January 2020 The Good Life

CROATIA BY BIKE, BOAT & FOOT Y EVENTS CALENDAR

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January 2020

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Boat project done — after 17 years

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Contents page 16

Traveling by bike to See the old in croatia

Features

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best day in 2019

Readers tell us their best day in the past year — and what inspirational stories they are!

s

13 boat project done...

CO NS TRU CTI

after 17 years

When Len Pugsley and his wife purchased a 1931 wooden boat in 1992, they knew it needed a bit of TLC. Now, after 17 years with the boat in drydock in their backyard shop, it finally returned to the water

16 Croatia by bike, boat and foot

Where the people are friendly, the food tasty and the views right out of The Game of Thrones

18 the athletic life

Sales & Installation: Smart Homes Home Theaters Audio/Video Systems Home Networks Custom Integration

Ada Bonnett, at 13, is an inspirational and well-rounded athlete

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20 moving from the big house

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Art sketches n Artist updates with Martha Flores, Derek Sheffield , Amanda and Rusty Gibbs and Kay Kenyon, pages 28 and 29

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Columns & Departments 6 A bird in the lens: The oh-so-still Giant Blue Heron 24 June Darling: A recipe for living the good life in 2020 26 Pet Tales: Not too late to satisfy a dream to have a horse 27 The traveling doctor: Before you take that next drink...

28-31 Arts & Entertainment & a Dan McConnell cartoon 32 History: Richardsons grew apples and a bushel of kids 34 That’s life: Feeding the pigs January 2020 | The Good Life

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OPENING SHOT

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Year 14, Number 1 January 2020 The Good Life is published by NCW Good Life, LLC, dba The Good Life PO Box 2142 Wenatchee, WA 98807 PHONE: (509) 888-6527 EMAIL: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

sales@ncwgoodlife.com ONLINE: www.ncwgoodlife.com FACEBOOK: https://www. facebook.com/NCWGoodLife Editor/Publisher, Mike Cassidy Contributors, Marc Dilley, Mike Tipton, Ceci Wood, Diana Rigelman, Gretchen Barkmann, Linda Hightower, Linda Reid, Carolyn Black, Carolina See, Len Pugsley, Shelly Kill, Sarah Shaffer, Melanie Schoonover, Mike Irwin, Bruce McCammon, Donna Cassidy, Jim Brown, June Darling, Dan McConnell, Susan Lagsdin and Rod Molzahn Advertising: Lianne Taylor Bookkeeping and circulation, Donna Cassidy Proofing, Dianne Cornell Ad design, Clint Hollingsworth Video editor, Aaron Cassidy TO SUBSCRIBE: For $25, ($30 out of state address) you can have 12 issues of The Good Life mailed to you or a friend. Send payment to: The Good Life PO Box 2142 Wenatchee, WA 98807 For circulation questions, email: donna@ncwgoodlife.com EVENTS: donna@ncwgoodlife.com BUY A COPY of The Good Life at Safeway stores, Mike’s Meats at Pybus, Martin’s Market Place (Cashmere) and Dan’s Food Market (Leavenworth) ADVERTISING: For information about advertising in The Good Life, contact Lianne Taylor at (509) 6696556 or lianne@ncwgoodlife.com WRITE FOR THE GOOD LIFE: We welcome articles about people from Chelan and Douglas counties.

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The Good Life® is a registered trademark of NCW Good Life, LLC. Copyright 2020

by NCW Good Life, LLC.

Warmth at minus four

By Marc Dilley

Photographing mist and ice

at sunrise on our local rivers is a decades-old ritual for me.

This image was shot along the banks of the Wenatchee River near Peshastin on the 5th of January, 2017.

With a stand of cottonwoods and pine trees on the opposite shore, and a stretch of iced-up boulders and stones on my side of the river, the setting was gorgeous.

It was clear and frigid that morning — minus 4 F according to my truck — perfect conditions for awesome mist and phantasmagoric ice shapes.

Mist isn’t necessarily a rare occurrence, but with the clear night/very low temperature

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requirement, the phenomenon is spectacular only every few years, so I took full advantage of this morning.

In situations such as this, when light is rapidly changing, photographers take numerous exposures in rapid succession, maybe one every couple of seconds, until the light has stabilized.

In the case of a sunrise/sunset, this might be a five-to-ten minute period. Back in the days of film, such a practice would have been expensive or impossible.

With modern digital cameras, however, long shoots are relatively casual. This morning I began shooting at 9:17 and continued until 9:24, with other subjects shot before and after this time period.

As the sun rose and peaked over the foothills above Wenatchee, the frigid sky turned dark purple, then magenta and finally a most brilliant egg yolk gold.

The scene was so astonishing

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January 2020

that halfway into the sequence, I stopped clicking the remote shutter release, gazing blankly at the scene, and no exposures were made for a precious 20 seconds that I can’t get back.

As the sun tracked up and right in its January path, patterns of the intensely golden crepuscular rays moved around wildly in the sky like gold searchlights.

After I was confident the scene was finished being awesome, at 9:24 to be exact, I walked along the riverbank, looking for other interesting subjects to shoot.

On the cover Donna Cassidy took this photo of Len and Lise Pugsley in front of their boat, Lisette.

See their story starting on page 13.

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editor’s notes

MIKE CASSIDY

Merrily, life is but our dreams T

he little diesel engine on our sailboat had quit a couple of hours ago, our sail sagged against the mast on this windless late afternoon, an emergency boat towing company we had called was busy on another rescue and the rocks of Hat Island were getting closer, closer, closer.

By good fortune a Coast Guard boat was hovering not far away.

The bad fortune was — as a dockside friend explained later — the Coast Guard would rescue my wife and me only once our boat smashed into those approaching shoals and our lives were in danger, but by law couldn’t tow us away to prevent grounding.

What kind of law is that, I wondered when I heard my friend’s explanation?

But I wasn’t thinking about the law as our boat neared those rocks. My mind was actually calculating at what point we must abandon ship.

Too soon would mean surrendering all hope, too late could lead to our dinghy capsizing in the choppy waters around the rocks.

It had been a gorgeous late

summer Puget Sound afternoon when we motored out of the marina.

A big bull seal was sleeping on the clanging red metal buoy as we rounded out of the channel from the marina into the wide, serene-on-this-day bay.

We had purchased our sailboat shortly after my wife’s mother died.

It was then that something we knew in theory — that life on this earth has a term limit — hit us in the nose. We had always talked about buying a boat so now we did it.

We could only afford an older boat, not one of those cool stylish boats you see on TV, but that was fine with us. We spent a fair bit of cash getting the boat “ready,” and dreamed of heading south: Mexico and the Panama Canal, or the South Sea Islands, or maybe push ourselves to New Zealand and beyond.

We devoured stories of night crossings of the open sea, days and weeks without seeing another human, where the stars are bright, close and countless.

Perhaps with all of that time, we could learn a musical instru-

ment or finally read the classics.

We would certainly shower on deck, try new recipes on the fresh seafood we would catch, watch the free wind in our sails push us across the oceans.

Oh, the mighty days and nights we would have. This would be living on a whole new level.

All of those thoughts were far away as Hat Island filled my vision and our engine stubbornly refused to restart.

Our options were few. We prepared to drop the anchor in hopes of holding our boat away from the island, but the water was deep up to the rocks and extra anchor chain was one of the few things we hadn’t yet spent money on.

We would have to wait to get really close to those rocks before our anchor would be effective… maybe too close.

It was then my wife yelled, “He’s coming!” and pointed to a red rescue tow boat speeding through the water right at us.

The day was saved. Whew!

And then the Great Recession came along and took away our boat and our dreams — at least this set of dreams.

I’ve reached a point in my life where I occasionally look back — say at my children’s younger years, or when my wife and I traveled around the world or even when we owned a sailboat — and wonder: “Was that really me, or just a story I read or watched?”

The past seems so unreal, with

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Here’s hoping you stay off the rocks in 2020, and enjoy The Good Life.

— Mike

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January 2020 | The Good Life

days, months, and years unrecallable from my memory.

But I’m not a person who lives in the past.

My life has always been more about the possibilities than the memories.

Today, I have new dreams, and wonder: Where will tomorrow take us?

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column a bird in the lens

Great Blue Heron: An echo of the prehistoric Y

By Bruce McCammon

ou may have seen a Great Blue Heron standing patiently at water’s edge — hunting, sleeping, or posing.

You may see one or two flying overhead, legs dangling out the rear and the head pulled into the body, creating a smooth Sshape of the neck.

No matter where you find them, Bruce McCammon they will is retired, colorimpress you blind and enjoys with their photographing the birds in north censize and patral Washington. tient hunting style.

The Great Blue Heron is a large bird and hard to miss if they aren’t hiding behind shrubs or other vegetation. They are four feet long — beak to tail — with a wingspan of 80 inches.

Their blue-gray color can make them somewhat difficult to find in low light but, most of the time, they stand out clearly against water or the sky.

January 14 | 7:00 PM

The Great Blue Heron: ... waiting, waiting, waiting...

The call of a Great Blue Heron is unique and coarse. It’s more of a squawk than a call and certainly not what I would think of as a song. If you have the opportunity to see one jump into flight while calling, you may find yourself wondering what form of prehistoric creature you are looking at.

It’s fairly easy for me to see how the Great Blue Heron mim-

January 28 | 7:00 PM

Info at wenatcheevalleymuseum.org

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ics paintings of prehistoric flying reptiles that I’ve seen.

I have some advice for you if you want to out wait a hunting Great Blue Heron — pack a lunch.

These great birds will stand still for extended times as they scan the water for fish swimming nearby.

I waited for an hour once to photograph one lunging to catch a fish. It finally stretched its neck forward and moved the bill close to the water before exploding into the water to grab a fish or small amphibian.

They will eat rodents or snakes, fish or amphibians.

I watched an extended battle as a heron caught and consumed a snake that looked to be more than three feet long. The snake put up a valiant fight, wrapping its length around the neck and beak of the heron. The bird took its time as it maneuvered its prey into position before swal-

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January 2020

lowing it.

You can find Great Blue Herons almost anywhere in North America, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Look for them among marshes and at the edges of lakes and streams.

If you’re fortunate, you’ll find a rookery and be witness to many herons building nests in a tree to lay their eggs and hatch their young.

No matter where you find them, take the time to study their form and behavior. Feel free to think back to pictures of pterodactyl you’ve seen and wonder about the evolution of the Great Blue Heron.

Wait patiently as a heron hunts to be rewarded by the rapid, slashing entry of the beak into the water and the following extraction of a fish. Be patient, though. You may be there quite some time.

Remember your binoculars and camera. Good luck.

MY BEST DAY IN

2019

We asked readers to tell us about their best day in 2019. Several responded, and here are their stories

Oh, what a high after talking my wife into parasailing I

By Mike Tipton

t took some groundwork and persuasion over the course of several years to set up my best day of 2019.

There were a handful of days in the running for my best day (e.g. kayaking with grandkids, a B-17 ride in Yakima) but after some thought, I chose one I was able to share with my spouse.

While I had parasailed a couple of times over the years in Mexico and also at Lake Chelan, my wife Patti had not. Nor is Pat a huge fan of heights.

We had seen visitors parasailing here on the lake for several years and occasionally I’d (gently and hopefully) remind Patti that it was something maybe we could try together sometime.

I would describe my own experiences — the feeling of freedom, the beauty of the surroundings as you follow the boat’s path below and of course the kid-like enjoyment of floating in the air.

Well, early this past summer she really appeared to be warming up to the idea. A couple of weeks later I suggested a date on which we could take our ride… and this time she agreed.

