Category Archives: Our Country Bungalow

They Are Returning

We put out 3 hummingbird feeders this year. We are happy to see the little hummers return. They are not back in full force yet but we are happy to watch the ones that are enjoying the feeders.

Thursday morning between six an seven a.m. we were treated to a show by a group of deer running around and hopping in our backyard. I took a video that I wish I could share.

I’m adding a quote for the day here.

I am very sure that any man of common understanding may, by culture, care, attention, and labor, make himself what- ever he pleases, except a great poet.~ Lord Chesterfield

Hope the first weekend in May is filled with lots of joy for all who visit here.

Hello May Hodgepodge!

It’s the Merry Month of May and time for our first May Hodgepodge. Thank you to Jo From This Side of the Pond for the timely questions.

I’ll be using photos from my archives for many posts until I can figure out how to be able to add more media to my site. Such a revolting development.

1. Mayday! Mayday!…when was the last time (or a recent time) you literally or figuratively needed to call for help? Elaborate. 

A few months back we had to call our son to help with our water heater that wasn’t putting out any hot water. Brrr. He was a huge help scraping out a bunch of residue and helping Greg with draining the thing and installing some new parts.

2. May Day…when was the last time you danced?

At our brother and sister’s 60th birthday party at a ranch in Texas on July 29th 2023 we enjoyed some line dancing.

Do you have a lot of baskets?

I have a few baskets.

What’s something you keep in a basket?

Napkin rings. I have a lot of napkin rings, y’all. I have sets in ziplock bags. Sets of 4, sets of 6, sets of 8, sets of 10, sets of 12 and some sets over 12. Sets of 6 and under are in a basket. Sets of 8 are in a basket. Sets of 10 and over are in a basket.

What’s your favorite purple flower? 

Oh, this is a hard one. I love purple flowers. I’ll go with lavender even though we won’t see fields like these until July.

This collage is from several years ago at the Annual lavender festival held in Sequim, Washington.

3. What’s something you may do this month? 

We might be putting out our outdoor furniture soon.

4. Do you like eggplant? Quick topic changes lol? If you said yes in answer to the eggplant question how do you like yours prepared? Of the following purple foods, which one is your favorite…plums, purple carrots, purple asparagus, eggplant, acai berries, blackberries, purple cauliflower, elderberries, purple potatoes, or passion fruit? 

Not a huge fan of eggplant and I don’t think I’ve ever cooked eggplant. In my Russian culinary heritage there is a dish called Ikra that is a popular dish to spread on bread or crackers to enjoy, an eggplant caviar. My mother did make it and my sister Vera has made it. The recipe is in our family cookbook that Vera put together.

  • 1 eggplant, peeled and chopped
  • 1-2 carrots, grated
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  1. Saute onion in oil until tender.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer until eggplant is soft, 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
  3. If it gets too dry, add more tomato sauce.
  4. Another method is to bake the eggplant in the oven until it is soft and then peel and chop it. This will reduce the simmering time.

From the list of purple things, Blackberries are my favorite.

5. The calendar turns on Hodgepodge Day…

“Then you have to remember to be thankful; but in May one simply can’t help being thankful that they are alive, if for nothing else.”-L.M. Montgomery

Tell us one thing you’re thankful for today. 

Just one!? I’m thankful for how our Grands are growing and learning about our God who created them and loves them.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tonight is Awana Awards night. These photos are from the last couple years. JJ graduates from Cubbies tonight and next year he’ll be a Sparky. Addy will get some awards tonight because she finished all her books and all her verses and then did some extra books and verses! She will still be a Sparky next year.

This is Addy two years ago when she was still a Cubby.

Happy May everyone!

Early Spring at Our Country Bungalow

We are seeing more green around our country bungalow and the first pop of color are the Daffodils and the sweet Johnny Jump Ups.

I brought a bouquet in for the table and will be bringing in a second bouquet today for our weekend festivities.

On this past Tuesday we had our 2024 inaugural walk on the Rotary Trail. Speaking of inaugural, I mowed our acreage on Tuesday, also. This was an early start to mowing.

From a distance we thought this was a real heron but when I zoomed in it looks more like a statue.

There were lots of real birds chirping and singing as we walked.

This eagle was soaring.

This trail loop walk takes us just under an hour to complete.

Our glass fishing float was reflecting the clouds this past week and I zoomed in for a photo.

“This glass fishing float is one of the historical, handblown floats used for nautical buoyancy and fishing gear.”

We also have a basket full of smaller floats. This next photo of the floats was taken in the summer with our pest ‘Alvin’.

We have two car loads arriving at our Country Bungalow for the weekend and another Colville carload here for the late afternoon and evening. Today is Andrew’s birthday and we will celebrate him. Tomorrow we will celebrate JJ’s 5th birthday with a bowling party. His actual birthday is in the middle of this coming week. Tomorrow evening and Sunday afternoon Addy has a dance recital with her Irish dancing group. Fun times are afoot! I will be scarce here but busy in the kitchen and elsewhere.

Here’s todays birthday boy!

