Taxes and Tulips Hodgepodge

Get your muck boots on and tiptoe through the tulips with me.

It’s not taxing to answer Wednesday Hodgepodge questions, thank you, Joyce!

1. Big week in the US of A…do you do your own taxes?

We don’t do our own taxes.

I am in charge of the books for our well that four properties share and I have to file an annual nonprofit tax form and I’m patting myself on the back for getting that done.

What’s something you’ve found ‘taxing’ lately?

Exercising.

2. When it comes to travel are you a last minute packer or a lay it all out a week in advance type?

I don’t lay it all out but I do think about it and make lists.

Do you struggle to pack light?

For our trip this past March we packed very light and proved we could do it so we will be packing light for any trips in the future unless it is a road trip.

Share a packing tip that has worked for you.

Pack your socks inside your spare pair of shoes that you are packing.

3. April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Hmmm…who knew it got its own month? Do you like a grilled cheese sandwich? What ingredient do you add to take yours to the next level?

We do enjoy a good grilled cheese sandwich. A good slice of salami can take it to the next level.

4. There’s a well known quote that says-

‘A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” John A. Shedd

Is constant growth necessary or do you think it’s more important to prioritize stability and peace in your life?

As a Biblical Christian I am admonished to grow. Grow in my knowledge of the Word of God. Grow more like Christ. Grow in my love for God, my Savior. My peace and stability come from walking with God and knowing Him more and growing more and more like Jesus Christ. This does not happen overnight, it is a lifelong process of Sanctification.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:17-18

5. Let’s wrap this up with a fun spring this or that-

daffodils or tulips ~ first daffodils and then tulips!
lemonade or iced tea ~ lemonade
gardening or hiking ~how about walking
ladybugs or butterflies ~ butterflies
umbrella or raincoat ~raincoat
floral patterns or polka dots ~polka dots

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of tulips, you don’t have to travel all the way to Amsterdam to enjoy amazing tulip fields. When we lived in Kenmore, Washington we tried to make an annual trip to Mount Vernon, Washington for the tulip festival. That was just an hour to an hour and a half drive. It was worth the tulip traffic and dodging all the people like us who wanted to enjoy the glorious fields of tulips.

I could go on and on with the photos I have but this will give you a good taste of the variety and massive industry of tulips from this area of Washington State. Besides the fields there are several gardens to enjoy with many more unique varieties of tulips with gift shops, etc.

Easter Carol ~ Hymn

Easter Carol

Oh, the gladness and the glory
Of the tender Easter story,
Christ is risen! Christ is risen!
Do you hear the angels say?
All the bells triumphant ring it,
All the choirs celestial sing it,
And the gentle zephyrs wing it
Thro’ the skies this sacred day.

Oh, the wondrous transformation,
Working out the world’s salvation!
Christ, the crucified Redeemer,
Once consigned to darkest gloom,
Changing shadow into splendor,
With His love so sweet and tender,
Son of God, our true defender,
Rising deathless from the tomb.

Oh, the light of Easter morning,
All the earth and sky adorning!
Oh, how restful, how refreshing
Is its sacredness and love!
On my heart its peace is stealing,
Like a gentle balm of healing,
Christ, my risen Lord, revealing,
Throned in majesty above.

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1892.

A Host of Golden Daffodils!

Oh what a glorious Saturday my sisters and I enjoyed on a 10 hour outing north to Mount Vernon and La Conner and then beyond to Whidbey Island over Deception Pass and south the whole length of the island. In this post I’m showing the fields of daffodils we enjoyed. But…first things first, when visiting tulip or daffodils fields it is good to don your mud boots!

I was happy to be able to come up with 3 pairs of good mucking boots/shoes and borrowed the fourth pair from our DIL.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

William Wordsworth

From Mt. Vernon we traveled a short distance to La Conner for lunch and shopping. I’ll share some photos of our time there next. It was great to have leisurely time together to share about the challenges my oldest sister faces in caring for our dear old pop and the life changes my sister Vera faces in widowhood and moving out of the home she shared with her husband Nick. It’s good to let the tears roll freely and also to be able to laugh heartily with each other. Just for the record…we sisters have four brothers, too.

The Barn Collective

Before April slips away I wanted to share a couple of barns from the Skagit Valley, The Tulip Capital of Washington State!

This barn has been converted into a Deli/store.

It’s right off the interstate at the exit I take to go to La Conner and to the tulip festival.

Another barn on my usual route. The yellow you see in the background are rows of daffodils.

Can’t remember if I showed this Mt. Vernon beauty before.

Since I mentioned the fact that this area is our tulip capital I’ll leave you with one more photo of the tulip fields from this area last year…

I’m linking up at Rose Street Reflections for Amy’s Barn Collective #29.

I’m happy to report while visiting our son in Eastern Washington a few weekends back we saw many barns that I’ll be able to share in the future.

April is winding down and we are on the 2 month countdown to our son’s wedding. Fun times ahead. How is spring shaping up in your corner of the woods? I heard some of you got another snow fall!!

InSPIREd Sunday – Skagit Valley

There’s a little white church in the valley
That stands in my memory each day
And it seems I can hear the bells now ringing
Though I am many miles away

And many times in church on Sunday morning
That whole countryside would gather there
They would all kneel down by the altar
As they lifted up their voice in prayer

Oh the church in the valley that little white church
Is the place I love so well
Now I’m sad and lonely yes I’m sad and lonely
For that little white church in the dell

They would sing the old song Rock of Ages
Oh Christ let me hide myself in thee
And I know some of them are now waiting
Just o’er the dark and stormy sea

I know that troubles all are ended
And happy forever they will be
They are waiting and watching up yonder
For the coming home of you and me

I took these series of photos in April of 2012. When we travel to La Conner or to Mount Vernon, Washington State to see the tulip fields we take the road that runs right next to this church. Fir-Conway Lutheran Church met first in a smaller building built in 1896. This larger building was dedicated in 1916. You can read it’s history here.

I’m linking to InSPIREd Sunday hosted by Beth and Sally. I’m also linking to Sunlit Sunday at My Little Home and Garden since this little white church is enjoying the sun.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Tag Archives: Mt. Vernon Washington