I Love You, Dad

Even when you know it's coming, even when they've lived a long and happy life, even when you have so many good memories... saying goodbye hurts so much. Goodbye, Dad. I love you. 

 

Dad (24) and Cindy (6 months)

Dad (77) and Cindy (53)

David Everett Jones was born on May 23, 1948 in Renton, Washington, the youngest of three sons. As a boy, he enjoyed baseball, building model cars, camping, and earning Boy Scout merit badges. Dave met Kathy in their middle school science class and their first date was the Junior Prom. After graduation, they both attended Green River Community College. Dave was the first in his family to go to college and graduated with an AS degree in 1968. He moved to Livermore, California to begin working at what is now called Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory while Kathy headed to eastern Washington to complete her BA degree. 

Dave and Kathy married on June 20, 1970. They welcomed two daughters, Cindy in 1972 and Kari in 1975. Dave worked at LLNL as a Mechanical Engineer Technician for 38 years, retiring in 2006. In his spare time, he build a beautiful cabin from the ground up and did significant home renovations. Dave was a very talented woodworker who enjoyed hanging out in his garage and chatting with neighbors. He loved baseball, NASCAR, jigsaw puzzles, and traveling with the family. Dave was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church for 50 years before moving to Eagle, Idaho in 2018. In Eagle, he joined Hope Lutheran Church. Dave loved spending time with his grandchildren: Timothy, Trevor, and Allison. 

Dave passed away on June 25, 2025, five days after his 55th wedding anniversary. He will be missed by many. 

Justinthetrees: Woodworking with a Twist

I am a big fan of Justin Davies, of Justinthetrees. He is a talented woodworker, but that's not reason enough for me to share his videos here. It's the fact that he includes two of my passions in his woodworking: US geography and cooking. 

This is a poster Justin sells in his store, based on the actual United States of Trees wood map that he made. I love it. 

This is the compilation video from the 50 projects that make up the map. It's long, but super interesting (to me, at least!). 

He's made a second US map, this time based not on state trees, but rather on native trees. 

I mentioned Justin combines cooking with woodworking, which is even more interesting to me than the maps. You're probably assuming he makes cookware, as opposed to actual cooking, but you'd be wrong. There are many super fun videos where he makes tree-flavored ice cream, gelato, cake, candy, and more. I would love to try them. And then there's the time he made bread from sawdust. 

 

I hope you enjoy Justinthetrees as much as I do!

10 Years of Fun with Urban Adventure Quest

By the time you are reading this, our family will have (hopefully) completed our 28th Urban Adventure Quest. We are obviously huge fans of this game, where smartphone clues take you on a walking tour to the most interesting and important sites in a city. We always learn so much during a Quest and every Quest has taken us to places we never would have discovered on our own. 

We solved our first Urban Adventure Quest in Sacramento in March 2016. We were immediately hooked. We completed our second UAQ in Salt Lake City three months later and two more Quests in New Mexico five months after that. One month after that, we served as beta testers for a new Quest for the first time. 

Over the past 10 years since that first time in Sacramento, we have solved Quests in 19 different states. We've done Quests in extreme heat and epic downpours. We've finished Quests with no mistakes and others with an embarrassing number of errors. We've powered through Quests to try to get a good time and we've leisurely solved Quests with no consideration to our final score. 

I put together a map with all the locations we've done (so far). Most of the blank states don't have Quests; here is the current list of Quest cities. 

I'm excited to see what the next 10 years of Questing looks like for the deRosiers!

Creating Your Own Coloring Page from a Photo

Technology makes it incredibly easy to make your own coloring page. Pick a photo you like (one you personally took or that you have the rights to use)...

... and then use a photo editing program to convert it to an Edge Sketch. I used PicMonkey, of course. PicMonkey is a Shutterstock property, so a subscription includes access to a library of millions of royalty-free photos. 

Print your coloring page on good quality paper, then start coloring! I used Prismacolor colored pencils on Neenah Bristol Vellum. You can use the original photo as a guide for the colors, or you can color it any way you want. 

You could use this technique to make a coloring book of images from a special vacation or event. It would make a wonderful gift for anyone who loves to color. 

50 State Welcome Signs

I recently came across this video ranking the 50 state welcome signs and found it really interesting. 

