Organizing Five!

Time for Five on Friday and Friday’s Fave Five and I spent so many hours organizing spaces around this old house that I missed organizing my Friday post last night! Thank you to Amy and to Susanne who have organized these memes for all of us to enjoy.

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Our eastern Washington kids are coming to visit the last weekend of this month. My daughter who just moved out of our basement with her hubby came over this week to help me organize her stuff that had overtaken this guest room. Now it is ready for Dan and Jamie’s visit. Although Katie and Andrew have moved out they have to leave a lot of their stuff here because it just won’t fit in their little 570 square foot space.

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Besides clearing out guest room #1 we moved some furniture around and changed up Guest Room #2 and organized the basement. One of the additions in the basement is this drape (tablecloth) that covers the closet in the basement that is full to the brim with our daughter and son-in-law’s stuff. The dresser in the photo next to the bookcases is being filled with books we are ready to let go. Organization continues there.

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Don’t be afraid as you look at my dish space in the basement. I have my mom’s 50th wedding anniversary dish set (service for 24), Christmas dishes, Thanksgiving dishes, pink Depression glass, lots of blue and white dishes, cake plates, etc. etc.  I re-organized this space and even got rid of a few plates. But…then while I was in Canada on Tuesday I bought the fruit bowl (below) with 8 little matching bowls, oops. The boxes under the table belong to our kids. Our poor basement dwellers lived with this dish wall for a whole year bless them…

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I’m such a sucker for Johnson Brothers dishes.

While I’ve been organizing inside this old house Dear has been organizing his shop and our garage space. We’ve also completed projects organizing outside spaces. This next photo is our latest organized outdoor space. I can see this planter from my kitchen window.

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So I am thankful for spaces to organize, the strength to organize them, the satisfaction of ordered spaces, having help in the process, and looking forward to sharing these organized spaces with others.

What are you thankful for? Are you on an organizing binge?

Yellowstone Signs & Fences…

Here are more signs, signs and Good fences from Yellowstone National Park.

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yosemite 2 292“So Long Pardner-Come Back Soon”

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These photos were taken in the northern area of Yellowstone near Tower Junction.

Thank you Lesley and TexWisGirl for hosting these weekly memes that make us look closer at the world around us.

We were in Canada (British Columbia) Monday and Tuesday and I’ll be sharing a lot from our time there soon. Today we are back to organizing things around this old house. Daughter is arriving soon to help me out in the process. Dear is organizing things in his shop. Are you in organizing mode at your place?

Bison, “Buffalo”, and Beauty

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Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

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Home, home on the range,
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

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Where the air is so pure, and the zephyrs so free,
The breezes so balmy and light,
That I would not exchange my home on the range,
For all of the cities so bright.

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Then I would not exchange my home on the range,
Where the deer and the antelope play;
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

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Home, home on the range,
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

The animal that most Americans call a buffalo is actually a bison. Buffaloes are found in Africa and South Asia, while bison roam in North and South America. Bison are also referred to as American Buffalo.

All of these photos were taken in Yellowstone National Park the end of June. If you’ve never been it would be a great National Park to put on your list.

I’ll be linking up to ABC Wednesday for the letter B. Thank you Mrs. Nesbitt, Roger and team for this long running meme.

Dear and I are roaming about British Columbia today so I’ll be coming around later tonight or tomorrow to see more letter B posts.

Apples Anyone?

13697171_10210124456616197_6296178707291823861_nI got to break in my handy dandy fruit picker that my kids got me for Christmas on our apple tree today. The apples have been falling from the tree so it was time to do some serious picking. The wild rabbits and crows won’t be happy with me.

13726697_10210098459926296_4116432526728977439_nWe are not sure what kind of an apple tree this is or what variety apples these are but…I saw some Transparent apples that look real similar but these have red on them so they are a different variety.

13716212_10210125195594671_9088585943470370551_nWe got quite a haul and now I’m wondering what to do with them. What do you suggest? If you live close by come on over and grab a few a bunch.

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We’ve had a nice quiet Sunday. After church this morning we stopped at Trader Joe’s to pick up a few things and besides some veggies, spice rub, Green Dragon Sauce, cereal, we bought three little potted herbs. I re-purposed this bulky candle holder into a herb planter. Now my mint, oregano and basil are sitting in style. So I suppose our Sunday has been largely green and I’m wearing a green shirt, too. How’s your Sunday?

We’ve a Story to Tell ~ Hymn

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We’ve a Story to Tell

We’ve a story to tell to the nations,
That shall turn their hearts to the right,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light,
A story of peace and light.

Refrain

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
And the dawning to noonday bright;
And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
The kingdom of love and light.

We’ve a song to be sung to the nations,
That shall lift their hearts to the Lord,
A song that shall conquer evil
And shatter the spear and sword,
And shatter the spear and sword.

Refrain

We’ve a message to give to the nations,
That the Lord who reigns up above
Has sent us His Son to save us,
And show us that God is love,
And show us that God is love.

Refrain

We’ve a Savior to show to the nations,
Who the path of sorrow has trod,
That all of the world’s great peoples
Might come to the truth of God,
Might come to the truth of God.

