At The Happy Camp?

First time camping for this girl, she was a trooper!

This fine distinguished gentleman was partaking in a sport likened to fishing in that one must take out the insides to enjoy the rest. We made muffins in the fire...it was part of the adventure, and part of the breakfast for some who were fortunate to have it cook just about right without too much black stuff on the outside.

Breakfast in a paper bag: bacon on the bottom, topped by hash browns and eggs.

The attempts. Gentry called it "Beth's cruel joke" since it was from her that I got the idea. (Sorry Beth! :) We did this breakfast instead of the usual B & G and I was not the most popular girl on the gravel. In my defense there were two out of the three guests who would not have been able to eat "the usual" so V made it for the family on Sunday instead. Whew!

The requisite marshmallow was well received, and eaten in any form: raw, lightly toasted, deeply toasted and completely covered in carcinogens.

The boys idea of riding the 3 wheelers was to make as much noise as possible!

The girls idea however,was to look as good as possible on the bikes.

Grant got homemade ice cream for his birthday, but I am unsatisfied with my machine. This is the second one I have tried. The first one left black shaving in the ice cream and this one has plastic parts. My search will continue....

The kids enjoyed the stream, and spent quite a bit of time building dams and bridges.

The last but certainly not least, of the activities was a full out water balloon fight. They were excited (to say the least) exclamations emanating from all over the battlefields as the "wounded" and the victorious got out their aggressions. I do believe they were all successful at getting completely soaked which worked out well for the hot ride home. It was a close thing, but no one died. Wink!

Rushing Waters

Grant came back from a trip up to the mountains with Dad and Reid last week saying, "It is a good thing you weren't there." I found out why he said that when the boys took me on a little tour of where they went last week to see the China Point Falls. It is straight down to a rocky gorge where the water is squeezed through a high walled canyon, and they went there in the slippery snow. I am glad I was oblivious to the possibilities as my fear of falling is already over exercised.

The roar was impressive, I was expecting a bigger "falls" but the water churns around several deep holes. China Point Falls is a 10' falls over bedrock. It was unusually beautiful and intimidating at the same time.

I am always thrilled at the tenacity of trees that perch on rock outcrops.

Looking down on the tops of tall trees, China Point is close to the area on the road where the cross is. (Where the honeymoon couple backed over the edge while intoxicated). This particular spot has seen much to horrify. It got its name during the mining rush when 50+/- Chinese men were putting in the road and were massacred by native Indians.

12

Getting razzed by his sister while opening his present will adequately explain the look on his face.

He solemnly read his cards and thought deeply about each sentiment expressed, like most boys his age are apt to do.

Conflict and sparring were heating up between the young man and lovely sister as the action got lively.

A sentimental picture taken by the mother.

Playing a new game together on Birthday Eve. The big party is still coming up. We spent most of his special day having a yummy breakfast of sausage (chotchige as we say here) and eggs, pancakes and pearsauce, a special lunch of take out teriyaki, and chicken pox pie for supper, followed by piano lessons, then ice cream! Lots going on here with Tim pressure washing, Doc working in the shop, schooling going on, Gentry in the office, Derek here for piano lessons and so on. Lively (noisy)Day!

What color should it be?

Well, you know how our house is red like a barn? Should we paint in the Nebraska style, making our shop also red with white trim, or should we be true to where we live, and paint it in the Nordstrom/ Starbucks style? I am thinking of a dark purplish, reddish brown with red doors (our red house color- which is an autumn red)? The two reds could look real nice together, the shop would be darker than the house. Tell me, tell me true, what would you do?

Bag Lady

It is all Beth's fault that I have turned into a bag lady. She was the one who brought home the book that showed how to make a t-shirt and duct tape bag, a bag from a pillowcase, a bag from a rain slicker, and a bag from an old boot. (Well, that last one hasn't been completely worked out yet but I feel sure it will be next.)

