Cody in his new car

He bought the car with his own money earned working at a fruit stand this summer 

Nichole's new birthday watch

Having lunch at Red Robin for her 18th birthday (we celebrated on the 28th, but her birthday is the 30th) 

How do they sleep like that?

Once in awhile we HAVE to post a picture of Buddy 

Card from Brian and Toddi

Announcing the news 

Entiat, Washington

We've been here in Entiat for two weeks. During this time we've been busy picking out colors, brick, flooring, and appliances for our new home. Not too much has been decided yet, but we're further along in the process.

This past week we've been watching over the two dogs and two cats here at Brian and Toddi's home while they are in Alaska. The dogs sure like to be walked every evening. They are big horses, but very lovable. Both the dogs are labs. It's very evident that Pete the older dog is the alpha dog. Toddi left new toys for the dogs and Pete keeps stealing Zeke's toy. He actually thinks he needs to have both toys.

We have exciting news in the family. Brian and Toddi are expecting their first baby in late February. We've known for several weeks, but couldn't write about it on the blog until Brian and Toddi told Brian's dad in Alaska.

Foundation

We have a foundation!!! This is looking southeast toward Wenatchee. This was taken from our uphill neighbor's yard looking down onto the retaining wall between us. Clockwise we will have a dinette and kitchen behind the garage to the right side of photo. Then great room, master bedroom and bath. Beside that moving right is the main bath. Then bedroom 2, then bedroom 3/den. Then front entrance............GEE THIS IS SILLY????? MORE photos AS TIME PASSES. You are all invited for Thanksgiving dinner by the way...........that is if Connie agrees!!  

Heading to Entiat

We've been here at Circle 8 ranch for more than a week. We're now headed to Connie's son's home in Entiat. We'll be there for two weeks. We will be busy picking out our appliances, flooring, and paint colors for our new home.

We've been busy square dancing for the last two weekends. It's been fun having people we know here at the ranch. The weather has been a little cooler than normal for this area.

We're planning a trip around the North Cascades loop in September. There is a barn dance (square dance) in Winthrop on the weekend of the 21st that we've signup up to attend.

London cat

London cat

The following is an email we received. We thought it was so cute, we decided to post it to the blog. Bob espcecially appreciates this cat, as he wish he had more passengers like this during his 23 years of driving a bus.


Mystery cat takes regular bus to the shops


Bus drivers have nicknamed a white cat Macavity after it has started using the No 331 several mornings a week

The feline, which has a purple collar, gets onto the busy Walsall to Wolverhampton (near Birmingham, England) bus at the same stop most mornings - he then jumps off at the next stop 400m down the road, near a fish and chip shop.

The cat, nicknamed Macavity, has one blue eye and one green eye.

The cat was nicknamed Macavity after the mystery cat in T.S Elliot's poem. He gets on the bus in front of a row of 1950s semi-detached houses and jumps off at a row of shops down the road which include a fish and chip shop.

Driver Bill Khunkhun, 49, who first saw the cat jumping from the bus in January, said: "It is really odd, the first time I saw the cat jumping off the bus with a group of passengers. I hadn't seen it get on which was a bit confusing.


"The next day I pulled up on Churchill Road to let a couple of passengers on. As soon as I opened the doors the cat ran towards the bus, jumped on and ran under one of the seats, I don't think any of the passengers noticed.

"Because I had seen it jump off the day before I carried on driving and sure enough when I stopped just down the road he jumped off - I don't know why he would catch the bus but he seems to like it. I told some of the other drivers on this route and they have seen him too."

Since January, when the cat first caught the bus he has done it two or three times a week and always gets on and off at the same stops.

Passenger, Paul Brennan, 19, who catches the 331 to work, said: "I first noticed the cat a few weeks ago. At first I thought it had been accompanied by its owner but after the first stop it became quite clear he was on his own.

"He sat at the front of the bus, waited patiently for the next stop and then got off. It was quite strange at first but now it just seems normal. I suppose he is the perfect passenger really - he sits quietly, minds his own business and then gets off."

New Home

This is NOT our new home, but it is what it will look like. This is the same floor plan, same porch, and was built by the contractor who is building our home 

Lake Hyas and Cathedral Rock

A beautiful emerald green lake in the Washington cascades 

Lake Hyas

 

Mt. Rainier from Mount Catherine

 

A new home

We've been busy these last couple of weeks. We've decided to have a home built in Wenatchee. It's what we call a spec/custom home. The builder already had the lot and the plan. We've modified the plan slightly - adding a seperate room for the toilet, a porch over the patio, and a sliding glass door in the bedroom (so that we can get to the hot tub from the bedroom). We also get to pick all of our colors, appliances, flooring, etc. We've just been notified that the builder has the permit and should have the foundation poured by Monday. So, it's starting to move fast.

We've also been on a couple of hikes. Yesterday, August 1st, we drove up to Salmon LaSac and beyond 13 miles and took a hike into Hyas Lake. It was really beautiful, but hot! The Friday before we hiked up Mount Catherine. It was buggy, but georgeous views of Mt. Rainier from the top.

We're here at Circle 8 Ranch near Cle Elum. Tonight, Thursday, starts another weekend of dancing. We're looking forward to some of our friends arriving today. The weather is nice and sunny - all in all a great place and time to be here.