“To get the full value of a joy, you must have somebody to divide it with.”
– Mark Twain
“There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.”
– Martin Luther
We love our firstborn Josh and we love the girl he married, Laura. God in his goodness brought them together and we can’t be more pleased.
Happy 11th Anniversary Josh and Laura!
Photo taken by Jeremy Leffel Photography
Doesn’t this look good? If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time you know I love pretty things on a plate and pretty plates, too. This dessert could be just fine shared with 3 other people. In my studies in Home Economics during a nutrition course I read that there is no such thing as a fattening food. Hear me out on this. It’s the sum of all the food you eat in a day or week or month that can put weight on you or help you to lose weight. One item isn’t going to make or break you, unless of course you are allergic to nuts or shellfish and just one of those could kill you. There’s the whole other subject of what’s healthy but a lot of times what’s healthy for me might not be healthy for you. So why am I waxing on here? I am in a period of restraint in my life until I see a number a lot less than I have on the pesky little flat thing that lives on the floor of my bathroom and is the bearer of bad news. Eventually it could deliver some good news. This will be the last you hear of my restraint until I have that good news down the road…
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Oh dear, how many more of these are there hanging out nearby? This is the first time we’ve seen this one roaming our yard and the neighbors yards in the daylight. When our daughter was living with us before she married and moved to the east coast with her Marine her headlights would capture them as she drove into our drive at night. She also spotted bunny footprints once in the snow.
They are cute little pests. I tried yelling out at this one to “EAT THE DANDELIONS!”
Time will tell if they outgrow their tolerance here at this old house.
Dear is on vacation next week. Before he gets all tied up with completing the siding we are talking about an adventure. So far my brain isn’t coming up with something appropriate. I’m sure by Monday something will kick in. On Saturday we are participating in Community Serve Day. Several area churches team up with volunteers to spruce up our local elementary schools for the new year. We help teachers in their classrooms and clean up the outside areas of the school, too. I’m excited to be going to our kids elementary school. It’s been 20 or so years since I’ve been there. Dear will be pressure washing and I’ll be racking or scrubbing desk tops!
Any plans for your weekend?
This is another regular resident at my friend Beth’s house. I was happy to have my camera in hand when it took flight.
Speaking of taking flight…my mom is being kicked out of the nest at the rehab center and headed home on Saturday. Her doctor wants her to do more moving around and to exercise her right leg more. I think my dad will be relieved to have her home again even though it means more work for him. My siblings, siblings in law, and nieces are setting up some food deliveries for my mom and dad. My mom has not been pleased with the food at the rehab center so things will start looking up come Saturday in that regard. Thanks for all your kind concern for my mom. I’m looking forward to seeing both my mom and dad in September.
We have 3 services at our church every Sunday. One Sunday a year we have Summer Sunday when we all get together for one service at an adjoining property. A member of our church owns this beautiful property and generously lets us overrun it for 3 hours. Bouncy houses are brought in for the kids.
BYOC…Bring your own chair or blanket is the order of the afternoon. Find your spot and settle in.
A jazz band entertained us with good music while we chatted and waited for our barbecue meal of pulled pork, BBQ beans, coleslaw, watermelon to be served. Everyone brought cookies to share for dessert.
Here’s our head pastor taking photos of all of us. He challenged us along our theme of “Love Where You Live”.
The highlight of the afternoon were the baptisms. There were many starting with grade school kids to adults.
The weather was perfect for the evening. During the course of the service we saw someone we used to go to church with years ago. Now we are at the same church again. It was fun catching up.
My Monday started out real good with some energy to get some things done that needed doing. It’s always good for me to be able to check things off my list. Do you keep lists?
Ruffles and Rust/Come Junk with Us puts together some great sales bringing in vendors from all over the state under one roof. This was one of their smaller sales (just the right size for me). I headed over to Bothell for this event on Saturday morning at 9:00.
I ended up buying this burlap wrapped star with the thought to wrap it with lights to put up at Christmas.
I also bought this old milk crate and I have some ideas in my head about how to use it. I guess my purchases were more rust than ruffles!
This boy scout and another scout who were at the sale on duty carried my goods to the car for me. I was parked off site and up the hill and they were more then willing to walk all that way with me carrying my purchases.
