The Meaning of the Season

I have been remiss in my blogging.  I will "blame" it on the holidays. I wasn't going to put up decorations this year. My daughter is still at home but is often out and about and the house is a resting place :-)  Well, I changed my mind (as I am entitled to do).  Our little home looks even more cozy with the tree and decorations.  I got a pleasant surprise the other day - SEE:

Jeanine (a wonderful friend and my dad's wife) has recreated a gingerbread house (or stable, in this case) that she had made for our family a few years ago.  Unfortunately, the original was tossed away by my ex...

I am thrilled to have this specially-made piece in my home.  It smells wonderful and is a sweet reminder of the reason for the season.

I am so blessed to have a caring, smart and lovely daughter,an extended family that is so supportive and friends that have helped carry me through this past year.  The holidays are a wonderful time to remember those who are important to us; a time to begin showing them how important they are and hopefully to continue through the year with the attitude of thankfulness.

Thanks

I have so much to be thankful for that I wanted to put "pen to paper" so to speak.  I have a wonderful daughter who is thoughtful, caring and helpful. My parents (both sets) are supportive - each in their special way.  I have two sisters - one in Alaska and the other in town (for the last few years) with her husband and two girls.  We are there for each other; even across the distances as years go by.  I have recently forged some friendships at the office I work in - Generous, caring ladies.  The one stronghold that has carried me through rough times, sad times, happy times and glad times is the Lord my God.  He is unchanging and steady.  How thankful I am that He cares for me.  Many things change in life, but the love of Christ is not one of them.  I am blessed beyond all measure in my reasons for being thankful this year!

Winter is upon us

The winter weather has hit the Pacific Northwest.  Over here in eastern Washington, we are looking at lows of below zero.  BBBBrrrrr.  I am glad to have some new windows in our little home along with our remodeled bathroom.  We are being efficient with the thermostat and using a space heater in our living room area when we are there.  I love the feel of the extra weight as I added another blanket to my bed last night (-10◦F).  Now I just need to brave the roads and drive my ‘new to snow’ vehicle.

Blindside series

We are finishing up a 6 week series at church.  I have been in a small group with other women on Wednesday evenings.  We have a packet each week that we go through using the Bible and verses to examine questions about family, commitment, relationships, team... Our church is on a mission to take back our city :-)  We have the option of continuing on with a small group.  I have enjoyed the camaraderie, sharing of knowledge and accountability that comes with being part of a small group. 

Remodel Complete

What excitement!  We are thrilled with our new bathroom.  If you have been keeping track, it has been over a month since we had a usable bathroom.

What a different look we have.  It used to be cramped, dark and not a good use of space.  Now we have light, open and a beautiful space.

I am so thankful to my sister and brother-in-law. They were such troopers and did a fabulous job.

Yahoo!

Ode to Cinnamon

You stole our hearts as a young cat of 6 months.

Through fences and fields you wandered by day,

Snuggled with sissy through the night.

A loss of a leg didn’t keep you down

Our mouser, our bird hunter – what a life!

We’ve missed you for over a year now

Sad news we received last week.

You used up your 9 lives and lived to be 10,

Our memories are dear – thank you, Cinnamon!

Remodel Update 10/17/10

Wow, what a difference 2 days makes.  My new phone's camera isn't that great, but as you can see we do have a toilet again :-)  I am amazed at how different this looks from when we started.  The changes really make the room look larger.

So the paint, tile, flooring, tub and toilet are done.  Baseboards, trim, shower rod, tile sealing, sink, light fixtures and other hardware are on the to be done list.

