Is is Summer Yet?

 Yesterday morning was not any indication of a warm-enough day for me.  Noreen, Melissa, and I found our front-row seats for the big parade on Noreen's porch.  She had a little bit of sunshine - just a hint - but better than my gloomy one.  Besides, Elise was sitting there with Wuffie to watch.  He is a "different" cat.  Even the sirens and kids screaming and riding past didn't cause even a blink.  He handled the fireworks well later on too.  The only problem is that they couldn't go outside, and that made all of them unhappy.  We had a cougar sighting just a mile or so away, but we can't explain that to them.  

N's daughter Carrie is in Spain for a 10-day trip - so envious! - and Mike and the boys watched the parade from the porch too.  It was here and finished before we even got a chance to take a good picture.  I think they're briefly in a video that I'll post if I can find it.  

Some pictures Em sent me of "sugaring up"  at the Community Center.

I was sent this to taunt me, I think.  It was for the afternoon party and fireworks that I was invited to but chose not to go to, so I deserve not having any.  This trifle bowl of Mama's is only used for banana pudding, for some reason, and it does look pretty.  I thought about it a lot yesterday and think I might can put one together once I get the ingredients.

I opened the blinds at 10:00 and watched the fireworks for a little bit over the tops of the houses across the street, but it's not the same as being there.  

Noreen sent a picture of her boys enjoying pizza in 2019, before we knew them.   

These kiddos chose cotton candy - after hot dogs.  Camden and Graysen have known each other from birth.    

Funny how we were in the same place but oblivious to each other's lives then.  One thing - among many - is how much we love these sweet babies - and they'll always be our babies no matter how old they are.  

I looked at the video to see if Woodrow was walking with the family, and he was not.  Maybe a good idea.  He does get excited!  We got just a glimpse of them passing by, and Graysen came up to give me a hug since she wasn't on her bike this year.  I wonder if this is the last year they will participate.  😢

I got hung up on re-reading some other July 4th blog entries and got a little sad when I got to July 2016.  We would have only 1 month left with Mike and had no idea.  We did get all the living we could out of what we had, and I'm thankful for that but so sad we didn't have more.  I doubt we would have done more if we had known.  Mike looked forward to the visits with Dr. Kaplan, and we made a good day of the July visit.  He didn't feel great most of the time, so I spent a lot of time with the girls.  

Besides all that, I found out about the flash floods in Texas and all the little girls at a camp who are missing or have died.  I cannot imagine.  It will be hard for me to let Graysen leave in a few weeks for her camp.  I pretty much stayed up all night, not able to sleep for thinking about the families and the heartbreak.  Seems like so much is keeping the joy away from me, but we just go on and make our own happiness, I guess.  

Summer is Here

 BUT - it was cool and not too sunny.  

I have about 6 tomatoes on my two plants out back.

We have 1/2 day of school on Monday.  No more waking up at 6 a.m. to catch the bus for Graysen and then lugging home her bookbag, computer, and sometimes her flute every afternoon. Kate doesn't mind school except for the girl drama and has about risen above that.  Maybe the summer will do both of them some good being away from it.

We're still working on our daily plans.  Graysen has wanted to have an organized home school, and Kate is not as excited about it.  We'll do some review, of course, as much as they will stand for, but lots of reading and library activities.  We're going to get out some board games and card games and try them.  If they aren't fun anymore or someone can't stand losing, we'll give them away.  

Once it gets warm enough, the pool will be a nice option just a block away.  There are so many children here right now that there should be someone to play with, or they can invite one friend at a time if they are good swimmers.  We have a new splash pad within walking distance.  So far, they haven't shown any interest in that, but it's free, and there might be a day when they get hot enough to enjoy it.

Today after a lot of indecision and listlessness, we took off for the library and a milkshake and fries.  We drove to North Bend Library because we were going to North Bend anyway for Burger King, and I like the library there.  It's big and quiet and has quite a few more books than the little Snoqualmie one.  I can request any book we want, but I have to have them tell me what they want, and they don't really know unless they hear about it ahead of time.  They just spend a lot of time opening and closing books.

I asked for a picture before we went in because I'm not taking as many lately.  This is probably why!

Pre-teen doldrums.  So tired, grumpy, and just weary with the world.  TODAY!  No matter how many times I've talked about this age coming, it's still hard to see.  Yesterday she was open and smiling and sat in my lap for a few minutes while we talked on the porch.  She has to decompress from school and eat and just be quiet for a little bit. 

