Signs and Fences with My Sisters…

Sisters wknd 096

This past weekend was our Sisters weekend in Washington State. Two sisters from Washington State and two sisters from California got together for fun and fellowship. Our sister Vera is in the midst of lots of change in her life so we thought it would be good to be together and celebrate being sisters for a weekend.

Sisters wknd 097

We started the weekend off with a Raclette meal together on Friday evening. The weather forecast for the weekend was dismal but on Saturday morning we were giddy because the sun was shining and it promised to be a day without rain. We headed north on Interstate 5 to Mount Vernon, Washington to see daffodils in bloom. We were blessed with sunshine all day long. We said thank you to God many times during the day. We had a couple of spontaneous stops before we reached our 1st planned stop in Mount Vernon, Roozengaarde, to muck about in the daffodil fields.

Sisters wknd 062

This is the entrance to a beautiful garden at Roozengaarde.  Forsythia acts as a natural fence on this side of the tailored garden at Roozengaarde. Soon this garden will be in full bloom with tulips like this photo below from last year.

Sisters wknd 063

The sea of yellow in the background are the rows and rows of daffodils.

Sisters wknd 064

Sisters wknd 098

Besides these signs and fences here is another teaser shot of the fields of daffodils with a fence in the background.

Sisters wknd 074

Sisters wknd 059My sisters, Kathy, Lana and Vera.

I’m linking up to signs, signs hosted by Lesley and Good Fences hosted by TexWisGirl.

Today is my recuperating day after all the fun I had with my sisters. Part of recuperating will be getting back on my daily track. Hope your day is going well.

We Gathered First at the Table…

Sisters wknd 010

The sisters from youngest to oldest, Lana, Ellen, Vera, and Kathy.

There is so much to share from our sister weekend so there will be several posts to document our time together. On Friday I picked up my two older sisters from the airport. Even though they flew with two different airlines they coordinated their flights so that they landed within a half hour of each other. We came home to enjoy Marg’s overnight french toast which was delicious. I was so consumed in serving my sisters and all the schedules in my head that I forgot to take a photo. After our brunch we spent a couple hours at Goodwill and a Persian market and bakery.

For dinner we decided on sharing the Raclette eating experience with them.

2016-03-05 Sisters wknd

Our youngest sister, Lana, arrived later in the afternoon from southern California. Her home is in Washington but she works in California (long story). Lana and her husband Steve got to our house for dinner and we all gathered around as our daughter Katie explained the Raclette method to everyone.

2016-03-05 Sisters wknd1

It didn’t take long for everyone to get involved in the grilling experience and we had a leisurely time grilling meat and veggies, melting cheese and enjoying our food and conversation. For dessert we had good ole fashioned banana splits! I introduced my sisters to Fixer Upper and enjoyed some episodes. We made plans on a starting time for our full day of fun planned for Saturday.

Sisters wknd 078

My next post will be all about our garden stop in Mount Vernon!

Today my sister Vera and I did a little shopping and enjoyed a meal at a Persian restaurant before I dropped her off at the airport. Tomorrow will be a recuperating day for me. Hope all is well in your world…

The Walls of York…

After we spent time in Derbyshire we traveled northeast to the city of York and dropped off our rental car for the remaining days of our literary tour. For York we had a walking guidebook that Katie was in charge of and we saw many things we would have missed otherwise.

img426

We weren’t looking for any of our literary favorites here but just enjoying the walls and history surrounding this city.

img427

img425

img420

img422

We attended our first evensong at Yorkminster and were so blessed by that hour of singing and readings. Katie and Dear also climbed to the top of the minster and Dear took this great photo above.

img423

img424

img418

We went to a history museum and donned these heavy helmets for a photo op.

img419

And…of course we had to take a photo of the Pharmacist in front of the Apothecary.

From York we boarded a train to Edinburgh where we would enjoy the city and take a bus to Stirling for some fun with Monty Python. Two more posts to go to wrap up our 2004 Literary Tour of Great Britain.

