Woodland Park Zoo

I am still working on the photo download problem with my blog.  I have managed to get a few pictures off of my phone.  However, since I could only get them to download one at a time and things kept freezing up, it has been a slow and tedious process. It has taken me a month to get this done. Hope you enjoy them. 

 

 It's been quite a number of years since I have visited the Woodland Park Zoo. I used to go quite often to the San Diego Zoo with my family when I was a kid growing up. It was always an adventure.  So when my daughter's family came out here for a three week visit we decided it would be fun to go with all the children and grandchildren to Woodland Park for the day.  

My youngest son and wife recently acquired a season pass just to have a nice place to spend a couple of hours walking when they were in the mood.  I could certainly see why. It's a beautifully designed park with wonderful pathways leading to the various natural looking animal exhibits.

I think my favorite place was in the butterfly exhibit, so many different kinds fluttering around. We had to be checked before we left the room to be sure no one had hitched a ride on our way out!

 

Of course, the best part of the whole day was being able to spend  it with family.

 

Now as Summer has drawn to a close and Fall begins to make its entrance I pray each of you have enjoyed some wonderful summer memories with your loved ones as well.

Adieu!

Christmas at Epiphany

As we all know from personal experience, sometimes life can take us in unexpected directions and this past December was no exception.  When last I posted, the Christmas season was just beginning.  When last I posted, I expected to be shortly sharing lovely photos of all the wonderful holiday festivities I was planning to take part in.  When last I posted, I was also lamenting that this would be the first Christmas I had ever celebrated without my daughter.  However, as it turned out, it was a good thing that she wasn't here as Influenza A swept through the family right in the middle of the month.  My oldest son's family caught it first.  I came down with it ten days before Christmas.  It took four weeks, two visits to the urgent care and a third trip to my family clinic before I finally came back to the land of the living.  My husband caught it from me a few days later and my mother, in spite of our best efforts to isolate ourselves from her, came down with it a week later.  Within 24 hours of her first symptom she had double pneumonia and we had to call an aid car for her.  She was hospitalized twice and we were unable to help her at all because we were too ill ourselves.  She spent Christmas in the hospital and we spent it in bed.  Eventually we had her transferred to a rehab nursing facility where she has been for the past few weeks. It was a rather harrowing time but we made it through and finally were able to celebrate with our children and grandchildren on the 12th day of Christmas, Epiphany.

My mother was still in the hospital, but knowing that she was both safe and receiving excellent care made it easier for us to come together and share the holiday, especially for the sake of the grandchildren.  Fortunately, I had decorated the house earlier in the month so all bright and festive.

 

Molly Kitty was quite curious about the tree, but she went into hiding for the rest of the day once the grandchildren arrived!

 We began our day with a lovely holiday breakfast of egg casserole, roasted potatoes, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and fresh fruit. Yum! I changed out all the candles on my Advent pillars to white as Advent was over and Christ has come.

The day was spent exchanging gifts, playing games, and sharing a holiday dinner together.  It was much quieter than in past years. but truthfully most of us were still in recovery so it was just what we needed.  Our grandson loved his new toy tractor!

 

Last week we were able to come together once again to celebrate Christmas with my mother at the nursing facility.  We also celebrated our granddaughter's birthday at the same time.

 

Now as this first month of the year is beginning to come to a close, I have been preparing for my mother to come home to stay with us for a little while as she continues to gain her strength and Lord willing is able to return to her own home.  God's mercies are great and he is with us whatever the future will bring. A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May the Lord bless and keep each of you in this new year ahead.

Adieu!

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

A Second Wedding, a Rooster, and Apple Time

 As I have mention before, this has been a busy season for us. 

About three weeks after our son's wedding we found ourselves on a plane headed for Wisconsin to attend my youngest niece's wedding in Green Bay.  My youngest brother passed away eight years ago and between our accident and then the Covid shut downs, we had not be able to get back there since then.  It was such a joy to be able to celebrate with his family and know that if it is possible, he was smiling down on his baby girl from Heaven that day. She was a beautiful bride with a handsome groom, No swords present!

