Fourth of July Celebrations ...by Annie

On July 5 I went to Farmer's Market for the second time. It was nicer than the first time in early June. I got 4 or 5 customers. I sold out on one thing, cheese breadsticks. I sold Banana Bread, Cheese Sticks, and Chocolate Chip Cookies. I haven't sold any of my snap purses. That was what I wanted to sell in the first place. So I made baked goods to attract people. I am looking forward to going next time. And I hope I do as good as I did this time.

That night we went to a barbeque at a friend's house. They had the house decorated with balloons. We had fun playing with the extras.

Then Riley shared his sparklers with the children. After dark they set off some really big fireworks that were loud and pretty.

This is Meg at home with one of our kitties. She loves finding, catching, and holding them. She imitates their cries really good too! We have 4 kittens that are fast growing up. Just like Meg!

Happy Independence Day!

Let Freedom Ring!

My First Mall Shopping Experience... By Annie

Friday morning, November 7th, around 9:30 a.m. Grandma and I headed toward Roanoke to go shopping. She was planning to get some gifts for Caroline, Cora, and me. We went to Joann Fabrics first and bought sewing supplies for the sewing basket Grandma had already gotten me and I got some stickers.We were in Joann's about 2 1/2 hours shopping. We ate at Chipotle's. Grandma ordered a  chicken salad and I got a chicken burrito.Then we went to Dollar Tree. I bought some cards and caramels for Mamaw, my other Grandma's birthday. Grandma also got some cards. Next we made a stop at Sweet Frog. I filled up my cup with strawberry and vanilla ice cream, gummy worms, mini chocolate cups, butter finger pieces, and nerds on top. 
Then we went to Target and hit the $1 items: cards, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, chapstick, notebooks, and pens. Goodwill was next. I ended up with 2 jumpers, 1 shirt, and 1 sweater. Grandma got clothes for Caroline, Cora, and Meg. We drove to JC Penny's and Grandma returned something. To top the day off we went to A.C. Moore. I purchased stickers and glittery letters; Grandma got cardstock paper. We made a stop to get feed for guineas. Then headed back to Grandpa and Grandma's house.

Grandpa and Grandma, Grandpa Guy, and the Reeds had a birthday supper for Riley and me. We ate fish, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, salad, and pumpkin cake for dessert. From Grandpa and Grandma I got: a sewing basket, big scissors, little scissors, decorative pins, dressmaker pins, multi-colored pins, seam ripper, buttons, safety pins, thread, snaps, magnetic pin cushion, fabric to make snap purses, chipboard buttons, and chapstick. From Grandpa Guy I got $10 and from the Reeds I got ankle socks. It was a fun and an eventful day and a delicious yummy supper!

Girls Restaurant Dinner...by Annie

the sign to our restaurant

After breakfast Thursday, I hurried and finished my school. Nikita and I had made menus the day before and then realized that there was quite a few food items that were different so we redid the menus. Around 3 in the afternoon Nikita and I started on the Apple Salad. Then we got the tables all decorated with candles and the paper mache hearts we had made a few days before. Then Brandy and I started wrapping silverware in napkins like they are at restaurants. Our restaurant was named Famous Fixin's. Around 4:15pm we girls started on the french fries, peas, and corn. We dressed up also. Our colors were pink, white, and brown. Nikita seated everyone while I passed out the menus. Brandy was just watching. Each of us girls served a different colored paper that was put at each seat. I served green, Nikita served teal, and Brandy served brown. Our menu was: Crockpot Chicken, French Fries, Peas, Corn, Salad, Rolls, Cheesecake with Blueberry topping, 2 layer Chocolate Cake and Water or Orange Juice to drink. It was very fun!!! We watched  the movie, Walking Across Egypt after everything was cleaned up. 

Mama's plate

Daddy's 1st helping of dessert was kind of skimpy, so we loaded him up!

Homeless in Eureka, CA...by Annie

When we woke up Saturday morning sitting in a Big K-Mart parking lot, there was this white car just sitting there. Finally after a long time, 3 men, a woman, and 2 dogs got out to stretch their legs and for the dogs to get some fresh air. After a while the lady went inside the K-Mart and 1 of the men went and stood beside the road holding a gas can saying "Need Gas". After another really long time the car left and 1 of the men in the car had a cigarette he gave to the man standing beside the road with the sign. The man took a few whiffs and the car left. While the car was gone 2 men came by with a dog and luggage on their backs. The 1 man gave the man holding the sign 2 small things. 1 of the small things was blue. The man with the gas can took them and then gave them back to the man. Then the guy with the gas can looked to see if anyone was watching then licked something the other man had given him. Then the guy who had luggage on his back left with the other man that had stuff on his back also. After a while the man standing beside the road with the sign on the gas can lit something underneath his shirt. We think it was a homemade cigarette. A few people coming into K-Mart gave him money, then the car he was in came back. 1 guy gave him some gas after the white car had come back. There was a different lady in the car and she went into Big K-Mart twice.The people looked kind of grungy and dirty. Then we left. That was the last of them that we saw. It was really interesting entertainment. 

