The Northwest

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David and I arrived in Seattle, rented a car and off we went on our adventure in the Northwest. We couldn’t wait to get out of the city. We are not city people. We headed toward the Pacific Ocean where we had a motel for two nights at Ocean Shores, Washington. Being that is was off season it was not very busy in that area.

Our room faced the ocean side and this was the sunset we saw our first night.

There was a beach if you wanted to walk about a mile through bushes and beach growth and wonder if there were snakes around. I don’t think this beach path has been used for years.

Instead we drove around the town and did some shopping and sight seeing.

You know you are in a beach town when there are sharks and seahorses around.

There were cute little shops and this was my favorite one. They had so many things I would have loved to buy if we had our car and weren’t going back on the train.

It was cute on the outside and the inside.

I bought this bottle of hand soap just because I liked how pretty it was.

Suddenly we started seeing deer. Deer everywhere. I had noticed a sign outside of town that said no hunting. I guess the deer knew this.

Does and this little fawn.

And these gorgeous boys. They were smaller than our deer here in Indiana.

“Aren’t I handsome?” He was not at all afraid of us.

Everywhere we turned, we saw deer. Then we decided to drive onto the beach.

We had it almost to ourselves. Just a few people.

I love the ocean. There is something wild and wonderful about it.

We ate at this place one time. All the locals seemed to like it. You cannot go near the ocean and not eat fish. Well, David didn’t. He ate a hamburger. But I had cod and clams and it was good.

The water was so cold the fishermen wore warm, waterproof clothes to fish in the water. They looked like they were freezing. I walked in the water and it was icy.

One of my favorite birds. I have seen sea gulls on both coasts, the gulf of Mexico,in Alaska, and in the Virgin Islands. They all fascinate me because they are so aware of everything around them. Drop a crump and suddenly you have twenty or more flying around you. I don’t know how they know when food is around, but they always do They act solitary until food is around and then, bam. Every bird for himself.

We left Ocean Shores for the Olympic Peninsula. We didn’t get up there the last time we were in the Northwest and I always hoped to get back. It’s about a three hundred mile loop around it so we decided to take three days to drive it.

There are lodges all around it. We stopped at this one to eat lunch.

How cozy is this? It was chilly out and a roaring fire in the fireplace was just what was needed. Big, comfy couches and chairs around it. Wish we had stayed here.

As it was off season, there were a lot of empty tables.

We were seated right by the window and could look out at a beautiful lake and at birds eating at the bird feeders.

We learned this was a Stellar Jay, not unlike the blue jays in Indiana.

This was our view while we dined. All the Adirondack chairs waiting for people to come sit and look at the scenery.

Anyone could be a Sasquatch. Just put your face in the hole. Sad to say, we saw no Sasquatches while in Washington.

Maybe next time we will stay at this lodge.

We continued up the peninsula in search of the Big Cedar. That will be in the next post. Stay tuned. Bye.

Westward Ho!

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David and I took a trip the last couple of weeks. We decided to take the train to Seattle, Washington, rent a car and drive the Olympic Peninsula and visit Mount Rainier. We began our journey by driving to Chicago to meet the train. Let me tell you. Union station needs to modernize. Once you park your car in their garage, you have to haul all your bags that you packed(with clothes I ended up never wearing) to the station through hallways and up stairs. The people who worked there couldn’t have been nicer. We were put in a lounge for all the other sleeper car people where they had finger foods and cold drinks and even wine if you wanted it. We didn’t. Then they called us and asked if we needed a redcap who would take us and our baggage to the train. David chose at that time to head the wrong way and I was heading the right way and I had to put down my baggage and I ran shouting to him like a crazy woman, down a hall, that he was going the wrong way! He was in the line with the people who were walking to the train and it was quite a far distance to walk. Finally got him and we got on the little cart and the redcap took off like a bat beeping her horn sending people scurrying out of our way or get hit. I am glad we didn’t have to walk to the train because we would never have found it. It was a good distance from the lounge.

Chicago was foggy that day.

We rode the Empire Builder.

In the sleeping car.

This was our home for two days and two nights. A pull out bed and a bunk bed. Yes, we are crazy. It was cramped, but we managed. One of the rooms down from us was just a little larger and four big men were all sleeping in there. I don’t know how they did it.

We read, did fill-in books, and played Solitaire on our computer. We did not have internet on the train. There was a lounge car, but it really wasn’t as comfortable as our own little room. So I spent a good bit of time in it with David bringing me ice, water and crackers. I called it my “train diet.”

