long fun day

All good days seem to start early

like today...

it started on Thursday.
I always try to set the table early for a party
I text my grandson pictures of the plates and napkins so he can help me pick the right one
 ( he is 7 )
Well, on Thursday, our friend had a lovely dinner before Bible study ( with out of town visitors it seemed to be the right thing to do.

She has a way with flowers and when it was time to go home, she asked if I would like her arrangements for my brunch on Saturday. 

You can guess what I said.

Went home with all four arrangements.

But, in the morning light , I could see that the colors did not go with my first choice of tablecloths, but
I had a perfect one to use instead..

And the guests arrived 

Hashbrown casserole, waldorf salad, fruit salad, scones, clotted cream with raspberry jam
Sparkling cider, coffee

Dessert: Indian Custard, cashew taffy and Swiss chocolate

Lovely
and just the beginning of our day


The Greek Festival 

                    Getting close   

Such a beautiful old neighborhood.   Each home has it's own design and well kept garden

                                                   Food  
                           Greek French Fries 

Baklava
Kadaif
Both delicious Greek Delights 

And then the dancing
First the children

Then the adults
In costume 

And then something touched my heart..
At the table in front of us, there was a group of very special people.  It was hard to know if they were deaf and blind because they were "talking " with their hands ..  and the "speaker"  was so gentle and smiling.
It seemed different than "sign language " 

Still time for our usual Saturday night entertainment

Bellevue Square, and  the Trio

They usually attract a crowd, but tonight even some dancers 

Food, Friends, Music, Dancing..

I live an exciting life 

ps. no time to edit, I know Marti is waiting....

10 days of hard things

just within those few days...
heavy stuff  

Gary had brain surgery -

Al has an aneurysm

Helen had gallbladder surgery, then back in the hospital twice 

Jerry had open heart surgery

Martha has major corrections needed on property

Wendi starts radiation and chemo next Wednesday, surgery did not cure her cancer 

Now today, my friend Pat, lung cancer and a stroke.

Darrell and I are so blessed with good health.  Sometimes it does not seem fair.  Oh, we have had some hard times. We are dealing with something tough right now.  But, it will go away and we will move on.   But cancer, aneurysms,  surgeries.... they leave  pain and marks  that are not forgettable, or forgivable. 


Eyes swimming 



Want to tell all those we love..... I LOVE YOU !   

Garage Sale of the Century

That is the title I use every year.

  Garage Sale of the Century

We.. my sister and me... have a garage sale each September. Sometimes one of my girls joins us or a neighbor or friend.
This year, it was the husbands.   Nice to have a man around the garage sale ( the truth comes out later)

Set up each morning. Complimentary coffee and cookies
Cushy chairs for shopkeepers
Sister always makes cinnamon toast for breakfast and gourmet sandwiches for lunch 

And the year begins with surprises and much much more 

Greatest fan:  she comes every year And she usually brings treats.  This time, it was nutty biscuits and little cream cookies. Who does that:  Ofra, that's who.  ( don't ask why there is no picture )


Gifting: Neighbor and friend brought several  things to add to the sale ( not for her profit, but mine ) and included some of the most spectacular shoes ever...just my size  Who does that:  Janet, that's who. 

Sweetest Mother :  Lady  with challenged adult son.They walked arm in arm down the driveway.  All he wanted to buy were some notebooks, for drawing.  He knew they were four for a dollar, like Fred Meyer, so that is what he got. 

Sweetest Husband:  came back and bought the antique rocking chair that his wife thought was too expensive ( we both compromised on the price )

Grateful customer:  Little fellow, 5 years old, was offered a cookie and without any prompting said " Thank you".  


Ungrateful  customer:  as he was heading back up the driveway he said " by the way, your coffee is colored water "

Patient husband:  Wife wanted to make a purchase and visit with us. She was struggling and then asked her husband " How old am I?"   He said she was 82.   She had picked out a couple things to buy and while trying to figure out what to do with the change, she said " How old am I ? "    He said  " You are still 82 ", with a very gentle voice.  Then she blew him a kiss.  


Now you see them, now you don't....

