Category Archives: Grandchildren

Family Time in North Carolina

On Thursday September 30th we captured all the minutes we could being together. Four days was the longest staying put time we had on our Land That We Love Tour and it was packed.

Our niece Annie with her little girl, the newest addition to the Bayles’ extended family.

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All the Bayles women/girls/baby together except for the bride on Thursday the 30th of September. Some of this side of our family has been together over the years, here and there, but all of us have not been together for many years.

Added this photo to get more perspective on the house we rented. This is the middle/main level of three full levels of space. Besides the family room, kitchen, 2 dining areas, and laundry, this main area was where the master suite was. There was a kitchen on the lower level of the house, too, along with 2 bedrooms, bath, and living area. The upper level had 3 bedrooms and a bath.

She’s checking to see if I’m as great as I say I am, Great Auntie E.

The guys went out and got lunch for all of us and for the most part we all got what we ordered. It was a crazy scramble. Got the right sauce for those fries?!

In the evening we enjoyed the Rehearsal Dinner and met the groom’s family and other friends at Novel Taproom in Newton, North Carolina.

Dear’s only brother, the father of the bride.

The groom and bride inviting us to eat, drink and be merry.

The Bayles’ girls with the bride included this time, cousins.

The guys who carry on the Bayles name. Rex, Verna, Roy and Nettie would be so proud.

This little guy and I sang ‘pat a cake, pat a cake, baker man’ over and over and over again. Patting it and marking it with a B!

Again Baba, Again.

It was a nice party before the wedding on the following day, Friday October 1st.

Speaking of parties, we have our annual Ladies Christmas Party at church on Friday evening. Young ladies 4th grade and up are invited to attend. Let Heaven & Nature Sing is the theme. I’m in the kitchen today baking a cheesecake to share at the party.  While the cheesecake is baking maybe I can finish the Christmas decorating at Our Country Bungalow this morning. This afternoon I’ll be decorating one of the tables in our church gym for the event.

Leftovers TDay 2021

Thank you to my sister Lana who sent me some more photos she took on Thanksgiving Day that I’m adding here as leftovers. She and Steve left our place for Idaho and enjoyed some better internet reception and sent me these.

Where’s the Turkey Platter?

Cornstarch or Flour?

“Can I sit with Baba?”

Thank you Lana for capturing these moments. Enjoy CDA Steve and Lana!

On Black Friday Lana and I shopped some small businesses in downtown Colville and supported them well.

Today I’m meeting up with our Colville crew in Chewelah for Small Business Saturday.

First Snow Fall 2021

On Friday morning November 19th we woke up to 6 inches of snow on the ground. Our first significant snowfall of the season.

Snow is such a delight to our little grands. We received these photos via text.

Any snow in your neck of the woods yet?

Today I’ll be shopping for the things we need for our Thanksgiving meal and other ‘company’ meals. I’ll be off the radar the next few days while our company is here. Hope all of you in the U.S. of A. have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! 

Psalm 118:1

Enjoying the Light Hodgepodge

1. Three things you’re grateful for this first week of November? 

*The two Bible studies I’m in. One on Mondays in the book of 2 Timothy and a ladies Bible Study on Thursdays in 1st and 2nd Kings on Trusting God. Both are real good and I’m thankful for the teachers and the content of the studies.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Kings: 18:5-7 “He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered.

*Dear painted our storage closet and that involved emptying it out and then organizing things better when we put the stuff back in.  We were able to transfer stuff to my garage instead of keeping it in the house. Neat and tidy for now! Here’s a peek in the door. I’ll show more photos at another time.

*Thankful that we can trust in God especially while the world is going down the wrong path.

2. Is Daylight Savings Time a thing where you live? Do you think we should continue setting the clocks forward and back? Why or why not? If you could add an extra hour to your day would you want it added morning-noon-night? Do you think it likely you’d be more productive or more likely that you’d just waste more time? 
Yes, the manipulation of the clocks is a thing here. I think we should leave well enough alone. It just messes with our internal clocks. Given the choice I’d take an extra hour in the morning. I am more productive in the morning for sure. I’m more productive when in a pinch so the extra time would probably be easier to waste.
~
3. Who is  your favorite author? Your favorite book by your favorite author? 
I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one. I have different favorites in different genres.
In the world of fiction: George MacDonald ~ Sir Gibbie
Fiction: Elizabeth Goudge ~ The Dean’s Watch
and Historical Fiction: Stephen Lawhead ~ Byzantium
In the world of fantasy: J.R.R. Tolkien ~ Lord of the Rings (3 volumes) and C.S. Lewis: Narnia Series
Christian Authors: Devotionals: Any by Charles H. Spurgeon, Doctrinal books: by John MacArthur ~ The Gospel According to Jesus and by Alistair Begg ~ Pathway to Freedom
~
4. It’s National Sandwich Day…will you celebrate? How often do you eat a sandwich? What’s your favorite? 

