Shave Ice or Shaved Ice?

 I can't figure out which term is correct, but we always called them snow cones when we were growing up.  

Yesterday Graysen and her friend Ellie set up a shaved ice stand at Ellie's house and had really good success.  I think they made $52, including their first customer, a UPS driver who overpaid for his!

I thought that would satisfy the entrepreneurial passion for a few days, but it certainly did not.  The girls got to my house early this morning already knowing the ropes and wanting to set up one at my house.  I had so many excuses.  So many.  None of which caused the blink of an eye.  Everything I was negative about was contradicted by those who had just finished successfully carrying it through with almost no help from parents.  I think they were both mad with me pretty soon,  and I didn't quite say no.  I texted their mother.  She wrote back much too late saying to just say no until they had someone to help them.

With the addition of a friend and a little thinking and even more cooperation from Dad, they were on the crushed ice train.

Ryan brought over an extension cord and the ice machine plus all the flavor bottles, and Elise went to Safeway and picked up a couple of bags of ice and some straws.  We already had  colorful cups and spoons and some small tables and chairs, so it started coming together.

Oh, we first walked down to the office to ask the manager Jennie if there would be any objection to our setting up a little stand in front of my apartment.  She approved it heartily, and we were on our way, stopping to admire the flowers out front that are always so pretty. 

Taking a delivery from Dad and Woodrow.  

So busy!

I took this picture to post on the Snoqualmie Ridge Facebook page for more exposure than their chalk arrows and little signs.  

It was not a steady stream since this street is busiest in early mornings and after work, but their first customer showed up pretty quickly and gave them hope.  Several sweet little boys walked by and promised they would be back later.  Then Katherine was greeted by the owner of the martial arts studio where she had just received some new patches that I was sewing on.  She got her refreshing treat and promised to send young guy instructors down later and also to do some advertising for them.  It worked, and they had a lot of success from her advertising.  

They did get a little hyper and silly towards the end and were running up and down the sidewalk yelling "Shaved Ice." By that time, I was ready for the clean-up and rest.

They ended up with $54 and started making plans to pool their money and buy a rolling cart to take their business on the road.  No amount of negativity could dampen their enthusiasm, and they got a little aggravated with me for not being as excited as they were.  

Sweet girls right in the middle of the sidewalk where scooters and bikes travel.

I just found this on my phone where they had searched for the perfect vehicle for the new business.

No arguments - bumpy sidewalks, no electricity for the ice machine, storage, a week-long trip to South Dakota next week, camp for Graysen the week after that and then school starting a few weeks later - made any difference.  They are stubborn little things.  But what a fun day to be able to give them.  I need to enjoy them while they are somewhat patient with me.  

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.