November Rambling

This promises to be a rather random post. November is almost half over and I haven't posted yet.  Last November we were getting ready for two weddings and a trip.  My Mom wasn't doing well and one of my guys was going through a tough time. This year November came and I felt a little blah.  Not ready for Christmas busyness yet, but almost bored.  I started thinking about everything that happened last fall and looking back I realized how overloaded and busy I felt.  Much of it was so good! But some of it was hard and sad. I had to step back and look at what a normal November looked like for me this year.

As it turns out some reflection was good and I am ready for a grateful Thanksgiving and a Christmas season of celebrations and joy.

In October, Sheryl and I went to the Glitter and Glitz Vintage Show in Anacortes.  It got me inspired for Christmas decorating. 

I have been walking more again.  I feel so much better when I walk regularly but it is a slippery slope and any change can cause me to stop. Anywhoo, I am back in my groove and that feels good.

 November has been a busy month for substitute teaching.  There haven't been any jobs for Thanksgiving week because of conferences scheduled for afternoons. I am happy to have the week off to do some holiday prep and enjoy being at home.

I had an outing on Saturday to University Village on the Lynden Christian School Polar Express.  I won a trip! That was a first for me.  Karen went with me on the bus trip.  It was fantastic!  Their swag bags rocked.  We got on the bus and did some local shopping first and then went to Seattle for more shopping.  Karen and I enjoyed lunch at Eureka and shopped until we dropped.  Then it was back on the bus for a box dinner, more raffle prizes and fun visiting.

Yes, we miss camping.  We miss packing up and taking off with Annie, our '57 Aloha and we really miss our trailer peeps. Hubby and I were off yesterday so we decided to cook dinner outside.  It was cold but clear.  Sam came for dinner and it was good to see our favorite veteran on Veterans Day.

 We made our sauce first and then assembled a lasagna.

 While it was baking in the Dutch oven we were warming up inside by the fire.

 Success!  It was delicious and we'll take this recipe on camping trips next summer.

Today Hubby is at work and I am at home taking care of some cleaning and projects.  We are hosting a Friendsgiving on Saturday evening. The Pie Pals and their guys are coming for dinner.

I ordered Christmas bedding from Pottery Barn. Cozy. The plaid duvet cover is calling my name too.

Today I plan to put up one of the trees. I want to decorate and enjoy this season.  I have an idea for a ONEandDone gift for the kids this year.  I would like to try some new recipes.  I want to attend some local Christmas events this year.  

It's too early for some of you but not for me! 

Enjoy the season as you wish!

Some New and Some Traditions in October

The blog has been so spotty lately.  I don't have time to post because I am out there enjoying post able events and trips.  Anywhoo, let's get caught up, shall we?

First up, something new!  We stayed in our first AirBnB.  We were trying to camp with Jeremy and Rene' and Larry and Shelly.  We couldn't find a date, then we couldn't get reservations, finally we scrapped the camping and went to the city and stayed in the Big Red House.

Our house was cute and it was cozy because when we arrived our friends had cocktails and seafood risotto waiting for us. The drive was rainy, windy with serious traffic.

Saturday morning the sun came out and we went for breakfast at Belltown Brewery.

We visited the market.

I wanted the pretty peppers but I didn't want to carry them all day.  

We wandered downtown and then took the monorail to Seattle Center.  We had a lovely visit at the Chihuly Garden and Glass. I love that place,  It never gets old.

 The garden has matured since our last visit.

Mr. Chihuly has a trailer collection too.

We had tickets to go to the top of the Space Needle at 4:30.  Perfect time for us and we were excited to see the new glass floor.  Warning: If you sell me a ticket for a 4:30 time slot and then I have to wait in line for 2+ hours, it won't be pretty.  We got a refund and left it for next time.  

On to the Rhein Haus for some bocci ball, the Huskie game on TV, beer and dinner. It turned out to be their Octoberfest that evening.  Oh my!  That was fun.

It was so good to have time with our trailer friends in the city. I love these peeps!

Karen and I have a tradition of making dinner for each other for our birthdays.  We fuss.
It was a special birthday for her this October.

We do a new cocktail, dinner, presents, candles and cake, in other words, we celebrate the birthday girl.

