Happy New Year!

I know a few days late, but hey, life has a habit of getting in the way! Lots has happened in the short time since I was here, so I'll give you the quick rundown. 

Nicole & I took a pallet painting class at Brewed Awakenings in Vancouver and what a blast!

The best part is, I got to spend the entire afternoon with her, chatting & painting! 

 Love the lights and all the foo-foo that Christmas brings. Decorating the house inside & out, the smells of baking cookies, the hustle & bustle of the crowds, the overall friendliness of strangers, and the smiles of those who you know you found that perfect gift for! Yep, I'm a sucker for Christmas!

Even Max was a good kitty this year! 

Not sure what he was thinking, but glad I captured this moment!

And of course, there's my birthday a few days after Christmas. I not only got to spend it with my kids and grand babies, guess who shows up to celebrate my day with us! I miss having them so close, but relished every second they were here! And I even got a Donut Birthday Cake!! YUM!!

 And just like that, a New Year arrived! Time flies when you're having fun!!

So to summarize, 2017 was a great year, full of wonderful times, made some awesome memories, celebrated some milestones, and know anything is possible surrounded by the love of family and friends! So, as I opened this post, I will end it with ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

May 2018 be all you imagined!!

Godspeed

SUNDAY FUNDAY!

Sunday's are for family gatherings, watching the game on the tube, and this particular Sunday, carving pumpkins! Hard work creating that perfect pumpkin .... look at that concentration!

Ruby's masterpiece!

All on display at dusk .....

And what is a Halloween pumpkin party without a birthday celebration! We've been so busy with work, practices, appointments, soccer, and life in general that we just had to tuck Michelle's Birthday in to our day as well! 🎉Happy Belated birthday Michelle! 🎉

Until next time ..... Godspeed

PUMPKINS! PUMPKINS! WE GOT PUMPKINS!!

Last weekend we decided to head off to The Patch in Woodland, WA for our annual search for that perfect pumpkin. And to our surprise, the weather was perfect, too! Just warm enough for a sweatshirt and no muddy patches or a drop of rain in sight! They had a great selection of pumpkins to chose from, hot apple cider, and pumpkin bowling! It was a nice way to spend the afternoon with the kids and granddaughters. 🎃

Until next time ... Godspeed

Fall ball has come to a close ...

It seems the season just gets started and then its over ....

Fall Softball is always way too short. Just as the bats start to get 'hot' its time to put the equipment away until spring. Makayla had a very good season doing what she does best behind the plate. Had to give my new Nikon a workout with the different settings and just fell in love with the sports mode and those lenses! Took 100's of shots over a tournament weekend and just love how these turned out! 

Always focused and ready for the next play! Yeah, she knows how to keep the runner on first base "honest" 😉 In the end, the girls finish third in this tournament and were very pleased with their game play. Great team!

Until next time ... Godspeed

SURPRISE!

Well, we did it! Meet our new Cozy Cottage!

A little backstory .... we went to Cabela's to find a tent that fit over the back of our Yukon so we could venture into the great outdoors. We found one we liked, but it would have to be ordered so we got the necessary order numbers and headed home, or so we thought!

We had been researching travel trailers but didn't think our vehicle was large enough to tow one. Just for the heck of it, we stopped in a sales floor on the way home. We knew exactly the one we wanted, knew this place didn't have that manufacturer available so it was just a "let's see what else is out there on the market." Lo and behold, the one requirement we had .... a murphy bed that folded up into the wall exposing the sofa underneath .... was right there on the lot!  Three hours later, we were the owners of this! Isn't she pretty! She is just enough for our very first travel trailer and we couldn't be more excited!

August 5th, 2017

Let the adventures begin!

Introduction ....

I honestly cannot believe that I haven't blogged about this little darling until now! Pepper was born November 26th, 2016. From the moment  we saw this wobbly, little ball of black fur with white hair on the tips of her toes at four weeks of age, we knew she belonged here with us! On January 13th, 2017 we were able to meet up and bring her home! At first she didn't want to leave the carrier, but in time she ventured out and took a look around.

