Weekend Shopping

I have become a real home body since all the kids have moved out. It just sort of happened gradually. But every Saturday (or Sunday if we have plans) I take a day all to myself.

First stop is to visit Dad at the nursing home. This is the view from the parking lot. The nursing home sits next to a Christmas Tree farm! You can see the little trees growing along the fence line.

If you zoom in you can see the ever present Mt. Rainier dominating the horizon. Did you know that this community has a siren alarm system to alert all residents in case there is a Lahar or eruption on this active volcano? A Lahar is when one of the many glaciers breaks off and starts a mud flow. Worst case scenario is that this little town is buried under 40 feet of mud flow. There are evacuation routes posted all over town directing you to higher ground. School children have regular drills for evacuation practice.

But life goes on in the shadow of the mountain while people go about their day to day lives trying not to think of things like that.

Why would people live in a place like that, you ask? This is a farming community, farmed on mineral rich land from centuries of previous mud flows and eruptions. Besides that, it is breathtakingly beautiful. And like a moth to a flame, people are drawn to the beauty.

The reason my Dad is here is because this is a Veteran's Facility. Dad proudly served his country back when the Army-Airforce was one branch of the military. It is a lovely historic facility set on park-like grounds with stately old trees, flowering bushes and gardens. It is quiet and peaceful, filled with loving attendants that care deeply about their residents. I can rest easy knowing my Dad is in loving hands.

I park in between the trunks of these beautiful old trees. Don't you just love the red fire hydrant? I have seen many kinds of wildlife in the fields beyond the fence of the Christmas Tree farm. Eagles, Hawks, Coyotes, Rabbits and Pheasant.

My Mother was also here during the last few weeks of her life. They put my parents together in the same room. It was so bittersweet. After my Mother died, the first visit back was very hard for me. As I left with tears clouding my eyes, I looked up, and over the little tree farm there was a beautiful rainbow. I imagined that it was a sign from my Mom telling me that everything was going to be alright.

After visiting Dad, I do my grocery shopping. All of my favorite stores are together in one shopping plaza. The grocery store, craft store, the large department store, my favorite vintage store, and the stationary store, among many others, including restaurants. Across the street are many more, including the drug store and the big hardware store. So I am free to diddle daddle all afternoon if I like. Usually, I do! The cab of my little pick-up truck is stuffed full by the time I am done. Especially if I go into the vintage store. There I find lovely paintings, books, fabric, and even beautiful embroidered clothing. I will have to show you some of my finds in a future post.

On my way home this week, I saw this strange glow on the horizon. I pulled over onto the side of the country road, only to realize it was the full moon rising over the foothills. So I started taking some pictures with the new camera Hubby bought me for Christmas. It is a small, portable camera that I can slip into my purse for just such an occasion.

It was breathtaking. Pretty soon there were others pulled over taking pictures. To the left was the moon rising.

To the right was Mt. Rainier bathed in the pink light of the setting sun.

And behind me, the brilliant pink and purple sky.

A perfect moment in time


Turning an ordinary day into Extraordinary.