A Girls Day Out

 Hi everyone,

Beth and I had a girls day out last week. A little work and a little fun. 

She had another doctor's appointment on Friday. I always have her read the signs to find out which hallway we're to go down. I don't know about you but it's easy for us to get lost in the maze of hallways and rooms. The test went well, it was just routine.

We're still waiting for the results.

Then it was off to DSW for some shoe shopping! Woohoo! She likes Saucony tennis shoes so it's easy to shop. She knows exactly what she wants and knows to look for the name as she goes down the aisle. I got some Bob's, they're a knock-off of Toms. I loved the colors as soon as I saw them. I'm really liking the blues and creams lately.

Beth just got home from karaoke and art so I ran down to see if I could take a picture of her shoes. I thought she would take them off but instead she spun her chair, and planted her feet. 😄 I think she's done 'peopling' for today.

After DSW we went to Chick-Fil-A for a late lunch/early dinner. We recently learned they're opening one right around the corner from our house! That could be dangerous!

Then it was home for rest and relaxation. We don't do it all the time but when we do, we love to shop!

When you shop, do you get in and get out? Or are you one to browse? Or do you shop on-line?

Have a great rest of your week!

Beth Doesn't Seem to Sense Danger

Last week there were two people, a brother and sister hanging out on the pier I often go to, about five minutes from our house. You walk out to the 'boardwalk', the pier is to the left and the ferry dock to the right. I took these in August - 

Granted these two were out on the pier in the middle of the night, but while they were there, four guys walked by them and two of them shot the guy! Point blank! According to the reports, the sister said they didn't know them. It's crazy!! 

Our grocery store has other smaller stores around it, a UPS store, TJ Maxx etc. and the crime has gotten bad. They've put one of those cart things... I just looked it up - a mobile surveillance trailer in the parking lot. Our little town has always been safe but the crime is really increasing. It seems to be that way everywhere.  

I'm one of those people who, when I'm walking toward my car, I check the reflection to see if anyone is following me. As soon as I get in, the doors are locked. I'm not panicked about it, it's just a habit I've developed.

When Beth and I were at the grocery store (the day after the shooting) there was a homeless guy hanging around us in the store. He wandered away when we went to the check out but I noticed he was following us as we headed to the car.

You know that feeling when your senses are up and your adrenaline increases? I turned around and looked directly at him and he immediately turned and walked through some cars. Honestly I thought about what I had bought and if I had some food that I could give him but I didn't really have anything like that. Just Beth's meds, some paper products... 

Beth and I quickly unloaded the cart while I kept my eye on him - he was still walking away from us - and Beth? She was just happily putting things in the car, reminding me of the paper towels under the cart "Crazy Mothera!" and giggling... completely unaware of the guy.

My adrenaline was high but I stayed calm. I told her to get in the car and I'd put the cart away. I kept my eye on the guy (he was on the other side of the lot by now) and I just shoved the cart across the drive into the cart holder thing and jumped in the car. Beth is still getting into the car, half in/half out, moving her backpack, slowly getting settled. I told her to close her door and she slowly leaned out to grab it... 

She honestly had no idea. I locked the doors and started the engine. Since he nowhere near us I took the time to explain about the man and how it was important to always be aware of people around you. It's something I've said to her many times over the years, but she just doesn't sense danger. And with the world the way it is, it makes me a little nervous.

On to better things - She bought some new headphones this week. She likes the kind that goes over her ears. I actually like those kind better too!

Every Sunday now Beth takes a nap after we get home from church. We usually take Sharaya and Ally out for lunch and when we get home she heads downstairs. Today I was able to get a photo. I'm glad she likes her recliner!

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 - 

 

Family, Target, Nature - What We've Been Up To

 Hi everyone,

 

I hope you're enjoying Spring, it's hard to believe we're into June already. Summer's not too far away, although for the Seattle area, our summer temps usually don't begin until July 5. Until then we'll still get rain, cool temps, and gray, dreary skies. After July 5 though, we'll get months of sunshine and warm temperatures! I'm looking forward to that!

 

We're still trying to walk as often as we can. With our schedules and the weather, it can be hard to coordinate.

 

The Burke-Gilman Trail used to be a railroad track. It's part of the national Rails-to-Trails system that goes from Washington DC to Washington State. It's so pretty. We're grateful to have this close by. Yep, that's Beth in her red shirt again.

 

 I stepped outside one day to find the bird's nest on the ground. The poor Junko's didn't get any babies this year. I hope they use the wreath again next year.

 

 

We've been video chatting with Diana and Adelaide. She's growing so fast! And she's talking a lot! She's only a year and a half but says SO many words. Loves Minnie Mouse and trains. Here she's putting stickers in a notebook. She'd get one stuck on her finger, then show it to me and we'd laugh. I can't wait to see her next month.

I pick Allison up from school most Fridays. I'll ask her if something absolutely amazing happened at school today and she'll just look at me and shake her head no. Ah, middle school. Remember those days? When she gets out of the car though, I tell her I love her and she always says, "I love you too." 💕

 

 Beth and I did some shopping last week. Chuck dropped us off at Kohls, then we walked to Target (across the parking lot.) She bought gel pens, markers, and lined paper. I bought a new scotch tape dispenser. We've needed one for years, and I just kept forgetting to buy one. One of those little things that make a big difference.