**That face just melts my heart!**

Our granddaughters got a puppy for Christmas as well, and we were excited to have Pepper meet Jynx. That very next day we made that happen. Being only four weeks apart, they instantly made friends, romped around the house, stole each others toys, played in the snow (see video) and it was then we knew we were in for some fun adventures! 

And although I swore "NO DOGS ON THE COUCH!" as you can see, that didn't last very long with Pepper. 😊

And that "whittle" tongue .... STOP IT!! 💟💟💟 Be still my heart!! 💟💟💟

And just for giggles, here is a size comparison about a month later ..... Skylar, Jynx, & Pepper. Just like our human babies, why can't they stay small longer? 

Now, 4 1/2 months later, Pepper is housebroken (YAY!!), has chewed up numerous toys, and created a bad habit of making HOLES in our CARPET! She may be a sweetheart, but its time for THAT to come to a halt cause Momma's not happy! 

I'll be back on occasion to update and get caught up, in the meantime, leash training is definitely in order! My shoulder can't take much more pulling. 🙁

Godspeed

A FIRST!

Sometimes we just have to step outside our comfort zone and go for it! Today I did just that and made four loaves of Artisan Bread from scratch! Love, love the taste but just couldn't afford all that goodness from the bakery section. When I found this very simple recipe, I figured why not, the only thing I'd be out was some flour and 99 cents worth of yeast. But then again, the skeptic in me thought it was waaaaay too easy! ;)

Homemade Artisan Bread 

• 3 cups lukewarm water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated yeast
• 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher or other course salt
• 6 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• cornmeal for pizza peel (optional)

1. In a very large bowl, add your flour, yeast, and salt.

2. Pour in your water and stir until combined, just a few minutes.

3. Cover your bowl with foil or greased plastic wrap for 2-5 hours. 

4. Divide your dough into 3 loaves with a knife. Cover each loaf with flour and form it into a ball.

5. Lay onto a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or onto a pizza stone sprinkled with cornmeal. Let this dough rest for about 30 or so minutes.

6. With a sharp knife, slash the top of each loaf into 3 lines or a criss-cross pattern. This helps let out some steam in the dough. If you don’t slash your bread, the bread will most likely make it’s own tear somewhere during cooking.

7. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and add a small pan filled with 1 cup of water on a lower rack for a water bath. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

8. Place your baked bread on a baking rack to cool.

SUCCESS!! I will just say it was so EASY, tastes just as good as the bakery shop .... chewy crust with moist inside .... and can either be eaten with or without butter. It was FABULOUS!! 

From now on, I'm stepping outside that box more often! 

Godspeed

Welcome 2017!

As we rang in the New Year, we had a nice little snow fall in the area. Since we were puppy sitting the fur babies, we had the chance to get them out and play for a bit, that is until the fireworks scared the dickens outta them! Once we got everyone settled back down, we toasted the New Year and counted our Blessings.

Weighing the good with the bad, the good definitely came ahead. We were Blessed with some really great memories of our trip to Southern CA & Disney, the kids found the house with space inside and out that they desperately needed, and our kids & grand babies are happy & healthy! What more could you ask for! :)

So onward & upward from here to make 2017 an EPIC year!!

Godspeed

Today she rang that bell!!

My sister's final day of chemo & radiation treatments!! I am so happy for her and her family and my tears of joy haven't stopped yet! I pray that she has finally kicked cancer's ass and kissed it good-bye for good this time! All my prayer warrior friends, join in with me and pray for a healthy 2017 and beyond for her! Love you Sis!!

Godspeed

And so December has begun ....

In an effort to put November aside, I have dove completely into the Season Of Giving. There are so many ways to give without spending a dime and still spread Good Cheer in the process. Pass out smiles during your daily routine ... hold the door for a complete stranger, help the person struggling with their bags, just say Hello! 

One of my favorite ways to give back, is our local food bank held their annual Walk n' Knock on Saturday and while I didn't have much in my pantry at the time, I was able to muster up three items that they gladly took for those who are less fortunate. Its definitely on my "list" of things to do this week, I'll just stop by and drop off the items one of these afternoons if the donation barrel is gone from our local grocery store by then. 

