My Favorite Cowgirl and Cowboys

Wednesday night is Family Rodeo night in Joseph. Here are a few of my favorites ...

Ember's Brewhouse

One of our favorite spots in Joseph is Ember's Brewhouse on Main Street. It's so refreshing sitting out on the patio ... a nice breeze and beautiful scenery of the Wallowa Mountains. They offer free internet access while enjoying appetizers, drinks and entrees. We highly recommend the Veggie Calzone -- delicious.
At night the trees are lit with small lights and they have several gas fires ringed in rock. A wonderful atmosphere. It would be fun to have one at home.
On rodeo night we had a table for 16 and our server John was amazing at providing great and timely service.
If you're ever in this part of Oregon, check it out. Here's a view from the patio ...

Back on the Trail

Thursday morning Walt, Lynn and I went hiking on the same trail as our Tuesday hike. It was fun to hike the same trail, as Lynn helped us focus on the flowers and vegetation we had missed on the previous hike. She is a great hiker and I think that if we had brought more supplies along we may have attempted the trip to the alpine meadow up there or perhaps have made it to the final destination: Aneroid Lake!
Maybe next year :)
I love the lighting in this picture.

Caps to the Capital

The day before leaving for Wallowa Bernat emailed me with a project knitters can participate in, "Caps to the Capital." I quickly packed some leftover yarn and as many needles as I could find to take up to the lake -- just in case someone would like to join me in making these tiny baby caps. Marcia, Michelle and I completed several during the week. They're a quick project, small enough to take-along and for a good cause. If you are interested in being a part of this project, check out this site:
http://www.savethechildren.org/capstothecapital/

Old Wallowa Traditions

Back during the first few Wallowa years a tradition got started with our kids. Their grandparents would give them a little spending money for a treat during the week. Their favorite shopping spot was the Marina store where they could buy what I used to call "penny candy." They could buy anything they wanted and somewhere along the line they discovered the rack with candy cigarettes. We couldn't convince them to make another choice, like Neccos or Chick-O-Stix.

While we were shopping at Mad Mary's in Joseph Brian spotted a rack of retro candy and bought a couple of packs to share with his childhood buddy and fellow cigarette candy consumer,Steve. Can't believe they still make these!
Since the kids were small the go-kart track has always been a highlight of our trip. Each one racing to pick out what they believe is the fastest car. This is still an annual event and soon we will have some third generation drivers on the road ... oh, my! In the old days the karts were pretty primitive and we did have some back and neck injuries from getting rear ended by one of the kids. Today's karts are very sleek and fast in comparison but also costs about 4 times more to ride. Doesn't matter ... it's all about the race :)

Psalm 8

Since I would miss my Bible study Tuesday I brought my lesson along to work on at Wallowa. What an amazing surrounding to be reminded of the vastness of God's creation. Read Psalm 8 to see what I mean!

Grandpa Walt's Helper

How sweet it was to have a Wallowa kitchen helper! After raising all boys it was nice to have Ammy's help with K.P. duty.

Wallowa Coffee Break

It's always nice to go up to the air-conditioned Wallowa General Store and start the day off with an iced coffee ... even nicer surrounded by those you adore!

Aneroid Trail

Early Tuesday morning we drove up to the trailhead with Byron & Heather and started our journey up the Aneroid Lake trail. Our goal was to make it up to the dam/spillway but we even went a bit beyond. We enjoyed beautiful views, refreshing cool breezes, and the sound of the rushing river. What a way to start the day.
Our reward for exceeding our goal ... Mt. Huckleberry icecream at the Swiss Village. yummmmmmmm.....

Happy Birthday Wallowa Style

What a fun way to celebrate another birthday … actually it seems to be an annual event! No matter … it is always a joy to be surrounded by family, friends and fellow campers. What a treat it was to have a special helper with the candles. Enjoying our time here!

