Rain, rain, go away

I think I figured out why I haven't blogged in so long...It has been raining what seems forever now!  One excuse is as good as any.  I really have wanted to get back into writing as a journal.  It really is an easy task if you think about it.  Then again if I think for too long, my brain will come up with many other suggestions for time killing activities.  Not that journaling is time killing.  We all have plenty of things worthy of remembering.  Those are the things I would like to capture.  Maybe looking back will help me when I start to loose my memory.

Soon I will be reviewing the book Still Alice by Dr. Lisa Genova for the book club I participate with.  What a great book with such insite.  It is about a novel written by an author with a Ph.D. in Neuroscience about a woman who in her early 50's is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.  The story is so gripping because it hits you hard that this can affect anyone and has no boundries.  It probably is one of the most impactful books I have ever read, and it was a novel. I LOVE novels!
Blogging, for me, offer an opportunity to capture snippets of life that I might forget.  I realize it is March but I would like to start a resolution... to blog more often so I can reminisce.

The Big 50 Junking Bash!

     I can't believe I am actually 50 years old!  Old is the optimum word, I suppose.  Actually, I don't feel old.  On most days!  What I wanted to do more than anything for my 50th was to go to the Farm Chicks Antique Show in Spokane.  They planned it on my birthday weekend!  How on earth did they know?  I drug my favorite sidekick.  Yes, drug!  He was a sport in every sense of the word.  Chuck has become my favorite shopping partner over the years.  Maybe because he doesn't seem to have an agenda of his own that conflicts with mine.  Oh dear, I need to work on that piece of self evaluation. Anyway... It was the most fun weekend.  Friday afternoon, on my birthday, we checked into the Davenport Hotel.  We didn't originally pick the Davenport.  We chose a "Motor Inn."  You know the kind that you drive right up to your door.  The kind big in the 50's and 60's.

Well, to our good fortune, we didn't end up there.  There was an email from Expedia that stated that there was a problem.  It so happened that this place was closing down.  Actually, it is being turned into monthly rentals.  When we drove by we were VERY surprised!!  These monthly rental were occupied by individuals that otherwise would've been homeless. That would've added an interesting element to our weekend.  Like I said, to our good fortune, Expedia put us up in The Davenport.

This was one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen! The Davenport is one of the older buildings in Spokane.  What a jump from the Airway Express-montly-rental-almost-homeless-type-of-motor-inn! 
     I felt like I walked into a beautiful hotel during the turn of the century.  WOW! It still gives me goose bumps.  I was so THRILLED to experience something so awsome.  That evening Chuck and I went on a bike ride around Spokane.  I wasn't sure I would survive, but I did!! Yay!  After the ride we stopped at an Italian restaurant for dinner. I couldn't ask for a more fun birthday. 
     Well, actually the next day was just as TERRIFIC!  We went to the Farm Chicks Antique Show.  It was certainly a blast from the past.  What a way to celebrate 50 years...everything OLD!

     I have wanted to attend this for several years now.  You can bet your bottom dollar I will attend this for several years to come.  I had such a great time looking through JUNK.  I am not a serious junker but I can see how one can become totally addicted to old junk.  What treasures! 
     I enjoyed seeing the types of people that attended this.  I would say the average age was about 40.  I am sure the the older shoppers enjoyed reliving their memories of "back in the day!" The funniest trend was seeing all the "granny carts" used as shopping baskets.  What a great junk trendy idea.

Here are some of the wonderful old stuff still hanging around.  I tell you it's addicting!!

Ok.  Some of the stuff was a little bizarre!  Remember those dolls whose eyes would shut?  Creepy.

And of course I have treasures to take home. Let me just add there were a ton of stuff that would've come home with us if there were the money and the car space.  Those gals that pulled a trailer, now they were on their game!

The wonderful thing about all this junk is that it will go to use.  I purchased every piece knowing what I was going to do with it or where I would put it.  Upcycling can be a fun and creative outlet.  Yes, I suppose one can go overboard and have too much "junk" around.  The nice thing is you can always give it away, sale it, trade it in for some new junk! 

Kathy

Road Trip!

WOW! About 3600 miles!  Jeff, Tim, my good friend Jen and myself headed south for the spring.  Jeff, Tim and I planned a trip to go see grandma and grandpa Cherry in Arizona.  We decided to bring Jen along and drop her off to see her parents in St. George, UT.  Jeff, Tim and I spent about 1 1/2 days in Vegas before driving all the way to Green Valley AZ.  The warm weather was so welcoming considering we drove through heavy rains all the way through WA, high winds through Oregon and snow flurries through to Salt Lake.  The worst thing... I could barely walk when we arrived in Vegas.  I figured it was because I was sitting so much for the drive.  It was some sort of sprain, strain or something in my hips. I limped up and down the strip not only from sore hips but also from my flip flop's cutting into my toe.  Las Vegas was like Disneyland for adults in a cheap sort of way.  We stayed at the Excalibur Hotel/Casino.  Boy, was the casino buzzing, literally.  There's this weird buzz from all the gaming machines.  I can't even imagine staying in there for hours, which I am sure some people do.  Like I said, the best part of Vegas is the sunshine and the pool! 

