This morning, Doug leaves early while I tend to laundry, then enjoy ice cream for breakfast. (Yeah, I know. Not a healthy choice.)
Laundry folded, I text Doug that I’m headed his way. He brings the car to meet me and we park at the base of a hill climbing up the path to the site where Caleb and Janel are making their home.
As we reach the summit, blue tarps appear through the trees.
A roomy yurt functions as Caleb and Janel’s primary, but temporary shelter. It offers protection from rain and cold, but heats up quickly on a day like today with a high of 83º. During our stay, they’ve spent all day every day outdoors.
Doug and John (Caleb’s dad) are discussing the best way to apply fresh cut cedar lap siding to the outhouse.
Unable to find a way to help, I lie down in a hammock, whisper gratitude for my surroundings, and, before dozing off, capture as best I can with my phone, my view from the hammock.
Here’s an
after-nap-selfie.
A supply of fresh herbs helps add flavor to the good food prepared in the outdoor kitchen. Both Janel and Caleb are good cooks.
The sink is now firmly sealed into a granite countertop in the outdoor kitchen area.
Here’s our “gotta get a photo before you leave” picture:
For this, our last evening before heading to Seattle, we go to 6pm Mass at St. Michael’s.
Afterward we head to a restaurant recommended by our AirBNB hosts. We hope to eat on the patio with a view of the river and are disappointed that there’s no space for us there. We settle for a table inside.
The food is scrumptious, so tummies full, we decline dessert. Nevertheless, our server sets a complimentary slice of almond torte on the table saying, “I know you said ‘no’, but ‘no’ means nothing to me.”
She declared it the lightest dessert on the menu and we each obliged her by eating a few bites.
. . . all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
-James 1:17
I’m reluctant to leave this place. It’s been that way throughout our trip. I’ve sensed that connections could grow stronger, while leaving may realistically mean not just “see ya later”, but “goodbye”.
There’s something deep within us that yearns for eternal love. For now, I hope to remember that in spite of separations and disconnections here on earth, eternity awaits. And yes, we’re gonna love each other forever.
Inundated with Love 