Oh...the adult pig is still available, if needed 



Disappearing shopkeeper: Where were those husbands ...time to set up....time to lift up...time to..have some fun  

I think there were some football games that needed some "couching and cheering" 

Preacher :  He pulled out his phone,found his  facebook page, It was a message on the gates..mind gate, eye gate, ear gate, mouth gate. ...  then held hands and prayed over sister and her hubby.  

And that was our last customer of the day.  A very interesting two days.  It always is.  

BTW ...family  always  help:  called in the ad to Craig's list, came by with hugs, brought clothes rack and ideas. 






I live an exciting life 

Hi Marti

A big day ahead  ( full week ahead and behind )
But I just had to tell someone ( hubby is out on the roof and I am not going there )

Just saw out my window

Mother, walking with two dogs, a baby in a back pack
and

talking on her phone !

UGH !

How is technology helping us?

OK,  she is probably calling her mother to tell her how much she loves her and never realized how hard being a mother can be and how sorry she is for not appreciating her and....




I feel better now.  
And I need to get back in the kitchen
Window washers and gutter cleaner coming ... poor timing, picnic on our patio tonight, for neighborhood Bible study group.   Who is going to clean up after the clean up?

Not going there

Have a good day
NO, have a great day !!

I live an exciting life

making notes

I think it is important to know the likes and dislikes of your guests, before they arrive.
Not always possible, but worth looking into.
I just like to be prepared.

One group of friends seems to inhale sparkling cider
another not so much, but loves coffee, lots of coffee.

There are some things you cannot predict or even prepare for
and
that is what is calling me to write tonight.

In brief
August is the month I try to catch up on hospitality.
Last Wednesday I had a brunch on the patio. It was a beautiful day and I had sunglasses and sunscreen on hand.  
What I was not prepared for:   bees.   One of them seemed to really like Martha and "ouch". But she did not complain.   And no one else was attacked.   
Hubby is now on pest control.  

This week,  the weather was wet. My brunch group were seated around my dining room table. 
What I was not prepared for:  chair with a weak frame.  Betty was simply trying to scoot away from the table so she could hand little one back to his Mama, but the chair legs did not move. Just the back of her chair "leaned back" with her and little one going down..   I was right there to grab crying little one and other ladies rushed to help Betty get up and onto a new sturdy chair.  Betty was all smiles. Little one settled down
Hubby took care of that bad Chair. Naughty chair !  Into the garbage for him !   

Notes completed.
I don't think I will forget this August, but just in case, it is now documented !

I do have plans for another brunch...but, think I will wait until September. 


( no photos.... for obvious reasons... do you have a mental picture?)



I live an exciting life.  

When you come to the end of a perfect day..

Oh, wait, this was not a perfect day, but it was a full day.
It started out in the usual way with my Proverb, chapter for the day
and that would be 20..

verse I picked:   

August 20
Proverbs 20:12  Ears that hear and eyes that see- the Lord has made them both
( use for His glory )

Then, I move on to a couple other readings, and oh, I was thinking about my friend in Idaho and knew she had a busy day, so I texted her to let her know I was praying for her.

Another friend was having a colonoscopy. Thought I would  pray for that...I have never had one, but I am related to someone who has and, it is not fun.

I had planned to stay home all day, getting ready for another Wednesday brunch.  This time it is the ladies that I meet with on Wednesday, in Tacoma, for Bible study.   I am preparing all the food because I don't contribute much during the year.  

but then, I had to make a quick trip into town. Really needed to make sure those brows are looking cute.

back home and first and only major project

Dessert !   I had been browsing through cookbooks all the way to Spokane last weekend and found one that sounded great.  

I forgot to tell myself to never, ever, try a new recipe when you are going to have company.

It is an apple cake. 3 lbs of apples, peeled, cored and chopped.  
Tell me,  has anyone else heard of Macintosh apples?  I have, and that is what the recipe called for. At trader Joe's the produce man said he had never heard of them. He offered to check with someone.  Came back and gave me two suggestions.  " I just asked Siri "  ( why didn't I think of that, she is on my phone too )  

So far so good.  The next step was a little confusing and I don't want to talk about it.  I have been baking goodies for many years and I can figure out how to make it work.   The final step was pouring the batter into a tube pan, 1/2, then 1/2 the apples, and 1/2 and 1/2 again.  Looks nice.   Into the oven.

