Halloween at Disneyland

 With a trip to San Diego on the schedule, we decided to stop by Disneyland for Halloween. We are familiar enough with the park to do everything in one day. Well, the things we like.

Because we went on Halloween Day, Oct 31st, we needed to leave a bit early. Disneyland holds an evening party with a separate ticket called the Oogie Boogie Bash. They started arriving at 3pm so we started heading out about 4pm.

The park was nearly empty for the first few hours. What a delight! Haunted Mansion has a Jack Skellington overlay with Danny Elfman music.

There's nothing like walking down Main Street at 8am. We love rides, so we just go from line to line. Without children you don't feel the joy of their excitement at seeing what Disney does best. But neither do you have to stop and wait for the slowest member. Because that's now me.

Inside the art studio directly to the right upon entering, there was this little Pooh Bear painting that I absolutely loved. "Why is Honey Always Uphill?

We caught Mary Poppins and Bert wandering around Fantasyland.

This was the funniest experience of the day. We were standing in line and when the door opened, Chewie came and gave me a huge bear hug. It was completely disarming.

However, when we met Darth Vader it was totally different. I didn't dare go near him. Lots of heavy breathing. Very scary.

Marnie's Senior Picture

 Well, here is the last one to get a senior picture. Marnie modeled for a girlfriend who is a photographer in her class. I'm sad she will be done so soon and we will have an empty house. I don't know which one she chose for publication, but this one is my favorite.

Temple Quilts

 Our wonderful temple presidency is moving on after three years. We have gotten to know them so well and love them dearly. President and Sister Olson were able to actually move into the new president's residence behind the Seattle Temple.

I found a paper pieced pattern online which required a lot of taping together. Each of them is a tiny bit different. I dyed the blue background fabric.

From L-R: Robert and Marlies Sainsbury, Thomas and Kathleen Olson, William and Rise Gross

They all were very appreciative. It is the least little gift for the incredible number of hours they spent in service for others. The Sainsburys will continue their service as president and matron of the new Meridian Temple.

The temple president's residence is lovely. Can you imagine living at your job? It comes with a landscape crew!

And you can walk to work everyday. In the rain.

Jim's First Birthday

We celebrated Jim's birthday this week in Snohomish. I love first birthdays because children don't understand what's going on. This is your cake. These are your friends. This is how you blow out candles.

Make an ironing station

 If you have room to keep an ironing board up all the time, this might be an option for you. An ironing board has lots of wasted space underneath. So why not use a bookshelf? It's time to head to IKEA.

This item is a Kallax. When I purchased it, they didn't offer legs, so I bought 6 casters and installed them myself.

Then I went to Home Depot and bought some plywood, covered it in cotton batting and stapled canvas to the top. It's heavy enough that I don't even have to attach it permanently.

Now I can store all sorts of wonderful things in those cabinets. Or I can buy baskets that fit perfectly in the 12" cubes. I can roll it around wherever I need it, too.

Jim is Helping

 When I bought my longarm machine, Marnie was almost one. She practically lived under the machine. I'm remembering that now with Jim. Curious!

Granny Dani Passes Away

 We heard from Paul's brother Dean that their birthmother had passed away June 4th at her home in Lincoln City, Oregon. Paul was able to go down with Dean and Kelli to clean out the house and get it ready for sale.

Back in 2005 we spent a weekend enjoying her and the beach.

Last week the memorial ceremony was held at the cabin in Baring. David and Kathleen flew down from Anchorage with Corbin. Kelli came up with the ashes (she's a mortuary director). And here she is on the bridge. This location is one of the happiest for Dani, as well as her mother-in-law, Grandma Faye. 

Brief History: When Danielle Jane Frazier was born in 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, her father, Richard Dean Frazier, was 28 and her mother, Dorthy Eliza Cox, was 29. She had two sons with Howard Willard, one daughter and one son with John Allison. She lived in Seattle, Washington, Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska, and Rock Springs, Wyoming. She died on 4 June 2016 in Lincoln City, Oregon at the age of 69.