Ta-Daaaaa!

We have finished, painted trim!

And closet doors!

Window trim!

Door trim!

Floor trim!

I'm a little excited.

See how the windows (above) just have wallboard right up to the 2x4s?

Now they look like this:

And the boys' closet and door that used to look like this...

... now look like this!

Their other window looks good too :D

I don't have any good "before" of my office/craft room, but look!

 I know, I know...

you're probably thinking,

"Ummmm, it's a window."

Yah.  But it's a window WITH PAINTED TRIM, instead of the raw edges of the dry wall and 2x4s.

Our hallway closets, formerly hung with curtains (pushed up here, for cleaning)

... were temporarily kind of a carnival fun-house...

But now look fabulous!

Our bedroom also had curtains hanging over the closets... 

... now look so clean and bright and uncluttered!

And I'm hoping that finally, finally we'll say goodbye to winter.

So I've changed the bedroom from flannel sheets and the down comforter...

... to spring sheets and a quilt I made. 

Okay, spring, I'm ready.

Don't fail me now.

Grasshopper Days, or a Reasonable Facsimile

Grasshopper Days

For today, Thursday, September 14, 2017

Outside my window...  a perfect fall day - warm, sunny, breezy, with the promise of a cool night to come.  Fall mornings look kind of like this:

a bit of haze, sometimes morning fog.

Hearing...  blessed quiet.

Pondering...  how much I love fall.

And Gunnar wants to learn to make pumpkin bread.

We can do that.

Praying...  for friends in Texas and Montana - whew!

So thankful to see a bit of this last weekend!

Please note that I was in the passenger seat ;D

Thankful...  my dad is doing SO well.  We went on a hike earlier this week!  Took it really easy - around 2.5 miles, in and out.

This bathroom has just about the best view in the world ;D

The Mountain Man is back in the game.

Mt. Shuksan, elevation 9100' +

Glacier Peak, elevation 10,541'

Fall colors!

Tasty snack!

Dad was doing better than he looks here.  Probably chewing something.

Met. Baker, elevation 10,781'

On top of the world :D

Dad and I have both summited those three peaks (only Baker together though).

The road to Artist Point isn't for sissies!

Dad and I both (in our college-age years) worked at the Mt. Baker ski area, so -
yes - that was my view from work, every (clear) day!

Going...  back to Bible Study Fellowship today!!!

Just started up, studying Romans this year.

Find a group near you :D

Looking forward to...  through Gunnar's orchestra teacher we are able to get "cheap" tickets for certain performances in Seattle this year, namely the symphony and the opera.  You might think that three boys would be less than excited about the opera, and you might be right.  But when it's Rossini's Barber of Seville... well, that's pretty accessible.  I mean...

And turns out it's the same day the boys' CAP group is touring the Seattle Museum of Flight,

so we'll make a BIG day of it :D

In the kitchen...  chicken, sweet corn, salad... sounds like summer :D

In the learning rooms...  Gunnar was supposed to go to school today, but he didn't feel well.  Not sure how much that had to do with staying up too late last night AND a certain distraction we've acquired (will introduce in a moment...) but after missing his morning classes he made it for his afternoon set.  Homeschool tomorrow...

Around the house...  stuff, stuff, and stuff.  The detritus of three sons.

Time for a Saturday clean up.  Imagine how excited they'll be.

Tate's last day of work is tomorrow, then a couple days off before school starts.

Something to remember for later...  went out to lunch with my mom today.

I'm pretty sure this guy wasn't shopping where we were shopping ;D

Texted the photos to Wyatt and Tate.

Wyatt's response: "For sale?"

Yah, keep dreaming, Wyatt.

Something fun to share...

something new in Kerry's office...

... more than a cluttery table.

Look under the table...

Meet Niko.  We think he's pretty cute.

And that's all I got...  how's your September unfolding?