Summer Projects

Our old oak tree had to come down in May leaving a large void in our backyard. I spotted a garden bridge at Al's Garden Center and "Byron The Builder" went to work on creating one for our yard. I told him he may get requests/orders from this advertisement!
We got inspiration for landscape plants from our trip to the Cannon Beach Inn.
They had Crocosmia "Lucifer", yellow Yarrow, purple Sage, Lavender, white Hydranga and varigated Hebe growing all over the property. The Crocosmia was new to me but now I see if everywhere! The varigated Hebe is going to be a tough one to find. I know I can get it by mail order but I would like to find one locally if I could.
In addition, we got the shed up and a start on the fence. Next will be exterior paint and a new deck. If you try to get in touch with us, we'll probably be in the backyard! Our summer projects have been a lot of work but the end result is so pleasing : )

Tea Party

What a surprise … with my birthday less than 2 weeks away … my Bible study ladies planned a birthday celebration for both Loree and I. The gifting theme was “tea” and if you’ve ever spent time in my kitchen you know how much I love tea, teapots and accessories. Each gift was unique … not a single duplicate … I love each one!
To top off the evening we spent time studying Psalm 1 … a life of blessedness vs. barrenness. I was encouraged by the openness and insights each had to share. I am so thankful to be a part of this study/group.
Thank you, ladies, for your special gifts of friendship and being a part of my journey.

“There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea.” ~Bernard-Paul Heroux

Sudoku

On a recent Cannon Beach getaway for our anniversary Walt brought a Sudoku puzzle book and it didn't take long to get me hooked. Completing the puzzle requires patience and logical ability -- even though some may seem difficult -- I love problem solving : )
We spent a lot of time on the sunny beach relaxing, reading, and working Sudoku puzzles resulting in sunburned wrists!
I read two books from our school library: "Sun and Spoon" by Kevin Henkes and "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson ... both very good.
What a great way to start my summer break ....

102 degrees outside …. much fun inside

Monday a group of co-workers, brown-bag lunches in hand and escaping the heat, met at Nancy’s air-conditioned house to learn a new craft … beading. This was a whole new world to me. Have you ever shopped at a bead store??? It was very overwhelming to me … so many choices!
I picked out my beads a few days before and Nancy, being the expert, helped me fashion them into wonderful additions to my earring collection. I am so pleased with the results. Hoping we can get together again … not only to make jewelry … but also to spend some time together. After eating lunch as a group for nearly 10 months it’s kind of lonely not seeing them once in awhile during the summer break.

Sale away, sale away, sale away ...

This weekend Mom and I got to stop by an amazing garage sale in a condominium community close to our home. We found some great items at unbelievable prices. I found some great things for my home, scrapbooking, and for the school library. But the best deal of the day ... Nike hiking boots ... Ice Lake here I come! I was just starting to look at ads etc. for the best deal and there they were ... fit perfectly and at the right price.
I hope to have more opportunities this summer to browse the garage sale want ads and get out and find those bargains! Let me know if you see a good one : )

Summer Break

Friday, June 23rd @ 11:00a.m. ... the official start time of my summer break :)
I have so many plans for the time off: a time to read, a time to scrapbook, a time to rest, a time to "do", a time to garden, a time to re-connect with friends ... will there be enough days to accomplish all that I want to do???? Most importantly ... a time to be refreshed physically, spiritually, mentally and socially.
Probably the saddest day in the summer calendar is flipping the page to July 1st. After only a week of starting my summer break, the stores bring out school supplies and all the back-to-school ads! Oh, no!!!!!

Harvest Maid

In the early 80’s I received a Harvest Maid Food Dehydrator for my birthday. During that time I was canning and drying most of the summer months. Our favorite Wallowa vacation treat was dried bananas. I couldn’t dry enough of them … they were like candy and so much healthier than other snacks. Friends would share their garden bounty or I would u-pick /shop at Sauvie Island farms for fruits and veggies. We made some wonderful fruit leathers. The only bad experience ... I dried trays of green pepper, onion and garlic on the same day. It reeked and we had to air out the house for days!
Today while Michelle & my mom were here to celebrate Father’s Day and Matte’s birthday we got the dehydrator out of storage, cleaned it up, turned it on and amazingly it still works. We did an assembly line of banana slices and for the next 10-12 hours the house will be filled with the familiar aroma from my past.
During my “soccer mom” years I didn’t have much time for food preservation … I was always in the carpool van :) but lately I have been yearning to get out the canning jars and make some things from scratch. During those years I was less wasteful and our food seemed healthier. I also have another motivation … wholesome snacks for Colin.
With Wallowa around the corner I guess I’ll be watching for sales on bananas. If you see a good price, let me know!

