Tag: photographs

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” – C.S. Lewis

Our travels this week took us to the Netherlands, France and southern England. We have three different sets of friends that we wanted to reconnect with and see where they’re living. So while we were able to do some touristy things, what we loved the most was spending time with our friends.

Holland: We landed amidst a heat wave. Fortunately our friends living in Holland had a lovely backyard and Mr. D could bat balls and also get sprayed off by the hose. We visited a beach on the North Sea which had the finest sand. But we didn’t stay long because a spectacular lightning storm rolled in. We got a taste of the Dutch bikes, canals and a carnival in Leiden.

France: The heat continued but it wasn’t as severe. We were able to go up the Eiffel Tower, go on a boat ride on the Seine, visit the Luxembourg gardens, and see Versailles.

England: Our travel luck ran out when we missed the train from Paris to London. And then missed our subsequent connections and trains. Fortunately we left our Paris friends’ home with four baguettes which saw us through a long day. And then seeing our dear friends in England helped make it all worth it. We visited Dartmouth where Agatha Christie wrote many of her novels and the Mayflower set sail, played at the Blackpool Sands beach, canoed with our friends down a river to eat food cooked over a fire, and enjoyed market-fresh food in their beautiful yard.

The sign of the week comes from St. Pancras train station in London, “I want my time with you!” So here’s to friends – that make all the travel worth it! We’re looking forward to being home soon to see our Seattle friends – and being back online to reconnect with all of you!

“Life isn’t always linear. Sometimes you have to bounce around to get to where you want to be.” – Jenny Miklos

Surfs up!

Hawaiian flora and fauna. The banyan trees are incredible!

I’m not sure why the pigeon is giving me side-eye after it jumped on the table to help itself to granola!

We left Hawaii to fly to Amsterdam, navigating 17 hours of flying and an 11 hour time-difference. I’m so proud of my kids!

“Plunge into the sublimes seas, dive deep, and swim far.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

My apologies for being missing from WordPress this week. Miss O graduated from 5th grade — and more importantly won the Seymour Kaplan award for being a kind, supportive of others, and inclusive student. Then we cleared out of the house for the AirBnB renters and flew to Hawaii. So I haven’t spent much time in front of my computer but still want to memorialize this momentous week.

Celebrating Miss O’s fifth grade graduation. The cat is impressed but just doesn’t want to show it.

Seattle sunshine

Flying to Hawaii

Hawaii fun

The sign of the week. And we need some shady protection from the Hawaiian sun!

“If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy.” – Proverb

Mr. D’s baseball team went to the championship of his Little League, Miss O is graduating from elementary school (5th grade), one of my dearest friends is turning 60, and my AirBnB renter wants to come a day early. This week I’ve been cooked, as the 5th graders say it. A swirl — of all good things — for sure! But we haven’t been too busy to laugh, thank goodness!

The Giants played gallantly in the championship game. They didn’t win but still earned baseball themed cake pops.

Miss O’s last field day for elementary school. The 5th graders competed against the teachers in the annual tug-of-war tradition — and won!

I’ve been getting so much wonderful help on preparing our house for renters. Including my incredibly strong mom who is still willing to climb ladders at age 87!

The animals are wondering – you wouldn’t leave us for 18 days, would you?

“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.” – May Sarton

We went to see the Blue Man Group — and Miss O wore pink! She knows who she is from the pink crocs up!

Miss O singing for her choir performance. Simone the cat doing her best imitation!

Mr. D’s baseball team won their quarterfinal game of the Little League playoffs. Probably because we spend a lot of time throwing and catching!

Sign of the week and my favorite flower basket. I can see it out the window when I’m working and it just makes me smile!

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Winnie the Pooh

The adventures to get the house ready for our AirBnB renters continue.

But we still have time to play baseball. Even Cooper is in to the game.

But not the cat. Maybe she’s too busy laughing about the sign of the week.

“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” – Kurt Vonnegut

The cat trying to pretend she’s planted. The dog trying to pretend he’s small enough to snuggle on the couch.

Window spraying, pressure washing fun!

The first run after the ice cream truck of the season…and they weren’t able to catch it. Oooh!

The sign of the week and a little duck family.

“There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream.” – unknown

Mother’s Day

I think I’ll go for a swim…No, it’s cold!….C’mon, it’s totally fine.

Coming home from school – and the gang at our local transfer station.

Sign of the week — and flower of the week.

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” – Proust

This week was all about spending a lot of time practicing the things we love – baseball for Mr. D, a musical for Miss O, gardening, and putting together IKEA furniture!!

There is something full circle about feeding and watering kids — so they can grow up to feed and water the plants. 🙂

Mr. D hit a baseball into one of our planters. It cracked a hole in the planter – isn’t that crazy? The rest of the pot is fine. And the cat hat to go to her annual vet checkup so she’s looking non-plussed in a box that has also has holes, but these are intentional.

Dunn Lumber with the sign of the week!

“Elegance is not being noticed, it’s about being remembered” – Giorgio Armani

Swinging

Contentment. The cat likes to pretend she’s on the fence to do some forest bathing but I think she’s just up there to keep an eye on the neighbor’s dog.

Scenes from the neighborhood. I was so captivated by the sweetness of the little girl walking slowly with her grown-up that I followed them for a block and a half in order to get a closer shot.

Pictures that make you smile!