Crazy weather day

All morning we had snow. As I was coming home from church there were great, large, fluffy flakes.




Still snowing as I went in to watch a play at 2 PM. Came out of the theatre with streets drying, puddles here and there, very little snow built up. What can you expect with 45 degrees?


March came in like a lamb and is really going out like a lion.

dinner

While living in Hawaii when the kids were little, our family socialized often with Ike & Dot. When funds were short, we would pool our pantries and potluck some pretty fantastic meals. One in particular was Corned Beef & cabbage that Dot would whip up with a moment's notice. I thought I could remember what she did so tried it tonight. Disaster. It was tasteless. So, if anyone out there has a tasty way of fixing this dish please let me know. Husband left the table and fixed himself a bowl of oatmeal. I feel so bad for him.
We must have had 3 inches of snow last night. With 40 degrees today it didn't last long. Spring where are you?

Turkey Friday

For the past several months (since November actually) we have been on the lookout for the turkeys that came foraging in our back yard. On a daily basis we are looking out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of them. Nothing. A lady at the democratic caucus told me that her neighbor was feeding them through the winter, so we breathed a sigh but still watched and waited.
Today, as I was about to turn into our driveway, I spied what I thought might be a lone hen trying to cross the road some two blocks away. I did a quick straighten up and cautiously drove down Pettet drive. She of course, being skiddish around traffic, scooted back into the brush. I passed the area I thought I had seen her disappear at and turned back around. Sure enough, there she was. Sure made Jerry's day. We are glad to see the wild life has survived the harsh winter here and glad it is only a turkey and not a moose.

Touch is here

I'm having fun with my new touch. All the work I did to put my contacts and calendar on my PC so it could sync with my iPod Classic do not seem to be carried forward to the Touch. I'll have to read some more or ask the Geek who is coming tomorrow to assist Jerry with his new Mac. In the mean time all my songs and books are on my Touch. I have wiped the Classic clean and am loading one of Jerry's Bibles on as we speak. He is really trying to enter the 21st century.

Spring?

Must be getting close to spring. Saw our first Marmot out sunning itself yesterday.

Tomorrow Fed Ex should be delivering my new iPod Touch. I can hardly wait.

Busy week

As you can see from the previous post, it took me one week to finally post what happened last Sunday. This week has flown by. I remarked at my Monday evening meeting that I needed to go back to work just so I could have some down time. But I guess I needn't complain - the alternative to being busy is being sick or dead.

On Thursday the Minstrels (the small group of singers I'm in) went to a local nursing facility to sing for our director who is recovering from pace maker implant and diabetic regulation problems. He looked so frail. It broke my heart. He didn't have any energy and was wiping his eyes frequently. About half way through the concert we asked him if he had a song he wanted us to sing and he started calling them out, directing and singing with us. My tears were flowing steadily. Have you ever tried to hit a high F while crying? Can't be done. I was down for the rest of the day. Woke this morning feeling hung over. We all hope he can come back and lead the group but after seeing him yesterday I have my doubts.

Sydney is on a swim team. We went to see her meet tonight. She came in first in the backstroke event. She is the best on her team (that is not saying a lot) in her age group. I think she only joined the team because two of her friends were on the team. Hope she keeps up with swimming. She is quite a little competitor.

Three sisters

When was the last time all three of us were in the same place, all gussied up, with cameras available? Just so happened at Sara's wedding last Sunday.

The wedding was delightful. Small, family only. Just enough tradition to be very memorable. The bride was lovely and the groom was handsome. What more do you want?

Chiropractic exam

Having continuing problems with my back. I mostly attribute it to stress like sewing, or hunching over the computer. I try to be back healty by staying active, doing water aerobics and yoga. But I thought I'd give Chiropractics a try to see if the kinks in my upper back could be worked out.
The exam consisted of several spinal x-rays. The results were quite interesting. The best one being that the film of my neck showed the C3&4 and C5&6 are fused together. When/How that happened is a mystery. But there is nothing to do about that now since I have not lost any function in my hands.

Paula Poundstone

Went to see Paula Poundstone on Friday. She is one funny lady.

The event was held at the Fox theatre (now named The Martin Woldson Theater). This poor building was once the "best" theatre in town. It slowly went down hill and was divided into a multiplex. I never went there when it was in such a state. The owners were going to turn it into a parking lot until the money in town (with a lot of little people's money) purchased it, refurbished it and now it is the home of the Symphony. It is really lovely.

On the way in to town Paula saw a sign saying "Inland Northwest". She mused that we need to be reminded where we live. lots of laghs (Lol). She talked to a lady in the audience who is a union rep here in Spokane but has a secretary in Auburn, WA. See, we can't even unify in Washington state, how can we hope to unify the nation? Lol. Viagra - Lol. Kids - Lol. Memory - Lol. Just thinking about her routine yesterday got me grinning. What a wonderful gift she has.

