Celebrating Little Miss…

Katie and I flew into Bob Hope Airport in Burbank on Saturday morning. We hopped into our crumby little rental car and headed to Orange County for a Baby Shower Brunch. The newest addition to our family was showered with gifts and we finally got to see her in person and give her some squeezes and kisses. Her mommy is our oldest niece on Dear’s side of the family. Here’s little Miss…

These are Dear’s 3 nieces. Little Miss’s mommy is in the middle. Aren’t they beautiful?! Youngest niece on the left is a model.

Here’s little Miss with Auntie Annie

This is Little Miss with her older sister.

Our Katie with each of her cousins.

The 4 of us sisters with our dear friend Heidi in the top photo. On the bottom the sisters, Lana, me, Kathy, and Vera.

Some of the shower goodies!

The new mom with our Katie.

We had a wonderful time celebrating little Miss and seeing all the fun little girl gifts she was showered with. It was easier to say goodbye knowing we’d see Dear’s family again at the wedding in less than two weeks. I failed to get a single photo of my sister-in-law who is Little Miss’s grandmother and the mother of my 3 beautiful nieces! OYE!

In the next day or two I’ll share the photos from our second big event in Orange County on this same Saturday in the evening. Here’s a sneak peek.

You will need to give me an extra measure of understanding if you do not see me or hear comments from me on your blogs in the next 13 days. We are busy around here getting all the last minute details taken care of for the wedding. We met with the wedding planner today and wrote out the big checks for the event with our final numbers handed in. Hope all is well with you all. We are being threatened again with some snow in the lowlands. Blessings…

In Just 24 Hours…

Katie and I flew South at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday and flew back North at 8:00 A.M. Sunday. We were able to attend 2 very special events within a 12 hour stretch of Saturday. We are back home recuperating from this Jet setter schedule. I’m not too proud to say that I am wiped out! I’ll share more details during the week. In the meantime here is a mosaic of many of the loved ones we were able to see and to hug. Good hugs, not polite hugs!

If I have the energy I’ll link up with Mosaic Monday with Mary at Little Red House.

The countdown continues….14 days till the wedding!

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, l907.

High Tea at the George Washington Inn

The tables were set on the ocean front piazza, also known as a veranda.

First course included Black Forest and Lavender Cheddar Scones, Dried Cherry and Orange Biscuits, Fresh Lavender Biscuits and assorted flavored Butters and Jams. Beth reads my blog and she’s a real fast learner. After the first course she knew to pass me the service plate for photos before any of us took a bite. The drawback to eating with a blogger!!

Second Course included Petite Spinach and Swiss Quiche, Smoked Salmon Mousse-Filled Cucumber Cups, and Lavender Cream Cheese Turkey Finger Sandwiches.

Third Course included Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Assorted Petits Fours, and Rasberry/Lemon Lavender Cheesecake.

Tea served with each course was raspberry lavender black tea.

George Washington spoke to us during tea, sharing many interesting stories of his life leading up to his presidency.

President George Washington in portrayal is available for events and can be reached at vfrykholm@olypen.com

Katie won a bar of soap from Mt. Vernon for asking the president the best question of the day.

We were blessed during our tea time with views of more than one rainbow.

A stop at the gift shop on our way out for some lavender goodies to take home.

We also couldn’t resist sitting in the great rockers and squinting in the sunshine before we headed to our ferry crossing home.

It was a lovely day for High Tea at the George Washington Inn with Katie and Beth and of course with our first President.

George Washington Inn ~ Port Angeles

Between Sequim and Port Angeles on a bluff above the Strait of Juan de Fuca is a beautiful Inn dedicated to reflect the spiritual legacy that was the foundation of our country. Here’s a little recap of our journey for High Tea at the George Washington Inn.

We woke up to a significant wind storm on the morning of George Washington’s Birthday. We were hoping our ferry crossing on the Puget Sound would go well. We crossed with rocking and rolling and white caps in view.

We picked up Beth in the historic little town of Port Gamble and crossed the Hood Canal bridge without incident. When we turned the bend into Sequim we were hit head on with some gale force winds that made me keep a tight grip on the steering wheel. We were visually impressed when we turned up the driveway to the George Washington Inn.

How fun to have to be squinting in the bright sunshine! Despite the wind the weather treated us kindly.

What a wonderful surprise when we walked into the front door and George Washington greeted us!

He was kind enough to take a photo with us.

We were early so we toured the Inn before our tea time.

The guest rooms were so lovely. The soaking tub really was inviting. We headed out to see the views from the Terrace.

There was a driving wind blowing across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Did I already mention how lovely it was to have the sun shining brightly?! We headed back inside and downstairs to look around.

