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!

A Wedding, It's Hot, Many Projects and Random

Last week I saw two faded red, now pinkish, motel chairs on FB buy and sell.  I knew the seller and I told Cindy I'd take them. They aren't super portable but they are cute and Hubby and I kind of like them sitting next to Annie in the driveway.

It's hot and I am getting things done in the morning so I can float for an hour or two in the afternoon. I'd invite you over to my pool but it's a party of one due to space constraints.

Last weekend we had Jake and Kayla's wedding. Kayla is Kassie's sister. It was such a fun wedding.

Baby Jacob came home with us and spent the night. He is the sweetest baby ever.

Even at 2 a.m. 

I love seeing Max and Kassie so happy and having fun.  I brought Huaka'i Annie to the wedding for them to stay the night.  And y'all know I don't share Annie.

 Speaking of Annie, Hubby installed a faucet and plumbing yesterday.  I now have running water.
I'm giddy!
He also reinstalled the jacks.  Hubby did some research (in trailer parks) and put them at a different angle. Super steady now and easy to level.
He's giddy!

Everything had to come out of the kitchen lower cabinets so I plan to really minimize and organize as I put everything away.

Last night Hubby helped me with drilling through old books and then add eyelets to the holes.  I offered to teach a scrapbook workshop at the Nile Valley Rally.  What was I thinking? I'm an introvert.  Also, until last night I hadn't ever actually done this little old book to scrap book project. Hah!  

Hubby made us a new cocktail last night, it's called a White Lady and includes an egg white for the froth. It's delish!  After giving me a lesson in drilling Hubby deserved that cocktail. Not to brag but I've beat him playing cards two nights in a row. That never happens. On hot summer nights we are on the patio.

  Today is devoted to making a completed scrapbook sample. This class is brought to you by someone whose baby doesn't have a baby book. Don't worry Denise and Rita, I got this!

Yesterday I spent hours at Costco, returning an item, having an eye exam, picking up photos, getting groceries and shopping for my back to school wardrobe.  I found a vest and a raincoat.  Hello, my name is Tami and I have a raincoat addiction. My new one is a blackberry color. Don't judge me, this is a new color for my collection. Some day I'll share my raincoat collection on the blog. 

What's for dinner? 

I got to visit with Leslie and Marjean on Sunday afternoon and we always ask each other, what's for dinner?  I've been making salads and more salads for dinner. Last night we had a roasted Costco chicken with salad, we've had taco salad, and an Asian salad with teriyaki chicken.

Please share any good hot weather meals you've had this week. 

Keep cool my friends! Note, when I promise random, I deliver.

It's Random

There isn't really anything going on here at the Stone House but I haven't posted for awhile so here comes some random writing.

*Do you plant a garden? I see seed packets and they look so tempting and pretty and then I remember that gardeners have to water, weed, and harvest the garden.  Yeah, that's not happening here.

(photo from the junk gypsies)

*This dinner was leftover lemon turkey breast, pasta, and mushrooms, red pepper, garlic and onions sauteed with wild sage mushroom oil. Super easy supper for me as Hubby did the cooking that night.

Delish.

*I took a screen shot of this photo and then later I was looking at it and trying to figure out why I saved it.  The trailer, the bracelets it was advertising, the chalk on the door.  Hhmmm, nope, it was the steps.  I think I need Hubby to build a set of big steps for Huaka'i Annie for trailer shows. People are always falling out of Annie.  Aren't the pineapples cute?

*My trailer tribe is a lil cray cray at some of the rallies.  There is Hawaiian night, girl scout uniforms, fiesta night, 50's night, Petticoat Junction night(I'm really confused about that one because I am too young to remember that show), 

Western night, hippie night... anyhoo, it's a lot.

I saw this picture and it reminded me of my tribe.  We need to get our game on. If only we had these bowling gowns and bowling ball bags. Those. gloves.  Let the search commence gals!

Rally season is coming!

 *I tend to wear jeans with a black tee, a lot.  If Hubby sees me wearing my uniform and he has on a black tee he insists that one of us should change because we are not those people.  You know, married people that have shirts or jackets alike.  He's right, we aren't the twinning type.  Honestly, I don't think the black tee counts as twinning.  And furthermore, it was my uniform first!

I've been a busy little online shopper.  Hubby and I needed some new clothes for trailer trash parties.

Since we don't do the twin thing I am careful not to go too far and yet have us coordinate.

Our flamingo set.

 Our red, white and blue set, with some gray to tone things down.

I just have to laugh about our trailer fashions because for Hubby and me, it is a stretch.

One of those, who'd have thought?

 * Congratulations to our daughter-in-law, Jess! She completed her masters program yesterday. We are so happy for Jess and so proud of her accomplishment!

*I have a been substitute teaching a lot and have a lot of days scheduled for May.  It's a busy time of year for subs.  It's all good though because summer is coming.

*When I promise random, I deliver.  Enjoy the sunshine today!

IKEA Camping Hacks

I woke up to snow again this morning, just a skiff but still, snow. I love snow and have enjoyed winter this year; however, I am starting to look forward to camping and trailer rally season. The Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show in Palm Springs was inspiring and got me thinking about things I'd like to do to prep for the season.

Sheryl and I visited with the owner of the pictured chairs and storage table, she had a nice outdoor sitting area in front of her motor home.  She found her blanket storage/table at IKEA.

 I'd like to add something like this to Huaka'i Annie.  Beach towel storage, blanket storage or even shoe storage.  IKEA has a lot of options.  Something I can store outdoors. I am leaning toward the same one I saw at the show.  Shoe storage would not be as pretty as her blankets but shoes make me crazy in the trailer.  It reminds me of when our guys were boys and there were size 12 shoes everywhere. Only it's my 16 pairs of flip flops.

I love the colors of the stacking table but it wouldn't provide the storage I need.

I have a great cart for outside of Annie.  It works as a bar cart, holds a basket of games and at rallies I set up information on it.  I found it at Farm Chicks.  It folds down. 

I saw this little shopping cart at the show.  I have  similar carts.  I use one as a Christmas wrapping cart and have lined with fabric and sold them as such.  I like the wood lashed liner in this cart.  I may have to try that for shoes or for toting all my junk to the beach.

IKEA sells carts like this roller.  These are great but they do not fold down.

IKEA sells great laundry bags for camping and I need to pick up this one next time I visit.

 And maybe a new rug for the season.  My rugs get trashed in the trailer and IKEA has fun colors and low prices on rugs.

I definitely need a trip to IKEA before camping season.  Who wants to go?  Do you have any IKEA camping hacks I should know about before I go?  Do share.

No IKEA this week for me.  I am going to Las Vegas for a nephews wedding.  Yep, more sunshine and fun for me.  And another resort with a lazy river. Haters gonna hate.

A Perfect Storm in the City

Last January I had booked a room for the Seattle Gift Show and Market 2016. I was all set with a two bedroom unit.  In December I was preoccupied with Dad's funeral and Christmas.  In January I went online to verify the hotel and print my show passes only to be met with the glaring headline, NEW DATE PATTERN on the gift show site. Great, now I have a beautiful room, no reason to go, and I am past the cancellation date. 

Hubby told me to find some friends and go for fun.  Really? Yes, really.  

Leslie and Marjean agreed to drive down with me on Thursday.  We planned to work in the morning at the museum and then get on the road.  I received an email from Girlfriend Estate Sales with the sales for the week.  On Thursday there would be a sale at a former studio for pin up pictures in downtown Seattle. I found volunteers to cover for the girls and we left in the morning.

Who wouldn't? The pictures were interesting. The sale was downtown and we were going there anyway.  It was a pinup picture studio filled with costumes, props, tiki galore and more mid century modern than you can imagine.  These photos are just a sample of their many photos they had posted for the upcoming sale.

