We the People…

…of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Since the 4th lands on a Wednesday next week and we are hosting a barbecue I decided to set a red, white and blue table early.

Next Wednesday this same table will be cleared of settings and filled with food for our annual 4th of July barbecue.

The round placemats are from HomeGoods. The dishes say Denmark English Ironstone made specially for Franciscan, made in England. I found them at Goodwill. The glasses are from an antique mall on Whidbey Island. The little bowls are from Target’s $1.00 section. The acrylic star napkin rings are from Goodwill. Other accessories collected from here and there over the years. The fresh cherries are from Safeway, chuckle!

I’m joining in with Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen for Let’s Dish on Wednesday and on Thursday I’ll link up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

What will you be doing to celebrate the 4th? For my Canadian friends, what will you be doing for Canada Day on the 1st?

Speaking of, We the People, Pray for our people in Colorado who are suffering from the devastating fires there. Pray for relief soon and for the firefighters fighting till exhausted! Have mercy on them, Lord.

Christmas!

Christmas inspiration came my way via Rosella at Rhubarb & Roses. Since the Mennonite Girls adopted me as their American cousin I decided to try a German Christmas tradition this year. Now if I truly was from German descent I’d stick strictly to the recipe but since I’m Russian instead of using Rum or Brandy I’m making Rumtopf using Vodka instead.

For 3 cups of strawberries hulled and halved I added 1-1/2 cups sugar, let it sit for an hour and then added it my 2 gallon mason jar crock and added enough Vodka to cover the fruit by 1 inch. Store the jar in a cool place like your basement if you have one.

Over the course of the summer, once a month or so, I’ll keep layering different fresh summer fruits with the same process. At the end Rosella adds pineapple and pomegranate seeds and you can add a few orange slices and cinnamon sticks if you want (I’ll probably stay away from the cinnamon). By Christmas I’ll have a topping for ice cream, pound cake, cheesecake, pudding, trifle, or whatever strikes my fancy.

I think my next summer fruit choices will be peaches and Nectarines and cherries. When our blueberries ripen I’ll use them and when our pears ripen I’ll add them. Do not stir the fruit layers. Just layer the sugared fruit on top of the last layer and add the alcohol to cover.

With my 2 gallon jar I’ll be able to give away my Rumptopf as gifts, too. I’ll need to keep my eye out for cute little airtight containers for my gifts…

Here’s another link that describes Rumptopf.

Good Things Come…

…to those who wait.

Ever since we moved back to Washington from California I have been hoping that a HomeGoods store would open in our state. This past Sunday we had 2 stores open in the Puget Sound area, one in Lynnwood and Federal Way. Dear and I were a little wiped out on Sunday so we didn’t leave the house but on Monday I felt alive again and headed north to HomeGoods with a list in my hand.

I bought several things that we will decide about keeping or not. HomeGoods has a good return policy…

These three pieces will be mounted on the garage wall that I face from the kitchen sink. It adds a lot of interest to a big boring surface.

These wall planters will be easier to see once they are mounted.

While I was outside I took some photos of sections of our deck.

As you can see we don’t have real bright sunny skies even though it’s summer. We are hoping for a nice 4th of July this year. Time will tell. We are having our annual 4th of July barbecue so it would be nice to be comfortable on the deck. What are your plans for the 4th?

Field of Dreams

On Saturday evening we had the wonderful opportunity to attend the 2012 Medical Teams International Field of Dreams dinner and auction. The dinner was held at Safeco field in Seattle, the Mariners baseball stadium. The dinner tables were set up on the infield.

The Mission of Medical Teams International is to demonstrate the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty around the world. They shipped over $129 million in medical supplies and humanitarian aid to 66 countries. Their mobile dental program volunteers treated over 17,000 needy patients throughout Washington, Oregon and Minnesota, providing $8 million of free or low-cost dental care.

As we entered the stadium we had the choice to get our credit card swiped for any bid we might win during the evening event. We walked through a long very realistic and dramatic display of the types of situations where Medical Teams International travels to serve. Places like Haiti after the devastating earthquake where their help is ongoing. After the display area there was a silent auction area.

