Finally…

…we pulled out the patio furniture.

Just in time because you know what these early morning shadows mean…summer has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest!

This is the latest we’ve ever waited to pull out the furniture.

It was just right today and the next few days are predicted to be hot, hot, hot!

We’ve heard about the scorching temps in the Northeast and hope you get some relief soon.

I’m hoping for a nice stretch of 75 degree weather after this little heat wave rolls through.

My hydrangeas are deciding it’s time to show their color. I’ll be pulling out the hose to water the rest of the week. That’s the first time I’ve had to do that this summer, too.

How’s your weather?

I’m adding this post to Susan’s Outdoor Wednesday!

A Day Off…

…after a big shindig is a very good thing.

We pulled out all the red, white, and blue. Trader Joe’s even had red, white, and blue chips!

My guests brought some good sides and desserts to go with Dear’s slow barbecued Pork Butt Roast and Beef Brisket. Oh my it’s been so long since we barbecued over coals and the taste and aroma surrounding the meat was marvelous. Dear used a great rub recipe that was so tasty! Yum. I had a pork sandwich for breakfast to give me the energy to finish cleaning up!

This flag is a special one to us because it was the flag that was presented to my MIL at Dear’s Dad’s funeral. Rex served in the armed forces during World War II.

Our youngest guest with his father. Oliver is so sweet. His older brother Finn was off exploring.

My niece Debbee was here from California so we took the obligatory group shot!

The girl cousins.

I just had to finish with this shot to make you smile. Steve and Lana (my sister) decorated these great cookies that Lana baked for our gathering. I hope you are smiling. :0)

Our celebration was upstaged by the happiest of events. Our DIL’s brother’s wife went into labor on the 4th and their wonderful bundle of joy arrived at 6:00 P.M. sharp. Thankfully the hospital is really close to our home so Josh and Laura were able to visit during labor before our party began and then rush over to the hospital when the birth was imminent. Laura was able to hold her new nephew. So we now have a 4th of July baby to celebrate every year. Congratulations Scott and Lisa on the birth of Shawn Stephen. Congratulations Steve and Pat on becoming grandparents and to Josh and Laura for becoming Uncle and Auntie…

To God Be The Glory ~ Hymm

To God Be The Glory

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Refrain

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby

Living in a land with freedoms is wonderful but the freedom that Christ gives us when we are pardoned from our sins is even more priceless. Thank you Lord!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

You’ve Got to Love…

…a Farmer’s Market for fresh bouquets of flowers.

I wanted some bouquets for our 4th of July gathering on Sunday so I zipped over to Country Village in Bothell on Friday to see what flowers were available. Every Friday from noon there is a Farmer’s Market held there. They did not disappoint and I was able to get a bouquet of Sweet Peas and a larger bouquet for a total of $10.00. Costco had one of the larger bouquets for $14.99. I really like a bargain!

I’ve got an auto post for my hymn tomorrow but I won’t be around because of our celebration.

Have a Wonderful 4th of July everyone!

FFF ~ The Freedom Edition!

Time for Friday’s Fave Five. Please visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to join in.

My Favorites this week will all revolve around the 4th of July or Independence Day here in the U.S.A. Here’s what I like about the 4th.

1. Having friends and family over for a barbecue. A tradition we’ve enjoyed for a few years now. We always have a lively discussion over what meat we should barbecue this year. Well the decision is made and the Pork Shoulder and Briskets have been purchased and will be cooked low and long on the 4th.

2. Planning a gathering is great motivation for getting projects completed in time for the party. I enjoy the results of the build up to a party. Our deck is painted and flowers are blooming in pots on the deck.

3. Everyone is ready to pitch in and bring a dish to add to the buffet. It’s always a treat to eat something you didn’t make!

4. Dear gets Friday and Monday off from work. Whoohoo! That’s worth a celebration.

5. A good time to thank God again for our freedom to worship Him in the land of the free and home of the brave. To God be the Glory.

We saw that corvette on the 405 Fwy last night. Quite a rear end paint job. Made us wonder if he just loves the U.S.A. or if he’s retired military or something else…

So our Canadian neighbors were celebrating yesterday and we have our long weekend ahead. What are your plans for the 4th!

 

Yard Art ~ Is that a Scarecrow?

This lady caught my attention on a back road through Lake Forest Park close to Seattle. So what do you think? Will she scare the crows away? A policeman staging a speed trap must have wondered what I was doing when I zipped off the road into a driveway to take this shot. Thankfully I was going real slow so I wouldn’t miss this art.

Please visit Mary at Work of the Poet to see more yard art.

I Tried to Sell this…

…but no one wanted to buy it and now I’m glad it didn’t sell.

This salad bowl was hard to store at the condo so I thought I should sell it at our garage sale. It didn’t sell and I realized here at the house I had the space to store it comfortably. It really looks nice with a good salad in it don’t you think?

This Greek salad has 3 pickling cucumbers, 1 green bell pepper, a cup of grape tomatoes cut in half, 1/2 cup of garbanzo beans, 1/4 cup feta, and 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, and 1/2 cup of finely sliced red onion, 3 T. chopped fresh mint and 1/4 cup Italian parsley chopped. The dressing is 3 tablespoons Olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt. 1/4 tsp. pepper and a clove of garlic crushed and all whisked together.

Enjoy your Wednesday.

Ruby Tuesday ~ My Little Visitor…

Time to visit Mary at Work of the Poet to see lots of ruby around the world. This week I’m sharing more photos of my little friend that visits me in the early evening.

Hummer is swift and sure and sometimes stays a while enjoying the sweet nectar we provide in our ruby feeder. Other times Hummer just shows up looks at me in the window and flies away.

Hope your week is off to a good start. We’re having a 4th of July barbecue at our house on Sunday so I’m getting all my ducks in a row. Today I payed all the bills ( now I know what cut of meat I can afford to BBQ…chuckle), weeded the planter,  helped Dear paint half the deck, and did laundry. Tomorrow it’s vacuuming and dusting and finishing the deck. I love an event that motivates!!