I will be so bold to say that I believe we will be showering in our own bathroom sometime next weekend ;-)

To Eat or Not to Eat - That is the Question

As a woman in her early 40s, I need to really be thinking about my health, activity and well-being.  I am not getting any younger and some mornings I can attest to that!  My sister was reading a book called Naturally Thin.  I said I would like to take a peek at it when she was done.  I am in the second half of the book.  Most of the ideas are ones that we know, just said a little differently.  I believe it is putting what I know into practice that will actually make a difference - go figure!  I am on a continuing journey for well-being and this is just one aspect that I am ready to incorporate. (this never made it to posting on 9/27 - since it is still relevant, I am posting now)

Time

It is hard to realize that another week has flown by!  Busy days followed by busy evenings. The bathroom is still a work in progress and is coming along day by day :-)

No toilet again - tape/mud and primer instead.

I am ready for a completed room - wait, make that a completed home again :-)  My sister and brother-in-law have been so helpful and gracious (with their trailer and bathrooms) I really can't complain about the remodel.  It looks great and I know an awesome job has been done.

Weekend Fun

This weekend was the "kick off" for the Best of Broadway season :-)  My daughter and I had a fantastic time at South Pacific on Saturday evening.  My sister and her family were camping over the weekend and I was in charge of taking care of the pets.  Friendly cats and dog that love attention - LOL.  Enjoyed a morning of worship and an afternoon of errands to finish off the weekend.

Togetherness

What a great evening with my daughter :-)  Her classes are reading intensive this quarter.  So we sat next to each other on the loveseat and each did some reading.  Sharing tidbits of information and occasionally getting up to stretch or get something to drink.  Now that may not sound like much to many of you; however, she is a busy girl with classes, homework, mentoring and work-study - not to mention a boyfriend and church activities.  It is a great relaxing, bonding time for us that happens once a month or so -)  Blessings, that' s what I call it!

Remodel Update

The marble threshold looks awesome.  It is going to be a great shelf for the sink :-) There are just a few more tiles to be placed before grouting begins. My brother-in-law has been working at FAFB this week and the family is going camping over the weekend, so we are biding our time until next week.  It is shaping up nicely and will be a completed job he should be proud of!  Thank you again, again and again :-)

Continued Progress

There is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel :-)  Well, I'm guessing a couple more weeks before we have a totally completed bathroom; however, each day brings us a step closer.  My brother-in-law is an honest to goodness handyman!  I know many people say they are, but he really is.  The variety of projects he has done for this "bathroom remodel" show what some research, initiative and perseverance can do!  He is not afraid to tackle anything (read 'mainstack leak').  I am not sure how I will be able to repay his hard work and dedication; however, I will give it my best :-)

So-so week

I think this may be a rambling of sorts :-)  I haven't posted for a week - well, I tried on Tuesday but my work computer froze up and it didn't take - bum 'cause it was a great post!  This has been a so-so week.  Nothing too exciting or too boring.  One of those "coasting" through the days - kind of week.  I have been thinking a lot on health and wellness recently.  I am in my early 40s and want to lead a healthy second half of my life.  I know everything that I should be doing and I am ready to do the doing!

Wellness

Sometimes I get stuck in a rut of living.  Get up, get ready, go to work, work, go home, eat dinner, laundry or some other task, go to bed and start the cycle all over again.  I have been thinking about wellness recently.  Yes, it has to do with health, our bodies, eating, exercising...but it also deals with our mental and emotional states; how we feel about ourselves and others.  I have decided that at this time I am not well.  I need to get well.  I am not sure how to do so; however, I have great support and am going to start looking into getting well :-)  I have a feeling that this will be a process.  I also believe that the process will be as healing as the end result :-)

Remodel, Take 3

Yahoo!  Houston we have a toilet!!  We have been sleeping at our house since Saturday night.  What joy :-)  Again, thank you to my sister and brother-in-law for "volunteering" to tackle this job that has turned into a whole bunch of jobs rolled into one.

