Toppenish for dinner? Why not?

We heard Brenda was going to be a mere two-hour drive away from us, so we zipped down near Yakima for a quick dinner-and-DQ adventure. It was great to catch up!

One last fling before back-to-school

It felt a little crazy to spend a day at the lake with school looming on Monday, but on the other hand, what better time to go? We joined the UChurch children's ministries group for a beautiful day of kayaking, picnicking and canoeing. Grandma came along and we didn't get a single picture of her! Bother!

Finally figured out how to make bias tape!

I've been eyeing those tape-making gadgets at JoAnn's and finally figured out how to make my own bias tape with a sewing machine and a safety pin instead! There were good instructions online for making a long strip of bias (like this one...steps 5 through 7 were all I needed), but the trick for me was realizing how twisty the tube had to be. Some of the diagrams online make it look like you sew a fairly straight seam to make a simple tube, and it's actually a bit of a struggle because of how twisty the tube is, especially when using a small square of fabric like I did.


Then getting the strips folded and ironed was the fun part! I was going to eyeball it and just iron the sides down when I spotted a safety pin by the ironing board. I just stuck the pin through the ironing board cover, leaving room for about an inch of fabric to slide under. Once I got it started, I could pretty much pull the tape through and let the edges of the safety pin "fold" it into place. The little gadget from Joann's might have done a slightly better job, but it would have cost me something (plus I probably would have misplaced it by now anyway! if you've seen my sewing area you know this is true).



My new sewing vow is to (1) use stuff that's already lying around or (2) only buy things that will help me finish existing almost-done projects. So my bias tape whim was for refashioning this perfectly good, horribly unflattering boxy denim shirt I never wear but can't throw out because it fits and goes with everything (stupid, I know). I cut the sleeves shorter, cut the collar into more of a round scoop neck, and took in the sides to make it a little more fitted. Then I got to use my fun new practically free bias tape to finish the edges! (Yes, I am one of those women who should wear long sleeves year round, but it gets HOT here--plus I wasn't fooling anyone with the slightly longer sleeves, and at least now they don't hit me at the thickest point of my arms!)




Hmmm, no "after" picture, but you'll probably see me wear it sometime. Super comfortable. I did a refashion with Claire this summer too--she was "in the mood to sew something" so we cut the legs straight across off a pair of her too-short, worn out jeans and sewed on a ruffle from an old sheet that had already been cut apart to make quilt blocks! Good sewing practice for her, quick gratification, and nothing lost if it didn't turn out. (It did, though, because anything is cute on her!

Grandparent Camp!

While dad took an Advanced Placement teaching class and mom worked, Ethan spent the week getting spoiled in Salem. I sent the camera along, which meant getting a few strange pictures...plus some cute ones with the cousins. Quite a week: OMSI, Enchanted Forest, ice cream three times a day (actually not sure about that last one, but there was definite spoiling going on).




A couple of weeks later he spent a week at Grandma Camp in Spokane (equal opportunity spoilage), but we didn't send the camera that time. He saw the new Miyazaki movie and went to the children's museum and...drum roll...was finally tall enough to drive a go-cart. (I think those were the activities for the first day!?) Anyway, I'm sure Grandma got some pics that we'll eventually load here.

Ideas for improving your summer

I highly recommend urging some really nice friends to buy a boat. Then you get to ride in the boat without actually buying one and having to figure out how to fix it and all that boring grownup stuff. Plus if you're really cheeky, you can bring more friends along to share the fun, like maybe your red-haired goddaughter (maniac in bottom photo) and her family. And even if on some sunny weekend you aren't invited, as long as you know where they like to launch the boat, you could just sit there and look really pitiful and because they're so nice maybe they'll let you on board anyway. Next summer I could hedge my bets by bringing a cooler full of Pepsi and beer....or ewww, maybe not.

By the way, Lyons Ferry is a fantastic day trip from Walla Walla, but it was a pretty miserable place to camp. Nothing much but sun and rattlesnakes. Poor Claire--we always have her stay with us for the hottest week of the summer!

The Fourth of July

We couldn't think of anything to do after church, and since it was 98 degrees on our shaded front porch, we headed up to Harris Park for a cool late afternoon walk. HA. We should have known this was a bad idea when we saw only about three other cars at the trailhead. It was quite hot despite an occasional breeze from the river. So we had a very short walk (didn't even get as far as the rock fireplaces) and spent most of the time skipping rocks.


The highlight was stopping to return a couple of books and say hello to Sherry, Patrick, and Leroy, which turned into a pizza supper, which turned into fireworks way past dark. (Perhaps this is why people turn out the lights and hide when they see our van drive by? Hmmmm.)

I've read so many articles at work about Fireworks Danger ("You'll put your eye out!") that I can barely get myself to look at a fireworks stand, so Ethan was pretty thrilled when Patrick generously shared the privilege of lighting his fireworks...and Mom allowed it. Good times!

It's hard to leave the beach!

Manzanita views

A quick outing to Cannon Beach (mostly because a certain toy store was calling) was worth it just for the drive by all the ocean overlooks.

Dune jumpers

The kids spent a lot of time running through the dunes--I'm glad I caught up with them long enough to snap them in midflight.

Gorgeous weather

OK, it rained a bit, but this is the weather we'll remember.

Beach boys

This is why we can't go to the beach without a midweek laundry stop.

Dog on beach!

After we got home, we weeded our photos from the week, and if you were to judge solely by the photos, you would think we love our dog more than our kid. Or each other. But it's really that she's the best looking one of us. At least until she rolls in saltwater and seaweed. (More beach photos here....I really need to work on labeling posts better!)

Nehalem Bay State Park

This has to be the best state park in the U.S., or at least very close. Our tent was pitched steps from a sandy path through the dunes that led straight to the beach. Lack of laundry facilities (necessitated by the fact that kids at the beach go through about three pairs of trousers a day, and we never remember this while packing) was the only thing marring its perfection. So Stacy and I spent a rainy afternoon in the Tillamook Coins-n-Suds while Cliff and the kids visited the Air Museum.

By the way, we pitched a tent for the kids, but by night 2, all six of us were in the tent trailer. It got a little messy at times, but it didn't stop us from spending all week making plans for next year! (Or from wishing we lived in a commune year-round. :-))

Trip to Seattle

I see a lot more of downtown now that my research project has moved from Kirkland to Swedish Hospital. A visit to Pike's gave me a chance to see some beautiful things, some hideous things, and ... helloooooo, Doctor! (Amazing comic book store!)

If it weren't for that darn glare, you'd think he was right there looking over my shoulder wouldn't you? I'd naturally turn down an invitation to travel time and space with him, but I'm not going to lie and say it would be easy. ;-)

The first camping trip of the year

Cliff had to be at Hat Rock Friday night for a student vespers, so we decided to make a weekend of it. I surprised Ethan by arranging for a buddy to come along, which made me feel like Best Mom Ever.

Not only was this the tent trailer's first outing of the year, it was also Ethan's first outing with his birthday kayak. He took right to it. We also had the blow-up raft so he could swap out with several other kids who joined us for supper.