Down on the field was the dinner and live auction. There were some really great vacations, sports events, dining events and art to bid on.  Everything was way over our heads. Some items went for over $10,000 dollars which was really wonderful. There was a Fund a Need time during the auction where you could hold up your bid card to make a straight donation in the amounts of $50,000, $25,000, $10,000, $5,000, $1000, $500, $250 and $100. There were a few people that donated $50,000 and a lot of people who held up their card for the other amounts, finally I was able to hold up my card with confidence!

Last year at this event they raised $1.36 million. I wouldn’t be surprised if they surpassed that amount on Saturday night.

Our son and daughter in law with one of our son’s partner’s at Axia Home Loans who purchased the table for the evening and is involved with this mission. This next photo is of the 3rd partner and his fiance (on the right) and friends.

There were a couple of items I held my card up for at the beginning of bidding even though I knew I couldn’t win.

There were a lot of celebrities at the event. Mack Strong was the emcee for the evening. He was a fullback with the Seattle Seahawks. John Curley was the auctioneer. He is a radio show host. He really kept things moving and kept us laughing with his energy and wit.

To the left of the table #28 in the photo above is Steve Sarkisian the University of Washington Football coach. He threw footballs out to bidders in the crowd for $2000 dollars and up. Other celebrities, pastors, business owners and politicians were at this event and it was fun to see a face you are familiar with that you usually only see on TV. I was also pleased to see sponsers like Alaska Airlines, ExOfficio, Lifewise Health Plan, Boeing, Wells Fargo and many others.

Contributions of thousands of volunteers’ time and millions of dollars in donated medicines, supplies and equipment help Medical Teams International help make 97% of all donations go toward helping those they serve. That is a very impressive percentage! We felt privileged to be a part of this wonderful event and see the generosity of the people who attended.

Thank you Josh and Laura for inviting us to sit at table #15 at this great event!

I’ll be linking up with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

Have a great week everyone!

Summer Suns Are Glowing ~ Hymn

Summer Suns are Glowing

Summer suns are glowing over land and sea;
Happy light is flowing, bountiful and free;
Everything rejoices in the mellow rays;
Earth’s ten thousand voices swell the psalm of praise.

God’s free mercy streameth over all the world,
And His banner gleameth, by His church unfurled;
Broad and deep and glorious, as the heaven above,
Shines in might victorious His eternal love.

Lord, upon our blindness Thy pure radiance pour;
For Thy lovingkindness we would love Thee more;
And when clouds are drifting dark across the sky,
Then, the veil uplifting, Father, be Thou nigh.

We will never doubt Thee, though Thou veil Thy light;
Life is dark without Thee, death with Thee is bright;
Light of light, shine o’er us on our pilgrim way;
Go Thou still before us to the endless day.

Words: William W. How, 1871.

Fun on Saturday…

Finally hung my new squirrel proof bird feeder that my friend Beth gave me. Thanks Beth! It was sunny a couple days this week! I also added some lanterns in the tree for fun. I might hang them again with red, white, and blue ribbons for the 4th of July.

The lanterns came down before the rains came down again on Friday.

On the way to the Sounders game last Wednesday (another great sunny day, but who’s counting?) we saw the progress on Seattle’s Ferris Wheel. I love that the stadiums and Mt. Rainier are in the background.

Saturday morning I’m headed out, probably in the rain, for a little reunion walk with my former walking buddies. In the evening we are joining our son and DIL at a Medical Missions Auction fund raiser dinner at Safeco Field, that’s where the Mariners Baseball team plays. The dinner will be on the infield of the stadium. We were told to make sure we dress warmly. It should be fun. We might get some sun again tomorrow.  On Sunday after church I’m hoping to drag Dear to the HomeGoods grand opening in Lynnwood. Finally they are opening a store here in Washington state. How’s your weekend shaping up?

That’s All Folks…

These are the last of my Chicago photos that didn’t fit in elsewhere in my posts…

Lincoln at O’Hare airport. Lincoln had no idea we’d be flying in and out of Illinois day in and day out…

I was impressed with the planters and lights in trees around the Michigan Ave. area.

