Signs of Spring

If it isn't raining too hard, I try to walk to work. It is just over a mile, it is good for me and for my carbon footprint. These are some snaps of what I saw on my walk yesterday. By the way, there are many routes I can take so I change it up.
Fishtrap Creek with quince blossoms.
An obvious sign in the Grandiflora store window.
Tulips in downtown.
As I got closer to home I heard one of my favorite Spring sounds, my pressure washer! I got it from the guys for Mother's Day several years ago and I love that machine. After a quick lunch I took over for my hubby and went to town. He moved things around, I washed, it was poetry in motion. Now, if the sun comes out I have a good start. I haven't put out my lanterns, flowers or chochtkees(sp.) yet but Ooooh when the sun comes out I am ready.

After all the pressure washing fun we went and raided a friend's rhubarb. Keep an eye out for rhubarb recipes this week. My family loves the rhubarb. Rhubarb=Spring

Happy Birthday Blake

Just want to wish Blake a very happy 18th birthday today. Blake is a good kid, friend of Sam, classmate of Sam and a co-worker too. It is a good thing when your teens have nice friends. He and Sam are going off to college together next fall. Hard to believe. When Blake came to our house as a freshman he looked about ten, now he is all grown up. Wishing you a nice day and a great year, Blake!

Patio Improvements

There has been an ongoing project here at the stone house for three years. We are trying to install a 'kitchen' on the patio. Really just a cabinet for storage and a hidden small fridge and a countertop to use as a work area or buffet. The cabinet was here before us so we don't know the story but when we moved in b-in-law Bill spotted the cabinet and christened it 'the Buick' of cabinets. After I floundered around all this time, sanding, priming, trying to find an auto body shop willing to be a project participant, we hit the jackpot this weekend. Sam! Our very own Sam. He is taking a shop class with independent study and has access to a heavy duty paint gun. I am just so excited to be going forward on the project. I pressure washed it today (I do it every Spring in the hopes I'll finish the Buick), my hubby loaded it up and we brought it to school. I can't wait! It will be so handy to have cribbage and cards, matches for the lanterns, quilts for my naps, cold beverages all right there. We spend a lot of time on our patio in the summer, entertaining, eating, reading, napping, playing games, watching movies. It is a favorite spot for our family and friends.

Sunday Stroll

Max rides, I walk and we talk. I had such a nice afternoon with Max, Little Bit and Hawley. We made it around the corn field several times. Sometimes Max and Little Bit run circles around me and Hawley. But it was a lot of walking and talking too.
Is that boy coming with the grain bucket?
Something for the birds.

Sunny Saturday

Went to a few garage sales this morning with my hubby. We didn't find too much, one grande piece of art, few shiney brites and a planter. I have an idea for the "art". We did stop for a skinny latte at Starbucks, didn't find that at a garage sale. We decided that the term, "Estate Sale" is being used very loosely.
Patio summer prep today. I remove the fairy lights, trim the hedge and then fix and replace lights on the hedges for the season, this is an annual project. Cleaned the fountain too. Pressure washing is next.
It was a nice enough day to wash the snorkel gear to dry in the sun.
My hubby mowed, added a couple little flower beds and weeded.
We enjoyed the sun, got a few projects started or finished and now I think my couch is calling me. Or was that the laundry room?

Weather or Not

Pretty, curious heifer.
Butting heads...
Well, this is it. Spring is here. My friends Vern and Shelly called this afternoon and it was time to let the cows out. Years ago I mentioned how much I loved it when my Grandpa would let his heifers out in the springtime. Those placid slow going girls really kick up their heels when they finally get out of the barn after a long winter.
We never know when it will be and when Vern decides they are getting out, we drop everything and go. One time my hubby's parents and a friend were visiting us when we got the call so they got drug along. It is a funny thing when the barn door opens, some come out nose first and slow but most of the girls come running, kicking and the mud just flies. The guys watch the back of the field because sometimes the girls are so excited that they break down the fence!
Well, that is just about all the excitement I can handle in one day. Now, I am going shopping with teen guys. Good thing I had my fun this afternoon.

Perspective

My, have I been crabby about the weather, groused about it in fact. My own little pity party. It needs to be over. There are friends that have a hard enough time without the weather bringing them down. I have been to three funerals in eight days, which usually puts things into perspective.
I think this long winter is really hard on friends and family who are grieving. Fred's Grandma has always said that winter time is the hardest without Grandpa. It is better to be out in the garden, enjoying the yard and the sunny days. So, today I have a prayer request for those that are alone and need for 'winter' to be over. For Tim, who lost his beautiful wife and baby last April, for the widows and widowers that I know and love, for the families whose loved ones funerals I went to this week, for those who have lost children and parents. I am sorry. Jesus can carry you through and His promise for your loved one is real.

