Lost Weekend

 Just a weekend of things planned and not followed through with and dissatisfaction of my ability to follow though with anything.  

I can't even remember anything I did, but for the last part of Sunday afternoon, I finally found an audio book I'm enjoying.  I spent a good portion of time copying a list of books I want to read and reread - or at least books that have been recommended.  I have a feeling I'll cancel most of them.  I tried 3 times this week to read The God of Small Things just because I saw Anne Patchett give a good review about a new book written by the same author.  She said she had read this book when it was a on the best seller list a long time ago.  She gave the impression that I was the only person who hadn't read it at the time and had my life changed by it.  So I tried it.  I gave it several chances and absolutely hated it.  It was a good feeling to press the Return to Library button.  So there.  I tried.  Chances are I won't like the new one written by the same author, Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy.  It's on hold, and if I get it, I'll give it a try.

I'm not too interested in reading things I don't like.  I made a new list of 76 books just waiting for me, either recommended by people or written by authors I'm familiar with.  I'm just glad this new book is good enough to keep my interest all evening.  It's A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.  No great plot and no real action, but the writing is good and keeps me interested.  I think it matches the mood I'm in tonight.  It's a really long book.  I'm on Chapter 3 and only 10% finished.  

I can't do anything that involves thinking or distraction while I listen, so I did laundry and changed sheets and other housework, but I've re-discovered the mindless pleasure of online jigsaw puzzles.  No thinking involved but just the satisfaction of clicking those pieces together to make a picture.

I chose the first one offered, and it was very satisfying.  I chose 500 pieces, because any smaller, I could barely see.

I guess I'll listen a little more when I go to bed, but I'm sure I'll fall asleep and have to rewind the tape.

Maybe tomorrow will be more lively.  It's hot, but we were cool inside.  Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter.  I wonder if the girls will want to swim.  I hope so.  It will be nice to sit by the pool instead of finding something to do inside.  Tuesday is their last day - a half day only - and then it will be summer.  

Days and Nights

 One good thing about my life lately is that I have so few things I HAVE to do.  The summer will be different, but if I'm up for a couple of hours in the afternoons when the girls are here or available for Mah Jongg games twice a week, I can plan my days just like I want. I can also take a quick nap when I want to, but the problem starts when my naps turn into what I think is bedtime.  

I had been out and active and walking and cleaning for a big part of the week, so I was ready for some rest.  About 8:30 or so of what I thought was the next day, I heard vacuuming and noise and sounds of cleaning from Elise.  It surprised me, because she's not an early riser, but she was up and cleaning all the hard floors - vacuuming, mopping, discussing cleaners, etc.  I felt a little grumpy about being awakened and involved, so I just got a cup of coffee and went to read over some books I had ordered for the girls for the summer and see if I wanted to keep them all.  I heard people outside on the sidewalk talking and laughing and figured it was people headed to work or school (forgetting it was Saturday - in my mind).  I got deeply engrossed in my reading and note-taking and spent at least an hour doing that when I looked up at my window and noticed it was dark - very dark. The light finally came on in my brain that it was still the same day I went to bed.  

I feel totally out of it when things like that happen, but I've allowed it, and really there's nobody it bothers.  I do like the fact that I have 8 more hours to do what I want to (hopefully sleep some more).  I've tried being on more of a schedule, but I just don't sleep that well from around 3 a.m to 6, so I'm always off at some point. 

From the time I was 20 and married and working and then having children and then still working until age 70, I never seemed to have enough time.  So now that I have it, I'm treasuring it and just enjoying it, no matter if it's day or night.  I think it might be healthier to have a regular schedule, but I'm not sure how I can do that, so I'll just go with the occasional senior moment and laugh about it - more than an occasional moment lately.  

So now I have my time back, I'll post the pictures of my afternoon with Kate on Thursday and then practice Mah Jongg a little.  I have a new audio book that I should be able to keep awake for.  I have sheets to wash, but I'll take pity on Elise and my neighbors and wait until the morning.  I have several blogs and columns I read and neighborhood news.  I wish I would sew or do anything practical, but I'm not able to force myself to do much in such a small shared space.  