We awoke on the day we’d chosen to find just a few scattered clouds on another sunny Lake Chelan day. There were however, some high winds in the morning, which, we could see, had kept the boat from running its normal routine on the lake. This was a little disconcerting but we continued to hope for the best.

Thankfully, by the time we arrived for our scheduled afternoon ride the weather had settled down nicely.

The highlight of the day occurred shortly thereafter as we went aloft, celebrating our

Mike and Patti go parasailing on Lake Chelan: A great anniversary memory.

With volunteers like these, every day is the best

41st wedding anniversary.

The people at Chelan Parasail were great as we took our tandem ride together, dipping our feet in the warm end-of-July waters near the end of the ride.

While Patti initially displayed some white knuckles while hanging on to the straps, she soon became more at ease, enjoying the ride

By Ceci Wood and viewing our beautiful lake from that unique vantage point. ust last week, a friend I hadn’t seen in The day turned out to be a great anniverquiet awhile stopped by my office, just to say sary memory we now share... one I’m sure “Hi” after visiting a relative in the hospital. we’ll never forget.

My friend asked me, “What do you do here?” and after I told him he asked me, After vacationing here for many years Patti and “Why”?

Mike left Auburn behind, retiring to Chelan two

J

years ago.

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MY BEST DAY IN

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2019

I thought maybe he was asking if I got bonuses or incentives like a gym membership.

I didn’t have to give it much thought, but quietly queried myself on how I could explain that every day is the best day for me.

Not to downplay the delightful staff at Confluence Health, but the volunteers here at Confluence Health who I get to work with are what make my days the best.

I think of volunteers like Helen, who treated me like a daughter. Helen would remember our chats and always inquire about the smallest of details while giving advice and encouragement.

Even when Helen wasn’t feeling her best, she devoted four hours a week to greeting patients, employees and family members.

Helen volunteered since Ceci Wood holds a photo of Merla Ferguson, a hospital volunteer 1981, passing away in Decemwho would shrug off the aches, pains and limitations thrown at her ber 2018. Helen left a legacy of daily in her quest to help others.

37 years of volunteering.

I think of chaplain volunteer Steve, who tions thrown at her daily. stops by each Friday after chaplain hospiI had prodded Merla on several occatal rounds to devotedly share with me the sions to write her life’s story. The week she transformation in himself. He reminds me passed away, there it lay on my desk, a neatly that being a volunteer chaplain is just one of hand-written life story! It is one of my most the many ways we are healing our patients, treasured gifts. families and employees.

While cool places to work might have Then I also reflect on volunteers who are car wash facilities or spa treatments and my personal heroes, the ones I’ve been privi- maybe even an on-site gym (does my runleged to witness their character. ning around all day count?), I have a different Volunteer Susan pushes herself to help perk. others, because as she says, “I won’t let I get to make daily trips to our own local anything keep me from making someone place of enlightenment where I am educated else’s load a little lighter.” Susan suffers from by the wisdom of profoundly experienced debilitating rheumatoid arthritis. people — the Confluence Health volunteers.

Paul was in a horrific car accident but I wouldn’t trade my job in a billion years. tends to shrug off his misfortune by focusing Wisdom and purpose don’t come in free on others. “I have to live life,” he says, “I can lattes for everyone. They come from years of do that by helping others.” seeking and humbly being a student of othI’ve met so many volunteers who are inspi- ers’ life lessons. rational, in the way they view life, in the way So, I told my friend, “My best days are sitthey overcome, and in the way they strive ting at the feet of knowledge and inspiration. to quietly serve and make the world around Days don’t get much better than that!” them better.

Ceci Wood is the Volunteer Coordinator for ConfluLittle did they know that they are making ence Health. A native to the Wenatchee Valley, Ceci my days the best. delights in coordinating special events or tending Volunteer Merla, who passed away last to her novel garden. Throw in a busy high school fall, her body was failing her due to age, just senior, a couple of unruly dogs, three brilliant grandchildren and every day is the best. would shrug off the aches, pains and limita-

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The best day is when you’re told you have more days I

By Diana Rigelman

t’s a challenge to pick a best day in 2019, because many days had times of inspiration and victory.

Small moments can make big memories too. Like color splashed across Wenatchee skies or the gift songbirds bring.

Then there are days that change your life forever. Like the day my biopsy came back positive for squamous cell carcinoma.

When tongue cancer knocked, the value of my days became heightened by the ugly threat I might have fewer days left than I’d hoped for.

I expected surgery and recovery to be brutal. But waiting for a report that would declare my future wasn’t easy either.

Time ticked slowly those days of waiting, waiting, waiting between the surgeon’s finished work and the pathologist’s analysis. Fear of the unknown tried to invade my thoughts.

I focused on healing and hope, refusing to dwell on hellish possibilities. With gratefulness for days already lived and a belief I wouldn’t be alone in whatever happened next, there was also peace in the uncertainty.

Diana Rigelman, right, walks the loop trail with her daughter, Linnea Rigelman, four weeks after surgery.

January 2020

MY BEST DAY IN

2019

Gretchen Barkmann got to see — and photograph — polar bears in their native icy environment on her Northwest Passage.

Finally the day arrived. The pathologist’s report delivered the miracle I’d prayed for.

I had clear margins and clean lymph nodes.

Painful tongue cancer was not going to end my life.

Though I left the hospital without a chunk of my tongue and sporting a surgical cut across my throat… I’m free to heal, free to dream again for a future that I will be in.

My daughter got engaged this past summer. There will be a life-changing wedding day in her near future. And I get to be there to share it.

Every day is a gift.

That’s the best day ever — when you have confidence your time on the earth isn’t over — that there is more life in your life to live!

By God’s grace, there will be more sunsets to experience, trails to explore and another day to embrace those I love.

are now designated as a Canadian National Historic Site.

Aug. 28, 2019 was my embarkation day: a flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to board a small (144 passengers plus crew plus expedition staff), spunky, and incredibly comfortable cruise ship.

Our route was north along the west edge of Greenland, then west across Baffin Bay and west-southwest through the Northwest Passage, eventually south through the Bering Strait to Nome, Alaska.

The ship had a fleet of zodiacs — inflatable skiffs that launched us to all sorts of wonderful experiences.

In zodiacs, we cruised through massive icebergs calved from Greenland’s ice cap; we landed at several remote Inuit villages in Greenland and Nunavut, Canada; we landed at historic or interesting locations including Fort Ross, an old Hudson’s Bay post; Diana Rigelman is self employed, working from Jenny Lind Island, a bird sanctuary; Dundas home, and thoroughly wowed by Wenatchee Harbor, an old Royal Canadian Mounted Valley’s beauty.

Police post, and Beechy Island where three of Franklin’s crew are buried.

The landscape is stark — there are no trees up there. To see vegetation one has to look Members of the Inuit community share their culture and art with travelers. down. All tundra vegetation, including arctic willow, grass, moss, lichen, flowers, mushrooms, is less than four inches in height. unknown. Maybe it’s because of the stories Our wildlife count included a white wolf, of brave explorers in the 19th Century headmusk ox, weasels, massive Bowhead whales, ing out in wooden ships to discover a shortcut from Europe to Asia across the top of the Narwal, Belugas, Humpbacks, walrus, several seal species, lots of birds, and of course

By Gretchen Barkmann world.

Probably the most well-known of those ex- polar bears — on the ice pack and on land.

We sailed right into the ice in search of polar t wasn’t just one day, it was a series of peditions was that of Sir John Franklin who days. set out in 1845 with two ships: the Terror and bears.

We spent an afternoon in zodiacs cruisIt was a bucket list trip as I’ve always been Erebus, and 129 men. They overwintered in intrigued by the fabled Northwest Passage. the heart of the Northwest Passage but after ing along the Smoking Hills in Franklin Bay in the Northwest Territories, Canada. This Maybe it is because I’m a person who a second winter both ships and crew disapremarkable place looks like a series of small thrives in cold climates, or maybe because peared. Finally in 2014 and 2017, the ships }}} Continued on next page I’ve always loved adventure, heading into the were discovered on the arctic sea floor and

Traveling through rugged and awesome Northwest Passage I

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MY BEST DAY IN

volcanoes but is actually a rare occurrence of sulfide-rich oil shale spontaneously igniting to create eerie smoking hillsides.

I came away with a deep appreciation of the arctic: its landscape, its wildlife and mostly its people — the warm and wonderful Inuit who welcomed us to their communities and shared their culture and art with us, and something else that I can’t describe — an uplifting mystique.

The allure remains with me and after only a couple months being home, I am ready to return: the high arctic remains on my to-do travel list.

2019

Gretchen Barkmann is a retired Forest Service Engineer born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, who worked with the Forest Service in New Mexico and Alaska before moving with the Forest Service to Wenatchee which she now calls home.

Just by chance... leads to hike into the Fiery Furnace I

Linda Hightower

found myself in the Fiery Furnace on my best day in 2019.

My husband Keith and I planned our trip to camp for five nights at Arches National Park months before when we made reservations, but hiking through a labyrinth of spires, arches, narrow cliffs and valleys wasn’t on our agenda.

We were just excited to have more time to explore this beautiful national park in Utah after being there for just a few hours years before.

As Keith and I entered the visitor’s center and approached the information desk, something caught my eye: a notice about rangerled hikes through the Fiery Furnace.

We inquired about the Fiery Furnace hikes and were told the first hike of the season was to start in a couple of days on March 9 and they were still taking reservations as permits were required to venture into this area. I looked at Keith, asked if he was interested, and he said, “Yes!” So we signed up and were told we filled the tour as there were only two spaces left.

On the morning of our hike, 15 of us gathered in the parking lot and our ranger proceeded to go over all the hazards we were about to take on this physically demanding

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Among the tall spires, Linda gazes up towards one of the more unique formations in the Fiery Furnace, the Skull Arch. The area is called the Fiery Furnace because the red sandstone glows in the setting sun.

adventure.

He went through a laundry list of ailments that could prevent us from completing the route: bad back, bad knees, fear of heights, bad balance, weakness, etc. He emphasized several times how he could not touch us or assist us in any way.

We hiked down our first stretch, then stopped and talked about our favorite national parks and then he warned us again to consider our limitations before we got to the point where it would be difficult to find | The Good Life

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our way back by ourselves. The ranger didn’t discourage anyone from continuing despite some of them looking pretty old and weak.

Our ranger led us down an amazing path through a maze of red rock, sticking to walking just on the slick rock or ravine bottoms so not to disturb the fragile desert soil.

The group grew silent as we traveled through the narrow ravines and took in the spectacular landscape.

As someone who by nature has never been too physically adventurous, the steep trail

January 2020

that paralleled crevasses and clung to narrow canyon walls truly challenged me.

At times, our hands were on one side of the canyon and our feet on the other. Sometimes we scooted down on our rears and had to land just right, jumping over a deep crack in the earth just as we landed.

My heart pounded and hands sweat, but I was doing it and was amazed how much fun I was having.

Viewing the scenery around me, I felt like I was on another planet.

Our group completed our rangerled tour unscathed, tired but very exhilarated. I felt wonderful, it had been a great experience and I was so happy I got to visit the Fiery Furnace.

Looking back on 2019, that day shines out as the best.

the ceremony.

It was a special moment for both of us in this “best day” when the two moms signed as witnesses on the marriage certificate.

I almost always wear the silver “Tree of Life” necklace my daughter gave me for Christmas seven years ago.

The “Tree of Life” is a symbol most often represented by a live oak tree. Live oaks are the trees that are planted in rows along the entrances to Southern plantations because they are known to withstand even the strongest hurricane-force winds.

