I wish I were a Walton

A Fun Little Project

2012-02-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

The recovery is slow. I had such high expectations for myself! I'm farther along than the Dr. said I'd be, but I was sure I'd be closer to wearing two shoes! As it is, I now have a "boot" and am able to start putting a little weight on my foot. It also means that I'm able to navigate the stairs quite well and can finally start spending time in my sewing room...yeah!!!

Once a month a get a nice little package from Sweetwater ,as part of their label crew. They create a little project every month, and labels to go with it. I really like everything they do and they have the most swoonable fabrics! I ordered the little fabric kit too, but it was only $5.00...easy peasy!

The project is for a journal cover that fits over a standard composition book. You get the colorful and very detailed pattern along with the cute label to go on the front of the book. The fabric squares were extra and also came with a fat quarter for the liner.

So I layed out all the fabric pieces until they looked right to me!

Sewed all the rows together...

And together again...

Sewed the front to the back, with a lining in between...

Turned it right side out...

Placed the book inside the flaps...

Ironed on the label and stitched the edges.

I love it! Cute, easy and a project completed in a short amount of time!!!

Snow Days

2012-01-20T10:32:00.000-08:00

It seems that the entire nation is aware of our snow storm. Big news when it shuts down a city like Seattle, but also a little fun! The nice thing about snow in the Northwest is that it really doesn't last all that long. What's a week of snow to people in Minnesota and North Dakota? I'm sure they think we're nothing but wimps! We have a week of it and then it's back to normal! Green grass is still under the snow and the weather is supposed to move up into the 40's ,and things are getting back to normal.

It started snowing here on Monday night. Why does snow always start when you have the blinds closed and it's time to go to bed? I like to watch it fall and enjoy the stillness!

Fortunately for me, it snowed most of Tuesday as well!

School was cancelled, but my son and husband still had to go to work. I got to sit and enjoy the view!
Read books, watched movies and did a little baking!

Wednesday was beautiful! Rarely do we get a "nice" snow day, where it's just still and beautiful.

The sun was shining...everything was so tranquil!

Tyler and his friends went sledding, out to eat and had a night of movies and games...still no school!

Thursday it wasn't so nice as the Northeaster kicked in, dropped the temperature and blew snow all over! I heard at one point the temperature, with the windchill, was -15 degrees. The view went from the above photos to this...

It's about three feet deep by those trees, but almost bare by the house!

My friend, Tami , did a fun snow quiz on her blog. You should visit and check it out!

Hope you get a few snow days, but not too many! Stay cozy!

Friends

2012-01-12T16:21:00.000-08:00

My Friends have been such a blessing to me, especially these last few weeks! They call and visit, sweep and dust, offer to clean my bathrooms, which I politely decline because that's just yucky, and bring me delectable goods!

Lynda has brought meals, movies, stitcheries and her lovely company! We do have a glorious time together! She's cleaned and has offered to pack away all my Christmas stuff!!! (I know it's killing her that it's still up...sorry!!)

My other friend, Linda, picks up and drops off my library books and magazines, and visits and calls on a regular basis!

My friend Tami spent the day with me last week and brought lunch...

dinner (including a special meal for Tyler!)...

and a project for us to work on together...

This is the finished book of her Christmas cards! What a great way to keep each year together, with a little mini album. We (mostly she) got all mine done, except the cover. Tami is such a go-getter! She brought over all the product for me to use, so I had no excuse not to do it!!! Thanks Tami!! I can't wait to get all the cards from years past into their own albums!

I've had so many nice visits and phone calls and people offering to run errands, clean house, make meals, etc. I am so blessed!!!

My blogger friend, Brenda, gave me a lovely award and so many bloggers have been in touch offering sweet words of encouragement! Thank you so much!!

I can't sit at the computer for very long and I can't blog from my iPad, but I am looking at all of your posts and enjoying them so much! Thank goodness for blogs and pinterest..and thank goodness for my friends!
You know who you are and I love you dearly!!

Just a Little Stir Crazy!

2012-01-04T14:27:00.000-08:00

The following picture is a little graphic, but since this is my journal, I had to put it in...skip ahead if you'd like!!!

I had to have my Achille's repaired the week before Christmas and while I'm not uncomfortable, I am getting extremely bored!!!

Ten days post-op, but it sure felt good to get those stitches out!!

I wanted a black cast, but they talked me into a pink one...next one will be black!!! Black goes with everything...pink not so much!

I have a great little scooter that I can zoom all over the house on, but I crawl up the stairs like a two-year old!!
I've read three books in the last three days...

Watched the entire first season of this...

Worked on a little stitchery, finished my Christmas cards, mastered the art of standing on one leg while showering, and very little else! I'm going a little stir-crazy!!!
I have spent extreme amounts of time on Pinterest, but as far as far as doing anything truly productive, it's just not happening!!!

We had a wonderful New Years celebration with dear friends, playing games, visiting and eating copious amounts of food!

There were some very competitive people here...you know who you are!!!!

A wonderful way to ring in the New Year! 12 is my favorite number so I'm expecting great things this year!!!! Walking on two feet would be FanTasTic!!!

I can't imagine what I'll have to blog about over the next two months, as the view from the couch just doesn't change all that much!

Wishing you all the best in 2012!

A Little Christmas

2011-12-27T13:17:00.000-08:00

We had such a wonderful Christmas this year!

My Dad and my sister, Amy were here for the first time ever! We haven't spent Christmas together in over twenty years! It was so great to have them here!! I had my Achilles operated on the Monday before Christmas so I wasn't the host I wanted to be...they seemed okay with that though!

My wonderful sisters in law...Melissa, Meagan and Shelly. We spent Christmas Eve at Brian's parent's house with his siblings and nephews, my dad and my sister and of course our family. This year we all gave to our favorite charities and it was so nice!! We were all blessed as we blessed others.

We added a new one to the group this year, my daughter's boyfriend, Brady!

Christmas morning was pretty leisurely! The joy of having older kids I guess!! Breakfast around 11:00!! Didn't start with gifts until around 12:30!!

Tyler got Brian the beanie he's been wanting...he fits right in now!!

The camera I thought Tyler would like, but that he really wants to trade for something else!!

Aprons for the girls!

Loved having a houseful of people! We need to do gifts more slowly though. Tyler opened his so fast that he was done before I even looked at him!!

The gift we gave ourselves this year...with help from family and a few gift cards!!! My rebel died over a year ago and we've been wanting to replace it. So excited to have this big boy again!!!

We spent the day doing puzzles...

And playing this little game...

It's not really a game, just a series of questions. We did this for about four hours and it was so fun and interesting. Really a conversation starter and can get pretty deep. Of course we skipped over the extremely personal ones, such as "what's your biggest regret?" Some things just don't need to be shared!! The kids all went to the movies while the rest of us stayed home.

We had a great dinner...no pictures...and lots of treats...no pictures....visits from friends and neighbors...no pictures...! But the memories are there just the same!!

We are so blessed!!!

A New Tradition

2011-12-18T12:58:00.000-08:00

Last night the siblings started a new Christmas tradition. Instead of buying each other gifts, we decided to gift ourselves with time spent together. So yesterday we met up in Seattle at Palomino restaurant for and early dinner and a white elephant gift exchange.

A lot of thought and junk cleaning was put into these gifts....such as:

The coveted "Bumpits" that I should have stolen from Meagan. Mistake on my part!

A really nice BB-Q condiment set...

This lovely tissue box holder (call if interested!)...

And what gift exchange is complete without a Snuggie???!! There was also artwork, a dancing/singing poinsettia and a few other trinkets. I think everyone was "really happy" with their gifts!!!

We did a little shopping while the guys took our gifts to the car.

We went to Pacific Place and Westlake Center. There were so many people out including an organized group of over a thousand Santa's! Bands were playing, carolers singing, street performers and just a great feeling of festiveness all around!!

I don't know how I got this picture the way it is, but I thought it looked really cool!!!

We ended the night at Starbucks with a hot drink and conversation.

This was my favorite night this season!!! I'm so blessed to have such great "sisters and brothers"!! I hope we do this every year!!!! And I hope Meg gives me another chance at the Bumpits!!!

A Little (lot)of Christmas Decor!

2011-12-08T12:51:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd share a little of my Christmas decor with you. I'm a little obsessive and LoVe Christmas!!! I don't like to put it up and I don't like to take it down, but I love every second of the finished product!!!
I've been decorating for two weeks, and seem to keep finding things to add here, and there...enough already!!!!

Welcome and come on in!!!

Here's the tree! It's a mix of homemade and special ornaments that my Grandma gave us over the years. She gave us all, one each, every year for many, many years.

These ornaments are my favorite and the first things to go on the tree every year!

My buffet in the kitchen with my Starbucks tree next to it.

My dad got me most of the rolling pins and the crocks at a garage sale.

I got the icicle shelf liner at Grandiflora this year...I think it's my favorite thing! I got the sparkly trees and the old bingo cards there too. I collect cookie cutters and Thermos's, enamelware lids and kitchen scales too! I would like to get lights in here to make it a little brighter.

Another favorite thing...my Starbucks tree!!! So fun to decorate every year!

I took some old suitcases and spray painted them off-white and love how they turned out. The top one even says "holiday" on it! I received the santa for Christmas when I was four years old...love him!!

A few of the things I've made recently. The red-work was really fun to do and I always love working with wool, especially these colors!

This penny rug was this year's project...the snow pail from years past.

A simple, spray painted, wooden bowl filled with ornaments.

A cute little chalkboard I picked up this year, sitting on a different buffet, next to the s'more trees.You can also see a bit of a winter quilt in the background.

The trees on the stairwell with lots of bears underneath. I made the ornaments years ago and really need to do something different, but I just keep putting it off!! Santa's undergarments hanging on an old door!

A little tree in the entry, with a wall hanging I had made for my mom.

I like to put these little trees in my sewing room...they add a little sparkle! I got the Merry Christmas tree skirt at the museum this year. The skirt on the bigger tree is literally a little girls skirt from the GAP. I got it at a garage sale and cut it up the middle. It may have to be sewn back together if a granddaughter ever comes along!!!

While this is just a snippet of my Christmas decor, I hope you enjoyed it!!

And of course the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior.

Blessings!!

Christmas at Molbaks

2011-12-05T11:35:00.001-08:00

Brian and I spent the day in Bellevue on Saturday doing a little work for Haggen and having a little fun too!

After working we headed over to Woodinville to Molbaks Nursery. We'd been there the week before, but my camera quit and I wasn't able to get any pictures. This place is a feast for the eyes!! So many decorations, hundreds of trees and thousands of poinsettias, not to mention billions of people! I may have exaggerated on the people, but not the rest!!!

The poinsettias are a thing of beauty and the greenhouse is full of them, every color and size!

There were carolers milling about...

The decorations are spectacular! Such a feast for the eyes! I love seeing the different tree and decorating ideas. I wonder how long it takes to decorate this place!

The last time we were there it was Humane Society day and you could bring your pets to take holiday photos. This time Santa was there and lots of people were having their pictures taken, including Brian and I! He's so good at doing dorky things with me!!

This may be my Christmas card this year...my kids aren't so into posing anymore!

These kids were cute...maybe I'll use this picture for my card!

Turn up the volume and enjoy the Christmas music...I play it all day!!!!

Pie Party 2011

2011-11-29T16:36:00.001-08:00

Although it is still technically fall, there is a winter feeling in the air. My home is (mostly) decorated for Christmas and I feel the need to hunker down, watch movies and sip a variety of hot drinks!!

But before I settle into the Christmas season, I get to enjoy one of my favorite things...Lynda's annual Pie Party! A last chance to gather with friends before the hustle and bustle of the season begins.

There are four of us who gather, although there have been others who have dropped in now and then, and we so cherish this special time of togetherness. To reconnect as friends and sisters, share our hearts and laugh together...a lot!!!

We all bring a pie, and I have to admit that mine was store-bought! Just not enough time to make one, but it was still really good!!

Hot cider greeted us as we walked in and Lynda had prepared a wonderful lunch of homemade pizza and a salad that we just couldn't get enough of!!

The table was darling!!

Lynda read verses that she had picked out for each one of us and said a beautiful prayer over us and the meal.

We played a little game and each got a little gift...a can of T.J.'s organic pumpkin!!!!