I've never really given much consideration to state welcome signs as an adult. Knowing me, that is actually pretty surprising. The only time I can ever remember stopping and posing by one was when we entered North Dakota, our 50th state in 2023. When we drove into the other states, I've been far too focused on discovering what the Google Maps state welcome icon would be to look for the signs. Now that I know how awesome some of them are, I'm going to shift my focus away from the screen and find the signs. 

Updating the Website for St. Mark's Lutheran Church

After debuting the new logo for our church, it was time to begin an overhaul of the website. My fellow committee member (and friend) Ann and I have been working hard on this task. We are not done, but we've made enough progress that I wanted to share it here. 

As you can see below, the new website uses our brand colors and features our logo prominently. We replaced the 5+ fonts on the previous site with a single, easy-to-read san-serif (Verdana) on the new version. We moved the menu down, and used larger text and yellow buttons to make it easier to read. The buttons are rounded to give it a more warm and welcoming feel. 

I'm particularly happy with our new header. We tried a lot of different ways to incorporate the three logos (our own, the ELCA logo, and the Reconciling in Christ logo) and no matter what we did, it looked really crowded. The logos competed with each other until we shrunk down the ELCA logo and put it the address line, then added a line below that stating that we are an ELCA church. 

We've made updates to the pages as well, but most are not complete. We plan to add a bunch of photos, then fix the formatting and make some other tweaks. Stay tuned!

The Red List of Endangered Crafts

Have you heard of the Red List? Created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, it is the world’s most comprehensive source of information about the health of animal, fungi, and plant species around the globe. Since it was established in 1964, the IUCN has evaluated 169,420 species and placed them into one of nine categories: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, and Extinct. The Red List is, obviously, a valuable resource for everyone involved with biodiversity conservation. 

A UK group called Heritage Crafts has developed their own version of the Red List. Instead of focusing on endangered animals, they identify traditional crafts that are extinct or at risk of dying out. 

I encourage you to read the whole list, as it is very interesting. But I'll call out a few facts that struck me. 

• There are 165 items on the Red List of Endangered Crafts. 
• There are 12 crafts that have been newly categorized in the 2025 update as Critically Endangered. These include skills like cut crystal glass making, fabric flower making, quilting in a frame, glove making, and rattan furniture making. 
• For the first time ever, the Red List has a Resurgent category. Skills like reverse glass sign painting and side saddle making are doing better in recent years. 

You can read about each individual craft, like this entry on bow making, which is Critically Endangered. It's fascinating. Or this one on rug tufting, which is a Resurgent craft. I'm not surprised to hear that rug tufting is making a comeback in the UK; there are rug tufting studios that have opened in the US in recent years and quite a few artsy YouTubers have given rug tufting a go recently. 

I need to reiterate that, unlike the IUCN's Red List that is worldwide, the Red List of Endangered Crafts only covers the UK. I've never come across a list like this for other countries; if you're aware of one, please send me a link. But even if the UK has the only list, it stands to reason that heritage crafts are endangered in many other parts of the world as it is more difficult for skilled craftspeople to earn a living for their hard work. 

The Average Color of US State Flags

Are you familiar with Terrible Maps? Most of the maps are indeed terrible (and thus hilarious) but some of the maps are not terrible at all (and thus very interesting). This is a recent map from the latter category:

As you can see, this map shows the average colo(u)r of US state flags. The idea of an average color is a bit odd, particularly when you think about distinctive flags like those of Arizona and Maryland showing up as shades of brown. But look at the way that Washington and New Mexico pop amongst the sea of blues and violets. The point of a flag is to be distinctive and immediately identifiable. 

I thought it would be fun to see how my ranking of the best and worst state flags matches up with their average color. I ranked the flags before Minnesota adopted a much better flag, so on the map below, you'll find it labeled with rest of the Top Contenders (smily hearts) and not with the Bottom of the Pack (frowny faces). 

There is definitely a correlation between my favorite state flags and how unique their average color is. Similarly, the numerous states with a state seal on a navy background (and basically the same average color) can never achieve the primary purpose of a flag: to be distinctive and immediately identifiable. The correlation isn't perfect, but it's there. 

I recommend following Terrible Maps on Facebook or the platform of your choice. There's also a book. Outdiana. Hehe. 

Terrible Maps (affiliate link)

I'm a big fan of combining hilarity and cartography. I'm glad I'm not the only one. 