School's Out For Summer ...

G' Pa

Colin loves to spend time with his G'Pa. Grandpa's awesome ... he can make great sound effects like missles exploding, speeding cars etc. and loves to swing Colin high in the air to "fly." He lets him sit in the parked car on his lap and "drive" and experience the thrill of the slide at the park. What great fun they have together ... but I wonder who enjoys the slide more ... Colin or G'Pa?!?!? :)

Wedding Bells Are Ringing ...

Wedding bells have been ringing in June. This month we had the pleasure to share in Eric and Whitney's wedding. What a beautiful ceremony ... and a good looking Best Man. Great job, Matte!
Matt met Eric in elementary school and over the years he just became a part of the family ... like a fourth son. He fit in so well with the boys and brought a lot of laughter to our home. Whitney became a part of his life the summer before his senior year and as Sean mentioned in the ceremony, she just brings light and joy to those around her. What a great "team"!
Tomorrow we will be celebrating two weddings ... kids we spent time with as youth coaches in church youth group. Suddenly I'm starting to feel a little old :)
Congrats to these friends and newlyweds. Wishing you much happiness.

A cousin is a ready-made friend for life

What a treat is was to spend a weekend with our California cousins. Since it had been seven years since we last got together there was much to catch up on ... sharing our joys and struggles, reminiscing about family, looking through photo albums and old pictures, worshiping together, and much laughter and joy. It was fun to spend some time with the "girls" and nice to finally outnumber the guys around here :)
Seven years is much too long to wait for another visit. I'm looking forward to more opportunities to get together...they are not only family but very dear friends. Thanks Cindy, Annalisa and Rachel for spending the weekend with us!

Washington Park Rose Garden

Kaboom!

Tim gave Walt an Atari Emulator for his birthday this spring and this brought back memories from 1981 .........
I haven’t always been a big fan of spending time playing computer games. As a “Type A” personality, I usually don’t give myself permission for this kind of activity. BUT in 1981 I became addicted to the Atari game, Kaboom! If you earned a score of 3,000 points or more, you could send your score to Activision and they would enroll you in the "elite" Bucket Brigade. With the technology available at the time -- you were required to take a picture of yourself with your TV screen displaying your score. The reward was a Bucket Brigade patch (ooooohhhhh!)
As soon as the guys went down for an afternoon nap I would pull out the paddles, insert the cassette and try to beat the 3,000 point goal. It took awhile but one afternoon I exceeded the score … but a new dilemma … how would I capture this event on film?!?!? The solution … I called my friend and neighbor, Barb over to help me out. She had to bring 3 pre-schoolers along and I’m sure once Bob learned of this crazy scheme, he would only shake his head in disbelief : ) Anyway, I did get my patch (wow!) but 25 years later I can't seem to find it. You’d think with everything I’ve saved in the attic I would have come across it by now. Nancy, a fellow Kaboom! addict, also earned a patch. I wonder if she still has hers?!?!?
Oh well, I’m off to a new game now .... Bejeweled 2. I’m addicted and thanks to a Mother’s Day gift from Brian, Michelle & Colin, I no longer have to play it online. I doubt that there’s a patch or any reward for the highest score but I can’t stop playing it.

The older I get the more I believe there needs to be more “play” in my day.

