Happy 22nd Birthday Sam

Happy Birthday Sam!  Sam texted Hubby, Danny and Max a few weeks ago that he came out of the field and was trying to reach the blog.  It's a quick way for him to catch up on what has been going on at home.  He used a blog search engine.  The Lady in the Stone House came up under the following subjects: baking, family, decorating and... personality disorders!  Hahahaha, I may be crazy but I'm all you've got.

Happy Birthday Sam from your crazy Mama!  

love you lots

Tea Time

 Last evening Karen and I had the eighth grade girls and their leader, Carla,  from our church's girls Gems group come to my house for a tea time.  We made pastry, pate a choux, which most of us know as cream puffs.  We made fillings for the cream puffs and then learned about cooking methods and versatility of pate a choux and presentation.   The puffs can be filled with sweet or savoury.  After we finished in the kitchen, the girls set the table.  Everyone had the same china with different napkins, rings and decor.  It can change the whole look of each table setting.

 The girls learned about serving, how to be a good guest, a good hostess and many rules.

 I did stress to them that an example of bad manners would be if they went home and corrected their brothers' or sisters' manners.  Good manners mean being respectful and kind.

We had a nice evening with sweet young women, they were a lot of fun to have over for tea.

I recommend Tiffany's Table Manners for Teenagers by Walter Hoving.  

We gave a copy to our guys many years ago for Christmas.  

It's inscribed, 

Dan, Sam & Max,

Whatever you do, wherever you go-

use good manners and you'll go far!

We're proud of you-

Love, 

Dad & Mom 

A Two Hour Drive

 While I was snowed in last week I was researching (wasting time on the net) estate sales in our area.  I wanted to get on some email lists.  I came across a BiG estate sale that was going to take place in Ballard.  Due to the weather it  was delayed until Friday.  Hubby and I had thought we'd go on Friday but our weather was still snowy and ice was predicted.  From what I had read on the ad it didn't seem as though they would run out of junk in one day so on Saturday we decided to go to Ballard.

It was cash only, bring your own bags, tissue paper and boxes.

 I'm sorry I couldn't take more pictures but I was busy.  The house had it's original wallpaper, a wood stove in the kitchen, a butler's pantry and so many nooks and passages.  It was amazing!  They only let so many shoppers in at a time.  We got there about eleven and were able to walk right in.  I could tell we would have to walk through several times.  The amount of treasure was overwhelming.  I have never seen a sale like this one.  The company running the sale wasn't used to a sale of this magnitude either.  They did fairly well with someone in every room, a good checkout system and they did take visa and mastercard, even though it was made clear on their web site that they would not.  Uhm, hello, you can't be selling clocks for $8,000 and not take something besides cash.

 It was a maze in the basement, tunnels and trails through furniture.  There were many things I would have loved to take home but some things were overpriced and they were pretty firm.  When I walked in the door and asked where the Christmas decorations were located.  Upstairs, there is a room!  I went directly there but the dealers came on Friday and it was pretty slim pickings.  I did dig for some shiny brites and found a little choir boy too.

The couple that owned the house did not have children.  He restored antique furniture and stained glass windows.  The Mrs. was a woman after my own heart, she had so many sets of dishes and china I couldn't think straight.  I'm mourning the Christmas glasses I didn't purchase.  We love to try to figure out what the people were like that lived in the house when we are at estate sales.  I think this was a couple that we would love to  have had  as friends.  They were entertainers, cooks and not afraid of projects.  Their taste was impeccable.

 What you have to understand is that Hubby and I each have two hands, it was a bit crowded, and we had to prioritize.  We went with a cash budget.

We did buy the stained glass that we had seen on the website earlier in the week.  I love a good monogram and this was too good to be true.  R.  It has fire damage on the side, Hubby can plane it off, some water damage on the bottom, which I can repair and several cracks.  We will leave the cracks alone.  Our place is pretty rustic so it'll be fine.  You'll be seeing more of the glass as we restore and find just the right spot in the Stone House.
In order to buy the stained glass I had to leave behind the fur coat.  It fit me perfectly, was in great condition and everyone that saw me try it on told me that it was made for me.  It was gorgeous.  It made me feel so swanky!  But we decided to stick with the cash we had brought and keep to our budget.  Hubby let me choose.  The aqua and cream parlor stove was a dream too.  But choices had to be made and I could hardly carry the stove around while I was making decisions.

The best part was the fun we had on our day in Seattle.  We had a great adventure!  And we weren't the only crazy ones there, we met a couple from Portland that had driven up for another window.  She told me that she just could not get it out of her mind, even dreamt about it.  Yes, I did too.

