05-30-13

He looks the way I feel.  Some days it’s exhausting to frantically work on checking off to do list just to come home and do the same thing.  But, the people around me at work and at home seem to be feeling sick or sluggish, and so far I am keeping the bug at bay.  Keep chugging…

05-29-13

Worked in Aberdeen today.  Caught up with the team, but spent most of the day on the phone.

I was admiring this wipe board Jan created.  I have a little wipe board where I track my comings and goings for folks, but I like how this one is the entire team in one spot and a two week at a glance look.

05-28-13

We are gearing up to replace our tub, since the glaze is chipping off back to bright yellow.  We decided to tile instead of buying a surround.  I know what I want (glass tile accent in browns and white), and it isn't at Home Depot.  So this evening we went to the tile store.

I looked at options until my head was ready to explore then checked some out to bring home and lay against the existing bathroom colors.

Since I like the names of colors as much as the color itself, enjoying that the three middle colors in this palette are named Latte, Mocha and Cappuccino.

05-27-13

Bruce and the kids came home from playing tennis soaked to the bone.  I pulled some weeds in the bright sunshine.  It’s been that kind of weather day.  Weather weekend, I guess.

The May showers bring much lush greenery.  We enjoyed the view and a loud osprey in a nearby tree during our evening lake walk.

05-26-13

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,

Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;

Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain:

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves

Today we went to St. Helens to the Medieval/Norse encampment – a SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) event.  We noticed right off that we were the only ones there not in period costume.

We got to watch the sheaf tossing contest.  They throw a burlap sack behind their back, trying not to knock off the measuring stick.  This fellow won, so maybe the perspective isn’t quite right.

05-25-13

This evening Bruce and Anastasia went to church and Xander and I went tot he community vegetarian/vegan potluck.

Look at all the colors and bites of yum on my plate in the bottom left.  Love trying all the new flavors.

05-24-13

Happy happy Friday!  This holiday weekend may be a little low key in our household, but it’s Friday!  And tomorrow I’m going to eat sugar…

Xander started his sugar fast a day sooner, so he had a cinnamon roll for lunch today.  Congrats, and I’m right behind you, buddy!

05-23-13

Anastasia was the only one not in her PJ’s by dinnertime tonight.  She’s the only one who had plans.

I wanted to be comfortable to exercise.  Xander was chilled.  And Bruce came home from Seattle really sick.

Embracing not leaving the house this evening…

05-22-13

Burning the midnight oil.  Or at least the 9:30 oil.  By the time I got done with my evening to do’s and was ready to take a blog photo, folks were nested in for the evening.  Wishing I could sleep better, another early morning tomorrow.

“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know?” -Ernest Hemingway  

05-21-13

Anastasia has elected not to take band as an elective next year, so tonight was her last RA Long marching band concert.  Grandpa Fischer is here to hear it, Lady Gaga and all.  No sweet treat for Xander and I afterward, isn't this sugar challenge over yet?!?

05-20-13

This is our new way of transporting the board to the lake.  It’s easier to attach the board to the bike and walk the bike then wrestle the board by itself.  And then Bruce can bike while I paddle.  And what a perfect evening it was to paddle!

05-19-13

This is what my jogging path looks like on early weekend mornings.  Not many people out.  But do run into friends, like today.  Time to think, space to breathe.  Often scanning for homeless people so they don’t startle me.  And on the lookout for wildlife too.  Hard to see, but Mamma duck is marching her brood of babies away from me and back to safety.

05-18-13

Day 1 of the no added sugar challenge (for Xander’s health class).  Presentation at women’s breakfast about healthy eating.  And, trip to the Humane Society to play with dogs.  This Wirehaired Terrier (nicknamed Muffins), like almost all of the dogs we attempt to socialize, was a real oddball.  She was sure cute, if socially inept…

05-17-13

TGIF!  What a busy not-what-I-expected day!

