Life in My Happy Place

FRIDAY!

2012-03-02T10:03:00.000-05:00

What I liked about yesterday: Getting out to a quilt guild meeting
What I loved about yesterday: Hubby did the dishes for me (and really put them in the dishwasher)!

Good morning everyone.

My eyes will be on The Weather Channel today. AL/TN/KY, (especially the Nashville area) is due for for some VERY severe weather. They have a 70-90% chance of tornadic activity projected for today. For those who are new folks following me. Nashville and Middle TN is my "home." It's where my family is from. Praying that the weather folks are wrong, regardless of where the weather ends up.

Yesterday was a good day. I spent some time in the studio, making a squishy toy for a friend. Then I started on another project to get my creative mojo going -- a tiara. Here is a sneak peek. The fringed stuff is Indian Sari silk. I have a huge hank of strips in different colors. The sequins and beads really make this piece sparkle! I'll be finishing some hand-beading on this. The beading is tedious, but I enjoy the handwork. And this piece will be a lot of handwork!

Last night I went to my first meeting with the local guild. This is one friendly group! It felt good that I knew two people already and were quickly introduced to others. They had "movie night" last night. We watched the quilting documentary, Stitched. The movie followed three well-known quilters and their journey to the big show in Houston. Each had quilts entered into the show, hoping for recognition/prizes. It gave a background of the artists and also showed them creating their pieces. I really enjoyed this film!

I found another toothpaste I like. I've been using the Biotene toothpaste, but that stuff is sooooo expensive! I ran out of the Biotene and grabbed a sample tube of Crest ProHealth Night toothpaste (yes, a "night" toothpaste) from hubby's drawer . Love it!!!! Not a huge toothpaste fan because they taste all -- well, pasty. This one is a spearmint flavor and is just okay... But I LOOOOVE the how the mildly gritty paste cleans my teeth. The grit is like the polish they use at the dentist office, only a bit finer. And in the morning I don't have that gross, yucky film. Blech!!!!! Yes, they still feel clean! And best of all, it's cheaper than the Biotene stuff...

So, today starts the weekend. What are your plans? I think we're heading south to pick up something hubby bought online. That's about it for us. We lead such exciting lives!

Thursday's Stream

2012-03-01T09:21:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: N/A
What I liked about yesterday: Chatting with some childhood friends on FB
What I loved about yesterday: My favorite table is getting fixed

Good morning everyone!!!

I can't believe it's March already. This means we've been up here in Washington for almost two months! Wow. Time sure is flying by. I take back all the times I wished my weekdays away for the weekend.

Yesterday I had a visitor at the house. I was finally able to find a furniture repair guy to fix my broken table. He took the base with him to repair and strengthen. Nice man. I can't wait to have that back. My house will be complete. He has a local franchise for Furniture Medic.

Hubby was really excited to go to work today for some reason. He even told me it was going to be a good day. I hope so. He deserves it.

Yesterday I paid some bills. I gotta laugh. I called our electric company because I've yet to get a bill from them. I didn't want our power to be cut off. Our service with them began when we took possession of the apartment on December 23rd. Turns out they do billing every two months. That is just plain weird! I was really worried about our utility costs. We've been told that utilities are very high here. It has turned out WAY less than our utilities in Ohio. Serious! Now our water service is more, but all utilities combined are still way less than Ohio. Love this!

Tonight is a quilt guild meeting. Hope the snow isn't too crazy. I'd really like to go. I've met several of the ladies and they were so nice! If I click with this group, I'll get on the waiting list to join.

Recipe alert: I made these lemon brownies the other day and they were so yummy! If you want a different type of brownie (not chocolate) that is awesome with a cup of tea, then this is your choice. Oh, and be sure to make a double batch. Trust me when I say this. I found the recipe link on Pinterest.

Speaking of Pinterest, the honeymoon is over. Spammers have figured out how to ruin it. I hate spammers. So tired of the phony "pins." What has been my latest pinning obsession? I've been pinning tiaras for a project I'm working on for myself (see the board/category labeled "Royalty"). I mentioned to a friend that I needed a royal title to go with my new tiara. I'm now known as Princess Shake-n-Bake. Yep, she got that right...LOL! I shake and bake!

Have a great first day of March!

Happy LeapHumpSadieHawkins Day!

2012-02-29T09:50:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: N/A

What I liked about yesterday: Getting out to grocery shop
What I loved about yesterday: Getting my "official' Washington State enhanced license

Happy LeapHumpSadieHawkins Day!

Today is like a mega super-special day... Leap day (Feb 29), hump day (Wednesday-- mid week, "over the hump"), and Sadie Hawkins Day. How are you spending today? Doing anything special?

I admit that today is like any other day here at our hoouse. Hubby's at work. Oh, hubby finally fixed that issue. Turns out it was a wiring issue! Ugh... after all that stress... Oh well.. Now where was I?

Today's a regular day. I do have a guy coming to repair my sofa/game table. I'll be so excited to have that grace the entry in a proper way. That way I'll feel like we're truly "home". It won't just be sitting on the floor with a blanket under it.

Aside from cleaning, some bill-paying, and some cooking, it's just a normal day. That's about all of the excitement I have.

Have a great day, y'all!

Tuesday's Stream

2012-02-28T10:13:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Burning dinner
What I liked about yesterday: A second chance with dinner
What I loved about yesterday: One more day

Good morning.

My friend Barb's feline baby boy, Whitey, is not doing well. She rescued this sweet white furball from dire feral circumstances and gave him a forever home. Whitey is a special guy in that he is full of personality, and is very loving (VERY!). Not something you typically see in a feral kitty. Those two have a super-special bond. Whitey's been sick, and took a turn for the worse over the weekend. They returned from the vet yesterday with new medicine, and we're all hoping that this makes him feel more-gooder. If you can, please remember these two today? Whitey is really a special kitty!

Also, sending hugs to a friend having oral surgery. He's terrified about dentists (and rightly so after what happened to him in the past). He has a cracked back molar that needs to be removed. In his honor I'm posting this. We'll be comparing anesthesia dreams when he gets back to normal. I've assured him that he'll be okay. If you could send calming vibes his way.

Yesterday someone inserted a 5-ton weight in my rear end. I wasn't motivated to do much at all!

This Morning's Crazy Dream -- Future Novel or Movie?
So I'll leave you all with this morning's dream. I was one of a group of women who volunteered for a clinical study. It was like a multi-week clinical study. (Feel a movie plot coming?). The study participants were all women who "wouldn't be missed" and something sinister was afoot. It was one of those studies where you lived at a clinic. The Clinic was locate in an isolated area out west. I think it was on an large lake island.

Like I said, it's a multi-week study. I think it was also a stage 3 or 4 study. The drug or treatment met safety results, they were just checking efficacy. Each subject had an individual treatment schedule -- full-dose shots, recuperation, more shots, more recuperation, reduced dose shots, medical coma, and then no mention of going home (if you catch my drift)...

We all lined up and got these huge shots. You could feel the shot burn as it was administered, much like when you receive that radioactive dye before a CT scan. After the shot, all I wanted to was sleep. I went to bed, and the doc gave me a crossword book to work on. I remember just putting the book aside and wanting to sleep.

I was in line to get my second shot a few days later, when they discovered a lab tech dead (he fell out from a ceiling panel). Only I was the only study subject who knew about the death. It was either due to a really bad accident, murder, or suicide (because the lab guy didn't feel good about what was going on).

All us women were "let out" outside for some recreation area. Some of the original group were there. some were missing (on the "coma" rotation). I had to pee. Only that I couldn't. It was really burning and my bladder spasmed something fierce. I was trying to pee over a galvanized tin bucket and I knew it was going to be blood -- a sign of my demise.

They figured out that I knew the clinic folks were up to no good, and they assigned an art therapist to work with me.Knowing what the therapist wanted from me, I was not cooperative. At this point I could see outside a window that a body washed ashore. All us women managed to make it outside the building. It hailed, sending huge ice pellets all over. Others tried to escape, but I knew that if I joined them the consequences would be grave, so I stayed close to the building, pretending I wasn't feeling well. The wisdom of being one of the crowd and doing nothing. One of the "doctors" let me back into the building... Then I woke up.

I will tell you that this dream felt real. VERY real... and very insidious.

Monday Madness

2012-02-27T09:51:00.003-05:00

What I didn't like about this weekend: Spotty sunshine. I wanted more!
What I liked about this weekend: Quilt retreat with a treat!
What I loved about this weekend: Getting a long-overdue 15 minute massage

Good morning! I pulled the pirate mug from the dishwasher... how timely for a Monday. I lingered in bed for a few minutes longer and am already on mug #2 of coffee.

I'm still a bit sore from my weekend. I went to a quilt retreat on Saturday and the shop owner provided us a chance for a 15-minute massage. With all my complaining to hubby that I needed a "Lars" for a deep tissue massage, I forked over the $15and hefty tip. Amy, the masseuse, worked her magic and then some. Yes, I was all knotted-up! I really appreciated this "fringe benefit". It was a clever idea.

Yesterday hubby had to go to Tacoma to pick something up, so I made him take me to Lacey to visit the huge bead retailer there, Shipwreck Beads. Bee and Sandy, you two would have been in heaven! It was a huge showroom of beads and then some!

This is the sidewalk outside of the building. Is this clever or what? I'm making this my new blog background for a while. I love how they put glass beads into the exposed aggregate. Love it!

What I applauded was that this place is smart in dealing with the guys -- there's a deli/coffee shop inside the showroom. Talk about smart! Plus, the showroom is near a local Cabela's. That buys us gals more time.

While I don't bead, I wanted to get some beads for working into some art pieces and the table topper I'm working on. I'll be finishing the tablecloth with some beadwork on the corners. Those big purple and black beads in the upper left corner are what I'm thinking of using.

Last night was a real treat. We chatted with Gg and her parents. She's so cute and is getting used to chit chatting with us. Evidently this week she had a scuffle with her local grandma's dog, who absconded with one of Gg's toys. Both were okay. It just boiled down to a battle of wills. And this baby girl is VERY strong willed. Hahahaha!

Hope you all had as good of a weekend as we did. So what's going on this week? It's going to be a good one here. We are starting it off with some sunshine!

Friday Crazy Dreams

2012-02-24T09:13:00.000-05:00

Work in progress

What I didn't like about yesterday: A tired hubby (yet again!)
What I liked about yesterday: Working in my studio
What I loved about yesterday: Finishing a project, and cutting a new one

Good morning everyone! I'm so happy it's Friday! So happy!!!!

Hubby's been having a programming issue at work. He's been at it for three days trying to get it all to work to no avail. This morning I decided to nip it in the bud and googled a possible solution. Wouldn't it be funny if it worked? I'm ready for him to have this under his belt. He's been so frustrated... it's keeping him up at night.

Ok, so I had a really story-worthy dream last night that I thought y'all would enjoy. It took place in several scenes. I witnessed a guy blowing up a building's garage. I was entering the garage as he set the charges and I hid from the debris nearby. After the explosion took place, I went home. I had some company at home and dreamt that one of my friends was downing shots of Ouzo (a greek licorice flavored liqueur). Also, my son in law was filling a swimming pool with cold water, then dragging it around town behind his pickup truck. That part was fun. Yes, I was in the pool! :-)

Still in the dream, we got back home and then a bunch of MPs came to arrest me because what I witnessed at the garage. I kept asking them if their rifles were Belgian. There were all different types of firearms -- a wooden bull-pup with a carved eagle where the sights would be, a WWII Russian bolt -action rifle, and other basic firearms. Well, somehow I eluded them, knowing that if they got me I'd be dead.

In another dream scene, they (the bad garage bomb folks) figured a way to get to my friends, and played a practical joke that really angered them. My friends all made a plan to stone me with bloodstones (allusion to past job). I convinced them to quit stoning me. (By the way it hurt, especially the stone that hit my right cheekbone -- ouch!).

Then the bad guys sent a UPS driver to kill me. In short, I ended up on top. Thank goodness!

Hope my day is better than this... sheesh! What's up with all that?

Go out and make it a great day and weekend, y'all!

2012-02-23T09:42:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: A tired hubby
What I liked about yesterday: Using my new library card
What I loved about yesterday: Sunshine

Well, last night's sleep was much better. I still had crazy dreams, but then that is normal. This time hubby and I were on a trip, and instead of getting a hotel, he signed a lease for an apartment. When I found out it was an apartment versus a hotel, I got mad, saying we couldn't afford two leases... Then for the second half of the morning I was in our airstream RV and at the home I grew up in. It makes me want to redecorate our airstream.

Yesterday the clouds parted long enough to enable me a sneak peek at the mountains. Yep, I was smiling.I told hubby that I hope I never take that view for granted. I was on my way back from Costco when I saw them from the top of our ridge.

Speaking of Costco, that place is cray busy like Walmarts are in the South! Oh my! I bought coffee and oranges. I've given up on latest batch of the Cuties. Not a fan of the Murcott mandarins. I much prefer their Clementines. The mandarins are sour and some have a funky texture. So yesterday I got some Cara Cara navel oranges. Oh my sweet and juicy!

I've been prepping stuff for taxes Got one form to find in a paperwork pile today. Hubby's got his stuff to do, and I need two more forms, and I can call it done.

Today is laundry day and work in the studio. To keep me company I have two DVD sets on quilting to keep me company. I have a sewing retreat (5 hour class) on Saturday. My project needs to be cut for assembly. I'm sewing something different from the class. I'm going for the socialization. So that's my job for today.

It's almost the weekend. Does anyone have any fun plans? Other than the sewing class, Not a lot on our plate. Go out and make it a great day, y'all!

The Clam Before the Storm

2012-02-22T09:30:00.001-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Rain that seemed to get heavier whenever I got out of the car
What I liked about yesterday: Getting out to the fancy grocery store
What I loved about yesterday: Shipping out happy packs

Good morning everyone! I wish I had more sleep. For some odd reason I didn't sleep well last night. Lots of tossing and turning. This morning I reached into my robe pocket and noticed I missed a dose of one of my meds... Might explain why.

The dreams I most remember are the ones before I woke up. But last night it was all night long. In one dream I was working retail at a very fancy store on a farm. High end porcelain and gift items (Herend porcelains, cashmere scarves, and super-fancy costume/real jewelry). It was Thanksgiving and the ladies at the store were making dinner. I made an error with a bunch of items being shipped out (accidentally spilled some items/enclosure cards that were in a pile and I got them all mixed up). I just couldn't get anything right I also dreamt about a halloween party -- a costume contest for kids. Then I was driving though a hospital ward and university classroom building in a Mini Cooper, trying to make an airport shuttle. I also think pirates were involved -- the movie kind, not the real kind in Africa.

I know -- only me...

Despite the rainy weather, it was a good day. The pain subsided as the morning rode on, enabling me to comfortably get out and about. I had to laugh though, it seems that every time I got out of the car it would rain harder and harder.

I took a chance yesterday and bought some manila clams for dinner. It was creepy that I could hear them clicking away in the bowl... (click on the video I uploaded). One of my goals is to learn how to cook some of our local bounty from the sea. I asked for two servings of clams for dinner with pasta. It looked like a lot to me, but I figured she knew her stuff. The lady at the store oversold us big time. Next time I'll buy a third of that amount. We don't eat that much. They turned out okay. Just really, really salty. Turned out that I needed to use unsalted butter in the steaming liquid. Next time it will be better.

I took some butter, garlic, shallots and some crushed red pepper (sauteed that for a bit), threw in some white wine (brought it back up to a boil), and added the clams, and cooked them covered for a little bit. You can't beat that for easy. The leftovers will be made into pasta.

I sprung for some Asian goodies when I was at the market. I got some stuff to make Pho and street noodles. YUM!

We had a video call with the kids last night. I got to play peek-a-boo with Gg. She is still puzzled by what's going on, but she'll get used to it as time goes on. I love this gift of technology. Skype and Windows Live Messenger are awesome things. :-)

Hope you all have a great rest of the week. Do something fun today. OK? I want to see you smile.

Fat Tuesday's Stream

2012-02-21T09:48:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Pain
What I liked about yesterday: Homemade tartar sauce on my fish sticks
What I loved about yesterday: Being thankful I could take yesterday off

Still hurting. Took a percocet yesterday. It killed the pain, but not the wringing pressure. It doesn't solve it, but takes the edge off. I don't like the percocet because it makes me a zombie. This pain is result of a vascular anomaly in my lower right quandrant. It feels very heavy, twisting, and painful when it really acts up. Luckily it only does this once in a while.

Today I need to head out and run some errands. I have to do some grocery shopping, plus I have some happy packs to mail out. Some know they're getting a package, some have no clue. Every now and then I send out happy packs to the kids, especially the youngest. A, the youngest, loves receiving them... I confess that the majority of these boxes have books I purchased during my publisher's tour. Yes, they were that much of a bargain... I decided to spread the love.

I can't believe it's already Fat Tuesday! I'm bummed. I forgot to order me a king cake from Haydel's in New Orleans. They make the best king cakes of all the bakeries I tried.

(image credit)

With it being Lenten season, that means fish on Fridays for dinner. I kicked off the season last night with those yummy fish sticks you get at Costco and in smaller packages at the grocery (Trident Foods' ultimate fish sticks -- the ones with the green label). I love these! The reason I like them is because they are made from filet cuts, and aren't that mushy minced stuff that other brands make. Plus the fish (pollock) is mild and yummy. I made up batch of tartar sauce -- capers, chopped kosher dill pickle, a little pickle juice, dill weed, dijon mustard, pepper, cayenne, and mayo. a few fish sticks and some mixed veggies made for a tasty, filling dinner.

Speaking of seafood, we live in an area where clams are plentiful. I want to take this opportunity to learn how to cook them. I'm thinking that some clams steamed with some butter, garlic, wine, and a touch of lemon and red pepper would be good for dinner. That, plus a salad and a baguette. Whatcha think? I like clams, but in small doses. I can't eat a whole lot.

Well, I've yakked enough... You all make it a great day... OK?

Monday's Stream

2012-02-20T14:22:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Having to pee when there's no toilet around
What I liked about yesterday: Taking a Sunday drive
What I loved about yesterday: Finding a pretty spot

Shhh! Don't tell hubby, but I'm feeling kinda puny this morning. I slept in a bit, and I'm lazing on the sofa trying to ride out some pain. It hurts when I stand up or sit up, when I breathe in, and when I cough or strain. It's nothing to be alarmed about. Just something that happens once in a while. I took a pain pill and am calling it a lazy, loopy day.

Last night we finally got to chat and see Gg for a video call. She was so cute with her little "pebbles" hairdo. You know, that cute little pony tail on top? She is certainly looking like her mommy did at that age, according to hubby. Mom says she's already got a temper. Very hard-headed and stubborn (both is girls were like that -- one more than the other). Gg and I had a little chat about this, but I think it went nowhere. I don't look like Rapunzel. LOL! We have another call scheduled for later this week.

Have I told you that I love modern technology? Another miracle from God.

Feeling Very Blessed

2012-02-19T16:17:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Sore feet
What I liked about yesterday: Going to Pike Place market
What I loved about yesterday: Making a dear friend smile

I'm feeling very thankful and blessed today.

We took a quick drive north to see where a gun club was for hubby to join. On the way back we came across a bridge over a "river" that had an awesome view. This is just outside Granite Falls, WA on a scenic mountain loop road. The bridge had a footpath on it for pedestrians.

