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?

Thursday Brain Dump

1.  High School.  

Yes, this is our last year of public high school.  Our district has made some decisions I think are stark-raving-crazy, but they've been so accommodating to us part-time homeschoolers, that we're not making a fuss about it.  (Things like starting school nearly an hour later so the babies can sleep longer - meaning Gunnar doesn't get home until about quarter to four, and having an 8-period schedule, etc.)  We're getting used to him going every-other-day for a full-day and it hasn't been pretty.  He comes home... HANGRY.  Tired and grouchy.  But we're working through it.

2.  Neil Armstrong...

in Civil Air Patrol, the "Neil Armstrong Achievement" is the last one before becoming an officer, and has additional requirements for the cadets to complete (namely, an essay and a speech) besides the drill test, PT test, aerospace and leadership tests that are normal.  So it's kind of a big deal.  But in typical military logic, they don't get new insignia or a new grade, so their grade is "Chief Master Sergeant Sustained" (because they were already C/CMSgt).  I'm glad they have to make sense of it and I don't.

Turns out that Gunnar earned his promotion

the same night as his best buddy at CAP :D

Since Tate was acting Cadet Commander that night,

guess who presented his award?

Yep, his brother.

I love it when the brothers have to salute each other.

You can be sure that's NOT happening at home ;D

And here's AJ :D

3.  Strings...

now that Gunnar's in the orchestra at school,

we've dropped his private violin lessons.

I'm debating continuing with the same teacher

(love her, but she's not overly directive)

or looking for someone else.

In the meantime, I'm keeping up on my practicing...

4.  The boys testosterone-laden outing...

I mentioned that they were heading for Deception Pass

in a small boat on Labor Day...

All went well.  Lots of fun.  Everyone got home safely.

I snagged this photo from Tate's Facebook post...

It was a gorgeous evening.

5.  Smoke...

but I bet you noticed something about that photo.

That amazing red sun is brought to you by...

Who knew that the weather app had an icon for smoke?

We're inundated again.

Ugh.

I often snap a photo from this point along one of my normal walking routes.

Isn't the lake pretty?

And all the foothills?

This was in May.

Now everything looks dirty brown.

And where did all the hills go?

The smoke is so thick we can smell it and taste it,

and the air is gritty.

And here - again, from May.

And yesterday.  Ugh.

It's sooooo dry.

I had just filled the bird bath with water (to the left of the bamboo)

and as soon as I went around the corner three deer showed up for a drink.

Sunset...

6.  Dad...

continues to get stronger.

And he can drive again (allowed after surgery)

so that is a huge sanity-saver for him and my mom both ;D

7.  The Mother Load...

making progress, but things keep piling up.

How does that happen???

And what are we going to have for dinner tonight,

because in the middle of seven errands this morning

I forgot to plan anything.

Which just about sums up my day perfectly.

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.

Grasshopper Days - the Extended, Summer Version...

Grasshopper Days

For today, Thursday, August 31, 2017

Yes, yes, I know.

Apparently July AND August were unscheduled bloggy breaks.

That's fine.

It's summer - what can I say?

When you live where it rains nine months of the year,

you tend to take advantage of the non-rainy (i.e. sunny!) weeks.

But there are photos,

so that makes it all better.

Right?

As our family grows older and in number, we've tended to group birthdays together rather than try to celebrate them all individually.  That meant for July and August, we had Wyatt, my cousin's husband Mike, and Kerry :D

Wyatt's gift from Aunty Tami... in a Victoria's Secret bag??? (It was a gift card.  Not to V.S.)
Mike thinks it's hilarious.

The pictures are in no particular order.  There were barbecued elk burgers, there were gifts, there was swimming.  It was fabulous.

Yes.  They're all that and a bag of chips.

One thing to notice in those photos is the lovely clear blue sky.

That was before Canada shared all its smoke with us.

Outside my window...

today is clear and gloriously NOT as hot as we've had lately.

I'm about to put the third load of laundry on the line :D

Hearing...

silence!

Gunnar finished part of his homeschool work and I've dispatched him onto some chores.

You can imagine how happy he is about THAT.

Pondering...

this is a new season of life...

Wyatt has a f/t job.

Tate has a f/t job (for two more weeks, then back to school.)

Gunnar is going p/t to the high school, but the schedule is weird.

He goes every-other-day, ALL day.

So half the time,

I have a 

VERY QUIET HOUSE.

It's amazing.

Just a few days AFTER the birthday bash, we had some friends to the lake.

Notice the change in conditions.

I didn't take many photos.

Praying, and Thankful...

the biggest thing on my radar lately is my dad,

who had open heart surgery earlier this month.

(Aortic aneurysm and a leaky valve.)

And, apparently, the "glowing ear upgrade".

(Because he kept taking the pulse oximeter off his finger.)

We're all thankful the surgery was successful :D

The ticket to going home is WALKING.

Everyone looks better in their own clothes.

And their own car!  Headed home!

It's going to be a long process to full recovery,

but this is from earlier this week, after seeing the surgeon for a post-op,

and being told he's doing WONDERFULLY.

Aren't they cute?

So yah, that has occupied much of my attention lately!

We're so thankful for how great he's doing.

God is faithful :D

Going...

off to school!

Gunnar's first day back.

Note the violin, because orchestra :D

Reading...

just finished some "fun reading" -

The Book Thief,

Debt of Honor,

and

Look Me In The Eye.

Looking forward to...

how about looking back?

We had a great annual neighborhood potluck-picnic :D

Fun for all ages :D
 

We're expecting a new neighbor any day ;D

Ralph and "Queen" Bea behind Kerry

Nate is adorable :D

In the kitchen...

I am really looking forward to some cooler weather,

because I am NOT very motivated to cook when it's hot!

In the learning room...

Gunnar is basically homeschooling two days a week.

We just finished reviewing and testing on the latest chapter of his government course,

and still need to discuss some of his reading.

Sweet!

Around the house...

maybe today... maybe TODAY I'll get some good pictures.

We got the house painted this summer (finally! much needed!)

but I was waiting for the smoke to dissipate to get good photos!

Noticing that...

we had a sad day last week.

Tate's geriatric and much-loved rabbit died one night.

He kind or knew it was coming, but still...

it was a sad day.

Something to remember for later...

Tate just kills me.

He often helps take the offering at church,

taking the basket around to the overflow rooms.

We have a real joker at our chapel named Harry,

who usually sits there.

Tate and Harry have history.

When Harry doesn't put anything in the basket,

Tate holds it out again and says,

"Harry.  The teeth.  Your gold teeth."

(He has a row of them in the front.)

The pastor heard about it from his daughter.

He thinks it's HILARIOUS.

The Mother Load...

I've gotten almost all the little naggy things taken care of.

Now for the larger projects...

Something fun to share...

with Gunnar's school schedule,

we usually have time to walk together in the morning.

And what a beautiful, misty morning we had earlier this week! 

A favorite quote for the day...

I'm reverting to one of my classics.

(Good motivation for September, right?)

When I do stuff,

stuff gets done.

Deep wisdom, right?

A few plans for the rest of the week...

well, there isn't much week left!

I'm having dinner with my folks tonight, because Kerry and the boys are having a men's thing here.

And because the Seahawks are on ;D

(They have channels.  We don't.)

And plans???

I plan to blog more often :D

A peak into my world...

my little cel phone camera doesn't do it justice,

but we had a gorgeous sunset view of Mt. Baker on Sunday.