We picked up the Summer Reading Club registration, which they may well be too old to enjoy any more, but it will give them an organized record of what they've read.  They're not so much into the prizes, but the little journals they gave out last year were cute and useful.  I got them a little plastic clip board with storage for a notebook and pens, so they can write book reviews when they finish one and also keep any of the work sheets we might do.

I went off on my own in the library for a bit and left them.  When I came back, Kate had picked out 3 or 4 books and was sitting at a table absorbed in a graphic novel.  They do love those, and I don't mind them reading them as long as they read more chapter books.  It's just hard for her to like a book that doesn't have cats or some sort of fantasy in it - preferably both!

I was tempted to get To Kill a Mockingbird when I saw it on an end display but was afraid it was over their heads.  Graysen seemed receptive to it when I told her about it, and when we looked inside, it was a graphic novel.  That seems like an easy way to introduce them to it, and maybe they will read the book later on.  We're kind of excited about that.

Graysen was missing for a few minutes until I looked over to what is a new TEEN section.  They're rearranged a lot of the library since I was there last, and I had to get used to it again.  My reading lately has been mostly requesting audio books and listening to them when they download.  

Those are Y books, for an older audience than the J ones, where she found none that she wanted to read.  After looking at them carefully, I let her take one home to let her parents approve of them.  Frankly, all of them seem too old for her, but that's not surprising.  I still want picture books to show them, sitting in my lap.  

We got all our treasures checked out, with only a little grappling over who was going to scan what, and that was that.  I had promised them French fries and a milkshake today, and they didn't forget.  First they had to put up with me.  I turned into Taco Time instead of Burger King because they're not readily identifiable from the street but behind bushes and on side streets.  Burger King was right over the fence, and I headed that way on a little street, which unfortunately turned out to be the drive-though line for the taco place.  I just bypassed the speaker but had to sit in line while about 5 cars picked up their food, with no escape.  They were too tired or distracted to be embarrassed, but I think they were over my antics by this time.  Just as we turned in, Graysen asked if she could get a milkshake at McDonald's across the street since they have strawberry.  Ordinarily, I wouldn't care, but I do know what the traffic is like, especially at 6:00 on that little stretch of the 4 fast-food restaurants and a grocery store.  I would have had to wait to turn right and then go to a light and go almost back to town and make a circle - with McDonald's being right across the street.  She graciously agreed to wait until next time and just get a vanilla shake.  That didn't perk up that glum expression - at all - but they know everything is not always roses.  We ended up going in to find someone who spoke English or use the kiosk.  The speaker is one of THOSE speakers and hard to communicate on.  People are always nice though.

After all that, I dropped the girls off at home with all their school books and bags and library books and treats and headed home.  I think tomorrow they'll be more rested, and we'll have more fun.  I had mentioned the No Kings protest tomorrow in North Bend to Emily, and she was for it if they didn't have something come up they needed to do.  Graysen and I talked about it on the way home - Kate was buried in her book - and Gray was totally invested in it.  She couldn't believe all that money being spent on a birthday party for one man, disguised as a way to honor our military, which he disdains, and for just his followers - money that belongs to us.  She asked all kinds of questions - whether it was legal and whether it was dangerous, because I had expressed some concern about what might happen in DC and some of the bigger cities.  Then she said, "But he can't get all the way to Washington from Washington DC tomorrow, can he?"  Just heartbreakingly sad that a child has to worry about what the leader of her country might do.  There is nothing that would surprise anyone and much to fear.  I'm so scared for their future.

Anyway---we'll see about that.  Emily said we would figure out a way for me to go, but I know I can't stay on my feet for long, and it would be a little tricky to get my chair placed with all the traffic.  It's a really small town, and I doubt parking will be good.  We're waiting to see what we think tomorrow, but I hope they'll go with our community and make their voices heard.  

This is what Graysen was working on since Wednesday that was due today.  A geometric topiary.  She added a drawing of a cat once she got to school.

This is before the ribbon was glued on.  The kids were supposed to make "cakes" in math for geometry, using boxes and geometric shapes to form it.  For the plant, she patiently tore up little pieces of construction paper and glued them down in pretty realistic fashion.  It looks huge, and I worried about her getting it to and from school on the bus with all her other things, but it actually fit in a small gift bag.  

I'll see what other pictures Emily has sent me lately.

Soccer practice nearly every afternoon or evening.