We ate in the dining car. Well, David did mostly because I didn’t like their food that well. I will write a separate blog about eating in a diner on the train. This is my plate.

This was David’s. He really liked the steak dinner they served. It does look like he licked his plate!

This was our car attendant going out. Connie. She’s getting married next April.

We rode through our beautiful country.

Through flatlands and hills. Mountains and by lakes and rivers.

By woods where the trees’ leaves were changing color.

The weather was glorious.

Then we got into Washington state. This is the Puget Sound.

There were egrets every few feet it seemed and lots of sea gulls, one of my favorite birds. Some people call them flying rats, but I just love them.

It got cool in our little room so I put on my hand knitted warm socks. You knew I couldn’t write a blog without mentioning knitted socks!

We arrived at our destination, rode a taxi to the car rental and got our car for the drive of our life. Will tell you more about it in the next blog. Bye.

I’ll Be Back

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I have a zillions things to talk about, but I have been kind of busy the past several days. So much has happened and I have seen so much that I can’t wait to tell you all about it. Getting on a train for a long journey in a little while, so see you on the other side. Bye.

Saving a Bird

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Okay, I don’t have any pictures today because I have been too busy to take any. I went boating with my daughter’s family and didn’t take the camera. Went to two of our grandsons’ soccer games and didn’t bring a camera. Maybe my next post will have pictures. I don’t know. I’ve been living in the moment lately and too busy for pictures.

Anyway, today I went outside to fill the bird feeders. We have this metal one and a bird had gotten its head caught in it the other day and I managed to slip it out and free it. Today I went out and once again another bird had its head stuck. I worked and worked trying to get that bird out, but it was still stuck, so I went inside and got some cooking oil and rubbed over as much of the bird as I could and tried to slip its head out, but it was still stuck. The only thing to do was take apart the bird feeder. Now this feeder is metal and put together very well. I took the lid off and used a screw driver to try to loosen the area where the bird’s head was. That bird had its head wound around in there so tight, there was no getting it out without completely dismantling the feeder. So with screw driver I pried and pulled at that bird feeder while continually talking to the little bird telling it I was trying to save it. I was also doing a good deal of praying For God to help me. He must have been having a good laugh in Heaven, because He wasn’t that quick to help me. I worked on that bird feeder for over an hour trying to pry it apart. I kept checking on the bird and it kept blinking its eye at me. I then went and got some pliers to see if they would work. They did a little better than the screw driver, but still that bird’s head was stuck. Then I remembered the wire cutters David had so I found them and began to snip at the metal around the bird’s head while telling it I was really trying very hard to get it loose. Finally, after much prying, pulling and snipping the little bird’s head got loose and it took off flying so I knew it was okay. Wonder how it explained to all its friends how it got oil all over itself!

But my day of saving birds had not ended. We have this circular bird feeder that the birds eat from the bottom. I went to fill it and yes, another bird had its head stuck. I got that one out pretty quickly, but I got rid of that feeder too. Then, I went to get a watering can and there was a dead bird inside it all moldy. What are birds doing around here. Committing suicide? Or are they just so greedy they stick their heads wherever they think they can get more delicious birdseed? I was just about done with birds by then. I was almost afraid to go out and feed the chickens for fear one of them had stuck her head in something, but they were all okay.

That’s all I have for today. Feed the birds and hope they don’t get their heads stuck. Bye.

Note To Self

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Labor Day Weekend. David and I have to get away from the house or we will labor all weekend because that’s what we do. We are always puttering around this old house and its gardens. So, we planned a trip to see Noah’s Ark. The Ark Encounter is located in Kentucky, just south of Cincinnati. It was built as an exact replica of the ark described in the Bible. This time we took no grandchildren nor did we go with anyone else. We decided we wanted to see this for ourselves and take the time to see it properly.

So with David behind the wheel, we were off. Driving on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River this time. I must say, I really enjoyed the ride as it was different from how we usually go to Cincinnati. We followed the Ohio River a good portion of the way.

We got to the park about 11:30 in the morning. We had stopped at this really nice coffee shop where they had the best Boston crème donuts I have every eaten and I liked their coffee too. Anyway, see that lady there? Just want to say she and her husband were so nice and were smarter than David and I. Know why? They bought their entrance tickets online and suddenly someone came along the line and said if you already had your tickets. you could get in line for the bus. David and I did not have our tickets. They did, so they left us. Note to self, if we are going to a popular place where tickets are required, buy them online. We would have saved at least an hour’s time in line if we had done so.

