We've been spending the week down at my mom's place in Hood Canal - it is meant to be a work weekend, but we are finding some play time as well. The house my mom lives in now isn't where I grew up, but she's still in the same general area, so we often find ourselves in the same haunts from my childhood. See, my grandparents were some of the first families to settle in Mason County, so there are a lot of us, and we've been here a long time. In fact, the childhood home of my mother's is still in the family, out in the farmland of Skokomish Valley.
This is true small town life out here, right down to the cowpies. Every Monday a small group of family and friends gather for games and dessert, but as summer is approaching, these times have become summer hot dog roasts out at the farm. In the middle of one of the cow pastures is a big pile of tree debris and an old farm wagon, and there we've built ourselves a dandy campfire area. With the curious cows milling about, we hang out roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. I think this is the closest Ben has gotten to real live cows, and they seemed just as interested in him as he was of them.
A family friend is currently caretaker of the homestead, and he has named each of their cows. I can't remember what he said they were now, but they all had something to do with the unique personality of the cow. They are very sweet, and not too shy, perfect companions to a summer evening campfire event.
I would have to say that some of my best summer memories are always the spontaneous ones, never really planned at all, and therefore pretty much stress free. Just people showing up with whatever they have - special people in a special place. I of course love the camping, the trips to the lake or the beach, and all that, but these are just the best. Pick up the phone, show up, come as you are.
My grandfather was a farmer and a logger, and my grandmother was the typical country housewife, busy raising 7 children, cooking, hand-washing cloth diapers, making you take vitamins and eat your veggies. I never really new them - my grandfather passed shortly after I was born, and my grandmother was already 83 by then. A lot of people knew them, though, and thus I've been able to learn about who they were through all the stories. I love love love that the land is still in the family, and we can just show up to visit anytime. The way I was raised, the door is always open. So, my son can play around the very same places and things that my mom once did.
So, has it REALLY been a work week?? We are getting a lot done, so I guess so, but with moments like these it doesn't feel like work. (Which is really the goal, right?)
I love it out here. I do enjoy living in the city, but I am a small town country girl at heart, and my city-raised husband is right on board with me. We try to bring that small town country feel into our store, the door always open and welcome mat always down.
Sigh...summer bliss....
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