My favorite Christmas collection is my eddie bauer snow globe collection. This year is eddie's anniversary and the globe features the dog, eddie. Eddie Bauer brought the first black lab to Washington state in 1930. We're glad he did, our Hawley is pretty special.

Sam bought me my first globe and it had the little pickup parked in front of a snowy cabin in the woods. Since Sam drove our '54 this was a good gift from Sam.

I've had to move some to the top shelf of our mantle as my collection has grown. The globes are the first Christmas decoration to come out every year and the last packed away.

All are a wintery scene, most have a black lab or two and some are musical and one has a train that circles around the lodge when you wind it.

Last year Whistler was featured because of the Winter 2010 Olympics. I love this one because we have had some great family times at Whistler.

In the past I got one for Christmas but now I am so worried I won't get one or that eddie bauer will sell out that as soon as I get the catalog I order the new one.

It's the best package of the year!

Hunting and Gathering

A September Saturday at the Stone House. Come in, I've been busy. Nesting for Fall, hunting, gathering and some deep cleaning here today.

This fall I tucked 'R' initial here and there.

This weekend I did some heavy duty cleaning. The farmer next door harvested their wheat and that makes for some dust in the house. I know I have to clean before I can decorate for fall so that is incentive.

Then I hunt up my fall bits and pieces, gather everything up and then create some little spots for some fall decorating. Gathering for decorating isn't all the gathering we've been doing though, Hubby and I did our BiG trip to Costco Thursday evening. Baking supplies, pork roasts, cleaning supplies for the fall were purchased. This morning I went to the grocery store and to a gift shop in town, Surroundings, that had just relocated. I picked up a few things including a Farmer's Market Yankee Candle.

Saturdays and cinnamon rolls go together. It's the first thing I do on a fall Saturday morning. Good thing too, Max was whining to Auntie Shelly that he hasn't had a cinnamon roll in months.

Football laundry, get it started because it can smell up the place. Light that new candle!

Gather some fall reading material. I think the Pottery Barn catalog is my favorite.

Added some Halloween to the kitchen, the book is Ghosts, Beasts and Things That Go Bump in the Night, a campfire collection of short stories that I picked up at eddie bauer several years ago. Don't worry, it's not too scary!

I put together a fall centerpiece for the dining room table. If company is coming I can remove the globes and add some fresh flowers.

Another small vignette in the dining room. I get the filberts from my folk's orchard, they are good filler.

Now for the easiest fall craft ever, I picked up six small pumpkins at the market and then add scrap book stickers to spell autumn. I make this every year with some variation such as, fall is fun, happy halloween, boo, autumn or what ever comes to mind. Maybe pumpkin?

I baked a peach pie for Sunday dinner.

After the house was clean, ready for fall, groceries put away, I took a walk in the yard to check the grapes, enjoy the Fall light and check out the stacks of firewood for winter.

Looks like we are ready for the first day of Fall this week, my favorite!

No April Fools Here

Max had his first soccer game yesterday at Bender Fields. The rain let up. Hubby and I bundled up and went. To think I was this close to missing out on the action this year. Thank you Max! If he hadn't played it would have been the first soccer less year since Danny (age 23) was in second grade with no soccer games. So, I am back to my long silk underwear from eddie bauer, my smart wool socks, gloves and a parka at Breezy Bender. LC lost but they are looking good.

The big news this morning is that Pioneer Woman is visiting Seattle April 17th. I'm a little excited and am taking credit for her visit. After all I emailed, commented and suggested she visit Seattle. I may have begged. I'm taking my book to her signing and if you want to come with me, please leave a comment. It'll be fun!

In other news this week I got into a little trouble on Travelocity. I may have pushed the confirm button one too many times, well actually, I did click and we are going. First I found a great deal on a cruise, then on airfare, then a hotel deal and so Hubby and I are going on a little honeymoon. I made him a deal that I wouldn't buy any new clothes for the trip. Shoes aren't clothes, are they?

Max was mad until I told him I'd leave him with a BiG pan of enchiladas. Don't worry kiddo, I'll be here for you the other 359 days this year.

