Endurance develops strength of character in us~ Romans 5:4 NLT
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps~ Proverbs 16.9

Showing posts with label Grandkids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grandkids. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Winter has Arrived~

 After yesterday's sunshine, we were again gray today.  The cold has moved in - today's high reaching the mid-20's after 6 degrees last night.  While Butch was home for Thanksgiving, we did some shopping.  I found two little trees that renewed my interest in decorating.  I went through all the boxes of decorations & came up with a plan for both trees.

Family room~
The first, we found at Michaels, with a slender profile, it takes up less floor space, but adds additional height.  The frosted branches remind me so much of riding through the woods after a fresh snow.  Every year - the snowman wall hanging daughter Courtney made us - is one of the first things to go up.  I've collected pine cone ornaments for years, they went on this tree.  

Living room~
We found the little tree above at Menards.  It's more traditional, with our collection of glass ornaments, icyles etc.  The Santa wall hanging was a gift from a dear friend in WA, who made all the star shaped dollies, runners & tree skirts I use to this day.
Little Tree in the Cabin~
Last, the little tree in the Cabin, with  minature ornaments.  I spend time each day in the Cabin, checking on the gernamiums & watching the birds at the feeder.  Sad to say, so far anyway, I've not seen nearly the birds we usually have.  Just a few Chickadees & a Blue Jay.
First "snow" on the 15th~
More of a wind driven sleet than snow it was still pretty for the short while it lasted.  Enough to coat the roads in ice for a few hours.  Maybe two inches at the most.  Not even enough to try out my new snowblower.  
12-17-22 The Woods - 3:07 p.m.~
When the sun has shown though - the woods are beautiful!  Crisp in their light coating of white, now covered with a hard crust.  I completed my clean-up work just in time.  It's been so cold, the snow has stayed.

Butch has been busy since returning to the road. Rebel began having mechanical issues mid-month as he was leaving MO.  The plan was to get him into a truck he could keep by years end.  Thankfully, that truck arrived in Salt Lake. Butch was diverted there to make the change on the 16th.  (His fourth red semi.)
12-18-22  Traveler ~
By the 17th, he'd arrived in WA state.  He made one delivery & the following day, a second up near the border of BC.  Our youngest daughter was making her big move from Astoria, OR to Camano Island at the same time!  She made it a point to arrange a quick meet-up, before he passed by the island on his way south down the I-5 corridor.  She & the granddaughters had arrived late at their new home, then were up early see Papa!  Unknown to Butch, our oldest & first grandson Ben was with his mother!  The two of them hadn't seen each other since December of 2017!
Josie, Papa, Ben & Skyla~
Ben mentioned accompanying Butch on a dispatch one of these days!  I was so excited to see them all together I laughed & cried...  I told Butch - before long - we're going to have to find a vacation house on one of the islands & have a family get-to-gether!  It's Way too Long overdue!

Monday, July 4, 2022

Fourth-of-July!

 Here I am, alone for the first time ever on the Fourth...  After all the years of kids, grandkids, horses etc. it seems a bit strange not to at least have Butch home!  But - the good news?  He will be here in a couple days!

In the meantime - I couldn't help but take a look back.  It was July 2007 & our oldest Grandson Ben was quite a horseman!  At least when it came to his very favorite mare - Jasrada!  They'd already had a couple years of riding in the Arlington, WA Santa Parade.  This year we decided they would make their debut in the Lake Stevens Fourth-of-July parade.  Jas would be the "Fireworks Pony"!

Heading to the trailer~
After grooming his mare, he led her down to the horse trailer.
In the trailer~
Jas absoutely adored Ben & would do anything for him!  She'd been taking him on rides since he was a baby.
Jas gets to graze at the parade staging area~
Ben was experienced by this time in parade riding.  He also always enjoyed going for a good trot!
Jas was known for her beauty & perfect tail carriage~
It didn't take long to get Jas ready.  What did take forever, was the wait to move into position & out onto the street.  This year, the parade committee had decided the horses would bring up the end of the parade.  It was a huge parade, so we had a very long wait.
Ben, Jas & Butch
Finally though, we were on the move & I was too busy to get any more photos.  Ben put on his best parade smile!  Jas was busy doing her airs-above-the-ground trot!  They looked so cute!  Ben was super happy when he & Jas were awarded the first place trophy in the Mounted Horses Division!  

