Friends

I started by on my walk and she stopped in her new pt cruiser I asker for a ride, that was fun we caught up on news, and drove by out dear daughters house. Then she came in for her prayer shawl it was so good to see her.

I did get my walk in and chatted with a neighbor that is a teacher, and she told me about a book the teachers at the middle school she teaches at were excited about called pirate, a kids fantasy novel. I told her abut the books I had ordered this week. She said she is retiring next year and it looking forward to gardening and gave me a tip on growing roses, she was working on her’s while we talked adding Epsom salts it’s supposed to for stronger stems on the blooms.

My Creativity Room

Dear son hauled out two more loads of stuff from here this week it freed up my creativity room I was SO excited! It was like a clean sweep I started cleaning and then rounding up my art stuff that was through out the house. I got my white table and chair that I use as a desk in there, then I got the white wicker shelf for displaying mementos and inspiring art on, then I rounded up my art supplies and got my easels, paints, canvases, books, magazines, journals and sketch books this process took me a couple of days. I sorted pens pencils and used my pitcher collection for my art brushes, put up different pictures, took down the toys in the toy net and returned my old pill box hats to their home. I added beads and my tiara to the display shelf, this was so much fun one of my favorite things to do!

My first task was to write a letter to a pen pal we have been enjoying communicating for ten + years, we share ideas for projects yarn samples and sketches of knitting / weaving projects we both weave. This week I finished a UFO project a shelf that needed pegs I got a dowel from the country store down the road cut and sanded these then glued them in place, after they dried I painted them to match the shelf. It will be for hanging chains of warp for my floor loom.

Family Treasures

This past weekend was a great fun working together as a family project, hubby was cleaning the shop out while I hauled bricks and other stuff out of the junk pile sorting it, making my self scarce as in-laws processed and sorted family “treasures from the junk” dishes etc. went to the good will pile and boxes were hauled off, other things were loaded up in trucks to be hauled to the the other farm, and some things came home, lawn mower, four wheeler, the guys were excited about, the new “toys” they were making plans to play on the water and in the boat and so looking forward to having this project done but we are only just past the half way point, but very pleased with the progress to date, now we are trying to figure out what to do with mementos from childhood. Hubby has a stick he used in 4-h for showing prize winning bulls, and curry combs used for fitting and showing, I’ll have to ask him about a shadow box. He can use them for displaying these in the office. He even kept his baby shoes so did his brother. One of the things I love about him and his family is their commitment to family. They loved it when the grand kids were running around playing and involved in this process.

We all love the outdoors and my idea of taking the camper was quickly adopted as his own, so just having that in common our love of the out doors and nature is great, this weekend is his birthday and he is in dire need of a break from the stress of work and the farm, so a boating session is the plan!

Decluttering Farm Back from Camping!

We have been clearing out the farm a major decluttering effort by three sibs two spouses, two grand kids and even two great grand kids were in on the action there was something cathartic about the bonfire. It hailed a bit, we had some snow, some rain a bit of wind and the sun even came out for a while too. They boxed up stuff for good will one load went there, the bon fire was going, next we will be getting a dumpster delivered.

Taking the camper was a success. Today I’ve been doing the after camping dig out! No granny duty spring break for dear son this week, so that is a relief I've had plenty to keep me busy today. I unloaded the camper, cleaned it, and swept the back of the pick up out it really needed it after they were done hauling fence posts. I have cleared more stuff out in the carport. Doing this work has been good for me to work out stiffness and soreness in nearly every muscle. I took down the Happy St. Patrick’s day sign today.

Waiting for Spring

I took dear grand son to the other granny’s work when she was off it was a half way point and I enjoyed the outing. I stopped by a sandwich / frozen yoghurt shop on the way home had a sugar free huckleberry cheesecake flavored waffle cone yum! I was enjoying browsing through a sunset magazine, when our son walked in and joined me at the tall table a delightful surprise. We caught up on the day’s news. Then he left to wash his van at the car wash behind the sandwich shop building. I finished my cone and browsed though wonderful places to stop in the North west, gardening ideas for march, on article on a spa sisters used to love to play in the tub when they were kids grew up to have a spa, the logo of a journal on this page caught my eye. The pictures of scenic attractions were lovely. Snow-less mountains were a big drawing point, and had me dreaming of a new vacation destinations.

