eXceptional Views

On Father’s Day after brunch in downtown Seattle we headed to Kerry Park atop Queen Anne Hill to take in these eXcellent views.

It’s great to capture both the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier together on a clear day. Both are iconic symbols in Seattle and Washington State.

Mount Rainier, Mount Tacoma, or Mount Tahoma is the highest mountain of the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, and the highest mountain in the state of Washington. It is a large active stratovolcano located 54 miles south-southeast of Seattle.

Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers.

And on a more personal note…hope she never blows her top and annihilates all of us Seattleites!

The Space Needle and Mt. Rainier are treasures in Washington State.

Speaking of personal here is my eXcellent and treasure of a husband and the father of our children enjoying the iconic views from Kerry Park on Father’s day!

Linking up with ABC Wednesday and Tuesday’s Treasures. Thank you Mrs. Nesbitt, Roger, ABC Team, and Tom at The Backroads Traveler for hosting these fine memes.

Dear and I are eXiting the familiar and heading to roads we’ve never traveled to enjoy one of our Nation’s treasures, Yellowstone National Park. I hope to share some postcards along the way but if you don’t hear from me it’s because wifi might not be available to us. Our wonderful basement dwellers will take care of the safety of our home and water our plants while we are away.

Happy summer everyone!

Father’s Day 2016

Our Western Washington kids planned brunch out for their dad in downtown Seattle at The Carlile Room, a Tom Douglas restaurant.

Dear chose the biscuits and gravy. Such a pretty presentation.

We all enjoyed our choices of Meaty breakfast, Eggs Benedict, Deep Fried French Toast and we were happy that Andrew went with the Hunter’s breakfast served on this silver platter…

Conversations revolved around new Traeger Grills and the grill related gifts the kids got their dad. We might or might not have solved many world problems, too. It’s always good to gather round a table filled with good food to enjoy some communication with each other.

It was a beautiful day in Seattle with blue skies and a few wispy clouds. We decided to head to Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill and see what we could see.

The views were amazing and the crowds were out with the same idea we had!

Things are a bit busy today in Southern California for my Pop and other related dads so I called him yesterday to wish him a Happy Father’s Day. Good thing I did cuz I just got this text photo of my tired out Pop with my siblings enjoying the moment.

Hope your Sunday is going well and that you can get a little nap in. He woke up for this next one…

Happy Father’s Day Pop!

I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord ~ Hymn

I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord

I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of Thine abode,
The church our blessed Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.

I love Thy church, O God.
Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
And written on Thy hand.

If e’er to bless Thy sons
My voice or hands deny,
These hands let useful skills forsake,
This voice in silence die.

Should I with scoffers join
Her altars to abuse?
No! Better far my tongue were dumb,
My hand its skill should lose.

For her my tears shall fall
For her my prayers ascend,
To her my cares and toils be given
Till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
Her hymns of love and praise.

Jesus, Thou friend divine,
Our Savior and our king,
Thy hand from every snare and foe
Shall great deliverance bring.

Sure as Thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be given
The brightest glories earth can yield
And brighter bliss of Heaven.

Words: Timothy Dwight, Psalms of David, 1800.

This is believed to be the oldest hymn by an American still in common use.

ht: Cyberhymnal

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who visit here!

St. Joseph Church – Leavenworth

I was attracted to the Russian onion dome steeple. We walked up to the church but there was no information for us to see. When I researched it I didn’t find much information until I came upon Susanne Wilson’s blog.

Suzanne Wilson has some great information on her blog “Churches on Sundays” about this church and it’s history. It is no longer used as a church but the owners of Pension Anna (a hotel) moved this abandoned church adjacent to their hotel and named it the Old Chapel Suite. I’m glad it has been preserved.

Linking up to InSPIREd Sunday hosted by Beth and Sally.

Epic Five on Friday

The Copa America Centenario USA 2016 is an International Soccer Tournament that is the oldest international continental football competition. 32 matches played throughout the USA June 3-26th with 16 teams from the Americas in 10 cities. Seattle is one of the 10 cities. This is the first time that the tournament is being hosted outside of South America.

Our son Josh, daughter in love Laura and ellen b. purchased tickets for the U.S.A. v. Ecuador quarterfinal game hosted by Seattle. I pulled out my USA gear to take to the game.

Here we are before the game started. Sunshine in Seattle!

Our own Clint Dempsey from the Seattle Sounders scored the first goal and was the Man of the Match.

All smiles at the end of the game after our 2-1 victory! On to the semi-finals where we will play Argentina or Venezuela depending on who comes out victorious when these two teams play each other on Saturday. If I had to guess I’d say we will be playing Argentina with the amazing Lionel Messi but there are always upsets in tournaments.

It was a beautiful night in Seattle and on the way back to our car we spotted a ferry rolling in on the Puget Sound. I only had my phone camera with me and it doesn’t capture how beautiful the night was. It was a historical night and a fun night for the 3 of us.

I’ve said this before and I realize many of you are not sport fans and especially not soccer fans but soccer is my favorite sport and thank you for indulging me as I share this part of my life occasionally.

I’m joining Amy’s Five on Friday and Susanne’s Friday’s Fave Five, thank you Amy and Susanne!

Here in the USA and in Canada we celebrate Father’s Day this Sunday. Our Western Washington kids are treating their dad with a brunch in Seattle on Sunday. I’ll be calling my dear old Pop who lives in California to wish him a happy father’s day. Do you have plans?

Planters Defined…

Just a few weeks ago there was no visible border between the planter and the grass. We extended the planter and put this block border in.

After putting in the new border we had to dig out all the grass and weeds. We have a few more weeds to pull out and then we will add bark on top of the dirt. We also want to add some type of plants that are low profile at the curve in front of the hydrangea. Once this and another planter behind our deck are complete I’ll do a full before and after post showing similar angles.

Tonight Josh, Laura and I will be at the U.S.A. v Ecuador game at Century Link Field in Seattle for a quarterfinal game in the Copa America Centenario tournament. (Boy that was a long sentence) The photo above is from a U.S.A. friendly game against Panama a few years ago that Josh and I attended.

Since I’ll be enjoying soccer tonight my Friday post will be late and it might have some fresh photos from Copa America!

I have a couple recipes that are published on Mennonite Girls Can Cook this week. Get the recipe for Creamy Potato Gratin and Succotash Plus by clicking on either name.

Signs Along U.S. Route 2

Last Saturday we drove east on U.S. Route 2 in Washington State to meet up with family in Leavenworth, Washington.

When we stopped for breakfast in Gold Bar we saw these signs and more. My favorite is the Positively No Profanity or Dancing!

This sign does not lie. I wish the Big Bear was clearer in my photo.

As you approach Leavenworth you see the beautiful and powerful Wenatchee River.

Welcome to Leavenworth, a Bavarian like village nestled against the eastern slopes of the Cascades and right on U.S. Route 2.

Village Pharmacy

Starbucks Coffee, Bavarian style, with a small sign above the door.

This is my favorite sign from Leavenworth since our main reason to drive east was to see our son Dan and our daughter in law.

Hope you enjoyed traveling the U.S. Route 2 with us.

Linking up with signs, signs hosted by Lesley.

And back at home we are still working on some planter extension projects at this old house.

We received the sad news that our neighbor passed away last evening. Just one short month since she was diagnosed. Our hearts grieve for her children and grand children. Life is very unpredictable with no guarantees for tomorrow, even for the healthy. Make peace with God through Jesus Christ. He is the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Him (Jesus). Hug more, love more, smile more, encourage more until that day comes.

Tuesday’s Treasures & ABC Wednesday…

Today is Flag Day in the United States of America and we treasure what the flag stands for at our house.

The Pledge of Allegiance

Officially adopted on Flag Day, June 14, 1924 (“Under God” Amendmant made by Congress in 1954)

I pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the republic for which it stands;

one nation under God, indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all.

