Before and After and Something New!

Yesterday Charlie and Grace were here for a few hours.

While Grace napped, I cut Charlie's hair...but not before he got to get into something for the very first time...The Legos!  Erin and Alison have tons of Legos from childhood, and I have steadfastly refused to give them up.  For good reason.  Charlie loves them!  The first thing he said when he saw them was "I am big.  I won't put them in my mouth."  And he didn't.

So many many things to try out!

Grace was NOT impressed...I mean, really not impressed.  Why couldn't she get down there, too?  She did throw her pacifier and also the large fake Legos she has, and say her version of "All Done!!"  

Haircut prep, must have fruit and drink to make it through the ordeal.

After the Cut.  He said his hair looked "flat."  I told him to mess it up, more like normal.

The Heat of Summer

If any of you dear readers ever look at a temperature map of the USA, I am sure you have noticed that the only really green or blue, or even white area, is the good old PNW...actually I think it is our own city block, but then I could be prejudiced.

In order to pretend it is a hot summer here, I have...

Cleaned the oven...which heated certain parts of the house up to 500 degrees F.  Bet that's hotter than where you are!

Knitted...sitting with a wool something on my knees sometimes makes me think the sun is shining hotly on my legs.  Not too good for tanning, though.

And baked...the best muffins, from my favorite recent cookbook, which, if you can find one, you must buy.  The Food You Crave, by Ellie Krieger.  I love her outlook on life and eating healthily and I love her sense of taste.  She just Looks Healthy...get the cookbook...you will see what I mean.  I also tried something new...homemade graham crackers...okay, these are amazingly good.  Nothing like store bought.  Don't try them with weak teeth, though!  They might be called Crackers for a reason!

We also entertained family guests...I am afraid they thought it might be summer here.  Poor things.

Greg and Angie and Carli and Kate were all here last weekend for a night.  How nice to see them again.  Thanks for coming up to this (chilly) blue/green corner of the mainly red/orange USA.

Oh, and PS...Grace is walking!!

Now, some pix, so you can see without having to read...

Carli gives Grace a bath.

Kate plays trains with Charlie...and this is in here to prove I was here, too.  The only pic with me in it!

Carli and Grace.

Angie and Erin.

Greg and Ed.  Ok, Ed is starting to look like his dad; and Greg is starting to look like Ed!!!

Charlie and Kate.

The Yummy Ellie Muffins...small breads, actually.

Graham crackers.  Try these sometime.  They will warm your house, and your tummy.

Artistic Expression

A couple of days ago both the grandkids were here.
And, of course, it was raining...
Charlie needed something to do, so he came up with this on his own.

Why I Love This Place

Those of you who read this blog (all 3 of you!) will know that I sometimes mention that it rains a bit here.  A bit?  A BIT??  Yesterday we were listening to the Mariner's game and Rick Rizzs (yes, that is his name) said, "Here at Safeco Field, the roof is open, the sun is out.  It's a beautiful night for baseball."  Ed and I both looked at the radio and said, "Who ARE you and where do you live?"

It was pouring at our house right then.

Ahh, the convergent zone.  Where weather collides.  Sometimes I think it is directly over our house...

But...

That is not what this post is about.  This is about what I love about this place...and by that I mean this house and this yard and this neighborhood and this city and this county and the Puget Sound area and the Pacific Northwest.

One of the things I love is...cherries.  I went to the Everett Farmer's Market after church on Sunday.  The first cherries from Yakima were out.  Not cheap! but definitely available.  Who can resist?  Are there any left two days later?  We leave you to figure it out.

I also love asparagus...which grows everywhere in the Fruit and Vegetable Bowl...that would be the Yakima Valley area, for those who don't know.  So, had to get some of that, too.

And, I also love flowers, and these are from my garden.  All that rain pays off sometimes.

55 Is Alright

Okay, so the big day is almost over.

And what a nice day it has been...began with coffee and roses, had breakfast with a girlfriend, went thrift store shopping, got caught in a huge rain storm (how unusual!), talked to Dad and Mom on the phone, talked to Alison, talked to Erin, had a visit from the kids and grandkids, a friend came by with some tea he bought for me, Ed made me a birthday omelet for supper, then decided to make his Williams Sonoma chocolate chip cookies for a birthday dessert.  Yum!

Okay, it was a great day.

Being 55 is great with these two as grandchildren.  Me with Charlie and Grace, 6/7/11.

Last month, after being duct taped and coddled along for ages, my old wonderful green Wellies finally went to boot heaven.  These are the Sloggers Ed got me today for my birthday.  Stylin"!

And here is the darling hummingbird feeder he also got me...handblown from recycled glass.  I love it!

The cookies...and are they worth every calorie-laden bite!

Erin makes these adorable dolls; this is the Gardening Grandmama she made for me.
Isn't she so amazingly cute?  I love the flower on her hat.
Happy Birthday, Me!  Thanks to all of you who helped make it so special.

Double Nickel

Today is my birthday.  I leave it to you to figure out how old I am.

Birthday roses, and the guard dog...see those wicked eyes?

And these were on my feeders yesterday, actually a whole flock of them.  This is a guy and his little wife, I think.  They sort of stuck together the whole time.  They are Evening Grosbeaks.  Large birds with large beaks.  The males are so pretty this year.  All the breeding male birds are gorgeous this year, for some reason.

Amazing Grace and the Birthday Party (and the Birthday Doll!)

Yesterday was gorgeous in so many ways.  For one...the weather was that perfect day we get here all too seldom...warm and cloudless and blue, blue sky.  No bugs, no humidity...just sun and loveliness.  We know it rains a ton here, and this year has been a winner...but when it is nice, there's no place nicer!  At least that's what we tell ourselves.

Then the party started!

Erin came over a bit early to help get ready for Grace's first birthday.  Ribs were cooking, salads were being assembled, cupcakes were being inspected (and sampled!).  We expected George and Betty and Kara and Josh, along with Grace's little family, for a lunch bbq and party.

Pictures tell it best...so here you go...

Finally...a day when we could make real sun tea.

The Deck Decor

Okay...I don't know any other baby turning one who has gluten-free rhubarb cupcakes for her cake, but these were amazing.  Erin made them...and when she told me how much butter was in them, my heart sort of squeezed in pain.  :)  But they were delicious, and Grace loved the meringue icing.  Were the cupcakes a hit?  See the rest of this post for details...

Erin making her yummy strawberry pecan salad.

And, finally, here's the Birthday Girl.

Grandpa Ed took some great pictures in the front yard to commemorate the Great Gracie Day.

Three Generations.

Practicing the walking...very, verrryyyyy close!

Eating chips with Grandpa Ed.

Grandma Betty and Grace.

Grace's own birthday cupcake.

The frosting is a definite hit.

This is the Bitty Baby Doll (American Girl baby doll) Ed and I got Grace for her birthday.  She loves it!
That made us feel very good.

Fascinated with the open/close eyes.

And here a dejected big brother, whose birthday it is NOT, is saying "I think I need a doll!"

So, while Grace opened other presents, Charlie inspected the open/close eyes...and suddenly realized that here, finally, was a little sister WHO WOULD DO WHATEVER HE TOLD HER TO DO!

Sophie guards the remnants of the party...

The remnants...and this one disappeared, too, strangely enough.

And, finally, after naps and visits, Charlie read the new doll a story...he calls  her "Graces' son."  

A Very Happy Birthday, Gracie Girl!
We love you so much.