Weekend company

Been a busy couple of days.  I had planned on going to a birthday party at John Wayne Marina yesterday for Jeanne Blaurock's 70th and then down the road to visit Jenni at her scrapbooking camp at Ramblewood but Mary got a late start leaving Renton so plans were altered a bit.  It can be a challenge traveling with a two-year-old.  Heck, everything is a challenge with a two-year-old.  By the time they arrived, it was too late to drive to the party and there was no way Jake was going to agree to more car time after being strapped in for three hours already.

Brandon & Catie arrived the night before and had plans to go hiking with Sue and Paul on Saturday. Two of the pictures she took included a raccoon at Frugal's Hamburger Drive-in and a mountain view at Hurricane Ridge.

I took pictures of them snuggling on the couch and when they were saying goodbye this morning to drive into Port Townsend.

And here's one she took of Brandon on their way over here on Friday when they took the ferry.

Yesterday, we took Jake outside for a while (the weather was spectacular all day long) so he could ride his bike. My new neighbor, Heather, was unloading her car so I introduced her to Mary.

I probably took a hundred pictures of Jake getting into stuff but I managed to trim the collection down to a reasonable number.

 I didn't hear him last night but Mary said he woke up at 2 and was in her single bed with her until 5 a.m. Then he wandered out to the living room and thought Brandon being on the floor meant it was party time.  Poor Brandon. Sleep was over for him.

 I purposely left my guitar out as I'm hoping Jake will be grandchild who plays guitar.  I'm never giving up.

 This was taken this morning while he waited for his mom to pack the car for their trip to PT

 The toys I set out for him were of little interest although he did like the large pink Barbie car. Completely ignored the large Barbie pink horse with purple hair.  ha ha  He was much more interested in my green and blue bottles on the window sill.  I didn't think they would be something he'd play with so I left them in place.  I was wrong.  First thing he did was try to chew one of the corks in a couple of the bottles.

 This was on a street near my house which I took mainly because of the pretty leaves on the tree.

 The guitar was taller than he was but I have high hopes he'll play one day.

 This was a minor fall. Didn't seem to bother him a bit but I think he was annoyed that I grabbed my camera instead of running to pick him up.  Ha!

 I knew he'd like my little toilet collection in the bathroom but I did put up all the glass ones.

 Here we are having quality time together.  hee hee

                                                           And this is my street.

 Mary brought an entire box of his toys but that fire engine was about the only thing he spent a lot of time with.  Unfortunately, he dunked it in the bird bath and for the rest of the weekend, the truck kept "going off" with a garbled yet annoying siren and whistle.  We finally had to take the batteries out because it would start in on its own and scared us half to death.

 Here he is investigating the blue bottle collection by removing the corks.

 The first thing he did when I brought down Maddie's old Barbie car was take Barbie and Ken out and toss them aside.  Never looked at them again but he did find favor with the car.

 Another bathroom shot -- just because little boys that are naked HAVE to have their picture taken.  Oh dear, does that sound perverted?  Oh well, you know what I mean.

 When he first got here, we let him go out in the back yard to look around.  And look around he did. Every nook and cranny.

This was a "tongue" shot I took while he was cruisin' the street.

I spent about a half hour putting the house back together after everyone left but I miss him already.  I had to laugh at some of the things Mary told me about him as his vocabulary continues to grow.  She said if her and Andy are carrying on a conversation, he is "in their face and noisy" wanting all their attention. If they quit talking,then he'll go back to playing with his toys on his own.  And if he's watching some favorite cartoon show and they're talking, he'll put his finger against his nose and say "SHhhh".  I noticed when he played with my miniature toilets that he made a flushing sound and yelled "POOP".  Yeah, that's the kind of thing that I find amusing.  ha ha

Well, I certainly made out well with this visit. Mary brought me an ice chest FULL of frozen foods that she got at the Trader Joe's where she shops.  My freezer is well stocked and I am thrilled beyond words!  THANK YOU MARY AND ANDY!

Seahawks are on in 45 minutes so I guess I'll fold the laundry now that the dryer is done. Gonna pretty much loaf the rest of the day and tomorrow it will be back to sewing.  I did post on the PT Leader website a few days ago so you can catch my Town Kid blog at www.ptleader.com

Thursday morning

Looks like it's been a week since I posted on my blog.  Which usually means not a heck of a lot going on outside of body aches and pains (which I'm sure you're tired of hearing about).  I know I am.  But it is what it is.

Just got back from taking Maddie to school and I'll be picking them up later this afternoon when she finishes cross country and Hunter finishes tennis.  Until then, my day is free.  Like all  my days, more or less.  I think I'm going to attempt to wash a couple of windows in the living room today including the sliding glass door.  I cleaned them not too long ago but obviously I didn't do it right because the sun shining in the afternoon shows my handiwork.  I tried using a squeegie and vinegar but baloney on that system. Back to Windex and paper towels.

Had to turn the heat on this morning. At least to get the chill off the place. Fingers just won't warm up unless I'm up and doing physical labor. And I'm not in the mood.  At least not yet.  Gonna sit here and yak a bit.  After the windows, I plan on moseying on back to the sewing room.  I'm working on this quilt-as-you go quilt and having to tweek it now and again (because I'm not a blue-ribbon sewer).
Some of my special pattern squares are a teensy bit smaller than the others so I devised a way to adjust them by sewing a thin border around each one that is like the binding that surrounds each square.  I'm pretty sure it will blend in okay.  Will never pass the scrutiny of a real sewer's eye but it will get me through this project and on to another.

My "other" project is just something I'm playing around with using up scraps.  Wanted to also use some cross stitch designs I had made but I'm not exactly sure how this will work.  I'll find out as I go, I suppose. Looks a little nutty but at least it will be an original.

Sometimes I try again to dig into more clues on genealogy files but I continue to be at a standstill on what I'm looking for.  Going to have to try other avenues. Which means Charlie Blankenship. But enough about him.

Jake comes on Saturday to spend the night.  And Catie and Brandon are also spending the night. At least I'll have some pictures to share the next day.  Meanwhile, I'm looking over my rooms one by one and thinking over what I need to set up and away from busy hands.  Which pretty much means everything.  Ha!  We are going to take a trip to Sequim on Saturday afternoon and stop to visit Jenni at her scrapbooking camp near 7 Cedars.

She's had a heck of a bad week what with a UTI, a kidney stone, and side effects from her MS infusion treatments.  Was in ER a couple of days ago and in terrific pain.  I worry about her.

My new neighbor came by yesterday and brought me another crab and a package of mushroom.  I do adore these new neighbors.  They're a little older than previous renters (in their 50s) and are avid Seahawk fans and sport fisherman.  Heather takes a ton of pictures and we've hit it off right away.

Well, I guess I'll just post various old photos in  my collections and stuff I've seen on Facebook since I don't really have much else to share.  I'm tempted to tell you how much my 'new' shoulder has been bothering me but I won't go there today.  Aren't you glad?  Ha!

This is the one and only window that looks out on the front street.  This is my 'computer room' although there is a bed in here too for guests. Anyhow, I took a picture of this because I wanted to show how I found a solution to feeding the birds without having to feed the pigeons, rats, and deer. I hung the feeder from my porch eave.  I do have to get a stool to get up there but I can watch the little birds (the ones I like) and they're coming in all the time.  I had to rehang a window decoration, however, because they keep dive bombing my window and making  me jump.  They'll scatter the seed and invited the rest of the gang in to peck at it below.  Thankfully, the seed is missing the porch so everyone is happy.

This next picture (a lot of these will be repeats) is Andy and Mary and Jake's house in Renton. I found this on google maps and that's my car parked on the street

This is a picture of Bushwhacker Restaurant that has since closed after 40 years in business here in PA.  Sue and Paul were married inside this restaurant in 1996.

Here's a cool thing I saw on Facebook.  Man, I wish this would become a common practice.  It would be great for all those folks who can't get out.  Heck, I'd pay to ride in one myself.

Here's a picture from the PT Leader this week showing sidewalks going in on Sheridan Avenue between 12th & 19th Street.  This is a sign of the times in all  towns I guess.  Sheridan was a much wider road when I was a kid.  Below is 19th Street today and it looks absolutely nothing like the 19th Street where I rode my bike as a kid.

