Love Week 2016

 Love Week lasted longer than a week this year.  Nothing wrong with that!

We had our trip to Leavenworth in honor of our anniversary the weekend before and then still had our anniversary and Valentine's Day to look forward to the next weekend.

For our anniversary we stayed in and I made dinner.  Hubby made a cocktail that called a Bee's Knees. The evening was lovely and we were happy to be inside since it has been raining constantly.

On Valentine's Day I made heart shaped pancakes for breakfast and then we spent the afternoon in downtown Bellingham, poking around Penny Lane and other junk shops including Ormolulu.

 On the way home we met friends at the new Overflow Taps and shared a sampler with them.

Tuesday night my Mom and our friend, Adelene joined us for the traditional heart shaped meat loaf dinner.  My table had a cherry theme, the salad had cherries and the dessert was a cherry chip cake.  Cherry chip cake is Hubby's favorite.  The candy is all cherry too.

The cherries were a nod to George Washington as our dinner was closer to President's Day than Valentine's Day.

Hubby provided valet service so the ladies didn't have to drive.   We had lovely guests and a fine evening to finish Love Week.

Until next year...

Never Say Never

Hubby and I took a trip this past weekend to visit his Mom and Max.  We had such a nice time in Eastern Washington.  Esther had been gone over the holidays so we hadn't seen her for quite some time.  Max had promised he'd take us hunting so we were looking forward to that too.  When Max was driving a combine around during harvest he had spotted a few vintage trailer graveyards.  

Now that Huaka'i Annie is 90% finished we have the bug to start another project.  

Yes, we swore we'd never restore another trailer. Yes, we said we'd never take on such a huge overhaul again.  We would never ever take on a project where the tin has to come off. 

Never say never.

That word, never, has bitten me in the bum so many times.

A hunting we will go...

This little trailer looked like it's being used and it's too small for us.  Annie is now our little trailer and we'd like a bigger one with a bathroom.

 One of these is too old and one of these is too new.

I am not throwing my guys under the bus here but I am the one that has to go to the door and try to find the owners of the trailers.  I left notes and cards.  Because NO one answers the door.  Some places looked a little sketchy and there are pit bulls tied up in the yard.  It's not for the faint of heart because one just never knows if there is another pit bull coming around from the back and one never knows if the owner is an angry, crazy person. I'd hate to interrupt someone cooking up a fresh batch of meth.  It might make them mad.  Proceed with caution was my mantra for the day.

We visited one graveyard in the morning and then after many miles and trailers we decided to go back to it.  Just in case someone changed their mind and decided to answer the door.

Turns out the land owner was there and yes, he'd like to get rid of some of the trailers.  He wasn't angry or crazy just real nice!

I won't show full on photos until I have the trailer in my hot little hand or in our driveway. 

But one of them looks just right.  It has a front door and a back door.  The appliances look salvageable and the water damage isn't too bad, no worse than the Aloha.

 There is a bathroom.  Woot!

 And then like a sign from above I found one of the missing doors in the weeds.

We'll know more by the end of the week if this trailer can be our new project.

I'm hopeful.

We had a lot of fun hunting with Max.  He's a good scout and a good sport.  

Of course, he wants a finders fee...

On Sunday, we drove to Leavenworth, this time we were hunting for snow instead of trailers.

We watched the last quarter of the Superbowl at Icicle Brewing Company. 

 The lights are beautiful in Leavenworth and the little kids sledding in downtown were pretty fun to watch too.

On Monday we drove to Cashmere to visit their antique mall and Apple Annie's to do some junkin'.  I had a Santa sighting.  No joke, his sleigh was parked out front when we left.  Turns out he drives a Fiat on the off season but it was clearly marked Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

 Our plan was to snowshoe but the snow wasn't fresh so we walked/hiked instead.

It was a relaxing time for us.  We got to visit Hubby's cousin, Darrin and Nery and their sweet family.

They live in Leavenworth within walking distance of downtown.

 Such a great trip with Hubby!  A very nice beginning to Love Week. And we saw a lot of snow, so I was very happy,  I guess you could say we had a good hunting trip.

Accountability

 I am still organizing.  By now you must be thinking that I must have really had a mess for it to go into February. 'Tis true, it's a mess.  I am making a dent though.  The Christmas decorations have been taken down in the guest room, even packed away in the attic. The Christmas cards have been taken down, punched, ringed, and labeled.  I have a few years where I made them into a book but this was more efficient.  Do you save your cards? Forever? To what purpose? Do you get them out and look at them often? I'm curious, let me know your thoughts.

The piles on the dining table are diminishing.  I had book work for Dad's estate, and yesterday I resolved to work my way through paperwork, notes and taxes.  Which I did. A trip to the bank, the post office were my only breaks.

The landing is a semi organized mess instead of just a mess.  It's almost to the point of setting up a table and doing some crafting with my bits and bobs.  I need to make a decision about having a yard sale this summer.  They are a lot of work but the day of the sale is fun.  It is nice to just bring it away and be finished too.  What do you do?