So, we waited and waited in line. I don’t think the people at the Ark Encounter were expecting so many people, but it being a holiday weekend, there were thousands there. People just kept coming. Thankfully, it wasn’t too hot and there was a nice breeze. Finally, we got to the ticket booth and purchased our tickets. Everyone gets a wristband to wear to get on the bus to the ark. Then we got into another queue to get on the bus.

These buses ran continuously all day taking people to the ark. It was so nice to finally get to sit down. The bus takes you on a winding road to the ark.

Then, suddenly, there it is in front of you and I have to say I said out loud, “Omigosh!” It was huge.

And so beautiful.

Then we got into another queue to get into the ark. After the obligatory picture they take of you, that they would try to sell to you in the gift shop after your trip though the ark, we finally actually stepped into the ark, two hours and forty five minutes after arriving at the parking lot!

By that time we were exhausted.

We began to walk through the ark. It was so beautifully made. The largest timber-framed structure in the world today. It is hard to imagine one man and his three sons making something so huge in Biblical times, but it was God’s plan and people lived a whole lot longer when the world was fresh and new and didn’t have the distractions we do today. It probably took them decades to build. This ark took men just a little over a year to build with all the modern equipment we have today.

There were so many exhibits. This may have been what their living spaces

looked like on the ark. Since they had no idea how long they would be on the boat, they would surely have wanted their living spaces to be comfortable.

Food may have been stored in earthenware pots such as these. Think how much food was needed to feed all the animals and the eight people on board for such a long period of time.

Cages of all sizes lined the walls. Young animals of every species of the day were brought on board, one male, one female. Noah would probably not have brought elderly animals or animals past their prime for having babies. We have no idea what some of the animals looked like back those many millenniums ago. Elephants may not have looked like they do today. Giraffes may have had shorter necks. The truth is, we don’t know what animals looked like in Noah’s day for the most part.

Who knows what animals were all on the boat? There were thousands upon thousands. Even then, there was room for more. The only things we do know for sure is the size of the boat, what people were on it. and that animals were rescued to replenish the earth after the flood. By the way. Did you know there have been stories all over the world down through the centuries telling about massive floods but that in only one of them were there survivors? Noah and his family are the only known survivors of a worldwide flood that killed everything that could not breathe under water.

This was a robotic Noah who told his story. Children were captivated by him. I noticed how they would go right to the front and listen with interest to one of the most amazing stories of mankind. So thankful parents are teaching their children the Bible and its truths.

There was no rest on the ark for all those days they were aboard. Cages needed repaired, animals fed and watered and the animal waste disposed of. What a job!

When they had time to rest, they probably studied the scriptures. Noah was a righteous man and his family must have been righteous people.

They were metal workers and wood workers. All these skills were needed to build the ark and would be needed after they returned to dry land.

Some people scoff at the story of Noah and the ark, but if it’s in the Bible, it’s a true story. This sign says it all about how satan wants to convince us that it isn’t true. Then you won’t believe any of the Bible. You cannot pick and choose what to believe and what to set aside. It’s all in there for a reason, whether to teach a lesson or show the way to Jesus Christ. Did you know the story of Noah and the ark is also an analogy of how people accept or reject Jesus Christ?

You see, God has a plan. Has had it since the beginning of time. He knew men would be sinful and need to be made fit for Heaven because sin cannot abide in Heaven. So, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for all of us. Jesus bore our sins upon himself on the cross. God’s only requirement? That you accept this gift of salvation and His Son as your Savior. Many people reject that gift and would rather live a sin filled life. That is what happened in Noah’s day. Men were so sinful, God was going to destroy his entire creation, but He saw one man, Noah, who was righteous and decided it was worth a second try. The ark represents salvation. Then there is the door. There was only one door in the ark. Just as there is only one way to Heaven.

The day the rains began, God shut that door and no one else could enter. Jesus is the door to Heaven, and one day that door will be shut also, if you reject Him. There will be no second chances. God will close the door once for all and those who are in Christ will be with Him in Heaven. When I stood by that door, my heart ached for all those who have rejected Jesus. Who think there is no Heaven or Hell. Do you know Jesus talked more about hell while He was on earth because He doesn’t want anyone to go there? No one. He loves us all. Everyone around the world. If you are reading this, He loves you, too. I hope you have a relationship with Him.