The bag on the left is my t-shirt bag and the other is a pillow sham bag. The pillow sham was purchased because I love the old fashioned print, and because the colors match my decor in our sitting room, but it didn't really work for the couch- too big. I was going to just smallerize it but...I don't really know how to sew. But...I did sew this! I am a tiny bit proud of it because I had to sew it all by hand and I really am not too good at that sort of thing. It even has a snap closure that I got to work.

And now it is my embroidery bag, the case of thread fits perfectly and here you see the latest project in its unfinished state. Victoria and I loved to read this book when she was little and it seems the perfect image to put on a little vintage (from my childhood) pillowcase. It has been a fun project for me to sit and sew while helping Grant do homework, or sitting waiting for him during swimming.

Tree Top Spaghetti

It was a splendid day for a spaghetti picnic up in the tree tops. Fun!

Dirty Deeds!

Not by the kids, but by that little varmint the mole. He was very very busy digging up the front yard, right there in plain sight. He entertained us with his work, he aerated our yard for $0.00 so I am pretty sure the song is about him. They are kind of cute but wowza did he do a lot of digging in a short few minutes.

Falls and the Falcon

We took a trip out to see Snoqualamie Falls. Aunt Hazel had been told about it many times from Ann T (labored in Korea with Hazel- they actually went there together the first time.) T and B came and as you can see Victoria and Danny were "chillin" in the back, listening to country music. Apparently Danny has discriminating tastes in music and was not always happy with the choice, so V would change the song and he'd be content again. Funny.

We ate a snacky supper on the run....luckily we had had a big lunch so we were not going to perish.

The Falls were splendid as usual. This time we had a new experience- there was a fellow along the side that invited us to look through his camera lens at a mother, and father Peregrine Falcon in their nest with two chicks and two eggs. This man has been watching these falcons for several years now and he knew a lot about them! They are the fastest birds (see video posted below) and they primarily only eat other birds. It was very fascinating and added to the experience. We went later in the evening and the sunset was magnificent on the way home.

Peregrine Falcon

To Market, to market .....

Pike place was filled with tulips and daffodils.

A 4 season display of Asian art captured Auntie Hazel's attention.

Aunt Dorothy from Riverton, Aunt Hazel from Korea, and "Aunt" Carrie from Colorado. Grant loves getting his picture taken with flowers. Wink!

One of my favorite displays!

Auntie Hazel bought us some special Mango's. The little vendor was kind of picturesque in his newsboy hat and blond hair.

Getting ready to go across the street, the Aunties are looking up and over at the famous Pike Place Market signage, and the brass pig. Grant is happier here too it seems.

Carrie bought Grant and Victoria (she stayed home to do homework) some donuts. Yum.

We didn't buy a fat hog this time but it was sure fun to see all the activity and color.

Raggedy Andy's Big Adventure with the Dancing Cowboys!

Dear old Raggedy Andy had a delightful romp with a couple of small sized good ol' boys. The freedom from restrictive clothing was the official beginning to this game. (Grant was terribly embarrassed by Raggedy Andy's lack of modesty but Andy couldn't have been happier! He grinned from ear to ear.)

They needed to have the appropriate music to go along with the spirit of the game. Joe and Andy had to help out Danny, as this is a critical aspect of the success of their adventure.

Two hands are better than one, so Andy gets temporarily shoved under a pit! Cotton stuffed heads are blessed with a lack of care about such matters, and go along happily with whatever their little friends can think up.

Dancin'! Raggedy Andy gleefully joins in the fun and even shows the cowboys a new move, crossing your feet and spreading out your arms...and landing in a most graceful attitude!

Then they decide to get Grant involved in the shenanigans, and Andy gets to play the part of the whacker; what fun!

Break dancing isn't for the faint of the candy hearted. This kind of frolic is demanding!

The funniest part of this whole thing was Grant's embarrassment! The action got too fast for my camera but Grant grabbed up Andy, and started running away with him, clothes in hand, with Joe in hot pursuit. Grant struggled with getting Raggedy Andy's decency restored while on the run while Joe struggled to get Raggedy Andy back from Grant. Around and around they went!