And here's a picture of the hospital neighborhood today.  In the top part of the photo where you see those round trees in the parking lot, is the spot I took a shot of Jenni and Sue when that little mall was first going in.

  

Well, time to hit those windows.  Tsunami alarm is going off and that's definitely a sound you didn't hear in days past.

Changing the Walls

One of these days, maybe next spring or summer when I'm feeling more energetic (yeah, like that's gonna happen!) I should see about painting the interior walls in some of the rooms of this house.  I've been here 7 years already and they're looking like they need a pep talk.

Meanwhile, I decided to perk up my bedroom walls as I was tired of the mish mash of things I'd tacked up in the name of beauty.  Ha!  Here's a rundown of the various four sides of the room that I played around with and one of the geese in the doorway going from the bedroom to the front room. I've had that goose picture on the left for years but can't remember where I got it.  The other one was a needlepoint a neighbor in Sequim did years ago.  She gave me the canvas and I had it stretched and framed at a frame shop.  Man, framing is expensive and I'll think twice about doing that again!

This is a Dick and Jane print that I always liked for some reason.  Memories of learning to read, I suppose.  Might be an odd choice for a wall decoration but all my wall hangings and knickknacks reflect my personality in some form or another.

Here's the rest of the walls....

 I bought the bird and the colorful lemon tree at Goodwill or some place like that.  My sister-in-law, Lill, made the four hearts; my sister, Janie, made the six 'childhood' memories, and I made the other three.

 I made these three but intend to do the blooming tulips again using better colors.

 This was a print I picked up a yard sale most likely. The hanging mobile on the left needs to be fixed but it's prehistoric dinosaurs that glow in the dark.  Yep.  I'm easily amused.

This is the doll my sister made me and a cardinal jigsaw puzzle I was especially fond of when I finished putting it together.

And because I enjoy taking pictures of birds, here's my last three shots...

And here's the latest picture of Jake with his nanny.  He's so much happier not going to daycare, and she's an absolute jewel!

Sounds Fishy to Me

It's 9:45 a.m. and I'm about to head to the back of the house to work on my latest quilt.  Fingers are kind of cold this a.m. and I may have to break down and turn on the heat.

I was out and about doing errands yesterday. Spent a couple hours at the casino having lunch with friends and then donated $17 to the tribe.

I don't often stop in Sequim after my casino trips 'cause I'm tired and want to get home. Yesterday, though, I decided to pick up some fish at Costco.  If my legs, back, or feet are bothering me, Costco can be a challenge but my freezer was looking kind of empty and I knew I needed to stock it up a bit.
I spent $38 on two packages -- salmon and rockcod fillets.  At least I think that's what they were called.  At any rate, I cut them up and stored in baggies for future dinners.  Got 20 bags  and I figure that's about $1.90 a meal.  I know that's cheaper than it would cost me at Safeway but still....I wish my money stretched further for groceries.  Seems to be getting harder every month to fill up the pantry or freezer.

Yeah, I know.  If money's so dang tight, what am I gambling for?  Beats me!   hee hee

I took Maddie to school at 9 but may run up in that direction again this morning or afternoon as I want to look stuff up on microfiche at the library.  I wish I lived closer to the library but it's only maybe 3 or 4 miles.

Was surprised yesterday when I pulled into the driveway and spotted two football players staring down at me from the neighbor's window.

I guess I'm going to have to google the Seahawks so I can figure out who that is.  Hmmmm... well, I just looked at the lineup photos and I'm not sure who that is.

Here's a picture Kris Rust took when she was down on Water Street a couple nights ago. I remember it as O'Neill's Drug Store.

Guess I'll cut it short today. Need to get going on projects.

Still Looking

I already know what is going to keep me busy through the winter.  Sewing and genealogy.  And maybe a jigsaw puzzle thrown in now and again.  Anyhow, I found a website yesterday that let me look at old newspaper articles.  A free website and I'm especially fond of those.  I was putting in various search words and just about to give up when I hit on my g.grandfather's notice of death.

