More Churches

I should have thought of this a long time ago. 

John has been helping Jo in the remodeling of the kitchen and it has been an uphill battle as the time they spent trying to make the space fit, it didn't and they are back to square one again. . . frustrating for them.  I thought they might enjoy seeing the new color scheme for kitchens, bright and beautiful but. . . not my cup of tea as it seems too much.  I like calm, peace, especially if I am going to have a nice and, or, special meal.  It does catch the eye, so the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.



This cathedral took centuries to build.   That was all my notes said;  should have written down where this is.   I can only imagine how really beautiful it is inside and out.

This one is in Kiev.   Look at those golden domes. 

This was a surprise and it is really special and beautiful .  The Air Force Cadet Church in Colorado.
Modern, upright, strong and smart design.    I like it.  How about you?

Our busy week continues as we took our guest, the delightful Mary Beth from Rhode Island, a special niece and one who has filled our hours with delightful family history stories, and did the Brookings specials yesterday.   We went to Azalea Park to walk the paths and visit the Campanile which Elmo Williams built in honor of his deceased wife.   From there we went to the Manley Art Center and met up with the host  for the day, Pete Chaser, who we found out was from New Hampshire so it was a small Yankee reunion.   On to the Tea Room for lunch only to be turned away as they were finishing up with their eaters and had closed the doors just after twelve thirty.  No big deal, on to Pancho and fish tacos.  Next stop was the big Antique Mall we have here in Brookings.  Mary Beth was surprised and pleased and had not been in anything like this.   She found a few gifts to try to add her already full suitcase;  you know she'll find room.    Home to rest up and then daughter Christine arrived and out came the Christmas presents.  Well, she is always a bit late in that department, believes in delivery them in person rather than mailing them in December.  Works great every year and we look forward to our Christmas with her in the summer or fall months.   I have a new glass cheese board made by one of the artisans at the Gallery in Port Orchard.   We filled it with some elk sausage Jock made and gifted Patricia, so she shared and it was delicious.  We had several cheeses and the best pickles;  yes, a feast topped with a glass of red wine.  Such fun to have a small family reunion.

I hope you have the chance to invite a family member you have seen for awhile.   It has been forty years since I have seen Mary Beth.   The family resemblance is something as you look at the features of a niece or nephew and see familiar genes and recognize those that have gone but left their spirit behind.  So don't be stingy, invite a family member you haven't seen for awhile and find instant memory building.   Smiles are frequent, laughter is loud and secrets are told so don't hesitate as you can build some brand new memories that your children and grandchildren can enjoy.     Life goes on as it should;  how lucky we are.  Hugs to all.

Lone Ranch 9/5/14

Here is Erin resting at the picnic bench where you can hear the river running into the sea. 

This was an amazing sight as it is the river that used to run into the sea.  We have had much more of a draught than thought as last time we walked the pathway to the sea, you could hear the river  but not this time.   There were two folks sitting near the rock enjoying the sunshine and a good book

The driftwood isn't as much but hopefully when the storms come back we will see the piles building once again.

Erin and Mary Beth enjoying the sunshine and the view. 

Mary Beth found a few ripe wild berries.   It was a first very hot day here in Brookings. 

Well that was our outing for Thursday and yesterday we went to the beach where the only moving object  were the gulls all near the water's edge.  The weather had turned back to our normal as the wind was high and the air cold.  Both Erin and Mary Beth were freezing and were glad they brought jackets along.  Erin just returned from Guyana  and its tropical weather and Mary Beth is used to heat and a lot of humidity in Rhode Island.   She was really surprised at our low humidity and the sudden changes which we take for granted.    We introduced her to Lucky Seven and she parlayed her five dollars to ten and quit;  smart girl.  I tried for a five spot but just couldn't get that fifth number to join the other four.  Maybe next time.   We had the soup and salad lunch , black bean soup which was very tasty with beef in it and the salad bar itself had many  choices.   It was a nice ride out .    We settled in and watched a movie which was not very good, only to lose our way back to the television programming.   I called my neighbor, La Verne to rescue me and we got Charter on the line  and finally figured the right button to push.    Mary Beth walked up to the store and bought the makings for a Cascadia.  She is an excellent cook and we had a treat.   I hope there is enough for left overs today.   I wondered how to make them, now I know, just hope I can put them together as easily as she did.   So, you see, we do learn something new every day.   Company is good for us and if I had a nickel for every word spoken this past few days, I would be a billionaire.   Today, I hope to take Mary Beth over to Azalea  Park and a visit to the Star of the Sea to light a candle for each and everyone of us.    So hopefully you will feel the tiny spark from the candle and know you are being give a special hug today.   Enjoy your weekend doing what you love to do best.   Don't forget to share  YOU with those you love.    Hugs to all. 