Their secret to survival is that their roots grow together underground as they stand side by side and this way, they hold each other up through the storms of life.

For me, this is a perfect analogy for a strong family bond.

When you have stood together through dark times and you eventually walk out into the light on the other side, it is easy to understand why this became my “best day of the year.”

MY BEST DAY IN

2019

Linda Hightower is a retired Cashmere High School teacher-librarian, grandmother of nine and still a very happy traveler in her little Casita travel trailer.

Standing tall in the dark times, celebrating the tree of life J

The happy couple in a field of lupine near Lake Wenatchee, Linda Reid and the “Tree of Life” symbol, which Linda considers her family tree.

By Linda Reid

une 12, 2019 was a day when improbable joy became a reality for our family.

After the unexpected death of her husband in 2012, we had walked with our daughter and her young children on a long journey out of tragedy and grief into the challenge of helping them as they began to rebuild their lives.

Her hope for the future was due in part to her reconnecting with her high school sweetheart. Their lives gradually began to blend together and after nearly 20 years apart, they made the commitment to marry.

They chose to have just their children, parents and siblings present (plus one friend of the bride, one family friend who did their photography, and our pastor).

Although the newlyweds live in South Florida, they wanted to get married in the Northwest where their families and

roots are. They chose the beautiful setting of the Brown Family Homestead at Lake Wenatchee.

Since we had camped and cross-country skied together there in their high school days, it was just the right place. The fields of early summer lupine added to the natural wonder of this venue.

Each of us there knew both of their stories and understood the love and commitment we had been invited to witness. We watched and listened as they spoke their vows followed by promises his daughter and her two children also made.

After these heart-felt words, the newly “blended family” dissolved into a spontaneous family hug which caused tears of joy and explosions of gratitude and happiness from everyone of us.

The celebration exceeded my expectations in every way.

We were aware that our son-in-law’s mom had always hoped to have our daughter for her daughter-in-law when the two of them were together in high school. She made a beautiful toast at the meal we shared after

January 2020 | The Good Life

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Unfinished craft projects? We were up for the challenge

By Carolyn Black

Moving is always a chore. So many deci-

sions, so many things to do and most of all, so much sorting and choosing.

We recently moved to Wenatchee, and discovered that we not only had lots and lots of stuff, we had lots and lots of things we thought we could use.

In all the stuff, we found endless crafts and hobby things that we have now discovered all the pieces to, and that is wonderful.

Before we left the Wet Side, someone gave us a quilt kit. She was fighting cancer and decided NOT to spend the rest of her life quilting 1,000 one-inch hexagons into a quilt.

The Odessa Quilt shop has a UFO challenge (Un Finished project) so we took what

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MY BEST DAY IN

2019

After 25 years in limbo, this cross stitch angel was finally completed.

Carolina See and her friend, Ginny Kerstetter, on the mountain top: No fear.

winding our way through the woods savoring that fresh smell of the forests and explorwe had managed to get done in 2018 to regising the majestic mountains. ter and be challenged.

We then began to hike along the ridge The way the challenge works is one must leading up to the Cascade Pass. The views be at least halfway done to enter, and one began to open up here after a hike up a must bring the finished quilt back to Odessa rocky hillside to reach a lovely meadow with Quilt shop. Odessa is the only place that breathtaking views of Doubtful Lake below

By Carolina See has this UFO challenge, but the North the ridgeline.

Central Washington Quilt Guild (here in As I began my ascent to the glacier, I he most common reaction in a fear situ- looked up and there was a mountain of scree Wenatchee) has started one, and many are ation is the attitude of “I can’t!” thrilled. staring back at me. My steps soon became This is the fear of failure that stops us It is amazing (due to human nature I heavy. I concluded this was my chance to from taking action. It is experienced in the guess) how this (almost) no prize “contest” prove that I am greater than my fear. pit of your stomach. inspires people to get projects done.

What seemed like eternity to climb was reWhen I encounter a situation of fear and This year, we finished hand sewing all ally only a half-mile stretch of scree leading am truly afraid, my heart starts to pound 1,000 pieces, added a border and binding, up to the summit. and my stomach starts to flutter. My breath hand quilting, and managed to not only I successfully navigated the course by finish it on April 5 in time to meet the chal- becomes shallow and my anxiety level rises carefully charting my footing and following lenge (April 15), but enter it in the local quilt well above any mountain I’ve scaled. Fear many stacks of cairns. can paralyze me. show (August).

Once we summited, we were in awe of the This past summer on my 48th birthday, With that project finished and done, anmajestic view. other old project became the focus. A 17-inch I overcame my greatest fear — the fear of All of my fears were forgotten as I stood scrambling up a scree going to the top of tall angel done in counted cross stitch and amidst the tops of the mountains.

Sahale Glacier (elevation 7,570 feet in the heavily beaded was finally completed (after It was so freeing to know I had conquered North Cascades National Park) ascending 25 years), framed and will be entered next my fear of scrambling over scree and to realand descending back down. year at the quilt show. ize that, “I can.”

I grew up in Asia and never experienced Both projects were old, and now grace the Carolina See is an interventional pulmonologist walls of our new home over here on the Dry any hiking or backpacking growing up. Not by trade who grew up in the Philippines with no to mention I am ultra cautious given my Side. hiking experience. She started a lot of her outdoors first-born syndrome. exploration when she moved to Wenatchee in 2006 Carolyn Black and her daughter moved here twoMy friend, Ginny Kerstetter, and I started and has never looked back. In addition, she is also and-a-half years ago, and are still learning to enjoy out early at the trailhead on a brisk fall day a landscape photographer.

Up through the scree, proving I’m greater than my fear

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all that Wenatchee offers.

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Lise and Len sit at a new table and bench seats specially built to the age and style of the boat.

Previously, said Lise, there was just sort of a card table there. Cabinetry above and below decks were created in the dovetail design, keeping with the tradition of the boat.

Boat refurbishing project went off course, but finally makes it to the dock

17 years in the (re)making

By Len Pugsley

In 1992, my wife Lise and I purchased a

1931 wooden boat that had a ton of history — including during WWII — and thought I would refurbish it in my backyard shop in East Wenatchee and then relaunch it in all of its floating glory.

I envisioned us motoring around Puget Sound on our restored 34-foot classic but rugged showpiece of the past.

The shop walls and roof are all opened up the night before the boat moving company came to haul the Lisette to Anacortes, creating a dramatic photo of the Lisette at rest.

And then life intervened in the form of a bad traffic accident, a lost job and years of rebuilding a career. But finally this past summer, we reached our goal and relaunched the Lisette.

Here’s our story, a piece at a time:

➣ My wife Lise and I purchased the boat in 1992.

marine architecture class while attending the Annapolis Naval Academy.

➣ DeMartini’s father was an architect and builder of many of the beautiful classic homes built in San Francisco following the earthquake and massive fire in 1906.

He also sponsored the LaBrussi yard, premiere builders of the Monterey fishing trawlers made famous along the California coast.

➣ The boat was designed by Elmo De-

Martini in 1929 as a senior class project in January 2020 | The Good Life

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Movers have just pulled the boat out of Len’s shop, on its way to Anacortes.

ACCIDENT DELAYS BOAT PROJECT }}} Continued from previous page ➣ When the elder DeMartini

saw the boat’s design, he decided they should make a few but with the Great Depression happening the market for pleasure craft was limited so they only built four of that design in 1931 with the Monterey commercial fishing trawlers remaining their biggest product.

➣ The four DeMartini boats

were built to heavy commercial standards with 1-inch thick Port Orford Cedar on steam bent oak frames on 9-and-one-half inch centers fastened with hot dipped galvanized nails.

➣ This boat was the DeMar-

tini family boat in San Francisco when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

With the United States immediately declaring war, it began building the world’s most powerful navy.

Part of any Navy involves smaller craft to transport personnel back and forth between larger ships and the docks with the ship captains and officers needing their own boats.

➣ Another need was to have

picket boats, which would motor back and forth 50 to 60 miles offshore with a good radio looking for enemy activity like ships or submarines.

➣ One of the first Naval actions involved officers touring the local marinas to commandeer boats for picket and launch duty as in “we want this boat and that boat over there” and with total war going on, it was a done deal. ➣ Our boat was selected as

a captain’s launch and was also fitted with long-range tanks in case it was needed for picket boat missions.

It served through the war hauling ship captains and officers to and from.

Undoubtedly given its location it probably hauled most Pacific ship captains and officers sometime during the war.

➣ Of the DeMartini boats, this is the only one left, as one was run over by a big ship on night picket boat patrol and one ran into the Oakland Bay Bridge at night running in fog without 14

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lights and another was lost in a storm off the coast, so ours is the lone survivor.

➣ We purchased the boat and

Navy replaced the gas engine with a new engine, gave the boats a fresh paint job and returned them to the owners in 1946.

Ramp gave me Elmo DeMartini’s phone number.

Elmo was in his 80s, not in good health and was happy when I told him it would not get away on my watch. We kept the boat in Poulsbo for five years then moved to Anacortes for the next five years.

➣ Our boat was owned by

➣ The boat needed some big

➣ At the end of the war, the

two different owners in the years just following the war then by a friend of DeMartini named Ramp Harvey who kept the boat in the San Francisco area for sport fishing off the coast.

In the early 1960s, he had the side of the saltwater cooled engine blow out, almost sinking the boat many miles off shore and spent many hours at night creeping back to the bay under very reduced power.

➣ Ramp was a diesel engine dealer and on a trip to Canada found a similar sized boat with a six cylinder General Motors Bedford diesel engine. He liked the installation, ordered the Bedford, then spent a good year plus installing that engine and transmission.

Ramp was very right as the Bedford is very good.

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maintenance, electrical work, interior cabinetry and work on the hull so I had the boat hauled home.

We took the roof off the shop, hired a crane to pick the boat up from the truck that hauled it over and placed it in the shop, then put the shop back together.

➣ We planned to have the

boat home for repairs four or five years but we hit a big elk at night near Cle Elum, then the oncoming car head on, putting us all in the hospital and me in a coma on life support for a month with many broken bones, pneumonia three times, a staph infection and a bleed on my brain.

➣ So there I was halfway through a bigger than anticipated project when we had a bad

... (I) realized I needed to finish the boat before I got old and died and Lise needed to sell the house with an interesting project in the shop.

Back in the water after 17 years. The big question: After being on land for so long, would the boat leak?

The boat as Len bought it. He eventually stripped off the white paint on the cabin sides and went back to a natural wood look.

car accident.

I lost my job flying for Stemilt, worked very hard to recover and found another much better job with McDougall and Sons.

During that time I needed to concentrate on my new job and put the boat project on a slower pace, but realized I needed to finish the boat before I got old and died and Lise needed to sell the house with an interesting project in the shop.

leaked way too much.

We installed another bilge pump and I learned some priceless tricks to help seal up the hull until it swelled.

The leaking stopped on the third night with me kind of sleeping on board.

The bilge pump only comes on now for around one second every 20 to 30 minutes pumping maybe a liquid ounce. Not bad at all.

➣ Retiring at the end of July, my friends Rick Ruffle (who also grew up in the neighborhood), Glen Fischer and I took the shop apart and stripped the boat and painted the hull. We cut down trees and removed fences to make room for a moving truck and trailer.

➣ So with the boat floating nicely in its slip at Cap Sante Marina, it, was time to clean up the shop.

Rick Ruffle and I put the roof back on, fences back up, insulation back in place and added a garage door before winter. Sure is good being retired.

We’re now fitting the boat out for the upcoming season boating in the San Juans.

➣ We did the move on Aug. 1, with the truck driving to Anacortes and lowering the boat back into Puget Sound after 17 years drying out in my shop.

