Category Archives: Grandchildren

Love One Another…

Uncle Joshie joined Auntie Lolo who was already in Colville for Father’s Day weekend. Addy and JJ were delighted to see him and spend time with him. Their daddy was away because of work and they really missed him. Uncle Joshie was a nice diversion.

Josh flew back home on Father’s Day. Auntie Lolo drove back home on the day of my cataract surgery. Before Lolo left she captured a lot of photos. Thank you Lolo and Joshie for all your help and love!

Collecting the eggs and enjoying garden delights picked fresh!

Addy and JJ’s daddy came home on Thursday the 24th of June and their little family is together again much to everyone’s relief.

The news around our region is the heat! We are above 100 degrees with predictions of temps getting as high as 114. Yikes. That means fire danger, too. We are more appreciative of our cooling possibilities. We are watering early in the morning and have blinds closed and curtains drawn during the day. The birds are enjoying our watering. We hope to get to more normal summertime temps in a week.

Under the Sea

Auntie LoLo came back for another week on Wednesday June 16th. Addy and JJ were happy to see her again.

On Friday a trip to Spokane to visit the small aquarium was in order.

JJ had no fear in touching some of the sea creatures but Addy decided against it.

So much to see under the sea!

Back home and the day was just right for bubbles!

So thankful that Auntie LoLo catches such great moments with her phone!

Late on Friday night Uncle Joshie flew in for Father’s Day Weekend. More photos to share from that time soon.

Things are going well with my recovery from Cataract Surgery.

For the month of June I’ve been reading the book of Romans in the Bible.

Romans 12:9-13

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Mid Week Fun

There’s no Wednesday Hodgepodge this week so I’m doing a catch up post with more photos from our fun on Friday the 4th of June.

We managed to do some weeding yesterday before things heat up again. We took out a plant that was not kid friendly, very prickly.

Our temps are heading up to the upper 80’s and onwards to the low 90’s next week so we’ll enjoy water play again when the littles come over. I bought two more of these water pumps from the Dollar Store so the adults can get into the fun, too. Our daughter in law arrives again today from the Coast to spend another week with us and with our Colville kids. Our son will fly in for the weekend. The grands will be excited to see Auntie Lolo and Uncle Joshie and we all enjoy our time with them on this side of the Cascades!

The Windmill

This windmill in our back yard was here when we moved in. The windmill served to aerate the pond. Since we don’t need it anymore we sold it to a friend of ours who is putting in a pond on her property. Last Thursday was moving day for the windmill.

The discussions began on how to best lower the windmill safely. Thankfully the windmill was installed on hinges so it could be lowered using the hinges.

 

Down safely and now to disconnect the fan from the base.

Loaded in the truck and trailer.

Now to remove the anchor pipes. All was completed and Cindy and her windmill went off down the road to her property.

Our friends who came to help brought their puppy with them. Addy and JJ weren’t sure about her but they managed to feed her from their palms.

Time to pull out more water toys for the summer. The kids kept busy with water while the helpers gingerly lowered the Windmill.

We are moving into another mini heat wave here in our corner of the world. It will be a good time for running through sprinklers!

We are fortunate at our property to share a well that is a high producer of water. Some people aren’t as fortunate.

Here in the U.S.A. we are celebrating Flag Day today. Happy Flag Day! Our flag is waving.

Moving Up Hodgepodge

My parents, sister and nieces were some of the first visitors we had in Washington State after our move in 1988.

Thank you to Jo From This Side of the Pond for coming up with the Wednesday Hodgepodge questions each week.

1. Something you’ve seen recently that’s ‘cuter than a June bug’?

Our little grands wrapped up like burritos.

2. Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988? If you weren’t born yet, June of 1998. Or if that doesn’t work, June of 2008. 

In June of 1988 we were getting ready for a major move from Ventura, California to Bothell, Washington. A huge life change for all of us. We were packing up our stuff and all of my mother-in-law’s stuff as she was moving up with us. Dear was accepted to the University of Washington to study and pursue a new career as a Pharmacist. Our kids were 9, 7 and 2-1/2. Dear had been working as a Frontend Loader operator in a quarry before he was encouraged to pursue this new career. We are thankful to God for all this decision afforded our family. It was a wonderful choice all around and we never regretted it. Our kids got a whole new education in moving from Southern California to a state with 4 distinct seasons! Experiencing snow right in our front yard was such a treat for these three!