Our visit with grandma and grandpa Cherry was productive.  They are doing as well as expected.  The main reason for the trip was to check up on them and to bring back some of the larger things that they were ready to part with.  Jeff was able to get grandpa's lathe.  I brought back my mom's beautiful oak hutch and my grandmother's china.  Nona's china is around 90 years old.  It was nice for my parents to visit with the boys again too. With the boys having busier lives it might be the last time they get to have some one-on-one time with them.  I thinked they enjoyed their visit, all involved.

I sure enjoyed the roadtrip with Jen.  Jen was so much fun and so tolerant of the boys and their wacky humor. We were able to stay at Jen's family's houses along the way.  I felt so comfortable with her family

A Little Gem!!

Often when surfing the internet there seems to be so much one has to weed through just to occasionally stumble upon something spectacular.  When I do come across a rare find, I feel as if my world has opened up before my eyes.  I love these moments.  Even at 12:34 am I wish I could call someone to share this find with them!  I came across this short film, The Butterfly Circus.  It was right up my alley as far as spectacular goes. I am so appreciative when talented individuals share their talent.  Someone has to be their audience.  How LUCKY I am!

A Really Great Day!

Last Thursday Jeffrey and I went into Seattle.  He had a car part to take downtown and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to tag along on a BEAUTIFUL day.  We decided to go on a picture trek since it was so nice out.  We walked all over and went to our favorite places.  First, Jeff wanted to have me try a crepe at a place him and Kamee like to go to in the market.  We shared a ham, spinach and cheese crepe.  Next time I am going to get a dessert one.  Those look soooo good! 

We then went to take pictures of the different areas of Pike's Place Market. On of my favorite shops at the market is DeLaurenti.  I love that Italian grocery store.  Everytime I am there I get fresh pasta. 

The market was really crowded for the middle of day on a Thursday.  Poor Jeff tried to get a picture of this great sign that read, "cherries."   Since it was so crowded he could never get a clearing enough to snap the shot.  I also wanted him to capture a picture of this sign in the Sanitation Market, which is located across the street from the main part of Pike's Place.  The sign belonged to this little bakery called Three Girls Bakery.  One of my personal favorites!!!  The entire Sanitation Market was closed for a remodel.  Bummer for us and bummer for the shop owners! 

We decided we needed to go sample the best cheese at Beecher's.  Jeff got me hooked on a cheese called Flagship.  Oh my, is this a really great cheese.  It is a cross between a white cheddar and a gruyere.  YUMMY! (Tonight I made a creamy pasta sauce with that cheese to go over the fresh pasta)

We journeyed  up the street towards Westlake for more favorite spots for picture taking.  There is this store from England called All Saints.  The store has a great decorum!  The entire store is decorated with all antique dressmaking machinery.  I have never seen so many antique sewing machines in one place.  Jeff was capturing photos when he was asked NOT to.  Again bummer!  He did get a couple of shots though.

We decided to call it a day when, yes, the rains started.  I guess great weather for half a day is better than not at all. We have a hard time not ending our day in Seattle without going to Dick's in the U district, no matter if we are hungary or not. 
This was a great day in Seattle.  Mostly, I enjoyed spending some one-on-one time with Jeffrey!   

Is It Just a Boy Thing?

Today Tim, Ashley, Chuck and I drove up to Green Mountain so Tim and Ashley could shoot. Yes, its one of those thrilling boy things. Actually, Ashley did like shooting. It was her first time to ever shoot a gun. Of course, Tim had her shoot the shotgun first! She did great since the gun was almost the same size she was. She handled the kick-back well. I even took ONE shot with Jeff's 30-06 rifle and I hit my target of a #10 can full of applesauce! You can even see the whole right above the jagged edge of the can that the bullit made. I quit while I was ahead. I spent the majority of the time in the car. One, I do not like guns particularly. Two, I do not like earplugs a lot. Three, I would rather be shopping, crafting, reading or anything other than being on the side of a mountain with a small armory being dressed in camo. This is Tim's PASSION! We would've been out on the sidelines had he been interested in a team sport. This is the one way we can support him with his interest. I know Tim wished I had participated with more than just one shot. I suppose you just have to be in the right mood for shooting. Sorry Tim! When are we going to the mall?

A Heart Attack!!

I can't believe February is almost over! I wanted to have an entry on Valentine's Day because it is one of my favorite holidays. I have always been drawn to the shape of a heart. I love how creative one can be on Valentine's Day towards those that they would like to express love to. The discussion at home is that it is a holiday mainly targeted to/from women. I suppose I cannot argue with that! It does seem more of a "chick" thing. I remember LOVING to prepare my Valentine Day cards when I was in school. When the boys were little it was somewhat of a chore with them. So I suppose you can imagine who completed the task of preparing Valentine's Day cards for them to take to school?

This year we were surprised when we came home from church and saw that we had just received a "Heart Attack." Scott, Tasha, Denton and Makenzie came over when we were out and spread cut out hearts and messages of love all over the place. I wondered what was up when there was a heart hanging on the doorknob when we came up to the porch. What a fun surprise awaited us inside!