More churches

Here is a good picture of a spider web taken by Angie who says she loves spider webs.   Wish she would come over to visit so I could put her to work washing down the porches where the spiders are spinning their webs between the slats.   A dry year and they are very busy around here.  I love to see their hard work but I am not happy to have them taking up residence on the porches.

The attachment had some interesting churches here in the States. . . this one is in Sedona, AZ. 

This one in Taos , New Mexico

and this one in Estes Park, Colorado.

Here it is Friday all over again.    We took Mary Beth to visit Lone Ranch Beach.  It is one of my favorites and the walk along the pathway to the ocean was filled with wild berry bushes with berries not quite ripe enough to pick yet.   the pathway was overgrown and a bit rougher than usual.   We sat at the picnic table and watched the waves as we enjoyed the ninety degree day, so unusual for here, and the wind was strong.  So much for my telling our guest about the cool summer breezes of Brookings.   Today we will take her south and she can walk another beach and hopefully find an agate or two. 

 

Enjoy your weekend doing what you love to do best.    Be good, be kind, be gentle and spend a little of your seconds with those you love.    Send off a few verbal hugs today as there are some folks in need.  I'm off to set the coffee pot and figure out what I want to have for breakfast this morning.  Stop in and help me decide, I'd like that.    Hugs t o all.  

 

  

World

Barcelona

Bong

South America

St Peters Rome
An attachment came in yesterday showing the different churches around the world which I thought was very interesting.   This is the first of many.   I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I did.  Wouldn't it be fun to be able to visit each one.  Just think of the light those candles would make. 

Friend Joyce 

Joyce's rental house in Ecuador

Joyce called the other day to say hello. she is having land lady problems so is planning another move.  She hates to give up this place as it has been home for awhile but the landlady is not much on repairing broken pipes and the workers, when Joyce send for one are a bit lazy about getting the job done.    She has made up her mind to move  so she has begun to look at a little different area.   She has been in Ecuador three years or more, doesn't seem that long, but it is and she seems to like it there.  Her husband Ken came down with Alzheimer and is in a special home being well cared for.  The picture was painted by a friend, isn't it lovely, very colorful.   We got cut off three times during the conversation so Joyce finally resorted to e-mail.   So from what she says, she has found a different life style and seems to be happy there.

As for me, Mary Beth arrived and the plane was on time.  The wind was high and I wondered about the landing but all went well.  We haven't seen each other in over forty years so we both wondered if we would recognize each other.  We did, as soon as her head appeared in the doorway I knew her, and she didn't think I had changed much....well she lies well.    It was like greeting someone you saw a week ago;  great hugs, many words to share and we went on to a restaurant to have dinner and conversation.   She and Erin hit it off and we had a tough time trying to talk over the loudness of a table filled with birthday party celebrators.    The noise level was really something.  We finished up our meal and headed home and caught up with family news.   Today we will introduce her to the Port and one of the beaches and I'll take my camera with me.

I hope you have company coming and get to share time and space with them.    Chris is coming in tomorrow so that will add to the mix and we should all have a great time.    There is something about family that is special as you catch up on family history and tell a tale or two.   Laughter and tears go so well together.    Be good, be kind, be gentle and share YOU with  your family today.  Hugs to all.

Vacation

Granddaughter Erin and her best friend Jessica went camping up at Crater Lake. 

