Gotcha!

Happy Birthday to me..

 Liz and her Mom

 Kristen and John

  Kristen

                                            Zoe and Mindy  Adorable!

                             Deck creation by Elizabeth      Beautiful!

                                               Bouquet from Kirsten and John   Beautiful!

                                                   Foxglove plant from Svetlana and Steve  Also  beautiful!

                       Svetlana in Meditation Mode       

More photos

                                                     By Mike

 

 

Do I receive a degree when I figure out my new camera?

Mike gave me a very nice new camera with so many options it makes my head spin.

Morning Visitor and unrelated items.

As I was washing a dish I looked out the window and there in our front yard was a young coyote.
I was so excited that I couldn't say anything to Joe. I motioned frantically and he walked to the window and enjoyed the view.
This was a young healthy looking animal with clean shiny coat.
I know some people detest coyote but I love seeing one up close.
Of course my camera was downstairs and by the time I brought it upstairs my subject was gone.
But we have the memory. 

While I wandered around the yard I took a few photos of unrelated items.

Treats for our Fantastic Choir

 

 

 

 

Each year choristers take a turn or two (or three) preparing treats to share after mass. I was told that it  started as a way to share your ethnic heritage.   It will be good to downsize even though I love to share good recipes, I have found it is getting difficult to carry them all down stairs.

Thanks to Joe (husband) for helping me all these years. He does an especially good job slicing my French Bread.

Thanks also to my daughter Elizabeth, for introducing me to the recipe for Plum Upside-down cake.

 

 

 

                                        Patrick  and other treats!

              One year  Liz made this for my birthday.

You can't win 'em all.

I have been experimenting with recipes, by substituting gluten-free flour. Some have been successful.
Then I tried my popular "Died and went to Heaven" chocolate cake. Well it was interesting. My gluten free daughter tasted a bite and said she didn't care for it. I thought she was just trying to save calories. I then put it in the freezer to take to Treats Day at St. James.  I tasted it again and decided to feed it to the squirrels. It is still sitting on the ground.
When Liz was in High School, she did an experiment to see what squirrels would eat. She tried everything including putting urine on the food. (This was suggested by the scientist). the squirrels  ate everything.
So how do you think I feel about this situation!   As I said in the title, "you can't win "em all."

Mike's cake and car

Mike was over to work on his trailer so decided to bring out his birthday cake a little early. He is doing a bike ride around Mt. St. Helen on his actual birthday.
I remember being in recovery high as a kite asking everyone to my birthday party the following week.
Mike has always loved German chocolate Cake. I haven't made it in years but decided to go for it.
 It is a nasty delicious cake!

                                        The cake that I baked.

  

The car that Mike built!

I couldn't get a very good  angle from outside the trailer but you get the idea.

On the Trail with Joe

                                Tree house needs repairs!

   This must've been a huge tree.

 

                              Back on the lovely trail.

                                     Almost back in the yard.

Trail cont. 3

MacKenzie Trail cont.

 This is the tree the children used for a camp. The developers next door have a number on it. Hope it means, save this one!

                                on the trail

                                           More trail

                                 Looking into the woods.

       Into the woods

MacKenzie Trail