Those of you who are NOT outdoor -hiking types... you will enjoy this one!

Sunday morning I woke up to my husband researching local hiking spots on the Internet. This moment came as no surprise to me for he had been brainstorming an outing for awhile. Though recently in the Seattle area it has been extremely HOT; This lead me to assume that due to the extreme heat levels, today would NOT be the "DAY" ...but was I ever wrong!

Note to reader: I was given the option to join in or not (if I only would have known-!)

Our friends met us at our house early as to hopefully miss the hot part of the day. We had our small camel packs filled and our work-out shoes on (we're avid hikers can't you tell!) Once in the car we made our final decision on location. We went from a 4 mile moderate Mt. Pilchuck hike to a 7 mile Difficult Lake Serene hike.

To make a LONG hike short... with rock boulder stairs, crazy bees, sweat pouring out of EVERYWHERE, a few choice curse words, 26 switch backs and 4 hours later: We got to see 1 beautiful waterfall and 1 amazing lake! The way up was HOT LONG and EXTREMELY un-groomed! Now that it's all over it was SO worth it... The water fall was gorgeous! The lake breath-taking! And I learned I could actually be a hiker!

"Been there- Got the picture NEVER doing that again!" (without prior training!)

This is the sweet girl I nanny for... Amanda Mae

Just recently she and I have been given a bit more time together (just the two of us!) so we're going to live it up in true girl style... long days by the pool, sleep overs, movie nights, pedicures! What else could two gals love more!

these are some snaps we took on our walk to Starbucks...

This is my weekend find! $20! Completely D-O-N-E!My husband says I can't buy anymore "junk"

Definition: JUNK: Objects from garage sales, yard sales or any-other kind of sale that need work)

This definitely met his requirements so I loaded her on up! Look how sweet it looks in my craft room!

Here are my babies!
This is my favorite time of year: each day I get to explore my garden and see what new beauties have arrived! By months end I hope to have a full blooming garden!

WHAT A WEEKEND...

I was so blessed to discover an unknown love: Lemon *MINT* water! yum-yum! How refreshing!

During a gals venture to a Saturday market in Bellevue I tasted this sweet drink and found these beauties...

NOTHING beats Fresh flowers!

I learned 3 things this morning as I was scrubbing the GUNK out of my house:

(Definition: GUNK: the parts of your house you HATE to clean but the parts that need it the most.

I.E: Base boards, hard to reach cob-webs, dirty walls and anything white that a dog can reach!)

1. 
   
   WOW... have I really let it get this dirty?!?...(no wonder I never invite people over)


2. 
   
   That I might just end up at the psych ward after all -due to the hours of chasing dog hair floating across my hardwoods.... it NEVER ends!


3. 
   
   and finally: I really do ENJOY a beautiful CLEAN house: Aaahhhh!

...now off to enjoy the beautiful weekend ahead!

(and hopefully find some really good garage sales!)

Blakely Is. WA. :What an AWESOME weekend!

The weather AMAZING- food yummy- FAMILY wonderful!

As a family we got to enjoy our time together to the fullest- frisbee golf, sing-songing along with BAND: 2 buck chuck, margaritta's, lake swims, and LOTS of sunbathing (SPF 55!) for these are the moments that are charished!

This island holds the key to my heart- having got engaged here 3 years prior on this blessed weekend- I continuely look forward to each visit. This weekend was one particulary sweet... God set up some good moments of deep conversations (with some tears) God's truth is an amazing gift to receive... Suffering teaches people to be steadfast and determined. This, in turn, builds character. Strong character produces TRUST in the Lord and his plan for our future, and this is ...HOPE!

I found this fascinating quote today:

Words of wisdom from Abigail Adams, first lady, farmer, mother, intellectual and champion of women's rights: I can not say that I think you are very generous to the Ladies, for whilst you are proclaiming peace and good will to Men, Emancipating all Nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over Wives.

If you do not think that the American Declaration of Independence is a radical and revolutionary document then you have never read it. It changed the world. It is still changing the world. The Declaration of Independence not only proclaimed American freedom from Great Britain, but it provided the language and rationale for every major civil rights campaign in U.S. history. As Adams suggests, the Declaration's ink was barely dry before people denied the full rights of citizenship demanded their piece of the pie. Early abolitionists used the Declaration to highlight the injustice of slavery, and early women's rights advocates echoed the Declaration when they proclaimed that "all men AND WOMEN are created equal."

Even today, when Americans talk about equality, when they proclaim it a right, they tie themselves to the language of the American Revolution, the language codified in the Declaration. The Declaration represents America's highest ideals and promise. Long may it reign.

Margaret, Finnegan Begin Again: Wise Women Friday: Abigail Adams

Words of wisdom from Abigail Adams, first lady, farmer, mother, intellectual and champion of women's rights: I can not say that I think you are very generous to the Ladies, for whilst you are proclaiming peace and good will to Men, Emancipating all Nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over Wives.If you do not think that the American Declaration of Independence is a radical and revolutionary document then you have never read it. It changed the world. It is still changing the world. The Declaration of Independence not only proclaimed American freedom from Great Britain, but it provided the language and rationale for every major civil rights campaign in U.S. history. As Adams suggests, the Declaration's ink was barely dry before people denied the full rights of citizenship demanded their piece of the pie. Early abolitionists used the Declaration to highlight the injustice of slavery, and early women's rights advocates echoed the Declaration when they proclaimed that "all men AND WOMEN are created equal." Even today, when Americans talk about equality, when they proclaim it a right, they tie themselves to the language of the American Revolution, the language codified in the Declaration. The Declaration represents America's highest ideals and promise. Long may it reign.

Margaret, Finnegan Begin Again: Wise Women Friday: Abigail Adams

You should read the whole article.

May the Lord Bless you and Keep you (safe!)
Happy 4th of July