Window Views ~ Cranberry Cottage

Last week my niece and I stopped at the Cranberry Cottage in Bothell. This shop is in an old rickety farmhouse and has so much charm. There is a combination of new and old merchandise to purchase.

 

 

This fun vintage trailer was in the front yard of the Cottage. The rest of my window views are from inside of this little trailer.

 

 

For more Window Views please visit the Window Views Blog.

Note: Some of you have asked so I just wanted to add that I didn’t buy anything here on this day…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Portal to Hogwarts?

I think we’ve found a way to reach Hogwarts from the Northwest. I love this mile marker on the Sammamish River Trail. I rushed towards it but nothing happened… but I think I’m way too old for Hogwarts.

So at 12:01 a.m. July 15th  you can go see the latest Harry Potter Movie to hit the big screen. I’ll be in bed. I choose to go to theaters when I am awake. My daughter and a few of my nieces, nephews, and SIL will be in the theater tonight in Washington and California. Only one more book that is being made into two films after this one…(thanks for correcting me, Sara) :0)

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Moroccan Shower and Tablescape

I’m posting my photos from our Moroccan Bridal Shower now and will link these up for Tablescape Thursday later in the week on Susan’s Between Naps on the Porch Blog. I’m traveling back to L.A. from Seattle tomorrow for a funeral on Wednesday and won’t be around the computer much. I’m staying at my condo in Camarillo until Monday the 20th when I fly back to Seattle and finish off my scheduled time here.

My daughter and I decorated our deck gazebo on Sunday for a Bridal shower for her friend Kristen. Katie is in the wedding in August. We decided on this theme because Kristen has enjoyed this culture and has taken Belly Dancing courses. It took Katie and I a couple hours to decorate the gazebo.

Here’s what we started with. The pile of stuff in the top photo are things I’ve accumulated from Goodwill and other thrift stores with this theme in mind. Yards of fabric and window scarfs are inexpensive second hand for the amount of fabric you get. We also used large tablecloths we had on hand that worked in with the colors.

This is the final result. The Bride to be was so pleased and “blown away” at what we created in honor of her.

 

We could have used a lot more safety pins then we had but ties really came in handy as did the good ole stapler.

 

 

 

 

 

I prepared Rack of Lamb with Ina Garten’s recipe from her Barefoot Contessa Parties book. The mustard mixture that coats the racks seasons the lamb so well. I’ll share the recipe later. I also made basmati rice with almonds and raisens.  The salad we served was with persian cucumbers and a persian salad dressing.

 

Because Kristen is gluten intolerant we found a gluten free brownie mix and prepared the brownies and served them with rasberries and a chocolate sauce.

 

As dessert was served the winds whipped up and the rains came down followed with thunder and lightning. The girls evacuated to the family room for opening presents and some nice hot tea.

Thank you for visiting. I hope to get around bloggyland on Thursday after my travels and the funeral. Blessings!

On Thursday you can see more scapes at Between Naps on the Porch.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Our Moroccan Shower ~

My daughter hosted a bridal shower for her friend Kristen today. We went with a Moroccan theme and transformed our patio gazebo. I’ll show before and after photos later but right now I’m headed to bed to recuperate!!

 

Have a great week everyone!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Mosaic Blue Monday~ Hydrangeas

 

It’s time for Mosaic Monday and Blue Monday. My hydrangea bush in Washington is giving us a variety of purple, green and blue this year.  To see more Blue visit Sally at Smiling Sally and to see more Mosaics visit Mary at Little Red House.

Right now my daughter is having a bridal shower at our home so I’m sneaking out of view to post. I’ll be showing photos from our patio gazebo transformation for the Morracon themed party. Blessings on your week.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Have You Not Known, Have You Not Heard ~ Hymn

Have You Not Known, Have You Not Heard

Have you not known, have you not heard
That firm remains on high
The everlasting throne of Him
Who formed the earth and sky?

Are you afraid His power shall fail
When comes your evil day?
And can an all creating arm
Grow weary or decay?

Supreme in wisdom as in power
The Rock of Ages stands,
Though Him you cannot see, nor trace
The working of His hands.

He gives the conquest to the weak,
Supports the fainting heart;
And courage in the evil hour
His heavenly aids impart.

Mere human power shall fast decay,
And youthful vigor cease;
But they who wait upon the Lord
In strength shall still increase.

They with unwearied feet shall tread
The path of life divine;
With growing ardor onward move,
With growing brightness shine.

On eagles’ wings they mount, they soar,
Their wings are faith and love;
Till, past the cloudy regions here,
They rise to Heav’n above.