We all worked on a little stitchery she designed for us and we all took home a sampling of pie. While it only lasted a few hours, it was balm for the soul. A special time to gather and reflect, stitch and break bread together. Just like the quilting bees of old. We women depend on each other and have so much more to offer others when we take a little time for ourselves.

The simple beauty of God's creation, wonderful friends and family...does it get any better than that?

Another Adventure...Part 2

2011-11-14T20:44:00.001-08:00

Now that I'm back from a relaxing weekend, I'm ready to continue with last weeks adventure and add on a bit of a new one!!!

These are my favorite goodies from the trip to Centralia. I do love chalkboards! I'm thinking of doing a wall of them down my hallway, but still not quite sure.

Early the next morning, Brian and I headed back to Seattle for the City of Hope Ball, a fundraiser for the City of Hope Cancer and Research Hospital. We went down early enough to walk around Capital Hill and look at some really cool shops. We went to Melrose Market, a neat little warehouse like building with lots of shop inside. Kind of like a European market. There was a butcher, a restaurant, a flower shop, a deli, and some individual shops too.

I thought it was pretty fun that you could sit near the counter while your food was being prepared, and the butcher shop had slabs of meat in the see-through cooler.

My favorite shop was called Butter Home. It was a shop filled with product by local artists. Loved the bunting along the railing...

And the window displaying jewelry...

a really cool metal tree with vintage lighting...

fun goodies...

a cute guy...

and the sweetest owner!!!!

Got a few goodies there too!!!

We stayed at the Westin in downtown Seattle and had a great view!

We had a nice time at the ball...over half a million dollars was raised in a few hours. Pictures? That would be no. Forgot my cute purse and nothing to carry it in. Hubby was in black tie and I must say we were quite cute!!!!

The next morning we got up really early, mainly because we forgot to set our clocks back, and headed down to Montlake to watch my nephew row crew for Bainbridge Island. There was a huge regatta going on and while it was pretty, it was soooooo cold!!!! Had a wonderful visit with my sister in law and my other nephew and Brian enjoyed hanging out with his brother.

We waited 2 hours for a glimpse of Nate doing warm-up, but as luck would have it, a sailboat needed to go through the cut and this happened...

Yes, he went through while the bridge was up!!!! Bummer!

An hour later we got to see him compete, but he was through so fast that I only got one picture!

That's him in the back! Sorry I missed you Nate!!

This past weekend we joined our friends Tami, Fred and Max up at Whistler. So much fun and it snowed almost the whole time we were there!!! Didn't accumulate, but it was fun to watch and be in it!! Not many pictures, but lots of great memories!

Gorgeous drive!

The guys reading their latest books, Inheritance, which they bought at midnight the day it came out! Tyler finished his and Max was saving the last bit for the ride home!

A great weekend with wonderful friends!

How was your weekend?

Another Adventure!

2011-11-11T10:17:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, Brian and I went to Petite Retreat's Island Retreat in Anacortes. Brian's been looking for some vintage items for a grocery store that Haggen is re-doing and it's been really fun going junkin' with him!!! Deb Kennedy is a wonderful, sweet friend who puts this all together with her husband Bob.

Her husband makes some unique furniture. We tried to buy both, but the table was already sold. Unfortunately, Haggen gets the other one! Aren't they fun?

It was a really fun show, right on the pier in downtown Anacortes. Beautiful day!

Last weekend was the Funky Junk Sisters show in Puyallup. Lynda, Terry, Karen and I left bright and early on Friday and headed to Centralia and Chehalis to do a little antiquing and exploring before going to the show later that night. We found some cute things and as always, had so much fun just being together! Someone offered to take our picture to document our great adventure, but we got busy and forgot about it! Lynda's always willing to sit in a rocker though, and I took advantage of that photo op!!

We went to lots of stores, but this was our favorite! Wish I could remember the name!

Loved this wall! The bunting is cut out of newspaper. I need to make one of these! And I love the FaLL letters on the wall!

Oh, there's the name! Abundance Vintage! Love the quote!

Loved this vintage nightie! Not very soft, but really cute!

We also went to a cute quilt shop and had lunch at Berry Fields in Chehalis. Great food, cute decor and very busy!!! The place to go for lunch!!

Off to Puyallup to the Funky Junk Show!! Linda and Dixie always make this such a great show and raise a lot of money for breast cancer awareness.

I like the hanging bed springs and the metal booth!

Cute displays!

Heartbreak Hotel! Isn't the heart sweet?

So many great ideas!

We ended our evening with a trip to University Village in Seattle. I loved this display at Pottery Barn...a hanging ladder filled with beauty!! If only I was willing to put some eye bolts into my ceiling!!!

Another adventure with my hubby the next day, but that will have to wait!!! On our way to Whistler for a weekend with friends...praying for some snow!!!

A special thanks to all of the wonderful men and women who so faithfully serve our great country.
May we always remember the sacrifices they make for the rest of us, every, single day.

Who needs New England?

2011-10-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I took a road trip this past weekend through Washington, Idaho and a bit of Montana. I wish my pictures could do justice to the AMAZING fall color we saw! We were hoping to take a fall trip to New England this fall, but the timing just didn't work out. So instead, we drove the back roads as far as we could go, stopping here, there and everywhere! We had no schedule, but wanted to see the fall color, visit family and stop whenever we wanted!
This was such a great trip, we've already decided to do it again next year!!!

The above picture is in Newhalem as you start across the North Cascades highway. It was a little rainy, but once we got over the pass, nothing but sun!!

One of my favorite barns, outside of Winthrop.

Beauty along the Methow River!

Just a cool, old barn!

This was such a cute cottage, nestled amongst the gorgeous colors!

Stopped and saw my sweet Grammy! Isn't she cute with her fall shirt?? That's my Uncle Bill next to me. Got to see Aunt Trissie too, but she left before the photo shoot!

We went into Spokane and went to Hurd Merchantile...one of my favorite stores! My dad met us at Chaps for dinner, but I forgot to take pictures! We stayed in Spokane the first night and met my dad again the next morning for breakfast at the Longhorn. Love the down home atmosphere and the cute tablecloths!

We hit a few amazing antique stores the next morning and some really great people! Wish I had taken their pictures, but, well, you know...

After that we headed up north to Green Bluff hoping to hit a few farms! We stopped at Knapps where we were just in time to see the pumpkin launcher, which I did take a picture of, but for some reason isn't on here and I don't know how to squeeze it in!! Whew!! Long sentence!

This is a picture of a new barn at the home I want to live in some day! This silo is stunning!!! You can't see the house, because they have a gate in front of it now. I found this place about 5 years ago, when it was for sale! You can sort of see the view behind the barn. It sits way up high on a hill (mountain?) and looks out over the Spokane River valley. Stunning doesn't begin to describe it!

Amazing fall color!!! The colors were so vibrant... I wish my pictures did it justice. God was painting some mighty pictures!!

Unfortunately, this clown garbage can was in the way here, and a man was getting arrested from the other angle!! But look at that white birch!!

We meandered up through Newport and over to Sandpoint, Idaho and Lake Pend Oreille. We had a great dinner at a little pub, with the sweetest waitress! I could live here! So beautiful, wonderful people and just a great way of life!

The next morning we went to a warehouse sale...who knew?!!!! and met some more great people!! Had coffee at Evans Brothers and visited with the owner for a long time!!! He moved there from Bellingham, so we had lots to talk about!!

From Sandpoint we drove to Bonner's Ferry, Idaho where Brian found the "coolest" store! Larson' department store...major carrier of Carhart and other farmy/huntery stuff!!!! He got a shirt...the only purchase he made! I more than made of for his lack of retail therapy!

We made it all the way to Libby, Montana before we headed back. We took another route back to Spokane, where we stayed again. Then we drove home via, Coulee Dame, and back up North, glad to be home and sleeping in our own bed!

If you're ever in the Northwest in the fall I highly recommend this trip!!!

A Trip to Stoney Ridge

2011-10-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

Last week, Lynda invited me to go with her to Stoney Ridge. I haven't been there in years! It was so much fun...so much eye candy! And PIE!!!

If you live nearby, head on over for a visit!!

Happy Fall!!

A Trip to Camas

2011-09-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday last week and since I had to work all day, I decided to take a little road trip the next day. I've been reading a lot of blogs that talk about Camas Antiques and thought I'd check it out. I live in the very NW corner of WA, just a few miles from the Canadian border, and Camas is located right along the Oregon border....quite the drive, but well worth it!! It was a gorgeous day, almost 90 degrees, and smooth sailing on the roads! The town itself is adorable! My favorite part was this cute, old theater...only $3.50 per movie!

I headed straight for the antique mall and was not disappointed! This place is so pretty, great vendors and everything was displayed so beautifully!

Theses are a few of my favorite booths.....

I really wanted to bring home these lockers...if I'd had a truck.....

I loved all the white!

I got some fun things here: a gigantic, industrial muffin tin; some old, metal first aid kits; some vintage school supplies...forgot to take pictures though!!!

I went to a few other shops, including a quilt shop and really enjoyed myself there. I'll definitely go back!!

I got back in the car and decided I had enough time to head back to Seattle and hit University Village. Went to all my favorite stores, including Pottery Barn Kids. I just love all of their ideas and this was one of my favorites of all time! Seems like everyone focuses on Halloween and then heads straight to Christmas. Thanksgiving seems to get overlooked in the process.

Not at PBK!!!

This table was so adorable! I want to have a children's table at my house this year! I'd have to find some children, but..... I think I will have to be considering this for the future Thanksgivings at "grammy's" house!

I had such a fun day!! And home by 11:30!!!!

2011-09-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we were invited to attend dinner and a concert at Chateau St. Michelle in Woodinville. It was such a glorious evening...full moon and everything!

The winery has a nice room off the gift shop where they hold private dinners. It's full of wine barrels and actually leads to the barrel rooms.

We were guest of a vendor and attended with a few other employees. There are some wonderful perks to hubby's job!!

We were served some wonderful food!! Crab cakes, delightful little shrimp things!!!! Lamb, rice with yummy sauce...a few more courses and of course fabulous desserts!!!! There was a different wine to go with each course. I'm told they were fabulous, but I'm not a big wine fan so I didn't have any with dinner!

I did, however, have the dessert wine!!! It was called "Late Harvest" and it was so good!!!! Sweet and rich, but not overpowering. I had half a glass and it took me all night to drink half of that!!!!

Then it was time for the concert!!! The winery does outdoor concerts all summer long. It's such a great venue! People bring in blankets, chairs and these AMAZING picnics!!!! Sometimes even a little BBQ to cook things on!! And of course, they bring wine!!! We're fortunate to be able to sit in the reserved seating area with a big wine and dessert area. They also serve coffee, water, etc.

The first band we saw was Human League...remember them???? "Don't you want me baby" was the only song I could think of, but as they played I recognized quite a few more. They were actually really good!! And from a distance they didn't even look that old!!

The best part of these concerts, for me, is watching all the middle-aged people, who have been drinking all night, start dancing like they were teenagers!!! One should be sober to get the full effect!!!

The next bad was the B-52's and this mom and daughter were prepared. It's hard to see the full beehive on this little girl, but it's there!!!

We were actually pretty disappointed in them. All there songs sound the same! The guy never really sings...just talks through every song. A lot of people left early, including us!

Great company and hosts and a really fun night!!!

Fall Is Coming!

2011-09-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day!!!!

It's been a gloriously, beautiful weekend here...our summer has arrived, albeit a tad bit late!!!
Yesterday after church, we all went out to lunch and then to the mall for a bit. My daughter talked me into doing this:

Piercing my ears!!!!!! I had them pierced when I was a girl, but over the years had trouble and just let them go. Now I'm back with the in-crowd!!!! Well, maybe not, since regular ear piercing doesn't seem to be the norm anymore!!!

The last garage sales of the summer were the best all year!!!
I got this cool green scale. I love that is says "American Family Scale" on the front!!

Some vintage games, including the original Candy Land game!!!! The blue gingerbread man is missing, but it has all the original instructions, game board, etc. The Flinch game still has it's cards wrapped. It's from 1962! Lots of old dominoes and some new ones. Old flash cards and clipboards.