Tallest Church building in the U.S.

Buckingham Fountain

Crown Fountain

This sign is great and it really makes it clear that winter in Chicago is very different from winter in Seattle.

Thankfully our ride back to the airport in our taxi was very pleasant compared to our drive to the hotel from the airport. Word to the wise…you might want to reject a taxi ride specified for you at the airport if the cab is real stinky and old.

Farewell Chicago. Time will tell if we’re back next year for ASCO.

I was very busy on Thursday and up on my feet all day long. My back and feet were complaining by two in the afternoon so I knew it was a pizza delivery day. We have a great pizza spot that delivers pizza with half Greek or Caeser salads that are delicious. Sometimes you just have to know when your body is spent and ready for food to be delivered to you. Today is a relaxing off day for me and I’m really ready for that. Hope you all have a wonderful first weekend of Summer!

Let’s Dish ~ Beach Style…

I’m joining Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen for Let’s Dish at the Beach. Welcome to my many shades of blue and green beach table.

Everything on my table was purchased from Goodwill over the years except for the ginger jar and the shells. The shells in the ginger jar were collected by Dear and I on our beach walks and the larger shells are from Hawaii that Dear’s folks brought back in the 70’s.

I thought the bubble goblets would go well on a beach themed table.

The chargers are pale blue heavy glass.

We finally got some sunshine just in the nick of time to usher in the official start of Summer. Looks like we’re only guaranteed 2 days worth. I’m glad I was able to get out on the patio to set this table while the sun was shining.

I’m headed to the Sounders Soccer game tonight with my son so I hope to get around to see your tables tomorrow! Happy Summer to all of you!

I’m also joining in with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Wedding Notecards…

I’m joining Vee for her June Note Card Party.  Since June has been known as a wedding month my note card photos are from the weddings we attended this Winter and Spring.

These first two are from our daughter Katie and Andrew’s wedding in March.

Katie painted her wedding toppers.

This photo is from the wedding of a dear friend in April on Whidbey Island. These little fairy flower girls were so cute!

Our nephew Levi and Kristin’s wedding in the hay barns in Nuevo, California. This is my brother’s Bible. Steve is a pastor and he officiated his son Levi’s wedding and our daughter Katie’s wedding, too.

This is the first time I’m joining in with Vee for her Note Card party.

Chicago Art Museum

There is so much to see at the Chicago Art Museum. Here are the pieces that caught my interest…

Doris Lee (1905-1983) ~ Thanksgiving, c. 1935, Oil on canvas.

Randolph Rogers (1825-1892) Nydia the blind flower girl of Pompeii

Flower Girl in Holland, 1887. George Hitchcock

The Annunciation ~ George Hitchcock ~ Mary depicted as a Dutch peasant girl in a field of lilies.

The next several pieces are from the artist Monet…

There were many more pieces painted by Monet.

Renoir

Pierre Auguste Renoir , Young Woman Sewing, 1879.

Gustave Caillebotte, Paris Street; Rainy Day, 1877.

Degas

“Marc Chagall’s America Windows is one of the most beloved treasures in Chicago’s Art Museum’s vast collection. First debuting at the Art Institute in 1977 and made forever famous less than ten years later by an appearance in the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the “Chagall Windows,” as they are more popularly known, hold a special place in the hearts of Chicagoans. Following an intensive period of conservation treatment and archival research, the windows returned in 2010 as the stunning centerpiece of a new presentation at the east end of the museum’s Arthur Rubloff building.”

If you are ever in Chicago you shouldn’t miss this great art museum. What I’ve shared is such a small representation of what the museum offers.

We are yearning for sunshine here in the Pacific Northwest.  This weather just makes me want to curl up with a good book. I’m enjoying a new to me murder mystery series by Anne Perry. Today I’m looking forward to meeting up with the gals from my Bible Study Tuesday group for a casual lunch in Lake Forest Park. It will be nice to see them and do a little catch up.