Tablescapes

I've been feeling a little convicted the last few months about my lack of homemaking the last....well, for awhile. I've let my house go, done little decorating, appallingly little cleaning and next to no cooking. It's embarrassing, really. My poor hubby.

So I've been working hard lately, trying to catch up, and get back in the swing of things. One of my favorite blogs to read is Between Naps on the Porch. I love her tablescapes and I've been trying to set the table in our breakfast nook in a cute and creative way lately. It's so fun! Now my table doesn't look anything like the ones she puts together...but still...I have had several compliments on how nice it looks.

It's fun to browse through Ross or Marshalls housewares, or pick up clearance items at Walmart. I'm SO wanting some beautiful pink-flowered plates I saw recently at TJ Maxx, when we were visiting Bend, OR, and still kicking myself for not buying the leaf-shaped salad plates that I saw at Walmart for $2!

Turkey Trot

Number one grandson, Josiah, won the 3rd grade boys division of the Turkey Trot at his elementary school last week... procuring a 16 lb. turkey for his family in the process! Between he and his sister they have 3 wins in the last 3 years! I was amazed at how much he looked like his uncle while he was running. If I didn't look too close I would have sworn it was his Uncle D out there!

Way to go Josiah!

Cisco

Lovin' this baby face! Cisco, my youngest
grandbaby, fell asleep in my car yesterday while running errands.

At six months old he now weighs 25 lbs. and
wears a size 18 or 24 months clothes.

He's sitting up and rolling over and the happiest
(and chubbiest!) baby on the block!

snow?!

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. Just a few things left! and maybe just in time...
seems there's snow in the forecast for next week...YES!!

babies

Grandma's still got it! Both babies down for a nap at the same time...
am I good, or what?

bread pudding!

What to do with leftover rolls? Make bread pudding, of course! My hubby's favorite dessert!

Cruisin'!

Look where we went! The hubby and I were able to get away recently on a much-needed vacation. We booked a 5-day, 4-night cruise at the last minute at an amazingly-cheap price. It sailed out of San Diego to Catalina, Ensenada and back to San Diego. We also spent an extra 3 days in San Diego, pretty much doing nothing. It was the most relaxing vacation I think I've ever had!

Be Still

My daughter, Jenny, saw this and told me watch it. So glad I did. I hope you will, too.






(ht) http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/

and so it begins!

Soccer season, that is!

U-10 Thunder

Record so far 4-0
Goals scored so far:
team: Thunder: 38+/- (we tend to lose count)
Opponents: 2
Josiah: 7

One of my favorite times of the year!

blessed

I sat this morning, head in my hands, and cried. Long, hard tears for a life that I thought I would have, that hasn't turned out quite the way I planned. I thought to myself, this isn't what I thought my life would be about. It isn't what I wanted. And then I realized, yes, it is! It's about my family and my children...and isn't that just exactly what I've always wanted my life to be about? God in his infinite wisdom, has allowed me to have just what I've always wanted...just changed the details to meet his will, not my own. and I realized just how blessed I am.

Amazing how quickly life can change. My daughter was in a serious horse-back riding accident and had to be airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Time and patience will heal her. Her pelvis is broken in 3 places and has 3 screws holding it all back together. She also has a broken vertebrae in her back. She requires 24 hour care, of which I am providing 12 hours. There is no time for blogging or anything else.

This blog has served it's purpose and maybe someday will be started up again. For now and who knows how long, it is on hiatus.

What a beautiful day!

My day so far:

Went to the gym and worked out.

Watched my grandson win his division in the Forest Festival kids fun run.

Manicure/pedicure.

Lunch from Miako Teriyaki.

The sun is shining and it's beautiful outside!

All in all, not a bad first half to the day. Even if our water isn't working, the cat is sick, and the hubby is off to another track meet.

Laundry, laundry!

It's laundry, tag-team style!

My daughter starts four loads and heads for work.

I switch them to the dryers, then fold them when I get the time.

She picks them up and the kids put them away.

One of the many benefits of working at a laundromat!

The Pavilion

Want to know the best thing about owning a banquet/catering facility?

A free venue for your daughter's wedding? hmm, that's good, but not it...

A huge big-screen tv and surround sound with lots of room for your friends to watch the super bowl? not bad, but nope, not that either...

Use of matching dishes, glasses and chargers for Christmas dinner at your house...
nice, but nope...

