September Musings

We are continuing to enjoy beautiful weather 

here in the foothills of Mt. Rainier. 

It was actually 90 degrees a couple of days ago, 

but today we are having cooler weather due to some clouds. 

We could surely use some rain, 

but with none in the forecast

 I will have to do some watering today. 

 My Ramblin' Man took last week off (paid) work, 

so we set to work staining the house. 

I do the low parts (short ladder),

and the Mr. does the high parts. 

Can you see him up there? 

He's fearless!

We do one side at a time every couple of years. 

Makes it manageable......

We use a solid stain, rather than paint. 

That way we never have to scrape or sand. 

The siding is solid Western Red Cedar clapboards. 

Ramblin' Man and Sons cut and nailed every board. 

Speaking of sons.....

It was my eldest son, Gabe's birthday last week. 

We didn't get to pin him down for a party, though. 

(Photo is from a previous celebration)

His sweet wife, Erica's brother and wife were in town from California, 

so we had to share him....

He hates it when we make a fuss. 

But he is so absolutely worth it. 

Self-effacement is part of his charm. 

We did get to commemorate my Dear Mother's birthday, though. 

This is one of my favorite photos of her, gazing at her birthday cake. 

She loved a party!

We took the beautiful drive through the countryside....

It was the one rainy day of the week, so Mt. Rainier was hidden. 

We followed this pretty(?) blue back-hoe on the way. 

We arrive at the National Cemetery for Veteran's. 

My Dad was a proud Veteran of the Korean War, 

serving in the Army/Air Force before they were two separate arms. 

A light rain falls as we enter the grounds. 

Already the trees are showing some beautiful fall color. 

It's a lovely, peaceful place. 

My Dear Mother loved roses and iris. 

Here we are together....58 years ago.

My beautiful Mother was 20 when I was born. 

As the oldest daughter, I was cherished as a baby. 

But as all eldest children know- 

we must share that adoration. 

Soon there were 4 more daughters, 

and I had to grow up fast. 

I was Mother's Helper from an early age. 

As the eldest daughter and second eldest granddaughter 

in a very large, extended Irish-Catholic family,

I have been caring for children and keeping house since I can remember. 

I even worked as a Nanny

and had my own housekeeping business for many years! 

Home and Family has always been my expertise! 

On the way home, my sweet Ramblin' Man treated me to a little lunch. 

We stopped at an historic bakery in an old coal mining town. 

It was after Labor Day and during the week, 

so we had the place all to ourselves. 

Isn't it sweet?

This is a very popular place for Sunday morning breakfast after church. 

They serve the most delicious biscuits with their own blackberry jam. 

Let's go inside....

Oh my! ......Let's sneak past all the goodies. 

We're hungry for lunch. 

You can see at the top of the menu that the sandwiches

 are served with a choice of Tim's Chips. 

My Ramblin' Man is Sales Distribution Manager for Tim's. 

At one time he worked as a route driver, many years ago, servicing this Bakery. 

Once when he was walking through the back service door, he looked on the ground

and found a dime - dated 1910. 

This is the front of the menu, stating the date the bakery was established. 

To think that dime had waited there in the dirt all that time....

My Mr. has an uncanny ability to find old coins and this is not the first. 

I chose the Chicken-Corn Chowder.

 I could have licked the bowl, it was so good. :)

I need to find a good recipe for this! 

Pretty gardens outside the window. 

We watched two cats chasing each other around.....

A pretty hand painted mural in the ladies room! 

This scene by the sink. 

There is also a sweet little gift shop inside the building. 

But it is an antique shop down the way that I have set my sights on. 

We walk outside to more gardens across the street. 

Beautiful flowers lining the road. 

This is the antique shop I can't wait to explore. 

An inviting entry....

Sweet little offerings I regret passing by. 

Next time.....

I will show you the treasures that I found. 

This week I will be continuing on with the house staining,

 harvesting my apples and blackberries, watering my poor plants, 

and we have two more birthdays this weekend! 

My Ramblin' Man is back to work and traveling once more. 

I plan on baking him something special for his return, 

which I will also share with you.  

Thank you for coming along with me, Dear Friends 

and sharing my September musings. 

Thank you, also, for your sweet visits to my garden in my last post. 

We may not be able to visit in person, 

but we are always close at heart. 

xoxo

The best that we find in our travels

 is an honest friend. 

He is a fortunate voyager who finds many. 

-Robert Louis Stevenson-