HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO EVERYONE!! AND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL MY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED OR ARE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY!!
It's good to acknowledge that this is not just another excuse for a barbecue or watch golf or NASCAR all day. But let's face it, we appreciate those who have given their lives for our freedom, but we also appreciate a nice reprieve from the usual routine of work. This is a great time to see family members who don't normally have the time to travel or sit around a campfire and laugh and share stories. So, in a way, our doing these things IS honoring those fallen heroes. If it wasn't for their sacrifices, we wouldn't have the privilege of spending these 3 days thanking them and sharing our lives with our loved ones.
At the Lake, this is the beginning of the weekenders coming and relatives visiting. We had pretty decent weather this year - only sprinkled a bit today after I had mowed the grass/moss in my little yard. Our neighbors, the Millers, have kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and friends of each camping out in their yard all weekend. It's great! They keep the campfire going all day and sit around it till late at night laughing and teasing each other. It's amazing they have so much to talk about!! The little ones run around - sometimes checking out our yard or using our sidewalk and carport for riding a bicycle with training wheels. The dogs will come over for a quick visit - one decided to check out the pond today. Had to chase him out. All around the lake you can see bonfires at night. I can smell those hotdogs sizzling over the flames and almost taste the marshmallows toasting for the first S'mores of the season. Yep, everyone is truly Chillin' at the Lake!!!
As for me, well, I spent Saturday with my youngest daughter and 2 grandkids checking out the Tacoma Glass Museum. To be fair, I DID ask them for ideas of things they'd like to do and got shrugs and "it doesn't matter to me".
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| Darrien, me and Kensi at the Tacoma Glass Museum |
Sooo, first we headed to Subway for lunch and then off to the museum. It's one of my favorite places to go! If you're in the area, you just HAVE to visit it!! We checked out the latest project being produced in the Hot Shop first. They always have visiting a artist designing blown glass objects with the help of several apprentices /helpers. It's fascinating to watch them create something from molten glass!
Next we hit the galleries and saw some of the most amazing pieces of molded, blown, and painted glass you'll ever see. There was one exhibit that, at first, I just didn't get. The pieces were sort of bell-shaped or ovals or globs - beautiful, but other-worldly. Then, the more I looked at them, I realized how peaceful they seemed. The rounded shapes sort of took the edges off my mind as well. I felt I could just sit there and do something zen-like, like contemplate my navel or something!! Wish I could afford one of them for my garden.
They have a hands-on workshop where, for a fee, you can create some art yourself. They're doing fused glass coasters or pendants now. My granddaughter, Kensi, wanted to make one, so I paid the $32.00 and watched her draw and put pieces of glass on a glass square and then change her mind and come up with a totally different design in the end that I think turned out quite nice. They will fire it in a kiln and mail it to her next week. She's very excited to see the end product!
After we were done there, Darrien, a 17 year old male, decided he had spent enough time with us gals and was ready to head home. We women still had some exploring to do, so we dropped him off and headed to the town of Gig Harbor. It's a quaint, water-front town with lots of local artist galleries and gifts shops and other fun places to check out. We visited several establishments and then had some delicious pizza at Spyro's toppi it off with some decadent peanut butter pie! Kensi and I shared a slice - thank goodness!! I asked one of the waitresses to take our picture afterwards - 3 generations of beautiful women! Me, Kellie and Kensi!!
On the way back, we came up with some ideas for future outings. Go carts, Point Defiance, shopping, etc! Kensi and Darrien have both promised to come visit their sweet, old granny this summer. We'll see. Hope so!!
Today I got to go out for my second round of golf this year! My friend, Kerry, invited me to join her and a couple other local gals. The weather couldn't make up its mind what it wanted to do, so we were either taking a layer off or putting a layer on most of the day, but it didn't rain and we had a ball! I so enjoy playing with people who try to do their best, but still have fun just being out on the course with others having a good time. I actually had a terrific round for me - 63! That's for 9 holes, but I don't care - it's great for only my second time out this year. Last year I only made it out 3 times due to an attack of shingles. It was definitely better than last week's 74! My chipping and putting really improved - only 3-putted one hole and had a couple 1-putts. Makes a big difference! We ended our outing with some soup at the pro shop cafe and then I headed to the store to get some food stuffs and lawn mower oil. Spent the rest of the afternoon mowing, weeding, cleaning the waterfall and moving some fire pit seating around. Kerry called me later and invited me over to play a card game with several couples. Fun day!!
Tomorrow I do some cooking and baking, clean the downstairs bathroom and read some more chapters in the Bible. And remember, again, those brave men and women who have fought or supported the fighters in battles around the world in the name of peace and liberty.
So, I will end as I began with a rousing THANK YOU!! And a special Thank You to God for having me born in this country in this time where I have been witness to so many changes in our lives socially, technologically, governmentally and spiritually. We are truly blessed!!
Now, go start up the barby!!
Later!!
Jackie