Erin is showing off her new ring;  a beauty . . . yes she is and so is the ring.

She sent me a picture of the map showing Crater Lake 

and the gorgeous sunset.   

Back in Rhode Island Colin and Erin went parasailing.  Love her expression, bet the water was cold.

Kim and her friend enjoyed the ride 

and Mary Beth and her friend Brian went soaring too.   Mary Beth is on a plane today coming to visit me.  She will be in about five thirty tonight if all goes as planned.   It will be interesting to see if the plane gets to Crescent City on time.   She is coming in from Rhode Island and making some interesting stops to get here.  

Vacations are great.  Friend Helen and her daughter Kathy are heading for Colorado where Helen will meet her great grandson for the first time.   Meanwhile Bob and Andrea are taking off for two weeks; wonder if they are heading this way.   They had their first bocce party in the new court they just finished and are meeting and greeting their new neighbors.   So summer is never wasted when you plot and plan a fun time with your neighbors;  what a great way to start new friendships.   Three days of September already gone, hope you have plans to end your summer with at least a short vacation away from the usual routine.   You don't have to go far, just to the back yard with a tall drink and a good book will do.  So plan this weekend to make it a vacation weekend and rest, relax, put your feet up and do a lot of nothing.  You are smiling . . . I don't blame you . . . it is hump day so you don't have to wait very long to enjoy a mini vacation.    Meanwhile don't forget the one good deed of the day and make it a good one.   Find reasons to love and make your world go around .  Hugs to all. 

Across The Sea

Here are Mac and Queso, Angie's dogs enjoying a windy day at the beach.  As Angie said, 'a hair day'. 

Our London England friends have come up with a super idea.  They are planting plastic poppies out of a window of the Tower of London, streaming down to the ground and surrounding the entire area to remember each and every soldiers who have given their lives in wars.   The project ends November 11, 2014 , Armistice Day . . . A day of Remembrance.    Maybe we could follow suit and plant a plastic poppy in our garden on Armistice Day.   I think I'll look for some.  How about you?

 

It is Tuesday, all day, don't forget one good deed deserves another.     I wish you love in your life today.   Make it happen.   Start with a smile from the eyes;  a bear hug or two and a kind word wouldn't hurt.  Hugs to all.

 

Pictues

A great idea, you just can't lose.

Here are a few more pictures taken by the Russian photographer.   What a keen eye and sense of beauty he has.   A steady hand and a good eye and he shows the wonders of nature.

A new week, a new month . . . September, has a nice ring to it.   My niece, Mary Beth is coming to spend a week.  A long trip from Rhode Island and I am anxious to see her as it has been a very, very, long time. It is going to be such fun to show her a bit of Oregon.  

We had a bit of a celebration yesterday as Jock was in with a salmon he caught and cooked on the grill for us.  Erin put a combination vegetable and fruit salad dish and Pat cooked up some garden fresh squashes and made a terrific dish.   Delicious hardly states how tasty this dinner was.    I made up some apple turnovers using a brown flour for the first time, and the last, sure didn't taste like my usual turnovers.  Jock made it easier as he peeled the apples and sliced them up like it was the easiest thing in the world to do.   They enjoyed the 'brown' apple turnovers with some vanilla ice cream on them.   Pat's neighbor , Earl, has an apple tree and gave us a whole bag of them.  I'm hoping for some more to make more apple turn overs with white flour;  I'm just not up to changing my taste buds for the fancy mixtures. 

So its' Monday. . . plot and plan your new week and find some reasons to smile.    Don't forget a good deed to make someone else smile.   There is a video on the computer today about a man who has been running across America planting a flag for each of the young men killed in Afghanistan and it is fantastic.  What a boon to know how many care as he  brings out the true feelings of all of us.  He went from east to west and is now going from north to south.   Each name was written on a small paper and attached to a small flag which he plants in the ground where the veteran lived.   Some of us cannot run any more for such a good, great, cause, but we can bend the knee and offer up a prayer for the souls who gave their all.  So join me, in prayer for all of our veterans.   Hugs to all.