I also got some old ledgers and notebooks from the University of Washington. Never used!!!! A fabulous old, butter yellow, wool blanket and a new boat!!!!

Okay, so it's a paddle boat!!! But it's in great shape and we've wanted one for the pond. We took a little tour and did a lot of weeding from the water! Very handy!!!

Our pond looks so big in this picture!!!

We're starting to clean out the garden. My beans, corn and squash are still going strong, but we took out the broccoli, peas, lettuce, and all the junky stuff. I've dug some potatoes, but will leave most in the ground for awhile yet. My carrots are HUGE!!! Should have pulled them all and tried to store them, but no room!!!! My freezers are full and I still have to make room for corn!!!

I love having provisions lined up for the fall and winter!!
Starting to think about cozy things.....sweaters, soup, baking, resting, quilting, etc. The nights are cooling down and getting crisp. The leaves are just starting to turn. The mornings are foggy and cool and the moon has an orange glow about it.

Fall is coming!!!!

Sharing a little Sunshine...

2011-08-17T14:26:00.001-07:00

Just sharing a little sunshine from my garden!!!

Camping Extraviganzia!

2011-08-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our annual camping trip over at Lake Pearrygin in Winthrop.

I always seem to start off the trip to Omak to one of my favorite stores, Grandma's Attic. I always find a treasure or two including this baby quilt!!

Also got this cute egg banner! I stopped at a few garage sales and got an old, turquoise typewriter for $5.00! Forgot to take a picture though!!!
Brian enjoys this trip because of all the activity. Hiking, biking, floating, card playing, golfing, etc. I enjoy this trip because I don't have to do anything, but work on my tan!!!!!

Brian took a hike up to Goat Peak. There is a fire tower up there manned by "Lightening Bill".

Not a bad view!!

As is our custom, there was a theme again this year!! It was "Gilligan's Island". Dave did a wonderful jog, again, of organizing all the activities and fun!!

We started off Saturday with a river float down the Methow. I think there were 27 of us!There were prizes for the most decorated river float, and later for costumes!

This is Laura, who actually got married over there the day before, and whose wedding picture I forgot to post! Sorry Laura!!

All decked out! Britt and Staci...

Laura on her own little island!

Dan, Tracy and Craig...

Chris and Crystal...We actually lost Crystal at the end and had to send out a search party, but we found her!!!

We were divided up into three teams and had to stop at four locations along the way and have competitions. The bucket brigade required the team to fill a bucket and dump it on each persons head.....sooooooo cold!!. Then we had to stop and paddle our floats around the "Skipper". Next we had to build a rock tower... highest and widest!! And lastly, we had to bury the person with the biggest head, in the sand!!! People along shore were a bit perplexed, although I think deep down they were quite envious!!!

The floating group!!

My dear friend, Lynda, loaned me lots of decor for the tent!

The winning team...Brian's, not mine!!

Dave, AKA, the Skipper!
There was a costume contest for those living on or visiting the island!

The Headhunter and his daughter, whom he was trying to marry off! And you can see Gilligan next to them!

The Mosquito's, who did a rousing rendition ( and all verses) of the G. I. theme song!

Lord Beasley Waterford who was looking for the rare Pusseycat Swallowtail butterfly,

and of course, Ginger and Mary Ann!

Lord Beasley (Craig) took home the dubious reward!

We had a dessert contest, which had to have pineapple, coconut, or bananas. I came in second to a store bought cream pie!!!! Just wrong Dan, and you know it!!!!

The judges!!

There was a lot of volleyball, in which the kids beat the adults handily for the first time!!!! Many games of Canasta, Poker, and Pinochle. Giant cinnamon rolls were greatly consumed as well as ice cream down at the ice cream shop!!! Tubing, skiing and wake boarding, with a little surfing thrown in, not to mention just floating on the lake!

Great weather and great friends....so much fun!!!

Summer Fun!

2011-08-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

Summer's finally here!!! Sunny, warm and full of activity!!

My friend Tami came over to pick raspberries last week and brought me a lovely surprise!!! This sifter and cookie cutters! Look at the handles!!! Thanks Tami, for the gift and for taking those berries off my hands!!

We've been getting a lot of compost for all our beds and the last time we were there, Miss Stephanie noticed that I had Seattle Mariner checks and asked if we'd like to go to the game the next day. They had tickets they couldn't use and gave them to us!!

Mr. Hubby walking up the stairs!

Seattle has one of the greatest ballparks! Unfortunately it had rained off and on so the roof was closed, but on a sunny day...any day...it's a great place to take in a game!

Love the bat chandelier!

The pitchers heading to the bullpen. Notice the Dora the Explorer backpack...!

Evan Longoria was signing baseballs right in front of us.

Ichiro...

The grounds crew doing their dance!!

The happy couple!!

Oh, did I mention these seats were front row right on the 1st base line???? Yes they were!!! Amazing seats!!! Not a great game, as we lost, but a fun day!! Thanks Stephanie!!

The Garden...Save Me!!!

2011-07-22T11:27:00.001-07:00

I know the rest of the country is suffering in horrible heat, but as many of you know, it has been a downright chilly summer here in Washington. It's a good day if we hit 70!! We had 2" of rain in three hours last week! You'd think my garden would be suffering, but surprisingly it's growing quite well...maybe too well???

This week I had to harvest my Swiss chard. I have one, thirty foot row. I took a laundry basket and filled it...three times!!! Washed, chopped, steamed and got it ready for the freezer. I make a good sized ball of it, squeezing out all the liquid, place them on cookie sheets to freeze and then bag it.Three baskets and this is the result...one large bowl of finished, freezer ready chard! It just doesn't seem right!!!

Cut a bunch of cauliflower and broccoli yesterday (more than in the picture!) and did the same thing...washed, cut, steamed and bagged! Broccoli only, the cauliflower I pickle!

The raspberries have just started and my bushes are loaded!!!! I picked 4 flats three days ago and another two yesterday. Even with all the rain, they are big, juicy and no mold!!!

These are already frozen, which is why they look a little dull! Since I grow my own and don't spray or use any chemicals in my garden, I just pick, put them on a cookie sheet and throw them in the freezer. After they are frozen I put them in quart bags. There are three more of these in the freezer!!

I'm so grateful to have all of this fresh produce! Tons of lettuce, and the beets....oh my!! So tender and yummy! Slathered with butter and salt of course!!! Busy times!! If you live nearby, your porch may have a little something on it! No Returns Please!!!!

Last Sunday, Ashleigh and I went to Alderwood Mall. We went for the Nordy anniversary sale, but deep down we wanted to check out the new American Girl store!!!! Grand Opening and very busy...to busy to stand in line and purchase, but we had fun looking!!

Ashleigh collected these dolls for years and they are such a treasure! I still order something every once in awhile!!

One of the dolls we don't have...Kit. I want her. For myself. Yes I do. Depression era is my favorite!!! I do have some of Kit's accessories and have them on display around the house!!I told Ashleigh she could get me one in my old age. You know how you see those old ladies in nursing homes holding dolls? That will be me!!!

Supposed to be sunny this weekend, so more gardening and yard work!!

Things are Growing!

2011-07-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

"Make hay while the sun shines" was never truer than this week!!! We had a gully-washer yesterday, so it's a good thing my neighbors got their hay in a couple of days ago!! Katie was pretty cute driving the tractor! Little brother, Foster, let me know that he could drive it too!

Despite the fall-like weather, my garden is actually growing...slowly, but growing!

Raspberries are just coming on...very, very late this year.

Blueberries are starting to turn!

Broccoli, so sweet and delicious!I love how cabbage looks, especially the purple! (the weeds have since been removed!)

Onions standing like little soldiers...

And my masterpiece of a hanging basket (which I don't hang!)! I've never been one to fertilize...I like things that grow just fine without me! But this year, I followed Lynda's advice and now have "fertilizer Friday". Miracle Grow once a week and boy has it worked!!!!

Hope things are growing and blooming in your world!!

Farm Chicks...the end...finally!

2011-07-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

I promise this is the last installment!! How long can I drag this out????? The sad thing is, I don't have anything more interesting to post anyway!!!!

Here we go!
Lynda, Terry and I met up in Davenport for a brief visit before we went into Spokane. They were headed to dinner with a friend...and I was on my way to visit this lovely lady!!! My sweet, little Grammy :) Isn't she just the cutest little thing??!!!

Next morning we headed to the fairgrounds. Here are Lynda and Terry with Mrs. Farmchick herself, Serena!

One of my favorite booths, can't remember the name, but it had "school house" in it!! Lots of fun stuff here!

Loved all the numbers here! Seabold Vintage Market always has such great displays. That red and white??? I want it all!!

This sign was amazing!

I so wanted to buy these ottoman's. A little out of my price range, but so pretty! Lynda's favorite purchase...a pulpit!!! Preach it sister!!!

One of my husband's first job was at a store called "Farmer's Market". I really wanted this sign, but it wasn't for sale!

The Seven Sisters had this display above their booth. Funny, but true!!!

This was my big purchase. Can you guess what it is??? It's a mangle, an ironing machine!

It's in fabulous condition, but only heats up, doesn't feed the fabric. It does have the original manual so maybe someday we'll work on it.

For now, it's sitting on my porch! I love it! It's growing on my husband!!

I got a few more, small, little things, but nothing really substantial. This year we only went on Saturday and we were on the road home by 1:30!! Hopefully next year we'll be able to stay for the weekend!

Thanks for putting up with me!!

Destination: Farm Chicks...part 2...The Hurd

2011-06-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Hurd Merchantile...one of my favorite stores EVER!!! It's located in a Rockford, Washington, a little town south of Spokane. The store is nearly 10,000 square feet of eye candy!! I think I was here for about 2 hours!!! It's an old building divided up into "rooms", each with their own theme!

Lot's of pictures...definitely recommend a visit if you're over that way!!

Love this ladder!

The "white" room in progress. They were painting furniture while I was there! I want it all!!

Love the old trike!

Turquoise appliances...love!

Wish I would have gotten one of these signs...

Back to reality... off to work in the garden and finish up some painting!

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T22:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day!!!

Three generations today...Brian, Papa Ron and Tyler. A little family resemblance?? We celebrated by tackling another project!! Poor Brian! Remember my pictures of my re-done sewing room??? New trim around the baseboards and windows, new lighting, new furniture and new TV??? Remember the ugly carpet??? I've been wanting to replace this, and slowly, but surely we're working on it!!

A year and a half ago we had some water damage and had to replace our wood floor in our kitchen, which matched the wood floor in the dining room, which led to a remodel...anyway...we saved all the hardwood floor that wasn't damaged to use somewhere else. Yesterday morning Brian decided we should replace the carpet in my sewing room and put hardwood in there. This is how we do projects...spur of the moment!

Here's what it used to look like:

Minus furniture:

We started laying it at about 6:30 pm, paused for a bit while a wedding was taking place at the neighbors, and quit around midnight.

Back at it this morning and we're done by 6:30 tonight, including trim and carpet tuck-in!!

Furniture moved back in and looking so much better!!

Doesn't it look great???? What better way to spend Father's Day, huh??

Next weekend the office!

Destination: Farm Chicks...part 1

2011-06-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

I don't know why it takes me so long to post about the fun things I do. It's not like I do a lot of them, so I'm not quite sure what my problem is!!

I went over to Spokane for the Farmchicks show a few weekends ago. I was by myself, as one friend couldn't go this year, and my other friends could only come for a day. So I went early and spent time with my dad and grandma and hit all the fun places that I wanted to see, that my friends aren't always interested in!!!

I took along Pioneer Woman's Black Heels to Tractor Wheels on CD and listened to it all the way there and back. Eleven hours of bliss!!!! Highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed her book.

I digress...

I always take Highway 2 over as I love the views, and going through all the little farming towns. I like being able to stop anytime, anywhere, even the middle of the road to take a photo if I so choose!

Major wheat producers over there! Amber waves of grain, growing along the road.
I love taking scenic pictures when I go over. There is such a vastness that I can't begin to convey, but it is beautiful. You can see forever, it seeems.

Nothing like a big boulder in the middle of a field!! These were deposited during the Missoula floods which you can link to a little farther down...I'm not very good with the linky thing!!
Anyway, these are all over...and HUGE!!