While starting another dish, I hear something and  I realize I might have to come up with a backup plan for dessert.  I have chocolates. I always have chocolates.   

I have only one tube pan that is not a bundt pan. It is the pan you use to make angel food cake.  It is not a pan for apple cake, but I don't want to talk about it.

Finally out of the oven.  Power nap time for baker.  Find directions for auto clean oven.

Young friend, she is 7, arrived to see the layout for tomorrow.  She is going to entertain/play with  the two toddlers who might be coming. 

Family arrived with smiles. Off to our favorite drive in burger place.  That always makes me think of an old favorite movie  " With 6 you get egg roll"  Little man had never seen it, so we watched it with popcorn and apples. 

We are almost at the best part 

The apple cake is now on a cake stand. Hubby comes by and says " that is an interesting cake".
I say "Thank you"  and leave it there.

he says " Is it an apple cake?"

( well, I am glad that much is obvious..it is a cake, and it has apples. Maybe I will take a picture later)  

Finished two casseroles for tomorrow.  Popped flowers into the party favor bags.  Table is set.  Run the dishwasher, run the washer, counter clean...

So, all that is left, for the morning,  is cheese boards and fruit platters.

I am really excited about "boards".  My favorite is at Chaps..Oh I have a picture

I will be serving 12 guests, so I will have to make some adjustments  and at least two platters ( I don't have any boards )  

OK.  It is midnight.  Gotta get my beauty rest.

I'll see you in my dreams  ( I know who you are ♥ )

I live an exciting life and I can sing that song if I want to

" When you come to the end of a perfect day and you sit alone with your thoughts..

Through her kitchen window

My sister had no idea what she would be watching at her kitchen sink.
She had been gardening and needed a drink of water.

They live in a  little neighborhood, and very little excitement happens.
From her kitchen window she can see all the 4 houses across the street

To the left, across the street, a young man was walking with a large dog. A very large and active dog and it was hard to tell if he was walking the dog or the dog was walking him.
Many neighbors walk their dogs, so you get to know them.
This was a stranger.
He was moving toward the next driveway and talking very loudly, to himself, using very bad language and punching a fence. 

Mild mannered neighbor, Claudia, walked toward him and said
" I just want to make sure you are OK."

He continued to shout out profanity.

Claudia was not happy about that. She got a little closer and said
"That is not very nice language , I am going to call the police "



 while her daughter is behind her and my sister is now outside and calling to Claudia and pointing to her phone and saying she is calling 911
Claudia does not seem to notice

that is when he attacked her .
Got her down on the ground and was punching her. She was face down and blows came to her arms and back.  



My sister has already called 911...not sure how the Fire Department arrived first, but my sister yelled at them to help Claudia.  They did not, but were on their phone.(  They are not qualified, or allowed to get involved at this point.   They could lose  their job )

By now two police cars have arrived.   They are able to tackle the young man and help Claudia, but the young man escapes and runs next door.   This is a medical office and someone is already taping the rest of the story on her cell phone..

The rest of the story?    The young man assaulted an officer  and pushed his hand through the police car window...  and now there are 6 police cars and just as many officers are now taking care of that young man.

About now, Rog is outside and taking care of the recycle and garbage bins.  He is not happy.  He does not seem to be aware there are 6 police cars and many people gathering with his wife, across the street.  He yells to her " Barb, you need to call  waste management. They did not take all of our garbage again "    I do not need to tell you what my sister replied 

The garage sale had stopped momentarily.   One of the customers said... I know that dog. Mastiffs are very unusual around here and he does not belong to that guy.
Sure enough, young man had stolen the dog, was high on drugs and probably would not remember any of the events of the morning. 

little note:  if you have never seen what it looks like to control someone who is high on drugs, I just viewed an incident, downtown Seattle. documented by Christopher Rufo, on facebook.  Crazy energy and actions .

However,  my sister, Claudia and all the garage sale customers will never forget.

And..the sale went on...

In  a quiet neighborhood with  very little excitement