Tag Archives: Travel

A Seasoned Hodgepodge

I’m adding some blooms to sweeten things up.

Welcome back to another Wednesday Hodgepodge hosted by Jo From This Side of the Pond.

1. June 10th is National Herbs and Spices Day. Besides salt and pepper what herb or spice container do you reach for most often?

We like Lawry’s Seasoned salt.

Is there a spice you truly dislike? No

What’s a recent dish you made that called for more than salt and pepper?  

Chili calls for chili powder and cumin and we use those spices often.

2.  It’s been said ‘variety is the spice of life’…in what way is this true for you? Elaborate. 

I enjoy variety but there is a lot to say for the good ole familiar and a regular schedule, too.

3. What’s something in your life that adds ‘spice’ (excitement, intensity) even if also comes with challenge or unpredictability? 

Traveling adds lots of spice.

Grandchildren have added so much spice to our lives. It’s a joy to be able to see them at each new stage of life. It’s a challenge to keep up the older we get.

Some of the spice we enjoy right now is watching Addy with her Irish dance troupe.

And we love to see JJ with his new skills at Taekwondo.

 

4. If you could instantly master one skill or hobby, what would it be and why?

It would be amazing to be able to master playing piano with the ability to read music instantly.

5. We’re halfway through the year…what’s one book, movie, or activity you’ve loved this year that you’d recommend to others? 

We’ve enjoyed some series on Britbox and Acorn like Ludwig, Death Valley, Harry Wild, Mr. & Mrs. Murder, The Brokenwood Mysteries and our fallback, Midsomer Murders.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Right now on our property the white and pink peonies are blooming and I’m having a hard time keeping up with them. It’s a wonderful problem to have.

I love the white but the pink are my favorite.

Hope to get around soon to see your spicy posts!

The Snowball Effect Hodgepodge

A new month of Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you to Jo From This Side of the Pond for coming up with the questions for us to answer.
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1. Feb 2nd is Groundhog Day in the US of A. Tell us about one day you wouldn’t mind living over again, and why you chose that day. 
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 I’ll pick July 9th, 2014.  This was a day Dear and I spent in Oxford, England. I chose this day because it’s impossible for us to visit Oxford at this time in virus history and it is something we dream to be able to do again. Here’s a link to part of our day in Oxford in 2014.
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 2. Something you know beyond a ‘shadow of a doubt’?
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God created me a woman and he created my husband (Dear) a man. Those are the only two genders that God has created. 
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3. Give us an example of history repeating itself in some way, in your own life or the lives of your children.
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It’s fun to see our little grandson doing some of the things our son did when he was little. 
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4. Snowed under, snow job, not a snowball’s chance, snowbird, on thin ice, snug as a bug in a rug, tip of the iceberg, snowball effect, run hot and cold….choose a wintry idiom and tell us how it best applies to your life right now. 
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I’ll choose snowball effect. Building a shop on our property has had it’s own snowball effect. Once I think the hard part is over and done with another hard part presents itself. One thing leads to another. I think I should plan a huge completion party to celebrate once it is all done and all our stuff from our son’s shop finds it’s way into Dear’s shop. 
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5. Your favorite sign of spring? 
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It’s hard to choose just one. 
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There is Easter and all that it means. Easter is my favorite holiday to celebrate. So much promise, so much hope because of Jesus’ resurrection. He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed! 
Our very first grandchild was born on the first day of Spring four years ago. We get to celebrate her at the beginning of Spring every year!
Our grandson was born in Spring, too, in April of 2019. We have so much to celebrate in Spring! 
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6. Insert your own random thought here.
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All this talk of Spring makes me want to go out and find a bunch of daffodils to bring in for cheer and the good promise that Spring is on it’s way!

Catch-Up Collages

I have some catching up to do from the month of May. Country mosaics with barns and critters and a special baby girl.

Scenes while driving in central Washington State and Eastern Washington State in mid May, 2017.

The farm above with all it’s red out buildings was taken from the Sprague Rest Area.

On the drive from the Seattle area across the Cascade Mountain range into Central and then Eastern Washington on Interstate 90 you approach the 2nd largest city in population in the state of Washington. Spokane is 279 miles from Seattle and 70 miles south of Colville, our final destination. From the 2014 census figures Seattle has a population of 668,342 and Spokane comes in second with 212,052. Spokane Valley has 91,729. Colville has a population of 4,706. Once we pass through Spokane and head north there are no interstates or freeways, we drive on highways and country roads. On the 70 mile trip from Spokane to Colville we only encounter one traffic light in Chewelah which is approximately 20 miles from Colville.

The collage above shows the approach to Spokane on I-90 and some buildings you can see in the city with a mural on the side of an old brick building. There are a few grand churches in Spokane I’d love to explore and photograph.

Leaving Spokane we see more cattle, horses and deer along the country roads. Deer are one of the most dangerous road hazards in the country. The next collages are from Dan and Jamie’s and close to their home.

Hummers on our kids’ front porch.

This hawk might be the one who is eating our kid’s chickens. There’s a price to pay for being free-range.

A riding lawn mower and a good tractor are a must when you own 20 acres and have to tend to a mile long driveway to your home. I caught a glimpse of Dan mowing the brush around his property. Dear and Dan moved the chicken coup to have better access in the winter.

