Hello Readers, Writers, and Nature Lovers! Summer is winding to a close, and taking with it chances to explore the outdoors before school begins again. The Clare family decided to seize the sunshine last week and explore one of my favorite places in Washington—Mt. Rainier National Park. This isn't the first visit to Rainer that… Continue reading Marvelous Mountains and Marmots
This weekend marks the 75th Anniversary of V-J Day—the day the Allies celebrated victory over Japan, and the end of the Second World War. In spring of 2019, my family and I had a chance to visit Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the ship where the treaties officially ending the war were signed. Today seemed a… Continue reading The Ship Where WW2 Ended: Exploring the USS Missouri
Unlike much of western Washington, the town of Sequim (pronounced "Squim") isn't surrounded by thick evergreen forests. Perched on the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula, near the forrested and mountainous Olympic National Park, Sequim itself is only 184' above sea level—if it weren't for the saltwater on the horizon and the occasional herd of… Continue reading A Stop on a Medal of Honor Highway
Not so very long ago, in the days when travelling was allowed through the gorgeous, green Pacific Northwest, I had a small adventure. I attended my very first Writers Conference. I'd spent years listing all of the reasons I couldn't attend one. All of the interesting-sounding ones were too far away. They were too much of… Continue reading Three Things I Discovered at My First Writers Conference
In the bustle of this time of year, I might have missed the fact that today's date is a significant one, but as I signed on this morning, GP Cox's post in remembrance of Pearl Harbor came up. On this, the 78th anniversary of the day that the Second World War came to American soil, I… Continue reading Exploring Pearl Harbor: The USS Arizona Memorial
Local wisdom says that residents of the Pacific Northwest should expect gray, rainy weather up through the fourth of July- then summer sunshine will officially begin. This year hasn't worked that way. Summer visited a couple of months early when I was expecting drizzle, and then (maybe embarrassed by the mistake) it hid itself away… Continue reading Exploring Hurricane Ridge
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii holds a great deal of United States history. It was the site of the surprise attack that galvanized the U.S. into full participation in the Second World War. Within its peaceful blue waters, the wrecks of the USS Arizona and USS Utah rest as quiet memorials and tombs. The marble pillars memorializing the lives… Continue reading The Ship Where WW2 Ended: Exploring the USS Missouri
The memorial to the USS Arizona is the most well-known and easily accessible in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. However, it isn't the only one. The attacks on December 7, 1941 which launched the United States into Word War 2 did a great deal of damage and made complete losses of three battleships: the USS Arizona, the USS Utah and… Continue reading Exploring Pearl Harbor: The USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials
A few weeks ago, my husband met me as I wearily hauled my school bags through the door. "About the Utah trip- we're going to have to postpone it." I sighed. We've been planning on a trip to explore the national parks in Utah for nearly ten years. Life keeps interfering with home repairs, family… Continue reading Exploring Pearl Harbor: The USS Arizona Memorial
The mad rush of the school year has consumed our lives. Between keeping up with the kids' homework and laundry and lunches, and managing teaching duties with the end of the first quarter looming ahead... well, let's not think about all of that right now. Fall break and family visits gave the Clare family excellent… Continue reading Exploring Mount Rainier National Park