Slow But Sure

Well … back in ’99 I decided I wanted to change the landscape on the Siltez side of our property. The first owners had planted junipers and basically they were a breeding ground for weeds. The design was hard to maintain and not very pleasing to the eye. I wish I had taken a "before" picture to show the drastic change.
That summer Walt & Keith tore out the juniper while I was at a family reunion in California … they also cut the cable to our house. Actually, we did it again the next summer while rototilling … oops!
The summer of 2002 Walt put a brick path through the area. We got the idea while vacationing in Carmel. I love the houses and landscaping there. Another summer we added rock around the tree, moved perennials from the backyard and added groundcover.
Seems like we got behind with my surgery/recovery so this year I gave myself a deadline to add the finishing touches. Over Spring Break Mom and I picked out flowers and planted them, we added more rock and tidied things up. I am very pleased with the result … a nice color arrangement. Soon a new fence will go up giving it a clean, solid background.
Now it’s off to the backyard … major renovations coming … more pictures to follow!

Sticker Shock

Okay …. after window shopping at some trendy clothing stores I thought I could dust off the ol’ sewing machine and create a few of the new fashions and still have change in my wallet.
I stopped by the fabric store to look at patterns and found one that looked very similar to the ready-made ones on display. BUT I nearly gasped out loud … the pattern alone was $15.95! Yikes, when did this happen?!?!?! Even at 40-50% off, the pattern alone was an investment even before you selected the fabric and notions.
Years ago I used to sew nearly everything out of necessity but I think now a good bargain-hunter/coupon clipper can find some great deals on ready-made clothing for considerably less.
I realize for some this is a hobby and a pleasure where price is not always a consideration but it may take awhile before I head back over to the pattern counter … perhaps a 75% off sale would be enticing : )
Here’s a pattern from my old archives (1971) … hmmmmm … do I see a resemblence to some of today's fashions?!?!?

Project Complete …

After knitting stacks of dishcloths, scarves and an afghan I thought it was time to knit something more “home décor.” I enjoy projects small enough to take anywhere so when I found this pillow pattern in a Knit-It magazine over the holidays I thought I would give it a try.
A 12 x 16 pillow should have only taken a short time to complete but I am the queen of “un-knitting” …. If I see one mistake … I tear out row after row until it’s perfect. During this project I finally made a brave attempt to learn how to drop stitches and correct a mistake rows down without taking half of it apart. What a time saver!
This pillow is a perfect fit in our living room décor. I liked it so much – I bought yarn in a cranberry color. Happy knitting!

Scrapbooking 8x8 Style

I recently completed my first 8x8 album. I have been scrapbooking for nearly 7 years and have always used 12x12 albums for our family memories. After our SunRiver getaway I wanted to create a thank you gift for the owners of the house so I thought an 8x8 album would be a great idea. I loved creating the smaller layouts … it required a smaller scale print paper and embellishments … but it was fun to work with less layout “real estate.”
I think this is something I would try again for a special event or gift … a great keepsake. If you haven’t given it a try, I highly recommend it!

Party for a Princess

How fun to join the March celebration … Amethyst’s third birthday! What a precious little girl … each Sunday I look forward to her hug and visit … and being called “Grandma Karen.” Happy Birthday, Ami!


Even Colin joined his cousins in the fun!

Moving Matte

Welcome back to Oregon, Matte!
At the end of spring break we traveled north to help Matt pack up and move -- for new adventures in Oregon. He’s getting settled and diligently looking for a new job. Our prayers are with you … nice to have you here.

Boys and Toys

We still have these?????? Each attic box we open holds memories of years gone by. We recently opened one with Dick Tracy and Turtle action figures … Donatello, Leonardo, Michaelangelo and Raphael. Each year new ones were added for birthdays and Christmas and with three boys our collection multiplied quickly. Even though we are trying to be selective with their childhood keepsakes …. I think we’ll hang on to these a little longer. Sorry Matt, you’re outvoted on this one again! : )

20/20

While opening another attic box I found my glasses from 1961. If you are 50 or older, you probably are familiar with this frame design … even includes sparkles! It’s funny how having glasses such as these seemed so cool to an eight year old … and now when glasses are required for daily living … I’d give anything to have 20/20 vision again.
How I miss my “freedom-from-frames” life … they steam up when you open the oven door … with our Oregon weather they are frequently covered with raindrops. But I am very thankful for my “magnified” life, as I wouldn’t even be able to read this print without them. If you ask me if I wear glasses full-time, I would say they are only for reading. But the truth is …. I'm starting to have them "on" more than "off" nowadays!

