Walk with me by the water, worth the read... A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE ABOUT GROWING OLDER:

Crap...

I forgot the words....

Finding Joy in The Pacific Northwest

Crocus in my Mother's driveway

Fungus at the base of a tree in the center of my Mother's driveway

We went for a ride on Saturday, last week.  The goal was to find some snow.
I spotted this cabin back in a clearing when we stopped for a potty break for Darius.

We did find some snow, but it was not nice snow.  Darius and Papa did take a moment to pose for the camera though.

You can see this mountain as you drive into our town from I-5.  It is Whitehorse Mountain up in Darrington.
It is a beautiful mountain with year round snow.

Tonight there was the most beautiful bright rainbow in the Eastern sky.

If you look closely, you can see traces of the rainbow behind my weeping willow  tree.
The tree is almost in full leaf.

It was so large, I could not take a picture if the entire thing in one shot.

Genesis 9:13-16
13: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
14: And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud.
15: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16: And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

Using Plastic Bottles to seal plastic bags.

Cut up a disposable water bottle and keep the neck and top, as in photo.

Insert the plastic bag through the neck and screw the top to seal.

The bag is made to be air-tight, such that water will not leak, the
secret lies with the top and screw cap!  This is a great idea to share.

Good for us and the environment too.

Zip-top bags are great, but sometimes you buy something in bulk and you're stuck with an unsealable bag. Home-centric blog Re-Nest shows us an easy way to give these bags an airtight seal with an old water bottle.

All you need to do is cut off the top of the bottle and take off the cap. Push the bag through the bottle neck, fold it over the edges, and twist the cap back on. Now, your bag has an air and water tight seal, and you didn't have to waste the bag.

This was an e-mail sent to me by a friend.  I often wish I were clever enough to think up something so brilliant.

Finding Joy In

An unexpected package marked,

on my front porch.

30 plus years ago, a niece lived with me in Alaska.  She was in high school and like so many of her age, she was struggling with who she was.  She was taking wood shop and we had purchased the wood for her to make a shelf for my antique tea cups and saucers.  As with many things in life, she did not complete it.  Every time I would see her, she would 'remember' that she owed me a cabinet.

As soon as I saw the box on my porch I knew exactly what it was.  I did not even have to open it or the packing slip to know.

I got Stan to hang it up immediately in my sewing room and very quickly had it decorated with many of my favorite cups and saucers.
Thank you Gwen, darling, I will think of you every time I see this.
Sad footnote is that she is in Renal failure and desperately needs a kidney.  There are no matches in our family and we are waiting for her only hope, which is a non-related donor.

My garden waking up.  This is a Poppy plant my mother gave me years ago.
One spring, I came home and Stan was out weeding the garden.  I was talking to him and he told me about the huge thistle he had dug out.  I had this terrible fear that it was my poppy and went to look.  Sure enough it was gone.  I was able to dig it out of the compost pile and replant it.  Thankfully it thrived.

A peony I rescued from Karyn's Garden last fall. I believe it is a light pink.
I am so happy to see the buds on it.

My very favorite garden plant is my Wisteria.  I wait every year for its blooms.  When it is in full leaf, it makes my back yard very private.

My Cherry tree is beginning to awaken also.

A reminder that even though it may be Spring, we can still have inclimate weather conditions.

There is also much joy in granddaughters who sing on the Worship Team in their Church.  This little head belongs to Olivia, who is standing beside her daddy at the piano.  David is worship leader at their church. This was the first week she sang with the group.  During first service she stood out front with her sister, but something embarrassed her and she insisted on standing beside daddy during second service.

Her sister Amanda, who sings regularly on the team.

Olivia after the church service.
I apologize for the fuzzy pictures, but someone else was taking them and I did not realize they were not in focus.

Finishing a sweet little sweater and dress for my niece's first baby.

Because a daughter counseled me to find joy in the things around me.
Jeremiah 15:16
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine hear: for I am called by thy name O LORD GOD of hosts.

Just for the fun of it, let's play a little game

I have spent much of the past two weeks cleaning and organizing my craft closet.  In one forgotten box, I found this jewel.  If you know what it is, please leave me a comment.  I will take all of the correct comments and put them in a bowl and allow one of my Random Generators (AKA grands) select the winner.  Of course I am not telling what you will win, except to say, it is not this.  It will just be a fine prize worth the entry:)  One week, so next Saturday, I will be selecting the lucky soul who will win.

Finding Joy In

Me, and three of my five daughters holding Mama's hand.

Jonah and Olivia on Centennial Trail.  We are hoping for another warm day so we can go again.

Washington State is a wintering place for Canadian Geese and Trumpeter Swans.
I took this picture up near the Canadian Border.

I did not make it out for pictures this week.  These are some from my "archives."

I went to mother's again today. Same as last week. Fixed my brothers some homemade spaghetti sauce. I took some french bread I had in the freezer and buttered it and sprinkled it with herbs. Told them to just toast it under the broiler for a few minutes. I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, mopped the floors and vacuumed the living room. I also scrubbed the toilet. I hate cleaning my own toilet, so it had to be an act of pure love to clean theirs:)
I was sitting at the table reading the newspaper and Darius climbed up behind me and wrapped his arms around my neck and put his soft little cheek against mine and said, "I know you wrelly miss Great Grandma, but it will get better." I was not crying before he said it, but it was hard not to afterwards. Had to reach around and give him a great big hug. How does a three year old know?
I found some poems my dad had written before he died. I was thinking I might share this one with you. I embroidered it and it has hung in mothers dining room for about 20 years. I am suppose to have it, but I just cannot take it off of the wall yet. It is called The Angel Beside Me.

To all my children
As I grow old,
I have one more story
That has never been told.
Of the Angel beside me.
It was she gave you life.
Through hardship and heartache,
She has always been there.
In good times and bad times,
So willing to share.
As dreams were shattered,
And plans went astray,
In all things that mattered,
This Angel would stay.
Through sunshine and laughter,
In sorrow and pain.
Always beside me
And never complain.
Should I leave you tomorrow,
Please have no regrets.
Just remember the good times,
But never forget,
The Angel beside me......
Your Mother, my Wife.

John R. Higgins
1915-1987
I do find it is good for me to go to her house. I can still smell her. It keeps her near.

The Journey

This is the most amazing blog I read.
She keeps me grounded.

Today

I went to my mother's house for the first time.  It was a good thing for me to do.  I fixed dinner for my brothers.  One had told me that dinnertime is so lonesome for him.  I swept and mopped the kitchen and dining room floors.  Putzed around, dug through a few things.  I am not really ready to do any major digging yet though. Actually, I felt a little like I was intruding in things that were not my business.  Things I had never seen and she had not mentioned.  I found one little mystery but I put it back.  I will look at it again, later.
I sat in her chair and smelled her, I cried, not as much as I thought I would though.  I am thinking I might go there once a week for a while.  Fixing dinner for my brothers is therapeutic for me too.  I used to have dinner ready when I would leave in the afternoon.
I miss her, I wake up every morning planning what I need to do for her on that day.  Then, I remember.