There were those who claimed the boat would never swell completely enough to seal the hull to control the leaking and at first it

Glen Fischer and Len paint the hull. It had been stripped down to bare wood.

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Len Pugsley was born in Wenatchee, grew up in Oregon but when he and Lise were married, they moved the next day to Wenatchee.

Along with rebuilding a 13-foot outboard runabout, he has also rebuilt two airplanes.

Croatia

by bike, boat and foot Where people are friendly, food tasty and views right out of The Game of Thrones

W

By Shelly Kill

e all have bucket lists of things we want to do, places we want to go, and things we want to experience.

My husband, Jim, and I are fortunate to have traveled and explored many places in the last 20-plus years.

Jim loves the history and I the relaxing, though both of us enjoy active adventure travel.

Two years ago, I was re-acquainted with a Cashmere High classmate and friend Diana (Smith) Holt. She was in town visiting family. We caught up with happenings of our lives and she told me she was the owner of Bikes, Boats, & Boots Adventure Travel company.

Aha! Another trip added to my bucket list — Croatia, she told me, is one of the most beautiful and scenic destinations she offers.

This promised to be a very active adventure trip. In anticipation, we took to extra hiking, walking and biking outings to assure we were in shape for what awaited.

Our trip to Croatia was a 15-day adventure (Sept. 15-30) in this southeastern European country. We arrived a day early in Zagreb, Croatia‚ its capitol, hoping to reset our body clocks from the long flights and nine hour time change.

Zagreb did not disappoint.

We loved the hustle and bustle of the public market right outside our window in the city center. The hotel stays were thoughtfully planned by Diana to immerse us in the local

culture.

On a tour of the city, led by an amazing and informative guide, we were approached by other tourists to inform us that our guide was a well-known former professional soccer player on the Croatian national team.

In each city and village we visited, we had opportunity to venture out and explore the history and enjoy the local Croatian cuisine. Part of any travel is creating new friendships with fellow travelers as well as locals, who were more than willing to help with anything.

Yes, there was a bit of a language barrier and most money transactions were in Kuna, the currency of Croatia, but we adapted, with help from our local guides.

We left Zagreb by motor coach to Plitvice Lakes National Park, where we spent the afternoon hiking the trails and boardwalks that intertwined the parks terraced lakes and waterfalls.

The next morning we traveled on to the seaside city of Split.

Split is home of the Diocletian Palace built in 305 AD. It was originally built as the retirement home for Roman emperor Diocletian.

I knew I would lose Jim (as he tends to wander off the beaten path) here exploring this old walled palace.

Our hotel in Split was very modern and sophisticated. A large rooftop lounge offered views of the walled city to the sea, as well as a breakfast of Croatian foods.

Our excitement grew as we boarded the 32-passenger ship

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Tour organizer Diana Holt, left, and Shelly Kill stand in front of the Church of St. Mark in Zagreb, built in 13th century. Roof tiles depict the medieval coat of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia on left side and emblem of Zagreb on right.

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Cycling the cobblestone back ways towards a late morning coffee stop, in town of Jelsa on island of Hvar.

This harbour town is known for its pine forests and picturesque swimming spots.

Fort Lovnienac in Dubrovnik was originally built in the 11th Century to ward off Venetian rule. Now, it is used as a theater/concert hall.

An early morning view from atop the stone walled walkway surrounding the town. Stradun is the main street in 13th Century old town Dubrovnik.

(our floating home for the next seven nights). Biking guides, bikes and crew were waiting for us to explore and cycle the Dalmatian Islands.

We began our island cycle trip in Brac, with stops on Hvar, Korcula and Mljet to follow.

Each island biking was unique, some gave us the most stunning views of the Adriatic sea (especially as we descended down from the mountains to return to our boat).

Other trips took us through olive groves, vineyards and fig trees. We rode through cobblestone streets of fishing villages and along pine forest lined seaside inlets.

There were plenty of breaks along each route to allow riders to catch up from a mountainous climb, to stop for coffee, gelato or delish pastry, take photos, go

on a quick village side trip or take a quick swim in the sea.

Jim and I are not used to riding on small tight roads with cars zipping by some only inches away. But the locals are used to cyclists. Knowing the biking groups and tourists help their economy, they were mostly patient and courteous with us as we cycled and stopped often for photos.

We were always well fed with some of the most delicious Croatian style foods. Breakfast on the boat was always hearty, with cured meats and cheeses added to the standard fair.

Most lunches and dinners were eaten on shore in little restaurants specializing in some of the freshest seafood dishes you could imagine.

One of the most interesting lunch stops we had followed a January 2020 | The Good Life

long grueling uphill ride to the ancient shepherd village of Gazul where we were served Peka.

This is a hearty Dalmatia specialty of lamb, pork and vegetables cooked over an open spit.

Dubrovnik was my most favorite destination. Maybe because the beautiful 5-star resort we stayed in seemed so plush compared to our boat.

The magnificent walled city of Dubrovnik dates back to the 13th Century. We awoke early to explore the city and walk along the massive stonewalls that completely encircle the city.

From the walls were breathtaking views of the Adriatic and the red tiled rooftops of the city.

The entire city is still paved with original limestone walkways and is home to a great palace, old gothic churches and museums.

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Game of Thrones, but we were told much of the series was filmed here. Terrific little restaurants and shops are found down the side streets all around this city.

Our last meal in Dubrovnik came highly recommended from fellow travelers.

It required a hike up well over 100 limestone steps (which was a bit hard after you have already walked miles and miles for the day) to go to the small restaurant called Lady PePe. Yep, you got that right — in front of the restaurant was a statue of a lady relieving herself.

But hands down the best last supper seafood grill you could imagine, complete with sharing our recent adventure memories with our new travel friends.

Who knew 44-plus years after graduating high school, I would have an opportunity to join my Cashmere classmate Diana on a Croatian adventure.

As one of my favorite quotes says, “We travel not to escape life, but to ensure life does not escape us.”

The Athletic Life

Ada Bonnett —

At 13, an inspiring and well-rounded athlete

Ada climbs Fun Rock in Mazama, Washington.

Q

By Sarah Shaffer

uestion: Tell us a bit about yourself.

Answer: I just turned 13. I was born in Moscow, Idaho when my dad was in veterinary school at WSU. When I was 2 years old, we moved to Bozeman MT, where I lived until I was 5 before moving to the Wenatchee Valley where we have lived since. I have a younger brother, two dogs, a cat and three chickens.

I play music quite a bit. I play fiddle music with friends and at Bluegrass festivals, take weekly suzuki violin lessons, and

recently joined the Icicle Creek Youth Symphony.

My family spends a lot of time playing outside. This summer we climbed Mount St. Helens, which was super fun, and we go to Alaska every summer.

This summer we had an awesome bike-packing trip to a glacier. We also usually catch lots of salmon and rockfish in Alaska as well.

Question: We have heard that you placed first in the women’s bouldering competition at Riverfront Rock Gym recently? Please tell us about it.

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(Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is generally lower to the ground and does not require ropes. Each boulder route or “problem” is its own unique puzzle, which requires both mental and physical strategies to “solve’” or finish. There are some problems that require more balance, and some more power.)

Answer: I spent the morning during the USA Climbing Youth competition working on a tough problem that I didn’t finish during the three-hour competition.

But during the evening citizen’s competition, I was finally able to figure out the right sequence of moves that allowed me to have

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enough power towards the end of the route to finish it.

I was climbing for about 10 hours off and on that day — time flies by when I’m climbing.

Question: Are you a part of a climbing team, how often do you train, how often do you go to climbing competitions? Would you say you’re stronger at climbing or bouldering? Which do you like more?

Answer: Yes, I am a member of the RRG youth climbing team.

I typically train three nights a week for three hours each night, and additionally spend time

there with my family as well.

We are in bouldering season right now. During the fall, I go to bouldering comps almost every weekend in the Seattle area.

In the spring, we travel back to the Seattle area for rope climbing comps.

I would say that I am better at bouldering, because the style of the problems suits me better.

I like it more too, because the problems are shorter and usually require more thought.

long-term goals for your athletic interests?

Answer: I would like to climb for as long as I can, as well as ski and bike. I don’t think I will be a professional athlete, because I would like to be a dentist.

Question: What is your favorite piece of gear and why?

Answer: My favorite piece of gear is probably my climbing shoes, because I can take them lots of places and climb almost any boulders when we go on a hike.

Question: We also hear you are a skate skier and partake in biathlon events? How do you train for those and do you practice shooting somewhere as well?

Answer: Yes, the last two years I was on the Leavenworth Nordic Ski Team and the Methow Valley Biathlon Team.

This winter I am planning to take a break from the Nordic and Biathlon Teams to focus on climbing. However, I am still planning to nordic and alpine ski for fun with my family.

Question: We have seen you on a mountain bike too. Do you take mountain bike classes? Do you like to downhill bike or cross-country bike?

Where have you biked around our region and further out?

Answer: I like to mostly downhill, because I can go really fast with minimal effort, but I do ride cross-country too.

I do not take any mountain biking classes, but my mom is an instructor so she will teach me some things about it.

My family and I go biking a lot, when it is not too hot.

Whenever we go on a camping trip in our camper we like to bring our bikes. We bike mostly in Washington and B.C., Canada. Most summers we go to Whistler to go downhilling in the bike park.

As a part of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance my Mom helps put on kids mountain biking races, and so I am usually involved in those too.

Question: Do you do anything specific before an event or competition — get a certain amount of sleep, eat certain foods?

Answer: Before an event or competition I try to get lots of sleep, and (try to) avoid candy or sugary foods. I also try to take a climbing rest day the day before to let my fingers recover so they are fresh for the competition.

Question: How did you get into all these awesome outdoor sports? What has inspired you to try these different activities?

Answer: My parents are awesome. They have introduced many sports to me since the day I was born. My parents and coaches have inspired me greatly. My parents almost always support me in my activities and are always encouraging me to try new things.

Ada getting after a bouldering problem. (Bouldering — a.k.a. cragging when outdoors — is a sub-category of rock climbing, where all that is needed are climbing shoes, a crash pad — to land on that is super cushy — and a chalk bag. This could be indoor or outdoor. Indoor you go up as high as 40 feet and then jump to the ground or down climb. Outside, you climb on boulders found in nature and land — hopefully — onto crash pads.)

Question: What is some advice you have for young outdoor athletes?

Answer: My advice for young athletes is to try multiple sports, such as soccer, rock climbing, January 2020 | The Good Life

skiing, biking because you never know which sport you will like the most, and so you can have more experience too.

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Question: Do you have a favorite outdoor sport? If so, why is it your favorite?

Answer: My favorite sport is climbing, because my coaches and teammates are super supportive and nice. I also just love the climbing itself.

The full version of this story appears on Wenatcheeoutdoors.org — the site covers such topics as hiking, biking, climbing, paddling, trail running and skiing in the region.

Sarah Shaffer is the Executive Director of WenatcheeOutdoors.

RIGHT Captured here at the start of a November dusk, this view of the western foothills from the low back lawn changes with every hour and season.

BELOW With its bayed windows and stately posture, this traditional brick house on Fancher Heights presents a formal face to the neighborhood, and its position at the edge of the hill gives it wide and stunning views of Wenatchee and the Columbia River.

A family’s 2020 vision Clearly it’s a good year for change 20

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By Susan Lagsdin Photos by Mike Irwin and Shannon Lone

Four years ago, beginning

to feel cramped in their East Wenatchee condo, Greg and Shannon Lone and their young daughter Hali searched for a larger family home.

