postcardsfrompaulie

Trees I have "known" at Mt. Rainier. . .

2008-08-26T23:57:00.000-07:00

This will be my last entry on this blog as I have just about run out of photo space. Please join me over at PERBS I have a few more from Mt. Rainier of birds, mountains and raindrops. Eventually, I will get them all shared. You will find my memes for ODD SHOTS, Blog Your Blessings Sunday and Bridges Between over there too. I haven't decided yet where I will put my blogs for Turtle Place, Kiggins House remodel and For the Love of Benches yet but I hope to continue them also. (I have taken update photos but am behind in posting them.)

The new growth contrasts beautifully with the tree.

The rock slides look like an angel on the left and Jesus on the right.

The branches growing from the side of this trunk were contrasts from dead to fall colors to olive green.

Can you see the SMILEY face in this tree trunk?

Our trail on our 3rd. hike looked like this most of the way. . . only in a short distance was it a wider smooth trail.

Blue skies and snow!

Tree trunks.

I liked this bent tree trunk!

This tall tree was all hollow inside. To get the length of the tree, I laid on my back to take the photo. CLICK on it to enlarge.

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I have enjoyed sharing photos with anyone who stops by on this site. I have now moved to a different site and will post under PERBS, my initials. I hope you will join me there.
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Stairs Down to Waterfall

2008-08-26T23:21:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite photos from our camping trip at Mt. Rainier. The two previous posts are also from Mt. Rainier if you haven't seen them yet. I have two more themes from Rainier to post: waterfalls and trees.

Flowers at Mount Rainier

2008-08-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well, during our camping trip, I took photos of 44 flowers but I know I can't post them all here because my blog is runnng out of photo space provided so I will try to choose some of my favorites.

Of course, the only NEW TO ME one I know by sight and NAME is "Pearly Everlasting." Can you see why it has its first name? This flower opens and has white petals and a yellow center but when I saw it , it just looked like pearls. It got the everlasting part of its name because it is a good flower to dry and use in dried bouquets BUT don't pick it at Mount Rainier because it is against the law. I read that the native Indians used it for medicinal uses also.

I think this is the Pearly Everlasting opened up. . . NOPE! Katney says it is Sitka Valerian.

If I remember correctly, Katney said this one is Beargrass. Deer like to eat the plant and Indians used the leaves for baskets.

OK, so those are all white and you want to see some color. . . How about these?

As a child we called them Indian Paint Brush but some are shocked that I say Indian in repeating their name. I don't say it offensively and just speak as my Girl Scout Leader taught me. . . (If these are not them, Katney will correct me -- somehow they don't look like the brochure. . .

Broadleaf Arnica -- the center is used as an herb.

Rosy Spirea was used as a tonic and even for smoking tobacco.

The Avalanche Lily is so delicate! Indians used it for medicine and as a food source. Many animals eat them also.

OK, these are just a few of the many wildflowers I took photos of at Mount Rainier last week. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did. (Katney, if I labeled any wrong, please let me know.)

ODD SHOTS MONDAY

2008-08-24T18:34:00.001-07:00

If you want to join ODD SHOTS, see Katney.

Oops! Got a headless bird! Definitely odd. . .

Blog Your Blessings Sunday #41

2008-08-23T21:01:00.003-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther
CLICK on any photo to enlarge for better viewing. . .

This is a photo of two friends who took me camping last week on Mount Rainier in Washington state. They are crossing the bridge on our return after a hike. (Please excuse the sun spots in the photo.) These two wonderful people are my blessing that I write about this week. But I am getting ahead of my story. . .

These special people have shared their beloved mountain with me this year, not once, but twice! I first visited Mount Rainier for my birthday in January when they took me snow shoeing for my first time. I wrote about that back in January and had wonderful snow photos too. (See index if you missed it.)

This time, they picked me up for camping on Monday afternoon and we arrived at Mount Rainier in time to set up camp and enjoy a wonderful salmon dinner grilled on a campfire to perfection.

The next morning, I woke up to blueberry pancakes made on the campfire. (I had to buy fresh blueberries at the Farmer's Market Saturday so I could make myself some more!)

Then, we went on a hike with a Ranger and other people in a group and learned about the area up behind the Paradise Inn and we were lucky enough to see deer

a marmot (I think)
and beautiful flowers too.

I will share more of them in another post later this week.

Then the guided walk was over before we knew it and, just the three of us -- well, mostly me -- wanted to continue on over another bridge on the Skyline Trail

to see the remaining snow near the Nisqually Glacier. We went over one bridge

but the second bridge was out and not feasible to cross the river in my eyes so . . . can you believe it, I voted to pass up the snow near Nisqually Glacier! (I did see pockets of snow in the landscape.)

We went back to the old Mount Rainier Visitors Center after a brief stop at the car for our picnic lunch.

We enjoyed wonderful turkey sandwiches, Pepsi and cold soup which turned out to be quite wonderful and I have asked Katney for the recipe.

They are in the process of building a new visitors center that will be better suited for the amount of snow they get each winter.

There was so much more to my wonderful camping experience on Mount Rainier but that will be for another day. Thanks, dear friends for being a blessing in my life.

This is the same bridge I started out my story with. Crossing it the first time before our hike in the woods there didn't bother me too much but when we returned, I was scared to death with that rushing water and I clung to the railing and closed my eyes partially until I reached the other side. Did you notice that we had blue skies part of the time?

Home again . . .

2008-08-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

Despite the rain on Monday, Katney and her hubby picked me up in Vancouver and we headed back north to Mount Rainier. I took lots of photos but left my photo "purse" in their car unknowingly so the disk I had full, I won't have for a few days. (They are graciously mailing it to me.) I did have this one on a second disk. It was taken Tuesday afternoon when we did see partial blue skies and a peek of THE MOUNTAIN taken from the Nisqually River bed. (Click on it to enlarge or you won't get even the small glimpse of the near the top of the mountain.)

ODD SHOTS MONDAY

2008-08-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

If you want to join ODD SHOTS, see Katney.

Some may not think this is odd because a tree grows sideways sometimes . . . it's the fence that is odd! Not everyone would cut a hole in their fence so the tree could keep growing! First one I ever saw anyway.

I am off with Katney Monday to go camping but will check everyone's site when I return if you haven't posted before I leave.

Blog Your Blessings Sunday #40

2008-08-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

One might say my blessing this week is that I am feeling better and trying to fly around to blogs I used to frequent daily/weekly to catch up on my reading and leaving comments. I found this Tiger Swallowtail at the park when I went to take photo of the Kiggins House re-model a couple weeks ago. It reminded me that I am able to flit around and visit blogs once again so that is definitely my featured blessing this week. Thanks for all your kind notes, prayers and thoughts. I hope to catch up on old blessings of yours and today's current ones also.

First, I saw it land on the grounds of the park.

Finally, it went up to a tree. Isn't it something how the same butterfly can look different colors on different backgrounds?

Sorry . . .

2008-08-09T23:08:00.001-07:00

Although I am much better but not all healed from my accident, I just am unable to blog at this time. I will try to get some blogs READ this week and maybe be able to post again soon.

Bridges Between

2008-08-04T00:02:00.000-07:00

For ODD SHOTS-- scroll down please -- it is just below this post.

RuneE is sponsoring this monthly challenge on the first Monday of every month. Bridges Between is subject to open interpretation.

This bridge gives me the opportunity to go many places in my town and across the river in Portland, Oregon too. It is my monthly bus pass. I use it when ever I choose not to walk because of distance or because what I am carrying is too heavy - like my groceries. With the price of fuel what it is, a bus pass is the way to go. Our newest fleet of buses use bio-fuel which is environment friendly, they say. Because I am a "senior," I get a special discount along with the young and the disabled. I get this BRIDGE each month. I use it often for longer trips or when I don't have my hiking shoes on.

Take Sunday, for example. . . I walked the two blocks to the stop and took a bus to church because it is on the other side of town. After church, I went to the grand opening of a park near where I used to live and walked a couple miles to get there. (I knew I would be doing this so wore flat shoes to church.) After the speeches and ribbon cutting at the park, there was a free picnic. Then, I walked over to my friend, Myrl's. Her house is near the park. She had a stroke a few years ago. . . she will be celebrating another birthday Thursday. She is always happy to see me and I, her. We visited for a couple hours and then I headed home, walking about two miles. That got me to the bus stop again where I used my BRIDGE and when it let me off, I had three blocks to walk.

Monday, this BRIDGE will take me to and from Vacation Bible School and then to run some errands in the afternoon. Last week, it took me to the head of a walking trail which I completed hiking before taking the bus home using THE BRIDGE again. It used to take me to work before I retired. It also took me to other walking trails, the Columbia River, Portland, to work and back, to the movies and shopping. I even used this bridge to explore new parts of our city that I am not that familiar with YET!

Most bridges, one crosses over BUT this one, takes me places from one point to another and most of the time, we don't cross any bodies of water (exception is when the bus crosses the I-5 Columbia River bridge between Vancouver and Portland.) I use it as many times as I want to each month. I never "burn" my bridges so somewhere I must have hundreds of bridges I used in the past 22 years to make my crossings around town.

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-08-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you want to join ODD SHOTS, see Katney.

Can you guess what the following photo shows? No fair reading the labels for this post!

I found a pond/stream with fish in it near the Farmer's Market downtown-- I don't know how I missed it before. There were several fish swimming around but everytime I wanted to get a shot, the big one would hide and the others follow. Finally got this shot off . . . and then found out that the trees above were reflecting in the water and the movement of the fish made it looked blurred so IT IS ODD to me. Even looks like a fish swimming through the trees!

Blog Your Blessings Sunday #39

2008-08-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

To read about my blessing for this past week, read the post below that tells about my accident and the two angels who cared to stop and help. Click on this link and it will take you there: HERE Taking it easy for Sunday's post and hope to be back blogging regularly Monday. I will try to visit as many as I can Sunday afternoon if not before.