Her book was being sold before the show, so I bought one. Proceeds from this sale go to the Spokane Library.


After her two hour stand up performance she came out into the lobby and signed my copy (as well as the copies of lots of other people). She was most gracious and bantered with the people as she was signing. All in all a very fun evening.

Caucus day

Went to the democratic caucus for my district today. Lest you fear I am becoming political, don't. Both Republican and Democratic caucuses were held today. Here in WA we spend $$$ sending out ballots to every registered voter. We all know that when you get a mail in ballot you mark it and send it back before the "Election Day", right? And those votes means something, right? Not in Washington.
If you marked Republican on your ballot, 50% of the delegates chosen today will be voting at the next level using the Feb 19th results. Today 50% of the delegates will be assigned by the caucus vote. (Hmm Seems to me that if I were a Republican, I could vote twice - once in the primary, once in the caucus.)
The Democrats on the other hand will choose all their delegates and assign the candidates today. The primary means nothing. My ballot is just going to get tossed after they see that I voted Democratis. That's why I went to the caucus today.
So why the ??? do we taxpayers need to spend all that money on a Primary? Because the legistature says it is more fair. What????
By the by. The 10 delegates from our precinct will be divided 4 for Hillary and 6 for Obama (Yeah).

My Wonderful Subaru

Last night, in order to avoid the slow down on 29th, I took a side street that would get me to SE Blvd. It was HORRID. But my little Subaru made it to the queue at SE Blvd. and we waited ...... The first car trying to get out needed two strong backs (not mine) to get going. Next up was a Suburban. He had trouble negotiating the slippery, rutty corner - fish tailed all over the place. Then a small Ford decided not even to try and turned around. It's passenger advised me of the conditions of the street and urged me to turn around also. I said, "Well, let's see how a Subaru handles it" and promptly "walked" my little car right up the incline and around the corner like there was no problem. Yeah! Subaru!!!
Then, we get down to the street in front of Office Depot. I see the light is red a half block away from the corner and start to apply the brakes. The street is a sheet of bumpy ice. The brakes do that clackity thing but slow the car to a stop right at the corner. I didn't even enter the intersection. What a car!.

Snow Day

We have been slammed by Old Man Winter. It started snowing Saturday around noon and didn't stop until Sunday at 4 pm. Today is a "snow day" for all the schools in the area. The sky is a beautiful blue. The streets are getting plowed (some of the parking lots are horrid). Tomorrow we will get another small storm, Wednesday would be a quiet day and then Thursday another big one with a projected 12 more inches. I have a quilt to work on so I'm happy.
We have had nearly 50" of snow this season. 13.5" fell within the last 24 hours. Beat the record set in 1956(?). check out krem.com for pictures etc.
Started Jessica's quilt. Have two blocks finished. I think I only have 25 to 30 (lol) more to go. I'll have to look that up.
Stayed in all day yesterday. Didn't go to church, didn't go to sewing group. Didn't go shopping for food. Uma, however, was out and about on the bus.
Today was Swimming (only 4 of our group of 15 showed up), Line Dancing was canceled, as was a meeting at Uma's to discuss her moving into an assisted living (24 hour tenant support) facility without Donald. This should be interesting.
Got some groceries purchased today in anticipation of the coming week. Hope I can get to sewing class tomorrow.

January 17th already?

Been keeping busy, but with what? Once the Christmas break was over the feet hit the floor running. Swimming, Sewing class, Singing, Line Dancing, Volunteering in Malita's classroom on Friday's, UMW meetings, church etc. etc. etc. Well it keeps me out of the bars as my Mother used to say.
Off to AZ tomorrow for the weekend. Maybe I'll get to go to one of the fabric stores down there and have sensory overload.

It's finally happened

The holidays were tough on my wardrobe. All my jeans seem to have shrunk in the waist. So I sucombed to the ultimate of growing older -- I purchased jeans with an elastisized waist. I must face facts. I'm turning into an old lady.
Happy New Year!

Cat Puzzle

Finished it in record time. Thanks Sue. It was great fun.

Boxing Day

Item #1. Sue gave me a puzzle for Christmas with eleven cats dressed up in red hats and other finery. I started it last night and have only completed the bottom two or so rows and some of the sides. Should I finish it soon, I'll take a picture of it and post it.
Item #2. Heard that they now advocate getting an immunization for Shingles. Having never had chicken pox (tho exposed to them when all three kids were growing up), I still opted to get one. Because I have such great insurance the shot cost me nothing (insurance picked it all up) and Jerry only had to pay $28, Medicare picked up the rest. Guess the shots are going for $200 a stab.
Item #3. Went to see "Enchanted" yesterday with Jhary. I want that movie. It is soooo cute.
Item #4. My granddaughter announced her engagement to be married. She is thrilled. The plan is to wait a couple of years before the actual ceremony. We shall see.

