Making Jan. Plans!

It has been quite a weekend here. the kids are working on homes, dear daughter and her hubby worked on getting the sheeting one on the vaulted ceiling of their house. Dear son and his wife to be invited us to see the place they are considering getting. I got the tree up and most of the gifts wrapped, bags of things for the stocking are stuffed.

Today I have been watching grand kids they have been raiding the cookie jar! I got a call in for an order of a book and couple things I wanted this morning. One box of things for to go has left the house and that was great to get done. I’m thinking of the new things for the new years and how we can make that special for us. I got another Christmas card today from mom it was good to get news, now I need to get a letter off to her.
Dear son in law's dad will be having the dye test they do before angeoplasy so that’s going on our prayer list.

Family dinner will not be tonight, dear son has a big test, it’s finals week. We will have it tomorrow, chicken is on the menu.

We are making Jan. plans here!
I’ve started another knitting project, it’s soothing for me and I need that right now, I’m doing a baby blanket white pink and blue I may add green later.

Dear grand daughter is clamoring for a baby doll blanket, she has a birthday in early so that’s a definite possibility! We have three early Jan. birthday’s so we’ll be working on some gifts for those.

On the list is possibility of a wedding being moved up, kids and grand kids moving. I’m starting to think of the things to do with gardening bulbs planting and all of that fun playing in the dirt stuff.

Luncheon Plans Foiled

I was intending to go to a ladies Luncheon at a church we used to attend to see my friends they have it quarterly I totally forgot about it. Sigh oh well lunch with hubby at one of our favorite places today was excellent we lingered watching the birds walk on the frozen river dessert was good too then we did a bit of shopping did not buy anything but I found some furniture I’d
love to have. But I did see a friend at the store that was nice.

On the way to lunch we stopped by to see the place dear son and daughter in love told us they were looking at across the street from the friend I saw at the store. And on the way home we looked at the trusses that are up and inplace at dear daughters place.

I’ve been playing musical chairs to get a spot for the tree to go, and vacuumed the living room picked up the kitchen a bit to get ready to get for cookie baking tonight, jam thumbprints and chocolate chip cookies. Mean while waiting on the girls to get here to help to decorate the tree tonight after I get it up, they said to be sure and wait to decorate it the for sure wanted to help with that. Dear son is working on a group presentation dear grand daughters had back packs full of games coloring stuff home and books to read they were excited to get to go to the library with their dad.

He will be working on his truck which has sprung two fuel leaks this week, both of his rigs are out of commission now. Looks like we need to wait on getting high speed internet.

Son in law got the snow blower going. Weather has warmed up a bit and it was melting down town up where we live it was not melting however. The sunset is aglow with glorious pinky gold color tonight!

Seasonal Outtings and Progress

Holiday attitude adjustment mission has been accomplished.
A joke we use to hear in the truck on the C.B. a weather report it’s clear and still clear up to your ass and still snowing!

I found some cranberry velveteen pants and a vest with an angel print on it, and one with flowers, it’s fun to wear vests to help keep warm in these cold temps. we've had here this week on one of my outtings, it will be fun and festive to wear for some of the seasonal outings, parties, and church, they are warm. I got a couple more long sleeved turtleneck tops to wear with them too. I also got a new planner and have been getting it set up for next year. A task I always enjoy.

I’ve wrapped a couple of gifts, the cookies I baked earlier in the week are gone. No granny duty today the trusses were not delivered the press that makes them froze up. So I was able to do some shopping and have a free day to read, journal and catch up on some much needed "me" time has helped my mood to improve tremendously. It is 23* tonight here and was up to 30* here today, we still have snow. Only two weeks until winter arrives!

Holiday Woes!

Also known as the weather rant. I hate winter and the cold. I need an attitude adjustment! I think I need to go hibernate like the bear who was disturbed from the place under the warm porch and moved to the mountains to finish hibernation. Did you see that on the news? The Fish 'n' game guys had to move it.

It’s 18* here this morning! Hubby said it was -10 yesterday where he was driving in North Idaho. You know it’s cold when the anti freeze freezes! Hubby had to bring the sprayer in over night to thaw, they use it for the truck before loading the wood chips they spray the trailers. The weather guy was wrong saying it would warm up today. [The soda I was keeping on the deck turned to ice when I bought it in.]

I’m heading back to Costco afternoon, and today for a new planner the other one is full and the old one is too small and I need to plan some stuff for after the first of the year. I got a call dear grand daughter needs a ride to school so I’ll just wait and take her on the way when I go. This is good timing I guess.

