Best. Junkin'. Day. Ever.

Shelly, Chris and I went junkin' today.  A barn sale was advertised featuring musical instruments.  I don't really collect anything musical but it sounded like a fun outing so I was in.  Remember I'm doing anything to avoid painting the landing.  Chris offered to drive her pickup just in case we found something really BiG.  The barn was at the end of a long narrow driveway.  Since Chris has four wheel drive she bravely,  foolishly decided to drive past the other shoppers through the field to find rock star parking.

I was cheering her on.  Shelly, a savvy farm girl, was in the back seat curled up in the fetal position begging us to stop.  She knew that under the grass in the field there would be mud.  It looked like innocent grass to Chris and me.  

Why yes, there was mud.  And we sunk until we were stuck.  But we got a close parking spot.  Obviously the only thing to do would be to jump out of the truck and get in  line for the sale.  We'll think about getting out later.  We don't want to risk missing out on any good stuff.

It was pretty deep when I opened my door.

 Chris found some frames and a very cool scale.

We jumped back in the truck and tried to leave.  Nope.  We were definitely stuck.  Chris called her husband and got some advice.  We had the windows down and asked other shoppers for advice.  We needed some traction so Shelly and Chris got a board.

 This may not work.  And just as the 23rd man went past and we pronounced chivalry as being dead... a long came a nice guy.  He pulled us out. Chris backed down the driveway and we were on our way.  Thank you knight in shining armor otherwise known as the guy in the Chevy truck.  He told us he really was a Ford guy but someone gave him the Chevy.  Only way he'd drive one.  Funny guy!  Helpful too!

Then it was on to the next estate sale.  It takes more than a little mud to slow us down.

 After a much needed coffee break at Woods we toured Chris' studio.  I didn't take any photos because my mouth was hanging open in awe.  And I was trying to absorb as much of her creative energy as I possibly could.  She has the best studio and recycles, up cycles and creates amazing things.  Thanks for the inspiration, Chris.

Then Shelly and I loaded up our loot to go home and Chris went to the car wash.  Her husband was very gracious about the dirty truck but I do think Shelly and I may have gotten a bad reputation as being a BaD influence on Chris.

 In Shelly's defense she did try to stop us.  Whereas I was encouraging Chris to go for it, in between giggling and snort laughing.

 We found some good loot.  The painting... it was a gift.  A gift that every time I look at it I will giggle while remembering the day we went junkin' but ended up muddin'.

The little green pan is for the '54 Aloha trailer.  The spoons will get stamped.  And I can never have too many trays or urns.  Not that I'm justifying, I like junk and enjoy  my junk.  Most of all I love getting the junk.  Especially when there is so much laughing involved in the hunt.

Random and Boring

Pretty random today...  and boring.

*I had a busy week at work.  After vacation when I returned to my desk, I couldn't actually get to my desk as there were 20+ boxes of new inventory for the museum gift shop.  It's a bit like Christmas opening all of the packages.  Then reality sets in and everything needs to be priced and displayed.  It's a bit like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.  Lego showed up, which is a modern day miracle.

*Hubby had the flu this week.  Miserable, fever, aching mess for him.

*I have three things that I need to take care of but do not feel like doing any of them.

The fafsa, washing the walls with tsp, ironing and writing minutes for a church meeting.

Yes, I guess that is four things.  I need to stop thinking about them and just get things finished.

*I'm reading Maeve Binchy's last book, A Week in Winter.  She wrote it before she died in 2012.  I always looked forward to her new books.  I'm trying to read sloooowly as this is the last book.

*Military Moms met this morning and I am always encouraged with them.

*Tomorrow I am going on an early morning field trip with friends, I'll try to post about this adventure.

*Have a good weekend!  Sunday is Daytona!  Enjoy!

Pepto Pink

Love Week is over for another year.  The pepto pink blog background has been retired.  We had a fabulous time celebrating our marriage.  Max came home for the weekend.  Hubby went to visit family.  The house got tidy, laundry got caught up, and the pasture got its Spring cleaning.

Hubby and I are going back to work today.  And it feels good.  We had a good rest. 

Now it's time to jump back into the routines.

We're ready.

We both have jobs we love.

We have projects to complete at the Stone House.

