Update on my 60 Things in my 60th Year List…

1. Finally make it to the top of the Space Needle. Completed on Wednesday January 26th!

2. Dinner with the Mennonite Girls and their husbands. Met for dinner at the Chuckanut Manor on March 13th!

3. East Coast Trip. Things are shaping up for a trip to Washington D.C.  (Any suggestions about what to see and where to eat would be highly appreciated) We were there from May 10th-18th. We saw more than our brains could take in!

4. Apply for my enhanced license so my trips to Canada will be easier. Completed in January!

5. Birthday getaway with my 3 sisters. Plans are afoot. Victoria B.C., April 1-3, 2011

6. Try one new restaurant every month of this year. Looks like this one is really going to be easy especially with trips planned.  Eastlake Bar and Grill~ Lake Union. The Hitching Post~ Monroe. Racha Thai ~Seattle.  Bishops Alehouse ~ Juanita. Chuckanut Manor-Bow. Barolo ~ Seattle. The Cabbage Patch ~ Snohomish. Pescatores ~ Victoria, B.C.

7. Send my parents a bouquet of flowers on my 60th birthday thanking them for loving me all these years. Sent on March 14th and my parents were thrilled.

8. Visiting a a new garden. Hillwood Garden in Washington D.C., Bishop’s Garden in Washington D.C. and Botanical Gardens in D.C.

9. Plant something new in my yard. I planted some Sweet Peas and 2 Top Hat blueberry bushes.

10. Have my flagpole installed. Installed on my birthday March 14th.

***11. Lose 10 pounds. Oh Nellie! I should have said gain 10 pounds! Woohoo!! Before I gain it back I want y’all to know that as of 7/18/11 I have lost 10 pounds. I started my program on June 12th. Now I’m moving on to lose 10 more. This past Sunday I fit into the jeans one size down that have been draped over the couch for a year waiting…

12. Enjoy a book by an author I haven’t read before. I’ve read a couple books by Jeanne Birdsall that I’ve enjoyed and I’m on the second book by Rick Riordan that I’m enjoying. I also read a non-fiction book by Lewis B. Smedes on Forgiveness.

13. Explore 6 cities/towns in Washington. Lake Union~  Monroe~  Snohomish~ Olympia ~ Lynden ~ Port Townsend

14. Try 2 new recipes every month. As you can see by my mosaic at the top of this update I have been trying lots of new recipes.

15. Go on a easy day hike.

16. Walk more.

17. Go to a new Tea Room. White Heather Tea Room in Victoria, B.C. (Oak Bay)

18. Purge 60 books off my bookshelves. Well on the way

19. Begin going through old boxes in the garage loft. Working on this with 4 boxes down to work on…

20. Go on an adventure with my daughter Katie. I’ve had many adventures. One fun one is going with her to register for her wedding! We just got back from a wonderful California adventure with family members. Our Bag-O-Rama Jamboree was a wonderful experience in Southern California from July 22nd to July 30th 2011~

21. Re-arrange some things that have been the same for 13 years in this old house. Moved antique hutch around and changed some wall hangings.

22. Buy a Welsh Sideboard. I’ve wanted one for years. Instead of a Welsh cabinet we found an Indonesian cabinet that fits our space perfectly.

23. Make and serve our Russian favorite recipes for family gatherings. Golubtsi, Pelemeni,

24. Find a couple new blogs to add to my favorites. Pondside, and more to be added soon…

25. Clean out my closet.

26. Take some time to journal.

27. Invite someone new over for a meal.

28. Invite old friends over for a meal. Had our dear friends over on April 8th for dinner.

29. Meet Dear downtown for lunch.

30. Do some volunteer work. Fulfilled on March 28th although I’d like to do more. United We Serve

31. Try baking a pie including the crust.

32. Bake cinnamon rolls from scratch.

33. Write some letters and mail them.

34. Surprise someone. Sent cookbooks to Dear’s Aunts and to a dear lady who encouraged me in college.

35. Get a manicure and pedicure. Fulfilled on July 18th, a gift from my brother’s family for my 60th.

36. Have more than one hour long massage. Fulfilled on June 20th, a gift from Josh and Laura for my birthday.

37. Use my sewing machine.

38. Be brave enough to get a new generation phone.

39. Call Dear’s Aunts on their birthdays. Called Aunt Audrey on April 14th ~ Called Aunt Carol on June 26th

40. Try something new with my camera. Tried doing some angled shots.

Now here are the final 20 of my list of 60 things to do in my 60th year!

41. Take a ride in a limousine with people she loves. Completed on my birthday March 14th with our sons, DIL, and Dear.

42. Treat people for her birthday. Bought drinks for all our season ticket neighbors at the opening game which was the day after my 60th birthday.

43. Find a purse that will accommodate my stuff plus my camera with a long enough strap to fit over my shoulder. Completed, I’ll share it soon.

44. Meet bloggy friends in person that she has never met in person before. Met the lovely Pondside in Victoria B.C. and she treated my sisters and I to a fine tour of her town. Met Jill from Jill’s World of Research, Reaction, and Millinery when she flew in to stay with us for the Lavender Farm Faire Tour.