I had his obit write-up from another source but this was a front page newspaper item and it listed his month and day of birth, which I didn't have. There were 8 surviving children listed although I know there were actually 9.

One was J.G. Blankenship of Eugene who I think was probably L.G. Blankenship (my grandpa)  Figured it was a typo as they were common.  Lew Gene did live in the area in 1911 so I'm fairly certain that was him.  Not listed was James who was living in Dayton, WA the year before and his middle name was Summer.  Either way, Lew Gene and James were both alive in 1911.

Also listed was Charles in California.  That is the second reference I've found to him being in the family so now I'm gungho to get going on researching who this elusive relative was.  I'm not sure how I'm going to find this but there must be some avenue I haven't walked down yet.  Unfortunately, Charles Blankenship is a very common name on genealogy websites.  And I don't really know if Charles was his first or middle name or how he spelled it; if he went by a nickname; or maybe he changed his name altogether.  He could have been adopted too so these are all questions I intend to find out.  Hopefully, before my obit appears.  Ha!

I'm big on lists so I made yet another of grandpa's siblings' births and deaths and ages when they died.

Georgie: 1861    died 1935     age 74        parents:        Lewis Marion – died age 70

Lizzie 1863          died 1927   age 64                          Jane Downs Blankenship   died age 58

John 1865           died 1948    age 83                              (had 13 kids- 4 died early)

James 1867         died 1949   age 82

Henrietta 1871   died 1957    age 86

Mattie 1873        died 1961   age 88

Zed  1875             died 1932   age 57

Gene  1877          died 1960   age 82

Charles 1881?  (Mar 15)

Eventually, I hope to discover what killed each of these g. aunts & uncles of mine. I know. I'm weird.

But still, it is of interest to me.  Lizzie, for example, died of liver cancer.  Mattie died of kidney failure.  I suppose those in their 80's probably suffered with heart disease but I''m curious what killed Zed before he was 60. Also can't help but wonder about Jane Downs, the mom, who died before she was 60. ' Course she had a total of 13 kids so fatigue may have done her in.  Times were hard for women in those days.

Another small article I found was on the son of Georgianna (Georgie listed above).  Georgie and Jake had several hotels and I've always been especially interested in the comings and goings of their children.  They had four kids, 3 girls and a boy. Lola, Ailene, Inez, and John.  Inez taught in Seattle schools and was a twin of John.  The article I found on him was small but still of interest to me.

This was in the Eugene Register on Dec. 26, 1913

Time to get busy around here.  My notes definitely need cleaning up and arranging. Something I always enjoy.

Sunday Around the House

Been up since 7 and was kind of disappointed to see my favorite Sunday morning news show preempted by football.  Couldn't find any golf available today either.   If I can get in the mood, I may use up that last envelope of yeast I have laying in a drawer to make some cinnamon rolls.  They take a while so you really have to be committed to playing Betty Crocker.  Also intend to spend some quality time at the sewing machine as I begin my puzzle quilt, as I've decided to call it.  It will be a bright thing, that's for sure.  I continue to listen to James Michenor's 'Alaska' on tape and it's holding my interest.

Sue and Paul came by yesterday. He planted the bulbs they had given me for my birthday and she weeded the front area again underneath the window of this room. That dang horsetail stuff can take over an area so quickly and it comes back no matter what you do. Mine wasn't quite this bad but I imagine it could get that way sooner or later.

Sue is really good at landscaping and weeding and planting.  Not the first time she's cleaned up this particular area from bad to good.

Think I'll just post various pictures I took around the neighborhood recently. First, though, are two of grandchildren.  Maddie at a Friday night football game with friends. How did she get to be a sophomore already? And Jakey Poo the man playing with his trucks.

                                                                 Maddie in the middle

                                                          The face of a happy boy

In the yard.....

                              A black crow contemplating life and another on the go

                                 Posted this on FB. Call in Pigs in a Blanket of Leaves

Around the house....
Have to do it carefully and slowly but it's always fun for me to rearrange furniture. Wayne and Hunter stopped by to help me transfer the two heavy tvs between the living room and bedroom. I'm happy now.

