“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.” – International kids chant


Ice Cream Joe made us run for 3 1/2 blocks in bare feet to catch him. But it felt like a rite of summer – and maybe of childhood too.




We went on a hike with Deb – yes, Closer to the Edge, blogger friend Deb!!! Before we met her, the kids were wondering how I knew her, and why we were friends but had never met. Afterwards, the kids were wondering how often we can see her. Yes, she is just as delightful in person as she is on the page!


Sprinkled with joy…another rite of summer!


We ate dinner at a firehouse and our friend let the kids test out all the rigs. I really think Seattle Fire ought to consider adding the kitty cat headbands to their official uniform.






Around home and the neighborhood

Miss O is the strawberry of my eye. Mr. D is glad we are growing them. He says, “Yum, I really like the leaves.” More fiber that way? 🙂


Sign of the week and heart of the week. The heart is a puddle left by the car on the garage floor. It rained on June 9th after 17 straight days of no rain. I’m afraid if this trend for dry, hot weather continues, Seattle is going to ruin its reputation.
A few years ago, during a trip to France, my family went hiking with a couple I only knew online through our writing relationship (they publish a running magazine). What an awesome experience that was. Well, they’re writes and runners, and we already knew so much about each other by reading about their lives, so what could go wrong… But I think hiking is the absolutely best way to get to know someone. Nothing to do but talk, and because, you’re being active at the same time, it smooths out any anxiety you might feel about the encounter.
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Love your story, Jeff! Yes, I agree it’s a great way to spend time getting to know a “new” friend!
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precious pictures! precious memories 🙂
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Thanks, Vic!
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So lucky and thankful to be included on this week’s roundup Wynne! So much fun exploring with you and the kids 🙂 Clearly it’s time for you to build a climbing wall in your backyard 😉
Love the bunnies, but most of all the special little green door! Any guesses where it may lead? 🙂
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How fun to meet up in person!
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It was EA- such a genuinely nice family to spend time with!
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I love it!
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Yes, Elizabeth! It was so much fun – and not like meeting a “new” friend since it feels like Deb is a long-time friend!
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That must be so true! I remember reading about Cheryl and LA meeting in NYC. I felt like I was there vicariously.
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Maybe the green door leads directly to fantasy island?
It was so fun to be with you in person, Deb! I actually built a climbing wall in my garage during the pandemic — but clearly it’s not high enough. 🙂
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Maybe it’s time to consider a summer in the mountains full time. I think O and D would love that 😉
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Love all the pics – as usual! Such a great peek into your action-packed week with the kids, Wynne…and what a treat to hear about your hike with Deb. And the photo of Deb and Miss O? I mean…I don’t want to play favorites…but it’s darling. xo! 🥰
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Isn’t it? Deb is such a great teacher!! XOXO to you!
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🥰
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The pictures a pers
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What a wonderful week! I love all the photos. Mr. D on the trail 🥰. Miss O with the rabbits is looking a lot like her mama 😍.
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I love Mr. D on the trail too! And Miss O is growing up so fast!! Thanks, Natalie! ❤
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my favorites are heart of the week and the tiny turquoise door! ❤
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I love that little door too. So fun to see other people’s creativity! Thanks, linnie!
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I’ve written all week about joy and hope and instead I should have just sent folks to this post and these pics! The smiles are infectious! Yes, yes, I’m very hopeful. How can you not be seeing a shot of a young girl and her bunny! (Okay, the climbing would’ve scared me, but you gotta let kids try on their own.) The ice cream looks awesome even for running to catch the ice cream truck. (I have two posts on ice cream and ice cream trucks coming soon so be forewarned.) And oh yes, I think kitty cat head bands are a must for every job. I just might have to start including them in my daily outfits! Ha ha.
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I can just see you with kitty cat ears, Brian! It would look great with your hair. 🙂
Ice cream trucks!! Can’t wait! They are iconic enough to spend a small fortune buying from them now and again… 🙂
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Your hair! Ha, ha, you’re a funny one Wynne. How about lack of hair!!!! Yes, kitty cat ears are a must. You need to wear a set for the next podcast. A great way of pulling in more listeners!!! Ha ha!
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If all it takes is kitty cat ears, I’m all in! 🙂 Geez, you could have told me that about 10 episodes ago…
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Lovely photos, Wynne. That photo of the barefoot kids lining up for ice cream is just precious. And how awesome you and Deb got to have an in person meetup.
Enjoy your weekend!
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I think you are right about the ice cream truck photo – even better because they are barefoot. It was so fun to meet Deb – she is awesome! Hope we get to meet you and your tribe one of these days!
Enjoy your weekend!
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One day! 🙏
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How awesome! The ice cream truck brings back memories for me with the grandkids. They live in a rural area, with few houses around so the ice-cream truck doesn’t go out to them. However, when we were out doing popcorn sales for scouts, they were all hot runninghouse to house in a subdivision, and lo and behold, an ice-cream truck approached. We all got lovely Popsicles and the kids were able to get a second wind!
Your week looks great!
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What a great ice cream truck story! That is so fun – especially because it was perfectly time and special. Love it! enjoy your weekend, Tamara!
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Lol! Thanks you too!
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I love this all, Wynne! The ice cream truck, the little critters, hiking with Deb, and pleads to hang out with Deb again soon! Precious!! 🥰
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You’ve done a great job summarizing the precious moments of our week, Erin!! Thank you!
