The Traveling Kiwi

Owaissa is the bluebird from the song of Hiawatha, Ori and Ken invited us up to their family cabin in the mountains for 4th of July weekend so after we saw Jac we headed off to Indian Hills. What an amazing cabin, it was like stepping back into the 30s. This cabin was built by Ori’s grandparents in the late 1920’s and they stayed there for the first time July 4th, so it is a family tradition to go to the cabin on July 4th weekend.

The driveway was steep and narrow and a challenge to get hobbit home into – once Joe got it up there, we found it was way too steep for it to level out so we couldn’t set up. Owaissa is in such a lovely natural setting and peaceful except for the fireworks and thunder. The first night we saw mamma fox, a glorious blond with black feet and on the second night we saw the two kits with darker coats and black socks. There were squirrels, chipmunks, blue jays, chickadees, magpies and birds I couldn’t recognize and we could just sit on the back deck and watch them come down to feed. The chipmunk stuffed its cheeks with the peanuts and seed – Joe thought it had a thyroid condition. The blue jays bought their chicks and taught them to open the peanut shells. Owaissa is a special place with such a cosy welcoming ambiance and steeped in family history. There is a story behind every piece, from the hand built chimney to the old rocker and the art deco vase with its naked figures that for years was hidden under a pillowcase. Thank you Ori and Ken for sharing this with us.

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Well its finally time to say goodbye to the old girl, she has been in the family for over 30 years.  We really didn’t want to sell her but at least we feel like she is going to a good home along with some Jaguars and a french cousin in what will eventually be a small car museum in Snohomish. We hope we can visit and give an update once she is settled.

When we first realized we would have to sell Citronella we wrote an ad for her and I think it says everything about her.

My name is “Citronella”.  I am a 1955 Citroen Traction Avant.  I was born at a Citroen plant in Slough, England that produced cars for the British Colonies.  While I am a French girl at heart, I speak with an English accent.  That is why my steering wheel is on the wrong side.  I was delivered new in New Zealand and spent the first half of my life there.  Fiona discovered and adopted me into the family. Late in the 1970’s Fiona’s father David  imported me to the U.S. and I spent a number of years in  California hanging around with some hunky vintage American iron.  Later I was transported to Washington State where I currently enjoy the island life.  David repainted my body (original color) and re-upholstered my interior.  My running gear is all original.  I am now owned by another one of David’s daughters and while I have been lovingly cared for, the family is relocating and has decided to find me a good local home for my senior years.

I may be an old gal, not as fast as I once was and a bit saggy in spots, but look at my front bumper and headlights.  With a rack like that I attract more attention than girls half my age.

 So if you have room in your garage for an old girl with good bones and a great rack, give Kristina and Joe a call at 360-620-3346 and they can arrange the necessary adoption papers.

We took her for a last drive today and she

sputtered her way up the small rise on the way into town and we realized with all the funds we have sunk into her she is a beautiful car with lovely lines and in need of a completely rebuilt engine, something we know we will not be able to fund in the near future. So with sadness and many memories we say farewell and hope the next part of Citronellas journey will be a good one for her.

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