What makes this photo remarkable is that I took it. And I guess that is why I am so thankful today. You see, this is really a gorge river and I was using my camera's zoom function. I'm not comfortable on bridges over high places, let alone on foot. And let me add the caveat that it was wet and slippery and yucky outside.

However, I managed to gather the gumption to take the path, walk the bridge, and get the shot -- over the gorge. And best yet -- I didn't panic about the heights.

Baby steps...

And here is what will make my friend smile again today... Me eating a Mee Sum steamed pork hum bow just for her! It was a steamed dough dumpling, filled with sweet red bean paste and BBQ pork. Please disregard messy hair... it was windy and damp. My hair was all over the place... and that wind kept getting under my sweater and blouse.

Hubby had a baked hum bow. Which are those buns you see up on top. I'd probably like the baked one better. The steamed ones were a bit doughy for me, which overpowered the BBQ filling. Next time I'll have a baked one.

Now their pork skewers rocked... Hubby and I enjoyed noshing on those, too! Here's an action shot.

I love street food!

Friday's Stream

2012-02-17T09:36:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: An audio snafu during a video call
What I liked about yesterday: Spending time in the studio
What I loved about yesterday: More. Red.Velvet.Cake. (need I say more?)

Good morning everyone!

Hubby left for work a half hour early and with a smile on his face. He was actually excited to go. Gosh, it warms my heart to see that. It's been a long time coming! He left saying not to drink the coffee (he made it for once). Coffee is usually my job. So I'm drinking a full-bodied English breakfast tea this morning. Cheerio!

Yesterday's video call had a big snafu, so we're re-scheduling for Sunday. I did get to see babygirl on video, however we couldn't have "our little chat" about the temper tantrums (audio issues). Hubby says she looks just like her mommy did at that age. Ya know, when I was a kid I always thought those video calls on The Jetsons were cool. Now we're doing it! I just think that's so neat!

Looks like the mountains are going to get hammered with snow, so we'll stay pretty close to home. Or at least within the big valley. We're supposed to get rain and wind.

The stuffed pepper soup was good. Only thing I'd add for the next batch is a tad of sugar and salt to taste. It was a bit low on salt, even for my salt-sensitive palate.

Today I'll be working on my wall-hanging quilt. Then we'll be heading out this afternoon to pick up a shelf. Hubby bought three Hon file shelves on Craig's List to use in the garage. They're those heavy duty metal shelves. They belonged to a cardiac surgeon who recently passed away. He's already got two in use. The third one is for me. I'll be able to use it for a garage pantry.

So what does everyone have planned for the weekend? I'm not sure what we have planned. Hubby mentioned driving north to check out a gun club a co-worker belongs to. Hubby's co-worker wants to get him in. I want to head over to the Ben Franklin store to pick up some craft supplies. I'll be shipping out some packages soon and I want to throw some "goodies" in the boxes.

Make it a super-fantastic weekend, y'all!

Friday Eve

2012-02-16T09:21:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Getting lost on the way to getting my driver's license
What I liked about yesterday: Getting my driver's license
What I loved about yesterday: Red.Velvet.Cake. (need I say more?)

Good morning! I tried something new today. Costco had a big bag of steel cut oats on sale and I tried to cook them in my crockpot and they turned out pretty good. I like the steel cut version, because it's heartier. Add a dash of vanilla, cinnamon, allspice and two teaspoons of turbinado (raw) sugar and they are delicious! I got the recipe here. I just cooked the basic oats (oats, water, and salt), but added the fun to my bowl before eating.

Yesterday was just a good day. Not outstanding, but just an all-around good day -- and I'll take that. Despite my having to go to the license place twice, and getting lost (using my phone navigation), I finally found my way around. I applied for an enhanced license. Some states offer this option. It allows you use this as a border card with Canada. The guy at the license place was sooo nice. Not like the mean highway patrol guy I had in Ohio (for those who followed my old blog). It was a refreshing change!

I was listening to the radio yesterday in the car. I have my car radio on an "Adult Hits" station. That's a politically correct way to say "Oldies". First song I heard was "Saturday in the Park" by Chicago. Reminded me of aging pop star from my old building (a former Chicago band member who went solo -- he lived in my condo complex in Nashville). I always wanted to be a smarty-pants in the elevator, should it just be us two. I had the whole scenario thought out. He'd ask me what floor I'd need and I'd reply, "Um 25 or 6 to 4"... yep, I'm a smarty pants. He did jokingly ask me to his laundry in the laundry room once... and yes, I saw his underpants (while he was folding them -- get your mind out of the gutter!)

While listening, I was thinking that I'd really like to hear a song by another band, Steely Dan. And guess what played next? Yep, a song from that band! I'm psychic! They don't make bands like Chicago and Steely Dan. They both had a unique sound. I loved the brass section that Chicago had. It was bold! Big bold sound... Loved it! As for Steely Dan, I liked their meld of jazz, rock, and blues. Enjoy the trip down memory lane..

I can't sing... While I'd love to be able to do so, I don't have a voice. Be happy you didn't hear me singing in the car... Hahahaa! Trust me when I say this.

Tonight we have a tentative call set up with the grandchild. Rumor has it that this little princess has started throwing temper tantrums... and so early! Grandma Jeanie Weanie is going to have a chat with her babygirl about that. No tantrums! It's been since her birthday for a video chat... I need to be better about that. We are thankful for technology.

Not much planned for today. I will probably work on my quilt project.

Here's to hoping today will be another good day. Enjoy today!

Cooking Again

2012-02-15T09:22:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: My ruler case smells like cigarette smoke (bring on the Febreze)
What I liked about yesterday: Cooking a special dinner for hubby

What I loved about yesterday: Getting all my cutting mats and rulers back from the move (yay!)

Yesterday was a good day. I spent the morning and part of the afternoon in the studio working on a wall-hanging. And to make it even sweeter, my rulers finally arrived! I immediately took them out of the case and put them on my ruler rack. My studio is now DONE!

I had fun working with fabric yesterday. I did some improvisational work on my project and it felt good to get back into the swing of things. Plus, the piece is looking really good!

Last night I made a great dinner. It was simple. I just grilled two chicken breasts and topped them with a homemade tarragon-dijon cream sauce with shitakes, and added a side dish of green beans (haricot verts). Hubby chowed down and ate that up pretty darn quick. He told me it was really good.

I took a couple handfuls of dried shitake mushrooms and re-hydrated them. In a separate pan, I melted some butter, added a couple tablespoons of flour, cooked it for a second, and then slowly added milk while whisking out the lumps. I stirred that cream sauce up while it heated and got thick, spoooned in some dijon mustard, some shallots (I had dried shallots), a few shakes of tarragon, and some dry vermouth. Then I added the shitakes and poured it over the grilled chicken breasts. Not difficult at all!

I came really close to adding chicken stock to the sauce, and running it in the blender to make soup. I'm glad I didn't make the soup, as hubby really enjoyed it as a sauce.

Today I'm making a batch of stuffed pepper soup. When we took the trip to Wisconsin last year, I had the best bowl of that stuff. I just so have some ground beef, colored bell peppers, and leftover rice. How lucky is that? I plan on adding some beef stock and tomatoes/sauce. Just sounds plain yummy. I'll add seasonings to taste to get it just right. Soup just sounds good.

Today is a get out and run errands kind of day. That is if I get my soup done. We'll see... I know we are meeting with a lady to pick up some shelves for our garage. One today and probably one again for tomorrow. he got a good deal on Craig's List.

Hubby's been researching volcanoes on the internet. I have a feeling we'll be seeing some in our near future. Perhaps this weekend?

Oh, I had the pee dream again. It also involved two soap opera stars, swimming in a pool, a missed British airways flight (that ended up crashing), and a car ride with an old friend.

Love and Relationships

2012-02-14T10:58:00.000-05:00

Tuesday

2012-02-14T10:17:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Achy knees
What I liked about yesterday: Baking cookies for hubby

What I loved about yesterday: Dinner out with my Skweetie Pie, then off to B&N for a crossword puzzle book

Good morning everyone!

Not a whole lot going on. Just kinda hanging out at home. Tomorrow I head out for a few errands -- one of which is to get my new driver's license, so I can be an official Washingtonian. Take a number please...

I'm hanging at home because:

A.) It's raining today

B.) The UPS man is coming with my rulers (finally!)

How do you show love? I show love in several ways -- by cooking for the person, doing something for that person, or sewing for that person. Hubby shows love by doing things for people and being a good provider. Everyone has their own way to show love... Yesterday I made cookies for hubby to enjoy today. That's because I love him. And I make sure he knows it every single day.

I'm chilly today. A rain front is coming in and my toes are snuggled under a quilt. Nice and toasty warm. A good day for homemade soup. I'm debating on what kind to make. But that would entail me coming out from under the quilt. Maybe Progresso can make soup for today...LOL!

Oh, it's been a while. I had the pee dream this morning. This time I had to pee during an emergency drill. The bathroom was crazy. I had to pee while looking out of the stall to make sure I didn't get attacked during the drill. Hard to do that during a people stampede.

Here's to a great day!

Monday's Stream | Weekend Overview

2012-02-13T10:01:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: A scary moment (really bad vertigo)
What I liked about yesterday: Seeing itty bitty baby salmon at the Wallace River Hatchery ("Get in my belleh!")
What I loved about yesterday: A long Sunday drive that ended in a little Bavarian-ish town

After a nice breakfast yesterday, hubby decided he wanted to see the other nearby mountain pass (Stevens Pass). So we took a Sunday drive. As usual, I took my camera. Come on along with us!

This is the Skykomish River -- as seen from the town of Skykomish. The water was well-oxygenated and crystal clear. It made me want to reach in and grab fish. This website talks about the fishing available in on the Skykomish River... I wanna go!

We learned something VERY important yesterday. The ski area parking lot in Stevens Pass is not a good place to drive a Dodge Ram 2500 truck. The lot was packed and there were moments we had to hold our breath. I really thought we wouldn't make it through the lot without scraping someone.

Then since we were at the top of the pass, we decided to just go down the other side and loop around to get back home (the long way). When we first moved here, we were told to visit a cute little Bavarian village located in the Washington "alps" called Leavenworth. And guess where we found ourselves? Hahahaaha!

I was impressed with this town in that you could tell that the whole town is part of the magic. To get that type of buy-in from the townfolk to revitalize and re-purpose, shows what stuff these folks are made from. (click here to learn about how they became a top tourist destination) The shop keepers and restaurant folks were very friendly! And most of all they were very proud of talking about what this area offers. We will definitely be back.

It is a quaint touristy spot, much like Helen, GA -- but only better (Sorry Georgia folks!)

The area is full of frescoed buildings (inside and out), reminiscent of Oberammergau, Germany.

The city center is packed with shops, small hotels, restauarants, and is just plain picturesque.

We ended up lunching at one of the local restaurants, Andreas Keller -- And let me tell you that this didn't disappoint.

We had Jagerschnitzel schweizer art -- which was a grilled schnitzel tops with mild swiss cheese and a mushroom gravy. The sides were red cabbage (it was just okay) and spaetzle (which were very good!).

And yes, we had some traditional Black Forest Cake. I debated on just showing you all the empty plate. Hahaha!

We drove back home through Snoqualmie Pass (the one we went through when we drove across the country). This is the range area off Hwy 97 on the way into the pass area.

Have I told you that I love our new home state?

Hidden Agendas

2012-02-11T13:01:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Not having cake.
What I liked about yesterday: One's body can be a source of humor

What I loved about yesterday: A short call with hubby -- On his way home as I type

Sometimes I just crack myself up laughing and wonder if it's just "only me" that stuff like this happens to. I've been preparing some packages for shipping on Monday and I lost my sharpie marker. Here I was in a full-blown panic that this marker has totally disappeared.

Gone.

Vanished.

Obliterated to nothing.

I had fears of the cap falling off and marker getting all over the place beyond my control. They have a mind of their own, ya know. LOL!

So after an hour of looking around for said marker, I gave up and just left it to serendipity. I'll find it when it's ready. Of course, inside I'm getting all jealous that this marker booked a cruise to some Tahitian destination and is being served a pina colada by a very dark, handsome man.

Or perhaps skiing the Swiss Alps and meeting for fondue and raclette at a local inn somewhere. (Add in handsome man named Johann or Wilhelm).

Or perhaps it was summertime and it was in Tuscany, being courted by Giovanni with a feast of red wine, pasta, and lamb.

All I know is that the marker must've had a good time.

Another hour went by, the marker incident far behind my feeble memory... I'm watching an especially touching scene on Lifetime TV (You know, the women's network that makes you cry all the time?). I put my hand on my heart... and guess what?

Yep, I found the marker. I put it in my bra so it wouldn't get lost. Folks, I'm well-endoweddd, if you catch my drift. My friend "Dorothy Claire" always used to tease me that they offered "donkey tours" in my cleavage (meaning it was as deep as the Grand Canyon). So I guess my marker did take a trip... with the girls.

Wish I had gone along... Enjoy the smile. I guess you had to be there to appreciate the story.

Occam's Razor

2012-02-10T11:47:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: still no package from the ups guy (my rulers and stuff from the move)
What I liked about yesterday: A short text chat with hubby -- install job is going well
What I loved about yesterday: Back in the studio at work

Have you ever heard of Occam's Razor? Wikipedia defines this scientific theory that " is a principle that generally recommends that, from among competing hypotheses, selecting the one that makes the fewest new assumptions usually provides the correct one, and that the simplest explanation will be the most plausible until evidence is presented to prove it false."

I had a crazy dream last night that involved my use of this theory. I'm not going to go into dream detail, but it involved my theory that nature has a reset button. Now with it being 2012, it didn't mean an end to humanity and all, but think about it. Do you think nature has a reset button?

Discuss...

Thursday's Stream

2012-02-09T13:31:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: The cleanup after cooking.
What I liked about yesterday: An outing at the quilt shop.
What I loved about yesterday: My warped sense of humor.

I was at Costco yesterday and purchased some Kale. I've been craving some greens. When I saw this bag, I was on it like a duck on a june bug (Ivana, that is slang for I really, really wanted it). Take a look at this bag and think about my crazy sense of humor and you will see where I'm going to go with this.

Save the baby kales!

Yes, I'm warped... I've never heard this word in the plural form, let alone in produce packaging. They must really have a fun marketing department. And no, I resisted the urge to scream that out loud in the produce department. I didn't want people to think I was weird... hahahaha!

Anyway, I digress... I was craving a baked noodle casserole.

To make this I sauteed onion and chopped baby kales (hahah) in a little butter.
In a large bowl I mixed some lowfat cottage cheese, sour cream and a bit of parmesan together. To that I added a couple shakes of cayenne (not chile) pepper. You could use a couple shakes of red hot pepper sauce instead. I also added several grinds of pepper.
Then I mix in the sauteed onion and kales, making sure the kales are distributed evenly in the sauce base. You may have to use a fork, depending on how small your kales were chopped.
Add the cooked, drained noodles, mix well, and pour this into a buttered casserole. I baked mine at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes.

I love this casserole. It's pure comfort for me. My batch was a bit light on the kales. Next time I'll add more kales. I forget that when greens cook down, they really cook down. One of these days I'll try this with rice. I bet it will be really good!

Today I'll be working in the studio. I got up a bit late today. It felt good to sleep in until 8am.Got me a double espresso and am ready to begin...

Make it a great day, y'all!

Home Alone

2012-02-08T11:51:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: A small headache!
What I liked about yesterday: A photo of my grandkitty, Franzie, claiming her quilt. This made my day.
What I loved about yesterday: Enjoying the books I purchased during my publisher's tour the day before.

Yesterday I had huge intentions of getting out, but my comfy clothes won over. Hubby is in Oregon for a project install. He's there to observe and help troubleshoot. He's part of a team of about four guys. He was so excited to go. He was like a kid headed to a birthday party. No, this isn't like the prior job, when they sent him and one other guy on an install and he didn't even work with the original project design, etc. This is a training trip.

I haven't seen this smile in a long time when he comes home from work. And I like that! My skweetie pie is slowly coming back. And that makes me happy, too!

I was thinking the other day on our trip. -- about the serendipity of being in a new place we love, etc. And I was thinking it almost made last year worthwhile. Almost. I don't wish what we went through last year on my worst enemy. I know it could have been worse, but I'm glad we're here and I'm glad it's good so far.

Are any of you readers herbal tea drinkers? I found a "new" (to me) herbal tea that I love... Twinings Lemon and Ginger tea. It is caffeine-free and just delicious! At first you taste the lemon, but then you get the "peppery" finish you get from the ginger.

Go out and make it a great day. Not much going on here... some reading, some interwebbing, some sewing and stuff...

Weekend Wrap-up | Part II

2012-02-07T12:50:00.000-05:00

Ok, I left with breath-taking scenery from one part of the Penninsula. Let me take you to the really magical places!

First off, we woke up to this beautiful sunrise in Port Angeles, WA. this was the view from our hotel room at the Red Lion Hotel (a regional chain). We were both well-rested, as the bed was cozy and our room was spacious. Plus we had a balcony looking over the water. What more could a girl ask for?

After a yummy crab cake benedict breakfast we were on our way...

Fishing is big on the Penninsula. There are tons of rivers, creeks, and lakes. And it's cold water fishing, so if you like trout, it's heaven. This one, the Sol Duc River is known for the steelhead trout and various tributaries of this river are also known for salmon. Just the next bridge over from this shot was a gentleman fly-fishing, but I couldn't get a clear shot out of the running car. Aand let me tell you, the camera didn't do it one bit of justice -- that water was crystal clear....You could see clear to the bottom. I can only imagine this in the sunshine, how it would sparkle. Hence the name, Sol Duc, which means "sparkling waters".

This place was pure magic! This is Lake Crescent. From the moment I saw it, I was picking my jaw up from the floor. The beauty of the low hanging clouds set against the dark cedar trees on the hills, then reflected in the mirror like water... just beautiful!

As a student in art history, I couldn't think of anyone but Caravaggio in this scene. Yes, it was an atypical subject (he painted people), but what struck me was the pure "chiaroscuro" of the whole scene -- the extreme light and dark hues working together to make a beautiful scene. It's funny how that just popped into my head. Sometimes I wonder about my weird self.

This is how clear the water was...

And guarding this little section of the lake was this noisy little creature... It made a grunting sound like a bull-frog. Trust me when I say that bird was HUGE. If I could fit my fat rear-end into a kayak, I'd be on this lake in a heartbeat... And we couldn't have had a better introduction to this place...

We moved on to the coastal part again. I'm going to bypass photos of the town in the famous vampire series. I'm just happy that the books are giving the area the tourist dollars it needs. It was not a destination for us. If the kids want to visit, they can drop me and the boys off to do some fishing while they do the vampire thing...LOL!

I'm a water person. And I'm so excited that I'm living so close to an ocean. An ocean! The Pacific Ocean has so many different coastal personalities. I've been to Carmel and Big Sur. And I'm sure the further south you go, it again has a different personality. I gotta say that the coast of Washington is just magic. I love the rocks, cliffs, pines, and driftwood. The rustic, rugged quality is so beautiful in it's untouched simplicity.

The moment I hit Ruby Beach I knew where I wanted to be after I die... I want my ashes scattered here among the pines (if that is at all possible). I love the cliffs and the sound of the waves crashing into the rocks. Aren't you glad I took these videos so you could experience what I felt?

This was the next beach we toured... known as Beach Number Four. There we met up with a nice park ranger for a short chat. Despite the overcast day, this was still so beautiful!

