Blue Sky

Hello my friends!    It's been a hot, hot, hot week.  In fact, it's so hot that when we came home from the lake for church Sunday morning, we stayed home and haven't gone back!  Highly unusual but I'm enjoying my AC in the 95F+ temperatures that we've had all week.  They are forecast to continue for the next 10 days at least.  Ugh!  We pick up the new trailer this Saturday, and Alicia and Jeremy are staying in it at the lake Saturday night though, so we need to head on out there Friday to get things ready.  Neal and Jenny are using the trailer all next week to go to Silverwood amusement park in Idaho for their annual trip with their adult kids and grandkids. I'm SO glad people are using the trailer.  It's what we got it for.

Look at this blue sky!  On Saturday, Dennis and I took a road trip up north to our friends property about 10 miles south of the Canadian border.  Here, I'll take you along.  It was a beautiful, if hot, day.

The grasses and fields are very dry.

A bit blurry as we were whizzing up the road, but it's still beautiful.

So dry.  No wonder we have so many fires burning.  We don't have blue skies now.  We have had BROWN skies for several days because of the smoke and not much wind to blow it away.  Although wind would make the fires worse so it's a "catch 22" situation.

Crossing the Columbia River north of Kettle Falls, WA.

The next pictures are of our friends property where they spend weekends, (they live in Spokane too.)  They have 10 acres and have put in 3 RV spots with water, electric and a sewer dump.  This way there is room for friends and family to join them.  The property has been in the family for years.  We're planning to go up either later this month or in September with the new trailer to spend a weekend with them.

Look at this view!  I could sit there all day and look at this.  Bob has built benches all over the property at particularly beautiful spots for Laurie to just sit and enjoy. This is one of them.

Looking the other way.  You can just see our truck and their motorhome back in the middle left in the photo.  They have a beautiful brand new Winnebago motorhome.  You want to talk luxurious?  Oh my goodness it's gorgeous.  I could seriously live in it.

On our way back to our humble little trailer.  More views of the  mighty Columbia River.

I took part in an "Everything but Yarn" swap that Kathyb held on her blog Compassion Knits.  I was paired up with Nancy of the Wyoming Breezes blog on my sidebar.  Nancy is a prolific quilter who makes the most gorgeous quilts and donates them to "Quilts of Valor" for our veterans.  You should definitely stop and visit her. 

Yesterday I received my swap package from Nancy.  Look at all of this goodness.  The cowl is gorgeous and my favorite color.  Lots of tea, candy, knitting notions, soap, post-its, a little fan, magnet frames.  Oh my goodness!  She put a lot of thought into this package.  Thank you so much Nancy!  I appreciate each and every item.

I made some new hot pads and dishcloths for the new trailer, but  on second thought, I think I'll put them in the camper we use all of the time and put the older ones in the new trailer.  I purposely made the dishcloths longer and narrower than usual because of where they hang on the oven door to dry in both of the trailers.  There is not a lot of space since I also hang the dish towel there.  This is just cotton I picked up at Michaels and had in my stash.

I have also started a pair of socks for Alicia's son Kale.  I promised him and Hayden each a pair of socks before fall gets here and that will be soon, so I thought I should get started.  Heel, toes and cuffs will be of this stash yarn and then I  have some camo colored yarn for the body of the sock.  Since they are most definitely BOYS, they will appreciate the camo color.  Their Dad taught survival school in the military and still takes people out for weekends of training.  In fact, he was out last weekend.

This is a pair of Monkey Socks I've had on the needles for a couple of months.  It keeps getting set aside for other projects.

A closer look.

I took a bag of goodies to Holy Family Hospital this morning and forgot to take pictures first.  I had 43 crocheted hats from Nita.  I made 27 knitted and crocheted hats, 2 crocheted baby blankets. 2 sweater/hat/sock sets, (one pink speckled and one blue speckled) and 2 burial buntings.

Only one pair of mittens was finished this week.  It was a red pair.  I think you can see it in your mind since I've posted so many mitten pictures!  :-)

I just took a yellow cake out of the oven.  I know, I know.  It's not Weight Watcher friendly, but I need cake today.  I'll frost it with chocolate frosting and we'll have some after dinner tonight.  I'm planning to stay in the rest of the day unless we go over to Larry and Nita's to swim tonight.  We went there Sunday night and swam in their pool and then I dangled my feet in the hot tub while the others got completely in.  It's a no-no for me because of my pacemaker.  I love hot-tubs, but the germs in public ones always freaked me out a bit.  Since Larry and Nita keep theirs impeccably clean, I used to enjoy sitting in theirs, but no more!  Oh well.  I guess it's a small price to pay to keep my heart beating.

Mandy, Brad and Piper are getting all settled in their new home and finally have internet again.  I was able to face-time with my girls this morning for quite awhile.  Mandy had a job interview yesterday that went very well and it sounds as though she will begin her nursing career again now that they have family to help a little with childcare if needed.  She will be working part time and I think she's looking forward to it.  Brad is enjoying his job and I think they are all having a good time with family around them.  They have been in the new house a week and Piper has already found a friend right across the street who has been over to play with her.  I'm SO happy for all of them.  AND, I bought my plane ticket to fly to Omaha at the end of September to spend Piper's birthday with her.  Yippee!  I've missed the last two and I don't want to miss anymore if I can help it.

Alex face-timed with me from Japan for almost 2 hours last night after Dennis was in bed.  That time difference really messes up his talks with Dad!  One is sleeping or working when the other one is doing the opposite!  Luckily I can stay up later and sleep later in the morning so I get to enjoy our visits.  He takes me on bike rides around Tokyo or Tawada, (where his office is.)  He also takes me shopping with him and even introduces me to people he knows via his phone!  Technology is wonderful!  He's doing well and is in Tokyo until Friday when he heads back north.  His company has officially been in business supporting him and others for one year this week!  He also got two new contracts yesterday, so he was in a great mood and very happy with where he is in life. It's wonderful to see your kids successful and happy, but golly, I miss having him closer.  He's great about face-timing several times a week, but it's just not the same as being able to touch him.  I think it's a Mom thing!  :-)

I hope you're all having a great week and enjoying summers bounty.  Unless you're down under and then I hope your winter is mild. :-)

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Blessings always,
Betsy