Seattle and Back

We traveled over to Seattle
 and stayed for a few weeks.

We didn't go alone.
Our daughter and son-in-law came,
along with the 5 grand kids!

It was a fun but a sad trip.

We have sold our little Cottage
and the properties next door, 

where we kept our trailer.

Inside our trailer

It was so convenient when we visited Seattle to

have our own little place to stay.

I called it The Penny Lane Condo,

The hardest part was saying good-bye to our
 Little Cottage.

We lived there for three years. 

It holds so many wonderful memories

Inside the Cottage


Lulu, one more time at...

The Little Free Library,
that we built.
It's still going strong!

Tom bought the Cottage

a few years after he moved into
 the "other" little house.

Both the "Business" house and our little Cottage,
side by side


Tom ran his business here for 22 years.
Then the building was rented out.

The back door.

This huge hedge and opening
 is between the two properties.



These adorable little homes were built in the 1930's.

******

The trip wasn't all "good-byes"

While we were visiting,

we went to our grandson's Pre-School graduation.

We also celebrated Todd's hard work.

He is renovating his basement,
one wheel barrow and one nail at a time,

with a lot of sweat.


The cement crew came to pour
a perfectly level floor,
that Todd has been working on.

Trey peeking in.

I added my 4 cents worth.

Each penny has the birth year of
Todd, Steph, Trey and Scarlett.

They carefully place them in sight
 but not in the way.

We also celebrated Father's Day, while in Seattle.

Tom got a hand, painted shirt...

and an apron, with a picture of ALL
the grandchildren,

Then headed home, with our trailer in tow.

God only knows
 what our next adventure will be.
We are looking forward to
what He has in store for us.


~~~~*****~~~~

"Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

~James 1:17~

Moving - Phase One

Moving Day!

Our cottage walls were closing in around us with packed boxes and stuffed bags.

I stuffed my car and headed over to Idaho bright and early last Wednesday.

Tom stayed behind to supervise the movers as they packed the rented truck.

They filled the van with almost all of our things.

Once it was full, Tom drove the van over to Idaho.

We still plan on living in Redmond

for about another month.

The only things left behind are

 Tom's TV, chair and our bed.

Along with some of our clothes,

 bathroom necessities

  and minimal kitchen supplies.

We call it "Glorified Camping".

  

Your first glimpse of our new home

The grandchildren are SO excited!

They unpacked and played with the toys 

we had for them when they would

 visit us in Redmond. 

It was like Christmas!

First meal at our new home!

This is the covered, back porch.

We know we will be living out here

 most of the time.

It's huge.

Before...

After....

*****~~~*****

Happy Anniversary Tom!

Who knew, we'd have so many adventures.

After 36 years of being together,

we are off on another exciting escapade. 

Lulu made us an anniversary sign, 

along with a card from her and

 a card from Tom.

Here's to more adventures and many more years!

I love you!

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:17

Reflecting

Time is ticking away.

It won't be long before Tom & I 

close the door for the final time to our

 Little Cottage and

 open the door to our new home, 

The Holly House.

We are moving ourselves to Idaho in two phases.

Most of our things are already packed and ready for Phase I.

We don't have a lot of things

 (well, except maybe baskets)

so the move should be easy.

Why two phases?

Long story, so here's the condensed version.

We bought our house and it has already closed!!

A few months ago, Kimmy and Mark asked if we'd babysit

 the first part of March.

(yes, we are driving 496.1 miles to babysit)

So we thought we'd bring 1/2 of our stuff with us.

Phase II will be mid April.

Now some reflection:

I love this cottage! ~sigh~

All 750 sq. ft. of it!

I can walk anywhere in this town 

and be there within 15 minutes.

We have watched buildings go up.

We have watch buildings come down.

We met neighbors who are now friends.

Life has been wonderful here in the

Little Cottage.

When our daughter,

 Kimmy and her family moved away,

 it broke my heart.

BUT...

 God knew and was there.

When I was depressed. 

God knew and was there.

When I was lonely.

God knew and was there.

When I was frustrated,

God knew and was there.

I had to learn a lot of things before God would answer prayers.

I remember the day, I told God I was content to be where I was.

I was sitting at the table, with my computer open, looking outside.

It felt good to be content, really content.

Then things starting happening and FAST!

It's amazing to see God's hands on our lives.

God was with us when we decided to move to the Little Cottage.

God has been with us with each step we are taking, moving to Idaho.

When you listen for God, you can hear him.

"The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

Basket Fetish

Moving is always an eye-opening ordeal.

I thought if we lived in a small,

little cottage and we wouldn't have STUFF.

But somehow my basket FETISH 

took over!

Where did these all live?

Is it like,

 the multiplying of rabbits?

 These are the ones that aren't

 being used everyday.

I still have some that are still busy doing

  their assigned tasks.

A few years back,

 I showed you how I used some of my baskets

 for our refrigerator.

They are still hard at work, 

for at least a little longer. 

click here

I have others that we use for everyday.

Those will have to wait to "retire",

just like Tom.

 He is still waiting to give

 his two week notice.

"And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?

My only hope is in You?"

Psalms 39:7

November

While doing the morning dishes,

 I looked up to pause and enjoy the season's change;

 fog, colors and smells.

There was  peacefulness about this scene. 

Yes, it's  November.

"Teach me to do your will, for you

are my God!

Let your good Spirit lead

me on level ground!"

~Psalms 143:10~

Before I Go...

I'm hitting the road and going over to visit  

our grand-kids, again!!

Before I go, 

I wanted to share with you some fun, pretty and

cute pictures.

 Tom and I went to a High School football game.

It was the Cancer Awareness game.

The top picture shows all the students

 in the stands wearing their pink.

Impressive!

Theses Cheerleaders were so cute

 in their pink tutu's.

 We worked in our garden.

I stopped to "smell the roses".

The large picture is the bench that is next to our

Little Free Library

This is how I found Lucy this morning.

She's catching up on her beauty sleep,

in our bed!

Now, I'm off to get hugs and kisses!

