Author Archives: Ellen

Mosaic Blue ~ Sleepless in Seattle…

Remember the fun floating houses in Sleepless in Seattle? My daughter and I were checking on a wedding venue on Lake Union and enjoyed seeing these floating houses.

I’m linking up with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday and Sally at Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

So…are you/did you watch the Super Bowl? We had it on and enjoyed some homemade guacamole and Reuben sandwiches while watching with one eye. Tip for the day…try grilled onions on your Reuben, delicious!

Here’s one more bonus photo that qualifies as blue and a mosaic all by itself!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

 

Perfect Peace ~ Hymn

Perfect Peace

In perfect peace, O gracious Lord,
No fears my heart molest,
For Thou, whose voice controls the deep,
Can soothe my care to rest.

Refrain

Thy perfect peace Thou givest me,
My ever present Guide;
Thy perfect peace thou leavest me—
What can I ask beside?

In perfect peace from day to day
I learn Thy righteous will,
And with a love that questions not,
Obey and follow still.

Refrain

In perfect peace the clouds I view,
The gathering storm I see,
For Thou hast taught my soul to know
It shall be well with me.

Refrain

In perfect peace, O gracious Lord,
Till life’s last hour shall close,
I’ll sing Thy goodness o’er and o’er,
And on Thy love repose.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby

FFF ~ February Begins…

…but before January was over we had one last January birthday celebration!

Little Miss D. turned 1 and we had a fun time watching her eat a cupcake for the first time. She also is quite the dancer and gave us some great moves that made us smile! I left my good camera at home so my photos were not great. We are friends with little Miss’ grandparents and our son Dan is best friends with her dad.

Sunrises were beautiful this week with our clear cold weather.

My daughter and I had fun checking out another wedding venue on Lake Union.

After checking out the venue we found a local eatery and had a very tasty lunch with a nice view.

Last but not least it was good to hear about answered prayers for health issues from friends this past week.

Please visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to join in with Friday’s Fave Five!

I was able to check off a few items on my 60 in 60 list. I made 3 new recipes last weekend and ate at a new restaurant (see above) and explored a new neighborhood in the Seattle area. YeeHaw!

So are you having a Superbowl party this weekend?

 

Glorious Sunrise!

Psalm 90:14  ~ Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Our cold clear days have afforded us some beautiful sunrises.

The colors change quickly so it’s good to pay close attention with your camera at hand.

The rain is suppose to return on Thursday. I’m in the midst of doing some re-evaluating of my daily schedule and seeing how things can improve for me and the family. On Monday and Wednesday mornings I go to the YMCA for Zumba. I felt the need to have an aerobic workout on Fridays, too, so Mondays wouldn’t wipe me out. The solution that I came up with is to do a thorough house cleaning every Friday. Cleaning is a great aerobic workout and it’s a win win idea for myself and the family. Somewhere along the way I have gotten out of the weekly cleaning schedule.

On Thursday Katie and I have an appointment to check out another wedding venue. I’ll make sure and take some photos!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

 

Before the Rain Returns…

…we’re enjoying beautiful sunshiny days albeit cold.

Cold is relative, though, as I hear about -7 degrees for some of our bloggy friends across the continent. Some of you are under a blanket of snow and ice. I hope you have your cupboards stocked and your power remains.

The view from my computer is very bright. The sun has a way of cheering one’s outlook.

February is here and we’ll soon be celebrating Valentines Day. I’ve brought out the Love already.

Hope you are safe and cozy wherever you are!

 

20 down, 40 to Go!

Tick, tick, tick. It’s time to get my list completed. 60 things I want to do to celebrate turning 60 this March. I’ll be taking this whole year to do the things on my list. So far I’ve come up with 20…

1. Finally make it to the top of the Space Needle. Completed on Wednesday January 26th!

2. Meet up with the Mennonite Girls and their husbands for dinner.

3. East Coast Trip. Things are shaping up for a trip to Washington D.C. and maybe the Carolinas in May of this year. (Any suggestions about what to see and where to eat would be highly appreciated)

4. Apply for my enhanced license so my trips to Canada will be easier. Completed in January!

5. Birthday getaway with my 3 sisters. Plans are afoot.

6. Try one new restaurant every month of this year. Looks like this one is really going to be easy especially with trips planned.  Eastlake Bar and Grill~ Lake Union. The Hitching Post~ Monroe. Racha Thai ~Seattle.  Bishops Alehouse ~ Juanita. Chuckanut Manor-Bow. Barolo ~ Seattle.

