Twenty Thousand Days

Today - June 29, 2019, we have been married for 20,000 Days, or   480,000 hours, or 28,800,000 minutes, and finally 1,728,000,000 seconds

That is 54 years, 9 months, and 4 days -
14,286 weekdays and 5,714 weekend days -
 2,857 weeks and 1 day!

Because I'm not ready to be going out to a restaurant yet - still recuperating from that long stay in the hospital in March and April - we are going to use an Uber Eats gift certificate from our son and daughter-in-law, and have dinner brought to us for our celebration. As always, Don will have steak, and I'll have fish.

Below is a repeat of a blog I did for our 50th anniversary - with a few changes to update it.

I was 17, working in a drug store in Sitka, Alaska the summer before my senior year in high school.  He was 19 and had come to Alaska with his buddy, to work in the newly opened pulp mill to earn money for his sophomore year in college.

It was love at first sight - for both of us.  And now, almost 56 years later, we are celebrating our life together - it is almost our 55th anniversary.  We have had adventures, learned a lot from each other, moved back and forth across the country, watched our wonderful kids grow up, gone on vacations, celebrated events, welcomed great in-laws into our family and been blessed with three grandsons.  It has been the easiest thing we've ever done - these almost 55  years of marriage.

 We've lived in several states, in many houses.  I have pictures of most of them.

 There's a bit of gypsy in us and we've loved all the houses we've lived in - but we love our current (and last) home the very best.

We even have a house cookie jar.

We've enjoyed every stage of our kids growing up 

With birthday parties along the way

We've moved in, and moved out

And been sung funny songs to by our friends who laughed during their performance for us at our going-away dinner - and cried when we moved on.

We've celebrated holidays and events

Cheered at graduations - and cried a little too.

 Halloween was a fun time for pumpkins and funny costumes

 Our 25th anniversary - celebrated with family and friends

With matching sweatshirts to wear on the train trip back to Wisconsin (the trip was a gift from our kids - the sweatshirts were a surprise from Don)

We've gone on vacations - near and far - with family, friends and the occasional bear

These two pictures were taken the same day - one on vacation in the mountains, where there was still snow - and the other back at home in the desert - where there were roses blooming.

We've danced in the rain

Celebrated Halloween as only our youngest daughter can.

Welcomed in the new year with fun and silliness.

Visited the old jail in Yuma, Arizona.

Baked a few pies (oops)

And enjoyed ourselves royally!

Hurray!

It's been a grand trip - with more adventures and celebrations to come.

54 years, 9 months and 4 days and counting!!

Birch Bay and Herons

The Great Blue Herons are plentiful in Birch Bay State Park

 On a breezy day, with a seagull

 Watching the waves to find a meal.

 In the slough that runs through the state park, herons lurk about in the waters

 Caught a fish!

More Flowers

Wild or cultivated, there are so many flowers out this year.

Rhododendrons in every color.  I especially love the pink ones.

And what is this?  I thought at first it was pussy willows going to seed,  but not sure.  Anyone have an idea?

Whatever it is - it certainly was interesting to see.

Wild Flowers

The wild flowers are so pretty this time of the year.

Lupines are taking over the fields.  Masses of them.  

Lupines are often called "wolf flowers", because they take over the fields, and also when Lupines were named people thought that Lupines and wolves both killed livestock.  The name comes from the word "lupus", Latin for wolf.

 The tiny wild Fringe Cups grow along the roadsides.  The flower blossom is only just over 1/4 inch long.

And California Poppies - one of my all time favorites!!!!

What is your favorite wild flower?