Minnesota and North Carolina Craft Stick Flag Coasters

As promised, here are two more coasters featuring state flags. Today I'm sharing coasters featuring the flags of Minnesota and North Carolina. I'm especially happy to share the Minnesota project, since it is the most recently adopted of the 50 state flags. (Maine, I'm still disappointed.) Affiliate links below.   

 

Minnesota and North Carolina Flag Coasters

Materials: 

• 7 standard size (4.5") craft sticks
• painter's tape
• acrylic paint (Minnesota: navy, light blue / North Carolina: navy, red, white)
• colored pencils
• Apple Barrel Paint Pens (Minnesota: white / North Carolina: yellow, white)
• Outdoor Mod Podge
• tacky glue
• 3 mini (2.5") craft sticks

Steps (Minnesota): 

Arrange seven standard size craft sticks on a piece of painter's tape. Use a ruler and pencil to draw lines to mark the Minnesota-shaped dark blue field. Paint the field navy and the rest of the area light blue. When the paint is dry, remove the sticks from the tape and paint the edges. They will show through in your finished coaster. The back won't show, so painting that is optional. Let the paint dry. Return the sticks to the painter's tape. 

I used a white colored pencil to freehand the 8-pointed star, but it would have been infinitely easier to print and cut a template, then trace that. Use a white paint pen to fill in the star. 

When the paint is dry, seal the sticks with Outdoor Mod Podge and let that dry completely. 

Arrange three mini craft sticks vertically on your work surface and add glue. One by one, transfer the painted craft sticks onto this base. 

Steps (North Carolina): 

Arrange seven standard size craft sticks on a piece of painter's tape. Paint the left third of the sticks navy blue. Paint the right two-thirds of the top three sticks red and the bottom three sticks white. The middle stick is split, half red and half white. I recommend labeling the sections in pencil to help you. 

Remove the sticks from the painter's tape and paint the edges, as these will show. When the paint is dry, return the sticks to the painter's tape. 

It took quite a bit of trial and error to figure out the best way to do the details on this flag. I suggested starting with the N☆C, using yellow and white paint pens. Use the yellow paint pen to draw the banners above and below. When the paint is 100% completely dry, add the text using a ballpoint pen. 

Seal the sticks with Outdoor Mod Podge and let that dry completely. 

Arrange three mini craft sticks vertically on your work surface and add glue. One by one, transfer the painted craft sticks onto this base. 

You may have noticed that I didn't make coasters from amongst the Excellent state flags for crafting but instead chose flags from the Acceptable group. They were more challenging than I'd expected, so I'd steer clear of anything in the Terrible group. I have high hopes that at least some of them will update their flags eventually, like Minnesota did. 

Georgia and Indiana Craft Stick Flag Coasters

I'm trying to diversify the set of crafts I have made inspired by each state, so that people who visit each individual state's page have a wider variety of projects to choose from. I decided to make four more craft stick coasters, similar to the United States flag coaster and California's Bear Flag Coaster that I've previously posted. Today I'm sharing coasters featuring the flags of Georgia and Indiana. Affiliate links below.   

 

Georgia and Indiana Flag Coasters

Materials: 

• 7 standard size (4.5") craft sticks
• painter's tape
• acrylic paint (Georgia: navy, red, white / Indiana: navy)
• colored pencils
• Apple Barrel Paint Pens (Georgia: yellow, white / Indiana: yellow)
• Outdoor Mod Podge
• tacky glue
• 3 mini (2.5") craft sticks

Steps (Georgia): 

Arrange seven standard size craft sticks on a piece of painter's tape. Paint the sticks with a blue field and red, white, and red stripes. I recommend using a ruler and pencil to draw the lines and label the sections before painting. 

When the paint is dry, remove the sticks from the tape and paint the edges. They will show through in your finished coaster. The back won't show, so painting that is optional. Let the paint dry. 

Return the sticks to the painter's tape. Use a white colored pencil to draw where the stars will go and a yellow colored pencil to draw a simplified version of the coat of arms. Trace over each with paint pens. 

When the paint is dry, seal the sticks with Outdoor Mod Podge and let that dry completely. 

Arrange three mini craft sticks vertically on your work surface and add glue. One by one, transfer the painted craft sticks onto this base. 

Steps (Indiana): 

Paint seven standard size craft sticks navy blue. Be sure to paint the edges, as these will show. When the paint is dry, line up the sticks on a piece of painter's tape. 