Another thing I noticed about the ark was the lighting. It wasn’t bright, but you could still see everything. Almost like it was lit by oil lamps. Every once in a while I would stand back and just look around at the ark, at the people and think how amazing it all was. Some of the exhibits were in little alcoves which became quite claustrophobic for me when twenty or more people crowded around. People were taking pictures, as was David and I. Note to self. Next time you go to the ark, leave the camera behind and just soak in the atmosphere and read all about the exhibits. One man backing up to take a picture stepped right on David. I was wishing that cellphones had not been invented because at some of the exhibits that was all you could see. But all in all, people were kind to one another and it was a really nice day.

After we got out of the ark we realized we hadn’t gone to the zoo there yet, but we were so exhausted, we said, “Next time.” We bought some drinks and a big bag of kettle corn and walked to get back on the bus. Note to self. Wear crocs next time. They are the only shoes I can walk in for hours without my feet hurting. By the end of the day I felt like I was walking on stumps. We got to our motel and I laid down and went right to sleep!

The next day we returned home, again along the Ohio River. We took back roads and came across one area where people had Summer cabins on the river. Some were already closed up for the season. We went through some little towns with neat old houses.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I saw something on my window and I thought it was inside the car and I screamed and David swerved the car. What was it?

This gigantic praying mantis had landed on my window, thankfully, outside.

David had to get outside and take more pictures of it. It was the biggest one I have ever seen. He knocked it off the window and we went on our way.

Watching barges make their way slowly down the Ohio River.

It was good to get home, but I would recommend seeing the ark. Whether you are a believer or not, it’s an amazing structure.

Today was Labor Day and David and I did labor. David had to work today so I decided to stain more boards for the fence we are replacing. I worked all day and I am glad I finished them today because it is suppose to be hot and humid once again tomorrow. Ugh.

Fifty boards, after staining hundreds of others, and we are only half done with the fencing. Next year.

Hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend if you celebrate it.

Here’s to a righteous man who listened to God. Bye.

What’s Going On

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Well, I’m just sitting here wondering where in the world Summer went. It came in a blast of rain and heat and is leaving the same way. I had so many plans. Some came to fruition, others went by the wayside. Like I totally missed our state fair again this year. Every year David and I say we want to go, but this year we had a nasty bug and were waylaid for a couple of weeks, so we missed it.

I wanted to go to the zoo. Haven’t made it there.

I’ve wanted to go on a picnic somewhere besides our backyard. Haven’t done it.

I have been swimming a whole lot more since it’s been so hot and humid this Summer. But because of the heat and humidity, our lawn grows tall enough that we could bale it before we get the energy to go out and mow.

We tried to buy some more land which would have meant more mowing and I was wondering, “What are we thinking?” Luckily, we didn’t get it. They wanted way more than we were willing to pay. It was all David’s idea. But I always go along with him. We are partners in crime, after all.

I took care of dogs and chickens all Summer. Plus fed the Hummingbirds to the point we use about a five pound bag of sugar every week just for them. They say animals are dumb? Then why am I doing all the work, feeding, cleaning after them, taking them to the vet? Molly hurt her eye somehow so we took her to the vet yesterday. I made an appointment for the morning and went to put her in the car, but she refused. She weighs eighty-eight pounds so I couldn’t lift her. I begged, pleaded, and gave her treats, but nothing was getting that dog into the car so I had to cancel the appointment and make one when David was here to get her in the car. So, guess what? Time for the appointment, she hopped right up into the car and David looked at me like I was crazy. Go to the vet, she acts like everyone there is her best friend wagging her tail all over the place. Even sat still while the vet put drops in her eye. Get her home, she doesn’t want to get out of the car. Crazy dog. But I love her.

I guess she knows who is boss.

Our garden has overflowed with cucumbers and tomatoes.

I would go out and pick them one day and the next…….

Bam! More. I can only eat so many so David has taken at least a half bushel to work with him and given them away.

This is my puny try at freezing some tomato juice. So much work. So little produced. Considering I don’t even use tomato juice very often, this is plenty for us. I have a friend who cans enough food for her and her husband to last all winter. I admire her and she puts me to shame, but I’m not ashamed enough to do what she does.

I have three little hills of cucumbers and they have produced enough for David to have all he wants and to take to work and give away. I am so glad those people like our produce. I hate to throw it away.

We have had two of the grandboys a couple of nights this Summer which isn’t much, but they and their parents have busy schedules.

So they had these toothbrushes that lit up when they used them, so we turned off the lights and they demonstrated them for me. It’s so easy to entertain Grandma.

