Lazy Days of Summer

Hot and dry weather normally doesn't start around here until July.  However, this year it started in June and it has continued to be too hot and too dry since then. The only time it did cool down a tad was when Terry was in Phoenix.  So, he missed the cool and wonderful temperatures of the upper 70’s and low 80’s for that week.  Now the temperatures are shooting back up again with highs hitting over 100.  Yesterday it was 102.  Why aren’t we at the coast where it’s cooler?

Justin and Terry both finally arrived back in Washington.    Flying standby isn’t always the fastest way to get from one coast to the other but it sure is cheaper.  Justin has several weeks of leave and it’s been nice to have him around.  Even though Terry is now back from Phoenix, it’s only for a short stay as he’ll soon be heading back to Phoenix to help his mother move from one place to another.

After spending a little time with friends in Tennessee, we came back to Washington with a few ideas.  One of those ideas was a rope railing partially around our deck.  We knew we wanted a rail but had been looking for something unique and found it.  Terry also found a helper, Justin.  It’s still a work in progress project but it’s mostly done.

The other night we had a family birthday party since we aren’t always around when everyone has their birthday.  I love it when all of us can get together and celebrate anything. It’s so much fun.  Even though Justin celebrated his birthday in March, we still made him blow out candles. Initials decorated on the cake were J.J.M.T.T,  Everyone had a chance to blow out their own candles.  In September we’ll celebrate four more birthdays together and this time the cake will be T.R.S.J.

We’re always looking for local BBQ restaurants.  You don’t really think of Washington as a barbecue brisket state but there are a few around.  We visited two BBQ restaurants this week and both advertised Texas style brisket.  The first one was located in a Shell station.  Can you imagine a BBQ restaurant in a Shell station?  Their smoker was outside but we thought that unique.  It seems brisket in this area is normally served chopped similar to pulled pork so if you want your brisket sliced, you have to be sure to request it.  We consistently order the same sides and it’s amazing how different a whole meal can be.  We’ve opted to splitting one order.  That way we don’t have a lot to eat if we’re disappointed and we certainly have been.  

What brisket serving would you prefer?  

VS.

Thursday we (Terry, Mike, Justin and I) were off to a shooting range.  Just getting to this place was an adventure in itself.  The road was terrible and I was sure the bottom of our Jeep was going to be torn out, the shocks would need replacing, a tire would blow or the brakes would give.  That should tell you what the ride was like getting to the range and returning back to civilization.

I had never fired a shotgun before so was interested in learning how to shoot it.  After all, it was our shotgun and we had not only not fired it but had also never even bought ammo for it.  It was just the intimidating noise of cocking it that we were interested in.  Of course, I’m sure we also could have downloaded an app for our phone.

Justin was in charge and wouldn’t let us shoot until he went through all the safety precautions first.  One by one we took a turn.  It was a perfect place to go but I was certainly glad to get back off that road and  onto a paved one.

We have a few other things ahead of us this next week from a Snowbird Potluck to possibly a crabbing adventure at the coast.  We will see how this week goes.  I just wish it would cool down a bit.

‘Tis life on the road.