This is coming into Coulee City with Banks Lake in the background. You can see the rain pouring from the clouds!! I'm still a few miles from the lake!!

The deeply carved walls from the Missoula Floods. http://www.iafi.org/

Banks lake was formed in the dry coulees during the Columbia River Basin project. It's truly amazing what water can do. These coulees go on for miles and miles.

Highway 2 out of Wenatchee pretty much looks like this all the way to Spokane...one long, straight road!! That town is still another 5 miles away! I love the grain elevators!

I stopped in Wilbur to take a picture of this lilac bush. They are everywhere! I have lilacs here, but there is nothing like the size of the ones in Eastern Washington!!! The fragrance permeates everything!!
Fields of canola...I wish I could describe the smell...fresh, cleansing, intoxicating!!!

I went to Chaps /http://www.chapsgirl.com/ and took pictures of the restaurant and bakery. So eclectic and fun!! Celeste, the owner, is a good friend of Serena's and is featured in the Farm Chicks Christmas book. She is so sweet and her employees are amazing!!!!

Chaps hanging in the entry...

Cute little vintage things all over. Drinks served in mason jars...swoon!!

Fabulous displays...I was coveting a few things!

As I was walking in I saw a young man and woman sitting at a table. The man had on a cowboy hat and gave me a "howdy" as I walked by. I'm thinking, "how can I strike up a conversation with these folk?"
As luck would have it, after I walked around snapping pictures, I got in line for a purchase and who should walk up behind me?? Yes, Mr. Cowboy!

We got to chatting. Cowboys are nice that way! I asked what he did for a living. "I'm a cowboy" he said. I'm liking this!! I asked where and what he did exactly." Idaho and training horses on different ranches", he replied. He was up visiting his girlfriend. I boldly asked if I could take his picture!!!

He introduced himself. His name is Brady Black. Great cowboy name!! And, he was wearing spurs! His girlfriend is Catlyn. Are they not just adorable???
Stay tuned for part two...if you're not bored yet!!

Almost Done

2011-06-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

Last day of school today. Tyler actually let me take his picture! Maybe that was because his friend Brandon was there!Hard to believe my baby is a ...SENIOR!!!

God should give you boys first. That way you don't know what you're missing!!! I think I have about 4 pictures of Tyler from this school year. Never wants to take a camera with him. No documentation, nothing for me to weep over!!! Girls, on the other hand, are all about the memories!! Knowing what I'm missing isn't fun!!

Happy Birthday my Friend...

2011-06-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

My cousin, Annette, and I have been best friends since...birth! Only three months apart and thirty-six miles away, we were blessed to have grown up together. That's me, second from the left, and her on the right, with her sisters Michelle and Christine (better known as "Miss Long Legs").

My Grammy lived in the same town and in our teenage years, just down the street from Annette. Grammy was a great facilitator of imaginations and we spent HOURS playing dress-up in her vintage clothes. We went to balls, played house, made mud-pies, and thoroughly enjoyed one an other's company! This is Grammy's washtub/swimming pool!

We had serious conversations at an early age! Obviously we both loved dolls and I can now admit that we played Barbie well into junior high!!!

Nettie on the left, great-aunt Trissie, and myself.

I can imagine us being "done" with having our picture taken. "Please let us get back to our talk, people!"

We spent so much time together. I really wanted to move to Davenport, Wa, where she lived, and go to school there. My grammy, dad, aunt, uncle and cousins all went there and I wanted to be part of that same tradition. Alas, it never happened "(

I did manage to attend most of their dances though, including this one on Valentine's Day. We were there with our boyfriends, but we only wanted a picture of us!! The all -county dances were so fun! Annette and I were just a little "Boy Crazy" and those big dances had a Lot of BOYS!!!

I went to their proms and would spend as much time staying with my grandma as I could! Weeks during the summer and every other weekend that I could persuade someone into taking me there!

We would "help" at football camp. We weren't asked, just showed up and volunteered. So unselfish of us!

We would "primp" for hours just to walk around town and hopefully "run into" some cute boys! We'd hang out at the pool and down at the river. We dated the same boys, (at different times!) and would compare story after story! Those poor guys!!!

We were both cheerleaders, had boyfriends who played football and let us wear their jerseys, spent hours at the river and just had so much fun together!

She was a cutie, my "Nettie Poo"!

She, her sister and I all got married within a few weeks of each other. She was my maid of honor. I was on my honeymoon and wasn't able to be in her wedding. Wish I could change that.

She would have been 47 today. She left us just before her 22nd birthday, leaving behind a husband, a baby and all of those who loved her so.

She was the keeper of my past, my dearest friend, my soul mate. I can't wait until I see her again! I know she's entertaining everyone in Heaven with her sense of humor,love and sweetness. I know she's waiting for me. What a gab-fest that will be!!

I miss you Sweet Girl.

My New Favorite Thing!

2011-06-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

I'm always reading about the amazing things people do with the stuff they find, namely, painting.
They are really good at" before" pictures, while I only manage to take the" after" shots!

I got these vintage picnic baskets about 2 years ago, and while they were in good shape and each one kind of cute, they didn't really go together. I had them sitting on my porch last summer and this year I decided to paint them and put them in my sewing room. I had some plastic totes that stored my fabric scraps and wanted to have something cuter to store them in.
So, out came the trusty can of spray paint and now I have these!!!They look much better and hold so much more! The top one does not have a lid, so only my very cutest scraps can go in there!!

I've also had this bike for a few years, leaning against the shop. My SIL did a painting of it, and this is as close to a before picture that I have.

She made it look all shiny and pretty, but in reality it was rusty, dirty, the seat was starting to
peel and the tires were flat. Actually the only things that looked the same were the colors! I'm not a blue fan, but I do love butter yellow!!!

Now I have this!!!!

Hubby took it apart for me so I could do the tires white. Yesterday was so nice and sunny that I took it outside and painted it. I love it!!!!! It's parked next to the fence in the front yard for all to see!!!

I went to the Farm Chicks this past weekend, so I'll actually have something to talk about this week!! Until then....

Too Much Fun...Literally!

2011-05-31T12:55:00.000-07:00

For Memorial Day Weekend, my SIL invited us to a "siding" party. Who could resist??? The whole family got together to help. This is what it looked like when I got there...almost ready to begin! There were 12 of us. Add to that 3 dogs and 2 cats and you have quite a group!

The brothers took charge and got things going pretty quickly! Two of the grandsons kept going into the kitchen "because they were really hungry"! #3 grandson, in foreground, worked hard, all. day. long. He was great!!!

The last piece on that side! 2 down, 2 to go!

This is what it looked like when I left. Tyler and I had a two hour drive ahead so we left around 8:45. The guys worked until after 10:00. Yes, we have light here that late in the Northwest!!

Brian, Ashleigh and his parents stayed and worked all the next day too. Got it done!!! We'll leave the painting to the girls!!

Hubby moved into a new office at work recently and it needed some decorating (still does!).

We decided that since he's in the grocery business it would be fun to do a little vintage grocery decor.

I had an old Pepsi crate...

And a week ago I got 5 of these framed, original magazine ads from the 30's and 40's. We only got two of them hung, but know where we want the other ones! Hard to see with the glare, sorry!

I picked up this child's shopping cart a few years ago and had the royal baking powder sign.

An old coconut bin, coffee tin and Sunkist orange sign topped off the high cabinet.

We've been looking for things everywhere, but boy are they expensive!!! I really wanted an old grocer's scale, but they were anywhere from $60.00 to $200.00!!!!

On Saturday, before we went to Seattle for the "party", I stopped at a garage sale and found this:

It's dirty, doesn't actually work and weighs about 400 pounds, but for $2.00 I gladly took it off their hands!!! SCORE !!!!!

How was your weekend??

Beauty is all Around...and some other stuff!

2011-05-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

It's still in the 50's around here, but at least no rain for the last few days...it's coming though!

The cold has extended the bloom life of everything though so it's nice to have a little color! My tulips have been blooming for over a month!
I love bleeding hearts! What an amazing flower! I love that God throws in fun little goodies here and there!! As He does everywhere, but a heart? How joyful!

Some geraniums...

And, Jacob's ladder... Most of the garden is in and although it's shivering, it is growing...a little!

The lettuce is poking through after only four days :) I can't wait for some fresh greens!

We have some new family members...Elfie and Indie. I was not involved in the naming otherwise there would be a Sophie in there!!

Hubby started, and finished, a project this weekend. I didn't have my camera for the before pic, and I'm too lazy to look for an old one!

We (I held them up!) put up shutters! The windows with the rock had no trim and always looked a little prison like! We haven't decided if we want them on top yet. Any opinions? The windows on top would look bigger than the bottom because of the added trim, so we're just not sure!

We did do the side of the garage and I really like how they turned out. It's one of those things that you do, but no one really notices!! Seems like they've always been there!

I must say this is the fastest project we've ever done!!!!

Off to work!!

Strolling in the Country

2011-05-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

When you live in the country, as I do, you may encounter strange things when you go out walking. Such as a cow. In the road. Not just any cow, but a Norman!

She was quite distressed at being on the outside looking in! The other girls were quite sympathetic and followed her up and down the fence line. There was some serious communication going on between them (mooing).
She didn't want any help from us!!

But the girls continued to follow us until the fence made the corner. It's funny to have one or two cows come up to the fence to greet you and then watch the other 50 or so join in! It's like they think they'll miss something if they don't get up from their slumber! I can only imagine the gossip!!

Here are some of the goodies I got at Petite Retreat: some bread pans and a muffin tin. It doesn't look like much, but oh, the possibilities!

This is one that I had before, connecting bread pans. They worked so well in my sewing desk drawer, that I knew I could use some more.

The top drawers are pretty shallow and this fit just perfectly. Plus, I like things to be easily seen and this lets me find just the right button!!

Too bad there wasn't one more pan. I'll have to keep my eyes out!!

I am finally adjusting to the fact that I love to organize more than I like to actually "do" something. Seeing things all in their place just does it for me!!

Garden plowed and staked today...planting tomorrow, if it doesn't rain!!!

Girls Day Out

2011-05-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Lynda, Ashleigh and I headed down south to Camano Island to attend Petite Retreat.

My baby and my bestie!
Deb Kennedy of Petite Retreat has a new home and is now open for business. Such a quaint little shop full of delight! I want this stove in my kitchen!

Some items from Seabold Vintage Market. Liz has the most incredible fabric and knows just what to do with it! Look at that laundry bag! And those pillows??? I hope to someday have at least one gracing my bed!

Deb has such a gift for putting things together and is known for her all white shabby chic! I just want to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book when I'm there!

I realize that I have a picture of this Farmer's Market sign, but I don't recall seeing it!!!! That would look really great in my home!

When Deb first bought this house, she sent me a picture because it looks like the Walton's house!!! Lucky her!! Isn't she adorable? Such a sweetie and beautiful to boot!!

We stopped at a few quilt shops and antique stores, had lunch at Haggen, and then got some fresh bread at Great Harvest.

Oh. And we laughed. A lot!!!!!

Oh What a Night!

2011-04-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

I'm almost caught up on my sleep...almost.

I started watching all the coverage at 11:00 p.m. and watched all the way through until 6:30 a.m. This was viewing on four different channels and I must say that I thought Canadian TV had some of the best coverage. Remember, I thought they did a better job of the Olympics too. I digress... I got up at 10 the next morning and proceeded to watch it 3 more times on various channels. What is wrong with me????

I remember when Diana and Charles got married. I was at cheer leading camp at Central Washington University. No TV!!!!!!! Our dorm chaperone let us stay up all night listening to it on the radio. but it just wasn't the same !!! One of my neighbors at home had just gotten a VCR (the first in our neighborhood!) and recorded it for me so I could watch it later that week. I was mesmerized!! What a fairy tale!

Now we know that it wasn't a fairy tale at all, but I think that William and Kate are the real thing! They were so cute and looked so smitten with each other! Very real, very humble, very sweet!

Just goes to show that anyone can become a princess...it's not just a dream anymore!

Well, maybe it's still a dream for me!!

Catching Up

2011-04-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

After being away for what seems like forever, I'm finally back in the blogging world. Special thanks to my friend Janice for loaning me her card reader so I can add some pictures to this blog!!

I have been so surprised to have a few new followers during my hiatus!! Maybe it's better when I don't have anything to say???