We did manage to go to one auction. It rained the entire day so I spent most of it in the car knitting while David stood out in the rain and bought a few things. He got this for me. Five hours later.

A cute little Adirondack chair. As I sat in the car, they sold a boat right in front of me for $500. It was a really nice boat too.

I’ve knitted socks. Oh, yes I have.

David tried a new hairdo.

When we were getting our porch built a couple of years ago, one of the men working for our contractor brought me a flower since he saw I liked flowers. He told me I couldn’t kill it. Well, I watered in and kept it protected and watched it die down for the winter and it didn’t come up the next year. This year it didn’t come up either, at least for a long time. Then one day I saw some leaves where a bare spot use to be, and soon the plant was growing taller and taller, so David made a cage around it so the rabbits wouldn’t eat it. Now it is a beautiful big plant and I looked up what kind it is.

It’s called a Passion Flower and is so beautiful. They only bloom for one day, but there are several flowers on the plant.

We are going to see the Ark in Cincinnati this week. It’s an exact replica of the one described in the Bible. There is a zoo there also so I get to make my trip to the zoo. Thousands of people have already visited it and it just opened this Summer, on Dave’s and my anniversary.

Tomorrow I will start decorating the house for Fall. Before we know it, it will be election day, then Thanksgiving(hope I will be thankful who got elected) and then Christmas. Time is coming quickly. Did you know time comes. it doesn’t go? I learned that this year. You can’t stop it. It’s going to come so make the most of every day and give God the glory.

He’s provided some glorious sunsets this year.

Here’s to another Summer. Good-bye, Summer, you were really special. Bye

Simply Words

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No pictures today, folks, even though I have several on my camera. The past three weeks have been kind of fuzzy to me. After we took the Grandboys to the Children’s Museum, I got sick the day after and am really not feeling completely well yet. I coughed and hacked for two weeks until my head and my teeth hurt and only after David started coughing and hacking did I decide to make us appointments to see the doctor.

I really like our doctor, I just don’t want to see him anymore than I have to. He examined us both and put us on antibiotics steroids and inhalers. I don’t like inhalers at all. So we are finishing up these meds and I still have a cough and am blowing my nose. so there will probably be another doctor’s visit in my future. When I was growing up and got sick, the usual remedy was a shot of penicillin and that usually made me well. I don’t know what has happened to penicillin, but I am going to ask my doctor if he still uses it.

During these two week our tomatoes and cucumbers have gone wild. I have picked so many and given so many away and they still keep coming. I froze a little tomato juice. I use to can tomatoes, but I quit that a long time ago because it seemed all the work wasn’t worth the product. Plus, it’s always so hot when it’s time to can. Yes, I am lazy.

My sock pile is getting bigger, however. I have knitted and knitted when I felt poorly and some people are going to get several pairs of socks come Christmas. I love knitting socks now. I can almost do it with my eyes closed. I can’t wait to get more yarn. I have become a complete yarn addict. At least I feel like I am accomplishing something while I’m sitting here.

David and I are planning a train trip this year. Riding and sleeping on a train has been on my bucket list forever. We will get to sleep four nights on the train and I can’t wait. When we took the ferry to Alaska. I slept better than I ever had before. Last night I had a dream I was sleeping on a train and it rocked just like the ferry did. Alicia Paulsen on her blog, Posey Gets Cozy. just took the train trip we are going to take. The train goes though mountains and Glacier Park and though the west. Her pictures are amazing. The dining car looks just like I envision it with white table cloths on the tables, sitting by a window eating your meal while the scenery goes by. Looks like pure Heaven.

The grandchildren have all gone back to school. Whatever happened to Summer? June and July flew by. I blinked and it was August. Now August is half over already. I really don’t think children should have to start school until after Labor Day. I remember one year we got out of school on May 6th and didn’t return until after Labor Day. It was a long, lazy(well as lazy as you can get on a farm) and wonderful Summer. I would spend my days reading, playing with the animals on the farm, helping in the garden, helping my mother freeze corn. We did one hundred pints one Summer. I got to do a lot of day dreaming too. Do kids have time to day dream any longer? Day dreams are what inventions and literature and beautiful music come from. If you are constantly bombarded with noise from an Ipod or looking down at your cellphone all the time for the next text, you really don’t have time to day dream. A whole generation is losing out on the chance to just sit and day dream. We are hooked up to social networks and are less social. There has to be a middle ground somewhere, but when I go out and all I see are people sitting together with their eyes on their cellphones instead of connecting to others, It makes me kind of sad. People even think you are kind of odd if you aren’t carrying your cellphone around with you everywhere you go. It’s like life support for some people. And now the Pokeman phenomena is driving people nuts. Grownups racing around looking for an imaginary little creature. What has happened to grownups, anyway? Why do grownups now act like children? I’m not being judgmental, I am just curious. My parents would think the adults of today were acting very infantile. My parents came from the generation when you had to work hard just to live and raise your family. Family was the most important thing, too. They didn’t have time for playing very often. A family vacation was a real treat to be saved for and then you didn’t take another for a few years. Now people think they have to vacation all the time. My thoughts on vacations are they are fun, but they always make me glad when I get home. When I am on vacation, I am thinking of home and when I am home I am planning a vacation. I’ve gone on a lot of imaginary vacations in my mind. Some have come true. Others may never happen.

