Postcard from Yellowstone

yellowstone day one 094We spent two days in Yellowstone National Park without any WiFi. Now that we are in Cody, Wyoming with WiFi I wanted to share a postcard from the park. Yellowstone is an amazing complex area with such interesting topography. The photo above is of Gibbon Falls. We were amazed at God’s creation at every turn!

We haven’t seen any news for a few days and it’s kind of refreshing. Hope all is well in your corner of the world. Things are fine right now in Wyoming. Blessings.

Day #1 Roadtrip Postcards

P1060392

We left home while it was still dark and headed east over the Cascade Mountain Range and then through Central and Eastern Washington on Interstate 90.

13466036_10209911971504202_2908676924844392018_n

We entered Idaho at Post Falls with a quick stop at Cabela’s for some binoculars.

P1060408

We then entered Montana just past Lookout Point. We were on empty at this point and hoped we’d find an exit that didn’t say “no services”. We made it to a small town with a couple pumps and added a few gallons before our stop in Missoula for a fill up at Costco and a stop for the night.

13501991_10209913594064765_3327110481924091448_n

Missoula County Court House, Missoula, Montana.

We’ll hit the road early again tomorrow to reach Yellowstone National Park.

We are enjoying one of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache mysteries on cd as we drive along. A very pleasant way to make the time fly on the road!

Some Sizzling News…

meatball kitchen 002

Click over to Mennonite Girls Can Cook to see my recipe for these delicious meatballs to make an Italian meatball sandwich with!

Opening Soon!

And check out some exciting news on a one act play, Mennonite Girls Can Cook, inspired by our blog and cookbooks premiering in September in Shipshewana, Indiana and Sugarcreek, Ohio.

eXceptional Views

Father's Day 2016 054

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

Father's Day 2016 052 Father's Day 2016 051 Father's Day 2016 042

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.

Father's Day 2016 028

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

Father's Day 2016 001

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

2016-06-19 Father's Day 20164

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

Father's Day 2016 010

2016-06-19 Father's Day 20165

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…

Father's Day 2016 018

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.

2016-06-19 Father's Day 2016

2016-06-19 Father's Day 20166

2016-06-19 Father's Day 20161

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

13512015_10209719185522322_9044725450141782243_n

Father's Day 2016 045

Father's Day 2016 055

Father's Day 2016 028

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.

pop f.d.'16

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

Pop fd2

Happy Father’s Day Pop!

I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord ~ Hymn

leavenworth 029

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

leavenworth 017I 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.

leavenworth 018

leavenworth 029

leavenworth 028Suzanne 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.

13417483_10209862139058422_4039518447423050906_n

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.

13432272_10209690347841398_7974040895196824980_n

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

13413658_10209863776819365_8537656798302812739_n

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

13423948_10209691620913224_5887793888441870809_n

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.

Pictures53

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…

Spring blossoms 026

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.

mohai45-001

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.

13423872_10209851776999377_7730017970090912486_n

P1040216

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.

P1060389

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

P1060390

leavenworth 012

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

leavenworth 015

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

leavenworth 024

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

leavenworth 025

Village Pharmacy

leavenworth 022

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

leavenworth 040

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.

leavenworth 041

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.