Quarantine Random

Still here. I may have just had Milk Duds for breakfast. Don't judge me. I'm coping with quarantine on a day by day basis. Some days I am highly motivated and some days I am not. And it's okay.

Years ago I bought a pasta maker from Goodwill and never used it. Hubby got it out and now he makes fresh pasta on Saturdays. Ravioli, fettuccine, spaghetti, lasagna, we've made it all. #pastanotherweek

It's been a fun and delicious way to mark another week of quarantine.

 Our windows in the Stone House originally had black grid, someone painted them white. I have been getting them all back to the black. The ground floor is finished and the sills and surrounds have been painted a pale gray.

 It is a ton of prep! Hubby is going to refinish the front door to charcoal gray.  He built our front door and it's impossible to keep it looking good with stain and sealer.

I'm focusing on windows and sewed curtains for the milk house/ back porch.

It was a milk house originally and now it is the cross I bear. It's unfinished. Friends and family know that an unfinished porch isn't grounds for divorce, so here I am. I love the guy but I do not like the back porch issue.  The whole ugly story isn't for publication but if you're curious ask my sisters or my guys. Oh, they'll tell you.

Hubby on his commute. He goes into the office one day a week and the other four he is upstairs. It's been great having him home. I now know how hard he works and he knows how little I do.

Hubby is a mixologist and it comes in handy during quarantine.  Life is too short for a bad cocktail.

He makes me a fancy drink for cocktail Zoom parties.

I cleaned a closet and found my honeymoon lingerie. Since it doesn't fit (obviously) I made us a cocktail as a nod to it.

I'm shopping from home. Aren't we all? Hubby has a new office chair, we have new camping chairs and our grand baby has a new wardrobe.  He's arriving in June. Sam lives in the US and mama Katie lives in Canada. It's a problem that needs prayers. I'll probably meet the little guy in a ditch on Boundary Road.

 In my humble opinion, the Covid-19 has stolen anticipation. My vacations, meeting our grandson, sub jobs, for others it's been their weddings, family reunions, graduation, the list goes on. While I am choosing joy, or at least attempting joy everyday, the virus has it's control some days. 

I'm keeping busy because I live in the Stone House and it takes a lot of maintenance. I'm thankful for Hubby's job and that our kids are working. There is always good in the bad and I hope and pray each one of you can find the good. 

I am also so thankful for my kindle. I use my local library card on the Libby App and have had some good reads. What have you been reading?

My list:

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins (run, don't walk for this book)

Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid (it was free on Amazon)

A Beginners Guide to Free Fall by Andy Abramowitz

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain

The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

I enjoyed each book, genre is a mood thing for me.

Meanwhile., I'm not camping but I am hopeful that we'll be allowed to be outdoors in the forest, by the ocean, lakes and rivers soon. Annie is prepped and ready. Camping is how I social distance. I didn't realize that's what it was called but that's what this introvert was doing all along.

 Friends and family, I am praying for you. I'm thankful for my faith in our God who it unchanging.

This too shall pass. Please continue to give yourself grace and to give grace to others. 

Grace will get us to the other side.

And you can all start by giving me grace for eating milk duds for breakfast. I know I did. 

Hello

Well, now we all know what it's like to be on house arrest.

The ankle bracelet is more of a heart bracelet and it's heavy.

I've canceled 10 nights in Hawaii, a sisters and cousins trip to Palm Springs,  a Sisters on the Fly camping trip with some of my camping besties and a trip to see Max and Kassie. I have more airline credit than I know what to do with this year.  April was going to be amazing! And now it's not.

I love to be home, but I love to look forward to and plan trips.  I've unpacked my suitcase and for the most part I have gotten past the bitter disappointment.  I have found that I cannot listen to Somewhere Over the Rainbow sung by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole without getting teary. Because Hawaii.

toesinthesand, poolside, vacation

Meanwhile at home, I'm growing out my bangs and turning gray. My nails! I miss all y'all but I may be missing Glenda and Brandi the most.  But it doesn't matter cuz I'm grounded.  

That's enough sharing my pity party for one.  That said I am giving myself grace. There are so many disappointments in the world right now and mine are minor.  I know that. But I still get to mourn.

And you do too.  Lost jobs, uncertainty, fear, stress, disappointments and loss. It's all here and now.

My prayer for each one of you is that some good comes from the bad and that we can be patient with each other and stay home. It's for our own good and for others.

At home we can spend time with family. Work on projects, clean our houses, and slow down.  Spend some time praying and reading. Good things!