On our way back to the parking lot from the trail, Hubby noticed this tree growing right on top of a fallen trunk. How cool is that? Looks at how it just took root where another has fallen. Kinda like life... huh?

You never know where the trail leads you (like this one at beach number four), but you need to be open to the adventure. Thanks for coming along with us!

Beauty tips I'm learning along the way. Focus on the eyes...

2012-02-06T19:10:00.000-05:00

I got my Mary Kay order today. How uplifting to open a big box that says "hello gorgeous!" LOL

I think I finally figured out how to work up makeup/a look for this wacky skin of mine. And for those readers out there who need an awesome MK lady, drop me a line. She and I have been good friends for years, long before she even dreamed of selling these wonderful products. JK, this post is for you. I figured it would be easier to blog about it rather than go into detail by email. So this post is dedicated to you!!!!!

My eight-minute makeup routine.

I have Rosacea (the bright red cheeks) and lots of brown spots. Now I know that knocking on the "50" door that's only going to get worse... the skin, too. Well, my issue is that when I use foundation to match my jawline (like most makeup artists recommend), it doesn't work for us rosy cheeked gals. Plus, I'm learning that with my aging skin (due to years of sun abuse), less is more these days. Don't want to call attention to the flaws.

I do my Timewise Miracle Set as directed, except one thing.... I mix ONE PART foundation (to "cover the cheek color) to ONE PART part moisturizer to make a tinted moisturizer. I pat that mostly over the red cheeky area then lightly blend outward. The glory of combining the two is that it doesn't "sink" into my large pores and make my skin look like the surface of the moon and there is still enough coverage to even things out naturally. (Right now I don't use powder because it settles into my large pores)

A trick I learned on You Tube is to concentrate makeup on the center of our faces as we get older. I keep the bulk of the color to the center portion -- imagine drawing a long rectangle from the chin to the forehead and make it as wide as one's eyes (like pictured above). That's what I mean by being the center of one's face.

In one area I make an exception to that rectangle. I'm lucky enough to have found a blush shade ("Sparkling Cider") that works with my rosacea and matches the color of my cheeks covered with the tinted moisturizer. I apply that on the outer parts to "continue" my rosiness (see red ovals above).

I'm still retaining that natural rosy glow... but I'm working with it, not against it! I've learned that the more I try to hide it, the more it pops out.

I have close-set eyes and the skin above my lids is starting to droop, kinda like a "hood". Out of all my features, my eyes are a strong point. This is what I do:

I use a base to even out my eye skin color (I have freckles and permanent red dots in my eye area -- I use the creme to powder foundation for this). Over the base, I swipe a matte natural tan-is color("Hazelnut") over my lid and crease. I stop just below my browbone.
Next up is to widen my eyes. I use two tricks. I sweep a tad of a matte darker shadow ("Espresso") on the outer edge. I smudge this to death, so there is only a hint of darker color, taking care of not going past 1/4 of the way in from the outer edge. Then on the inner edge near the bridge of my nose I sweep in a matte creamy white color ("Sweet Cream") and blend.
To accent the browbone, I sweep on a flesh-toned frost ("Spun Silk"--the only frosty color I use!) from my crease all the way to my brows. And then I blend like crazy.
Just coat top lashes with mascara (and if you feel like doing the bottom lashes do those too -- sometimes I do, sometimes I don't). I confess, I don't use eyeliner because I heave dark heavy brows and wear glasses. If I wore eyeliner it would be a distraction.

Then I slap on a matte neutral lip color ("Shell") and go. This keeps the focus on my best feature -- my eyes... By the way, the Mary Kay tinted lip balm rocks. I use the "Blush" color. It's very moisturizing and has the perfect amount of color!

Weekend Wrap-Up | Part I

2012-02-06T10:40:00.000-05:00

This weekend's adventure was just what the doctor ordered! I took tons of pics and some video, too! so you'll get to see what I saw. My only wish was that you all were right there with me.

It started with a ferry ride from Edmonds to Kingston. We were the first car in our ferry row, so we were able to get up there to take this shot. Don't the mountains look gorgeous on that Peninsula?

Just wait, there is so much more...

We drove Hwy 101and Hwy 112 from Kingston to Neah Bay (the NW-most spot in the continental US -- home of the Makah Tribe). The views of mountains, forest, farmland, and beaches were absolutely breathtaking! I had a very emotional response to this area. Once you see the photos, you'll understand why. Proof positive that Our Creator surely made a beautiful planet. At one point I did cry...

This was a "HOHO" (Hop On Hop Off) trip. We're jut catching the high points, so we know where to spend more time later.

What I'm going to do is post the pics with a brief description. Please bear in mind that these are straight from an inexpensive point and shoot camera. No editing. Please click on them to biggify them in their glory.... The photo above is of the Klallam Tribal Center. To learn more about this tribe, click here.

Rock in Dungeness spit. Just so you know, these rocks were under water... yes, it was that clear! Love that piece of pink granite. You can really see the rose quartz.

Inland view of Dungeness Spit (the mighty Jeep, taking in the view)...and a neighborhood in the area along the scenic loop. I want to live there! This area (Sequim) is known for growing lavender.

Tidal flats ff Hwy 112. The mountains of Vancouver Island -- so pretty! (I think this was near Seiku)

One of the many shoreline vistas in the Straits of San Juan DeFuca (off Hwy 112)

Sail Rock and Seal Rock on the Strait of San Juan deFuca.

I will tell you this -- Seeing all this made all the crap and stress we went through last year almost worth it. Washington State is just pure heaven... and no, I'm not exaggerating.

We capped this day off with a nice dinner at our hotel in Port Angeles (The Red Lion). I booked us a waterfront room. Hubby started off his dinner with a bowl full of Manila clams -- so delicate and delicious! I want to put those with pasta. He had a local seafood trio platter (cod, prawns and crab cake). He said the cod was really good, and yes, the crab cakes were yummy. I had a crab cake appetizer along with a wedge salad. I chased my dinner with a Snoqualmie IPA. I like that beer.

We were tired after this long day. It started around 8am and we ended up crash-landing into bed about 12 hours later. Yep, instantaneous sleep!

Weekend Plans

2012-02-03T23:06:00.000-05:00

I'm looking forward to a better day tomorrow. Thursday night I got a letter in the mail that set me off, as a result I wasn't in the mood to be social. It also led to a meltdown. If you want to know what it was about, click here...where I sent a pointed message to sender. That's all I'm going to say about that.

My day was made by a call from my youngest stepdaughter, A. Her wedding plans are coming along swimmingly. I'm looking forward to the wedding. She's having a small casual affair. Lots of DIY ideas. Plus she got a killer deal on the food through a chef contact of hers. He really fixed her up well.

I've had major headache all day and just wasn't feeling up to par. Now my ears are bothering me (dull ache and ringing). I've got a mug of chamomile tea to help alleviate that. Hope it does the trick. I spent today doing small tasks around the house, reading a free kindle book, and indulging in a little bit of sewing tonight. I'm working on a new project. Right now I'm debating on whether this one is for me or a gift It depends on how it evolves... Right now I'm leaning for a gift.

Along with the tea, I'm planning tomorrow's excursion. We have several days of sunshine and 50+ degrees ahead and we're going to take full advantage of it. We plan on driving to Edmonds to take a ferry to the Olympic Peninsula. I booked us an inexpensive waterfront room in Port Angeles for the night and we're just doing to drive, explore, and relax. Don't worry, I plan on taking my camera with me.

I'm not sure what we'll do. My hope is that we drive around and see the highlights. Then we can decide and plan on something to do for another visit.

Most of all, I want a closer look at the mountains I see from the top of our ridge. This can also give you a clue about how tall our ridge is. Isn't it just breathtaking? Those are the Olympic mountains. We live on a beautiful planet.

See ya on the flip side of the weekend!

Goodbye Sweet Sarge

2012-02-03T08:42:00.000-05:00

2 Timothy 4:7,8
7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8) Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Thursday Thoughts

2012-02-02T09:45:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Hubby used my TEA mug for coffee -- that's a no-no!
What I liked about yesterday: Sunshine
What I loved about yesterday: The feeling of accomplishment on getting a project done

Good morning everyone! I can't believe how fast this week has flown by. Oy vey!

Yesterday was a good day. It rained a bit in the morning then the sun came out. loved it! It's supposed to be sunny the next few days and up in the 50s. I'm loving it! If I can wrangle it on my trip out, I can show you around the area.

I spent yesterday afternoon creating a portable design wall in my studio. I love how it turned out. Also sneaked in some laundry and bill-paying. All in all, it was a very productive day.

This morning I dreamed about taking a shower in the upstairs shower/tub in my childhood home. It turned out the plug was in the drain and the tub overflowed. I was also curling my new hair do and I had this huge bald spot and ratty "tail" going on in the back (seriously large and wide like a beaver tail!). Oh, and the hair just wasn't cooperating. It was sticking all over the place!

Today I need to make a trip to the post office to mail some stuff, Costco for some grocery staples, and tonight I will be attending a quilt guild meeting. I'm trying out a new guild. Hoping it meets my needs. I figure that the sooner I hook up, the better. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I'm always nervous when I meet new people. I know it's irrational, but it is what it is.

Not much going on -- just enjoying life... Put a smile on your face today and pass it on!

Milestones | Year One

2012-02-01T09:54:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Just feeling like doody crap
What I liked about yesterday: A visit with Earl Grey (tea)
What I loved about yesterday: Settling into a cleaning routine

Good morning! I've got my handy dandy pirate mug here and I'm ready to face the day. Just a bit draggy here... I felt really wonky and swimmy-headed all day and I crashed and slept hard... I mean slept hard!

I need a smile. How about you?

Over the weekend I witnessed a modern day miracle that I wanted to share with you all. Now some would not call it a miracle, but I do. For in the beginning of my lifetime it was not possible.

My sweet Gg turns one today. And over the weekend they held a family birthday party for her. Those who know me know that I was just "sick" that we couldn't be there in person. So we hooked up the next best thing. Yeppers, we got to attend virtually via Windows Live Messenger.

It was fun being able to see Gg amidst all the excitement. In our own modern miracle way we were there. Plus it gave us a chance to talk to other family members we miss so much.

And then when it was all said and done, we were able to download pictures from Facebook. Out of all the pictures, I have to admit that this one is my absolute favorite hands down! Look at that precious expression! And yes, she absofreakinglutely (Ivana, that means really, really, really) loves cake!

Of course, you could hear me screaming "Head first, Gg... Head first!"

Well... that's what I'd do if I had the opportunity...LOL

They say that children are our message for the future. This little girl has brought infinite joy to our family.

The future is bright... Happy birthday babygirl!

I'll Pay You Tuesday for a Hamburger Today

2012-01-31T10:12:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Buying auto insurance in Washington State... over twice what we paid in Ohio! (and the agent said we got a darn good rate!)
What I liked about yesterday: Getting out and not getting lost
What I loved about yesterday: A new look

Good morning! Today is brought to you by Whimpy of Popeye cartoon fame.

Yesterday was just what I needed. With all the crap surrounding hubby's last job, the move, and all, I neglected a bit of me -- my beauty. I felt like I had other things I needed to concentrate on more than how I looked. I confess that my last real haircut was in either September or October. With my hair that is a long time. I have fine, thick hair that not only grows long, but gets wild and sticks out. I've been just dealing with it. But I'd had enough.... So last week I made a hair appointment.

I went onto pinterest and collected a bunch of hairstyles I liked, sent them to my phone, and took them with me to show the stylist. We talked for a bit about what my hair does/doesn't do and I let her do her magic. The fun part is that when I don't have my glasses on, my vision isn't so good. So what comes out is a complete surprise. And a big surprise it was! This was my best haircut ever!!!!!

I made sure to take a before/after shot, so you can see the transformation. Lots of folks on Facebook commented on my glasses. Those are from Zenni optical. Cheap (I think I paid $12.95 for them). I need to get my eyes re-checked. These glasses are two prescriptions old! These cheap glasses outlasted my expensive Costco glasses! Yesiree!

I can't tell you how much better I feel about myself after this. Yes, sometimes it's just the small stuff. Between this and my painted nails, I feel like a woman again.

Life is good.

Monday's Stream

2012-01-30T09:47:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Losing a very dear friend
What I liked about yesterday: Our Sunday drive
What I loved about yesterday: Outpouring of love

I'm kinda numb about the news of Sarge's passing. It was a lot like when my dad passed. You know that death is inevitable, but when it happens, it is still a shock. But I'm not going to dwell on this. Sarge wasn't one to dwell on things like that.

What struck me about yesterday was the tremendous outpouring of love for the Cordle family. That shows you what kind of people they are... Good people... I've been blessed to know several family members and I hold them very close to my heart. They are much like my adopted family. I am struggling with a decision on whether to travel for the funeral. Will make my decision tonight. It depends on a number of factors.

Yesterday we drove around town. I was able to take a bunch of pics. It was rainy and blustery. There was enough of a break for this child to enjoy some kite-flying in Edmonds. This marina park is the perfect place for a picnic.

On our way home we stopped by a market near our house, Mill Creek Central Market. They had a killer seafood department. I mean killer! There were tanks of fresh lobsters, oysters, clams, mussels, and crab. The crab pictured above are Dungeness crab.

We picked up a slab of halibut. While it was a pricey slab of fish (1.5 pounds/$29 total), it was fresh. This market ships in local seafood 7days/week.

So... you're probably asking how I prepared the fish? Well, I went with one of my go-to recipes from Real Simple magazine.This is an easy-peasy way to prepare a hearty fish (halibut, cod, sea bass). I do not recommend this recipe for lighter varieties like flounder or tilapia. The fish will not hold up well with this recipe. What I love about this dish is that the sauce is flavorful, but not so much as to overpower the fish. Plus, this is a healthy entree. Nothing outrageously high in calories here...

Recipe: In my oven-proof skillet, I placed the slab in the center (skin down), poured over some dry white wine (I used a crisp dry chardonnay this time), tossed in a few olives, added a tiny bit of red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and sliced lemon zest (be sure to cut away the bitter pith). I baked this in a 400-degree oven for about 30 minutes (for 2 lbs of fish). Finish with fresh parsley. Serve the fish with the sauce drizzled on top. We paired this with rice and green beans. Personally, I can do without the rice. I think next time I'll just serve it with green beans cooked with some tomato -- in keeping with the Mediterranean feel of the dish.

And yes, we ate every bit of the fish! It was such a treat!

Today I'm headed to the purty-parlor to get my hair done. I'm springing for a new look. It's been since September/October that I last got my hair cut and styled. I'm in sad need of a makeover. I've collected some pics of styles I like and am looking forward to seeing what the stylist will come up with. When my hair grows, it grows fast and "out". I have fine, thick hair with lots of natural waves (cowlicks). And that means it sticks out like crazy...LOL

Go out and make today a really good day... OK? Even if the sun isn't shining, it sure is shining somewhere... so just pretend it's sunny where you are.

Milestones | Sarge Charlie

2012-01-29T15:55:00.000-05:00

I lost a dear friend, but I am not sad. Yes, my heart is heavy, but I'm not sad... My friend, Sarge Charlie passed away peacefully. I'm proud of him. He led a full life, loved, served, and so much more. Most of all, he fought the battle of cancer and won.

Now I know you're confused by the fact that I said he won... but here's how I look at it. He was with us til the last minute and chose to go on HIS terms, not cancer's terms. HIS TERMS. He won. Period.

There are lots of things I'll miss -- "Hank and Lois' biggest fan" (long story), and my cruise buddy--playing trivia and performing magic tricks at the dinner table, bringing out the giggly kid in me. He was a patriot who served his country with pride. Was a loving father and grandfather to many -- Cat, Chuck, Ayla and more. Even a loving friend to those "adopted" family members like me... He was a loving soulmate to my precious Miz Bee.

Please visit his blog. There you will learn a lot about him, his values,and the country and family he loved so well. Charlie was a prime example of the concepts of personal responsibility, service, honor, and opportunity. We have much to learn by his legacy.

Today I send love to his family and all who knew him, may you all find strength, wisdom, faith, and peace.

Satruday's Stream

2012-01-28T10:39:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: To be honest, I can't think of anything... and that's good!
What I liked about yesterday: My $2.78 wall clock for the studio
What I loved about yesterday: Meeting new people at a local quilt shop demo

Good morning!

Yesterday was a really great day. I just love how the days are getting better and better. I'm slowly feeling the stress dissipate from my body. And that's a very good thing. We can finally put the crappy parts of last year to rest. Like a psychic once told me, "Send it off with love so it never happens again." And that's what I'm doing. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the rough year, for if we didn't have it, we wouldn't be where we are today -- stronger and in a much better place. So there was some good in all that challenge.

It was a sunny day yesterday, so I decided to get out to the local quilt shop. They had a demo going and I just needed some in-person human interaction. Plus, there's been a great motivational blog I discovered recently, and the writer was our instructor. I really wanted to meet her. She had a wonderful entry the other day about adversity that really hit me, so I shared it with my facebook friends. You can read it here. I thought that there were a few people in my life who needed to hear this.

Lynn, the blog author/quilt instructor, was demonstrating a cute sewing technique to make these little heart pillows. I loved it and I want to try it using other shapes and take it a bit further. She also demonstrated how to make these cute rosette flowers from jumbo ric rac, which would be perfect for our youngest's upcoming wedding. Aren't they just adorable????

Last night we decided to head over to the local drive-in for a burger for dinner. It's one of those independent places. They have the best burgers and fries. Yes, the crinkle cut fries. I'm all about the crispy crinkles. While there I picked up the local weekly newspaper for the next town over. I love their police/crime reports... they just crack me up. This week's wasn't as fun as last week's rendition. Here's the link, so you know why I look forward to reading it. (Be sure to read the one entitled "Deli Discombobulation"). The writer definitely has an edge on sarcastic humor. Just my style!

Today finds us heading out for breakfast, running a few errands, and then attending a first birthday party for a grandchild we love and adore. Yes, we're attending... virtually... I love technology! And, yes, On February 1st, Gg will be one year old! Time flies!!!!!

Well, I need to finish my coffee and make a few rounds while I wait for Hubby to drag himself out of bed. You all have a great day. I know I will.

TGIF!

2012-01-27T10:15:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: Breaking a sewing machine needle because I did something stupid
What I liked about yesterday: Sunshine!
What I loved about yesterday: Actually working in my studio!

Good morning! I'm up a tad later today. The bed felt extry comfy... It's funny, in TN and OH I could not sleep with a blanket over me. And, yes, that's even wearing summer jammies year-round. I'd get too hot. Here, I sleep with a blanket and a quilt.

I know you're going to get tired of hearing me say this, but we live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country! We drove over to pick up hubby's truck from the mechanic and the view of the mountains just took my breath away. Pinch me. I can't believe I live here!

There's something about mountains that are so humbling and so awesome. I've seen a decent share of mountains -- The Alps (several countries), Italian Dolomites, Blue Ridge Mountains, Smoky Mountains, The Appalachians, Catskills, Sierra Nevadas, and those we saw on our trip westward, etc. I can remember at one point in my life, standing on the edge of Gornergrat Ridge in the Swiss Alps. It was at that moment when I felt how small and humble I really am in the grand scheme of things.

I was texting a photo to Gg's dad, telling him that one can't help but think about God when one sees mountains. And even in a cloudy mist. Mountains are something so much greater than we are, like God is. As soon as I find my lost battery charger, I'll snap some photos for you. But trust me when I say that photos don't do it a bit of justice. You gotta be there to "feel it".

