Category Archives: Daily Life

A Hike & Some Whales

After our wonderful time on Anderson Island, Tim and the kids went home. I, on the other hand, stayed for some relaxing friend time.

Girl Time!

We stayed up late talking. Drank in the gorgeous sunshine of the morning. Ate delicious food and set off for an island hike.

Crossing the bridge

Crossing the bridge

There are times when your soul is so full of the beauty of God’s creation, that you lack for words.

An empty beach

An empty beach

Pacific Northwest glamour.

Pacific Northwest glamour.

Coming back to sit on the beach near the house, we glimpsed some fins in the far distance. Jumping up and shrieking , we KNEW this was part of the pod of orcas that have been swimming near the island. Kirstin, our beautiful host for the day, has been searching for a sight (however small) of these elusive whales for weeks. Into the kayak she leapt, and off she raced.

Catching the whales

Catching the whales

It was an absolutely thrilling end to the incredibly beautiful time on the island. Kirstin and Shari (who grabbed the second kayak and followed) were treated to a magnificent orca show. We could hear the whales singing and crying from shore.

Truly, this is one of the most stunning places to live.

I have to admit we often fight over "whose" mountain this is.

I have to admit we often fight over “whose” mountain this is.

Project 365 – Day 159
Kathy

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Outta There

After Tim worked so hard to prep the hot tub for destruction, he managed to cut it into pieces.

This saw is amazing - cuts through anything!

This saw is amazing – cuts through anything!

So crazy to me that Tim actually chopped the hot tub into pieces.  You can learn ANYTHING on Youtube.

So crazy to me that Tim actually chopped the hot tub into pieces.

And he even loaded it up into a truck.

Borrow a truck, load it up, take the hot tub pieces to the dump!

Borrow a truck, load it up, say goodbye to the old hot tub!

And then, Tim took the pieces off to the dump. I’m thrilled to be making progress on the backyard. Tim is working so hard. The flowers in the front look beautiful and the gate & fence are shaping up nicely on the side. It looks professional, the fence is perfect, it will surely protect their products from animals and pests. Tomatoes are growing. Daniel has a plan for further backyard clean up. Exciting!

Meanwhile, I had a lovely phone chat with my sister-in-law Elizabeth while walking in the sunshine. After which I worked a good portion of the day on the garage. Nope, no pictures of that terrible mess. Not yet. Poor Sarah, all the other kids were gone, so she was my only helper. She made chocolate chip cookies and cleaned and tidied inside while I organized the garage.

We ended the day with some family time. And met the new puppy.

New puppy and family - perfect combination.

New puppy and family – perfect combination.

A busy, satisfying Saturday!

Project 365 – Day 157
Kathy

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Flowers and a Green Thumb

My dad loved gardening. He was constantly planting new varieties of vegetables or exploring different ways to tackle the animals who seemed bent on getting into his garden. Flowers were another one of his delights. He even bought an expensive lutyens garden bench and has grown quite attached to it. One year he came for a visit, and we filled every possible pot or container we could find with flowers. It was beautiful.

Today my in-laws swept Sarah and me off on a little adventure. My mother-in-law shares my father’s love for gardening. Her landscaping creations are stunning – bursts of color, winding paths of beauty, and places (some hidden and delicate, others spacious and vast) to breathe in deeply and relax. For best landscaping service, click here.

“It’s a late Mother’s Day gift,” my mother-in-law smiled as we piled into the minivan and headed down the road. “I don’t often get to treat you.”

Awaiting a new home.

What could be prettier than fresh plants.

We arrived at our destination – Watsons Nursery – and spent the next hour wandering among the aisles. We picked out perennials for the front yard – Daniel gave me a Mother’s Day gift card of yard work, planting and the purchase of fresh bark. Then we selected a beautiful mix of annuals for the large barrel by the front porch.

“I know you must have some of your dad’s green thumb,” my mother-in-law stated hopefully.

“Um,” I stammered, “we can only hope.”

Actually, my hope is pretty much on Tim, Sarah and Rachel. Although he favors tomato plants and a vegetable garden over flowers, Tim has inherited some of his mother’s love and talent for gardening. Or maybe he just picked up a few tips and tricks over the years of being dragged into various landscape projects. He and Rachel planted several flower boxes for me last week. And Sarah is my faithful watering girl. So, I think I have things covered.

Planting things today!

Planting things today!

Not wanting to miss the chance, I begged Tim to help me plant the flowers tonight after our walk. They look so beautiful!! I am already thrilled at our flowering barrel. I can’t wait to get Daniel to finish digging up my front area. Oh, and Tim has a fantastic idea for using some stones he bought to surround the barrel and add some plants around it.

“Mom, you have so many flowers this year,” Rachel admired when she came up the walk way this evening.
“Why yes, I do,” I hugged her, “it’s beautiful isn’t it.”

Project 365 – Day 154
Kathy

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Homeschool Testing

Monday and Tuesday the kids had their annual testing. Washington State requires homeschoolers to either participate in standardized testing or an assessment by a certified teacher. We’ve used the CAT-5 test and the Stanford Achievement Tests over the years.

The girls - taking a break from testing.

The girls – taking a break from testing.

We join with other families during the testing, which does make the time a little bit more bearable for the kids. On the second day of the tests there is a curriculum sale. This is a brilliant way to gather moms together and share curriculum. This year I had a table and managed to sell several hundred dollars worth of books.

At one point I was managing a table by my self for three other moms. Two of the moms proctoring the test, and the third forgot a box of math curriculum and had to run back to her house.

I was so wiped out after a busy weekend and two days of testing, that I fell asleep in the recliner. I then snuck off to bed to take a real nap. Imagine my surprise at discovering Tim, who was supposed to be paying bills, dozing on the bed himself. It was obviously nap time.

I’m so proud of these kids! They work hard all year long. Such a privilege and joy to homeschool.

Project 365 – Day 153
Kathy

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Memory Lane

When I was in second grade, our family lived on a military base. It seemed idyllic to me — I could walk or bike to the library and to school, and it felt very safe and secure to me. The back yard of our house faced into a huge open play space that was shared by all of our neighbors — I loved the sense of being part of one really big family.

My second-grade teacher was excellent — she knew how to motivate me and draw out my best academic efforts. I think that second grade was one of the happiest times of my life.

This is the door to what I think was my second-grade classroom.

This is the door to what I think was my second-grade classroom.

So when I visited that same military base, today, I couldn’t resist the temptation to take a few pictures of the school I attended.

You can always recognize an elementary school in Washington, because they usually have a covered area for the kids to play.  Otherwise, Washington kids would never get recess.

You can always recognize an elementary school in Washington, because they usually have a covered area for the kids to play. Otherwise, Washington kids would never get recess.

It looks unused, now, with another brand-new elementary school having been erected just down the street, but I remember attending there as if it were yesterday (or maybe last week).

Project 365, Day 152
Tim

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