The BEST thing...leftovers from catered dinners!

Prime rib two nights in a row...oh yea!!

Europe

The hubby and I are planning a trip to Europe in 3 years. Our hope is to attend the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where, hopefully, two of the athletes he coached in high school will be running. We are hoping to be gone for about a month, visiting various other locations, also. (Thinking Paris, Spain, Germany...)

How are we funding this trip? Airline miles and hotel rooms garnered by use of our credit card...we have over 300,000 points waiting to be used. The hubby uses the credit card for EVERYTHING, then pays it off every month. If we could just get the county to let us pay our property taxes with it!

Spending money? lol...believe it or not I find approximately $1.00 in change at the laundromat every day I work. Money in dryer vents...washing machine drains...over the course of the four years that we will have been planning this trip, I figure I will be able to save approximately $1,000. I clean all the change out of my pockets and wallet every night and throw it in a jar. Amazing how much money people leave in their clothes!

Happy Mother's Day!!

This is for you Jen...one of the best mamas I know:

p.s. I haven't stopped laughing since I first saw this!

Whass up!

What I've been up to lately:

Took one of the granddaughters with me and went to Oregon to visit "Big" Grandma and Grandpa for a couple days. Thoroughly enjoyed my time with her. Crafts with Big Grandma, new shoes and a pedicure! How fun! :)

My beloved pink laptop broke. Major bummer. The screen cracked while granddaughter was watching a movie on the way home from our trip to Oregon. The good news is it looks like it's going to be replaced by the manufacturer. Yea!

Finished cleaning the "grandkids room". (Not that they EVER sleep in there!) What a chore that was! Now onto the guest room. I've sorted and washed almost EVERY article of clothing my son owns that are stored in the closet in that room. All that's left is to repack them, then give the room a thorough dusting and vacuuming. I'm hoping to sew a quilt for that bed, but have to get my sewing machine fixed first. In the meantime, the old comforter that's on the bed will do. Funny how my daughter's hand-me-down bedding always seems to last me for years!

I started cleaning out MY closet a couple months ago, but never finished. Once the guest room is done, it's next on my list. Then onto the formal living room, which is actually being used as my craft and sewing room. It's also a work-in-progress. I cleaned out my desk...deposited everything onto the floor...and there it sits. What a disaster!

My hopes of planting a garden this year are fading fast. The greenhouse, which has never been used for anything other than storage, but which I had big plans for this year, collapsed under the weight of all the snow we had this winter. Work is demanding a lot of my time, and there isn't much left for any other projects except the ones listed above.

My lilacs are blooming away, which I'm pretty surprised about. We did a major pruning on them last fall and I didn't expect to get many flowers this year. We actually have more than usual! Guess that pruning did them good!

Happy Mother's Day to my dear, sweet mom. Love you tons!

Now it makes more sense!

Catch up!

Am I the only person in North America who still has Christmas gift wrap sitting out, waiting to be put away? How did I fall so far behind?

Today I managed to repair a pair of jeans for one of my granddaughters. Hope they still fit her!

This working thing takes up so much time! But wait, aren't I the boss? Don't I make the schedule? Tomorrow I get a day off...yay! Time to catch up. Who'd have ever thought I'd be happy to be able to do laundry and housework!

pillows

Just saw this idea on this blog. What a great, simple idea! I've been trying to think of ways to "summerize" my olive green/gold couch...now I've got one!

Now to just find the time!

Wednesday

Focus today: kitchen. My daughter made out her grocery list; I did the shopping, picked up her mail, and then tackled the mountain of dishes. Most of them were clean, but just needed to be put away. A few were dirty, but by the time I finished, the kitchen was neat and tidy and the groceries put away. More important, one tired mama got a four hour nap!

Brothers!

After suffering along with 6 sisters, Josiah couldn't be happier with this little brother of his!

Day 2

I spent yesterday making two trips to Target for extra items my daughter had forgotten, then to the hospital, and then to my daughter and son-in-law's house to help out in any way I could. I thought they'd need mom to help out with food, but no, that son-in-law of mine sure can cook! Instead, I was on laundry duty, what I do best!

I spent some time straightening up two of the girls' bedroom and putting laundry away, and brought home three other loads, which are finishing up, as I type.

Cisco is doing well, although Mama is tired and hurting. The other four kids are home now from Aunty Shay's and the 3 other big sisters are coming tonight to meet their baby brother. Cisco is happy and content and barely cries at all. Let's hope he says that way! It would be nice, for mama's sake, to have at least ONE baby that likes to sleep!