In the neighborhood.....

 Two houses in progress a few feet up the street. Expecting houses to be built going all the way down the block on that side of the road so construction may be my view for the coming months and/or years.

 A road I travel frequently. A ball field and the airport are on the right. A park and the fairground on the left. This road takes me to the high school where I pick up the kids and the library, one of my favorite places to hang.

Two blocks down the street shows possessions of a displaced family that I assume were evicted. There were always a lot of kids' toys in the yard.

Looking over the calendar, I see we've got 81 days 'til Christmas.  I don't stress over Christmas expenses anymore.  Don't have the money to buy gifts and most people on my list already have too much stuff already.  I do miss the days, however, of buying toys for young kids. Maybe I should look into buying for the disadvantaged.  Yeah, I think I might do that.

Have a nice Sunday!

A Remembering Kind of Day

October 2, 1963 is a day I usually remember.  52 years ago I met the guy I was to marry.  I was living in Portland, Oregon, with Mary Pearce and John sailed in on a Navy ship, the  USS Weiss.  Here's one of the few pictures I have of us before our marriage in January of 1964. Mary took it at our apartment on Emerson Street.  Man, were we ever young.  I had just turned 20 and he was 19.  Do we we look like we're in love?  Hee Hee   Well, we were for many years but as often happens, we eventually decided to go our separate ways.

I had a picture taken of us 40 years later when we were hanging around at the start of the kiddie parade in May of 2004. We had both changed A LOT!  That was 11 years ago and we look even more beat up these days.  Ha ha

We were pretty good looking for a while there.  This next photo was probably around 1978 or 1979.  We split up in 1982.

Gees, the morning is gone already.  I ran a couple of errands earlier and I'm finding my errand-running is often a CHORE!  At least today it was.  I only went to Wal-Mart and only spent less than $40 but my body just wasn't in the mood.  I came home and changed clothes and shoes.  I suspect I'm going to have to make more of an effort to exercise and make this ole body move.  She's rebelling at even the slightest movement some days.

I woke up with a backache so AGAIN I'm going to take off the memory foam for a week and see if I see a difference in how my body feels.  I keep trying to blame it on the mattress but we all know it's probably just plain old age and yeah....obesity.  There's always that!

I bought some vinegar at WM and intend to clean some windows today.  At least that's my plan. It may not happen for all the windows if my shoulders decide they aren't in the mood.  We'll see.  Also gotta clean out my receipt box.  I always put it off and then once I sit down and get going on it, I find it's a comfort to have it done and out of the way.  I probably save more stuff than I need to -- like cable bills and electric bills and such.

My niece in Pennsylvania emailed me that my mother fell a few days ago and got a hairline fracture of her hip. She's in a care facility for now and will probably need rehab.  May end up in a nursing home too. She'll be 90 this February. I wonder if I'll live that long. Her biological father made it to 95 but her mom only lived to be 35.  Died of TB.  My dad lived to be 83 so I suppose it's possible I could make it to the 80s.  Or not. I guess I'll find out sooner or later.  Ha!

As I turned in on my street this morning coming back from WM, I noticed this house a couple blocks from mine (that looked like it was empty) had a huge pile of stuff stacked on the curb.  Mattresses, toys, furniture, clothes, junk.  I wonder if the landlord kicked them out and is having their stuff hauled to the dump.  

I noticed a few quail across the street this morning.  They used to hang around all the time.

Been working steadily in the sewing room and am just about ready to start another quilt-as-I go blanket.  Going to be alternating squares of red and the pretty patterns I made from my favorite quilt book.  The back will be a bright design that looks like jigsaw puzzle pieces.  I've been listening to James Michenor's book 'Alaska' and it's getting pretty darned good.  Long, though.

Here's my latest picture of Jake. His nanny took it in the back yard.

Well, I guess I'd better get off this computer and get to those receipt boxes that need cleaning before I tackle the windows.  Nothing much on my agenda this weekend or week.  Am trying to curtail spending and watch my pennies more.  Money just isn't stretching like it used to and I need to curb nonessential expenses.

Here's a cute Gingerbread House I saw on Facebook.....