It's 98 Degrees, Otherwise Known As "The Temperature of the Sun"

Washington is known as The Evergreen State for good reason.

Rain.  And lots of it.

This year?

Less than half an inch in June and none since then.

So we're a little obsessed.

I hear people walking by outside,

talking about the chance of rain in the coming days.

(Next to none.)

See my lawn?

It's all brown, except for the weeds.

The weeds are green.

Because, of course.

Kerry brought me this cute little (non-edible) pepper plant.

It's kind of fall colors, but I'm not thinking about that yet.

(Well, maybe a little.)

Mostly I'm thinking about the lake, and when can we go again.

Because if normal body temperature is 98 degrees,

why does 98 degrees of air temp feel so dang hot???

My folks have had us out to their beach recently.

It's a treat for us, and a bit of a sacrifice for them,

as my dad isn't supposed to swim yet.

I'm not sure if they're more concerned with the muscle movements involved

pulling on his chest where they split it open,

or if they're worried about infection in the incision -

which has healed beautifully.

But, either way, better safe than sorry, so he's staying dry and in the shade.

It's Labor Day weekend, and you know what that means?

Everybody who owns a boat is OUT IN IT.

Between their house and the lake... it had just dropped from 98.

Thank heavens the evenings are cooling off nicely.

Eventually. 

Today Kerry, the boybarians, and a friend with a boat are out in Puget Sound somewhere.

Apparently the friend really, really wants to 'shoot the rapids' below the Deception Pass bridge when the tide is at full ebb.  I'm not sure that's a fabulous idea, but I was not consulted.

Here's a picture I snagged from the interwebs to give you an idea of what that might be like.

There's a LOT of current pulling through there.

But testosterone calls, and they must answer.

Meanwhile, in case you need a giggle to distract you from

THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SUN

outside...

And apropos of the hot weather...

That will be all.

Fifty One

Ta-daaa!

Yep, that's me.  And my (great) uncle Marvin.

We shared a birthday... separated by 50 years.

So I'm now the age he was in these photos.

I have more hair than he did ;D

I don't actually remember the party.

(I was ONE, you know.)

But I've seen the photos so many times,

I kind of feel like I do.

I see my aunt Lucille, my uncle Delmar, and my grandma Margaret -
sisters to Marvin, four of nine siblings.
And my dad's cousins - Bob and JoLeigh,
and Marcia, Margo, Marvette, and Marvin Junior.
(No.  Not kidding.)
And my cousins - Brad, Brett, and Jim - probably helping me open my presents :D

We met at a neighborhood park.

My mom must have taken us there a lot when we were kids.

I remember the HUGE (to little eyes) swings and

the REALLY TALL slide.

Today's safety-n@zis would never approve.

Not sure if that's my mom's hands holding me, or my grandma's,
but right above the wrist with a bracelet is the lot where my parents would soon build a house.
The house I grew up in.
Right next to the lake :D

So, yes, today is my birthday.

Ta-daaa :D

Kerry took me out to breakfast.
Wasn't that sweet?
He offered lunch,
but I had a pot roast to cook for dinner,
and I wanted to be hungry for it,
so breakfast it was.

I'm happy to have a low-key birthday at home
with my grasshoppers.
Because on Sunday we have The Big Party.
Christmas in June.
Five dads.
Seven birthdays.
One high school graduate.

Got all that?

Like I said,
Christmas in June.

Rockin' out in our back yard,
with my dad's work clothes drying on the line.


I feel like Jeff Foxworthy could have a field day with this photo,
taken at my grandparents' house ;D

I guess my mom (on the left) is encouraging me to ride that bear.
She wasn't raised that way, but she adapted ;D

And here's my dad.
How does he look so impossibly young?!

Well, I suppose he was pretty young.
My parents married at 20 (mom) and 21 (dad),
and had me about a year later.

So, yah, pretty young.

And me?
No, I wan't up to any mischief at all.

Why do you ask?