It's been a busy few months, although I can't really say what all's been happening!! Hubby and I did manage a trip to Hawaii a few weeks ago. Very relaxing for me, but quite a bit of work for him as it was a business trip. Maybe another post on that later!

Today I've been working on this: I have to add some small pieces between the squares and quilt it to the backing. Looks very simple so hopefully I'll get it done soon! I don't know about you, but after having arranged all the squares in a pleasing fashion I still managed to sew things together wrong, such as the two browns on top of each other. Oh well!

I did get some wonderful packages from UPS!! They sat in my entry for a week before we had time to work on them, but it was worth the wait!

Hubby and I spent quite a bit of time putting the desk and two tables together, but I'm really pleased with how they turned out. Really solid furniture and actually went together pretty easily. Just time consuming.

Such a good guy!

Before the furniture came, B put in some new overhead lights, and trimmed out the entire room! The windows had now trim, just finished sheet rock and a window sill. UGLY!!!!

I realize I don't have a picture of just the trim, but I love it! It was a dark stain, small and not pretty at all. Now it's wide, off-white and beautiful!!

I love the furniture and my honey bought me a new TV with a built in DVD player to replace my old 10" TV/VCR combo!! All I need is a bathroom and a fridge and I'll never have to leave!! I think we're going to put our old hardwood from the kitchen in here. That will show off the yellow walls better. I'm really loving this room!!

We've had about 4 sunny days out of the last 45 so I get my laundry out there as fast as I can!!!! I LOVE my clothesline! Nothing special, but nothing beats fresh hung laundry. The sheets?? Oh, my!!!! I think everyone should have one of these! I know some neighborhoods ban them from people's yards, but I can't imagine why! What a lovely site to see clothes blowing in the breeze! You can always hide the undergarments between the towels!!

Garage sale season has begun! Got this great scrabble game with RED tiles for $2.00 last week!

And a lovely box of vintage kitchen tools for $4.00. What a bargain!!!

I went with my SIL, Meagan to Seabold Vintage Market last month. The line was long, and the place was so crowded, but I managed to get a few goodies there too

The old lunch pail is my favorite and is residing on my sewing table, filled with cards, letters and cute notes from sweet Lynda!

Thanks for sticking with me through this drought!! I'll have to train myself to post on a regular basis again!!

Almost there...

2011-03-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

We finally got our new computer...yea!!! So last night I sat down to blog, organized what pictures I wanted to post, went to load the pictures and "GASP" - there is no card reader on this thing! What is up with that????? Total frustration. We had a guy from my husbands work build this for us and he did amazing things!!!!! He's 23 and brilliant in the techy department. He obviously, does not have a blog, because he didn't cater this thing to my needs!!!!! I know nothing about computers, so did not feel it necessary to tell him how I wanted to use it. Hubby is contacting him today to see what's up. Thinking I'll have to buy a card reader. Thanks to everyone who continues to comment and leave me nice little notes though...you are too kind!!!! So, use your imagination ladies!!! This month: Celebrated 26 years of "wedded bliss" with my honey... Watched my "baby" turn 17... Watched my other "baby" turn 22... Had my 22 year old move back home... prayers please!!! Worked way too much... Went to Seabold Vintage Market with my sweet SIL and got some treasures... Got my new furniture for my sewing room, but alas, no time to sew... Mowed the lawn for the first time... Started taking my allergy pills... Got new glasses, a haircut and some highlights... Am off to Hawaii tomorrow with my honey, leaving the 17 and 22 year olds together...could be disastrous!!! Hope to be back soon...thanks for sticking with me!!

Why I'm away...

2011-03-10T14:09:00.000-08:00

Just a note to tell you that my computer has been down for two weeks. We are having one built for us right now, but it will still be at least another week. I'm sitting here at the library and trying to catch up on everyone elses blogs!!!

Keep checking! I'll be back soon!

Employed!

2011-03-01T12:56:00.001-08:00

You are looking at the newest family member to be employed, and the third to currently be employed by Haggen http://www.haggen.com/.

I worked for Haggen when I was 18 and then again after Tyler started school. My husband has been working with them and for them for over 20 years! My daughter does data entry for them from home and now Tyler has joined the ranks!

Congratulations Tyler!

I'm sure you won't need to borrow money anymore, right??

A Winning Season

2011-02-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

After a year of not playing basketball, (which nearly did me in!) Tyler decided to play again this year. Not school ball, but a rec league team with a bunch of his friends. Lots of fun, very little (if any) pressure, practice one day a week and one game a week. Much better than the intensity and commitment of school ball.

They only lost one game all season, to a team that they had beaten once before. Last night it came down to those two teams for the championship. The score was pretty close at half-time, but Team Fixius came out on top!!

They guys were pretty happy! They even got trophies!!

Tyler hasn't had one of these since 3rd grade baseball!!

His mama loved watching him play ball again!!!

Congratulations guys!!

2011-02-15T15:07:00.000-08:00

I'm in a funk. A garage sale funk.
Don't get me wrong, I love garage sales!! Love them.

But I've come to the realization that most of my house is thrown together with garage sale items and not all things go together.
Take my sewing room for example. Now my sewing room is one of my most favorite rooms. I love to sit up there surrounded by amazing views...and FABRIC!!But nothing matches, nor is it very functional. It works, but not great. Those tables, the old sewing machine the metal cart and the tv are from garage sales. The shelf is from a friend. The old toy box was made for my dad, by his grandpa, when he was just a little boy. I love that toy box! It holds all my wool!

I got this hutch a few summers ago. I have a computer armoire that goes with it, but they do not share the same room. I do love the butter yellow colored leather chair. Got that on Bainbridge with my SIL.
These red shelves are old Yankee Candle displays from a store in town. I painted them red and use them to store my fabric. I really like this shelving, except for the fact that some of my fabric has faded from the sun. I try and keep the blinds closed when I'm not in there, but I love light and often forget!!

So I've been researching furniture for my room. I love off white and need things to be functional, but pretty too! And not a hodge podge of furnishings! I thought about Pottery Barn's office furniture. It's classic, looks great and I can piece together exactly what I want. It was very expensive however so I kept looking. Found some things at a local store, but it wasn't very well made, which explained the cheap price. Then I found this: http://www.homedecorators.com/search.php?search=martha+stewart+craft.

I love everything about this line, except that I can't see it in person! I was planning on ordering a piece a month, but everything is back ordered until May, so I'm not sure how it's going to work. I orderd the desk as it was the least expensive piece and they were offering free shipping on desks! I'm so excited to put this all together!!!

I'm keeping the red shelves, because they are just so spunky!! Especially when my fabric is all neat and tidy!!

The Pioneer Woman, my Bud...

2011-02-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

Those of you who follow my blog know that I met Ree, The Pioneer Woman, last year at a book signing and we became instant friends. We discussed Spanx after all and you can't help but be friends after a conversation of that nature!

She left out the reason for her spanx though. I assumed it had something to do with having children, growing older, gravity and such things. I now know that it has to do with the absurd amounts of butter in her recipes. And cream. Heavy cream.

I must admit that I've only made three of her recipes, although I've read her book cover to cover many times. I like to read cookbooks, but I'm not much for cooking out of them. Never made a single recipe from my Farm Chicks books, and although I have 30 Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, I've only made about five recipes.
I don't make a recipe unless it's tried and true by someone I know, has a beautiful picture, and doesn't have weird ingredients. My friend Lynda and my SIL Meagan try new recipes all the time and they turn out wonderfully, but I'm just not that brave.

Anyway, back to PW. I ventured out of my comfort zone and made her mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving and I must say they were the Best Mashed Potatoes I've ever had!!! But I haven't tried anything since, although the book keeps opening to the cinnamon roll recipe! But when I was at Haggen on Friday I picked up some Rib-eye steaks with her recipe in mind. So last night I made her rib-eye's with whiskey onion sauce. But I didn't have whisky so I used brandy.

Holy Moly!!!!!!! This sauce is amazing!!!!! And full of butter. And heavy cream. And you cook the steaks in butter. We went through many napkins, what with all the drooling!

After dinner I was looking through her cookbook and came across her Maple Pecan Scones. It used half and half, but I had cream that had to be used up, so I substituted. And I don't like maple so I used almond flavoring. And there was butter involved. And the frosting had butter too, but it also called for whole milk, which is almost like cream, so I used that instead.Now I know why she wears spanx, and that I will be wearing them too. ASAP!!!

To top off the evening I finished her new book! I tried to read it slowly so I could drag it out and savor it, but that lasted one night! This book is so good! and funny!!! and steamy, but not revealing!!!! Still, I couldn't read it in broad daylight!! Had to wait til night, when it was dark and romantic!!! Should have lit a candle!!!!

And all of a sudden it was finished. done. kaput. Sadness enveloped the room. I hope she's writing a sequel. In the meantime I have scones. And I bought my own copy so I can read it over and over again!

Randomness...

2011-02-03T20:02:00.000-08:00

While the rest of the country has been covered with ice and snow, here in the Pacific Northwest we've been treated to this...

Sunrise over Mt. Baker with the promise of a beautiful day!!
And at the end of that day we got to see this...

I guarantee that my camera did not do this justice. The colors were so vivid! God was working some serious magic with his paintbrush!!!!

I treated myself to an early Valentine's day goodie, courtesy of Lisa Leonard Designs! It was the mason jar that made me do it!!! It's so cute and I've worn it many times already. I added the charms to my other necklace that I have from her. She has such quality and beautiful jewelry and is so helpful too. Thanks Lisa!!

I finished this during the last Seahawks game. Things weren't going so well for the Hawks so I planted myself in my sewing room and tackled this job!!!! Lynda and I have been adding up how many unfinished projects we have and it wasn't pretty!!!! Of course I need to quilt this, which is my least favorite part, so I can't cross it off the list just yet, but it would be nice to get done for spring.

And, working at the library has it's benefits!!!! As soon as I knew Ree's book was coming out I put it on hold!! I got it yesterday and have only read the first chapter, as I have to finish another book, but this is going to be GOOD!!!!

Stay cozy!!! Spring is coming!!

Shopping...

2011-01-24T13:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday after church I had to run a few errands...groceries, costco and I needed to return a few things. I was Not going to shop. Big Mistake going to that mall!!!

American Eagle and Hollister were having HUGE sales...Old Navy too, but I only got a few things there. I get sucked in to the AE and Hollister, because it seems like their stuff never goes on a really big sale, but this time it was half off all clearance. I came home with 3 bags from each store!!! I'm big on buying whatever and going through it at home and then making returns.

So Tyler starts going through the bags and picking what he likes (most everything) and I decide he shouldn't get anything because he THROWS his clothes on the floor constantly!!!! And he had all this laundry, plus a load in the wash. I think he has enough!!!! Now I know you've seen pictures of Tyler...my skinny guy... and while he's grown many inches over the past 4 or 5 years, he just hasn't gained that much weight!! (wish I could say the same!)

Now I didn't used to be a Hollister fan...skanky A and F offspring and all, but I must say that their clothes are very well made. Back to the skinny Tyler...this is his first Hollister shirt, from 7th or 8th grade (he's a junior now) and he still wears this shirt, for P.E. and work, but still!!!!
It's even quite white yet!!!!

So I let him keep a few things. One for now and the rest for his birthday next month!!!! And I did his laundry. But he has to put it away!!!

Now for all those darned returns!!!!

It's still raining here...sigh...

Our leak turned out to be more work than we thought and we had to call in the pros!!! Steve and Brian had to take off the siding, take out the window and put on window wrap, which should have been put on in the first place, and put the window and siding back up. Plus new trim. Plus paint, which if you recall, we just did the whole house in Sept. We'll have to wait for warmer weather to to that.

Part of the roof needs to come off and a barrier put up with new roof going back on. It's been so wet that it can't get done. But I do have a lovely blue tarp up for all to see!

One good thing from all the rain is that our pond is so full and beautiful!!! It's never been this full before! Isn't the reflection just so pretty??

We can sit on these rocks in the summer, and there are a few more that you can't see. The pond has come up about 4 feet since summer.

The rain also brings out the duck hunters. This kid is walking in the field behind our house. Brian has had to tell them not to aim at the house!!!! Stupid kids!!
Oh my raspberries look messy!!!