Hubby made us Silver Bells for our cocktail.  We have had them at Oliver's Lounge.  They were created for a hospital Seattle Christmas Gala and have become a tradition for that event.

Hubby and I have a tradition of camping at Silver Lake in the fall. It's just the two of us and we play cards, cook, nap and read and hike and nap and read again.  It's perfect.

This year was really perfect as the sunshine was glorious, and the fall color has been amazing this year.  Since it was October, we couldn't rent a canoe.

Pork loin and twice baked potatoes on the bucket grill for dinner, yum!

Cooking in a Dutch oven is new to us.  I bought a Dutch oven for Hubby at a swap meet this year and he was wanting to try it. He took a class on Dutch Oven cooking at Nile Valley from Scott and Renee, so he had some knowledge.

He decided to try biscuits and gravy.  Full disclosure on biscuits and gravy and Hubby and I... we only allow ourselves to have it once a year.  It's yummy and fattening and we know that. Once I know we are having it I don't want to be disappointed with burnt gravy and gooey biscuits.  Right?

No disappointment here.  Oh my goodness, it was delicious.  We use Jimmy Dean hot sausage and a lot of black pepper.

And since biscuits and gravy weren't enough we also drove to Glacier for Wake'n Bakery coffee and cookies. It took a lot of hiking to justify biscuits and gravy and cookies.

Reading in the sunshine, yes please.

We have a small heater, flannel sheets and wool blankets to keep us warm.  It's fun to camp in the fall and cozy up. There were two other campsites with campers so it's quiet.

Morning coffee is pretty dreamy when you're camping.  Photo credit goes to Hubby.

 Good stuff and a lot of fun.  Now we are home and Annie is winterized and ready to go into the carport for the rainy season.  I am subbing quite a bit and Hubby has a new schedule.
Fall and home feel good.

Autumn Random

Oh Autumn, I love you-

Let's get caught up, shall we? Just because I haven't posted, things and life are all still happening.

Hubby has been busy cleaning up the yard and I've been busy cleaning up the house.  A summer of neglect and a very dusty, dry August left our place in shambles.  That and being gone a lot made for a mess, inside and outside.  

I wanted a new dining table and chairs, sold our other one on FB to a SOTF (sister on the fly) and took down the sconces and sold those to a friend.  I wanted a less cluttered look.

We are making a few changes around the house this fall.  I'm going to declutter, or die trying.

I am having camping withdrawals and it's not pretty.  Hubby and I hope to get to Silver Lake one more time this year. I'm not ready to put Annie away for winter just yet.

Last weekend was a fun and busy time. Our friends, Steve and Sheryl visited from Denver.  Sheryl DH and I met Sheryl V at college our freshman year.  When we get together it's like no time has passed.  We laugh and giggle like we are still living in the dorms.  Brad and Sheryl hosted because we had a family wedding on Saturday. It was a wonderful evening. And on Saturday we had some girl time. We forgot to take any pictures, but trust me, it happened!

On Saturday evening, my nephew Levi married Kat at the Majestic.  We are so happy to add Kat to our family!  She is a keeper.  They had cake and cup cakes so I guess they are really married. The cupcakes were crazy good!

 Obviously, Sam and Max are snarking about their Mom.

Sam and Max spent a lot of time with Levi growing up. They went back and forth between our houses. 

 Great Aunt Kathi and Aurora enjoyed the reception.

 My sister Jodi, the MOG with some of her girls.

My siblings all jumped in to help Bill and Jodi with wedding details.  It was the first big event without our Mom. I am so thankful that we have each other. It's nights like this one that I miss my folks. 

The out laws grabbed my brother for a guys selfie.  My parents loved these guys a lot.

They like to get together once a month without the sisters. We are all getting together tonight, I called a meeting to go over some estate details and Hubby and Jeff jumped in and decided to meet up with Bill.  We'll have dinner together.  Good stuff when a family loves on each other!

Hubby and I both have colds. Hubby has a new work schedule. I'm subbing more in October (hence the colds) than September.  It's always a slow start and then picks up. I've turned over a new leaf and am doing some meal planning. We'll see how long that lasts...

Well, we are caught up on the big events, the short details and the random.  We have a fun adventure planned this weekend.  So, until next time... enjoy fall!