When we arrived at our kids home on Friday June 23rd little Addy May was fast asleep and we were content to wait for her to wake up.
Today was a busy day as we had a belated Father’s Day gathering on this side of the mountains. The temps soared into the 90’s.
Hope you are all enjoying your Sunday.
…was National Take a Selfie Day!
Addy was a good sport but she’s wondering where the lens is on the phone! Love those eyebrows!
We are dealing with some heat here in Eastern Washington and Western Washington, too.
Addy and Gramps June 23, 2017.
Happy Saturday everyone!
P.S. My hands are busy baby holding and that makes it difficult to type so although sometimes while Addy sleeps away I can read but not comment.
It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge and it’s the first Summer edition of 2017!
1. The first day of summer rolls in later this week. What are ten things you’d put on your list of quintessential summer activities? The collage above has some of my ten.
Will you try to manage all ten this summer? No. Our fourth of July party probably won’t be on the 4th this year and with summer company coming I’ll probably miss the lavender festival since it’s not something little ones would enjoy.
2. Do you collect seashells when you’re at the beach?
If we can find them we do like to collect them.
What do you do with them once you get them home?
The Abalone shell is from Dear’s early years in Southern California.
The Ginger Jar is full of shells Dear and I gathered our 4 years while we lived in Camarillo from 2006-2010. Most Saturdays while we were living there we’d drive to Emma Wood Beach in Ventura and walk along the seashore just as the sun came up. The little glass bowl has shells and little pine cones from somewhere before we got married. The spiny shell is one we keep out of reach.
These larger more dramatic shells are from Dear’s parents who got them from his Uncle and Aunt who were stationed in Hawaii for a few years with the Air Force. Right now they are living on the bottom shelf of the tea cart in a metal tray, the shells, not Dear’s folks or aunt and uncle.
What’s your favorite place to comb for seashells?
Emma Wood Beach is the most recent and favorite. And for the record winter beach combing is my favorite. I like to avoid southern beaches in the summer.
How many of these ‘best beaches for hunting seashells’ have you visited?
None.
Which one would you most like to visit?
Calvert Cliffs State Park (Maryland), Jeffrey’s Bay (South Africa), Sanibel Island (Florida), Shipwreck Beach (Lanai Hawaii), Ocracoke Island (North Carolina), Galveston Island (Texas) and The Bahamas
I think I’d pick Shipwreck Beach. I like the name.
3. At a snail’s pace, shell out money, come out of your shell, go back into your shell, drop a bombshell, happy as a clam, clam up...which ‘shell’ phrase could most recently be applied to some event or circumstance in your life? Explain.
At a snail’s pace is the one I’m going to pick because we seem to be waiting on things that might develop to make plans that might come to be if nothing else changes and in the meantime nothing has changed. So we are waiting…
4. What summer activity do you dislike? Why?
Pool parties that involve little ones who might or might not be watched properly by their parents.
5. What’s something you see as quickly becoming obsolete? Does that bother you?
Actual reporting of the news. Too many opinions, not enough facts. Yes it bothers me.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
We got these photos by text on Tuesday the 20th. I love all of her expressions. We get to see Addy May on Friday! Woohoo. She’s changing so much every week. It’s been a month since we have seen her in person.
It’s the first day of summer and we had…wait for it…rain! I added that for Vee’s sake. It’s not just in your corner of the world!
Thank you Joyce for asking the questions. Click over to From This Side of the Pond to see more Hodgepodge.
On Saturday morning we met up with a new summer group called Wonder Walkers at church and then headed to The Skagit Valley Wildlife area and Fir Island Reserve for out first walk. I will share a full post about our walk later this week and barns next weekend. We left the group and headed home to clean up and get ready for a barbecue our kids on this side of the mountains planned in honor of their dad for Father’s Day.
We gathered at Josh and Laura’s. My fist was not a negative gesture but I was trying to show the camera my diamond ring which I haven’t been able to wear for a few years because it was too tight on my ring finger. On the way home from our walk we stopped by the jeweler to pick it up after it had been resized. Woohoo! I’m a happy camper.
Josh was busy grilling the best steaks we’ve ever had off the grill. The secret ingredient was butter. Oh my goodness it melted in our mouths!
After dinner and dessert some of us went for a walk and then when we returned the fire pit was stoked and ready.
It started raining so they moved the patio table umbrella over to the fire pit. Where’s there’s a will there’s a way.
The food, the fire, the fellowship was all real good. Happy Father’s Day Dear.
Just got a text with a photo of our son Dan on his first Father’s day that I had to add to this post.
Happy Father’s Day Dan. Addy has a good daddy.
Hope you all had or are having a good weekend.
Welcome to Wednesday Hodgepodge where Joyce asks the questions and we come up with some answers.
1. The Hodgepodge lands on June 14th this week, Flag Day in the US of A.
Do you fly your country’s flag at home?
We fly the U.S. flag and the Marine Corps flag at our house. They will be flying proudly on Flag Day.
Sometimes, often, or every single day?
