No-TV Tuesday: yard work and flowers

No-TV Tuesday kicked off with a run to the ballot box.

Armed with empty yard-debris bins and a dry evening, I spent hours outside doing more cleanup. I finally made it all the way around the yard collecting cones, cuttings, leaves, and weeds. And I got MOST of the big pile into the bins. 

Two weeks from now, the pile should finally be gone - and hopefully most of the overflow cans. BUT... then I need to do the roof and gutters. It's really never ending. Fortunately, I enjoy the work and love digging in the dirt.

Overflow:

Then I took a stroll around the yard to soak in my spring blooms:

A very old azalea hedge:

Stolen from Ma's yard:

Most of my front yard was swiped from Ma's house:

Hostas coming up:

More old azaleas:

Much better than watching TV

:)

24 years!

Yesterday marked 24 years of marriage!

Going-away bubbles were very popular in the late 1990s. 

Lots of adventures - and hopefully many, many more to come!

How old were we?!?!?!

Looking more our age:

❤

No-TV Tuesday: ballots and packing

Another super-thrilling No-TV Tuesday!

Picking our candidates for Oregon's primary election. Don't forget to vote by May 17!!! 

Also did dinner, laundry, and dishes while listening to my current audio book:

Packed for an upcoming camping trip:

Gizmo helped...

Ha!

:)

No-TV Tuesday: Winco, union strong, shrimp, weeds

I love turning on my audio book and digging in the dirt! A couple dry days brought plans for yard work.

But first up: Winco!

OSEA Chapter 51 monthly meeting:

Sally's Creamy Pesto Shrimp - one of our favorites!

Then I got to work in the front yard, quickly filling one yard debris bin:

Our very wet spring has me behind on my yard cleanup, but Tuesday's dry and warm(er) weather gave me a chance to get out.

I worked until I lost light and bedtime called.

Planning to get out more Wednesday 🍂🌼

Year of Hiking 2022: 24 - 27

We had some big hiking goals this month, but cold, wet, snowy weather put a damper on those outdoor plans. Fortunately, a quick trip to San Francisco gave me a chance to see some new spots for my 52-Hike Challenge.

No. 24 - Wildwood 53rd to Germantown Road, April 2 (25K race recap):

No. 25 - Centennial Way Trail, April 11:

No. 26 - Embarcadero, April 11:

No. 27 - Junipero Serra, April 11:

Hoping to explore much more in May :)

Happy Independent Bookstore Day!

Brad and I spent Saturday in Vancouver celebrating one year since MIL Donna's open-heart surgery.

Together with Donna and Steve, we ate lots of yummy food, watched Obama's nature documentary, chatted about all the important things, visited a brand-new See's Candies, and browsed Vintage Books. 

Vintage Books - at Mill Plain and Andresen - was new to me. We arrived to find chalk drawings announcing Indie Bookstore Day! 

That was a happy accident! The shop was busy, full of shoppers spending money at their local bookstore. 

While we didn't see them, apparently a couple cats hang around to greet customers:

The store was crammed full of books - new and used - of all genres. I was thrilled to find a used copy of Louise Penny's latest mystery:

If you're in the market for books, check out Vintage Books in Vancouver! I will definitely visit again 📚

2022: Nos. 26 - 32

April reading roundup:

No. 26 - I Don't Want to Die Poor by Michael Arceneaux:

No. 27 - The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda:

No. 28 - Shadow Sands by Robert Brundza:

No. 29 - Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner:

No. 30 - The Safest Lies by Megan Miranda:

No. 31 - The Girl of His Dreams by Harry Mazer:

No. 32 - Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby:

:)