No blogging for awhile for me. . .

2008-07-29T09:15:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I was walking the 5 blocks to the Kiggins House remodel so I can keep my blog about it updated and I had an accident. It is an old part of uptown and the sidewalks are in bad repair on some blocks. I knew I was nearing the corner and looked up to see if there was traffic or if I would be able to cross the street. Just at that moment, I crossed an uneven sidewalk that part was 2 inches higher than the leveled sidewalk and it threw me off balance and I fell flat on my face.

Both knees were bleeding, I cut off the tip of my little finger and my left hand was hurting like crazy. As I was falling, I saw out of the corner of my eye that a bicycle had passed me. Before I could figure how to get back up, the young man was there to help me. A lady in a car, pulled her car to the side of the road and came over to help me also.

When I was standing again all I could think of was my camera in my bag. . . thank goodness, it was in better shape than I was with just the battery door opened a smidgen.

The guy checked my hand and I could move fingers a little so he thought it was just sprained and not broken. I don't know. I just know my knees hurt like hell and so did my hand. They stayed with me for a little longer and then found out I was not going back home but determined to go get my photos of the remodel for my blog first. I didn't even think to get their names. I did thank them and told them that they were unique in today's society because most people would just go right on by. They will be forever in my thoughts and prayers.

I hobbled the remaining two blocks to the photo shoot and took three photos and came back home, got ice and took a nap for three hours. When I got up, I decided to go do some errands on the bus and got my bus pass and checked out a place I needed info on for an event next month and ate at Wendy's and came home. My knees still stung and my hand hurt so I decided to do nothing else. Got some more ice and went to bed.

I got online because I was going to write a thank you to those two people via The Columbian, our daily newspaper. Maybe they will see it. . . IF you are a praying person, you might pray for my healing and that my hand is not broken.

This is the letter I am sending the newspaper:

Kindness Of Strangers

Monday, I was on a routine walk to take more photos for my blog about the Kiggins House re-model. As I was walking up 25th, I was watching the sidewalk because there are quite a number of uneven concrete slabs that were probably caused by overgrown trees at one time. I could tell I was coming to an intersection so I looked up to survey the traffic situation. In an instant, I fell headlong onto the pavement.

As I tried to upright myself, a young man on a bicycle and a lady who had parked her car quickly, came to see if I was ok. I managed to get up and surveyed that I had hurt both knees and one was really scraped and bleeding. My left hand was throbbing and the very end of my pinkie was cut off by the fall. Nevertheless, my camera in my bag, was my first concern!

These two people stayed and talked to me, checked to see if anything was broken and finally went on their intended ways after I told them I was determined to go get a few photos before going home to put ice on anything. I didn't think to get their names but I did thank them personally because not many people will stop to help a stranger today. Last night, I thought these two deserved public recognition so I am writing this and hope it will be published in the letters to the editor and that they will see it and recognize themselves as wonderful members of our Vancouver community.

Thank you!

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-07-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

If you want to join ODD SHOTS, see Katney.

The nerve of that squirrel ignoring that sign! Who did it think the barricade was for anyway?

Blog Your Blessing Sunday #38

2008-07-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

Today my blessings are the paved trails I have the opportunity to walk on here in Vancouver. I haven't been to Klineline Pond and Salmon Creek Greenway for awhile because of a detour the bus had to make when the road going over Salmon Creek needed major repairs and was closed. Now I have to take two buses to get there and walk about three blocks before I spot the waterfall that always told me (in the past) we were there.

When you see this waterfall on Highway 99, you know you have arrived. . . Klineline Pond is just across the road and Salmon Creek Greenway is the walking trail in front of it.

Klineline water park. . .

Canadian Geese. . .

Mallard ducks. . .

Water sprays to cool you off . . .

Klineline pond for swimming, fishing and enjoying . . .

Mile markers beginning just outside Klineline water park. . .

Beautiful blossoms. . .

The berries are almost ripe. . .

Beautiful scenery . . .

Tall trees. . .

Pretty weeds. . .

Glimmer of sunlight OVER the bridge. . .

More beautiful blossoms. . .

A bench to rest and watch the river. . .

Straight paths . . .

Flowers . . .

Contrasting scenery . . .

Curved paths . . .

Wild daisies. . .

Flowers. . .

More flowering bushes -- these reminded me of grapes growing. . .

More flowers. . .

Long shadows looking back on a path that's almost complete . . .

Berries . . .

The end is in sight -- just up that hill. It's only been three miles and has taken me an hour and 15 minutes because I was in no hurry and besides the exercise, more photos were my ulterior motive anyway.

The sign that officially ends -- or starts -- the Salmon Creek Greenway. Time to catch a bus home!

Snow walk . . . July 23, 2008

2008-07-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to Klineline Pond and the Salmon Creek Greenway for a long time so I decided I was going to walk the trail this afternoon. I left around 4:00 . . . my walk photos will be another post. This one is about the snow I viewed on the path!!!!!!!!!!! Snow in JULY!!!!! I love snow . . . I was so excited!!!!!!!! CLICK ON EACH to see the SNOW better.
See the snow on the barbed wire fence?
See snow in the trees on the branches of pine needles?

Look at the snow in the air floating gently to the ground.
Do you see the snow on the edges of the path?
Look at the clumps of snow on the side of the path.
There's even snow on the branches.
Look at the snow on the pine needles!

What do you mean that's not snow . . . Cottonwood trees blowing seeds round? NO WAY! Tell me it isn't so. . .

My window view Thursday night

2008-07-24T22:31:00.001-07:00

Love living in this high rise where I can always see the sun set in the evening. First, it is so bright that it looks white so I wait a bit and usually get a mellow shot that is a reminder that the sun is going to bed.

Summer flowers . . .

2008-07-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

Summer flowers from my walks recently. Who can resist taking a picture when you see something so beautiful?

Parking Lot Movie Theater

2008-07-22T06:49:00.000-07:00

This is a parking log in uptown Vancouver, just 2 blocks from where I live now. See that building across the street? That's where they project the movie (starting at dusk and after some musical entertainment) using a computer and projection equipment like an ELMO..

Last week, we saw a science fiction movie called "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow."

I doubt it would be something I would choose to see if I had to pay money for it. It was something to while away a lazy summer evening. People bring their own blankets to sit on the ground or sand or lawn chairs. Just like the concerts at the park, blankets are in front, then sand chairs, then regular chairs. They even have refreshments for sale that are donated by the Kiggins Theater which is located downtown. Speakers are donated for use by a church for the event. It is a Saturday night neighborhood thing in July and August for 4 weeks. Two high school students entertained us with their guitars for accompaniment. There will be other groups each week.

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-07-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

If you want to join ODD SHOTS, see Katney.

I saw this at the Farmer's Market being used for grilling goodies for sale. I don't think I would want to be this animal IF I was also being BBQd. . . kinda ironic to me. . . thus a good odd shot.

Blog Your Blessing Sunday #37

2008-07-19T23:27:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

My blessing this week are the free concerts in the park each Thursday evening during July and August. This week it was our pleasure to hear Patrick Lamb and his Band again -- they also performed at our 4th of July event.

A bank here pays for most of the expenses and we have a Pepsi distributor and the local newspaper supporting it also.

It all takes place at a park in the middle of downtown. There is a beautiful bandstand there to use for performances. The mayor attends each one and always has a few good words to say about that night's band and always puts in a plug for Vancouver also. They even have prizes given out at half time to lucky ticket numbers which we are given free of charge.

OK, so now you know the setting. . . get your imagination going and sit back and listen to two hours of great tunes. What else can it be but a blessing? ONE that has been going on each summer for the past 8 years. If it is Thursday night, you will find me at the park! Thank you, Lord for the gift of music you have given to so many and for the sponsors who make it possible!

July sunset . . .

2008-07-18T19:09:00.001-07:00

The sun sets in the west. Everybody knows that. My living room and bedroom windows face the north but if I look west, I can usually spot a partial sunset. This past week, the sun was just blazing and it spread to the north from the west and this is what I gazed upon when I was beckoned to the window from my computer when it reflected on my eastern wall. I thought it was quite beautiful! I wanted to put it up earlier but I didn't want people who dropped by to miss the prism in the cloud either.

Prism in the clouds

2008-07-17T09:27:00.001-07:00

It was my lucky day when I looked up during a span of time while I was waiting to take more photos at the Kiggins House re-model and I spotted this. I got these two photos and it was gone! CLICK ON to see better.

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 "Z"

2008-07-16T00:19:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

This has been fun but sometimes challenging! I have now completed my first round of ABC Wednesday and think I will give it a rest for the next round. Thanks to all who visited my entries faithfully each week. I appreciate that! Hope you will drop by my blog and see what is up with me after this week. I know there are blogging friends who I plan to visit even if I am not participating in this challenge again. I hope to get in some hiking before summer is over and participating in weekly challenges hasn't given me much time to do as much walking as I want to do. Might even get to go to the beach one weekend. . . OK, on to "Z."

The final letter is "Z" and I thought of taking a photo of my TV which is a ZENITH or showing you a photo of a ZIPPER or a postage ZIP code, or doing nothing at all and having it stand for ZERO. . . and that made me think of when I taught Kindergarten and ZERO HERO came to visit us. . . or trying to think of a way I could show you my ZOOM lens on my camera -- that involved using a mirror . . . but I decided not to use any of them and instead I will show you a ZEBRA at the ZOO. This was one of the field trips that I took my Kindergarten class on during my last year of teaching.

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-07-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

I was waiting at a bus stop after picking up a new printer from freecycle person when I noticed how funny the moon looked over this building. It is almost sitting on that vent on top of a building! OR maybe the vent is "blowing bubbles?"

Blog Your Blessing Sunday #36

2008-07-13T01:27:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

Everywhere I looked this week, I saw BLUE SKIES! That's my blessing this week. . . living in the northwest, we get lots of precipitation except in July and August and sometimes part of September. I like the cooling rain and the plants sure need it but I wish it would only rain at night when I am sleeping. . .