This little one gives us an extra draw to travel to the country. Thankfully Dan and Jamie are patient with us showing up on their doorstep more often. Soon I’ll be sharing several photos of Addy in some special dresses. Here’s a sneak preview of a haphazard elephant prop pose.

She is such a good sport!

These last shots are of some properties closer to our kids.

Congratulations on making it through one of my catch-up posts. I’ll be linking up to a few parties this weekend since Dear is in Chicago and I have lots of time to myself.

Linking up first to Eileen’s Saturday Critters. Next up will be The Barn Collective with Tom. Last will be Mosaic Monday with Maggie in Normandy. When the link ups become available I’ll add them so you can click over and see lots of critters, barns and mosaics from around the world. Thank you to Eileen, Tom and Maggie for hosting these blog carnivals.

Headed South…

…to rally around my sister and her family.

Don’t know when I’ll be back online.

“All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 (The Message)

Sunlit Spires

Dear and I were able to get away on an overnight trip to Bainbridge Island and we decided to drive up to the Kitsap Peninsula through the Nordic town of Poulsbo on our way home. We were pleasantly surprised by a very nice and sunny mid-morning to evening on this Saturday after being soaked by rain Friday night and early Saturday morning. I have lots to share from our wonderful getaway.

We had a wonderful Sunday morning at our own church, not this church I pictured. We were able to witness 15 or 43 total Baptisms. We have 3 services so the Baptisms were spaced out between the services. From elementary age children, high school, college, and older adults including a married couple we witnessed obedience to the Word of God to believe and be baptized.

I’m linking to InSPIREd Sunday with Beth and Sally and Sunlit Sunday at My Little Home and Garden.

L is for Lofty!

Time for ABC Wednesday and we are on the letter L.

Thank you to the founder of this meme, Mrs. Nesbitt and her now trusty crew that keep the meme going.

A few weeks ago I was on an airplane flying out of Seattle and I was treated to some lofty views of downtown Seattle, Mount Rainier and the Columbia River.

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P1050642The Columbia river where it divides the State of Washington from Oregon.

This Saturday flight on September 13th was a nice flight and time to have a window seat. I most always choose an aisle seat.

The Here and Now…

Last night or I should say early this morning our two cross country travelers arrived home to roost for a while.

Visitors 010Thankfully they have their own key so I didn’t have to get up and let them in.

Sat. July 5-Chipping Campden 107We thank the good Lord they made it safely through the rainstorm that was quite intense over the pass last night.

Sat. July 5-Chipping Campden 103Things will be a little different around this old house while they settle in and start the process of looking for an apartment. They are breaking in the new but not completed bathroom, too. Yes…the saga continues on the bathroom.

Pictures18In the meantime we’ll enjoy this next chapter in their adventure called life!

Hither and Yon…

hither and yon, from here to over there, especially to a farther place; in or to a great many places:

That pretty much sums up the state of affairs with our family right now.

10514646_10204580905868399_9064631396302298278_nOur oldest, Josh, and our DIL Laura are in Cabo right now with my nephew David and his wife Kristin.

P1050064Our middle son, Dan, is working 2500 miles away from his home and his girlfriend is counting the days until he’s back where he belongs.

BP03112012_194cOur youngest, Katie, and our Son in law, Andrew have started their journey this morning from Jacksonville, North Carolina, to the state of Washington. Andrew has started his terminal leave from the Marine Corps after serving over 4 years with 2 deployments to Afghanistan. They will settle close to us so Andrew can finish his schooling.

I still feel like a fish out of water while the bathroom construction continues into the third week. Thankfully the end is near.

My brother and his wife are making their second trip today to the Ukraine to finish the legal work to bring their new young son home to his forever family.

2014-08-02 Bath - seafairWe had some interesting sky views this past weekend. The Blue Angels were in Seattle for our SeaFair and to put on a air show during the hydroplane races. Along with the Blue Angels we had Fleet Week and the Marines put on some great demonstrations. I was able to capture some of the Osprey as they flew over our house on the way to the air show. Besides the great loud noise from the Blue Angels and the Osprey we had thunder and lightning from these amazing skies.

Sunset 003Couldn’t help but quote part of Psalm 19:

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.

So this is some of what is happening in my world. What’s happening in yours?

Biltmore Walled Garden and Conservatory

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Biltmore 100

2014-05-03 Biltmore1

 

We were at the Biltmore on Saturday May 3rd so the flowers that were blooming well at this point were the Azaleas and the Wisteria still hadn’t lost it’s glow. This walled garden will probably be spectacular when all the roses bloom.

Today is my last day in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Katie will be driving me to the little airport for my flight to Orlando, Florida this afternoon. I won’t be escaping the heat in Florida as the forecast is calling for temps in the upper 80’s the 5 days that I’m there. I’m happy to report I was able to jam everything into my one medium suitcase for this leg of my trip. I’m leaving a small suitcase here for Katie and Andrew to use on their return trip to Seattle. I wasn’t sure I could shlep around 2 suitcases, a computer bag and camera bag around the in Orlando while I wait for Dear to arrive on a later flight than mine so I’m pleased that I can leave a suitcase here.

Can you believe it’s the fifteenth of May already?