Ended with Anastasia and I going to the high school production of Taming of the Shrew.  They went in and out of Shakespearean speech, were doing some ad-libbing, and brought in modern hilarity.  It was really fun to watch the talent for entertaining.

05-16-16

LONG day, productive trip, happy to be home again.  Decided to work late in Springfield and come through Portland after rush hour.  But that puts more pressure on the two hours until bedtime!

05-15-13

On a business trip, time for the awkward hotel room photos because I didn't take any photos during the day!  But at least I have new sunglasses I had fitted today on my way out of town!  Funny effect when I blocked the flash.

05-14-13

Tonight Xander and fifty five classmates got inducted into the National Honor Society.  The officers lit the candles of scholarship, leadership, service, and character in a brief ceremony.  Anastasia was out in the foyer cutting the yummy carrot cake.  Two excellent kids!

05-13-13

He’s got the remote, has the family all gathered around, and … hail to the season finale of How I Met Your Mother, and finally seeing this mysterious mother!

Is it really Monday again?!?

05-12-13

Happy mother’s day!

Holidays bring family photos.  Not against a restaurant wall this year, but at our lovely lake.  Here we are!

Events of the day: a cleaned car, a special dinner, delicious cookie dough dip, Survivor finale, and a much needed quiet day at home.

05-11-12

Crazy day!

From G&G to fighting traffic back to Longview to perm appointment to church.  Look at the curls!

Counting my blessings, including sleeping in and enjoying scrambled eggs with zucchini for breakfast.

05-10-13

Happy Friday!

Spend the day at a financial reporting conference in downtown Seattle, then headed north for a visit with G&G.

A rental unit settled, an early morning survived, and a busy workweek ending.  Transition to Skipbo, catching up on the extended family, and plenty of food…

05-09-13

I’ve been crazy busy this week, but still taking time to water the garden.  Planted seeds a few weeks ago and things are starting to pop up, so don’t want them to dry out in our warm weather.  This is another new gardening adventure, an herb garden along the fence.  Cure pots thanks to zulily, drilling and installation hanks to Bruce.

05-08-13

There he is, Bruce the landlord!  The sun is glaring off the big For Rent sign, but here we are again.  Scrubbing walls and scrubbing applications.  We’ve had a lot of interest, 3 bedrooms seems to be a great niche.

05-07-13

I encountered two sheet cakes today!  Not so good for my eating healthy efforts.  At least I only ate one slice…

Relay for Life is celebrating 100 years.  And my work site won the diaper trophy for the highest donations in the diaper drive.

Three cheers for chocolate and frosting!

05-06-13

I like my phone.  I like my love bot.  I like my built in stylus.  I especially like making arrangements to hire someone to do some cleaning at a vacant rental so I don’t need to do it all! And I like it when Bruce’s phone is busy with applicant inquiries.

05-05-13

Day 2 of warm weather here in Longview.

After spending an hour in a very warm second story, heading to the breezy park sounded fun.  We had Ziggy, a precocious little lady, in our care for a few hours.  Playgrounds and ice cream!

A little bit of everything today…

05-04-13

Bruce caught a nice photo of me paddling with the ducklings.  I was trying to give them plenty of space, but they aren't very bright. Saw three sets of baby ducks, so cute.

Lovin’ this summer weather!

05-03-13

We had an adopt-a-block event this evening.

I planned two impossible crafts then took off to go door to door.  Barbara doesn’t enjoy crafts, but she’s a trooper!

The block blesses us as much as we bless it.  Happy weekend!

05-02-13

April showers brings May… flowers, greenery, spring fedoras, and more walks!

05-01-13

This is the second evening where I have seen something photo worthy at the lake and have been without both my camera and phone.  Good thing Bruce doesn't go anywhere without his phone!

This heron was flying up and down the lake and stopping at all the fishing docks, getting a lot of attention.  A lovely May Day to be a heron or a human, maybe the forecasts of warmer weather are true!