Low Morale

The hedge is trimmed! Morale, not so good. The guys got up at 6 a.m. to drive to Mt. Baker with friends. Packed up a BBQ, burgers, gear, ready for a day on the slopes with Sam's friends, Jesse and Blake. Ran into some nasty weather and decided to come home. They don't like to spend the big bucks on the mountain when they are running into bad weather and a steady stream of cars coming down the mountain. Never a good sign! So, they got to help with the hedge instead of skiing. You can imagine the morale, low people, really low.
I groomed Little Bit this morning because I am in denial over the state of my housekeeping, I tend to go outside when the inside gets messy. And I did not want to go anywhere near the low morale group assisting Hubby with the hedge. My photo is of Little Bit running to roll in the mud (post grooming). He's fast so it isn't a great photo today.
Hubby and I have a date tonight, so I guess we'll just leave those guys with the low morale behind.

Bonding

A lot of male bonding going on today. The hubby and son worked at trimming "the hedge", The one that gives us a fence, privacy and generally makes us the house behind the hedges. It is one of those evil jobs that needs to be done here annually. This afternoon morale was good and the sun was shining. They had borrowed a ladder from Bill and Jodi, while there Eddie and Hawley begged for a play date. So, Eddie came home with them and played at our house this afternoon. Lots of chasing and barking and frivolity! Not quite finished so I get to help tomorrow as the guys are heading up to Mt. Baker for some boarding and skiing.

Docent Dinner Prep

Tomorrow night is the museum's annual docent dinner. Jerrie came to the museum to help me today. We went with a travel theme and pretty much just used things from our homes. My sis Kathi got us some travel posters from Bellingham Travel. We found wrapping paper printed with old maps, cut it down the middle and used that for table runners. We found napkins with a Paris Bistro theme. Every table is different and for the beverage table we used Archer's lighted globe, my luggage and one of Jerrie's Eiffel Towers. Votives and postcards inbetween the centerpieces and that was it. Easy and inexpensive. Tropical, France, Holland, the Wild West-it is all there.
My only concern is that all my volunteers will get the travel bug and I will be frantically dialing for docents next week.
*Note-My pics are a bit blurry, I used the 'museum' setting on my camera. I would think that would work. :(

The Thinker

My boss is always up to something. He had the weight of the world on his back last week. This is in my office where I am constantly being invaded, by Troy. He received this "rock" by UPS for a museum exhibit. He had more fun with that thing. His wife has more patience than any other woman I know because I think he acts like this at home too. So many puns that morning- a stone's throw away, the foundation of the museum, you're a rock, I rock etc. etc. etc.
Happy Anniversary today to Troy and his long suffering bride, Jerrie. You rock!

Burning Calories

Did you know that grooming a horse uses 354 calories per hour? That is more than walking! Come on over, Little Bit loves it and you'll lose weight...


And it is a never ending job. He can be groomed everyday because he loves to roll in the dirt. I know he can't help it but sometimes I run outside or yell out the window, "stop that, you're making a mess." He looks at me like, "huh? or What?"
Annoying.

The Party

Last night was my parent's 50th anniversary party. A lot of laughs, good memories and visits. Yummy food too. Chocolate molten dessert.
My siblings and I. Yes, I always look like I am standing in a hole when we are photographed together-I wore heels too.

The Outlaws.

Bill and Fred's Excellent Show. These guys were business partners with Bill & Fred's Excellent Construction for years, and they still work well together, my hubby was MC and Bill did a beautiful power point of my folk's lives.

Mom's wedding dress and honeymoon suit.

Levi- Caught in the act after Auntie Tami double dog dared him....

The Grandsons sans Dan. My two are on the far left.

The food- good- because like my Dad says, "people only remember if the food was good and if the program was too long!" Amen, Dad! We had placecards and old school nut cups like they had at the wedding.

Cutting the cake, they are still so in love and so cute together.

Today we all surprised the folks and showed up at Bethel Church. Then everyone came to our house for pizza and cake. Nice!

History is Made

On February 17th Kosovo declared it's independence from Serbia. Dan is studying at the University of Pristine and so he has been a part of the celebrations. He is safe and happy. Photos are of the celebration and he and his friend Yllka. It is good to hear from him since we have heard so much on the news this week about Kosovo. The language has been hard but he can now carry on a conversation so he is learning it quickly.

My Folk's Anniversary

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary to my Dad and Mom! It is such an incredible blessing to have parents with a good marriage and it is a blessing for our boys too. We will be celebrating on Saturday with my family and a few of their friends with a dinner at CJ's Beach House Restuarant in Birch Bay. A nice, small group of people who love them will be there. Of course, we have a few surprises for them. God is good!