Slushy, Slippery and Wet

 Just like childbirth, the Pacific Northwest snow storms have a time of transition.  Our Northeasterns usually end with an ice storm.  Thankfully it was a mini ice storm last night.  I could not resist going outside and sliding around the yard.  The snow is melting rapidly, and now we get flooding.  Our storms are pretty textbook.

 Rufus, the farmer's weather guru says round two should arrive around January 30th.  So, today Hubby and I are taking off for a day trip.  We're going while the going is good.

Keep dry and cozy today.  And don't slip on the ice!

A Snow Quiz

 I'm curious about how you spend your snow day or days.  I have a few questions for you.

1. Do you do serious housework?

I've talked to several people and one was painting, one was cleaning out all their kitchen cupboards and one was shampooing the carpets of their cars.  I vacuumed today, does that count?  I keep my laundry caught up, just in case the power goes out.

2.  Puzzles and board games?

I've been begging Max to play banana gram with me, he will not.

3.  Are you cooking and baking up a storm?  Pun intended.

I make dinner in the morning so that if the power goes out I can just keep dinner warm on the wood stove.  I baked  M & M bars this morning.  I usually get out the yeast for rolls or bread.

4.  Do your kids get on your nerves?

I can neither confirm nor deny.

5.  Are you a chronic news viewer?

I watch the news around 4 or 5 just to get an idea of what is going on outside my house.

Does fb count as news?

6. Are you tearing into a scrapbook project?  Crafting your heart out?

I always think that I will but I don't have the pictures printed yet and it just seems like a lot of work to get everything out.  I think the sinus infection has made me easily overwhelmed though.

7.  Are you an emergency freak?

I know where our battery lantern is located and the batteries, candles have been located, I keep a pile of firewood in the house, and of course, dinner is made in the morning.  I keep canned soup  and instant oatmeal in the house in the winter.  Does that count?

8.  Are you content to be home?

Oh, yes, I am.

9.  Do you watch movies, television,  or netflicks?

Shelly got me started on Downton Abbey and now I am hooked.

10.  Do you think the snow is beautiful or just irritating?

I LOVE snow!  It's so pretty and exciting and great.  That said I do understand that people who have to work outside such as farmers may not feel the same way.

Blizzard Like Conditions

 Yesterday it was fun to walk around outside and take pictures, enjoy the snow, breath in the crisp Winter air.  Today, not so much.  It is ten degrees, the wind is howling and I think it's snowing but it could just be blowing around.  My photos were taken yesterday.  I feel like the meanest mom in the world making Hawley go out to do his business.  I'm blogging from my bed because I just can't leave my flannel sheets yet.  Baby, it's cold outside.  There may not be photos of today's storm as I am not even putting my big toe out the door.

But even though it's stormy, it is a snow day and I love a snow day.  Yesterday I went to see Dr. Burden as my sinus passages have gotten ugly and my cold won't leave me.  She asked me if there was any way I could lay low and take it easy for a few days.  I'm feeling like these snow days are just for me.  

And my sinus and ear infections.

Stay warm and cozy and enjoy your day!

Snowy Seattle Trip

I needed to go to the Seattle Gift Show for the Lynden Pioneer Museum on Sunday.  There seemed to be many hurdles, glitches and snafus this year.  Then my sister, Kathi stepped in.  She agreed to go with me at the last minute and suggested we take Amtrak to the city.  Brilliant.  We took the train in on Sunday morning and watched the snow fly.  Once we got to the show our decision was affirmed again as it dumped in Seattle, then melted, then started to get icy.  Meanwhile at home in Lynden it was snowing.  We got into the train station last night in Fairhaven and it was just dumping.  It snowed all the way home but not like it was in South Bellingham.  Made it home safe and just in time for a snow day today!

We had a good time at the show.  With all of the snow it wasn't crowded and we got lots of help.  The trends are owls, owls, owls and crossbody bags.  All of which will be in your local museum gift shop soon.   Aside from the show we hit happy hour at my favorite Seattle spot, Dragonfish Cafe, we  lunched at the Nordstrom Metro Cafe, loved staying at the Camlin!, enjoyed success at the eddiebauer and William Sonoma sales, had good sister time and never worried about the weather.  

I learned that I loved taking the train.  It's easy and stress free.  And the train never cancels because of snow. I asked someone at the Camlin's front desk about checking our Amtrak schedule for delays.  She was a past Amtrak employee.  She told us not to worry because the train would be going and on time.  The underground bus has a stop across the street from our hotel and one at King Street Station, so transfers were a breeze.

Great trip and now even better... a snow day!

P.S.  My heavy heart got amazing news yesterday afternoon so now it's just giddy.