It felt good to sew yesterday. During a recent trip to the friendly quilt store, I purchased some fabric (something I really didn't need, but it caught my eye) to make me a new mug rug. I can't believe how out of practice I was. When I was changing a setting to adjust a stitch, I broke a needle and nearly threw the timing off of my machine. I adjusted the wrong setting. Oy vey!

I'm getting back into the swing of things with small projects, then picking up larger projects when I get my rhythm back. Patience, Grasshopper!

I also bought some books, two of which will be sewing classes at the store. I have a sewing retreat during the end of February. I can't wait to dig in and be a part of the quilting community here!

Things are humming along. Our plans this weekend are to do some running around and unpack some of hubby's garage stuff. I've been looking for my camera battery charger. Maybe I just need to borrow hubby's big Nikon. That is, if I can find that. LOL!

What do you have planned for the weekend?

Convergence Zone Thursday

2012-01-26T09:38:00.001-05:00

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What I didn't like about yesterday: Unfriendliness
What I liked about yesterday: Being able to drive to the quilt shop by myself
What I loved about yesterday: Magic tricks at our table while eating out (reminded me of someone special)

Good morning! Another one of those Convergence Zone weather patterns is upon us. I'm not sure what it means, but I'm learning!

Yesterday was a good day. I just wish I slept better last night.

After we dropped off hubby's truck to the mechanics we tried out a local pub. Hubby had his two O'Douls (amber) and I had two small glasses of Mack & Jacks IPA. It was pure full-bodied IPA goodness. There was a magician visiting from table to table. I watched him do his tricks. He was good. Hubby gave him a good tip. Made us smile and laugh. And I teared up a little bit thinking of my cruise ship buddy and magic tricks at the dinner table, remembering what a fun time we had. They were happy tears. I needed to send him a smile. (Did you feel it?)

I drove to two local quilt shops yesterday. I went to my favorite shop, signed up for a class, and bought some rulers. (By the way, the mover guy will be mailing them from his home office in Denver.) I love this shop. It's small, but friendly. They were in the middle of a class and I got to see what they were working on. The ladies were making handbags. I loved their fabric and pattern choices. I'm really looking forward to getting to know the folks who shop there.

Barb, I hope you felt my mental pictures as I drove through the winery district.

Before that was a second visit to another shop. I, again, was greatly disappointed. This shop has a beautiful assortment of quilting fabrics, notions, etc. It is a very sizeable store. I just had one beef. Both trips not one interaction with customers. In fact, I offered several opportunities for at least a greeting or to answer any questions... no go. I give people three chances. Hoping the third one is a charm. It's a shame.

As a former retailer I know the importance of greeting the person coming through the door. Now they had a bell on the door to signal an open and close. Now wouldn't you think you could at least look up smile and say hello, or come back soon? Nope. Not a single acknowledgement. I must not be that important to keeping them in business.

On a side note, I visited another Safeway location by our home and I was pleasantly surprised. I have found my grocery store... yay! It is a new location. Safeway closed the older store near the downtown area and opened a new one in a growth area. This store is beautiful! While I need to get used to the aisles and layout, it's a friendly place to shop. I had a conversation with a guy who was one of this store's oldest employee (tenure-wise -- over 30 years). He made me smile. He was born with down syndrome and was the same general age as my brother. He was extremely high-functioning and just as cute as can be!

One thing I've notice about this area is the fact that there is a varied work force focusing on what people CAN do. Lots of folks with special needs or accommodations are hired and in the forefront. I love it. Most people want to contribute to society in one shape or form. And this initiative does wonders for self-esteem and productivity.Wouldn't you want to hire someone who WANTS to work?

Enough opining about workers and customer service... I'm chalking yesterday up as a great day! I'm car-less today, so I'll be up in the studio playing and finishing up laundry. Might even take a stab at baking...

Hope today is a great day. Please smile at a stranger if you get a chance. It may be the only smile they get.

Mid-Week Musings

2012-01-25T09:28:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: News about a friend
What I liked about yesterday: A nice cozy bed
What I loved about yesterday: Getting the quilts hung in my studio. It looks great!

Good morning everyone!

I haven't talked a lot about my dreams lately. Today I was driving a large burgundy ford pickup truck in the ice and snow and the tail end kept slipping and sliding. In today's dream demolished two brick gates, a row of fencing, hit several cars, and rutted some yards.

This is why I don't like to drive big trucks! Hahahahaa!

Then, I dreamt that the truck crashed upside down in a simming pool. Luckily I escaped before it hit the water. But don't worry, MissPenridge's brother, HottiePenridge rescued me. He was in town for a vacation. Where the heck that came from, I don't know... But hey, I'll take it. He was a good swimmer! (cute, too! -- wink)

So I spent yesterday sewing hanging tubes on my quilts. This way I can have some color/inspiration on my walls. While I still lack a few things, It's looking good.

As for yesterday's news about a friend, I'm asking for prayer. Like I mentioned many times before, prayer is a most intimate gift one can give another. Could you please pray for my friend Sarge and his family? His cancer is back and he has chosen to start hospice care. I know he and his family will appreciate it. Sarge is a very special man in my life.

Sending lots and lots of love to you, dear (and Bee, too!)

Today we take hubby's truck to the diesel mechanic a few towns over. Hope I don't get lost. Then I'll be car-less for a few days. That's okay wth me. I've got enough to keep me busy.

I've still not totally adjusted to this time zone change. I wake up every morning between 2-4 am. I usually go back to sleep and wake up around 5am. but the decades of earlier time zones make it difficult to reset my clock. Plus, I'm crashing early, around 8pm. I know that this will come with time.

I feel a pot of soup coming on today... Chicken soup of some sort. We'll see what I whip up.

Tuesday's Stream

2012-01-24T09:06:00.000-05:00

What I didn't like about yesterday: The panic of being "lost"
What I liked about yesterday: Getting a new laptop to replace my dying one
What I loved about yesterday: Knowing our health insurance is paid for until company benefits kick in.

Good morning! I awoke in the middle of the night freezing cold because someone (ahem!) stole my blankets!

Yesterday was a beautiful day. So much glorious sunshine! It felt so good for the soul! When it's sunny here it's just gorgeous.

Our un-crating people came yesterday. They were so darn nice. I felt bad I didn't have enough money for a good tip (I ended up using my last $14 for the two. I at least gave them enough for a coffee or fast food lunch.

After work we went to Costco. I needed some staples (their milk is super cheap and it comes in this cool square jug.). I also wanted to get a new laptop. I decided against a tablet, seeing that I type a
When we walked out of Costco I felt so darn lost. It was very disconcerting. I mean sheer panic. It wasn't what I typically saw when I leave Costco. For what seemed like a very long moment I forgot I moved to Washington State. I didn't like that feeling at all. Luckily hubby was with me, and reminded me where I was.

Today is laundry day. Plus, I'm going to work on my studio. I have a design wall to make. I need to stitch together some flannel and hang it on the wall so I can preview my designs (fabric "sticks' to flannel). I also need to head over to Staples to get a file folder/letter rack to store my rulers (which I hope will arrive today).

I tried to make the potato salad from that cafe -- It's a creamy dill potato salad. I got close to the recipe. I used chunky red potatoes and made a dressing. The dressing contained a base of sour cream, mayo, minced onion, dill, dill relish (next time I'll cut up dill pickles), some vinegar, salt, pepper, and dijon mustard. I think their recipe uses greek yogurt as the base. Don't get me wrong. It was still good, but not the cafe's version... more tweaking needed. I may add one thing they don't add -- capers. That would make it extry good!

Aside from yesterday's memory blip, it was a great day! How was your Monday?

Monday's Stream

2012-01-23T11:01:00.000-05:00

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What I didn't like about yesterday: Stiff, achy muscles (more unpacking)
What I liked about yesterday: Sleeping in
What I loved about yesterday: A nice steaming bowl of soup with veggies.

Good morning everyone!

Yesterday we did some more unpacking. We got all the boxes off the garage floor and onto shelves. We made great progress on Hubby's work area. It's now clean enough to where he can start unpacking his stuff. We also got the desk set up in the guest room for a portable "office".

Our reward for our efforts was a huge bowl of Pho Ga (chicken soup) with vegetables. For those of you who've never tried Pho, it's wonderful. It's a different broth than american soups. Imagine a very light beef or chicken stock with Asian five spice seasonings, lemongrass, and ginger. Couple that with rice noodles, bits of chicken, bean sprouts, Thai basil, lime, bean sprouts, green onion, and our addition of more veggies, you have a healthy and hearty meal. We had carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and thinly sliced red onion in ours. The one thing you want to do is wear and old shirt. With all the noodle slurping, it's difficult to be "delicate" when eating Pho.

With the huge Asian population here, pho restaurants are on every corner (next to the coffee shops and Montesorri schools) Hahaha!

My dreams have been quite interesting lately. I've been going back to the same places day after day. A lot has been of the neighborhood of my childhood, but I'm also getting them of a place in the valley of mountains, like in Montana. They've been more or less peaceful dreams. Just busy...

Today we get a short reprieve from the rain. I'm excited. Then it's back to rain all week. That's okay, I have my studio to keep me company. Just hoping the mover guy shipped the stuff he left in the truck like he said he was going to do. I want my rulers and cutting mats.

I'm having computer issues with my power cord/jack. I feel a new computer coming. I may just relegate this one to my studio to work with my embroidery machine. Debating on a tablet or another laptop. Costco has a good deal on a tablet. Need to do some research.

I need to pass a link on that my good friend Pat sent to me. It's for those who have Kindles. It's a free kindle book alert site (eReaderIQ)... I downloaded a few today and will be reading a free book tonight. I like free!

So go out and make it a great day... It's Monday and you have five more days of opportunity!

Sunday Thoughts

2012-01-22T12:31:00.000-05:00

Can I say that it felt good to get out? Yeppers, I was almost fixing to get Jack Nicholson crazy (like in The Shining). I had to get out! Hahahaa!

Have you ever re-tried a food you previously didn't like? I did that the other day. It was Nutella. I'm not a huge hazelnut/filbert fan, which led to not eating Nutella. But I tried it again and I liked it. And let me tell you, it's pretty darn good dip for animal crackers! Hahaha!

Today we're going to work on hubby's hobby space -- the garage. We need to get his shelves re-built so we can get the boxes off the floor.

I think we'll be headed out for some pho (Vietnamese soup) today. This area is pho-heaven... I'm thinking about chicken pho (pho ga) with vegetables. Add a little "chicken sauce" (asian pepper sauce) and it will be perfect. Now if only we can find a place for bun bo hue, a spicier Vietnamese soup. I'm missing that. We had a place in Cincinnati that rocked that soup.

I'm really enjoying that Girl Hunter book. It's part memoir/part cookbook. The recipes sound to-die-for. What I love most is that she suggests alternate game choices that would be good for each recipe. Yes, some of the recipes are simple and basic (lots of braising), but they sound hearty and delicious. I'm intrigued by her game bird recipes. The memoir part is a bit flowery, but I find myself chuckling and talking out loud as I read this. I will be passing my kindle to hubby to read this book. Yes, it's not just for girls...

I need to search for my next book... Any suggestions?

Well, I need to pry my rear end off the sofa, get a shower, and start my day. Go out and make it a great day, y'all!

Adjustments

2012-01-21T09:43:00.000-05:00

Right now I'm adjusting to life with stairs. Several years back I tore my left knee's meniscus. I admit that the doc told me to come back for surgery if the tear hasn't healed on it's own and to avoid stairs during the healing process. Luckily our last two homes were flats. This one has stairs. It was unavoidable with what we wanted in a home.

I'll be honest. Years later, my knee hasn't healed and I'm not going back for surgery. My view is that once I go down that road, I'll be taking that path on a regular basis. So I'm not in a hurry. I know with that meniscus and the accompanying osteoarthritis, a knee replacement is in my future. Again, not looking for that until it's absolutely necessary, as those are not life-long. You have to get them replaced after a number of years.

So I'm having to make several adjustments. I have to admit that my knees have been hurting since I moved here. I know it's a function of the stairs. So I've been limiting my stairway usage and taking them slowly.

Thanks to Bee's magic cure (one motrin and one acetaminophen), the pain is kept at a minimum, but they're hurting nonetheless. It's all about adjustments.

I hope I find my sense of direction here. At our apartment I know what is North, South, East, and West. But when I get out on the roads I'm clueless. I didn't have this adjustment in Ohio, as I already had familiarity with the area. This will come with time ... and the help of the compass app on my phone.

We are still getting used to the new time zone. We are both waking up around 4:30-5:00 am and then bedding down between 8:00- 9:00pm. I know that will correct itself with time.

Shopping and restaurants are different here, as well. I'm excited that there are tons of non-chain places to try. We really love to support independent restaurants. Grocery shopping? I used to shop with Albertson's in Tennessee and Florida. I'm looking forward to discovering Safeway. Costco here is a whole new ballgame compared to Ohio and Tennessee. Here Costco is super-popular, like WalMart is in the South. It amazes me how crowded the Costco is here --even during off-hours!

We're taking all these adjustments in stride, because it's how we roll. Like I mentioned before about change, you have no choice but to embrace it. Otherwise it will eat you alive. And in this place, change is really good.

Our snow and ice is slowly melting. It's 44F degrees right now. It's windy (typical for here) and rainy. Heck, I'll take it!

Hubby's getting me out today to run errands. We're going for breakfast, too. I'm hoping to hit our new breakfast joint for crab/eggs benedict. I tasted hubby's and it was darn yummy! They have good coffee, too. It tastes like a mixture of Sumatra and African mokka java coffees. Yum!

What are you all doing today? Go out and make it a great day, y'all!!!!!

TGIF!

2012-01-20T10:26:00.001-05:00

Good morning everyone!

Boy howdy, that was one welcome to the Pacific Northwest! Of course, local folks would say that WE brought it with us. Haha! With that being said, it did come from the west and not the east.

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So there!

We lucked out and only had one hour without electricity so far. While the weather crap isn't over, the worst is. Now the thaw begins. Slowly, as the temps are climbing ever so slowly. As of right now it's 33F degrees.

Hubby had a bit of trouble getting home yesterday. He had to dodge a few downed trees. He said he went the usual way, and had to take a detour, only to find the detour blocked by yet another downed tree, resulting in him having to drive his truck in reverse back down the road. But alas, he figured out a route back to the freeway and took that home without issue. That's a challenge, navigating detours when you don't know where you're going. LOL!

My laptop is dying the death of a thousand cuts. my wireless radio is on it's deathbed. It keeps cutting on and off. I don't know what I did to revive it, but I'm thankful it's working so far. I think this one will be relegated to use in the studio for my embroidery machine. Boo!

I finished my book, Cold Vengance, by Preston and Child. It was a great book, but I'm not happy being blatantly left hanging. I'm now reading Girl Hunter by Georgia Pelligrini. So far it's quite good. My oldest stepdaughter would really, really love it. She's always been interested in hunting as a way to get food.

It was another day of perfect bed conditions. Lately I've been doing a lot of traveling in my dreams. This time I was in a large hotel and some animated robots were trying to "get" me. I persevered, but it was tough going. I also dreamed about an American Indian flutist, a roll-in-the-hay with hubby, strange-looking cell phones, and a new house. I swear my sleep life is crazy!

Yesterday I was in a very philosophical mood. Not sad, but just introspective and thoughtful. I guess it was brought up by my earlier conversation about stuff and thinking about my dad and the night he almost died. Sitting up with him that night holding his hand while he struggled for breath taught me a lot about life. It has to do with being present in the moment. We all take life moment by moment. We are not guaranteed a next moment. I need to be better about not stressing about the next moment and enjoy the current moment. Makes sense?

This goes with my story earlier about choosing our attitudes. We can choose how we spend out moments. No, they won't all be happy, shiny moments, but we can choose how we react to those moments and find the wisdom of the good and bad.

That's it for being philosophical. It's more than my little pea brain can handle.

I can't wait to be able to get out. Believe you me, I have some serious cabin fever! What do you have planned for the weekend?

It's not my fault!

2012-01-19T09:35:00.000-05:00

View outside guest bedroom window

(note: streets were plowed the day before)

Oy vey, Welcome to Washington State! They just announced an ice storm warning. Hubby has 1/4" ice on his truck. The folks south of us have about 1/4-1/2" ice. The airport is iced over. I tried to get hubby to invoke the deductible corollary, but no deal. He's going in.

Deductible Corollary: where the chance of an accident is high, and the insurance deductible exceeds the amount of pay for one work day. If all variables are positive, stay home!

We got snow, but not as much as the folks down south of the city. Our electricity went out this afternoon, but luckily it was only for an hour. We are blessed.

Travis, I hope you and Pam stayed home again today. It's far better to be safe.

Oh, this morning the bed and room were the perfect temp, the pillow placement was good, and it just felt good to linger in bed. But I'm up at 5am, my usual time with hubby before he goes to work. It's back to the same old routine.
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I hung all the artwork yesterday. I need to adjust a couple of pieces. It looks like home now. I was going to put up draperies in the downstairs area, but I like the light we get and the unfettered view. Plus I like the clean look. Folks wonder how I've gotten this place up and running so quickly. We really don't have a lot of stuff. We had only 9000 pounds of stuff (@200 items/boxes) to move, and it didn't even fill a 26-foot truck.
We live pretty light. Our storage areas aren't crammed with stuff.

I was having a conversation with a friend yesterday about how things felt the year we didn't want to go home. For those of you who've been with me for a while remember 2007, when hubby and I both lost our fathers and two other dear family members within a 3-month period. We spent the mourning time living in our 28-foot airstream RV, and really didn't go home until the following year. After living in a small space, stuff you don't use becomes baggage, and then it also becomes emotional baggage cluttering our lives. That's when we really scaled down. It was a cleansing experience --both physically and emotionally. I don't know how better to describe it. The only stuff we accumulate now have to do with our hobbies.

So that explains how we've unpacked so quickly. What you see out is basically what we got. I'll take pictures of our new place when I get things straightened out/cleaned. I think you'll like the place.

Here's to hoping the ice doesn't snap our electrical lines. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. You all have a great day. No matter the weather, I'll have a good day. I'm alive and kicking, and that's what counts.

Make it a great day, y'all!

Operation Unpack: Progress Report

2012-01-18T09:33:00.000-05:00

Good morning!

How many of you knew I'd be unpacking yesterday? Raise your hands! Yep, you were right. It's the Virgo in me. I can't stand the disorder, so I started working on my studio. I made great strides. I'm about 80% done. While it didn't turn out the way I imagined so far, I'm extremely pleased with the new layout. It was way better than I imagined it would be! I still have more tweaking to do. Then I can get to work.

I started a new book this week, Cold Vengance by Preston & Child. Those guys really know how to write a mystery thriller! I love Agent Pendergast. This is a second installment in a two book series, but I've read all the Pendergast novels so far.

So the weather is in the news. So far it looks like we've bypassed the worst. (We are north and a little bit east of Seattle proper.) It looks like the southern areas might get more snow. What puzzles me is that the weather here is so unpredictable. From what I gather, it's difficult to forecast. Our streets were plowed yesterday, but they are snowy again. The guy on ABC news yesterday used the word, "slushmageddon" to describe our weather week; and the local news guy here said it's like we shopped for winter at Costco, getting it all in one package.

Looks like the crating guys will be here either later this week or early next week. Luckily he had us for a customer, as we're not really "wiggy" about it. We just go with the flow.

I've got a touch of cabin fever. But I also have enough to keep me busy.

