Sunshine, Poolside, Friends, Vintage Trailers, These are a Few of my Favorite Things

Last week Friday Hubby and I flew to the desert for sunshine, friends and Modernism Week in Palm Springs. I thought we could take the bus to our resort, turns out it's a nine hour trip.  Uber to the rescue! We got dropped off at In N Out Burgers in Indio, ate lunch and then crossed the street to get groceries. Another Uber to the resort and we had the rest of the day to relax.  Jeremy and Rene arrived that evening with the car.  We had cocktails and snacks waiting. We were all so happy to see each other, it was funny.

The forecast was for rain on Saturday so we booked a spa day at the Hard Rock Hotel.

 We had some poolside days, floating on the lazy river and enjoying the pool by our unit. 

  Jeremy and Rene are the most photogenic people I know.  Honestly!

 Bob and Jacyn were in the area so I sent them a message that we'd love for them to join us.

So glad they did!

Hubby grilled carne asada, mixed up some bee's knees and it was a party on the patio.

Jeremy and Hubby made us some fabulous meals while in Indio.

 Bob and Jacyn told us about Bombay Beach on Salton Sea so we took a ride there on Monday morning.

So many abandoned and lived in vintage trailers. All fenced and many had guard dogs but it was fun to see these old gems on our drive by.

 Another poolside afternoon, dinner at Jackalope and then we left Indio on Wednesday morning. Hubby spent the day with Sheryl and I exploring old Palm Springs and lunching at Lulu's restaurant.

 A selfie at the Trina Turk store while Sheryl was in the dressing room. I was so happy to sit and sip the water they brought us.  That was the day I got blisters on my feet.

 Hubby flew home and I went to spend a few days with Sheryl.  Brad was golfing in a tournament.

We had some serious girl time. Shopping in the morning, poolside afternoons, evenings out or at the clubhouse or on her and Brad's gorgeous patio.

 We talked nonstop, laughed a lot and had some successful shopping.

Tomorrow I'll share the Modernism Vintage Trailer Show. Sheryl was a good sport exploring the trailer world. And then we visited a place that I have wanted to visit for three years. I was giddy!

Details coming soon!

Quiet but Lovely LoVe Week

We had a quiet LOVE week here.  We celebrated our anniversary with dinner at home and we celebrated Valentine's Day with dinner at home.  We enjoy being at home and I enjoy cooking and making special meals so everyone was happy.

Hubby brought me coffee in bed on Valentine's Day.  He used my valentine mug and gave me a pretty valentine card.  I got flowers for our anniversary.

It was quiet but so good to celebrate this week.

Next up, sunshine in the desert, #poolside, good friends, a spa day and some adventures.

Boarding passes are printed, bags are packed, here we go!

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.

Snowstorm 2017 Continues and I'm Still Happy

 Sooo, I'm still having fun.  I am tuning out the whiners, the complainers and cabin fever afflicted.

Don't whine to me if you have a warm home, food on the table, get to stay home, don't work outside and have power.

Thank you. I do feel for the farmers and the PSE line men.  That's about it.

I am continuing to get out every day, take a walk, shovel snow, bring in the firewood and snap some photos.

 The benches have been my snowfall gauges.

 We did not shellac the Stone House, it's ice.

 The ditches are interesting to check out everyday too.

 Yesterday was by far the most gorgeous day with the sun shining, minimal wind and heavy snow everywhere.  Hubby and I took a walk after he got home from work.  It was an amazing sunset last night.

 It's a pile of snow.  I didn't shovel to add to the pile or to take away, it's a drift.

 I bought snow boots from Target a few years ago and they sat in my closet with their tags on for a long time.  This year they are worn and appreciated.

 When it melts the ditches are full of snow so we could have some flooding.

The drifts almost look like sand. Until I visit face book and see the Stremler Family enjoying vacation in Mexico.  Oh, yeah, that's what sand looks like.

Thank you Rod and Trisha for sharing your fun and for breaking up the monotony of snow pictures, weather reports, storm warning and declarations of state of emergency in Lynden on face book.

Really, you guys are the best. Really.

 Cheers Trisha! Really.

 We're coping in our little way here.

P.S.

B.S.

A very special thank you to all of the guys driving tractors with scoops past my driveway.  Y'all are so brave and selfless saving the world from snow. 

 I am tearing past middle age and shoveling like crazy so Hubby can get in the driveway after work, and you just keep driving past.
It's great.

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!