“Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”

Hans Christian Anderson

We didn't have any sun this Labor Day but we did have a LOT of fun! This year was the museum sponsored the 8th annual Lynde 500 and it rained. For the first time in eight years it rained and rained hard. 

My brother, Alex,  ran in the first Lynde and this year as he was helping set up the track he was recruited again...He was not happy about it. But he is a good great sport and joined a team with all the enthusiasm he could muster. :)

Our sister was working an administration booth, I was watching the races, Troy was announcing and Archer was in the pits with a team of his friends and this happens. Alex is the guy on the bottom...

 Ok. If you've read this blog at all you may realize that when ^^^ this ^^^ happens our first thoughts jump to an emergency room (me) and living with an injured brother (other sister). 

Our minds immediately think - OH CRAP (or a word close to crap).

Luckily it was just a nasty scrape and his little sister was able to grab a first aid kit and fix him up (she's got lots of practice). Archer of course had to come over and make sure that his broken uncle wasn't really broken this time. Thank goodness!

Oh and after all that...this happened to his team car. He was actually the first pusher who caused this mess...

Oh. And did I mention his team took 2nd place? 2nd! That's right! A little car malfunction and crash didn't stop the team!

WooHoo!!!

"You know I’ll always be there to love you, support you, no matter what kind of pickle you’re in."

- Juno

Did you know that tomorrow starts the beginning of International Pickle week 2010? Really, I wouldn't joke about a thing like that.


See that bottle in the picture below? That my friends is a pickle. A very, very, very old pickle. The beauty of having a husband as a museum director/curator is that we have treasures (yes, I'm calling this pickle a treasure) like this just down the road. Fascinating, no?

If you are interested in just what that label says and just how old that pickle is check out the new Lynden Pioneer Museum blog, Museum Musings. 

"Pickles are cucumbers that sold out." - Mitch Hedberg

“Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart.” ~ Zig Ziglar

Last night I was lucky enough to be involved in the Lynden Pioneer Museum's Celebration of Volunteers evening. It is a very special night where the staff gets the opportunity to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who make it possible to have such an incredible museum open to the public six days a week all year long!

While I am not on staff, my dear husband is the dedicated director/curator and he is endlessly dedicated to this museum, the community, and the idea of protecting and preserving history. I am honored to help out when I can at the museum and most especially at this particular event. Tami (who is terribly gifted in all areas of entertaining) and I spend days/weeks/all year brainstorming/shopping/decorating in order to make this event special for all the wonderful volunteers.

I would like to say a big thank you not only to the volunteers but also to the wonderful staff at the museum.

local update...

Hi all. It has been awhile. I am super busy with the fireworks booth. Sales are going very well. I have to say I am a bit surprised, but thankful nonetheless. Fireworks is a huge fund raiser for the museum, so the busier the better. If you are local and need some fireworks (or want them as we probably don't need them) come by our booth (Lynden Towne Plaza) and support the museum. Oh, and if you don't need or want fireworks and want to support me anyway a blended lemonade from Starbucks would be great!

Hopefully more soon. If I don't get back here have a safe, sane, and happy 4th of July holiday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! What a fun day. As a teacher I received many sweet cards and just plain sweets from students all around the building!

When I came home Archer decided we should go to Syro's (YUM) for dinner. Then we stopped by the museum and visited a little bit.

I love that Archer is so comfortable talking with and being with adults. This most likely stems from being an only child who was basically raised at a museum (not a lot of children hanging out there). This is a pic of Archer and our dear, sweet, wonderful friend Susan. He enjoys chatting with her, going over and hanging out on her couch, eating her food! (I think he is just being nice until she gives him that love seat in her sitting room! haha) I also think he likes her because she treats him the same as she treats everyone else - like he is important to her, like she cares about he thinks, like he is her friend. Wonderful. And isn't she the cutest?

Come and get it!

On Thursday, Nov. 8 (that's tomorrow folks!), from 5-8 p.m. the museum gift shop will be OPEN! This is our pre-holiday evening with sales, a drawing, hot cocoa and snacks. I will be there to help Tami out and rumor has it that one of the Snap Sisters will be there too.

If you decide to come in to do some shopping and can answer a simple question about my blog or Tami's blog you will be given an additional discount.

Gotta love a sale! Other downtown merchants will be celebrating too so get your friends together and have a girls' night out!
PS- the Playmobil nativity sets are in...(and lots of other new goodies!)

LPM Open House

Friday night was the museum's annual Open House. The museum is celebrating 31(?) years this year! Yea!

Archer was the night's photographer and did a fine job! He got pictures of almost everyone working (I didn't show them all here). This is a new camera for the family and he is 12, so I think the pics turned out pretty good. I didn't "fix" any of them and a few have glasses glare, but you can still see a great time was had by all. You may also notice that he tended to take pics of people he knows, hence the pics of Calob and Callie...he did take a few of other visitors interacting with the exhibits and presenters...

*Tami (my loyal blog reader, mini-bookclub member, and 'boss' -hehe - of the museum) and I

*Cheryl & Callie. Enjoying the night...waiting to go home!

Callie in the Children's Bedroom (one of the newest exhibits done by an intern from WWU).

Callie and Calob on the Hotel balcony.

Susan & Karen. Just hanging out.

Terence in the Parlor. The organ behind belonged to my great-Grandmother.

Belly up to the bar and visit with Bob. I am sure he wasn't serving actual drinks. Right Tami? :)

Troy, Larry the Logger, and ? Larry is the resident logger - volunteers to 'dress down' and participate in the Open House and Education programs.

Col. Jim the egg and constant joke-telling man! He has been with the museum since it began in 1976! Wow - that is dedication!

Troy being Troy. He is in the Natural Resources exhibit. He particularly likes the chirping birds (which don't chirp at this time - thank goodness) because this one is right below his office!

Thanks for the pictures Archer!

Lynden Pioneer Museum

As most of you know Troy has been working at the Lynden Pioneer Museum for 14 years. Holy crap that is a long time! Right now the museum is at a critical stage in its growth and development. If you would like to donate to the museum in any way there is a link on the side where you can give...We aren't asking for money that you don't have, however many people have been wondering how they can help. Many of our friends and families have memberships, but if you would like to donate just once that is great too! Let me know if you do so you can get a personal thank you from me (that is what everyone wants). We love the museum and even more we love that what Troy does is preserving history for future generations. Every community deserves to have their heritage preserved, we are just doing our part in this small community snuggled up here in the corner of Washington! Thanks for reading and if you have a cause near and dear to your heart make a badge at sixdegrees.org and let us know about it!