Last week, it was “summertime and the livin’ is easy.” This week, it is summertime and the grandsons are in town. Their visits entail many of the same things we have done with them in the past and occasionally a new adventure.

There was a Ferino’s pizza eaten in front of “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.” I kept falling asleep. There were a couple of swim lessons from Lynn Hovde at the Beach Club pool. The 4-year-old wasn’t going to the pool, then he wasn’t going into the pool, then he wasn’t going to take a lesson, then he wouldn’t get out of the pool to come home. And yet, he is the most delightful of kids to have around … well, most of the time.

There was also a trip to the Jefferson County Library, where the two grandkids came home with 18 books and three videos. The library trip was followed by lunch at the Spruce Goose. I needed a nap that afternoon, so I took them to see the “Captain Underpants” movie. There was a hike to the gazebo up behind The Bay Club, being careful to avoid the bears.

Finally, there was a trip to the Port Townsend Marine Science Center for a surprisingly tasty lunch at the canteen next door and the purchase of a couple of small animal “stuffies.” The visit ended with a fine breakfast at Snug Harbor.

No wonder they come to visit their grandparents!

We delivered them back to their parents last Saturday by meeting them at Twanoh State Park, which is between Belfair and Union on Hood Canal. We took advantage of the trip by going all the way around Hood Canal (120 miles, door to door). The views of the canal, the trees and the mountains were impressive, and the drive was fun, well, except for the construction traffic in Belfair.

As you head west out of Union, you find an area where fireworks, lots of fireworks, are for sale, all with creative names. Of particular note is “Pyro Mama’s.” No mystery there.

A useful bit of information is that the Hama Hama Farm Store and Oyster Saloon closes at 5:30 p.m. We know this because we arrived 17 minutes late. In spite of nearly starving before we arrived, we pushed on to the Pleasant Harbor Marina for dinner and music from Marty Beagle and the Oyster Club.

WELCOME NEWCOMERS

The next Port Ludlow Newcomers Welcome is next Wednesday, July 12 at The Bay Club from 4 to 6 p.m. If you are new, feel new, want to feel new or need a free glass of wine, plan to attend. Wine and appetizers are served, and you will have the opportunity to meet your neighbors and get acquainted with more than 40 community organizations.

For more info, you can contact Janice Chamberlain at 206-498-0260, or Stephanie Hew at 360-437-9516.

We hope you had a great Independence Day and enjoyed all the American flags on display in Port Ludlow, Port Hadlock and Chimacum. Members of the East Jefferson Rotary Club sell subscriptions to businesses and individuals to display the flags on five holidays each year. The 9-year-old grandson helped me this time. Rotarian and Chimacum School District Superintendent Rick Thompson helps in this effort, too, particularly by using his truck to carry flags and poles. He was out of town, so I borrowed his truck and noted that its sound system has a cassette player, and he actually has some cassettes on the console. To his credit, one of them is by Elvis Presley!

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week.

(Contact Port Ludlow resident Ned Luce at nedluce@sbcglobal.net.)