The Beginning of the End

Last night was the Lynden Christian FFA banquet.  I took this series of pictures of the officers meeting with their advisor, Mr. Van, before the dinner.  There are lines involved and a proper protocol with an FFA meeting.  The moms of the officers make the dinner.  There is a proper protocol for the meal too.  All the cooking instructions are typed out and it is the same menu every year.  It went like clock work.

 Since I was there making dinner I snapped some pics of the BiG officers' pow wow prior to the banquet.  These pics crack me up, I'm not exactly sure why, maybe because I can see their personalities in the pics.

Austin is giving one of the yearly reports.  It's interesting to hear all of the reports on all of the different activities that the kids are involved in during the year.

Mr. Van talks about all of the seniors and their contributions to the FFA program.  I always love that part of the evening.  He finds the best in every student.  The seniors' grandparents are invited too.  My folks came and Uncle Darryl and Aunt Judy came too.  Max asked them to come as they played a big part in him being able to show dairy animals.

Max was awarded the 2012 Forage Production Proficiency Award in Placement.

I am thankful for these students that feel called to farm.  They love the land and the animals.  Farming isn't easy today, and yet there are all these students excited to get out there and be involved in Agriculture.  

Good thing, cuz we all gotta eat.

It was a bittersweet evening as it was the end of Max's FFA career  in high school.

The FFA banquet is the first of the all the lasts in school.  It is a slippery and fast slope to graduation in June.

Happy Trails Farmers!

Projects Gone Bad and Projects Gone Good

 I found the Easter decorations this weekend.  I thought I had lost them forever but they were in the attic all along, just in a different storage container than I remembered.  I cleaned this weekend, Hubby did yard work and we worked on projects.

Even though Max has been in school for almost 12 years, it just hit us this weekend that we have a graduation party coming up!  So, obviously we should finish all of the projects and get our game on for June.  

Panic attack!

 I painted. Over and over and over again, I painted.  You don't even want to know.  Someday this project gone bad will be just a faint, bad memory and the finished project will be fantastic however; in the meantime I am just about ready to haul it off to the dump.  Seriously.

Hubby spray painted the legs of the chair project and they came out perfect.  Today the chairs leave to where they will lose their dusty rose fabric behind.  Forever.

We are expecting a crazy busy week here at the Stone House.  As Max left for school he mentioned he would like to just hide here and avoid it all.  I agree, let's hide under the covers until it's over.  

It's all good, just a little much for one week.  

And in addition to a crazy week, we need to get these projects under control.  June is coming!

I'll keep you posted, as time permits...

My Guys

Where are the guys lately?  Well, they are not at Mt. Baker, the photo you see was taken in December.  I'll give an update but no current picture and certainly not of them together.

Danny

Danny celebrated his 25th birthday yesterday.  He celebrated with his girl, Jess in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  

Danny is busy with school and work at Bistro Bella Vita.  He will finish school in December.

It's hot in Michigan so Dan got out his AC unit yesterday and bought a Weber BBQ.  Sounds amazing to me.

We had a nice visit on the phone last night but I really want to see him in real life.

Sam

That Sam I Am is all over the world.  I am so thankful that we can text via groupme.  

Sam started his week in Oman, where he has been with the army.

Tuesday I got a text, "in quatar, chillin in civillian clothes and havin a few beers."

This morning at 2:12 a.m. I got another text, "im in italy, on my way home."

It will be nice to hear his voice again, I'm hoping for a call tonight, but I'll totally understand if he sleeps first.

Max

Max is winding down on his high school career and all of the year end activities.  He gave notice at his high school part time job at Westside Pizza this week.  I went to a meeting yesterday for the FFA banquet that the officers and their parents have planned for next week. 

The sun shone yesterday and Max went riding.  Dirt bike, that is.

He is working on his Senior Speech/Presentation.

Max brought his car in for some work yesterday, he is getting it ready for the Eastern Washington commute.  His goal is to have it last two more years while he studies at Walla Walla Community College.

I am so thankful for each of my guys.  They are out there shakin' the world, everyday.  God bless 'em.

Diet Cupcakes

 Of course, I found this recipe on Pinterest.  Is there any other source for fantastic ideas?

Diet Cupcakes

1 white cake mix

1 can of diet 7up

2 egg whites- optional*

Mix the ingredients together just like any other cake mix.  The diet pop helps the batter to raise without the fat of oil and egg yolks.  It looks just like regular cake batter.

 Fill 24 cupcakes 2/3 full of batter.

 Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and then check every two minutes.  The original recipe called for 30 minutes and that would have been too long.

 Cool completely.  Top with 2 T. lite cool whip for a snack under 100 calories.

It needs a fresh strawberry on top but I didn't have any in the house.

Next time.

 I can't wait to try diet coke with a chocolate cake mix, or diet cherry 7up with a cherry chip mix or diet orange soda with a white mix or....

OH MY!