I am looking forward to cooler weather. We have had rain, heat and humidity for weeks now. I really feel sorry for the people in Louisiana. They are really having a hard time of it. Our town was flooded a few years ago, so I kind of know what they are going through. Just think of losing all you own, all of it underwater, the mud and dirt in your home. I pray for them that the rains will stop and they can start the clean up and get back to normal as quickly as possible.

Well, I have rambled on long enough. I think it is my fuzzy mind still clogged with the cold and it doesn’t help that yesterday, while running to answer the phone, I had something slippery on my feet and I did the splits running to the radio to turn it down and then I did the splits running to the telephone and laying on the floor, I finally got it answered and it was our internet company. Our internet had gone out again, the second time this Summer and I find I am lost without it, which makes me wonder about myself. Anyway. I got the phone answered, but today I have a badly sprained toe with bruises and my thighs hurt. But, we have our internet back and I get to ramble here on my blog. So all is good.

Hope you are having a better time than me. Bye.

Fun With the Grandboys

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We took three of our grandsons to the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis Friday. We started early in the morning by taking them out to Steak and Shake to eat since the food in the museum is so expensive. Then we drove clear to the top of the parking garage which was packed and parked our car. It’s been a few years since we took one of our grandsons to the museum and it had changed a lot.

Dinosaurs at the windows. Oh, my.

The Bat mobile was of special interest. The boys kept saying they wish they could drive it. Not sure that would be a good idea!

There was an exhibit of replicas of Chinese statues that were found some years ago. The real statues were life size and so were the replicas. They also had some you could put together as a puzzle. The boys enjoyed this exhibit. I could have stayed there a little longer and read more about them, but with three boys it’s go, go, go.

Someone had placed sun glasses on this one.

What I love about the museum is that it is truly kid friendly and children can climb on most of the exhibits. As you can see, our grandson thought this was fun.

Is there a resemblance here?

There was a Hot Wheels exhibit and cars to climb in.

Handsome lad. “Grandma,” he asked me. “Do you think I am handsome because I have red hair?” “I just think you are handsome,” I replied. All my grandsons are handsome, but I am not at all prejudiced. And I do love red hair.

Dressing up was part of the fun.

From race car driver to king in one day.

There was merry-go-round riding.

David got to be a kid again. I was taking pictures and then a woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was in line for the ride. I looked behind me and there was a long line of people. Oops. “Just watching.” I said.

More race cars to climb in.

There is a magnificent Chihuly chandelier hanging right in the middle of the museum. The last time we were here they were just putting it together.

Leftover pieces were put in the floor.

Me standing on Chihuly!

On the floor below this there was a rotating couch people could sit on and look up and see the beautiful colors.

Looking up at Chihuly.

This is what you saw from below. I was entranced by this.

An exhibit about Anne Frank where I would have liked to spend more time, but boys. Go, go, go. This picture of Anne was made up of hundreds of photos of people. Her story still saddens me.

There was a maze where, really, I was afraid I would never get out of. I kept the boys in my sight at all times. They knew where they were going.

There was an exhibit and show about the space capsule that Gus Grissom, the second man in space, flew in.. The capsule was lost at sea for thirty-eight years. Thankfully, they were able to save Mr. Grissom, but he later died in a fire in a space capsule. It was very interesting, and the fact I remember when this happened made it even more interesting to me. I was twelve years old at the time and space travel was new and exciting.

There was a train exhibit.

Pretending to buy and sell train tickets. David and I are going on a train trip this year. Can’t wait.

Okay, I hate my picture being taken, but David stalked me and got one that doesn’t make me look too horrible. I won’t delete this one, David. Ha. And who is that woman photo bombing me? And why do I look so contemplative?

