It's Random

There isn't really anything going on here at the Stone House but I haven't posted for awhile so here comes some random writing.

*Do you plant a garden? I see seed packets and they look so tempting and pretty and then I remember that gardeners have to water, weed, and harvest the garden.  Yeah, that's not happening here.

(photo from the junk gypsies)

*This dinner was leftover lemon turkey breast, pasta, and mushrooms, red pepper, garlic and onions sauteed with wild sage mushroom oil. Super easy supper for me as Hubby did the cooking that night.

Delish.

*I took a screen shot of this photo and then later I was looking at it and trying to figure out why I saved it.  The trailer, the bracelets it was advertising, the chalk on the door.  Hhmmm, nope, it was the steps.  I think I need Hubby to build a set of big steps for Huaka'i Annie for trailer shows. People are always falling out of Annie.  Aren't the pineapples cute?

*My trailer tribe is a lil cray cray at some of the rallies.  There is Hawaiian night, girl scout uniforms, fiesta night, 50's night, Petticoat Junction night(I'm really confused about that one because I am too young to remember that show), 

Western night, hippie night... anyhoo, it's a lot.

I saw this picture and it reminded me of my tribe.  We need to get our game on. If only we had these bowling gowns and bowling ball bags. Those. gloves.  Let the search commence gals!

Rally season is coming!

 *I tend to wear jeans with a black tee, a lot.  If Hubby sees me wearing my uniform and he has on a black tee he insists that one of us should change because we are not those people.  You know, married people that have shirts or jackets alike.  He's right, we aren't the twinning type.  Honestly, I don't think the black tee counts as twinning.  And furthermore, it was my uniform first!

I've been a busy little online shopper.  Hubby and I needed some new clothes for trailer trash parties.

Since we don't do the twin thing I am careful not to go too far and yet have us coordinate.

Our flamingo set.

 Our red, white and blue set, with some gray to tone things down.

I just have to laugh about our trailer fashions because for Hubby and me, it is a stretch.

One of those, who'd have thought?

 * Congratulations to our daughter-in-law, Jess! She completed her masters program yesterday. We are so happy for Jess and so proud of her accomplishment!

*I have a been substitute teaching a lot and have a lot of days scheduled for May.  It's a busy time of year for subs.  It's all good though because summer is coming.

*When I promise random, I deliver.  Enjoy the sunshine today!

Spring Camping

 I signed up for the Sisters on the Fly La Connor trip which is during tulip festival in Skagit County.  My friend Jean and I went a day early.  It was sunny on Thursday  not raining on Thursday and since I didn't have a sub job I decided in the morning to pack up and hit the road.

I am so glad that I did, it was nice to set up without rain and it gave Jean and I more time together.

We set up and promptly left camp to find a happy hour.  We landed at Nell Thorn for cocktails, croquettes and calamari.  Not a bad a way to begin our weekend.

Because of the wet conditions the only tulips I saw were the ones in my trailer. I stopped at a Kiwanis tulip stand on my way into town.  There were tulips in town but we didn't go to the fields.  It was more cozy to have my butternut soup in my dry trailer.

 Jean and her husband, Steve are leaving this spring on a year long trip around the states.  I am so happy for them.  They are downsizing, selling their home and taking off in their new trailer.  They will decide where they will live next after touring the states and checking out their options.

Jean and I spent time getting her travel blog set up and her Chatbook options ready for all of the great photos she'll be taking on their journey. We also played a lot of cribbage, as I am not one to gloat I shall not speak of it again.

 I have loved getting to know Jean. Jean and Rene' were the sisters that invited and encouraged me to join Sisters on the Fly. No one really needs an invitation to join but honestly, that is how  it works. Most sisters get an invite from another sister and so it begins. 

Jean is the sister that sets up a welcome party at each event.  She is inclusive and charming. She is very creative and I love being around that energy.  When Jean traveled for business she would reach out to other sisters in whatever city she was visiting and arrange to have dinner.

I am going to miss Jean a lot but I am so happy for her and Steve.

As long as they end up back in Washington State, where they belong, I'm good.

Jean, happy trails! And then, get back where you belong!

What I Did on my Spring Vacation

Spring vacation began with Easter.  Dinner was at our house so actually the break started with cleaning and cooking.  It felt good to get the house tidy. Everyone came after church for dinner.

We had beer hunt instead of an egg hunt, since the kids are all adults now and we are always looking for ways to keep their attention.

Hubby was on midnight shift and when he got home on Monday morning I drove us to George, WA to visit Max and Kassie.  It was really fun to see them so happy and to see all the projects they had done at their house. Building fences and painting have kept them busy.  Hubby set their new closet door. Kassie made us a delicious dinner using one her Pioneer Woman cookbooks for the recipe.

I went junking a morning to Franny's sale. 

Huaka'i Annie came out for the camping season.  I gave her a good spring cleaning.

It is amazing how much stuff accumulates in a small trailer.

It gets really messy, working in a small space with way too much junk.  I sorted, cleaned, made the bed and started to restock.

I think I will like having the big coffee pot for heating water when I wash dishes.  When I go alone, I sometimes use Starbucks Via.  I'm not going to make a fire and a big pot of cowboy coffee for myself.

A trip to Dollar Tree where I picked up drawer organizers, a mirror and sticky tabs for mounting, drawer liner, and some smaller perishables.  I like to buy their vegetable oil, small syrup and few other items, that are trailer size.

Then I start playing with vignettes.  I have a new tray and I wanted to try it.

New p.j.'s for camping, yes please!

I think I am really going to like my new to me Hudson Bay blanket.  It may not be an original but it is definitely good quality and warm. I think it's the Pendleton copy.

