3.2.1-Olympics 2010

I am spending some time up at Whistler with Kathi and Melinda. There is a pre-game buzz in the air, no doubt. Many law enforcement and media from all over the world in the village. We have met people from all over the world, many are volunteers. That may the way to go to the Olympic games, they get a place to stay, cool jackets and backpacks and likely a great experience.

Kathi and Melinda enjoyed some shopping in the village. The official store has some nice things including cowbells. Kathi bought several because she is returning for the bob sleigh (no one says sled here) and the luge races.

We soaked up some vitamin D at lunch yesterday. We had lunch at the base of Blackcomb Mountain chairlift. It was comfortable in the sunshine and fun to watch skiers and boarders come down the mountain.

Today some snowshoeing, scrap booking and sightseeing. Oh, and some cleaning in the condo...

Cherry Bing Bars

During the holiday season someone left me a treat in my church mailbox. I have no idea who it was, my only clue is that I left a comment on Emily's post about Bing Bars. Someone maybe saw it and decided to give me a treat. Whoever you are, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I decided to save the cherry chips for Valentine's LoVe week. Because and here is a very sad fact, cherry chips are hard to find in the Pacific Northwest. Good luck! You can buy them on Amazon but it's bulk. If you bought them bulk and made the bars over and over to use them up you would be fat. No joke. But the Bing Bars may very well be worth it.

These bars are a midwest treat. Yes, I was in college in 1982. Yes, I am old.

The original recipe from Iowa. I used butter instead of margarine because this is dairy country and I want to do my part.

The ingredients include many yummy treats so you know they are going to be good.

I used mini marshmallows and found the measurement conversion on google. Twelve large mallows equals 1 and 1/2 cups of minis. You must stir constantly while it boils for five minutes. It will burn easily and quickly. After you remove from the heat, add the cherry chips, stir and stir some more.

Since the recipe didn't specify semi sweet or milk for the chocolate chips I used half of each. Pretty much perfect combination.

You could buy the peanuts chopped but I have my old and trusty chopper from Grandma Dykstra.

While you make the chocolate peanut topping the cherry yumminess cools just enough so that it doesn't pull up as you add the chocolate layer. Nice.

Cherry Bing Bars are a Midwest treat but they taste like a Pacific Northwest treat, the Mountain Bar made by Brown and Haley in Tacoma. YUM!

I have been busy baking. Sometimes Valentines come in the form of care packages. Danny and Sam, check your mailboxes this week!

Luv- mum

My Valentine Picks

It's LoVe week at the Stone House. I wanted to share some of my picks for your special Valentine and special friends and family.

Rod Stewart's newest album, Soulbook. I am loving this album. Love songs, baby!


Straight to the heart, a gift that says you care about their well being. I am on my second year of my Health subscription and I love it. Health is my new favorite magazine. Men's Health is great for guys.


I {heart} this lotion. I bought it on vacation in a travel size and fell in love. Next I am going to try Johnson & Johnson's lavender and camomile lotion and body wash.


I love the new 'old' bar accessories at Pottery Barn, they are having a back order issue with them, so be patient. I know my bartender needs them.


My heart jewelry from Tricia is special. My guys gave me the jewels. Sentimental fool that I am, these pieces mean a lot. The heart rock with a hole looks all sweet and sassy for LoVe week with red thread, worn with a black t-shirt.

I love to bake for those I love. Cinnamon rolls baked in a heart shape, pink frosting and Valentine sprinkles can say, I love you.


A simple card or a print from one of my favorite esty shops. Amazing photo.


Keep it simple, sincere and creative. Lots more luv coming this week...

Clean Needles Please

Last night I called Sam. He had a BiG test on snake bites and child birth(he told me after seeing those films he is never having children, doesn't even want to put a wife through childbirth) and other calamities. I called to see how he scored. He scored a 96%. So, we chat, I need to go make dinner and start to say good bye.

So I say..."Sam, I am so proud of you, love you honey",about to say g'bye here.

Sam interrupts me, "on Saturday I am getting a tattoo" and hangs up FAST!

{insert BiG sigh}

Now please excuse my texting grammar. I do the best I can as fast as I can which quite often is pretty poor.

I text Sam- "New needles. since you watched birth movies this week- a reminder of the sacrifice i made giving birth to a fat ten pound sam! dont mark your self with a tattoo. :) luv- mum

Sam texts me-"I think i'm doing a real looking heart with mother written on it, kinda like the old heart tattoos with mom written on it."

I text back- "Ok good save. ;)

What can I say? If he is smart enough to know not to tattoo a girl's name cuz we all know girls come and go, but rather 'Mother', go crazy Sam.

After all a MoM's LoVe is forever.

Good Stuff

Wednesday is Thrift Store day, all of the new junk is out, all of the hard core junkies are there. Good fun.

Today I scored an Ikea lantern, I needed three and now I have them. And a random find, The Bad Girl's Sticky Notes, for a mere fifty cents. Just in time for LoVe Week. I'm thinking they are going to be a lot of fun for fifty cents.


Then on to work at the museum where Holly ran in the door and gave me a gift, then ran back out to get to her first of two jobs she works at on Wednesdays. Go Holly!

The gift was this catchy little phrase, which I may or may not overuse, occasionally... maybe sometimes. Raise your hand if you've heard me say, It Is What It Is.

Okay, okay, I get it.

Random gifts are so much fun-thanks Holly!

A Fresh Project

I am hunting and gathering materials for a Whistler mini album, to be made in Whistler, about my last Whistler trip.

The soft aqua and burgundy wine colors are so pretty together. The pale aqua, glittered photo corners from Martha Stewart are my favorite.

Sometimes the best part of a project is the newness of it and the planning.