Burns, Boise and Gardens

 One last post about my 'spring' garden. I have been busy traveling, and when I got home I was exited to find that my little garden had fully developed. So, there are two kinds of daffodils, peach tulips and the blue muscari. 

We were in Burns for Easter where we visited my mother in law, my sister and brother in law, and two couples that we haven't seen in over 30 years. We had a lovely time at church and a great ham dinner after that. 

Next, I went to Boise, Idaho with my sister in law for a week. We stayed with my niece Deana and her caregivers. Deana has had MS for many years and needs constant care. Her husband takes a vacation/break a couple times a year, and my sister in law comes to help out. We had an absolutely lovely time, and I had a vacation to boot. It is always good to see Deana and spend some time with her. During the days my sister in law and I spent time with other friends, had some nice lunches out and did some shopping. Then we came back to Deana's in the afternoon and spent the evening until she was ready for the night. On Sunday we accompanied a friend to her Catholic Church and attended Mass. I had done that once before in college, but this was a large and interesting service.

We also visited with my other niece Kellie and her two daughters, Tiegan and Alexandria. It was prom weekend, so we went with them to the park for some photos.

There was lots going on. I usually spend most of my time at home, so this was a nice change.

Spring is bringing lots of activity this year, in spite of the rain we have enjoyed. 

Now, we are off to the coast for a couple of days...6 of us. Hope you are having fun too!

All Things December

 Fun with Piano Students

After school one day in December, we had an impromptu 'tea' only with hot chocolate and molasses sugar cookies. This is Abby and Emily, and their Mom Carol and I are sipping out of sight of the camera, and keeping warm in front on the fire. Brrr- it's been cold for a couple of weeks now.

Here is another group of students, and the one with the guitar is Shayli, then Brinnay and Ella in the green Christmas t-shirt, along with Mom Kindi. I have known Kindi since she was Ella's age, so it is so much fun to teach her girls. The home school in the kitchen while each has a piano lesson.

JoAnn has been busy baking up a storm, and made some very beautiful sugar cookies that were a work of art!

JoAnn and I had a fun time too, decorating the tree this year. We had purchased a few new trims and I sat and got the ornaments ready for her then she put them on the tree. What a great idea! I was happy to be sitting, and she was happy having control of the placement. Christmas music was playing and a plate of cookies was nearby for the hungry (that's us)!

Well, we have done some fun things in December this year. Tonight we are going out to dinner with 3 dear friends and have a special Christmas dinner together. Then on Saturday is our Church Ladies Christmas Brunch and I am going with a friend and looking forward to it. 

Then of course I am fitting it the baking and Christmas cards as time allows. So nice to spend these days preparing my heart and home for the coming of the Savior!

Summer Food Items of Note

 This is a rather dark photo, but it is a summer morning breakfast. Cornmeal griddle cakes batter, with fresh blueberries to add...along with coffee of course. Delightful!

  And then my mother-in-law came to visit, and we made raspberry freezer jam together. A tasty treat in the winter months. 

When we were over at her house visiting, she showed us she can still make a delicious potato salad at age 95. Wow!

And finally a summer dinner. It is a taco salad, made a little differently, with each fresh ingredient separated and then mixed all together at the end. It's pretty this way, don't you think? Adding a few fresh grapes for dessert, we had a wonderful meal. 
(Each of these photos shows up better if you click to enlarge them)

Long Time Coming

My, oh my, has it been a long time since I posted here. Life has been hard for me to catch a tail and hang on. But now, in mid-summer, I think I may have a bit more focus back to the important things of life. I have a a quote that I love, that I will share today.

"With pomp, power & glory 

the world beckons vainly.

In chase of such vanities

why should I roam?

While peace and content bless

my little thatched cottage,

and warm my own hearth 

with the treasures of home."

My feeling exactly said by Beatrix Potter.

I'll come back soon, and post a longer post about what's been going on.

Ben, this one is for you!

Last week-end we had a wonderful blessing. We made a trip to the Oregon Coast with some of the last remaining members of  my family. We rented a house in south Lincoln City for four couples. This was the beautiful view from the deck of the house. 

We rested, we visited, we remembered (a lot!), we worked on a jigsaw puzzle, we read, we ate (a lot!), we took pictures, we played a crazy funny game, and we loved each other.

Left is brother Joe and wife Cathy, right is cousin Beckie and husband Tim,

cousin Bill and wife Sandy (Beckie's brother) 

and us of course!

We all brought food, and teams were in the kitchen fixing up some great meals.

We had a great long table that accommodated all of us with a beautiful view besides.

Some watched the Daytona 500 on TV...

While others had political conversations.

We watched the ocean almost non-stop. Big waves this time of year, but no whale watching yet. Still in Mexican waters I hear. Lots of fishing boats out, and even some paddle boarders in wet suits. It was sunny mostly, but very chilly. We did wrap up in coats and blankets and sat in these chairs in the bit of weak sun we got. We also climbed down the cliff (95 steps) and a rusted metal ladder at the bottom to walk on the beach and revel in it.It was great!!

