Be back soon.....

We are headed to Phoenix to put a little "sweat equity" into a rental house we have there!!! ("SWEAT" being the operative word!!) :0) Be back next week.....

At last....

I love hydrangeas, and we have tried (with very little success) to grow them every summer. They like mostly shady growing conditions, and wherever we would try them they would always wilt when the sun hit them. Finally we found the perfect place on the north side of our house! Next challenge---we wanted the flowers to be blue, and for that to happen you have to treat the soil with aluminum sulfate so that it gives the soil an acid base. We have tried and tried---still pink flowers. So...today when I went out to water them I was so excited to see this blue blossom!! Finally, success!! :0)

Our golfer...

Just a fun picture today of our youngest son, Jon. He is the head golf pro at a course back east, and this year the club is celebrating their 100th Anniversary. For their member/guest event last week the pros all dressed in knickers, etc. I'm sure it was toasty warm in the 90+ degree heat and humidity, but I think he looks real cute! :0) (That sounds like a Mom speaking, doesn't it?!)

They did it!!

Well, this isn't the "professional" picture I was hoping for, but beggars can't be choosers---right?! The guys made it to Portland yesterday at about 2:30 and they were VERY hot and sweaty and incredibly happy to be there!! They are on their way home from Seattle now, but I know they are very excited to have accomplished the STP!! Jim even did it on his "antique" bike (not one of the "fancier" bikes that most riders have now!!) :0) Jeff loved giving him a hard time about his "ride", but it got him there thank goodness!!! What a great father/son experience they had--that's what life if all about!!

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that they got into some of the "official" ride pictures that will be posted on the STP website later this week...I need some "scrapbooking" material!! :0)

Peddlin' along...

Just heard from the "bikers" and they were already 1/4 of the way for their first day and it was only 7:20 AM!!! They are loving it....here's Jim in the yellow shirt:
JUST KIDDING!!!!! I don't know who that guy IS, but it ISN'T Jim!!! :0)

Portland or BUST....

What a busy, busy "physically fit" summer our family has had! :0) First we had "J" and "J" in the 1/2 marathon in Coeur d' Alene....

Miss "S" (in Michigan) has been doing some serious running, too, but I don't have any pictures of her---I'll have to remedy that!! :0)

Then we had "B" in the IronMan...And, finally..."J" and "J" took off this morning for Seattle! They will be riding tomorrow and Sunday in the STP--Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. This 200-mile bicycle ride is the largest multi-day bicycle event in the Northwest, with up to 9,500 participants riding from Seattle to Portland in one or two days. The route takes you through the scenic valleys, forests, and farmlands of western Washington and Oregon. They have both been SO excited, I know they will have a terrific time...and, memories and stories for a lifetime! What a fun father/son experience!!

They even "indulged" the scrapbooker (Me) and let me take some pictures as they were preparing to hit the road....

So....check back next week and hopefully I will have some pictures from the "finish line" in Portland!!

Meanwhile, I'm still doing my early morning hour on the treadmill---does that count??!!) :0)

Fireworks..Fun..Fourth of July...

We returned from the lake yesterday after a wonderful and relaxing weekend. The weather couldn't have been better...warm sunny days and evening that cooled off "just enough!" "A" and "K" loved the fireworks---they started asking about 9 AM on the 4th when it would be dark! :0) We barbecued and ate on the deck, the lake has warmed and the kids had a great time splashing, swimming, and Jim even managed to beat the "resident expert" in a game of horse shoes---it was a great weekend! Just a few pictures..

"K" was a little unsure about holding onto the sparklers

A "serious" game of horseshoes!

"A" having fun in the kayak with friends

Papa and "A" working on the deck railing

"K" splashing around in the sun

Happy 4th of July!!

A "B I G" project...

I'm working on a project (top secret...it's a gift for someone :0)...and I have been having fun looking through and scanning old photographs from our families. These are some of my favorites...

My Mom (on the right) and her twin sister

My Dad Jim's Mom Jim's Dad (young boy on the right.) My sister and me with our paternal grandmotherJim