The Schwan’s guy came yesterday and we had just baked up some cookies for a snack I got some chocolate chips one for the next ones. I told him how we used the precooked sausage in the stove top stuffing for Turkey day and he told about how his father in law burnt their turkey and the only way they could eat it was smother it in gravy! Better that than a raw one we experienced not here one year. I found a ginger bread cookie vest one I’ll wear this week, and one with stars, I’m calling it my star wars vest my winter wardrobe is great I’ve revamped it this fall. I’m toying with the idea of rubberstamping some Christmas greetings on the paper napkins I got yesterday.

On the food channel I’ve enjoying that and the semi home made show had a great one on cakes last night. I’ve stocked up on cake mixes so I can try some of these for upcoming birthdays. Great tips on there. The Christmas celebrations in other places, and other countries, and how they do up ginger bread houses is a fascination for me! I found a book I want to get and a tote bag with an angel on it, hubby wants to go to deliver the snow blower to snow country. I'm not too excited about shopping up there or getting a room.

I had this plan the family gathers round to help decorate the tree and wrap gifts it's their fault! They are not interested at all in helping no help no tree! Maybe in a novel some where they do that, but not around here. I hate on line shopping no exercise, I think I'll go walk in place while I call in my order! Hubby wants to take me shopping in snow country I don't think so! I don't do snow! LOL! The joke is on me, there is snow in the back yard and I don't even ski!

Winters Icy Grip Arrives

Cold temps are no longer news the whole country is feeling this icy hand of winter’s grip way down in to Texas. They are calling this the Polar Express on the weather channel. The only thing I can think of about this that’s good is the bugs it kills! Looks like is will not be as cold here tonight so that is good. A slight warming trend. It was 11* when I got up

I'm back from town after granny duty temps got up in to the 20’s and the roads were good so I knew this was my opportunity to get out and about. I had a couple of errands to do so I did those, got some more hot cocoa in these cold temps. that is one thing we do not want to run out of. I saw a friend at the store seems each year we find each other at the book department at Costco it was good to catch up, and another fellow that used to be our insurance agent when we were first married, he is active and at his age was an inspiration.

I’m glad I fit in to jeans again now because, they are warmer, I have a vest that goes with them. The soda I was keeping on the deck turned to ice when I bought it in. I found vitamins in stock when and I found some nice bigger green paper napkins for setting the table with this month. I have pork ribs in the oven the house smells great they did not thaw out in time to use the crock pot. Cookie week on the food channel the next show is on Tomorrow night, West wing is having a wedding I’m not sure if it’s on tonight or Sun. Commander and Chief was a rerun bummer. I've enjoyed the movie about the Pope is on again I"m going to try to catch the end of it.

Slumber Party

This evening, we have enjoyed the time to individuate, family dinners have been rescheduled, the dear grand daughters eating in the living room at the small table watching their favorite channel cooking show "Rachel Ray" was on while they waited for the favorite Emril cooking show, I baked up some cookies, the Schwan’s guy left and a new brownie mint this had hubbies approval. Then after their tea party-esque dinner, the dear granddaughters were playing dress up and they made a play tent in the basement over the recliners, the house had the feel of a
slumber party tonight.

At 7:00 dear grand daughter was asking to get on her pj’s, I remember a time when it was like a war zone when my kids were small. She still had on the new had her dad got her last night she slept all night in it, the got scarves hats and mittens and both were so proud of these, the other one had on her scarf this morning when she got up. The girls talked me in to wearing my flannel pj shirt with candy canes and bears on it! I’m glad I did it was nice and warm. Dear grand daughters were glad to get the bath and bed routines going tonight. It amazed me how they look forward to bed time, story and prayers is a part of the day they enjoy.

Dear son was experiencing a moment of bliss watching the Seattle sea hawks kick but tonight
at Philadelphia in the snow.

When hubby came home and I had sugar free banana pudding dessert with him and we talked a bit while he ate dinner. Then I called dear daughter, and son in law had to talk to hubby about the snow blower what was going on with it. People are teasing us about hauling around a snow blower in the back of the truck with the skiff of snow we have here there is no need for that they tease! LOL! We are at 700’ above sea level and don’t get much snow. My sis is in snow country and said she ws going to make a snow man and throw snow balls, I asked her to make a snow angel for me.

I realized the car had not been run for a day or two or three, dear son needed to got to the store and was a bit low on gas so he took the car to make sure it was charged up for me and will start in the morning for car pool. Hubby is supposed to help me with alternating the rigs and some how the schedule got changed to the end of the week and we need to get that schedule changed back again now that winter is here.