Trash to Treasures

Hubby and I went to an estate sale early Friday morning.  It was at a great old house in Blaine and the family was so nice and very organized.  In fact, everything was so nice that we decided they had thrown away the trash.  Probably the trash that was treasures.

We did find a pretty lamp for $5 and some free vintage Christmas lights so we did alright.

As we paid for our treasures, the gentleman told me that they had thrown the lamp in the garbage and then decided to try and sell it. So they pulled it out of the dumpster.

I'm thinking that dumpster was full of treasures.

So it goes.

Best Wishes

I would like to give my Best Wishes to one of my readers and his fiance.  Congratulations Adam on your engagement!  And Best Wishes to your sweet, pretty fiance. 

Besides the vows and the serious stuff... Adam, the only important part of the wedding is the cake!

That is all anyone really remembers.  Really!

So happy for you!

Finding the Right Blue

I'm trying to bring some blue into our living room.  On Friday I went through the house and found anything gold or blue and piled it on the table.  Then I moved things around.  I put a group of things in a tray on the mantle, picked some snowdrops and added a faux fern.

 I layered some bits and pieces.

 I pulled a pretty tray from a bathroom for the coffee table.  It's holding coasters and some candles now.

 I'm still struggling with pillows and a throw or two.  I had some home from Pier One but they were just too dark.  The blue needs to be a grayish aqua pale blue color.  Robin egg blue but I want it a bit turquoiseish.  It's a tad difficult to locate.  Apparently, it can only be found in my mind.

Meanwhile, Max and Kassie stopped by after dinner at Anthony's on Sunday evening.  

They are just so cute,  I mean, pretty and handsome.

Of course, in between the decorating I am doing suzy homemaker kinds of things, working at the museum, trying to stay warm  and waiting for Spring.  

Parenting Can Be Rewarding

I've had my eye on a new raincoat at the Gap for this Spring.  The color is pomegranate juice.  I love raincoats.  I'm not sure it's because I live in the Pacific NorthWET but I like the lightweight feel of a raincoat and they make me feel prepared.  A pretty raincoat is a sign that winter is on its way out.

This raincoat met a lot of criteria, it was a pretty color, a good length, single breasted and belted.  Retail $98.

I wanted it.  I wanted it bad. I was determined but patient that it would be mine.

For many years I have been buying jean for guys at the Gap.  Earning reward points and then using them for more jeans for guys.  It was a vicious cycle of jeans, jeans and more jeans.  Guys, guys and more guys.

On Friday it was all about Mom, I had hoarded my rewards.  I had saved my special 40% off coupon for myself.  So when she rung up my new pink raincoat on Friday and it came to $8.80,  I was pretty happy.  

The gals at the Gap were so happy for me too.

Now, I'm kinda wishing for rain.

Snowdrops Part II

 The snowdrops were literally in the snow this morning.  I don't care if it's March, I still get a thrill when I open the shades and see snow.  And in March it isn't going to stick around, so why not enjoy the beauty?

It was a gorgeous morning, snow on the branches, a beautiful blue sky and the sun shining so brightly.

I walked to work so I could soak it in.

Loving every minute.

It's Raining and I'm Reading

I've been reading.  It's been raining and I've been stuck inside.  I got an injury last Monday and so I've had to slow down a bit.  I'm not much into television so I read.  That said, I love my Downton Abbey!  I'm not convinced that Masterpiece Theatre is actually television.

With my Downton Abbey obsession I came across a memoir that was listed as a reference for Downton Abbey.  Below Stairs  was written by Margaret Powell in 1968.  It's considered the kitchen maid's memoir that inspired Downton Abbey.  Below Stairs  is a quick read and the author tells it how it was, she holds nothing back.  It's a delightful read.

While A Vintage Affair  by Isabel Wolff  could be considered chick lit, I really did enjoy this book.  A story of a young woman and an older woman told around beautiful vintage clothes.  The story  looked back to World War II and in the end the story made you want to look ahead to Phoebe's future.  I love vintage clothes and as I am a big boned girl they are not in my wardrobe however; that doesn't mean I cannot enjoy them.  And I did, in A Vintage Affair.

Last night I finished  Lone Wolf  by Jodi Picoult.  I have enjoyed most of her books.  Her writing draws the reader into a story whether or not they want to be.  A man that leaves his family to live with wolves, to become part of their pack... generally not my kind of book.  But I couldn't put it down once I read the second chapter.  Jodi Picoult's books are usually about current topics with court room scenes, Lone Wolf  was no exception.  

A book that I'll be thinking about for a long time.  In fact, I dreamt about it last night with a different ending.  I think I need to reread the last three chapters to make sure I know how it ends!

Snowdrops

 Our snowdrops are in full bloom, as is our crocus patch.  The snowdrops are in the back by the woodshed.  I pick them so that we can actually enjoy them.  Since I spent a good part of Friday cleaning bathrooms I ended my afternoon putting together small bouquets for the master bath.

Snowdrops are one of my favorites.  I'm not sure if it's because they are so pretty or because they are the first  flowers of the season, but I do love them.