The Long, Long, Post

If it's not on the blog, did it really happen? Oh my, it's been a long time friends. Here is a long post to get caught up. I still have photo to blog issues so it took me a long time to write this post.

I didn't do a separate book review but I updated my nightstand  for my friends that enjoy reading. 

 

Is anyone ever really caught up? Not me!  I’m tired of seeing a Christmas post when I open my blog page and I’m guessing you are too. Here we go!

We started our camping year in February with a snowy Valentine trip with Larry and Shelly. Jeremy and Rene' were snowed in at home and couldn't join us.

Annie was decked out for Love Week. Totally my jam with  Annie, Valentines, Love Week, besties, snow, camping and our anniversary. Whoa, happiness overload.

I made heart pillows from Dollar Tree bandannas, found a pink chenille blanket in my stash and it was cozy.

I warmed up with two trips to Palm Springs. One with my cousins, Lissa and Melinda and one with Hubby to visit friends. Hubby and I love the Alcazar Hotel.

Ella and I have fun on Thursday afternoons. Some days we camp in the driveway.

Hubby and I camped at Silver Lake with our neighbors, Randy and Ruth, Hey Neighbor! We had a great time and their kids came for dinner a night so that was fun too.

We love being grandparents and it finally feels real after all of the border issues. Finn is a credit to his parents and is such a happy little guy.

We continue to work on the King, our '62 Aloha.  The metal is back on, the windows are finished (ugh! 28-36 pieces each) and though we are ready to paint the exterior that will have to wait until warmer days with no wind.

We sold the Boles. Too many projects and we want to get started on the Curtis Wright.

I went on a girl's trip in June. Shelly and I went to Diablo for a few nights on the way. I've been dreaming of camping there for years. Finally got a spot. It is eye candy.

We gathered at Silverline Resort in Windthrop and lived our best life. Diner en Blanc and Breakfast at Tiffanys. So much fun, good girl time and sunshine with my tribe!

We went to George, WA for the 4th of July. We always have so much fun with Kassie's family and we love our little campground on the farm. I'm working on Fred, Ron and Doll to buy a pontoon.  Wish me luck! Fred and I had a NO boats item in our prenup.

Hubby and I went to the farm for another week in July and then on to 

the Pricco's retirement weekend party at Elk Ridge Campground. We had a wonderful time with all of their friends and family from MI and TX. Ryan and Sara and Evan and Jess hosted a tailgate dinner for Friday night, Hubby and I hosted a pancake bar for Saturday breakfast and Larry and Shelly had dinner and a band brought in for Saturday evening. I can't even describe what a blessing this trip was.

Lily won the final round of rock, paper scissors!

We floated the Yakima River for a weekend in August. It's my favorite. Sixteen miles of heaven.

We love that Kassie comes for day too. And we always enjoy dinner at Canyon River Grill.

Then on to Prosser to meet friends where we enjoyed a lot of wine tasting and poolside time.

Our Nile Valley Rally was cancelled due to fires so we went on to the farm with Larry and Shelly. It was a good decision. We enjoyed touring the farm, time on the river, wine tasting and more time with Max and Kassie.

A lot of family time this summer. We celebrated Uncle Dale's 80th birthday. So good to see my cousins!

Levi and Meagan celebrated their birthdays at Peace Arch Park so friends and family from both countries could be together. They are such a cute couple.

Finn and his parents (who are merely transportaion for him now) came to visit and my Nana heart was full.

Danny came to visit! It was so great to see him. Covid had kept us apart for too long.

We took our annual trip to Silver Lake to kick off Fall.

Finn! I love time with him. Finn and Hubby have matching Jonny Cash tees.

Here come  the holidays! I am giddy thinking about Thanksgiving with Danny and Jess. I can't wait to see them and their new house on the lake. 

Christmas decorating begins tomorrow. And I think we have good one and done Christmas gift idea for the kids this year.

Thank you for sticking with me. I love my readers and if you got this far, you must care about me too.

Christmas Home Tour 2020

Good morning friends! I'm baaaaack! 

Since we are home more this Christmas season, I wanted to make our home festive. Last year I did Christmas light.  This year, not so much. I am missing the fundraising Christmas home tours. If you're like me, you may be too. So, I thought I'd share a little tour of the Stone House at Christmas.

My kitchen is small but merry. No pics but I always throw a string of lights in my kitchen aid mixer. It's easy and festive.

I leave the icy decorations in the windowsill up for January. A tension rod works well for snow falling ornaments. And Glassybabies make everything better.

As we go into the dining area I have my camping themed tree. Thermos, The Little Camper Book and a vintage trailer gingerbread house are at the base with a buffalo checked blanket. I added to the white lights with some bubble lights for a vintage feel. I always add lights to a pre-lit tree.

The gingerbread trailer was my first  attempt at a gingerbread house kit. It looks nothing like the sample. That frosting is like super glue.

It's Huaka'i Annie!

Last year I didn't put up a tree in our bedroom and we missed it.  I have a remote on my nightstand and I love falling asleep to the glow of Christmas lights. This may be TMI but it is romantic. Any year now my deer's lights will die but in the meantime he adds some cheer. I used mod podge and pages of Christmas carols from an old hymnal to cover an old yard display. This year I added the gold tree. You can't have too many trees!

Are you counting trees yet?

My Grandma Dykstra and my Mom loved birds and I have birds on this tree to remind me of two of my favorite women.

Good memories of when the guys were little and of our dog Hawley.

The grand dame is in the living room. This tree takes me two days to decorate. Last year I took a break and skipped it. It's 2020 and she is in all of her glory. Hundreds of vintage ornaments, Putz houses stuffed in the branches, vintage beads, vintage metal tinsel and my dear bare butt angels. I have my Grandma Dykstra's little angels that hung on her tree. They glow in the dark after the lights get turned out at night. My Grandma is at her heavenly home and I love the sweet reminder they leave every evening,

I like to have a nativity ornament on each tree. The vintage ones are hard to find, so this one is special.

It's hard to get a good picture of my nativity set. Hubby and I found it at the thrift store years ago, It has many pieces, a light in the stable and Alice signed it. I don't know Alice but I love how she painted this set in 1982.

I like to change up the mantle every year. For 2020 I combined my Eddie Bauer snow globe collection with my tree topper collection. It sparkles and I love to see the tree reflecting in the mirror. A live wreath because our trees are fake. With the wood stove a live tree isn't an option. Ask me how I know.

Would you like to come over for a cocktail in the sitting room? It's such a cozy spot and sadly in 2020 you can't visit. Here's your tour, so not the same. I miss you! Cheers!

The tree revolves as does the light.

The snowman blow molds are so cheery and bright. I love this collection. Blow molds have caught on in the last few years and on Etsy and Ebay sellers are pretty proud of them. It has slowed me down, but not stopped me. hee hee

If you don't have a wrapping cart, you need one. Stella gets wheeled around and used as needed and when the kids come home for Christmas they wheel her in their rooms and used her too.

The front bedroom is ready for guests. I don't use Christmas sheets but all beds have Christmas pillowcases.

The guestroom has my second tinsel tree. It is mostly neutral with a bit of pink. After the guys left I was ready for a bit of pink. The tree has pink vintage ornaments.

Christmas looks different this year. Danny and Jess are staying close to home in Michigan. Sam and Katie and Finn are in Canada, the closed border has been really hard for us.  Max and Kassie are coming and they get to look forward to BiG stockings this year! Hubby and I try to give each couple a one and done gift. Of course, I can't share what it is this year but I think they will like it. Danny and Jess's came early and they were happy. We've done Roobas, Go Pros, Bose Speakers in the past for one and done. Easy peasy!

I hadn't sent cards since 2017 but this year I sent them. I went through the church directory and wrote notes and sent cards to our shut ins. I don't think anyone has been more lonely in 2020 than our elders living in care centers. I was blessed to spend this time writing and praying for them.

If you missed the Bethany Holiday Homes Tour and enjoyed the Stone House tour feel free to give them a donation. I don't know many families that haven't been blessed by someone who was adopted.

Blogging is on the long list of goals for 2021. Wish me luck... I can't wait for 2020 to be over. In March Hubby and I planned that we would host a New Year's Eve party to move on to 2021 but since lock down that is a no go. It was going to be so festive, formal and fun. Oh well, so it goes.

I've missed all y'all!

May the peace of Christ bless each of you this holy Christmas season.