To think that back when I was looking for a place to move after college graduation, I chose Vancouver because of "high precipitation."lol Where I lived in southeastern Idaho, precipitation meant SNOW which I love! I soon found out my mistake -- even tho I was sure the rain forest was up in northwest Washington, I soon found out that we get the rain blessings here too. THUS, with blue skies for so many days now, I have truly been blessed!

Apples and pretty plants down life's pathways. . .

2008-07-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 --"Y"

2008-07-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

Y" is for YARN! It helps me to make my hairpin lace projects. I couldn't do without it. Here's a few skeins of yarn that I haven't used yet.

These are some of the YARN projects I have worked on recently: many neck scarves, 1 heavyweight shawl and 1 baby blanket. We're having a Christmas in July sale the last two Sundays of July to help pay for the new piano in the VA hospital chapel. We will get matching funds from Thrivent for our profit. It is all clear profit because all the yarn we use is donated. Five other ladies are making other needlework things too, including Christmas pot holders, alligator neck scarves, hats, and dish cloths. Others have helped to make quilts.

These are YARN projects I did earlier in the year that went to an orphanage,

to the VA hospital Christmas bazaar

and college students.

As long as I have yarn in front of me, I will make hairpin lace crochet items. I have all the strips of YARN made for two different cape shawls but I have to crochet them together with regular thin crochet cotton which is a new experience for me.

Thanks, Rune! and Thanks, JenMcb

2008-07-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

I promised myself to acknowledge my favorite blog participation challenge when I got to 500 posts on my blog. Rune's challenge has made me think of the meaning of a bridge, not always a photo of the beautiful bridges for cars and trains and people to cross that we immediately think of . . . but the milestones in life that are considered bridges also. Thanks for making me think, Rune!

Please take a copy of this for your blog.

******************************************************************and. . .
I surprised myself that I could blog and keep at it. I wasn't sure the first year and had only a few posts but Jen encouraged me to post and to spread my wings and find other blogs that interested me. The second year more than quadrupled the posts I made that first year and this year, my third year, I will have very close to a post a day all year long. So like all the tiny flowers that make up this one big flower, my blog started with small steps and blossomed into a beautiful "writing" flower. Thanks, JenMcB.

Please take a copy for your own blog.

Hit a milestone Monday. . . 500 posts

2008-07-07T23:25:00.000-07:00

(Flowers compliments of a freecycle friend who I met this weekend when I gave her a movie projector and she brought me these from her garden and a bunch of fresh herbs that smell so wonderful in my kitchen.)

This should be #501. I knew I was pretty close but didn't realize what day this week that I would get to the actual 500. Was thinking maybe Thursday. I fooled even myself! I want to thank my blogging friend over at jenMcB who introduced me to Google Blogger three years ago in March. I hope to send her something in appreciation soon.

My first year, I was pretty slow at posting and only posted 49 posts the 10 months of that year. As I reached out and broadened my blog reading, I learned to like blogging. IN 2006, I BLOGGED ON 232 DAYS! UP TO YESTERDAY'S POST 500, I HAD POSTED 226 DAYS more days by THIS DAY THIS MONTH AND I HAVE OVER 5 MONTHS TO GO for 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then, I got more interested in visiting what others had to say and doing an occasional meme. I joined groups like Photo Hunt, Sky Watch Friday, Odd Shot Monday, Building Bridges and ABC Wednesday. I tried a couple others temporarily. I found blogs that I liked to visit regularly and right now I'm only participating in ABC Wednesday and ODD Shots on Monday. As some challenges grew, I found it frustrating to not visit everyone and bowed out of the project days. I will do that with ABC Wednesday when I finish two more letters. I gave up Sky Watch officially but I usually end up publishing a sky photo without visiting many involved and I may continue doing that. I also post on a couple photo blogs with themes occasionally. . .

I think of all the groups I have participated in, my favorite has been the once a month "Bridges Between" sponsored by Rune over at Rune E It makes me think of not just physical bridges which are beautiful but the kind you can create with your heart and between people. I plan to create an original award for him soon because I have found it to be the most worthwhile blogging activity and it presents a challenge to me each month.

Oh my gosh!!!!!!! How could I have forgotten Blog Your Blessing Sundays??????? It has been a wonderful experience for me to give God credit for my many blessings through this group. Neo is a wonderful host at Blue Panther and should you want to join us, just leave him a note on his blog.

So thanks to all my blogging friends throughout the world who visit my blog and whose blogs I enjoy reading BUT most of all to JenMcB who got me started.

Bridges Between

2008-07-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

Scroll down for ODD SHOT Monday. . .

RuneE is sponsoring this monthly challenge on the first Monday of every month. Building Bridges is subject to open interpretation.

About two weeks ago, I went to the park downtown where they had the annual Recycled Arts Festival..

I saw neat benches that had been salvaged from the dump.

I saw creations made from junk metal by artists.

I saw the inner soles of shoes being used for a cute sign.

I saw creative benches.

There was so much more and it was all about recycling!

So what does this have to do with BRIDGES BETWEEN? A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When things are recycled, we are taking care of the earth. When we take care of the earth WE ARE the BRIDGE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS to enjoy the earth when they live here because we have taken care of it by not throwing everything away. We find new uses for things. We recycle! This is a most important message to today's generation who grew up with FAST everything. It is our responsibility to teach our children and grandchildren to care for the earth for the future generations: to build more bridges between for their children and children's children.

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-07-07T07:45:00.000-07:00

The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

I was walking down a block in my neighborhood and was greeted by this scene. I thought it was so funny that I took a photo! I noticed later that the owners have two places "cut out" for the dog in their fenced in yard. It's not just a broken fence. Each time I go by now, the dog is there to greet me. I find it odd!

No BYB Sunday entry for me this week.

2008-07-05T20:16:00.001-07:00

If you stopped by for BYB Sunday, thanks for coming. YOU are my blessing this week!

I will be back to writing BYB Sunday next week . . . hopefully!

Paulie

Fence Daisies . . .

2008-07-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

When walking to the doctor's office from the bus stop, I spotted these daisies hanging through a fence and thought it was a good photo op. I shot them using two different angles. I like my results. . .

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 --"X"

2008-07-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

I took our my trusty DICTIONARY to try to find something for "X" tonight. I knew I could use Xray because I had taken my Kindergarten class to a place by the zoo called the Children's Museum and they had a fun Xray machine for the kids to experiment with. BUT then I thought many people will probably choose Xray so I decided to find something else. . .

Next, I thought of Christmas tree (XMAS) .and knew that would be easy because I leave my decorated tree up all year long. I have already shown it on my blog along with my XMAS wreath because I had made one last year and had a photo of it but that was just too easy so I was searching the dictionary for something else. Boy! I was out of luck. Many of the "X" words were medical terms and I didn't have anything like that around to photograph!

Then, it came to me!!!!!!!!!! I had this little sticker making machine called XYRON that came with a bunch of stampin' and scrapbookin' stuff I got from a lady on FREECYCLE last fall. I had tucked it away in a drawer because I didn't know how to use it. I even had a replacement cartridge!

Off to the internet to google XYRON and see if I could use it for this post. . . Half an hour later, I was an expert at using my little XYRON gizmo. The following steps are what I had to do for making the 4th of July card for family. I only used the XYRON machine for the big hearts after I glued the smaller heart in their centers.

First, I cut out shapes I wanted to use for stickers.
Then I got the XYRON machine.
I could have made stickers of the smaller heart but I just glued it and made the larger ones stickers.
Here the hearts are coming out of the XYRON machine.
I tear the sticker off that I made in the XYRON machine.
Peel the cellophane off of the new sticker.
See the sticky back of my new sticker made in my XYRON sticker maker machine?
Choose blue for the card color. . .
Choose other background papers to use for my 4th of July card.
Stamp a patriotic saying and give it a colored border.
Glue everything together and stick on my two heart stickers made with my XYRON machine.
This card still needs something . . . maybe a button?
YES! I think that did it!!!!!!
Now to complete it, add some blue gingham to the envelope flap and it is ready to send out. Hurrah! I have got an "X" that might be unique and made a useful card while using it. Just need to add my 4th of July greeting inside. . .

If you want to see the rest of my cards for this year's celebration of the 4th, look at the post below.

Latest cards I made. . .

2008-07-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

These are some of the cards I made for the 4th of july this year. I have three more to make for local sending so will finish them off this afternoon. CLICK ON to enlarge.

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-06-29T22:10:00.001-07:00

The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

I was sitting at a bus stop waiting for my bus when I noticed the shadow on the building across the street -- looked like a man walking with a back pack. You will notice it is only the shadow of the lamp post, etc.

Blog Your Blessing Sunday #35

2008-06-28T23:40:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

In less than a week, it will be the 4th of July! As I travel about the city, I see firework booths set up , convenient to buy the traditional fireworks to celebrate our nation's birthday with but I wonder just how many of those families buying fireworks actually think of the reason we celebrate? What have they taught their children? What have they learned in school? Do they realize what a precious day this is? Unfortunately, there are many who just think of it as a fun day for setting off fireworks, having picnics, time off from work and such without thinking about the real significance of "Independence day -- the birthday of our country!."

This is an old photo of my son being Paul Revere for the Independence Day parade when we lived in Hawaii.

This information, I got off the www:

Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III. There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England. This was commonly referred to as "Taxation without Representation" as the colonists did not have any representation in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on. As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion. In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.

In April 1775 as the King's troops advanced on Concord Massachusetts Paul Revere would sound the alarm that "The British are coming, the British are coming" as he rode his horse through the late night streets.

The battle of Concord and its "shot heard round the world" would mark the unofficial beginning of the colonies war for Independence.

The following May the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year the congress tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war.

By June 1776 their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the congress on June 28. After various changes a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware undecided and New York abstained.

To make it official John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. It is said that John Hancock signed his name "with a great flourish" so "King George can read that without spectacles!."