Anyway, after hanging out a bit after school on Thursday and having some conversation about what we should do, we decided to walk downtown to the gem shop so Kate could spend the birthday money Aunt CC had given her.  Gray was less enthusiastic but still wanted to go and maybe stop by the library and get something cold to drink.  As we started down the sidewalk, Emily called and said she was working in town and was just leaving the coffee shop where she had been on a phone meeting since the remodeling has started on the clinic.  

She actually saw us walking, and pulled into a side street.  We stood at her window talking and irritated one man and blocked a UPS truck briefly, so she pulled into our alley and Gray decided to go home with her and hang out and relax.  Kate is just the best companion when we're walking.  She watches those dangerous sidewalk eruptions for me and holds my hand crossing the street!  It's fun being an only child sometimes too, and going to her favorite shop was enough to make her day.  

We found the Earthlight Rocks, Gems, and Minerals shop open, and entered her wonderland. 

I've never known much about crystals and gems or learned to appreciate them, but both girls can spend as much time in there as they're given, just touching and admiring and exclaiming over the pretty things.  They don't get to go often enough with their parents because of the amount of time they want to spend each time, and children under 18 aren't allowed without a grownup.  I think I read that, but I may be wrong.  I'll have to check.  I would not let children loose in my shop with that many little rocks and jewels to admire  

There are two locations for this shop, one in Kirkland and one here in Snoqualmie.   I'm not a real jewelry person either, but I did find some necklaces I liked.

She immediately went to the kid's area and found a frog that she fell in love with.  She went back in a few minutes to claim it and never let it go.  Funny how the craziest-looking things win someone's heart.  

We did a lot of looking and discussing of bracelets and pendants, just beautiful crystals and stones.  She loved touching every one of them.  We checked out the amber necklaces that Elise had shown an interest in and sent her some pictures.  She's pretty much as obsessed at Kate is, and I'll have to let the two of them go together next time.  

The necklaces I liked but would probably forget to wear.  Such pretty colors.

Sweet girl.  She's so polite and well informed about the things she's looking at.  I learned a lot.  She knew just how much she had to spend and came within a few dollars of estimating correctly.

She settled on 3 bracelets in patterns of black and gold and the frog plus one more thing that she loved - a disk with a hole in the middle.  Bracelets are in a picture below.

I'm not sure she would ever have wanted to leave if I hadn't finally sat down on a bench to rest, and she decided she was ready for her mango smoothie a couple of doors down at the Sno Thai Cafe.

She put her order into the kiosk - no stranger to kiosk ordering - and had time for the allowed free Pac Man games.  She said if she ever opened a restaurant, she would have machines that no one would have to pay for, and kids could play all they wanted.

Such a sweet guy.  I don't go in there enough to know his name, but he took great pains with her smoothie and even gave her a little bag of cotton candy.  

I got a taste or two of that smoothie, and it was perfection!  Just what was needed on a warm spring day.  I've had their regular food a couple of times, and it was delicious.  We're lucky to have them in town - both of these businesses.  This is right across the street from her DMW class building and a block from the new clinic Emily is working so hard to open by July.  Of course, the town is only three blocks, so everything is right there within walking distance of the apartment, including the library.

What could be better than this?  Her 3 new bracelets that she loves, her mango smoothie, and her froggie in the bag! We saw 2 little girls and their grandmother coming out of the gem store who had been in there when we were leaving.  We stopped and let them show off their purchases and had a sweet little conversation.

As we turned the corner to go back to the apartment, I spotted my new friend Helen sitting on her porch crocheting.  We stopped and talked for a few minutes.  She has a nice place that is bright and gets some morning sunshine. I'm envious of that.  She has a granddaughter in third grade, I think.  I was thankful to finally get home and rest a little, but it was a perfect amount of walking that was needed.  What a good day.

Countdown to the End of School

 Frankly, I'm not really sure of all the things that go on for the next week.  I'm just here for the ride.  I have all the times and dates in my calendar if I really need to know.

Yesterday, Graysen surprised me by coming in before 11:00, even though I knew she had a 10:43 release time.  She reminded me that she had been in school for nearly half a day by then, and it was time!  

