Bear!

Tara complained to the ranger about a dog which barked all night.  It was over by the RVs and sounded like a big dog, a hound making a deep bray steadily through the dark hours till dawn.

"I can't talk right now," said the ranger.  "I am on my way to handle a fight.  Anyway, the reason the dog was barking is there is a bear in the area."

We were going to take a walk up the hill trail but are now rethinking our plan.  As Josh knows, I feel a bit sensitive about bears.  Lions, rhinos and hippos feel more normal.  I might anticipate them or avoid them.  Not so with bears.

Lake Chelan

We have been camping at Lake Chelan on our annual "school is out" camping trip. After weeks of drizzle and a slow start to spring, let alone summer, we are out of the rain and into the Easter Washington sunshine. There are 5 families camping together and another arriving this weekend.  

This is easy camping.

The camp store is open till 10pm and sells everything from ice to lattes.  We have in-tent wireless and a large playground and a huge grassy field.   We are in the tent camp.  Across the field is the RV camp.   At night one plays a movie across the side of the RV as a big screen.  

We haven't used the iPad once.

We spent most of the day at the Slidewaters water park.  Wren was very bold and went down a few large slides sitting between my legs.  He even went on one of the Advanced ones with a 4 foot landing depth.  Unfortunately I stumbled on landing and went underwater but held up up overhead so he didn't get his face wet.

I had to bribe him with the promise of a booster pack of Magic cards to do the advanced one.   Afterwards, he said "It was so scarey that it took away my hiccups."

I didn't see Frost all day.  He alternated between sliding and sitting in the hot spa.  

I alternated between sliding with Wren and sitting by the fence consoling Beezle who, stationed with his crate and bed outside the fence, felt that he was being ostracized or punished and persisted in trying to claw his way in.  After 2 hours he gave up watching for me and went to sleep.

Beezle has been a great attraction.  He tries to bite little kids who try and stroke him so he needs to work on petting without biting.  Its not entirely his fault as we often play 'mouthing' games with him.  However, he needs lots of practice about not biting too hard.

Now, a wind has sprung up and its fully dark.  Wind is shushing in the trees and the fire, once dormant, has sprung into a blaze that is blowing smoke my way (of course).   Wren and Beezle are asleep and the bigger boys are silhouettes on the tent walls where they are reading Foxtrots by flashlight.

The only brightness is the bathroom block across the field from us.   Time to head there before bed.

Boys at the table.

Campfire.  S'mores.

Stephen making the fire for us.

Reading an Alex Cross thriller in the hammock.  "Is this our hammock?" asked
Wren.  Apparently he can't remember the last trip with it.

Slidewaters Base Camp.  See Beezle outside the fence.

We are in Lake Chelan on our annual "school is out" camping trip.  After weeks of drizzle and a slow start to spring, let alone summer, we are out of the rain and into the Easter Washington sunshine.

Wren eating a yogurt in Chelan.  Yogurt followed icecream which followed
chips.

Iced latte in Chelan heat.

Beezle became overtired from the anxiety of being "outside

The Shining Leaves of the Camelia

Rain again after some days of shine. We are in great anticipation of our camping trip to Lake Chelan next week where, weather report rumors have it, it has been close to 80 degrees AND SUNNY.

The blossoms on the Camelia have shriveled to brown clusters and the leaves shine in the rain. I have a cold and staring out the window is about my desire but instead we have a Garage Sale today. I have boxes of stuff that we do not wish to move and care too much for to donate.

Now, because the Garage Sale starts in 15 minutes... here are some pictures:

Beezle sees a Big Water for the first time (Lake Washington)

The Micro-Dog Won't COME.

Walking the Micro-Beezle (an Aberration, he seldom walks on leash)

I am going to EAT you.

My life.
Balancing Titebond wood glue with Wren's need for JELLO.
Jelly was excellent.  Good with a sore throat!  I ate it
with cream and bananas while Wren added "nutty bits."