12-31-23

 

I get so many compliments on my Foster seaotter necklace, but time to retire him as my year of focusing on foster wraps up.

FOSTER: encourage or promote the development of

It was a mix of results…

Foster health was maybe a wash.  The scale is higher, have had a lot of setbacks with colds and long hours and a dumb foot surgery, and life led to more meals out this year.  But, I feel like I made inroads on getting better sleep and when I am able to work out I am working harder.

Foster community feels like a win.  We spent more time with friends and family (with intentional invites) and took a trip to Portland to see Tanuia post release.  Our book together stalled out, and still no volunteering activities outside of church.

Foster new experiences was a win too, mostly due to great visits to Dubai and Kenya.  We tried several new local restaurants, but not as intentionally as we could have.  Embracing Friday night to Saturday night as Sabbath was a huge win to our routines as well.

Another year of more reading than movie watching.  I did hit the movie goal if I could dragging the family to see Migration on Christmas day.  I bought fewer books, relying on books already purchased or the library digital loans.  I read a lot of physical books from my shelves, but also got a bunch more as gifts and through Seattle Arts and Lectures events.  Probably a wash.

12-30-23

It is finished.

Our church has had adent readings through the entire New Testament during the month of December.

I thought it was a crazy month to cram one more thing in, but I did it.

12-29-23

 

A glimpse into how fun our life is at the moment... plus the ginger ale, crackers, and Kraft dinner in the kitchen.  Fischer Christmas plans foiled again.

12-28-23

 

Started another book today, love all the Seatte references.

Wanted to go see the movie this weekend, but that may need to wait.

12-27-23

 

Still down for the count.

Read this book cover to cover today.

12-26-23

 Normally I get a lot of reading done between Christmas and New Years.

But usually its becuase I choose to, not because it is all I feel like doing.

Think I have the flu.

Only silver lining is that I finished this long (and interesting) book today.

12-25-23

 

Different traditions all the way around this year.  A cozy Christmas in our little apartment.

12-24-23

 

Impromptu church gathering at Mitch and Julia's with festive drinks.  Merry Christmas Eve!

12-23-23

 

Took my merry little self to see Black Nativity by myself this afternoon on Capital Hill.

And it was excellent, truly excellent!

12-22-23

 

Walked a different street today on an errand and saw this gingerbread villiage in the window of an architectural firm.  So fancy!  So many discoveries downtown!

12-21-23

 

Floral delivery today.

Need this like a hole in the head but sure is pretty.

4 bottles of wine and a floral centerpiece with the action winnings for a Christmas dinner.

12-20-23

 Red trucks with a Christmas tree are all the rage this year.

But soemtimes a purple truck is cooler.

New ornament this year.

12-19-23

 No plans.

Some time to wrap gifts.

Finally.

12-18-23

 Another Monday, boo!

A short week, hooray!

Bookclub tonight, yay!

Always forget to take photos, boo!

This photo of a new ornament will have to stand in.  I'm a sucker of nativities of all sorts!

12-17-23

This week has been crazy town, trying to squeeze so much in.  It was nice to take a deep breath and enjoy some down time today, including exploring the awesome floral arrangements at Pacific Place.  I was concerned we would miss seeing the manequin art and creations of Vanessa in our small group, so I was thrilled to see everything still up and being photographed by many.

12-16-23

 

It was a momentus day finding out about Auggie today, but it was also a great family day and a productive cookie baking day.

The trays pile up as we all prep recipes old and new.  This years line-up:

NEW RECIPES 

• Pecan Sandies (reg & GF) – Shanna 
• Nutella Cornflake – Michele 
• Chocolate Kiss – Michele 
• Rolo Pretzel – Michele 
• Almond and Cinnamon Christmas Stars - Vicki 
• Lemon & Rosemary Cookies with Craisins – Vicki 
• Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies - Anastasia 
• Taylor Swift Chai Sugar Cookies - Anastasia 

TRADITIONAL RECIPES 

• Magic Cookie Bars – Shanna 
• Scotcheroos or variation with rice krispies – Vicki 
• Grandma’s Fruitcake cookies (reg & GF) – Shanna 
• Lemon – Michele (bake ahead) 
• Choc Chip, with M&M's – Michele
• Peanut Butter – Anastasia 

12-15-23

 

Love this ornament on the Viktoria tree, and love the furry Viktoria tree.