The following day copies of the Declaration were distributed. The first newspaper to print the Declaration was the Pennsylvania Evening Post on July 6, 1776. On July 8th the Declaration had its first public reading in Philadelphia's Independence Square. Twice that day the Declaration was read to cheering crowds and pealing church bells. Even the bell in Independence Hall was rung. The "Province Bell" would later be renamed "Liberty Bell" after its inscription -

Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof

And although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence. The first Independence Day celebration took place the following year - July 4 1777. By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America's birthday. And although fireworks have been banned in most places because of their danger, most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for all to see and enjoy.

In Vancouver, we have an all day celebration at the National Reserve near Fort Vancouver. They have a big bandstand and it is broadcast on television and even the concluding fireworks are shown on TV for those who don't want to fight the crowds.

They usually start off with a singing contest of individuals from different high schools and prizes are awarded.

Then, the celebration officially begins with a flag ceremony featuring men and women from the Army stationed here in Vancouver.

Following that, families who have members in the different armed forces are recognized by standing as your branch of the service is called. I get to stand for the Air Force in honor of my brother and a brother in law and the Navy for a brother and my two sons. It's a proud moment! Then, there is music from different groups all day long on the bandstand. There are booths set up to buy things, including much food and souvenirs. When it gets dark, close to 10:00 PM, the biggest fireworks display west of the Mississippi begins.

This year, I will go and stay all day through the fireworks. I will once more stand in proud recognition of my family who have served their country and my two sons who still serve. I will count my blessings because I live in America and am proud to be an American. Long may our flag wave!

Cloud art

2008-06-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

When I saw this first one it looked like a mathematical symbol -- maybe Pi symbols in a row. . . and the other one looks like a dragon's head with an open mouth.

Sunsets I have known this week . . .

2008-06-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

These are from Wednesday and Thursday night from my 8th floor window.

More flowers in the neighborhood. . .

2008-06-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 --"W"

2008-06-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

Last week I used my waterfall shot in VERTICAl photos so I could show my wildflowers and weeds this WEEK BUT then I panicked because I had planned to use the WORLD WAR II mural photos for "W." What to do, what to do!

I decided to make collages of the weeds and wildflowers and show the mural photo of the WAR in original size. . . Ü

WEEDS and WILDFLOWERS without names:

It doesn't do the weeds and wildflowers justice to make them so small -- some of them were just beautiful! I will have to make a choice next time, I reckon.

World War II MURAL on railroad wall. . . It isn't finished -- the artists ran out of funds and I reckon will do the rest when they get enough money together again for the paint. It is a volunteer activity. The photos that are taken at a slant are because there used to be a building close by and I couldn't take the full view up close. Today, they have demolished the building and put in grass and flowers and a walkway and there is a parking lot for the Columbian newspaper's new office building and the Hilton Hotel property so the area is very nice place to stroll through. This spring, I helped weed the area when we had a cleanup Vancouver day.

Thinking of you . . .

2008-06-24T00:15:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday, Heidi. I miss you so much!

All my love,
Mom

Just when I thought I had seen all the pretty flowers blooming . . .

2008-06-24T00:05:00.000-07:00

I saw these on my walk today. . . While I don't always know the names of the flowers I see during my walks, I do admire their beauty and uniqueness. Aren't these lovely?

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-06-23T00:04:00.001-07:00

The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

Wouldn't you think this very odd if you were walking down the street and saw this in someone's yard?

Blog Your Blessing Sunday #34

2008-06-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

I saw this little statue in a flower bed this week and it reminds me to take time to "REST." It looks like this little boy had been playing some kind of ball game -- maybe soccer-- and then took time to sit in a beautiful spot to rest after the fun. It is officially summer now and it is a time for vacations and time off from school. Even God rested on the 6th day after He created the world. Indeed, pausing to appreciate the world around us is a blessing!

Another Sunset From the 8th Floor

2008-06-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

God keeps providing these beautiful veiws for me each evening --it was a bit late in coming last night since it was the first day of summer, the days are longer!

View from my window last night. . .

2008-06-19T23:14:00.000-07:00

Leaves me speechless. . .

Close up Pretties

2008-06-19T19:11:00.002-07:00

I saw these in a flower bed near my apartment and really liked them. I have no idea of their names so I call them Pretties!

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 --"V"

2008-06-18T16:30:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

I almost panicked when I remembered that tomorrow was Wednesday and I had nothing planned for "V." I didn't know what to do so I took out my trusty dictionary and got some ideas. I discovered that I could use some old photos of a vacation,violets, veggies or volcanoes.or I could take some new photos of vellum, velvet, or my veggie vouchers. I didn't have any photos of VIOLINS or VAMPIRES.so that ruled those two out. . . Instead I decided to use something I don't think anyone else will.

It's a VARIETY of VERTICAL PHOTOS!!!!!!! Also, VARIOUS VALENTINES. . .So without further ado, here's my selections of VERTICAL photos and a couple VALENTINES I made. CLICK on photos to enlarge.

Little Beggar. . .

2008-06-17T07:08:00.001-07:00

This little beggar was not afraid of me. Instead of running away like most of the squirrels do, it must have smelled the Kettle Corn I had just purchased at the Farmers Market. Ok, so I threw it a little . . . after all, my Mommy taught me to share!

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-06-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

A week ago these stacks of rocks were not there by this neighborhood bulletin board at a corner in the Arnada neighborhood. Either someone has too much time on their hands or it was a project of some group of kids. . . either way, it is very odd to see.

Blog Your Blessing Sunday #33

2008-06-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther
ALL photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
Yesterday was "FLAG DAY" in the United States. We celebrated with games and activities for the kids and some for the whole family. There was a picnic with free hot dogs, chips, carrots, nuts, and drinks.

We even got to ride the Wells Fargo stagecoach!

There were speeches by dignitaries, including Ben Franklin and essays read about "Let Freedom Ring" from the 5th graders who were finalists in the contest this year.

Most important, there were activities about our flag. Kids learned how to fold the flag properly.

At 4:00 PM, we all said the Pledge of Allegiance together and were told the rest of the country were all saying it at the exact same time at their gatherings.

A huge flag was unfurled by Scouts, 2 men returning from Iraq and a few others while we sang God Bless America.

My blessing this week is celebrating the freedom we have in America and thanking God for it not just today or this week but daily. I love our flag and what it stands for. Freedom is not only a blessing THIS WEEK but all year long!

Another sunset. . .

2008-06-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

Sunset from my 8th floor apartment last night. I was using my computer with my back to the window. Suddenly, the colored lights from the sunset flashed on the opposite wall where I have a mirrored cabinet and then the light reflected from it onto me at the computer so naturally, I had to get my camera and get a couple shots. I think it was even more beautiful in person.

Beauty present before blown away. . .

2008-06-12T00:24:00.000-07:00

CLICK on to enlarge photos to see the beauty of these humble weeds.

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 --"U"

2008-06-11T00:10:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

With all the rain we have been having, nothing is more appropriate than an UMBRELLA for the letter "U." I took this one Sunday at the farmer's market. Our newspaper, The Columbian, offers these comic umbrellas if you subscribe.

2 different kind of clouds

2008-06-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

This photo looks like the two layers of clouds are planning to meet up.

As one looks to the back, you encounter different layers of cloud colors.

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-06-08T23:31:00.002-07:00

The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

I was walking around a neighborhood near me, looking for benches to photograph and spotted this. . . It is the first stair railing that I have ever seen that was decorated with circular saw blades welded on for interest. I think it is definitely odd!

Blog Your Blessings Sunday #32

2008-06-07T21:54:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

I had a hard time thinking which blessing I could use for today because I didn't have a "matching" photo. Finally, I thought about using this "poor" bench photo to point out the blessing of endurance. "I have fought the good fight, I have run the good race, I have kept the faith." These words come from Paul in The Second Letter to Timothy in the New Testament.

I have another blog with two other people and we post photos of the benches we see along our daily paths. We all have a penchant for benches and photographed them even tho we didn't know what we would do with the photos until recently when I developed our blog called For the Love of Benches.

Last night. before it got dark outside, I went for a walk in the neighborhood to mostly photograph flowers and get some exercise after our ice cream social that we had yesterday. (I had a yummy banana split.) When I spied this bench hiding on a porch, I was disappointed that I could not get a great photo of it. For some reason, I decided to take it anyway. Perhaps it was to remind me to go back and try again another time. Perhaps it was to remind me that if I endured, I would be successful in the future. Perhaps it was a way to remind me of the personal RACE I am running in my Christian faith. Whatever it was -- maybe all of them -- it reminded me that ENDURANCE is a blessing and it was just the thing I needed to blog about today while counting my blessings.

I spied this unique bench on a porch but there was just no good angle to take a photo of it unless I went up on the porch. It also had a bunch of things on it, covering the beautiful seat that was peeking through and while I might have asked to come on the porch to photograph it, I wasn't about to ask them to remove the "litter." Thus, hoping for the blessing of endurance so that I can go back to this part of my neighborhood and try again in the future.

Yes, endurance is a large part of my Christian life and it shows up in everyday things to remind me of the final "prize."

Kiggins House move/re-model update . . .

2008-06-06T16:33:00.001-07:00

I got some more photos today of the men working on the Kiggins house to get it into place. They have moved it off the slight hill and into the recesses. I will keep adding them here until I can get the whole story transferred to a new blog that I have decided to devote just to it to show progress on the re-model. Until I get to it, the updates will be here, such as todays:

As I approached the Kiggins House from the park side, this was the view that met my eyes.

A close up of the lumber that is holding the house in the air until it can be set on a foundation.

The photo is a little crooked but I was trying to catch the photo of the worker under the house to show that it is still up on the wooden blocks quite high.

A view a little further back to show the house had been lowered into the "hole" (lower level ground).

A little further back to show the relationship to the house next door --both are owned by the same family now. The house on the left was also remodeled by them and they live in it presently. They have it on the market to sell now and will live in the Kiggins House when it is finished being restored.

The two houses side by side view.

Going around the house on 24th St which is parallel to the park, you can see the placement of the Kiggins home behind the present house lived in by the buyers of the Kiggins House.

THERE IS MORE about this house move in the post from yesterday below.
CLICK ON any photo you want to see better for enlargements.

Moving Day for Kiggins House: June 1. 2008 and update today

2008-06-05T02:15:00.000-07:00

It was moving day and I just couldn't get myself out of bed. Finally, at 7:00 AM I dragged my body out and got dressed. I walked over to Evergreen and they had been at work for 2 hours already! The house was off the lot and into the street but not even 20 feet down the road yet. I patiently waited with others, camera in tow, as the tree trimmer moved from tree to tree cutting necessary branches off in order for the three story home to proceed down the street, around corners and to its final resting place 20 blocks away.

I got there just after they moved it off the lot and into the street. These three photos show what was left of the house area.

The truck with the Kiggins' House turns the first street corner, two blocks from original homestead.

The truck with the house has to wait for trees to be trimmed.

Can you see the tree trimmer climbing into the tree? He is a young man that has a safety rope around him and then he pulls up the power saw that is on the end of a rope separately.

Young men hauled the cut branches out of the street into parking lots where the tree shredder picked them up and cleaned up the streets after the house passed.

The power and cable company trucks were there also as some traffic lights had to be rotated and cable lines lowered to the street and boards placed over them so the tall house on the truck could go by. Then they lifted the cable lines again to their resting place on high poles and turned the traffic lights back into place, way above the street corners.

See those plastic tarps on the end of the truck holding the house? The young men spread them under the tires to make some of the tire maneuvering glide more easily.

I watched the slow process until it was time for me to catch a bus and go to church. When I left, they had moved down Evergreen to Broadway, two blocks down Broadway to C street,turned and went one block east, turned and went down hill to Mill Plain and crossed it That was 7 blocks of the journey of 20. It was 10:00 AM!

After church and some other errands, I went to the place I knew it would be if moving was finished and there it was, waiting to be placed on the cement basement that would have to be poured first. They had arrived by 2:00 PM the newspaper said. . .

This is the area behind another house that it will eventually be placed. The sand and gravel layer is poured and smoothed over.

This is the plot of land that it will reside on. The people that bought the old historical house will remodel it and live in it. They already restored the house in the front yard where it is going to be placed behind. The other side leads to a city park. It is only 5 blocks from where I live now. The same people already restored the old house pictured above and that will be in front of this one.

This is the garage that was left behind. I doubt that there would be room on the property for it and am not sure if it was a part of the historical 101 year old house. I will make weekly reports on the progress with pictures and captions.

Last time I went over there, the house was still there. I will go this afternoon and see if they moved it and take more photos if there is any progress.

LATEST UPDATE -- June 5, 2008
I did go by the place through the park and at the end of the park, this is what greeted me: More views of the house getting in place. Now I see that the front will be facing the grassy knoll with the freeway beyond to the east and the park to its left. The driveway on the west , which serves their current house, will probably be the driveway for this house which they plan to eventually live in. The big house on the lot was restored by this family; they live in it now and it is for sale presently.

View from the park.
Looking down into the "hole" where it will be placed.
View from the south.

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 --"T"

2008-06-03T22:39:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

"T" is for trains. . . and tree trimmers . . . and trees. . . and trucks . . . and tangled tree limbs . . . and three story house. . . twisted turned up tree branches . . . and a tortoise.

Just a glance at part of the trains I have seen around here.

This tree trimmer was cutting down rotted branches in a tree at my church.

When I watched them move the 101 year old Kiggins house, the tree trimmer was one step ahead of the truck hauling the three story home to its new location 20 blocks away. See post below for whole story.

Have you ever seen such a jumbled up bunch of twigs?

This is a tree with twisted turnedup branches.

This tortoise was trying to travel outside that fence that enclosed it at the Skamania Fair.

These are some of the trail views we have in Vancouver.

AND . . . I can't forget it is also for TWINS of which I am one. The little photo is of my sister, Margie and me when we were 5 years old.

THE END!

Building Bridges -- June 2008

2008-06-02T00:16:00.000-07:00

RuneE is sponsoring this monthly challenge on the first Monday of every month. Building Bridges is subject to open interpretation.

My "building bridges"entry is sorta unusual this month. The bridge is the river itself. When tall ships come up the Columbia River, the I-5 bridge has a section that rises and allows the ships to go further east or west. I moved here in 1985 and this was the first time I ever saw the bridge raise and lower again! The passage of tall ships from one side of the I-5 bridge to the other is my BRIDGES BETWEEN this month.

Saw these two ships in the Columbia River a week ago Saturday. They were here for the Rose festival celebrated this week. Their sails were too tall to go under the bridge so it a part of it was lifted and then lowered after their passage under it.

The two ships have reached the other side of the bridge and it begins to go down again.

Traffic resumes on the bridge between Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon.

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-06-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

I call this one my MATH cloud. Look at all those segments divided by high wires!

Blog Your Blessings Sunday #31

2008-06-01T05:19:00.003-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

This is the last photo I took of our designated Heritage Tree that stood in front of the Carnige Library, now the Museum. just before it was removed because of a threat of falling.
I don't know how old it is but but in 1998 it was declared a Heritage Tree so maybe that means it was here when Captain Vancouver first arrived.

The previous 3 shots show it's extensive root growth and the reason it was about to topple over.

The upper limbs were twisted in their growth. CLICK to enlarge and see if better.
It's gone but the memory will always be there. . . I don't think I can walk past the old Carnegie Library (now the Museum) and "not see the Heritage Elm tree" out front. It has been a part of my life for 22 years but a part of Vancouver's history for a lot longer. They have planted a new Elm tree which I will get a photo of today and add it here. The good news is that there are plans to use part of the old Elm for a bench which will be placed by the new tree and hold the plaque awarded to it in 1998 so it looks like the Old Elm tree will always be a part of Vancouver's life. I can hardly wait for that to happen. I miss the old tree. What a blessing it has been to me since I first moved to Vancouver, Washington in 1985.

This is the new tree they planted to replace the one they took out. I have no idea if they saved any plant growth from the old tree or not. CLICK to enlarge to see the little tree there now.

Roses are finally showing themselves!

2008-05-31T11:44:00.000-07:00

I hope this is the first of many roses I see this summer.

Sunset skies. . .

2008-05-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

This was the sunset sky from my 8th floor view this past week. Lately, the sunset has been reflecting on my wall and it reminds me to look out the window to catch the beauty!

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 --"S"

2008-05-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

S is for STAMPIN' cards!
CLICK on them to enlarge
I took up this craft a couple years ago and really enjoy making personalized cards for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, etc. Here's a few of my creations -- none are exactly the same.

This is my card blog on Yahoo. It is only up to date through March. While I may use the same stamp, no two cards I make are alike. Click Paulie's cards blog!

The Historical Kiggins House Move Is This Sunday

2008-05-27T06:38:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken from the internet and is from The Columbian newspaper.

A bond was passed and they will be building a new library in an older part of town, right across the street from The Academy built by Mother Joseph, a historical figure here in the northwest.

Before they can build the library, many older houses on the block need to be torn down but one is saved from the chopping block because it is on the national historical register. As the sign shows, it is over 100 years old!

The rest of these shots are of the work in progress of the move. They aren't great photos, partly because of the fence surrounding the house. It is marvelous to see it up on wooden pillars (for lack of proper name) and just sitting there. I don't know where it is going to be moved to -- just glad they are saving it. Vancouver has a history of saving historical buildings.
If you enlarge photos, you can see the blocks of wood that have raised the house off its foundation. If you enlarge photos, you can see the blocks of wood that have raised the house off its foundation.

This is a side view which doesn't include the garage -- a piece of the house lower "roofing" fell off and is just sitting there. I hope they can restore it. . .

This view is from across the street to the east. The garage is in this photo from across the street. It will NOT be saved.

This view is from the north.

OK, in reading on the internet from The Columbian newspaper, I have found out that the delay was because of having to remove parking meters and other obstructions for the move 20 blocks to a downtown neighborhood. A private family have bought it and plan to restore it. They presently live in a home next door to where it will be placed. The garage will not be moved but torn down. Also, thieves, looking for copper, broke into it this week and stole some items that will cost a lot to replace but will be done if they don't recover things like the fireplace mantle. Below are three articles from our local newspaper, The Columbian, if you want to read more detail:

The house retains a high degree of integrity. It is a 2.5 story, Craftsman style home with narrow wooden bevel siding, a painted metal tile roof and a front gable with Tudor false half-timbering set in stucco.

John P. Kiggins
The Kiggins House is significant primarily through its association with one of the most dynamic and successful entrepreneurs, public office-holders and local proponents of growth in Vancouver’s history. John Phillip Kiggins, after discharge from the Army at Fort Vancouver, launched numerous successful businesses, but he is best remembered for construction and operation of movie theaters, one of which remains in operation. He was also a guiding force in the early years of the Fort Vancouver Restoration Committee.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

*******************************************

Zachary Kaufman/The Columbian
Workers prepare the Kiggins House, built in 1907, for Sunday’s planned move to the Arnada neighborhood. The building is among six on East Evergreen Boulevard that will be moved or razed to make way for the multiple-use Riverwest development, to include the new Vancouver Community Library.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
By HOWARD BUCK, Columbian staff writer
It will be a slow, cautious journey for the Kiggins House this Sunday.
Starting about 6 a.m., movers will haul the residence built by former Mayor John P. Kiggins from its 101-year perch on East Evergreen Boulevard to a waiting lot in the Arnada neighborhood at 24th and H streets.
Eager to receive the building, listed on the National Historic Register in 1995, are Bruce and Judith Wood, who plan to make it their home.
The move will cost $85,000 but excavation and remodeling will cost nearly triple that, Bruce Wood said. The couple previously refurbished a house in Shumway and their current home, which is next door to the new site.
A crew began Monday to unearth the old home’s foundation. By Friday the house should be settled on several large dollies, ready to roll.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” said Keith Settle, head of Scappoose, Ore.-based Northwest Structural Moving, which was hired for the job.
“I’ll know for sure, later in the week. But it looks promising,” Settle said.
Easing the two-and-a-half story home about 18 city blocks — west, then jogging north and east — should take four to six hours, he said.
There could be brief, localized power outages as utility crews lift or lower overhead lines from harm’s way, Settle said.
Motorists on the busy 15th Street-Mill Plain Boulevard couplet could run into several minutes’ delay while the home slides by.
The house’s removal signals tangible start of work on the $160 million Riverwest project, destined to cover four city blocks at the southeast corner of Evergreen and C Street.
A new, 90,000-square foot Vancouver Community Library will rise over a public underground parking garage, close to Evergreen Boulevard. The centerpiece library could be finished by 2011.
Riverwest also will include 200 condominiums, 100,000 square feet of office space, a 65-room hotel, a restaurant and an outdoor area with a fireplace.
It will be late autumn or early 2009 before significant excavation work begins.
By fall, developer Killian Pacific expects four vacated homes that front Evergreen to be razed, said Steve Burdick, the firm’s director of development. Buildings used by the Carr Auto Group, which moved to northeast Vancouver in April, also will be demolished.
An exception is the white-brick, one-story studio designed and used by noted Vancouver architect Day W. Hilborn. Negotiations continue to move it to a site at Markle Avenue and West Mill Plain Boulevard.
The studio would hold offices of the Southwest Washington Community Land Trust, a nonprofit organization that helps provide housing to low- to moderate-income families.
Settle, 37, who launched his moving business 17 years ago, said relocating the brick home would present no unusual challenge.
“It just takes a little more steel, a little more care,” Settle said. “We’ve actually moved unreinforced brick, three-or four-story office buildings. What we tell our customers is: ‘If it can be built, it can be moved,’ ” he said.
Precaution is necessary to navigate Vancouver’s downtown, however. “It’s trickier; the streets are narrow. There are more mature trees to deal with,” Settle said.
Built in 1907, the Kiggins House is a front-gabled structure with a detached two-car garage, which will be razed. A prominent real estate developer, Kiggins apparently lived in the home until his death in 1941, at age 72. The property remained under family ownership until it was sold in 1994. Most recently it was used as offices.
Settle said he’s unfazed by handling the historic home, which will stretch to 35 feet high while on the dollies. Last summer, his company moved the registered Ladd Carriage House in downtown Portland for safekeeping during a tower construction project.
“Actually, some of these older ones are easier to work with than newer buildings. They have better lumber, to start with,” he said. “The joists are all straight-grained. No knots. And full-dimension lumber.”
Full-dimension lumber?
A century ago, a 2x4 beam actually measured 2 inches by 4 inches, and so is stronger, still, than today’s slimmed-down version, he said.
Howard Buck can be reached at 360-735-4515 or howard.buck@columbian.com.

*****

Moving day pushed back for Kiggins House

Zachary Kaufman/The Columbian
Workers prepare the Kiggins House, built in 1907, for Sunday’s planned move to the Arnada neighborhood. The building is among six on East Evergreen Boulevard that will be moved or razed to make way for the multiple-use Riverwest development, to include the new Vancouver Community Library.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
By HOWARD BUCK, Columbian staff writer
After 101 years, what’s another couple of weeks?
The company that will transport the historic Kiggins House through central Vancouver has pushed the moving date back two weeks, to Sunday, June 1.
More advance work is needed on route obstacles, said Northwest Structural Moving officials, following a consultation Monday evening.
Some curbside parking meters must be moved, and more tree trimming is in order.
The house was built in 1907 by former Vancouver Mayor John P. Kiggins. The residence at 411 E. Evergreen Boulevard is destined for a new home at 24th and H streets, in the Arnada neighborhood.
Eager to receive the building, listed on the National Historic Register in 1995, are Bruce and Judith Wood, who plan to make it their home.
The move will cost $85,000 but excavation and remodeling will cost nearly triple that, Bruce Wood said. The couple previously refurbished a house in Shumway and their current home, which is next door to the new site.
A crew began Monday to unearth the old home’s foundation.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” said Keith Settle, head of Scappoose, Ore.-based Northwest Structural Moving, which was hired for the job.
Easing the two-and-a-half story home about 18 city blocks — west, then jogging north and east — should take four to six hours, he said.
There could be brief, localized power outages as utility crews lift or lower overhead lines from harm’s way, Settle said.
Motorists on the busy 15th Street-Mill Plain Boulevard couplet could run into several minutes’ delay while the home slides by.
The house’s removal signals tangible start of work on the $160 million Riverwest project, destined to cover four city blocks at the southeast corner of Evergreen and C Street.
A new, 90,000-square foot Vancouver Community Library will rise over a public underground parking garage, close to Evergreen Boulevard. The centerpiece library could be finished by 2011.
Riverwest also will include 200 condominiums, 100,000 square feet of office space, a 65-room hotel, a restaurant and an outdoor area with a fireplace.
It will be late autumn or early 2009 before significant excavation work begins.
By fall, developer Killian Pacific expects four vacated homes that front Evergreen to be razed, said Steve Burdick, the firm’s director of development. Buildings used by the Carr Auto Group, which moved to northeast Vancouver in April, also will be demolished.
An exception is the white-brick, one-story studio designed and used by noted Vancouver architect Day W. Hilborn. Negotiations continue to move it to a site at Markle Avenue and West Mill Plain Boulevard.
The studio would hold offices of the Southwest Washington Community Land Trust, a nonprofit organization that helps provide housing to low- to moderate-income families.
Settle, 37, who launched his moving business 17 years ago, said relocating the brick home would present no unusual challenge.
“It just takes a little more steel, a little more care,” Settle said. “We’ve actually moved unreinforced brick, three-or four-story office buildings. What we tell our customers is: ‘If it can be built, it can be moved,’ ” he said.
Precaution is necessary to navigate Vancouver’s downtown, however. “It’s trickier; the streets are narrow. There are more mature trees to deal with,” Settle said.
Built in 1907, the Kiggins House is a front-gabled structure with a detached two-car garage, which will be razed. A prominent real estate developer, Kiggins apparently lived in the home until his death in 1941, at age 72. The property remained under family ownership until it was sold in 1994. Most recently it was used as offices.
Settle said he’s unfazed by handling the historic home, which will stretch to 35 feet high while on the dollies. Last summer, his company moved the registered Ladd Carriage House in downtown Portland for safekeeping during a tower construction project.
“Actually, some of these older ones are easier to work with than newer buildings. They have better lumber, to start with,” he said. “The joists are all straight-grained. No knots. And full-dimension lumber.”
Full-dimension lumber?
A century ago, a 2x4 beam actually measured 2 inches by 4 inches, and so is stronger, still, than today’s slimmed-down version, he said.
Howard Buck can be reached at 360-735-4515 or howard.buck@columbian.com.
*****
Kiggins House Hit By Thieves, Stripped of Metals

Source: The Columbian
Publication date: May 20, 2008
By John Branton, The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.
May 20--Metal thieves struck Sunday at the 101-year-old Kiggins House, built by a former Vancouver mayor, and ripped copper wiring from the home's walls and ceilings.
Bruce Wood, the owner of the house at 411 E. Evergreen Blvd., has been preparing to relocate it June 1, to a lot about a mile away in the Arnada neighborhood.
A moving company has excavated around the house and lifted it onto heavy steel beams for the move.
"I came here this morning at 8 o'clock and found the wood mantelpiece lying in the backyard," Wood said Monday.
The thieves, who may have been interrupted, left the mantelpiece but escaped with the fireplace door, made of brass-plated cast iron.
It's about 2 feet by 2 feet and depicts a standing angel, possibly holding a harp, with foliage behind her.
It may cost $20,000 to $30,000 to replace the jerked-out wiring, Wood said.
In response, Wood and his wife, Judith, spent Monday visiting antique and scrap metal buyers in the greater Portland area.
Old wiring might be tough to identify, but it's hoped someone will recognize the fireplace door.
The thieves "have no respect for history," said Bruce Wood, a former builder of new homes in Australia. "No respect for people's property. They'll make about $20 and do $20,000 damage."
Also stolen were a generator and tools.
Wood has won two Community Pride Design Awards for previous remodels of historic homes in Vancouver.
His current project is the 31/2-story house built in 1907 by John P. Kiggins, businessman and four-time mayor. When moved to 24th and H streets and remodeled, it will sit on a full basement and have eight bedrooms and five baths.
Including a moving fee of about $85,000, Wood expects the project to cost $300,000 or more.
The Kiggins House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It features high ceilings, dark woodwork and beveled-glass window panes.
It was built under the tenets of the American Craftsman style, which called for handmade homes and furnishings -- a reaction against assembly line products made in factories of the Industrial Revolution.
Such builders also stressed using local natural materials, and they used simple functional designs that were less ornate than Victorian styles of the time.
The house is being moved to make way for the $160 million Riverwest project, which will bring condos, office buildings, a hotel and restaurant and a new 90,000-square-foot Vancouver Community Library to a four-block area at Evergreen Boulevard and C Street.
Police detectives in Vancouver and Portland have told The Columbian that thieves, typically methamphetamine addicts, are stealing copper and other metals in Clark County and selling them in the Portland area.
That's because Oregon's law allows scrap buyers to pay cash on the day of the sale, police said.
Washington's law requires buyers to wait 10 days and mail sellers a check, a restriction that might discourage metal thieves, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Bruce Wood at 360-699-4429 or the Vancouver Police Department at 360-487-7400. Those who see metal thieves in action are asked to call 911.
John Branton covers crime and law enforcement. He can be reached at 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-05-26T00:30:00.000-07:00

The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

Once again, I have a sign. . . Saw this sign at the Farmer's Market last week. Thought it was perfect for ODD SHOTS

Name that flower!

