A Little of This and That

 Hi everyone,

Last night was very blustery. It was cold, we had a lot of heavy rain, and there were pretty strong wind gusts (for us anyway.) Our lights flickered a few times and even went out once. Just for a few seconds. Long enough where we had to reset all the clocks. Today our yard and driveway are full of small branches and twigs. And the car windshields are covered with pine needles. Wet pine needles. I'm very grateful though that all the tall evergreen trees remained upright. One of my constant prayers during this time of year.

Speaking of trees, we live in a small greenbelt and I've been keeping my eye on this one tree in a neighbors yard that was really dead. I walked outside the other day to see a tree trimmer taking it down! I'm so relieved it never fell and landed on our homes or cars. Can you see that little orange dot where the trunk ends and the branches begin? That's the guy just starting to remove all the branches.

I took part in a Holiday Market last weekend. I've made my own greeting cards for more than 20 years but I just started selling them last year. Once we all get set up it's fun to walk around and see what everyone else has made. Then when it opens the people flow in and they stop to talk, sometimes more than shop. I loved it though. I think we're all desperate for connection.

Everyone is still setting up their booths. I ran upstairs to get a picture. 

That's my table at the bottom.

I was washing dishes the other day and saw the sun shining on the trees across the street. I turned off the water and ran out to get a picture. This is my view from the kitchen and dining room and I love watching these leaves change every year.

Let's see, what else. Chuck is in Denver visiting his sister. She had a stroke 20 years ago and has been paralyzed on her right side. Last year at this time she broke her right ankle and has been in and out of hospitals and rehab centers ever since. She hasn't been home in over a year. So he's there helping out where he can for a few days.

That's about all from here. I hope you're having a good start to the fall season. Are you as shocked as I am that November starts the end of this week?  

A Quick Family Update Post

Good morning,

I woke up really early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep so I got up and had breakfast. There were no clouds when I first got up and now the fog has rolled in. It really feels like fall and for some reason I'm excited for it this year. The older I get the more I'm enjoying the cooler temps and rain. Maybe I'm becoming more like a hermit every day!

I finally got Beth signed up for Speech Therapy, something I've wanted to do for years. I needed to get a referral from her doctor and now that's been done. I'm hoping to get her started in the next few weeks. She can talk, but she really struggles with articulation and she knows people can't understand her so she just doesn't talk. I'm hoping this gives her more confidence and helps her interact with people more.

I did some shopping earlier this week and when I came out of one store the sky was incredible! The white clouds against the blue sky with the fall leaves... the colors were so vivid. The trees are a little dark in this picture but they were bright!

We got to video chat with Diana this week. Adelaide is growing so fast and her communication skills are way beyond a two-and-a-half year old. Oliver was asleep so we didn't get to see him this time. We love being able to visit with them.

Sharaya's birthday is on Monday so we'll be celebrating her this weekend. We'll take her out for dinner, then if we don't do gifts at the restaurant we'll come back here for cake and presents. I posted these on our family text a few days ago:

Yellowstone

Sharaya's on the right

At the Grand Canyon

Sharaya's wearing the hat

  Visiting my mom

We went on a long western U.S. road trip through eight states, and it was one of our biggest vacations while the kids were growing up. 

And Sharaya is older now, than I was on this trip. It's crazy to think about!

That's about all for now. I should close this and get my day started. I hope you're enjoying the beginning of fall. 'Til next time! Have a wonderful weekend!

Waterfront, The Best of Trail Mix, and Thanksgiving Already?!

Good evening,

 

I'm writing this at 7:30 on Saturday. Today there's been so many games on TV - first the Seattle Mariners, then the Seattle Sounders, and now the Seahawks. I've been in and out of the living room, watching some with Chuck. I spent some time in the den making greeting cards, and then remembered I hadn't posted on here. I was looking through my phone trying to remember what we've been up to the last few days.

 

Beth and I went down to the waterfront. It's about a five minute drive from our house. We were only there for a few minutes but it was good to get out and smell that ocean! (She has her head phones around her neck.)

 

 

I don't know how it is where you are but around here the leaves are changing color, we've had a lot of rain, and the temps have dropped to  the 50's and 60's. Chuck even turned on the fireplace this morning! We're supposed to get some sunshine and temps back in the 70's next week but it sure seems like summer is over.

 

We've video-chatted with Diana and Adelaide this weekend. She's just over a year and a half but she acts so much older. Here's she's looking through the trail mix for her favorite things!

 

 Ally and I went to the mall yesterday to get some stuff for school. Unfortunately I didn't get a single picture. But I cannot believe she's starting high school! For all intents and purposes, she's an adult: she's my height, she's mature, she's kind, it's been such a blessing getting to watch her grow up. Time is just going so fast.

 

Not too much else going on. I'm going to a Thanksgiving meeting tomorrow after church. We always meet the last Sunday of August to begin prepping for our Thanksgiving Outreach. This is our 30th year. The associate pastor and his wife who lead this are now in their 70's and she was telling me this just might be their last year. Course she's been saying that for a few years now, but they are moving slower and slower as time goes on. We'll see what happens after this year.

 

Well, time for me to get ready for tomorrow. Have a good day - 

 

Fall, Old Cars, Graduation Gift

 We woke up the other morning to this...

 

 

Today we have blue skies and it's gorgeous out but it's cooler than it has been. You know when 70 degrees in July is different than 70 degrees in September? I think it's time to put the comforter back on the bed.