So what's going on in your neck of the woods?

Operation Unpack: Progress Report

2012-01-16T22:14:00.001-05:00

I'm a woman on a mission and I'm pleased to say that I've made wonderful progress today. So much that I'm going to take it easy tomorrow. I'm waiting for the crate people to come by and uncrate a few items. That and artwork are all that's left. Until I get draperies, I can call that area done! I also more or less finished unpacking master bedroom and got the bed made in the guest room. That's good progress!

Weather is supposed to hit tonight, tomorrow, and the next day. There is nothing like freak weather to break one into a new town. Just an excuse to stay in and work. LOL!

Other than all that, there's not much going on. I told hubby I'm taking tomorrow off. Need some rest. Muscles and bones ache. But I doubt I'll be idle. I'll probably do more unpacking.

Off to go find a new book on my kindle. I didn't like that Girl with a Dragon Tattoo book. So I won't be continuing that series... Oh, wait... I just remembered hubby has a book I really want to read. Hmmmm.... now which box is it in? LOL.

Have a great evening... here's to a great tomorrow.

Unpacking

2012-01-15T19:45:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the movers finally came. So far I only have two casualties. Unfortunately, one is a piece of furniture I really love, but it's a simple fix. As a result I didn't report it. It just needs some glue and new dowels. The other piece is something I didn't pack well, and is not something I use alot. I will just order another one. For the "insurance" we opted for the $1000 deductible to keep costs down, and those are well-within the deductible.

Boy it has been snowing. Hubby was laughing, saying that one of the guys at work told him that we don't get much snow. It started yesterday. Looks like a couple inches on the ground. He's going to tease the guy at work.

We got most of the downstairs unpacked. All we have to do here is unpack a few boxes of book, do a little fluffing, and hang artwork. Oh, I do need to wait for our uncrating crew. I have two glass tops and one stone top that need to be uncrated. They're supposed to come by tomorrow.

The kitchen is pretty good shape. I just wish our freezer and stove worked better. I'll take care of that tomorrow. I still have some stuff out in the dining room to put away. I'm missing a box or two... They're probably in the garage or another room.

We also have the bulk of the master bedroom organized and unpacked. I need to spend time in the master bathroom and the closet. Let me tell you, it felt pretty darn good to sleep in our bed. I slept in until 6:30 am, which is pretty good for me with this new time zone. I love the view our of our big master bedroom window. That window backs up to a hill and all we see are trees. With snow, it's quite pretty.

When choosing my studio space, I debated on whether to take nice or the lesser bedroom. I chose the lesser one. The guest room is the nicer of the two remaining rooms. It has a huge south-facing window, that looks over the street and the city we live in. I love that space. I can't wait to get it all fixed up. You basically have a whole "guest wing" with your own bath nearby. With that being said, come on and visit!

Consider this your invitation. (grin)

Yesterday after the movers left, we skipped over the the local burger drive-in, Ranch Drive-in for lunch/dinner. Of course, the drive-in part wasn't open. We went inside to eat. Oh my ever-loving gravy, it was a fabulous burger! Add crinkle cut fries and a homemade malt and it was pure heaven. The burger was so darn juicy that I "wore" most of it home...LOL! Who needs fast food chains?

Tomorrow hubby heads back to work. We have a snow storm in the forecast for this week, so I'm hanging home and getting my studio and the guest room unpacked. Also finessing and cleaning all the other spots.

Life is good.

Wishin' and Hopin'

2012-01-13T22:47:00.000-05:00

Well, today was a total waste... absolute total waste.

We got a call yesterday that our stuff would arrive today around 10am-ish. In short, when hubby got home from work (3:55), there was no furniture and they said it will be delivered tomorrow. The driver said he's delivering it all tomorrow at 9am, but I'm betting it will be closer to noon (if it really happens).

(patience grasshopper)

Poor hubby. His back is shot, so we bit the bullet and made a hotel reservation for tonight. He said one more night in that inflatable bed won't happen. I can't blame him.

I'm beginning to know how medieval peasants felt, having no chairs. Back then chairs were owned by the richer classes...

I spent most of the afternoon at my fireplace spot (pictured above), but with a different book. Right now I'm reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. This is my third attempt at reading it. I'm only finishing it because I have a hunch how it's going to turn out. I have the second book in the trilogy (can't remember the title), but I may pass on it. I got these books from a shelf at the condo, so no love lost there.

Instead of reading right now, I'm spending time with you. It's just past 7pm on this Friday night and hubby is snoring away... welcome to my life... Oh and My belly is full of yummy crab enchiladas (so delicious!) from a local mexican joint. I had two beers (Negro Modelos -- my fave), so I'll be up for a while. That stuff gives me hot flashes and messes with my sleep. That was my lunch/dinner.

Several folks have mentioned that I have a great attitude about this move. Well, let me let you in on a little life secret. To be honest, I had no choice. The move was going to happen anyway and really the only choices I had were to go into it in a positive way or let all the crap and stress wear me down. Now tell me... what would you do? See? Really we have no choice. I want to be happy, so I embrace it. Common sense.

Not sure if that made sense to you, but it sure does to me. And this applies to a lot of life.

So, instead of driving around, checking out the area tomorrow, We'll be arranging furniture. Then next week I'll start unpacking while hubby's at work.

Oh, and he loves the company so far... the guys he works with, etc. He's very happy. I think we'll be here for a while. The benefits here are great. Their health plan is waaaay better than the major employer in the area. He also likes the way the company relies on personal responsibility. I can't wait to learn more. Like I mentioned before, employees here have measured their time in decades, versus years. And in this day and age, that speaks volumes.

I love his stories about the people he works with. It's so good to see him smile again!

Life is good. Very good indeed.

Grab a beverage, sit down and relax. It's gonna be a long one!

2012-01-12T14:39:00.000-05:00

Snoqualmie Pass

Greetings from the Pacific Northwest! We made it to our apartment and are waiting on our internet and cable television stuff to arrive. Also one other major thing -- our furniture! The going rumor is that it will arrive tomorrow. Let's keep our fingers crossed for that as the weather is going hit over the next week. I don't want to have to deal with all that and movers in and out.

So I'm typing this from a local coffee joint... go figure! LOL!

Right now it's quite cold for the area. And from what I gather, the weather patterns where we are living are a whole new ballgame. Lots to learn. They use these big words like Convergence Zone. Basically what it means is that our low-lying areas will be getting unstable weather. Being surrounded by mountains protects us, but when the weather runs through Puget Sound, that's when the Convergence Zone weather hits. That means preciptation, winds, and stuff...

Speaking of mountains, on a clear day, and at the top of our ridge, we can see both Mount Ranier and Mount Olympus. How cool is that!?!

We have been exploring the area each night after work. Monday night we drove to Kirkland, WA to try a Vietnamese place. Hubby was craving Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), and this place didn't disappoint. I also found another Vietnamese place near our house. I'm excited. Tuesday we found a killer breakfast joingt (the place that had the killer potato salad -- hello crab benedict!) night we just drove around Woodinville (wineryland) and had a burger for dinner, and last night we did Costco. I've come to the conclusion that Costco is a whole new thing here. The one near us has a gelato stand. And the place is crazy-crowded all the time. Plus, the hot dogs and pizza are much better here.

Right now our furniture consists of an inflatable bed and a plastic bin for a table. We're just like newlyweds. Hahaha! I think we finally figured out the heating and cooling in our place. It's kinda crazy. Our main source of heat is our gas fireplace. Then to supplement things, we have these electric baseboards. No air conditioning. But you have to remember, it is usually anywhere between 40-80 most of the time.-- with the winters usually in the 40-60 range and the summers in the 50-80 range. Makes sense?

I've been doing some space planning, thinking about where furniture goes and stuff. I've got little pieces of paper on the kitchen cabinets to mark where everything will go.

People here are so darn friendly! It just blows me away -- from the folks at the local Albertsons and Safeway to the Costco, to Target and all. I mean they are friendly like southerners... Makes me smile. In fact, I've been doing that a lot lately -- smiling.

And that's a good thing!

Washingtonian

2012-01-09T09:52:00.000-05:00

Yep, we're now living in the Pacific Northwest! We made it through the last mountain pass without issue. Let me tell you that we were sooo blessed to have escaped the bad weather. Especially after hearing about the bad bus wreck just outside Missoula, MT on Sunday. The bus slipped on ice and wrecked -- 2 people killed and many more injured.

We got rid of our car trailer and headed to Alexa's Cafe in Bothell for lunch. I gotta say that I had the best potato salad I've had in a long time! It was a foodgasm! They took red potatoes (skins on) and tossed them with a dressing made from dill weed, mayo, vinegar, chopped dill pickle and a few more things I couldn't figure out. It's like they took a tangy dill-infused tartar sauce and tossed it with potatoes. Oh my!

Our hotel is literally 1/4 mile from our apartment. And the cool thing was that I knew how to get to the apartment without using the navigation thingy! Yay for me! Our goal today is to unload the trucks and set up the (inflatable) bed.

Last night I was feeling a bit puny. My ears were all funky and my head was hurting. I chalked it up to an altitude hangover. On top of that my neck and shoulders were sore from hotel pillow. I took Bee's magic cure (one extra strength tylenol and one ibuprofen) and it worked. I also slept like a baby.

You know what? I haven't talked about my dreams lately... the day before yesterday I dreamed that I was in Italy visiting with Nonna Ivana and her family. We were going to do some major cooking for a family gathering. I've also been dreaming a lot lately about department stores. Oh and that one daughter's best friend getting married. I also dreamed about my nieces coming to visit.

It feels good to be here...

Sunday Ramblings

2012-01-08T09:42:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I'm trying to pass time before the breakfast joint in the hotel opens. Yep, we're still getting used to our new time zone. I stayed up until 9:30pm yesterday (that's 1:30am Ohio time). Hubby crapped out at 5:30pm. LOL!

This traveling feels weird. I don't know how to describe it. I've been waking up confused a lot lately. But I guess that goes with the territory. The rooms are the same, just in different locations. Kind of like McDonald's -- you know. The burger in rural Iowa tastes the same as the one in New York City, but the surroundings change.

Observations:

Marriott changed their bed pillows to these "Chiclets" and they suck. My neck and shoulders totally hurt.
I much prefer Residence Inns to Fairfield Inns. Nicer rooms with full-size coffee pots. Those mini pots just won't do...
I get a kick out of Residence Inn's in-room toiletries, though. They put a fancy name/label on the same stuff they put in Fairfield Inns to make it sound swanky. I didn't fall for that trick. "Davies Gate Quince" versus "Bath Soap" or "Shampoo"
They have these itty-bitty chocolate cream cheese muffins in the breakfast bar that are sooo good! They come in parchment paper cups. It's more like a brownie or a dense cake.

Today we hit the road after breakfast -- only five more hours to go. I'm excited. This is the very last leg of the trip. One more hotel stay then we'll be home tomorrow. We'll take the jeep off the trailer, park it in our driveway and then return the trailer. Then we will hit the hotel for the night. The apartment office is closed today, so we can't get our keys. Bummer.

I'm excited about where we live. One reason is that we're in a port city. I'd like to take a west coast and Alaskan cruise. Can't wait. This also means plentiful seafood and fish. Yay for halibut, pacific cod, scallops, and salmon!

They seem to have a really good public transportation system here. I'm looking forward taking a bus into Seattle and exploring. I need to start a to-do list for that. But that's off in the future. First I need to settle in.

It will be nice to settle into a house again. It'll take a while to get me used to stairs again, but my knees probably need the exercise. They've been squawking at me.

I miss my sewing machine, but am looking forward to having a dedicated sewing room/studio. Hubby gets his garage hobby area and we're all set. Life should be good.

Our stuff is to arrive sometime between the 10th and 16th. We'll know the day before. In the meantime we have an airbed to sleep on and some minimal kitchen supplies. I feel a Costco run coming on... I'm excited to get my Albertson's back. I liked them when they were in TN. I also look forward to shopping with Safeway. I have a "thing" about grocery stores.

Well, I need to get ready. Breakfast starts at 7am and I need to get outta my jammies. Hubby's giving me "the eye". He's hungry. But then he's been up early.

One more huge mountain pass to go. Will fire up the camera. Hope things cooperate. Until then, I'll see you on the flip side!

Make it a great day. I will!

Crossing the Continent, Part IV

2012-01-07T20:28:00.001-05:00

It was another road day for us. Today's trip was relatively shorter compared to the others because we wanted to keep a leisurely pace going. We also planned to make a lot of fuel stops, keeping our tanks above the 1/3 mark. Gotta be safe. Last I left y'all, we spent the night in Billings, MT. We got up fairly early (still getting used to the time zones), "hung out" for a while in the room, and left for the day @ 6am for breakfast and the drive -- I said it was early...lol!

This was the first mountain range we saw after we got out of Billings. Isn't it beautiful? I think it was the Gallatin Mountains.

As we drove through one of the mountain passes, I was totally taken by these (volcanic*) rock formations. Please take a moment to biggify this photo to get the full effect. See the holes in the rock?

These (sedimentary*) rocks also fascinated me. Look at how smooth they are! I wish I had my college geology professor in the car with me (nod to Kelly's friend Rosemary), so he could refresh my memory on how these rocky peaks came to be. So mesmerizing... I really wanted to reach out and touch these stones -- oh the stories they'd tell!

Then we came to the city of Butte. This statue, Our Lady of the Rockies, looks over the city. She is beautiful way, way up there (over 8,000 feet) in the air!

I can't remember whether this was the Yellowstone River or the Clark River. Either way, those rivers run alongside I-90. They are shallow streams, perfect for fly-fishing. All that trout!!!! (Byron, this is for you!) Looking at it again, I think that's the Clark River and the Garnet Mountains in the background... and the photo doesn't do it justice... you can see clear to the river rock bed. Imagine dabbling your toes in there on a warm summer day! Personally I'd rather imagine catching tons of trout...

I snapped a pic of our trek into Idaho. Then I had camera/statue issues going into Washington State. The upper "panhandle" of Idaho is intriguing. The interstate is peppered with these little towns going all the way to Coeur d'Alene. I'm guessing that mining and lumber are big in these parts.

Like I said yesterday, we've been doubly-blessed during this cross-country trek. We've dodged bad weather (knock on wood), made it through the mountain passes so far without issue (all clear), and have really enjoyed the drive.

Just an FYI on today's drive... most of the time we did not have our book on CD playing -- Yes, the scenery was THAT beautiful!

* Edited to add geological features

Crossing the Continent, Part III

2012-01-06T21:06:00.000-05:00

The breakfast at the hotel didn't strike our fancy, so we hit the closest McDonald's, which happened to be the world's slowest service (if you could call it that). Seriously. 20 minutes to get our food. And no, it wasn't crowded at all. There was a line of three people in front of us. One of which was a lady who had the biggest hair I've ever seen (and I've seen big hair!)

Today was a very long day. We left in the dark, and arrived in the dark.We planned this long day today so we can take our time through the major mountain passes tomorrow and Sunday. Best to be prepared.

I have to say that God created a mighty beautiful planet. We started off in the prairie flatlands of South Dakota, skirted the Black Hills and Badlands, then moved onto the Big Horn range in Wyoming. The scenery was beautiful!

We drove through Walls, a tacky tourist place (Walls Drug). While we didn't stop inside, I made hubby drive the main drag. Reminds me of South of the Border in Dillon, SC. Most of the shops were closed for the season.

Train carrying coal through South Dakota

Speaking of which,this is normally a snowy, cold time of year. The wind blew in record highs and the snow has been sparse. Major fire risk from being so dry. I have to admit that we've been doubly blessed by the clear weather so far (knock on wood).

Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming

The landscape has been quite fascinating -- from the conical hills (volcanic areas like Devil's tower pictured above in the distance), the big mountains like the Big Horn range, and the hills and scrub-land. I saw a herd of antelope, a pack of coyotes (I think), tons of cattle, battlefields, bits of history, and American Indian reservation land. It's all been fascinating.

Like I told hubby, some people will never get to see what our eyes saw today. I'm making sure I fill my "memory banks" for later on in life...

A slightly off-focus photo of the Exxon-Mobil refinery lights in Billings, MT.

We landed in Billings, Montana tonight. This city surprised me. It was all lit up for the night -- at least the oil refineries were -- two large ones -- Exxon-Mobil and Conco-Phillips. I was surprised the city was as large as it was. I was expecting a fairly small town.

I'm looking forward to an easier day tomorrow. We'll be traveling to just east of Spokane, WA. We'll be going through two major mountain passes (Bozeman and Lookout passes). I know I'm in for a treat...

Well, I'm bushed... gonna bed down for the night.

If it's Thursday...

2012-01-05T20:17:00.000-05:00

...it must be Sioux Falls, SD. As you can see, we are a bit farther on our trek than anticipated. First off, we still had daylight after the movers came, and secondly hubby doesn't mess around. I also blame this on Google maps/directions. Their timing must be that their car drives 45 MPH.

Proof I'm not driving. We are towing the jeep.

The movers came yesterday and picked up our stuff. I met our driver, a guy from McMinnville, TN. We're the second load of five. The movers were much slower than I liked, but we got it done. They had us picked up by 3pm. We dropped off the keys and started our trek early.

Big Boy at a truck stop in Indiana

To help us along, I brought my favorite piggy bank guy, Big Boy. Since we are a cheeseburger-loving couple, I thought he'd be a perfect travel companion. That is, except for the time he fell on my toe while snapping a photo today (yes, he's filled with loose change-- ouch!).

We made it to Danville, Illinois last night. For folks that are geographically challenged, it's the halfway mark of the state (top to bottom), but on the border of Illinois/Indiana... Famous people from Danville include the Van Dyke brothers, (Dick and Jerry), Bobby Short (one of my favorite musicians), Donald O'Connor, and Gene Hackman.

We then drove through Iowa. Just into Iowa, we got out at a truck stop to fuel up, and I swear it smelt like cow poo... Some of my Facebook friends said it was leftover from the Iowa Caucus yesterday. Now that I can believe...

We saw mostly farmland. Flat and hilly, I loved seeing how they plowed the land. it was like quilting. Had to do a quilt doodle. The way they handled the hills to keep the soil from eroding made for some interesting lines.

When we got into South Dakota, I tried to get big boy by the sign, but he decided to jump from the dashboard onto my toe, thus causing me to miss the State Line sign. We are stopped in Sioux Falls for the night. Then tomorrow we make it farther west.

Like I said, the Google maps timing is crazy compared to our Garmin GPS. For a four hour trip by Garmin, Google says it's well over six hours...That's just crazy. So I'm thinking we can get to Billings, MT by the end of the day tomorrow. That is, if we can get an early start. Today's weather was fantastic for driving... to folks east, warmer weather is coming. It was in the 60s here today.

We have a good book on CD. We're listening to Nelson deMille's novel, Wildfire. The main character reminds me so much of hubby -- such a smart ass. We are laughing hysterically at the main character's similarities to "Hank". The story scenario is scary in this day and age, but it makes for a good read.

So here we are in the midst of our adventure... Thanks so much for coming along with us. Stay tuned for more...

Crossing the Continent, Part I

2012-01-03T07:13:00.000-05:00

I know... I lied. I'm back today. A girl can change her mind... right?

Enjoying a quiet morning without news blaring on the television. Just hubby and I "at work" on our computers. Sipping coffee.

It's a peaceful kind of thing.

I only have a few things to do and I'm DONE -- the guest bath needs to be deep cleaned and the carpet needs vacuuming. The carpet won't be done until the last box is gone. So that means I can take it easy today. Yay! I got a book to finish.