Hectic Week

It’s been a hectic week here, spring break is next week for dear son, hubby has been working on the sell of the farm and the details that goes with that paper work etc. I’ve been rounding up boxes that they will need, and granny duty, organizing the kitchen, cleaning off the top of dear son’s fridge have been among my activities this week. Dear grand kids love the new pretend cabin now that we have cleaned out some spaces here. There has been snow all around us we are hoping for spring like weather it is slow in coming this year. Lots of moving going on two other homes have families coming and going on our block.

International Rugby Tourney

The International Rugby Tourney was here last weekend some teams from Canada came, and there were 21 teams total from various points in the North West. It is well attended, some of the teams had to play on Sunday this year, making it a two day event.

Dear son rounded up the grub, hauled it the b.b.q. it was for cooking burgers, lined up the workers from the coffee shop with a meeting before the event. He said it went a lot smoother this year.

Last year is was a one day event, with so many teams in attendance. So next year they are going back to 18 teams for the one day event. This was the first time a lot of the teams have been able to play this year because of snow in a lot of areas.

Yarn Shopping

Last weekend we were out of town a jaunt to the farm and we also had a couples get away weekend. I did some yarn shopping got a global inspirations journal with a travel theme and
that famous tower in France is on the cover I love that! A book Keep the change by Becky Tirabassi both were bargains at the book store. I read it book last weekend. Speaking of books, I read a book I’ve had here for a while to read called Thursdays at eight by Debbie Macomber

On my walk with the grand kiddos a friend I swap books with returned some and added one to the bag that was a treat! I pass these on after I’ve read them. This friend was asking if I did any knitting, yep! I am excited to say I have the first ball of yarn on the new prayer shawl that I’m doing up in spring colors it’s fun to have some new colors to do up! Love that part.

Hubby has a new thing he is doing now repacking the suit case for the next time when he unpacks so it’s ready to go so for the next time I’m going to try doing this too!

Last night dear son made dinner, and it rained in the night, I’ve been fighting a bit of the sniffles this week so I’ve been taking care of my self and enjoyed some reading time.

This week is short week for granny duty we ordered talking alarm clock that was on the back of the pop tarts box for dear grand daughters room at the new house. She was excited about this and mailed it on her way to school this morning.

Count down to Spring

Spring is only three weeks away, the robins are fighting over territory in the fron yard in the tree, I saw some people fishing and hoping it had been planted but not yet, and across the road at the other bass hole I saw a blue herrion, and further up the road some deer in the field on my way home from errands today. Last weekend I saw ten deer in the spot we see then a lot on the way to town.

I will be working on yard clean up as it warms up, there are leaves to bag up and branches to cut up, hubby can use his new tools for this. We need to load them up and haul ‘em off.

I got some yarn today, Igot enough to do two projects prayer shawls. I hope there is enough any way time will tell I've started one. I went to yard sale and found some books on writing romance these should be fun!

I also got two towel bars, and found out how to NOT replace a towel bar, hubby had done these with molly screws, kerplunk the end goes in beteen the walls on the floor, so I have to make a quick trip to the store to get some more. Well the one I was going to swap out was like WAY bigger, so had to put the old one back on! Sh-h don't tell hubby and he will never know! LOL! I got another one for the play house and will wait to work on it.

Back From the Doll Hospital

The other day I noticed that there was one of the stuffed dolls had a need of a serious repair the head was about to come off of one of the stuffed rabbit dolls, so I got out the needle and thread and stitched it up and then I noticed there was a bit on the back of the doll that needed to be stitched up and repaired that too. So the doll is back together and resting comfortably now.

Dear grand daughter is using one of the new doll blankets that I knitted up for her to use and she is having a blast with it. We went to the store and I mailed off some bills after getting stamps she took her stuffed care bear, and wrapped it up in her scarf that’s when we decided that we could use the new doll blanket that I knit up.

Server Issues

This week we’ve had more changes with the new company that is our internet provider and I’ve had to call for tech support several times to get the settings tweaked, and still not done with these.