Best text ever.  

Praising God for this miracle

Where Have You Been?

Well, I've had a nasty cold.  It hit me harder than I wanted to admit.  Eventually, I had to lay down.  I got back up today even though I have sinus pain shooting into my teeth if I walk too fast.  And as many of you know, I am not one to saunter. So, it's been painful.
Other random thoughts...
*On Sunday we celebrated my Mom's 75th birthday with turkey dinner and cupcakes at our house.  I didn't take any pictures, I had a head cold and couldn't think.
*I finally made it to Paper Zone for their closing (WHAAaaaa) sale.  There isn't any paper left but I did score some ribbon and was happy about that little purchase.  I love me some ribbon.
*I went to a luncheon today and was blessed by the good company of amazing women.  Good people out there!  It made my heart happy.
*Hubby and I are not on the same schedule or even in the same city this week and some of next.  I don't like, I don't like it at all.  I miss that guy.
*There is finally SNOW in the forecast and I am on my knees hopin' and prayin' we get dumped on, big time.
*I took down all of our Christmas decorations and then I stopped.  I like the sparse, bare look and so I haven't put the regular decor back up.  And I'm okay with it.
*I have something heavy on my heart this week.  Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your tribulation, and be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12.  I say this verse to myself all the time.  It helps.
*Today I went to Lowes to buy curtain hooks, it seems that we purchased curtains hooks and then promptly lost them or accidentally threw them in the trash.  Does anyone else do that?  Last year I believe I tossed in the garbage a really cute little jacket that I had purchased to wear in Hawaii.  Not on purpose! geez
*My guys and Jess and I are playing Words With Friends and it is fun to stay connected that way.  Next week I won't have a head cold and then I'm going to beat them.
*Have a nice weekend and I hope you don't get this stinkin' head cold.

Another Great Idea from Pinterest

First of all I'd like to note this idea was not my own.  It came from pinterest, of course.  I think it's pretty much brilliant.  Every year we receive beautiful Christmas cards from family and friends.  I put them up in the wall between the kitchen and the dining room. 

I eventually take them down and put them  upstairs in the gigantic rubber maid tote where all good picture go...  Someday I'll crop, scrap, maybe even organize.  Yeah, right.  I've kept all the picture cards we've received over the years and when I grow up I planned to put them in an album, just like my sisters.  Good intentions that have gone no where.

Well, I am happy, even flabbergasted that I have already taken care of the 2011 cards.  They are in a book, to be enjoyed.  It's a marvel and it was easy.

One of these handy, dandy super cropadials helps however; you could use a paper punch.  I just happen to have a good friend with nice tools.

Some of the cards were the same size and blank on the back, I glued them together.  I glued school pictures to cards that they came with and I included the cards that our dog, Hawley had received.

Obviously, the cards are different sizes and peek out in and around each other.  I mixed the picture cards and the regular cards and the sizes.  Willy nilly.

Some of the cards have pictures in the back too.  This mini book method works great because you're not gluing the cards down and losing access to the back of the card.  It would have been a shame to lose Clayton and Tanner driving off.

I used some glittery card stock for a cover.  Ribbon and stickers to embellish it a bit and then tied some ribbon scraps on the rings.

I am so inspired I may even dig out all the cards from years past...

Hah!  Let's not get carried away.

meh

A fresh new year, a blank slate, a new start, goals, aspirations, simplifying.  Meh.  I am not feeling it this year.  Hubby and I worked all day yesterday taking down Christmas decorations, packing things away for another year.  Cleaning, vacuuming, and dusting all afternoon...   There were no resolutions, it just had to be done.

I am not going to resolve to lose weight, to simplify, to organize or to be a better person.  I am not going to resolve to make Max a baby book, he's 18, it's not happening.

I am not going to resolve to lose weight.  I lose weight and gain weight every year.  That's a given.

There won't be any simplifying.  I mean really, what would I cut out?  Family? Friends? My job? Blogging?  Cooking?  Baking?  That'd be dumb as I have no goals to lose weight.  Cleaning?  I don't want to live in a dirty house so that's not happening.

I've been going to boot camp for 3 1/2 years, that's not going to change.
I have a new calendar system, the powers that be decided to stop making the system I'd used to years.  I guess that's it for new.

Take it or leave it.  It is what it is.
*Edited to add- This does not mean that I am going to sabotage my daily life, not strive to wake up and be the best I can be everyday.  It only means that while I wish you the best with your resolutions, I will be be here as I am.  And when you're had enough, stop by, for a warm cookie with your coffee or a cold beer, to cry in, if you need.
As Always,
Tami