Did you see it?

Wow - what a sunset last night ................
Of course, this doesn't even begin to capture it. It looked like it was on fire!! Bravo God!! Magnificent!!

The woes of walking in whatcom county

Last week a sort of neighbor friend and I decided to start walking. Well, I decided to start walking with her - she's in great shape and very disciplined! We walked Tues and Wed and I was sore! Pitiful I know - but a reality. Since then, the weather has not been conducive to walking. I don't mind a little drizzle or wind - but seriously...............................

If you'll recall - I hate exercise.............especially in bad weather. Today, it's not raining right this minute, but we have our meeting with our CPA to get our taxes done in about 1 1/2 hrs, so I'm off and running to my office to get together some last minute notes - wish this running counted as exercise - I'd be in great shape!!

Ahhhhh

This morning I got up with one agenda..................to have my morning latte' on the patio. I swept, wiped down furniture, etc. , turned on my favorite Chris Botti CD (if you don't know his music it's a shame!!),turned on the fireplace outside, grabbed my new Food & Wine magazine and made my latte' (the indulgent one), AHHHHH
I enjoyed my FIRST latte', and then about 11:00 Marla came by and I HAD to have a second one!!! :-)

Now it's 1:00 and I'm sitting outside blogging (since my friend Traci reminded me that lap tops were made to use from comfortable spots, NOT desks - thanks Traci!).......................hmmm, I probably should get in the shower and get something done since we're having a barbeque with friends tonight to break in the new kitchen. I will post pics of the final product and first official barbeque.

Randy is up on Ski Patrol today, Brandon came home last night from college for Spring Break with a friend from Alabama (no not a girlfriend - a guy friend), Emily is in the shower, Nathan is motorcycle shopping (YIKES - just what this mom needs!), tomorrow we'll all have lunch together, and all is right with the world!!

Sometimes I just need to whine!

This morning as Emily headed out the front door to school, I stood with my cup of coffee and enjoyed the balmy weather as Max ran around outside for a minute. It is green and beautiful here in the NW as I'm sure our many Olympics visitors are going to notice. The cherry trees I showed you 2 weeks ago are now officially in a full spring bloom - gorgeous!!
As I was enjoying the out of doors - I turned my head to look for Max and what to my horror did I see? WEEDS, WEEDS, WEEDS!

Now - I've said it before and I'll say it again - I WILL NOT WEED BEFORE MARCH! It's just my personal little rule :-) But how in the world will I hold to my mantra this year?!?! Please don't come visit me unless you have a pair of gardening gloves and a bucket - my yard is in no shape for visitors!!

I've spoken personally with some of you and I know you have already been out there weeding - BRAVO for you - way to put the pressure on me! As you can tell I don't LOVE working in my yard - I do it because I like a sharp looking yard - but I'd much rather be inside cleaning frankly!

It might as well be spring.....

Do any of you remember that sappy ol' love song from decades ago? Well it popped in my head as I looked out my kitchen window and saw this.........
Yes, those are my neighbors cherry trees in FULL BLOOM! I can't believe it - isn't it the 1st of Feb? Isn't it still winter? It makes me nervous for the berry farmers, and frankly, I didn't get a snow storm..................and if this weather continues the bugs will TAKE OVER this spring and summer.

The trees are beautiful - but I'm just not ready...........................(not to mention the weeds are already taking over my flower beds and I REFUSE to weed in February!!!).

A date with a chaise...................

Yesterday was GLORIOUS! Saturday was beautiful too - but it was an all work and no play kind of day (until dark when we headed to Jeff and Kathi's to soak out sore bods in their hot tub)! But yesterday - I had a date with my chaise lounge.

Randy and the kids bought me 2 of these last year (08') for Mother's Day and this summer they went out on the new patio - but I'm afraid with our crazy summer and my work schedule I only sat out there 3 times. So today - was a date with the chaise.

DELIGHTFUL!!

Hope you were outside soaking up the last few warm rays of sunshine!!

Oops - sorry Kathi!

I didn't realize until this morning when I looked at my last post, that Kathi was not in our group pic around the picnic table!! Knowing Kathi, she was cleaning up or something productive like that! So in honor of Kathi here are some boating pics WITH my friend!



Hopefully I'll have some more boating pics after this Sunday........we're hoping to go to Sucia Island to have a barbeque for Marla's bithday!

Dreaming of summer!

I don't know about all of you.............but I am dreaming of summer! It can't get here soon enough! Last year we had some awesome trips out to the island in our boat, and I can't wait to get out there again! We love taking friends out with us and sharing a beautiful part of the Pacific Northwest that so many miss out on! One of my favorite places is Friday Harbor, hop on a ferry and get out there for a day - what a treat!! Our favorite restaurant is Downriggers, there is an ice cream shop with literally over 100 flavors, great shopping, great scenery - an awesome place to spend a day!!

We spent a weekend at Sucia Islands with our friends and we are all planning and counting the days until we can go again! We're hoping to go out this Sunday for the afternoon...........I'll get back to you on that one :-)!

