Sunday Evening At The Lake...

Lake Washington that is...

Town & Country...

The day ended with this...

And started with this...

Click! to enlarge...

A Dutch friend of mine (I met her at Little Bit) recently moved to downtown Seattle and she invited me for a day out in the city.  Above you see her views from the West facing balcony of her 21st floor apartment. On the pictures it is not that impressive but believe you me, it was!

We had a lovely walk down Pike Street, walked around Pike Place Market, visited her hairdresser (where she bought a very fun ring for me and the same one for herself as well), looked around in the Dr. Martens shop and slowly we made it back up the hills again. It was all very wonderful, but to be honest, I was very happy to see all the greenery of the Valley and my back yard again...

Five Point Two...

Yes, today I ran 5.2 miles!!! (= 8.4 km)

Now I do have to add that I didn't run that whole distance in one go. I run 4 minutes and then walk 1 (the one minute always seems to go by in two breaths, why is that?  <wink> ), but this way I can go on for much longer and am still in a good mood when I come home again.
This distance took me 65 minutes to complete, so very slow indeed, but I'm going and that is the most important thing!

Wow, I am so happy (albeit a bit sore in the shoulders) right now!  {big smile}

Pictures found an inspirational quotes Facebook page...

The Weekend That Was...

Wow, it was quite the weekend indeed...

Beautiful people and very proud parents!

There was of course The Prom, a very big deal here in the States with an organized dinner at the Seattle Tennis Club beforehand, then the Prom downtown and then an after party further outside of the city. We arrived home (Mr. G. always has to chaperone these events) around 12:30am and Master C. didn't see his bed until 3am.

Of course before this whole Prom event happened, we had spent most of the day watching Miss M. perform during an Ultimate Frisbee event during 85 degree weather: it was hot & humid! 

Miss M. in action!

Needless to say, we were all rather frazzled on Sunday and then Master C. had to take the Amtrak train service to Portland to start his senior project. (he is shadowing several business men in different businesses and then after three weeks he has to give a presentation at school about his findings) This week he is staying with his aunt & uncle in Portland and so I had made two zippered pouches as a thank you gift for auntie K. She is a big fan of France (Paris especially) so I was very happy to make here these two themed pouches...

Yesterday I had another visit with the orthodontist. We both agreed that after a year and a half of Invisalign treatment those darn two bottom teeth still weren't in the right place. So now I have actual braces on my lower teeth. Rather painful (sensitive is the better word) right now, but lo and behold: they are straight already!

As I was resting on the couch afterwards, a big storm came up with thunder and lightning and power outages. At one point the wind blew a huge part of our Maple tree right into the neighbors' yard. Thank goodness the two large branches landed right between the fence and their house and didn't do any damage! (except for the hedge, but that was obviously not important) 

It took us over an hour and four people plus a chain saw to get rid of the debris. What busy few days we've had. Now I just want to go back to bed again. Instead I will do some more sewing I think...

Proud Mama!

Last night...

This morning...

Happy Moother's Day!

Now This Was Fun!

Look, I made my own 'cowroad' labels!
(and a new little zippered pouch as well)

Click! to enlarge...

A couple of months ago I came across these home made labels at Elke Dag Zaterdag and thought to myself: I can make those too! 

I finally got my act together earlier this week and bought the iron-on photo transfer paper (at Joann's) and two kinds of twill tape and off I went designing on the computer. I tried out several different styles and sizes and I think I like the smaller ones with the least amount of details best.

What a highly satisfying little project!

Summer Time...

"... and the living is easy!"

Miracles do happen because we have been experiencing true summer time temperatures for several days now.  I'm just about as tanned as I will be for the rest of the year and that sure gives you a boost! 

Today will be the hottest day with temps around 84F / 28C (or higher) and then we will go down a bit again, which is just fine with me. Mid-seventies is perfect for still doing stuff. Now I just sit outside and read Maeve Binchy books all day! I know, a very 'high' level of reading, but sooooo comfy. The Pernod on the side was pretty nice as well...   <wink>

Last Friday was the annual Arts Fest at school and we got to see Master C.'s final appearance in the Jazz Band, ever! Another step closer to college...

They played outside on the lawn and people got so excited they even started dancing! It was just fabulous!  {smile)

Master C. with the electric bass...
(click! to enlarge)

These were the views of the valley on my way there:

Not a bad place we live in over here!  {smile}

And oh yes, I wore my new dress and received lots of compliments on it!