Oh, how I love being a grandma!

Cisco

Introducing our new grandson, Francisco Michael Castro, 9 lbs. 6 oz.

time out!

I've worked and reworked the schedule and I finally did it! I have four, count 'em, four! days in a row off of work! It's the first time in six weeks that I've even had more than one day off in an entire week.

My daughter is two weeks overdue with her baby and the plan is, Lord willing, that she will deliver tomorrow.

It took hours of scheduling and rescheduling and willingness on the part of two of my employees to work this out...including the near-firing of a third one who was unwilling to close, because "she didn't want to!" grrr..... How I appreciate the willing attitudes and hard work of the first two!

Now come on Cisco...do your part and come out so grandma can hold you!

my day off

Today I miraculously had the day off. To celebrate, I:

cleaned my half of the garage
took the recycling to the drop off
cleaned the cat litter box
went to walmart and got new cat litter
scrubbed the laundry room and floor
went to the laundromat and washed all the blankets and rugs that the cat has peed on
washed and vacuumed my car
waited at home for the repairman to show up and fix my dryer

all while babysitting two of the grandkids.

Tonight the hubby is taking them to a movie, while I stay home and clean house.

Ain't life grand!?

stupid cat.

speaking of money

Speaking of money and coffee cans...when I was younger, our family had a running joke that my grandma used to store her money in coffee cans buried in her yard. My uncle would claim that he had dug up some of her coffee cans and was going to go and look for more! I never really knew whether she actually did bury money in her yard, but i doubt it was a true story. Mom?

Not too long ago, I found out that someone I know actually does this; only her money is wrapped in coffee filters and buried, instead of coffee cans. I won't say who or where she lives, as I'd hate to have her wake up one morning and find her yard looking like a mole had suddenly attacked in the middle of the night!

Kinda makes you wonder, though, in these times of economic stress, if maybe she isn't on to something! The interest isn't great, but at least she hasn't lost her life savings!

free money!

A tip for anyone in my local area. A friend of mine, T, has an account at Heritage Bank. They have a friends and family referral program there. When I opened an account last week, I filled out the form stating that my friend had referred me. She is now going to receive a $150 Visa gift card, as am I, after I use my debit card one time! (Provided I use it and fill out the paperwork within 45 days.)

In addition, because I now have an account, I can refer someone else, and they will also receive a gift card. Heritage Bank offers great gifts for new accounts. In the past they've given out Ipods, GPS navigation systems, and now these gift cards.You can only receive one gift per gift cycle, so I couldn't receive another gift card, if I were to refer someone else. BUT... when the next gift cycle comes up, I can refer a new customer, and we would both receive that current gift.

I opened this bank account to hold the money I save every month for Christmas. I decided a bank account was probably a better place than a coffee can stashed in the back of my closet. Plus, I now have an additional $150 to put towards Christmas gifts!

retreat, cont.

So far the retreat has been amazing. The Lord is speaking to me through Cheryl, and telling me so many things I need to hear. It has been encouraging and convicting at the same time. I am feeling more relaxed than I have in a very long time and actually, although I miss my family, I am not looking forward to going home. I'd love a week down here to rest and rejuvenate. I'm hoping I can take the things I've learned home with me and put them into practice. This time spent with my friends has been so enjoyable, and something that is sorely lacking in my life. I miss having girlfriends to just hang out with!

retreat!

I am off to the beach this afternoon to attend a women's retreat. Our pastor's wife is the featured speaker and there are women from several different churches attending. I am SO excited about this weekend. It's a much-needed getaway, with two of my dearest friends staying with me at a little cabin, rather than at the "camp". I'm sure the teaching will be awesome and I can't wait to get going!

reading list

One of my resolutions this year is to read through some of the dozens of books I've purchased, but never read. I love, love, love, to read! but I don't seem to get as much time to devote to it as I'd like to...maybe because I spend far too much time on the internet! I tend to have 4 or 5 books I'm reading at the same time, but I don't seem to finish them.

So, this year, my goal is to read one book, cover to cover, a month.

My accomplishment so far:

January:Beautiful boy
February:The Duggars: 20 and Counting!

Currently I'm working on a repeat:

Financial Peace Revisited

and up next:

The Gluten Connection

Not exactly a heavy reading list, but an accomplishment that makes me happy, none-the-less!