I Won!

2011-01-18T12:08:00.002-08:00

It's here!!!

Last week I entered a give-away over at Homestead Revival .http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com

Amy was giving away this awesome solar powered radio/flashlight and I was the big winner!!!! For those of you who don't know me well....I love all the survival, homesteading, preparedness stuff. I was just a little disappointed that Y2K was a big nothing! I kind of wanted to see how we'd do!!! Don't get me wrong, I love having instant lights, a remote fireplace, TV, computer and most of all, indoor plumbing. But still, I wanted to see what we were made of!!!
I love all the tips and ideas on Amy's blog, so go and check her out and tell her howdy!!

I've been working a lot at my "farm" job, Drench-mate. I can pretty much chose my own hours, but best of all I get to watch The Waltons!!!! Four episodes is about my limit and then I head home. But this little dvd player keeps me sane in this old shop with no windows!!!

I get to use power tools and build things, but unless you're in the dairy business, you wouldn't be interested in this!

I make these little buckets with pumps, hoses and a few other parts and we send them all over the world! It's fun and a great little side job!

We had a lovely snowstorm last Tuesday during the big cross-town rival basketball game, in which the gym was at least 85 degrees!!! We came outside to snow coming down, the wind blowing and the promise of a snow day!! We had about 5" and school was cancelled!!!

Unfortunately it warmed up big time, started raining and has been raining ever since!!

This is what things are looking like this week...

I watched this guy attempt to go through this yesterday. He quickly turned around!!

I had to get out of the car and take some pictures!

I'm so thankful that we don't have flooding at our house, and pray that the rain slows down or stops. It always amazes me how powerful water is.

With all this rain we noticed a wet spot on our ceiling (what is it with us and leaks?). Brian's taken the last 2 days off to work on it. Found some rotting sheeting on the south side of the house, rotten window trim and now we need to take out a window and replace all the boards and trim around it. If it's not one thing it's 50!!

Playing Catch-up

2011-01-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

Still have things to post from "last year" due to camera difficulties!!!! But I couldn't forget to post the finished bedroom after our attempt at board and batten. We're so happy with the way everything turned out!

Thankfully Brian enjoys this kind of work and figured out all the measurements, cutting etc. my only job is to paint, which I did grow weary of!!!

We trimmed out the window, the closet, the bathroom doors, the entry door and all the baseboards, chair rail, board and batten and crown molding. We lowered the crown molding because we had it that way before with the metal. Brian had put in an outlet and we ran rope lighting behind it. We still have to put the lights back up. I re-painted all of Ashleigh's furniture too. We love it!!!

Mid December brought TOLO and here are a few pictures of Tyler and his date, Krista. They went shopping to get the tie and the shoes to match and I think they look pretty nice!!!

Krista's parents had everyone over for pics...about 20 kids and their parents! Lots of fun!!

In November we had family photos taken by Jodi of The Snapsisters. (You can see them on my sidebar)
We haven't done this in years. I used to be so good at getting the kid's photo taken, but not lately. We had so much fun doing this and Jodi did such a great job!!

Awwwww.....me and my honey!!!! (looking older than we thought we did!!)

We brought some fun props...

had some sibling love...short lived...

and this was our Christmas picture this year.

We gave some pics as gifts, so I couldn't post them til after Christmas!!

Hope your new year is off to a good start!!!!

Is it too late?

2010-12-30T21:06:00.000-08:00

It's still December, so I'm not calling it quits on Christmas yet!! After not being able to upload any of my pictures for awhile, now it's a little overboard!! But I wanted to share some Christmas decor, so enjoy!!

I had two big parties, two nights in a row so I went all out this year! I decorated 7 trees, various sizes, and had four more that just had lights. It was a lot of work, but I love the house all decorated up!!!! Next year I'm starting in early November!!! I'm not ready to take it down quite yet...still hoping for some snow!!! Plus, I just don't have the energy or time to put it all away!!

Anyway.... here's the game table in my sitting area. I was really into the balls in vases this year. I got so much stuff at the thrift store for next to nothing!

A corner in the entry. I made this quilt for my mom years ago. She picked out the pattern...wanted something with "Holly"!!!! Now that she's gone, I have it up at my house.

The laundry room...I didn't count these trees as decorated ones, even though there are a few snowflakes around!! I should have taken a better picture, but on the bench is a box of Holly Washing Soda...old!!!! My friend Lynda got it for me for Christmas last year and I love it!! I keep it out all year!

Some stitchies and the top of the shelf...

All the Gooseberry Patch Christmas and a few more of my favorites!

My new scale and the basket of hot drink goodies!

I love my little toy stove!!!! Got some gingerbread cooling on it!

My big hutch...I need to get some lights for this. I think it would look a lot prettier and show what's in there better.

My kitchen tree with the Starbucks theme!! I love this tree!!

I've been working on this quilt for two years, all red work and hand stitched. I finally had it quilted and now get to enjoy looking at it!!

I love the Demdaco/Willow Tree nativity! So simple...so meaningful.

I really wanted to change things up this year, especially after seeing all the decorations at Grandiflora. They had all cream and aqua and silver and it looked so pretty!! But I couldn't justify the expense of changing everything out so I did the same old thing...and LOVED it!!!! Nothing in my house is sparkly and that other tree would have looked so out of place!! Glad I stuck with the traditional!!

My Grandma has given us all the gold ornaments for years and we have about 50 of them. My kids love to see what ones are theirs and they add a lot of sparkle!! Along with red balls and icicles, I've made all the rest...snowmen, Santa's, etc. Very homey!!

Hopefully I'll get something new made for next year, because I'm keeping this theme!!

A little side note: Hubby and I went to a garage sale tw0 months ago at a neighbors and they had a tree wrapped up in a tarp and for sale for $5.oo. It was pre-lit and barely used, from Costco, but didn't fit in their house. Of course, I had to by it, much to my husband's chagrin! (he did NOT want me to get another tree!!) But I figured the tarp and bungees were worth $5.00 so we took it home and put it in the shop!!! We brought it in after Thanksgiving to see what it looked like and loved it!!!! It's a gorgeous tree and everything worked!!! Needless to say, hubby has commented over and over again on what a great tree it is!!!!

Okay, back to Christmas!! B and I baked sugar cookies...the only baking I did this year! Everyone wanted sugar cookies and didn't care much about the rest...nor did they want to help, so I kept it simple this year. Kind of nice and better for us too!!!
Tyler took it upon himself to shake every package and tell us what was in them!!! Sad to say, he guessed pretty accurately on most of them. We didn't tell him that of course, but he was pleasantly surprised and impressed with himself on Christmas morning!!

Christmas Eve at Papa and Grandma's house.

Ty in his pretty Christmas clothes including the Christmas light boxers!!

Christmas dinner...

It was quite a relaxing Christmas this year, very low key and low stress. I liked it a lot!!!!

We had a beautiful Christmas Eve service which always puts the focus where it belongs, on God's greatest gift, his son.

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and that 2011 brings you many blessings!!

A Social Network Christmas

2010-12-17T14:43:00.000-08:00

I just saw this video on Facebook and had to share. It's really cute and so sweet!!

If Joseph and Mary can post pictures and videos, why is it so difficult for me???

Enjoy!!

It was going to be:

2010-12-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

It was going to be titled, "The Best Thanksgiving EVER!", but now it should be more aptly named, "computers drive me CRAZY!"

I can't load any pictures and frankly, what is a post without pictures?? I mean, you can wax poetic all you want, but if you don't have at least one picture I'm not really that interested. Just stating the facts.

Who wants to read about someone else's hectic life, unless there is a picture of a frazzled mess?? Not me!!! I want to see your Christmas decor, Aunt Dorothy sleeping after dinner, kids baking cookies and making a mess!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving, complete with 6 inches of snow. You'll have to take my word for it, because, yes, there is no picture. We had 17 wonderful people, although I miscounted and only had seating for 15 when we sat down. It was a little like musical chairs, with two people left standing. Now I know why I have two card tables!! All the kids, ages 12-21, went outside and had a snowball fight! I loved that!!! And I have some great pictures!!! They just won't load! Oh yea, you know that by now!

We finished Ashleigh's room and it's beautiful...maybe you'll see it sometime.

We watched the Apple Cup on Saturday and it was such a good game!!! The Cougs lost, but since the Husky QB, Jake Locker, is a local boy, I didn't feel too badly and hopefully they'll get a bowl invite. Went to the Seahawks game yesterday. Had a nice cozy suite, but I can't show it to you because, well, you know. Went to University Village after the game to look at all the pretty stores. I even took pictures. It sure was pretty!!

I've been decorating my house for a week. Way too much stuff. 7 fully decorated trees, plus 4 more with lights and such. I can't wait to get rid of some (a lot) of it in January. Feeling the need do simplify in so many ways. I have a sit-down dinner for 12 on Thursday, a party for 40 0n Friday and I have to work every day this week.

My daughter's car died. She has no money. The car's in our name. Guess who gets to deal??

My son has been sick for 5 weeks. 2nd round of antibiotics and not better. Chest x-ray negative. Mono negative too. Poor kid. Poor mom!!

Since I couldn't post my pictures and keep you enthralled, I did change my play list to some lovely Christmas music so hopefully you're enjoying that!!!!

Have a wonderful week and may all your pictures upload!!

Happenings this Week...and an Update

2010-11-14T19:30:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week around here...projects, school conferences, work, Christmas open houses, craft fairs, football and volleyball, plus a host of other things!!!

Remember neighbor Ken??? He came over this week and made my garden pretty again!!! Yea!!

I know I should cut down my mums, but as long as their is a little bit of color, I just can't do it!!!! We'd like to get a cover crop on the garden, but I think it's too late. It's supposed to get very cold here by the end of the week, but maybe that will at least keep the weeds from growing back!!
My dear Lynda had her annual "Pie Party"!! It just sounds so nice doesn't it??? We were missing Karen this year, but Terry and I were there with eager anticipation! This lovely sight greeted me as I arrived!!

Lynda set a festive table, served a great salad and a yummy soup that she got the recipe for off of "Behind My Red Door".

We each had a little goodie at our place setting...

And of course, the pies!! Terry made a very rich and tasty chocolate pie, Lynda made my favorite, pecan pie and I "brought" a peach pie from Costco...more about that later!!!

This weekend Ashleigh came home and brought her 13 year old "sister", Georgia. I thought I had taken pictures of them, but no, not one!! They were so cute too!!! Ashleigh reads to her every night!! They are reading the Harry Potter books right now!! Ashleigh loves to read and Georgia loves to be read to!!

They also talked me into getting into the attic and getting down all the American Girl dolls and paraphernalia!!! We haven't gone through this stuff in years!!! They "played" with it for hours!!!! (me too!!)

They weren't very tidy...

She got to visit with lots of friends and family, went to our old church, had coffee at Woods with her brother, went to Grandiflora with me, played games and hopefully had fun while she was here!!

Miss you Ash!! Come back soon!!!

A little update on the bedroom make-over...

Walls painted...window and door trim up...

Furniture painted, but not sealed...

Battens started...
Chair rail up...

While I've been blogging, Brian got most of the battens up and things caulked. We have someone coming in to lay a new floor in the bathroom and then we can get the trim nailed up in there too. We're waiting for an order of wood and then we'll spray the room with paint, move the furniture in and....decorated it for Christmas!!!!!

Remember the Kitty, Miss Abby??? Well, we had to put her down a few nights ago. Tyler accidentally hit her with his car as he was pulling into the garage. He (and I) was so sad. He stayed with her the whole time and buried her in the garden next to Bailey. We did have a laugh though, as the vet told us Abby was really an Abner!! Oops!!

That was the reason for the Costco pie. Sorry Jayme, I really wanted to try your recipe!!

RIP Abby...

What are We Thinking???

2010-11-08T10:13:00.000-08:00

This weekend our plans were to:

1. get the generator working and tested...supposed to be a nasty winter...
2. put the lamp posts back together...after painting and adding outlets...
3. plant all the plants that are sitting in pots on the porch and around the garden...
4. paint the entry...lots of parties coming up
5. start making a slipcover for the chair...
6. work on the Christmas quilt that is now going on the fourth Christmas...I still like it...

Instead, we got it into our heads to do this...

