Our beautiful Whidbey Island home is for sale

We considered moving to Ecuador, wanting a big adventure, but changed our minds because of the distance from family and friends and the difficulty and discomfort of flying.  Instead we've purchased a Sprinter Westfalia and plan on exploring our world -- U.S., Canada, Alaska, and as far south as we decide to roam (who knows perhaps as far as Ecuador).

Our new 18'  2005 van, with 35,000 miles and lots of pep and vigor for carrying Ed,
Benton our pup, and me all over the place.   Plus, downsizing has been our lifetime challenge and this
van will definitely test our resolve. 

In the meantime, we have no need for our beautifully designed, artistic, unique and much-loved home.  For a small home we live very big. A 100 plus guest wedding in April proved its expansion capabilities.   Separate buildings offer an abundance of privacy plus the relationship to the outdoors, in all four seasons, expands it both physically and visually in unexpected and charming ways.  With amazing attention to detail, the home was built largely of recycled materials by our son, Brad Hankins (dbBrad), designer and builder 360.920.8280.    If interested, call Shellie Moore at Windermere Real Estate, 206.391.1087, Amy Raymond, 206.396.7016, or search www.WhidbeyAwaits.com  for more details.  MLS# 657 460

Our home is a short walk to Langley's commercial district, allowing one the opportunity to experience the pleasure of a small friendly town offering theater, restaurants, art galleries, public market, book stores and library, charming shops and an outstanding grocery.  We have a whale museum, marina, and views of Saratoga Passage to knock your socks off. 

Langley's First Street

Langley's Marina

Adventure calls us after 30 years of living in this fabulous community, perhaps the adventure of a "new life" calls you too…

Our new travel blog is:  thistle adventure.blogspot.com

Sweet Sorrow

We have been very lucky folks these past few months.  Brad's friend, Yessi, has been visiting the United States (more specifically Whidbey Island) since May.   Yessi and Brad met in New Zealand near the end of Brad's Te Araroa tramp in the spring of 2012.  They met up again in China in November of 2012 when Brad traveled to China for dental work, a Nepal trek and, of course, to see Yessi.  Then Yessi came here this spring where she completely wiggled and giggled her way into all our hearts.   Thursday, August 15, Yessi returns to China.  Missing her will be prominent  in all our hearts, but especially prominent for Brad.

During Yessi's visit she and Brad hiked and camped and hiked and camped and hiked and camped some more.  When on Whidbey they lived in a sweet little cottage in the woods.  They traveled from Washington to Oregon to California and back again -- from the Canadian border to the Mexican border.  They hiked Big Sur, Mt. Rainier, Glacier Peak, San Juan Islands, Olympic Mountains, Whidbey Island and even made it to the PCT kickoff in California's desert.

Yessi at the Pacific Ocean, CA

Brad & Yessi travel to their hiking and camping destinations
on the BMW bike

Brad and Yessi at Mt. Rainier

Brad and Yessi celebrate Brad's birthday at Hamma Hamma, Olympic National Park, WA

Saturday evening Yessi  generously treated us to  dinner at the Wild Ginger in Seattle.  She also hosted us to a tour of Boeing's Everett Plant, which Ed had done years and years ago but I never had, nor had Brad.   Boeing, being an interesting and integral part of Seattle's history, probably should be toured by  all of us so we understand more about our economic reliance on this region's huge and important company.  Thanks to the influence of a wonderful young woman from China, our family has learned more about one our region's most influential companies.  Like,  for example, for just a few million dollars I too could owe a Boeing plane.  Between Boeing and dinner, we made a stop at Ibex in University Village where Yessi purchased a new outfit at their 50% off sale.

Yessi at Boeing

Yessi & Brad shopping at Ibex in University Village

Brad and Yessi showing off their Ibex labels

Ed and Fran took a dinner-out-turn and treated Yessi and Brad to dinner at Cafe Langley on Tuesday evening.

Brad, Fran, Yessi & Ed at Boy and the Dog Park in Langley

“Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till

it be morrow.”

William Shakespeare

The Peace of Grace!

 Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~ 

There is nothing like a health scare and 27 days in the hospital to make one more than grateful for home, community, garden, friends and, most important of all, family.  Blessed indeed am I!  And, as I'm sure Emerson knew, although nothing can bring peace but one's self it sure helps to have all the wonderful trimmings.