At Eureka, CA we went to Rescue Mission Thrift Store. There were so many different kinds of people and smells, most of them looked really poor. We got a few things for Daddy & Mommy and then left. It is very interesting what a day RVing may hold!!

one of our first views of the Pacific

rest area beside a coastal redwood forest

rainforest in CA

fun hike; like a whole new world in the trees

rest area view on the opposite side of 101

high above beach

The Pacific Ocean was so fun to watch and drive by. We stayed at a Casino in Trinidad and took a hike beside the road to see the water. When we got back we had strawberries and Nutella, a chocolate thick yummy treat!!

enjoying more gifts from friends

Fish Dinner...by Annie

On Monday I went to Annette Bowman's to help her bake.She had told me when I was helping Gina that I could come and help her. I made a few dozen Egg Puffs and a Coffee Cake with glaze and crumbs on top, (I think) for a lady who was having surgery and for a mother who just had a baby. While I was making those, she made Gold Rush Casserole for someone also. We were going to make a card but we didn't have enough time so we planned on doing it tomorrow. It was really fun helping Annette. I like to help other people and be in the kitchen baking or cooking up something. 

Daddy went out to lunch with Ben Miller, near his work.

That night Garrett's Grandma, Annie Bowman, came for a yummy dinner of  Striped Bass Fish that Riley had caught in the Delta. I didn't know there was an Annie Bowman in California.

fish baked in foil with onion, pepper, tomato, mushrooms, and cheese

Cora quite pleased with her tiny goblet

dinner hosts, Garrett & Gina

Matt & Anne's...by Annie

We did some of school in the morning and then in the afternoon Daddy & Riley dropped all us    ladies off at Anne Long's to spend the afternoon together while they went and toured the Exact Manufacturing Fab shop and a local RC Hobby shop. Riley went to baseball practice and stayed with Alex & Andrew while Shannon came back to Matt & Anne's for supper.

Sierra, their oldest daughter, had a tea party all set up for us girls. The menu included: cinnamon & sugar almonds, carrot slices  filled with peanut butter, and cupcakes with can whipped topping on top. There was Green Tea and Mint Tea. It was very fun and the tea set was dainty. Anne had little blue round boxes that you could decorate with clouds, a fluffy cross, a shiny sparkly heart, and an airplane. We had the tea party up in the air in a playhouse that Matt had built. 

fun baby toy rides

big girl, all by herself

tea delicacies

Sierra's new tea set

playhouse tea party

After the tea party we dressed up in their dress up clothes and played church. I was wearing a German Baptist member dress Anne had gotten at  'The Swap Shop'. Sierra and I enjoyed being mothers and taking our babies out when they cried. 

delightful dress-up 

We had a yummy dinner with Matt & Anne Long, Thomas & Michelle Bauman, and Tyler Lynch. It included: hamburgers, nacho and potato chips, asparagus, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. After dinner all of us children played outside on blankets. It was a really fun evening for everyone!

BBQ CA style

dessert servers: Anne, Sierra, Annie

so scrumptious

cousins: Tyler and Shannon

Muchas Monday

Annie went to BHS, the private church school, with the Bowman children this morning. Here is an excerpt from Annie's journal for Monday April 8th.

I went to school with Alex & Andrew along with Tilly. Everyone was wondering who I was and Alex & Andrew plainly told them! I got all my school work done and got 1 word search & picture done! :) I also did a math drill with the class. I had lunch with Marcy, a girl who befriended me! It was the 1st I had been to a school and ate a packed lunch with them!

Riley, Caroline, Meg, & I stopped in at Tami's in the morning to do a little homeschool together. She fried French donuts with powdered sugar for a snack. Here's Riley and Colson delighting in their sweet crispiness on their front porch...

Next on the agenda, lunch plans at Shawn & Tara's on his day off. We had a great lunch -more fresh strawberries- and a great visit all afternoon in a great home! The men moved on outside to do a little shop wiring to hook up the electric out there and the younger girls played outdoors too.

Shawn & Tara in their kitchen before lunch

Then to Travis and Laurie's for the evening. (A full day for us!) Laurie was a wonderful hostess as well.

the dinner line-up

children's table

They have a nice backyard play area where the children were all playing, waiting on dessert. Somehow the grapefruit tree got raided and Cora got caught in the grapefruit fight! Quite traumatic, but rather funny at the same time!

one unhappy camper, thanks to big brother

assembling gingerbread with warm sauce & ice cream

Travis serving French-pressed Starbucks

Travis showed Riley some creative clips he'd done with his radio controlled airplane. Laurie showed us gals "The Finn & Sully Show" Travis had put together of her sister's preemie twins who are now at least 4. Sweet memories.

Tara, Mom Jan, Heather (Meg), Laurie

We're blessed to be served by friends! And so neat to see our teenage cronies all grown up with families & homes of their own!