ONWARD

I have the day off from work today so it is onward with painting ceilings. It is a damp raining day outside, one that you want to just snuggle in. I had a little prime rib left over from Christmas day so what to do? I grew up with parents from the depression era and you didn't throw any left overs out. So a beef vegetable soup came to mind.

First it was the left over ribs into the crock pot.


Then lets add some left over broth and some beef broth. I'm going to left this simmer on low for several hours until the meat falls off the bone. The prime rib was so good and seasoned I'm thinking this is going to make a fantastic flavorful soup.

So with the meat simmering I turn my attention to paint. It all mixed and ready to go.

The ceilings are waiting for there first coat of paint. First it is cutting in all the rooms and I should by this evening have a very sore neck! My goal for today is to complete the cutting by dinner time. Yes, soup time!

This is my choice of drink today. Peppermint mocha in a cup of coffee. Do you have a favorite mug? I love this mug for it is very light weight but has a good handle. It's my favorite.

I best get back to painting, my break is over!

Enjoy June

MIGHT BE SOMETHING WRONG

Yes, I like a glass of wine now and then. I'm mainly a social wine drinker. You know when you get together with girl friends. I very seldom have a glass of wine when I'm home alone from work. But tonight I guess is just one of those nights. I told myself I needed to get going on painting my ceilings. You see my sister put the first coat of paint on my bathroom ceiling today before heading home. She has been at my house since Christmas and I have so been enjoying her and my brother in laws company.

You got it I'm painting the second coat on my bathroom ceiling with a little help from Pinot Noir! Yes, there might be something wrong with this picture. It is either I've lost it or I wanted to be relaxed and get to painting. I keep thinking if I push myself in the evenings I might have all the ceilings done by this weekend and then I could play.

I have this traveling bug that is attaching me. I would love to go to the mountains for snow. You know that curled up by a fire drinking hot chocolate! How about a sleigh ride with a horse drawn sleigh? Okay, it is back to reality and now I must get busy painting!

I hope you have plans for playing this New Year. As for me I will be painting!

Enjoy June!

Now it is Christmas

How can one simple little thing arrive in the mail and I truly feel like it is Christmas time. I have such a fantastic cousin who lives in the mid west. I don't get to see very often since it is a few miles to travel from Oregon. Did you know that in our lives that usually cousins are our first friends? That is if you get to live close. Oops! I got sidetracked.

So in this box is my ultimate favorite in the whole wide world. It ranks right up there with diamonds! Wait, I think I like these even more.

Yes, they are almond patties from Iowa. Be still my heart, for there is true love here! This bakery has been in business since 1946 and everything is still made from scratch.

Can you see that almond filling. It is a traditional Dutch puff pastry filled with pure almond paste, Yum!

In my book the holiday has finally arrive when I can sit quietly with a cup of coffee, gaze at the Christmas decorations, with Christmas music playing in the back ground and pig out on Almond Patties!

So if you live close to Sioux Center, IA please stop in to Casey's Bakery and get yourself some Almond Patties. No they didn't pay me for this for I know you will fall in love also.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

June

PROGRESS CONTINUES!

It’s been another busy holiday ho, ho, ho. It was traveling over the weekend to attend a girlfriends Christmas brunch and visiting my brother’s family. Then it was a cookies exchange on Sunday which I didn’t start baking until arriving home Saturday evening. Then it was the great accomplishment; I now have furniture back in my house!

Miss Jazi is probably the happiest since she can snuggle down on the sofa and sleep the day away. Do you see that Christmas quilt? It was a gift and oh is it sooooo snugly! I wonder if it is a hint that I’ve been sort of a Grinch!

I’ve managed to put up a little decoration. Here is the funny part; I haven’t got a single decoration out of the boxes on the shelf in the garage. As I’ve been organizing and putting things back together I’ve found a few things from last year that didn’t get packed away. Can you say “Unorganized leftovers”? I added the mitten from my drawer, a few little balls and boxes and called the buffet good. Oh when, oh when am I ever going to get that buffet painted? I can’t seem to make up my mind as to what color, got any suggestions.