 

I went to our local car show last weekend. I don't know a lot about cars, but I sure love lookin' at 'em! Especially the older ones.

 

 

 

Do you see the Queen waving from the hood?

 

 

My first car was a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang. My dad gave it to me for my graduation. I only had it for a couple of years but I sure got a lot of attention when I drove it around. Didn't know why at the time. Now I know! I sure wish I had taken better care of it.

 

 What was your first car? Did you have it for a while?

 

It's Just Around The Corner!

Our church had a week of prayer and fasting last week and even though food is the traditional thing that most people give up, I usually fast social media. That's the thing that takes up most of my time, the thing that wastes most of my time. Since I wasn't scrolling through Facebook and Instagram I spent more time in prayer and in the Lord's presence plus spent two hours sobbing. Yep. Just good ol' let-the-tears-flow-and-release-a-little-stress sobbing. I honestly felt better when I was done. Releasing stress and giving things over to the Lord, it was a very good week.

Only 16 days 'til the wedding! Remember, this is the venue where they're having the reception ~

 

We're trying to figure out how to pack floor length gowns into a suitcase! I found a more casual dress to wear to a different event they're planning that week and bought some flats to go with it. Diana actually found them. I went into DSW to try on a different pair - I had to order the Navy ones on-line - and they're so comfortable! They're sketchers!

 

I got the email saying they had been delivered to the store and I could pick them up anytime. I'm so thankful I decided to try them on before I left the store because when I opened the box...

Not quite what I was expecting. My dress is navy blue with small white polka dots (think Julia Roberts at a polo match 😄) so these wouldn't work. They posted the wrong photo on their website. I've checked since and they no longer list any Navy ones. So my search continues. Beth and I pick up our dresses on Friday!

Fall has arrived here and the colors are stunning!

These trees will be completely red in a few short weeks!

I can't remember whose page I saw this on but I loved this! If you were born in the 60's or 70's you might remember the song!

What special events are you looking forward to this fall?

Thankful Thursday

Knit by God's Hand 

I'm linking up again with Knit by God's Hand! 

This week I'm thankful for ~

Quiet moments

Leaves turning yellow

Cooler temps

Tillamook Banana Split ice cream

Dinner with the family

Finishing a project

Pumpkins

Good friends

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Trying Hard to be Thankful - Thursday

 

I'm linking up again with Rebecca Jo. Check out her blog!

 

Beth's eye appointment didn't go as hoped but the good news is she won't be having surgery! 

Work is getting extremely busy very fast but so far I've still got a good attitude about everything! 😁

The fireplace is going to cost $4000 more than we first thought but it will be installed in 2 weeks and I can't wait!

Chuck and I are working a lot of overtime lately but it will help pay for the fireplace! 

I'm so done with doing yard work this year and thankfully Fall is right around the corner! Woohoo!

I hope you find a lot to be thankful for this week even if you have to really look for it!

Random Stuff

I've been in a funk the last few days. I think it's due to stress and so much responsibility on my shoulders right now. I know you've been there too, when you can't turn your thoughts off and you're waking up in the middle of the night thinking of all the things you have to do or trying to remember if you did everything you were supposed to do... and I hate feeling this way during this time of year!

Beth has been home sick all week. I think it's just a cold, there's no fever, she's just really congested.

There are 4 staff members at work who have had the stomach flu this week. The rest of us are using disinfecting wipes everywhere!

I thought our washing machine broke a few weeks ago. After doing a load the laundry room floor was flooded! I took the rug outside and mopped up the mess. We didn't use it for a week and then one afternoon when Chuck was home I laid out a bunch of towels and did a small load.

No water.

Then I did a medium load and then a large and there was no water on the floor! I have no idea what caused it before but I'm so thankful it's still working! It's really old, we bought it about 15 years ago but it's still going strong!

I just looked through my camera to see if I have pictures I could post but they're all of work! Crooked doors, a big event last week, part of a shelving unit I want to replace...     

Chuck continues to do well with his new diet. He saw the nutritionist on Monday and now he's able to eat soft foods like applesauce, soft scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, etc. His clothes are looking really baggy on him!

Are you doing okay? I hope things are going well for you and your families.  

I Was Sure I Had Killed It

Chuck and I finally went and saw Downton Abbey the other day. There were only about 8 of us in the theater cause it's been out for so long already but it was really good! We love those characters! As we were walking to the car he asked if I noticed they left the ending open for another movie. 😊

Sharaya and Allie come over for lunch on Sundays and Sharaya sometimes goes grocery shopping while we watch Allie. One Sunday recently we all went outside and cleaned up the driveway. I was told evergreen trees don't lose their leaves, they stay green all year so our first winter in Washington I saw our huge cedar trees needles (not sure you can call them leaves?) turn orange! What?! I started to panic! I was sure I had killed this 50 year old tree! But no, some of the older 'leaves' turn orange and fall off, covering your driveway and front porch and sidewalk and they get in your car and your house...

So you have to go out and clean up. We got the leaf blower and brooms and got to work. It's not as fun as jumping in a huge pile of maple leaves but it's family time!

 

After the yard work we went in and played Mexican Train. It's such a fun game! Look at that concentration! If I remember right, Beth won. Of course. She's so good at this game!

Work is still very busy but my boss and I are trying to come up with a solution to lessen my workload. Honestly I'm not sure his idea will work but I'm willing to give it a try. I'll let you know after the changes have been made. I had another meeting with my team today. With our Thanksgiving outreach right around the corner things are about to get even busier!

Are you already prepping for Thanksgiving?