The weekend we were there last year couldn't have been more beautiful. It was about 100 degrees at home that weekend (it was the weekend of the fair) , but out at the island with the breeze softly blowing it was a lovely 85 degrees. The sunsets were phenomenal and the company delightful!
So..................bring it on summer...............we're ready!!

I've been waiting ALL winter for this.............

Yesterday was so beautiful, and I got to do what I've been waiting all winter to do.................

Randy and I sat out on our patio with coffee for about an hour before the wind picked up just enough to create a chill.....................but it was a heavenly hour!!

The fire was going and the heaters above were on, (please ignore the unfinished fireplace, now that the shower is done, this is next on poor hubby's list) but it was so cozy, and it felt so good to have the sun on my face!! Nothing like a little Vitamin D therapy!

When I got up in the morning this little birdie was singing away at my front porch! I thought it was so cute I took a picture for you all - it was singing so sweetly. But - now he's gone and ticked me off - he thinks this is the place to build his new home. Now, I understand that trying to find the right lot to build on is difficult...............look at how many times we've built :-). But he needs to understand, that this property is zoned "single family dwelling", so he needs to move on!!


I know that today it does not look like Spring, but yesterday gave me hope!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....?????

Ok, really, enough now.........I'm a snowstorm lover........but I am OFFICIALLY DONE!

Yesterday I was at work when it started to snow - couldn't believe it!!! It got worse as the day went on, and started piling up. My car door was frozen shut at the end of the day and it took me 5 minutes to scrape the ice and snow off the windows! My car's back-end was slipping around on the way home and the milk truck I was following home had a 2nd trailer that was slipping back and forth!! I was so glad to arrive home.

Here's what it looked like last night.


Today school was canceled and the kids were home. I was going to work on sorting pics and getting ready for a crop I get to go to tomorrow night. But once again I filled my day with laundry, ironing, making dinner (we invited the neighbors over), bookwork for the school, and once again didn't get to the scrapbookin' ..............:-{!

This morning was COLD but beautiful!


Hope everyone stayed warm today. Tomorrow they're saying mostly sunny - that would be wonderful!!!

Just because it looks like spring............

Okay - I love it, crisp,sunny & slightly warm days........but just because it looks like spring doesn't mean it is spring! Today my neighbor called to see if I wanted to go for a walk with her. I've been meaning to start walking, I'm just so bad at doing these things alone - it was so pleasant - the weather, the company, even the exercise part of it was pleasant with a friend! I can't bear the thought that we have to go back to cold, wet & windy days. Rumor has it we might be in for one more snowstorm the end of Feb - worse than the Dec. storm - I can't bear the thought! If we do get another snowstorm - I vow to scrapbook the days away!

This morning I started my routine with a latte'. I really missed this little routine of mine while we were gone.

This is the lovely mug that my friend Marla gave me for Christmas - it matches my office perfectly!
This beautiful primrose is a new breed to me. It's a double flower primrose. My friend Adri was celebrating completing chemo (for the 2nd time) and a friend from church had a Par"tea" for her. Adri gave us all one of these gorgeous little flowers - doesn't it just make you smile?

I ordered 195 pictures today from our trip. I'm going to try a new scrapbook style that's supposed to be super duper quick and easy. I'm making it to send to Doug and Lori as their camera was stolen on our trip. Hopefully I'll pick up the pics tomorrow and dig in. I'll post pics of my progress. Hmmm - maybe I do need a snowstorm :-)!

All snowed in......................and lovin' it!!!

Today was the kind of day I love..........it started with SLEEPING IN!!! I love going to bed knowing school is canceled and we have no schedule!! I got home about 2pm yesterday and had visions of finishing gifts, doing Christmas baking, and some checkbook work! All that got done (besides laying in front of the fire reading and watching TV) was dinner! Isn't that pitiful???? But I did finish a good book!! Here's a dark picture of our house in the snow tonight - I will get one tomorrow in the daylight!

Today my mom and I had our annual almond stick baking day scheduled! I've really had the best end of the deal in this tradition, as my mom buys the supplies (which aren't cheap) and then she mixes up the dough and the filling the day before. Then she comes over and we assembly line the batch of 16 almond sticks. We've been doing this for years and it's a tradition I love!!! (Did I mention she only takes 4 sticks and leaves me with 12?) I keep teasing her that as long as I can get her wheelchair up to the counter she will be doing this with me!!! (no, she's not in a wheelchair yet - that's how many more years we have ahead of us :-) This is mom rolling out the dough - she's a pro at this!
...........then she passes it over to me and I fill them, seal the edges, prick them with a fork, brush them with egg white and stick them in the oven!!!

We taste test them as soon as they're cool enough to take a bite! I love the flaky pastry and the almond paste filling when it's warm - nummy!! (That's for you Debbie doo!)


Tonight Brandon has friends over to play rock band (for those of you who know what this means to the noise level in my house tonight - I appreciate your sympathy!!). I have sloppy joes simmering and hashbrown potatoes in the oven for them to swoop down and gobble up!

Maybe - and only maybe - I will get something productive done tonight! I have to admit that since I have the next few days at home with nothing pressing to be done, I just might have to put off productivity until tomorrow (after I sleep in that is - because.....school is canceled!!!)