I'm Melting!

Everything is melting around here.

Whew!

I started back to work so my summer vacation is over.

Have a great weekend!

~~~~~~Y~~~~~~

~Tidbit~

When packing or storing your china, use paper plates, sandwiched between each china plate to cushion them.

Record Breaking Heat Wave

This is the temperature...

This is the time...

All our local news stations says it is going to be record breaking temperatures all this week!
We who live in the Seattle area, are not use to this.

It's time for a Rain Dance

~~~~~~Y~~~~~~

~Tidbit~

For injured lips and tongues, try sucking on Popsicles! They not only taste good, but also reduce swelling and soothe pain.
I'm also going to be eating a lot of these this week to help keep cool!

After Wedding Blues?

No after the wedding blues for us...we went on a vacation for three days! What a great way to end what was, a great wedding weekend. Tom and I took our daughter and grand daughter to Hood River, in Oregon. We figured this would probably be the last time our daughter would have "time away", before baby # 2 arrives. Her husband stayed behind to work and take care of our two dogs. Monday morning we packed the car and headed south to Portland, Oregon.

For us, it's about a four hour drive. When you have a pregnant mom, we took lots of potty breaks, so we arrived about five hours later.

First thing we did was put our feet in Columbia River.

The temperature outside was about 95 degrees.

Hot, hot, hot!

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We stayed in a Hotel that was right downtown. This hotel had so much charm. In the evening there was a group of gentleman who played Blue Grass right in the lobby. The doors were open to the street and people stopped in, to listen. We plopped ourselves down on the big, overstuffed, leather chairs, to enjoy the lively music. Our grand daughter loves to dance, so she got up and kept the beat with her little feet, and twirled around. Our daughter couldn't resist either. We had so much fun!

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We walked up and down the town. Ate ice cream and found a water fountain that we couldn't pass up.

Hey...who has Grandma's hat on?

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Our second day we took what is called the Fruit Loop. This is a scenic road that takes you around to all the fruit groves in the Hood River area.

Mt Hood, Oregon



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Later that afternoon, we crossed the great Columbia River from the Oregon side, to the Washington side. The toll was 75 cents! What a deal! We visited the small town of Bingen, on the Washington side.


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On our last day we packed up and headed east to Pendelton, Oregon.

Tom and I had visited this rustic, cowboy town last year. We toured the Pendelton Mills, where they make fabulous blankets, and clothing. In the back of the store they have a "2nds" area, where all the items are discounted because of some little flaw. But I looked and looked and couldn't find anything wrong. So this year, I couldn't pass up this opportunity for get more woolen blankets!

This is the Pendelton Woolen Mills. Small but mighty! And yes, I did buy some blankets and a little toy lamb that just had to go home with us!

Someone fell in love with it.

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We browsed around Hamley & Co, a store also in Pendleton. Hamley & Co. is a very unique store, that opened over a 100 years ago, making custom saddles for cowboys. Today they have saddles and so much more.

While I was looking after the little one...

(If you look carefully you can see Lamby)

Tom was looking after me and bought me this handmade purse!

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Our trip home was beautiful. We went through Eastern Washington. Very remote and barren but very beautiful.

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One last stop before we ended our vacation. This is a Fruit Stand that we see all the time when we visit Eastern Washington. But I never have stopped. This time we did. Yummy! Lots of fruit!

We ate cherries the rest of the way home!

We talked about this trip when we got home. We have voted to make it an annual event.

Come visit Washington and Oregon.

It was a great time!

~~~~~~Y~~~~~~

~ Tidbits~

You don't have to buy expensive "delicate wash" detergents for sweaters and washable silks. Use shampoo.

Sunday Picnic (day after the Wedding)

We all gathered over at Bev's for a family picnic and swim.

Yes, we had a wedding cake with the very same cake topper.

We used and reused this cute couple for several events.

It was a short walk down to the dock for a refreshing dip in the lake.

Some sat on the deck and looked at old family pictures. Every few minutes you could hear a roar of laughter about a picture that someone was looking at.

But most of the time you could hear the splash of someone jumping, diving, swimming or boating in the refreshing, cool lake.

We all agreed that this was so much fun. And if we could, we would have another wedding the following weekend.

But WHO?