Just a month earlier, Jas had another Cowboy, our Grandson Mason in her saddle for the Duvall Days Parade! 
Papa makes sure Mason's helmet is tight!  Granddaughter Cassidy in the pink hat!  
Mason had told his classmates he'd be riding a horse in the parade, but no one thought it could be true.  Even his teacher was doubtful.  It hurt Mason's feelings that no one believed him...

Mason & Cassidy with Jas~
 Jas for whatever reason, maybe the new venue, was as high as a kite!  Prancing & dancing & keeping me busy - while Courtney did her best to keep Mason balanced in the saddle!  He wasn't in the least concerned!    The parade staff decided Mason & Jas would lead the parade, right behind the car with the local dignitaries.  
Mason waving to the crowd!
Behind us though - was the marching band!  The sound of the drums did nothing to calm Jas!  Courtney kept saying;  "Mom!  Can you slow her down?!"  I couldn't!  Mason kept up his parade wave all the way through town!  His arm dropped a little lower though by the end of the ride.  He was one tired boy, but not too tired for ice cream!

The following Monday, Mason was the star of his school!  All the non-believers had seen him in the parade!  The school principal even made an announcement over the PA system to congratulate Mason on his ride!  :-)
We miss those days!  Gone by way too fast!

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

2010 - 2020, The Decade ~

I've been looking through my photos from the last ten-years...  It seems like yesterday!  Ben, our first Grandchild, was born in 2000, Mason in 2001 & Cassidy in 2003!  Busy years!
1-29-2010 Cassidy, Mason & Ben
2010 - Our favorite three Grandkids visited Papa in Redmond at his construction site.  Visiting job sites was one of the field trips the kids enjoyed most!
4-10-2011 Jentry & Skyla Jean
 2011 - After ten-years, Jentry & Joe presented us with a beautiful Granddaughter!
7-27-2012 Papa with Josie Lynn~
2012 - About eighteen months later Jentry & Joe welcomed another daughter & bundle of beauty!  We call the girls our second generation of Grandkids!
7-27-2013 - Josie & Grammy
2013 - Josie, our youngest, turned one!  We had a wonderful party at the Wright's on the river.  It was a year filled with good family times. 
1-14-2014 Moon over Three Fingers Peak, from behind the barn~
2014 - The above photo had over 5,000 likes on the Seattle KOMO 4 News web site.  A "Wolf" moon.  
It was another busy year Butch.  He was building a high-rise storage facility in Ballard. Long hours - with longer commutes - leaving me with plenty of ride time.  (Farah & I traveled over 1,400 miles.)
11-27-2015 Cassidy, Connie, Nika, Butch, Ben, Rascal & Mason~
2015 - We made time for three-day camping trips with both families.  Logistics were convenient, with two of the grandkids 35-miles south of us & the other three about the same distance north!
10-11-2016 Courtney, Connie & Butch - Duvall, WA
2016 - In October, accompanied by daughter Courtney, we packed up the Homestead & moved 1,732 miles - to the Home Place in Iowa!
8-21-2017 Eclipse, Indian Caves State Park, NE
2017 - Our oldest daughter Courtney, grandson Mason & granddaughter Cassidy came for a visit!  We enjoyed every day they were here.  Besides two days at the Zoo & stopping by Sugar Makery for the grand opening, we drove to Indian Cave State Park in Nebraska to view the solar eclipse!
9-16-2018 Venice, Italy
2018 - Daughter Courtney & I take a trip to Italy!
2-14-2019 Cassidy, Connie, Courtney, Mason & David -
Leaving Children's in Seattle~
2019 - Grandson Mason beats Cancer!  Our Superhero!
2-16-2019 Skyla, Connie, Ben & Josie - Fort. Stevens ~
Even our youngest two - are growing so fast!  How long will it take for them to be taller than I am?  Ben is grown!

A new year & a new decade!  For couple who book-ended the 50's - we've marked the passing of the years - watching as our five Grandchildren grow.  I know they're going to do more of that!  We're loving every minute!
Here's to 2020!  
Happy New Year!