Back to the present…I’ve been very busy with my sisters the last few days. On Monday my sister Kathy flew home and on Tuesday my sister Vera will be flying home. I’ll share our Saturday road trip when I have some time to create the post.

O Lord, Look Down from Heaven

The Thames 106O Lord, Look Down from Heaven

O Lord, look down from Heaven, behold
And let Thy pity waken:
How few are we within Thy fold,
Thy saints by men forsaken!
True faith seems quenched on every hand,
Men suffer not Thy Word to stand;
Dark times have us o’ertaken.

With fraud which they themselves invent
Thy truth they have confounded;
Their hearts are not with one consent
On Thy pure doctrine grounded.
While they parade with outward show,
They lead the people to and fro,
In error’s maze astounded.

May God root out all heresy
And of false teachers rid us
Who proudly say: Now, where is he
That shall our speech forbid us?
By right or might we shall prevail;
What we determine cannot fail;
We own no lord and master.

Therefore saith God, I must arise,
The poor My help are needing;
To Me ascend My people’s cries,
And I have heard their pleading.
For them My saving Word shall fight
And fearlessly and sharply smite,
The poor with might defending.

As silver tried by fire is pure
From all adulteration,
So through God’s Word shall men endure
Each trial and temptation.
Its light beams brighter through the cross,
And, purified from human dross,
It shines through every nation.

Thy truth defend, O God, and stay
This evil generation;
And from the error of their way
Keep Thine own congregation.
The wicked everywhere abound
And would Thy little flock confound;
But Thou art our salvation.

Words: Martin Luther, 1524.

Sisters!

It’s been 5 years since we’ve had a “Sister weekend”.

We made some good memories then and it’s time for some more…

Last time on the first weekend of April 2011 we took the Clipper to Victoria for a weekend. This time we are staying in our homes in the Seattle area and venturing out from here.

Last time we were in Victoria we met up with Pondside and she gave us a grand tour of the area. My sisters and I loved spending time with her. She is a blogger that I so admire for her work ethic and her caring heart for all the people in her life.

I’m hoping to show my sisters our fields of daffodils this time around. Here’s hoping for decent weather and rows and rows of daffodils!

I’m getting things ready at this old house for my sisters. Trying to plan some easy meals in between our outings. I’m thinking about breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and desserts. I’ve got two guest rooms ready for my oldest sister Kathy and my next oldest sister Vera. My younger sister, Lana, lives walking distance to me. Kathy and Vera live in southern California. I’m picking them up from the airport on Friday morning. I hope to share some of our adventures on my blog next week.

SAD NEWS FOR BLOGGERS!

I was so sorry to hear that Sally of Smiling Sally Blog has passed away. She hosted Blue Monday for years. I participated in the past but haven’t for some time. She was always encouraging and positive and kind.  I love what bj said in her comment on Sally’s blog…

Bye, bye, Sally…you are now in the best BLUE of all….Blue Heaven.

On her blog she has this verse as her favorite so I know I will see her again in the future in heaven…

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:13

Signs, signs…

This is me and my dear daughter-in-law standing in front of a Seattle Sounders Sign at Century Link Field. We enjoy most home games together since we are season ticket holders. This weekend is the season opener and it will be an all girls day at the “Clink”.  My son will be out of town and he offered his ticket to one of my sisters who is a big sports buff and will be visiting us this weekend. My daughter, daughter in law, sister and me will fill our season seats. Now all we need is a win!

Linking up with signs, signs hosted by Lesley!

I’m happy to say that my illness has not taken the course that Dear’s took and is not as severe. I’ve had two days sitting around doing nothing and today I’ll try to get some errands taken care of. I miss my daily walks but I’ll be able to get back to those soon enough. We had some wild weather yesterday which made it a good day to stay in. My Medicare and supplemental insurance went into effect yesterday so I’m also looking at joining a gym with my Silver Sneakers to try out a Zumba class. Hopefully Zumba class isn’t in front of a mirrored wall! I hope to get some photos of the flowering trees in our neighborhood. So pretty! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

The Home At Peace

This post is all about this old house, the home that we have treasured memories in.