The beautiful community of Langley street-dancing at Choochokam Art Festival

In late April, feeling great and strolling the garden with my cup n' pup, I suffered a surprise visit called a rectal prolapse.  Off to Whidbey General Hospital Emergency where I ended up having emergency surgery three fold in nature.  First, a hysterectomy due to an enlarged uterus and  a large fibroid creating space problems.  Second, to fix the rectal prolapse problem.  Third, to remove two colon tumors found in the process.  Although the initial reason for the hospital visit was unfortunate and exceedingly unpleasant, I can only be grateful for the problem as it led to the discovery of colon cancer.  Fortunately the cancer was  stage 1 with no nodes involved so no chemo or radiation is required and my prognosis is very good.  But a bit of a scare, nevertheless.  This entire procedure required an 8 day hospital stay. 

Once home, although sore, I felt great for three days before I started vomiting and feeling quite horrible.  Back to the hospital for the wonderful experience of adhesion.   Although adhesion is exceedingly common, who knew?  I sure didn't but it is particularly common after abdominal surgery.  Off to surgery again to correct the adhesion problem followed by 16  long, long days in the hospital before it all played out.

Home again.  Sigh of relief!  But then, after enough time that I though I was home free, here comes the vomiting again and back to Whidbey General.  This time it was partial adhesion and bowel blockage.  Yikes!  Another stay in the hospital but for only three days.

So here I am home again and feeling great and enjoying family and friends.  The secret is to keep the darn adhesion from reoccurring but there seems to be no silver bullet for that.  I drink my green juice and watch my intake and take flax and fish oil and vitamins, along with other good stuff and keep my fingers crossed.  Plus I walk and walk and walk.  The jostling is good as is the gravity.  Adhesions can occur again and again but I'm now working on being well and not sick so I'm maintaining hopeful thoughts. 

Brad, Fran & Ed celebrate Father's Day between my hospital visits
Mother's Day was in the hospital for me and Brad was in California hiking Big Sur.

Very much a part of our lives, sweet Yessi enjoying the garden

A lovely welcome back to the old-neighborhood- in-Seattle party.

And, then, did I mention my home and garden located on Grace Lane.  What pleasure they provide and how lucky I am to have had the luxury of working with my family to create this wonderful sanctuary.  Brad our designer and builder performed magic and Ed even got his computer-fingers dirty working the dream.  And I, although I didn't know it, created a garden that brings me, and all who live here or visit, a retreat of  peace and beauty.   So through sweat, tears, disagreements, hard work, broken finger nails, sunburn, sore muscles, frustration, laughter, hugs, and a clear vision or what we wanted, we created this oasis together -- Peace on Grace.

Our pond and water catchment system provides in-town habitat and beauty
 as well as being very valuable in handling our site's storm water 

Lush and inviting.

Our nestled home of many parts.

Langley Main Street

Just beginning its second official year, Langley Main Street (site still under construction) takes off.  The Main Street Association is a nation-wide organization setup to assist local communities to revitalize their downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.  In Langley it is working like a charm.

We are sponsoring a farmer's market; putting on a large centennial celebration; purchasing a shuttle for moving people around our small town; installing edible pocket gardens; and purchasing, hanging and watering summer flower baskets.  Plus we threw a New Year's Eve party and sponsored a sea float scramble.  Last summer we hired a summer intern for park maintenance and we'll be doing that again this year.  In a short time the beat of change and activity is being heard clearly about town.

Langley Second Street Market

Langley Shuttle

Langley New Year's Eve Party

Main Street volunteers, Bob, Ann, Bob, create historic life-size figures

This is the organization that is capturing my attention, enthusiasm and time.  I'm on the board, plus chairing both the ECON Committee and the Langley Market Steering Committee.   Never one to stay uninvolved, here I am back in the thick of Langley happenings and feeling challenged and rewarded for my involvement.

Light the Sky!

Brad, home only a few days, joined Janet, Fran & Dan in stringing lights in a tree to "light the sky" for the winter months in Langley.  The tree? A 50' oak on First Street in Langley.  A huge project!  A huge community contribution!  A huge thank you!

Brad in bucket putting "light the sky" winter lights in a 50' oak in downtown Langley

Fran in bucket in downtown Langley lighting a winter tree

Way up there doing volunteer work for Langley and Main Street

Brad way up in oak stringing lights