45. Reorganize cabinets and purge some Chotskies.

46. Make those every so many year appointments you dread but need to do. Yearly-check, The Squeeze – check, Got my bone density done! check! Colonoscopy done!

47. Write a Psalm to God. Done!

48. Find a dress for our daughter’s wedding.

50. Learn to put the flagpole up and take it down. It’s not as hard as I thought and I’ve done it several times already.

51. Back up the files on my computer.

52. Create some photo books.

53. Mail a box of goodies to Katie’s Andrew while he is deployed. I’ve been adding things to Katie’s boxes.

54. Order a DVR. Got one March 24th!

55. Get a new modem that might actually make her internet work well. Got one and things have improved but we need more improvement! Finally got some good service and much improvement the week of May 23rd!

56. Send flowers to some unsuspecting person.

57. Detail my car.

58. Write poetic tribute of my history as seen on Debora’s blog.

59. Take a canoe ride on Lake Washington this summer with Dear. Him rowing, me taking photos.

60. Do a blog tribute to some of my favorite blog posts on other people’s blogs.

Coming up with 60 things was not an easy task. Maybe there will be some modifications along the way. It was a good exercise and I’ve already enjoyed the benefits of completing many of the 60.

Cedarbrook Lavender and Herb Farm

This is my last lavender farm post this year…it’s a wrap!

This was our last farm of the day and the 2nd farm that was for sale. We enjoyed a meal in the restaurant on the grounds before we walked about the gardens. The harpist was amazing. Just as we were finishing our stroll about the grounds the rain started falling and continued to fall on us all the way back to the ferry home…

This is my last Lavender Farm Festival post. We’ll see what next year holds and if I’ll be back again. After 2 years in a row I think I might be qualified to be a tour guide…

Chalupa or Carnitas

 

This is a recipe that cooks for several hours so start it earlier in the day. You can enjoy a few meals during your week with the yield from this recipe.
Chalupa
Ingredients:

  • 1 pound pinto beans
  • 3 pounds boneless pork
  • 6 cups water
  • 1/2 cup onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 Tablespoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 Tablespoon salt
  • 1- 4 ounce can of diced jalapenos (if you like a little heat) or…
  • 1- 6 ounce can of diced green chilies
  • 1/2 – 1 cup Pace Picante sauce (or any brand of Mexican sauce/salsa available in your area)

Method:

  1. Put all ingredients in dutch oven or crock pot.
  2. Cover and simmer about 5 hours or until roast falls apart and the beans are soft.
  3. Uncover shred the meat and cook to thicken to desired consistency.
  4. If using a crock pot cook on low for 8-9 hours.
  5. Check after 5 hours to make sure the beans haven’t absorbed all the liquid.
  6. Add 1 cup water at a time if you need to.
  7. After the meat is cooked and beans are soft shred the pork.
  8. Enjoy this meat with corn or flour tortillas and with toppings of your choice.

This would also work well wrapped in a small flour tortilla and deep fried. I’ve seen Chalupas on Mexican Restaurant menus served in this deep fried form.

This is a recipe that cooks for several hours so start it earlier in the day. You can enjoy a few meals during your week with the yield from this recipe.

This is a slightly different recipe.

Chalupas or Carnitas

1 lb. pinto beans
3 lbs. boneless pork shoulder or butt
5 cups water
1 cup orange juice (pulp free)
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 Tablespoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 Tablespoon salt
1- 4 oz. can of diced jalapenos (if you like a little heat) or…
1- 6 oz. can of diced green chilies
1/2 – 1 cup Pace Picante sauce (or any brand of Mexican sauce/salsa available in your area)

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in pan and sear boneless pork on all sides. Put all ingredients in dutch oven or crock pot, placing the seared meat on top. Cover and simmer about 5 hours or until roast falls apart and the beans are soft. Uncover shred the meat and cook to thicken to desired consistency. If using a crock pot cook on low for 8-9 hours. Check after 5 hours to make sure the beans haven’t absorbed all the liquid. Add 1 cup water at a time if you need to. After the meat is cooked and beans are soft shred the pork.

 

Caught on Camera…

It’s not very often that I end up in a photo because I’m usually the one snapping away. The third weekend in July my bloggy friend Jill came to spend a few days with us. In the course of our sight seeing in Seattle and at the Lavender Festival in Sequim she had her camera clicking even more than mine was clicking. I borrowed some of the photos she took and created the following mosaics…

I’ll start with a mosaic featuring the photographer Jill and photos she took of our daughter Katie. I took the photo of Jill and Katie.

On Jill’s last night with us we prepared dinner at home. Dear barbecued Sockeye Salmon and I roasted vegetables and tossed a salad. The bartender was in the kitchen shaking up some nice cocktails for us, too.

Thanks Jill for sharing your photos with me.

Linking to Mosaic Monday with Mary at Little Red House.