Refrain

Words and Music by H. Ernest Nichol ~ In The Sunday School Hymnary (London: 1896)

HT: Cyberhymnal

Wyoming Critters

I’m joining Viewing Nature with Eileen for Saturday Critters today. The following critters were roaming and flying about Yellowstone and Cody, Wyoming.

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Outside the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming.

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The Buffalo/Bison are allowed to make their own crossings regardless of the double yellow lines.

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This gives you some perspective on how large they are.

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A herd of elk far away on a hillside. I’m fully zoomed on this one.

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One closer up and saying goodbye to us as we exit Yellowstone National Park.

I’ll be sharing more of my Bison photos for ABC Wednesday since we will be on the letter B this coming week.

Thank you Eileen for hosting Saturday Critters and for always taking the time to leave comments. You really are amazing!

Today is starting a bit gloomy in the Seattle area with a cloud cover and no sunshine peeking through. It’s a quiet weekend around this old house which is always good. What’s happening in your neck of the woods?

High Five

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On our drive from Yosemite to Cody, Wyoming we passed through the Absaroka range. The Absaroka Range across the Montana-Wyoming border, and 75 miles at its widest, forms the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park along Paradise Valley (Montana), and the western side of the Bighorn Basin. These rugged cliffs are home to the largest bighorn sheep herds in the United States. High on these cliffs the sheep are protected from their predators.

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I’m thankful to God for the following five where and with whom I feel protected.

I’m thankful for my home where I am protected from the elements.

I’m thankful for my husband with whom I feel safe and protected.

I’m thankful for our local police, our state police, our border patrol who work hard to protect us from harm and who help us in crisis.

I’m thankful for our military who protect our freedom and our country.

I’m most thankful to Jesus and what He accomplished on the cross, for being my Savior who protects me from isolation and separation from God.

What or who makes you feel protected?

Linking up with Amy at Love Made My Home and with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for Five on Friday and Friday’s Fave Five.

The truck attack in Nice, France is just horrible. I feel so sad for all the people who were struck down in the midst of happy celebrations. Praying for the families that are forever changed by this. Make peace with the one true God and hug your loved ones.

A Good Fence With a Commission…

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The sign at the entrance to this ranch says…

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Quiet Warrior ~ Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV) Isaiah’s Commission from the Lord.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

We spotted this on Highway 14 between the East Entrance/Exit from Yellowstone National Park and Cody, Wyoming.

I’m linking up to Good Fences with TexWisGirl who is a fabulous hostess for this meme!

We had a wonderful time at Century Link Field in Seattle at a soccer match last evening. It’s always great when the weather is lovely and your team wins in grand fashion. 5 different players scored a goal for the 5-0 shutout which means here in Seattle we can get a free pizza today from Papa Murhpy’s and a free haircut at Great Clips in the next 7 days with our match day ticket/pass. Fun promotions.

Today is mowing the lawn day and then I’ll pick up our free pizza.  What’s happening in your world?

West Thumb Geyser Basin

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On our second full day in Yellowstone we traveled to the Canyon area of the park stopping at anything interesting along the way.

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We enjoyed walking along the boardwalks at West Thumb Geyser Basin situated on the shores of Yellowstone Lake.

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Temperature 172°F Dimensions 30×57 feet. Depth 53 feet. Abyss Pool is a colorful and interesting pool in the West Thumb Geyser Basin. Abyss is the deepest pool known in Yellowstone and received its name for its abyss-like depth. The dark green-colored water gives the illusion of a bottomless pool.

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Big Cone

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West Thumb Geyser Basin is one of the smallest geyser basins in Yellowstone yet its location along the shore of Yellow-stone Lake ranks it as the most scenic. West Thumb derived its name from the thumb-like projection of Yellowstone Lake and the name was given by the 1870 Washburn Expedition. It was also known as Hot Spring Camp. West Thumb has less geyser activity than other basins.

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Lake Shore Geyser

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Bluebell Pool

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I shared before that this was Dear and my first trip to Yellowstone National Park. We were happy that we planned this last minute trip while Dear is unemployed. His contracting job ended the Friday before we planned this trip. He has a couple leads on new jobs and we are hoping we might be able to take another last minute road trip before he gets employed again. Dear has been busy working in his shop and in our yard in the meantime. Time will tell what adventures lie ahead.

Upper Geyser Basin

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Dear and I took an early morning walk about the Upper Geyser Basin which includes Old Faithful. We are early risers and enjoyed the time with few other humans around.

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The Upper Geyser Basin, approximately two square miles in area, contains the largest concentration and nearly one-quarter of all of the geysers in the world. A variety of thermal features exist here: spouting geysers, colorful hot springs, and steaming fumaroles.

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You can see the Old Faithful Inn in the background where we were staying.

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I’m pretty sure this is Castle Geyser.

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This is another photo where you can see the Old Faithful Inn.

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This could be Blue Star Spring.

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Yellowstone is so amazing in it’s landscape and has so much to offer. We were glad to be in the park and satisfied with what we saw and encountered. We also thought that outer space movies could be filmed here. I still have so much to share from Yellowstone.