7. Send my parents a bouquet on my birthday.

8. Visiting a a new garden.

9. Plant something new in my yard.

10. Have my flagpole installed.

11. Lose 10 pounds.

12. Enjoy a book by an author I haven’t read before.

13. Explore 6 cities/towns in Washington. Lake Union.  Monroe.  4 to go.

14. Try 2 new recipes every month.

15. Go on a easy day hike.

16. Walk more.

17. Go to a new Tea Room.

18. Purge 60 books off my bookshelves.

19. Begin going through old boxes in the garage loft.

20. Go on an adventure with my daughter Katie.

I’m going to link up with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

Have a great week everyone!

 

We Shall Shine as the Stars ~ Hymn

We Shall Shine as the Stars

We may tarry awhile here as strangers,
Unnoticed by those who pass by;
But the Savior will crown us in glory,
To shine as the stars in the sky.

Refrain

We shall shine as the stars of the morning,
With Jesus the Crucified One;
We shall rise to be like Him forever,
Eternally shine as the sun.

We may never be rich in earth’s treasures,
Nor rise on the ladder of fame;
But the saints will at last be rewarded,
Made rich in Immanuel’s Name.

Refrain

We may live in a tent or a cottage,
And die in seclusion alone;
But the Father Who seeth in secret,
Remembers each one of His own.

Refrain

Words: Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1899.

FFF ~ The Needle & The Dress…

Time to look back and find 5 favorites from the past week. If you want to join in visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story and sign in with your link.

The Space Needle, Wedding Dress and the family time around them were my favorites from this past week.

1. On Saturday Katie and I traveled to the Seattle Center for a wedding show. The most famous landmark in the Northwest is located at the Seattle Center. It was a beautiful day to walk around and get some good shots of the Space Needle.

2. On Wednesday Dear, Katie and I went to Katie’s first wedding dress fitting. There were needles and pins involved here, too. This was Dear’s first time to see the dress on Katie and he wholeheartedly approved of the gown. Good thing since it’s his hard earned cash that payed for it.

3. After the fitting we went to Z Tejas for a bite to eat before we headed across Lake Washington to a Wedding Open House at the Space Needle. This time we got to see it up close and personal in the evening.

4. We got some great VIP attention and enjoyed appetizers and drinks on the house while we considered the space for a possible wedding venue.

There wasn’t a bad view in the house.

 

5. This was my very first time up in the Space Needle. It also is on my 60 things to do in my 60th year. So I’m on my way in completing my 60. I’m still working on the list and as soon as I complete it I’ll share it. We completed the evening by going up to the observation deck and checking out the 360 degree view of Seattle.

What were the favorites from your past week?

 

How Precious is This!?

Our future son-in-law, Andrew, who is a Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune received this letter today. He really appreciated it and got a big kick out of it. I think you will too! Any teachers out there who want to make someone who is serving in the military feel appreciated this would be a worthwhile project. I think Andrew will have fun answering this letter.

Wedding Show Tablescapes

On Thursday you can click over to Susan’s at Between Naps on the Porch to peruse many tables set for all of us to enjoy.

We’re planning a wedding around here and as soon as the U.S. Marines let us know when that will be possible we will hit the ground running. Until then we are getting acquainted with all the wedding services available. Here are a couple great tablescapes presented at the Wedding show we went to this last Saturday.

This setting was put together with accessories you can rent at Grand Event Rentals in Bellevue, Wa.

The next table setting was presented by All Inclusive Weddings by Blue Ribbon in Seattle.

I’m looking forward to coming around and seeing your tables this week.