"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

☀️ Summer Celebrations❣️

Welcome to our Summer Blueberry Tea celebration!  My granddaughters, Molly, Rosie, and Joy helped me fill Cookie Bear with ginger cookies. Cookie Bear, who is about 46 years old was made for me by my last college roommate, Ginger. He has traveled back and forth across the USA thanks to all our moves. Each girl wanted him to look at her, so they kept turning his head around.  Molly was our hostess and decorated the sea chest for the event.  She chose blueberry flavored tea which was delicious, and Cookie Bear is looking at her in this photo.
 We are celebrating that my youngest son-in-law, Gary, has been honing his woodworking skills.  He did not make this swing, but he finished it and figured out a way to hang it on two trees which we think is pretty clever.  The swing faces the pond, which is now in its dry season.  The pond looks like a big bowl of green salad now and as summer progresses it will probably become more golden in color.
 We have three Hydrangea bushes.  We hoped we could coax all three to be this purple-blue hue, but so far just two of them are co-operating.  However, we are celebrating that two of the bushes have made it through their first year here and we hope the third will enjoy blooming here, too.
 We did not knowingly plant this Daisy plant but are celebrating its choice to bloom on the berm because we are fond of Daisies.
 On July 4th we celebrated the USA's birthday with an indoor/outdoor picnic. Our menu included hot dogs and hamburgers, salads, chips, white cake, and fruit. I had strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries with frozen vanilla almond milk on top...patriotically yummy 😃
 At nightfall, we had a few little fireworks.  Some of my young granddaughters could be heard celebrating by saying, "Happy Birthday, America!"
 This summer we are celebrating that nearby Mt. Hood received a good snow pack in the winter. It still has lots of snow on its slopes and we so enjoy being able to see it during our warm clear summer days.
My good blogging friend, Teresa and I met at a restaurant to celebrate that I finally finished my Ruby Shawl!  Teresa was first to use the pattern and encouraged me for years to finish my shawl...what a dear and faithful friend!  In spite of all the challenges I faced in crocheting it, I am so glad I did.  Teresa is wearing the new shawl she just finished.  Isn't it gorgeous! If you haven't already visited Teresa's blog, click HERE.  You will be linked to it, where you can learn more about how she made her shawl. You can also search her blog to enjoy seeing the many beautiful things she has knitted, crocheted, painted, beaded, photographed, and you can enjoy the good narratives about them and her life adventures.
Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me to finish the shawl and to interact with you through blogging!

Tonight my youngest son, Tim, and I plan to head to the airport to get my oldest sister, Carolyn.  Then in a few days, we plan to head to the airport to get my older sister, Margaret.  Next week we three sisters [ages 75, 73, and 66] plan to drive from Portland, Oregon, toward Omaha, Nebraska, to visit my niece, Trina's family who live on a farm near there.  Then we plan to fly from Omaha to Boston, Massachusetts, to visit more family members. From Boston we plan to fly to Detroit, then from Detroit Margaret plans to fly back to Burbank, California, while Carolyn and I plan to fly back to Omaha and drive back to Portland.

I am so excited!  My mind is full of lists I have not stopped to write down, but I hope I am remembering to do all I need to do!

Thanks for visiting with me here.  I love your kind comments.  My communication with you over the next six weeks is apt to be sparse, but I will be wondering..." what are you celebrating this summer?"

Cheering you on and praying for blessings for you,
Gracie 🤗

35 comments:

  1. Sounds like lots of good family traveling and reunions are happening for you. Enjoy your times together!

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  2. Gracie! My goodness it was fun reading this post. You make what everything seem so wonderful magical and celebratory. The tea, the swing, Mt. Hood and daisies. I love it! But my absolute favorite of all is two of my beautiful friends smiling at me with their new shawls on. Gorgeousness!!!!! You two AND the shawls. I hope you have a wonderful trip to Omaha. May God grant you safety and a memorable trip with your sisters. If you need a place to stay while driving, you know you're always welcome here.
    Blessings always sweet Gracie.
    Betsy

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  3. What a lovely family celebration you hosted! Your garden setting is so pretty. I used to put vinegar on my hydrangea to change the color. You and Teresa look darling in your beautiful hand made shawls. I hope you have a safe and fun trip with your sisters. Hugs. Pat

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  4. What great times you have been having, I hope that your next lot of travel plans will be just as much fun! Love the photo of you and Teresa in your new shawls, they are both very pretty aren't they!!

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  5. Loved seeing this beautiful summery post and hearing about your exciting travel plans. How lovely to go on a long trip with your sisters and to visit lots of family members. I am sure you will have such a heart warming time and lots of fun too. Wishing you a wonderful summer and I look forward to hearing about your adventures when you return dear Gracie.
    Helen xox

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  6. Your shawl is beautiful !! Nice to see your granddaughters having tea party :) You have a big travel plan, enjoy your time with your sisters.

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  7. Love the bear sharing! I am inspired by your sisters trip. How wonderful. The shawls photo finish of you and Teresa is magnificent. I like that you are both wearing purple tops under your shawls. You two REIGN supreme in the friendship department.

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  8. It was a joy to see you meet up with Teresa and see your beautiful shawls, both so gorgeous. It was also a delight to see your Granddaughters having a tea party. I will hopefully be having a little celebratory tea party next week when we have a family visit. Enjoy your travels, it all sounds amazing.

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  9. So nice to see what you've been up to, Gracie. The tea party looks like a lot of fun! You're such a sweet grandma. I hope you have a wonderful trip, take care and have safe travels.

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  10. Hey Gracie I hope you have a lot of fun on your travels and share some of your pretty photos of your travels when you return.