When Andrew, our son-in-law, was in Afghanistan and serving in other parts of the U.S. we flew the flags more often. Now we fly them on special days like Flag Day, Memorial Day, Marine Corps birthday, Fourth of July, Armed Services Day, 9/11, Veteran’s Day and Election day.
This is a blue service star flag/banner. It is issued to families who’s sons or daughters are deployed in harms way. Both times when Andrew was in Afghanistan we kept it in our window until he came home safely.
Have you ever visited the city of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia)? Did you make a point of seeing The Betsy Ross House?
No and No but if I did visit I’d want to see her house.
Have you ever made a trip to Baltimore? If so, was Fort McHenry on your itinerary? (where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner)
No but I enjoy singing the The Star Spangled Banner at every Sounders home game with 40,000 other people and I always am thankful for the Marines and others from different military branches who hold the flag and wave the flag with respect.
2. Red flag or white flag? Which have you encountered most recently? Explain.
Do you mean Red flag warning or white flag of surrender or parley? I see danger, it’s part of my makeup. This makes me very uncomfortable at pool parties or watching little ones at the beach. I might as well have a red flag flying from my head at these venues. I’m sure we’ll be seeing red flag fire danger warnings in Eastern Washington this year. And as far as the white flag goes I don’t surrender easy except for when it comes to sticking to a diet.
3. Are you a stay in the car listen to the end of a song kind of person? What kind of person is that?
No and I don’t know.
4. What are some of the traits or qualities you think a good dad possesses? In other words, what makes a good dad?
I think a good dad cares for, supports, guides and prays for his children.
What’s an expression you associate with your father?
“I praying for you, pray for me. I’m thanking God for everything.” My pop who is 94 still gets down on his knees every night and prays for all his kids, grandkids and great grandkids. Every time I call him on the phone he reminds me he’s praying for me and asks me to pray for him. His English is still sketchy.
5. What’s one rule you always disagreed with while growing up?
My mom was a somewhat legalistic Russian Baptist. Somewhat to say she wasn’t as legalistic as many of my relatives and other Russian Baptists. No drinking, no dancing, no smoking, no playing cards, no going to movies. My parents let us go to movies.
I disagreed with the no dancing and no playing cards. I wore my parents down on a lot of the rules. I went to school dances. One other rule we had growing up was no whistling in the house. Did you know that whistling invites evil spirits into your home? And no, I don’t believe that but it was something passed down to my mother and father.
Is that rule somehow still part of your adult life? Is that a good or bad thing?
I’m still adhering to the no smoking rule and it’s a good thing.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
In about 2 weeks we’ll be seeing our little granddaughter in person again. Our Son and DIL text us photos that we really enjoy. Here are the latest. Addy was 12 weeks old on Monday. The first year of life has so many leaps of development.
Getting so strong and holding herself up.
Sitting pretty with her mommy’s baby shoes on.
Just can’t get enough of these. Sweet Addy May. Looks like she can give you a good left punch.
Click over to From This Side of the Pond on Wednesday to see more Hodgepodge answers.
Addy was such a good sport as we dressed her in her mommy’s baby coming home outfit from 30 some years ago.
A sweet little white knit with pink embellishments.
We had one more change of outfits and photo shoot after this one that I will share later. These photos were taken on May 22nd.
We got some recent photos in June of Addy via text. They make me smile.
Addy was a trooper on her first long road trip to be with Jamie’s extended family in Oregon the first weekend in June.
After she came home from her road trip this little one was so pleased with herself after she rolled over for the first time at 11 weeks. Now more safety measures will be needed. I will never tire of looking at this photo! This photo is my new wallpaper on my phone.
Thank you for your comments about my dental trauma. All went well. They tried to put a dam in my mouth and I didn’t react well so they had to do things the old fashioned way without a mouth dam. Thank you very much. I have a beautiful new filling to replace my old one from 55 years ago. I also have a referral to a hand/wrist specialist to check on whether I have carpal tunnel issues. You know you are getting older when you share these kinds of news events!
Here’s another sweet bonus on this post, Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook Blog today.
Today I get my long overdue haircut which is an appointment that doesn’t cause me any anxiety. Hope you have an anxious free day.
In the Azalea world these Rosebud Azaleas are my very favorite. We have two mature bushes and two newer struggling bushes. The Azaleas are waning and other things are thriving. Spring is such a beautiful season in the Pacific Northwest.
Our patio covers are up, too.
We’ll bring out the patio furniture when Dear gets home from Chicago just in time for the next batch of rain showers, wink wink.
I’m in want of another dose of this little cutie pie.
While Dear has been in Chicago I’ve been able to sort through a few more boxes of papers we do not need to store. Lots of shredding, recycling and dumping going on. Amongst the sorting I found some jewels and some journal entries that were wise for me to dump, worthy of the dump. The middle to late 90’s were some years of suffering that brought out the worst and the best. There was darkness around us but I’m happy to say God’s light overcame the darkness of these years and He brought us through.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations: 3:22-23
I hope you are depending on the light of the world.
I have some catching up to do from the month of May. Country mosaics with barns and critters and a special baby girl.
