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.

Memorial Day Memories...One Day Later

What a nice weekend...Ed and I spent it together, just doing this and that.  Changed car oil, hung up the flag that is so torn because it never came down the whole while Alison was deployed to Iraq (we need a new one!), cleaned out gardens (between rain bursts), used the BBQ, went to church, went for a 75 mile motorcycle ride (hello, hot tub!), took Sophie for a walk/run, had AECG over for Memorial Day Brunch (We like this! Maybe a new tradition), got a new bird feeder, listened to M's games (winning streak-o-rama!! Who are these guys!?), napped (Grace and Grandpa), played the keyboard (Charlie), played Kray Cro (see pix below),  and enjoyed visiting each other.  Also talked with our own personal veteran, Alison.  (Love you!!)

We miss those of you we couldn't visit with.  And thank you, US soldiers, for what you have done and do for this country.

Official Memorial Day visit from our state bird...
American Goldfinch (along with a Pine Siskin)

I got Charlie a little cement mixer truck, and he said he wanted to write me a thank you card.  He did that, then drew me a picture of the band he and his parents and Grace had heard the night before...although he renamed his band the Bender Band.  In case you need some interpretation: Left to Right - keyboard player, with stool ("those things they sit on") behind him; drummer, with stool behind him; guitar player, with no stool because, of course, they stand up to play!  When Charlie was putting the hair on the heads of the band members, Ed asked if those were hats.  NO! It's hair!  Then we realized that we are of the age group which mostly watches bands with players who are bald.  :) And, to interpret the abstract quality of this piece, the arms are the outer lines, the legs are the inner lines, they have no bodies.  Who needs bodies to play an instrument?
(I am especially in love with the drummer...in his MC Hammer pants.)

A little down time with Grandpa and Gracie

In memory of CS Lewis...a snacking Dufflepud.
(Voyage of the Dawn Treader - read the book, SKIP the new movie!  Ick.)

It's...it's...it's Baby Gap!

Oh my goodness...this is the coolest thing I have ever seen!

And I WANT IT RIGHT NOW!!!  (She's yelling at Charlie...she's good at it. :)

Charlie: "And then you need to give the hammers a rest, because every time you hit the ball, the air goes out of them...then they have a rest and get more air.  But if they are just still, the air stays in.  Only when you hit the ball, it goes out."  Ed: "Whaaa???"

Kisses for Standing Girl

Getting ready for Cro Kray...um, Kray Cro...um, Cro Kay??

Hitting the stick

Happy Memorial Day!  We love you.

What a Nice Day!

Yesterday, starting out the day by getting down to ZERO owed was a great way to begin.

Then it just got better...the weather was absolutely gorgeous, so I painted the four benches on our two decks.  They look so nice and clean now.  Two more of my beans popped up.  My nice neighbor gave me some Walla Walla onions which I planted.  I also took some irises off her hands and used them to fill in empty garden areas.

Later Erin and Charlie and Grace came by for a little visit and a walk down to Forest Park, where Grace swung in the swing, and Charlie played all over the play area.  Ed had a nice cigar, and Sophie wore herself out running UP and DOWN the huge sledding hill at the park.  She's still asleep this morning.  :)  Aaron met us there, riding his bike - did you know yesterday was Ride Your Bike to Work Day?  (So Ed rode his motorcycle...great exercise.  :)

Then we all piled back home for some snacks...Erin made Kettle Corn, which was yummy.  Grace practiced taking steps with me holding the back of her shirt.  And...the kids settled down with Grandpa for some Richard Scarry time...

...And never ever chase a ball into the street...and never ever bring home a baby alligator!

Let me see, too!

Then Ed and I jumped into the hot tub for awhile, and went to bed.  What a Nice Day!