We had about an hour before Katherine came home from her early release, so she did the usual catching up with her little cousin Sailer on FB and eating a few snacks and just lying on my bed and talking.  So many things going on to be excited about.  She's having a sleepover on the last day of school, and she and Sawyer needed to have a few discussions about that.  I think they're going to cook, for one thing, and watch some movies.  Who knows.  They get their yearbook today, and that's always a fun day for everyone.  I'm able to put names with faces of people she mentions if they've gone through kindergarten with her, but how they've grown and changed!

In this picture, about half of them started out with her in kindergarten and a good many are from Snoqualmie Elementary School.  These have know each other for 2 years now, and they will all end up at the same high school with about 4 more schools next year.  

She wanted to be in the WEB program in eighth grade, and there were 30 in all who were invited.  They'll have various functions during the next summer and on through the school year, acclimating the new class of 6th graders into the school and helping out where they can.  I hope it's a nice experience for her.  

I've already run out of time to write this morning, so I'll save mine and Kate's downtown adventure for later.  She did have her field day Tuesday.  I didn't hear anything about it, but someone had taken some pictures to send to Emily.  Looks like a lot of fun.  

Emily sent these pictures of the clinic under siege by the remodeling team.  Scary!

I can't wait to see the new and brighter space.  

The Day After the Busy Day

 I did have a full day, and now I'm paying for it.  My poor feet.  I've had this plantar fasciitis, I think, since the trip.  One day I'll think I've conquered it with ice and rest, and then a few days later it will be back and impossible to ignore.  Thank goodness it's only when I get up in the mornings or get up from periods of staying still, but it still hurts.  A lot.  And now because of favoring my right foot, I have some pain in my left one.  I just can't get it all together, but I'm not complaining too much.  It was a fun day.

I'm glad I made myself get to the grocery store when I did, even if it was windy and cool.  It was good to get that chore over with.

I took some pictures while I was out just to have a few things to put here for the future to remember.

The sky is ominous, but that's not a storm cloud here.  It's just the usual ho-hum let's keep the people guessing about the weather cloud.  No thunderstorms to cheer us up.  

Safeway is a nice enough store.  The workers I deal with have always been friendly and helpful, and I don't notice anything out of the ordinary.  Thank goodness, since it's the only store in town.  Elise will go to QFC in North Bend because she has prescriptions there and just likes it and especially likes to go to Trader Joe's and Fred Meyer.  I don't usually enjoy a jaunt for my groceries, so if I can't get them here, I'll order from Amazon.  I really do enjoy that in the winter!  

On the way home:  Cross the Snoqualmie Parkway, take the first right, and I'm home in about 5 minutes if I catch the light.  This is the front of the Chevron Station and convenience store and a Thai restaurant next door.  The entry is in back, and it looks nice from the parkway.  There are some more businesses back there too along the back side of the apartment complex.  

Baker Street (called Bakery Street by the girls forever) where the apartments begin. This is a pretty time of year, and the landscapers do a good job - they're just not allowed to make my street pretty yet.  Streets are swept often and stuff picked up.  It's a pleasant place to live.  

These are the impatiens Elise found that are so pretty right now.  She worried about putting them outside since the temps were in the 40s, but I think that's what they needed to perk them up.  Those flowers are dropping now, but we're hopeful there will be a lot more to come.

Put the groceries up and headed to Mah Jongg.  I allowed myself a couple of quick pictures since I hardly ever see a car on Ridge at this time of day.  It's a walkable distance, like I mentioned, but I like having a car there when I get through, so I just drive the 3 or so blocks.

This is the front entrance to the Y, and those steps are not hard at all.  It's easier than going around the side and climbing the incline up to the parking lot.  Almost everything I have to do in this town is within walking distance.  The employees there are so sweet to us Mah Jongg-ers and have learned our names and when we need our room.  

Naturally, my battery on my phone died just when I was getting ready to take some pictures of our group.  We did have 5 people, and one of them sits out every game.  If they want to, they can walk around and try to figure out the winner before the game actually starts, just by looking at what tiles we're dealt.  I'm not totally into playing for money or betting or anything but just playing, but I decided to try it, and I picked the winner!  That means the 3 losing players had to pay not only the winner but me too.  Easy money, especially when I won a game myself, but I did lose 2 or 3 games where I had to pay!  It was fun, but we won't play again this week.  I think I need to practice online a little more.