Attic Treasures

Anyone remember the Flutophone from the 60’s? I believe they’re referred to as a Recorder nowadays …
I got mine in the fourth grade … a long white instrument with shiny red trim. This was an introduction to the “instrumental world” for elementary students. Our class would meet with Mr. Buzzell in the auditorium, which is now the Kennedy McMenamin’s theater. We sat in alphabetical order … and to my recollection … that did not include sitting by the naughty boy I referred to in an earlier post, but rather next to a very studious boy. My best guess is that he probably chose a career path as an engineer!
Since I have not been gifted with a musical mind my seating placement was a godsend. When we were asked to play I would keep my eyes on his fingers and follow his leading. How I ever qualified for this certificate is beyond me!
Last Christmas Walt bought a “retro” Flutophone at Finegan’s Toy Store and put it in my stocking for “nostalgia sake.” A few days later while bringing boxes down from the attic I found instructions on how to play this instrument in one of the boys’ boxes. Maybe one of these days I’ll bring the two together and actually see if I can finally figure out how to play it! We’re never too old to learn new tricks : ) ….

Spring Vacation

Spring Vacation is coming to a close … and like most vacations my “to-do” list far exceeded the hours/days available. But I do feel a sense of accomplishment … with the help of my mom I filled a flowerbed with colorful plants that we picked out at Al’s Garden Center ... I spent some time in the kitchen cooking and testing new recipes ... I completed several scrapbooking pages ... I spent a day at the Children’s Museum with Colin and Michelle … shopping on NW 23rd and visiting with Rachael at the card shop ... traveled to Seattle to help Matte move back … and shopping at Ikea & Joann’s.
I flipped the calendar page to April today and realized it's time to get back to the daily routine. I'm so thankful for spring break and the time I had to spend with family and friends.
June is not that far away! : )

Wise "Traveling Companions" On the Journey

I am thankful for those wise “traveling companions” who share my journey … for those who set the pace, those who encourage, mentor, lead, listen and love. There are those with whom I share time with on a regular basis … at church, Bible study or work. I have been blessed with wise friends / family where most of our “travels” are by phone or email due to distance or scheduling. Many times months can pass and when we get together it only feels like mere days have passed by since we last talked. I’m thankful for those who have “walked” before me and can give me insight and advice on what can be ahead on the journey. It would be very hard to travel alone … Proverbs 13:20 says, “Whoever walks with the wise will become wise …”
A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to spend a weekend at the beach with some great “traveling companions.” We spent time sharing our journeys … our crafts/hobbies – knitting/scrapbooking … great food -- our favorite foods and recipes … great walks on a sunny, warm beach … good conversations … times of laughter. It was a much needed weekend to slow down and enjoy a time of refreshment.

Scrapbooking Convention

Several weeks ago I had an opportunity to go to the Scrapbooking Convention at the Oregon Convention Center with several friends who share my passion for this hobby. I love the creative outlet and sharing our family journey through photos and journaling.
We spent over four hours checking out each booth/display, milling through the crowds, waiting in lines. It was worth it all to see the newest “toys” and technology in the industry. I came home with several new tools, laser diecuts and papers but my favorite stop was at a booth where you could get an assortment of brads and eyelets for $7 a cup. What a great bargain … nice to have a great selection at my fingertips thus saving a last minute trip to shop for much needed embellishments in order to complete a page.
This day gave me great inspiration and I have recently completed several pages. I am now up to Easter 2004 and quickly approaching the “Colin Years.” I think I need a sabbatical from work to complete all of those layouts : )

"Weather" or Not

Aaaaahhhhhh .... Spring Break ... I love this time off. I'm sitting in the kitchen with the aroma of S'more Brownies baking in the oven (for baby Dylan's family) and a cup of coffee ...
My first day started off with blue skies and warm temperatures. As I began my 3-mile walking loop I loved all the sights and sounds of spring ... sunshine filtering through a thick grove of trees ... and warming my back ... a warm breeze blowing through my hair ... the sound of birds chirping .... the sound of new construction ... lawn mowers buzzing ... the fragrant flowers filling the air ... seeing new growth, new life in the earth. As I kept pace on my walk, Chris Tomlin's song, "How Great Is Our God," kept going through my mind ...