~~~~~~Y~~~~~~

~Tidbit~

A cloth dipped in two percent peroxide and used as a pressing cloth will remove most scorches.

Sunday Breakfast (morning after the Wedding)

After a night of dancing and celebrating, we gathered over at our home for an Open House - Sunday Breakfast.

We opened our doors at 7:30 A.M.

And yes, we had family at our door then.

Some of our overnight guests were still asleep, but soon got up.

The coffee was fresh and hot.

The pastries were good.

The fruit was plentiful.

Our son made the easiest and yummiest egg casserole.

Recipe: 2 cups dry, chicken, Stovetop Stuffing

2 cups milk

1 1/2 Cups cooked sausage or ham (cubed)

6 eggs, beaten

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Grease 9 x 12 baking dish

Mix all ingredients together

Pour into prepared baking dish

Bake for 45-50 minutes

I suggest to double this recipe because it was delicious and went fast!

The morning was very warm and so we sat outside and talked about the wedding.

Tom and our son tied cans to the car of Bob and Tamar. The windows were painted with hearts and Just Married.

Everyone left because we had to get ready for the picnic over at Bev's (Bob and Tom's sister). That party started at 12:30 P.M.

In the mean time our son and daughter-in-law had a quiet moment with one of their dogs.

~~~~~~Y~~~~~~

~Tidbits~

To freshen laundry, add one-third cup baking soda to the wash or rinse cycle. Clothes will smell sweeter and cleaner.

The Wedding

The theme was Dragonflies.

Tamar (the Bride) had hundreds of Dragonflies everywhere.

Very charming.

The setting was in Bob and Tamar's beautiful backyard.

Only immediate family members attended the wedding ceremony.

Relatives from New York and Montana flew in for this very happy occasion.

There were about twenty of us.

Each chair was decorated with a Dragonfly, bubbles, and a fan.

One of tables had a pair of shoes displayed,

that Tamar's mother wore, and more Dragonflies.

Brothers

The Groom and Best Man (my husband)

The Officiant (me)

The Bride and her Maid of Honor (her sister)

Didn't get a picture of the Flower Girl (8 months pregnant).

Dobson (the official greeter)

Special Moments of the Wedding

Bubble Catching

The Bouquet toss

The night went on with a toast to the Bride and Groom. We had a big BBQ feast with Red Velvet Cupcakes. The music was perfect for dancing and the Groom took turns dancing with most of the ladies. We all talked and talked because there was so much to catch up on. We hadn't seen some of the family in a long time.

My camera went dead and so I missed taking pictures of the rest of the fun.

Summer Review - (over half way through)

Read a book:

Dancing With Rose: Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer's

by Lauren Kessler

This book was funny, educational and heart warming. The author let you in on her thoughts about the relationship with her mother and how her death effected her.

Lauren Kessler went to work in an Alzheimer's Care Facility, to learn more for an article she was about to write. It sounds sad but it really isn't.

My own Dad died 4 years and he had dementia . I could relate to all the emotions involved and I also learned more about this disease. Just like Lauren Kessler did.

Worked in my garden:

Roses that I just cut this morning!

Played with Kids and Dogs:

Lots of overnights

Spent A Lot of Time with Hubby:

Walking the dogs in down Kirkland

I'm enjoying my summer vacation. Looking forward to a lot of events coming up. This weekend, family is coming in from all over, (New York, Montana) for the wedding that I will be Officiating. We will be having overnight guests. Sunday, I'm preparing a breakfast for everyone.

Last night, our son-in-law installed a car seat in my car. This way I can pick up and deliver our granddaughter. Our daughter is getting bigger and bigger and finding it difficult to drive with the steering wheel always in the way. I "officially" go on Doula alert Aug. 5th, but I still have my cell phone handy and my watch with the second hand!

The Back to School Retreat on August 18th. I am the M.C., but I am also in charge of the table decorations. I will show you the decorations later.

Summer in review...I'm enjoying it very much!

~~~~~~Y~~~~~~

~Tidbit~

When hand washing items other than silk, add a cupful of white vinegar to the next to the last rinse. The vinegar removes any soap or detergent residue in the water or on the fabric.