Valentine's Day is a bright spot in the middle of a dreary winter. I can't think of a better holiday than to celebrate LOVE and tell those around you, in creative ways, how you feel about them. I love ALL 16 members of my immediate family very much and know I need to express that to them individually on any 'ol day!

New Year, New Experiences!

Wow! One whole decade down. I remember when 2011 would've sounded so futuristic. I looked back over my New Year blog entry from last year. I am sad to say that I didn't do so great in the resolution part. I heard on the radio that females break New Year resolutions after 4 days. Only 4 days! I am going to give it my all to last at least 5! Men seem to only last 24 hours. Hmmm, interesting.

Some of my focus this year will include, exercising more often, eating healthier, being more createful and being less worrisome. This year I have decided to make some jewelry. I have always wanted to do this. The older I become the more often I am saying, "why not!" In the past some of my great ideas never seem to materialize because I have talked myself out of it by saying things like, "I don't have the time, the money or the exact know how." Or maybe because I grasshopper around trying to find the perfect thing for me. This year I am going to try the approach that I will not stop myself before I have even started.

I have been doing a ton of research on certain jewelry making techniques, tools and supplies needed and even how to set up a website. Of course it is still in the planning phase. Hopefully, I will start something before too long! I do recognize that since I seem to enjoy so many different things and want to try everything, that in itself might be what keeps me from acccomplishing any one thing! Oh well. I will keep on experiencing I suppose. The perfect thing for me is bound to show up at some time!

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

This was our 3rd Annual Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Party. I can't believe when we first started doing this Denton was 4, Makenzie, Landon and Abi were 2. Can you imagine decorating cookies with 3 two year olds?! This year we added the one year olds, Grant and Caden. They did really great! It was fun to see how much better the other kid's cookie decorating skill has become. We even managed to sing 2 Christmas songs before the sprinkles started to fly. I love having these little people over and spending time with them. This year we decided to shorten the activity time and reduce the amount of cookies to decorate. That was the ticket!! I think they all had a great time...they mostly just like being with each other. I am so grateful they all enjoy each other's company! These type of activities make my Christmas!!! Happy Holidays!

Happy Harvest!

Fall is my very favorite time of year. I love the colors, the smells, the crisp coolness, not so much the increased rain, though. This year the months flew by because we were so busy around this place. I felt like all the plans for the fall I had in mind never materialized. I feel somewhat cheated. Here it is the first part of December and I am trying to recapture Autumn. Let me mention what was on my wish list of things to experience during the fall that when unexperienced.

• A canoe ride around the lake
• A drive over to Leavenworth to see the many colors of leaves
• Rototilling the leaves in after they have fallen
• A fire out at the firepit and roasting something
• Cooking recipes with squash in them
• Making applebutter

Not all of Autumn was wasted on the mundane. I made banana bread with chocolate chips. We went to the Puyallup Fair. we decorated with pumpkins on the porch. I bought a new Autumn sented candle. I may have not been able to do everything that I would've liked, but I still hold this time of the year as my favorite. How ironic...I love the slower pace Autumn has to offer, I was just too busy to notice.

Remember This?

I heard a portion of this song on a commercial the other day. Chuck and I Googled it of course. I was shocked that I still knew all the words. I know for a fact I have NOT sung that song for many, many years! These were the type of songs that I associate with my youth. They were happy, upbeat and yes, very hippyish. I was only 10 years old when this song was a hit. I really was born a little too late for my liking! I would've been into SOME of that hippy scene, I hate to admit. Enjoy!

Boo to You!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. It hasn't always been that way. I remember trying to get 3 or 4 children, at any given time, ready to go Trick-or-Treating. In the past there was a rush to get costumes ready, pumpkins carved, and dinner served, so they weren't just eating the candy that they came home with. I could hardly decorate the house when the kids were little because they would carry off the decorations and play with them.

The reason I enjoy this holiday today is due to the colors. I love the fall colors. I like to decorate Halloween and Harvest mixed together so that it's not as "scary." This year I plan to have the kids over for dinner and a not so scary movie. I am going to make stew in a pumpkin and rolls. This year Halloween is on a Sunday. The kids will not be trick-or-treating since they will be attending church Halloween parties on Saturday. The church parties include Trunk-or-Treat, where they go car to car in the church parking lot. They always end up with a lot of candy anyway. Happy Halloween!

Yee Haw Cousin Camp 2010

We finally had cousin camp for the 4 older grandkids. What a fun time! They absolutely love being around one another. We had to camp inside, due to the weather. We couldn't do our campfire, due to the weather. We had to BBQ our food close to the backdoor due to the weather. But, if you asked the kids they had the time of their lives just running around the house making noise. Thank goodness for Denton reminding everyone what cousin camp was all about, it might have turned into a pity party. I have already started working on ideas for next year. Do we stick to one night or try two? Do we let the babies, who will be 2 1/2 by then join us? Definately hold it earlier in August, due to the weather! Our goal is to do this each year, extending the time frame as they age, and allowing cousin relationships to blossom. Grandma's goal is to get more sleep and exercise prior the camp. I was totally exhausted! Although, I love being around these kids!!