FFF ~ From the East…

Susanne has flown the coop but she didn’t leave the nest without getting Friday’s Fave Five ready for all of us. Dear is on vacation this week so we headed to Eastern Washington for an overnight on Monday. Our goal was to check out the area our middle son will be moving to later this year. We had a traffic free journey driving through many small towns. Here are five favorite shots from our trip.

Coming East on Highway 20 from Republic to Colville. I love seeing the layers of mountains.

Looking back at Colville sitting next to the Colville National Forest.

Roosevelt Lake area near Rice, Wa. fed by the Columbia River.

One of the many one store towns we drove through.

We crossed rivers, drove by lakes and saw at least 4 dams on this trip. It was really hot so just seeing the water was a nice relief to the heat. I’d like to do the trip again when it’s cooler and when getting out of the car to walk around and take photos would be more pleasant. Here’s a post with some of the churches we saw.

We’ve had a nice cool down here in Western Washington with some rain expected on Sunday. How are things in your neck of the woods?

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Wood or Stone…

…there were a lot of great old churches in Eastern Washington.

Tonasket, Washington

Republic, Washington

Colville, Washington

In The Middle of Nowhere, Washington

I’m happy to see that the symbol of the Cross of Christ can still be displayed on our houses of worship!

Galatians 6:14 ~ But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Jude 1:20-21 (The Message)

But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

Eastern Washington Yard Art!

Dear and I took an overnight trip to Eastern Washington and I enjoyed the very different terrain. Another bonus driving around little sleepy towns was the YARD ART! We found enough to last for a few weeks. To see more Yard Art please visit Mary at Work of the Poet.

For the first Best of the East I offer you the washing machine from Tonasket, Washington!

So what do you think?

Back in the Saddle Again…

…and if you had seen all the horses we saw you’d understand why I used that phrase after a very quick road trip to Eastern Washington and back!

We crossed the Cascade Mountain Range over Highway 2 and went through little sleepy towns like Sultan, Gold Bar, Skykomish before we reached Leavenworth on the east side of the range.

Leavenworth is a Bavarian town on the east slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range that attracts a lot of tourists throughout the year.

We haven’t had great experiences going to and from this little Bavarian town so we just stopped for a very short break before continuing east. We are happy to report this time we made it through the town going and coming without any major incident.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. I forgot to show you the great little spot we stopped for breakfast before we crossed the mountains.

You’ll see this spot right on Highway 2 a little beyond Monroe, Washington. They bake their own bread and goodies.

Quite the tempting baked goods case!

We settled for a hearty breakfast. Look at the slices of that homemade bread!!

More from our trip later. Just wanted you to know we didn’t starve along the way. And here’s a little Gene Autry for you before you slip away…

I’m back in the saddle again
Out where a friend is a friend
Where the longhorn cattle feed
On the lowly gypsum weed
Back in the saddle again

Ridin’ the range once more
Totin’ my old .44
Where you sleep out every night
And the only law is right
Back in the saddle again

Whoopi-ty-aye-oh
Rockin’ to and fro
Back in the saddle again
Whoopi-ty-aye-yay
I go my way
Back in the saddle again

She is Strangely Silent…

I’m headed East over the mountains on an overnight with this cute guy. Don’t tell my husband! Oh wait…that is my husband.

The River Flows to the Lake…

These are the last of my photos from when our family was visiting.

My sister Kathy, her granddaughter Avery, and I took a little stroll along the Sammamish River.

We saw a snake and picked some wild Sweet Peas along the trail. I can think of two of my nieces that would not have been pleased to see this little harmless snake!

On another walk we went to Juanita Bay Park which is along the shore of Lake Washington in Kirkland.

We saw wild life of the flying and floating variety.

Some not so wild creatures were spotted on the boardwalk, too.

Our temps were nice and cool while our company was visiting but this weekend we are sizzling here in Seattle and breaking some heat records. It’s OK because we know that cooler days will follow and the dry will turn to wet soon enough.

Awake, My Heart, with Gladness ~ Hymn

Awake, My Heart, with Gladness

Awake, my heart, with gladness,
See what today is done;
Now, after gloom and sadness,
Comes forth the glorious Sun.
My Savior there was laid
Where our bed must be made
When to the realms of light
Our spirit wings its flight.