2008-05-26T00:24:00.000-07:00

CLICK on to see this beautiful flower details.

If anyone knows what it is, please leave me a note. Thanks!

Blog Your Blessings Sunday #30

2008-05-25T00:03:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

I worked for 6 hours at my storage unit today transferring some of my boxes to a smaller unit. I came home and was wondering what I could post for my blessing this week. My muscles hurt so much, I couldn't think of a thing. I rested for about an hour and then got up to take my shower, hoping it would help my sore muscles. . . That was the right prescription -- thus, I am thankful for hot water this weekend.

Since this is Memorial Day weekend, I am also thankful for the men and women who serve our country and keep us safe. This is a photo of my two sons who are both with the Navy.

Todd is on the left and he has more than 20 years in the service and is serving in Italy now. Shaun spent 4 years in the Navy and got out BUT he joined the Navy Reserve and goes on active duty each year. He is also a firefighter in Seattle. Both are Senior Chiefs -- they both got the ranking the same year. Their Dad and Grandfather were also Senior Chiefs in the Navy.

Happy Memorial Day to the United States! Don't forget to thank a VETERAN!

Not sure the name of these beauties. . .

2008-05-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

I saw these recently and really enjoyed their spikey leaves and cone centers. I have no idea what it is but if someone can tell me, I would appreciate it. CLICK TO SEE BEAUTIFUL DETAIL.
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Mary, a new blogger friend from France, has identified it! It is a Chardon Bleu and here is a little info I found in Google about it:

This is a protected wildflower in the mountains, not to be picked.
A tall, striking mountain perennial growing to 2 meters tall. It looks quite a bit like a Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), but there's no relation. We've seen this labeled (in English) "Blue Lace", "Sea Holly" and "Alpine Sea Holly" (rather strange name considering that it grows in the Alpes).
Size. 2 m (v-tall)
Flower Blossom. Bluish-white in dense, prickly-looking umbrels, 2 cm diamete, 4 cm long,
Leaves. The basal leaves are 8-15 cm long, deep green and veined. They become more pointed and divided higher on the step, ending in the bracts.
Bracts. The ring of feathery bracts surrounding the domed flower-head can be bright blue, violet or white.
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Meme from Chloe.

Chloe tagged me for this so I guess I will do it. . .

Here goes. At the end of the post, the player tags at least 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

I lived in Granada Hills, CA and I taught Kindergarten in Sylmar at Hubbard St. School. I team taught with a new teacher, Jenny Contreras, who taught the Spanish kids in the PM that year.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today -- in no particular order?

I will just have to list 5 things I did as it is after 8:00 PM and I am vegging out now. . .

Went to ladies Bible study.
Had Needleworkers Meeting after Bible study.
Went shopping for BRUNCH/Coffee tomorrow that will be in our apartment building rec room; bought pastries and fruit for it AND some Coonstant Comment tea.
Picked up my mail.
Played BUNCO.

3. Snacks I enjoy.

fried zucchini squash
chocolate licorice
kettle corn
strawberries
raspberries

4. Places I've lived. (My records are in storage so trying hard to remember all the towns. . . )

Pocatello, Idaho
Cottonwood, ID (high school boarding school)
San Diego, CA (married)
Groton, CT (first married home)
Air Force base in Chicopee, MA (first son born)
San Diego, CA
Honolulu, Hawaii (second son born)
Richmond , CA (daughter born at Treasure Island)
Ballston Spa, New York
Charleston, S Carolina
San Diego, CA again
Honolulu, Hawaii again
Pocatello, Idaho again (graduated from college)
Vancouver, WA -- subbing
Los Angeles, CA (first classroom -- Kindergarten)
Long Beach, CA (2nd classroom -- 1st grade)
Granada Hills, CA 3rd classroom -- 2nd grade; 2 years Kindergarten and one year of 4th grade
Vancouver, WA again --Kindergarten; preschool and subbing

5. Things I would do if I was a billionaire.

Thank God!
Hire someone to find my daughter.
Move to upstate New York and build a house where I could play in the snow and live in the woods with a river nearby.
Give each of my kids a million dollars and the grandkids a bit too.
Buy a new computer, printer, scanner, copy machine, large TV screen, lots of hobby stuff for sewing counted cross stitch, stampin' and adding to my collection of snowmen.
Build a library and stock it with books -- next door to my home. Hire staff to run it.
Build hiking trails around me for everyone to enjoy.
Donate a million dollars to a local Girl Scout Council to build and operate a neat camping site near me.
Send 5 million dollars to researchers for finding a cure for split lip birth defects.
Travel to Germany.
Donate a generous amount to those searching for a cure for cancer.
Adopt a city in a poor country and sponsor the entire population for 5 years.
Go visit Chloe and see her hotel home.
Go to the beach as often as I choose.

6. Peeps I want to know more about:

I like learning more about anyone who stops by my blog so if you would like to do this meme, please let me know so I can learn more about you also. So, I choose YOU- YOU- YOU- YOU- YOU- YOU ------be sure to let me know if YOU did this too.

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 --#18

2008-05-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

"R" is forRAINDROPS on leaves and flowers. (CLICK on these to see them better.)

"R" is also for RAILROAD (station, sign, crossing sign and tracks) photos.

And for RED tulips.

Also, for REFLECTION in RIVER,

And RAINBOW!

Also for the RAILING at the end of the Confluence Trail.

R is for the Columbia RIVER,

And my final entry for R is for the RASPBERRY vines in ROWS in the snow.

BUT IF you didn't see enough "R" posts, then look at yesterday's post and you will see a single ROSE.

A single rose

2008-05-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

I found this rose in one of my walking sprees this past week . . . before long the rose garden down at Esther Short Park will be blooming with hundreds of roses and I can hardly wait.

ODD SHOT MONDAY

2008-05-19T00:28:00.000-07:00

The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

Look at the name on the building and tell me you don't think its on fire. . . lol I thought it was quite a coincidence seeing the sunset red colors and the SPARK on the building name. Thus, an odd shot entry!

Blog Your Blessings Sunday #29

2008-05-18T00:05:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

It has been awhile since I have been awake to see a sunrise. . . but this morning, the light was shining so bright into my room that I woke up. I live on the 8th floor. I grabbed my camera and took these two shots through the window. I wish I had a balcony!

Today - Saturday - was clean up in downtown, and I was one of the 1000 participants. I had to get up very early to meet the rest in the park and be assigned an area to pick up litter, clean up weeds and such. There were tiny kids and senior citizens all working together.

Since I have been retired, I get up when I choose mostly so there was a little grudge in my heart knowing that I had to get up early and walk almost two miles to get to the park. I knew I could do it. . . and I did but my muscles know how hard I worked today. When we got finished, I would have headed straight home but we had a free lunch and music entertainment so I waited around. Long as I found a bench in the shade and wasn't too far along in the line to get the lunch, I was ok. I didn't win any of the "door prizes" but it was nice anyway. I had a nice hot lunch and even seconds and the music wasn't too bad either. Finally, about 1:00 PM, I headed home for another shower and a nap.

OK. So where's my blessing? Well, that arrived with the sunrise I was able to capture. That came knowing that I was a part of 1000 people helping our town to look a little nicer. I also made a few new friends and we all worked together as a team. Our downtown and uptown (where I live) looks terrific! Lots of blessings there.

Last night from the Confluence Bridge. . .

2008-05-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

It was a warm day in the high 80's yesterday so when I was finished with the scheduled things I had to do, I went for a walk along the Columbia River. I stayed until sunset and then decided to walk the Confluence Bridge to go home. This was the first time at dusk that I had crossed it. Look at the beautiful sight that greeted me as I looked back over my shoulder! On the left, you see the iron railing separating us on the bridge from the railroad tracks and on the right you see a car emerging from under the bridge on Hiway 14. You will want to click on this one to see how beautiful the sunset and surroundings really are. . .

Beautiful tree blossoms. . .

2008-05-15T18:24:00.001-07:00

I don't know what these are but they sure were pretty on my walk last week. CLICK on to enlarge.DOT tells me it is a Dogwood.

ABC Wednesday--Year Two --Q

2008-05-13T16:53:00.002-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

Q is for quilts that our ladies group at Grace Lutheran made for the Veterans in the VA Hospital, for a project at the Oregon LWML convention and and also for people during their last days at the hospital. (For those, we make some plain squares for so loved ones can write a memory on them when they visit the dying loved one. Then the family has a memory quilt to cherish when they no longer have their loved one.) Anyway, they were on display in our church the first week in May to be blessed before given away.

Columbia River. . .

2008-05-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite spots to just sit and relax is at the Columbia River. This was the scene last week when I went there to watch the sun set and crochet hairpin lace.

ODD SHOTS MONDAY

2008-05-12T00:29:00.000-07:00

The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

This dog and its owner are frequently seen walking around Saturday Market here in Vancouver. Look closely -- click on to enlarge if you can't see the similarities -- and see why they must be best buds. . .

Blog Your Blessings Sunday #27

2008-05-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

Last Sunday I did not have time to participate blogging for Blog Your Blessings Sunday because I was celebrating our church's GOLDEN anniversary. The week before I had made and laminated 300 bookmarks. Each person was to receive one when they exited the chapel for refreshments. That went well and everyone had lots of nice compliments about the bookmarks. The cake and punch/coffee were good also.

Now we will continue celebrating our anniversary all year by featuring a different Board or group all month for the month. That means I am in charge of doing a small bulletin board to publicize what each board or group does for our church.

I will also be collecting old photos and information about important events the past 50 years so we can put together a Memory Book at the end of the celebratory year. I know it will be lots of work but should be kinda fun also.

My blessing this week is the church anniversary which started last Sunday. Hopefully my work for the celebration this year will be one filled with blessings too! "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Happy Mother's Day!

