A Pleasant Sunday Afternoon

I love daisies! I had them in my wedding almost 40 years ago. The daisies always bloom around the 4th of July here in Troutdale and make me think of summer!

I am feeling better but the cough is still hanging on...sigh. I am hoping that it will be GONE this week.
Jim went to a few sales but I didn't feel like going. Chris, Angie and Ava stopped by to show us Chris' new 1965 truck that he just bought. Ava came loaded with lots of "show and tell"and Angie is looking so good with only 3 weeks to go until baby Otto arrives!

Jim arrived back home and we decided we were all ready to eat, so Ang and Jim went to get some takeout. We sat outside and had dinner together! It was just so fun and so nice. The perfect afternoon~not to hot, not to cool. This is what I like about summer. I hope you had a lovely Sunday afternoon too.

The Countdown to Baby Otto!

 The countdown is on for Baby Otto's arrival! The due date is July 25th, so we are all trying to get ready for the baby. Angie is done with work now and can get things finished up and ready for this little bundle. I am finally doing this blog post on the baby shower that was a month ago. It was really fun and a nice gathering of Chris and Angie's friends, as well as friends of the family that have watched our girls grow up.

The fantastic stork and table that greeted all to Baby Otto's open house shower. It was at Chris and Angie's home and was a very fun party! The weather was perfect and the food was soooo yummy.

A cute side photo of Angie and baby! Everything was decorated and very BLUE! After two girls, Miss Ava and lots of pink...it was so different to be surrounded by blue!

Auntie Gina came down from Seattle with her friend Rachel. Angie is pinning on "Grandpa Jimmy's" name tag. Such a happy day.

One proud daddy and one proud grandpa~Note the meatballs on Grandpa Jimmy's plate! YUM.

Ava, Grandma Linda and Grandpa Jimmy! Lots of fun! Their backyard is just so beautiful.

A girl has to have sparkle red shoes for these special dress up occasions!

Ava and her daddy being silly! Can you see where Ava lost her first tooth?

We were just thrilled that so many of our friends were able to stop by. Nancy, Pat and Linda are having a nice chat. LaVonne's daughter and SIL brought her out to surprise us! So sweet. I am sorry I didn't get their pictures. Missed the photo op with Len and Gloria, Sha and Molly and MJ. Thanks so much you guys for coming. Sorry Grandma Linda didn't get pictures.

Erin and Marley have been family friends FOREVER! So good to have you both at the shower! Ava and Marley had so much fun together!

Angie had two good helpers to open ALL the wonderful gifts for Baby Otto.

I just LOVE this picture of my daughter and Ava. Angie is so good with Ava and has waited a very long time to be a mama. She's so good with kids.

Lots of presents!

This gal gave Angie a quilt that had been given to her son. He was ready to pass it on. I think they are holding it upside down! It's a darling retro cowboy print. When they add on, they want to decorate the baby's room in a vintage cowboy theme.

Another sweet picture of my first born Angela. We love you guys and can't wait for the next member of the family. Enjoy this time my sweet daughter.

Father's Day 2013

Yesterday was Father's Day and what a special day Jimmy had! I decided to fix him a light breakfast treat as we were going to meet the kids for dinner.

I like to use Oregon's Harry and David's scone mix when I'm in a hurry. I do drop type scones and they always turn out wonderful. It's strawberry time in Oregon, so I chose this strawberry mix. Jimmy loves strawberries.

I mixed fresh Hood berries with the local raspberries that are just appearing on the market. They aren't real sweet yet, but still yummy!

We collect sterling strawberry forks and it's just fun to use them. They make you enjoy each berry, one at a time. These are two that I found on my Tasha trip back east about seven years ago.

After a nice breakfast, Jim wanted to go back to the downtown library to view Allen Say's work before the exhibit is taken down this week. It was nice to look at the original art work without a crowd.

Then we had to head to the Wong King Seafood Restaurant to meet the kids for the Father's Day dinner. Angie is looking good. Baby Otto is only about 5 weeks away???? We all picked dates last night for the baby's birth! Funny. Chris was also celebrating his Father's Day! He always makes everything sooo fun! Don't they look cute?

Our other cute couple, Eric and Gina, drove down from  Seattle to join the fun. They were both sick but wanted to come! Thanks you guys for the extra effort!

So what did Miss Ava have for her daddy? Something special that she made! Let's see Ava!!!

She made Chris a great fish picture that said she loved her daddy because he was funny and awesome.

She was so excited! That other tooth is just about to come out!

Of course  Barbie had to come the party! She fit right in the soup bowl. Look out Barbie, you better move.

We just all had so much fun. We had to go to Baskin and Robbins for ice cream after the dinner....soooo full!

It sure was a fun day. Love being a "Clan" after all these years of waiting. I'll be babysitting Miss Ava at her house tomorrow.