The week in reveiw

Why is it, when you look ahead on a week, you don't see how rough it is really going to be? I mean you see Christmas party here, a Minstrels performance there and think, "piece of cake". Then...
Saturday was our Red Hat gathering. No big deal just shoots the middle out of a Saturday. And you have so much fun you don't want to do much else the rest of the day.
Sunday was church and the Soup luncheon we serve to celebrate Jesus' birthday. I had to be there early to help set up and stay after to help clean. Then Sydney needed to be picked up from her father's because the pillows she wanted to make were still in the "yardage purchased but nothing else done" stage. Brought her home, cut out six heart shaped pillows out of that fuzzy stuff that gets all over the place and helped her sew (actually she did the sewing, I just pinned) them together.
Monday I cut out dresses for Jhary and Uma (standing on my feet bending over the dining room table) and then went down to the church to set up for our annual clothing give-a-way to the poor who frequent our Shalom Ministry dinners. Again on my feet, this time for two three hour stretches with only a 30 minute sit time in between.
Tuesday was my regular day for the "Come Sew with Me" group at the church. I had to leave an hour early to attend a performance at a nursing home with the Minstrels. I could not stay standing for the entire show as I am usually able to do.
Wednesday I had a breakfast with the Minstrels to celebrate Christmas. Then spent the rest of the day sewing to finish Jhary's dress. It is beautiful but probably should be let out just a tad in the waist. Uma hasn't been here to try hers on yet and she now tells me she wants a black and red dress (not the green plaid she brought over for me to sew).
Thursday the little girls came over. Sydney wanted to make two quilts for her mother's friends. She had them all cut out - was just a bit off on how to put them together (was making the frame before she had the center done). The quilts are really just lap robes with 9 eight inch squares and two inch sashing. We got them done, tho and her mother was thrilled. (Again, Syd sewed, I pinned). We took them home and then off to Jhary's Christmas party. She looked great in her new dress.
Friday - today - we spent at the Mall with the two other grand kids. Josh wanted shoes for Christmas. (This boy is much too serious. For his birthday he wanted a sweatshirt.) Haili wanted a Build-a-Bear and cloths for it. My feet are tired.
Gosh! It looks like Saturday and Sunday are empty. Don't count on it. I'm sure we will find something to stuff in there.

Doll cloths

As most of you know, I love to make doll dresses. I have several grand daughters and have sewn cloths for their dolls, but not whole wardrobes. Just pieces here and there.
Enter Martha, the girl from Africa who came in September with her family and no toys/dolls at all. While scouring the thrift stores for warm clothing for them (the family) I came across an 18 inch doll in really very good condition. I picked her up for about $6.00 and brought her home for some clean up and a new wardrobe.
I have finished sewing several items but am particularly proud of the snow suit.
I have also let my sewing machine embroidery on some items:

I have spent a lot of time on these little things. Now it is time to start thinking about getting this house ready for Christmas. My tree is still in it's box. The cards are still not purchased. I did make some cookies but they are gone now and I have two more functions to take cookies to. Better get busy.

Mattress

Some years ago, when married to a VERY large man, we went through mattresses quite regularly. Due to his bulk and night sweats, our mattresses broke down, fabric deteriorated, springs popped through, you get the idea. We tried a foam mattress once, it became smushed quite rapidly. Then we purchased a Select Comfort mattress, a glorified air mattress. It worked just fine for both of us as we could adjust the firmness desired to our individual tastes.
Then he died, I moved to this condo, got rid of that king sized bed (cause there was no one to share it with me and purchased and adjustable bed (think hospital type) as I was preparing to be and old lady. Besides it was great for reading in bed, just crank that baby up and read away.
That didn't last long, tho, as Jerry came into my life and all of a sudden we were in need of more sleeping room. I convinced him to get an adjustable bed and we would just strap them together. No amount of strapping would keep those two twin sized mattresses together when the two bodies on top wanted to "get together", shall we say. So, we dumped those and got a Select Comfort. I figured it worked for one guy, it should work for this one too.
We enjoyed that mattress for three plus years until my DH told me that it just wasn't working for him. No matter what number he tried he woke with an achy back, could not sleep through the night. "The mattress must go." I hemmed and hawed. After all, I had talked him into this system and felt responsible. But after sleeping on numerous hotel mattresses in Israel the die was cast. We went out and bought a new mattress. This time the adjustable part of the beds went out too.
We have a regular King sized bed now (with room under for storage boxes). It is luxury. Firm yet soft. I want to stay in bed longer. My hips don't hurt if I lay on one side too long. Jerry is sleeping through the night with no aches and pains.
Why did I resist so long?

Fairies

Here is a cute site.


Give it a try.

You have to click on the title "Faries"