The 4th grade put on their annual Wax Museum Wednesday, and Katherine did great.  They didn't have to give their whole speech, like they did 2 years ago when Graysen was Helen Keller, but the visitors were given lists of questions to ask.  I loved going around the seeing some of the displays.  I'll try to get Barack and Michelle Obama's pictures from Facebook.  Barack was Zack, one of Kate's favorite friends.  

When the fifth-grade classes came in, Carly and Kate posed for a picture together.  Friends for so many years now.

Shaquille, on the right, is played by James, a friend since they were babies together.  I don't know the little guy on the left, but I see him in the musicals, and he cracks me up with his expressions and mugging for his parents.

I really know very few of the kids in Kate's grade since I haven't volunteered or even picked them up from school in years.  I used to enjoy talking with the parents and the girls pointing out their friends, but I'm kind of out of the loop now.  

We liked how Princess Diana went for the casual look instead of wearing something formal.

Jeff 

The Obamas

Here's Graysen 2 years ago wearing the same dress and portraying Helen Keller.  

It was fun and one of the things I was able to do.  I can walk back and forth to the school with no trouble and downtown, but I haven't walked all the way to the Win-Bin house yet.  I think it's coming though.  

I just finished 4 relearning lessons of MahJongg and really enjoyed it.  I met a few new people, and we can hopefully carry on with a beginner table every week.  I'm not ready to be thrown in with the ones I used to play with.  I still have to get a little better.  

I've listened to two books lately that I've enjoyed.  One is The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  I felt sure I read it before I saw the movie, but maybe I didn't.  The book seemed so much sadder than the movie, but I did enjoy the voices of the characters.  The other I just finished last night and read the whole thing in two days - and nights.  Dealing with hard subjects - earthquake in Portland, OR, an 8-month pregnant woman left alone to find her husband or get home, an already failing marriage, children trapped in a crushed school - the writing was so good that I didn't abandon it.  It sure did dampen my spirits last night and most of the day today.  I can't find any funny or amusing books that don't try too hard and end up being silly, but I do have a huge booklist, so I'm still trying!

Hoping I can keep up a little better with recording this summer.  

Pre-Mother's Day

 Started this last week and procrastinated.

The time for Emily to start stressing about what to get me.  So silly.  It's not like she doesn't give me stuff all through the year, but she feels the pressure this one weekend, and it makes me feel so bad.  She bought me a plant last week and sent me money by Venmo for some occasion when the girls were eating at my house - and just thoughtful things all throughout the year.  One Venmo was labeled PIZZA and the next one NOT PIZZA.  And I know if I need anything - ever - she will go out of her way to get it, so I feel special all year round.  Same with Elise.  She's always there with a cup of coffee if she thinks I would like one or an offer to make my bed or do my laundry.  Then if we go anywhere together, she's there with the checklist - glasses, purse, lists, water, garage opener and keys, cane just in case - and hauls them out for me.  Sometimes I call it hovering, but I don't mind it at all.  

So now that they've realized what day it's going to be Sunday, the suggestions are pouring in.  It's not even going to be that nice a weekend as far as weather.  So far, we're going to a lacrosse game for both girls in the same town on Saturday morning.  Then maybe eat lunch somewhere.  Or go get another plant at a nursery.  Or go check out a new-to-us park near where Mike's Tree is.  Or how about a movie and popcorn - my place or theirs.  As long as it's simple and doesn't involve much walking or standing, we can just do it all. 

Elise and I drove to Kent for a meeting Thursday, and it was a nice but cold day.  It was one of those beautiful days that we will look back on and remember as a day when no one was rushing the other or being irritable at something.  We took care of business and got home safely.  What more can you ask?

Right before we got home, we had a massive backup of mainly huge trucks and impatient cars, but again we had nowhere to be and could enjoy a little of the work being done along the way - the widening and/or adding of lanes over the mountain and hopefully a safer route.  We again identified the beautiful yellow bushes growing along all the highways as Scotch Broom.

I can't even remember when this was just an intersection with no construction.  It's long overdue, but it's also one of the few roads to get traffic from Seattle to everywhere else without getting on overcrowded interstates, so it's pretty popular.  The problem is that we just want to get home a few blocks away and not sit in line with cars waiting to go to south.   

This was taken several weeks ago.  I-90 is the horizontal road in the picture, and straight ahead is Snoqualmie Parkway, the way to get home.  I do like that we're just a few miles from an interstate, but it will be nice when it's all set up, and I have an inkling of what to do on it. 