Another is a local group that was started a year ago, Food With Friends. They do weekly Outreach to those on the street who have no where to turn. They provide food and whatever else they can gather from donations to attempt to make life a bit more bearable. This year, they are gathering items of comfort to pack backpacks with and pass out during their annual Christmas Gathering. 

We have so much to be thankful for .... the love of family, a roof over our head, heat to keep us warm, foodstuff in our cabinets .... those are the things that are important and sometimes when we start feeling sorry for ourselves that we don't have this or that, a quick jolt of reality brings us back to whats really necessary for a fulfilling life! :)

Have a wonderful day!

Godspeed

Good-bye November ....

This month has been hard. What started off as a sign of hope, turned quickly into one of despair and loss. I've had a few bouts of worthlessness this month, what will happen next, both our Moms going thru their own personal issues, trying to be there for my sister in thoughts and prayers, and then to top it off, lost my Maggie.

Please don't get me wrong .... I have so much to be thankful for, but I'm glad November is coming to a close and only hope and pray December will turn around. My wish is to bring cheer to all those I hold near and dear to my heart!

New month lies ahead .... new beginnings .... good-bye November!

Godspeed

Nov. 17th .....

This has been a tough week .... I know I should be grateful for so many things .... But today, I am grateful for a little puppy who came into our hearts and home almost 13 years ago. She was so loving, so sweet when you were sick or feeling down, my companion when Butch was on those long runs that lasted 4 to 6 weeks, my walking buddy, she drove us crazy with her bark, but I sure do miss that excitement in her bark now ....

Rest well my sweet Maggie, your body and mind are now free to romp with Emma again! Love you, and I know you're waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge to cross with us.

Maggie Mae

12/3/03 - 11/15/16

Godspeed

Nov. 13th ...

Today I am grateful for something to that allows me to chill ....

I love football and our Seattle Seahawks!! That is all, have a good evening!

Godspeed

Nov. 12th ....

Today I am grateful for "like minded" people. I don't like what's happenening in this country today, It makes me so sad and my heart is broken. People calling others "whiney crybabies", "lazy free-loaders who won't get their welfare checks now", and those who just don't understand the frustrations of whats happened and how this impacts the lives of those who are "different" in some way from themselves.  I sat with a group of ladies yesterday afternoon and we had a good talk. It was nice to see a total stranger's point of view and expressing themselves without hate filled rhetoric or making implications about others.

Will we get thru this? Yes, we will ..... because we will stand united without spiteful words, without belittling others, without hateful hearts, and with love and kindness towards those who feel that they won and scream "get over it!" It may take time for others to get on board, but we do have hope that it will!

Godspeed

Nov. 11th ....

Today my gratitude goes to those who have served this country. We owe a debt of gratitude to each and every one of them!

Thank you & Godspeed

Nov. 10th .....

Purging .... for my own sanity I went thru my Facebook list of "friends" and deleted those who only spewed hate filled rhetoric. Its so unnecessary to gloat, to be that person who has to "get in everyones face" because they came out the victor, but at the same time really showed me the person they were.  It felt good to lift that particular cloud and now maybe find some peace within and move on, slowly, but move on.

I honestly don't care who your vote went for, but also don't tell me I don't have the right to be sad, to grieve this! My passions ran very deep this election cycle because we have so much to lose. My heart is broken, not just for me, but for the children of this country.

I don't believe the masses even know what they've gotten themselves into! My only hope is that I am wrong, I would love to be wrong on this, but fear I'm only kidding myself. I just hope the name calling and rhetoric stop very soon ..... be kind, be tolerant, be who God has asked you to be.

Godspeed

Nov 9th ....

Today is hard .... I'm fearful for my daughter and granddaughters, disappointed in my acquaintances on Facebook, and my face is swollen from crying myself to sleep last night and again this morning. Its bad enough that I fear our country is headed backwards, but the constant gloating and mean spirited comments are just too much! I don't think they opened that memo on compassion.