3/14/09: I just remembered that I also read and finished this book:

The Great Depression Ahead

grateful

I learned this past weekend of another family I know who are in danger of having their home foreclosed on. This makes four families that I know, personally, who are in some stage of the foreclosure process. I also know of a family losing their business, and several others on the brink of serious financial meltdown and possible bankruptcy. These times are frightening for so many of my friends and I see them struggling with depression and sleep issues and my heart aches for them. I am grateful for the financial security my hubby and I have; but, I also know, that things could have turned out much differently. Investments he made could have soured, rather than doing well. It's difficult to be happy about such things, when those around me struggle, but it's not difficult to be grateful. We serve a great and mighty God, and I give thanks for his abundant provision in my life.

My car

The hubby and I had never purchased a new vehicle until he bought his motorcycle a couple years ago. We've always driven used cars and paid cash for them. Last year we purchased a new Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. We were looking for used, but with rebates and the Costco automobile purchase plan, we were able to find a new truck cheaper than a used one. We always pay cash and haven't had a car payment since shortly after we got married, over 30 years ago.

Right now I drive a 2000 Grand Vitara with 150,000 miles on it. It's not a great car. It's rough to ride in and too small, but it gets me where I need to go. If I need something bigger and more comfortable to drive, I just borrow the hubby's truck. Next year I am hoping to purchase a new car, for the first time, since 1977!! But, the one I have now will work until then. I've gotten laughed at sometimes because of the cars we drive...but frankly, I really don't care.

Why have we always paid cash and always bought used? Dave Ramsey says it best.



ht: Finally Frugal.

SNL

Catherine at Frugal Homemaker Plus mentioned this video over at Frugal Hacks...love it!

i can see clearly now...

I have a few basic rules I follow when it comes to my house:

1. If I don't love it, I don't keep it.
2. If I'm not going to use it, I don't keep it.
3. a place for everything, and everything in it's place.

and most important...

4. If I were to move tomorrow, is this cupboard, (room, closet?) neat and organized so that i could quickly pack it in a box, label it, move it, and put it away in my new home?

If I have to sort through stuff, decide what to keep, decide what to get rid of, donate, etc., then I haven't got things clean and organized enough.

If I want to find something, I don't want to have to hunt high and low, here and there...I want to go to where it is supposed to be and find it.

A little extreme? maybe, but it keeps things running smoothly around here...hence, my problem and my stress. Stuff is laying around all over. I can barely park my car in the garage...where did all of this mess come from? Have I been walking through life asleep the last year?

My gluten-free, dairy-free diet is helping to clear my brain...but causing me more stress because now I can finally SEE thru the fog!

oy vey.

discouragement

I'm in danger of becoming discouraged.

I can't keep up.

Closing at work 3 times a week...one day a week to go and visit my son, not getting home until 10:30 at night...bible study one night, where i'm totally slacking...church on Sundays...leaves me only two nights a week at home. My house is a wreck, my laundry is stacked up. I haven't visited my parents in months...You wouldn't think it would be so hard to keep up when I'm feathering an empty nest. Something has to give, but what? If I get any less sleep, I'll drop. Work? How?...my daughter, the manager, is 9 months pregnant. She shouldn't even be working at all.

I've always believed that if we can't keep up, then our priorities are somehow out of alignment. I just need to find out where...

Free!

I just found a really awesome website. It offers free things to people for their birthdays. How great is that!

My daughter and son-in-law are taking their family to Red Robin tomorrow for two of their girls' birthdays...I'm hoping to sign them up to the Red Robin Kids Club and see if we can get them free meals.

laundromat woes

A couple came into our laundromat last night with their two children to do their laundry. The kids spent the better part of an hour running around the laundromat, climbing ON washing machines, playing bumper cars with the laundry carts, and generally wreaking havoc. Our employee calmly asked them over, and over again, not to do what they were doing. The final straw, however, was when they climbed IN one of the dryers. At that point she told them they had to get out, and their mom confronted her and told her not to speak to her children, but to speak to her! They'd be out in a minute...as soon as she took their picture! Next they decided to put coins in the bill slot in the card machine, and, in the process, jammed both of the machines so that none of the other customers could get laundry cards.

At this point, our employee called me, unsure what to do next, as there was a line of customers waiting to get cards. I told her how to handle the situation and went down to the laundromat to try and fix the machines. The couple had, by this time, finished their wash, but were out of money to do their drying. They asked if we would start their machine, while they went and got some money. Sorry, no can do.