12-14-23

 My what big balls you have!

Another corporate tree spotted on my daily commute.

I wanted a photo on an earlier day, but there were window washers in the way.

12-13-23

 

We took Penny to Alki tonight for dinner.  Last time we had an evening meal together was right before the pandemic broke out.  Penny and I talk at work almost every day, it is nice to see her every few years.

12-12-23

 

Hi ho, hi ho, off to the office I go... for an extra day this week.  But, rewarded with no moisture in the error and a gorgeous sunrise.

A Facebook friend said that her toddler said God painted the sky when he saw a pretty sunrise.  I love that, just love it.

12-11-23

Christmas cards were finally mailed today... things are a little slower this year as I do a little less each day, go to bed a little earlier, but thankfully cough a little less.

12-10-23

 

Busy day today,  but so thankful that things didn't overlap and conflict as they often do. Headed directly from church to the We Heart Seattle party to church banquet.

12-08-23

Enjoying the Christmas Ships parade on board Argosy with Diana and Nathaniel.  A cool but crisp evening, so thankful for no rain and my heated coat.

12-07-23

 

My only photo today was getting a recipe to Shanna for pre-cookie baking day planning.

12-06-23

 

Huge tree practically blocking the doorway seen on my morning commute.  Bold move, Deloitte!

12-05-23

 

Red tree seen on my morning commute.  Bold move.

12-04-23

 And the stockings were hung in the window with care...

Gave up on the stocking hangers reappearing and got new ones.

12-02-23

 

Teddy Bear toss at first goal at the Thunderbirds game tonight.  Bears everywhere!  Each player chose a bear to take a team photo with.

12-01-23

 

Happy December!

11-30-23

 So tired of not feeling well.  Seriously!

11-29-23

 

I made blondies with potato chips for the board church dinner, then it got changed to Zoom.  A pan of blondies for dinner?!?

11-28-23

 

Travel appointment today, load me up with those meds for India!

11-27-23

 

No walk with Mom tonight, but a great walk with Bruce.  Dry and not too cold, great night to be out and about.

11-26-23

 

Christmas decorations are up!

11-25-23

 

Tree lighting at the Pike Place Market.  Uneventful, no protestors, and nostalgic.

11-24-23

 

Monster fighting break on UW campus.

11-23-23

 Happy Thanksgiving!  A day of traditions old and new - Jack in the Box lunch, chopping potatoes, catching up with various McNeils, heating the corn, saran wrap game, catching the ferry.

11-22-23

 

Took two years, but the reading challenge gifted by Anastasia is complete!  One of my favorite prompts was choosing a book just based on the cover.  We should do that more.

11-21-23

 

It's normal to see the sunset bouncing off nearby windows, but today it was the sunrise.  So pretty in pink!

11-20-23

 

Monday night in SLU with Mom and Grunkle.

11-19-23

 

Packed the house for the final high school performance of Rumors.  Molly/Bex was a gum smacking police officer.

11-18-23

 

Festival of Trees gala with Adam and Kimberly.  So many Chrsistmas decorations, fun to get in the holiday spirit.

11-17-23

Not the best photo.  We were trying to get the festive holiday deer while we were waiting in line for the Great Wheel.  Fun to have Joan in town.

11-16-23

 

Vacation mode!  Time to dig into my neglected basket of things to do.

11-15-23

 

My photography class says to put a ziplock bag over your lense for a softer focus.  And put your hand in the shot to include yourself.  Last day of work until 7 days of PTO!

11-14-23

 

Taking a Masterclass on photography.  It is a SLR film class, but I am still picking up pointers about exploring my camera settings and looking at the world differently.

11-13-23

 

The bergman Luggage- turned art venue appears to have piles of trash that have been spray pianted.  But I noticed today as I walked by that if you pause in the right place, it all lines up to make giant portraits.

11-12-23

 

This photo makes church attendance look pretty small.  But I was in the very back because we were bursting at the seams.

11-11-23

Saturday plans across the street.

11-10-23

Harvest Soup and Cider party at Viktoria.  Butternut Squash Ginger was the hit of the party.