I am grateful for two things today .... the chat with my daughter last night who I love with all my being, and the extra long hugs this morning from my husband. We will be okay, not sure what our 401k looks like at the moment, but we have our kids, granddaughters and each other to get us thru. We are survivors! 

Godspeed

Nov. 7th ....

Democracy .... no matter how flawed it can be, I am thankful to have my voice heard ...

.... now we wait, hope, and pray for the best outcome.

Godspeed

Nov. 6th ...

On this day, I'm so thankful for basketball season to start! No more cold and rainy outdoor football stadiums! Our granddaughter's first tournament was today and although it was a rough start to the season, they all did well & know what they need to work on. Its a terrific team of girls and coaches we'll enjoy watching this winter!

Good luck this year Tigers!

Nov. 5th ....

On this day 39 years ago, I married my soul mate, my best friend, and confidant! I am thankful for the years we've shared and look forward to 39 more!

Forever Yours, Faithfully!

Nov. 4th ....

Today I am grateful for people who do things for others without giving it a second thought.
Those are my kind of people!

Enjoy your day!
Godspeed

Gratitude .... Nov. 2 & 3

Nov. 2 - This cold I have just knocked me out yesterday! Slept most of the day and was so grateful for a comfy bed and my fluffy pillow! It felt so good to sleep and let this thing run its course.

Nov. 3 - Impromptu family gatherings! Yesterday was the youngest granddaughter's birthday and her selection for dinner was her favorite place, Burgerville! Of all the places in town we could have gone, she selects a hamburger with ketchup and fries. Gotta love her!

Have a pleasant wednesday!

Godspeed

November! Brought to you by gratitude, sponsored by you!

It's that month again - focusing on the things that really matter! First let me start by saying, I'm always grateful for another day, another sunrise, another sunset. I am always grateful that I have a wonderful husband, great kids, and the "bestest" granddaughters! They are my heart and soul, my life!

This month however, I'd like to focus on the little things, the things we really don't think about and take for granted. some silly, some mundane, but still thankful they exist. Here goes ....

November 1: 
I am grateful for cold medicine! Yesterday out of the blue this head cold hit and has worsened overnight. BOO!! I feel like pooh, but with a dose of cold medicine, I should be able to function.  Although I feel horrible, others are going thru a lot worse than I am at the moment! So, I'm gonna suck it up, get myself in the shower and ready to go to work!

Have a great day all!
Godspeed

October Jumpstart Sketch!

I feel accomplished! I just finished up my layout for The ScrapRoom October Jumpstart Sketch! I used everything from September's FOTM kit, Life is Beautiful from Fancy Pants. Yes, a month late, but the embellishments from that kit just seemed appropriate at the time. LOL!

My husband and I have been facing some very trying times these past few weeks and we just needed some time to chill and decided Happy Hour at the Brickhouse in Vancouver on Main was just the place. As we were letting out all our pent up "ARGHS!" and "Thank goodness thats over!" it was time to be silly, hence the crazy selfie!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed my layout!

Godspeed

Colors of Fall ....

something different

One mystery of cooking dinner for me has been, how do you liven up the potatoes? Having the same mashed potatoes night after night is such a bore, so when I saw this recipe I knew I had to mix it up. It was fantastic and the only thing I'd do different is add some bacon! Who doesn't love bacon, right?! LOL!! Mixed up a meatloaf, added some sweet corn, and DINNER! Check it out tonight .... You're welcome! :)

Ranch Potatoes

serves 10

9 red potatoes

½ cup ranch dressing

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

1 cup cheddar, shredded

1. Preheat oven to 400°F

2. Slice the potatoes in half, lengthwise, then slice each half lengthwise three times and across four times, to cube.

3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and drop in chopped potatoes, cook 10 minutes.

4. Drain potatoes and mix in ranch, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

5. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until nicely browned.

6. While still hot, mix in cheddar.

7. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.

8. Serve warm and enjoy!

ramblings ....