My brother and I, and our cousins Bill and Beckie grew up together like siblings almost. But as life does, we got busy in work and families and have not had extended time like this together in our adult lives. I can't say enough what a blessing it was to me. We talked about our parents (now gone) and their large family now almost all gone. What a great family we had to grow up in, and our family get-together's were wonderful. Lots of Aunts, Uncles, and cousins to enjoy. Our memories are sweet for the most part, and very precious as we enter the senior phase of our own lives. 

We were blessed with a full rainbow ending in the ocean right in front of us. WOW! God's pleasure and promise to those who walk with Him. 

I only hope we will get the chance to do this again sometime soon!

** As my grandchildren grow up and leave home I hope they will remember to get together to share their own memories of growing up and family!

Valentine Baking

 Happy Valentines to you and to the lucky insurance man!

Wonderful Birthday Celebration!

My birthday falls on the first day of December, and due to the usual weather and getting older, there isn't too much to celebrate. But this year we decided to take a trip to Seattle where I grew up to celebrate. We had a fun trip there, stopping to see granddaughter Kory, and daughter Joy and family on the way. As we pulled into Seattle in time for lunch, the insurance man took me to a favorite, Ivars down on Elliott Bay. We picked out our plates of food, then sat where the hopeful seagulls watched us intently. It was damp and cold, but they have large heaters warming the outside air, and the view was marvelous. 

It was 'blue Friday', which was the discount you got for being a Seahawks fan. Tis' the land of the Huskies and Seahawks after all. 

One reason we made the trip was to see my brother and sister-in-law. My brother Joe had been in an accident recently, hence the wrist cast, and I wanted to check up on him.

We also wanted to meet the newest family member, Teddy. He is an ENORMOUS golden doodle puppy! That's right, I said puppy!!

Just like any toddler, he wants to be entertained and played with, so the insurance man did his part and danced with Teddy. I just tried to keep myself uncovered from his love and affection.

That evening we found our way back to downtown Seattle where we had booked a room at this very interesting boutique hotel. It is at the foot of Queen Anne Hill, and in a brick building built in 1908. The building is a city block in size, and was built to train car mechanics from blacksmiths to work at the Ford factory. 

 Front door of the hotel...

and the beautiful main lobby. The staircase goes up both sides for a total of 3 stories.

Second floor landing.

This is a shot of the wonderful architecture of the staircase.

At the top, a stained glass skylight.

The next morning we found that the complimentary breakfast was served in the pub on the main floor. We found a wonderful little alcove with cozy chairs and a gas fire burning. We enjoyed homemade yogurt with honey and fresh fruit, a toasted bagel and wonderful coffee. But you couldn't beat the atmosphere~We relaxed and really enjoyed this.

On Saturday we drove up the hill and enjoyed a walk with a marvelous view of Puget Sound, the city and the beautiful mansions there. We spent the day again visiting Joe, Cathy and Teddy then returned to the MarQueen for the night.

After enjoying the breakfast for a second day, we walked again before leaving Seattle, this time down to the Seattle Center just a few blocks away. The fountain has always been a special friend of mine, but not the right time of year for it to display with a cold spell on the way. Still, always nice to re-acquaint with old friends. 

We decided to get on our way south, and drive back home over Mount Hood before the weather closed in. Good thing too. We enjoyed the snow, and made it just fine before being snowed in by a foot and a half of snow that hit us later that week. 

Good thing JoAnn crocheted me this scarf and matching mittens for my birthday!! 

Thanksgiving Greetings

"I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples;

And I will sing praises to Thee, among the nations.

For Thy steadfast love is great, above the heavens;

and Thy faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

and Thy glory above all the earth."

Psalm 108

Thanksgiving greetings and love to all our family and friends!

Tea Time Anyone?

I have so many photos to show, that I hardly know where to begin! We have had so much family fun around here, with Julie, Ben, Amelia and Jameson's visit, and Kory's wedding. One day last week, the three of us girls decided to slip away to Redmond and a tea room there. We had been talking about going there for the last couple of years, and we finally made that happen!

It was a great time, great food and a great little shop.

Julie, Amelia and I all had smiling faces, and happy hearts.

Beautiful china always makes me happy...

We had two pots of tea, one was a pumpkin spice, and a cranberry scone each with clotted cream and lemon curd. Doesn't sound like it would be good together, but oh boy!! Then we each picked a dessert. Amelia picked a 'butterfly cupcake' shown above, perfect for 9-year-old girls.

I can never get enough lemon, so I picked a lemon torte...

and Julie picked a pumpkin spice cake. All were delicious!

Full and happy we enjoyed it to the last sip. Here's to you Millie : )