Category Archives: personal

I’ve Been Plugging Away…

…at all the boxes of stuff we had in the attic!

One night during my “I’m awake at 3 A.M. moments” I got this genius idea to take all those old photos out of their frames that were stored in two different tubs. Later that week I bought a package of 5 x7 and 8 x 10 archival quality sleeves. On Tuesday I slipped each photo I de-framed into them. They will all fit in two small binders instead of two big plastic tubs! The old frames will be sold at a garage sale.

While I was completing this task I came across this old photo of Dear and I. I think this was taken at our engagement party way back in 1974.

And in other news…

My dad went home from the hospital last evening. Yesterday while my mom was saying goodbye to some friends from church who came to visit she stumbled and hit her head. She’s ok but she caused quite a stir. I’ll be calling them later to see how their night at home went.

Tonight is the first MLS season game for the Seattle Sounders. I’ll be meeting up with my son and DIL to head downtown for the March to the Match and dinner at the Taco Stand and then the game! Fun times are afoot!!

And yes it is finally raining again the the Northwest.

Hope you all have a good productive Thursday! Blessings…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Who Knows…

…what a day may bring?

 

Unlike the apple tree my pear tree has pushed out a few of it’s buds to full blossoms. So delicate and pretty.

We had one of those dreaded phone calls last night. Lana…”Pop is on his way to the hospital”. Then I ask , “He’s not driving himself, is he? She says, “No, Aunt Anna is driving him. We’re headed out the door to the hospital now and will call you later.” So then I call back and ask, “What are the symptoms?” He had chest pain during the day and used 2 of the nitroglycerin pills the doctor gave him and the pain didn’t go away so they decided to go to emergency. Then I’m thinking why didn’t they call 911. Three people in their 80’s driving to the hospital which is about 7 miles away. Oye!

Then the waiting from 1200 miles away. Talking to God while I’m waiting. Realizing my parents are at that stage in life when you don’t know how much longer they’ll bless this earth with their physical presence.

The doctor finally comes out and lets my sisters know that Pop has Angina (duh…that’s why he came to the ER) and that they think he might have blockage somewhere and they’ll be keeping him overnight for further tests on Tuesday. I wonder if my mom was able to sleep at all last night.

So today I’m tired and dull in the head and still waiting, knowing my Pop’s life is in the hands of our God. Also knowing my life is in God’s hands and I can trust Him.

Isaiah 33:2 (English Standard Version)

O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you.
Be our arm every morning,
our salvation in the time of trouble.

Psalm 5:3 (New International Version)

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.

Psalm 88:13 (English Standard Version)

But I, O LORD, cry to you;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.

Psalm 143:8 (English Standard Version)

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

Busy Around The Homestead…

 

We’ve been working hard around our place here in Washington getting things ready for Spring. Last week we tackled the yard. We have two major projects that we are going to hire out and then in a year tackle some more. The center photo is the “after” with the side yard cleared and all the branches are finally clipped and taken away.

We are anticipating the future arrival of most of our stuff from the Condo. We wonder where are we going to put the stuff? The piles of throw away and save for Garage Sale are getting huge. We still are in a debate about the benefits of an all consuming all day garage sale versus taking all the stuff to Goodwill. My daughter seems to be more in favor of the Garage Sale.

Dear and I walk around each room thinking “will that fit here? or should we get rid of that?”

I went through my closet today and emptied all the items I haven’t worn in years. Next stop my dresser drawers. I’m also slowly going through my really old posts on my blog. You might be seeing some re-posts soon…

In the meantime things are not neat and tidy and organized around here…I think I need some blinders!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Our Welcome Home!

 

We arrived home to find our Kitchen/Dining Room all decorated with balloons,  streamers and flowers. Josh, Laura, and Katie collaborated in the choosing and decorating. We walked in and were pleasantly surprised and then I cried!

They even included some “Retirement” balloons!

 

This helium balloon says Chateau Celebration ~ For Vintage Good Times! Love it…

We’re so happy to be home safe and sound. After we rest up tonight we’ll have to unpack and clean up!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Another Day of Adventure Complete!