Dear daughter said they are making progress and have put on the truss plates today, and can’t really do much until the trusses come on Friday. I’ll have a day then. When I was at the pc I looked out at the brightest pink sunset across the western skyline was breathtaking.

What does Winter Have in Store?

What does winter have in store for you this year?
No body really knows this year winter has made an early appearance. We had snow before Christmas that’s early for us. Two weeks of early storms sent travelers to the ditch, wreckers scrambling and state trooper calling for all but emergency vehicles to stay home and off the roads. After one storm hubby was the last truck that they let through on a Friday night
we were both glad he made it home safely after that trip.

Hazards of winter travel this year have been rocks sliding off closing down the free way in Ore. on the way to Portland for a while with big boulders has been, another thing to deal with, this happened on the pass on the way to Seattle too.

Getting rigs and farm equipment has been on the list here this month, repairing and hanging iron (chains), getting flashlights in working order, pulling batteries from summer stuff like motor cycles, 4 wheelers, putting in antifreeze, and getting the ice and snow from the steps for saver transit to and from the car with food and other purchases helps to prevent painful spills.

This is a good time of year for thinking about goals for next year, and cleaning out old planners, and thinking about the season ahead.

Moving Snow Blower n Making Soup

Today I got the leaves and bit of snow off the drive way for a bit of exercise. And doing four tubs of laundry, up and down stairs, reclaiming the kitchen and dining room, getting the vacuuming done made it a productive day. For lunch We made soup in the crock pot the grand kids loved helping to stir it up, but were not really all that excited eating it.I was able to get some sewing time in and delighted that the sewing machine works making angels pillow cases was a festive fun part of the day today for me. Later on I was glad to get out of the house, we enjoyed seeing the sunset the pink and golden glow was spectacular reflecting off of the snow.

We unloaded the snow blower, dear son was amazed we could unload it, I prayed on the way over and it was down off the truck, so gravity did most of it we were not really lifting. I do have a muscle that can tell it’s been used. I enjoyed feeding the chickens, they were glad I brought some food for them to eat too, there was an egg in the nesting box. We were able to deliver a fake Christmas tree from the farm and some planners and books dear daughter said that she could use.

Then we went to get fuel for the truck I found some winter ski type gloves that go with my purse they seemed to be a good idea this the freezing temps we've been having and they were priced right. It's 29* here this morning, and the sun rise was fun to see.

Holiday Weekend Happenings / Steak Out

Today I’m trying to blog but hubby is watching a fishing show and we keep laughing at the antics of these fishing buddies. So I’m not getting my blog page done. Okay focus you can do this! LOL!

Yesterday they went to met with the fish and game guy they caught several poachers with the decoy deer it was a successful stake out! The winterized the mower, brought the snow blower down to get it worked on to get it in working order.

I’m waiting on a bazillion e-mails to down load. Time to think about no mail of some fun graphic groups until I get faster internet that will be after the holidays. Last night we moved a book case out of the dining room and it sure looks bigger in there now. Love that part! Our son helped me to haul it to the basement, then I toted stacks of books to load back in to it. That was great exercise.

Today it’s 21* here br-r! We have a bit of snow on the ground, several of us are coughing, the coffee was a hit and dollar cakes from a box like mom used to make for breakfast with fruit from a pre-school field trip for the grand kids. We watched the nativity last night as a family and read the book that goes with it this morning. That was fun! I have cookies to bake, a tree to decorate, and gifts to wrap on my list for the next couple of weeks. If there is anything you want to add to my to do list I’ll probably not respond in a positive manner the guys found out last night! LOL!

December Storms In !

This is the week I’m getting back on track with my chores and stuff. Report cards are coming out this Fri. it’s early release and I’m sure some of the kids and teachers are grateful that they did not come out last weekend before Thanksgiving.

I’ve updated my planner today added the Feb. pages so I have the next three months in it as recommended by several sources, and journal tonight. Trying something new doing it in the evenings now. Which worked out really great.

Then I headed out doors to rake leaves in the dark. After the wind last night the leaves are mostly off the tree now.

I’ve been on a swing shift this week on the house work I’m not sure why but every so often I seem to need to work a different schedule on the stuff at home just to shake up the routine a bit. There is plenty to do to get ready for the holidays. I’ve been sorting toys and getting the basement de-cluttered. Last week I worked on the upstairs and the clear wire guys were here to see if we could get wireless and checked in the basement too but it didn’t work there. I was embarrassed by the condition of the basement so that’s been my focus area to work on this week.

