typical spring in Western Washington

It is a typical spring here in Western Washington.  One day it edges near 70 degrees and people are walking around in shorts, the next day is cold and rainy in the 50's and we have a fire going.  Today it can't decide what to do, sunny one minutes, pouring down rain another.

We did 77 baskets at the co-op.  We got:  Jonagold Apples. Cara Cara Oranges, Bananas, Kiwi, Pineapple, Asparagus, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Carrot, baby cucumbers, Romaine and Grey Squash.

Our day was a crazyness of overlapping obligations.  Produce co-op here 9-10:30, have Isaac at the church at 8:45 for a tour of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln with his scout troop.  Have Miriam and Elizabeth at the church 9:30-11:00 for a primary activity.  Pick up Isaac at 12:30.  Have Elizabeth at a birthday party 25 minutes away from 1-4.  Anastaya had a birthday party to go to from 2-5 but decided to stay home.  My brother came over around 2 and my mom and Greg showed up around 4.  Dode managed to get a bike ride in on his continuing quest to map the Pilchuck Tree Farm.  The part he was on was way more horse friendly than bike friendly, lots of beat up trails.  Hike a bike adventures are not my cup of tea!  Kayla and Alisa came over for a few hours and enjoyed our time honored tradition of lawnmower rides.

2004, out in the "back 40" with Isaac and Elizabeth.

2004, Grandma Sharon giving the grandkids a ride

Isaac's birthday party 2006

Alisa driving the lawnmower

I finally got my lamp up that my dad gave me for Christmas.  It had belonged to my great grandmother.  It passed from her to my mom.  Now it's mine.  It's a converted oil lamp.  It took us a while to get it up because we couldn't make a hard wired installation for it because of the radiant heat in the ceiling.  Dode had to run a wire down through a chain and we plug it in at a wall outlet. 

The crystals were all missing so I had to buy new ones.  When I received them, they were held together with shiny brass metal.  It did not go with the aged brass of the lamp so I took each of the 21 drop crystals apart, spray painted the metal, and reassembled them.  You can't tell very well from the photo, but in real life it was jarring.

When Greg comes up, he brings his guitar so he can give Jacob a lesson.  Miriam has an old guitar that she brought down.  She was singing and composing a song with Greg.

If you have over 100 laundry baskets, you might as well find a new use for them.  Anastaya and Miriam built a "house" that they played in for hours.  The green baskets are bushes and the blue baskets are flowers.