Decision Time

                                            A new neighbor....Maidenhair Fern

                                          This is the Spruce tree I moved.

 I have been trying to make a decision concerning a spirea bush in the back yard. It is pretty for only a few days a year and is a magnet for dead nettles. I'm making an effort to get rid of the  intrusive plant (dead nettle) or at least  slow it down.  We have two spruce trees that I planted years ago that are in back of  other trees.  What would happen if I replaced the spirea with one of the spruce trees?

With shovel in hand I started digging around the spirea to see if this was possible.   My first attempt, yesterday, was futile. Today I decided to try again. I used my pruners to cut the roots away. This seemed to help but I needed to go behind the bush. I was hoping to avoid this as it is on the edge of the hillside.
I  kept plugging away and finally it started to loosen. Eventually I got it out and tossed it in the gully. It will probably grow in the woods so I don't  feel too guilty about digging out the innocent plant.
Next step was getting the tree out of the ground.  I dug with one hand and held on to a tree with the other. This was not working so I used both hands and grabbed the nearby tree when I started to lose my balance.

The spruce came out rather easily as it was planted on the hillside and ground was very moist from all the rain.
I  placed the spruce in the hole left by the bush...not deep enough..I dug and dug and wondered how anything grew in this hard- pan. I added some good soil, watered, covered with fir bark and stomped all around it.
It looked a little crooked so I turned it this way and that until I was satisfied.  Later, I showed it to Joe and he pulled it this way and that until he was satisfied.

So happy I made the decision.   Hope the tree lives.

It has been a few days since the transplant. Tree seems to be doing well and happy with  neighbors.

About the new neighbors.  The honeysuckle is wild and beautiful. The rhododendron became wild.  It now grows between maple trees, salal and Oregon grape.

Lights Out!

The other night we saw a deer in the back yard. It was dark out, but Joe said if I turned on the flood lights I'd get a shot, so I got  my camera, ran upstairs, turned on all the outdoor lights and aimed the camera at the deer.

 Just as I took  the photo, Joe turned off the lights.  He thought he was turning them on..

By the time I turned the lights on, the deer was gone.. I checked the photo, just in case. but it was totally black.

Senior moments are such fun.

Congratulations! CYO Championship..... OLG....Alex and Sami

A Funky Evening

  Jim Savage, our director, certainly deserves being honored.
For thirty years he has devoted his time, talent and love to the development of the Music Program of St. James Cathedral.
Dr. Savage seemed truly touched.   He appreciated being appreciated.
 Jim visited each table. Impressive.

The decor was fantastic.
It was great to visit choristers without shame or regret.  Freedom!
Always fun when I am excused from cooking.
The entertainment was "entertaining".

A special bonus for me was the presence of  Virgil Funk. I met Father Funk in 1979 at an N.P.M. convention in Chicago.

We kept in touch over the years at several other conventions. It was great to see him.

Will post photos later.

The Bearded Lady

Yesterday our choir was part of a performance by Degenerate Art Ensemble.  It went well.  Last week it sounded as if we were singing a canon. This week tempo was fine, weather was great.
I was told by one of our soloists that I should be proud to be a part of a performance by an Art Ensemble.
I thought about it and decided he was correct.  I enjoyed our part. It was fun. I was happy all the way home.


Then it happened..For some reason I looked in the mirror and noticed I had forgotten to rid my face of facial hairs that appear when you age.  We performed outdoors. You know what that means. Every flaw is accentuated.

It reminds me of the time Joe & I stopped in a small town and visited a Fair. We  looked at  rugs an elderly woman created out of plastic bags. It was actually rather clever. She was living in a camper and seemed very happy.  She was completely oblivious to the fact that her chin was covered with long hairs.


Am I that woman?

Hummingbirds

Two hummingbirds were just spotted sipping nectar from the Ajuga plants. If you can find a hummingbird in this photo ..............
I'll keep  trying  to capture the flighty little critter.

Track Meet ........ Zoe

                                          Zoe talking things over with Coach

Zoe ran the 800 and the relay.

Zoe did great in the relay. I think she loves being on the same team as Sami.

Track Meet...... Sami

Sami  MacKenzie wins silver medal  for Our Lady of Guadalupe...................

Sami  running the relay........Sami and Zoe both did well but no medal.... .

Track Meet.......Alex

                               The look of determination in his eyes says it all.
                                Are his feet off the ground? 

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I remember...........

My earliest memory......I was in a hospital visiting Mom. She had just given birth to a younger sibling.

I believe it was my first scolding.  Good-natured perhaps, but to a child less than two years old, serious business.


" If you visit again make sure your shoes have been cleaned!"

Saved ! Thanks to Joe.

This dish was one of my favorite wedding gifts. It has been in my cedar chest for many years. It was dropped and broken into many pieces. I left it there waiting for a miracle.

  

 

I asked Joe if I should get rid of it. He said he would try to fix it. Gradually he began to glue the pieces together only to find some that were missing and others that were misfits.If you enlarge the photo you'll see the crack and the washer used to secure the upper plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Safe Haven

After watching Dean Karnazes finish his run across America, I decided to do something I have been putting off for weeks.  I moved a small Grand Fir tree. It was a volunteer..a beauty that would soon be swallowed up by our neighbors tree. 

"A tree that may in summer wear, a nest of robins in her hair."
I hope I live long enough to see the words of the poet, Joyce Kilmer, come true.

Mother's Day Lunch

John and Liz treated us to lunch at Ray's Boathouse in Ballard.  Great food, great view, great company.

1.  Liz, Zoe, Martha   Three generations.


2. Connie (friend of Elaine)  Elaine (John's step-mother) Joe & me, Zoe, Liz and John


Thanks for your kindness and generosity.... John and Liz.

Please Turn On The Heat

C.Y.O Track qualifying meet was a challenging experience for the runners and those who witnessed the event.

Why was it a challenge for us? It lasted five hours and the weather was windy and cold.

It was worth it to see all the runners braving the elements.
Our Grandchildren, Alex, Sami, and Zoe all competed and qualified for the finals.
We were so proud.

Now if all the children not related to us would please leave the field!

Time to Share

This  is based on a true story that Joe loves to share with others!
Liz was born six weeks early so had to stay in the hospital when I was sent home. I wanted to go to the hospital for feedings but the Dr. told me to stay home and care for the rest of the family.
I wanted to be able to nurse when baby Liz came home so I used a breast pump.
  After tossing out bottles of milk( with cream on the top) I decided to start using it for cooking.

Some people are uncomfortable with this, but we drink milk from a cow, goat. sheep.....why not a human!

Renton High Centennial Choir

Joe and I enjoyed sitting the comfortable seats at IKEA Theatre  listening to the choir. My Sister Gloria class of '46 was in the choir as was my cousin Cynthia class of '73.

Hurricane Ridge Video

Hurricane Ridge cont.

Other reasons we love this area.  We saw these wonderful creatures on the way to Hurricane Ridge.

Raccoons have a reputation for getting into garbage cans etc. This raccoon is in it's natural surroundings.

I jest!
  I took this photo in Port Angeles.  The raccoon was next to the garbage can.

Hurricane Ridge

This is one of our favorite places to visit.
The lodge was open for those of us who needed to use the facilities. (Everyone)

Wish I'd taken this photo!

While searching for information on the Beatification.....wondering if any of our clergy attended ...viewed this photo of one of St. James  windows.