When I went back to work, I didn't think I'd be this busy! Just as I'm getting the hang of things, life happens .... without going into many details .... I've yelled .... I've cried .... I've prayed .... and today I had to realize that I'm not cut out for certain things anymore. I reached a limit and it didn't feel good, I broke down in front of strangers who understood considering the situation, but it made me feel weak. Weak is not in my vocabulary, or so I thought. I came to the conclusion it was my way of telling myself that I was at a different stage in my life, and it was time to step aside and let another continue. That said, I left early a bit frazzled, and now I can move on.

Thanks for listening ....

Godspeed

On track!

This morning I wanted to get the last of the fair photos in the book. Here are my two kids doing what they do best, challenge each other in none other than bumper cars! Not sure who won, but do know that the look on my son's face shows that he made an awesome hit on his big sister! LOL!

bumper cars!

That'll be it for now, the sun has returned for a bit and my outdoor pots need cleaning out to get ready for Halloween decor! Have a great day all!

Godspeed

So many changes!

Since my last entry ....

• Seasons changed from Summer to Fall  
•  Leaves on the trees are changing color 
•  I came out of retirement
•  I landed a job as a substitute aide for the school district
•  And finally, our calendar went from September to October

Needless to say, my self imposed challenge went completely out the window! But, this is a new month and a chance to start again. 

This morning I made time to create this layout of our visit to the County Fair in August. Using a mix of papers from Jelly Bean, Authentic, October afternoon, alpha by Thickers and October Afternoon, a mixture of Basic Grey chipboard pieces from my stash, and a sketch from Scrapbook Generation, its complete! AND a two page layout at that! 

County Fair 2016

Time to get some chores done, so I'll leave you right here. Have a great afternoon!

Godspeed

Staying on track ....

I will confess, this first one was pretty quick. I cheated this time around and made a collage that included my title, a few stickers, then chose three pattern papers, assembled quickly, and called it done! Honestly, I don't know why I haven't done this in the past! It was simple, so fast, done on my phone, and printed right directly to the machine at the store! I just feel like I finally caught up with technology!! LOL!

I used up the remaining tomatoes from my garden. Yes, my salsa once again got the "thumbs up" from the Big Guy! Between him & the kids, I just know it'll be gone before winter even sets in!
**Note to self ... plant more tomatoes next year!

So far, that puts my number at 4 completed, with 11 to go to meet my challenge. I have photos printed for two more, now I just need the time to get them finished. Hoping today, but with two softball games this morning, the kickoff of our first NFL game at 1pm, and laundry staring me in the face, we'll see .... time management. ;)

Thanks for stopping by, have a great Sunday!

Godspeed

Back to the scrap table!

After a flurry of activity this past summer, the little ones are back in school and life is getting back on a normal schedule. Schedules can be mundane, but at the same time, so very nice to have! And one of the things I'm determined to get back on mine is scrapbooking.

I've decided to challenge myself to at least 15 layouts for the month of September. I have my photos prepped, papers tentatively selected - we all know how that can turn out :/ - and now working on the whole "time management" part, which again .... tricky!!

This first one seemed to take forever! I was trying to do a few challenges, got stressed out because they weren't happening for me, and just decided that I would do what I wanted and not worry about the rest.

"#BGRocks" (The ScrapRoom Freaky Friday Challenge) - previous blog post explains #BGRocks :)

  "After School Snack" - This was their first day of school in their new home, new school, and having new teachers and make new friends. That's a lot for young kids to have to take all in at once and all within a couple days of moving! I've been picking them up from school on tuesday since I just lived within a short walk from the old school. Now I venture 15 minutes to their house. I decided to get there ahead of time and bake some treats to welcome them home that first day. It was a hit and they were all smiles as they shared their new adventures! 

So as of now, I have two finished, one that just needs finishing touches, and another that is waiting in the wings. And then there's Max .... ya know, I could get more done if THIS GUY would stop interfering!! LOL!! I love him to pieces, but he sure is a PEST!!

Its time to head back to the scrap table, remove my furry critter, and resume creating! Thanks for stopping by ...

Godspeed