I'm not so good at taking the before pictures, but this was my son's room when we first moved here. We had painted the walls with aluminum paint and then my hubby made all the trim, chair rail and crown molding. We (he) made it all out of sheet metal, and used big screws and washers to attach it to the wall. It was very cool!!!! Lots of metal shelves, black bed and red accents around the room.
When my daughter moved out, my son took over her room and we just moved her furniture into his old room. She has all white, cottage-ie-type furniture, 4-poster bed stuff and it just never looked quite right!!!

She's coming home this weekend so of course we started a new project, which won't be done in time for her visit, which means she has to sleep on the couch in the bonus room!!!!

We're going to do board and batten on the bottom and dark brown on the top, with crown molding (from our old LR) on the top. I need to paint everything and then repaint all of her furniture too. I should be doing this now, as it's actually nice out, but probably won't get to it today!!

Needless to say, not much of our list was accomplished!!! Brian and Tyler did get the lampposts back up and working, and I got most of the plants in the ground. Also got the lawn mowed yesterday. I keep hoping it's the last mow of the season, but 4 days later it needs mowing again!!!

In other news:

I found out my friend Debra is a rug hooker. She invited me to her home to show me what she's working on. I've always wanted to learn this art and after seeing her rug...I'm "hooked"!!!! I can't wait to see the finished project!

This piece is quite large and will hang above her couch. Do you see the pumpkin patch??? And to the left of the little house is a clothesline with dungaree's on it!!!! I only want to make this and then I will be quite content in the rug hooking business.

There is a group of "hookers" that meet once a week at the senior center and I've attended the last 2 weeks. They are so eager to share and teach and their projects are amazing!

This lady is making one of these for each of her four children. This is where they grew up and where they lived. The Teton's are in the background and I believe this is for her son who works for the railroad. She tries to make each one personal, but the general look is the same for each kid. What a beautiful legacy!

The cutest things there, of course, are the seniors!!! What a happening place!!! Lots of activities, but every Tuesday there is dancing from 1-4!!! Live music and everyone dresses up just a little!! No jeans here!!!! A whistle is blown, (quite loudly, I assume because they are hard of hearing) every minute or so and they have to change partners. This is a good idea, cuz some of those men are quite good, while others seem to be falling asleep on their feet!!!!! The little ladies have their hair all curled up and their high heels on and darned if they all aren't the cutest things!!!!

A few weeks ago we had quite the rain storm. As it was pouring behind my house, the front of my house had this to feast on......

The top picture is from my front porch. I couldn't get a picture of the full rainbow, but you could see it from end to end!

And then...it doubled!!!!

Reminds me of the song...All God's Promises are Yes and Amen!!!!! Nothing is prettier than the pictures He paints!!!

Just Like Wolves

2010-10-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Just Like Wolves...the name of the band that my son Tyler is in. They had their debut on Saturday night!!!

He and his friend Derek have been playing together for awhile now. Jacob joined them a few months ago. Derek is an amazing musician, playing many instruments, writing songs, singing, etc. His parents have been great at providing space, tools and opportunities!! Thanks Erin and Larry!!!

He lives on a farm with a few barns, one in which the second floor has been converted into a music space.

This is where their first concert took place. They invited a few friends to do a test run...and let their parents come if they didn't embarrass them!!!

Hard to get god pics with the lighting, but......

Tyler on drums, Derek on lead guitar, and Jacob on bass...

My boy!!! I've never liked that shirt, but it looked kind of cool in the light!!

I was amazed at how good they were!!! They've been working so hard and it really showed!

They played seven original songs and an encore of one of them..."I'm Not"...

You can check them out on Facebook. Hopefully they'll have some video soon!! I can't get the link to work, but will try again!!

Great job guys!!

The Joys of Autumn

2010-10-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

I woke up to this yesterday morning...the photo does not do it justice!

And thought I'd share a little fall...

my favorite time of year...

the color of pumpkin...

the smells of autumn...

the cool, crisp nights...

pumpkin spice lattes...

the scent of fall candles...

pumpkin patches and fall festivals...

apples with caramel dip...

warm soup and artisan bread...

the Gilmore Girls (a lot of fall there!)...

pumpkin carving and chili feed with friends...

is there a way to make the computer area festive?...

God's creation in all it's glory...

Talk a walk this evening...watch the fog settle over the fields...have a pumpkin bar and a cup of tea...set some soup to simmer...cuddle under a warm quilt and watch an old movie...love the ones you're with...

We're MOVING....

2010-10-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

Yes folks, you read correctly. Because after nine days of painting, we've decided that we'll sell the place if we ever have to do it again!!!! Either that or start saving major bucks to have it done by someone else!!!!

We went in on a paint sprayer with my BIL and SIL last year, when they were painting their house. We also used their paint colors, because their house turned out so pretty!!! ( Thanks for doing all that work Brad and Meg!!)
We rented a scissor lift as we had some horrible peaks and crevices to get into and was it ever a life saver!! The above pick was my most hair-raising experience as we're on one part of the roof, trying to get to the other part and the ladder is just set over the peak of the one roof. I did not like this one bit!!! I'm holding paint trays and "steadying" the ladder. Please.....

I got anxious and put a little paint on the new shingles one night, but the dew overnight took care of that idea!!

Brian's dad was such a help. He was over every day and did so much. Thanks Ron!!

We figured there is an hours worth of prep for ever minute of spraying!!! The sprayer is wonderful! I can't imaging not having that available!!

I think their are some pics of the house in my last post or two, but of course I didn't do any specific before and afters!!! The trim was dark and the house was a little lighter.

The garage doors look so much softer now! We'd like to add some wide trim around the doors, but will have to do that later!!

I love how the new porch details turned out!! So much more character!!! Good job honey!!

We still need to add the rest of the belly band and do a little trim around the rock. Shutters on the lower front windows and perhaps a window box or two...but then again.....!!

We love how it turned out!! We're still questioning why the builder didn't add a dormer over that upper window!! What was he thinking????

What a project!!! Now we're cutting in the new flower beds transplanting trees, bushes, etc, ripping out the garden, and mowing the lawn twice a week!! I'm tired!!! Part of me wants the rains to kick in, but I know it will be nice to get everything done and tucked away for the winter!!

Now, for a bloggy question:

I've been getting a few spam comments, so I changed the moderation to the approval method. But today I saw that some of my regular commenter's just go straight into a spam folder...no email or anything. I notice some of you have approval on your sites, but are able to immediately publish the comments you trust. Are you doing that through your blog site, or are you just really quick at publishing the comments??? Also, how do I do a link without doing the www.? Like if I just want to put in a name?? The challenges are almost overwhelming!!!!!!

Have a lovely October day!!

LIFE

2010-09-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

I've been documenting all kinds of things thinking that maybe I'd post a little more frequently, but alas, that hasn't happened. Soooooo here are a few of the things that have been happening around here over the last month...............................

Decorated my mantel for back to school. I have really gotten into the "old" school stuff lately. Flashcards bring me great joy! I loved flash cards when I was in school, especially the multiplication ones. I could whip those answers out lickity split!!

I've been finding them all over the place and can't resist getting them. I went to my parents house a few weeks ago and found a set from 1963, the alphabet. I love that J is for Jar, canning jar that is! And P is for Pie. You know they are old though, when G is for Gun!!!

Here is my baby on his first day! New school...decided not to do the Running Start program so we put him in Lynden Public. He seems to like it, but it's weird not to have him at LC.
A few weeks before school started he got his wisdom teeth out. He only had 3 which explains the C on his report card last year!!

This is before...

Right after...(he was a little woozy!)

Ready to go home! He looks a little paler to me!

We took a few movies too, his request, and is he ever entertaining when he's on the happy meds!!

I'm skipping around here, but last week was my favorite week of the year at Haggen. It was the BOGO add for health and beauty. That's buy one, get one FREE people!!!!! I do my shopping for the year at this time...shampoo, ibuprofen, Excedrin, cold meds, contact solution, band aids, q-tips, cotton balls, alcohol, powder, mineral oil, toothbrushes, dental floss, etc, etc. I always check my cupboard and make a list so I don't have too many of something and not enough of something else.

Now a few of my friends have boasted of their savings at local grocery stores, but this receipt outshines them all and yes, I am boasting!!!! I also saved by using school scrip, which I got at a 10% kickback this month.

Are you ready??????

That's $269.20 that I spent and $285.59 that I saved!!!!! Wooo Hooo!! Just for clarification, I don't know what the wine and special discounts are, but there was no alcohol purchased here!!

The Abbottsford Air Show was on a beautiful day in August and the Canadian Thunderbirds put on quite a show! They are flying over my house here...I'm looking straight up!!

Amazing!!

A nice background for the performance!!

Dinner on the bay with Tyler, Grandma and Papa, Shelly and Mel. Such a cutie patootie he is!!

Hubby went salmon fishing for 4 days and brought back 120 lbs. of melt in your mouth fish. Don't know why I didn't take a picture of the fish rather than the boxes, but my freezer is full and I'm happy!!! Especially since he gets it all vac. packed up there and I don't have to do it anymore!!

And a post just wouldn't be complete without the latest project!!!

We are in the process of painting our house (of course it's raining this week!) and we've never liked the look of the porch, so of course we had to do a little remodel before we could paint! (it was sunny then!)

Funky peak in front and scrawny little posts.
Taking off the front...Brian's dad was a huge help!

We put shingles on the peak to match the others...

And built up the posts. We put shingles on those too. Now if we can just get the painting done!!!

I also re-did the front flower beds, which I've had to re-dig in order to get the scissor-lift into painting position!!

And the garden. Let's not forget that!!!!! This week I've canned 42 pints of chicken, 15 quarts of pickles, 14 pints of applesauce, 7 quarts of beans, and frozen 14 quart bags of corn, 10 of zucchini and 5 of summer squash!!! I'm ready for the garden to be done!!! But it sure is yummy to eat out of!!

I also tried Tami's www.theladyinthestonehouse.blogspot.com wonderful hot chocolate chip cookie recipe...very good!!!!!

That's all for now!!!!

Saying Good-Bye to Ben...

2010-09-04T21:40:00.001-07:00

Franklin that is!!!

Tyler, Brian and Papa went to the Bellingham Auto Auction this morning to look at some cars and hopefully bring one home!

They got one!!!! All that hard work this summer and last paid off!

Handing over the money...all of it earned by him!
And the winner is...2000 Volkswagon Jetta...just what he wanted!

A great little car, black, leather, manual, power everything, heated seats, sunroof, 6 CD changer and really cool dash lights...picture to follow!!

Tyler doesn't get excited about much. The last time I saw him this happy was Christmas morning when he was 5 and found a nintendo after a lenghty treasure hunt!!! This has been a long time coming!!

These are some sparkly lights!!! Everything lights up...the windows, doors, gas tank button, etc. Very pretty!!!!

Congratulations Ty!!!

Did I mention that I now, once again, drive the worst car in the house??? Oh well.

P.S. I've banned the holy jeans from public!

Week-end Get-Away

2010-09-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

Get your jammies on, get a cup of tea and curl up on the couch...this is a long one...mostly pictures though!!

I went to Eastern WA for the weekend. Went to Lake Roosevelt to see my brother and nephews. We like each other much better now that we're older!!!! I know it's hard to tell, but he is my "little" brother!!! It was so pretty over there, wish I would have made it there before now. My nephews were sleeping when I left, but they're adorable too!! There was a big wind storm the day before and tumbleweed blew all over, and gathered together by my brother's truck. I picked out a few choice branches and brought them home!

I'm sure I can do something with this for fall!!! They are sturdy little things...would have brought back a whole truck load and passed it around if I could have!!

The wheat fields were ready for harvest! My grandpa was a wheat farmer and I still love to see all that wheat growing and the combines in the field!!

I stopped at a few antique stores and then headed to Reardon for the Buggy Barn Quilt Show. Beautiful as always!!!

I got the patterns for the "Wisdom" blocks. I've always loved this quilt and hope to make it someday!

Love the setting in the middle of the wheat fields!

Some of the quilts inside the store...

The wind was a blowin'...

I headed into Spokane and up to the Browns Addition, a historical neighborhood on the outskirts of downtown. These homes were built in the early 1900's, but when I was growing up there, most of them had been chopped up into apartments and it wasn't the best neighborhood around!! In the past several years many have been restored and are so beautiful!!!

