A Rose is A Rose is A Rose...

These are the final roses from my bushes this year...

"Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers (or roses). They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers -- most of which are never even seen -- don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?...Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Matthew 6:28-30, 34 from The Message Bible // Remix

OKTOBER FLAVORS & COLORS

Our OKTOBERFEST dinner consisting of beer-cooked & grilled brats with German mustard, German potatoes with bacon and Rotkohl - cooked red cabbage! Since it was the last day of Oktober, we finished it in Über-style! Es hat gut geschmeckt!!
These two pictures were taken only a few days apart...I am amazed at the color change in the leaves! I am so thankful that my little tree has such joyful color in the Fall!!! Hooray!!

AHHHHHH...TUM

This is a branch on my new tree that I planted in the spring! I'm delighted that its leaves are changing!

I just love the colors of Autumn!

MAUI OCEAN CENTER ~ SEA CRITTERS

We spent the day at the Maui Ocean Center and it was a wondeful way to spend a few hours! The displays were easy to get to and you felt like you were face-to-face with these sea creatures! I felt like we were caught in Nemo's world...we enjoyed it immensely!

Let me introduce you to:

HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A

The State Fish of Hawai'i

Whadd'ya mean I need a nose job??


These fish move SO fast that it is difficult to get a good picture of them! Plus, you're taking the picture through thick glass or plexiglass, so the images are slightly distorted.







I just LOVE the picture I got of this sea turtle! "Hey dudes! Catch the wave!"








"Here's Brucey!!"
I thought this was precious of this little girl with her face on the glass looking up in awe at the sight of so many things swimming around!

"OHHHHHHH....Let's go on a fieldtrip, a fieldtrip, a fieldtrip...let's go on a fieldtrip, so hang on tight!!!"

"HOO HA HOOHAHA"

ALOHA OE!!!

Here are some photos from our recent Hawai'ian adventure to the island of Maui! We spent 10 days on the island and had a delicious time! The weather was HOT and HUMID, but we figured that even the hottest day in Hawai'i is better than any other day stateside!!

This is the view from our lanai at Napili Kai Beach Resort! Simply lovely!

Could this hibiscus be anymore beautiful??

On one of the nights we were at Napili, there was a concert featuring Hawai'ian Slack Key Guitar Masters. Here, pictured with John, are "Uncle" George Kahumoku, Jr. (left) and
"Uncle" Cyril Pahinui (right). They were really wonderful to watch
and their music was excellent!

Watch for more pictures!!!
Mahalo and Aloha!!

Day Trippin' to Victoria!

I had the opportunity to take the Victoria Clipper to visit lovely Victoria B.C.

The morning started out rather chilly and overcast, but turned into a gorgeous day when it was all said and done!

The Butchart Gardens were absolutely stunning in their displays of color and texture!
We were surprised at the number of tulips still in bloom!

Yes, even the garbage cans have incredible plantings on them to delight the eye!!

'Twas a beautiful day spent in a beautiful place with some fine friends!

SPRING RAINING & SPRING TRAINING!!

Last posted: January 31st?? Oh my goodness! Where does the time go?

We just got back from spending a few days down in the Phoenix area! We were able to visit my in-laws and stayed with them in a pleasant town named Casa Grande (between Phoenix & Tucson). While we were there, they experienced a severe weather system bringing thunder and lightning and RECORD rainfall...a downright gully-washer! There was literally a river running through it!

Despite the nasty weather, John & his dad were able to get in some golf and we enjoyed a couple of meals out on the verandah, under the swaying palm trees and with the sweet fragrance of grapefruit blossoms wafting by! Here are a couple of pictures from their RV park. After that deluge, the water level in the lagoon was about two feet higher than normal!

Offering seniors (55+ by definition - yikes, we're almost there!!!) security, tranquility and everything from pickleball to pottery, woodworking to sewing, ballroom dancing to pools & spas... it was quite an oasis in the middle of the desert! We sure enjoyed our visit!

And what good would a visit to Arizona in March be without taking in a spring training game at the beautiful Mariner's Ballpark in Peoria, I ask you?!!? Gladly, gameday arrived with beautiful blue skies and mild temps, for which we were all grateful! Here is a shot of the scoreboard with the "berm" seating in front of it. There were plenty of folks out there getting a tan that day!

Ichiro was warming up right in front of where we were sitting, and he was really fun to watch! Richie Sexson ("Big Sexy") was also doing some warm-up sprints and so we had quite a pre-game show to watch! The Mariners fell behind to the Kansas City Royals during the game, but ended up winning it 5-4 in the bottom of the 8th...it was VERY exciting!

NEW YAWK VINNIE!!!
No, we aren't admiring Kerry's tan line on her arm...if you have a magnifying glass, you can see that she is holding an EMT-delivered icepack in her right hand...a foul ball came screaming our direction and would have landed right in my lap, but a gentleman sitting in front of me stuck out his hand...the ball deflected off of his hand and clobbered Kerry right in the arm! Then, as we were all wondering where the ball had landed, I looked down and there it was at my feet, just sitting there as if it had been there for hours! All of the sudden, our same gentleman friend AND my step-mom-in-law lurched for it at the same time! As they both had their claws into it and were tugging it in opposite directions, our gentleman friend said, "Just let go and I'll let you have it!" Mom responded by releasing her death grip on the ball, and as promised, he handed it over!! Now there's a story to tell over & over again at the RV park!!! We all had a pretty good laugh over it, but Kerry had a bruise for a good week afterward!!

What a trooper!

PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT!!!!!

Ahhh....the smell of garlic fries and the crack of the bat...

Only 14 days 'til Pitchers & Catchers report to Peoria for the beginning of the 2007 MARINER'S season!!! WOOHOO!

Pictured here is our newest acquisition: Jeff Weaver...this could be fun, sports fans!!

We're toying with heading down to the desert for some sun and some serious outdoor baseball at its best...spring training with the Mariners! Nuthin' could be sweeter!!

And here's a nostalgic picture from last season for all you M's fans out there...I can't wait to get back to the SAFE!

PLAAAAY BAAAALL!!!

I SAY!! IT'S SNOWING AGAIN IN RENTON??

YES...QUITE!

We got another 2 inches this morning,

don't you know??

Added on top of the snow and ice that we've been dealing with for the
past week, it's a lovely picture, but scary to drive on!
Hopefully, all things (schools, businesses, etc.) will be back to
near-normal tomorrow! This is getting somewhat stale!!
However, it will probably take a few days for all of the ice to melt...
welcome to THE BIG THAW, Pacific Northwest style!

WINTER WONDERLAND!!

An early morning view from my office with the garage roofline in the foreground!
Looking out over the back deck with 5-6 inches on the railing...
Aren't these trees just gorgeous? You gotta love it!!!

This is what we woke up to this morning! It began snowing last evening, and was still snowing when we went to sleep last night! Our whole Puget Sound area got a good blanketing of snow, followed by sub-freezing temperatures coming down from Alaska & Canada, so for the next few days, we will be slipping and sliding our way around! My office is closed today due to the horrific driving conditions (many folks just ditched their cars along side the roads & freeways last night) and so I will enjoy this winter wonderland as best I can! Be SAFE, everyone!!!