July

We started out the month with 4th of July celebrations at the Veras house.  Kids never fail in their enthusiasm for fire, add in fireworks and they are even more excited. It just seemed so strange to not have Joshua here lighting them off for us.  But Josiah took over and did a great job too.

We celebrated the 90th birthday for my good friend Wally. His 3 kids and grand-daughter were all there along with some friends and family.

And the next day we all celebrated Mom and Dad's 66th anniversary.

Jessi invited me along on a little hike/fishing trip.

The trail and colors were gorgeous.

Wild huckleberries. We found a bush so loaded. The kids were not so keen on eating them, but we picked huge handfuls and I showed them how I used to pop them in my mouth all at once and squish them with my tongue against the roof of my mouth.  I felt like I was a kid again. Funny how a taste or smell brings back a memory.

It was a bonus to find some Indian Pipe mushrooms.

It has been so so GOOD to be so close to the kids.  We get to have them over for no reason at all.  And we have so much fun, painting, playing games, riding the little cars, baking cookies, and eating them too. They just learned about how I used to freeze balls of cookie dough for their parents, so now we have to have a bag of cookie balls in the freezer all the time.

While we were in New Mexico, I found some scorpion suckers.  Well, Daniel is crazy for chocolate covered crickets, so I figured they would like to try a scorpion. They thought it was fun to get them in the mail. I have not yet heard how they tasted.

We had our first sleepover since returning from our trip. Its pretty fun now that Mom can stop in for hugs right on her way home from work, before going home to catch a couple hours of post shift sleep.

Jessi's Phoenix parents stopped in for lunch. It was fun to see them on our turf and always so fun for Jessi to get to be with them again. Who would have thought that all these years later, they would get to know her kids too?

Along our fence-line is a huge row of wild blackberries.  We are filling up on them and so is the freezer.

I have the kids help me pick berries for a while when they come over. Lina was really interested in my little nail brush when we washed up afterwards. I usually keep it in a drawer, but this is how I found it when they left.  It just made me smile how she had tidied up.

A few years back, I took part in Project365.  Each day you load up a photo you took that day. People comment on it and you comment on other photos that they post. It is strange, but you get to know people from their photos and comments. I met Catherine there. She lives in Texas. After a few years of posting, we both gave it up, but ended up on Facebook. Well, she and her husband came to Portland to celebrate their anniversary and while they were here we met up. It was really nice to meet in person and now I am looking forward to meeting up with them this winter when we head that direction.

Everyone knows how much Josiah loves to fish.  Fishing has taken over as his #1 love, even more than garbage trucks and drums. He saved up his money and he and his Dad finally made it out on a deep sea fishing adventure.  He brought in 3 salmon!  A dream come true for him.  He called us to come and see them. As we drove up, there he was with his wagon and fish going around to show the neighbors.

While they were gone, we had a girls night with pedicures and manicures and dinner out.

Things are pretty much settled here at the new place. I love that I get to see the sunsets!

and the hummers are busy again at my feeder. With the usual 'guard' controlling who gets to feed. For the first time, I have seen three feed at one time at my feeder.  Normally it is one at a time. Maybe these three are a family? 

I planted a few flowers, but not too many because it really isn't my yard, but I planted enough to give some color and make it mine for the time I am here. One day, I pulled up what I thought was a weed and was so surprised to find a peanut! I am guessing that a squirrel or bird planted it and it managed to grow. I didn't even know that would happen with processed peanuts. I replanted it in a pot and it lived for the month. I don't know why it gave it up. It was doing great and then it wasn't. 

Things are all settled in, flowers are blooming, birds are feeding, grandkids are spending time with me. It is so good to be home, to be back to life somewhat as it was. As much as I loved my old place, this feels like home. I used to have a little wall hanging that said "HOME IS WHERE YOU HANG YOUR HEART"

I find that is so true. No matter where I am, it is what surrounds me that makes it HOME.