Our planned route (we'll see how this goes. Lol!)

We're hoping the movers finish early so we can hit the road tomorrow afternoon. We have long drives planned for the first two days (Thursday and Friday). We're keeping the "mountain days" shorter, allowing us time to do the twists, turns, and passes. But the mighty Dodge diesel truck with the jeep in tow should bring us there safely. (I'm a great co-pilot -- I'm too chicken to drive it.)

On our recent trip to Nashville we purchased several long books on CD to keep us company. I'm praying that the weather cooperates. I have our overnights scheduled in larger cities, so that if we need anything, we can get it. I have emergency supplies with us (portable heat source, blankets, food, water, etc.) should we get waylaid in a remote spot. It pays to be prepared.

It feels kinda strange knowing that our adventure begins tomorrow. It's gone from being "next month" or "next week" to "now". Time flies!

I always knew that Ohio was just going to be a stop in the road. I just wasn't prepared for it to be a rest-stop. Hahahaaha! I'm going to miss my friends here, but the interwebs have made this planet that much smaller.

I told hubby that I'm most looking forward to three weeks from now, when I wake up in the morning and am no longer confused about where I am. Lately I've been feeling that way... be it age or situation (more likely)... it'll be good to put that feeling to rest.

*****
On a side note, there was big news from where hubby grew up. The historical Westclox factory in his old hometown has been burning since 12am on New Year's Day. It's still burning and will probably continue for another week or so. It was a cool old factory building. I've been in the back areas of the building. Two kids set the building on fire. Parts of the old factory were renovated to house small businesses. Kind of an entrepreneurship incubator. Westclox was a source of pride for the community, plus lots of history.

Many of you probably owned a clock made by Westclox. That was where the "Big Ben" clocks were made. They also made several models of travel alarm clocks. Hubby tells me stories about scavenging the scrapped radium dials to make "glow in the dark projects" as a kid. He also used to gather the scrapped magnets. Remember, I married MacGyver, so you can only imagine what he did with all his "treasures".

It's sad to hear this history go up in flames.

Well, enjoy the day. We're going to take it easy here. I'm hoping to head to the local bakery for a danish in a few. Just sounds good right now. Well, if I can pry myself from the sofa and my warm flannel blankie...LOL!

Go out and make it a great day, y'all!

Moving Week

2012-01-02T07:22:00.000-05:00

I'm laughing to myself by saying that this is bigger than shark week! Hahahahaa...

Today's to do list needs to be tackled. More packing and then some cleaning.

We spent the weekend down in TN. One last time. There we swapped cars out with the kids. They needed to get rid of their payment and we needed to get an SUV. It worked out perfectly. Now they have my old bimmer and we have their old jeep. Going from a 3-series BMW to a Jeep Commander SUV is going to take some getting used to... LOL! Today hubby is hoping to take him to get some new shoes.

The movers arrive on Wednesday. Hubby also picks up the car trailer that day, as well. Then we hit the road on Thursday. First stop is Des Moines, IA. Please pray that the weather gods are favorable for this trip. I would really like this to go as smoothly as possible.

So I will try to blog from the road. I need at least one thing to keep me sane besides the plethora of audio books...LOL! So look for posts later this week. Until then, y'all behave yourselves...

Progress

2011-12-28T06:27:00.000-05:00

We now have a date the for the moving truck to pick up our stuff. So January 5th we'll be on the road to Washington State. Now that's going to be one looong trip!

Packing progress -- major headway in the kitchen -- just a few items in the pantry, pots and pans, and some casseroles to pack. Once this is done, this leaves some nick nack items laying around and the bedroom. We are making progress. I'm a bit behind on my schedule, but I can make it up today.

Go out and make it a great day, y'all!

Up to my ears in boxes

2011-12-27T06:50:00.000-05:00

We've got the studio/guest room packed, the garage packed, the guest bath packed, the dining room packed and most of the living room done. It's been fun watching hubby pack. We all know that many guys don't have the manual dexterity as us gals. Watching him with the tape gun? Priceless!!! You can definitely tell which boxes I taped versus his.

There's a rumor of the "S" word today. It's just a light dusting of snow. Yikes! Time for a bread run!!!! Bwahahahahahaha... I just love this promo ad for my favorite news guys... Love it!

I'm really enjoying my book. It's the Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. It takes place during WWI. It's the first part of a trilogy series. Like many of Follett's historical fiction. This is an awesome sweeping saga of several families, how the war affected their lives, and how their lives intertwine. Right now I'm reading it on my laptop, since my kindle broke.

Make yourself laugh today. It's good therapy.
Hugs, y'all!!!!

And Oh, What a Christmas it Was!

2011-12-26T07:17:00.000-05:00

Lots of memories were made Christmas Day and Eve.

We now have a wedding coming up in May/June (youngest is now engaged). I think she's planning a May/June wedding. Looks like after the appendicitis thing they decided they couldn't live without each other! My wish for them is to be best friends, lovers, and soulmates.

I'm so thrilled and excited for them! Love you both!

This was Gg's first Christmas. And Christmas is the holiday for her Daddy's family in North Carolina. This picture is from Facebook. She tried grandma's (or great grandma's collard greens and "pastry" -- a thin square noodle that is served with broth. It's a NC Lumbee dish -- and yummy, too!). You can see a wee bit of collards on her chin... This child is a really good eater!

As you can tell from my last post, the tacky item (the bobblehead) was planted among their decorations. Success! The appetizer buffet rocked. I got my special little smokey links. I wait for those every year. It's just the typical chili sauce, red current jelly recipe. But they are sooooooo good! They had tenderloin and rolls, king ranch chicken dip, assorted veggies and dip, little pastry appetizers, meatballs with the same sauce as the little links, and poinsettia punch. This kids were all digging the punch (yes, it was spiked. We're all adults now!). Oh and a neighbor brought her famous homemade *thud-worthy* cheesecake. Ohmygravy, that cheesecake was to die for! Total foodgasmic! So much that hubby had two pieces!

We had wonderful food and time with family. My nieces, Iggy and Bah, are all grown up... Christmas Eve we paid their grandmother a visit at the old folks home. It was a surprise. She was one of my surrogate moms in TN. We talked for over an hour... Poor hubby, he got an earful about family dynamics... as well as some insight about my growing up. I'm glad we got to see her before we headed west.

I also had coffee with an old friend who was up visiting her parents. We both decided she needs to join us in Seattle! We are godparents to her son. The young boy is growing very fast... and he's so handsome. Just the perfect mix of both parents. I introduced her to her husband. They are now divorced, but have an amiable relationship.

From what I gathered, Anthony loved all his gifts (He opened them Christmas Day and we were already on the road). I wrapped up two bottles of faygo redpop (He loves the stuff!) and Big Bro said he was just loving it! "RED!!!!!!!" (he calls the stuff red...) I got him a few latch hook kits and some art supplies, paper, and coloring books (the adult kind with the cool geometric designs, etc). My brother's family will be taking a cruise in Spring, so we gave them a check for some FFF (forced family fun).

I made a small "remember when" package for big brother -- two items from our childhood. I gave him four Cherry Mash candies (one of our great-aunts on dad's side worked for the company). If you've never had one and see them, they are yummy. Really sweet, but yummy -- cherry, peanuts, and chocolate. I had to sample one just to make sure they were fresh (wink). And then I gave him a box of cherry Fizzies. Those are effervescent tablets you drop in water to make flavored "soda pop".

Random Stuff:
My kindle broke, but we got an Amazon card from my big bro! (that a coinkydink!)
I was running through Walgreen's at the last minute only to find out the zipper on my jeans was down...LOL!
We ate at a Chinese Buffet on Christmas Day (it was crowded!), then napped for the rest of the afternoon
We successfully beat the traffic on the way home.

Today starts more packing and back to the move. Life goes on... How was your Christmas?

Mission Accomplished

2011-12-24T23:13:00.000-05:00

This year we sneaked in the "A Christmas Story" Dad bobblehead holding the lovely leg lamp.... It's fra-gee-lay! The deed is done!!!

Flooding Memories

2011-12-23T16:04:00.000-05:00

Just needing to write a few things down while they're still fresh on my mind.

First off, I was at big huge grocery store in town and saw Santa Claus. I waved hello and thanked him for my holiday wish. You see, I wished for us to have an answer on our next life by then... Of course, he looked at me strange and played along...

We got into Nashville today. And for some strange reason a whole flood of memories came out. A lot of this city changed since I moved here, especially in the area we're staying. For some odd reason it has put me in a very sentimental mood. Hubby doesn't know about this because it was a lifetime ago. Funny how it happens.

20+ years ago tomorrow me and my co-workers would have closed the gift shop, popped a bottle of champagne, and toasted our survival of yet another holiday season. Some years I'd spend it with family and then some I'd spend at home just resting. I spent Christmas by myself more years than not. It was my rest before a another long week of retail service.

Christmas has always been a very difficult holiday for me as an adult. When I was single and adult I was in "limbo" and then working in retail just really jaded me to the typical holiday hubbub. Now I'm not saying that "it's just another day", it just wore me out seeing that it was my busy season.

I know these memories are flooding back because I know I'm leaving this area for a long time. It just feels so damn weird. Guess I never really closed that chapter in my life.

We got our last moving bid in the email today. I really liked the lady we worked with yesterday. She was just plain awesome. We've got to look over the bids and talk about them before we get going. We'll know Monday who we pick. I'm getting excited to start a new chapter. I wish we were moving next week. But, things don't always go as planned and we roll with the punches. Now we're looking at mid-January.

When I picked up my brother from his school, I also saw my second cousin there. Let me tell you she just lights up a room with her smile. It's always so nice to see her and giver a big hug... We are so blessed as a family to have found this place for both of them.

Tonight is a quiet birthday celebration with family, then tomorrow is my brother's family's grand Christmas eve extravaganza. Family, friends, and neighbors will be there. I'm just excited to see all these faces just one more time before we head west.

And I'll be danged if I forgot to bring my tacky item to sneak into their Christmas display! You see, in years past, we'd find something really, really tacky to put in a conspicuous spot and hide it among the Christmas stuff... One year it was a glitter and plastic flower arrangement, another year it was this tacky drunken frog sculpture, and another it was a Bahama barrel guy statue (excessively tacky and off-color). I always did this to keep the humor in Christmas and lighten the day. I may have to hit Walgreens or the dollar store tomorrow. I'll be sure to let you know what I do.

I can be sneaky that way... Watch out, some day I might do that to you! :-)

So again, have a most wonderful Christmas. And for those of you who celebrate Hanukkah, Happy Hanukkah. Be blessed.

Christmas on the Move

2011-12-22T06:25:00.000-05:00

I really needed my coffee this morning! Oy vey! I reiterate that coffee is good! Extry good!!!!

Three bids so far and two to go. One guy cancelled because they don't have trucks heading west until the end of January. This will be the bugaboo of my plan, but I knew that might happen. I have most of the studio/second bedroom packed. It's down to a few odds and ends. I'll have this room boomed out by noon.

Today we have lots of errands to make. I need to do my Christmas shopping for Anthony and get a prescription refill. I'm going to miss our local Walgreens folks. The pharmacy staff at our location are so totally awesome! I'm hoping we're lucky on our next location.

We're getting used to our new phones. I adore the talk/type feature, especially for texting and emails. That is so cool! I'm hoping to learn how to add apps to our phones. We'll have the kids teach us the how tos on that. We're going to test the navigation feature tonight.

I've been dreaming a lot lately. I know y'all miss my dream installments. This morning's dream involved lots of muddy ground, crap that falls from locust trees (messy stuff), my parents attending a party (mom in blue jeans -- to know her was to know she was not the blue jeans type), Dad doing a business report. Oh, they were sharing a house with an old co-worker of mine. The kitchen was an older kitchen but had really cool features -- a huge glass-front fridge, a spice pantry and tons of cabinets. Not bad for a 3 bedroom/1 bathroom home. There was a second efficiency kitchen off the one bathroom. LOL! Like I say, my dreams never make sense.

Peter Paul Rubens, The Adoration of the Magi (1624)
Image Credit

So this will be my last blog entry before Christmas. May the blessings of Our Savior's birth be with you and your families this Christmas. Be blessed.

Merry Christmas, y'all!!!!!

Wednesday's Tasks

2011-12-21T10:34:00.000-05:00

Oy vey, this was not the morning to wake up with a sinus migraine. But good news is that it quickly passed. That is thanks to bee's miracle wonder cure (the one ibuprofen and one tylenol thing). Also hit it with the neti pot, as they were dry, hence the pain. Speaking of Neti pot, have you heard that some people have been getting that brain-eating amoeba from using that? Yikes! I think it already have two or three. Yesterday I just unable to function. Period. I thought I lost my debit card, only to find it after I reported it lost. Let's see, I did a few other really "out there" things, but I can't remember.

So I'm blaming it on the brain-eating amoeba.

Taking a short break while I wait for mover guy #3 to show. If he doesn't show soon, he'll run into the next appointment after that. I'm getting a kick out of these movers in that they keep saying the other mover doesn't include such and such in their quotes, etc. Oy vey... When you call the main branded movers (Allied, Atlas, Bekins, North American, Mayflower, etc.) you get the same product. The difference is with the driver. The driver is the one who makes or breaks your move.

We're doing the packing and unpacking. I told hubby that I wanted to keep costs down for his company, since they are footing the bill. I know the new company's employees/profit sharing plan will appreciate that, too! Plus, I already got the expertise. Having shipped art pieces in the tens of thousands during a prior life, I am certain I'm better than their packers.

We got new phones yesterday. I am slowly learning how to use it. I got an android touchscreen, which is way different from the crackberry. I feel so out of touch with technology. Now I know how my dad felt when using the computer. (sigh)

Well, looks like this guy is a no show. I've waited my 30 minutes. Thanks for taking a break with me.

Back to my book and boxes....

Remember, beware of those brain-eating amoebas

The REAL Work Begins...

2011-12-20T06:50:00.000-05:00

We are back in Ohio. Today we start packing. While I know we won't make our original deadline, we'll be making good headway by Christmas. I also need to set up utilities for the place in Washington. Today we meet with two of the movers. It will be interesting to see what they come back with price-wise. Then we meet with two more tomorrow. And on Thursday I have yet another coming. If the other bids are cool, then I'll cancel Thursday's guy.

While I've been gone, my car has been in the shop getting some needed attention. I'll be buying a new (to me) SUV to better handle the hills. We're buying the kids' five year old SUV and swapping it for my five year old blueberry BMW. I'll miss my Bertha the Blueberry Bimmer. She's served me well. I've never driven an SUV, so this will be interesting.

During our drive to TN and back we've been listening to a really interesting book. It's The Last Train From Hiroshima, about the people who survived both bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The book combines personal expereinces and observations of those who survived along with forensic archeology (and science) of what happened. Parts of it are quite scientific, which is above my head a bit (I never took chemistry/physical science in the college level), but the stories of the people and their descriptions were gripping. There is a a lot of controversy surrounding this book. All I can say is that hearing the stories from a survivor's point of view is gripping. My biggest hope is that no human being ever suffer this hell ever again.

The house is a wreck. I need to do some picking up before the mover guy comes. Got clothes all over the place. Looks like the apartment has been ransacked.

Go out and make it a great day. I know that we will have a very productive couple of days ahead. Hope I get to breathe...LOL!

More family shots

2011-12-19T08:59:00.000-05:00

Here's another family shot from the other day. Big thanks to SP for providing primo photgraphy... (note: these area SOOC).

Congrats to the Dad in this shot who re-dedicated his life to Christ. He was re-baptized on Sunday. Isn't babygirl just precious? Beautiful family. We are so blessed!

So for today, let's name yet another blessing!

Many Blessings

2011-12-18T16:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday night was Christmas with the kids at The Farm. Youngest's boyfriend is on the mend. That's them in the photo above (taken yesterday). A few pounds lighter and still a bit sore, but he's on the mend. That's what counts. He's still making my youngest smile that beautiful smile of hers. Thank you so much for the prayers.

Gift Exchange
The kids' family started a tradition two years ago. Instead of buying 50,000 gifts for each other, they draw names and have a homemade gift challenge. It's called the "Make & Take" Christmas exchange. I've been on the sidelines watching, but this year I asked if we could join in. I can't wait! I've drawn our names for next year and I am already planning my gift. The fun part is they may think they might get one thing from me (perhaps a quilt?), but they might be surprised.... Hahaha. I'm kinda sneaky that way.

There were some mighty awesome gifts this year -- ranging from handmade wall art, to furniture, home canned food items to floral arrangements. What I love best about this is that everyone made something completely from their heart and it was so appropriate for the recipient. And yes, I was crying at a few items.

Maybe it was the wine... anyways.... I digress -- it was really the gifts.

Gg Update
Miss Gg is walking up a storm. Soon I'll be posting some photos from her photo session yesterday. She just makes me smile. I never thought I could love a wee one as much as her... I wish I had the maturity I had now earlier when all the kids were born. It's not saying I didn't have appreciation then, but with grandkids it's just different. It goes with a more mature outlook in life. My four "babies" (stepdaughters and nieces) have grown up to be beautiful, smart, and successful young women! I just wish I had more time with them...

Those who have known me in my "prior" life will be pleased that I've blossomed and matured into being a grandma (or Nanny Jeanie Weanie, in my case).

Blessings
The last couple of days I've been counting my blessings. Not riches or things -- but love, compassion, support, and friendship. Having grown up in a very stolid and guarded family environment, I've enjoyed the laughter and love I've gained from marrying my husband, and his ex-wife's family letting me in -- the family I gained.

Out of life's blessings so far, It's the fact that I've found my "home" with each and every family member.

Ok, now I gotta quit the mushy stuff... but you know what I mean...

Bragging Rights
Aunt Jeanie has bragging rights on her niece, Bah. She was a top seller for her region at work. I'm so proud of the effort she put forth in her job. She works hard and has developed a terrific relationship with her clients. I'm so glad she's finally found her way. That makes me so happy for her!

Youngest stepdaughter (pictured above) recently had a glowing one year review at work. Again, something to be very proud of! They basically told her she was a perfect employee -- hard worker, responsible, etc. She said she had to ask for some constructive criticism and was told she was doing her job perfectly! How bout that?

I'm going to pose a question to you. If you could count ONE blessing for this year... What would it be? I think y'all already know mine...

Peace...

Thoughts on the move

2011-12-16T12:37:00.001-05:00

First off, happy birthday to our eldest! I tried to get u some "candy" but was a tad too late. LOL (inside joke)

We are sitting in Sea-Tac waiting for our flight in a couple of hours.

I've been working on our moving calendar and I have some tweaking to do. That's no big deal, but it does push out my goal date a bit.

As for this part of the country, I'm very impressed. The people here are so friendly and genuine, at least those I've met so far. Even the drivers are much friendlier than Nashville or cincy drivers (sorry guys).

And yes, this is a foodie paradise! Big time!!!! Last night's cedar planked salmon with red pepper buerre blanc and the other day's halibut cheeks w/ a similar sauce ruled. Oh, and the dungeness crab cocktail I had as an appetizer. Hubby noshed on some awesome oysters, too!

The landscape is breathtaking. From the river valley farms to the sound to mountains. While I've only seen a wee little peek, I'm in love.

Tomorrow is christmas with hubby's family. I gotta get in my Gg time. Visits will be fewer and far between.