SAD or Seasonally Appropriate Dressing

New record cold tempuratures, record breaking snowfall...this brings up some questions. We are more than a month into Spring, yet the weather is everything and anything but Springlike. So, what are you wearing? Is it inappropriate to wear a black turtleneck sweater with a down vest, as we finish the month of April? Is it in poor taste to wear my winter parka to walk to work? With gloves? I just can't bear to be cold. Usually, I am wearing capri pants by now and a t-shirt, blouse and a light jacket. I feel gloomy, dark and drab wearing heavy winter clothes but I'm freezing. So, my question today is, "Is there a warm yet Springy fashionable look out there? I even wore my eddie bauer silk long underwear today. And I was not too warm!
Help! I feel I am a fashion disaster...
Today's photo is not related to post. One of the many random photos of R's at our house.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day at School

And I am a special friend! Caleb and Emilyn's grandparents live in other states so I got invited to school for the Open House. School is cool. Yesterday I went to Emilyn's Pre-4 class where they are studying Space travel. The kids shot off their rockets, painted and had story time. Fun stuff!



Today I went to Caleb's second grade classroom where they have chicks hatching, Indian villages and very cool artwork. Recently Caleb wrote an alliteration book and he actually was chosen to attend the Young Author's Conference. He read it to me today, not only can he write but is a great artist too.

Banana Bread Cranked Up

I baked banana bread today. This recipe has several things going for it.
A-I got it out of my church cookbook, it came from a good cook.
B-It makes two loaves, if you have the oven on, make it worthwhile.
C-It has buttermilk in it. I love recipes with buttermilk- how they taste that is. If I don't have it in the house oooh I am cranky but if I do I think buttermilk takes many recipes to a whole new level. I used fresh buttermilk today but it is a good idea to have buttermilk powder in the house for those times when you need to make banana bread, brownies, or cakes that call for buttermilk. It works in a pinch and it is better than having to run to the store. Ya-da, ya-da lady, give us the recipe. Okay...


I can never leave well enough alone so I took the banana bread to another level by adding two ingredients- chocolate chips and maraschino cherries. My Mom did this when I was a kid and I loved it. I mentioned this to my guys and they were irritated that I would mess with a good thing. So, I did one loaf with and one without. They will try it and like it, but perish the thought of a new banana bread recipe. Tried and true for my guys. Thank you very much!
There are not many recipes that I can leave well enough alone. I like to tweak things. Hope it works!
Guessed on the measurements- 1/2 cup + chocolate chips and 12-15 cherries chopped and drained well. Added to half the batter. Notice I toss my chips with a bit of flour so they don't stick.

Banana Bread
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. butter
2 eggs
Cream together, beat well.
Add: 3 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 C. buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well and add 3 mashed bananas. Optional 1 C. chopped nuts(my guys don't like nuts in baked goods)
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes. Makes 2 loaves.

Well. Mmmm goood. This is not really something that someone on an 'eat less-move more' should have in their home.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Photo taken by MH Photography in a warmer climate and happier time-

I had an early start today. I am a scrambled egg maker at the school's pancake day every year. Normally, I do the early shift and then buy out their greenhouse plant sale, take home my plants and put them in the ground. Boy howdy, not this year. Those annuals would freeze to death fast. An Artic blast has hit the county and yesterday we had snow, hail and thunder and rain showers and lower than normal temperatures. It as been really cold and Spring seems a long way off.
I had hoped to wear short sleeves and capris when I returned tanned from vacation. It is hard to show off a good tan wearing a turtle neck and socks and shoes. I know that no one feels any sympathy for my plight. That's fine, I feel sorry enough for myself. It. is. cold. I am sick of it!
We have a funeral today for Peg Jansen, my brother-in-law Jeff's Mom. A sweet and kind Mom and Grandma. Fred and I are putting dinner together for the family tonight, we have tons of help. Last night we had foodie friends over. So, the weekend is busy but it is all good.

