MEMORIAL DAY MEMORIES

aargh!  I just wrote a huge post and somehow it got deleted ... can't believe I did that!

I guess I'll try again.

Memorial Day weekend began last Friday - with the graveside service that had been planned for some time.  Bernie died las January and was buried at Willamette National Cemetary, but the weather from January to April had been just horrendous!  So we finally decided to do it this weekend.  well, it rained ... no, deluged would be a better term.  We - Bernie's wife and sister and I - drove across town (?45 minutes) and hit a rainstorm the last 10 minutes of the trip.  we waited for the rain to lessen and finally made it to the gravesite - I had written a free-verse poem that I called "Holy Ground" - "the place you are standing is holy ground ..." (God, when calling Moses in Exodus);  we chuckled at the weather ... I took some pictures - they had both forgotten a camera; together we had one 'compact' umbrella between the three of us - "it never rains in Oregon on Memorial Day weekend" I think we grinned to each other.  .

Saturday we spent in the back yard beginning the hardscaping and visioning for what's going to happen back there.  I moved a lot of dirt - from one place to another, then moved a lot back -  because I moved too much

the first time, but it was an enjoyable day.  ended up going to church for about 4 hours to get ready for Sunday.

then came Sunday - the sermon is already posted - had fun with the Navy SEALs story - it seemed so appropriate for understanding love in action!  had many good comments as well.  Also pulled out the guitar and played with the praise team - since Jeff came, that's not been one of my duties!  and I haven't missed it either!  anyway - after church and lunch we made out way north to Raintree Nursery in Morton WA.  What an eclectic place -  they not only have what one needs - they have 45 varieties of it!  We bought an Orcas Pear Tree; 6 (3 different kinds) of blueberry bushes and got one free.  Spent the greater part of a hundred dollar bill - but will hopefully provide fruit in the coming years.  Karina had bought there years ago and had told me about it.  By the time we got there it was after 3; they closed at 4 - but it was a successful jaunt, except they were sold out of honeycrisp apple trees... have to wait till next year.  On the way home we stopped for dinner at Joe's Crab Shack in Vancouver, WA - and didn't have to wait - though the place was packed (as it always is) we got a table overlooking the Columbia River and the I-5 Bridge!  I had a surf and turf burger that was out of this world!  Had I taken a picture your mouths would still be drooling - thank me for forgetting!  But got a picture of the view.  We got home and I was asleep by 9:00!  Karina ended up watching a couple of movies - boy is that ever a swap!

Today was grand day at the gardens at 21110!  Got a good start on more of the plantings.  My tasks were to dig holes for roses; level an area for a future garden bench; have a beer, or two; give Karina some directions on where she needed to put some plants; rake some dirt; drink a beer or two; admire K's work; walk through the backyard with a critiquey look, nod my head; have a beer or two ...  no, no, Nanette!  it didn't work that way.  I TRIED to dig two holes for the roses - hit old roots from the former poplar trees in each hole (roots anywhere from 4-6 inches in diameter); had to break out the ax and chop them out, only to find that there was another one just under the one I had cut!  Well, there went the beer!  I sweat and panted and sweat and panted and sweat and panted - and finally made it possible to plant two roses.  Meanwhile, Karina, feeling sorry for her "most to be pitied" husband, decides to dig a hole for the next plant while I am still chopping away.  Not only does she hit NO roots, she then goes on to dig three more 'rootless' holes and gets all but two roses planted!  I tell you, it ain't fair!  and yes, we're still talking to each other!  even had a chance to invite our newest neighbors into the back yard to show what we were doing.

Karina has her surgery this Wednesday at 8 - Deo Volente - and we pray it is successful and the recuperation is swift.  Will load a few pictures and call it a night.

Love ya.

K and D