Granny duty has been good this week. Hubby is not enjoying driving in the winter storms they have been having all around us.

I’ve retreated to the inner regions of the storage areas and sorting things seems some how therapeutic for me. I’ve put craft projects on hold until after Christmas at this point, it’s a little hetic to think about doing any thing else right now. I’m ready for hot turkey sandwiches. Turkey soup smelled great at the day care the girls were at today.

Back to School

Grand kids were here playing peacefully earlier today. Dear daughter said that they have the interior walls on the main floor up and now they have power so progress is being made.

The grand-girls have a birthday party to go to after school is out at the sitters. And they were excited about that. Mon. is usually home work night. I had a gift for a birthday here for one of the girls but sent it with them instead. Today before school #1 dear grand daughter read two chapters, she was ready to go back to school, she knows all the grade one spelling words already, and dear son has her up to speed on her math. She is in a play at school too.

#2 dear grand daughter is learning to write here letters, pre-school home work is one of the new things here with the new “no child left behind” program. I don’t know how people do it if they have more than two kids with home work! There are some things I just have them work with their dad on. I did get a primary journal for #2 dear grand daughter at the store last weekend. I have one too, I am just sketching on the top part in mine. They have been getting me to help them with pictures and drawing in theirs too.

Tonight we are going to have meat balls for dinner, I rolled them out last night. Time to think about getting those going in a few.

Fishing Derby Dinner / House Building

Last night we went to the closing ceremony for the steel head derby, a dinner that consisted of chili n cornbread, they had door prizes I won a hat. They had a band and dance after the dinner and door prizes were handed out. A couple needed a seat and sat with us, I knew the gals mom and sister from a spinning and weaving group I was in a while back. So that was fun. They had been married 34 years.

One of the vendors there was selling clear wire mobile service, they are going to come by and see if they can get any service up here or not on Monday.

Our son helped working on the new house dear daughter and dear son in law are building. They put up exterior walls on the 2nd floor. Dear son said he will be helping on his holiday break and was excited about that.

I cooked up some squash for their chickens to eat. I hated to just toss these decorations I'd decorated with so I put them in to the oven, made us late going out for dinner Fri. night but we did not really have an appointment so it worked out fine. I have one more to cut up and cook, it will be for us. Maybe lunch today!

Turkey Day Dinner & Christmas Decorating

Turkey day dinner was a hit we have added a new element grand kids like to light candles before we stand in a circle around the table and pray. I set up the table with good dishes and stem ware. The layers of scents in the house first the turkey, then coffee, and others as the day progressed, the lemon yellow table clothes were fun, and the orange punch was a festive addition in the color of the season, stem ware and toasts were another fun new addition.

I got out the lolli pop tree and other festive decorative items this weekend as I put away fall items, I went through the things in the storage area and put away off season items, and got out some for the new season and swapped out the décor, wreath on the front of the house is different now. I got out the holiday print items in storage, we had forgotten about some of these items; sox, shirts, p.j. ’s, and teddy bear to go with the Christmas quilt mom made, coloring books, reindeer toys, and and books made it fun and even more festive weekend.

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

My dear sis called tonight and will not be able to make it some others are coming in their place. We’ve had this cold fog this week and we are supposed to get some rain that will help in getting it out of here, that is great news.

I have been working on the inside getting it ready and hubby worked on the out side cleaning the carport today. It looks a whole lot better and was quite a job. We did not get the lights up on the house yet.

When were over town yesterday we were able to see the holiday lights that are now up and lit for the first time. They were pretty.

We watched the movie "noel", a drama about angels, not my favorite type of movie for today I should have gotten a comedy.

Holiday prep.

Holiday prep. is in full swing here. Family is coming for turkey dinner here eleven plus guests, dear son is cooking the turkey I’m doing the sides. Decluttering and filling trash cans after sorting stuff in the basement in the toys and TV zone.

Leaves are just starting to fall so I’ve been working on those. It’s great weather here 48-50* I’ve been watering bushes and plants because it’s been such a dry year.

Hubby will be off work next week, and will put up the outside lights,
and boating and fishing is on his to do list.

Trees

Yesterday at the farm I enjoyed hike in the woods, seeing moss and mushrooms, hubby saw some game, the quiet when I stopped to just listen I could hear the sound of the hail hitting the ground and the bird calling the screaming of an eagle or hawk over head. Occasionally we could hear guns going off in the distance it’s hunting season. Fresh deer and elk tracks were around as they always are. There was snow on the next hill, and we could see a patch here and there of snow / hail when we walked. With so many homes in this glen where the ranch is it’s not really a safe place to hunt.