 Wisconsin is such a lovely state.  It was so nice relaxing with family on their back porches soaking in the sunshine and green spaces.  I felt like I had stepped back in time. Our four days passed by all too soon and then it was time to head for home with all of us wishing we were staying longer. Needless to say, discussions for a future family reunion are percolating.

 Another summer activity that took place between weddings was our local Lake festival.  Boat parades, carnival food and fireworks were the order of the day.  This year the town's legendary Rooster was on display.  Now many of you have seen roosters like this before, I am sure.  This guy however, has been a local landmark from way before our time living here. 

Beginning back in the 1960's he sat atop of the local Chicken Drive- in restaurant,a favorite place for the local teens to visit after school.  One year for a senior prank, a group of high school students removed him from the roof in the middle of the night and hid him for a few days before parading him around the Senior end of the year events.  Thus, (with the permission of the owner) history was made. From that time forward, every senior class would "steal" the rooster and display him in some way at the annual homecoming game and end of the year events. The tradition lasted many years until the chicken restaurant was finally closed down to make way for a new shopping area. From time to time, he still makes a public appearance. The Rooster will always be regarded with great affection by the locals who grew up here in the community. 

 

 

End of summer has also brought an early harvest of apples from our Gravenstein tree.  Nature waits for no man and apples have been coming whether we were ready or not.  It was a bumper crop this year. When we returned from Wisconsin we found that one of our daughter in laws had come over with our granddaughters to pick a laundry basket full of apples for applesauce.  Even so, there were hundreds of apples on the ground!There was a major heatwave while we were gone and they all ripened at the same time in just a matter of days.

We picked two more laundry baskets full of apples for my DIL and two large wicker baskets full for my mother to make applesauce as well.  I kept one small basket for myself.

Naturally, I had to bake some apple muffins! I tried a new recipe which I found Here.  Delicious!

 

  What better way to start a quiet morning than with a nice cup of coffee, fresh baked muffins and an interesting book.

In a month, there will be more apples from our second tree which will be made into apple pies, apple crumble and of course, more muffins! Yum!

The pears are almost ready to harvest as well.

However, we will be leaving those to the kids and grandkids this year as we are turning our thoughts towards Georgia and the upcoming birth of our newest grandchild who is due any time now.  We will be flying out tomorrow and staying for as long as we are needed. When we return, in a few weeks, summer will be waning, and it will be time to start looking forward to the colors of Autumn.  May the Lord bless and keep you until we visit together again upon our return.

Adieu!

 

The Wedding

As I sat out on the front deck this morning, I finally had a chance to reflect on our son's wedding, which took place two days after the "phantom rehearsal dinner." So much has been happening since then.  I can post on that later, but I wanted to think about just this special day. Our daughter was able to fly out from Georgia so the whole family was present. Such a blessing!

 

 Their friends did all the flowers and decorated the tables. The scene was so beautiful!

 

As were the bride and groom!

This is my beautiful new daughter in law with all her flower girls. The girls in front on the far right and left are my granddaughters.

 

 My handsome son with his best man.  Everyone kept asking me what the sword was all about.  I didn't really know at the time, but I have since learned that in medieval times it wasn't uncommon, for the groom to kidnap his bride from a disapproving family.  So the best swordsman's job was to guard and protect the back of the groom from angry relatives before,during and after the ceremony.  Jason's friend has just the personality to really get into the spirit of things!

 

 As we listened to them say the vows they had written for each other it was clear to all that their commitment to each other and to God is true, deep and strong. There wasn't a dry eye anywhere as everyone listened to their sincerity. As a parent, I know they will face many disappointments and challenges as the years go by.  I also know they both have what it will take to build a strong and lasting life together. What a joy it was to behold. 

 I know that looking at wedding photos of people you will never meet can only hold interest for so long. So I will keep this short and say it was a wonderful Day!.

 

 

May God bless and keep them all the days of their lives.

Adieu!