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IT'S FRIDAY, MY FAVORITE DAY!!

It has been another busy week with yard work, steamboat cleaning and having family down all week.

We had to go into Portland last weekend to attend a birthday celebration. Rich Patterson, one of Dave's Blazer Broadcasting colleagues, had a 51st birthday party that we were invited to. But before we arrived at the party, and since we were in town, we ran a few errands along the way. We stopped at Costco to pick up a few things. Then we made the loop to Trader Joe's, Petco to pick up some treats for Stanley and then to Home Depot. Because it was over 90 degrees while we were at Home Depot, the clerks were handing out cold bottled water to everyone. We thought that was really a nice thing to do and it really did hit the spot. After that, we went to Gresham for the birthday celebration and then we headed back to the coast where it was 20 degrees cooler.

On Sunday, Lara and her family arrived for a week's stay. They had beautiful weather and spent many hours on the beach soaking up the sun. The girls love to come to the beach and play in the surf and sand. While they were out frolicking in the sun, Dave and I had a chance to get a few things done around the house. We knew we had to re-do the paint on the hull of the boat. It has taken a lot of wear and tear since the last time we tackled that job. I started out by painting the bottom of the boat but lying on my back looking up and trying to paint made me sick. My stomach was upset and I got a headache, so Dave ended up finishing the bottom of the boat. He wasn't as particular as I was when it came to painting - he said "It's all going to be underwater anyway" so he was able to make better time than I did. Still, he looked like the "blue man" by the time he was done - with paint in his hair, eyebrows, arms and face. Luckily, a little soap and water and he was as good as new. I did paint the hull above the waterline the next day and Lara, Leanna and I polished brass, so by Thursday it was ready for the parade.

As much as the boat commanded our attention, I did manage to work out in the yard too. I torched some more weeds in the driveway and cleared more brush and weeds away. That torch is becoming addictive! Every time I think I'm ready to stop, I see a few more weeds that need burning and before I know it, hours have passed! Dave finally took the propane tank away from me so we could use it to fire up the grill on the 4th. The gravel driveways are beginning to look pretty good though, and it won't take a lot to finish that task. I still have a little bit left to do on the overall cleanup and then I suppose that it will be time to start all over!

I had a nice birthday with lots of wishes. My son-in-law, Greg's birthday is the same day so we always celebrate together. This year we went out of pizza to celebrate. While we were at the pizza place waiting for our order (we were eating outside on the deck) a beautiful Bald Eagle flew overhead. It made our day. I got lots of cards and recognition on my special day.

All of the family was down for the 4th of July. Before Leslie and Jason and their girls got here, the Dewey girls got up early to help Granddad put up American flags along the street. The girls love to help with that project and with the extra help, the flag volunteers got the job done quickly and the town looks very festive for the 4th. The weather was perfect for the parade, not too hot and just a little breezy. The granddaughters enjoy riding on the bow of the boat and waving at the crowd during the parade. Afterwards, we came back home and barbequed hamburgers and hotdogs. We had invited another couple to join us so we had Ray and Charlene Hakala here too. In fact, Ray drove the Suburban and towed the boat trailer in the parade this year. Normally one of our sons-in-law does that but Dave decided that they needed a break and Ray was kind enough to sign on.

The other night we were just getting into bed when someone across the highway from us lit some fireworks. Not only did it rouse us but I haven't seen one of our feral cats since. We called the police but had to cancel the complaint because the guilty party left the scene of the crime shortly after our call. Those aerial fireworks were too close for comfort and we were afraid that our old church building - which was only a few feet away - might go up in flames.

Well summer has arrived and so have the tourists. It takes us twice as long to get out on the highway from our street than before because of all the traffic. I guess that is the price we have to pay for living in such a beautiful place.