If Death My Friend and Me Divide ~ Hymn

If Death My Friend and Me Divide

If death my friend and me divide,
Thou dost not, Lord, my sorrow chide,
Or frown my tears to see;
Restrained from passionate excess,
Thou bidst me mourn in calm distress
For them that rest in Thee.

I feel a strong immortal hope,
Which bears my mournful spirit up
Beneath its mountain load;
Redeemed from death, and grief, and pain,
I soon shall find my friend again
Within the arms of God.

Pass a few fleeting moments more
And death the blessing shall restore
Which death has snatched away;
For me Thou wilt the summons send,
And give me back my parted friend
In that eternal day.

Words: Charles Wesley, 1762.

The Blue Star Service Banner

Katie received her Blue Star Service Banner in the mail this week and we are proudly displaying it in our front window…

The Blue Star Service Banner was designed and patented in 1917 by World War I Army Capt. Robert L. Queissner of the 5th Ohio Infantry who had two sons serving on the front line. It quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in the service.

On Sept. 24, 1917, an Ohio congressman read the following into the Congressional Record: “…The mayor of Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce and the governor of Ohio have adopted this service flag. The world should know of those who give so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a father and mother – their children.”

During World War II, the Department of War issued specifications on the manufacture of the flag as well as guidelines indicating when and by whom the Service flag could be flown or the Service Lapel button could be worn.

The Blue Star Service Banner typically displayed in windows is an 8.5 by 14-inch white field with a blue star(s) sewn onto a red banner. The size may vary but should be in proportion to the size of the U.S. Flag.

Today Blue Star Service Banners are displayed by families who have a loved one serving in the armed forces including the National Guard and Reserves of all military departments. The banner displayed in the front window of a home shows a family’s pride in their loved one serving in the military, and reminds others that preserving America’s freedom demands much. It can also be displayed by businesses and organizations as well.

There are some sorrowful things in our world and my world right now. It is wonderful to have hope in all God has done for us through Jesus Christ…

Hope you have hope in the one who is able to save all that is lost.

Corinthians 4:16-18

New International Version (NIV)

 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

FFF ~ The Pleasures of Home…

It’s time to stop and consider the good things that we enjoyed during this past week. You can link up with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to share your favorites.

It’s a wonderful privilege to be able to travel and visit with friends and family but it’s always good to return home. Katie and I were in Southern California last week and we had a whirlwind of fun gatherings. On Saturday evening we returned home and Dear was very happy to have his chatty ladies in view. So here are my favorites…

1. On our way to the airport we were able to meet up with my walking buddy from when I was living in Southern California. We met Willow from Willow’s Cottage at a shopping center just South of the airport and we enjoyed a meal together while we caught up. Doesn’t Willow look good? During the year and a half that we have been apart she’s been losing weight while I’ve been gaining weight. Just so you don’t feel too sorry for me in the last month I’ve managed to finally lose some weight. Yippee.

2. On the plane trip home an acquaintance of Katie’s from our former church was one of the flight attendants. It was fun surprise to see each other and get caught up on news. Our friend treated Katie and I with champagne when she heard Katie had gotten married.

3. Oh the joy of sleeping in your own bed again after being away.

4. I’ve been picking blueberries off my bush which is loaded since I returned, too. Since the sun has been shining bright things have sped up in their ripening process. Speaking of growing things my Sweet Peas grew and flourished from the seeds I brought home from Butchart Gardens in April. Sweet Peas make me smile.

5. Driving my own car instead of a rental is another nice thing.

What things stand out as your favorites this past week?

Purple Haze ~

Time to join in with Jenny for Alphabe-Thursday and we are on the letter P.

 

You might have thought my Lavender Festival shots were finished but not so. Today is perfect timing to share photos from Purple Haze Lavender Farm.

The Lavender Festival in Sequim Washington is always held the 3rd weekend in July.

This year because of our strange weather everything was a bit behind. The lavender was not as robust and full as it was last year. Here are two photos from last year just so you get the picture…

The next photo is approximately the same spot taken this year…

The lavender festival is a wonderful event to experience and if you are ever in Washington State the 3rd weekend in July you should consider it…

I hope to get around soon to see what inspired the rest of you with the letter P!

Bag-O-Rama Jamboree ~ Dizzyland

My cousin coined our week of family activities in Southern California as the Bag-O-Rama Jamboree. On Thursday 15 of us descended on Disneyland.

My niece Michelle with her daughter Little Miss Avery.

My brother Leonard and his wife Mandy as we trekked down Main St. to Cinderella’s Castle.

Michelle, Miss Avery and Auntie Vera.

Little Miss Avery watching the Princesses.

In line for It’s a Small World!

My favorite Little Miss Avery Face of the day!

Jack and Hope

 

Nana, Daddy, Little Miss Hope, and Katie…

Lana and Leonard celebrating their birthday early at Disneyland.

A fuzzy night time photo of all 15 of us!

I can’t believe I lasted till the wonderful fireworks show was over. I was very tired but happy to have a great day with family at “it made me Dizzyland”….

Photobucket is still holding many of my photos hostage…