~~~~****~~~~

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

The Last Rose

This is the last rose on the bush for this season.

I wanted to bring her in and enjoy 

her beauty.

When I saw it from across the room, 

I knew I had to take her picture.

Her leaves are small and spindly 

but her blossom is so colorful.

She has just enough

perfume left on her petals. 

 I knew just the perfect place for her last days.

It's a room that is black and white and will

show off her beauty for all who enter.

~~~~~***~~~~~

~~~~~***~~~~~

Today

I was looking out my window to watch

the leaves fall and the rain 

come down.

On closer inspection I noticed this guy.

Yes, it's Fall.

The spiders are out.

God creation is amazing!

God is good!

Getting Ready...

Autumn!

When my friend came back from Europe this summer, 

she had a special gift for me.

Organic Green Tea

called Autumn Tea. 

Yesterday, another friend brought

 over some colorful flowers!

Now, I'm anticipating the change of the season.

I am fascinated by the directions.

They tell you the temperature for brewing

And for how long, with pictures.

No need for translation!

Autumn Equinox is when night and

 day are nearly the same length, 12 hours.

I'll be sipping tea to celebrate.

Do you celebrate the first day of Fall?

Morning Sun

This was taken this morning, just around 7:00 am.

I love how sun beams in, casting shadows.

Ahhhh...almost fall.

Mornings are my favorite time of day.
I get up with the birds and have quiet moments like this.

Have a great rest of the week.
I'm heading to Idaho for some much needed grandchildren kisses and hugs!

What's Happening

I store rubber bands by hanging them on a door knob in our kitchen.

Tom had added a few to the collection.

Dinner last night!

Zucchini Boats! 

Thanks Betsy for the idea.

They were sooo good.

Summer Rain

 Sitting inside this morning,

listening to the thunder and rain,

watching for the next bolt of lighting.

Good old summer rain storm to 

freshen up the flowers and water 

the lawns.

Again, I'm content!

Terrarium?

What can I say????

Birds Everywhere

Tom and I have been enjoying all the birds that congregate in our yard.

I have two feeders for the Sparrows, 

Finches and a host of others that stop by. 

I also have two feeders for humming birds that are inches away from where we sit on the deck.

These "Hummers" dive bomb us!

The entertainment is unbelievable.

As we look outside our dining room window,

we can see all the feeders. 

So breakfast, lunch and dinner we are treated with bird amusement.

Especially now with all the babies that perch along the fence railing, waiting to be fed. 

I have a special birdhouse that Kimmy gave me

  (left behind), when she moved.

The birds have never used it. 

Some have been interested, but no takers.

That is, until this year!

Mom and Dad  Wren are calling it home!

They have been soooo busy fluffing their nest.

Can't wait for the family to appear!

Speaking of appearing...

 Birds have been flying into our cottage!

The top right picture is a bird that flew into the cottage

 while we were taking care of our grandson,Trey.

Now that was amusing!

Again, my hero Tom, came to the rescue.

Being the blogger that I am,

 he couldn't let it go without taking a picture first!

Since then, several more have "visited" us.

They fly in and then fly out.

We really should get a screen door.

Update:

Today a baby bird few in and while, my hero Tom, was attempting

to catch the baby, the mother heard it's cries and flew in after it.

Now two birds were in our cottage.

Tom caught the baby and mom followed the baby!

Crazy!

Ahh.. Summer

You can't go wrong with Sun Tea.

It's easy, fast and good.

You can watch it "grow" right before your eyes.

Perfect for company or just relaxing on the porch by yourself.

Today, I'm having a young mother from church, visit.

This is perfect way to show hospitality.

Along with some blueberry muffins,

 that are still baking in the oven.