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balancing square footage, budget, acreage and ambience, until close friends on Fancher Heights suggested a place across the street from them. Built in 1993 on an almost three-quarter acre lot, it had all the features they’d dreamed of.

The Lones were immediately impressed by the generous width of traditional red brick, formal but not unfriendly, of the Federalist-style house.

Then they stepped inside and saw mountains looming beyond the foothills from Malaga to the Enchantments and the curving silver expanse of the Columbia River.

The formal dining room, framed by an archway from the entrance hall, is pictured from the second story loft. It’s been the setting for family celebrations and holiday dinners.

Two big family rooms open to mountain and river views: this sitting area with the fireplace and another that’s been outfitted with game tables that enliven the family’s informal entertaining.

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Then they stepped inside and saw mountains looming beyond the foothills from Malaga to the Enchantments and the curving silver expanse of the Columbia River.

When the family met that big, elegant house, it was love at first sight. That was 2016.

Now, it’s time to move on from the relationship, with resolve and a little regret. The house stayed the same. What changed?

From the outset, their local business, Paramount Financial Advisors, kept Greg busy most days, and in the new house Shannon had unaccustomed time and space to indulge in her homemaker-mother dream. She relished caring for the all-white kitchen, sleek expanses of shiny wood flooring and established landscaping.

Even for a small family, the 4,134 square foot home seemed at the time like a good choice.

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Greg and Shannon Lone and their daughter Hali have enjoyed their years in this luxurious Fancher Heights house with its easily adaptable rooms and wide-open western views.

Time for a change }}} Continued from previous page The couple appreciated the huge master suite on the main floor, the upstairs Jack ’n’ Jill bedrooms and bath for their young daughter, the guest quarters across the open loft area.

Entertaining their friends was easy, with two big living areas accessing a sunny deck and plenty of room for casual or (less often) formal dining.

With room, and rooms, to spread out in, the family enjoyed claiming spaces: daughter Hali and Greg did their combined school/business work in their shared office, there was a place to garage a boat, a portable gazebo on the deck for shade.

Shannon brought in a full-size upholstered chaise lounge for the master suite, closets filled to fit.

Few changes were needed.

One exception was the deeply coved dining room ceiling, which originally had a busy bucolic scene painted on it; they repainted it a handsome solid copper color.

They dedicated the center of the cathedral-ceilinged living area to a pool table, and in lieu of a new chandelier to light it, Greg rigged industrial work lamps to shine down from the

upper loft.

A 140-square-foot playhouse on the back lawn was a delight for Hali and her friends, and a full-length, drive-in basement accessed at the lower level offered storage for yard gear, sports gear and other big items.

The Lones didn’t mind the steep road in the winter. The school bus navigates it easily, and, “I’ve never had any trouble on the iciest day getting up and down — they do a great job on these roads,” said Greg.

The neighbors keep in contact on Facebook and are conscientious about maintaining covenants, and the broad sidewalked streets are quiet and safe for Grand Avenue’s young children.

The luxury features in the home’s floor plan were a treat for the family. Two glass block surrounds, one for the shower and one for the toilet, two sinks and two closets offer copious space in the master suite, which also has a sitting area with fireplace and deck access. Hali has a two-room suite with an interconnecting bath; she uses one bedroom as a playroom and one for her sleeping room.

After a year and a half, the house was just what they’d first wanted, with its peaceful

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The Lones were at first skeptical about the master bathroom carpeting but soon appreciated its softness. The rest of the well-planned accoutrements they liked immediately.

ABOVE Just off the kitchen, with its white cabinetry and spacious prep counters, the sunny street side nook features a bay window and makes a cozy spot for regular family meals.

LEFT An old-world feature for storage and serving that’s still handy in any modern house is the butler’s pantry between the kitchen and the formal dining room.

neighborhood, graceful exterior, nicely appointed rooms, distant vistas — but the dynamics changed.

Time grew precious. Greg joined a pair of enterprising friends, fellow deep-sea divers, in starting Hard Hat Winery (its name an allusion to iconic metal diving helmets), and he and Shannon were suddenly immersed in the business of making and selling wine.

Hard Hat buys grapes from the Columbia Valley region, processes and bottles the wine in Poulsbo, and sells it not only online but from a tasting room on Wenatchee’s Fifth Street. Greg

works both his financial office and the widespread wine business, and Shannon’s job is now planning wine-related events and handling the winery’s marketing and social media.

“We knew nothing when we started the business,” Greg said.

“Except how to drink wine.”

They learned fast; the friendfounded venture won acclaim (an early Sauvignon Blanc won a Sunset magazine International award) but as the business grew, by about a year ago their beautiful house became too much to handle.

Caring for the long halls and many rooms, including five bathrooms, the white cabinetry and ornate trim work, even the mature but attention-seeking

yard, became work, not a pleasure.

It’s time for a change. “Downsizing” is not just an emptynester phenomenon — this young, active family now needs less space and less yard. They want to simplify their daily life.

“It’s just too big for us right now,” Shannon explained. “All this crown molding, all these floors...”

“If we had ‘staff,’” said Greg, “or even brought in people to do the yard, the cleaning, we could keep up with it, make it look the way it should. Right now, for us, it’s just too much of everything.”

So, they’ve decided to sell their home. Prospective buyers have appreciated just what caught their attention three years

ago; Shannon hopes for another family to grow up in the house.

“I’d love to see new owners’ kids running up and down the stairs,” she said, “and exploring the yard.”

The next big step for Greg and Shannon will be finding a good home for the three of them that’s more suited to their casual and often hectic current lifestyle. “I’d like to be out in the middle of 1,500 acres,” Greg said. “That’s just a dream — but maybe a few acres with no covenants, where we could keep some animals, that’d be nice…”

Hali and Shannon both agreed.

The Lones feel good about the upcoming transition, confident they’ll find a home in 2020 that offers open space around them, rather than open space inside.

And a view. “We really love looking out at the mountains every day,” Shannon said. “That would be really hard to give up.”

WESTERB984CF

Sold and erected by an independent locally owned builder.

Your building can be customized just the way you want!

(509) 884-0555

www.westernbuildings.com

4968 Contractors Drive East Wenatchee, WA 98802 RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • AGRICULTURAL January 2020 | The Good Life

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>>

column moving up to the good life

june darling

Recipe for the good life in 2020 Maybe spend less time alone, laugh more, find happiness in the little things and stop glorifying being busy

I

n one direction 30 or so bodies jiggle, jump, and jive in water-aerobics. They are surrounded by 70 or so bodies on lawn chairs, soaking up the Baja sun.

Sounds like a vision of the good life. Or is it?

My husband, John, bought a time share here at Pueblo Bonito 25 years ago as he envisioned the good life for us. John had a lot of help from the enthusiastic agents who surrounded him as he stepped out of Cabo San Lucas International Airport (at the time I was with kids in Washington, D.C.). They astounded him with generous offers to shuttle him, host him, and feed him as he toured the place.

Over the years, the place didn’t quite seem to fit our idea of the good life, but we came occasionally, primarily to visit

John’s cousin who lives half of the year in Los Barriles, about 95 minutes away.

On this trip to Los Barriles, I sat under the palapas sipping a mango smoothie with another gringa, Brenda, (a Canadian therapist who, with her husband, Pat began the charity Bicycles for Humanity). We were discussing the good life.

I told Brenda that on this trip to Los Barriles I had seen a Mexican out fishing. It brought back that old story of the Mexican fisherman and banker.

Brenda almost jumped out of her seat — she said it was her favorite story. The parable had helped Brenda and her husband thoughtfully consider their own vision of the good life.

It goes like this: The American investment banker is taking a much-needed vacation in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docks. The boat has several large, freshly caught, Yellowfin tuna in it. The banker admires the fish, but is shocked that the fisherman is coming in so early.

It seems rather unambitious.

The fisherman explains that he has caught enough fish for his family’s needs and enough to give to friends. He will spend

Happiness researchers tell us that we aren’t very good at making sound decisions around what will lead us toward the good life. the rest of the day enjoying his family and friends, playing his guitar, taking a stroll. He has a full, busy, good life, he explains.

The investment banker, a Harvard MBA, is aghast. He tries to explain to the fisherman that if he works harder he can get more boats… Well, you know where the story goes (more boats, more fish, canneries, IPO, etc).

As the fisherman asks the banker why he would do all this, the banker explains that then the fisherman will be able to get rich. The fisherman still seems puzzled about what he will do with all these riches.

The banker explains that if the fisherman becomes rich he can work less, enjoy much of his day with his family and friends, play his guitar, and take strolls in the village.

We see the humor… and the

wisdom.

I cannot say the story totally captures my vision of the good life, but it does stir up questions and prods me to continue searching for answers.

A basic question underlying all visions of the good life would be to consider what it is that human beings need to be happy and fulfilled.

Authors I have been reading lately, Joe Griffin and Ivan Tyrrell, suggest that there are nine crucial psychological and emotional needs which must be met for all human beings to live a good life — security, autonomy, attention, intimacy, connection to the wider community, status, a sense of competence, and meaning.

A recent book by Johann Hari, Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression — and the Unexpected Solutions, makes similar claims.

Some researchers believe our needs can be largely grouped into three main categories — the need to be competent, the need to be autonomous (having a great deal of control and choice in our lives), and the need for wide and deep relationships.

It may be important for us to

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...the Mexican recipe for happiness seems to include a large dose of social contacts — lots of talking, laughing, joking, being with friends and family, and music. consider these ideas as well as the parable before we head into making our goals and bucket list for 2020.

Why? Happiness researchers tell us that we aren’t very good at making sound decisions around what will lead us toward the good life.

Americans, for example, often go for more and bigger stuff (cars, houses, boats). More money. More nips and tucks. Those goals, according to various world happiness and well-being reports, seem to be making us more unhappy.

I have had a chance to consider what seems to be making Mexicans happy. It can’t be the drug cartels, nor the poverty, nor the corruption.

The weather, maybe. The food, perhaps. But the Mexican recipe for happiness seems to include a large dose of social contacts — lots of talking, laughing, joking, being with friends and family, and music.

One Mexican happiness researcher suggests that if others want to live more of the good life and learn from the Mexicans, they should spend less time alone, grow their circle of friends, laugh more, find happiness in little things, stop glorifying being overly busy all the time, and be more humble.

Sounds like some of the lessons we might take away from The Fisherman and Banker Parable.

I haven’t nailed down my vi-

sion for 2020 nor my goal completely, but imagining life and goals around deeper and wider relationships makes sense to me and fits with my values.

In general, most of us know we need to be specific around our goals and take some doable action consistently.

My goal won’t be to make five new friends this year, which I can’t control. Rather it will be something like to do five acts of kindness (for example — buy a latte, send a thank you note or email, babysit). Those actions could lead to wider and deeper relationships, are enjoyable for me to do, and are processes within my control.

The idea of visioning and setting a relationship goal is influencing my behavior already.

Yesterday, as I walked downtown around the Cabo Marina, I stopped being, well, so rude and aloof to the many folks who are hawking silver jewelry for a dollar, luxurious $5,000 fishing trips, and rides on a camel or a dolphin. I had some fun and joked back with them. And it did make me happier. Much happier.

Visions and progress toward our goals can make us happier and lead to the good life.

Don’t leave your vision to marketers, social media, or enthusiastic salespeople. Go ahead and have a little fun as you observe, experiment and ponder.

How might you use January to explore an overarching vision, make a goal, and move up to the good life in 2020?

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Delicious, healthy, and artistic in one!

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June Darling, Ph.D. can be contacted at drjunedarling1@gmail.com; website: www.summitgroupresources. com. Her bio and many of her books can be found at amazon.com/author/ junedarling.

