Kati's July Crafts

Coromuel Beach Day

 Yesterday, we went to El Coromuel with Lorne and Joy-we had a great day!  Sea glass was found, hamburgers were consumed, and the water was the perfect temperature for cooling off.  I wish I would have captured a picture or two of Lorne and Joy!  Ha ha ha! 

Our Kitchen Window

We have been...or Larry has been working on this project for quite some time and it finally came together.  He built/stained a shelf to go under our kitchen window back in May.  Please note the sunglasses for eye protection and our kitchen counter as a work bench!  Ha ha ha!  After that, we did some shopping around for the talavera flower pots that we wanted.  We ended up ordering them from a small ceramic business in La Paz, but they took four weeks to arrive.  We knew this up front and were okay with it, especially when it was half the cost over the other place we looked at.  We purchased succulents from a little roadside nursery near our home and Larry planted those.  During this two-ish month process, we added mirrored window film too; this is a heat deterrent and adds a little privacy.  We think it adds a little curb appeal and color!

 

Brunch Date

 Yesterday, we went to Merken for brunch and live music.  The music wasn't the greatest (flute), but the company and food were!  Afterward, we stopped at a roadside nursery and bought six succulents for an upcoming project.

Heather Larisa Branson (Burge)

Received incredibly sad news on the 4th of July that my aunt passed away.  She was only a year older than me, so it's hard to wrap my mind around.  She wasn't only an aunt to me, she was also a dear childhood friend.  We would tell people we were cousins so we didn't have to explain the whole family dynamic.

Remembering all the fun times from playing Barbies, creating shows that we would perform for our family, being penpals, looking through each others yearbooks and circling the cute boys, skipping classes at Chemeketa, shopping, being bridesmaids in each other's weddings (both of us divorced), lunches at The Cheesecake Factory, and so much more.

After we had kids, we didn’t see each other as often, but whenever we did, it always felt like no time had passed.  We last texted on Mother's Day and I really wish it had been more meaningful than a "Mom jeans" meme, but it also makes me smile because that is us

Heather Larisa Branson (Burge)

10/04/1976---07/04/2025 

Heather Branson (Burge), age 48, passed away unexpectedly on July 4, 2025, in her hometown of Newberg, Oregon.

Heather was born on October 4, 1976, in Newberg, where she spent most of her life. She was a mother of three and found joy in moments spent with her children and also volunteering in her children’s classrooms when they were younger and supporting their education. She worked at the local school district and cared deeply about helping kids learn and grow.

She is survived by her mother, Jan Burge of Newberg, and her three children: Ryan (22), Miranda (18), and Oregon (10). She was preceded in death by her father, Jerry Burge.

Heather’s passing leaves behind many emotions, memories, and reflections. Her children now carry forward her story in their own ways.