the Horse Heaven Hills Brewery, tricky to find behind the parking lot of an auto parts store but so worth the search. Sipping the sampler prompted us to order the Smokin Anvil, a Scottish ale.

The tall plants in front of the brewery are hops, a popular cash crop grown in the Yakima Valley and shipped all over the world. Fields of hops were easy to spot once we knew what they were. Cables stretch across the rows, and plants climb the lengths of twine attached, often up to 15 feet high. A guy sitting at the brewery bar with us also explained harvest cutting, drying, toasting, etc. He was an attractive grad student in agricultural engineering working to perfect an apple harvester and quickly figured out he had a receptive audience.

Visiting more with the locals at the brewery, we learned that the hills around Prosser once abounded with wild horses, thus the name of several area establishments. About half the beer drinkers were eating BBQ from a place beside the brewery and delivered through a common door. Smelled good but we had other intentions.

Driving to Prosser

At Ellensburg we took Canyon Road 821, the Yakima River Scenic Drive, and spotted boaters, fishermen, and tubers making the best of a summer afternoon. Usually the tubers used a combination of tubes and small inflated boats, coolers included, with all tied together. Water moved fast, shallow and deep, with wide areas and some gravel bars and islands.

Our big surprise was seeing a group of bighorn sheep at the road, mostly young and not startled by the traffic. A smaller surprise was noticing two wet, teen boys on a tall cliff poised to jump into the river, a feat they were undoubtably repeating. No photo and no place to watch!

Before reaching Prosser we stopped at the first winery of our trip about 5:30. At Piety Flats we tasted five, selected one, and bought a small sign and a bar towel. The woman pouring wine wore a shirt like one in my suitcase and was plenty chatty.

Nearby on the grassy area we found a fruit stand and chose some cherries for snacking, Vans and Sandra Rose. Back in the Impala, next stop Prosser!

Tuesday

Tuesday, July 17

Our plane departed MSP at 9:00am for SeaTac. Saying goodby to loved ones was mitigated by our plans to return in three weeks and the journey to visit younger daughter. In Seattle we picked up our rental, a brand new white Impala with four doors for comfort in the back seat. 

Traveling east, we crossed over dramatic mountain passes and gradually headed downhill. About two o'clock near Cle Elum, we located Suncadia Resort that my app claimed to have places to eat. We checked out Hoist Restaurant at Swiftwater Cellars, but it was overrun with golfers from the adjoining course. 

Farther into the resort we found Portals Restaurant at the huge inn. I had clam chowder and half a wrap, lots of clams and touch of nutmeg; Jim had a burger. Impressive view from our table near windows satisfied. 

Leaving the resort area, I took photo of Cle Elum River with bridge. Evidently, judging from a book at Portals and a shaft door I saw at Swiftwater, the area was once known for mining activity. Time for us to move along!

Ice Cream

Monday, July 16

After picking up granddaughters from theatre camp, we stopped for ice cream, chocolate fudge sundaes to be exact. Girls focused on ice cream more than camera on this blistering summer day. With temperatures in the mid 90's every day, we felt like TX weather had come with us to MN, except that Concan was actually cooler a couple of times. Tomorrow we will test WA.

Happy

Sunday, July 15

The MN family recently welcomed a new addition - - a dwarf hamster they named Happy. Who knew there was such an animal as a dwarf hamster!

Anyway, what dwarf hamster wouldn't be happy in these digs! Therefore, the name. Happy is female, as far as anyone knows, and fits right in with her happy disposition.

Sunday is cage cleaning day, and step one is to remove Happy from her habitat and relocate her into a clear plastic ball, a step accomplished by s-i-l very carefully lest Happy escape. (That tiny critter has tiny sharp teeth respected by all though she has yet to assault any humans, as far as I know.) Daughter performed the cleaning, refurbishing, and restocking. (Hey, whose pet is this?)

Meanwhile, Happy is rolling her crystal ball cage all over the porch floor - - running, bumping, turning, crashing, dodging the camera, entertaining. After clicking at least fifty photos of her maneuvers, I had three suitable ones, maybe. By this time she was tiring and resting and starting to observe me much in the way that I was observing her, but without a tiny camera. I quickly snapped a few more photos before her living quarters were ready.

When returned to her sparkly clean home, Happy sniffed the freshness everywhere, sampled her food, and nested her house to satisfaction. Happy Happy!

Final Game

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Older granddaughter played her last game of the season under a scorching sun. Today's celebration included trophies, and yesterday the team had a swim party. Girls of summer!

Softball

The season ends with the tournament this weekend, and we are thrilled to be part of the celebration.