Ultimate Lumberjack

I was unable to come up with a good U word so I hope you’ll understand the pressure I was under to make my post fit with the letter U. I give you the Ultimate Lumberjack themed photo shoot from this side of the Columbia River. The broadband I had today was not useless as before and I was able to upload many of the photos from last Saturday the 18th of April. You are under no obligation to view this post. It is ultimately for my use and pleasure. You will undoubtedly confirm Jaymison is the cutest little Lumberjack under 3 feet.

Jaymison Joshua our little lumberjack.

This was my greeting as I got out of my car arriving on our kids’ mountain. Addy was letting me know I needed to keep my distance. UGH! We are going to have to do some un-conditioning once this virus threat has subsided.

Addy rode her little battery operated 4 wheeler over to the photo shoot and climbed through the fence to join the fun.

Hats off to our daughter-in-law for the props, the beards, felt ax rattle, the one sign and to our son for staging his wood pile with the axes and sawdust!

We are so thankful for how you are growing dear Jaymison Joshua. You are mastering walking well. We love your vocalizing and how you are starting to stand up for yourself. It will be interesting to see how you and your sister work out your individual personalities, hopefully with lots of love. Soon and I hope very soon we will be able to come closer than 6 feet from you. We want to give you a big hug! Baba and Gramps love you so much.

Party With Social Distancing

We are on the letter P. Let’s Party! Be forewarned that this will be a photo overload since this is the best way I have right now to share all these photos with family and friends who could not join in for the fun.

Our daughter-in-law sent a text to 7 of us to invite us up to their mountain to help celebrate Jaymison Joshua’s first birthday. It was a conditional invitation with social distancing a requirement. The party was held on the front porch with no one going inside their home.

JJ’s party was going to be a big event on this day (April 18th) with a good crowd enjoying the Lumberjack themed festivities like ax throwing and log rolling but the Corona virus halted all those plans. Some had flights already booked.

Seated on his party throne for the duration!

Let’s start with paper…I mean presents.

The spectators and gift givers and happy celebrants. They are smiling behind those masks! Granny Linda, Gramps, Uncle Scott, Great Granny Florence, Grandpa Jim. Aunt Rhonda was on phone duty keeping other family who joined us on their phones up front seeing and listening to all the festivities. Uncle Andrew, Auntie Katie, Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo.

Time for cake!

This next photo is one to illustrate the pain this Baba feels when her little grands don’t understand Social Distancing.

That face, those hands, ugh…the pain is real.

Here are some other photos taken by JJ’s mommy on his birthday.

What a wonderful smile!

Sitting on his sister. It’s going to be fun to see their interactions in the future. Happy Birthday Jaymison. What fun it was to celebrate with you even at a distance!

Number One Grandson!

Here’s our Number One Grandson, Jaymison. Today is his first birthday. Sweet boy won’t care that he isn’t getting a birthday party because of the pandemic. All the adults that love him dearly will miss watching him enjoy wrapping paper and and tissue. We’ll miss him enjoying cake and ice cream. Jaymison, Baba and Gramps love you so much. You are showing more and more of your personality and we enjoy seeing you grow. You are very talkative and we can’t wait till you can put into words what you want us to hear. You had a scary glitch in your first few weeks of life and we praise God that you are growing and learning well and on track now.

Jaymison Joshua (JJ). His middle name is given him in honor of his Uncle Joshua (Joshie).

Here is the closest photo I have to your first birthday so far with your mommy. Just 2 days shy. What wonderful smiles!

We enjoyed seeing you from a distance on Easter for a little while.

You can still be close to mommy, daddy and Addy.

Enjoy your in home small celebration with your mommy, daddy, and Addy!

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear JJ, happy birthday to you!

We pray that God will bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.

Grandchildren

For Wednesday April 8th we are on the letter G and I’m choosing grandchildren and grandmothers for my theme.

Both of our daughters in law are the cream of the crop. During this distancing time Jamie had Addy and JJ’s hand prints made for the sweetest hugs I could get when hugs are out of the question. This is the note that came with the handprints connected with yarn:

Here is a hug with a handmade touch. Reminding you I love you this much!

So sorry but the internets at this country bungalow are not uploading my photos of my handprints. boohoo. As soon as I can I’ll add them to the post.

In the meantime here are the latest photos of the grands that I have from our DIL.

We’ve had some beautiful sunshiny days and the grands have enjoyed the sunshine. Addy is enjoying painting rocks and JJ is supervising.

The whole family have enjoyed some walks in the sunshine.

Addy received her birthday present from Uncle Andrew and Auntie Katie and this is one of the creations from these magnet blocks.

This little guy is 9 days shy of being a year old! He will not have his epic 1st birthday party on his day or anywhere near his day. It was going to be a lumberjack birthday with ax throwing and log rolling for the adults!

Here’s the latest photo of me, the paternal grandmother/baba of these two…

Here I am in the mask I made from my Beatrix Potter fabric that is from my stash. It’s over 40 years old.

