Just Do It!

Don't judge me, it happens to the best of us!

So tonight I tackled a project that has been driving me crazy for months - the big mess under the kitchen sink. I took everything out, sorted what stays and what goes. Washed the plastic holders and took the liner outside to hose it off. The liner is in the garage drying overnight since it's trying to rain outside.

I didn't really find anything too interesting except new scrubber things. It feels nice to finally cross an item off my procrastination list. Oh, do you have one of those lists too?

Coming soon: organized-under-the-sink-photos. For now it's still a work in progress. Oh, I guess I better go pick it all up off the floor so people can walk around in the kitchen.

Your challenge now for the upcoming month of September is to find that household chore that you have been putting off doing. The one that drives you crazy everytime you open that drawer, cupboard, door, etc.

Just do it, you'll be glad you did.

August 24, 1945

1945, the year my parents got married. Today would have been their 64th wedding anniversary. In 1995 we had a 50th Anniversary party for them in Island Park, Idaho with friends and family. Dad died 3 years later, two months before their 53rd anniversary.

August is not just their anniversary month, but also both of their birthdays.

Here is their wedding picture. My Mom turned 23 a week after they were married and Dad had just turned 31.

On this their anniversary day, I take time out of my day to think about them and what this day might have meant to them 64 years ago.

Did their life turn out to be all that they expected it might be? Did they anticipate the children they would raise, the ups and downs of parenting and the joys of being a grandparent? Did they know they would have 20 wonderful years together after Dad retired? Time they spent traveling and visiting with friends and family. And the many summers they spent at the cabin in Island Park welcoming all who would venture up for a visit.

If I could talk to them now, if only for a moment, I would tell them I love them and thank them for all they did for me. For the example they set with the lives they lived, for their patience and sacrifice. For always telling me, "we just want you to be happy".

A Fantastic Summer Day

What a great Saturday it has been. It's been all about the beautiful weather and wonderful friends.

I started my day visiting with Barbara. I loaned her my serger and helped her set it up. We visited for a little bit.

Then home for a clothing change and off to the church to the baptism of two young women. It was so nice and the talks were so good.

From there I ran to the store and also put gas in the car.

Came home, changed clothes again, picked up Wally and went to the Smith's home to return some folding tables that I borrowed earlier in the week.

We wandered through Sue's beautiful flower garden, visited the chickens and came home with seeds from the hummingbird plant and fresh picked cucumbers and zucchini. Yum.

From there we stopped at the street corner and bought some Yakima peaches and nectarines. Then on to the gas station to put gas in the truck and to fill the gas can for the lawn mower. For we all know it won't be much longer before the green lawns return and we'll be mowing the lawn for a couple more months.

Took Wally home and picked up my layered bean dip which I had made at 8:30 in the morning.

Went to some friends new home for an open house and barbecue. Had a nice visit and was happy to see little Emma who used to be in my Primary class. It was just relaxing sitting in the backyard in the shade with the wind blowing. Just beautiful.

On the way home I stopped at Carpinito Brothers for some fresh corn on the cob, squash and bell peppers.

Here I am home again and in an hour we are heading to Black Angus for my free birthday steak dinner. Just the first of many birthday dinners in the next few weeks.

I'm loving the sunshine and the breeze today. Grocery shopping will wait till next week!

Hope all of you are also enjoying this beautiful summer day wherever you are!

And as I'm writing the radio is playing "Knights in White Satin". Brings back a ton of memories.

Drop Dead Diva

You start with an attractive blonde model wannabe who gets in a car accident, dies and goes to heaven. Where of course she is very upset and gets mad at the guy checking her into heaven. She reaches across his desk and hits the return key on his computer.

Well she returns all right. In the body of a woman who has just been shot. Only problem is this woman is brunette a smart attorney and is overweight.

So the guy from heaven comes to earth as her guardian angel and is now Fred the mail boy in the law office. And the boyfriend of the blonde woman gets hired at the same law office.

In just a couple of episodes this Lifetime series pulls you in with the cast of characters from her assistant to her former best friend who is the only person she has told and who actually believes her.

Check it out. Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. Pacific time on Lifetime.
http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/drop-dead-diva

"Life looks different the second time around."

Trudy vs. James Street Hill - July

Trudy 4 - James Hill 3

July - I lost again in July, I did not do the hill. You would think in the summertime I would be out walking the hill every week, not gonna happen. I still have five months left to catch up.

June - I lost again this month, I did not do the hill.

May 23 - 38 minutes (new PB), temperature about 65 degrees, wonderful walk.

Apr. 25 - 41 minutes (temperature about 50 degrees) It was off and on sunny. Springtime is pretty on the hill.

March - I didn't do the hill in March. I blame it on the weather and busy Saturdays, I know that's no excuse!

Feb. 21 - 40 minutes (temperature about 58 degrees)

Jan. 31 - 39 minutes

The goal is to walk up the hill starting at the Chevron on Central Ave. up to the pedestrian walk-way at the grade school and back down the hill, a minimum of once a month this year.