Print a copy of the Indiana flag, sized to 4.5" x 3" (the approximate size of the finished coaster. Scribble on the back of the design with a white colored pencil. Place the printed flag, correct side up, on the taped craft sticks. Trace the basic lines of the design and put a dot where each star goes. This will transfer white guide lines to the navy-painted sticks. 

Trace over each of the lines with a yellow paint pen, then draw stars over each dot. Use a very sharp yellow colored pencil to write INDIANA near the top. 

When the paint is dry, seal the sticks with Outdoor Mod Podge and let that dry completely. 

Arrange three mini craft sticks vertically on your work surface and add glue. One by one, transfer the painted craft sticks onto this base. 

Tomorrow I'll share the other two coasters I made. 

Anniversary Getaway in Healdsburg, CA

Steve and I celebrated our 21st anniversary with a 2-night getaway to beautiful Healdsburg, California. Healdsburg is a charming small town of about 11,000 people, located in the Sonoma Valley, about an hour from where we live. It is packed with high-end restaurants, wineries, and art galleries. 

We stayed at the gorgeous Hotel Healdsburg. 

 

Our 2nd floor room was spacious and luxurious. The balcony overlooked Healdsburg Plaza, the town square at the heart of Healdsburg. 

Nature is everywhere around you at Hotel Healdsburg. 

  

This was the 2nd floor atrium, located a few steps from our room. 

We ate our anniversary dinner at the hotel's restaurant, Dry Creek Kitchen. You might have heard of the chef: Charlie Palmer. 

We were greeted with a complimentary mocktail (because I can't have alcohol anymore due to my cancer medication). The base of the mocktail was a rhubarb shrub and absolutely delicious!

  

We had a canape of pork belly biscuits (amazing) and then ordered the three-course meal, with each of us opting for different items so we could try six different things instead of three. Everything was spectacular. The portion sizes were very generous - so much so that we each had to get most of our main course to go. 

  

  

Not only did our desserts come with cute chocolate 'Happy Anniversary' signs, but they comped us a trio of extra desserts for us to try. I can't say enough good things about Dry Creek Kitchen. The food, the service, and the ambiance were all top-notch. It's a great place to go for a special occasion. 

After a good night's sleep and an outstanding breakfast at the hotel, it was time to explore more of Healdsburg. We started in the Plaza. There are quite a few statues, artifacts, and memorials there, including a monument to Healdsburg's four world champion athletes (page 14), a grist mill stone from a pioneer settler, a piece of beam from the World Trade Center, and a memorial to Healdsburg's fallen soldiers. 

  

  

We poked into some of the shops, then headed to the Healdsburg Museum. 

  

It's small, but worth a visit. And the price is right! (Free.) We both really enjoyed the exhibit about the Pomo Weavers Society. 

Check out the tiny woven baskets attached to acorn caps!

I loved the beautiful quail bags. 

  

We got a sneak peak of the upcoming exhibit, which looks interesting. 

After the museum, we strolled through more of downtown Healdsburg. Hey, it's Good ol' Charlie Brown!

There are a handful of cute ice cream shops in Healdsburg. We couldn't resist and had outstanding sorbet from Noble Folk. Definitely stop in. 

Steve and I enjoyed the enormous chair. 

Speaking of enormous, there was no way we were passing up the chance to see the largest moss wall in America. 

The moss wall is located at Paul Mahder Gallery, which itself is enormous. I've been to art museums with fewer pieces on display. 

You have to go alllll the way to the back to get to the moss wall. Sure enough - it's huge! It's really pretty and provides a nice setting to enjoy the art. 

We had dinner at Roof 106. It was perfect: a great setting, amazing food, and excellent service. 

  

On our final day in Healdsburg, we had another delicious breakfast at the hotel. Then we visited more art galleries... 

  

... and found some geocaches. It was difficult to be stealthy in such a pedestrian-friendly area, but we did our best. 

Something we did not do in Healdsburg (besides wine tasting, spa treatments, and retail therapy)? We did not visit the Hand Fan Museum. We'd planned to go, but the museum was not open during its posted hours; a scribbled sign in the window listed the very few hours a week they are now open. The website hasn't been updated, which is super annoying. 

The closed museum was the only disappointment in Healdsburg; everything else exceeded our expectations. If you are looking for a pedestrian-friendly town with gourmet food, cute shops, upscale hotels, and a wonderful atmosphere, look no further than Healdsburg.