The damp smell of the forest pine needles and moss was pungent with aroma. We hiked up and down these two hills a couple of times to mark fence posts for not hunting with bright orange paint. I had a orange jacket on for safety. We packed a lunch sandwiches water snacks and soda. Figured we had five miles of hiking in great exercise!

My Week at a Glance

Sunday We voted our county has mail in only ballots. I miss going to the poll made it seem like and event and a way to celebrate our freedom.

Mon. Granny duty chore day. It poured down rain, hubby came home looking for rain gear, found it in the back of the truck, he fueled up the car gas is down about 50 cents here.

Tues. Errand day I had a blissful day, only half day with grand kids,
car pool the bus drive had a family emergency and I appreciated the opportunity to get out of the house. Then I went shopping and had great success finding containers for my theme gifts, a stack of books,
and jeans for hubby. I saw a friend at the store a gal I see at the shops and places I go, she had just been from the dr. and was not having good news. A divine appointment, I prayed for her on the spot,
she had a blood clot in her neck.

Wed. Work day granny duty begins in a few min. It’s the daily grind stuff, laundry, picking up the house, the living room looks like a next with books, note books, pens, pencils, sketch books in the chairs, barely any place to sit, I’m missing my office. I’ll be getting it back after grand girls move out in June after their dad’s wedding. The sun rises this week have been really awesome here this week; rose colors yesterday, and I was delighted to see a gold one this morning. Dear grandson and I went to his new house building site and we helped it was great exercise moving boards, picking up blocks, snapping chalk lines, and hammering in a few nails for interior stud walls that will be going up in the basement soon.

Thurs. Is my writing day. Fill my tank day, I'm hoping to get some reading done too I want to finish taking notes on one book I'm almost done with only two chapters left, and finishing up another one I have going.

Fri. free day is a no school day here because of Veterans day so that may change.

Reomote Control Deer

I have been getting ready for the holiday season and things are coming along nicely, I’ve always wanted to do a camping event for turkey day, I may get my wish this year.

Hubby found the “left-overs” from poachers at the farm last weekend and had to call the game warden. They left behind a knife so that is going for evidence. Next weekend we will have to do no hunting markers on the fence posts, these, then the game warden will be putting up a remote control decoy deer.

We have decided to take the camper up and it will be good so we can get lunch, and warm up. Soup is on the menu. This is close enough to count.

Daughter in Love ~ to be’s parents got a new place, tongue and grove wood interior walls it's a log cabin and last night she said they have no water the well is nearly dry, and the sellers had to worked on the pump.

Dear son said some other people he knows had well problems,
that had never had trouble before ever, it’s been such a dry year here has caused problems what a bummer!

New job is going well, I’m watching dear grandson while he plays with his cousins and his mom works on the new house they are building less than miles mi. from here.

Daily

Today I’ve done my morning stuff dishes laundry kitchen chores;
lost six lbs. and went for a walk, we are supposed to get a rain storm before the day is out. A rain storm is supposed to blow in here tonight and dump several feet of snow in the cascades!

No grand kids here today #1 dgd got strept throat we caught it early and she is on meds now. Hoping to stop this before any one else gets ill.

I was going to watch dear grand son 3 this morning while his folks did a concrete pour on their new house, but they had a rain delay so I got the morning off, this is sweet because I was up early and got my stuff done sooner than I’d hoped.

I cleaned my rings and polished the silver and took a nap!

I un-kinitted four inches of a baby blanket I to correct a mistake. I have some of it knitted up again.

I have some verses to add graphics to now I hope I can get those or the pictures I need for this.

Wireless

I am SO excited found out there is wireless close to the house at the corner when I was out for my walk I asked the guy working on it!!! So glad I took my walk when I did,
a storm blew in after I got home so my timing was great. I walked 2.5 mi. today so feeling good about that.

Clear wire is in our area the is intriguing, having that where ever, not just at home.
I’ll be checking in to it. As well. And there is high speed cable in the area too we've had that before. Our son thinks we need to have pc capability for the ones that are not wireless too. I’m not sure I think that is a priority for me any way.

My finger is healing up, learning what I can do one handed now quite a bit actually and the family is pitching in to help this is good. gkids had fun trick or treating last night, despite the rain. We only had like 5 trick or treaters here Mon. night rain does that.