Random Catch Up

I'm baaaack.  May was a little crazy, in the best way.  In all my years of blogging I don't think I have ever missed an entire month, until May 2019.  May is always my busiest month for subbing.  I squeezed in a of of fun too. Let's get caught up.

Danny and Jess visited us from Michigan the first week of May.  We had a good time being tourists with them and visiting at home.  Danny finished his Master's degree at Grand Valley University and Jess completed her first year as a math prof at GVU.  It was a good time for a break for them.

Hubby gave them a cast iron crash course for their summer camping trips.  He made biscuits and gravy one morning.  Bo helped like a boss.

The one night almost everyone was home, Katie had to work so it's the gang minus one photo.  She was able to see Danny and Jess other nights.

Hubby and I went camping at Port Townsend.  It was Annie's first ferry ride.  We met up with our camping crew and had a great trip kicking off camping season 2019. 

We camped at the marina and enjoyed the farmer's market and the Rhodie Fest in town.

May means yard work and this year we (Hubby) took out the trees around the patio.  Then built some curbing and planted new trees.  The winters have been hard on shrubs here and ours were getting old. So, a fresh start!

 We all know how one thing leads to another and the patio was no exception.  Hubby  installed drip lines in all of the flower beds.

We took or patio from drab to fab.

We added outdoor living room furniture and we were still able to keep the dining area. I am loving coffee time in the morning with my fire and all of the lights in the evenings. 

 Jodi had the pie pals over for strawberry pie and her Specialtea.

I went on a Sisters on the Fly camping trip to Bay View State Park.

It was a really nice event with a lot of chill time.  That is my favorite part of SOTF, you can do the big organized activities or do your own thing.  It's perfect for this introvert.  A day in La Connor with old friends and a new friend, biking the dike trail, lunching and visiting the galleries in Edison, sitting around the campfire and enjoying the sunsets, yep, that was perfect.

Morning coffee in her peignoir, my friend Kathy knows how to glamp.

On Monday I am leaving for SOTF NW Gathering.  I have been prepping the trailer and my wardrobe for days.  Three more sleeps! It actually starts on Wednesday but I have a prefunc with a pool.  #poolside

After some kicking and screaming I left the book world and got a Kindle.  I have resisted for so long.

Annnnd, I love it!  I use the libby app on my iphone , it's a Washington State library system that I can use with my Lynden Library card.

I just finished two non-fiction books, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother's Will to Survive and Flat Broke with Two Goats.  Leslie, I think you'd enjoy the goat husbandry more than I did but I muddled through and it was interesting. 

Now school's out for summer and I am heading for some beach reads.

I saved the best for last in this rather lengthy post.  Sam and Katie are engaged!

It is wonderful to see Sam so happy.  Katie is delightful and we are excited for her to join our family.

And it's March

Last week was mid winter break. It felt like I'd just had a vacation with so many snow days in February but this was different.  I stayed home in February and it felt good.  This break I got out and that felt good too.

On Thursday Karen picked me up and we went to Burlington to do some shopping. I am a coupon queen, reward hoarder, Gap family shopper.  I needed a spring wardrobe boost for under $50. Success at Old Navy. We went to Target too.  Yes, we have a Target in Bellingham but the Burlington one is better.  We had lunch at the Train Wreck, always a good idea. The sun was out and it was a pretty drive.

On Friday Franny had an estate sale scheduled and I made plans to go with my sis, Jodi.  There was a lot of photography equipment as it was the estate of an US Army photographer and his wife.

I brought two cast iron pots home to Hubby.

 He worked on them on Saturday,  they are seasoned and ready for camping season.

The quilt made from an army blanket and lined with flannel is really interesting and is just the right size for a camp fire lap robe for me.

 Jodi and I met up with Chris, Kim and Shelly at the sale.  Chris asked us if we wanted to shop her studio... Uhmmm, YES!

I am going to paint the table for the sitting room, the table in there now is too low and has bugged me long enough.

 The mountain picture is from the estate sale, I have a similar one from my parents and I'd like to hang them together.  I'm hoping to collect more of that style.

 The old radio is getting a paint job. It's not going to work for the spot I intended but I'll find a spot. The top lifts up and I hope to find a cooler to fit inside.

 We usually go for coffee after shopping at an estate sale but that morning went so long that we ended up having lunch at The Mill. A long, laughter filled, delicious lunch with inspiring women.  

