Ashley's suprise!

Just some thoughts.....have I been prejudice in my view of the election this year based on race? I don't think so. Have I been persuaded by those saying Sen. Obama was of the Muslim faith? Yes, I truly thought he was Muslim in his belief, yet to my understanding now, he is and has been a member of the UCC for at least the last 20 years. Would this have changed how I voted? No. One reason I didn't vote for the Senator was because I didn't like his plans for taxes, (Jeff and I are small business owners and to my understanding we're going to be taxed even more than we are now, I hope my understanding of the Senators tax plans are wrong). This is the reason many people voted for him; they like his tax plans. Does this mean Sen. Obama is their President and not mine? No, this means the democratic process is alive and well in our country and I will pray for OUR President like I have the others before him.

I have told my children how interesting this is from a historical view point! Electing the first black President is living history. It will be interesting to watch history unfold before our very eyes! (This coming from someone who doesn't even like history! Will wonders never cease?!)

I don't know if you'll be able to see it in this picture, but the snow capped mountain in the back ground is Mount Hood. I took this picture as I was driving to Bingen, Washington. Just after taking this we had a herd of about a dozen horses run out in front of us.

Brush fire somewhere in Washington. Several acres were burning...the wind was not helping as it was gusting quiet hard. Thankfully this was in an unpopulated area so it didn't look like homes were in danger.

Granite Lake RV Park in Clarkston, Washington was a neat experience. It is the only campground I've stayed in where they offered a continental breakfast in the club house, the daily paper on your stoop every morning, and an ice machine in the laundry room! The grounds were beautifully landscaped, it's located right at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, and the city bike path ran along the river.

Mammoth Springs, Yellowstone National Park. Smelled like rotten eggs due to the sulfur content. Did not know that Yellowstone is an active volcano! They believe the rim is 35 by 45 miles!! After seeing all the thermals and fumaroles I'm a believer. In one section of the park the river was literally boiling due to the thermals in the river bed. Pretty neat.

My precious family playing around at our campsite in Olympic National Park. This is the view from directly behind our camper. The lake is Crescent Lake and is crystal clear and freezing cold! This is located at The Lost Resort; they had a campground, cabins, and a lodge. Would be a great "romantic weekend" get-a-way for someone in the northwest. Not seen in this shot is the snow on top of the mountain behind Jeff and the kids.

My girl has a very artistic eye. She took this shot in Victoria, BC. This is located in Bastion Square. We found a little art gallery there where we picked up a giclee of a Pino painting Jeff and I like.

We had to take a ferry across the Juan de Fuca Strait from Port Angeles, Wa., to Victoria. The sky was overcast and it was drizzling when we left Port Angeles. As we got about half-way across the strait the sky begin to clear to a gorgeous blue and we had perfect weather the whole day...until we headed back across the strait then the sky became overcast and rainy again. It was a nice day.

Seattle, Washington is the home of the original Starbucks. It's located downtown at Pike Place Market. Neat area with handmade jewelry, art, and food. They sell just about everything here from seafood to vintage clothing to fresh vegetables and flowers. We found a 1950's silk dress that fits Ashley like a glove. She plans on wearing it to the semi-formal this fall.

My "Sassy-baby," Ashley, at the western most point of the contiguous US.

My Jesse at the western most point of the contiguous US. This is Cape Alva, Washington.

Northwest Passage-Phillips' Style is well underway. We are currently in Clarkston, WA. Yesterday we came through Lolo Pass. WOW! At the highest point the snow was still four to six FEET! Yes, yesterday was May 19th. We had 200 miles of twisting, winding, curving roads. We were all a little bit sway-sick by the time we stopped!

Pointed Blue-eyed Grass

Pointed Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium angustifolium, a member of the Iris family, is one of my favorites. This grass is a native wild flower. It grows in clumps and has mulitple flowers that can look like a blue cloud in the larger clumps.

Money Plant

Money Plant Lunaria is a biennial. This plant is in it's second season. In Spring, after the seed from the previous year germinates, you'll see the distinct green leaves. These will send up a bloom stalk next Spring. The purple flowers will turn into the round, flat green pieces sticking out from under the flowers. These will continue to enlarge and eventually turn translucent, which is where the plant derives its name. The "money" holds the seeds for the next set of plants. I like that you never know where it will appear next as the seeds are very light and easily scattered.

There is also a white blooming cultivar.

Solomon's Seal

Solomon's Seal Polygonatum is a deciduous woodland native. I like the varigated leaves and the way the small white flowers dangle underneath. I have this in a bed with 'Silver Dragon' Persicaria, Cast Iron Plant Aspidistra elatior, Holly Fern Cyrtomium falcatum, various Heucheras, and Heleborous.

Azaleas

The azaleas have been blooming since the second week of April. The white ones are about a week later than the pink. After blooming, they will need fertilizing anytime before July. I will also hand prune to shape for the next year. Azaleas set next years bloom on old wood not new, therefore pruning should be done soon after blooming.

Bowling shoes.......yeah, I'm kinda weird...This is in response to Suzannes Blog Challenge

#?? Jeff entered his company in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Bowl-a-thon. This is a picture of Johnny Ford's feet...big feet...Even though none of us are very good bowlers, we all had a good

time!

Lenten Rose Hellebores x ??
I started with Hellebores orientalis. These plants
cross-breed and create new species. I now have cream, green,
burgandy, and mixed colors. These plants colonized well, are
evergreen, and resistant to deer. The plants look nice with a little
pruning in early fall. They begin blooming as early as December
in my zone 7 area.

Winter Daphne Daphne odora

small evergreen shrub blooms in February.

Wonderful fragrance!

Photo taken 02*23*08

Candytuft Iberis sempervirens

evergreen perennial-normally blooms in early spring.

Photo taken 02-23-08

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Romans 5:8

My Ashley

My Jesse...

Joys

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15