Spokane

 

Hi Marti... what is a trip to Spokane without seeing you?!    Sorry, but we do have great memories of many, many special times.

The farm house has a great little family enjoying the casual, but hard work that goes along with farm life. We are thankful for a good visit with them

Sebastian had a great time out in the field playing hide and seek with Grammy.  It must have been 90 degrees, but that did not stop him from winning.

We never get tired of the view

And we never get tired of good food.

First night   Gander and Rye Grass

Then a pause..

This freshens the palette 

The last picture was taken a little late. Let's just say the fresh baked bread is amazing.

Then a little shenanigans 

What happens around the table
stays around the table

And the next course 

can't figure out how to enlarge this set

No dessert necessary, though I think a little fellow talked his uncle into a stop across the street for something cold and soft.  But, no one is talking. They spent the night in the cabin at the farm. Just the two of them.  They had a great time

Back to the Motel to swim and relax

We did not hear ahead of time that our favorite place for dinner, Chaps, is now open just for brunch/lunch.   So we ate across the street.

Then in the morning, after an early hotel breakfast, we headed back to Chaps for brunch.   We also got hugs from Celeste.  She holds a special spot in our hearts, but that is another story.

Not related,  but a very cute mom and daughter lookalikes 

Tiff gave all of us a taste of Avocado  toast 

Sebastian shared with Grampy 

This is the one
Blueberry French toast
featured on
Diner's and Dives
and trust me, worth every calorie
Huge
Shared by Uncle D and me 

Just like the one I have at home

Traffic was horrid, coming and going, but we had a safe and fun time.

We waved... hugs next time, unless we are lifted up to heaven first.. and this is ok with me

I live an exciting life

Because

 

The Lord can use anything He wants to speak to us

and this week it was old dress patterns

Here's what happened..

My friend Joyce is a retired teacher.  She belongs to a group that has an event every year, maybe a luncheon,   and this year part of the theme involves vintage     patterns    ( that is all I know about it )  

Just so happens that I have kept many of my patterns ( not sure if I would ever put that  muumuu together again , just might)  

Since another retired teacher lives closer to me, into my world walks Nancy 

She loved the patterns and was packing them up to borrow and said.. " I love the verses that you put on your emails"    and I said " Do you love Jesus?" and she said "Yes"

Well, if you love Jesus, you can imagine the conversation that happened.  Almost an hour later we said goodbye, hugged twice and have shared contact information.

We have also exchanged a bread recipe,
and that is just since our meeting on Monday !

Lessons learned:
The Lord can use anything to speak to us
There is often a reason for hanging on to  old things
Always keep a little loaf of bread in the freezer for that unexpected time to share 

Well, what a way to start the day, start the week !

Encourage, blessed and yes

I live an exciting life

No more Goodbyes

 

Our last goodbye was Thursday..though I did not say those words out loud 

I just told her that the next time we meet, we will be in heaven

now she is there a little ahead of me,

but memories will hold for a long time, we had many fun times together.  We were BSF leaders. That is a bond in itself 

but first   ...   with the love of her life 

This looks like a May gathering 

2009 

Picnic in   2011 

A friend for sure

Our friend Mary Ann was moving to Canada

So here we are gathered to say goodbye

A shoe picture
We do that sometimes 

This time it is my birthday and our friend Linda had a party with some of my favorites 

Photo by Linda Ross 

 Our  Hostess with her mostess  

 A table set with elegance and delights 

 Two great friends 

 And the party can begin 

photo by Shirley 

and then....   

 

      They came to trim my tree, this might be the first year 2012 ?

   Shirley usually brought her marinated mushrooms and let me keep any that were left over 

 

photo by Darrell

Sometimes I name my parties
This one
Eat, Laugh and Pray 

Another trim my tree 2013  ...those two great friends 

 

Fall 2014

trim my tree 2014  

trim my tree   2015 

She would always bring a little treat for me

Saying goodbye to Juanita   2016 

2016   

Photo by Darrell

Also the chauffer for our Shirley

 one way

then Linda the return

We are a team   

She is a little dizzy from time to time, no driving for her 

This December memory was our last Trim a Tree party
2020 changed our world

And then 2021, changed even more.    The last picture of my Shirley Goodness and Mercy

She was getting therapy during that Easter weekend and beyond.

Always with a smile and a little chuckle

That was April

then, July  our Shirley took flight... She was lifted up to heaven

July 2, we got the call that Shirley was in the hospital, a severe stroke.  Hospital regulations said only one person, per day !. 

It was almost 7:00 and no one had been to see Shirley, so I rushed down. She let me hold her hand. I talked to her and she did a little talking but I could not understand much.  A couple days later and she was about the same, but she did smile and when I mentioned all the ladies from our BSF group, she smiled and laughed. 
She was moved to "Comfort Care".  On Thursday morning I was thinking about various things to do, and said to myself,  Just get in the car and go see Shirley.  So I did.  She was  completely tucked into her covers. No hand holding. She did not smile.  I sang "Jesus Loves me" to her.   I told her that the next time we meet it will be in heaven.   It was very hard to keep my gaze on her face.  There was no response.   Soon after I got home the call came...

" Shirley is now safely home with Jesus. "

We will always miss our friend.  

Especially me, she left a sweetness in my heart 

An example to follow

I live an exciting life