I have been meaning to put the recipe for Heidi's Chicken and the Rice Casserole on the blog for quite some time and though I got closer this weekend I have since had a phone/photo malfunction so that will have to wait.  I made this dessert twice in the past few days.  Once for Sam's birthday and once for Hubby's potluck at work.  I have been in the kitchen.

For some crazy reason I feel accountable to my readers for my 2016 goals.  Honestly, I should have never shared the goals because now I cannot cram junk back into the attic.  It's a tad weird and scary at the same time.

My, don't you have the power?

Don't get too excited because I am sure that the ol' I don't give a rip Tami will soon be back.  In the meantime these posts are positively riveting  boring.

Until then...

2016 Goals, and I say Goals Very Loosely

Hubby and I left on Friday late afternoon for Seattle. We were tired, a little emotionally depleted after the funeral and the week so we walked to Oliver's for something familiar and comfortable. I needed to go to the Seattle Gift Show for the museum.  I cancelled all appointments, and just did a quick  catalog gathering walk through both buildings.  I had some orders ready to go that I could just hand off to my reps.  The rest of the ordering will happen from my desk.

  

We got home Saturday evening.  We went to church Sunday morning and then had dinner with Max and Kassie before he had to drive back over the pass.

I hope to get back to my regular posts about family fun, fun with friends, recipes, and the daily grind.  It feels like I've been in mourning, busy with Christmas, and not myself. 

 I am ready for boring and normal.

Hubby and I decided to not take any big trips in 2016.  We want to take out Huaka'i Annie and do some camping.  We have a road trip planned for February to visit Hubby's family and Max in George, WA with a detour on the way home to get a snow fix.  In April we are going on another road trip.  So, no flights this year.  It's all good...

Until I see good fares to Maui, Disneyland deals or a cruise bargain and then I get a little antsy but I think we will stick with road and ferry trips this year.  We are looking forward to just rambling around the Pacific Northwest.

If anyone is rambling our way, the guest room is still celebrating Christmas.  The landing is still a hot mess with Christmas decorations.  I am sorting, sifting and organizing in 2016.  It is really difficult to stay the course.  It's very tempting to cram it in a closet.  The struggle is real.

It's not just the Christmas that is getting organized, I have been going through my closet.

I am definitely going to need a trip to Girlfriend's Consignment on the island.  I am considering a yard sale this summer and making trips to the thrift store.  Lofty goals!

It's time to clean up and simplify.

Ask me how this is going in June.

Those new year goals have a way of falling by the wayside.

Or in my case, getting buried in the rommel.

* rommel is the Dutch word for junk.

Carry on my friends and enjoy the normal.

Aunt Nelda

We all have regrets in our lives.  Times where we say that we wished we had done things differently or that we had just done something.  I have many of those regrets. 

In 2016 I am working to focus on the things that I am happy I did or that I made happen.

Because there are those things too.

I became mindful of the focus when Hubby talked to me about some things that he was so happy for me that I had done with my Dad. Some times when we lose someone we love we tend to have regrets.  I am thankful for my husband's immediate thoughts of the good things that happened towards the end of my Dad's life.  Hubby said to me the night my Dad died that he was so happy and thankful for three things I did with my Dad.  First, I asked my Dad if he would like to have the Lord's Supper with his family, he did want to and I called Pastor Steve, who graciously came to my folk's place and made that happen for us.  Secondly, Hubby told me he was so grateful for the Thanksgiving dinner at our place and that I had fussed to make it special. And thirdly, that I had prayed aloud with Dad on his last afternoon with us.  Good stuff for sure.

This week we have my Aunt Nelda's funeral service, she was a dear aunt and friend for me.

I have some times with my dear Aunt Nelda that I know she treasured and I am so thankful for them.

I was her first niece and she spoiled me, took me to basket ball games in a navy wool pleated skirt and top that matched her pep club outfit. I was her flower girl. She had me overnight before she had boys of her own and made it so fun for me.

I have three specific times that I am so thankful I had with my Aunt Nelda.  I'm not focusing on regrets but rather the good things I did for and with her.  The links are highlighted.

One September my family was going to Silver Lake.  On the Sunday before I asked my folks, if we may want to invite all of the Vander Haaks for an extended family reunion.  It was last minute, I mailed out info, I called everyone and it happened. Cabins and RVs, good visits, good food, games, crafts, and it came together really quickly.  Aunt Nelda had grand kids with her and we had a lot of fun with them.

Several years later Hubby and I had my Dad's siblings and spouses over for dinner to celebrate Dad's birthday.  My Aunt Nelda had just been diagnosed with ALS.  We didn't have dinner with them, Hubby and I served them instead.  I asked my sister that is a Snapsister to photograph part of the evening.  It was an evening to remember and I'll treasure it forever.

Lastly, I am thankful to have done the ALS Walk with my dear, brave auntie. She fought that horrible disease with dignity and grace.  I was so blessed by her gracious spirit.

Today, I want to encourage you to focus on the hope and the good, because there really is a lot of good and we have the hope of salvation.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all

joy and peace in believing,

that you may abound in hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

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!