Windy Ridge Chronicles

Dear GREAT uncle Marvin

I am so disappointed that I missed your anniverary on Saturday. 

HAPPY 48TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR 39TH BIRTHDAY FROM ALL OF US AT WINDY RIDGE! 

That would make you 87, right?  Oh goodness, I am dreadful with numbers.  Any which way, you are an inspiration.  A wonderful example of kindness & optimism.

WE LOVE YOU!  You can come live with us at Windy Ridge anytime.

 

My great uncle Lavern, my grandpa & great uncle Marvin

excerpt from one of Uncle Marvin's emails:

"TALKED TO DONALD HANSON IN CHURCH.  HE WAS WONDERING HOW IT FELT TO BE OLD.  I TOLD HIM I WAS STILL HOLDING AT 39"

Tea with Pops

This is for you Lyle.  And for Pops girlfriend back in SC.  I wish you could have come along.

Pops (Levi's dad) drove his big truck our way again.  It is always so nice to spend time with him and hear the old stories. 

Like how one old timer's door was out of whack so he simply made a hole in the door and another in the wall and put a chain and padlock on it.   If the padlock was on the outside visitors would know he wasn't home.

Today is Saturday

Isn't it?

Rachael came along on our mini Cobblestone shoot to snap photos of me, while I snapped photos of the girls and then I snapped a few of her.  A regular snap...fest.  Because I have a new blog in the works that needs an UPDATED bio photo. 

Thanks for honking everybody.  Don't you realize we were standing on a bridge.  You could have killed us. 

Sorry about the umbrella mom, I will buy you a new one.

 

The ride home

You haven't lived until you spend time in the train station at 2 am.  The diversity that walks through the double doors is fascinating.  In a "train-wreck" sort of way.  Wanderers & vagabonds.  I am pretty sure Snoop Dog was there along with Madame Medusa.   Then there was Sherman.

Our train was late. 

We were supposed to leave at 2:45 am, but didn't end up boarding the train until 5:20 am.  North Dakota, this was your fault.  You were the one with 5 foot snow drifts.

I still haven't recovered.

Rachael & I spent the early morning hours weaving conspiracy theories based on the characters we encountered.  There was the evil Swedish boy, the wandering cowboy and a janitor with a long white beard.  If I were to write a story about a train station, he would be exactly how I envisioned a janitor there.  Of course he wasn't actually a janitor, it was all a cover-up.  Which had me & Rachael doubled over in mirth when he began mopping around our feet.  This didn't seem to bother him.  Suspicious.

Spokane

Wyatt's five

I woke up this morning and my sweet 4 year old was gone. 

In his place was a perfectly wonderful 5 year old. Bittersweet. 

Wyatt woke me up with a sloppy kiss on the cheek & gleeful whisper: "I'm five today!"

More Ella Jean

Though gray and rainy most of the time, we did manage to make good use of a brief break in the clouds to capture Ella's sweetness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have more to post on our trip to Spokane, but wanted to hurry and post "ella" pics for those that were waiting for them.

Ella is wearing eden's bouquet Caroline Dress.

Ella Jean

My sweet little niece Ella Jean.  Many more photos to come.

Midnight train

What a shame to travel by train in the dark.  All that passing landscape that we missed. 

We almost didn't get off the train in Spokane.  It was midnight. We rolled into the station and after hours of clacking and train whistles, all went silent.  The only sound was snoring.  People sprawled everywhere.  Heads lolling in the aisles. We sat for 45 minutes waiting for orders to de-train, depart, unboard, I don't know..walk off(four sisters and a mom sat here trying to come up with the proper term and that is what we came up with. Brilliant.)  Nobody told us anything.  The train guy happened by, surprised we were still there. Lucky we didn't end up in Chicago. Not that Chicago is bad, it just wasn't where we were going.

Sabra & Violet at the train station in Vancouver.

My mom keeping Violet entertained. 

A bridge somewhere. 

Tamason Mae. 

Sabra writing in her journal. 

Snapshots from today

I had a crazy day trying to get everything done on my "to do" list before boarding the train to Spokane tomorrow.  I will be taking my 3 girls with me to see Anna's new baby girl.  Levi will be in charge of the 5 boys.  First stop was Costco. I bumped into my gorgeous friend Melissa for the second time.  We stood side by side contemplating the economy box of noodles and I didn't even notice it was her until she said hello.  So cool.  I should have brought my camera. HA! Nobody is safe. 

 

Next stop was the hair salon for a long overdue haircut.  Too bad I had them cut bangs over my good eye.  What was I thinking?

 

Right now I am trying to wrap up my orders.  While watching live election coverage.  Yes I voted today.  I hope Levi wins.

 

That was (and is) my day.  How are you anyway?  I will be blogging from Spokane tomorrow.