It isn't Christmas but my Christmas Cactus is blooming!

2008-05-10T00:05:00.000-07:00

It only has two blossoms so far but I was sure surprised to see them. A friend gave it to me a couple months ago because she no longer had room for it in her tiny apartment --she wanted to use the space for her magnifier. I lucked out when she asked if any one would like it. (The one I bought at Christmas was all blooming and it died before any really opened up.)

SKy Watch Friday #25

2008-05-08T08:06:00.000-07:00

If you want to join Sky Watch Friday blogging, go here for the blogroll. Tom is the new Sky Watch host.

The sunset seems to be enveloping the flag that is flying high above a building.

Do sunsets need to rest? Seems this one likes the lamp post.

"Goodbye, until tomorrow " . . .

The sun is peeking out from behind the tree.

Although the sun has gone down, the night sky is visible through the many lamp lights.

More Pretty Tulips at Esther Short Park

2008-05-08T03:52:00.000-07:00

We have had tulips since the end of March at Esther Short Park. There are many flower beds there among the benches and paths and rows and rows of colored tulips within. The colors are not intertwined but all the same color in different tows. I think they must have planted them at separate times because different colored rows appeared each week and after a month of blooming, the whole end of the park where there are many flower beds was ablaze with red, pink, yellow, white, and varigated tulips, all in long rows of color.

CLICK on each to enlarge to see detail

ABC Wednesday--Year Two --O and P

2008-05-06T21:07:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

A reminder -- to see the full beauty of the photos, click on to enlarge.
I had a week off from blogging last week so missed out on O so here it is now:

"O" is for outdoors. . . there is nothing more beautiful than new blossoms on a tree in spring! (Unless its a rainbow or a sunset or . . . )

Today, the letter is "P" and that stands for PRETTY! These are a few of my favorite PRETTY tulips I have been blessed to see this year. In fact, they are POSITIVELY PERFECT PHOTOS for today!

OOPS! I almost forgot . . . "P" is also for "Paulie" and my blog, "Postcards" from "Paulie" too. ALSO," pink."

Another immigrant bird pest . . .

2008-05-06T00:07:00.000-07:00

This bird is a common house sparrow. I have been told it is not native to the US but brought here and is a pest to native birds because it is very aggressive. It is hard for me to imagine that since it looked so small and "ran away" when I tried to get its photo.

Building Bridges -- May 2008 and ODD SHOTS

2008-05-04T00:14:00.000-07:00

If you are here for ODD SHOTS, please scroll down.

RuneE is sponsoring this monthly challenge on the first Monday of every month. Building Bridges is subject to open interpretation.

click on photo to see bridge better-- if you don't you will miss out on a beauty!
This bridge is one between states -- it takes one from Washington to Oregon or from Oregon to Washington -- the two cities are Portland and Vancouver. It crosses the Columbia River. It is called the I-5 bridge named because it connects the two states. It is a vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian bridge across the Columbia River. Trains have a separate bridge. This bridge completes the Interstate all the way from Mexico to Canada. I have included some history of the I-5 bridge below if you care to learn more.

First I-5 bridge
The bridge was built to replace an overcrowded ferry system operated by Pacific Railway, Light & Power Co. Construction on the bridge began in March 1915, following the sale of bonds.The first bridge was opened on February 14, 1917 at a cost of $1.75 million, which was shared between Clark County in Washington and Multnomah County in Oregon. WA paid $500,000 with OR paying $1,250,000.[4] The first bridge had a total of 13 steel spans with three measuring 275 ft (84 m) in length while the remaining ten spans were 265 ft (80 m) long. One of the 275-ft spans is the lift span for allowing river traffic by the bridge. The original paved roadway was 38 ft (12 m) wide and had a 5-ft (1.5-m) wide sidewalk. It was the first automobile bridge across the river between Washington and Oregon, and the second to span the river at all, after the Wenatchee Bridge of 1908. It was originally a toll bridge costing 5¢ per person. In 1929 the states of Washington and Oregon jointly purchased it from the counties and subsequently removed the tolls.

Upgrades
In 1958 a $14.5 million upgrade created a southbound span and doubled the capacity of the bridge. The new bridge was built with a "humpback" that provides 72 ft (22 m) of vertical clearance and minimizes bridge openings. At the time the new bridge was opened, the old one closed to give it the matching humpback. When both bridges were opened in 1960, tolls were reinstated at $.20 for cars, $.40 for light trucks, and $.60 for heavy trucks and buses, before being permanently removed in 1966.
A $3 million upgrade to the lift cables, expansion joints, and a deck repaving was completed in 1990. The diesel generator used to power the lift was replaced in 1995 at a cost of $150,000. In 1999 the bridge was repainted at a cost of $17 million. A $10.8 million electrical upgrade was completed in mid-May of 2005.
The bridge is 3,538 ft (1,078 m) long with a main span of 531 ft (162 m).[7] The vertical lift provides 176 ft (54 m) of clearance when opened. The lift takes 10 minutes to open and does so between 10 and 20 times per month. In 2001 the 6 lanes of the bridges carried 120,000 vehicles including 10,000 trucks, operating at capacity for four hours every day.

Replacement

Components of the bridge were manufactured and prepared for assembly in Gary, Indiana.
Currently, many traffic engineers consider the bridge to be obsolete, both due to its age and its limited capacity. The bridge is frequently a bottleneck which impacts both traffic on the freeway, as well as on the river. The Oregon and Washington state departments of transportation are jointly studying how to replace the bridge. The estimated cost for a replacement bridge is around $2 billion.

A replacement (especially a fixed span bridge) is complicated by a railroad drawbridge crossing the Columbia a short distance downriver, which constrains the location of the shipping channel; and by approach paths to Portland International Airport in Portland and to Pearson Field Airport in Vancouver, which limit the height of any new structure. Some have proposed replacing the bridge in a different location. There are presently 12 transportation plans that are being studied to improve and expand the Interstate 5 crossing of the Columbia River. In late 2006, 2-4 of these plans will be selected for a final proposal.
There is also a long standing debate as to whether or not a new bridge would include a MAX Light Rail line, express buses or bus rapid transit. During his 2007 "State of the City" address, Vancouver mayor Royce Pollard stated
“I've said it before, but it bears repeating – Vancouver and Clark County residents have the cheapest buy-in to one of the most successful light-rail systems in the world, the MAX system. There is over $5 billion invested in light rail across the river. We can tap into that system at a very minimal cost. We’d be foolish not to. The bi-state Columbia River Crossing initiative is making plans for the future of our community for 50 years and beyond. This project should not happen without integrating light rail that comes into downtown Vancouver. If the final alternative doesn’t have a light rail component, I will not support it."
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The symbol above is for a new meme that Katney started recently .

ODD SHOTS

Most stop signs are perpendicular. I have no idea why this one is slanted to the right -- maybe to get the drivers' attention? I investigated and it doesn't look like it was the mishap of a car accident. . .

Taking a break . . .

2008-04-27T21:32:00.001-07:00

Maybe for a day or two or even three. . . I am not going to blog. I will try to catch up on visiting blogs from Sunday tho. Just too many things happening in my life right now. I will miss doing the meme's but my sanity comes first. Thanks for understanding.

Blog Your Blessings Sunday #26 and Camera Critters 3

2008-04-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

This waterfall, in a little park next door to my apartment reminds me of what a blessing it is to have water. Besides the aesthetic reasons, water is something we need to live. We take it for granted in countries where it is plentiful. Perhaps we need to step back and think of what a great gift God has given us. We need to enjoy His gift but not waste it.

Just in one day we have water for many things:

***to shower
***to enjoy my cup of cocoa, coffee or tea
***to have clean dishes to eat out of
***to wash my clothes
***to water my plants
***to clean my floors
***to cool my drinks with ice cubes
***to keep my cold food cold during transport to a potluck
***to use in recipes
***to water the grass to make it green
***to water my garden or flower bed
***to wsh the car
***to enjoy a glass of cold water on a hot day
***to boil my potatoes or macaroni or eggs
***to swim in or run through the hose

There's probably more ways to use water but these were all I could think of off the top of my head. Water is a blessing we often take for granted. I've been blessed with it all my life and can't begin to imagine what it is like in countries that have a drought. Even tho I hate when it rains because it isn't comfortable walking where I need to go in the rain, I can thank God for the rain He gives us to keep our reservoirs full. So, forgive me, Lord when I complain about yet another rainy day when I am blinded to the blessing.

CAMERA CRITTERS

Go here if you would like to play this Sunday meme: Camera Critters

I caught this little hare running around our downtown park, hiding in the bushes. It had two companions but they were too fast for me to catch them all!

Sky Watch Friday #23

2008-04-25T00:05:00.000-07:00

If you want to join Sky Watch Friday blogging, go here for the blogroll. Tom is the new Sky Watch host.

This was the sunset out my window recently! If you click on it, it will be spectacular!

Project Green 3

2008-04-23T23:09:00.002-07:00

If you want to play, go here: Anna has a Project GREEN going on now.

Project GREEN 3

The needles are green. . .

Project Green

2008-04-23T16:39:00.000-07:00

Project GREEN 1 and 2

If you want to play, go here: Anna has a Project GREEN going on now.

I thought I didn't have anything to contribute and then I remembered the new church they are building called Evergreen Bible Church. They even painted the new structure a beautiful light green. I also took another look and they do have three Evergreen trees on the lot.

IF you scan down just a teensy bit , you will also see the green hairpin lace neck scarf I made.

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 -- #15

2008-04-22T22:01:00.000-07:00

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

"N" is for NINE NIFTY NEEDLES shaped in a NICE NUMERAL NINE. In case you don't enlarge it to see the writing better, there are 4 crochet needles, 3 counted cross stitch needles and 2 yarn needles.

I use the crochet needles and the the yarn needles when I make my hairpinlace NEEDLEWORK projects like this:

I use the blunt needles for counted cross stitch needlework projects like this:

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