"How great is our God, sing with me ... How great is our God, and all will see ... How great, how great is our God."

Sometimes on the dreary, "winter" times in our lives we feel weary, defeated, alone. But "weather or not" there are gray or sunny skies ... one thing remains ... God is always there. Habakkuk 3:17-19 says: "Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. 19The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains." NLT
Name above all names ... Worthy of all praise ... My heart will sing ... How great is our God ...
Well, outside my kitchen window I see a few clouds rolling in. I need to get out and enjoy the fresh air and do some weeding : )

Hoop De Do ... Done

Another closed chapter on the journey ... the family basketball hoop.
So many memories and countless hours under the backboard in the driveway ... the sound of dribbling, swishing net, boy-laughter. Sweet memories for the whole family. But, as each boy left home, the hoop started looking neglected ... rusty, worn backboard, missing net ... not great curb appeal.

Matt spent some vacation time last month digging around the post but eventually it required a jackhammer to remove the excess concrete in order to lift it out of the ground. We had one last parting shot before taking it down and suddenly I realized how quickly time passes.
The hoop went up when Matt was starting first grade and now he is nearly 23! How did those years pass by so quickly???
Now we have a new generation of players ... starting with a grandson. I think this time around we'll opt for the easier route ... a portable hoop. There are uncles, grandpa and dad waiting to relive those days of dribble, shoot, swish ... and grandma will be cheering you from the sidelines! Tip-off ....

Oh, No!

Stopping by the Library after work several times a week is usually part of my going home routine. They have Quick Flicks, fairly new DVD releases that you can check out for 3 days. Can hardly remember the last time we've rented a movie. Today as I was perusing the shelves a book caught my eye ...
"CrapCars" ... Traveling from the 1960's to the '90s, Crap Cars showcases the cheapest, the tackiest, and the most mechanically inept cars ...
Displayed in a list of the top 50, our first car ... the Datsun B-210 was number 24 ... cringe! Here's what it was known for, "If this car was ... anything, it was AAA's best friend." Walt bought this car a month before we were married while I was working at the beauty shop. We nicknamed it "the bullet." On the positive side, it got great gas mileage for Walt's daily commute to work -- but it did have a few major flaws. The driver's seat broke after several years of use. If you accelerated too quickly, the seat would fly back and you could be looking at the roof of the car instead of the road!
O.K. ... drum roll ... the number one crap car ... the Ford Mustang ll. And yes, we owned this vehicle too -- the boys inherited it from the grandparents and each had a time of ownership during high school. The quote for this car ... "If this car was any more crap, it'd have flies buzzing around it." If you ever want to hear some great tales about this vehicle, just ask one of the boys. Be prepared for some great 'Stang Stories!
Perhaps in the next decade we'll find a sequel to this book on the library shelves ... maybe including the Astro and Taurus : )

Check It Out!

Check out the Living section in today's Oregonian -- section E page 1 and 3. Tim was interviewed for an article about Podcasting titled, "Meet the Pod Squad."
Great job Tim! : )

Winter Wonderland ... in March?

I woke up this morning to get ready for work and discovered a wonderful view from my window ... SNOW! Plus an added bonus ... a two-hour delay for work!
I L O V E it!