Dreaded Question

Caleb and Emilyn came over tonight and we sat in the hot tub. They always want to but forget their suits and I don't think of it. With reminder notes, phone calls and a group effort they remembered tonight. So, we have a good time in the hot tub and then go inside and while I am in the bathroom changing out of my suit, Emilyn comes to the door.
Emilyn-"Where is the fish?"
Me-"Just a second, I'm changing." (thinking oh no, I better have this conversation face to face.)
Emilyn-"Where is the fish?"
Me- "I'm coming."
Emilyn-"I am going to look in the key hole if you don't come out."
Me-"I'm coming-really."
Emilyn-"Where is the fish?"
Me-"Well, while we were in Hawaii, Levi took care of our house and animals and um, the fish died."
Emilyn- NOTHING -a really BIG silence.
More silence.
Emilyn-"Hmmm."
Me- "Sometimes that happens with pets."
Emilyn-"Hmmm."
I don't think that this went well, but maybe it did.
Then I mention Victoria and she says,"Who's Victoria?"- Is this familiar? Or what? Who's Victoria?=Vicky who? (See earlier post)
Me-"The fish, Victoria,"
Emilyn-" Oh, I never knew her name, just Fish."
Yikes! This whole fish thing has been painful.

Photo Fun

I am a point and shoot photographer/blogger. I use the auto setting or the beach, snow, party, museum setting on my digital camera. I do not read owner's manuals and I have issues with Snapfish, Publisher etc. However, I found a fun site, http://www.picnik.com and it works for me. They are based in Seattle and I have had fun playing with photos. This picture of Sam and Hawley was taken by the Snapsisters, but I added the text after trying many fonts, colors, borders and tones. For Emilyn's pic I gave it the poloroid look, pretty pink and a fun font.

What is for Dinner?

Some people are always worried about their next meal. Max is one of those people. When we vacationed with our boys sometimes we did not have three meals a day. Max would get to bed and say, " I didn't get lunch today!" We would be in a hotel, condo or tent and he would throw those words down like a challenge, like I am not going to sleep until the parents in charge(PIC) fix it by getting me a meal. We would explain that we had a late breakfast and an early dinner and so it was fine to just have two meals. Not so with Max. Also, he likes to know what is coming for his next meal. In Hawaii, before he took his last bite of breakfast he wanted to know where we were having dinner or would we be having lunch that day. Mark and Karen witnessed this obsession while vacationing with us and have a whole new respect for this problem. We always tell him, don't worry, we've never let you go to bed hungry. It doesn't matter. The kid wants to know what's for dinner. Most days it is the first thing he asks me when he comes in the door after school. I better have a plan, cuz it makes him nervous.
Someday, I imagine him telling his therapist, "hey, my parents took me on vacations and sometimes they only fed me twice a day." Hope he isn't too scarred.

It's Over.

I didn't realize there was a factory for my problem.
Hanauma Bay
My guys.
I'm not sure what Max is saying here but the other two are not buying it. Maybe he saw a turtle and pretty girl told him about it?
The gang before dinner at House Without a Key.
Vacation is over, guys back to school, work tomorrow, 13 loads of laundry and 27 items ironed this weekend. Oooh, it was fun, but reality is back and my tan is fading fast. Hope you enjoyed the show!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety JOG!

Collectively, as a group of 4 adult and 3 teenage guys we gained over 20 pounds while on our trip. I took an unscientific poll today. Thank goodness we were active, thank goodness we left the island when we did. It is NOT pretty but oooh it was fun, and yummy good. We are all back on the eat less, move more. It is pretty easy as there is no made to order breakfast or happy hour here on the main land.
Except Sam... he didn't gain any weight, he swam out to the rock, ran up Diamond Head and really was active. And he can say no to dessert and he is a growing boy. NOT. FAIR.

North Shore

North Shore is where the surf pounds. We spent an afternoon on Waimeia Beach. Basically getting a good bum kickin'. It was a red flag day, meaning rough, so Sam was not able to jump off the cliff. I told the boys that if their Grandma had been there she would have put a towel over her head and cried. My Mom doesn't swim so water makes her nervous. The hubby and Mark went in with the guys. I didn't mean to go in, but I did. Don't ask. Sometimes the lifeguards would announce that it would be a good idea to get out for the next fifteen minutes. They can predict the waves. Cool.
We followed this fun with the shrimp vans. Close your eyes, slap the table, bring tears to your eyes GOOD! The guy in charge was really funny. So polite to us and then would turn around and just bark the orders at the cooks. It was like a Seinfeld episode.


Yes, Mark is drinking coconut milk!

Car Envy

We have a friend, Jay Z. He is a long time friend of my parents and he comes to their place for Sunday dinner. He bought a new car and I have mentioned a few times that I like his car. Very pretty. Well Jay, in Hawaii I had one just like yours, only twice+ the size, brand new and just as beautiful. Oh, and I had a driver.