RAINY MORNING

This morning is a little rainy so everyone is hunkered down watching TV.  I thought I would capture the upstairs scene.  Everyone was contently watching TV upstairs until they saw me and then they all wanted to come downstairs and watch my TV. The last picture is where we are now. We are watching the "My Little Pony" series on Netflix.  David, Anna and Katie are so well behaved downstairs.  It is so nice to have them down here. It is so amazing that I have lived long enough to be a Great-Grandmother. Donna went to the store with Christopher so we are here alone. She asked if I would be OK with the kids.  I said yes but I also said she did not have an all day pass to be gone.

ENJOYING BEING DOWNSTAIRS

My downstairs apartment has been very popular the last few days.  David is playing his Harmonica for me.  We have been visiting, watching movies on Netflix.  It gives me a little time to work on my Counted Cross stitch while still enjoying Great-grandchildren.
   Yesterday we went shopping and also had a nice walk in Carrie Blake Park with George and Marge and Misty.  The children all got to take turns walking Misty.
    Today we went to the Library and outside there was a Juggling show for the children.  It was really pretty good and all the children seemed to enjoy it.  There were quite a few children there with adults, of course.
     Today and yesterday we had very nice weather.
   

STRANGE WEATHER

Yesterday was a beautiful warm Summer day.  Donna and I were wearing sandals and we were enjoying all the sunshine.  We even treated ourselves to Pedicures.  During the night it started raining and we had thunder and lighting all through the night.  This morning we were still having some rain and also thunder and lighting all through the day.  Late this afternoon the Marine air came in.  I cannot even see downtown Sequim.  It is 8:30 pm and I can still hear the thunder occasionally off in the distance.  I am glad I have my Ottlight because at least I can work on my counted cross stitch to cheer me up.  This is the strangest July day I can ever remember.  I know it is Friday the 13th but I doubt that has anything to do with the weather.  Well, it is July and I trust that Summer will return.

I LOVE SUMMER!

We had another beautiful day on Wednesday. Donna and I went to Railroad Bridge Park.  The park is so beautiful. We walked quite aways.  By the time I checked my Fitbit before bedtime, I had walked 2.92 miles between walking around the house and walking in the park. Donna wanted to check out the trails down to the places near the river where people were having picnics.  Donna is planning to take the grandchildren there one day next week.  The weather forecast looks good for all next week. David, Anna, Katie and Christopher will be here for a week starting Friday.

AFTERNOON AT THE PARK

Yesterday was such a beautiful day. Donna and I bought a Subway sandwich and went to Carrie Blake Park.

We walked around the park after we ate.  It is around a mile.  Just a few of the pictures Donna and I took.

Beautiful Poppies

Donna set my camera on automatic and got both of us in this picture.  Also Donna walked up close enough to this bench to take a picture of this Butterfly.

We had such a nice relaxing afternoon.  In the Pacific Northwest we need to take advantage of the nice sunny days.

I am still enjoying my Fitbit .( My exercise tracker.)I am finding that I am more active than I thought I was. I still walk up and down the hill a lot.  You get little awards along the way.  Last week I got my badge for walking 50 miles since I got my Fitbit. I think that is pretty good for me.

TRIP TO MARYSVILLE

Tuesday Donna and I went to Marysville to visit my sister, Elsie.  She lives in the Windsor Apts. for Seniors.

Elsie and Donna in Elsie's apt.  The apt is much larger than the previous one she lived in and it is less expensive than the one in Lake Stevens where she was.  We had a very nice visit.  Elsie is looking much better than the last time I saw her.  Her other place was getting pretty depressing for her because so many of the residents had memory problems.  We were very happy to see each other.  Donna told Elsie some of the memories of times we went to Elsie's house when she was young.  Donna remembered the huge bowl of Potato salad she always made and some other things.  I could tell she was very pleased that Donna remembered those things.

SUNNY DAYS

Wednesday and Thursday were just such beautiful days here.  Donna and I spent all day Wednesday going to the Quilting Shop Hop.  We took my car.  I now have almost 3,000 miles on it.  We had a nice time going  to the different shops.  There was a long list of shops but we covered 6 shops and that took a long time.  We went to Port Townsend, Silverdale, Port Gamble, Port Angeles, Poulsbo and Kingston.  Donna found a really nice kit for a wall hanging. It has birds and bird houses on it.  She is still trying to decide what kind of quilt to make for the quilting retreat we are going to in October.  The picture above is the one I made last year. This year I think I will just take a smaller counted-cross stitch picture to work on.  I am still working on the large Autumn one that I bought in May.  I have done quite a bit on it but there is still way, way more work before it will be finished.  Even after the cross-stitching is done there is still all the outlining to do. I am sure at the Quilting retreat I will be helping with Donna's quilt. Usually I do a lot of ironing and sewing squares together.

Thursday Donna decided she wanted to make some Strawberry Jam.  She wanted to pick the berries herself.  We took my car again.  My car always needs exercise. I feel kind of silly being so fussy but I had her put towels down in the trunk and on the front seat of the car. At times my OCD rears it's ugly head. I sat in my car and read my Kindle.  I am way past bending over and picking berries.  She got a lot of berries picked in an hour's time.  Donna bought a  Presto canner at Wal-mart. It was really nice for the jam.  Now she can can fruit or vegetables or meat if she wants to.  

I did help with the Strawberry jam.  I got the berries ready for Donna to smash up.  I even helped stir the jam.  You have to be so careful you don't burn yourself.  Also we made 2 loaves of bread.  Donna just bought some new yeast and the dough was rising really fast.  The loaves came out huge.  The fresh bread was so good with the fresh Strawberry jam.  

Tuesday we are going to Marysville to see my sister, Elsie.  I have not seen her for quite awhile.  We write back and forth all the time.  She loves letters.  Once when I called her I had not written for awhile and she said it was nice to talk to me but she missed my letters so now I try to write often.