Twisp of Fate

Over here in the valley, folks refer to anything on the west side of the Cascade range as “The Coast.”  Last Friday we headed off to The Coast (a.k.a. Seattle) on the first day any of the mountain passes were open, following torrential rains, snow and mud slides, road washouts, and so on.  Stevens Pass was bare and wet, an easy drive, although the Wenatchee River was a muddy, raging torrent and there were numerous places where we could see water had been over the road, or at least running along side it.

We were there to pick up a glass order and other job-related materials for the woodworking shop, as well as see friends and family.  On Saturday we had dinner in Ballard with some friends.  On Sunday I met with a group of longtime friends – we meet on the second Sunday of each month for knitting.  Rick dropped me off and went on to visit with his mom and do some errands for her.

Janet and I are both knitting Bohus sweaters (more on this in a later post).  Here is the colorwork part:

Two Bohus sweaters in progress

I am afraid my flash rather washed out Janet’s “Grey Mist” cowl neck on the upper left.  Mine is called “Forest Darkness” and will be a cardigan.

Here’s a few of the knitters.  Hi everyone!

We headed back over the mountains mid-afternoon.  It was foggy and soggy on the west side, but as often happens, there were clear blue skies on the east side… until we hit the pea soup fog somewhere before Wenatchee!  That lasted part way up the Columbia, where again we had clear skies and stars for the remainder of the trip.  A gorgeous moonrise greeted us when we arrived home – one day past full moon.

There is always a moment when we turn up-valley at Pateros, where the Methow River flows into the mighty Columbia, that I feel so welcomed.  We’re back, welcome home, back in the valley again!