If you know our last name you'll know that Hubby and I may get special treatment on Holland America's just refurbished Ryndam.



I'm off to the museum and then going to buy my guys a BAH. They love a BAH* and since it's Easter week the BAH are on sale. Isn't life grand?

*code for a BiG A** ham.

Pretty Downtown & Pretty Uptown

We've had a short staycation this week. Hubby was off for two days, so I asked if I could have some vacation time. Gorgeous weather on Tuesday! Sam had a day off and no school for Max so we worked in the yard. Happy guys--- ;p We pressure washed, trimmed hedges, waxed a car, took a trip to the dump (got the '54 started for summer), and all the sticks got burned, whew, it was fun to work together and to see so much get finished. Patio furniture is out and clean, bring on the sunshine!

On Monday and Tuesday nights we had extra teens stay for dinner. Fun times, for sure. Blake gets a call when we grill chicken for chicken caesar salad, it's his favorite. Levi, Dylan and Dakota stayed for BBQ burgers the next evening. I'm going to need a Costco run again, they wiped me out. It's great to have them.

On Wednesday it was time for a field trip. Hubby and I went shopping in Burlington and Anacortes. Max had a soccer game against Anacortes at four, so we had a nice day to shop. We had lunch at Johnny Carino's, love their spinach and pecan chicken salad. It's nice to shop downtown Anacortes and I love the eddie bauer outlet store in Burlington. I had my quarterly rewards burning a hole in my pocket.

The game. Can I just say, it was pretty uptown. We got a program, that usually is not the case. We had bleachers to sit on, again, usually not the case. And a gorgeous view of the bay. Nice. And the kicker, LCHS JV team won. We sat with old friends and had some good laughs.



Today I am helping Kelly at Sole Obsession.

Sisters at Whistler

Five sisters, food & drink, overnight bags, an espresso maker and tons of scrapbook stuff make for tough packing. Bill helped. We squeezed. It was a beautiful trip up the mountain, the leaves were spectacular, and traffic was light.On Saturday we went walked to the village for some shopping at eddie bauer, lunch at the Mongolia Grill and a photo shoot.


More details tomorrow.

Easter Favorites

A few of my favorite things today. A large choir singing, Handels' Alleluia Chorus, little girls' Easter dresses, a message of hope and salvation, handbell choir, two big hams, kids and their loot, kids who don't care about the candy, really yummy desserts, 'sisters' that dress alike, friends that feel welcome, a large family, Emily and Luke (five years old) telling me about their trip to Costa Rica, lots of laughs. God is good. I hope you each had a Blessed Easter.

Singing in the Rain

Photo is a little red, could be the raincoats in Begonia at eddie bauer, sharing their hue. My sis Kathi and I both picked out this coat in the catalog, I made reference to this in an earlier post. Here we are in Whistler Village both trying on the coat. I bought it, I love it! She is going to order it so that she can get it in tall. Not sure if you saw the Oprah episode where we were given a list of must have apparel, but the bright colored trench coat is now covered. I still need the white jean jacket and the large bag/purse which will make my bum look smaller. But the coat is a start and I love it! The lines are great and the color is a wow factor. Check it out online at eddiebauer.com.
Edited: The coat looks better without long underwear, sweaters and a down vest under it. Really!

Shopping Tip or Survival Tip

No photo today folks, bear with me and you'll thank me later. I love my eddie bauer silk long under wear. If you don't have any, I am feeling bad for you. I have mine on right now and they leave no unsightly bulges with my jeans, nor do they make my upper look bigger than it already is. They actually smooth over any back fat that you may have. Now, you may be wondering if I am heading off to the slopes for some skiing or sledding today. NO, I am going to work, at the museum where it is *&%#* freezing. These silk babies have kept me going to work there in the winters. I have told my volunteers about them and really, eddie bauer should be paying me a commission. He owes me big. They wash well, they feel like, well like silk against your skin and they pack easy. Great layering pieces. Every soccer mom needs a pair, everyone who works in a cold office needs a pair, and any one who is cold blooded needs a pair. Love. them.
The photo just wasn't too pretty...they're great but it's not like they transform you into a skinny chick.