The Humming Bird by Emily Dickinson ~

The Humming-Bird by Emily Dickinson

A route of evanescence
With a revolving wheel;
A resonance of emerald,
A rush of cochineal;
And every blossom on the bush
Adjusts its tumbled head, —
The mail from Tunis, probably,
An easy morning’s ride.

These photos were taken at my Nephew and Niece’s house in Southern California. This little hummer really enjoyed this section of the yard and hung around long enough for me to snap away. I’m linking my Hummingbird to Mary’s Mosaic Monday.

Thanks for stopping by…

Give Thanks ~

Give Thanks

Give thanks
With a grateful heart
Give thanks
To the Holy One
Give thanks
Because He’s given
Jesus Christ His Son

Give thanks
With a grateful heart
Give thanks
To the Holy One
Give thanks
Because He’s given
Jesus Christ His Son

And now let the weak
Say “I am strong”
Let the poor say
“I am rich”
Because of what the Lord
Has done for us

This is one of the songs we all sang at Katie’s shower last week in California. We also sang a couple songs in Russian. A beautiful celebration of what the Lord has done for us…

Sneak Peeks ~

Next week when I’m back in the saddle at home I’ll share more from the Bag-O-Rama Jamboree in Southern California. Today I’m posting some fun expressions from Disneyland and a peek into a wonderful time we had at a flag ceremony in Old Towne Orange.

Today Katie and I fly back to Washington after a fun packed 8 days in Southern California. It’s been a wonderful trip filled with lots of great interaction with family. It will be nice to be home again to relax and reflect on all the good times we had…

Celebrating the Twins!

Today my youngest brother and sister who are twins are celebrating their birthday. The Bag-O-Rama Jamboree invaded Disneyland yesterday and at one point we were 15 strong. We had the twins pose for these shots at the “Happiest Place on Earth”. I survived and even made it all the way to the fireworks before dragging myself home to bed.

 We are having a barbecue at the beach to celebrate Leonard and Lana this evening.

Happy Birthday to you Leonard and Lana. We thank God for all the fun life experiences we have had with you all through the years!

The Fun Just Never Stops!

Katie’s Bridal shower was such a wonderful evening with friends and family. I have not had time to put anything together for a post yet. I’m sharing our one nutty photo from the shower. These are my mom, sisters, sister-in-laws, nieces, and daughters. A few people are missing because of family emergencies and Bar exams.

Katie and I are staying with my nephew and his sweet wife. They were so gracious to let us move in even though they just moved into a new house and haven’t had a lot of time to get things organized. We love their new home and are grateful for their hospitality. The best part is that it is close to most of our Bag-o-Rama Jamboree activities.  Here are a few photos of our home away from home…

This is a Ginko Biloba Tree.

The home is in an Equestrian Community and they will be able to board their horse on their property when they build the proper shelter for it.

Sometime soon I’ll share the photos from the shower, and our breakfast outing, and the wonderful Flag Ceremony at Orange Circle where Katie was recognized and hugged…a lot. Thursday we will be at the Happiest Place on Earth. Is anyone else just tired from reading this. I am very tired but content and grateful for the time we get to spend with family and friends. Missing my Dear and glad he has next week off and we can spend lots of time together.

Fun Times in the City of Orange…

Sunday morning we started the day with a trip through Starbucks on our way to Old Towne Orange. We browsed through a couple antique malls and the Army-Navy Store. We later drove to my sisters in Whittier for a family meal with my parents, siblings, and nieces.

It’s always good to see my mom and pop. Mom is having lots of pain in her back and hips and walking is getting more and more difficult for her.

After lunch and lots of lively reminiscing Katie and I headed back to the city of Orange where we are staying. We decided to stop at Orange Hill Restaurant for some refreshment before we settled in for the night.

They take their name seriously here and the fact that they are in the city of Orange. Have you ever seen an orange baby grand piano?

We enjoyed ourselves so much in these orange surroundings we decided to go on Monday night with my nieces who also live in Orange.

It was sunny enough that we had to wear our shades inside for a while until the sun went down some.

Tomorrow our DIL Laura arrives and we are having a bridal shower for Katie. We are looking forward to Katie’s first shower and seeing dear friends and relatives we haven’t seen for a while.

I heard our summer decided to hide again for a few days in the Northwest. I hope it reappears soon…

Casa de la Playa

Katie and I are in Southern California enjoying family get-togethers. One of our favorite places to gather is at my sister Vera’s house in Huntington Beach. She and my BIL Nick are always willing and able to host and cook wonderful meals for our large family gatherings. We call their place “Casa de la Playa” because they live in Huntington Beach within walking distance to the Pacific Ocean.