This is what it's supposed to look like when it's finished.

The videos make it look simple, but I have a feeling it's going to take me awhile to get used to it.  Or I may just take the scenic back roads if I don't have someone else to drive me.  

I did get to see my first lacrosse game Saturday.  Graysen didn't play her game, so it was just Katherine, Emily, and me, and we didn't have far to drive.  I got all settled into my chair and prepared to learn.  I did learn some things, like why it's okay to run BEHIND the goal and then back out on the playing field.  These girls are in their first year, so they're not anxious to pass the ball once they get it securely in their little baskets.  Sometimes they'll catch a pass but not often.  Then it's anyone's ball, and they fight for it.  Once it's scooped up, they will run as fast as they can toward the goal to try to get it in.  Why give it up when it's yours, right?  

I think they had a good time.  The pictures are of Kate and her friend Ellis after the game.  I don't think anyone got hurt at all this time.  

The rain held off, and it was a nice game.  I think we tied once but ended up losing, but nobody much cares.

I did enjoy it, and it was nice just to enjoy the fresh air and see friends that I haven't seen in a while.  I'm not sure if there are any more games or actually when the season starts again, but I'll find out. 

And then we settled in for a cold rainy weekend, perfect for snuggling under blankets and staying inside. 

Yesterday (Monday) was unremarkable until 3:00 when first Graysen and then Katherine came over after school.  You know someone wants to be there when they accidentally get off the bus and walk home, only to run back the whole way when they find out they can come to Mimi's.  We talked about the lack of snacks and had a long discussion about how to get them.  We ended up going to the grocery store with a stop on the way home for a frozen yogurt at Swirl, but for some reason, the door was locked, and it was closed.  Strange......  Good thing we had ice cream in our grocery supplies!  We did nothing special the rest of the time but watch a Lego show and a few cat videos and plan a sleepover for (maybe) Friday night.  

Today (Tuesday) was one of my days off when the girls have activities after school.  Noreen and I had made reservations for a Retirement and Estate Planning talk at the library, thinking we might pick up some pointers to make us understand our money better.  It was a good talk, and we heard a few interesting things, but I think we knew most of what he said.  It was a chance for folks to sign up for financial planning through that office and ask questions, but we didn't linger.  Some of the stuff was out of our league!  Our "estates" are not in the million-dollar range and in need of an estate lawyer.  We're just looking to get an affordable monthly rent and still have enough to enjoy life a little.  

What I did gain from it was that I was able to walk to the library.  It's only about 4 blocks, but with my strange and undiagnosed weakness and fatigue, I'm almost afraid to venture out in case I get too tired to continue.  About halfway there, we found some chairs and tables outside Infusion where I sat down for about 5 minutes, and then we continued on our way.  The trip home was more downhill, so I made it just fine without stopping.  It gives me hope that I'm somehow making some progress.  It was helpful to have Noreen walking beside me just in case!  And it was nice to have a nap when I got home.  Tomorrow I might feel like I can walk to the Swirl and get that yogurt we missed yesterday.  

Looking to see if I have any unposted pictures in my camera.

The little local theater in North Bend has this coming up.  I watched this more times than I wanted to when Emily and Elise were growing up.  Now hopefully they'll get to share it with the girls.

As Katherine got ready to leave the other day, I happened to noticed all the things she has hanging from her bookbag.  A hat, a stuffed cat I made years ago, keychains, bracelets, a soccer decal, and everything cats.  My favorite, though, is that giant kitty paw.  You just want to reach out and touch it.  I think she's getting a new bookbag for her birthday, but I know she'll miss that one.  I bet the kitty paw will go on the new one.

Just ignoring the hairdos in front of us, this is the sweetest picture we got of the 4th grade musical.  

S

She sang enthusiastically and played in the marimba band and even had a session on the drums, which is what she says she wants to play in middle school.  

Emily and the girls with friends at a Mariners game.  

Trying to attract the Jumbotron cameras.

Two sets of sisters.

A Hint of Spring

We did have a beautiful day on Friday, and Elise, Emily, and I headed to Carnation for the annual plant sale.  As I mentioned before, we've gone almost every year since we found out about it, and it's rained every single time.