Trying to move forward

{Large sigh} It has been almost a year since the divorce was finalized.  Moving forward, right?  Definitely trying to do so.  I am still included in a large loan that is no longer mine.  Having to contact and converse with someone you are trying to "forget" is very trying on the system.  However, it is almost a done deal.  A bit of mail correspondence, signing a document or two and returning them.  I am looking to that 1 year anniversary as the closing of a book (not just a chapter).  I am ready to start a whole new novel :-)

Remodel, Take 2

We are still amidst the remodel of the bathroom. We ran into a couple of glitches. Moving a window, having a plumber fix a leaking crack in the mainstack and switching out all of the plumbing pipe. My brother-in-law is a trooper as he is the main man for this job! Currently we are without toilet and water; however, the end is a glimmer of hope which grows stronger each day :-) I must admit, with the remodel, being displaced and without the plumbing, I am a bit discombobulated. I am anxiously awaiting the final product and know it will be worth the time, discomfort and displacement.

Challenges of Remodeling

Wow - Kudos to my Brother-in-law and sister!  I can take minimal credit for the work in progress of my bathroom remodel.

We have run into a few "snafu's"; however, Matt takes them in stride :-)

Old homes tend to hide things below the surface, as we found out this weekend.  I am grateful to the family I have that pitches in.  Thank you sooooo much for your help!

I am excited to have the finished product - although it is in the not so near future :-)

On The Go

Life is a constant whirlwind. No complaints, just observations. Every evening this week has something on the books. Pick up sod, take elderly friend to the grocery store, take daughter to appointment across town, help elderly friend in home, pick up items for remodel – whew. And that is just the weekday evenings. Luckily the weather is still cooperating. I am so glad to have the health and energy to be on the go. Getting healthier is on the books, too. However, that is another post :-)

Fall on the Horizon

This weekend was a precursor to some beautiful fall weather.  Highs in the upper 60s with sunny skies, lows in the 40s.  My little home cooled down at night and stayed comfortable all day.  Fall is my favorite time of year :-)  I am looking forward to the changing leaves, cool mornings, sunny days... We have a great place called Greenbluff which is made up of a bunch of farms where you can pick the produce and there are little shops, cafes...I haven't made my way there this year; however, I feel a day at Greenbluff coming on!

Artwork

In 1909, homes were built of lath & plaster.  This makes hanging artwork a bit of an undertaking :-)  My mom and dad are stopping  by to lend a hand (actually I'll be lending the hand - LOL). I am looking forward to having one more item crossed off my list in getting my home in order :-)  Colleen and I have spots picked out for all of the items needing to be hung.  Haha - she is having a day of fun at Silverwood so hopefully her mom has a good memory :-)  Home ownership - a joy and feeling of accomplishment!

Vegan in process

I have been a vegetarian for the past 3 years (in October). I have been working on being a vegan for the past 2 years. I continue to have trouble with dairy. Cheese is my downfall and I continue to eat it. I also eat seafood. Technically I can’t be called a vegan. I am putting myself down every time I eat pizza with cheese on it or have a veggie sandwich with cheese. I feel like a failure when I can’t adhere to veganism. I am coming to realize that maybe I should be labeled vegetarian and if I choose not to eat the dairy products…all the better for my body and the planet.

Dinner

What a fun time!  We have a restaurant called Clinkerdagger's that has great food.  It is a "special occasions" experience for the working class (us).  Our monthly dinner was there on Tuesday night.  We had a slight view of the Falls and the surrounding terrain.  Ate inside as it was still a warm 88 degrees outside with no breeze.  Not a lot for a vegan to choose from; however, I had the Iceberg Lettuce wedge with tomato and lemon vinaigrette with fresh pepper, a side of sweet potato fries (shared with the group) and their warm seasonal fruit cobbler (sans the vanilla bean ice cream).  The food was good but it is always the company that makes or breaks a dinner!  We had a great time, as always.  Chatting about this and that; there are a couple of hoots in the group that entertain the masses - wouldn't be the same without them - truth is, it has happened and it isn't the same (enjoyable, but not the same).  Thanks all for taking the time to get together :-)