The following photos were posted randomly as they showed up in my media library. They are not in chronological order. With my internet issues right now this is the way it is…

This is a photo of me with my mother and maternal grandmother. We called her our little Babushka. This is in the early 70’s. April 8th was our mom’s birthday. She would have been 97 today.

After our little babushka had an apartment of her own that was just a few doors down from the Russian Baptist church that we attended we’d enjoy Christmas breakfast before church services at her apartment. The photo above is of her with our sister Lana.

Photos from our wedding at the end of 1974.

My paternal grandparents at my sister’s home in Huntington Beach in the 70’s.

Our maternal grandmother with all of her grandchildren in the mid fifties. She would enjoy 5 more grandchildren born in the late fifties and early 60’s. Our mom only had one brother who survived into adulthood. Our mom’s only brother, Uncle Paul and Aunt Nina had 4 children. Our parents had 4 more children after the time of this photo which happens to be an Easter photo.

Our little babushka is in this group. Can you find her? This was taken at our second home in Huntington Beach where our 2 sons were born. Our little Babushka Vera died in March of 1980.

These photos with me and my babushka are at my 9th grade graduation and 12th grade graduation, 1965 and 1968.

Our maternal babushka had a more hands on relationship with all of us but that is not to say we didn’t have a relationship with our paternal grandparents. We honored them and loved them but we didn’t enjoy as close a bond with them as with our dear little Babushka. Since she immigrated as a widow she was more free to spend lots of time with us.

I’m sure all grandmother’s are looking forward to spending hands on time again with their grandchildren. We are missing those sweet hugs and face to face interactions.

Father and Daughter

These images our daughter-in-law captured of Addy working with her daddy put a big smile on my face.

We had some decent weather this weekend to work outside in. Getting those Spring cleaning chores done before new growth begins full speed ahead.

Hope you all are coping well with staying at home. My computer is exhibiting charging issues so I hope things don’t digress. If you don’t see new things from me you’ll know my computer is a mess.

Some comforting words from Psalm 27;

One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock…

I believe that I will look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Kitchen Before and After

We decided to change up our kitchen by painting the majority of the cabinets white. Some of you might cringe but our eyes have not enjoyed oak lately, mostly on cabinets.

We are keeping the island as it was.

The pantry has not been painted yet but is next on the list.

The process is not easy but Dear found it a good job to do while the temps are freezing outside which makes it hard for him to work the construction of his shop.

We are pleased with the new look. I’m thankful for a husband who is not afraid of hard or tedious work.

I showed you the wheel barrow that we bought our granddaughter for her 3rd birthday. Her she is hard at work outside. This photo was taken yesterday by her mom.

This family works hard together and they are not afraid of dirt! Anybody else out there who calls a wheel barrow a wheel barrel?

And yes, it is still cold outside here in Northeastern Washington State!

Stay safe and keep the Faith!

Daniel the Tiger, Finally!

Here’s our birthday girl in her custom made Daniel the Tiger dress that her mommy made for her.

Her mommy and daddy constructed the Daniel the Tiger Trolley for her birthday party.

Brother is not quite sure what all of this means.

Addy and Gramps opened Addy’s present from us.

She knew exactly what to do with a wheel barrow and will have fun in the garden with her mommy as soon as weather permits. We also gave her a whale pool and a new bathing suit along with a Daniel the Tiger book.

Little brother thought the tissue paper was cool. He did not understand why Baba was not picking him up or giving him kisses. Ugh. The yucky part of this COVID-19 curse!

Addy, enjoying her Daniel the Tiger book from Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo.

The Wheel Barrow was a hit. We informed her she could not put her baby brother in the barrow!

Addy was singing along with all of us when we sang “Happy Birthday to You”. So sweet.

For those of you who don’t know who Daniel the Tiger is here’s a description.

The first series inspired by `Mister Rogers Neighbourhood’, `Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood’ features 4-year-old Daniel Tiger, son of the original programme’s Daniel Striped Tiger. Every day Daniel puts on his red sweater, ties his shoes, and invites a new generation of preschoolers into the Neighbourhood of Make-Believe. Daniel shares his daily adventures with pals O the Owl, Katerina Kittycat, Prince Wednesday and Miss Elaina. With the help of Daniel and his friends, preschoolers have fun and learn practical skills necessary for growing and developing.

Here’s our birthday girl with O the Owl, Katerina Kittycat, Prince Wednesday, Miss Elaina, and Daniel. Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo sent her these stuffed play friends because of the theme of her birthday this year.

I was so happy that these photos finally uploaded to my computer. I believe it has something to do with our satellite broadband that is a lot stronger as soon as the new monthly charge is paid. All these photos were taken on Saturday March 21st, the day Addy’s Daniel the Tiger Birthday party was supposed to happen. We have not seen these dear ones since the 21st. Sad face…

She’s Baaack~ Wednesday Hodgepodge

Thank you Joyce for bringing Hodgepodge back!