Graysen was already at the apartment when I got there, enjoying something to drink and working on one of her many projects due this week.  This new one is from band and calls for a presentation on some band.  Not hard, but the teachers need to have something to keep them busy these last few days. 

Katherine came in at about 3:40.  Her school is dismissed at 3:36, so we teased her about running all the way there because she knew I had been to the grocery store. These are the last few days I'll have someone walking from the school.  Sad.....

This was their end-of-school activity today.  I can't see it being worn too much, but I know it was fun to get it done.  They both get their yearbooks Friday, and then it's just a few more half days, and it's summer.

 They left to walk home in happy moods.  I enjoy them so much.  I made a quick ham and cheese sandwich since I had not eaten all day and barely finished it before I was nodding off.  There was no one to tell me not to, so I got ready for bed and was asleep by 6:00.  I did wake up at 11:30 with aching feet so got up to walk around a little and finish up this typing.  One Tylenol, and I'm ready to try sleeping again.  

I don't think I have a thing to do today except fold a few clothes and practice MJ and try to find a new audio book to listen to.  Not a hard day at all.  

Busy Tuesday and Kid Recap

 I'm going to go ahead and start this post because it really is going to be a busy day, and I probably will fizzle out before the day is over.

1.  We have almost run out of snacks, so I have to stop at Safeway on the way to MJ and pick up some more things.  Nothing fancy.  The girls have gone back to loving Goldfish and vanilla wafers - back to their toddler days.  They can certainly go through a week's supply in just a few days though.  I have to put them in plastic bags in portion sizes, but no one stops at just one baggie, including me.  What is there about those comfort food snacks?

2. It's a day that makes me regret not going out yesterday.  I woke up to rain.  It was nice comforting rain that makes you glad to have another hour to sleep, but it's always in the back of your mind that you have to go out there in it eventually.  

3.  Garbage Day again, and the cats have found their comfortable hiding spots.  They do not like those big trucks clattering in the alley and driving down the street.  I, on the other hand, do love them, because it means someone is taking away things I don't want, and I'm not the one in charge of all the work.  Elise is great at remembering on Monday night to check all possible trash and recycling cans and even cleaned the refrigerator last night.  Unfortunately, with Mah Jongg on Tuesday at 1:00, I usually have to be the ones to round the bins up and bring them in before I can move my car - and they're usually wet.  Small price.

4. Graysen came in right on time yesterday and was in such a good mood.  She's handling being a teenager a lot better lately.  There will be ups and downs, but I think she's settled into her personality and is tired of trying to fit in with what other people think she should be.  She has some sweet friends and is keeping her grades up, although she is constantly complaining to me how badly she is doing in all her subjects.  I happened to be with her math teacher Sunday, and she had nothing but praise for her!  

5.  Now that school is almost over, it seems like the teachers are loading the kids up with "projects."  Gray has to write the story of her life.  Like she says in a very dramatic voice.  I'm ONLY 13.  I haven't even had a life!  She's right there, and it's been such a happy and uneventful life.  She was making a list of what kinds of activities she's tried through those years, and it was mind-boggling to me:  Toddler soccer, gymnastics (gymAStics), tap and ballet for one year, beginner soccer where she was once put on a team of boys because of her name, I guess.  That was not a happy time for her.  She sat on her ball and watched them play mostly.  She has tried snowboarding, sledding, swimming, roller skating, ice skating, mountain bike riding, team soccer, lacrosse, basketball, tennis, and cross country running as well as playing the flute and taking some piano lessons.  She's glad to have tried all these these - and probably more - and feels lucky to have had the chance.  Her favorite thing, though, is still reading, with soccer and cross country her favorite team sports.  Katherine has also dabbled in all of these plus art, softball and martial arts for the past few years; she calls that her lifetime sport.  Her middle school instrument she has chosen is the trumpet or percussion, according to where there is a spot next year.  It's a wonder I've even spent any time with them!

6. I had them when it was dancing in the grass and coloring for hours and doing puppet shows and puzzles and pretend play and clay and beads.  I had them at their best, and I'll never forget a moment of it!  

