Gas prices. Is this crazy or what?

Had to snap this as we were traveling down Black Lake the other day. $4.50 per gallon for REGULAR!

The last two times we have filled up Ralph's car and then mine we've paid $4.09 at Costco. That seems a real bargain compared to this! We are thankful we have only an Accent and a Camry!

Breaking bread

Seems like most of our great visits happen when food and friends combine!!

Over the past month we've had many wonderful occasions to break bread with friends and it has been wonderful. The month long adventure began on May 31 with the BBQ at Tom and Kathy's for the visit of their son Tommy, home on leave from the Coast Guard in Louisiana.

Then our friend Sue decided that even though she lost her husband in October, she still wanted to celebrate their wedding anniversary. We all thought it was a great idea! So on June 8 we gathered at a steak house in Tacoma and had a wonderful meal surrounded by her family and closest friends. A fabulous time was had by all, starting with great conversations, followed by yummy starters, a great salad and a lobster and filet mignon dinner that could not be beat...except by the wonderful desserts. But by the time dessert arrived Ralph and I were so stuffed we had to decline dessert. The best part of the whole meal was that we were all seated around a big table and had the luxury of time to visit with one another. Sue's great celebration idea was a huge success. Here's a few pictures:

Sue and Cherita celebrating together:



The entire gang at the beautifully appointed table...we had a private room and everything! Very elegant!



And the beautiful salads they served.



The following weekend we had dinner with some friends from church and had a great Summer BBQ meal of grilled burgers, baked beans and macaroni salad with fresh cold watermelon for dessert! Again, the meal was the excuse to get together, just hang out and visit. Robyn and Carolyn hosted and Bob, Sue, Ralph and I feasted! It seems like all of our lives are so busy that we just don't slow down enough and these meals give us that opportunity. We try to do them every other month or so...and I hope we keep doing them because we love these couples!!

Then last weekend was a whirlwind of food and friends with my birthday celebration thrown in for good measure. Ralph and I started out celebrating my birthday with dinner out at Anthony's Friday night. It was a pretty night, lots of boats on the water and people out walking around on the Port Plaza and boardwalk. Really great. And the first of our local strawberries were finally coming on so I had a lemonade with pureed fresh strawberries on top. So good I had two! Ralph had steak for dinner and I had a combination of beef kabobs and coconut shrimp. Yum!

On Saturday we had our community garage sale here in the subdivision and then later in the day Tom and Kathy and Art and MerrieLynn came down and I cooked a Mexican meal for all of us. We visited for hours, lingered over the food and had root beer floats for dessert! Wonderfully cool and creamy after the Mexican meal. We've been friends with these couples since our youth group days in Graham a LONG time ago and we still enjoy getting together with them regularly.

Sunday brought Bruce and Cherita down for the celebration of both my and Cherita's birthdays! They brought us wonderful fresh picked Spooner strawberries from the Puyallup valley. We whiled away a few hours visiting with one another and then capped the evening off with a dinner at Outback!

Not a bad way to spend the month of June!!

Two big answers to prayer

First, our friends the Mellsen's have arrived safely back home after two years in Pakistan. We are thankful for their safe journey and for the time they'll have this summer with family and friends. Praise the Lord!!!

Second, our prayers regarding what to do when our lease here is up have been answered as well. We found a place we liked, made an offer and it got accepted. So, come August we'll be moving again. We are excited and a little overwhelmed. These are some of the listing pictures and some pictures that Ralph took during the inspection phase. It's still filled with the current owners stuff, so you'll have to imagine it with our stuff for now. Hope to have a housewarming once we are settled in.

Exterior, double car garage, corner lot, in a 55 plus community!



The big window wall is on the left from the front door.



The wall opposite the front door:



To the right of the front door, the little windows and door are to the breakfast nook.



The breakfast nook, from the living room side looking to the kitchen. They are using it as an office, not sure what we'll do with it.



The dining room.



The kitchen, taken from the dining room, it wraps around to the right and goes to the breakfast nook.



The master bedroom.



Master bath.



Plus there's a second bedroom and bath down the hall. There's a tiny little patio and yard hidden away in the back, you'd never know it was even there. And the patio is covered, so we'll be able to use it even when the weather isn't so nice.






The garage has two workbenches too, this one being the nicest of the two.



We are THANKFUL for answered prayer!! Praise the Lord.

Ahhhhh, Juneuary!

Yep, Juneuary. A local news person coined that phrase it describes our crummy spring weather, which is persisting. We still have lots and lots of cloudy, cool and yes RAINY days. We struggle to get into the 50s each day and dip into the low 40s at night.

Still have the flannel sheets on the bed, latest ever that's ever happened. Still wearing the winter outfits much of the time, but I did finally shed my winter coat in attempt to try to get acclimated to the weather. Still clinging to jackets and sweaters on top of my long sleeved shirts. Mostly I'm just cold all the time.

Had 15 inches of snow at Paradise on Mt. Rainier over the weekend. 15 inches. In June. Come on!

When there is a sunny and semi-warm day we all practically swoon from the shock of it all and wander around in a daze wondering what that big bright ball in the sky is. Seriously.

So ready to be done with this and move on to warm. Even somewhat warmer. Right now I'd settle for being in the normal temperature range for this time of year, rather than consistently 10-15 degrees colder than normal.

I'm through griping for the moment. Summer, the official season, is just a couple of weeks away, maybe the sun and warmth will arrive with it. Let's all hope and pray!

BBQ with the Pena family

Tommy was home on leave from the Coast Guard, reason enough to have a party! The Pena family used to help Ralph with the youth group years ago in Graham, and all four of their kids were part of the group. They are all grown up now of course!

Tom, Kathy and grandbaby Ethan:



Tom with Ethan:



Ethan's big sister Abigale:



Melissa, Tommy, Kyle and Jeremy:



Ralph and me and Tommy. So good to get to visit a bit. Hoping he gets transferred back to the NW soon. He and his wife Jane were in Astoria for a while, but he's now in Louisiana and Jane is in Pennsylvania! They are both in the Coast Guard.