    Blessings

    Sophie

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  11. I enjoyed catching up with you, Gracie and seeing all that is going on in your 'neck of the woods'! Love the little tea-party and the sweet little ones with the cookie bear. So cute! I think I could sit in that hanging chair and wile away a few hours, at least!! Your friend Teresa and you look wonderful in your look-alike shawls - they are like little rainbows around your shoulders! Well done! You have an amazing journey to look forward to with your dear ones - I wish you all safe and happy travels! Sending hugs and blessings xx Karen

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  12. Safe travelling Gracie and sisters. So love the shawl, plan to visit Teresa's blog to see what she has made.
    God bless my friend

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  13. I really enjoyed this post, Gracie.. seeing your adorable granddaughters having tea on the sea chest and the volunteer daisies in your garden! I'm so glad we got to find time to have our lunch together before you leave on your long long trip! I hope you have safe travels.. do keep in touch and let me know when you make your destinations safely, ok? I've got your bracelet all fixed and hope to get it to you soon. The little owl beads will watch over you and keep you safe. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  14. You have such wonderful times with your grandchildren! They must hate it when you travel.
    Congratulations on finishing the shawl. Both yours and Theresa's are so fun and colorful. Someday I will conquer crochet.
    Have safe and happy travels!

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  15. Fantastic Gracie you girls look wonderful in your shawls xoxo and those grandgirls so pretty too. Wow what a wonderful trip ahead for you.....we are off in 3 weeks to Europe and UK for 6 weeks so lets all have a great time xoxoxo

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  16. What a lively post you shared. I like the shawls you and Teresa crocheted. Your granddaughters are adorable and what a fun tea time they had along with a fun and grateful 4th of July celebration for the family! Enjoy your trip with family and hope it all goes well and you are safe in the Lord's arms as you travel. Looking forward to your posts about your trip. Well, I'm planning on making jam this year and going to the coast next month. I will have been 4 times when we go then...not a usual plan for us but I'm enjoying it!! I can't seem to get enough of the beach this year! Take care and God bless you!

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  17. Sounds like the perfect supper party and fireworks too. Love the finished shawls. Definitely worth all the hard work :). B x

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  18. Simply LOVE LOVE LOVE the photo of you in the shawl. It looks absolutely wonderful. Looks like you have lots to celebrate here on this post. Bless you. Jo x

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  19. What a lovely post, full of happy times with friends and family. I guess you may already be on your adventure with your sisters, I hope you have a wonderful time:)

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  20. So much to look forward to Gracie! Wishing you a great time on your travels.
    Theresa and you are looking just fabulous! x

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  21. Lovely post, Gracie! Love that swing...the maker is so talented! Your shawls are gorgeous too. Sweet blackberry tea celebration. Your hydrangeas are giving me inspiration! I want a couple of peonies and think that a bed of hydrangeas, peonies and Shasta daisies would be so lovely! I have to surround any flower or veggie bed with chicken wire and other wire to keep the rabbits and deer out, and that makes it so hard on me! So, the yard upgrades are very slow-going. The bunnies ate my lilies my daughter gave me for Mother's Day! So, I'm hoping if I repot them and overwinter them they will come back next year. have a great weekend!

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  22. Looks like you are having a fabulous summer with more adventures to come. It's nice to see you and Teresa with your gorgeous shawls. Have a wonderful trip with your sisters.

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  23. You are having such a great summer Gracie. I love the photo of you and Teresa, you are both dear to my heart. HAve a wonderful trip.

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  24. I am visiting you from Betsy's blog. You have a beautiful place and how wonderful that you three sisters can spend time all together. Your shawls look very nice. Nancy

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  25. This was such a fun post to read, dear Gracie. And I fell in love with Cookie Bear, he must have some stories to tell.
    Amalia
    xo

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  26. Enjoy your summer, Gracie. Kisses from Greece!

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  27. The scarfs are so beautiful..

    Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

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  28. On public wifi so catching up with blogs. LOVED the idea of a summer blueberry tea❤️ How fun! Safe travels on your journey - we returned from our almost 3 month one about one month ago. God bless!
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  29. It is always a delight to visit here, your family always do so many wonderful things together. It does sounds as if you will have a very busy time with lots of travelling over the next few weeks, have a wonderful time! Sarah x

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  30. Hello gracie I have so enjoyed your post. The girls are so lovely. I always enjoy seeing Mt Hood, I really do long to see it in the flesh so to speak. Gosh you are going to be very busy with your travels and I expect you are well into them by now. Sadly life is a little bit trying for me at the moment , but it could no doubt be worse. Maybe by the time you return some of the issues I face might be somewhat resolved we shall see, Hugs Anne x Oh how could I forget - the shawls are so lovely. x

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  31. oh wow! You are traveling so much this summer! I'm so happy for you! Maybe you have noticed that while you've been traveling away from Portland, I traveled TO Portland area. I'm home again now and managed to avoid the worst of your overwhelming heat. I loved my visit--the only disappointment was not having any truly clear days to gaze on MY Mt. Hood.

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  32. The shawls are gorgeous! You did a very good job. I hope you are enjoying your travels!
    The tea party looks like a lot of fun, and the hydrangea is beautiful!

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  33. What a wonderful summer of travel and family time you have been having Gracie! I really hope you enjoyed all your travels. I think those blue hydrangeas are really lovely, such a bright and vivid colour. And your shawl is a triumph, well done for finishing it.

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  34. Gracie, I saw that your town is under Level 2 evacuation orders this morning. Praying for you and your family.

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  35. Hi Gracie, hope you are well, haven't seen you around for ages so I thought I would check in and check you are OK. Jo x

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Thank you for visiting me today! I welcome your comments!