Yes, please!

Friday night Sam and Max stayed here. This mama is always happy when the guys come home.  We went out for breakfast on Saturday. Sam went home and Max stayed for the weekend.

That was a fun filled long weekend, just what I needed. Now it's back to eating at home, walking and working on the projects I purchased.

This text is from Max, and I thought y'all could use a laugh.

I am working on a second edition of the cookbook I wrote for the guys.  Apparently, I left out tater tot casserole and taco soup.  It has caused some angst.

Enjoy a wind free day, my friends!

2018 in a Looong Review

 I took some time this morning to think back on 2018. God is good.

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him." ... Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.  Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.

Psalm 135

The Instagram hashtag #livehappy popped up for me yesterday. I do try to choose joy everyday. There are days where it isn't easy.  But I've been blessed with many days that it is easy to choose joy.

I wanted to share some of my favorite photos from 2018.  It turns out that I had many, many wonderful days in 2018.

The photos are in no particular order.  That would have taken me a lot of time as my computer has completely scrambled my pics. That hasn't made me very happy or joyful this year.

Hubby and I living our best life.  I love my guy.

 I loved seeing Sam and Levi both so happy at Levi's wedding.

 This was such a good photo at Silver Lake that Kulshan Brewery used it too.

 Oh mylanta, these guys make me laugh. 

 The Pie Pals give me joy and it was fun to be reunited for an afternoon this summer.

 Jessica received her masters degree and Danny will in April.  My heart gets the chest tights for Jess and Danny, they are so happy and work so hard to reach their goals.

Entertaining gives me joy!

 Huaka'i Annie gives me joy!  My morning coffee gives me joy too.

 Oh my, Hubby and I can have so much fun together.

 My extended family brought back the Vander Haak camping trip.  It was so good to have the next generation show up, sleep in a tent in the pouring rain and still baby Aurora was good as gold.

 This tribe on the Naches River is so much good and happiness.  I'm tearing up looking at this photo because they are such a blessing to us.  If I'm not crying, I'm laughing cuz there is a lot of laughing with them.  Steve and Jean, I miss you.

 Get outside!

 Oh Liz, we don't see each other enough!  Her hubby Eric couldn't come with her to the rally this year but he told me on the phone, you have the best Liz, she is so happy with all of you and that is the Liz I love the most.  I think Liz chooses joy and it felt really touching to me that her hubby sees that in her.

 What does Tami want?  Waterfront campsites.  Rivers, lakes, oceans and pools are my jam.

Annie!

 Seeing Hubby excited to try something new makes me happy.  He took a class from Scott and Renee this summer and he is jumped on the Lodge Dutch oven bus.  The added bonus has been delicious food and less camp cooking for moi.

 This is always one of the best days of my summer. #floatingismyfavorite

Some of my trailer tribe gals!

 Hubby and I finding new breweries and enjoying the journey.

 A spontaneous day trip with Mark and Karen to Winthrop was so fun and the ride was gorgeous.

 I got running water this year.  You have no idea what a happy camper this has made me.

 Max loves his in-laws and that give me joy.

 The Fourth of July in George, family weddings, Hubby and I love his in-laws too.

 We'll be reunited in January 2019 and I am counting the days.

Mostly the guys bring me joy unless they're making mama crazy.

Thanksgiving season warms my heart.

 December is my favorite.

 

 I celebrated my 60th birthday in December.

There was a spa day from my sisters and brother and a beautiful dinner party from friends.

A trip to the W in Belllevue and Snowflake Lane with Hubby. He treated me like a queen.

 Sam graduated from fire academy in December. It is so good to see him reach this goal and feel good about himself.

 I brought back Friendmas.  It was fun to plan and a fun evening.

I didn't make the guys wear ties or have etiquette lessons like the good old days.

They are grown up and have good manners.

 Vern and Shelly with their kiddos.

 Christmas!

I bought this painting at Pike Street Market this fall.  It will always remind me of the good time we had in Seattle with friends.

  I said goodbye to my Mom and that was hard.  Still is hard. 

But my joy for her makes it easier for me.

 My guys took good care of me on the day of her funeral.

 Our last Mother's Day with Mom.

My sisters carried me through.  My Sisters on the Fly tribe and my sissies, Kathi and Jodi were such a beautiful blessing for me in 2018.

Happy New Year Friends!  #livehappy #choosejoy

Cheers!