Have a great weekend everyone!

An Old Mind Hodgepodge

Our daffodils have finally pushed out some blooms! I love it when this happens.

It’s that time again…Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you to Joyce From This Side of the Pond!

1. What’s a talent you wish you had? 

Retention! I wish my brain retained things I read and hear more easily. Is that a talent?

2. In one word, what’s your state of mind right now? 
Recuperation.

3. What’s the next major purchase you need to make? Will it happen this month? This year?

Getting our septic system pumped. It will happen this year.

4. Tuesday (April 2nd) was National PB and J Day…did you celebrate? Is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich something you eat weekly or more? What’s your favorite kind of jelly? 

No PBJ celebrations here. I do not eat it weekly. I eat it when I crave it. Lately I like PB on a toasted muffin with honey. Raspberry jam and strawberry jam are my favorites.

5. Are you easily intimidated? Who or what intimidates you? 

Generally no, I’m not easily intimidated. The thing that does intimidate me is having to speak in front of a crowd larger than 10 people.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We had to leave early on Monday of this week for a follow-up appointment for Greg in Spokane. It was a beautiful day. After the appointment we parked close to this amazing building thinking about having lunch at a nearby restaurant. We were frustrated since all the parking meters now want you to scan something to pay using your phone/app. Oye…I’m old. We just decided to drive away and go somewhere with a parking lot.

Here’s a little info on Spokane’s Castle Courthouse.

“You might not expect to come upon a castle while visiting Spokane, but that is exactly what you will do if you visit the Spokane County courthouse. Most of us associate such architecture with romantic old castles in Europe, or perhaps something out of the world of Walt Disney or fairy tales. To find such a building in the center of a modern, growing regional hub city such as Spokane is a bit startling. How did this come about? You’d expect such a building must have a colorful past, and our courthouse does not disappoint!”

Next time we are close to this building I want to walk around it and also go inside of it.

More info about this Spokane County courthouse Castle can be found here.

Happy April everyone!

Easter Week Hodgepodge

Wednesday Hodgepodge is ready to go with a new set of question from Joyce. Thank you, Jo!

1.What do you love about your life right now? 

There is so much to love. God loves me. Jesus died on the cross and was raised to life to save me from my sins because He loves me. The Holy Spirit guides me. Greg and I are coming up on our 50th wedding anniversary at the end of this year. Our three kids and their spouses honor us. Our two grandchildren are a gift to us and we get to love them. We love our church where the Word of God is preached and honored. We love our little country town and our country bungalow. We love the Godly heritage we were privileged to grow up with. We do not take any of this for granted.

‘O how I love Jesus, because He first loved me’

2. March 26th is National Spinach Day…are you a fan? If so, how do you like yours prepared/served? 
We enjoy a traditional soup that we call ‘Green Borsch’ that is a spinach soup we serve with hard boiled eggs chopped up in it. Greg has ordered spinach enchiladas on occasion. Spinach salad is good, too.

3. In this current season would you say you need to spend more time looking inward or that you need to get out of your head? Tell us why. 

The inward needs a good evaluation with help from God to get on the right track and continue on the right track. What is on the inside can’t help but come out through our mouth and actions. We are a selfish people who need help to get out of our own heads. 🙂

4. Are you following the ‘March Madness’ madness? (That’s US college basketball in case you’re out of the loop).

We do have a team from our state and our closest large city in the tournament. Gonzaga is a private college in Spokane, and they are in the Sweet 16. Gonzaga has made it to the Sweet 16 for the ninth consecutive year. Spokane is also hosting the final game of the tournament so the police are gearing up for all that excitement.

Fun fact about Gonzaga is that Bing Crosby is an alumnus. Spike the Bulldog is their mascot. We have lots of ‘Zags’ fans in our little city of Colville and in the state of Washington.

What’s something that feels like actual madness to you right now? 

So much feels like madness. The Southern Border for one. The hate that fuels so much of politics and the lies that deceive. Pronoun craziness. OYE! It is our natural bent to want to be God but we are not God and we are not ultimately in control.

5. How will you celebrate the Easter/Passover holiday this year? 

We will attend a solemn Good Friday Service on Friday evening that will include Communion. On Easter we will attend our Easter Celebration which includes an Easter Coffee Fellowship before our service (that I’m in charge of) and then our glorious celebration of our Risen LORD! After church we will enjoy a gathering for a meal and Easter Egg hunt at our Colville Kids’ home.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

EASTER Is Coming! It is always so good to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Our LORD! We actually celebrate that all year long.

Christ Is Risen!

Truly He is Risen!

Khristos voskrese!    Voistinu voskrese!

Христос воскрес!
воистину воскрес!

Doing the Math Hodgepodge

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you, Jo, for the questions!

1. Thursday is National Pi Day…are you good at math? What was the last thing you had to calculate? Did you use your head or technology? Last slice of pie you ate? 