7. Gray says she was accepted into the WEB program for 8th grade (Where Everybody Belongs).  I'm not completely sure what all that involves, but the main thing she's looking forward to is helping acclimate the new 6th graders to the middle school this fall.  They have to go through quite a bit of training and learn how to present the various activities and classes to the new students.  She's come a long way in her confidence to be able to do that, and I'm so proud of her.  Kate will love having a sister who knows everything showing her around!  Hopefully, she'll love it.  

8. I took no pictures yesterday, but we had a nice fun afternoon talking and working on homework and planning some summer things.  They mainly just put up with me, but at these ages, I'm grateful for that!  

9.  After the grocery store visit - and the wind and rain are still going strong - I'll end up at the Y for two hours of Mah Jongg and relax and enjoy myself.  Today it's Sharon and me from the Thursday group and Abbye and Sandy from the Tuesday group.  Sharon and I go both days if we can but lots of people are on vacation now or getting ready to stay home with children for the summer.  

10. Graysen will probably come here from her bus, but Elise will be here, and I'll get home about the same time as Kate, unless she has crossing guard.  Next year, they'll both get home at 2:45 or so unless they have after-school sports - and Kate still refuses to entertain cross-country!  

I'll come back and try to bring some pictures and see how many of those things I was able to pull off.

We watched this video about 5 times yesterday, and they thought it was hilarious.  It's still one of the funniest and most spontaneous ones I have.  Kate had on Gray's clothes and was trying so hard to keep up with her and at the same time keep her eye on "rabbit poop" that she keeps worrying about in the grass. Graysen is just feeling the music! Fun times.  

Sweet Face

 Since I don't get to see these girls as much as I used to - daily, sometimes all day long - I love passing by the digital photo frame on the desk and seeing a picture I haven't seen in a long time.  

It's going to be a rainy week, it seems, so I need to figure out what I'm going to do with myself. 

I should go to the grocery store and get a few snacks for this afternoon, but I'm not sure who is coming or if anyone is.  I'll either make a serving of three-cheese ravioli or some cookies or muffins.  That should compensate for not having anything exciting.

I don't think I posted Katherine's pictures from her end-of-the-year musical.  We ended up all the way at the back and could never get a good picture and could hardly see her, but there were some nice pictures on Facebook that I confiscated.  I wonder if that's the last time I'll go into Cascade View.  I should go back and try to find at least one picture a year for memory's sake.

Before we moved here and we visited, we would drive by the school and know that if there were children, that was likely where they would go.  A pretty "little red schoolhouse" with a beautiful few.  Of the Cascades, I guess.  

Then when Graysen was born and we walked her in her stroller or on her bike, we would always pass by the school and know that would be her school.  And later on, Kate's too.  They even had mostly the same teachers for each grade too.

The musical was nice, and we enjoyed the songs as well as the marimba band, recorders, ukeleles and even a few solos.  

I'm not sure how the end of school will wind down.  Lots of emphasis now on getting the fifth graders acclimated to the middle school.  I think Graysen is going to be in the group of 7th graders who were chosen to welcome the new students in the fall.  If so, that will be so special.  At least two of her friends have younger sisters coming up to 6th grade too.  I think it will be a fun year.  At least, they're counting on it, now that the younger ones know all the secrets of success!  

I guess there will be another "dance" of some sort at SMS and the traditional Beach Bash for the fifth grade.  

Right after school is out, they head for Issaquah to SweetLines, a mountain bike camp.  They're not deeply involved in racing or the whole summer camp, but they go for a week every year and reconnect with girls they have run into for years.  It sounds like they get more than just bike riding but social interaction and lingering memories.  

I'm looking forward to the warm weather and Noreen getting her knee back to normal, so we can go out and enjoy some things away from these apartments.  The swimming pool is open as well as the splash pad just waiting for sunshine, soccer games, movies in the park, a Fourth of July fireworks event, and some outdoor music planned.  I guess they're finally too old for the Fourth of July parade where the whole town is in the parade and have almost no spectators.  I've never missed one though!!  Somewhere in all this, I'm going to have to get the car washed and cleaned up, the garage cleaned out more, and getting some plants started.  These cool days, it's too easy to get one more cup of coffee and read.  