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PET tales

Tells us a story about your pet. Submit pet & owner pictures to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

THE

2020 PAWSCARS AWARDS GALA

Presented by: Wenatchee Valley Humane Society takes its annual event to the stars with a Oscar-themed gala!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2020 5:30 - 9:00 P.M.

Wenatchee Convention Center

Melanie and Blackjack: A dream a long time coming.

We're celebrating pets in our community!

Nominate your pet by submitting a photo in these categories:

Most Dramatic Best Action Sequence Best Comedic Performance Most Promising Newcomer Best Hair Best Costume People's Choice

I

Then join us on the red carpet to see if your pet wins!

submission and tickets at: wenatcheehumane.org/gala20 Proceeds benefit pets with no place to call home

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Wasn’t yet time to give up on my horse dream

By Melanie Schoonover

was born with the horse gene, so they say.

Ever since I can remember, I loved horses.

As a child, it was the one thing I asked my parents for over and over again. Growing up in a family of seven kids, there just wasn’t any extra money for such an expensive indulgence.

So, I found friends who had horses and managed to get quite a bit of riding in as a child.

My dream of owning a horse

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January 2020

never left me, even as an adult.

Some of my absolute favorite vacations and experiences have involved horses.

My intention was to get a horse in my retirement years, when working full time was behind me. Even though I’ve been retired for five years, there were other things that I needed to be available to do that took up my time.

This year, with the death of my dad, all commitments were cleared and I was free to pursue my dream. I began actively

I am living my dream now and have met so many wonderful people. looking at horses online and considering where to board one and the costs associated with their care.

Important considerations in boarding was full care, trails to ride on and affordability.

In my search, I just couldn’t seem to find the perfect fit. One day, I told my husband that I was just going to give up on my dream and find something else to do to fill my time.

That afternoon, we decided to take our ATVs up in the mountains for a ride. We were about to turn around when I remembered a campground up ahead a few miles so suggested we ride to there and then turn around.

As we pulled into the campground, it was empty, except for a horse trailer, two horses and a man and a woman, named Mike and Starla. I got off my ATV and went to chat with them. For some reason I shared my dream and that just that morning I had decided to give it up.

Long story short, Starla and Mike have a boarding facility that was just what I had been searching for, it was close to my home and they had a herd of horses and they were sure there was one in the herd that would be perfect for me.

In a few days, I went out for a ride, met this beautiful Tennessee Walker, named Blackjack, and within a couple of weeks, he was being leased to me by Starla.

I am living my dream now and have met so many wonderful people.

Starla has a banner on her riding arena that says, “Stardust Ranch, where everyone is a star and dreams come true.”

It is a slice of heaven and I am so grateful I have the chance to finally live my dream.

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column THE TRAVELing DOCTOR

jim brown, m.d.

Before that next drink...

Alcohol in excess can speed aging, weaken our immune system

A

lcohol has a number of effects on our bodies as well as playing a significant role in our aging process.

In the recent decade, some articles have suggested drinking alcohol, particularly red wine, might be associated with reduced mortality in heart disease in some people.

This was thought to be related to an increase in the “good’ HDL cholesterol caused by the antioxidants and flavinoids in red wine.

The same is to be said for eating foods like grapes and red grape juice.

However, there is no clear-cut evidence wine is any more helpful than a healthy life style.

If one drinks wine or other alcohol, it is strongly recommended females have no more than one drink daily and males, no more than two drinks daily.

A drink consists of one 12 ounce beer, one 4 ounce wine, or 1.5 ounce of liquor.

Drinking more than that increases the risk and dangers of alcoholism, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, breast cancer, suicide and accidents. The only real health benefit of alcohol is a small increase in good HDL cholesterol.

Regular exercise does the same thing, so, like a broken record, I say more walking and less sitting.

What effect does alcohol have on aging?

Alcohol is linked to aging in many ways. It can affect various January 2020 | The Good Life

parts of our body as well as our mental health as we age.

As we age we seniors tend to drink less water and are more likely to become dehydrated, which can result in increased fatigue and a slowing down of our mental faculties.

Although alcohol is a liquid, it actually pulls water out of our bodies, increasing our likelihood of dehydration.

Our skin becomes drier as we age, which is a natural process we can’t control. That is why moisturizer creams and other products are such big sellers. It is another reason to reduce our alcohol intake.

Alcohol can affect some organs like our liver and kidneys, impairing their ability to function optimally. Alcoholism is a cause of liver disease including a form of alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis that can be fatal.

Alcohol goes straight to our brains and can relax us in a sense, but heavy drinking, more than the minimum recommendation, over time can shrink our brain cells leading to certain types of dementia, including lack of judgement, organization, ability to stay focused and anger issues.

Alcohol in excess can weaken and adversely affect our valuable immune system. Our immune systems are our primary defense against many infections and invaders to our body, which can be more serious to older people.

As we age, we all lose some muscle mass and unfortunately gain fat. As a result, it takes our body longer to break down or metabolize the alcohol we drink.

The longer alcohol stays in our system, it can adversely affect the way medications work, leading to potential serious side effects. The more we drink as we age, the longer the hangover will www.ncwgoodlife.com

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last as a result.

As we age, alcohol can make our common medical problems worse. Heavy drinkers are more likely to have osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, memory loss and mood disorders.

Alcohol over time can damage our cerebellum, the area in our brain that controls muscle coordination.

Many seniors have issues with sleep.

Many people think having a drink or “nightcap” before bedtime will help them relax and get a more restful sleep. Actually the opposite is more likely to happen, making it harder to get to sleep.

Once asleep, it is often a more restless sleep. Seniors are more likely to wake up and have a hard time getting back to sleep.

If they did have a night-time alcoholic drink, they are more likely to fall in the dark while getting up to go to the bathroom.

What is the take-home message of all this?

Like most things in life, moderation should be our mantra.

People over 65 who don’t take any medications (if there are any seniors like that), should have no more than one drink a day (women) and two drinks (men).

To reiterate: maximum alcohol intake should be one 12 ounce beer, one 4 ounce glass of wine (two maximum in males) or 1.5 ounce of hard liquor.

Do everything in moderation and keep walking, less sitting.

Jim Brown, M.D., is a retired gastroenterologist who has practiced for 38 years in the Wenatchee area. He is a former CEO of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center.

Artist Updates

Photo

by Heidi Swoboda

E

very year, we like to chronicle the progress of a few people from Chelan and Douglas counties who’ve been featured in past The Good Life artist profiles.

It’s tough to choose from the rich trove of creative people who’ve told us their stories. These five (three visual artists and two writers) have honed their crafts, changed directions, striven for goals and generally shown us that artful lives can be lived well in the folds and foothills of the Columbia River valley.

“I believe my colors are more intense, my expressions more heart felt.”

MARTHA FLORES

DEREK SHEFFIELD

(DECEMBER 2011) Martha’s work is founded on serious study of art and science. Raised in Guatemala and El Salvador, she completed a fine arts master’s degree in California. That demanded proficiency in all media, so beyond oils, she became equally adept with clay and bronze sculpture, pencil and pastel, ink and acrylics.

Successful in teaching art, but wanting to touch lives even more closely, Martha went on to a second master’s degree in counseling psychology.

Her painting demonstrates that the pain in an artist’s personal evolution can become a public blessing.

“I turned sadness in my own life into more creativity — it was good fuel for me,” she admits.

Turmoil, violence and poverty in Central America and especially, she said, “Children caught in the middle of so many world events turned into tragedies” continue to affect Martha deeply and have changed her art in the last eight years.

“I believe my colors are more intense, my expressions more heart felt.”

Retired recently from her counselling career, she has also started writing and performing poetry that expresses her universal concerns.

She said she’ll continue to be an art activist, teaching workshops to all ages here and in her country of birth, such as one in August 2019 in El Salvador where she taught art, theater and poetry to a group of 30 therapists who plan to use them with their adolescent students.

Martha is pleased to be exhibiting at Wenatchee Valley College’s Robert Graves Gallery this coming spring. Her show, called The Immensity of our Essence, will depict, she explained, “Faces in many colors mirroring each other, being more alike than different.”

(OCTOBER 2010) The techniques Derek gleaned from his writing education (a BA and MFA from the University of Washington), his 20 years with poetry, and his mentors’ influence have served him well.

He’s been a conference speaker and an editor, and he shares tangible truths about writing with his English classes at Wenatchee Valley College, where he is an associate professor and serves as Humanities Chair.

He’s gradually amassing grants, awards, and exposure in an array of literary journals and magazines, encouragements that are relatively rare in the poet’s world.

These nine years have brought organic and gradual changes to Derek’s poetry life. His first full-length book of poems, Through the Second Skin, published in 2013, was well-reviewed and won finalist status in the Washington State Book Award.

After that, he explained, giving readings and presentations across the Pacific Northwest — the bearable flipside of literary acclaim — slowed his own creative work somewhat.

But his recognition prompted an invitation from Terrain.org (“the oldest, still-publishing online journal on the planet,” said Derek) to be poetry editor, and though it takes time and energy, “it nourishes me and my work in subtle ways.”

He also values the continual support of local writing groups and comrades.

While teaching, parenting and editing, he’s also sent his newest book, Not for Luck, out to publishers, and will be touring a co-edited collection Dear America: Letters of Hope, Habitat, Defiance, and Democracy starting in April 2020.

His future work may well be centered on trees, he said, and he also hopes to write poems that respond to a deep re-reading of Thoreau.

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“We like to continually challenge ourselves.

AMANDA AND RUSTY GIBBS

KAY KENYON

(AUGUST 2014) Their year-old studio is light, airy, spacious and well-equipped, complete with talented employees. It’s tucked away on the east fringe of Leavenworth, but their business is very definitely downtown, and therefore follows the Bavarian theme.

She’s the muralist, fine line artist and colorist; he tends toward the web work and constructed multimaterial projects.

Working together, in just one decade they’ve created some of Leavenworth’s more often-seen public art.

You’ve seen their work from The Hat Shop to Cascade Medical and dozens more signs, and murals from The Innsbruker to Festhalle to Starbucks and beyond.

Gibbs Graphics has expanded both its repertoire and its geographic area in the span of five years. A quick look at their website shows not only the familiar Bavarian murals but wine labels, logos, automobile signage, sculptures and 3-D signs for businesses in Washington and out of state.

Amanda said, “We like to continually challenge ourselves. We recently made an additional website that focuses on our higher-end 3D signs and caters to a national audience.”

She completed a sculpting workshop at British Columbia’s Imagination Corporation, and the recent purchase of a CNC router and laser engraver enabled them, said Rusty, “to turn our sketches and designs into really nice pieces of art with more ease and accuracy.”

With larger and more complex projects, they’ve added employees, including a project manager who uses estimating and job tracking software, giving back time to the couple to do what they do best: art.

“It has made things much smoother,” Amanda said, “and has allowed us to focus much more on the hands-on side of the business again.”

(NOVEMBER 2007) In her story about how she became a published writer, Kay Kenyon wrote: Fiction writing is not, as I once believed, about self-expression. It’s about communicating with others, about establishing a connection with readers by bringing fascinating people to life in the context of a story.

Today I am awaiting the publication of my eighth novel. My latest novel, Bright of the Sky recently received a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly. But the life of the novelist, is nevertheless, nothing like what I expected.

Twelve years later, Kay Kenyon reiterated her earlier observation, saying “Nothing about the writing life is predictable. It’s been more like shooting the rapids than a stately progression of writerly days.”

Changes in the publishing world have disrupted Kay’s routine but presented options. She recently self-published two short stories and says, “Against all odds, I’ve learned to navigate the complex world of book promotion.”