We were there on Saturday for brunch, the beach, and then for dinner!

Besides Katie and I flying in, Miss Hope flew in with her parents from Texas. She loves Uncle Nick and she loves the beach! Vera made a delicious Chile Relleno casserole. Miss Hope was checking Katie and me out. After brunch and a nap we headed down the street to the beach.

Miss Hope loves the beach.

Hi Mommy! Look at me!

Daddy took the first shift with Hope in the water until her teeth started chattering and they came in to get warmed up.

Katie decided to brave the cold water.

Hope’s cousins took the next shift helping Miss Hope hop over the waves and avoid being toppled by them.

Time to pack everything up and head back to Casa de la Playa to shower before dinner.

Tim, Letty, Len and Kathy joined the rest of us for dinner. Nick barbecued ribs, tri-tip, chicken, mushrooms and zucchini and Vera made mashed potatoes, wild rice and salad. We were introduced to Pinkberry’s frozen yogurt for dessert. The salted caramel and the watermelon frozen yogurt was delicious! Thanks Nick and Vera for treating us so well and thank you Mandy for the frozen yogurt.

Thanks to my cousin Jim in Clovis we are calling our week of festivities the Bag-o-rama Jamboree!  More fun to come.

I have not watched T.V. since we flew into L.A. but I’ve seen some stories on line about the horrible massacre in Norway. My heart and prayers go out to people of  Norway and all the families there who have lost loved ones in such a senseless act of violence.

I’ll Count My Blessings ~ Hymn

I’ll Count My Blessings

I lift my heart today in praise
To Him who loves me so,
Whose mercy crowneth all my days,
And makes my cup o’erflow.
O have I loved Him as I should
For all His blessings free?
Praise God who giveth naught but good,
For He is good to me!

Refrain

I’ll count my blessings—
Count them o’er and o’er—
I’ll tell my Father’s goodness—
I will love Him more,
I’ll count my blessings, bountiful and free—
Yet I can never count them all—
So good is God to me!

I thank Him for unclouded skies—
For love beyond my ken—
That when my path in shadow lies,
The sunshine comes again.
I thank Him for the hopes fulfilled—
For every answered plea,
That though life was not all I willed,
My God is good to me!

Refrain

I go to meet another year,
With faith no doubt can dim,
God reigneth, and I will not fear,
But trust my way with Him.
Then if that way be bright or dark,
Let peace unshaken be!
And let me, like the soaring lark,
Sing God is good to me!

Refrain

Words: Carrie E. Breck, 1901.

Port Williams Lavender

Many photos few words. I’m in Southern California spending time at the beach with family, eating meals with family, attending a bridal shower for Katie with family. Flag ceremony with my sister-in-law and Katie. Breakfast at Julienne with sisters, sister in laws, nieces, and daughters. Birthday party at the beach for my youngest brother and sister (twins). Don’t tell them I told you they are turning 48. How does that happen? My baby brother and sister are 48! That means I’m getting old. Disneyland with family. Sheesh…I’m going to need a vacation when I get back home.

Now I’ll just breathe in all this beautiful lavender and relax a bit…

On our way to our next lavender farm we stopped at a U-Pick Berry Farm. I couldn’t resist taking a photo of this little girl in the berry patches…

Port Williams Lavender

Our next stop will be Purple Haze Lavender Farm. Hope you are all having a nice weekend.

Jardin du Soleil Lavender and Olympic Lavender Farm

Since I still had 4 Lavender Farms to share with you I decided to combine these two farms. Would you believe we missed several farms, too? Sequim really is the Lavender Capitol of North America.

Olympic Lavender Farm

Most of the farms we visited had live music being performed. There was a great variety from Country to a Harp Soloist.

By this time we were so intoxicated with the lovely lavender that Katie would agree to all my photo shoot ideas! “Go sit amongst the bees” “Don’t worry they won’t sting you.”

Jardin du Soleil Lavender

This is a wonderful piece of property with a great Victorian home and garden and it’s for sale.

There was a maze on the property and Katie set out to conquer it…

Mission accomplished successfully. Another maze under her belt!

Time to sit a spell and enjoy my surroundings.

I had to get a shot of Jill with her camera documenting what stood out to her photographic eye.

We ventured onto the garden paths that surrounded the front end of the Victorian residence.

Onward and Eastward we headed to Port Williams Lavender via a U-Pick Berry farm. More adventures to come.

Tomorrow Katie and I leave very early on a flight to California to visit with family who are converging on Orange County. I don’t know if and when you’ll hear from me this next week but I’ll have another lavender farm posted tomorrow. Hope you all have a nice weekend.