Off I go for a run, now that it is still somewhat cool outside. I bought some new running clothes for these hot temperatures yesterday and can't wait to try them out. (a combo of dark grey with duck egg blue!)

The photo doesn't do the colors justice. The shirt and the spandex under shorts
(which are attached to the grey outer shorts by the way: brilliant!) 
are a duck egg blue...

Ik Geef Je Een Roosje M'n Roosje...

"Ik geef je een roos elke dag..."  

(= a Dutch folk song: I give you a rose every day)

Yesterday I received these lovely orange roses from my husband, in honor of our new King. I also feel they are in honor of my now late step-grootmoeder (step-grandmother) who passed away yesterday at the most honorable age of 96....

I've only met her a few times, but she was always so lovely and so warm towards my children, who after all weren't even her biological great-grandchildren. Fais de beaux rêves, Grandmere!

Reminiscing...

Everything seems to be glowing at the moment, basking in the sunshine. The forecast is absolutely tremendous with expected temperatures rising to 80F / 28C this weekend!

I must say that after all the 'larger than usual' events lately (son deciding on college, daughter turning 16 and a new King in our country (the last not as large as the other two obviously, but it was still a large event)) I can do with some warmth: I'm feeling a bit lost in it all. Our lives are changing and that is how it should be, but this fast???

I am very grateful about the path we've taken so far and am looking forward to the path we will take in the future, but I need some time to put it all in in the right spot so to speak...

Sweet Sixteen...

Click! to enlarge...

So so Happy today!  {biggest smile}

Thrifty Finds...

Seven yards of  lovely fabric for $10: a deal or what?! And that lovely pitcher was apparently made for Restoration Hardware. I will use it for my Pernod drinks this summer: Yum!

PS I've added the little star reflections to the pitcher, just to give it a bit more pizzazz...

Go Zags!

Yesterday the big decision was made that Master C. will be going to Gonzaga University next Fall! What a relief to finally know where he is going. He called me yesterday from over there (after the tours etc) and I could hear both the relief and his enthusiasm coming through. (he doesn't usually show much enthusiasm  so I will take every little bit I can get!)

Gonzaga (pronounced Gone-ZAG (zag like bag) - uh) is about a 4 hour drive to the East from here, across the mountains and into the wheat fields. Even though he will still be living in the same state as us, everything looks very different over there 'on the other side', so it will really feel like a new place to him. Truly exciting times!  {smile}

In the mean time we are enjoying some absolutely wonderful weather here. Today will be the last day unfortunately, so I will be spending it outside as much as possible. In all the excitement yesterday (while I was awaiting 'the phone call') I forgot to put on sunscreen and that was quite a mistake: I see red!  <wink>

The garden of course is doing just fabulous and here are a few moments in the sunshine...

And oh yes: it is Friday!!!  {smile}

Sewing For Baby...

Devided Basket pattern found here and the Zippered Pouches here 
Click! to enlarge...

I did some more sewing for a baby who will be here within the next month or so. You can always use a little bit of extra storage, either for diapers, wet wipes, burp cloths etc. I loved the vintage looking (but new!) fabric  for the outside and added some tiny polka-dotted green and red fabrics from my stash. Another quick and fun sewing project!

Liebe Grusse Aus...

We spent yesterday afternoon in The Netherlands...

Not!  <wink>

No, we didn't fly all the way to Holland (which would be at least a ten hour flight!), but we did spent the afternoon between the tulips, daffodils and the cows. We drove to Skagit County (about 75 minutes North from here) and drove around the tulip fields: it was glorious!

Believe it or not but I have never visited the tulip fields in my own country, ever! I know, I don't understand it either. Anyway, it was really pretty up there in Skagit County, especially also since the sun was shining. It had been about a week since we had seen the sun and all rain records for the month of April have been broken...

We drove around just on a whim and ended up at a fabulous pasture with cows in it. Behind me was a dike with a river behind it and in front of me pastures as far as the eye could see and glorious cows in them! (and the smells too!) It truly felt just like visiting my dad's place and going into the 'polders' (fields) behind his house in Muiden: inhale - exhale!    {biggest smile!}

We also came across lots of nice real-estate and beautiful old barns...

Miss M. came along and I made a few pictures of her in between the flowers...

Truly a nice afternoon, especially after all the university stress that we are in with our oldest. We have one more week left to decide. This week he and Mr. G. are going on an overnight trip (4 1/2 hours one way) to visit Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Let's hope this will be the one!