The Inn has great comfortable spaces and we enjoyed this sitting area before we headed into Tea. My next post will show all my photos from our High Tea time which included time with George Washington and hearing some history of his life.

What a wonderful setting. We all agreed that it would be a very special treat to stay overnight at this beautifully appointed and comfortable Inn. The Innkeepers made us feel right at home. This Inn and property also participate in the annual Lavender Farm Faire. How great  it would be to stay here during the festival!

Happy Birthday President Washington!

These were taken inside the Washington National Cathedral. Beautiful rays of light were cast on this statue of George Washington.

Katie and I are leaving on any early ferry to cross the Puget Sound to the Kitsap Peninsula. After we pick up our good friend Beth we’ll cross the Hood Canal and keep going West to the George Washington Inn for High Tea. Stay tuned for photos of our time…

Have a great Wednesday….

Fat Tuesday…

…also known as Shrove Tuesday.

“While many enjoy Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, as a time of indulgence and possible gluttony, others spend the day in prayer, preparing their hearts and minds for the upcoming period of Lent.” You can read the rest of this interesting article here.

In the UK, Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day (or Pancake Tuesday to some people) because it is the one day of the year when almost everyone eats a pancake. In keeping with the tradition of my favorite country to visit I’ll be making pancakes for dinner tonight.

The name Shrove comes from the old word “shrive” which means to confess. On Shrove Tuesday, in the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins so that they were forgiven before the season of Lent began.

On Monday Dear, Katie and I enjoyed a meal together at the BeachHouse Bar and Grill in Kirkland.

Later in the day Josh and Laura came over for dinner and we enjoyed getting caught up with Katie on her new life and her and Andrew’s road trip across the U.S.A.

In keeping with the theme of food, I posted an old favorite from peasant Russian kitchens for you today at our Mennonite Girls Can Cook Site. Click over for the recipe.

Do you observe Lent? Are you going to be eating pancakes today? I enjoy the thought of preparing my heart and mind for the season leading up to Easter. This year with the wedding filling up a lot of this time I’m going to have to try to catch those moments of preparation where ever I can.

Have a wonderful Tuesday whatever you do or enjoy today!

Before and After ~ Guest Room #2

This used to be our daughter Katie’s room before she got married and moved to North Carolina. We decided to re-decorate it making it into our second guest room. I’ve promised too show the process and results.

We started moving things around and moved some things out. We took our queen poster bed out of storage and bought new queen size mattresses to set it up. I had the quilt in the cupboard and since the colors of the walls in this room were blue and yellow we decided to decorate around the quilt. I bought a bed skirt, sheets, and quilted shams to complete the bed and moved the blue pillow from our other guest room. The white pillow shams were a steal at Goodwill in perfect shape for $1.99 each. The short bookcases went up into our master bedroom.

The bedside tables were part of the Queen Anne poster bed set that we purchased in the late 70’s. We moved the lamps from our master bedroom to this room. We washed the windows…oh so wonderful and crystal clear.

We brought in the two taller bookshelves that we moved from our condo in California. Next we started measuring and leveling for wall art. We switched this small desk with our larger home office work desk. We put this small desk in the other guest room which really opened up the space in there, too. We put the mirror in a horizontal position.

We aren’t interior decorators. Our decor has always worked around our comfort and re-purposing what we already have. Every now and again we buy something new that will work in with what we already have.

We moved more framed photos and art into the room from other rooms and storage.

We really are enjoying the new updated room and are looking forward to wedding company using the new space.

Katie arrives tonight for the 3 weeks we have till the wedding. We’ll be taking care of all the last minute details. I’m relaxing today because I know I’ll have very little time to sit around in the next 21 days.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend and that you have a good week ahead of you. I’m saving my President’s Day Post for after President Washington’s birthday because Katie, my friend Beth and I are going to High Tea at the George Washington Inn in Sequim to celebrate and I’ll be sharing photos from our time there later in the week.

I’m linking up with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday and I might link up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphasis Monday.

Heavenly Sunlight ~ Hymn

Heavenly Sunlight

Walking in sunlight all of my journey;
Over the mountains, through the deep vale;
Jesus has said, “I’ll never forsake thee,”
Promise divine that never can fail.

Refrain

Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,
Flooding my soul with glory divine:
Hallelujah, I am rejoicing,
Singing His praises, Jesus is mine.

Shadows around me, shadows above me,
Never conceal my Savior and Guide;
He is the Light, in Him is no darkness;
Ever I’m walking close to His side.

Refrain

In the bright sunlight, ever rejoicing,
Pressing my way to mansions above;
Singing His praises gladly I’m walking,
Walking in sunlight, sunlight of love.

Refrain

Words: Henry J. Zelley (1859-1942) Music: George H. Cook