3. A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel ‘snug as a bug in a rug’? 

Inside it has to be my bed and especially when there are no big plans for the following day. Outside my snug as a bug in a rug spot is on my riding lawnmower with my headphones listening to my favorite preacher.

4. June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month. 

Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day?

To get 4-5 servings per day we’d need to buy those green and red bottles of processed vegetables and fruits.

What’s a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits.

My favorite summer fruit are nectarines and I like them just as they are. I’d like to be served a fresh peach pie with flaky crust please.

A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg?

Corn on the Cob!

How do you feel about cooking in the summer months? 

I feel Dear should do the majority of cooking outside on his Traeger in the summer months.

5. Do you have a summer reading list? If so share a title or two we can add to our own. 

I do not have a summer reading list. I read the Bible everyday and some of Spurgeon’s writings, too. If I was going to have a summer reading list I’d re-read some books by Elizabeth Goudge like The Dean’s Watch.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I had my initial appointment with the surgeon for my cataract surgery and I’ll know some dates as soon as the surgery scheduling people call me. The decision I need to make is whether I want the monofocal fix, that Medicare covers, or the multiple corrective zones. We’d have to put up some big bucks for the full meal deal but we are leaning that way after talking with people who didn’t make that choice and regret it.

The Grandkids’ Mountain

When Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo come to town we have lots of great photos to share. Auntie Lolo knows how to capture the moments.

Saturday June 5th. Time to feed the chickens and check out the garden.

Take in the view before bedtime. Josh had to fly home on Sunday but Auntie Lolo is staying on till Friday.

Today Tuesday June 8th I’ll have my consult about my cataract surgery coming up soon. I should know after my appointment when my procedure will take place. I’m looking forward to better eyesight in the near future.

Dollar Store For the Win!

On Friday Josh and Laura arrived from the ‘Coast’ and when the littles woke up from their nap their mommy drove them over for dinner. We enjoyed a slow cooked brisket with all the fixins and watermelon plus brownies for dessert. It was a hot day and the evening was perfect for some fun with water. I bought some water launchers and bubble guns from the Dollar Store earlier in the day and they proved to provide so much fun. Uncle Josh was a good sport and joined in the water fun. Uncle Joshie, Addy and JJ were soaked by the time the fun was over.

Time for wrap the grands like a burrito to dry them off and warm them up before the ride home for nighty night.

Local Honey…

…for our local honeys.

Honey sticks from local honey at the farmer’s market last Saturday.

Yesterday was our last real hot day for a while. We made it close to 100 for two days in a row and then on Friday it got upwards to the 90’s. Today we are dropping down to 70 today and then 63 on Sunday. The plants will enjoy the relief.

Our daughter-in-law got some great photos of the fun times in our back yard playing with water launchers that I’ll be downloading soon.

Have a great Saturday everyone.

Keeping Up With Our Grands

Such busy ages that we are enjoying with our grands. Age 4 and 2 are such active ages. They can really tire out a 70 year old. I’m so thankful they choose to love me and tire me out.

Last Friday big sister had some other appointments so little brother got dropped off at our house for a few hours.

After some raking JJ was very interested in the watering possibilities.

He mastered our new water nozzle pretty quick. It was fun to watch the delight a powerful nozzle gave him.

Dear and I were able to get a lot of weeding done while JJ enjoyed the power of the hose.

Addy enjoyed some time with a homeschool Co-op which she is trying out while little brother was with us.

A big transition in the month of May for our 4 year old was the move up from this toddler bed to…

…this twin bed with new bedding. I think she is pleased.

The end of May we also enjoyed seeing our ‘Coast Kids’ via messenger enjoying a night out together.

We’ve been in the upper 90’s the last couple days. Friday we are supposed to be in the upper 80’s. Hot for Spring so there has been a lot of watering happening in the early hours or late hours.

Today Josh and Laura are driving across the Cascades from the ‘Coast’ for the weekend. We are looking forward to catching up with them and the grands will be thrilled to see Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo! A brisket will go on the Traeger early and cook long and slow for dinner here after they arrive.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Woe to the Internet…

Our kids and grands were over for dinner on Wednesday night and I took this blurry in motion photo of JJ riding in his Maserati with his car phone to match.

The country internets have been very unreliable the last couple of days which made Thursday a good time to pull out COVID-19 Puzzle #15. This is the busy London 1000 piece that my friend Jeanie sent me for my 70th birthday. I’ll try to get it done before I turn 71, grin!

I’m scheduling this post for Friday right now just in case the internet goes out again. This country internet issue is also the reason I will be late in keeping up with your blogs.

Happy Friday to y’all.