Your Neck Of the Woods part11 Independance Day

thanks, Muddy, sounds like a rough time for you then! It's funny you should mention laundry--that's on our to-do list for today, and I was thinking the same thing--maybe I'll just throw it down the basement stairs! :-D I'm not sure DD could manage carrying the whole hamper with dirty clothes down by herself, and I definitely can't do it right now!

Sure wish I had one of those motorized vehicles right now for the yard. My ankle was feeling stronger and less painful this morning after a full day of rest with the splint yesterday, so of course I limped around outside just to see how all the blooms were doing--couldn't weed or deadhead or anything, just wanted to see how things were doing. And boy I became aware of how our bodies just naturally compensate for all the nonlevel spots in the ground, and how difficult that can be when you're not fully mobile. Then I thought of one of those motorized scooters too and how fun it would be to ride one around the yard! :-)

My house is a 4-level split. Lots of stairs to climb all the time. 18 from top to bottom.
Can't tell you how many times a day I do this.....

One bonus feature I have in my house because of this is a Laundry Chute.

From the main family (HA!--just me) bathroom upstairs, there is a round opening
with a hinged flap cover that I just throw all my laundry down it.

It lands 2 levels down in an enclosure with nice little louver doors (thanks to my DH then)
and I just go down there and scoop it all up and take it into my Laundry Room
where my washer/dryer is--on the lowest level

Just FYI--this was made possible (I think) as this feature uses a large duct
between my furnace and the upstairs as the chute. It is NOT a heat duct--
but was re-purposed as a chute in a space available to do so.

IF any of you ever have a house built--ask to have one installed...
It is awesome...and VERY convenient....

G.

Can I be your adopted grandchild, G?

I'd be volunteering to do the laundry - i.e., "inspect the chute" - DAILY.

The things I missed out on in my youth...

You mean--all it would take to have you come live with me is a laundry chute???

Come on over!..........:o) Gita

Viburnum---Just for you ....to make your day--

Here's the chute in the upstairs bathroom and the pick-up enclosure downstairs..

Heads up Swap threads are up.

I'm so glad we are getting much needed rain, it's also all I needed for an excuse to kick back for the afternoon. At the rate we are going we may just have the place ready for "show and tell" in Sept. I guess it's now official, the threads are up.

G:

Imagine the heads and feet of 10 kids (9 boys) stuck out of all those openings - with or without clothes.

Gotta make your own fun - back in the day - and somehow ended up learning a thing or to about running a household.

Hey! I was tricked...

Here we are at the park after the adoption ceremony.

Beautiful family!

hi, Jan. I feel like I missed something. What was the adoption ceremony about? Congratulations! :-)

Jan, Such a great family pic. Are you any where near the fires? I was watching the Evening News and they showed all the fires, Washington, Oregon, Idaho & California seems like the whole area is going up in smoke.

Our oldest son's family adopted their second son. Markus is 7 years old. He has lived with them since January of last year. The finalization ceremony was at the county courthouse. Nick is now 16 and Hope, their biological daughter is 12. Awesome family!!!

No, we're not near the fires. Thankfully!! However a few days after we were east of Mt. Hood at the lake there were fires about five miles from their property.

that's wonderful, Jan--congrats to your son and his family!

Glad you have not been bothered by the wildfires!

Several months ago the President of the Garden Club asked if Ric and I would be willing to host their Fall picnic next year in 2015. So I said that we sure would but I wasn't quite sure if our property is quite what they were looking for. So I invited her to come out and see if it would work. She came this morning and loved the gardens even though to me they are pretty rough and with a lot of unfinished projects sitting half done. She loved the place and said yes she thought it was be a great spot for the picnic. So it looks like next year we will be hosting another Fall event.

that's wonderful, Holly! And I'm sure she saw the beauty and not the imperfections. :-)

Has anyone been to the Kennilworth Aquatic Gardens?

Tomorrow is their Lotus and Waterlily Festival!

http://www.nps.gov/keaq/planyourvisit/lotus-and-water-lily-cultural-festival-2014.htm

SSG, Thanks so very much. I would love to come to that. Tomorrow is my daughters Triathlon, not sure when she would be finished, then there would be the drive down. Which could put us down there rather later than I would want. Well, we will see how the day goes.

We have often wondered about the Aquatic Gardens as we see the sign on Rt 50 when we travel south. This would be a great time to visit them. Dancing, music and water gardens what more could you want.

Yes, I love that they're holding a Cooking with Lotus class! :)

We're apparently just a little bit past peak bloom season for lotus, but it should still be lovely. I'm going to try my best to go.

Here's a wonderful Washington Post article on it:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/at-the-kenilworth-aquatic-gardens-lotus-and-water-lilies-thrive/2014/07/16/d1fd9dda-077a-11e4-8a6a-19355c7e870a_story.html

I will have to check out our local Wildwood Park. They have the largest Northern stand of Native Water Lotus. I think it is a bit early for them to be blooming yet. But I should check it out so I don't miss it. The smell is just heavenly. I just checked out their website and it says blooms usually start 3rd week in July and continue thru the 2nd week in August.

Looks like such a fun day. I had no idea the park was there! Wish I could join you!

I had never heard of Kenilworth Park; thanks for the links, SSG. I'd like to go, but not when there are 3000 other people there!
By the way, I read this on the Kenilworth site: "Early summer mornings are prime time to see our famous water lilies and large lotus flower as they take center stage before closing up during mid day heat (late June-July)." It sounds like getting there before the festival starts would make sense for anyone planning to go.

speedie- is the nursery named Winter Green now, on route 5? I passed by yesterday and thought I recognized it. Don't smack me- we had a schedule and could not stop, or I would have!!!

I've been to Kenilworth but in spring before the lilies were up. It was such a quiet, natural place, its hard to picture a festival. Maybe the lilies will stay open longer with the clouds today.

I made it out to the lotus festival today! Only some of the species were blooming today.

Even the seed heads are pretty. And I got to taste lotus tea!

Beautiful SSG!

Looks like it was really nice. I was wrong DD Triathlon is tomorrow morning. But I stayed home and painted. Got to get these walls done, so Josh can start on the floor as soon as we get back from vacation. I got the big wall all painted and one other small wall that is getting painted the same color.

very nice ssg!

Holly, thankfully this is good weather for painting.

Just tore apart the kitchen island, just 2 cabinets with with top and back. Pretty easy, emptied and moved the whole mess into the mud room. Sure wish Ric was here. I still have some drive left and could wash down the two end walls in prep for more painting tomorrow but I need two large pieces of furniture moved and the baseboard heater removed.
I am on construction mode.......Ric is on vacation mode. I'm working on getting the living area done so Josh can lay the floor........Ric is getting his new "old" boat ready to go to the beach. LOL

Holly, I cannot believe your energy--it is truly awe-inspiring. guess I won't mention that I was totally pooped out after buying DD school supplies for next year and came home and took a nap!

It was a big day we will see what I get done tomorrow, it was a good day.

sounds like it! :-)

I'm sure you're looking forward to that floor Holly!

I was in weeding mode- expending pent up urges to weed and trim.
Trying to decide between two names for our place-
'Nutsedge Acres' or 'Barren Strawberry Fields Forever'...grr lol

ROFLOL

LOL Sally!

haha, been there, have you??
SER iously, can't believe how much sedge I've pulled this year!!
If there was any slope to this yard, I could also nominate Knotweed Knoll....how about
Mulberryweed Manor....Ground Ivy Glen...

Wow, Holly! My back hurts just reading about your day!