Motivation is a small problem for me but I'm working through it. Without the pressure of having to be somewhere or go to work and crippled with uncertainty I can freeze. I actually got the ironing caught up after days of walking past it.  Because I'm not wearing any of those things now it seemd like a silly thing to catch up.  There was no reason to iron. It's yoga pants and p.j.'s for me, occasionally I wear jeans, just to make sure they still fit.  Remember the freshman fifteen? Now we have to worry about the Corona fifteen. #thestruggleisreal

Because when you realize you are not going to Hawaii, peanut M & M's and chips fly into your grocery cart.  True story.  

The weather has been lovely until today. Things are getting done in the yard.  Everyone's hands are clean. Surfaces are clean.  Laundry is caught up. Books are getting read. Our taxes are finished.  Annie is clean, bed is made and she is ready to go camping.

I'm talking to friends or family on the phone and having some good visits. I try to call someone every day and be encouraging.  It turns out I am blessed more than I intend to bless.

We will get through this virus. Hubby and I have always maintained we can do just about anything, if it's temporary.  When he was gone to training for 3+months and left me home alone with those three boys, it was temporary and we got through it. When I'm subbing in a classroom and it's going badly, think out of control and bodily fluids, it's only one day.  Power through.

Let's give grace to each other.  We aren't all mourning the same things. We aren't here to judge whether someone should take their kids to the grocery store or  for a walk. Our government has never dealt with a pandemic, give them grace. The last thing anyone needs is to be harshly judged.  I like to think that everyone is doing their best.  And I'm praying that our best is enough.

My Mom had a small blue vase, she always picked the first daffodils, and made a bouquet for her window sill. I did the same last week. I'm finding joy in the little things and I am praying that you can too.  Take care my friends, give grace, do some self care, read your Bible and love your people and others and please stay home. I love you and your heavenly Father does too.
Take care~

Thus Concludes January

Hubby and I had no plans to go anywhere in January, February or March.   Sort of the calm before the storm and a good time for projects.  The best laid plans and all that...

January turned into a fun and busy month.  Our friends, Jeremy and Rene' youngest daughter got married and we went to Winlock, WA for a weekend.  If you ever need a wedding within three weeks, call Jeremy and Rene' for tips.  They emptied a barn, made it beautiful, created guest housing, and cooked and baked for 60. It was so pretty and the food was delicious.  We had a good time with them and with their kids.

 The next weekend we went to Enumclaw, I had a Sisters on the Fly luncheon and we got time at Larry and Shelly's house. I don't know how Shelly did it but she had a full house for lunch, house guests and then her and Larry made dinner for eight. It's so good to see our camping peeps in the winter.

 The next weekend my brother, Ken and Carolyn got married.  It was a beautiful wedding, Carolyn wore my Mom's going away wool suit.  It was in Lynden and that was good since our crawl space flooded and we needed to take care of that issue.  Actually, Hubby and Max took care of it, who are we kidding. 

 A few of our guys and their girls came home for the wedding.  We love having them around and Max and Kassie brought Bo. We love their dog and hadn't seen him for a long time.  He's such a good dog!

#goodtoseehisownerstoo

 I've been painting a small cabinet for silverware storage. Why do projects look like they will take me two hours and end up taking days? And days. Ugh! I'm close and my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint expert is chiming in to get me to the finish line.  I'll share the finished picture in February or when it gets finished. June?

Hubby and I are hitting the oranges hard.  I had a sinus infection in January and it has settled in my ears. Does anyone else take elderberry syrup and chews? I have been but how does anyone know if anything really works? Would it be worse?

I stacked coupons on Loft and bought a soft jacket for under $12. The soft, yummy, lounge wear jacket is fantastic to wear with pj pants and a tank.  Sizes are disappearing so hurry!  And the coupons aren't as good now but keep watching and stack'em!

Y'all know I love snow and Tuesday the snow fell straight down. I had the day off and it was the stuff that winter dreams are made of.  Yes, I just ended a sentence with a preposition. 

I'm reading The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.  It's an easy, fun read and that's just what I needed.

Love Week is coming up and I am putting together a few special Valentines.

I'm dreaming of summer, camping, the rivers, the sunshine.  Until then I am making some changes in the living room and plan to deep clean the laundry room. Working now so I can play all summer!

This concludes January. It turned into a jam packed month with weddings, weekends away and weather events. Now for some February projects and Love Week. Enjoy!

Random Post Today

December was full this year and included a camping trip.  Hubby and I went to Trailer Trash Christmas in Anacortes.  It was fun to see our camping peeps in the winter. I had fun dressing up Annie and Hubby for the holidays.

 I loved seeing everyone celebrate Christmas.

 We enjoyed being home and cozy too.

 I celebrated another birthday.

The Pie Pals came for lunch and a craft.

