The Nest takes shape

I haven't posted an update on The Nest/garage construction since Nov. 10 and I'm sorry to report the project is not wrapped up yet. But soon, we hope -- soon!

You can see that The Nest is looking more friendly, with lights, heater and carpet installed, and a few pieces of furniture moved into the space. No bed yet.
The Nest was supposed to be ready to host guests for Christmas, but in early December we hit a roadblock with a mis-ordered toilet part. This sounds silly, but when we ordered a low-flush Caroma toilet like the ones we have in our house, one of the parts that arrived was for a different model and not usable. This was not noticed until the plumber came to install the toilet. A new part was ordered, but by then the holidays were approaching and we were told all shipments would be delayed. Apparently our part was being shipped from Australia by barge.

Christmas came and went with no toilet.

A replacement part arrived the first week of January, and dang it if it was still not the right one! We sent it back and it was not until today that the correct part was delivered. We can't schedule a building inspector to come and sign off on our project until the toilet is installed, so it may be a couple of weeks more.
The paved driveway is working out really well. Jeff is slowly building a retaining wall on the left-hand/uphill side using small interlocking concrete blocks. And he's built a wooden gate (and painted it bright yellow!) that will replace the metal gate at left that got ripped off its hinges by the excavator during the earth-moving phase. Hopefully the new gate will be installed this coming weekend.
Everything else is pretty much done, and we've been slowly working on the furnishings and decor. To date:
--Cabinets installed, sink hooked up and working. Need to purchase under-counter fridge.
--Corner bench seats built in. Cushions yet to be made (need to select fabric).
--Carpet installed -- a nice neutral gray.
--Pedestal table for corner nook purchased from restaurant supply store. Jeff is in the process of stripping the finish off the heavy oak top and installing a swivel so it can be rotated to allow easier passage past it on the cabinet end.
--Curtains and rods purchased but not hemmed or hung.
--Desk moved to Nest, but modem for Internet still needs to be hooked up before I'm going to go to the effort of moving my operations out there.

Jeff is sure glad to have Soren as a helper as he builds the retaining wall!

Holidays with the Garrison clan

Soren met several members of his extended family for the first time over the holidays, at the (in)famous Garrison family reunion, which has been undertaken in the week between Christmas and New Year's for at least 12 years running. In attendance this year were my new-to-Soren cousins Forrest and Gwen (the two oldest above, both college students in Montana and Oregon respectively) and also my cousins Luka and Shanti (lower center and on lap at right). Cousin Melanie (upper center) was introduced to Soren last year. What a wacky, fun bunch!
We rented a big house at Fort Worden State Park, which is a 7 minute drive from our house in PT, so we got to home at night but showed up every day ready for group meals and action. Soren loved hanging out with the big kids, especially Shanti (5) and Luka (8).
They live on Quadra Island in British Columbia, and their mom Robyn (pushing, below) made the two-ferry trip down with them.

The hallowed tradition of "Spoons" was faithfully followed one evening. A simple card game with cutthroat silverware grabbing. Like musical chairs, there's always one spoon too few, so someone is knocked out of the round. I was runner-up to Gwen! Speed Scrabble and Apples to Apples were other favored forms of table-top entertainment.
Another fun activity out-of-doors was exploring the batteries and bunkers of early 19th-century Fort Worden. Everyone had their own flashlight, even Soren, and with my dad and I "supervising," we had some adventures indeed. At one point I wanted to turn around in a tight tunnel, leave the others, and go back the way we'd come, but Dad insisted we stick together. Soren never made a peep on my back, just shone his flashlight all around. Quite the explorer.

One day we hosted a gaggle of relatives taking a break from their nearby family reunion for a day visit to Port Townsend. They hail from California, Kansas, New York and other points of the U.S. Left to right are Karina, Scott, Cayley, Seth, Megan, and my mom, Ann.
We're out walking around Point Wilson and the lighthouse at its tip. This is all part of the state park, and I daresay it's one of the most beautiful places in the world that we are so fortunate to live in. Don't disagree with me!
Aunties Jill (above) and Nora (below) enjoyed beach time with Soren (watched over by Mt. Baker). We had a spell of warmish sunny weather that we soaked up.

And this reunion story would not be complete without Soren's great-grandparents, Karin and Gerry. Although she is frail, they make the trip from Vashon and fund this gathering so that we can all build up stores of happy family memories for the years to come. Thank you!
A span of four generations washing dishes...