So I took another picture of my sweetie. So, is this sign describing the bear or David? Hmmmmm.

The boys got all excited about Spiderman and tried to point him out to me. I could not see him and they kept saying, “There, Grandma!” Finally saw him and took his picture. There was so much more we saw and a lot we didn’t get to see. I would go back again.

It was a fun day. We stopped at the gift shop and let the boys buy some things and then the museum was closed and we left. When we got back to the car, there were very few cars in the parking garage and the upper deck was empty except for our car.

Driving to the restaurant to eat that afternoon we saw this.

It had been raining all day and the sun was coming out again.

A perfect ending to a perfect day. Hope the boys had as much fun as David and I did.

Here’s to Grandboys and museums. Bye.

Halcyon Days and Sock Love

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David and I celebrated our forty-eight wedding anniversary this past week. We decided to take a whole week from weekend to weekend to celebrate. It’s been a long week. We wanted to go antiquing, but most of the antique stores we went to were either closed or more like junk sales than antiques. We wanted to go to a Daylily farm and it rained cats and dogs on us. In fact, it rained almost the entire week. We did manage to get to Olive Garden for dinner which was very good. But it was still all good. When you have been married to the same man for almost your entire life, you don’t expect fireworks all the time, but we did do fireworks one night in our driveway with some old firecrackers and bottle rockets. There were people shooting off fireworks all around us. Some people don’t like this time of year because of all the fireworks, but I love it. We have had a lot of fireworks in our marriage. Some good. Some bad. As we looked back on our life together, we both feel it’s been a pretty good life. When I said, “I do,” I meant it and still do.

We did get to Streamcliff Farm again and had lunch with our older son and his friend. I managed not to buy any flowers this time, but I was tempted. I don’t know what they feed their plants, but all the flowers are huge.

We couldn’t get over how big these begonias were.

After lunch, we went back to the daylily farm, it wasn’t raining, and yes, I bought some daylilies.

It’s called New Creation Day Lilies and do they ever have a lot of daylilies. You picked the ones you wanted and they dug them for you right then.

The first day we went there, it was raining, as I said. This lady was out in a garden picking off the dead blooms. She had a bucket full.

This handsome fellow strutted around crowing and keeping his hens in a row.

There were several roosters and they were all crowing up a storm. I love hearing roosters crow. When we went to the Virgin Islands, chickens roamed all over and you could hear the roosters crowing. It was such a pleasant sound to me. It sounds like country.

The day lilies were gorgeous.

I brought one of these home with me. Along with four others.

We drove through storms during our drives.

We laugh because we have driven through so many storms in our lives and made it out alive to tell about it.

What’s life without a few storms along the way?

It wasn’t all play however. Our rhubarb just keeps on growing and we keep on picking it. I have made two batches of strawberry rhubarb jam.

The first batch was eaten up almost instantly. We had company and there was a teen-age boy who really, really liked this. We went through a couple of jars at that meal.

We have been trying to trap a groundhog that has made its home under our front porch. This is what we have caught thus far.

Several bunnies that we let loose back into the yard.

And this.

He/she was not a happy camper. Don’t know whether it’s a male or female and I’m not going to check.

His/her day was not going as planned. David took it over to the woods across the street from us. Hope it doesn’t find its way back.

Still haven’t caught a groundhog though.

But we do have a lot of these and this one is becoming a sort of pet. Coming to eat under our bird feeders every evening.

Peter Rabbit and Farmer MacGregor is no where to be seen. You’re safe with us, Peter.

Remember when I went to see Susan Branch at a book signing in Cincinnati? Her husband was handing out seeds from their wisteria vine that grows at their house. I planted the seeds and now I have two of these.

I am hoping they will grow and produce flowers one day.

Okay, I can’t get away without writing about socks. My fingers have been flying and socks have been coming off the needles in record speeds!

All different sizes. That little sock. That’s my daughter’s size. She has very tiny feet. In fact, her next pair I have to make a little bit smaller. She wears children’s socks. She certainly doesn’t take after me in that respect.

I peruse yarn webpages like I use to fabric pages. My quilting has been laid by the wayside for a time. I cannot stop knitting socks.

I keep buying yarn.

I really, really like these yarns I got the other day. All variegated and different shades of color.

I have knit one sock from this and I absolutely love it.

I’ve got me a lot of sock loving happening in my future. Yippee! I never thought I would ever get the hang of knitting socks, but now that I have, it’s really very simple. Of course, anything is once you know how to do it!

