Love Week 2018

Oh February, I love thee. The sights, the smells and the lovely feelings are a mid winter treat.

Hubby and I celebrated 30 years of marriage this week. We made a point of planning something special to commemorate 30 years. We made reservations at the Chrysalis Inn and Spa. We had a beautiful room, gorgeous weather for walking, a spa day, cocktails at Galloways, and a delicious dinner at Keenen's on the Pier.

We decided to get dressed up for our special occasion.  Life is as special as you make it.

A suit and tie, a velvet dress and fur cape do make an evening more special than jeans and boots.

 On Valentine's Day, I subbed and I LOVE to be at school for Valentine's Day.  Oooh, they were wired, snow and a holiday that involves cupcakes, chocolate and a party!  Oh. My.  I only had a half day, which was fun and enough.

I came home where I had soup in the crock pot, the table set and guests arriving shortly.  It was my turn to host Pie Pals and since it was Valentine's Day I decided to have lunch instead of pie for them.

 Holly had given me my vintage truck and trailer cake topper and I dolled it up with hearts.

 Oh Miss Becky!  We miss you.

 Hubby made dinner for Sam and I, another delicious meal and a good visit with Sam.

Today I am home, trying to get caught up, cleaned up and sorted, and get rid of my second cold.

Late next week, Palm Springs! The sunshine should help. 

#poolside 

A Fall Weekend

Last weekend was Hubby's weekend off work and we decided to make the most of it.

We went to an estate sale on Friday morning.  Franny. the queen bee of estate sales, always comes out of the house and welcomes the shoppers and gives her safety speech before she opens the doors.  This time she said, "okay people, we have a bit of a hoarding situation here today..." Which is probably what she'll say when she runs my estate sale some day.  We found some treasures and then went home to hitch up Annie for a quick getaway.

 By lunch time we were enjoying taco soup at Silver Lake.

 After lunch Hubby took a nap and I took a hike.

 We had a good time hiking, playing cards, making meals together, reading by the fire and just relaxing.  We didn't pack everything for glamping, just for camping.

 Silver Lake is my happy place in the fall.

Saturday after lunch, we came home, unloaded Annie and got ready to go to Octoberfest at K2 Brewery.  Mark and Karen were picking us up and Kassie and her parents were going to join us there. As we were getting ready Hubby mentioned that the only thing that could improve Octoberfest was if Sam wasn't gone to National Guards and could join us. I had just been thinking that myself!

 So happy!  Sam showed up and all of his buddies too.  Sam got released early and Collin drove to Fort Lewis McChord get him.  It was a big night for Collin, Jonny, and Jesse as Kulshan had brewed one of their recipes and it was there for the tasting.

Congratulations guys!

Hubby is telling Max's future father-in-law that he did all he could and Max is his problem now.

I kid. 

On Sunday we went to church and then had dinner at my Mom's apartment with my family.  Kathi made yummy enchiladas and rice. And then it was nap time.

I subbed last week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So when Holly suggested Pie Pals coming to her house on Tuesday, I was giddy.  Because there is NO better place to visit than Holly's house in the fall.  Besides peach pie she served grape juice.  Holly is superSusiehomemaker so she grew the grapes and canned the juice.  

 Everywhere I looked I saw beautiful fall vignettes in her home, on her porch, in the garden.  It was glorious fall!

 She gave us a spontaneous lesson on how to make cute, no sew pumpkins.  It was a fun Pie Pals gathering but we still miss our Becky.

I should have taken more photos of her autumn splendor because it's not so cute at the Stone House.

Though it was inspiring and I have now done a few things.

Enjoy Autumn!

Random Monday

 I've got some random today.  

Pie Pals Update

The Pie Pals are eating some glum pie because Miss Becky moved to North  South Carolina. We plan to eat pie without Becky but it won't the same.

 We went to Holly's house and had a test before we ate pie.

 We all passed and received our Snowpocalypse  2017 Badge.

Everything is cute and fun at Holly's house. It made me want to collect badges like a Girl Scout.

Her pecan pie was delish!

We had one last pie before Miss Becky left us.  I made coconut cream pie and hosted at my house.

Remember Pie Fixes Everything so while we were sad about Becky leaving we enjoyed the pie and since it was a sorrowful occasion everyone had seconds. That and a champagne cocktail helps.  

All better.

3, 2, 1... MAUI

I've been gathering dollar paperbacks to take to the beach and have a fairly decent stack.

Last trip to Maui I ran out of reading material and had to go to the free pile and take whatever was left. I'm not Harlequin Romance reader but I did it. Ugh. This year I'm ready!

 I have a new swim suit and cover up.  The shoes were in my closet and just in case I want to wear heels to the pool I can.  Every eventuality.  I'll keep you posted on the shoes and the amount of luggage.  #thestruggleisreal

 Karen and I made dinner reservations for the week. Oh my! We are going to have some fun.

It'll pretty much be our Hawaii routine but this old lady is buying a chair.  I plan to set it at the surf's edge and soak it all up.

Pretty much a beach day every day.  We've done the educational, touristy things in Hawaii.

Back in the Classroom

I am substitute teaching!  It is going well and it's fun to be back in school.  I can work without having to ask off for vacations, Hubby's days off and summertime.  I have met some great students and teachers and always come home with fun stories to share with Hubby.

I love saying the Pledge of Allegiance with a classroom of kiddos.  It gives me good chills.

I am amazed how many times a first grader falls out of their chair.

I love aha moments.

I love second grader jokes.

I now know the thumb between two fingers means that someone needs a bathroom pass.

If one little person says they need to see the nurse, there will soon be an epidemic. Because when they hear that word they all think of something that hurts and needs attention.  It's a fine line, folks.

I am having a good time.

A teacher asked if I had any jobs for this week. I teach on Tuesday and then I said I had a cut and color on Wednesday.  She thought that's what I was calling a kindergarten assignment.  Nooo, I'm getting my hair done before leaving for Maui.  Haha I am going to laugh about that for a long time.

Aloha!

Pie Fixes Everthing

After the snow storm the pie pals were ready to get out of town.  We had a field trip planned for Friday, and surely by then we would be able to leave town.  By Thursday I do not think another 15 inches of snow could have stopped us.  We were busting out. 

It was Jodi's turn and she says she doesn't bake pie so she would drive. 

We got to a Starbucks in Skagit and she brings out the cutest, tastiest pies ever.  Little heart shaped pies in wax paper bags with Valentine embellishments. She does bake!

Jodi and Shelly ran into Starbucks to get coffee, Becky decided to dash in and use the facilities, Holly and I are in the car and we see Becky come running out of Starbucks and jump into the wrong car. There was a woman in the passenger seat who looked quite frightened.  I could not stop laughing at her reaction, and at Becky's reaction. I am laughing with tears running down my cheeks as I write this story.  It all happened so fast.

I guess you had to be there.

Anywhoo, those pies were delicious!

We had a great time shopping in Arlington.  They have a hardware store in Arlington that is fantastic. And other antique and gift shops in their downtown.

We found our motto.

 We did a little junkin' and I love the television in the window of this shop for the '47 Curtis Wright.

We had planned to go to the Stilly Diner but they were closed so we tried a new place in town, Kafe Neo Woodstone Taverna.  Everyone raved about their food and drinks. We want to go back so we can have lunch at the Stilly and at the bowling alley.  More trips to Arlington, yes please!

Jodi found her recipe for the pies on Pinterest.  They make a sweet Valentine treat.

Cherry Cream Cheese Hand Pies

There was a lot of post storm therapy, shopping for diamonds and guns and some junkin'.

Pie fixes everything but the pie pals sure help too.  Oh, and diamonds.  Diamonds help everything.

Silver Thaw 2017

On the last night of the 2017 storm it snowed, like crazy before turning into a freezing rain.  Sam spent the night at our place and we made a run to Overflow Taps.  When you live in town you can do things that the county folks cannot.

Thursday morning it was an icy winter wonderland at our place.  I thought we'd lose power but we did not. Always a good thing. Of course, I took my morning photo walk.

 The '47 Curtis Wright vintage trailer project is on hold until better weather.

 Hubby was home and went out to do some shoveling.  I decided to help.

We'd get the bridge clear and then the plow would come through and we'd have to do it again.

Two guys with a digger and a dump truck came and scooped out the snow in the ditch.  This is to prevent flooding.  Thank you!

The lamp post ice kept changing while we were outside. Ice is dangerous but magical too.

Sheets of ice came crashing off the roof last night. We had a doozy of a nor'easter this year and Hubby and I were fortunate because we had no big damage.  Lynden was declared a State of Emergency.  Aside from the snow weight damaging shrubs, bushes and trees, we are good.  Nothing that some new landscaping can't fix.

And today!  Today I am getting out!  I'm going with the gals that are the Pie Pals.  We have a field trip planned to a hardware store 60 miles away to do some jewelry shopping.

You read that right.  Go big or go home.