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
DUTY TO OTHER PEOPLE: Many people need help. A cheery smile and a helping hand make life easier for others. By doing a Good Turn daily and helping when you’re needed, you prove yourself a Scout and do your part to make this a better world.
Be Prepared!
Do a Good Turn Daily!
Thank you Boy Scout Troop #356
I know not what awaits me,
God kindly veils mine eyes,
And o’er each step of my onward way
He makes new scenes to rise;
And ev’ry joy He sends me, comes
A sweet and glad surprise.
Refrain
Where He may lead me I’ll follow,
My trust in Him repose
And ev’ry hour in perfect peace
I’ll sing, He knows, He knows;
And ev’ry hour in perfect peace
I’ll sing, He knows, He knows.
One step I see before me,
’Tis all I need to see,
The light of Heav’n more brightly shines,
When earth’s illusions flee;
And sweetly through the silence, came
His loving Follow Me.
Refrain
O blissful lack of wisdom,
’Tis blessèd not to know;
He holds me with His own right hand,
And will not let me go,
And lulls my troubled soul to rest
In Him who loves me so.
Refrain
So on I go not knowing,
I would not if I might;
I’d rather walk in the dark with God
Than go alone in the light;
I’d rather walk in faith with Him
Than go alone by sight.
Refrain
He knows, He knows, He knows.
Words: Mary G. Brainard, 1869.
…Hood Canal that is.
Our friends Dave and Beth sold their house in our old neighborhill a few years ago and moved to their vacation home on Hood Canal. What a beautiful spot to live and enjoy the beauty that the Lord created for us. They’ve added many great garden touches to make the property more private.
This old guy made the move from the hill to his new home by the water.
They enjoy kayak trips on the canal when the water is calm.
How about this for a great setting for your next roast or just to enjoy a fire by the water?!
The added landscape shrubs and walls help give privacy and block some of the wind that always whips up on the canal.
I waved to my MGCC friends who live in British Columbia just on the other side of Mt. Baker seen here looking north on Hood Canal.
Dave and Beth have always shared the blessings that the Lord has afforded them with their family and friends. God bless you both on whatever the Lord holds for you in the future!
I’ll show more photos I captured of this long legged bird on my next post…
Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!
Poulsbo is a picturesque town located on Liberty Bay on the Kitsap Peninsula. It’s known as “little Norway” Poulsbo was settled in 1892 by Norwegian loggers, farmers and fishermen who likened the fjord-cut landscape to their homeland.
On Wednesday when Beth picked me up from the Ferry landing we headed here to walk about and check out the 2nd hand store she volunteers at once a week. The 2nd hand store uses their profits to feed the hungry in this area.
How about this mural as a surround for the door to the chocolate shop?!
I took this photo from the inside of the Bakery looking out on the colorful storefronts.
I really like the fun setting of this Mexican restaurant with the eye catching items they’ve decorated with.
There were a few other restaurants I’ll remember if Dear and I ever venture back here. Thanks for showing me around Poulsbo, Beth.
Next time I’ll show you the amazing views around Dave and Beth’s home.
Northwest Weather Notes: It’s sizzling here in the Pacific Northwest. We are looking at breaking some heat records today.
Any fun plans for the weekend? Dear is probably going to work on the house again. I’m going to a Ruffles and Rust sales event in the morning on Saturday. On Sunday our church has their Summer Sunday service. One service instead of 3 all together at a neighboring large piece of property owned by a member of our church. Dinner, service and baptisms all outdoors. BYOC…bring your own chair! I’m thinking about taking an umbrella, too. Have a great weekend!
I drove to Edmonds and parked my car and bought my ticket to walk on the ferry Wednesday morning.
I sailed on the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston on the Kitsap Peninsula.
It was a beautiful warm day and perfect to be close to the water.
So is this a jelly fish? I saw a few of them in the “Sound”.
When I arrived at the Kitsap dock I waited for the pedestrian bridge to connect to the ferry deck.
I walked off the ferry and my friend Beth was waiting for me and we drove to Poulsbo first and then to her home for lunch. I’ll show more photos of our adventures and her beautiful home in another post. Our friendship began through our sons. Our sons began their friendship in grade school and are still good buds. What a blessing to be friends with your children’s friends!