 

We all went walking at Juanita Bay last week. Sharaya suggested this place, she's taken a lot of professional photos there over the years and I can see why!

 

See the green trees and bushes on the other side of the lake? That's where we walked to, actually going out of the park, walking along the busy streets, then back into the park and out onto the docks in that area.

 

This was some type of Crane. It had a huge wing span!

 

In this picture there is a log in the water, with ducks and tortoises  sunning themselves.

It really was beautiful. At the end of the day our watches and phones told us we had walked four miles. Our legs said it was a lot farther!

I love having slow mornings where I can stay in my bathrobe, drink some tea and just hang out at home. Which is what I got to do today. But now it's time to get started on my day. I hope you have a wonderful day too!

Mother-Daughter Day

Friday started with me going to the walk-in clinic. Even though I'm feeling pretty good I've had this sore throat off and on for a couple weeks and wanted to figure out what was causing it. Tested negative for strep, and the doctor thinks it's just post nasal drip. So now I'm on nose spray, and drinking warm tea with honey. I pray this is the end of all this.

 

Our first stop was Michaels. I needed some paper for my greeting cards and she needed... can you guess? 😊 See them? They're already in the cart. She was looking at a Valentine's coloring book, but decided not to get it.

 

 Our next stop was Target but I didn't get any pictures. We bought some valentines things for my Sunday school class and a few other things that I don't quite remember.

 

Then we headed to Hobby Lobby. Oh we love that store! We bought some new decorations for Easter, one was the three crosses with white cloth draped over it, it's stunning. Beth spotted it and pointed it out to me. When I took it off the shelf and showed it to her she said her eyes were wet. "I get emotional when I see that." Her love for the Lord is so strong and genuine.

 

 I asked her where she wanted to have dinner and listed a few different places. She chose Chick-fil-a. We got the chicken nuggets with fries, I got sweet tea and she chose root beer. On the way out to the car we talked about how much fun we'd had that day!

 

 

This and That

 I'm home from work today with a slight sore throat. It's not bad but I don't know what it is and don't want to spread it to anyone else. So I'll putter around the house, take some EmergenC and pray!

 

Chuck brought me flowers the other day, just because. I love that man!

 

 I hung a couple pictures of my granddaughters. Both on a swing as babies. And both with the greatest smiles! Allison (without the hat) will be 14 next month! And Adelaide is 9 months old now! She gets smarter every day. I love these girls!

 

 These pictures always make me smile!

 

 Allison

 

 

Adelaide

 I was thinking the other day - they are third generation girls. I'm the youngest of three daughters, I had three daughters and now my daughters are having daughters!

 

Me and my sisters Easter morning: L-R Kathy, Debbie, me

 

My girls Easter morning: Sharaya, Beth, Diana in front

And their girls. My heart 💗

 

 

Beth and I went to Michael's a couple weeks ago. 

You can probably guess which aisle she went to first...

 

 

Yep! I guess a girl can never have enough markers!

 

Then we get to the front and find it's all self-check out. We hadn't been there in a while and were a little surprised to see it. There was one checker down at the other end who would help if needed but they want you to do it yourself now. So many stores are going to this format. If stores are having a hard time hiring I can kind of understand the reason for it but I'm sure not a fan. It took us a few minutes to figure out the system but we finally did, and headed home.

I organized all our old home movies and reel-to-reels, and they fit perfectly in the photo boxes. The closet looks so much better.

 

We've put the oscillating fans back in the garage and now have the fireplace going most mornings. I'm loving fall!

 

 

That's about all from here. 

Have a wonderful rest of your week!

 

Shoes, Needles, and Pretzels

 Beth and I spent the day running errands on Friday. She had to get some follow up lab work done, we went to DSW for shoes and socks, Big Lots for an ottoman for her room, dropped some things off at Goodwill, and we walked around the mall.

 

We weren't on a timeline, we weren't rushed, it was just a nice, slow-paced afternoon.

 

She does so well at the doctor. This was before she had the blood draw - look at that smile! She always talks to the phlebotomist, she can be so chatty in there! I can hear her tell them about her job... how her mom doesn't like needles so she goes in for her blood draw by herself and that she doesn't mind getting them... Miss Chatty Cathy!

 

 We left there and headed to DSW. I needed some socks and while we were there I asked her if she wanted to buy another pair of shoes. She loves the shoes she has so she bought a pair just like them. Quick and easy!

 

While we were at the mall we stopped at Auntie Anne's, we hadn't been there in such a long time. We used to go a lot, in fact she used to work there! Not long after graduating she used to hand out samples. She was there a few months then moved on to something else, I don't remember what. She was in a job training program that found her jobs throughout the community. That's how she ended up folding boxes at Little Caesars. I think that's been her favorite job so far. I don't have any pictures of her working at Auntie Anne's, but here she is at LC. She worked there 5 years and used to fold upwards of 1000 boxes during her weekend shift. Some of you might remember when she worked there.

 

 And this was Friday - 

 

 More walking, then a little break. I was really proud of her for walking the mall. We didn't do the whole thing but she did a good amount. Even went into a couple stores to look around. She was on her feet for quite a while.

 

 We got the lab results today and her thyroid levels are 'back to normal.' Thank you Lord! I believe the changes we're making are helping a lot.