Speaking of gardens. My garden is not doing too shabby. These are some daylilies I have had for years and divided and planted all over the yard. I got the first ones at a grocery store.

I love my Summer garden. Every year it surprises me. When Winter gets here, I will think I will never see this again and then, it happens like a miracle every single year.

I wish my mother could see my garden. She loved her garden too. Perhaps she can see it, but then, she’s in the most beautiful garden imaginable as I type.

I will leave you with a picture of what I call the “Screaming Tree.” When the doctor’s house next door to us was torn down, they also took out deadwood out of an old tree and just left its carcass.

Every time we pass it I think it looks like it’s screaming. As if it cannot believe they tore down that beautiful, old house.

What do you think? Bye.

Freedom

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I’m sitting here this fourth of July weekend thinking about my country and where it is headed. I don’t like to talk politics on my blog, but today I am going to, so if you hate politics, you may not want to read today. I am very interested in politics and have always been proud to vote ever since I was able and have not missed a presidential election. I don’t intend to miss this one either.

If you live in the states or not, you know we are going to elect a new president this November. We have two contenders. One is a businessman who has never been involved in politics other than donating to various candidates through the years. He inherited money from his father which he turned into billions with his business acumen. Along the way there has been a few bankruptcies of which he’s admitted were due to poor decisions. It’s not as if he is the first person to ever go into bankruptcy, but you would think it by what his opponents have said. Anyway, he looks at politics as something that gets in the way of running a country and wants to bring back the good economy we have had in the past until the politicians started making deals against their very country. He also wants to protect our borders which have been left wide open for whomever wanted to come in. In the past, the United States has stopped immigration for a time until people became assimilated to our country and our culture. Learn the language and become American citizens. That doesn’t happen so much now. People come from other countries and want our country to change for them, not the other way around. We welcome immigrants with open arms when they come in legally and obey our laws and accept our culture.

The other candidate has been in politics almost her entire adult life. Marrying a man who became senator from Arkansas and then became president of the United States. He had his troubles in office and she did many devious things like having people’s tax returns in her possession. Together, they helped run up the deficit, supported NAFTA and sent the country into turmoil with his behavior toward an intern and other women. She ran a “bimbo eruption” action to stop any women from being heard or saying they were all lying. She tried to write a healthcare bill that failed miserably in congress because she wanted to put people and doctors in jail for not following its edicts. A book is now out about her telling how she treated underlings and others she thought were beneath her. She has been under investigation for months about E-mails on her private server that should have not been there since they were government E-mails. Now some countries have those E-mails to use as blackmail should she become president.

Neither candidate has high likeability polls. But one is more widely known than the other.

I picked my candidate long ago and intend to help him as much as I can to get into office.

The other thing I wanted to talk about was Brexit. When England left the EU, I cheered. I find it strange that people are against a country having borders and its own laws and it own leaders. With the EU, many European countries were taking orders from bureaucrats in Brussels, Belgium, far away from the people they were ordering. No representation. No ability to vote the bureaucrats out. I found that rather odd and disturbing. It would be like someone in Venezuela making laws for we the people in the United States. Most of us would not like that one bit. I am heartily hopeful that other European countries under the thumb of the EU will get out also. Many do not know that the EU was thought up originally by Adolph Hitler. He planned for one central government(Germany) to be over the states(other European countries.) All the countries were to take orders from the government(Germany). I find it astounding that so many European countries bought the EU idea after fighting a war to be free from an overbearing government. Many of the young people who have grown up under the EU don’t know what real freedom is. Maybe now they will learn and find it was a wonderful thing those who voted for Brexit did.

There is something about people inside them that yearns to be free. Free from overbearing, over regulating governments who stop our pursuit of happiness. This November, we will vote for a candidate who wants to cut the chains of an oppressive government and the other candidate who wants to be more repressive. One believes our rights come from God and are mentioned in the Constitution. The other wants to take away our guns. A right clearly mentioned in our Constitution. We the people have a very clear choice. I pray we make the right one.

I hope all my fellow citizens of the United States have a wonderful holiday. While you are at it, say a prayer for our country and our next president. Bye.

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Snicklefritz

So glad you came. Come sit a spell and read about the tale of my life.

The Northwest

Westward Ho!

I’ll Be Back

Saving a Bird

Note To Self

What’s Going On

Simply Words

Fun With the Grandboys

Halcyon Days and Sock Love

Freedom