Rock's 67th Birthday Surprise Visit

Here I am, kisses Papa

Amya gets to talk to Uncle Neil in Israel and wishes him a happy birthday for the 11th. She is his big fan!

Rock always seems to have a wonderful birthday in September but this year, his 67th was the very best. Dionne and Amya surprised him by arriving on the 10th, the day after his birthday and two days after he got back from visiting Danielle in Arizona. What a birthday month and, like he said, the best gift he could have received, was the arrival of his two girls! He wouldn't have seen Amya or Dionne until October if not for their visit. The end of August was when he last saw them and we both have to see them at least once a month. We had such a good time. The weather was just like the middle of summer, sunny and beautiful but not overly HOT. We played on our beach down at the river, went down to the local Keller park, where they have a slide, climber and swings for kids, and played in the water there. We also went to Grand Coulee Dam for an early dinner and as much shopping as can be done at the "Dam!" The Variety store, whoo hoo! Dionne was able to relax and during Amya's naps, she and I were able to just spend quality time together. The best thing is when we are awoken in the morning by Amya sitting on our bed and ready for kisses! They left early on Monday morning so it was a really good long visit.

Bare who??

The perfect seat

Here I come

Mommy and Grandpa enjoy Elmo!

My Elmo!

Wheeeee...

Tanning for upcoming visit to Aunty Danielle in Arizona

One, two, three.................

"Deere!"

Amya always smells flowers for Grandma!

Ride Grandma

Silly me, I have my new baby's hat on!

I have to go home now Grandma and Grandpa

Cheers you two

Grandpa and his silly cowboy boots

I love to drive Grandpa's car and beep the horn

Peekaboo

One, two, three, wheeeeee....

I still love my bathtub at Grandma and Grandpa
Who is that silly girl in the mirror there?

Amya has to paint too

Kisses Papa

Grandpa's Darigold hat is funny

Mama's sleeping

Brrrrrrr

Double fisted!

I am so happy you came Amya

I know who everyone is in these pictures Grandma!

After this wonderful visit from Dionne and Amya for Rock's 67th birthday, I spent the rest of the few days before leaving for Arizona, negotiating with painters and choosing paint colors. This was very stressful indeed. Dionne, finally got involved and tried some of the samples I had purchased. We "Googled" Victorian houses and found a color we liked. I just happened to have a similar color that I was thinking would be a good trim color. Lo and behold, Dionne loved it and said we should use it as a main color. It was really close to the picture of the Victorian House. The day before I was due to leave, the painters and I finally came to an agreement on everything and the color. The worry about how it would turn out was yet to come!! I packed and left next day. The wait till October 5 begins!

My Favorite Month of September Continues on...

In the middle of all this painting stuff, we have a resident baby bear who moved in to the orchard, under the fence!

This used to be black tar paper, the open soffit will be closed in and stained in the same color.

John putting the first coat on the newly cleaned shingles....it looks so darn good now and oh what a difference to the old black and dirty ones! For those of you who didn't know it, this month we are having the house painted. At the same time some exterior repairs and finishing work will be done. Choosing colors was the most stressful time of my life here.


We might be getting there with the color

The green is too dark

Can't say I didn't try!!

These shingles went over tar paper that we lived with for 5 years. Two coats of stain and they are so beautiful!

My Garden was Beautiful this year

I am so happy with my garden this year. It is forever changing and I am finally comfortable with what to do and not to do around here. It has taken a few years. Deer are a problem, dryness is a problem, just to mention a few things that I have had to get used to in order to garden in this area! I will continue to make changes of course. It is a work in progress, but it is a known fact that gardens are meant to be that way. Forever changing!

This year I filled in spaces with annuals and I am happy about that

Constant watering has helped. Timers are the way to go.

This corner bed is new but will change next year