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I visited Aunt Deb and Uncle Ron last weekend at their home in Sequim, WA. It was so great to see them again; it had been a while since the last time. I got to take the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston across the sound on the way. The deep blue water was flat and still, and the sky was a lighter blue and dappled with thin, wispy clouds. Some seagulls that were following the ferry at about the same speed were flying just above the top deck where I stood. They appeared to be floating in front of, and just above, me. I got some pictures of them that I really like. One of them was brave enough to land only a couple feet away from me on a banister.

Floating birds.

After the ferry I passed through gently rolling hills and lush forests, and toward the end along the sound shoreline. Sequim lies on flat, verdant land between tall mountains and sea bluffs. I was amazed at how much of the area you can see from the flat land. My aunt and uncle’s house lies at the base of a steep hill on the edge of the valley. Driving less than a minute up their hill, you can see most of the area laid out beneath you.

Valley floor.

Sequim from above.

Their house, which they built themselves, is amazing. The kitchen was my favorite room, which I think is true of most of their guests, but the house as a whole has a great feel to it. I love the open spaces, where rooms are separated and shaped more by small walls and supports.

Aunt Deb cooked a delicious salmon dinner the night I arrived, and afterward we went to a choir and band show at the high school, which was very good. The next day they showed me around Sequim and bought me a few gifts of warm clothes to help me survive the coming winter.

Their fantastic kitchen.

The beach was foggy, but pretty.

It was a great trip. More pictures.

I went to the Pismo fireworks show for the Fourth of July with Esther. I had never been before, but our timing was perfect. It was pretty cool, there were tons of people there, on the street near Splash and on the beach on either side of the pier. The place was pretty well lighted and there was plenty of space to sit on the beach. The fireworks were launched from the end of the pier and they seemed to explode pretty close to the ground. A few sparks seemed to almost hit the ocean before disappearing. The finale was pretty cool to watch because they showered sparks from the pier railings down to the water like a curtain of fire. There were tons of illegal fireworks too, which helped fill the gaps before and after the main show. We had barbecued earlier that afternoon, so it was a pretty good fourth. I hope everyone had fun.