My train case was needing some work so I traded it for the one I'd made for Max and Kassie's wedding cards.  The drawer liner and some arrows stenciled on top finished it for me.

I also found the refillable travel size containers for my contact solutions at the dollar store.

I had sent for some natural skin care products from Amazon to leave in my train case for the season.
The Mad Hippie, hmmm, I don't consider myself to be a hippie but I'll give this a whirl.

Do you use the nail polish remover with foam in a jar?  I have for quite a long time and I just found a travel size.  Face wipes are essential for camping.

Annie and I are ready for camping!
Spring break already seems long ago.  It was a good time to see family, organize our house, and get ready for camping season.  That is all well and good but next year we are going someplace warm.  The rain is starting to get to me and to Hubby.
Good thing I got ready to camp because now I am camping!

Random Projects and Products

Last fall I went on a camping trip with some of my Sisters on the Fly. We went to a craft and antique show in Moses Lake, where I drank the Chalk Couture kool aid. I started using it in December, and the green leafy border was as far as I got.  Weddings, Christmas, recovering, it all meant I didn't get much done around the house.

 This week I got out my Chalk Couture and got busy.  My chalk paste/paint was really hard.  It never was as soft as what I was shown at the show.  I think the rep had stored it in her garage over the summer.  Just a guess... anywhoo, I muddled through and put together a spring cocktail menu for the sitting room. I still need some practice.

 After living in the Stone House for over sixteen years I decided to sew some kitchen curtains.  I didn't line them and may regret that decision.  It wasn't the fabric I had in my mind when I went shopping for fabric.  Hubby and I aren't sure if we even like having curtains in the kitchen. They are up and I'm giving it through this summer to decide if they stay.

 I may not have liked buying all new kitchen appliances but I am loving the top shelf on my new GE Adora dishwasher.

I'm subbing a lot and my feet hurt.  One of the elementary school secretaries told be about Bzees. They are a super comfortable shoe that is machine washable.  They seem a bit old lady but I am an old lady so I'm going with it.  They are available at Nordstrom and Macys. There are other styles and colors.  I like the black because it is a sandal that covers much of my foot and when 60 is imminent that is a good thing,  Nothing worse than looking at old feet. They come in a large variety of sizes.  I'm giving them a try. Their price point isn't bad either.

No products are paying me to write this drivel.

I promised random and I kept that promise.  Have a good day, friends!

And Then...

I didn't finish my Palm Springs trip in the previous post. Today I'll wrap up the PSP trip and then what followed here at  home.  Let's get caught up.
#poolside

We visited John and Kristen at their place.  Hubby and I got to pick lemons with Kristen.  We love fresh lemons!  These guys...

We bowled.  Well, Hubby, Jeremy and Rene' bowled.  I am not sure what game I was playing.
It had been a long time and real life bowling is different than Wii bowling. 

Jeremy and Rene' started their drive home, Hubby and I had one more night and then he flew home after dropping me off at a Starbucks.  I did some bill paying, correspondence and checked Sub Online while sitting in the sunshine with my coffee.  Sheryl pick me up and vacay part two began.

We did some shopping at the Marriott and then went to her place to prep for some pool time.

We juiced grapefruits for cocktails and they were not only beautiful but juicy, sweet and delicious.

#grapefruitdiet

Brad was playing in a golf tournament.  We went in Sheryl's cart and watched him play.

It was really fun and just like TV, it's quiet, they golf, there's applause and then everyone moves on to the next hole.  Except Sheryl and I were afraid we'd go the wrong way, be too loud or something so we went back to wait at the clubhouse.  Brad was in the top four, so that was exciting.

The next morning we met Sheryl's friend, Kathy and went to the La Quinta Art Show.

No stuffy gallery, just sunshine and pretty everywhere I looked.

 

This painting reminds me of a guy I know and his bike.

Sheryl and I always have fun, talk constantly, and do a lot of shopping.  We love to hang out by the pool and in the evening we are pretty happy staying in for the night.  Thank you Brad and Sheryl, it was another good time in Indian Ridge!

Meanwhile, Hubby came home to a fridge that had died. He did a lot of researching and leg work before I came home.  Of course, our fridge isn't a standard size.  Welcome to the Stone House.

He picked Sheryl and I up at the airport, we ran Sheryl (she came home for an appt,) home, went to see my Mom (she had pneumonia while we were gone) and then returned to Bellingham to buy a fridge.  We ended up buying all new appliances.  Our stove and dishwasher were in the house when we bought it, over 16 years ago. A travel day and a major purchase in one day, a bit out of my comfort zone but Hubby had done the hard part.

By the time everything could be delivered we had been without a fridge for ten days.

I am loving my new kitchen.  I had been thinking about painting the cabinets but it turns out they weren't the problem.  They look better next to new appliances.  I'm even motivated to sew curtains, after 16 years without window coverings.  {Sigh}

By then the lemons Hubby had taken home from the desert were ripe and ready to be squeezed. We freeze the juice in big ice cube trays and then store the cubes in Ziploc bags.  Lemon drops, Bee's knees and lemon bars are so much better with lemons you've picked yourself.

I am subbing a lot and Hubby is on swing shift.  We haven't seen much of each other.  We are both pushing to get a lot done in the house and on the yard.  Felling trees, trimming, fertilizing the lawn, washing windows, pressure washing the patio and furniture, and Spring cleaning inside, it's keeping us busy and sore.

 Once in awhile we sit down and spin a record or two.  We are planning our summer camping schedule and that is always a good thing.

Isn't Spring wonderful?