A Rare and Unusual Day

We have a busy household here on the farm.  Our son Travis, DIL Kristi and grandsons Hayden (7) and Caleb (6) live here while saving to buy a house.  Our son and DIL went on a 6 day trip for their anniversary and we took care of the boys.  On Friday her sister Nikki and her husband picked up the boys and took them to the beach for 3 days.  On Saturday Dayle was asked by our older son to help him pick up an older truck he'd bought for his son, Dayle was to drive it home from Lebanon for them.  He was gone most of the day.  Travis and Kristi didn't arrive home until Saturday at 5 pm.  Where am I going with this?  Well... I had a "rare and unusual" day to myself.  :-)  Here I am, crocheting on my wedding afghan for my niece, watching FOOD Network, Giada de Laurentiis, cooking in her villa in the Amalfi Coast in Italy.  This photo is of her famous grandfather, Dino de Laurentiis and his glamorous movie star wife.

I'm endeavoring to finish this blanket so I can get busy on 3 pairs of pink baby booties for 3 baby girls expected to family and friends.

In the sunlit quiet of the day I would then read on my iPad - I'm reading "The House Riverton" by Kate Morton.  It's really well-written.  Very "Downton Abbey-esque".

Buddy curled up in his daddy's easy chair waiting for him to come home.  We adore this little golden dog.  He's so devoted to us.

From my easy chair I rested, crocheted, read and occasionally looked at my view of the dining room filled with golden light.

I would glance at the light coming in through the window to my left and enjoy the sunshine reflecting through the beveled glass hanging there.

Then I'd check and see if anyone had played a game of Scrabble or Words With Friends.. play a few games, check my email.. then crochet some more.  :-)  I did enjoy the day.. but was also glad to see Dayle arrive home.. then my son and DIL.. and the next day the boys arrived in the early afternoon.  Life is back to normal now.  

Yesterday I walked about on the deck to see how things were growing.. the "Briza Maxima", or called "Quaking Grass" or "Rattlesnake Grass" is looking very pretty!

Kristi got us a white geranium this year and it's really pretty.

The red-orange begonia we got in the Spring has done really well.  I kind of just stuck it in the side of the pot and it's done better than it's host plant!

The stream and pond garden in Autumn.. the hydrangeas even look pretty in their dried state.. the late afternoon sun is shining in the forest.

A few sections of our Pin Oak tree are turning red.. soon the whole huge tree will be brilliant red.

My blog friend Kathy recently said on her blog that she'd make a tissue holder for anyone who asked.. wasn't that nice of her?  I received this on Friday.  I love it!!  Kathy's blog

My graphic designer friend Marita contacted me recently and asked me if I'd like to put some of my photographs up on a website with one of the company's she works with.  I thought it would be fun to try.  Click HERE to check it out.  They host my images, people can order prints, and I get a percentage of the sales.  It will be fun to see if any of them sell.  :-)

A busy afternoon ahead, I will be swimming with Gracie and then have two meetings with the Friends of Multnomah Falls later.  A meeting to debrief on the 100th Anniversary Event then the regular board meeting.  I'm glad I had a nice restful weekend to recharge.  I hope you did the same and are ready for your week ahead!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)