Off with your hat, as the flag goes by!
And let the heart have its say;
you’re man enough for a tear in your eye
that you will not wipe away.
~Henry Cuyler Bunner

I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it. ~ John Thune

Whatcom Falls Park

Mid May Dear and I had a road trip north to Bellingham via Chuckanut Drive to check out Whatcom Falls and the historic stone bridge.

President Roosevelt’s New Deal Works Progress Administration paid workers to move the Chuckanut sandstone arches from a downtown burned-out building to the park. In 1939 the sandstone was used to construct the landmark stone bridge.

Too bad about the fallen tree that had lodged itself into the falls. I’m wondering if it has dislodged and flowed downstream by now.

In the distance above the main waterfall was this smaller waterfall with some pretty lighting.

The parking lot with access to the stone bridge and the falls was a very short distance from this spot.

I’m linking up with ABC Wednesday started by Mrs. Nesbitt and administered by Roger and a team of ABC’ers.

W is for Whatcom Falls Park and for Waterfalls.

I’m also linking up with Tuesday’s Treasures hosted by Tom The Backroads Traveler.

Meeting Halfway…

…or Over and Back Again.

Our young marrieds planned a weekend trip meeting halfway with our DIL’s family and our family. At the end of this month they will have been married 1 year!

We all gathered in Leavenworth, Washington. Everyone else arrived on Friday and stayed till Sunday. Dear and I traveled over on Saturday morning and came back home Saturday evening.

Our family above and the whole crew below.

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One of the main events that was planned for the weekend was a river rafting trip for the brave amongst us.

Here’s the crew ready to go!

Our three sons pulling together!

While this crew were river rafting, Dear, Laura and I shopped about the town of Leavenworth dodging the crowds that flock to this picturesque Bavarian like town with the Cascade Mountains as it’s backdrop. I bought a few little treasures from the Russian shop, a free trade shop and a kitchen shop. We survived the Kris Kringle shop, too. If you love all things Christmas, this is the shop for you!

Dear, Laura and I enjoyed lunch at the Icicle Brewing Company while the rest of the crew enjoyed a barbecue spread after their river rafting experience.

We had beautiful weather on the eastern slopes of the Cascades while there was a lot of rain on our western side of the Cascades!

We all got together and enjoyed a potluck taco meal on Saturday evening and on Sunday morning the crew enjoyed a potluck breakfast together.

On the final morning of the weekend our guys got together for some miniature golf fun. Not sure what the girls were doing but I’m guessing they did some shopping.

So thankful to God for all these dear people that we get to enjoy life with. That includes all of life, the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. Joy and sorrow with the comfort of the God who created us and loves us more than we can comprehend. Love one another, forgive one another, keep moving forward together with the hope of a glorious reunion with our Lord and Savior. Yes, and Amen!

HT: Rafting photos courtesy of Osprey Rafting Company.

The Simple, Earnest Prayer ~ Hymn

The Simple, Earnest Prayer

In the twilight of the morning,
When the shadows steal away,
And we wake from balmy slumber
To behold another day,
Let us go alone in secret,
And unburden all our care
At the feet of our Redeemer,
In the simple, earnest prayer.

Refrain

Let Thy presence, blessèd Savior,
Our protection ever be;
Give us strength for every trial,
Keep, oh, keep us close to Thee.

In the noontide, calm and peaceful,
When we pause awhile to rest,
Ere the sun in all its glory
Is declining towards the west;
In the midst of our temptation,
When the cross is hard to bear,
If we cannot go in secret,
God will hear the silent prayer.

Refrain

When the toils of day are over,
And we seek the hallowed place
Where by faith we meet our Savior,
And adore Him for His grace;
How we feel our burden lighter,
Till we loose our weight of care,
While we lift our hearts together
In the simple, earnest prayer.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Author Archives: Ellen

eXceptional Views

Father’s Day 2016

I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord ~ Hymn

St. Joseph Church – Leavenworth

Epic Five on Friday

Planters Defined…

Signs Along U.S. Route 2

Tuesday’s Treasures & ABC Wednesday…

Meeting Halfway…

The Simple, Earnest Prayer ~ Hymn

The Simple, Earnest Prayer