This yellow one is my favorite!

Love the color and the side porch!

Looks like a Southern plantation home!

Love this porch and the shingles. What's in that little room on the left I wonder???

The new Farm Chicks Store is located on the edge of the Browns addition and I couldn't wait to see it!

Lots of cute display pieces...

The crinkly paper was cute on the walls, and I love the green!

Only one negative...they didn't turn on the old school house lights, so it was a little dark. Otherwise, it's a cute little place! And you gotta love the chalkboard signs!!

Later that day I went to my favorite store, Hurd Merchantile, in Rockford. LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!

Home decor, garden, cowboy, kitchen, kids, antiques, jewelry, wine...8000 square feet of AMAZING!!!!

Wonderful antiques and displays...

High ceilings, cool lighting...

Next time I need to get there when it opens and stay until it closes...not enough time for me!
Here are the owners....... _______ and Jill! I'm so sorry I can't remember your name!!!! They called each other precious and love and that's what stuck!!!! Jill's husband was running the show last time I was there so I didn't get to meet these lovely ladies until this time. They are as dear as can be, best of friends and seem to have a hoot doing what they do!! I want to be their friend for life...and go shopping with them...and work in that wonderful store!!!!!!

Thanks for the latte Jill!!

I spent the night at my dad's. He likes to go out dancing so I met up with him and a bunch of his friends for a night on the town!!!! He's a great dancer (not me), and all the ladies like to dance with him!! My camera was dead or you'd be seeing some fun pictures!!!!

Home on Sunday, back to work, back to the garden and now I've been cleaning/de-cluttering my house. What a process!!! If you came in right now you'd think I was moving!!!!!

Thanks for hanging in there with me!!!! Good Night!!

Canning Pickles

2010-08-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

It's canning season and I thought I'd share my favorite dill pickle recipe. It was my moms and my grandmas and I'm sure my great-grandmas...and so on!!

I planted pickling cukes this year, but don't really have enough so I got a box of them at my local farm, where I get them every year. Unfortunately you have to take what they give you, so my cukes are a little bigger than I like.

First order of business...clean 'em up!! I take a scrub brush to each one and clean them really well. This also gets the little "pricklies" off too!

I cut off each end and then with scientific preciseness, prick each cuke 3 - 4 times with a corn skewer!!! I've never seen this in a recipe, but my mama did it and so do I!!!! If you have a 16 year old sitting around doing nothing (which is what 16 year olds do), you can have him do the piercing. WARNING: He will protest!!! Ignore him and put him to work!!!!
Fill your clean jars with a big sprig or two of dill, a sliced clove of garlic and then carefully pack your jars, quite tightly, with cukes.

Ladle your hot brine over the cukes, get out any air bubbles, seal and water bath for 7 minutes.

Right after you take them out of the canner, they look a little cloudy...

But a few days later the cukes have soaked up the brine, and are starting to look like pickles!!! Let them sit for a month or so to really take on the flavor.

Put them in front of your cute, old toy stove, accessorized with American Girl canning goodies and post to your blog!!!!

DILL PICKLES

Wash and scrub cucumbers. Cut off bottoms and tops and pierce with a fork or corn skewer 3- 4 times each.

In clean, wide-mouth quart jars place:

1 clove garlic, sliced

1 - 2 sprigs of dill

Pack cukes tightly in jars, leaving about 1" head space

Brine:

3 C vinegar

9 C water

3/4 C salt

Bring to a boil and boil until salt is dissolved.

Pour brine over cucumbers, remove air bubbles and seal.

Process in a water bath for 7 minutes.

This recipe makes 7 quarts. If I have any brine left over I just add dill and garlic to a jar, slice up a few cukes, pour on the brine and let it sit in the fridge...very tasty!! and you can add to the jar as you use up the cukes.

Don't forget to let the processed pickles sit for a month to absorb the flavor. I like to refrigerate mine before using as they are a little crisper when cold.

Enjoy!!

The Garden

2010-08-11T17:53:00.000-07:00

I am loving my garden right now....so pretty and giving me such yummy goodies. I am amazed at God' creation. The way he takes a tiny, shriveled up seed and creates such bounty with it!

I have so many volunteer sunflowers and pumpkins...I just can't stand to pull them out, so I let them grow willy-nilly all over my garden!
I got this great wheelbarrow at a garage sale last week...$5.00!!!! Love the metal wheel!!!!

Dill...also growing voluntarily all over my garden!!

Lots and lots of broccoli...been freezing that!

I love to grow cabbage, but don't do much with it!! The purple is my favorite!!

My beans are finally starting to get some blossoms...very slow this year.

My mailbox that I keep yard tools in...sometimes my rhubarb leaves me a note...

I pickled lots of cauliflower...so yummy!!! Eating beets, summer squash, zucchini, peas and lots of blueberries, but not from my bushes. I love to walk through every evening and look for goodies. I love to put up produce, but I'm not fanatical about using up everything. Just like to have it and to give it away!!!

Can't wait for pumpkins!!!!

Birthdays and Friendships

2010-08-02T09:57:00.001-07:00

Another beautiful weekend here in the Pacific Northwest!!!

Thursday was dearest friend Lynda's birthday so she, Terry and I headed down to Snohomish for a few hours of fun and birthday gifts!!!!
My photography was lacking...I only took four pictures!! But I loved all the old washers set up outside the businesses, full of flowers!!!

Love this one...never seen a washer like that before!
And here is the birthday girl herself, outside our favorite store, The Speckled Hen. (How does one remove the reflective things in the picture???) Isn't she adorable??? Happy Birthday Betty dear!!!

The next night, we headed down to Woodinville with our friends, Perry and Linda, to the Chateau St. Michelle winery for a summer concert. Jackson Browne is a favorite of my husbands. I must admit, that I wasn't too keen on this concert as I've been to a few of the oldies down there and they just don't do much for me! I wanted to go the night before and hear Martina!!!

But I put on my big girl pants and went along...took my ipod just in case!!! I wish I would have taken more pictures. We went to a special reception before hand and the food was amazing, the grounds beautiful! You get a free wine glass when you come in and then free wine the rest of the night. My first glass lasts me all night, because I don't drink much, but I do love the glasses!!!

You're not supposed to take pictures (or have a camera with you) so I had to do some smuggling!!!

They had a big tent set up with lots of cheeses, crackers and a bounty of desserts (and more wine) which we visited more than once!!!

And can I just say what a wonderful concert this was???? He was truly great!!! Lots of ballads and acoustical pieces, very mellow and fun.

I also didn't get a picture of the lady a few rows in front of us who was doing interpretive dancing to Every Song he Sang!!!! It was quite entertaining!!

If I knew how to photo shop my arm would NOT be in the picture!!!!

A beautiful night with great friends!!!!

This and That...

2010-07-27T10:21:00.001-07:00

I have been noticeably absent from blogging...not reading, just posting. I do apologize, but you all write such wonderful stuff, that after I peruse everyone else's blogs, I realize that I have nothing of substance to say!!!!

So today, I'll just catch you up on some things, hope you enjoy it and come back again when my brain re-engages!!!

I won a nice Amy Butler bag from my friend Melanie over at Handful of Daisies. I know she has a new name, but you can access her on my side bar under her old name. Thanks Melanie...too cute!!

We were watching TV the other night and kept hearing a whooshing sound. We realized it was a hot air balloon and went outside to investigate.

Right above the house, they were!!!
The chase cars came down our street, but the balloon was landing in the field behind us and they couldn't get to them in time!!! The balloon had to take off again and find a new spot!

When I was growing up, my neighbor, Carlotta, had a hot air balloon and I was able to crew for her on a number of occasions. It was so fun!!! Being up in the air like that, no noise, a gorgeous view...utterly amazing! If you ever get the chance, go for a ride!!

I've been quite busy in the garden as of late. You wait and wait for things to ripen and then it seems to happen all at once!!!

I had 9 cauliflower in my fridge at one time!!!! We've had lots fresh and I also picked some...turned out amazingly!!!! (is that a word?)!! Lots of beets, a few (soon to be many) zucchini, broccoli, lettuce, dill a few green peppers and last night, my first potatoes!!!! I marvel at how God can take a wrinkled, eyed potato and produce such an abundance of smooth-skinned, tender, new, red potatoes in it's place! Amazing!!!!

My raspberries are producing! and producing! and producing!!!!!! I don't know how many bags I've put up!!! I've given many away, eaten tons, and yes, thrown away quite a few too!!! These are some that I'd frozen, waiting to be put into bags.

Yesterday we picked 30 pounds of blueberries in 45 minutes!! They are so good, and as you can see,,,sooooo BIG!!!!!!

Six cookie sheets full, plus a huge bowl just to eat!!! If you live near Lynden and need a great place to go, let me know and I'll send you the information!!

Miss Abby continues to entertain us!!! She is a hoot to watch and play with! I went to get a Kleenex last night and found someone asleep down in the box!!!! Of course, she wanted her picture taken too!!

It's been a very difficult 2 weeks with some serious family issues. I don't know why I always thought we'd be spared of some of these things, but naively I did. Satan loves to attack believers and he is trying to get a foot hold in our family right now. I continue to cling to the cross and the promises of my Saviour. He will never leave me nor forsake me, but that doesn't mean I won't go through trials. These are doozies!!!

I've found some amazing verses in my reading lately.

Psalm 42:2

I want to drink God,

deep draughts of God.

I'm thirsty for God-alive.

I wonder,"Will I ever make it-...

I'm on a diet of tears-

tears for breakfast, tears for supper.

All day long.....

And then I read Psalm 43:5

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?

Why are you crying the blues?

Fix my eyes on God-

soon I'll be praising again.

He puts a smile on my face!!!!!

He's my GOD.

When I weep, it's for many things, but often selfishness, because I can't see God's plan in everythng, but I KNOW that He works for GOOD, even if bad things must take place for the good to shine through. But God is MY God, He loves me more than I can fathom and more than anything, He wants me to turn EVERYTHING in my life over to Him. It's so Hard!!!!! Please lift my family in your prayers, and thank you to all who have been praying...I really can feel His presence through all of you!

Blessings to all of you...I'll try to post more often, maybe even something interesting!!!!! No promises though!!!

The Summer Job

2010-07-14T16:12:00.000-07:00

In case you were wondering, Lynden is one of the largest raspberry producing areas in the world, and the largest in the United States. Last year alone, Washington harvested over 65 million pounds!!! We also grow strawberries and blueberries, but the raspberries are the heart and soul!!

Tyler has been fortunate enough to have had a steady job with DeVrie's berries for the last 3 years, the last two, driving a raspberry picker. His sister also had this job and kindly passed it on to her brother!!!

Tyler has informed me that this is "his" picker!! As you can see it has a nice roll back roof for those warmer days when he wants to work on his tan! His crew isn't as lucky...their roof is stationary!

As you can see, this is a very large machine, made by Korvan (now Oxbo) here in Lynden.

I think I forgot to mention how much he LOVEs it when I come out and take his picture...doesn't he look Happy???!!!

Driving from one row to the next.

Now, while there is a great deal of skill required, once he's lined up on a row, he engages the auto-steer and the picker drives itself. This is greatly appreciated on the longer rows since one can squeeze in a little cat-nap. The girls throw mushy berries at him before he gets to the end, just in case he needs waking up!!

Once he has a full load he heads to the flatbed truck to unload. Those bars underneath where he sits, vibrate as they go over the rows of berries, causing the ripe ones to fall off. They go to a conveyor belt where two girls sort out bad berries, leaves, frogs, birds, etc.!! Another girl holds the flat as it fills and another girl stacks the flats.

As he comes to the truck he is driving blind and has to rely on his sorters to let him know how close he is to the truck. So far so good!!!

Here are the lovely, "red" ladies getting ready to unload.

They unload quickly and the truck takes the berries to be unloaded in a refrigerated semi-truck. At the end of the day, the berries head to the processing plant.

Building lots of muscle here!

Six days a week, 11 to 12 hour days for about six weeks. It's not glamorous, but it's a great job and gives a lot of kids a chance to earn good money over the summer.

Oh yea, I can go pick some for myself anytime!!!!

Thanks Barb and Wayne!!