A second series (after her successful quartet, the Entire and the Rose), The Dark Talents trilogy, a historical fantasy set in 1936, was picked up by Simon and Schuster.

True to form, she’s now working on yet another novel, the subject and genre of which she’ll keep under wraps until its time has come.

Kay was instrumental in starting Write On The River in 2005. She stepped down as chair but remains on the board of directors, helping to plan workshops and influencing local writers in seminars and retreats.

She said she once avoided teaching, thinking it would detract from her creative work, but had a change of perspective.

“Fiction writing isn’t just about creating, but about sharing, helping, and connecting. Fewer pages and more people in my life; it’s a good trade.”

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“Fiction writing isn’t just about creating, but about sharing...

fun stuff what to do around here for the next month Holidays on Ice, now until late January weather permitting. Outdoor ice-skating at Lions Club Park, Leavenworth. Skate rentals are on site. Info: theholidaysonice.com.

Homegrown Oldies Jam, every first and third Monday, 7 to 10 p.m.

Riverside Pub. Cost: free.

NCW BLUES JAM, every second and fourth Monday. 7 – 10 p.m. Riverside Pub. Cost: free.

Wenatchee Paddle Club, every Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. open paddle, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 p.m. novice kayak paddle group, Saturdays, 7 a.m. masters crew rowing.

Info: wenatcheepaddle.org.

Upper Valley Running Club, every Tuesday, 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Check-in at the gravel lot across from O’Grady’s Pantry. Maps will be available for a marked 3-mile trail route, partly along Icicle Creek. Run or walk, by yourself, with a friend or with your family. Participate 10 or more times and earn an Upper Valley Running Club tech tee. Info: sleepinglady.com.

Conversations around death/ death conversations group, meets every third Wednesday, 9 – 10:30 p.m. Does your family really know what you want? Do you have a current will? Who gets what?

This is a an information group that is looking at what we or our family should expect upon our passing.

Chelan Senior Center. Cost: free.

Info: Concie Luna 630-2972.

Shrub-steppe poetry podium, every last Wednesday, 5 – 6:30 p.m. A free, poetry-only public reading. Read your own poems or the work of a favorite poet.

Riverside Pub, 538 Riverside Dr, Wenatchee. Info: sfblair61@gmail. com.

Weekly Club Runs, every Thursday check in between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Pybus Public Market south entrance. Either a 5k or 10k walk or run on the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail. Complete 10 weekly runs and receive a free shirt. Cost: free (other than a smile).

Leavenworth Waterfront Park Trail Snowshoe Tours, every Thursday in January and February, 10 a.m. – noon. Join local naturalist guides for a free snowshoe stroll on the Waterfront Park Trail along the Wenatchee River. Enjoy the

feeling of being in the wilderness while remaining in close proximity to the bustling downtown area. All ages and experience levels welcome. Snowshoes provided. Dress for cold weather and bring a snack and warm beverage. Cost: free.

Wenatchee River Institute. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org or call Rachel 548-0181 ext. 5.

Thursday Night Drags, 6:30 p.m. sharp every Thursday. Four person teams with up to 3 additional racers for alternates. Participate on skis or snowboard. Race venue is Elip. Skill levels from intermediate to expert. Racers must be 16 or older. Mission Ridge. Info: Lindsay Davisson, 421-2425 or mrst.us/ Thursday-night-drags.

Game Night, every 4th Friday.

Board games, card games or any games you bring. Open to families and all ages. Hosted by Pacific Crest Church. Pybus Public Market.

Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.

Jam at the Crow, 7 – 10 p.m.

Every first Sunday. The Club Crow in Cashmere, 108 1/2 Cottage Ave. Cost: free.

Write on the River writer’s competition, now thru 2/1. Six writers will share the winnings of a total of $1,200 in cash prizes for short (1,000 word) fiction or nonfiction on any theme or topic.

Cost is $20 per submission or $40 per submission that includes three written critiques. Info: writeontheriver.org.

First Day Hike, 1/1, 10 a.m. - noon.

Kick off the New Year with a first day hike. Enjoy a winter wonderland just up the hill from town as park staff guide you through wandering trails and magical forested views. Learn a little bit about the history of the park and some of the flora and fauna. Snowshoes, hiking poles, water, snacks, winter attire and footwear recommended.

Moderate, 2 miles. Dogs allowed on leash. Squilchuck State Park. Info: (509) 670-4587.

Book turned movie night, 1/4, 5:30 p.m. Join us for a showing of a popular book-turned move and discuss how the two formats compare. Chelan Library. Cost: free.

Info: ncrl.org/chelan.

First Friday Events Include:

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*Class with a Glass, 1/3, 5 – 8 p.m. 10 S Columbia St. *Collapse, 1/3, 4 – 9 p.m. 115 S Wenatchee Ave. (in front of RadarStation was). *Gypsy Lotus, 1/3, 5 – 8 p.m. 1 S Wenatchee Ave. Cost: free. *Lemolo Café and Deli, 1/3, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. 114 N Wenatchee Ave. *MAC Gallery, 1/3, 5 – 7 p.m.

Wenatchee Valley College Music and Art Center, 1300 Fifth St. *Mela, 1/3, 5 – 8 p.m. Nosh provided. Cost: free. 17 N. Wenatchee Ave. Cost: free. *Mission Street Commons, 1/3, 5 – 8 p.m. 218 S Mission St. *Pans Grotto, 1/3, 4 – 9 p.m. 3 N Wenatchee Ave. Ste 2. * Robert Graves Gallery, 1/3, 5 – 7 p.m. Array of art pieces by Robert Graves Gallery members, including ceramics, bronze, paintings and sculpture. Refreshments. Cost: free.

Sexton Hall at Wenatchee Valley College, Ninth St entrance. *Tumbleweed Bead Co., 1/3, 5-7 p.m. Refreshments served. 105 Palouse St. Cost: free. Info: tumbleweedbeadco.com. *Two Rivers Art Gallery, 1/3, 5 – 8 p.m. Featuring Twist artist Ginger Reddington. Music by guitarist Brian Ohme. Complimentary refreshments. 102 N Columbia, Wenatchee. Cost: free. Info: 2riversgallery.com. *Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, 1/3, 5 – 8 p.m. 137 N Wenatchee Ave. *Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 1/3, 5.

– 8 p.m. Beauty of Bronze exhibit.

Light refreshments. Cost: free. Info: Wenatchee.org. *Ye Olde Bookshoppe, 1/3, 5 – 8 p.m. 11 Palouse St. Snowshoe Tour at Fish Hatchery, 1/4, 11, 18, 25, at 1 p.m and 2/1 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Join area naturalist guides on a one-mile snowshoe trail along the Icicle Creek, learning about native wildlife and ecology along the way. All skill levels welcome. Snowshoes, gaiters and poles provided. Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Cost: $12.

Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

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January 2020

Bridal Premiere 2020, 1/4, 11 a.m.

– 5 p.m. Door prizes and fashion show by Katrina’s. Town Toyota Center. Cost: free. Info: katrinaweddingboutiuqe.com.

Winter Wine Walk, 1/4, 11, 18 , 19, 25, 5 – 9 p.m. Bring your snowshoes and begin your Winter Wine Wonderland through the vineyards, a welcome home bonfire, a three course meal catered by Smokeblossom and of course your favorite wine. Icicle Ridge Winery. Reservations only. Info: icicleridgewinery. com.

Seattle Mariners Caravan, 1/7, 4 – 5:15 p.m. Select members of the Seattle Mariners will visit and give out autographs and free photos session for the public. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Change a Child’s Story, 1/7, 5:30 - 7 p.m. Information night for CASA programs. CASA is court appointed special advocates who is a powerful voice for abused and neglected children. They help change the lives of kids in foster care. 431 Douglas St. Info: 662-7350 or arleneg@ cdcasa.org.

Adult STEM night, 1/7, 6:30 p.m.

Learn how to program NC Regional Library’s newest Sphero RVR robot, inspired by students and educators. Enjoy yourself while working on motor skills with Beat Saber, a virtual reality rhythm game. With a pair of light sabers, slice through flying blocks representing musical beats of adrenalin pumping music while surrounded by a futuristic world. No-host beer and wine available. Wenatchee River Institute’s Red Barn, Leavenworth. Cost: free, donations accepted. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

2020 Kick-off party, 1/9, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. 2019 was a year of monumental growth for GWATA and in celebration for your continued support and advocacy for technology, entrepreneurship and STEM education in NCW we will have an evening of networking, refreshments and fun. Mercantile, 14 N Wenatchee Ave. Cost: $30. Info: gwata.org.

Exit Laughing by Paul Elliott, 1/9, 10, 11, 16, 17 18, 3, 24, 25, 7:30.

1/11, 18, 2 p.m. Live production

by Music Theatre of Wenatchee.

Numerica Performing Arts Center.

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WHAT TO DO

Info: numericapac.org.

Snowshoe Tour at Fish Hatchery, 1/10, 17, 24, 31, 1 p.m. Join area naturalist guides on a one-mile snowshoe trail along the Icicle Creek, learning about native wildlife and ecology along the way. All skill levels welcome. Snowshoes, gaiters and poles provided. Leavenworth Fish Hatchery. Cost: $12.

Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

Family movie at the library, 1/11, 2 p.m. Bring your popcorn and a beverage and watch a family friendly movie. Chelan Library.

Cost: free.

The Met live in HD: Wozzeck, 1/11, 9:55 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22 advance or $24 at the door. Info: icicle.org.

Environmental Film and Lecture series: Protected and the passage, 1/14, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Protected: A wild and Scenic River Portrait follows river paddler, author, and conservationist, Tim Palmer, through the enchanting waters of Oregon’s Wild Rivers Coast, which has the highest concentration of National Wild and Scenic Rivers in the US. The Passage by filmmaker Nate Dappen chronicles parallel canoe trips up the Inside Passage, the first one his parents completed in 1974 and the second they completed as a family in 2017.

Andy Dappen, Nate’s uncle, will be on hand to introduce the film and talk a bit about the experience.

Wenatchee Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $5 suggested donation. Info: wentcheevalleymuseum. org.

Get Lit! LIght Shards, 1/15, 6:30 - 9 p.m. Learn how to use circuitry to wire an acrylic light to a base.

Adults only. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $35 includes all supplies and a glass of wine. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

DIY Shampoo and Conditioner Bars, 1/16, 6 – 7:30 p.m. When looking for ways to reduce plastic waste and shrink your carbon footprint, making your own shampoo and conditioner bars in one more step toward that goal. The class is offered by The Bubblery, a soap company in Leavenworth. Learn how to make shampoo and conditioner by formulating a palm and sulfite free vegan based mixture designed to benefit your hair type.

Wenatchee River Institute Red Barn, Leavenworth. Cost: $38. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

Winter Art Exhibit, 1/17 – 26. The Lake Chelan Arts council presents a special art exhibit with the theme “Lake Chelan in Winter.” Radiance Winery’s Manson Tasting Room, 71 Wapato Way, then 1/30 through March 27 at the Lake Chelan Public Library, 216 N Emerson. Cost: free.

Info: artinchelan.com.

Lake Chelan Winterfest, 1/17, 18 25, 26, all day. Ice sculptures, wine tasting, ale tasting, activities for kids, a polar bear splash, massive beach bonfire, fireworks and more.

Downtown Chelan. Cost: free info: lakechelanwinterfest.com.

Dancing with the stars, 1/17, 7:30 p.m. Six prominent community members are paired with a professional to learn a ballroom dance routine over one week. They are then costumed, video highlights and a judges panel are added, and the contestants are put into a show where the audience will vote for who will win the mirror ball trophy.