Sunday Brunch

 I was invited out for brunch this morning by friends and former neighbors, Linda and Wes with daughters Carly and Ida.  They moved several blocks away last year, and I really do miss them living right above us.  We see Carly more often since she and Gray and Kate are all friends, but it's always good to catch up with their lives.  

I was impressed at how nice their newer place is.  Although there is a second story, one of the bedrooms is on the first floor along with a bath and another half bath near the entry.  I didn't go upstairs, but there are two more bedrooms and a bathroom there plus a playroom/office at the top of the stairs.  I would love for us to get lucky enough to find a place like that.  We do need that extra bedroom.

I'm not sure who did all the cooking, but we had pancakes and sausage with some watermelon, strawberries, cherries and a welcome cup of coffee.  I really wish I had not forgotten my phone since I wanted some newer pictures. They're taking off for their vacation next month to the East Coast - PA, DC, and a few other places.  They've asked Graysen to feed and pet their kitties.  More responsibility to add to her resume!

Although their apartment backs up on a busy street, Fairway, there is a thick row of hedges and an elevation that buffers a lot of the street noise.  There's a patio, a front porch, and a back yard with a place to cook out.  So nice.  We're keeping our fingers crossed to find something like that, although we love the convenience of living just a few blocks from the rest of the family and friends right on the same street. 

I came home and went next door to pick up some soup Noreen had made to keep in our garage freezer for her upcoming knee replacement and ended up staying and visiting for a bit.  As usual!  It will be good to get this surgery over with before the nice part of summer gets here, so we can enjoy getting out and walking while it's warm.  Which certainly wasn't today.  I would compare it to an October day except for seeing spring flowers blooming and a little sunshine.  Just a cold and windy walk.  

I did get my camera and take a few pictures.

All the rain this week after a lot of sunshine has made the potted hydrangea start to show signs of blooming.  I'm planning to get a rosemary to plant in the permanent pot near the car where I usually have a geranium.  This way, it can stay there undisturbed and be useful.  

The front porch is sad right now.  The ferns looked good during the winter, but now they're just bedraggled.  I really shouldn't try to carry them through the winter.  I might have better luck just leaving them outside.  Elise's favorite plant does very well inside with occasional visits outside in the summer.

Another grouping that just goes dormant in the winter and pops back out as soon as it gets a little warm. 

These made it through the winter sitting right here, snow, hail, and freezing rain. 

Emily's spider plants have babies constantly, and she is generous to share them.  Noreen and I got a set of twins, and hers did fine, but I lost both of mine  I received this teenager last week, and he looks happy enough next to the cactus that isn't Christmas or Thanksgiving.  It just blooms randomly throughout the year.

 

Demanding no care or thought, this beautiful hosta is my favorite (and only) flower bed plant.  I'm told I can't plant things in the apartment flower beds because we have landscapers, but they can't seem to keep things alive, so I might sneak some hostas in and line them up in front of the boxwood skeletons.  

Emily and Ryan worked in the clinic all afternoon getting ready for the renovation that should make it a really pretty place.  The former tenants had kind of let it go, it looks like, so I can't wait to see it all fresh and new.  Noreen will be one of the first patients, but I hope I go in just as a visitor!  It will also be nice to have Emily here in town more.

Some before photos! Brown and disgusting!

There will be a new cleaning service!

I'm probably about ready to get on my warmest pjs and get ready for getting ready for bed.  I stayed awake most of the night last night, so maybe it will be a good night for catching up.  I don't have any good books to read or listen to, so I'll play some online Mah Jongg and really get sleepy.  I've enjoyed my cheerful card cover that I ordered from an Etsy shop in Birmingham - RobinandRoseStudio.  It happens to match one of the mats we use on Thursdays.  Buying MJ-related things is a huge thing right now.  Anything and everything.  I even want a $500 set of tiles, although I have no one to play with me here at home except Katherine, and she prefers the bubblegum pink ones.  Instead I bought 4 tires and would never consider paying that much for a game.

I think I heard we're not playing this Tuesday but will be back at it on Thursday.  I need to practice.  I'm not doing that well online this week.