This time was an exception. We didn't leave until around 10:00 and had blue skies the whole time.  I said I didn't care if we found anything we wanted to buy or not.  It was just worth it to drive over and enjoy the day.  The cherry trees have almost all stopped blooming, but all the others are either blooming or leafing out with their pale green leaves.  We passed a lavender field and another flower farm that was pretty. Usually on this road you can find a booth of fresh flowers for sale, but we didn't see one today.

When we got to Carnation, we were a little disoriented.  After turning left and looking for for a parking place, we realized we weren't on the right street.  It's a teeny little town, so we only had to drive around about 3 blocks to find that the place where the sale usually takes place had been replaced by an independent living  building and parking area.  We did see the tents next door though so parked and made our way there.

I'm glad we weren't really needing a lot of stuff, because the whole area was maybe half the size of prior years.  I didn't take one picture there, but we did find enough to fill up the back of Emily's car.  I got some dill, Italian oregano, and anise, but I was hoping to find some pretty parsley and cilantro.  Although I had decided not to grow tomatoes again, it was too tempting to see the little plants and not bring a couple of them home.  Now to find a sunny patch.

Elise was really wanting some New Guinea impatiens and found only some white ones, but the leaves are so pretty.  I can't even remember the other things I bought.  A yellow begonia and some airy flower that was a pretty coral.  Emily got me a few things for Mother's Day, and I had enjoyed about enough of standing up, so we headed home feeling pretty good about our choices.  Elise and I are so limited in our space that we don't need much.  I have them all on the table now trying to match them with the pots I already have.  It's cool again, so I'm not in that much of a hurry to get out there and plant them.  I'll have pictures then.  

Emily had to get home in time to pick up Graysen and her friend Maya and take them to Swirl for a frozen yogurt while waiting for Katherine's school to dismiss.  Then they all went for manicures.  Graysen and Maya had a Hawaiian-themed dance that night, and they were getting ready for that.

 Gray chose the lavender with the darker purple flower on the thumbs, and Katherine got what looks like clear with a white flower.  I can't tell if Maya's color was blue, purple, or silver, but they all looked pretty cute.  

Emily sent me a few pictures after she got ready and picked up Ellie.  From the school pictures, it looked like lots of the kids were more casual than they were, but I love to see them "get pretty" and feel pretty and just have fun.  I don't have many details, but they did have a DJ and karaoke as well as pizza and shaved ice and organized activities.  Some of these pictures are at home and on the way in front of Mount Si, and I got a couple from the Facebook ones.

There were two lacrosse games on Saturday in Seattle in the rain, so I still haven't seen a game or really a practice.  I have no idea about the rules or what the object it.  Graysen's and Katherine's teams played at the same time, and Ryan and Emily settled in between the fields and swiveled around to catch the action.  Both teams won 15-5, and Katherine got a goal.

On Sunday, both teams played in Fall City but at different times.  Gray did well, and their team won a close game by 1 point.  Kate's team won big again,

and she got another goal.  I guess it's called a goal.  She scored anyway.  Maybe this video will work.  From my point of view, she comes in from behind the goal - in the pink shoes - gets surrounded by defensive players, exchanges jabs with the other players, and tosses it into the net.  I'm sure there's more to it than that.

On Sunday afternoon, I walked down to Mary's and played Scrabble with her for about an hour.  It was fun to talk to her and get all caught up.  She's planning to start Mah-Jong lessons on the 21st at the Y - right up the street - and I've signed up for a review and relearning classes.  I haven't played in four years, so there will be a lot of relearning.  It was another pretty sunny day, and the walk there and back was not too far for me at all.  According to phone calls - accidental and otherwise - her daughter Celia had given Emily some plants, and Em and Ryan were out working in the yard.  I drove over there and watched a little bit, including roly-poly bugs and centipedes - then brought the girls home with me for a couple of hours. 

Elise made them some little pizzas with cheese and pineapple, corn-on-the-cob, and grapes which was a very tasty supper.  And a piece of their leftover lemon cake from Thursday.

Gray found a Bible story book and was reading to Katherine.  Usually, they pick the stories with the most swords and action, but I think I heard her reading about the disciples.   Sweet girls.

I've updated my calendar with the Mah-Jong lessons and found out one of the dates coincides with a follow-up visit with my doctor, but I'll only miss about 30 minutes.  Noreen and I have also signed up for a retirement planning seminar at the library to see if we can start making heads or tails of our finances.  

I'll have the girls after school, but until then I think I'll try to get those plants planted and eat breakfast.  

Emily sent me this old video from maybe 2022.  We could never figure out what she meant by "junk."  Maybe several?