Summer is just about over, and it's been a whole year since we moved to Vancouver, Washington. We've all pretty much familiarized ourselves to the area. I don't know that it feels quite like home yet, but I can finally get around most areas without having to use navigation. One thing I can say about Vancouver is that it is really beautiful. We are surrounded by trees and trails, rivers and lakes, and views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. Chris says it's like living in a forest. It rains so much here, everything is green, although it has been a pretty dry summer with some heatwaves raising temperatures into the high 90s. It's supposed to hit 100 degrees today. I don't know if this is typical for the summer, but I am definitely not a fan. I am looking forward to the fall and cooler weather, and hopefully more of this. 

Last winter, we had two snow days, and it was so pretty and peaceful. Relic loved it. I am looking forward to a cold winter. Here are some photos of Salmon Creek trail, just when of the trails that runs near Vancouver neighborhoods. 

It's been a couple years since I have posted anything. Life has been busy, everyone's getting older. Penelope is now 17, to think I started this blog back when she was just a baby. This last fall our family made a big move back to the PNW. We moved to Vancouver, WA. It's been 10 months now; Penelope is finishing up her junior year at her new school and will soon be a senior. I've been busy with work and trying to get adjusted to our new home, but all has been going well. I wanted to share some photos because we visited the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm again after 16 years. I made a post back in 2009 but unfortunately the photos I had shared have since disappeared from the web. Fortunately, I still have them in a photo album. 

Here is our most recent visit to this lovely farm filled with my favorite flower, and Penelope all grown up.

Living in the country we are surrounded by horses. All our neighbor have horses and ride, some even compete in barrel racing events. So cool! Horses are beautiful creatures and if I wasn't severely allergic it would be nice to have one or two. My horse riding friends say it's impossible to own just one. When Penelope was little I really wanted her to take horse riding lessons but not knowing a lot about being around horses and riding I was always afraid of the idea of her falling and being hurt. Last summer Penelope was able to start riding lessons for the first time at our neighbors ranch. We got her a riding helmet and some riding boots and my brave girl just hopped right on. Of course, this momma was still afraid to see her get on for the first time, and every time after, but I am so proud that she is able to take on new activities with no fear. She's even fallen off a couple of times, eeek...and gotten right back on again. Here are some photos of Penelope's first couple of times learning to ride. 

 The sound of birds singing outside is a constant from inside our home. With the occasional thud because, oops that's a window. I often see hummingbirds that look like peeping toms buzzing around  as if to say "hey I see you in there". We see the occasional vulture devouring one of the many bunnies that live nearby and the occasional hawk or eagle soaring through the sky. If I was a bird watcher I would have a field day with my camera snapping away at all the little and big birdies. The quails are the cutest with their pointed feathers on the tops of their heads, they like to linger in flocks pecking in the dirt. The roadrunners are the silliest as they speed across the road and then there is the elusive giant owl. I have only seen him once from afar but the neighbors all say he is huge! We have several bird nests along the eaves of our home, we try to leave them be. We also find remnants of old bird homes out in the field. Nests made out of anything these birds can find, even horse hair from the neighbors horses! 

Here are some photos Chris took awhile back when he was playing around with my new camera. Just a few little birdies hanging around. 

I should dust off my camera and try to get a few shots of some of the other birds mentioned above that like to visit our home.  

 I can't believe I started this blog when Penelope was just 10 months old... 

 Here are a couple of pics of our doggies enjoying the country air. 

The shepherd above is Timber. He will be turning 8 in a few days and has been with us since he was a pup. He is a big, sensitive sweetie and a bit of a goofball. The husky pictured below is Relic. He will be 4 years old in a couple months. He is a rescue that we have had for about three years now. He is super friendly and affectionate and a BIG troublemaker.  

This is a long overdue post, but seeing as we are now mandated to stay in our homes in California until further notice, and unless we absolutely must leave, I should have some time to do a little more blogging. Last April we had our kitchen remodeled. I have been wanting to do this since we moved in a couple of years ago and we finally had the chance to do it. This is what our kitchen looked like prior to the remodel.







As you can see, we also had a wall taken out, a wall put in, some French doors added, a large island built and new flooring put in throughout the house. It looks like a completely different home. We have since also painted the kitchen white and the rest of the house a more agreeable gray.


 We still have so many projects we would like to do our home but those will have to wait for awhile...

One of the first things we did when we moved into our new home a couple of years ago was plant these beautiful Coleus...


And quickly had a rude awakening when I literally woke up to the bunnies chomping down on them just a few days later. We proceeded to try planting some lavender in the same spot and that didn't work. Tried some succulents and again found out these bunnies will eat just about anything. We gave up and this spot under the window but decided on trying to plant some hibiscus in front of the house.


Surprisingly, these have done really well. They have made it through two freezing cold winters and blazing hot summers and have managed to survive and continue to bloom. We tried planting two miniature citrus trees but have had little luck with them.


But, as you can see, the Rosemary we planted is fragrant and thriving. Spring is but a few weeks away and I would like to do some gardening. I have so many ideas, and so many plants and flowers I would like to see flourish, but I am hesitant. I am not sure what will survive the scorching summer I am sure is headed our way and the ravenous bunnies that roam freely on our land. Maybe some more Hibiscus trees are in our future. Or, maybe we can build a tall fortress around our home to keep the bunnies out. Although I have a feeling these cute but pesky critters will find away to forage my garden no matter what. Anyone have any suggestions on bunny safe plants I would love to hear them!