Random Post Today

December was full this year and included a camping trip.  Hubby and I went to Trailer Trash Christmas in Anacortes.  It was fun to see our camping peeps in the winter. I had fun dressing up Annie and Hubby for the holidays.

 I loved seeing everyone celebrate Christmas.

 We enjoyed being home and cozy too.

 I celebrated another birthday.

The Pie Pals came for lunch and a craft.

Girls night! Always fun and a long standing tradition! 2023 will be our 40th anniversary and I think we should start planning.

Sam and Katie made their exciting baby news public. Thank goodness because this grandma was about to burst!

Camping Mimi has been buying a few things. We get to find out if it's a boy or a girl this month.

Boy or girl, every newborn needs a camping outfit. Sam weighed over ten pounds so if baby is like Daddy they will wear newborn sizes for a hot minute. Breaking that info to Katie carefully.

 I put up three trees this year, and used a lot of neutrals. Our living room tree didn't have the shiny brites year. it was easier and calming.

Hubby rocked my Dad's Santa suit and we crashed Bill and Jodi's family party. Alex and Serena, I am sorry but therapy for Rory is your own expense.

 Sam and Katie and Max and Kassie came home for Christmas. We celebrated with Danny and Jess in MI over Thanksgiving and with face time.

 Why is there always one boy that has to wind up the chandelier and his mama like a top?

 Sam is pretty exited about he hatchet, not sure if we should be worried.

 We had a nice Christmas and I have the photos to prove it but i am still having photo/blog woes.

In January one of my walking buddy's son got married and we helped her. A beautiful and fun wedding for a special couple.

Hubby and I went to Ikea to get some things to organize our home.  I added some blush to our bedroom. Hubby is liking it too.

And then the weather... I love the snow as much as I despise the wind.  So far, we have had power and that is huge.  The last two years we lost power for 4+ days and I got cranky.

I am incredibly lazy during blizzards.  School snow days and it feels like the world stops so I do too.

Let's chat about Netflix. I finished Mrs. Maisel, and season 3 didn't feel as good as seasons 1 and 2 but still good. I binge watched the new season of Good Girls.  I am muddling through season 3 of The Crown.  Is anyone else struggling with the older actors?

What are you watching? I need something new. I'm thinking about Ozarks but it may be too scary for me.

I read The Mother in-Law and really enjoyed it.

I'm not on a diet but I should be. Wish I cared.

The blogging/photo issues are makin' me craycray!

What I am looking forward to:

Rio and Bee's wedding this weekend and seeing Rene' and Jeremy. 

A Sisters on the Fly event next weekend. Hubby gets to go too. Shelly!

My brother and Caroline are getting married February first!

New devotions for 2020.  First 5.  It's an app.

Holding a newborn baby and smelling its head. Not weird

2020 is a Hawaii year and we are going to the big island.  I haven't been there since I was a nanny. Ten glorious night, eek! Toes in the sand.

My sisters/cousins have a Palm Spring trip planned and I am giddy!

Finding out if our grand baby is a boy or a girl. I think Sam wants a girl.  He always wanted a baby sister and when we got Hawley (our dog) he had a flash of disappointment because he thought we'd adopted a baby girl. I still laugh about that. Sam will be happy with a healthy boy or a girl, so settle down.

I have a lot of camping reservations and have over 50 nights away from home reserved for 2020. I know. I know. That's a lot but it's all great trips!

Have a good weekend my friends!

January Random

Oh January, you aren't easy. The pressure to eat less, move more, the wind, the lack of light, back to school, the pressure to clean and organize. Ugh.  #thestruggleisreal

The first week of school isn't busy for subs so I had coffee with Leslie and Marjean one afternoon and I visited with the Pie Pals one afternoon. Having a bit of  friend time helps with the winter blues.

*It was last minute but I texted the Pie Pals and asked them if they could come over one afternoon for pie. They fell over themselves getting back to me. Yes, they would love to come over for pie! Since it's January I suspected diets and resolutions were the norm.  If I baked a pie I thought some wouldn't eat any or ask for a tiny sliver. 

So, I made sugar-free Jello in a pie plate. I had Cool Whip in the freezer left from Snow Salad Season aka Christmas and I had berries I had froze this summer. 

Imagine their shock, no coconut cream pie today, ladies! Oh my, did we laugh! I told them if they were having a cheat day I had Cool Whip.  The Jello with Cool Whip and Berries was a BiG 25 calories.

It turns out everyone loves Jello and it's the new January Pie Pals tradition.

Hubby and I have enjoyed the leftovers for dessert in the evening. 

*Besides the usual January eat less, move more, I have set another same goal. Hhhhmmm, as I'm writing I am realizing that if I have to keep setting the same goals or making the same resolutions every January, I am obviously not successful in the prior year. Anyhoo, back to goals, I have again set the goal to watch more TV.  I am generally not a fan of the television.  I have nothing against it, I just don't have the patience to sit there look at it. 

For Christmas I received a Roku and a Firestick, I kept both.  I am serious about it this year.

