June 30, 2010

Today I was mostly at work, so I don't have much exciting to tell. I did get a photo of this interesting plant, which seems to be a volunteer outside of my office. They stand about 4 ft. tall. Very fuzzy and soft. It looks even fuzzier in these photos than it does in real life.

I used to know the name and I'll keep thinking about it!
...and when I got home, Phil and W had made a sheath for the lawn-mower blade knife - cool huh?

See the slots so he can put it on his belt? Those guys are amazing!

The only problem is, no one will believe it is home-made!

On a separate matter, We found a robin building a nest right outside our family room window.

I hope we'll get to see blue eggs and hear little peeps!

Tuesday June 29, 2010 This and that...

At the Capital City Storage office, I notice these really cute quilted wall hangings - wait they look familiar - hey, I made them! I love this one - I recall I made it with vintage fabrics... And this one - why didn't I make one for myself? I made one like this for Carissa's neighbor in Minnesota when she took me to the airport when Carissa's car wouldn't start! (We just didn't have it in gear or some weird thing)...

Here are my "failproof" popovers I made on Monday Morning. They were SO GOOD! With raw honey and honeycomb on them...

And a couple more fox photos...

And I hope these videos work out.

A wild walk on the beach...

Today was such a great day. We started by getting up LATE! Then I made a spinach fritatta and popovers with raw honey for breakfast. It just felt like a Sunday! All of us puttering around doing whatever we felt like. About 3:00 Phil suggested walking down to our beach...Here is what we saw: Beautiful Foxgloves...
...and the fox whose gloves we saw!



This beautiful fox was not afraid of us, and actually followed us a little bit!
I think one of our neighbors was feeding the family, and this fox thought we might have a treat!
I am so used to animals running away when I get my camera out -- I got so many photos of this fox I ran out of space on my sd card!


This was very exciting!!!

June 27, 2010 - Sometimes work is play...

I got up very ambitious this morning.

It was my plan to clean my bedroom, and get the living room in "company" condition. We have been very lax in letting our little projects pile up and today was my first day that I didn't have someplace to be other than home. I got a LOT done. And my ambition was contagious! Phil helped me inside, and then was inspired to wash the windows!

Here is my window washing hero!... and his helper...

I had to go to the grocery store today too, but mostly I stayed home and worked!

I did finally finish up my Ocean Shores getaway album.

Here are some of my favorite pages...

Busy day, but really rewarding! I hope you had a lovely Sunday.

National "Take your Mother to Work" Day

Today Walker took me to work with him. Here he is at Capital City Storage, cleaning the gutters in his man-lift. See the buds in his ears? He's listening to a lecture about Walden as he works. He was very polite every time I interupted him to ask him questions.

It was fun to carpool with Walker again.
Rather like the old homeschool days.
At lunchtime, he came into the office and we ate lunch together and watched "Sea Snakes" on the Scyfy channel! That was so bad it was good. Walker only got to watch 1/2 hour of it since he had to go back to work, but I kept him posted about all the amazingly grotesque and hilarious things happening!

I wanted to share this Birthday Crown, which was in the office so I got a chance to photograph it. Jonny wore it on her birthday, Susan wore it on her birthday. I wonder who is next .....

and an extra special treat - This little guy brought his grandma to work today - Susan's little grandson, only 2 1/2 weeks old! Adorable!!!!!!!! (there aren't enough exclamation points!)...

June 25, 2010 - a wild and flowery kind of day

I was on the phone tonight, and Phil grabbed my arm (and I grabbed my camera) and took this while I was talking!

Nice little buck.

This guy strolled all the way around our house. We FINALLY got out for another hike! We parked at Marathon Park, walked around the lake, around town, to Farmer's Market, back to the lake and to our car. whew! Something about this crow wading with the ducks and seagulls tickled my funny-bone!
This little duck family swam so fast I almost didn't get them!

Lavender on the Boardwalk. See all the masts behind?

Isn't this exotic looking? It was a huge bush covered in these little tiny flowers.

And a wild rose?

New things are popping out at home too - a few apples!

My white hydrangeas are starting to bloom.

And, this cupcake is exactly what I was talking about in an earlier post about ballerinas looking like twirling cupcakes!!!

Happy Friday!

Thursday Farmer's Market 6/24/10

I usually meet Vicki at the Farmer's Market on Thursdays, but she had another engagement so I went on my own. Not as much fun, so I had to take some photos to entertain myself... Walla Walla Onions

Asparagus

The first (for me) of Spooner's Strawberries!

I bought a half flat and we intend to just eat them raw.

No shortcake or ice cream - just luscious juicy summer tasting strawberries!

My CSA box had many ymmy treats.

The big bulb is garlic, the little ones scallions.

Isn't this rainbow chard beautiful?

any ideas what to do with it?

I will probably just saute and eat.

I also got Romaine, mixed salad greens, snap peas, and spinach.

We have had our third day in a row of sunny summery weather.

It's been beautiful.

I can hardly remember complaining about the cool gray days now.

June 23, 2010 - Things that made me happy today.

My anniversary roses still look beautiful... This morning we had scones with honeycomb honey.

On the deck no less!
It was delicious and beautiful!

Listening to Walker practice his guitar...

He never liked to play the trumpet when anyone was around.

the temperature reached at least 75 degrees today.

That always makes me feel especially happy.
I wonder what made you feel happy today!

June 22, 2010 "Cabin Prayer"

Cabin Prayer is a poem from the little book Phil gave me for our anniversary, with this particular poem bookmarked for us to read together...

Cabin Prayer

Let this be our quiet place,

Our small haven from the noise and bustle of everyday.

Let us find within these walls

The joy of family togetherness

As well as individual moments

Of reflection, clarity, and inspiration

To rejuvenate our soul.

Let us cherish the beauty of the natural world beyond our doorstep,

Respect and delight in the creatures

Which will be our new neighbors.

And let the memories we create here,

The peace we find here,

Give us heart's ease whenever we're far

From our cabin home.

By: Sharon Hudnell

(from House Blessings by June Cotner)

June 20, 2010 Part III - Happy Father's Day Barbecue

Happy Father's Day!

You might recognize this photo from an earlier event, but I just love it and this is exactly how I see my dad, smiling and happy (teasing and joking around a little). At the barbecue he was wearing a flashy Hawaiian Shirt and a big smile. If I was good at photoshop I would give him a brighter shirt and a palm tree in the background! Jonny's place was bursting with growing things!

Her apples are already formed and starting to get red!

The Fuchsias are gorgeous, in spite of the lack of sunshine around here!

Hmmm, they look like little ballerinas don't they?

Jonny's vegetable garden is amazing.

Below the ballerina turned ball player!

She must have thrown that ball for Lucy over a hundred times!

They never got tired of that game.

I ate so much yesterday I can't believe this looks really good to me again.

The perfect party place on the covered front porch.

It drizzled a little bit, near the end.

The weather has been so gray, the strawberries aren't even ripe yet!

They guys played horseshoes.

Walker's first time.

Can you see the neat horseshoe pit John built?

The guys get so competitive!

win win win!

Lucy finally had to rest a bit, but she wasn't putting that ball down!

We missed Claudia at our bbq. She wasn't feeling well enough to make the drive into town and back. But, I'm sure she'll be happy to know her father brought a glamorous photo of his three darlings to share......

This must be about 1960, in Washington D.C. I think. I'm not wearing glasses yet. When I do, they look just like these but baby blue.

Maybe getting older isn't so bad.

What a day!