A Busy Week

Hello, Dear Friends, we have had a busy week

helping our daughter, Jennie, get ready for her move. 

Here is her 'new' dream cottage, built in 1910. 

This photo was the real estate advertisement. 

It is in a sweet neighborhood of charming

little cottages, not far from a lovely, historic, 

 town center with a farmer's market. 

Here it is now, with the beautiful, and very old,

rhododendrons in full bloom. 

The little sun room on the side....

Her parking area, complete with vintage garage. 

Inside the back fence, looking towards the garage. 

Her deck needs repainting....
Her Father told her that now she has
a use for all of her 'spare change'.
She said, "Spare change is all I'm left with!"

Her Father, (Ramblin' Man) mowed the lawn. 

It was a foot high in places! 

The lawn hadn't been mowed since it went on the market. 

He also secured all areas of the fence where 

her little companions, Peanut and Weenie Baby, 

could squeeze under or through. 

They are tiny escape artists! 

Here they are at my front gate. 

When they are all settled into their new home, 

I will show you some photos of the inside. 

Jennie has many lovely ideas to make 

this little cottage her own.

Lots of painting, new floors,

 and garden plans. 

The view of the sunset from her back deck. 

She has a view of Mt. Rainier

 from her bedroom window on a clear day,

which we have not had many of, lately.

Her stairway is very narrow with a corner and low ceiling. 

Ramblin' Man had to cut her box spring in half

to get it into her bedroom! 

He bracketed it back together, good as new :), 

Here it is all set up against her newly painted walls.
Everything else was in storage. 

This is what it looked like before painting. 

We all had cravings for orange creamsicles

 whenever we were there :) 

The photos don't do justice - the color 

was hideous! 

Now they are a soft, warm linen. 

She has two of these little rooms upstairs, 

both painted the same color. 

She has been working long into the nights

to finish painting them before moving day. 

She has been staying with Heather and Eric,
(sister and sister's husband)
since January, to save

for a down payment. 

This is the entry of Heather and Eric's new home. 

Jennie has been living with them

since the day they moved in. 

I will show you both of their new homes inside, 

once they finish decorating. 

Now all of my children are homeowners! 

They have worked hard, saved and sacrificed

to own their own homes. 

I am very blessed that they all live 

close by. I know how difficult it is to have 

loved ones far away. 

I can't imagine having them away at war,

like so many parent's experience. 

I am so humbly grateful to our men and women

in uniform, past and present. 

Without them, we would not have the privilege

of owning our own homes, perhaps.

We would not have the freedoms

that we take, so often, for granted. 

Just thinking about that word, 'Freedom', 

and how many privileges we have 

because of their sacrifice,

makes me feel very humbled and grateful. 

xo

Baby Ethan, newly born

Tomorrow we are going to visit my 

new little dumpling grandson - baby Ethan. 

I get to hold and snuggle him 

the whole afternoon! 

'Home' themed paintings on mantel. 

Here on the home front, I am still working on

redecorating my sewing room, but I 

am almost done. 

Just one more sewing project to finish

then I will share. 

I also need to find time to do some potting

for my deck. Hopefully, later this week. 

It has been cool and overcast for two weeks,

but I can't complain. 

So many are suffering from disasters right now. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with them. 

xo

Oh, and remember that I thought the Grosbeak's 

hadn't returned when I stopped feeding the birds? 

Well, I was wrong, and here is proof! 

I kept hearing this amazingly beautiful 

bird song in the trees around the back of the house

and being half blind, of course I couldn't see who 

was singing! 

I put out the binoculars and my camera

for the next time I heard the singing, 

and this is what I captured.

I was so happy to see that it was the Grosbeak. 

This variety is called, 'Black-Headed Grosbeak', 

which is such a plain and simple name. 

He should be called, Pavarotti Grosbeak

for his beautiful voice! 

These colorful birds have consistently nested

here over the years, but I have never

been able to link the song with the bird. 

I love when that happens :)  

Salmon Berry bush - food for the Grosbeaks

Here is wishing you beautiful bird song, Dear Friends, 

to brighten your day! 

Thank you for your sweet visit! 

xoxo