Party conversations turn to television shows and movies and I've been lacking. So, here I go again.

I've been watching the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I love the apartment, her wardrobe, the cars and the fast pace.  Midge is predicted to be the 2019 girl name of the year. #partyconversation

*I have watched a half an episode of Marie Kondo. I jumped up to clean out out junk drawer in the kitchen, got intimidated, sat back down and watched one episode of Schitt Creek.

Watching Marie Kondo is a two-fer resolution/goal.

I am watching TV and organizing and cleaning. Wait!  It's a threefer because I am moving more while organizing. 

The junk drawer is a fail.

The dishtowel drawer has been reorganized.  Isn't it pretty?

And that will last 3, 2, 1...

I have filled a few shopping bags to bring to the thrift store. But the reality is that I haven't actually brought them there yet.

*I have deactivated my Facebook account for a bit.  The political hate is too hard for me right now. 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and to free speech, but the pasting and sharing of unverified information was bringing me down and making me think less of some friends.

 Essential personnel is still going to work, yes, they will eventually be paid, no they cannot go on vacation. Furlough isn't a paid vacation if you still are going to work every day.  Many officers are GS5 or GS7, they live paycheck to paycheck and though they aren't getting paid, their daycare provider still needs to be paid.  Single parents, single income families are hurt by the government shut down.  Please don't sugar coat it with the trite, oh well, they'll eventually get paid, to me.

It's too close to home and if you can put names and faces with it, it would be for you too.

*The best thing about January is thinking about sunny vacations, camping trips and all of the planning. #overplanner  Sometimes my sunny fantasy doesn't match reality. But a girl can dream.

Isn't her suit darling?

Best Wishes friends, may all of your goals be reached and attainable this year!

Carry on.

Just What I Wanted

I love a good snow storm.  The perfect storm for me is a lot of snow, just enough NE wind to make it interesting, freezing temps but not colder than mid twenties, no power outages, no where to go, and no trips to take.  The last thing I want is to be trying to leave town in a storm and I don't want to miss the storm because I'm on vacation.

The stars and weather systems aligned for me and it is a perfect storm for me.

When I took the Christmas decorations down this year I put up a little icy, snow decor up in the kitchen window.

 I had bought a snow scene painting at an estate sale this summer.  I painted the frame with Old White ASCP to freshen up the frame.

 Hubby has to work no matter what the roads are like.  Case in point, today there is a state of emergency and everyone is encouraged to stay home, that isn't an option for him. I appreciate him and his coworkers so I baked oatmeal cranberry white chocolate cookies and hot cocoa cookies for them.

Baking is an integral part of being snowed in and then sharing it.

 I go outside every day, more than once.  It feels good to get fresh air.  I do a bit of shoveling, bring in some firewood, clean off the Jeep. I plan to get my snowshoes out today.

 The pictures are from yesterday, there is more snow today.

 I love to cook when I'm snowed in and this storm I've been busy.  Hubby and I had been to Drizzle in Lynden just prior to the storm.  We bought Wild Mushroom and Sage Olive Oil and Cranberry and Pear Balsamic Vinegar. I put a pork roast in the crock pot with some of the oil, sage and mushrooms. 

The oil and vinegar pair well for a salad dressing.

Yesterday I made 6-7 Cheese Mac and Cheese, I cleaned out the deli drawer.  I wanted ribs to serve with it.  Bill and Jodi were going to the store and to check on Mom.  They agreed to bring me ribs, I met them on the road and traded ribs for kahlua.  Friends walked to our place for dinner last night.  The mac and cheese and ribs were a good combo.  I made a big green salad too.  We watched the Superbowl and then mourned the outcome.

 I love our wood stove.  We had a short power outage on Sunday morning and it is nice to not have to worry about keeping warm.  Boots, hats and gloves dry nicely in front of the fire.

Unless you live here it is hard to comprehend what the wind from the Fraser Valley, Canada does to the snow in north Whatcom County.  It can be brutal. Many roads are closed, all schools are closed, and it is tough for the farmers.

But for me, it's the bomb!  I am loving it and making the best of this perfect storm.

Stay cozy!

Around Here

Hubby has been working on our '57 Aloha travel trailer.  Mostly just taking things apart.  We needed to find out if the ice box and stove can be restored or if there is just too much damage.  I asked our local Vintage Aloha Travel Trailers on facebook.  Their feedback was that yes they can be saved but no one knew who could do it for us.  If you know of someone that can help, let me know.

 I think with some sanding and paint I can fix up the ice box myself but the stove needs a sand blaster, powder coating and a rebuilding of the mechanics.  I'm hoping that they can be saved.

 My favorite patch of little white flowers are blooming under the fig tree.

 It's raining this morning but we've had some nice days to work in the yard.  There is always a lot of clean up in the spring and the grass is really growing.

The blog turned into a travelogue for a bit but that is over for now.  We are playing catch up at work and at home.  It's all good, though.

On The Tour

While our house was on the tour, I went touring.  I'm going to share a few of my favorites from each house in this post.  I met up with my Mom, Shelly and her Mom, Nelia, Karen. Sheryl, and Deb.  I put my house on the tour, drove the bus, read the map to find the first house.  Until I yelled, "For crying out loud!  Do I have to do EVERYTHING?"  That got their attention and they all started reading house numbers.  Hah!

The first house we toured was a very beautiful family home with a gorgeous view.  It would be a treat for a busy Mom to soak in the tub and  look out at the scenery.  I spotted an outdoor shower too.  I've always thought that would be great to have while the kids are home.

The kitchen so big and beautiful.  Deb was totally having a moment imagining that she lives there.  In her mind she's entertaining, watching her husband, Pete cook and loving life in her beautiful BiG new kitchen.  And then we told her to get in the van.

I don't have a good picture so use your imagination a bit.  The pewter Christmas plates displayed at the cabinet tops were a wonderful collection displayed with great lighting.  They belong there.

After I gave Deb a talk about coveting I noticed the black cabinets just off the kitchen.  Well, for a china and glassware junkie this was enough to make me weep.  IWANTTHAT!  Oh my, I could have such a grand time filling this space with dishes...  I was coveting, a bit.  Well, a lot.  Deb had the last laugh.

Next stop was at Rod and Lavonne's sweet little house that is not little, at all.  From the street their house appears to be on the small side but it actually has about 3000 square feet.  They have made good use of their space. 

Holy vignettes Batman!  It was one after another.  So many pretty, clever vignettes that I could hardly take it in fast enough.  Lavonne  creates the displays at Grandiflora so she really is a vignette pro.

See what I mean?

Then we went up the stairs to the guest room, studio, storage area.

It was an aqua, red and pink winter wonderland.  I wanted to stay forever.  Crafting, sewing, (hey, it's my fantasy so yes, I can sew), napping on the comfy bed, sipping cocoa and living on marshmallows.

I have a lot of photos of my room, yes, my room, remember it's my fantasy.  Then my people drug me crying and pouting down the stairs.

On to Mark and Carrie's house.  I think it was Mark's brother that designed their floor plan.  A family with three girls/young women they each have their private space yet great spaces to come together, whether it's with friends in the bonus room, in the great room, the craft room, the music room or exercise room.  

A great family home with one of the best designs I have ever seen.

We could hear laughing coming from the bathroom as we approached.  The melted Frosty in the shower was  a fun tour touch.  If you have little ones at home, it would be fun for them to find Frosty in the shower on Christmas morning.

Those Stremler girls and their craft rooms!  Honestly.  So, after I make all my Christmas gifts at Lavonne's house I am heading over to Carrie's craft room to wrap them.  A creative Mom, three daughters with the creative gene making and creating in this room would be bliss.

Speaking of creative, the concrete forms painted aqua covering the wall in one of the bedrooms really made a statement.  Art.

The fire crackling in the great room was so welcoming.

Since I don't have girls I really enjoyed the girly details in the bedrooms.

I don't know where Carrie found the crystal lighted Christmas tree displayed on the night stand but I love that tree and I will junk until I find my very own.  I will hunt you down, Beautiful, and take you home.

The kitchen was a bakers dream.  Carrie gets help from her girls with the baking and there is room for everyone.

Next we went to our neighbors, Chad and Trisha's, cottage.  Their house was the oldest of the five homes on tour.  Cozy and quirky with some history, yes please!

Trisha is the youngest sister to Carrie and Lavonne but Trisha and I are soul sisters.  For sure.  I had a feeling we might be but when I stepped into Trisha's house it was like coming home for me.

Since she is crazy creative she has a studio too.  I love the simple tree on the wall.  I am guessing that all of the photos were taken by Trisha.

Their boys' bedrooms were so great.  These rooms made me a bit melancholy for when my guys were little.  The toys and trucks and boy stuff was great and I could feel the vibes of some fun loving, nice guys. 

The kitchen is an old house sized kitchen with the space maximized by its open shelves and island in the center.

Who thinks to put a Christmas tree in a thermos jug?  Well, Trisha, of course!  Sheesh, that's adorable.

The tree, the putz house, "HOME" on the shelf gave me the shivers.  This is their home and it is cozy.

The table was set using pink and aqua for Christmas dinner.  The chocolate Dutch letters are their place cards, a wonderful tradition.  I love it that Trisha uses pink in a house of guys.

My soul sister and I share a love a maps and globes.  JOY strung accross the map makes even a non-singer like myself start to hum, Joy to the World, the Lord has come.

Lastly, we went to the Stone House, where I waited in the van.  It'd be creepy to tour my own place.

Tour day was a lot of fun for me.  I loved seeing the other homes, I spent the day with my Mom and my friends and I got to hear others enjoy the tour.  Sam's girl, Angela took her Mom on the tour.  I got this text from her and it made me smile.

I ran into friends that I hadn't seen in years.  It was wonderful to see Elaine and Irene.

Such a fun day!  Let's do it again!  

NO, no, we will not be doing this again.  

Ever. 

As fun as it was being on the home tour is a one time deal.

And they lived happily ever after.  After long naps and some recovery time, of course.

The End