We don’t eat sandwiches regularly anymore. The last sandwich I had was a turkey sandwich. I love a good Salami sandwich and a Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich, too.

5. Have you started your Christmas shopping? If so when did you start? If not when will you start? Do you give more or fewer gifts than you did five years ago? 

We bought some small things on our trip across the U.S.A. in September. In October we bought a couple more gifts. We give more gifts now than 5 years ago because we have two grandchildren now!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Fun times in October!

Our grandkids and our daughters-in-law enjoying all the sunshine they can get. We all love it when Auntie Lolo comes to visit. These are all photos that she took.

Trick or Treat Hodgepodge

 

If it’s Wednesday it must be time for Hodgepodge. Click over to Joyce’s blog to join in the fun.

1. Is Halloween a big deal in your neighborhood?

We live out in the country with homes far apart. We do not get trick or treaters. There are some homes decorated for Halloween. Our kids come by all dressed up which is fun. Our church puts on a Fall Fest Trunk or Treat that our grands will go to this year. Last year because it was the only thing happening in town and we had over a thousand people show up. That’s a lot for a town of 5000.

Was it something you celebrated as a child?

Yes we went around our neighborhood with pillow cases for bags. It seemed like the whole neighborhood was out and most houses gave out candy. We enjoyed sorting our candy when we got home. Our father would accompany us.

With your own children?

Yes, we enjoyed Trick or Treating with our kids and seeing all our neighbors.

Do you like candy corn? 

Not particularly.

2. Are you a scaredy cat? About what? 

I’m a scaredy cat about driving in snow or icy conditions.

3. Last time you were somewhere that should have been busy but felt like a ‘ghost town’? 

Nothing rings a bell.

4. Do you like chili and if so how do you like it?

Funny you should mention it but I made a pot of turkey chili Tuesday.

Beans or no beans?

Yes, we like to add black beans and a can of Pinto Chili Beans

Meat or no meat?

Yes, meat.

Beef or chicken?

Beef, chicken or ground turkey

Spice or no spice?

Yes, jalapenos and chili and cumin.

Favorite toppings? 

5. Would you describe yourself as a night owl? What time of night qualifies? What are you doing while everyone else is asleep? Do you then ‘sleep in’? Define ‘sleeping in’. 

Not a night owl.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Our son Josh was able to fly down to our nephew-in-law’s father’s memorial service last week. These are some of our nieces, nephews and our son together at the memorial. We couldn’t attend but were glad that Josh could be there in person to represent our family and to support Lenny and his family as they grieve.

Love each other, stay together.

Corn Maze 2021

We interrupt the recap of our Land That We Love Tour to record the real time happenings this past weekend. This year the annual trip to the Corn Maze was modified as was our annual hunting weekend. Addy took over for Katie’s job of getting everyone through the maze. Katie and Baba were not able to join the maze fun this year.

Laura was in Colville and took beautiful photos of this annual event.

Our beautiful daughters-in-law.

We took a quick trip to the western side of the Cascade mountain range and missed out on the Corn Maze this year. It was a strange year with interruptions to our annual hunting weekend and family festivities.

We enjoyed dinner on Friday evening with our son on the West side of the Cascades.

On Saturday evening we enjoyed Laura’s homecoming from Colville with a Thai meal delivered to their door and time also with our daughter and son-in-law. We left early Sunday morning from Bothell to return to Colville. The winds were forceful and scary going over Snoqualmie Pass early on Sunday Morning. When we were on the east side of the Cascades we decided to get off the freeway and enjoy some breakfast in Ellensburg.

We tried The Wild Huckleberry in historic downtown Ellensburg. Delicious. We’ll stop by on future trips.

We would like to explore the town of Ellensburg more fully in good walking weather sometime in the future. After Ellensburg our trip the rest of the way home was calm and easy with light rain and light wind.

We have a busy week ahead. Hope you all have a good one!