1. Howdy Hodgepodgers. It’s kind of fun to be back, isn’t it? Last time we met was September, 2018. Tell me something big-important-happy-or sad that’s happened in your life since that date. Just one thing. We don’t know how long this current isolation situation is going to last and we might need to dole out our news bit by bit.

Has it really been that long!? Well I will start with September of 2018. The major thing that happened on September 11, 2018 was becoming owners of our country bungalow and moving from the big city to the wide open country. We used a container company to move most of our stuff (3 containers full) and we hauled other things across the mountains in our vehicles and a trailer.

So thankful for our helpers! We couldn’t have done it without them!

2. Might as well get this out of the way early on…COVID-19. On a scale of 1-5 how serious are you about keeping your distance? Explain. fyi-I didn’t create the scale but have seen it several places online. Also fyi-we won’t only have virus related questions each week, but for this first one it feels right.

1-Not at all, living normally

2-Cautious but still going out

3-Going out as needed, mostly home or working from home, still seeing friends/family

4-Extremely limited, only going out when unavoidable, minimal contact with people

5-Full lockdown, no one in or out

This has changed just in the last week. Two weeks ago we were at #3. Today we are at #4.

Granddaughter’s 3rd birthday party was cancelled this past weekend and our Coast kids were supposed to be on this side of the mountains for the party, etc. but they stayed home so the guest rooms are still clean and ready for them for whenever we are all free to be around each other again. Dear and I are in the “at risk” age group so our kids are feeling the responsibility of keeping us as safe as possible. Missing my hugs with our three year old granddaughter and almost one year old grandson! That’s the hardest thing.

3. Raise your hand if you think you might run out of steam in the cooking department before it’s all said and done? What’s something delcious you’ve cooked or eaten in your own kitchen in the past week?

We are really missing our regular visits to our favorite Mexican restaurant. Mexican food is my comfort food.

The most delicious thing was the corned beef and cabbage we had a week ago on St. Patrick’s day. Dear made the whole meal on the Traeger. The next night we used the leftover corned beef to make a grilled Reuben. Corned beef with sauerkraut, thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese on rye bread grilled on the stove top…perfection! I should have taken a photo.

4. What’s a television show or movie you’ve seen recently (it could be an oldie) that you really liked?

We so enjoy British Murder Mysteries. We have access to Brit Box, Amazon Prime, and Acorn besides Netflix. The only problem is that we live in the country and all of our services come via satellite so streaming is sketchy a lot of the time. There are some days that we cannot stream any of these shows because of broadband issues. But here’s what we like.

Vera, Endeavour, Father Brown, Midsomer Murders, Shetland, Morse, Detective Lewis, Call the Midwife, Silent Witness, The Crown, Great British Baking Show, to name a few. We are waiting for our Broadband to get better so we can watch The English Game on Netflix.

5. Share something funny you’ve seen or heard this week.

There are so many creative memes/Gifs showing up on Facebook that have been hilarious and have made me laugh.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This is one of my prayers for this time we are in:

Lord, make us strong and courageous like Joshua and obedient and faithful like Daniel. Help us not to fear and keep us from being paralyzed by anxiety. Help us to always look to the rock of our faith, Jesus, who suffered the cross on our behalf and lives to intercede for us. Continue to draw and save people for your kingdom. May they know they are lost and need you today. Help them not to wait but to respond to your call to be saved. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Thank you again Joyce for reviving the Hodgepodge. Click on Hodgepodge to see more posts! I’ll add the direct link on Wednesday.

Daniel the Tiger Birthday

This is the Daniel the Tiger Cake Jamie made for Addy’s birthday party.

Addy’s Daniel the Tiger birthday party was supposed to happen on Saturday the 21st of March. Because of the Corona Virus and Social Distancing it was cancelled. We delivered presents on Saturday morning and kept our distance. If you are familiar with the Daniel the Tiger series you might have seen the trolley that is used on the show. Our daughter in law and son created a trolley from large appliance boxes and I took a few photos of it and the Daniel the Tiger dress that Jamie sewed for Addy. A lot of planing and creating that I was happy to be able to photograph. Now my computer and our broadband service won’t let me upload those photos. I’ll add them to this post when things improve.

These photos I’m posting were the photos after our morning gift time taken by our kids. The kids took a hike down their driveway and then enjoyed Addy’s birthday cake. So happy to have them and to see what a good day of sunshine they had together as a family.

On Sunday morning we had church online and it was good.

Two quotes from our online sermon from First Baptist Church Colville this morning:

“God’s glory has to be more consuming than our comfort”

“The presence of anxiety is unavoidable but the prison of anxiety is”

Stay out of prison dear ones.

We are taking this new lifestyle one day at a time. We have all we need at home and are grateful for connections via phone and social media. Our neighbors reached out to us in a text today to make sure we were doing okay. We are the “older folk” in our 5 household community who share a well. Hope all is good in your corner of the world.

Stay safe and keep the Faith!