Living Simply
Heard on the news yesterday that Lombardi’s in the neighborhood of Ballard in Seattle, WA will be closing.
What a shame!
This Italian restaurant has been around for years in the same corner spot next to Starbucks.
We will definitely miss it.
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| Pike Place Market |
A visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market is always interesting.
Local farmers man the many vegetable stands.
There are also many flower bouquets that can be bought at a discount. And the flowers are fresh.
Fresh fish too! And many stands that sell jewelry, t-shirts, local art, etc.
Whenever we have visitors, this is one of the places we like to take them.
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| Japan Graves |
Made of dust to dust we return.
This is a picture of a graveyard in Japan.
It was amazing to me how the tombstones are so close together.
Were that we as people that close in relationships to each other when we are alive.
What a different world it would be. Shoulder to shoulder. Helping each other out in our humanness.
Chinese Japanese Paper Lantern 16″D Sakura
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| Puerto Rico |
Is God enough?
If we were to lose everything we had — clothing, jewelry, children, spouses, property, money, friends, jobs … EVERYTHING!
Would God be enough in our lives to satisfy the desires of our heart?
If we know Him, the answer will be yes. If the answer is no then we have to work on the relationship problem we have with God.
Because God is enough.
Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God
Arai is a survivor from the Hiroshima tragedy. She was a school teacher and had sent her children out to play.
While she was inside and they were out, the bomb hit. At the time, she was looking at a white sheet of rice paper that the children had made and brushed her name across in calligraphy.
When she looked outside, all the children were gone, only rags remained.
The black Japanese characters had absorbed the light and burned away. Only the white paper, which had reflected it, remained intact. The white paper had saved her from blindness but her name was now stenciled across her face.
She was told that she could have plastic surgery to help erase the scars. But she chose to leave them there as a memorial to the dead children.
I read this in the Adventist Review dated September 9, 2010.
What a story!
Christ also has scars on His head and hands that will forever be with Him. And He chooses to keep them there — just as He chose to come to this earth to save us from ourselves.
The Last Train from Hiroshima: The Survivors Look Back (John MacRae Books)
The Desire of Ages: A Classic on the Life of Christ
During my visit to Chicago, I had a constant companion. His name is Pinto.
Although he’s not my dog, he would sit by me and follow me.
Something in his eyes showed loyalty to me even though I was not his master.
While meandering through the Midwest, we got invited to a barbecue in Elk Grove, Illinois.
The area was beautiful.
This is a picture of a weeping willow tree. I didn’t realize that they have a very short lifespan.
The leaves and bark of the willow have been used as a remedy for aches and fevers.
Trees are so beautiful.
Bonsai Boy’s Weeping Willow Bonsai Tree
(salix repens ‘boyd’s pendula’)
During our Midwest travels, our daughter, who lives in Illinois, took us to Edwards Apple Orchard.
It was the best fun I’ve had!
Our grandson also had a good time picking apples and throwing them in the basket we had. He would plop them in and I would inspect them and throw the bad ones out (behind his back of course).
The apples are wonderful and we made apple crisp twice from them.
Looking forward to going there again some time.
Our trip to the Midwest took us many places — one of them Monroe, Wisconsin.
This tower sits in the middle of town.
It’s a quaint town but almost dead. We walked around and found a small coffee shop. The people there were very friendly.
Quite different than Seattle in that you placed your order and sat down. They came with water and then your order.
Very nice.
We then asked for directions to The Swiss Colony, a well-known cheese place. We went to 2 places with the name but none that was for tourists.
Eventually, we found the store. When we walked in I told the woman who was handing out free cheese samples of not being able to find the store. Perhaps, I suggested, they put up a large sign so that people could find it.
Her response shocked me “There’s not enough money to do that.”
What???!!! Not enough money to bring customers to your store?
I bit my tongue and kept looking for — cheese.
Ahhh well, everything can’t be perfect.
Street & Road Map of Monroe, Wisconsin WI – Printed poster size wall atlas of your home town
It’s always nice to come “home.” A place where things are where you want them to be.
And everybody knows your name — the neighbors, the cashiers, the baristas. I remember that song “sometimes you want to go, where everybody knows your name … and they’re always glad you came.” I think it’s from the sitcom Cheers.
Looking for a new state to move to will mean making new friends, learning new driving routes, finding coffee houses — looking for that perfect cup of cocoa — a new church, and spending time with blood family again.
We have been so fortunate to have friends who are just like family — hmmm, better than family? Let’s just say equal.
Will post pictures of our travels when I get settled back to normalcy.
Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways
