Sam Etc.

Levi picked up Sam in Seattle and brought him home.  

I asked Sam if Levi wanted to come over for dinner after he got done working.  Yes.  

Then Sam asked if Blake could come over for dinner. Sure.

Then Sam asked if Jesse could join us for dinner.  Yes, please.  

Then Sam said Alex was on his way over.  Great, I'll grab another plate!

It made this Mama so happy to have the guys back on the patio.

Hubby grilled flank steak, turkey breasts, summer veggies while in the house I made a big 

Caesar salad and cheesy potatoes.

Fresh strawberries and ice cream served with sugar cookies and 

peanut butter m&m cookies on the side for dessert.

They ate like they hadn't been on our patio for a year.

Hubby and I just love to see these guys together.

Good guys, good friends!

Random Again

This is  random stuff people, very random...

I changed our bedding to summer bedding on July 2 and we froze, as in turn on the furnace, add more blankets kind of froze.  I had gotten the duvet cover at Pottery Barn and could hardly wait to use it.  But now finally, we are just right.  Summer is here and its timing is good because I don't think we could have taken much more of the chilly, rainy marathon we were experiencing.

We're spending as much time as possible on the patio.  I always feel like I'm someplace else on a vacation when I'm out there.  Even though I'm home I can forget the list that needs to get done when I'm on the patio.

That stack of books you saw in a previous post, I've read all but one.

Today, That Sam I Am is coming home on leave.  He is ready for the patio, Mom's cooking, seeing his family and friends and most of all he is ready for some heat relief.  It's HOT in north Carolina and here it's just right.  This weekend he is going to the cabin with Max, cousins, and buddies.  I hope the cabin is still standing, they don't make the neighbors mad and that they have a good time.  I try not to think about it.  When Sam has a leave in the Summer it's their tradition and they all LOVE it.

Hubby and I are going on a little road trip with Sam too.  It's all good.  The fridge is full and I baked two batches of cookies last night.  I planned some of his favorite meals.  Can't wait!

 Welcome Home That Sam I Am!

Dear Anonymous

I would like to respond to Anonymous who left a comment on my previous post.

 Anonymous said...

Your blog has been declining since my absence. People are asking....get motivated.

Dear Anonymous,

I have been motivated and busy during your absence.  You see, I have spent the last 20+ year being a Mom, parenting three boys.  Now that chapter is over and a new one has begun.  It's different, I miss my guys coming home, dining and dashing to be with friends, leaving piles of dirty laundry and taking all the hot water in the shower.  I miss it badly.

We raised our sons to want to work hard, succeed in life and to have goals so our little birdies have flown the coop.  As they should.  Now things have changed here at the Stone House.  Hubby and I are refeathering the nest.  And in anticipation of this event I made plans  for July.  After a very busy June I decided that July would be about me and your Dad.  I would take time to do some things that I love and I would relax and regroup and have some fun with my husband.

This is what I have be doing since you left...

I helped give a bridal shower.

Hubby and I went to Semiahmoo Beach with friends to walk, check out the resort and spend some time on the beach and have dinner for the 4th of July.

I have been gardening.

I have been sipping tea.

I have been painting my nails.

Since summer finally showed up I have been spending some time on the patio, reading.

Hubby and I are hanging out on the patio in the evenings.

Of course, I keep fairly busy with my job at the museum, taking care of the house, making meals and re-habing my knee.  My knee is at the top of the July list, right up there with relaxing.

I haven't forgotten my guys.  I'm praying for all of you boys everyday.  I'm busy looking for tickets to go to MI to visit Danny and Jess, I'm planning meals and dinners with family and friends for Sam's visit.  He arrives on Tuesday from Fort Bragg, NC and we are very excited to spend some time with Sam.

And I am doing some shopping, going to garage sales and gathering things for Max's apartment in 

Walla Walla.  I have found quite a stash of goodies.

All of which keeps me busy.

So, dear concerned Anonymous, don't worry about me being motivated.

I am just fine.  Really fine, actually.

I am just doing whatever I want to whenever I want to for the month of July.

And it may or may not include blogging every day.

Love,

Your Mother

P.S.  I miss you, kiddo!

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!

Have a fun and safe holiday. 

The weatherman is making us some pretty big promises.  

No rain!  We'll see.  
Be sure to get your fireworks from the Lynden Pioneer Museum stand, it's located by Jake's, Milt's and Food Pavillion in Lynden.

A Rambling Saturday

Hubby was off on Saturday this week.  Since it was raining we couldn't work in the yard or rather wouldn't want to work in the yard, we went for a drive.  A few garage sales and then a meandering drive to town to get some things at Costco.

As we were zipping along Portal Way I saw a shop, Warehouse Beautiful, out of the corner of my eye.  We did a quick turn around and boy howdy, it was worth it.

If you like decorating with white, with repurposed items, this the spot!  I didn't dare to take photos inside, but I should have asked because it was so pretty and 

the owner was so sweet she probably would have let me.

When I did a search online this photo popped up from the local newspaper.

They aren't open everyday, so you may want to check first.

There was a white saddle for a pony that I was coveting for a pony and a grand daughter that I don't have.

But someday I might!

This pic is outside at the Warehouse Beautiful.

 Driving on I spotted pupusas and tortas on a restaurant sign so we stopped for lunch.

We love Salvadorian food and it was delish at Super Mario's on Northwest Avenue.

It was all so fun.  Once in a blue moon Hubby and I like to drive around and make random stops like we have nothing better to do.  Good times.

And then we went to Marshalls, Macy's and Costco to shop.

On a neighboring country's holiday weekend.

Enough said.

I'm Back

Max came home for the weekend.  His friend Austin had an accident and Max really wanted to see him.  Austin is doing much better and is hoping to come home today.  So thankful for his recovery.  They are between cuttings on the farm so Max was able to drive over on on Thursday night.

It was so good to have Max walk in the door.  I forgot that Kassie cut his hair before he left, he had gotten tan since they actually have sunshine on the east side so he looked different to me.  I forgot that the first time guys come home they look bigger and older.  Every time.

 On Friday night Max and Kassie had dinner with us.  I made guacamole for a starter and a fresh strawberry pizza for dessert and Hubby made the fajitas for main.  We had a two hour dinner with a lot of laughing.  We told Kassie what Max was like when he was between the ages of 2 and 5.  It really was not funny at the time, I'm glad we can laugh now.  My sisters will vouch for me, Max's behavior was horrid.  He had sleep apnea and we had no clue, we just thought it's our third boy and maybe it's a naughty one or a crazy cranky one.  Now he's as nice as the rest.  Whew.

Also today, a knee recovery update.  I am going to physical therapy.  It isn't with a physical terrorist, it's with Erin, who is fantastic.  I have been stretching and exercising on the off days.  I rode the stationary bike for 7 miles with a resistance of 6 this morning so I'm getting there.  I've also returned to boot camp.  I am so happy to be back with my peeps!  It's light at 5:30 a.m. and that helps.  I can't run or jump yet but I can walk pretty far.

The glitch is the swelling.  If it was winter I could ignore it but it's a little ugly for skirts and shorts in the summer time.  I showed the boot camp babes and my PT, Erin yesterday morning and they thought it looked fine until I showed them my other knee.  Then, not so much.

Some randoms bits:

*Sam is coming home on leave on July 10th for two weeks.  That makes this mama so happy.

*I think I need sunshine.  More specifically I think I need sunshine on my days off from work.

*I've been busy at the museum.  It's fun to be there right now because there is a kids' camp for two weeks.  They're working on a musical,  The  Little  Mermaid, so I'm humming and singing under the sea

constantly.

*Speaking of a broken record, I'm a bit tired of complaints about the weather, mine included.

*Friends and I are giving a bridal shower next week so I'm working on that project.  

It's going to be pretty cute!

*We got our ottoman back from Gerrit( my reupholster guru) and it looks great.  We had it upholstered to match the wing back chairs.  We found the ottoman for 10 bucks and had leftover drop cloth fabric from the original.  

I love checking things off the list!  Especially when I didn't actually have to do much.

*I'm forever grateful to Leslie for loaning me her stationary bike.  Thank you Leslie!  That said I do have to add the seat is a killer, I whine in my mind about my bum the entire time I'm pedaling.

*I really want to go to town today but I'm scared of the amount of traffic from up North.

Should I go or should I stay?

*Have a fantastic weekend!  I plan to clean up around here and read a good book.