The Home At Peace

Here is a little world where children play
And just a few red roses greet [September];
Above it smiles God’s stretch of [autumn] sky;
Here laughter rings to mark the close of day;

There is no greater splendor far away.
Here slumber comes with all her dream supply,
And friendship visits as the days go by;
Here love and faith keep bitterness at bay.

Should up this walk come wealth or smiling fame,
Some little treasures might be added here,
But life itself would still remain the same;
Love is not sweeter in a larger sphere.

This little world of ours wherein we live
Holds now the richest joys which life can give.

~Edgar A. Guest

Our front door in the summer and our front door at Christmas…

Views of our house from the back.

finish work on house 005

Side yard with art details on the garage/shop.

Before the patio covers are up.

With the patio covers and before we built the privacy fence.

View from the house to the privacy fence.

 

New look 001

The living room of our home and the same room transformed for a Christmas dinner party!

before and afters 004

Looking from the family room to the heart of the home…the kitchen and eating area.

A view of our kitchen before the hardwood floors. And the table full for our Christmas breakfast 2015!

IMGP0629

All decked out for our annual fourth of July party in the past and this shot for our 2015 party…

Our daughter, son-in-law, niece and nephew. Our niece and nephew were visiting from Texas with their parents.

cropped-i-skpqxs5-m.jpg

Our family of eight. The most treasured part of our home!

I’m linking up to ABC Wednesday for H is for Home and to Tuesday Treasures.

Later in the week I’ll link this post to Thoughts of Home on Thursday with Laura at Decor To Adore.

Thank you to Mrs. Nesbitt and her team and to Tom at The Backroads Traveller.

Blenheim in April, 2004

img402

Before we left Oxfordshire on our daughter’s literary graduation gift tour in April of 2004 we stopped by Blenheim Palace.

Blenheim Palace is home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. I’m sharing a few photos with quotes from Churchill and one from the Bible.

Winston Churchill was born here in 1874. “At Blenheim I took two very important decisions; to be born and to marry. I am content with the decision I made on both occasions…”

img405

“Never was so much owed by so many to so few…”

We were really taken aback by the grandeur of these Cedars of Lebanon that were planted on the grounds. We had Katie stand beside it to give some perspective…

img404The Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani) is a conifer that originates from, as its name might suggest, Lebanon and surrounding areas in the Middle East. Original old growth groves of this tree, that is mentioned in the Bible, are now very rare. This tree can live for thousands of years and became a popular exotic specimen tree in European landscape gardens in the 18th, 19th century.

Psalm 92: 12-15 (ESV)

12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the Lord is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

img403

“You have enemies? Good. It means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.”

We enjoyed our time at Blenheim and toured the grand home with all the amazing artwork and furniture and walked about a small part of the 2100 acres landscaped by Capability Brown!

Now…back to the present. We are thinking about quarantines at this old house as Dear’s ick seems to be spreading to the rest of us here. Oye and Ugh! Hope you are sore throat free and living in a non-coughing zone!!

O God, Whose Smile Is in the Sky ~ Hymn

O God, Whose Smile Is in the Sky

O God, whose smile is in the sky,
Whose path is in the sea,
Once more from earth’s tumultuous strife
We gladly turn to Thee.

Now all the myriad sounds of earth
In solemn stillness die;
While wind and wave unite to chant
Their anthem to the sky.

We come as those with toil far spent
Who crave Thy rest and peace,
And from the care and fret of life
Would find in Thee release.

O Father, soothe all troubled thought,
Dispel all idle fear,
Purge Thou each heart of secret sin,
And banish ev’ry care.

Until, as shine upon the sea
The silent stars above,
There shines upon our trusting souls
The light of Thine own love.

Words: John H. Holmes, 1907.

I’m linking up to Sunlit Sunday at My Little Home and Garden