End of June and Celebrations

As you know, Father's Day was yesterday; but my family decided to celebrate on Saturday. It was a most laid back day to celebrate with no rush to go anywhere else. It was just the right sort of day for a celebration. My "live-in gardener" (husband) wanted a picnic on our daughters new deck at her house. She barbecue for the first time and I brought everything else. My family said I always make pie for company or other people, but it was time to make apple pie for my family. Father's Day was the best day to finish off the last of the apple pie fillings in the freezer. It will probably be the last time we have apple pie (gravenstein apples) from the apple ranch that once belonged to my grandfather; so it was extra special.

I took time to walk in my daughters garden and smell the flowers. Jill grows chamomile for tea.

My husband built the tree house during Covid for our grandson. The tree has grown up around it. What a fun hideaway place to go.

Then on the actual Father's Day I took Jim out for lunch on a floating dock along the Columbia River. It was a lovely, sunshiny day; so it was fun to watch the boats come and go.

There was a stop in Camas, Washington. They have a downtown, vintage movie theater. I loved seeing the lights. It is a sweet downtown.

This past week we also visited Fort Vancouver in Washington State. It has a wonderful early history that included the Hudson Bay Company.

There is a garden just outside the fort and I needed to savor the garden for awhile. What a beautiful day to walk in the garden.

Hollyhocks were growing beautifully there. I always wanted hollyhocks in our garden, but they never did well. It was fun to see how well they were doing here. I think they like full sun.

Bachelor buttons took up the showy blue color for the garden. With a pause I enjoyed them.

Roses too!!!

And lots of California poppies!

Then because we needed a good walk, we enjoyed the shade trees of the fort.

There is even a restaurant in one of the old buildings on the fort grounds.

We must remember to have lunch there soon.

There is a big 4th of July celebration that takes place here with music in the bandstand and fireworks too. When my children were small we enjoyed the fireworks on several occasions, but now I prefer not fighting the crowds and traffic. Is it that I am less patient now or is it that there are more people out and about now? Maybe a combination of the two?

 I love this time of year with sunshiny days to take small adventures and just celebrate the day. Hoping you are also enjoying each day with small celebrations and adventures.

Sending love,

Marilyn