Pictures from Friday, April 17-18th

I just barely updated the blog, but wanted to throw some photos on here from yesterday and today. Ron, Diane and myself went over to Federal Way yesterday afternoon to put in a few hours at the D.I. Thrift store. They assigned us a cart of books and our job was to put them out on the floor in the correct aisles... and pull out enough of the older books to make space. I'm not sure how productive we were, but the guy thought it looked better when we were done... so every little bit helps. Our ward had an assignment of 10 hours for last week and Gary Powell had already done 7 all by himself. Our little contribution was another 4.5.

Before we cleared the store, we picked up some of the used books to purchase and Ron also found a fairly nice 20 inch bicycle for $15. Looked like it might be the ticket for Charlotte when she's just a bit bigger. We'd already loaded up the small one to take over. So... the trunk was carefully filled with bicycles and after grabbing a quick "dinner" at the next door Wendy's, we drove another 30 minutes to Enumclaw. The bulk of the photos were taken at Robert and Rachel's. Robert's much awaited chicks finally arrived yesterday afternoon and he had them fixed up in a temporary shelter... a box with a heat lamp over the top. They seemed to be settling in okay. He got one extra chick in case one dies or they accidentally get a rooster in the mix. They have two Buff Orpington's, one Barred Rock and an Americauna (sp?)... affectionately referred to as the "chipmunk" because of her coloring.

We arrived at dinnertime... which was too much distraction for the kids. Calvin has already escaped the dinner table. His empty spot below...

Time to put on socks. I liked this photo of Charlotte.

Grandpa provided a little help.

Aunt Diane goes upstairs to see Charlotte's room... and a cat gets a bit of love in the bargain.

Calvin just about wore out his grandfather before we left... although the kids took turns wanting to be up on his shoulders... or to be tickled.

This looks like their cats at first glance, but is the next door neighbor's female kitty... she has adopted Robert's family and would like to annex the whole house and live with them. The neighbors leave her outside all of the time and don't seem to be cat people. We got a kick out of her, but sometimes she'll pick on their cats if given the chance. She's taking a snooze in the chicken house... what he had completed so far. You'd have thought he built it for her.

Calvin wanted to sit on the bigger bike we got at the D.I. Think it will be awhile yet.

While we were outside with the kids, the sun was setting. I loved how it looked with this jet stream snaking its way through the clouds.

Charlotte getting the hang of the smaller bike. Ron stayed out with her after we all came in (it was getting cold) and she was doing much better even in that short time. She really needs a bigger one in order to stretch her legs out all the way... but this isn't too bad to help get her started.

The neighbor's cute kitty with Diane... who loves cats as much as anything. When we left to come home, this cat came out from under the porch to get some more love and was looking for us inside our car after we circled around on the cul de sac and past the driveway to leave. I felt kind of bad for her... she's so starved for attention. Robert was not quite so sentimental, since she can be a pest when he's already given her attention and is trying to get something accomplished. ;-) I know that feeling. This winter during all of the horrible snow and cold, the neighbors left her outside to fend for herself and Robert opened their shed to give her a place to get out of the weather. When she was missing for a day or so, he was really fretting over her. It's kind of an interesting relationship. ;-)

The new additions to the family... as seen through a little window he put on the front of the box, so the kids could see inside.


The rest were taken today. It was super nice and warm. I thought I'd spend much of the day outside, but that didn't really happen... only a couple of hours at best. Still tired from yesterday. I made some dinner and puttered inside before finally getting some weeding done out front. Ron and Diane shopped at Costco and stopped by Michael and Amber's for a bit... then came home and washed cars. You know it's nice weather when the cars get washed. :-) Supposed to be nice into this next week also.

An early blooming rhody with a British sounding name that escapes me at the moment. Can you see the hovering wasp that was supping on its nectar before I started taking pictures? You might have to click on the thumbnail for the larger version to see him better.

"Tiffany" rhody. A nice early pink.

Think I just showed this recently... a double English primrose that the phone repair guy almost obliterated when he trenched for our second phone line years ago.

The flowering cherries... long may they live! Technically... they have just about hit their projected lifespan.

At a glance this looks like someone spilled ashes in the grass (near the driveway... in the orchard). It's some sort of lichen or mossy stuff. Maybe it's kin to the ones that usually grow on the trees. Looks odd here.

'Ice Follies' ... a clump that managed to survive.

... eyesores that I keep hoping someone will come and move or remove. :-/

Someday before it falls down, I want to see this lovely vista minus cars parked all over the place... like a wrecking yard. The grass has really greened up this past two weeks.

Time to hit the hay!