Washington Getaway!

I have a dear friend in Washington. Carol and I met in college when we pledged the same sorority our freshman year.  We were both new believers and the Lord really drew us to each other.  We both lived in Glendale so we carpooled together in her little Karmann Ghia.  We got married about a year apart and Drew and her first, Sarah, were born very close together.  Ever since, our friendship has continued to grow and even though she has lived in Washington for over 20 years now, we have remained as close as ever.  She is so, so special to me.   Her daughter even remarked that though our lives are very different today we are so similar (I'm an empty nester and she still has 7 kids at home! She actually has 8 but one is married) We see eye to eye on pretty much everything you can imagine -- from deep spiritual beliefs down to the smallest detail such as kitchen pantry items!  We really have a great time together --we have a lot of laughs but a lot of heart to heart talks, too.  She encourages me by not only by her example, but in many tangible ways.  I have great admiration and love for her.

Recently, Rich told me he had a business trip and I happen to see an ad for cheap Southwest flights.  A little light bulb went off in my head --- maybe I should fly up and see her?   I shot her off a quick email to basically invite myself, and she immediately responded, "are you kidding.... YES!"   So I booked it and last week flew up for 3 nights to stay with her and her sweet family.

I loved waking up each morning to this view from my guest room in the basement.
They live on 5 acres of wooded beauty about 1 1/2 hours north of Seattle.

I happened to come at a great time as they had a one week old baby kinder goat.  It was so cute and loved to snuggle!  Here I am getting in on the 6 am milking and feeding!!

Here, Carol's adorable daughter Hannah doing the morning milking.

Son Matthew snuggling baby Ka'anapal'i 

(most of their goats are named after beaches, a nod to their love for the sea)

Attempting to feed baby.  

She ended up having to go back with her mama as she didn't bottle feed well.

Here are baby and mama --- so adorable!!

Though I was perfectly content to hang out at "the farm" Carol planned a sweet excursion to neighboring town Snohomish for the two of us.  She took me for lunch at the cutest place that had all kinds of crepes and of course, wonderful lattes.   We ate and chatted for a good long time, and it was glorious. 

I'm normally not a huge fan of savory crepes but O MY this one was AMAZING.  Scrambled eggs, bell peppers, mushrooms, green onions with a basil cream sauce on top.  SO good!

And of course we had to get a sweet crepe -- this one had Nutella and bananas. DELISH.

Somehow lattes just taste better to me in Washington!  

{Especially ones made from fresh goat milk at Carol's-- what a treat!}

The cute town of Snohomish.   I loved all the adorable boutiques and antique stores.  I even found a tiny treasure to bring home -- a pyrex butter dish in my favorite pattern Butterprint (the one my mom had).

The shops are all on this picturesque river.

Back home, we had lots of fun working in the kitchen together.  Feeding a family her size is so foreign to me but it was very fun!  Blurry selfie.  :-)

Two of the "littles"  Ellie and Abbie.  I love these sweet and affectionate girlies! We played lots of card games.

And this "selfie" of us playing in the girls' room includes the youngest, Mary.  She charmed me to pieces.  She would come hug me, and then look me in the eye and say "what yo name again?"  :-)

This girl can not only milk a goat, but has mad homemaking skills!!  Here she is making homemade yeast doughnuts for us one evening.   Hannah, you rock!!

Brother Daniel is happy to help frost the delicacies!  I also had lots of fun playing Lego Minataur with this awesome kid!

Homemade doughnuts are just a beautiful thing.

Shaking some cinnamon sugar ones ... and maybe eating some as I go...

Eating lots of donuts and quoting Napoleon Dynamite -- so fun!

Farewell hugs for me as it's time to return home to Rich.  Our time together went by so fast.

{P.S. Does this look like a woman who has had 8 kids??  I mean, seriously --is she not gorgeous?!)

LOVE this girl.   I seriously wish I could have brought her home with me.  She is the sweetest--even packed me some doughnuts to go for my suitcase!!