Cupcakes

One of the ladies I work with has a dream of her own bakery.  She is starting to make her dream a reality.  Over the weekend, she baked 3 varieties of cupcakes - gourmet ones.  A chocolate/peanut butter one, a smores one and a cookies & cream one.  Yummy for me, the cookies & cream one was vegan.  She brought them  to work today for the rest of us to taste test and critique.  She did a lovely job and we are proud of her.  She has decided to do a bit of tweaking on the cupcakes so she is going to work on one kind at a time.  Of course, she will still need her taste testers :-)

Day Trip

What a blast - Colleen and I had a fantastic time driving over to Missoula, eating at Famous Dave's and touring Fort Missoula. There is so much history in the Pacific Northwest!  We try to go to 2-3 different places each year. It was a great mother-daughter bonding time.  Colleen has a classic IPod and the car has a USB port for plugging it in.  She has a huge portfolio to choose from and we had great music the whole day.  Conversations were enjoyable, entertaining and educational :-)

Frustration

Aaahhhh!!! Sometimes working with a bunch of girls is frustrating. Beating to death an imagined incident is not my idea of amusing entertainment. Not enjoying today at work. Oh well, it happens very, very seldom. The day started off okay, but headed downhill quickly. My goal is to have a good evening. This post is short, but I had to vent a bit.

Craft Night

Years back when I was working for attorneys, a few of us ladies got together once a week for “craft night.” We had dinner and would do crafting, whether it was cross-stitch, quilting, crotcheting… or even reading a magazine. I am so happy to say that my sister and I have revived “craft night.” This is a wonderful time of crafting and fellowship! We are hoping to eventually bring other crafters into the fold. So often we get caught up in day to day stuff that our crafts get lost in the shuffle. This is a great way to get “me” time in this busy world.

Birds

This is my first summer in my little home and the lady across the street feeds the birds.  Yes, I know that there isn't anything wrong with feeding birds; however, she feeds them a mixing bowl of bread pieces about 6 times a day.  One day I mentioned to her that she was spoiling them and would have to feed them in the winter.  Haha - she informed me that she does.  Since they eat at her place, my yard/fence/carport...have become the outhouse for the birds.  I am not talking 5 or 6 - nope, more like 30 to 50!  I am at a loss as to what to do about these feathered friends.  Someone mentioned a bb-gun but I don't want to hurt them, just persuade them to poop elsewhere.  Any hints, tips...would be appreciated.

Heat

We know summer is here when the house does not cool down at night. For those of us living with screens and fans, there are some sleepless nights in the summer. I have come to rely on my ceiling fan and a damp, cool washcloth on my neck or forehead while I sleep. I have decided to “go with the flow” and not complain (too much or too loudly). There may be a time when I break down and purchase an air-conditioner, but not yet! I have a hard time purchasing something that is only used 2-2 1/2 months a year. We have cold winters and hot summers in the Pacific Northwest. I know that I will be able to pull up some “warm” memories this winter :-)

Home

I was blessed to be a part of the first-time homebuyers credit this past year.  Owning a home is a rewarding challenge and I am still learning :-)  Everything costs more than you budget; however, I think I've figured that one out.?!  The inside of the home is almost completed.  My sister and brother-in-law are going to gut and redo my bathroom - I shall assist in a limited capacity.  The yard needs quite a bit of help - my project for next year. Actually, having my own home is liberating.  I can paint, decorate and come and go, as I please.  A completely different world compared to the last 9 years. What an exciting, enjoyable and freeing time in my life.  Praises to the Lord for His awesomeness!!

Always a first

This is my first blog posting.  There is a first for everything...first time at school, first friend, first birthday, first boyfriend, first breakup...  the great things about "firsts" are the anticipation, excitement and connection with others.  I have recently gone through a divorce (unfortunately it was a second  but to the same person, so maybe it still counts as a first - LOL) and am excited to be having "firsts" again!