I’m looking forward to being home tomorrow and getting around to uploading and editing my photos to share later this week.  Dear and I had a wonderful meal tonight in Ashland with Sandy, The Reluctant Entertainer and her husband. I knew I’d love her before we met and it was great to see her face to face. For now I’m crawling into this comfortable bed and resting my traveling body…

 

Happy March to all of you!!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Safe at The Rose in Pleasanton…

…more to follow next week.

 

We saw huge beaking waves all along the coast of California today, stopped in the Garlic Capitol of the World and arrived safe and sound at our amazing hotel in Pleasanton, California. We walked the charming Main St. and now I’m running hot water for a jacuzzi bath…Calgon take me away!! More photos to come next week!

Blessings on your Sunday!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Have A Little Sunshine…

 

I hope you find some sunshine today!

“…He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous…”

I’m tying up all the loose ends and packing my car for an early morning take-off on Saturday. We’re taking a few days to get home with some fun destinations and meetings along the way. I’ll share later next week when we get settled at home.

Congratulations to my Canadian friends and the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team for their win last night! That goalie deserved a shut-out!  I wanted our U.S. team to fair better but by the end of the game I told Dear that the Canadian Goalie earned the shut-out!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Oops!

So I called to schedule our triple phone/T.V./Internet service to be disconnected on March 1st. Wouldn’t you know while I was on the phone with the first technician, she inadvertently cancelled my service immediately which also cut my phone call off to her. She never called back to explain or apologize or anything. When I called back the 2nd technician I got was really efficient and worked through all the red tape to get my service reconnected until March 1st. All that to say I was without internet service most of the day and I haven’t been able to get around to your blogs… Sheesh! But here’s something to make me smile…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

I’ll Miss You…

In February of 2008 Willow and I met face to face for the first time and here’s what I wrote about that day…

God is so good to me. He gave me two desires of my heart today! I’ve said over and over again how sweet it would be to meet one of my bloggy friends and how I’d love to have a walking buddy in Southern California after I left my walking buddies in Seattle, Washington. Today Willow and I met and had a walk and plan to walk on a regular basis, keeping each other accountable. How sweet it is! We found each other through other blogs and realized we both live in the same city. We’re in the same stage of life and have a lot in common. Willow shared how she had been praying for someone to walk with. Check out her blog, she has very exciting news today! She became a grandmother!

That was 2 years ago and so that grandson just celebrated his 2nd birthday.

We’ve had lots of fun walking adventures and a some great tea adventures. I’m going to miss my walking, blogging, drinking tea, knitting friend!

I’m also going to miss Dear and my Saturday morning walks at Emma Wood. On many of those Saturdays we’d have breakfast at Allison’s in Ventura and I’m going to miss that place, too.

Another Saturday morning favorite with Dear is this hike off Sycamore Canyon up the Scenic Trail.

I’ll miss the great cooking days with my family here in Southern California and

our fun tea times…and

our breakfast rendezvous at Julienne in San Marino.

 

I’ll miss our bloggy adventures with Willow and Sara at the Getty Properties and…

another bloggy friend Cori G! We met for a quick cup of tea in Brea. We had plans to meet again hopefully before heaven! :0)

 

I’m going to miss our Saturdays with Tim and Letty…

 

I’ll miss being close to my parents…

I’ve been blessed both in Southern California and the Seattle area with good friends, loving family, great churches and wonderful adventures.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away…Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

She’s Hitting the Floor Running…

Back at the homestead in Washington and I’m getting my lists going. We’ve seen one of our kids. We know another one is here sleeping so we’ll see him soon. It’s always funny to see what is still in the refrigerator left over from Christmas when I was here last. So I’ve dumped the Egg Nog and a few other things! Deciding on what’s for dinner and what we’ll serve at the party tomorrow night. The sunrise this morning was beautiful. The water tastes great and cold straight out of the tap. Just enjoying the little things that make “home” wonderful. Oh did I mention I love my king-size mattress.

Have a wonderful day!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.