Scenes while driving in central Washington State and Eastern Washington State in mid May, 2017.
The farm above with all it’s red out buildings was taken from the Sprague Rest Area.
On the drive from the Seattle area across the Cascade Mountain range into Central and then Eastern Washington on Interstate 90 you approach the 2nd largest city in population in the state of Washington. Spokane is 279 miles from Seattle and 70 miles south of Colville, our final destination. From the 2014 census figures Seattle has a population of 668,342 and Spokane comes in second with 212,052. Spokane Valley has 91,729. Colville has a population of 4,706. Once we pass through Spokane and head north there are no interstates or freeways, we drive on highways and country roads. On the 70 mile trip from Spokane to Colville we only encounter one traffic light in Chewelah which is approximately 20 miles from Colville.
The collage above shows the approach to Spokane on I-90 and some buildings you can see in the city with a mural on the side of an old brick building. There are a few grand churches in Spokane I’d love to explore and photograph.
Leaving Spokane we see more cattle, horses and deer along the country roads. Deer are one of the most dangerous road hazards in the country. The next collages are from Dan and Jamie’s and close to their home.
Hummers on our kids’ front porch.
This hawk might be the one who is eating our kid’s chickens. There’s a price to pay for being free-range.
A riding lawn mower and a good tractor are a must when you own 20 acres and have to tend to a mile long driveway to your home. I caught a glimpse of Dan mowing the brush around his property. Dear and Dan moved the chicken coup to have better access in the winter.
This little one gives us an extra draw to travel to the country. Thankfully Dan and Jamie are patient with us showing up on their doorstep more often. Soon I’ll be sharing several photos of Addy in some special dresses. Here’s a sneak preview of a haphazard elephant prop pose.
She is such a good sport!
These last shots are of some properties closer to our kids.
Congratulations on making it through one of my catch-up posts. I’ll be linking up to a few parties this weekend since Dear is in Chicago and I have lots of time to myself.
Linking up first to Eileen’s Saturday Critters. Next up will be The Barn Collective with Tom. Last will be Mosaic Monday with Maggie in Normandy. When the link ups become available I’ll add them so you can click over and see lots of critters, barns and mosaics from around the world. Thank you to Eileen, Tom and Maggie for hosting these blog carnivals.
I posted the recipe that we finally perfected that tastes like my mom’s nut roll. Head over to the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog to see the recipe and instructions. Click here.
I’m happy to have arrived home safe and sound from Southern California on Wednesday morning. Now I’m doing laundry and sorting through some mail. I’m hoping to get around to some blogs soon.
It was so good to see family and friends over my seven days in Orange County. I arrived on Wednesday and we had a birthday dinner for my pop on Thursday at my sister Kathy’s. Then on Friday we had a sister day in Huntington Beach. On Saturday we had another family gathering at my sister Vera’s and we honored my sister Kathy, my pop and niece Debbee who all have May birthdays.
On Sunday evening Vera and I had a lovely time at Ken and Heidi’s. Heidi was my best friend and partner in crime in my college years and beyond. She and Ken met and were engaged during a period of time that Heidi was living with Dear and me. We have been good friends for all these years and it was nice to enjoy an evening together.
Ken and Heidi have a slice of paradise home with an outdoor space that really reminds you of something you would call a tropical paradise.
Our fellowship, the weather, the setting and the food were wonderful. While we were eating outside a Bobcat chose to walk across the far side of their outdoor space with no interest in us, thankfully. I heard recently that bobcats really aren’t interested in attacking humans.
On Memorial day we enjoyed a barbecue at my niece Debbee and Lenny’s home in Huntington Beach. Red, white and blue were the colors of choice on this day. Before we ate a friend of the family prayed and thanked God for those who served and gave their lives for us and the freedoms we enjoy. We enjoyed burgers, ribs, corn on the cob, salads, sweet watermelon and a few desserts. Thank you Lenny and Debbee!
On my last evening in Southern California Vera and I met up with Dear’s brother, sister-in-law and two of three nieces. It was another good time to catch up with what is going on in their lives. Cell phone photos are hit and miss in the darker restaurant.
Thank you Vera for letting me crash at your place and for being my private chauffeur while I was in Southern California.
Hello June! We are starting the month off with rain here in the Puget Sound area. We’ll see how long June gloom lasts. I have gloomy things to do inside so I’ll go with the flow and soldier on with sorting, trashing, shredding and recycling things I should never have stored away! Addy’s expression in this next photo just about covers the task set before me.
I love her expressions! Thank you modern technology. Snap and send has never been more appreciated!
These photos were taken on Sunday May 21st. Addy is two months old here. Gramps is working towards sixty four.
We are planning our next trip to see our kids which will work out to be when Addy turns 3 months old. So many developmental changes the first year of life. It’s been nice to document some with my camera.
My time in California is wrapping up. I’ve had several wonderful times with family and friends. One more gathering Tuesday night with Dear’s family and then I fly home bright and early Wednesday morning. I’m fortunate to have a place to stay with my sister Vera.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 