My new purchase for the year is This House Believes blocks. I got them from a store that is called Real Deals and they are only open Thursdays and Saturdays. If you have one in your area, go visit, it's a fun shop! About the only other decoration out is I cut up fresh boughs from the getting the Christmas tree in its stand. I put them in a few areas and now I’m calling it good for this year.

I really don’t think I’m a bah humbug but maybe just a little stressed from all the activities and moving furniture. Now it is on to finishing my Christmas sewing and hopefully having an evening or two to just sit!

Please excuse my photo ability. So here is onto a wonderful week with family and friends!

June

WHAT FUN!

It wasn’t quite over the hill and through the woods to Grandmothers house we go. But it was over the mountain pass, Santiam Pass 4,817 ft. and through the woods, lodgepole pine to my son’s house for a family birthday gathering. You see we celebrate my son, son in law and one granddaughter all in December. This year the travel was wonderful, no snow on road, no ice, so no chain up, yeah! As usual I don’t have the camera out when an opportunity presents itself. Friday evening the moon was so bright as we drove over the pass with snow covering the ground and the trees in the moonlight - beautiful.

It had to be a large cake to get all the names on and with 16 of us who love frosting, no need to explain more.

It was quite a challenge to get all the candlelight with all the on lookers!

Then it was a joint effort to blow them out!

What would a holiday weekend be without visiting a reindeer ranch? There were many to view but I'm only posting one. You see the very special ones are already gone to the North Pole to get ready for that special flight. Another group left for Disneyland and Disney World. I forgot to ask how their flight went.

Then it was to see that great big guy in the red suit and beard. Oh what fun we had with pictures. I’m only including a couple of the little grand’s and the big kids!

They are all growing up so fast.

We don’t talk about their ages anymore for that really makes me “old”.

Now can you believe I did something horrible? If the pictures look a little fuzzy it is because I spilled coffee on them. Yes, my dreaded cup as I am driving to work tipped over. So, so sad I was.

Now it is back to reality and working on that furniture issue I have. I hate to admit it but still no furniture in the house. It seems other things take priority.

Sad Coffee Spill, June

SLOW GOINGS

That's right! I'm moving in slow motions. Do I have furniture moved back in my house? Do I have my home decorated for the holidays? Do I have all my baking done or even started? Do I have all my Christmas shopping done? The list goes on and the only answer is NO!! But wait I do have a tree!!

You see in all the hustle and bustle of last night my Grand daughter couldn't understand why Grammies tree was still on the porch. So after listening to that sweet non stop talking voice I went in the attic and got the tree stand down. With a 5 year's eager help I managed to get the tree in the stand and in the house. With not putting lights on the trees outside because of a promise I made to myself last year. A 60+ woman has no business being up on the last rung of the ladder stretching as far as she can reach to put light on for the neighbors to enjoy! That left me plenty of white mini light easily available.


So very little furniture moved back in but, I have a lighted tree. It's a start!

Enjoy your weekend,
June

MAKING PROGRESS

The contractor is done! Do you see me doing the happy dance? It took longer then expected but he finished up Saturday and charged me a $100 less. Can you imagine that? He re textured all the walls in the living room and bathroom. All new ceiling but they are still drying. So no painting ceilings until Wednesday.

Here is the good part while I was at work yesterday my sister came to my house and started cutting in the trim so all the walls would be ready for paint when I got home. What a special sister I have. But wait, it doesn't stop there. My daughter came down and while I was at work she started rolling the walls. So what a surprise to arrive home and all the walls except the bathroom and one in the kitchen were done. Yes, you heard me! Walls painted, oh the happy two step I was doing. We finished the bathroom in no time and now onto the ceiling soon.

I have my entertainment center in the living room and one chair moved in. But someone decided I didn't need to sit and watch TV for their was way to much work to be done.

Tonight I will put a second coat of paint on where needed and I think I will move in my Christmas tree. Yes, a chair, TV and a tree! Hopefully soon the work will be done and everything back to normal.

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful sister and daughter. They are the best and I love them so!

Thankful June