Words: Isaac Watts, 1707; alt. in Scot­tish Par­a­phras­es, 1781.

Round Robin Photo Challenge ~ Silence…

Greetings Robins! Time for your next photo challenge. This challenge was suggested by Monica and it’s more of a concept than a subject. Take a photo that depicts:

Silence

 

A quiet place, a sign, something lonely, a subject that evokes silence. Lots of possibilities to capture silence in a photo. Look about and listen, you will see silence.

This last week I’ve had some early morning quiet walks along the Sammamish River/Burke Gilman Trail north east of Seattle. My photos are from the trail and of the reading room in Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington where it is silent.

 

Scenes along the Sammamish River Trail

 

Suzzallo Library Reading Room at the University of Washington

For more Silent Photo themed entries visit the Round Robin Photo Challenge blog.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Sophie is Finally Home…

Welcome Home Sophie…Your Hope has been realized! Glory!!

 

My sister’s MIL passed away on Thursday night. She was 95 last Christmas Day. She really would get put out that the Lord didn’t take her sooner. It got to be where my sister wouldn’t want to tell her about someone else dying because Sophie would get upset that they died and she hadn’t yet. She wanted to be with her Savior and was tired of this earth. We are rejoicing with her now that she is in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My sister and BIL have been caring for her and living with her for a few years now and she was privileged to be able to die in her home and in her own bed without being hooked up to anything. Sophie’s been a widow for several years. She has 3 daughters and one son (my sister’s husband) Her 3 daughters (2 of which are widowed) live in Canada, Michigan, and Colorado. The daughter that lives in Colorado has been on a mission trip in Russia and had to have an emergency appendectomy in Russia this last week. She is recovering in Russia and will not be able to attend the funeral. Please pray for the family to be at peace with all the circumstances that they had no control over…

I’ll be flying back down to LA on Tuesday night for the funeral at Rose Hills on Wednesday. I’ll stay at home in Camarillo until Monday the 20th and fly back to Seattle then. It will be nice to have this unexpected time with Dear and make the time shorter for us to be apart.

ht: photo of Sophie taken Christmas day 2005 from my niece Michelle. Sophie is her Baba…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Friday’s Fave Five ~ NW

This past week has been filled with activity and adventures and fun. It’s time to narrow it down to my 5 favorites and join in with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story and share. Thank you Susanne for hosting this great weekly event!

 

1. It was great to have family and friends over for a 4th of July barbecue!

2. My niece Debbee arrived on Sunday afternoon and the adventures began. On Monday my kids and I went to Happy Hour in downtown Seattle for dinner before the Mariners game at Safeco field. It was “Salute to Japanese Baseball night so that’s why we are saluting! :0)

3. On Tuesday the girls went shopping in the University District and walked around the University of Washington campus then we met the guys for dinner on the waterfront in Kirkland.

4. 3 mornings this week I walked along our beautiful Sammamish River/Burke Gilman Trail while my niece Debbee ran for an hour. She’s in training for her cross country high school coaching job and the Boston Marathon. Her main job at the high school is teaching math.

 

5. Having a nice day out with my daughter shopping in Bellevue and discovering this great Irish Pub for lunch!

6. I’m adding a favorite this week!! I really enjoyed this great wine ad in a Thai Restaurant my niece and I had lunch in. If you can’t read it too well it says “I finally remembered…red with hunter, white with fisherman. Too cute!

Looking forward to seeing your favorites this week.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Foodie Friday ~ Happy Hours…

Welcome to Foodie Friday hosted by Gollum at Designs by Gollum.

I’ve been doing a lot of running around and eating out more then eating in. One of my favorites for dinner is Happy Hour. I love a bargain so when I can get interesting food for 1/2 price I’m a happy camper! I also enjoy smaller portions of food so this works great for me.

 

Before a Mariners Baseball game on Monday my kids and I went to happy hour at Boka Kitchen and Bar in downtown Seattle. This was not your typical happy hour bar food.

Sugar cane skewered crab cakes~Dungeness crab w/fresh herbs and lemongrass aioli, served on sugar cane sticks $5.00.

Rhubard bruschetta with rogue river blue cheese, golden raisens, and mint flower honey $4.00.

Tuna Tartines ~ olive oil poached ahi tuna, deviled quail eggs, shaved fennel salad $4.50.

My kids ordered the Angus Beef Burger with truffle fries for $6.50.

love potion no. 9
molten chocolate cake, white chocolate raspberry ice cream, fresh raspberries $8.00. Desserts are not on the happy hour menu but we all decided to share this and it was very good!

The bar was very upscale and the atmosphere was pleasant with comfortable seating.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.