Girls night! Always fun and a long standing tradition! 2023 will be our 40th anniversary and I think we should start planning.

Sam and Katie made their exciting baby news public. Thank goodness because this grandma was about to burst!

Camping Mimi has been buying a few things. We get to find out if it's a boy or a girl this month.

Boy or girl, every newborn needs a camping outfit. Sam weighed over ten pounds so if baby is like Daddy they will wear newborn sizes for a hot minute. Breaking that info to Katie carefully.

 I put up three trees this year, and used a lot of neutrals. Our living room tree didn't have the shiny brites year. it was easier and calming.

Hubby rocked my Dad's Santa suit and we crashed Bill and Jodi's family party. Alex and Serena, I am sorry but therapy for Rory is your own expense.

 Sam and Katie and Max and Kassie came home for Christmas. We celebrated with Danny and Jess in MI over Thanksgiving and with face time.

 Why is there always one boy that has to wind up the chandelier and his mama like a top?

 Sam is pretty exited about he hatchet, not sure if we should be worried.

 We had a nice Christmas and I have the photos to prove it but i am still having photo/blog woes.

In January one of my walking buddy's son got married and we helped her. A beautiful and fun wedding for a special couple.

Hubby and I went to Ikea to get some things to organize our home.  I added some blush to our bedroom. Hubby is liking it too.

And then the weather... I love the snow as much as I despise the wind.  So far, we have had power and that is huge.  The last two years we lost power for 4+ days and I got cranky.

I am incredibly lazy during blizzards.  School snow days and it feels like the world stops so I do too.

Let's chat about Netflix. I finished Mrs. Maisel, and season 3 didn't feel as good as seasons 1 and 2 but still good. I binge watched the new season of Good Girls.  I am muddling through season 3 of The Crown.  Is anyone else struggling with the older actors?

What are you watching? I need something new. I'm thinking about Ozarks but it may be too scary for me.

I read The Mother in-Law and really enjoyed it.

I'm not on a diet but I should be. Wish I cared.

The blogging/photo issues are makin' me craycray!

What I am looking forward to:

Rio and Bee's wedding this weekend and seeing Rene' and Jeremy. 

A Sisters on the Fly event next weekend. Hubby gets to go too. Shelly!

My brother and Caroline are getting married February first!

New devotions for 2020.  First 5.  It's an app.

Holding a newborn baby and smelling its head. Not weird

2020 is a Hawaii year and we are going to the big island.  I haven't been there since I was a nanny. Ten glorious night, eek! Toes in the sand.

My sisters/cousins have a Palm Spring trip planned and I am giddy!

Finding out if our grand baby is a boy or a girl. I think Sam wants a girl.  He always wanted a baby sister and when we got Hawley (our dog) he had a flash of disappointment because he thought we'd adopted a baby girl. I still laugh about that. Sam will be happy with a healthy boy or a girl, so settle down.

I have a lot of camping reservations and have over 50 nights away from home reserved for 2020. I know. I know. That's a lot but it's all great trips!

Have a good weekend my friends!

Thanksgiving in Grand Rapids

 Hubby and I went to Michigan for Thanksgiving to visit Danny and Jess. We ran into Mark and Karen at the airport, different flights, same destination and motive, see our guys!

 We had an easy travel day. Dnny picked us up from the airport and Jess had dinner ready at home.  After dinner we went to Hux's favorite hang out.  Everyone knows his name and the treats are abundant.

On Wednesday we went hunting and gathering for our Thanksgiving dinner. Between the market downtown's bakeries and Nantucket we scored the best pies and rolls ever.

Jeff joined us for dinner and then the Housemans and more friends came for dessert and a game.

Jess and I did some shopping on Black Friday morning.  They live within walking distance to Breton Village.

Friday night we went to Max's South Seas Tiki Bar in downtown. I cannot tell you enough good things about their tiki collection.  One of the best I've seen.  Danny knew a manager and he gave us the full three story tour.

We enjoyed pupus and cocktails and s'mores for dessert.

 There ware many artists involved with Max's and everything is beautifully done.

 Save room for the s'more! Crazy good!

We met up with friends at Z's and had a ball there too.

 It was a fabulous trip, so good to see Danny and Jess settled into their house, enjoying their work and getting to see their friends again.  I didn't take a lot of pictures, my only regret, because I was just taking it all in.  Their hospitality was heart warming and I missed them as soon as we walked into the airport to go home.

This afternoon I am hanging out with some of my favorite first graders, and then leaving right from school with Annie.  It is Trailer Trash Christmas time! I'm giddy! Annie will be all decked out for Christmas. Annie and Christmas are my favorites and when combined, watch out!

Enjoy this December weekend! If only their were eight weekends in December...