I'm very comfortable with this move. Just need to get over the driving fear I mentioned earlier. That will come with time.

See y'all later? Tplease forgive typos, etc as I typed this on my crackberry).

A Really Big Day (Dedicated to Barb)

2011-12-15T19:37:00.000-05:00

We are this far away from our home in Ohio.

Today's post is dedicated to Barb over at The Daily G's... This monring we drove through the town where hubby will work (next town over where we'll live). These places are located in Woodinville, WA

Red Hook Brewery

Columbia Winery

Chateau Ste. Michelle (I'm a huge fan of their whites)

So I'll be located in a pretty cool area. Thos are the big guys. There area also a bunch of boutique wineries here as well. We didn't stop in, just did a quick "drive by" for you all. That way you can view this area from the passenger seat. So Barb, please come visit. Hubby can be our designated valet/driver! (wink!)

We met with hubby's boss and had lunch. I was blessed with a quick tour around the place. Everyone was friendly. I got a kick out of one guy's shirt -- Fishington State University. Made me laugh. Good fishing -- now that's what I'm talking about!

I got to visit another nearby local quilt shop. I really really liked this one. The ladies in the shop were so nice, warm, and welcoming! That won my heart! So I've found a home. One lady took the time to talk with me -- she even told me about the local guild and invited me to a meeting. I'm excited about that.

Tonight we're hitting a local seafood place that was recommended by bossman. It's Anthony's something or another. He said it's casual and good. I'm excited.

We're still kinda turned around. Thank goodness I had the foresight to pack the Garmin. Hubby and I have a going joke about male and female direction-finders. The female GPS is called the vagitracker. And the guy's version is the penile directional (sorry about the language). The vagitracker can easily find a spot AND ask for directions. That's all I gotta say about that. It's more effective and efficient than the other directional. Well, both are a little discombobulated right now. Give it time and all will be in sync with the satellites! LOL!

Oh, and the vagitracker can also find any item that's lost (except for odd socks). I know... TMI!

Tomorrow we fly back out and I'll busy for a few days. Just wanted to let you know what's going on.

Split Second Decision

2011-12-15T09:07:00.000-05:00

Well, how's this for quick... by 10:00 am yesterday we found our new home! Our criteria were the following: minimal stairs, a garage large enough for one car and hubby's hobby stuff, and a third bedroom for my studio. Got it. Plus we have a location close to his work and near two fabric shops.

So after that we spent some time getting to know the area. I'm slowly learning what's nearby.

I will say that this area will test my nerves a bit. I'll be frank by saying that I'm not a snow/ice driver. Plus, big hills scare me. But, with all this being said, I will be facing this "fear" head on and hopefully with grace. Our neighborhood is on a HUGE hill. Like those you see in San Francisco... can you say "iron grip on the steering wheel"?

Today's big item is to meet hubby's boss and work people. Time for me to insert foot into my mouth big time. Betcha I say something really really stupid! Hope I don't make hubby wince... We'll be meeting his boss, the HR folks, and taking a tour of the company. Plus, I think they're taking us to lunch.

The rest of the day we'll drive around the area to see what's where. Life is a nice adventure when you look on the bright side.

Make it a great day!

OHMYGOSHIMINHEAVEN!

2011-12-14T09:57:00.004-05:00

From the window seat on the plane I knew I was in love. I saw the Mt. Hood, Mt. Ranier, and Mt. St. Helens. The snow covered peaks looked gorgeous from the air! Then we landed. That sealed the deal. To see the water, the pines, and the mountains all at once... I was in love... (Travis, you were right!)

We spent yesterday just driving around the area we're staying. The hotel folks pointed us to a cute little lunch joint in Bothell -- The Ale House. I opted for a Spicy cod pita --hand cut cod rubbed with Cajun spices, pan-seared and folded into a pita with tomato, jalapenos and lettuce. The dill-infused tartar sauce was just the perfect foil for the spiciness. And it came with some yummy seasoned potato chips. I paired it with a wonderful Wildcat India Pale Ale (American IPA) from Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company. Hubby had the flatiron steak sammie. He said it was good -- with mushrooms and horseradish. The service was very friendly!

We have a 9am appointment with an apartment complex. This place has tons of units available. it's basically new. I'm hopeful we'll find our place here. From what I've seen online, it looks like the best option.

Let me just interject with one negative. The golden age of air travel has left us. Our flight was worse than a greyhound bus. Why do we put up with this? We lucked out on our flight to Vegas and got the very first row to ourselves (hello leg room!), but on the leg from Vegas to Seattle we were packed like sardines in a can. I seem to remember these planes having four/five seats per row, not six, when I was younger. Oh, and my 45 minute stopover in Vegas was enough. Wasn't impressed. At all!

I can't wait to see what this area brings me. I'll be taking my camera with me today. I hope you join us.

Guest Blogger Day

2011-12-12T10:00:00.002-05:00

Hey everybuddy!

It's Gg here blogging for my Nanny Jeanie Weanie. It's been a crazy weekend.

I'm walking now and I intend to inspect every corner of the house. It's my new job. There are soooo many cool new things to explore!

We went shopping at Kohl's and the crowds were crazy. Nanny Jeanie Weanie had to buy a suitcase for her upcoming trip to Seattle. Plus Poppa Billy needed some pants. The line to the cash register was soooooo long! We waited and waited, and waited. Then Jeanie Weanie made me wear this stupid hat.

Why are they laughing at me? I don't want to wear this anymore...

Jeanie Weanie laughed when she got home when she realized that the money guy gave her a senior citizen discount! Why do these adults feel the need to shopping during these crazy times? Something must be going on... I would rather be at home playing with Bella and Bly, my puppies and exploring my house.

On Sunday we had a girls day out while daddy and poppa did guy things. Mommy and Jeanie Weanie took me to JK's house and they played with makeup while I checked out her pretty pink and black Christmas tree. Then Nanny Jeanie Weanie took me over to see JK's nativity scene and told me all about the three wise men -- Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar -- the fact that she knew their names not only impressed me, but it impressed JK and her friend Fred. Then she showed me Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. Nanny Jeanie Weanie is smart! Or a smart-something. Everybuddy says she's a smarty pants... or something about a donkey...

After we got home, I played around with everybuddy. Then the big people brought out the pig and put it in the no-no place. You know, the place where I really like to go exploring and all the giants say, "No! No!"?

It's a big scary pig and it makes a very scary noise. I keep wanting to go to the other side of the living room, but that pig is guarding it, and I don't like it. I keep thinking that if I hide behind the sofa and peek over at it that it will go away. But no, it just sits there giving me this mean menacing stare...

I know it's gonna get me...

It's gonna eat me up....

Why won't it go away?

It keeps me from going where I want to explore. I sure wish they'd move it... Then my daddy picked up the pig and it made that big horrible noise. I clung to mommy so hard, hoping it won't get me...I hope it goes away today. When I get back from Gramma Cookie's today, I'm sure it will be gone and I can go back to doing my inspections and exploring.

Can you come over and make that pig go away? Please?

How Do I Do It?

2011-12-11T10:20:00.000-05:00

I will be posting off and on for a while. Our goal is to get hubby in Seattle working on or before January 1, 2012. Being a pro at moving and traveling, I've developed a plan. Of course we know what happens when we plan. God laughs. So with that being said, I've worked in some leeway.

I'm excited about this move. Seriously. If you could have seen hubby's face as he was telling me about his interview, you would understand how excited and honored he was to be asked to work for this company. They've been looking for someone to fill this position for well over a year. From what hubby describes, it's a wonderful family-run business (64 years). The newest employee started seven years ago. In this day and age that speaks volumes as to how they treat their team. And from what hubby inferred, they are all like "family". And most of all they all seem to have a similar workplace philosophy.

I know it will be tough being away from family. But I've had the year "away" to get me used to that. Plus airplanes, Skype, and interwebs makes this globe a smaller place.

How do you do it?
Someone earlier asked me how I do it. I just do it. I hesitate to say I don't have a choice. What I mean is that if we need to do it, we just do it. Makes sense?

My philosophy is that we control our own happiness. Happiness is not found in someone else or something. It's always found within ourselves. I feel blessed in the fact that I've recognized that so early in my life. Some folks never even get to that point. Plus, I feel that there is always a positive -- yes, even in the most negative. It's kind of like science meets faith. For every action there is a reaction.

Yep, science will one day climb to the top of the mountain and find faith already sitting up there asking what took him so long...LOL!

Logistically, We have unloaded a lot of our "stuff". We will probably only fill a 27" van, if that! While I've done some paring down in Ohio, we've also added some things, but we've been judicious about it. Hell, like I've told y'all before, if I could just sell it all and start over, I would... in a heartbeat. It's. Just. Stuff. Not my life...

I own my life and my life is the only possession I "really" own.

In this day and age, I'm learning that we have to be flexible and nimble. By and large our life is pretty uncomplicated. We work, we live. Yes, we're empty-nesters which makes it easier to move. But we're also flexible life-wise. That's just how we roll.

As for the fear of settling into a new place, I have none. And this is how I see it: Seattle is a fairly large city, and if it were such an awful place to live, then why are there so many miserable people living there? You see where I am going? I'm confident it will be a wonderful vibrant community. Well, ok. I already know that it's a great place to live. I have no doubt whatsoever! Seattle is a great place to live!!!!

Yes, I'll miss my friends in Ohio and Tennessee -- airplanes, Skype, and interwebs makes this globe a smaller place. There are also new friends and contacts to make. I'm looking forward to that. This is one of life's greatest gifts!

So please join us on our new adventure. Who knows, maybe you'll learn a bit about yourself in the process! I'm sure there will be many bumps, revelations, adventure and hilarity along the way...

Walking Around

2011-12-10T09:21:00.000-05:00

Well, miss itty bits is now walking up a storm! Doesn't take long... Decided to pop down to the farm to chase her around the house. Gabbie girl is mobile... Look out world! She's so darn cute just walking around and chattering.

On the job front, we have an offer that we're going to accept. The projected start date is January 1 give or take some time.... So we've got some work cut out for us. So... the question is "Where are we going to go?" Go west!

We are headed to Seattle!

Lots to do, lots to do....

Thursday Thoughts

2011-12-08T06:18:00.000-05:00

Well, Hubby is back from his interview. By last night, he was one tired guy. A one day trip to Seattle and back is kinda tough. He said that he felt the interview went very well. He enjoyed meeting everyone and felt comfortable with his potential co-workers. He likes the fact that this company has control of their product from start to finish and has been in business for over sixty years.

He seems to think he'll get an offer from these folks. And I think he'll take it. He also has an in-person interview scheduled for Richmond next week.

Unemployment finally kicked in. Yay! So, this means he'll be working by the next payment. LOL!

Just took my car into the shop and on our way home we both saw a shooting star. It was cool! Perhaps a sign? Maybe.

Flying the Friendly Skies

2011-12-07T08:41:00.000-05:00

Hubby texted me before his flight back. He said the interview went very well and that we have a lot to talk about when we get home. Mind you there are no offers on the table yet and he has other interviews scheduled. I'm thankful for the headhunter here in Cincinnati who has been working his butt off, getting him tons of exposure. Three of the options are from him (Seattle, Atlanta, and Richmond -- which is back in the queue again). Wisconsin, Kansas City, and New Orleans were all in response to his resume posted online. Those were random calls out of the blue.

I ended up not sewing yesterday. I was just a slug. Needed the "me" time and rest. I made a batch of killer brownies (this recipe minus the red food coloring). They make an awesome breakfast, too. Just saying.

So you know what I know right now. I'm sure that the day will reveal more.

Hugs and love to you all!

2011-12-06T08:54:00.000-05:00

Well, today's hubby's big day. Last I heard from him he landed in Chicago okay. Next leg is onto Seattle for a marathon interview day. Say a prayer...

Good news with youngest's boyfriend: They weaned him off morphine yesterday. He's moving from clear liquids to any liquids -- it looks like his digestive system is starting to kick-start again (excellent news). Progress. Small steps, but significant progress. That's one bright spot for the day. I consider prayer a most intimate gift, and I thank you for interceding on his behalf. It means the world to me.

She also mentioned that a local organization will be footing his hospital bill since he had no insurance. I asked my stepdaughter to find out if it's a charitable group. If so, we will make a donation in gratitude. My stepdaughter also spoke with his new employer. He was supposed to start a new job this week. What I was concerned about is that this opportunity would slip by. The job uses his degree and he was really excited about the opportunity. The employer is great and told her to tell him to take his time. He's looking forward to working with boyfriend. I'm so happy for this as well. Such blessings for this young man!

I received a flat version of a first grader ("Ian") in the mail. I need to forward him out to someone else around the country. All you gotta do is talk about the community where you live and pass him on to someone else. He needs to be home by May. I'll include the instructions along with my little flat guy. Would you be interested in helping a first grader out? I'd be mighty grateful! Isn't he cute???? I just need one volunteer.

Today I'll be working on my sewing project.

Ooh, I just saw on FB that Gabbiegirl took two steps and sat down. Here we gooooooo! There goes mommy and daddy's freedom!

You all make it a great day. I know I will!

Better Day

2011-12-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I was just exhausted -- mentally and physically. I guess all the stress hit me running. I slept on and off most of the day. Today starts a new day, a new week, and a new attitude. I guess the old "stress" pipes needed some draining. Still a bit weepy, but that's mostly hormones (darn peri-menopause crap!).

Last night I got a message that Youngest's boyfriend is doing well. They were able to get him up and walking. He was one sick young man. His appendix ruptured and left him with a dinner plate sized abscess in his abdomen. He's not a very large guy, so you can say that it encompassed most of his "innards". Scary. He's not out of the woods yet. They need to watch him for further infection so the rest of the areas can heal. This is where the real work begins.

I am thankful that he's responding well so far. What complicated this situation more was that he was literally in between jobs. His last day at his old job was The Saturday after Thanksgiving and his new job was to start today (I think). So he was without insurance. Rotten timing.

Thank you so much for the prayer. Most of you know how I feel about this honor and most intimate gift. Thank you from my heart and soul.

Late this afternoon, hubby is headed up to Dayton for his trip tomorrow. He has a 6am flight out to Seattle for his interview.

Tomorrow I plan on joining the "Occupy" movement. Nope, not the one you see on the news. It's part of the occupy your sewing room movement. I plan on using tomorrow to work (uninterrupted) on my challenge piece for the big show here in April.

I started a new book this weekend. It's Ken Follett's Fall of Giants. So far it's very good. it's the first novel in a planned trilogy about the industrial age. I like how he weaves in the historical figures with his own. Right now I'm learning about the Welsh miners and the strife in turn of the century Russia.

So there you got it. That's all I have for today. Make it a great day/week!

Sunday's Stream.

2011-12-04T06:40:00.000-05:00

What is it about those tins of Danish butter cookies in a can that scream "Christmas season"? No comment, but it's breakfast this morning. They go perfectly with coffee. I'll pay for those later (toot).

I had a good sewing time with my fellow guild members in the afternoon . Between the afternoon and last night's work, I made great progress on this challenge piece. This week's task is to sandwich the quilt with more batting and start doing my magic. I'll work on this while Hubby is out of town for his interview.

For those who follow me on Facebook.Thank you for your prayers. Our youngest stepdaughters' boyfriend of five years was admitted to the hospital last night with a ruptured appendix and septicemia. Involvement was all over-- including his gall bladder and liver. A routine surgery ended up taking over two hours. He's not out of the woods with the risk of infection, but I know he's in good hands. He's in a major university hospital. Poor guy is without insurance. He left a job a few days ago and was to start a new job this week coming up.

Yesterday was a VERY rough night for me. Hubby found me asleep on the sofa this morning still in my clothes. Major meltdown. I mean major -- the "faucet" was running almost all night long. It was a myriad of factors that led up to it -- the family emergency, missing my grandbaby, menopausal hormones (sorry guys), the stress of late, and a missed dose of medicine. It started when I was listening to a book -- a certain scene brought it all on. Poor hubby was oblivious -- already asleep from taking his lunesta.

Big thanks to Angie for talking me through this. Psalm 56:8 (message translation):

You've kept track of my every toss and turn

through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,

each ache written in your book.

I guess it's just the female need to let the faucet run every now and then. I'm much better today. Just exhausted, sore, and puffy-faced. Thank goodness for fresh starts... It's one of life's blessings.

Go out and make it a good day, y'all. I know I will... It'll be a much better day.

Dang, was I tired!

2011-12-03T06:12:00.000-05:00

I ran for 12 hours straight! I was busy! By the time 9:00 hit last night, I was too tired to work on sewing and was out like a light the moment my head hit the pillow. As a result I woke up early... very early -- before 4am!

Yes, it's a pirate mug day and the coffee tastes extry good.

So yesterday's turkey was a big hit. We have tons leftover for sammies. I also have some soup made as well. The turkey was yummy and juicy. I slipped some herb butter under the skin and cooked it in an oven bag. Now the collard greens that went with it were awesome. I love me a big ole batch of collards. I cooked two bags worth and I have barely enough left for two servings.

Today I'm meeting with my quilt guild in Cincinnati. We are having a sewing date. I'll be bringing my project to mark and cut. It's a challenge piece for a major show. I was hoping to have it all cut out and marked to quilt by now, but I was too tired to do it last night. I'm looking forward to this as it may be the last time I see these folks. Plus it's some time to get away from the house and concentrate on my craft.

Well, yesterday was another interesting job day. Hubby turned down the Louisiana job at my request (I wasn't thrilled about him being on an off-shore rig two weeks at a time). They responded back saying that he misunderstood the job and that his offshore time will be limited in most cases. This company wants him bad. So hubby replied to put him back on the list. Things change daily...LOL!

My wish is to know where we're headed by Christmas.

Spent yesterday getting Christmas stuff ready for the kids. Hubby's got a lot of packages to drop off. So if your name is Casey or Allie, and you call my sweetie Poppa or Dad, be on the lookout. It's coming by USPS.

Go out and make it a great day, y'all!

TGIF

2011-12-02T08:56:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone! Looks like it's going to be a nice day. Chilly, but nice.

I never got any turkey on Thanksgiving and I've been craving leftover turkey sandwiches, so I scored a fresh turkey that I'll be cooking today. I've never cooked a whole turkey before. But I imagine it does it all by itself. This is a big one -- about 20 pounds! So this guarantees lots of sammies (sandwiches) and soup. Leftover turkey sandwiches = Pepperidge farms white sandwich bread, Hellman's/best foods mayo, and turkey slices.

I also got a big bag of collard greens. We had them on Sunday night and it left me with a taste for more. Love me a whole mess of greens.

Ok, so I know some of you are wondering how the interview with the Atlanta company went... Well, they asked him if he'd come down for an in-person interview... Can I hear a squee???? The Wisconsin folks asked for more references, and we're waiting for Hubby to head to Seattle for that interview. It looks like we may have an answer before the first of the year.

I am starting a new project. I have a quilt challenge piece to make. Today I need to do some test work and then prep for the actual project. I bought a bolt of fabric (black solid) to use. It seems that usually black is most often my background of choice. Tomorrow is a sewing day with my guild. This will give me uninterrupted time with my machine.

Lots to do today. So if I don't get to visiting, please understand.

It's Getting Fun

2011-12-01T09:27:00.000-05:00

This job hunt round is fun!

A while back, hubby interviewed with a company out of Louisiana. This was a company who called him from out of the blue. It's an engineering job that is on land and offshore... I got a kick out of the interview. When they asked if he's had any offshore experience, he chuckled and said he's been to Guam and Bora-Bora, as well as in a yatch during a typhoon. There was one other irreverent answer to another question about his experience in the energy sector -- he responded that he was a user, not a supplier. Those garnered some chuckles from the interview panel.