Gardening and Busy Days

Having a quick cup of coffee this morning before we take my car in for new brakes! It has been busy around the Colantino Cottage! We had Ava overnight again on Saturday and oh my goodness, she is so busy! It's a JOY to have all that energy around and that cute little voice to make you happy. I was SO tired when Chris and Angie picked her up. She was too and took a nap until 5 PM!  Angie is doing well with her pregnancy and for that, we are so thankful. They are planning for a big baby shower over the Memorial Day weekend. Gina will be down to help. I am MISSING my Gina and Eric. Seattle isn't that far away really but it's not like having the kids live here in town.

We've been getting the yard and the patio ready for summer and had our first dinner outside last night! It's been in the 80's for days, very early for warm temps in Oregon this early. Jim brought the fans over and put up the screens on the front windows. What a difference! COOL air. We do have a small AC and I think this year it will be back in business. The last two summers were so wet and cool, we didn't set it up. I have a feeling this will be a warm summer.

After we drop the car off, we are going to the nursery for some plants. I had Duane clean our a flower bed that was so overgrown, so now I have a blank canvas! FUN!

I had a really bad day yesterday, but am believing that today will be better. Trying to have a good attitude after some prayer time this morning. 

Looking Back on Easter Sunday on Easter Monday!

The weather on Easter Sunday was so warm and nice and really unbelievable. The temperatures reached near 80 on Saturday and Sunday. The Easter Bunny left this sweet little metal bunny cart on my table with some gift cards for two fabric stores. I guess that rabbit knows how to please Lady Linda! Just in time for an upcoming retreat.

My friend Nancy stopped by my house to wish me a Happy Easter and she left a large basket filled with lots of gardening fun items-gloves, seeds, and tools.

I thought it would be really fun to put together a fun STORK Easter basket for Angie and Chris. They are collecting Stork items for their baby shower. It turned out really cute.  I wanted to thank my friend Erica at Golden Egg Vintage helped connect me with Laurie's Etsy site E is for Ethel. I ordered a set of 4 vintage blue stork candle holders that are so cute. When Laurie found out my big plan, so sent me some extra stork goodies. Wasn't that so sweet! I love Etsy people. Thanks so much for your kindness and the treats Laurie.

I love the stock ceramic planter. They are collecting them and didn't have a stork planter! Yeah for mom finding one in Troutdale.

Of course Ava had to have a basket too filled with lots of fun stuff! Her she is in her Easter dress off to find the eggs that Jimmy and Linda got to hide in her backyard. Perfect weather for the hunt!

It was so warm after the hunt and the sun was shining bright in the pretty backyard, that her daddy filled the swimming pool and then had some fun with the hose! Chris was so warm, he had an umbrella out to provide some shade! True Oregonian!

Ava and her Grandma Kathy. Grandma's are always ready with a nice warm towel when needed!

After the backyard fun, we headed off to Salty's Restaurant on the Columbia River for Easter Sunday late brunch. Jimmy found the crab and oysters.

Miss Ava enjoying her dinner with the family...lots for a little girl to choose from.

YUMMY....Jimmy found the chocolate fountain~chocolate and fresh strawberries!

Chris and Angie taking looking pretty content and happy!

Great picture of Grandma Kathy. Everyone was having a great time...no cooking for these gals this weekend! As you can see we were all having a fun time together. Hope your family had a great time too.

Tea Time Thursday #10

Last Saturday evening, I got a phone call and I expected to hear my daughter Angie's voice when I answered. To my surprise, it was Angie's Chris asking if Jimmy and I would like to go to the Heathman Hotel in downtown Portland Sunday afternoon for tea! Well, of course! The Heathman is a lovely older hotel in Portland and the Tea Court is in a gorgeous room complete with a beautiful crystal chandelier.

We all had the afternoon tea tray and yummy! Everything was so good and it was a very nice offering to be enjoyed by all.

Angie and Chris surveying the tea time treats!

Chris, Angie and Jimmy...waiting to sample the goodies. They were all being silly.

This is the first full tea that Jimmy has been to. He REALLY enjoyed the calm and the time to just relax and chat. I think he understands now why I love to go to tea.

Here's the mama-to-be with a mouthful of the famous opera cake and oh, it was soooo goodd.

No fancy teapots or teacups here...Vanilla, Earl Grey and Orange Spice teas were the favorites at the table.

This is sweet Grandma Kathy, Chris' mom and Ava's grandmother. We were so glad she was able to come with us.

Here is Miss Ava in her pretty dress. Notice the missing tooth? Others are loose too! She had the Peter Rabbit Tea for children that was just perfect for little ones.

This is my tiny doll sized Peter Rabbit tea set which I love! Very detailed and charming. I love anything Peter Rabbit. Maybe next year I will decorate with my Peter Rabbit things for Easter. It just all came too early this year!

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is Good Friday already. Time to set the bunnies aside and spend a day thinking about Easter.