We got our taxes done last weekend and the office cleaned, That was a job but was so glad to get that done! First hubby cleared off his desk, then the next day I cleared off mine, and pulled out all the stuff that did not belong in there or that it was just time to let go of because of lack of use. I got the short rolling desk out, vacuumed and then put my new tall art desk in there. I’ve been working on the closet in there this week. Just fifteen minutes at a time I’m making good progress on it.

I also worked on the basement sorting the wedding stuff. Organizing it and simplifying that. Then I started on the craft room moving containers and plastic bins, loading donation in the truck. I got the truck ¼ of a full sized truck loaded with donations to go to the thrift shop. Last week hubby delivered and unloaded them for me that worked out great! The house is really starting to show some improvement. I’ve had to stop and rest my back it was a bit sore. Hauling boxes up the stairs and out side is great exercise.

It’s great to get these things out of here that have been in the way, I’ve been upgrading art and some of the pictures I took down it what’s been leaving.

Tonight I was able to use the office and the fish tank covered up the sci fi music noise of one of those monster squid movies he was watching and I could get a bit of reading done. I’m working on a new topical planner and collecting notes in it and have been able to just take a breath this afternoon get some down time to refocus my energy and regroup, it really helped.

I really enjoyed ice skating, mainly the ice dancing Olympics event.

Couples Get A Way Valentines Weekend

Last weekend we did a couples weekend get away, hubby went to the r.v. show. I got him a western D.V.D. Monty Walsh it was a hit and card and chocolate kisses. They had a hot tub but failed to say it was outside! Br-r we decided to pass on it! At the room, the train woke me up at least twice in the night. In the morning the fire alarm went off when we were cooking cont. breakfast waffles. hubby loved the excitement of that! Which reminds me of a time I took candles to a cabin we rented and they set off the alarm!

The next night we changed motels they had a basket ball team there and tub and pool were both full, but we had fun any way! I went shopping with some money hubby gave me to spend he was thinking I’d get a necklace or other piece of jewelry. But I went to the thrift shop and had a blast! I replenished my wardrobe in pants. =D {I’m down another size and highlight of my weekend was discovering that I needed smaller pants!} I was in dire need of everything! I also got a shelf and chopping surface for the stove in the kitchen and had a blast shopping!

Dinner out was great at one of our favorite places Red Lobster.

We had fun doing some fruit of the loom shopping at one of the mart stores near where we stayed one of our valentines’ traditions! I found a pink pilots suit case, and stool for my new tall art desk that just came last week I had that built.

New Art Desk

Today my tall art desk came I had to roll it out on the deck, it was freshly painted and the fumes got to me. The shelf is too low so we will have to move it up when I get a stool or chair I can sit at it with. The color is exactly the color of my table! =D

It’s neat, I ordered another piece of counter top for a shelf I wanted, and he will price out a support for some marbleized type of stuff for out door cooking bbq garden parties and the like.

And he said he could do counter tops! We need these done too! So I have two smaller portable ones and that will be a great place to start a bit at a time. So I’m excited about these new changes!

Grizzly Man

This weekend I watched the movie Grizzly Man, it was interesting and I loved the scenery in the shots the camera had some powerful footage of bears fighting, and a den of foxes he befriended it was enjoyable to see, to bad the bears saw to his demise.

Dear son was sad he missed it said he wanted to see this one and was going to tape it. I did not know he wanted to see it and just happened across it when I was flipping through some of my favorite channels.

Think Spring!

When I was at the eye dr. earlier this week the receptionist was saying how she had spring fever living in a higher elevation than we have. There is no sign of spring where she lives.

My daffodils are up four inches and snow drops are blooming, irises are up an inch or two already. My trees and roses are starting to put leaves on. Mild temps and sunny days have done their majac and the promise of spring is in the air around here. As I take my walks with my grand children we see the robins that have recently arrived is fun!

Wedding Date & New Glasses

My new glasses finally came in, today I’m getting the photo grey part to work the first few times it takes longer to change I walked to the corner to get out in the sun a bit this morning. The winds have kicked up here today so that makes it not as much fun.

Today I’ve been working on the basement here this week reclaiming some space, I have the rec. room that takes up half of the house 2/3 rds done, now. The toys have been rounded up and are in the toy zone. Dear son has a wedding date in a couple of weeks middle of the mo. no surprise for us, reception is still early June. Our motto is all plans are subject to change around here! I’ve been cleaning the basement clearing out the TV zone for super bowl Sunday.

