Enter/Exit

The day that we moved into our new house my grandpa pointed out the fact that our french doors needed to be refinished. That next week he sent over stain and some steel wool……subtle suggestion.  The few months that we’ve lived here a lot has happened for both us and my grandpa; however, each time we see him he asks worriedly if we’ve done the door without him. Of course we hadn’t.

So, Grandapa came over and we sanded and stained the door together. At one point he was lying, curled into a ball, (I’m sorry I don’t have a picture of this)on his back sandpapering with the electric sander.  I asked if I could help, but alas, the sand paper machine is similar to a lawnmower so I didn’t get to touch the thing. I was free to use the steel wool at my leisure.

Sue & Grandma showed up and made a super yummy lunch. I tried to invite Grandpa back this week to see if he wanted to do something else in hopes that the lunch crew would also come, but they all politely declined.

All in all, our doors look much better thanks to Grandpa Elvrum. As much work as we put in, Sydney has been trying her best to beat the heat by hiding if she thinks it is too hot to get some exercise. I couldn’t find her the other day, as she has found some pretty good hiding places under the guest bed and under her bed. Lazy dog, unlike that Grandpa of mine.

Vacation

My original intent with this post was to mention how beautiful our garden is right now. So many things are putting on a show, as my mom likes to say. I’ve been on vacation or in Anacortes for the past two weeks and I love coming home to see new color, shapes and blossoms popping up. It is surprising what has popped up; things that I thought were gone, but decided to wait and see are now making me smile.

While in Anacortes I had an opportunity to hang out with friends that I rarely see. Kara had a party in my honor and did not disappoint from start to finish. From crab, salmon and a special version of Know-Yr-Own to a late night with lots of laughs, many memories were created. (KXPX, anyone?)

At one point we were floating around Trafton on The Party Barge (Yes, The Party Barge) turning circles and screaming as if our lives depended on it. It was a flashback to my childhood and I realized how amazing all my friends are. (I’m lacking pictures from these hours….they would’ve been good ones. Lara, Deb & Nicole took over and manned the PB (Party Barge in case you are wondering) like sailors.

Cora and Chaya are troopers to the extreme. They showed up a bit late because Chach had to work and so they didn’t get to get on The Party Barge when the rest of us piled on. Needless to say, C&C showed about the same time us Party Bargers had figured out how to steer and were happily floating in the middle of the lake. Did that hold back my wonderful cousins back from enjoying The Party Barge? Nope, not the Glass sisters!! After yelling back and forth across the lake they (They meaning Chaya, as there was only one paddle, Cora sat in the front of the boat deciphering our shrieks from the Barge.) canoed out to the middle of the lake to join us. I’m sure all the neighbors loved listening to a bunch of 20 somethings (okay, we’re mostly closer to 30) squeak, squawk and bellow to our heart’s content. Thanks to Shirley who provided us with her house and Party Barge.

Beyond being on the lake at Shirley’s, we had a fabulous night. Many, many stories. Not many are blog appropriate. (one word: Tiffin) I’ve realized that it is easy to go on vacation or do something super fun and exciting, but coming back and typing about it is a whole different thing. Once I attempt to write about the Oregon Coast, New York or gardening with my mom, I become acutely aware that I am no longer on vacation or doing the thing that made me want to write about it in the first place. That said, I’m off to do something else.

Pictures

I’ve been going through old and random pictures lately and have really had a fantastic time looking at the different styles that everyone has gone through. Remember the neon colors? Super short shorts for guys and huge bangs for girls? Phil and I were cracking our selves up last night looking at some hilarious ones of our family. I’m saving those for another project.