Category Archives: Summer

Mid August

On August days when the skies cleared of smoke Addy and JJ enjoyed activities outside. They are really mastering their bicycle skills.

Our daughter-in-law and four of our nieces enjoyed several days in Maui celebrating Melissa’s 40th birthday in style. She’s a beach girl through and through so this was an appropriate destination for the celebration. An amazing ‘cousin’ time.

Addy’s week of VBS culminated with a short program Friday night for parents and Addy thinks that VBS was great!

Our daughter Katie and Andrew were in New York over this past weekend for the wedding of one of Andrew’s Marine buddies. Andrew was in the wedding. This wedding was supposed to happen a while back but then the you know what postponed it. They had a wonderful time celebrating outside of Albany, New York.

My last follow-up cataract appointment is on Tuesday. I’m looking forward to ordering some glasses on that day. The other thing we are looking forward to on Tuesday is a major cooling down and some rain in the forecast, too. Hoping for clear skies on Wednesday with some new fires getting contained.

What does your week look like?

Refreshing

In the last week we have had a couple of refreshing rainfalls that our yard soaked up. There was lightning and thunder which always brings the threat of starting more fires so everyone is on edge with these events.

The cool down of the weather made it so enjoyable to walk about and to take these photos. Taking advantage of the under 90 degree day we tackled some weeds.

The bunny trio are unaffected by changes in the weather.

We’ve enjoyed cooler temps the last 4 days with Sunday being the coolest into the 70’s! Woohoo. Today we are heading up again to the 90’s and later this week we will be over 100 degrees. Time for me to start watering again.

This past week we’ve had a doe and fawn visit. That’s always a treat. I’ll be sharing some photos soon.

Our Pastor has been preaching out of the Psalms this summer. Sunday was Psalm 46. God is our refuge, river, and ruler. He covered the whole Psalm and here are just the two beginning verses.

Psalm 46:1,2

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Enjoy the 10th day of August friends!

Rain, Glorious Rain!

We woke up to lightning flashes and thunder and the sound of rain in the wee hours of the morning.

A very welcomed event with hopes that the lightning doesn’t spark more fires in our area.

Love seeing the raindrops! No manual watering today!

The blue skies showing through the clouds have me smiling. Smoke is so oppressive.

Thank you for all who have visited here and commented. I’m off my game with visits but hope to see what’s going on with you all soon.

 

An Oasis

The birds have found the watered section of our yard to be an oasis in the midst of our dry and parched land here in our corner of the world. They enjoy tucking away in the variegated willow on the cool wet leaves. The smoke has been oppressive the last couple days as the weather is changing and it seems to be stuck in place because of atmospheric pressure.

This command center has been set up in the junior high parking lot across the street from our church. Tents for the firefighters to rest in and there are food trucks and portable showers, etc.

Summer projects have come to a halt as it is unhealthy to work hard outdoors. We are looking forward to relief soon.

Hope all is well in the area you call home.

Hello August

The whole verse from Psalm 84:11 + verse 12 reads;

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! 

The month in-between summer and fall is upon us. Here’s hoping for fires to be put out, for some rain, for clear skies again.

Josh flew out to visit the middle of last week and both our sons enjoyed 18 holes of golf together.

We enjoyed some meals all together and Addy and JJ enjoyed every minute they had with Uncle Joshie.

Our garlic dried nicely hanging in the shop and it was time to clean them up on Saturday and share some of the bulbs with friends and family.

Hope your August is starting well.

Adieu to July Hodgepodge

Thank you to Jo From This Side of the Pond for coming up with questions during her busy summer season on the lake.

1. Four words that tell us something about your July?

Eyes: Cataract surgery

Eyedrops: 4x a day for a week then 3x a day then 2x a day and then 1x a day. Start over for second eye.

Heat:  When it’s hot pull out the pool and water toys.

Fires: Adding smoke to the heat.

2. Four of your favorite summer foods?

Nectarines, watermelon, corn on the cob, and apricots.

3. What were you doing at a quarter past four yesterday? 

At exactly 4:15 yesterday (Monday) I had a doctor appointment and not for my eyes. Now I’m waiting for a appointment with someone more specialized about my non-emergency issue. How’s that for vague.

4. fore!, four letter word, four sheets to the wind, ten-four, 24/7, four eyes, these four walls….pick a ‘four’ phrase and tell us how you relate currently

Four eyes: Prescription glasses have been part of me for a very long time. There was a period of time that I switched to contacts but then switched back to glasses. Now that I’ve had my Cataract surgeries I do not need glasses except for up close reading. For me it’s too much of a bother to pull out readers every time I need to read fine print or what’s on my phone so…I’m going to get glasses that are clear with a bifocal section for reading and stick with the eye glass look!

5. Something you own that is four years old? 

All the things we have that we’ve owned for four years are related to our grandchildren. Our first grandchild was born in 2017 so we added some things like a porta crib, high chairs, walkers, toys. Our second grandchild was born in 2019 so we can still use the items we purchased 4 years ago and the things they grew out of we donated elsewhere.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A quick photo of the sunflower field as we zoomed past on our way to Spokane on Tuesday. A great sign of summer.

Surrounded

X marks approximately where we live and these are the fires that are in our county and surrounding counties.

Monday was the first day that we noticed how oppressive the smoke is and we also had a thin layer of ash on things outside.

It’s so sad not to be able to see our beautiful mountains because of the smoke that is in our region. These photos are from Monday July 26th, 2021.

We are heading into Spokane for a follow-up appointment for my left eye after Cataract surgery. Everything seems to be going well.

Hope you have a good Tuesday.

 

Seeking Relief…

We’ve had bucks and does visit regularly during our heat and lack of rain. The bucks rest in the shade under the shed roof on the back of the garage. The doe rests under the variegated willow.

We’re happy to leave the water in the pool so the does and bucks can get their fill. A couple days ago we spotted  two does drinking from the pool. That reminded me of these verses in Psalm 42.

Wednesday Hodgepodge is taking a week off and will be back next Wednesday.