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I saw “Ice Cream Joe” on a Post Office wanted poster for causing unnecessary running. There is a reward. A lifetime supply of ice cream! Find him, Wynne!
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We’re on it, Dr. Stein! He definitely is a criminal for not looking in his rear view mirrors… 🙂
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The quote you wrote is also a refrain often repeated in the film Daunbailò (Down by Law) from 1986 directed by Jim Jarmusch, with Tom Waits, John Lurie and the Italian Roberto Benigni. If you have the chance, watch it, without your kids, they will get bored very soon. The photos are beautiful as always 😍
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Oh, that sounds like a great film recommendation. I was only guessing that that phrase was international but now you’ve confirmed it. 🙂 Thanks, Cristiana!
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Your photo of the ice cream truck brought memories of hearing the music and running down the street after the ice cream man. So many beautiful photos. I love that you met Deb in person.
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I love to hear of your memories, Elizabeth. I have a love/hate relationship with the ice cream truck. When he comes right at bedtime – grrr. But it was fun chasing him down last weekend!
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Bedtime shouldn’t be allowed!
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Exactly, Elizabeth!!
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Your images drum up so many fond memories of my summers as a kid, summers with my kids, and summers yet to unfold. I’m just going to sit here for a while and revel in the memories as they bubble up in my mind. These are the best of times…hugs, C
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“Revel in the memories as they bubble up in my mind.” – What a beautiful phrase, Cheryl! You’ve made me appreciate this time just a little bit more hearing this from you so thank you for that gift! XOXO
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All I want to know is what kind of popsicle did you get after running 3 1/2 blocks?
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Great question – I didn’t get one….I considered getting some exercise to be my treat.
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The pictures a person posts displays what they value. Thanks for sharing these Wynne.
The pics of your children, others, and creation speak of a single mom whose heart has found the lasting peace, joy and contentment so tragically sacrificed by many in their pursuit of this world’s fleeting values of power, fame, and fortune.
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I’ll take peace, joy and contentment whenever I can. Thanks for the lovely comment and encouragement, Fred!
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I love that you guys were able to meet in person! I am jealous. 🙂 I’ve met a handful of fellow bloggers myself, and it has always felt like meeting long lost family. Great pictures . Thanks for sharing! DM
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“Like meeting long lost family.” – You put it perfectly, Doug! I really want to do a blog tour one of these days so put it on your calendar that I’m bringing the brood by for a visit one of these years… 🙂
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Would love to have you and your brood come for a visit! Come in the Fall and you can pick apples 🙂
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Add some more jealousy from this side, too 😀 And, yes, I’m jealous of both of you! ❤
I love how you can spot a heart every week… somewhere! And that your children are taking after you in mountain/wall/rock climbing!
As for the strawberry, did you see the one about the single strawberry (edible, not one made of gold or anything) that cost over $350? :O
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$350 for a single strawberry? Holy cow! I didn’t see that one.
As for hearts, Miss O has taken up the hunt – she found a dirt patch shaped like a heart, brought a rock home from school shaped like a heart…and that was just this week! 🙂
Yep, we need to do the blog tour and meet everyone!!
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What a wonderful thing for your daughter to always be on the lookout for, I love it!
As for the strawberry:
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Beautiful treat Wynne. Lovely photos. It must have been so special to meet up with Deb. I’m glad you all had fun.
I must admit I’d never heard (or don’t remember) the ice cream chorus… but who doesn’t love ice cream. Mmm, might need to get some later
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Brenda – so lovely to hear from you. Hope you are healing well! You’re right – who doesn’t love ice cream?!
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Thanks Wynne. Slowly, bit I’m getting there 😁
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Love the pictures. Glad you got some rain. We’re finally getting rain today after a month of dry weather. I hope the areas affected by the forest fires are also getting rain. The firefighters need the relief.
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Thank goodness for the rain. I’m so glad your firefighters are getting some help from nature!
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So many precious pictures, as always Wynne! All the more for your memory book!
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Yes! And we’re going to come meet you one of these years, Julia!! Happy Sunday, my friend! ❤
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Oh, I do hope so! And I hope that I won’t have to wait too long! 👏🙏💕
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Delightful. Those bunnies are huge!
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And the bunnies have the softest hair. You’ll love them if we have time to walk over and visit them!
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Oooooohhhhh!!!!!! Softest hare? 😉
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Oooh, you are good!
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What a grand week y’all had! And many thanks to the Seattle Fire Department for hosting an event for the children to learn what they all do to save life. And my husband remembers chasing down the ice cream truck, he said it was the best ice cream!
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A grand week indeed! We are lucky enough to have a friend in the SFD so he invited us over to the fire station for dinner. After one of the firefighters let Mr. D turn on the lights of the fire engine, he turned to her and said, “Will you be my best friend?”
You’re right – every one of these encounters helps the kids to know the amazing work these people do. Thanks, Mary!
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I swear, if an ice cream truck ever rolls through my neighborhood, I’ll be chasing after it in bare feet, too. It’s been years!
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Can’t wait to read the blog post about that!
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