Apples of My Eye

Spent several hours with these two last Wednesday. We picked these apples right off one of their trees for a snack. They keep me moving. Love them so much.

Yesterday I was able to mow and get the riding lawn mower all cleaned up and settled in the shop. Junk Drunk was calm and fun with lots of interesting things to see. I bought a small item for a stocking stuffer for one of our kids and a sign for a friend that called out to me because of a conversation we just had this week. There was a stand where fresh little donuts were being made up to order so I had to support that business, too. It was fun to bump into a few ladies from church at the sale, too.

Happy weekend to all of you. It is raining here. Our land will enjoy that.

Don’t Forget Hodgepodge

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge where Jo asks the questions for us to answer. Thank you Jo.

1. Something you’ve done recently that required you giving 110% ?

Supervising these two. They spent a couple hours at our house and they went on a marble hunt outside and then released them inside. The marbles went rolling everywhere and under everything. JJ was intent on filling his pockets with them. Addy moved too fast for me to get a clear photo of her while she chased the marbles.

2. What task-sport-chore-hobby-activity have you participated in or completed, that if judged, would land you a perfect 10?  

The Russian Sacred Singers of Los Angeles are a group of California young people of Russian background. They sing in English and Russian under the inspiring leadership of director Leonard Wozniuk. The unique bi-lingual choir responded to our challenge to record their selections for radio use. Today, their joyful singing is heard world-wide over several short-wave radio stations and over local broadcasts in North and South America.

Hymns of Praise was recorded in stereo in the Lorin Whitney Studios with the creative accompaniment of organist Bill Fasig and pianist John Innes of the Billy Graham Association. Tom Keene on guitar and Paul Stilwell on bass add their distinctive sound to several selections. ~ Andrew Semenchuk, Producer.

One of my sisters, a few cousins, and my best friend were part of this Russian Youth Choir and in the world of Russian Sacred Hymns during the 70’s this was a 10. The recording was used to spread the gospel behind the Iron Curtain. Through the recording of this album and the exposure to the other professional musicians in the studio I eventually met Dear. One of the musicians, a director of a Christian singing group recruited my best friend to sing in his group. I tagged along with her to the concerts. Dear was in this group. I ended up auditioning for the group and was selected. This Christian music group would sing at different churches in the Southern California area on Sunday evenings and toured England in the summers. Dear and I started dating while in this group and later got married. One 10 led to another 10!

3. What are ten of your favorite things right now? 

  1. Our children and their spouses.
  2. Our two grandchildren
  3. Our Church
  4. Sermons by John MacArthur while I mow. I have a 2 sermon lawn.
  5. Podcasts by Costi Hinn, The Sword and The Trowel, Justin Peters.
  6. Fall like mornings. It’s coming y’all. I love Fall!
  7. The Bible
  8. Writings by Charles Spurgeon
  9. Coffee in the morning
  10. My hard working husband (he’s painting our bedroom right now), he makes my coffee in the morning, tomorrow is his birthday.

4. Nine times out of ten I _________________________.

Nine times out of ten I choose joy!

5. Where were you when the world stopped turning, twenty years ago this week? 

I will never forget this day. Where I was, what I did, who I talked to. My TV was still in my living room in Kenmore, Washington in 2001. I sat on the edge of an ottoman in shock. I started dialing, first my husband, then my married son and his wife, (they were married 2 weeks before 9/11).  I woke up Dan and Katie who were still at home. That day seemed like it would never end. Called my SIL to find out if she’d heard anything from our niece who was working in Manhattan. Our niece was in route to Manhattan on that day, no one at work had seen her yet. She wasn’t a casualty that day. She made it. She had to turn around and try to get home again. It took her over 6 hours to get home. Small price to pay compared to so many…

This flag that I unfurled out the window of our daughter’s room in 2001 is the flag that was presented to my mother-in-law, Verna, at Dear’s father Rex’s funeral in 1985. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. This window is on the street side of this home. Things have changed on this side of the house but the memories are the same. This flag is folded and in a special flag case now.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Thank you to all who serve and protect including our Military, Border Patrol, Police, Firemen, and Coast Guard!

Goodbye August

Straight from the garden. Their mommy plants and tends an amazing garden.

We were able to see these two on Sunday afternoon. So good to have them run to us with open arms and lots of hugs. As we leave they run along the fence line following our car and we yell our goodbyes to each other. They are safe on the inside of the fence and our car goes along the drive on the other side of the fence. Fun traditions.

Adios to August!