Honored

This is Classified Employee Week in our district. As I entered our staff room early this morning (Monday) I found it transformed ... a red carpet "runway" and Hollywood decor ... we got the "star" treatment all day long! Our staff and administrators always make sure we feel appreciated in such fun, creative ways. It is an amazing place to work and I feel very blessed to work alongside such great coworkers. Each morning, no matter how I feel physically, I look forward to my day at work.
Last week our district honored all building classified employees of the year at a dessert. This was just the lift I needed after struggling through many viruses/illness this winter. I felt very honored ... and thankful for this job opportunity on my journey.
P.S. As you noticed, we "Photo-Shop'd" my certificate with my Blogger name : )

“Laughter doeth good like medicine” …

President’s Day weekend 9 gals from our Bunco group traveled down to the beach for a weekend getaway. Our time was filled with eating, shopping, playing games … and, no –we did not play one game of Bunco during the entire 3 days!
I went down not feeling too well – a sinus thing and completely exhausted. Once I picked Donna up and got on the road I felt energized and ready to have fun.
Upon our arrival we found the lake to have whitecap waves, extremely strong wind and arctic temperatures. But that didn’t stop our fun … we had a wonderful dinner at the Wildflower Grill and returned to play games. While sitting in a glassed-in sunroom overlooking the lake the power went out twice. We all just sat in our seats and screamed. You couldn’t see anything in front of you … pitch black. Did we prepare ourselves with flashlights, candles etc? No … just squeals!
We played two new games … new to me that is … Left Center Right dice game and Five Crowns card game. Many times we laughed til our sides hurt! I think this was the healing part for me. Berne also made me a home remedy for my sinuses, which worked amazingly well. The recipe is: water, fresh lemon juice, honey and cayenne pepper – a remarkable cure!
The shopping was fantastic … amazing holiday bargains. We always have “show and tell” when we get back to the house which usually sends a few shoppers back to the outlet mall to pick up things they hadn’t noticed the first trip : )
I have been playing Bunco with this group on the 3rd Tuesday of each month now for over 15 years. We have an age span of nearly 25 years, come from different backgrounds, and may not have crossed paths had it not been for Bunco. They’re not only a fun group but also very caring and supportive friends. We have shared in births, deaths, empty-nests, illnesses, career changes … the things of life ... and I am very thankful to have met them on the journey.
I can’t say I felt physically better after the getaway – I did have to go on antibiotics the next week due to a bad sinus infection – but spending time with these guys was good medicine for the soul!

Knit ... Knit ... Knit ...

I saw this scarf on display at Craft Warehouse and bought the supplies to knit one. The yarn was on sale at a great price so I couldn't resist. I was a little hesitant to add the beading but my coworker is a beading expert and she gave me great advice and instruction in adding this finishing touch ... my first attempt at beading!
I figure this scarf was crafted at a great price. The beads/supplies cost double what I invested in the yarn. I figure now I will need to purchase something to wear with it ... then I'll need to have someplace fancy to wear it ... maybe dinner out?!? This craft project has turned into quite a financial "investment"!! I need to keep in mind that it was all about the "experience" not the cost. :)

25 Months Behind ...

Well, Saturday I was determined to do a little scrapbooking. It's especially hard to feel creative when you don't feel well but I decided to limit myself to two pages. That pretty much wore me out.
I'm working on the 2004 unpredicted snowstorm that welcomed us to the new year. This is our first page that includes Rachael. She came up to celebrate New Years Eve with Tim and got snowed in up here. It gave us a chance to get better acquainted ... it was a fun day of playing games, walking in the snow and visiting. Good memories!
I tried something new that I found in the "Creative Sketches" magazine ... I made a border of Tim and Rachael's names using the barcode font and placed it across the top of the page. I think it's a fun idea!
I also had to use a little creativity ... when I trimmed my paper I turned it the wrong way so that it was too wide / too short for my album. I had to trim it after it was completed (arggghhh!) and mount it on black cardstock. Actually it looked better with a black border ... makes the layout really standout. Guess it has been too long since I last scrapbooked ... I need to brush up on some of my skills.
I'm going to keep at it and little by little I will move toward 2005. BUT when I get to when Colin was born ... that album could take years to complete! We have so many photos of him :)