Hair Today…

…more fun tomorrow.

Can I just say that we love our hair dresser! She is always ready to help us in any way she can. Today we had a practice run for Katie’s hairdo for the wedding. Our hairdresser is going to come to the venue on the day of the wedding to do Katie’s hair and any of the bridesmaids hair that want her services. She’ll also make sure my hair is behaving.  She’s even going to bring a razor to fix up the Marines hair if their barbers butchered them.

While we were having our hair looked after today a vehicle for the Bride and Groom’s getaway came up. Come to find out the owner of the Seattle Limousine Company here in Seattle is a friend of our hairdresser. She called him and told him the car was for an active military groom so we got the friend/military discount for the Rolls or Bentley! A wonderful blessing.

Hello March!

So much to look forward to in this month.

No palm trees in our future in March.

We’re enjoying the calm before the storm of wedding activity. On Leap Day we took the day off and were in our robes all day long!

Today Katie and I are going to the hairdresser. I will get my roots looked after and Katie is having the practice run on her hairstyle for the wedding.

We had snowflakes yesterday and I’m really hoping that is the last of it till after the Ides of March.

Hope your March brings you many good things.

10 days to go…

Sweet Sixteen

Our second celebration in Southern California on Saturday was a Sweet Sixteen party for my older sister Vera. Are you wondering why we had a Sweet Sixteen Party for a 64 year old? Our sister Vera was born on Leap Year so she’s only had a birthday that landed on her actual birth day 16 times now.

Happy Birthday Vera!

Vera’s kids decided to throw this party for their mom and the creative wheels started turning. They did a wonderful job.

My nieces on the right put together the decorations. Melissa is my sister Kathy’s daughter. Kristin is my sister Vera’s DIL and Debbee is her daughter. Kristin is married to my nephew David and they hosted the party at their beautiful home. There were about 50 guests.

They had each guests name written on the cups which was a great idea. Everyone was able to keep track of their cup throughout the evening.

As each guest arrived they were guided into the photo room with this prompt…I Love Vera because…

There were blank white boards for us to write our reason for loving Vera. Such an affirming act to encourage her with!

My parents lasted a long time at the party. It was great to see them. There were lots of friends from our former churches at the party and we were able to get caught up a bit on our lives.

We took advantage of the photo room for a cousin photo.

Katie and I had a quick sleep at my nieces house and headed back to the Bob Hope Airport at 6:00 A.M. Sunday morning. We were pretty useless the rest of Sunday but after a good nights rest on Sunday night we were good to go and got back to finalizing all the wedding details.

11 days to go!

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!