After approximately 30 minutes, the husband was back with cash. They started the dryer and promptly climbed on top of one of the folding tables to play a board game. Argh.

Apparently, the couple was unfazed by everything that transpired, because before they left she asked if we were hiring.

Nails!

I wouldn't normally post videos two days in a row, but this just cracks me up!

We're in a tight spot!

This has been one of my favorite songs of all time, ever since i first watched the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?" one of my all-time favorite movies...

no time

No time to blog, I'm cleaning house..finally! More specifically...I'm cleaning my closet. I shall post "after" pictures when I'm done. (If I can figure out what's wrong with my camera!) Generally, I keep my closet pretty clean, but it's gotten a little unorganized over the holidays. Between that and all the clothes that no longer fit me, it's just depressing. So...out with the old, and in with the...well, not much new, but at least I'll be able to find what's in there!

Sadness

I learned today that my husband's aunt, Elaine, passed away a couple days ago. The news leaves me very, very sad. Elaine was a dear, sweet friend to me. She always had my back and was so supportive of us. We sit in the balcony at church and she usually sat in the 2nd or 3rd row down below. She would look for me on Sundays and I would look for her, and if we were at the same service, she would smile and wave. She told me to always let it be a reminder to me that she was praying for us. I will miss her.

1/21/78

Happy Anniversary to my beloved! 31 years and counting!

Happy Birthday Boo!

Saturday was my youngest granddaughter's 2nd birthday..Happy Birthday, Bella Boo! Ain't she a cutie petutie!?

Joy And Sorrow Chapter VIII

Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow." And he answered: Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives? When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater." But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy. Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced...

by Khalil Gibran

1883-1931

You want fries with that?

Why is it that when you go thru a drive-thru fast food place, they won't give you ketchup? Is that tiny little packet of ketchup really going to bust the budget when they're charging almost 2 bucks for a soda these days? And what about when you specifically ask for 4 or 5 packets...and get NONE? How stupid can people be anymore? I have no patience for morons.

home again, home again, jiggity jig

We flew home today, from 68 degrees and sunshine to 38 degrees and overcast. Brrr... On the way home, we stopped in Olympia at JCPenney's to do a little shopping, at the encouragement of my daughter. The clearance sales prices there are unbelievable. I picked up 5 Christmas gifts for NEXT year for some of my granddaughters, for only $12! I also purchased a $65 coat that my daughter asked me to pick up for her while I was there, for only $9. I only wish I'd had more time! The next few days are going to be busy ones, and then I go back to work on Monday. As happy as I was to be in Nevada, I am SO happy to be home! Our youngest granddaughter's birthday is Saturday and she'll be turning two...Grandma and Grandpa couldn't miss that happy event! :)

What to do, what to do!

We spent the day today with a realtor looking at various houses. Out of everything we looked at, we've only found two that we like; well, one I liked and the other my hubby liked. My preference was for a smaller, very nice home on a small lot. The hubby liked the larger house on the larger lot that needed work, but which had a ton of potential. The house had "renters" living in it, although I got the feeling they were actually "squatters". They wouldn't let us into various rooms in the house, and actually had a bulldog in the backyard that had left a friendly deposit on the living room floor. The tenant didn't feel it was necessary to clean it up before we came in to look at the house. So strange.

I'm having such conflicting thoughts on this whole thing. As much as I dislike living in the town we live in, I am in no way ready to make a permanent move. We have too many ties to the community we live in, and I would never leave my kids or grandkids. On the other hand, with the current economy and real estate market, we would be able to buy a home at rock bottom prices right now and I am almost desperate to have a chance to get out of this town and reside, at least part of the year, where I can wake up to sunshine and blue skies, and be free of the drama of the small town I live in.

Finally, I'm feeling more than a bit guilty about the possibility of owning a second home that would sit empty for the majority of the year. For someone who works hard at being a good steward of what we've been given, and tries to live a fairly frugal lifestyle, purchasing a second home is pretty extreme. Lots to think about, and that's what our plan is right now. To go home, think and pray about our options, and then try to make a decision about how to progress from here.

It's pink!

For Christmas this year, my dear hubby got me such an awesome gift...the cutest little pink laptop computer you've ever seen! and I just love it!

