Forks trip day 6 and 7

Monday 9 September was day 6 of trip. This was day to see a bit of my past. I recently found some old photographs including one that had written on back "Our first home 1948" and the address in Tacoma Washington. This would be the home that they were living in when I was born. Dad was stationed at Ft Lewis and I was born at the base hospital. There are some pictures of me soon after mom and I were home from hospital and then at 18 weeks old inside the home. 

I sent a postcard to the current residences saying I was going to be in the area and would like to take pictures to go with the old B&W images. I had no trouble finding the place. Currently painted yellow, Mom would like that. She would like the pink flamingos in the yard too. There is a garage and a large tool shed that wasn't there. I knocked on door and let them know I was here and make sure no problem taking the pictures. As I was getting ready to leave, so were they so chatted a bit. It is their first home. Fireplace hasn't been used in 30 odd years, but otherwise in good shape. They had just moved in three weeks ago, about the time I sent the post card. The previous owner had been there for 35+ years. So at least one other owner between my parents and the current couple. 

My parents moved before I was a year old, Dad was transferred to Korea in October 1950, Mom moved to Pasadena California to be closer to both sides of family. I didn't expect to feel anything about the house. It was interesting seeing it live in person. 

Before leaving Tacoma I called a friend that now lives in Sequim. She offered her place to spend one or two nights. I told her had to stop at Port Orchard and be in Sequim in the late afternoon. On the road again.

Crossed over some large expanses of water. The second one was the Hood Canal. Significant in fan fiction story "What Drives Her" by Virginia May. The image in my head from her story was lots different from reality. Say canal to me and think of Venice, Italy or Florida developments with canals to give river access to more homeowners. The real Hood Canal is wide and big with long floating bridge across it. 

Port Orchard was quaint and nice. The part I saw was nothing like Cedar Cove as shown on the Hallmark Channel series. I can see where Debbie Macomber would be inspired by the location and maybe the books match up with reality better. Port Orchard has much more of a marina and more than just personal boat marina than Cedar Cove has. Glad I stopped and looked around and had lunch. 

Made one other stop at Shine Beach, west end of Hood Canal bridge. Driftwood and sea shell pictures. Then on to Sequim. Had a good evening with friend Gwen. She borrowed New Moon from a neighbor and we watched it in the media room, maybe 50 seat theater with big screen monitor. 

She has a small one bedroom apartment in a senior complex. The couch was comfortable enough, but not wide enough. I fell off when turning over during the night. So when got up called Forks Motel to see if arrive a day early and acceptable - apparently I had forewarned them I might do that. Once Gwen was up, we went to Dungeness Spit. Nice hike to beach and along the spit for a bit. We did not go to the lighthouse. This was another case of image not matching reality. Gwen had mentioned beach and shops, that got mashed together in my head and I wore inappropriate shoes for what we had. More driftwood pictures. We walked back via the longer horse trail. 

We went to a U-Pick farm after that. Gwen wanted some blueberries. I got some interesting pictures of blackberries. They had vines for raspberries and huckleberries too. You could pick corn and lavender also. Nice set up. 

Lunch and back to apartment for me to leave and Gwen had a memorial service to go to. We agreed to met at the Sul Duc hot springs area tomorrow. On to Forks! Drive was good and easy to start. Beginning to wonder about the winding roads...that started by Lake Crescent. The lake reminded me of "Emeralds to Rubies" story by Katmom. Long and narrow. Stopped a couple of place to take pictures. And then there was the flag man with one way traffic somewhere ahead. Never did see it the one way traffic and any construction. Maybe our group was the last one for the day?

Now there is construction going on the Calawah River bridge right before enter Forks that requires you to slow to 10mph crossing the bridge. Not best time for that to be happening with big crowd coming in over the next few days. Stopped and took picture of Welcome to Forks sign. Found the Forks Motel and got a nice ground floor room away from highway. Spent evening unpacking looking for ankle braces to wear hiking tomorrow, instead of writing these updates. 

These post are going up with only me rereading them once or twice. If any errors or something not clear please let me know so I can correct. 