We have goals to work toward.

It's all good.

NYC Smash Books

 Last evening the NYC trip girls came over to my place.  I had treat boxes with a NYC taxi cab and a Statue of Liberty ornament as their place cards.  We had taco soup for a light supper and brownie bites and almond cookies for dessert.  Mom joined us for a visit.

 Jodi and I printed wallet size and regular size pictures to share.  Everyone brought their Smash books, souvenirs, washi tapes and embellishments.  We embellish because we have scrapped with Miss Becky and she is all about embellishing.  Miss you Becky!

These are a few of my pages in my Smash book. 

 The apple dumplings at Knobels are worth flying across the country for and they are page worthy.

 I did a page about our visit to the Hook.

 My hotel page because I love hotels.

 Times Square at night page.  Yes, we saw the naked cowboy.

We made so many good memories on our trip to PA and NYC that we started talking about our next trip.  We aren't sure where we are going yet, but we are going somewhere together.

Shhhh, please don't mention that information to our husbands.  They aren't ready yet.

It was fun to laugh about our good times and to think about our next stop.

Sending Love

Since we can't be together for a heart shaped meatloaf this Valentine's Day, I sent the guys care packages.  Meatloaf doesn't mail well so I baked some treats instead.

GUYS!  Check your mailboxes!  Do not read unless you have received your package.

I baked Neiman Marcus Cookies for the care packages.  Max had been asking for them and I'd been avoiding them.  They are a bit labor intensive.  Hubby blended the oats for me and he grated the chocolate bars.  It really helps to have a food processor for the Neiman Marcus Cookies.  And a husband that helps.

I baked S'more Bars too, it took more will power than I ever thought I had not to eat the pan of bars instead of mailing the bars to the guys.  The guys also got candy and chex mix in their Valentine's Day care packages.  We mailed them from Seaside and the postmistress told us the boxes would arrive in time for Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Second Honeymoon

Sometimes the second honeymoon is even better than the first.  We are having a wonderful time on the Oregon coast.  Hubby even did the slide.  You know, THE slide.  You're at dinner and he slides a box from the jeweler across the table.  Yes. That slide.  There is nothing better than a jewelry box sliding across the dinner table.  Every girl knows it but not every guy.  My guy gets it.  I love that guy!

Our 25th Anniversary

On Saturday evening our dear friends helped us celebrate our 25th anniversary with a wonderful dinner.  We felt so blessed by our marriage, our friends, crazy good food, an amazing toast by our BEST guy, Mark, and the love of good, good friends.

 Now we are reliving our honeymoon of 25 years ago, Seaside, Oregon 2013.  We are older, wiser and still in love.  Twenty five years ago we came here on our honeymoon.  Three boys later, six houses later, many jobs later, we are still together, still in love and thankful for our blessings of each other, family and faith.  Thank you to everyone for the gifts, dinner, cards and best wishes for our anniversary.
Thank you too for encouraging us through 25 years.  Looks like we made it!

A Military Mom's Heart

 Sam was out in the field at Fort Bragg last week.  The Army photographer was with his group and posted some photos to face book.  I spotted Sam.  Sam is on the left, I labeled the pic to help you find him.

 Now Sam is on the right.

 Sam is still on the right.

A good week for this military mom!  I pore through all of the pictures that the 82nd Airborne post on face book.  After years of looking and hoping I found his promotion and later his unit in the field within a week.

That is a really, really good thing for a military mom's heart!

Valentine Dinners

2012  Scrabble Theme

2011  Love Birds Theme

2010  Red and Pink Theme

 2009  You Mean the World to Me Theme

For twenty four years I have made a heart shaped meatloaf for Valentine's Day dinner.  This year we will be busy celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary during LoVe Week.  The meatloaf will be delayed...

I didn't make meatloaf on our first Valentine's Day as a married couple as we were on our honeymoon on the Oregon coast.

This year we will be celebrating a second honeymoon on the Oregon Coast on Valentine's Day.

Our nest is empty, traditions are changing, I'll make the meatloaf when we get home.  Set the table, make a special dinner and sit down with your family for LoVe week.  Make the most of your family time, it's fleeting.
Then there are new traditions as a couple and that is pretty great too!
Enjoy!