I am good at basic math but not in the advanced stuff like algebra, trigonometry, calculus and such. My brain remembers numbers for some reason. I can still remember birthdays of some of my classmates in high school. On Monday I had to make a simple calculation of how long I’ve been blogging so I took 2024, minus 2007 to come up with 17. I used my desk calculator to come up with that. That comes out to Seventeen years of blogging. The last slice of pie was at Thanksgiving.

2. What makes a house a home? 

The easy answer is love. For me, a home is a comfortable peaceful place where I can be real and enjoy loving others and being loved. Cozy furniture helps. Too much formality in decor makes me stiff unless you throw in an overstuffed chair with an ottoman.

3. Your current favorite green thing? 

We bought some new wall art with blue flowers and mossy green leaves for our Master Bedroom and added some mossy green to the bed with pillows. It was nice to freshen up the Master Bedroom. Did you know that it’s not kosher to call a Master Bedroom a Master Bedroom anymore? Oye Vey! It is still the Master Bedroom at our house.

4. How do you define achievement? How does your personal definition look similar to, or different than, society’s definition? What’s something you think is worth achieving in life? 

Achievement is being able to accept who you are and what your talents are and using those talents everyday in big and small ways. Achievement can happen everyday without applause from the world. Society would add fame and money as the benchmark to achievement. If your talents and hard work reap a monetary gain, that is a bonus. As a mom, raising children is a worthwhile achievement.  Contentment is worth achieving in life.

5. What song is a good soundtrack for your life right now? 

This is hubby and my song for last year and pretty much always. I’ll share a stanza and the refrain…

My Worth is not in What I Own…

My worth is not in what I ownNot in the strength of flesh and boneBut in the costly wounds of loveAt the cross

And I rejoice in my RedeemerGreatest Treasure,Wellspring of my soulAnd I will trust in Him, no other.My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Not only is tomorrow Pi day but it is my birthday. If I take the current year and subtract my birth year from it, I calculate that I will be 73 on Pi day! A blast from my past for your enjoyment. Sheriff John was a favorite!

Soft and Quick

Our soft quiet snow was nice while it lasted. The 5 inches we got has quickly melted. Some people just 5 miles from us only got an inch. Our kids on the other side of town got 3 inches. Now we are in the drip drip drip melting stage.

It’s always fun to scientifically document the snowfall. 🙂

Praying for our friend who used to blog, Pam. She is having brain surgery today.

I’ve prayed for many friends who I have met through blogging.

Philippians 2:4: “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

In Like a Cat?

We’ve had some varied Winter weather here the last few days. Thursday and Friday the skies were blue with pretty white clouds and very cold. This is the view we have as we get close to the highway traveling from our home.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2
Grateful for our views where God has planted us for this season of our lives. Thank you, LORD.

March has not come in like a Lion and I hope it still will go out like a lamb.

This photo is looking back driving towards our home from the highway.

Saturday we had a change in the weather and got some wet snow that started to stick for a while.

It all melted off the plants and posts and bird houses by Saturday evening.

I might have spoken too soon about March coming in like a cat instead of a lion because this morning we woke up to another 3 inches of fluffy snow! And now we have 5 inches!

We have some busier days ahead in March, especially with Easter landing on the very last day of March this year.

How does March look for you?

Table Set for Nine

It was fun to plan for seven guests, two families, from our church on Tuesday evening.

Since the nine of us were together around the table for the first time we had name cards with a conversation question written in each place card.

I should have done the age math better because one of the questions was, “Where were you when John F. Kennedy was shot?” None of our guests were alive when Kennedy was shot!!

Thankfully the other questions were appropriate for the audience!

The dessert photo is the only photo that captured our guests at the table, sort of. Just as well since I didn’t ask permission to plaster their faces on my blog.

We had tri-tip, rice with raisins and almonds, pea salad (brought by a guest), southwest beans, and Strawberry Ice Cream cake for dessert.

Are you curious about the other questions besides the John F. Kennedy one?

  1. What high school did you graduate from and tell us about the city it is in?
  2. Do you have siblings? Tell us about them and where they live.
  3. Which foreign countries have you visited? If you haven’t which one would you like to visit?
  4. What city and state were you born in? What is it’s claim to fame?
  5. Where were you when you became a follower of Jesus?
  6. What is your favorite season and why?
  7. Tell us your: Favorite Book. Book of the Bible. Bible Verse.
  8. As a couple how many churches have you attended and tell us about them.

We had a lively discussion even without the questions but it was nice to have a concentrated ‘listen’ to each of our guests voices while they answered their question.

Welcome to March!

No Winter Lasts Forever…

…No spring fails to appear.

Our last door wreath had seen better days so we picked this one on our last trip to HomeGoods in Spokane.

Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday we were able to spend time outside clearing some dead growth in several of our planters. We got a very good start but aren’t finished, yet. It was encouraging to see signs of Spring growth in those planters.

Columbines

Daffodils

Rhubarb

 

I changed up my plate hanger with these dishes, Dreamtown Made in England by Johnson Brothers. I have 4 dinner plates. They were a thrift store find.

Soon I’ll be pulling out the Easter bin and changing things up again with lots of Spring accents.

Are you seeing signs of Spring in your corner of the world?