Yesterday I did some outside stuff, moving a few items around, getting the wood out of the wheel borrow, dear son said he could use one I had that has a hold in it, and said he could weld it and fix it he used to be a welder. He asked what color it was I said it was rust colored! I put the wagons by his truck, one of them needs fixed too. He said he had a pile of rocks to move.

Moving Weekend:

Daughter in love has moved into the house they bought this weekend the house is full no room for dear sons stuff we got plenty of exercise moving boxes furniture, pruning some tree limbs, putting up dog fence and dear son has a new sink in the bathroom.

Next is the painting, window washing, and settling in phase. Dear son’s mother in law had window cleaner, and filing stuff to go in the freezer, the last thing to go in a fire learn some thing all the time. She could not get the windows open to clean them seemed it was not a priority for others.

I had to laugh each person seems to move in a different way. The first thing I do is to hang pictures if there are any nails up. Get the kitchen set up some what putting dishes where they will be going, and the bed up, or just sleep on the mattress on the floor when we have moved in the past.

I helped to get the cattle trailer unloaded, and then we cleaned off the dining room table, and moved holiday stuff in the basement and off the front porch. My mom used to do that she would start cleaning some thing instead of asking what needed to be done or if she could help. Caused me hurt feelings more than once as I remember.

Drawing Table

I’m so excited! The other day I saw a kiddie drawing table store someone had made. I made a comment about wanting some, for grand kids or me, the guy that made them called and I ordered one for me!

I wanted it to be tall so I can stand at it and draw it’s bar height. I've ordered mine with wheels on it! I love wheels makes moving things so much easier. I can clean under them and rearranging furniture is a breeze with furniture that has wheels.

I’m looking forward to using this new tall drawing table. I’ve been going all over the various locations I can put it and measuring to see if it will fit, so that will be fun, it could also be used for an out door bbq cart serving cooking table. Dear son was very interested in hearing about this too.

This may be an idea for holiday gifts for next year too. Nah lets just get out the saw horses and the ½ sheet of play wood! It’s more authentic and we even have some saw horses from the farm. Hubby is using his to hold up the small boat.

I found some at the thrift shop, they were newer and the guys looked at me like they thought I was nuts, when I said stop I need those, probably because we were in the car at the time! But the time first time they need a temporary work surface guess what they do, get out the saw horses. This also works great for sorting table when I’m doing the de-cluttering zone work too.

Coffee or Tea?

"I'll have tea hot."
I ordered some tea the other day and the waitress asked what kind it was, after she brought the selection and I asked for more hot water for another cup, the cinnamon smelled so good she said, it was spice tea. After she left while hubby was at the salad bar, this tea fragrance reminded me of several things and I pulled out my purse planner to jot down some notes while we waited for our meal to arrive.

This was a delight because I was doing one of those write down your goals and dreams exercises and I was drawing a blank because I’d been fighting off a cold and having a dry spell. Getting well was on the forefront of my mind. Then suddenly as if by magic these wonderful ideas started coming across my path. It seemed every where I turned were things I’d thought of at one time or other and forgotten about but had dreamed of.

Sitting by a cool mountain stream, sipping tea at a bed and breakfast, going to a prayer retreat, having fruit trees in the back yard, a trip to a far land where the trade route used to be. Seeing a luxurious tea plantation, wandering through some pines in the wood gathering mushrooms for dinner.

I found some great quotations and then I could get on to the next chapter in my dream planner this was a fun exercise for me! My thought processes were stimulated, my dreams have been vibrant these exercises are working!

Antique Mall

The other day we were at the antique mall, it was a date we both had our camo on after going out for lunch. I found the cutest china hutch in child size, and small tea cups and saucers. I was thinking how perfect it would be for a play house if ours was bigger.

While I was looking at that hubby had found some 8 x 10 black and white photos of John Wayne, James Dean, and other favorite movie stars of our childhood he was leafing through these binders of photos in them for sale.

I’ve been dreaming of having a gazebo in the back yard for quite some time so I’m going to have to go out and see if there is actually room for one or not with out taking a tree down! A friend said they sold their house, made an offer on one and it has no trees. I said I had a dwarf plum tree that we could transplant to their yard. She was excited about that!