Friday 4/19 Showtime!

The older granddaughter's shirt publicizes the production with JT on the front and the schedule on the back. Due to snowstorm last night and a resulting cancellation, a third performance will be Saturday night. I plan to be in the audience for all three performances and would also have gone to dress rehearsal Wednesday night had I been here.

Younger granddaughter is happy enough about going to school until she learns that she must wear snow boots one more time. Neither do girls want to take their snow pants. Done with snow, they hope.

Thursday 4/18 Let It Snow!

After granddaughters leave for school, we leave to run errands before the snowstorm hits. On a whim, we look at apartments just to see what's available in the area.

By lunchtime snow begins to fall heavily, and after eating we make our way home. See the front, then the backyard.

About 2:00pm daughter texts to tell us that tonight's show has been cancelled due to the weather. Freaky spring season! Soon we get word that a show will be added on Saturday night.

Lucky for us, daughter has a pork roast, carrots, onions, and potatoes for me to prepare, so we eat very well at home.

For comparison, I'm adding photos of same scenes the next morning after a night of sticky snow and no wind. So beautiful, but everyone we talk with is ready for snowy days to end. Spring is in the air but certainly not on the ground.

Wednesday 4/16 WA to MN

Standing at the back of the ferry, i watch Vashon Island get smaller and smaller. Leaving daughter there brings a whirlwind of feelings.

Today's travels require focus and stamina, so I get myself in gear. We leave the cabin at 9:00, catch the 9:40 ferry, drive to the rental car facility, turn in the car, get on the shuttle bus to the airport, wind our way up to ticketing, check in bags, find gate, grab a quick lunch that I can't manage to eat, board the plane for 1:00pm flight from SEA to MSP, arrive 6:30, grab another quick meal, collect bags, catch taxi, let ourselves in the house because family is at dress rehearsal, unpack and settle in, hear their car come into the garage, greet the four of them with all the hugs and kisses we can muster, send granddaughters up to bed, and say goodnight to all.

We're here!

Tuesday 4/16 Hardware Store

Our last full day is busy and long, and we quit knowing we have made great progress to reach this stage together. For a reward, we go into town and have dinner at The Hardware Store, so named because the historic restaurant building formerly housed one.

Sharing crab cakes and bread for dipping starts the meal. Husband has fish and chips, I have a bowl of clam chowder and polenta fries, daughter has gigantic glazed pork chop with a hash of Brussels sprouts. All happy with choices!

Back in our cabin, husband and I pack and prepare for the trip to Minnesota. Daughter will be at our door at eight in the morning with a French press of hot coffee and an ending to our stay on Vashon.

Monday 4/15 Beverages

After all that tulip touring, adult beverages from nearby breweries and wineries catch our attention. At North Sound we choose the sampler flight and hang out with the locals in the tap room.

The Tulip Valley Winery is hosting an art show and also waives their tasting fee for us - what's not to like! Ector is a wonderfully talkative host, and we find two wines especially to our liking and buy a bottle of each. Add the purchase of their smart wooden bottle opener.

The handmade pottery in the art show is oh-so-lovely but, alas, too breakable. I must leave with photos instead of selections.

We leave the valley with the sun and drive back to Seattle and the ferry dock. When we realize that we have a few minutes to wait in line but needn't go thirsty, we open one of the wines and enjoy. Once again our penchant for collecting wines and corkscrews pays off.

Monday 4/15 Inside the Garden

The photos can speak for themselves.

Monday 4/15 Tulip Festival

Next destination: Tulip Festival throughout the Skagit Valley! We drive north for a little more than an hour, turn west, and see field after field of tulips come into view, masses of brilliant blooms. Parking areas welcome us to stop and walk near the rows. Mud from recent rains fails to discourage the droves of flower fans from admiring the flowers and snapping photos.

The RoozenGaarde is a short walk across the road from the parking area, and here the landscapers produce unique designs and combinations of plantings each year. The entrance path attempts to prepare us for what's inside. Get ready for photos!