Story Recommendation: Guarding Edward by Katmom

Mystery recommendations continue, this one by author earlier this week.  Guarding Edward has won several awards as noted below. Guarding Edward has more than one mystery.  Edward has a mysterious stalker for the first part and meets Bella as a body guard service.  He recognizes Bella even though never met her before this assignment. Then there is a second stalker. The second one they know is coming and preparations are made to deal with that.

The tension builds nicely as look for the first stalker and what may be happening between Edward and Bella.  There is a sweet interlude with just Bella and Edward. That is interrupted by cousins, before returning to Seattle area and finding out someone else is now after him.

  

Awards for Guarding Edward :

Guarding Edward was Runner Up in the Cute category at the Mystic Awards!

Guarding Edward was the Fan Fiction of the Month....August 2009 at Twilghters Anonymous!

http://forum.twilightersanonymous.com/fan-fiction/

Guarding Edward has won Best Supernatural Award

at the Silent Tear Awards!

http://silent-tear-awards.webs.com/

Indie TwiFic Awards, Guarding Edward was nominated for:

Best Alternate Universe WIP and Most Original Story Line WIP

I didn't win, but  I was in the top 10 out of 94 and top ten out of 114 in the final round...that amazes me!

Guarding Edward by Katmom

A stalker is trying to get close to 24 y/o Human Edward Masen, a concert pianist. He hires Elite Guardians to keep him safe and to find out who is hunting him. Bella Cullen is the owner/operator of the company and she's a 110 y/o Vampire. AU/Canon couples Rated T with 50 Chapters

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4823993/1/Guarding_Edward

Author: Katmom

Katmom has 21 fan fiction stories for Twilight and Dragonriders of Pern on her Fanfiction.net profile. They are a mix of T and M rated stories. There is a mix of one chapter and multi chapter stories. Some are canon; some are very much in a different universe. Some are really just for fun -- beware of your sugar tolerance. There is one Pern story and one almost a crossover between Pern and Twilight.

Katmom writes happy ever after (HEA) and low angst stories. I’ve read all but four. Two of the stories I did read I do not like.  Both are well written. In one, the freedom to choose, was taken away from the characters, at least that is how I look at it. The other is just way too dark for my taste, unusual for Katmom.

She has a pet peeve list of spelling and misused words on her profile that needs a wide distribution to every new writer. She has written some stories from visual cues and has links to those on her profile. Six stories have won or placed for awards in the fandom community.

Stories with awards: Couple in the Woods, EAC: The Journal of Edward Cullen, Emeralds to Rubies, Fairies in Forks, The Gift of the Knife, and Guarding Edward

For fun: Fairies in Forks and Who Needs a Fairy Godmother?

Pern related: Dragon Stones and K’din Bronze Meertanth’s Rider

Five of my Favorites: Dragon Stones, EAC: The Journal of Edward Cullen, Emeralds to Rubies, Guarding Edward, and Letters from Esme

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1774644/katmom

Story Recommendation for Mother's Day

Happy May Day! In honor of Mother's Day being this month the highlighted stories will be about Esme Cullen and a couple of stories about soldiers for Memorial Day.

The first story is a multi-chapter story entitled A Mother's Choice by dsolo. It covers the time from from birth of her son to end of Breaking Dawn from her point of view. It has been a while since I read the story. I found it enjoyable hearing from an alternate character's point of view. She saw things that Bella and Edward didn't. As I recall the characters and story are canon. No major complaints about how it was written that I recall. It is complete at 45 chapters, rated PG13. The link is to Ramblings and Thoughts, Twilight Fan Fiction and Art web site.
http://www.ramblingsandthoughts.com/twilight/viewuser.php?uid=3298

The second story is an one chapter story submitted to The Canon Tour, http://thecanontour.tumblr.com/ for main page and http://www.fanfiction.net/u/3041014 for the story collection site. 

The story taking place during New Moon is by Katmom, Letters from Esme - a mother's love (and meddling) knows no bounds. Unbeknownst to Edward, Esme stays in touch with Bella. It is rated T. Does reference 'shouty caps'. The link is 

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7817330/1/Letters_from_Esme

The Canon Tour should be having the Eclipse round starting this month. The previous time frames have already been covered. Check out the other stories, all are canon. There are some very good stories.