The foe in triumph shouted
When Christ lay in the tomb;
But, lo, he now is routed,
His boast is turned to gloom.
For Christ again is free;
In glorious victory
He who is strong to save
Has triumphed o’er the grave.

This is a sight that gladdens;
What peace it doth impart!
Now nothing ever saddens
The joy within my heart.
No gloom shall ever shake,
No foe shall ever take,
The hope which God’s own Son
In love for me hath won.

Now hell, its prince, the devil
Of all their powers are shorn;
Now I am safe from evil,
And sin I laugh to scorn.
Grim Death with all his might
Cannot my soul affright;
He is a powerless form,
Howe’er he rave and storm.

The world against me rageth
Its fury I disdain;
Though bitter war it wageth
Its work is all in vain.
My heart from care is free,
No trouble troubles me.
Misfortune now is play
And night is bright as day.

Now I will cling forever
To Christ, my Savior true;
My Lord will leave me never,
Whate’er He passeth through.
He rends Death’s iron chain,
He breaks through sin and pain,
He shatters hell’s dark thrall,
I follow Him through all.

To halls of heavenly splendor
With Him I penetrate;
And trouble ne’er may hinder
Nor make me hesitate.
Let tempests rage at will,
My Savior shields me still;
He grants abiding peace
And bids all tumult cease.

He brings me to the portal
That leads to bliss untold,
Whereon this rhyme immortal
Is found in script of gold:
“Who there My cross hath shared
Finds here a crown prepared;
Who there with Me hath died
Shall here be glorified.”

Words: Paul Gerhardt, 1648

Round Robin Photo Challenge ~ Weather!

The Challenge for today is weather! Click on the Robin to see more “weather”.

Snoqualmie Falls December of 2009

It was cold enough that the mist from the falls froze causing this icy spectacular sight.

***Oops I forgot to make 3 suggestions for future Photo Challenges. This isn’t easy. How about a color challenge. Or maybe “strangers unaware”. Have we done wheels, or barns, or statues, or neon signs, or signs in general? Now I’m getting carried away…

FFF ~ Food Glorious Food…

Friday-end of a traditional work week, the beginning of the weekend, a time to look back and count your blessings. Please click on over to Living to Tell the Story and join Susanne and other Bloggers in telling us your favorites from this past week.

This collage isn’t just about food but it’s all about the people and celebrations surrounding this food! I’ve missed a couple Fave Fives because family were visiting us here in the Northwest. We had lots of fun filled days and nights and of course so many of our adventures centered around food. So here are 5 food events…

1. A wonderful lamb burger at Olive You where we celebrated my sister Lana’s birthday.

2. A sandwich and soup at Three Cups of Tea with my sisters, DIL, and nieces after a trip to the Lavender Farm.

3. A frozen raspberry dessert that I made for an early birthday celebration for my niece Melissa.

4. A potato side dish to use up the potatoes my brother bought for the wonderful breakfasts he made while he was with us.

5. Apple crisp that I made from the ripe apples off our apple tree for just the three of us after our company departed!

I’ve missed all of my Fave Five Friends. Hope all is well with you.

A Table for Miss W…

Some of my family was visiting and my niece had a birthday coming up so we decided to celebrate in the Northwest before she celebrated in the Southwest!

There were 10 of us for dinner. We had roasted leg of lamb, potatoes & carrots, and salad. For dessert we had a Creamy frozen Raspberry pie. I forgot to take pictures of the main course but did take a photo of the dessert.

My sister Kathy and I picked these wild Sweet Peas on the river trail earlier in the day on a walk.

Here’s the dessert we enjoyed.

I’ve been away from Tablescape Thursday for a while. Hope you all are doing well. Please visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see more Tables from around the blog world.

TRUE CONFESSION # 9 or 10, I’ve lost count. I had to be very particular where I aimed my camera for these photos. This was the last day of two weeks of overnight company and we were busy everyday so….my kitchen/dining area was a mess wasn’t very tidy. I usually clear the decks when I do a tablescape but I just didn’t have time between playing with company and cooking so that is why you see very focused photos that show only the table. I also need to say that my brother totally cleaned up the space they used for the two weeks. He vacuumed their room, washed the bedding, put the bedding back on the bed, cleaned the bathroom, and washed my family room rug while he was here. AND he made breakfasts, too. He can come back anytime he wants!

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage