Visiting Jacob and LIsa

 Jacob's inheritance, a shaving mug that had belonged to Grandpa, Sidney Petersen.  How appropriate for Jacob.

 Rhya

 Eden, big eyes and all

                                                                             Iris ----dishing dinner.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

First Year Dahlia Garden

Ross gave me some Dahlia tubers and I bought a bag from Costco.  Robert had shown an interest in raising some from seed, but that didn't materialize.  So we took the short cut with these and had wonderful results.  Many plants were so heavy that they actually heaved out of the ground.  We have constant bouquets in the house and some to give away.  We have been rewarded for so little effort.

Washington Winds December 2014

Wednesday morning I returned from my walk while Bob was still on the trail. The wind blew but nothing out of the ordinary.  I was talking with Dwight on the phone when I heard the whumph sound that only a falling tree can make.  Upon my investigation in the back woods, I found these rotted tree roots sticking up in the air instead of in the ground.

The roots are pretty rotten....and while you can't tell from this, it did leave a big hole in the ground. Below are the three trees that came down.  The biggest one is the moss green you can barely see in the background.


 

 Thursday night was the night of the BIG wind storm.  Gusts up to 60 miles.  Nothing came down on its own accord.  But Bob took this one down with his trusty chain saw.

Don't know why this tree is still standing as it leans over our neighbor's fence.  I think it is waiting for the next big wind.......unless someone takes it down first.

Learning Housekeeping Skills

 

While the kids were here for three weeks, they carried their part of responsibility.  Quinn was the table setter and gathered the flowers for the centerpiece. The triangle folded napkins were her specialty.

 

"See my bed," says Joel.  "I made it myself."

 

More than Quinn slept in her bed, but she could make it tidy for the day!

Choosing her own clothes for the day!  Look at those go together colors!

We had such a good time.  Grace came for the last week.  Pictures of her coming next!

Flowers for Dwight

Today's prize went to the lilies and my favorite hydrangea.  Wish you could smell the lilies!  Such perfume. 

Peonies Grow in Kelso!

Kemp and Sonja have a hillside in their backyard planted with Rhodies, Peonies and Daylilies.  I can almost smell these peonies with their glorious colors and fluffy petals.  Lovely!

The Rhodie Garden on a Rainy April Morning

Left Over Christmas Cookie Crumbs

 The Sickies:  More soup, more popsicles, and more Kleenex

 

 Between his root canal and the bug, Ben feels great on Christmas morning!

 

 Dancing on New Years Eve

 

 Dad getting in the act.

David sleeping off the bug.

 The best fleece!  Barns, silos, pickup trucks with dogs in the back.  Perfect!

 

 Benjamin finally quit coughing while he was having his mustard plaster treatment. He loved it!

 

 Joel and Quinn had slugged each other and so they had to sit on the couch until they both said they were sorry.  Then they were free to go back to play.  Joel said sorry immediately.  Quinn was not about to cave.

 

Ben's family pretending to feel better.

Joleen with lots of spirit.  She didn't get sick until later.

The Sunday Before Christmas

 The Galas went to church with us.

 Non-verbal communication! 

 Then Ben's family arrived.  They bring everything when they travel.....

 

Ben inspecting the patio that he inspired.....With my outdoor 2nd refrigerator showing..

Petersen Family Christmas Part 1

 Maybe Santa should get pant length before shipping to Georgia.  So fun to sew for Libby, Natalie, and Elissa.

 Grace is growing up, but will still play with me.

 Joel could beat all of us at Manacala.

The dog lover, Quinn.

 

 As I said.........

More to come..



Christmas 1965

Ross, Jay and Kemp......all with new wheels to ride.......

Merry Christmas

Mary and Baby Jesus from a Christmas in the past.  Christmas Eve and the retelling of the Savior's birth were the best.  Simpler times.....wonderful to remember.

November Recap

Ross closed on his farm house which includes a big barn and silo.  Hidden in a corner is this chicken house.........

We started collecting Ross's stuff when he graduated from UCLA and found himself called to active duty in the Gulf.  Then there was the his furniture when he came back from Vermont.  This is the beginning of the parade of departure of his belongings to "The Farm".   He is so happy to have all of his life's accumulation in one place.....his place.

The motor which runs the windshield wipers died.  The Lexus garage wanted $500 to replace it.  So my mechanic went to Cut-Rate Auto, bought a remade part for $75.00 and put it in himself.  The hardest part?  Getting the wipers back on to swipe the windshield in the right place.

Thanksgiving was wonderful.  Everyone wrote and posted leaves listing things they valued.  That became the topic of conversation at dinner.  Interesting items.  Good discussion.