Numerica Performing Arts Center.

Cost: $23-37. Info: numericapac.org.

Winterfest Comedy, 1/17, 18, 9:30 p.m. Drew Barth, one of the fastest rising comedians in the PNW will bring his snarky and observational sense of humor in a live performance at the Ruby Theatre in Chelan. Cost: $25-$35. Info: rottenapplepresents.com/events/ drew-barth-winterfest-2020.

The Essence of Story, 1/18, 9:15 - 10:30 a.m. Write on the River presents a chat on The Essence of Story. Career novelists Kay Kenyon will discuss the basic building blocks of stories, concept, character and plot — and how to optimize them. Wenatchee Library. Info: writeontheriver.org.

Martin Luther King Multicultural Fest, 1/18, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Celebrate the rich diversity of our region through booth displays of art, food, crafts, clothes, pictures and more. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: free.

Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Cold Winter Nights Comedy Series, 1/18, 7:30 p.m. Graham Kay performs live. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $22. Info: numericapac.org.

Empty Bowls, 1/19, 1 – 6 p.m.

Fundraising event for the NCW food distribution center. Pybus Public Market. Cost: $10 per bowl, $35 per family includes soup and bread meal on March 14.

Bavarian Icefest, 1/18, 19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Frisbee Sweep, Ice January 2020 | The Good Life

Cube Scramble, snow sculptures, snowmobile sled pull, live ice carving, snowball toss and ice fishing.

Fireworks at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Downtown Leavenworth. Info: leavenworth.org.

Monthly movie on the big screen: The Godfather, 1/22, 6:30 p.m. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $3. Info: numericapac.org.

Planetarium and Moonlight snowshoe stroll, 1/24, 5 p.m.

Travel through space and time by visiting the stars from season to season, rewinding and fastforwarding, as well as viewing the stars as they appear real time in the night sky above. Then travel outdoors through the soft moonlight on a guided snowshoe stroll, identifying the winter constellations viewed earlier from the planetarium. Prepare for cold, nighttime temperatures and hot cocoa will await you at the end. Wenatchee River Institute Red Barn, 347 Division. St, Leavenworth. Cost: $28.

Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

Wenatchee Rotary AuctionBuilding community, 1/25, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. An evening of food, fellowship and teaming together to raise over $120,000 of proceeds to support organizations and projects here in the valley. This year’s proceeds will help fund local service grants to organizations serving youth, homeless and the hungry, Interact club project with Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, college scholarships, World Community Service Project for clean water and

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sanitation. Wenatchee Convention Center. Cost: $65.

El Sendero Backcountry film festival, 1/25, 7 p.m. Ten short films full of snowy, cinematic adventure. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $15. Info: Gus Bekker 860-7332.

Last Tuesday Artists, 1/28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. All interested artists, painters, drawers, sketchers, photographers, sculptors, printmakers, weavers, writers, musicians… it’s all about joining with other fellow artists to create your own work during a 2-hour session. Canyon Wren Recital Hall, Leavenworth.

Cost: free.

Environmental Film and speaker series: the Eagle Huntress, 1/28, 7 – 9 p.m. This documentary is a bout a Kazakh nomad girl in Mongolia who is fighting to become the first female eagle hunter in 12 generations of her family. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Numerica Winter Ice Gala, 1/31, 6 – 9 p.m. Formal dinner and show.

Town Toyota Center. Info: towntoyotacenter.com Down North, 1/31, 7:30 p.m. Live performance by a soul punk band based in Seattle. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $22.

Info: numericapac.org.

>>

column those were the days

rod molzahn

Married at 16, and on to homesteading The Richardsons – A pioneer family that grew apples and a bushel of kids

I

da Olivia Meacham was 16 when she married 30 year-old George Thomas Richardson on Nov. 29, 1877.

That day they became partners in the grand and demanding, life-long adventure of homesteading.

They began life together in Kansas where Ida had grown up and George had claimed a small homestead. Neither Kansas nor a short stay on a Michigan farm satisfied their longings.

In 1886, with four children — Walter, Alice, Philip and Leon — the family moved to the Puget Sound country where George had family.

Two years later, drawn by the promise of good land in the Big Bend, George left Ida and the children, now including little Elsie, in Seattle and boarded a train for Ellensburg.

In a later interview George recalled his journey from the Kittitas Valley. “I had not at this time even heard of Wenatchee or the Wenatchee Valley. I bought a $15 cayuse and started for Waterville. When I got to the top of the range (Colockum Pass) I met a fellow by the name of Woods who was coming up to Old Mission. He advised me to take a trip up the Wenatchee Valley to look at a ranch there and if I didn’t like it there to go on to Waterville.

“I looked first at a nice spot (along lower Mission Creek) but found that Henry Treadwell had filed on it. So I dropped down the river after staying all night

George Thomas and Ida Richardson together. Photo courtesy Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center 011-5-1

A 1902 photo showing George T. Richardson and nine of his children. Photo courtesy Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center 012-51-2546

at Deak and Lucy Brown’s and located my present home. The next day, Monday, I went to Ellensburg and filed on my claim, bought a team and came back.”

George worked on the land for a short time, staking corners, clearing and preparing a place for the tents that would come with Ida and the children.

With that done George sent a letter off from Wenatchee to Ida extolling the virtues and beauty of the land he had chosen. He told her to pack up the kids and belongings and take the train to Ellensburg where he would meet them.

Ida picks up the story from

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there recalling the trip to their new home. “We arrived in Ellensburg in due season and went up to the Oriental Hotel. The first person we met was N.N. Brown who was the landlord.

(Noah Brown was also a brother of Deak Brown, their new neighbor at “Brown’s Flat.”)

“We then made the trip across the mountains. The trip from Ellensburg over the Colockum Trail in a wagon was surely a hard one.”

Ida’s obituary years later included more about the trip.

They had “a cow and calf tied behind the wagon, a half dozen chickens in a box and the house-

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January 2020

hold goods on the lumber wagon.”

In a 1989 interview for the Cashmere Valley Record, Victor Richardson recalled his mother saying, “Talk about a hard trip! I would not ride down but walked down.”

They arrived at the Wenatchee Flat on Sunday, May 3, 1888 and discovered that the Indian trail over the Horse Lake hills was too steep and sandy for their two-horse team to pull.

Like some before them and many after, they left their horses and wagon at the William Davidson ranch on the flat along the Wenatchee River and walked the four miles to the ridge and down Fairview Canyon to their homesite.

Ida recalled later that, “When we got to our homestead it was nearly dusk and Mr. Richardson was pointing out what a nice piece of ground he had gotten, but all the ground the children and I wanted to see was enough to spread out our blankets on and go to bed.”

The next morning they borrowed four horses from Deak and Lucy Brown, retrieved their wagon from the Davidsons, pulled it over the hill and down the canyon and went to work building their dream.

They all lived in tents the rest of the summer while Ida and the children cleared land for the garden and grubbed sagebrush.

With the garden planted, water hauling began.

Phillip and Leon took on the job of carrying full buckets of water for the garden and for the household needs. Ida recalled, “Our first crop was peas and beans in our small garden and corn to feed the stock.”

George was often gone that

summer. He, his team and lumber/freight wagon found cash money work in Ellensburg.

When he returned to the homestead in August, he, along with Walter, Philip and Leon, began house building. They cut logs in Fairview Canyon and built a two-story home with room upstairs for the children’s bedroom.

The Richardson’s homestead was a timber claim. In order to prove up on it they had to plant five acres of trees and keep them growing for five years.

Philip and Leon’s water carrying took a big leap in 1889 when George planted five acres with a variety of apples including Ben Davis, Arkansas Black, Baldwins, Bell Flower and Winesaps.

These were not the first apples in the upper valley. Five years earlier, D.S. Farrar planted trees on his Nahahum Canyon Ranch.

A year later George’s young trees became a persuasive argument for his neighbors.

They had been developing their homesteads into stock raising ranches. The “Hard Winter” of 1889/’90 changed all that. When spring came in May nearly all the cattle had starved to death but the Richardson’s apple trees were still alive. That changed a lot of minds.

Ida and daughter Alice were busy.

They had to cook and feed the growing family three meals each day. On Saturday, along with the cooking, there was a week’s worth of washing to do; boil water, scrub, rinse and hang out to dry.

The garden needed care and the cow, calf and chickens wanted tending. There was butter to make and canning to do, clothes to sew and knit and a house to clean.

There always seemed to be babies to care for. Eight more boys arrived between 1889 and 1902; Jack, George, Lemuel, Roy, Oscar, Norman, Victor and Horace.

Ida was often pregnant.

George was anxious to expand the orchard but needed more

water than Philip and Leon could carry.

In the early 1890s, George built a waterwheel on a patch of land next to the river. It worked well until the great flood of 1894 tore the wheel from its moorings and destroyed it. George then worked to help build the Shotwell irrigation ditch that began delivering water to his trees in 1905.

In the midst of the constant demands that they faced, Ida and George were active in all the efforts to build a community around them and their neighbors.

Ida was involved and held offices in service organizations including the Ladies Aid Society, the Red Cross Auxiliary, Monitor Home Arts Club, the local Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the Chelan County Tuberculosis League and the Chelan County Pioneer Association.

As a young man, George Richardson walked 30 miles to enlist in the Union Army during the Civil War but was rejected for being a fraction of an inch too short.

His interest in the war showed itself again when he and his

neighbors on Brown’s Flat were called upon to choose a new name for their community.

George suggested the name Monitor in honor of the Union Army’s iron clad warship that defeated the Confederate’s ship the Merrimac. His neighbors agreed.

Historian, actor and teacher Rod Molzahn can be reached at shake. speak@nwi.net. His third history CD, Legends & Legacies Vol. III - Stories of Wenatchee and North Central Washington, is now available at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center and at other locations throughout the area.

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the back page: that’s life

Feeding the pigs M

By Carolyn Black

any years ago, we lived out of town in the country where we could raise pigs without offending too many neighbors.

We started out with a pair (wonderfully named by our kids, Pork and Beans).

What Are You Laughing At? We’re looking for fresh, true stories from local people that’ll bring a chuckle to our readers.

Limit yourself to 500 to 1,000 words and send to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

The pigs thrived on leftovers from the kitchen and the garden with a generous helping of grains from the farm store.

When my husband decided to get three more — another boar and two sows — the need for more scraps had us asking at a local restaurant if we could have all their leftovers and plate scrapings (from the garbage cans in the kitchen).

It was a win-win deal as we found many pieces of silverware, glasses and even plates that had been tossed during busy times, which we returned to the restaurant.

My husband had welded a huge aluminum kettle, complete with a device we could dump it with into a container and mix in the grains so we could cook it according to state laws. The

kettle hung over a fire pit we kept burning while cooking the pig slop.

One afternoon, I was out by the table where we sorted the food from the garbage and a neighbor stopped by. He was new to the area, and found it fascinating.

I had a huge apron and long rubber gloves, but was almost done for the day. When I got to the huge beef roasts (10 pounds or more they used to boil up for Au Jus), I showed him all the leftover meat.

When I picked up the roast with my gloved hands, I mentioned that this was all leftovers from XXX’s — the name of the restaurant, but not mentioning the word “restaurant.”

The neighbor’s eyes got bigger

Imagine the fun you could have!

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and bigger as I tore the meat apart, saying I thought they could do something wonderful with the meat, but because Being a farm of his wife (farmette expression, I really) was a lot of stopped. fun, but I’m no lonAfter a bit ger young, eager, more converenergetic and brave, so city life sation, it suits me fine. came to light that the only XXX he knew of was the restaurant owner’s brother, who was the local mortician.

The memory always causes me to laugh.

TM

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