Evening Primrose

This is a really cool flower that my sister in Idaho has had for years. This summer I was able to bring home a small plant from hers. The flowers open up at dusk right in front of your eyes. I was able to capture one opening tonight.

A Very Productive Friday

This is how my Friday went:

Woke up at 4:00 a.m., puzzled as to what day of the week it was. Figured out it was Friday and that I would have to get up for work, went back to sleep until 6:00 a.m.

Out of bed, showered and out the door by 6:30. Quick stop at McD's (breakfast burritos are 1.00 and they have the best chocolate milk). Arrived at office did some work till meeting started at 8:00 a.m. From 8:00 to 1:30 p.m. I was in day three of a meeting. It was a requirements gathering workshop for a new computer system. It was fun, but it's what we call a brain drain.

A little more work at the office then home by 3:15 to get my computer up and running in time for a 3:30 meeting which ended up taking place at 5:00 p.m.

Then it was open three days worth of mail, make dinner, a trip to Walgreen's and Top Foods, do the dishes, mop the kitchen floor, clean the bathroom.

Ahhhh, all done now. Time to go to bed so I'll be refreshed in the morning for the Kent Cornucopia Days 5K. Then in the afternoon it's off to the carnival and street fair with our 8 year old grand-daughter.

I love summertime!

Birdwatching (or a Walk on the Wild Side)

I did something this morning that I have never done before. With three friends, all of us armed with cameras, binoculars and hats we went bird watching in the Kent industrial area. There is a pond that is off the road surrounded by various trees and plants and very protected.

We walked for a couple of hours where we not only watched but also listened to a variety of birds. Luckily my friends knew what types of birds they were. There were also many pretty plants and lots of butterflies and dragonflies.

We saw sparrows, robins, ducks, geese, blue herons, sandpipers, killdeers, yellow birds and more. At the end of our walk we watched from across the pond as one of the herons devoured a frog.

It was a fun morning. It was very surprising to discover what is just right in front of me if I only take the time to be still, watch and listen.

Here are a few pictures.

Trudy vs. James Street Hill June

Trudy 4 - James Hill 2

June - I lost this month, I did not do the hill. I promise to do it twice sometime later to make up for June.
May 23 - 38 minutes (new PB), temperature about 65 degrees, wonderful walk.
Apr. 25 - 41 minutes (temperature about 50 degrees) It was off and on sunny. Springtime is pretty on the hill.
March - I didn't do the hill in March. I blame it on the weather and busy Saturdays, I know that's no excuse!
Feb. 21 - 40 minutes (temperature about 58 degrees)
Jan. 31 - 39 minutes

The goal is to walk up the hill starting at the Chevron on Central Ave. up to the pedestrian walk-way at the grade school and back down the hill, a minimum of once a month this year.

Vacation Anticipation

It's coming up and I'm looking forward to it. It's an annual trip we do with my siblings and their families. A week together at the cabin on the lake. They will be about 20 of us there. We're figuring out all the food and what days everyone arrives.

This trip I get to meet some NEW additions to the family since last summer, a new great niece and a great nephew. And I get to see my other adorable great nieces and nephews too.

On the menu is chili, pizza, Mexican food, chorizo w/rice and other good stuff. And don't forget bacon and eggs and pancakes every morning for breakfast cooked on the restaurant griddle that Dad bought years ago.

We have tickets to see Guys and Dolls at the Playmill Playhouse in West Yellowstone. And we even get to play tourist in town

(and pretend we haven't been going there for the last 40+ years).

There may be a trip into Yellowstone Park or there might not be.

Sometimes it's just nice to stay at the cabin and relax, sew, read, eat, eat fudge,

sleep, visit, play games, fish, sit outside in the sunshine,

sit in the cabin and watch the electrical storms at night on the lake,

chase bats out of the cabin and rescue an occasional hummingbird.

The trip never ceases to surprise me.

I Did It!

I have officially ran my first 5K race (and walked some). It was at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Seattle. I participated in the non-competitive women's 5K. It was great. The start line was almost as exciting as the finish line.

We ran on the viaduct overlooking the Seattle waterfront on one side and downtown Seattle on the other side. There was more uphill than I expected and the finish line was misleading. As you came down off the viaduct it looked like you were done then you had to turn and do a couple of more blocks.

The temperature was about 58 degrees. Some of the best advice I read on the Internet as I was preparing for this race was to dress as if the temperature is 15 degrees warmer than it is. Great advice.

After the race inside Quest Stadium was tons of booths with free samples of food products, water bottles, bags, etc. There were bananas, bagels and yogurt just to mention a few.

There was also entertainment. I was there for some of the drumming groups. It was great to see a lot of families there and to see the cancer survivors in their pink shirts.

For more information about breast cancer: http://www.iamthecure.org/