Out of the blue he gets a call for a second interview. This one in person! Folks, this is for something he has NO experience with. What the heck?

Also, he has a first interview with a company out of the Atlanta area (up near Stone Mountain) this afternoon. This one by phone. Bring this one on! It will bring us closer to our babygirl...

Speaking of which, I'm missing her something awful... What keeps me going is the mental picture I have of her standing in front of her baby rocking chair bouncing up and down and banging the rocker into the wall and making funny giggle and raspberry sounds. Wish I had video of that. It's a hoot to see her little baby bottom bob up and down, with her wide monkey leg stance... Yep... baby bottoms are cute, especially when they put a little design on the onesies.

Yesterday we started clearing out stuff in the garage. Old computers and stuff were destroyed and thrown out. Memorabilia (photos of old boyfriends) tossed along with it.

I did find a few gems -- Some vintage postcards pictured above. They are of Pal's Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach, The Castaways Hotel in Miami, and the DeVille Motor Hotel in New Orleans. Love the vintage cars on the DeVille card... Those are going to a friend who will use them in his artwork.

I also found this tiny toy pistol, made in Austria. Inside the little capsule are several "caps" for shooting. Above that is the key to a room in The Peabody Hotel in Memphis. I'm guessing it's the key to their honeymoon room. These are going in my treasure box.

It's a chilly day here. I'm feeling the need for soup. Gotta scoot. Need to hit the grocery, goodwill, and start my day.

Make it a good one!

In Love

2011-11-30T06:50:00.000-05:00

This little thing just has me in love. She is growing so fast! She's standing up with a wide leg stance and holding on to stuff... Close to walking. Look out! She is crawling at lightning speed.

Such personality! She is full of bubbles... I get a kick out of her talking. She's learned "uh-oh!" and when she crawls she chatters baby sounds, makes raspberry sounds, and giggles. Love it!

I never experienced traditional motherhood, but let me tell you that grandmotherhood rocks!!!!!

I love my baby girl!

Life these days

2011-11-28T11:28:00.000-05:00

I'm getting tons of baby lovin... She's off at her other grandma's today. Hubby and I are heading south to meet a blogger buddy from Alabama. I'm excited! I can't wait!

I finished a really good book, The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason. It's a gem of a novel. Such a heartwarming novel about a young girl growing up in a Canadian town that was in the way of a large waterworks project. The town characters area fascinating. It's a quick, pleasurable read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Lots going on with Hubby's job hunt. He's traveling to Seattle a week from tomorrow for a an interview. They are planning a FULL day with him -- they're picking him up from the airport, touring the facilities, lunch, and dinner with the company president. He also has a pending second interview with the folks in Richmond, VA (do I get a yay from our east coast contingent?) Also a headhunter is really trying to get a meeting with hubby for a Kansas City company. Hubby got a mysterious unsolicited email from a real estate agent in Wisconsin. I have a feeling that someone said something over the holidays and she nabbed that contact (if you know what I mean). I'm hopeful an offer is forthcoming.

Right now I have no preference. I just want an answer. This living in limbo stuff is driving me crazy. I really prefer to have a firm plan. But life doesn't always work this way, so I'm trying to go with the flow. Operative word: trying. I really think that I'm supposed to learn patience this year...Hahahaha!

Did I tell you he got turned down for unemployment? The old company didn't report his work status. We issued an appeal. They received our appeal and will let us know if he qualifies. The day he accepts a job is the day he'll qualify. Ten-to-one...

It's raining like crazy down here at the farm. There are huge puddles of water everywhere! And there's rumor of pending sleet tonight. Oy vey!

But all is well, despite these little trials. And that is what they are -- little trials. When it's all said and done, this stuff won't be remembered.

Go out and make it a great day!

At The Farm

2011-11-26T07:59:00.000-05:00

Spending the day with Snooki, the Jersey girl...

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T20:58:00.000-05:00

It's all about the soup!

(It's a secret recipe. All I know is that it's called Hangover soup... and it's yummy!)

The soup got the thumbs up from the fire master!

Lots of talking... young and old... (my stepdaughter's cousin, with "grampie")

Lots of hugs (my youngest stepdaughter and her "grammie")

Lots of food and outdoor fun

This is so cute!!!!!!

My stepdaughter, the cook... have thermometer, will travel!

Bella, the big baby girl...

Bly, the farm girl...

Mama (oldest stepdaughter) with her baby girl...

Hubby's ex-wife (she's my friend) having fun

The obligatory photo of someone taking my photo... LOL !

Lots of stories by the fire...

Thanksgiving words to live by...

2011-11-24T01:10:00.002-05:00

"We don't stop when we're full; We stop when we're tired!" -- Hubby

Have a blessed thanksgiving, y'all!

2011-11-22T10:26:00.000-05:00

I've been busy baking since we got back from Wisconsin:

Two loaves of pumpkin bread (nod to Denise-- yes, I said pumpkin... LOL!)...
One batch of cranberry-pecan oatmeal cookies (I made basic toll house cookie dough minus chips, added oats, cranberries, and pecan pieces to equal 3 cups)
White chocolate gingerbread cookies (Susan's recipe -- these cookies rock socks!)
Barb's cappuccino cookies Trust me when I say that these cookies are divine! Hubby really loves these!
Candied ginger Shortbread cookies

I love baking cookies.

I've packed up some stuff to run down to the kids. Project Heirloom II is in full swing. Five boxes of of crystal glassware will soon be in our youngest's hands... Less to tote. Less is more. I know a move is inevitable. It's just a matter of where we're going. He hasn't heard from the Richmond folks (same headhunter as the Seattle job), just had a second or third contact with a recruiter about a job in Kansas City. And he's followed up with the Wisconsin folks. That's where we are. Looks like we need to hold a lotto... whatcha think? Bwahahahaahahaha!

Thanksgiving is coming up. We'll be spending it outside at the firepit. Rumor has it the weather is going to cooperate. All I know about our menu is cookies, smoked pork shoulder, deep-fried turkey, and a ton of finger food. There will be lots of wisdom and family. I can't wait!

"We don't stop when we're full, we stop when we're tired" -- Hubby

Oh, and I get to see my Gabbiegirl... I'm missing my little sugarpie! She just gets more precious by the day!

What are your plans?

Look-Alikes

2011-11-21T08:22:00.000-05:00

I was going through an old crate of family photos, taking them out of frames and setting the photos aside -- some to throw away and some to keep. Found a couple of old boyfriends... those went immediately into the trash pile after a quick prayer of thanks for my husband. (what was I thinking about back then???)

I came across a portrait I had taken in 1988. I was 26 when it was taken. Dang, I've aged!

Bah

Iggy

I see a lot of my nieces in these photos. These pics are from 2009.

I also came across this one of my mom. It was painted onto a tile. This was taken in the 1920s.

And this one was of my grandmother This was taken in 1905.

And a childhood one of jeanie weanie (that's me)...

Apples don't fall too far from the tree. LOL!

Sunday Thoughts

2011-11-20T06:40:00.000-05:00

It feels good to be back home. I didn't take my sleep stuff last night and had an up and down night. It's going to be an early night.

We had a good visit to Wisconsin. His interview went well. He said he enjoyed meeting everyone.

Not much going on today. Possibly meeting a friend down in KY. We are passing down some radio equipment of hubby's.

(image credit)

I got home and a package was in my mailbox. I won a novel in an blog giveaway. It's Riel Nason's debut novel, The Town That Drowned. So far it's good. I'm really getting into the characters.

Riel is also an awesome quilter. Stop by her blog and see some of her work! She does some awesome sewing with fabric selvages and creates some very cool and unique pieces!

Life in the Wooly Nawth

2011-11-18T07:42:00.000-05:00

Guess what the opening story on the news was this morning? Yep, you guessed it, It's the opening day of "gun" deer season! Be sure you're wearing your orange blaze when you're out and about. Oh, and there's a secondary story about a moose roaming around town.

On the way home from dinner last night, the thermometer on Hubby's truck registered 19 degrees. That is cold!!!!!!! We spent yesterday continuing to check out the area, and expanded our search for housing. This place is less than stellar for rentals, but we can be flexible.

I found a really nice quilt shop. I did get a kick out of one of the ladies who was getting some one-on-one instruction. She had to re-schedule her class because they were tracking a deer... That's service!

This photo was taken of the local ski slope. You see "smoke" on that mountain? Those are really snow machines making snow. This morning they said the slopes won't open this weekend as planned and they're shooting for opening on Thanksgiving.

We also traveled to the exact center of the Northwestern Hemisphere. Here's proof.

Today is hubby's interview. It's at 9:30am. I'll expect him to be busy for several hours. I've got enough to keep me busy. I'm finishing my book, leafing through magazines, and helping a friend write a newsletter.

Then he has a second phone interview in the afternoon. This one is with a Kansas city company.

If Hubby gets an offer and decides to relocate here, there will definitely be a lifestyle adjustment. I think the biggest adjustment will be the weather. The second adjustment will be housing. We found another large home that is supposedly for rent, but the agent to gave us the info wasn't real swift. It's a house on 35 acres outside of town. The house looks about 3000 square feet w/a 3-car garage for $300 more than our current rent. My guess is that's it's only for rent until spring. Other options are basic rental townhomes.

We'll see what this adventure brings... and this is only our first stop. His next in-person interview will be in December... He won't make his decision until he goes over all his options.

Thursday's Random Thoughts

2011-11-17T08:02:00.000-05:00

I saw this sign yesterday and laughed out loud. I loved it in so many ways! Life is kinda crazy like that and I'm glad we have warning signs.

It's too early in the year to snow. Just so you know. Saw some piled up leftovers, but nothing on the ground. Thank goodness.

I just realized if I "train" I may be able to cross-country ski again. I think training will take me a while...LOL! Dad and I used to ski and I miss that.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-16T08:10:00.000-05:00

Brought to you by Future Post

2011-11-15T05:42:00.002-05:00

Image Credit

Today's post is brought to you by Future Post. It's a busy day and I wanted to get some thoughts out. So I wrote this yesterday afternoon just for posting today.

I play a lot on Pintrest. Pintrest is an online idea book/file cabinet of ideas, photos, and stuff. Love the site. The other day I came across this. Good food for thought, eh?

Something worth pondering...

New Day; New Week

2011-11-14T08:45:00.000-05:00

Welcome to a windy Monday! We woke up to five new weekdays of opportunity. Bring it on!

The weatherman says we're going to be windy again today. Oy vey, it was blowing like crazy yesterday. I about fell over from the wind! Then we're due to get some severe weather tonight. High risk of severe storms, hail, and possible tornadic weather. Whatevah!

I woke up to this. This is hubby enjoying his new quilt! He was so excited to get his quilt!

And as usual, I quilted in some love...

So whatever the weather is... start the week with smile...

Sunday Thoughts

2011-11-13T08:42:00.000-05:00

I scolded my husband yesterday. During the past few days he's been sleeping his life away. I know that this is a byproduct of the stress he's going through, but that's escapism. He needs activity. Yesterday I sent him to his garage workshop for an hour or so.

Right now Hubby is just chattering away about Wisconsin and Seattle like a kid all hyped up and waiting for a birthday party... I've heard about snowfall, average temperatures, Seattle's Amtrak schedules, and where Cabela's is located in comparison to each city.

Now he's planning excursion trips... LOL!

I puttered around the house. I made some pumpkin bread for Thanksgiving weekend. I wrapped the loaves and put them in the freezer. I got some laundry done; still more to go. And then I worked on hubby's quilt. It's all put together and ready to quilt.

My job for today is to finish hubby's quilt and do more laundry. In a way I miss the condo basement laundry room where I can do six loads all at once... Two hours and it's done...

I also need to rustle something up for dinner. Might have to hit the grocery today. There is not a vegetable in the house, other than canned tomato sauce. That's pitiful!

That's about as exciting as it gets here... Y'all have a wonderful day!

Paper Roses

2011-11-12T08:10:00.000-05:00

My youngest stepdaughter (the chef) has been busy creating. I got a message that she was indulging in some retail therapy at a local craft store and this is what she was working on. Yes, she made these flowers by hand. Are they not just gorgeous?! They are made from coffee filters. Fancy that! That rose is just amazing...

I've been indulging in some therapy as well. I recycled some old knit shirts and sewed a quilt top with the recycled shirt fabric. I've got some wool batting and hubby picked out some wool flannel for the back and it will soon be a very warm quilt.

Today is finishing the laundry and doing some packing. I know that hubby isn't ready to pack, but I am. Time to get this ball rolling...

Our Daily Trips

2011-11-11T07:03:00.001-05:00

Happy Veterans Day! Thanks to all the Veterans who have serve, are currently serving, and those who will serve our country in the future. Also thanks to all the families who support our veterans, for you serve our country as well.

Image credit

Every night before we nod off to sleep we take an imaginary trip. We both close our eyes and take turns describing where we go on our imaginary trip. For example, the night before last we were in coastal New Hampshire and camped on the shore of Kentucky Lake. Last night I stood on a Swiss Alp (Gornergrat) looking out at snow capped glacial alps.

Taking these imaginary trips is a great way to wind down, relax, and enjoy our travels all over again.

Thank you for the prayer. I'm pleased to say that it worked out with a positive outcome.

Hubby got about eight calls yesterday. Eight!!!! I'm so thankful for that. I spent yesterday gathering paperwork for his unemployment. It turns out the company never reported him as working there. I had to gather his paystubs, create a spreadsheet to log his hours/pay and copy all the documents necessary to get him started. We mailed that out for review. I have a feeling that by the time they process the paperwork we won't need it.

I'm hoping that I'll get to the pile of laundry that sits in the bedroom. Anyone want to help? I've got about five loads...

Go out and make it a great day. Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present.

Catching Up

2011-11-10T08:13:00.000-05:00

Well, I think I need to catch y'all up on what's going on behind the scenes. Hubby's company is no longer in existence and unfortunately there is no COBRA insurance coverage. Not ideal, but we have closure. And I'm thankful for that.

This was why our condo sale closed... God provides.

The interview in Wisconsin was moved to next week. He's gotten tons of calls -- six calls yesterday! He has two follow-up interviews scheduled on Monday.

I've started prepping the apartment for moving. Yesterday we went through the bedroom closet and dresser and started to pitch clothes into two piles -- recycle and donate. I'm working on the recycle pile-- a bunch of knit shirts that are being cut into 12" squares to become a cozy quilt.

I'm asking for some prayer today. Not for us (we're fine), but for a cousin who is in dire need of prayer. God knows her need.

Go out and make it a great day. It's sunny here in Ohio. I'll be doing some grocery shopping, laundry, and a bit of sewing. It's gonna be a great day!

Polish Clambake (Trash Can Stew)

2011-11-09T06:55:00.000-05:00

We took a quick trip to The Farm last week. There was a birthday party, so that called for a Polish Clambake (aka, trash can stew). Here's how to make it.

This called for a clean, brand new metal trash can w/a lid, a source of fire, chicken wire, 4 cans of beer, a water source, and food.

Make four wire baskets from the chicken wire.

Food items: Whole carrots, green cabbage wedges, red potatoes, Polish Sausage or keilbasa

Pour some water into the bottom of the can, place four opened beer cans in a square shape in the bottom of the can (they must be full or the cans will float, plus the beer adds flavor to the steam). This will hold up the first chicken wire "basket". Fill this basket with whole carrots. The photo above shows how it should look with the next basket on top...

Add another chicken wire basket full of potato wedges next.

Then green cabbage wedges in the next basket...

And finally the basket full of sausages. You want the sausages on top so that when they cook, the juices drip on the cabbage. Cover and cook for about two hours once it starts to steam. You need to check your water level periodically. Add water if needed.

Remove the baskets and serve up the yummy goodness!

And if you want something really sweet for dessert, just serve up some sweet little Gabbiegirl in a stew pot....

Alive and kicking...

2011-11-07T15:35:00.000-05:00

Still alive and still kicking. Gonna zero out my reader and start over. Hope all is well with y'all. Things should be more "normal" (translation: more my kind of normal...LOL!) soon.

It's all good, so don't worry.

Alive/Listening In

2011-11-04T11:00:00.000-04:00

We're Alive. Just a lot going on. I'll leave you with a funny conversation tidbit from yesterday.

Niece: "I love the Mary Kay Amber perfume. I'm wearing that right now."
Me: "I'm wearing the Avon perfume endorsed by Fergie of the Black Eye Peas."
Niece: Traitor... "LOL!"
Later....after a bit more girly talk...
Friend: "...and you in all your Blackeye Pea-ness!"

I guess you had to be there. (Ivana, sorry that this won't translate well, so I'll just tell you it was really funny!)

Getting some time with family while we can. Today: Lunch at a meat and three that I miss very much. Bring on the squash, broccoli, and sweet tater casserole. Followed by some jubilee cake. Garbage can stew for dinner!

Woman on a Mission

2011-11-02T06:14:00.001-04:00

Look Familiar? Seems like we've done this before...LOL!

Good morning everyone!

I now have hubby with me 24/7. He was able to procure another month of insurance and is now on unpaid leave until December. See? There's a reason why we closed on the condo. He's keeping close contact with the company. A new location has been added to the queue. A potential employer is Seattle is interested in him. So this makes three companies that are really after him -- Central Wisconsin, Reno, and Seattle.

It's looking like we'll eventually be moving -- now it's just a matter of "where" we'll end up. We have family in Wisconsin and in Nevada, so those choices will be palatable. I'm not overwhelmed by Washington State, but will keep an open mind.

Either way we'll end up on our feet. Enough about that...

This morning I dreamt I was throwing a M*A*S*H reunion party. (M*A*S*H = Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) It had WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan war veterans all together on an airport tarmac. Folks -- old and young -- were camping out, partying, and trading stories. I was entertaining the troops. We were all having fun!

I've been packing up some stuff to take to the kids. I'm lightening our load a bit more. Hubby is rolling his eyes telling me we don't have a lot of "stuff", but I know better. I had to pack it all a year ago. I'm unloading some artwork and cookbooks. While we may not have as much as your average person, we do have a lot to pack for a move. My current philosophy is that if we don't use it in a year, it's going. Clothing is next on the list. Anything unusable will be thrown out. The rest will be donated to charity.

Yep, I'm a woman on a mission!

The Soap Opera Continues

2011-11-01T06:22:00.000-04:00

I made cookies yesterday-- White Chocolate Gingerbread cookies. Got this recipe from a blog friend of mine. Ohmywhitechocolategingerbreadlovinggravy... these crispy little cookies are divine! And yes, even the one I burned!

The soap opera continues. Hubby has an in-person interview in a couple weeks in Wisconsin. The company he's working for is likely to sell to the local company. He had a heart-to-heart talk with the company owner. Hubby's not thrilled by his local company options, but he told the owner that he'll support him in the sale of his company. Like hubby says, the owner will pop up somewhere and may need a technical guy, and hubby wants to keep that good relationship.

I need to buy a winter coat. LOL!

I picked up a 5 pound bag of kiddie mix candy for trick-or-treaters. Didn't get even one kid. I was so bummed. I enjoy looking at all the costumes and seeing all the smiling faces. I'll be boxing this up with some other surprises and shipping it off to a single mom of three young kids who recently went through a nasty divorce. I know it will make her kids feel special.

Hope today's a good one, y'all! I know it will be great for us.