Heather Meadows

Well, there have been a couple of days when we've actually had to turn the heat on up here. It has gotten down to the 30's some nights! Today is actually quite lovely. Sunny and bright and almost "hot" although when you go back in your house, it's still chilly. It's like having the best kind of air conditioning... free!

We went to Heather Meadows this weekend, although it was rainy and cold. We've decided that isn't going to stop us. There is a different kind of beauty that comes with the clouds. The trip back home was inspiring. Absolutely vertical rain that looked like it could be snow, it was falling so slowly; almost like it was in slow-motion. Then, every once in awhile, the sun would peak through gloriously and highlight the changing colors of Fall here. What a wonderful state we've moved to!!!!

Worst Gifts

Well, I don't know about you guys, but I could use a good laugh. I sent these to some folks a few years back (so forgive me if you've already read them). They are from the flylady.com website. She had people write in and describe the worst gifts they had ever received. Here are just a few... Let me know if they make you laugh out loud, like they do me. (every time I read them!)

I had been down with the flu for several days before Christmas, and weakly joined the festivities on Christmas morning. My husband, who is gift-giving-impaired, did his shopping for me on the way home from church Christmas morning. The only place open, of course, was the local convenience store. He bought me - get this - a big stick of pepperoni. The smell alone was enough to send me to bed for the rest of the day. This has been the family joke for 20 years!

A few years ago my mother made oven mitts for several of the adult members of the family. Unfortunately, she couldn't figure out how to make the thumb so she just gave them to us without thumbs. Trying to figure out what to do with them amused us all day and we still have a good laugh every time we think about it.
The worst gift my husband ever got was from his two sons - in their 20's at the time. They spent a considerable amount of time making a potato gun for him. It was so powerful it could shoot a potato for about a city block. We still laugh about this one too.

I was about 7 years old. I had collected a precious handful of the prettiest rocks I could find. I thought long and hard if I could let go of something so precious, but decided that my dad deserved the best, so I would give my treasure to him. They were pebbles, quarts and chips of various size rock. I found a square piece of scrap wood and put fabric on the back of it. I very carefully arranged all the rocks on the plaque and dripped wax over them so they would shine and look wet. I was very proud of this project and did it all by myself. (I did get in a bit of trouble for using a candle without supervision). I wrapped it in paper towels and tape and presented it to my dad. What I didn't realize, that to the "untrained" eye, the gift I made, looked just like someone had eaten a heap of Christmas candy and vomited it up and it had petrified on a square piece of wood. My sweet father graciously received it and was kept safe in his top drawer for the next 34 years, the rest of his life.

My worst gift would have to be about 10 years ago (before I trained my husband to NOT be so practical) I had a gift under the tree that was really large and extremely heavy! I was sooo excited to open it on Christmas Eve! Well the enthusiasm really went down the toilet (excuse the pun) when the gift turned out to be..... a new porcelain TOILET! Needless to say I was speechless and my family has never let my husband forget about the most practical gift he ever got me!

There is no question that the worst gift we ever received was a Christmas teddy bear for my newborn. It was made from dead possums and smelled. It was apparently a well intentioned attempt by a group in New Zealand to utilize the furs of the non-indigenous pests that kill the native wildlife...but to think that I would put this thing in my newborn's crib was truly funny.

The first year we were married my DH obviously had NO clue!!! He went to the hardware store and did all his Christmas shopping for me. He got a new screen door handle, wooden numbers for the house (which he wrapped individually), a door mat and a shower curtain liner. Needless to say, it's been jewelry every year since! :) Love him dearly but that was a true test of love and patience on my part that first year.

Harrison Hot Springs

We went to the International Sand Sculpture Competition in Canada on Sunday. The sculptures were amazing, but look at the setting! NO wonder the artists were inspired! I had been to the women's retreat from our church up there and we got 5 free time hours on Saturday. Me and two new friends drove up to Harrison Hot Springs. It's just gorgeous. When Jim came to get me, we all decided to go back up there. The boys "swam" (more like slowly got into the water and when they couldn't take the cold anymore, ran out screaming). Harrison is so quaint. Gelato shops, street pedal bikes, water sports, and the most beautiful beach. The sand there is amazingly conducive for sculpting.

Here are the boys on the beach. There is a fancy schmancy hotel that houses some of the actual hot springs, and there is a public building with them. Maybe next time...

This is an outhouse made out of sand. Look at the detail! It's difficult to describe how intricate and creative these sculptures are. Rain actually strengthens them; it's the wind that damages them. Some of them had been up since May, but we were there on the actual days of competition. It was so wonderful seeing people of all countries working together on the team event. There wasn't usually just one country represented on a team. You would have the russians working with canadians, belgians with koreans, etc. There was also an event for solos and duos as well as the team ones. Simply amazing. It will be up until October if anyone wants to come see them before then!

Backtracking a Bit

I wanted to revisit our trip up here with the Teeter's. They took turns, along with Jim, driving the Budget Rental Truck and our new van. The pictures I've included, for your viewing pleasure, are the double rainbow we saw in Kansas, me winning the "here's your sign award" by trying to feed a pig out of my hand. They bite! (although he didn't break any skin:) and our last night together, worn out but grateful, along the Chuckanut Drive (by the ocean). Justin is taking the picture with his arm outstretched so we could all be in it. He learned that technique from Mike Tesdahl at the Teeter Christmas Party; we played a camera scavenger hunt where we had to include ourselves in the pictures of what we were hunting. It was hilarious. Even though our team won, Mike should have won for something. Wow. It makes me miss everyone to backtrack. I don't think I'll do this very often :) Comments?

Lifehouse; Everything

Amazing. Thanks Constance, for sending this.
I hope it blesses everyone like it did me. Off to dry my tears.... and spend some time with our wonderful SAVIOR!

Hola

Lynden is one of my favorite little towns here. It is a community of Dutch Reformed Christians. There is the cutest street which is the main strip (called Front Street) where all the restaurants, shops, windmill replicas and wooden shoes are. This picture was taken in front of a little canal by the restaurant where we had lunch. When you come to visit (hint hint) we'll definitely make Lynden one of our stops.

Here is the neighbor who had the auger who helped us with our mailbox. Here's the 8 foot corn by the neighbor who had the auger who helped us with our mailbox. Here's the mailbox that needs some mail (hint hint) by the 8 foot corn by the neighbor who had the auger who helped us with our mailbox.
We took a hike at Nooksack River yesterday for Labor Day. As soon as Jim downloads the pictures, I'll post some. It's like walking in the Amazon without the threat of Anacondas or malaria-carrying insects. In fact, I didn't see one living creature besides the lush flora. There is a path with bridges and stairs and logs on the side made by the forest service and some inmates from a local prison. We were so grateful. It is just beautiful. The river is glacier-fed from Mount Baker and the salmon will start their spawning soon. That will be a site to see.