It's an Acer and it weighs less than 3 lbs. I can actually fit it in my purse, and did I mention that it's pink!

I've never had a laptop and I've wanted one for a long time, but I never expected that I would get one. I just love, love, love it and it was SO sweet of my hubby to give it to me for Christmas. I've never had something so cool before. Thanks babe!

The great hunt

The hunt continues, or rather, goes on (and on and on...)

We have a binder the hubby put together, a laptop, a camera, a GPS unit and a Suzuki Firenza and we are stalking, er rather...looking, for a vacation house. I'm over it already. After only two days. I need a "fun" day. The hubby says "this is fun!" Like his own personal game of Monopoly.

I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. The size and cost of what we are looking at keeps going up, and my enthusiasm keeps going down, in direct proportion. CCR's? covenants, restrictions, rules...not me. I am long past the days where I want neighbors telling me I can't park my car on the street. The point was to get away. Time will tell. In the meantime, I had a dream last night that one of my granddaughters no longer would come to me and let me hold her. She didn't recognize me anymore. :(

Change is good?

Here I sit in sunny Las Vegas, enjoying the 60+ degree weather and sunshine. It's a far cry from the 2 feet of snow and 12 inches of rain that we received over the last 3 weeks at home, although i hear it's supposed to turn sunny up there in Washington state this week also.

The hubby and I are here on a brief get-away...while also looking at real estate and contemplating buying a house or condo. (Mostly to allow us a LOT more brief get-aways!) I gotta say, even though we seldom gamble, we love Las Vegas. There's always lots to do and things to see. Some people I've talked with hate it here...truly considering it the "devil's playground", but we just kinda like it...probably has a lot to do with that sunshine factor I talked about earlier.

The idea of buying a second home down here is somewhat frightening to me. It's a change...a BIG change. And even though I'm ready, even in need of a change, it's still a little overwhelming. I guess all change is like that for me. I would think with all the changes my life has gone through over the last few years, that it would come a little bit easier to me. Maybe some things never change, huh?

gotta love it!

One of my goals for this year, resolutions, if you will...is to treat myself better and take better care of myself. To that end, I went and got a pedicure yesterday and today I got a massage. My plan is to do at least one "special" thing a day for myself, to eat right and to start exercising again. Hopefully, this process will also allow me to lose 20 pounds. Tomorrow my plan is to spend one solid uninterrupted hour working on my journal and Friday I head to Tacoma...lunch at Nordstroms and an appointment at Gene Juarez. I'm kinda liking this already!

Lord willin' and the creek don't rise!

I took down the Christmas tree today...can we say "finally!!!" I normally take it down a few days after Christmas because my son's birthday is on January 1, but this year I just couldn't seem to get it done. I had to get it done now, though, because we leave on Saturday for a brief vacation. Yes!!! I can't wait. More on that later. Let's just say it's warm and sunny where I'm headed. And I'm probably going to actually shut my cell phone off for a couple days, too. Now that's a real vacation!

After three weeks and three feet of snow, the pineapple express has hit and it is raining, raining, raining! I-5 may be closed just south of us because of water over the roadway. The lake level has risen quite a bit, but it's still several feet below our bulkhead, and schools have a delayed start tomorrow because of all the water on the roads. Blue skies and sunshine are sounding better every day!

*By the way, that photo above was copied off flickr, not taken by me, and it's of the Skokomish River.

Missing D

16 But now this is what the Lord says:
“Do not weep any longer,
for I will reward you,” says the Lord.
“Your children will come back to you
from the distant land of the enemy.
17 There is hope for your future,” says the Lord.
“Your children will come again to their own land.
Jeremiah 31:16-17

Meet Moses

About six weeks ago, as I was leaving work, I heard a soft meowing coming from the side of the building, next to where my car was parked. I looked over expecting to see a cat, and instead found a small box all taped up: top, bottom and sides. I took the box into the laundromat and opened it up and inside was a tiny black kitten. Written on the side of the box was a note that said "free kitty, can't find home".

Well, adopting a kitten that had been dumped off at our business was the last thing on my mind, but that's what I ended up doing. I tried and tried to get rid of it, but no one would take him, and in the end, we just decided to keep him.

He's funny and makes us laugh a lot, but I'm convinced that he may have brain damage. Either that or he's possessed. Actually, for the first 3 weeks I had him I thought he was a female and had named him Chloe. I believe he may have anger issues because of his gender misidentification. