Thus Concludes January

Hubby and I had no plans to go anywhere in January, February or March.   Sort of the calm before the storm and a good time for projects.  The best laid plans and all that...

January turned into a fun and busy month.  Our friends, Jeremy and Rene' youngest daughter got married and we went to Winlock, WA for a weekend.  If you ever need a wedding within three weeks, call Jeremy and Rene' for tips.  They emptied a barn, made it beautiful, created guest housing, and cooked and baked for 60. It was so pretty and the food was delicious.  We had a good time with them and with their kids.

 The next weekend we went to Enumclaw, I had a Sisters on the Fly luncheon and we got time at Larry and Shelly's house. I don't know how Shelly did it but she had a full house for lunch, house guests and then her and Larry made dinner for eight. It's so good to see our camping peeps in the winter.

 The next weekend my brother, Ken and Carolyn got married.  It was a beautiful wedding, Carolyn wore my Mom's going away wool suit.  It was in Lynden and that was good since our crawl space flooded and we needed to take care of that issue.  Actually, Hubby and Max took care of it, who are we kidding. 

 A few of our guys and their girls came home for the wedding.  We love having them around and Max and Kassie brought Bo. We love their dog and hadn't seen him for a long time.  He's such a good dog!

#goodtoseehisownerstoo

 I've been painting a small cabinet for silverware storage. Why do projects look like they will take me two hours and end up taking days? And days. Ugh! I'm close and my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint expert is chiming in to get me to the finish line.  I'll share the finished picture in February or when it gets finished. June?

Hubby and I are hitting the oranges hard.  I had a sinus infection in January and it has settled in my ears. Does anyone else take elderberry syrup and chews? I have been but how does anyone know if anything really works? Would it be worse?

I stacked coupons on Loft and bought a soft jacket for under $12. The soft, yummy, lounge wear jacket is fantastic to wear with pj pants and a tank.  Sizes are disappearing so hurry!  And the coupons aren't as good now but keep watching and stack'em!

Y'all know I love snow and Tuesday the snow fell straight down. I had the day off and it was the stuff that winter dreams are made of.  Yes, I just ended a sentence with a preposition. 

I'm reading The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.  It's an easy, fun read and that's just what I needed.

Love Week is coming up and I am putting together a few special Valentines.

I'm dreaming of summer, camping, the rivers, the sunshine.  Until then I am making some changes in the living room and plan to deep clean the laundry room. Working now so I can play all summer!

This concludes January. It turned into a jam packed month with weddings, weekends away and weather events. Now for some February projects and Love Week. Enjoy!

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!

Decking the Halls

 We've been busy decorating for Christmas.  I need to put together a centerpiece for the dining table, decorate the front door, finish upstairs and then stop the madness.

 I put one of our aluminum trees in the kitchen this year and filled it will Putz houses and churches.

I've picked them up at estate sales and didn't realize how many I had collected.

 I went back to red and aqua in the kitchen sink window this year.

 The tree doesn't have tinsel on yet but but I am hoping to have the energy to finish that tonight.

I'm subbing a lot right now.  It's good though because Christmas Vacay is on its way!

And y'all know just how much I love it when the house is ready, I have no where to go and I can just look at my tree or run past it and watch the tinsel sway.  It's a thing.

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 

Winter Random

This is a random post  that ends with a good recipe, if you stay with me that long.

*When I took the Christmas decorations down I decided to add a bit of icy, snowy decor in the kitchen window.  I am always hoping for snow and if I don't get it I can still enjoy winter in my kitchen window.

*We didn't have a snowstorm but we did have a January ice storm.

 *We didn't have power for three nights.  It's still warm and cozy with our wood stove and our gas stove in the bedroom.  I used the battery wire lights everywhere.  They really worked better than a flashlight.  I hung them in the bedroom, from the dining room chandelier and in each bathroom.

So, friends, this is my storm survival tip. Take battery lights off your Christmas decor and hang it up everywhere you need light.

*Danny and Jess got wedding reception pictures back from their photographer. I love the black and white photos.

I love the color ones too.

Is there anything better than seeing your son so happy? Nope.

Our guys clean up nice and have such nice manners.  Hubby and I are so proud of them.

Pride goes before the fall... really? a wet willie? at a formal event? If nothing else, they are humbling.

It's time for dinner and the good manners are back. 

Cheers!

It was such a fun trip and beautiful celebration.  Good memories.

*I saw a snowy, barn painting on face book and I love a good snowy, barn painting, wait, what?

It's Date and Paint at the The Mill.  I put the word out and my friends jump in to go with me.

A perfect January night out with the girls.

For me it was more fun than success. I actually prefer fun over success so it was a win.

We did decide that if we do it again we would go earlier for dinner as it is too difficult to paint and eat and sip.  My painting will be proudly displayed in the attic, where all manner of things go in our house.

*We celebrated my Mom's birthday with dinner at our house.  It was fun and Mom was having an "on day".  We aren't sure where she should be living.  She has good times and some very unhappy times. Dementia sucks.

*I haven't redecorated the house since I took down Christmas.  I am enjoying the blank canvas. 

*One of my commitments in the new year is to do some meal planning and to try new recipes. I made Egg Roll Soup and it is delicious. I was going to blog the recipe but let's just go with a link as I haven't taken any pictures of the soup.  I used Hot Jimmy Dean Sausage, because it is our favorite and has a lot of flavor and I added some celery.  The Safeway won tons next to the croutons are good, don't bother frying won tons.

*Happy January, my friends. Don't be too hard on yourselves this month.  New beginnings, fitness and a good diet, resolutions, changes, all good stuff unless they are bringing you down. 

You've got this!