Ohhhh yes, we laughed. And then we laughed some more.  I could hardly think straight and probably should have bought more but it was overwhelming.  So many brassiere and garter sets, so little time...

 

 I kid.  I went for the yellow thermos with the sporty theme.  I ended up with the Sportman picni-table complete with an extra tin and thermos too.  The dinnerware is inside. I had to carry that beast from Post Alley back to downtown and our hotel.  I think she's worth it  though.

Chris, you would have been so proud of me.  I used the negotiating skills you've given me.  Those lessons came in handy.  Leslie overheard the gal running the sale commenting on my skills. Not necessarily in a nice way.  Oh well, I spotted that thermos, I drove two hours to get it and I wasn't going to leave without it just because it was overpriced... There had to be some negotiating.

 Marjean got the grapes! And Aunt Bea's secret recipes.  The tray is perfect with the grapes.

I cannot share what Leslie purchased.

No, don't even go there.

Nothing risque!

She bought gifts so they must remain a secret.

We shopped, we lunched (you know how much I love a good department store lunch), and I took Leslie around the block to City Dog.  Leslie loves dogs and I couldn't wait to show her doggy daycare in the city.

 City Dog could have charged her to go inside and play with the dogs.

I had so much fun with Leslie and Marjean. We enjoyed happy hours, 75% off the sale price kind of sales and a lot of good conversation. It was Therapy Thursday for two days.

On Friday at five the girls packed up and I went to meet my friend, Jean.  Leslie and Marjean took a cab to the the Amtrak station where they caught the train into Bellingham.  

Jean works downtown and commutes from Vashon Island.  We met for a drink at the new Habitant on the third floor in Nordstrom.  I love Jean's enthusiasm and creative energy.  We had a great visit before she had to catch a water taxi and then the ferry home to the island.

I shopped a bit and then walked back to my hotel, called Hubby, and tidied up the place for my next guests.  My sissies Kathi and Melinda were on the Bolt bus, coming to join me for the weekend.

They caught another bus to Westlake Center and walked to the hotel where I met them with a glass of wine and snacks before dinner.

We had missed our sisters trip in November.  Jodi and Lissa had plans so they couldn't join us but we muddled through without them.

On Saturday morning after bargain hunting at Macys we were approached for a make over.  They could take the three of us at the same time.  Why not?  They found Kathi and my eyebrows and tamed Mel's. 

I have stayed at the Camlin many times because my mom-in-love is so generous.  It was the first time though that I was told about the limo that will pick up Camlin guests and take them to Salty's on Alki Beach for dinner. We decided to try it.  The concierge called for us to be picked up at 6:30 p.m. and assured us that as guests of the Camlin we would be guaranteed a window table, he told us the suggested gratuity for the limo driver and we were set.

Now we even had our make up done for our night on the town.

 Our driver gave a us a city tour on our trip to Alki Beach, the food was fabulous and we may have had the best table in the restaurant.  We were living large so we ordered Baked Alaska for dessert.. 

Sunday morning we slept in and then ordered breakfast for in our room while we watched the Seahawks game. The Hawks showed up little too late but overall a fun season with the Seahawks.  After the game I drove us home.

It was the perfect storm.  Considering all of the public transportation and everyone's schedules it was amazing.  It worked like clockwork though and it was a wonderful weekend for me.

I wish I had taken a picture of each gal's luggage because it is fun to see the variety.  I only took a pic of Melinda's because she  had vintage,no wheels!  Marjean had a small back pack, Leslie had an overnight bag and Kathi had a very small tote. I brought my carry on piece of luggage because I was there three nights,  Obviously I had to take three pairs of boots.. It's how I roll.

A big thank you to all my gals for making this weekend work.

 Now, I need to get busy cleaning my treasures.  Have a good day my friends!