A Couch in the Kitchen

When I am making dinner some or all of my guys hang out in the kitchen with me. Hence, the couch in the kitchen. Martha Stewart notes that one should never have stuffed furniture in the kitchen. I disagree. It invites guys and guests to visit with the hostess and yet stay out of my way. I get good visits from the hubby and the kiddos while they are on that couch. Last night I was making cornbread and a frittata when the hubby and Max joined me. Since my camera was on the counter I just picked it up and started shooting. The youngest and the most difficult guy had a blog meltdown. "Don't take pictures of me for that stupid blog, blah, blah blah. I'm not going to let you."
My intention was not to take photos for the blog but just to record the moment.
He was so snarky that I had to reconsider and use them for the blog. That'll show him!

Buds and Buddies

Went outside this morning and saw a lot of buds in the yard. The sunshine feels so good. I think I forgot that feeling.

You Had to Be There

My writing skills are just not able to paint the picture, capture the aromas, cast the characters from last evening. Celebrating Mark & Karen's new car with a "car warming" bucket of goodies, a champagne toast and gifts for the hubby and my 20th anniversary, stories and laughs, good conversations, over the top food, and a table that was eye candy. It was all there.





Appetizers, that I hope Shelly posts the recipes for on her blog. They were as good as they looked in the photo. Pretty presentation too.

My photography skills weren't able to capture everything though. The main course came to the table on fire. Yes, there were flames in the mushrooms. Presentation folks, the WOW factor! It was all there. Delicious. I am still reliving that steak. Potato balls, I have never met a potato that I didn't love and these were lovable!

I brought cheesecake for dessert with a mixed berry Chambord sauce and whipped cream. I'm not bragging but would like to note it had no cracks. Patience and planning made that possible. My twist on an old favorite is in the crust, I double the recipe, use brown sugar instead of white and add a bit of extra butter. In light of all the diets I used the 1/3 less fat cream cheese.
LOVE WEEK is over, but I still have the memories to savor. So blessed and grateful for the love. Oh, and I wore the shoes.

Foodie Friends

The hubby and I have foodie friends, this could be considered bragging. And we get to have dinner with them tonight. I can't wait. These friends can cook, bake, are adventurous in the kitchen, know how to set a gorgeous table, really the best kind of friends. Farm Shelly and hubby, Mark and Karen and the hubby and I are having Valentine's Dinner tonight. I am making dessert, it's a secret. Nothing new, just a staple in the dessert world that I made for my now hubby while we were dating. I think it had a big influence on where we are today...married! The 'eat less, move more' will be set aside for the evening. Bring it on!
Please note that the 'move more' is difficult at best today anyway since I can barely move. It's not pretty. I don't think I will be wearing those black strappy heels tonight for that flirty evening look.
Photo is of Karen at one of our previous dinners. Nice!

For Crying Out Loud

And I have cried today. While I was doing Valentine's Day, people were creating dirty laundry, a lot.
This afternoon I was going down the steps, talking to Max about how I finally finished the book I was writing, "How to Docent at the Lynden Pioneer Museum"(promises to be a bestseller), when my feet flew out and I slammed(SLAMMED) down the steps on my bum. Not good. I don't think anything is broken but my tush is screaming in pain. You know, instant tears, shaking, and nausea. The hubby came home shortly after the fact and after I was on the couch on ice, this is some of what I had to listen to. Not necessarily in order.
*Max-Good thing I was here or you'd be needing Life Alert.
*Max- Did you break your hip? Because if you did, that is it you know. All downhill.
*Max- I'm not looking.
*Hubby-So, did you run to help her.
*Max-Well, yea, um, I knew she did more than just drop the phone.
*Hubby- Do you think we'll have to put her down?
*Max- If we put her down, I get her bed.
*Hubby- Um, no Max, I'm still here. It's my bed too.
*Hubby- I'll look...that is looking to be a big bruise and scrape. Do you want a bandaid?
Now whenever Max goes down the steps he makes the "noise" that I apparently made as this all transpired.
For crying out loud.
Edit: Saturday. Max says he feels like a hockey coach today. He keeps telling me, "get your butt on the ice." I'm OK, really.

A Good Time was Had by All

I have pretty much made the same Valentine's Day dinner for twenty years. The co-stars change but the leading lady is the heart shaped meatloaf. At a later time I will post the Green Beans Bundles of Love recipe. Yummy! Since it was also 'Single Awareness Day' yesterday we invited a friend. Adelene has been in the dumps since Matthew McC. left her for that Brazilian model. Our boys really like Ad, so they gave the go ahead to inviting someone for this special dinner. She came looking beautiful, wearing red in the spirit of the day and bearing gifts. Nice!
I wish I had more photos to share but once dinner was ready, we were busy eating, talking and laughing. Fun times!



FAQ- So, what does the hubby do for you, someone that LOVES Valentines? Answer- I hestitate to tell you, ladies, you will be green with envy...He always buys me a mushy card, and yesterday he mopped and waxed the wood floors, there's more but I hesitate to share...He made the dinner rolls from scratch and he put new sheets on our bed (beautiful high count sheets). What you are experiencing right now is "hubvy"-hubby envy.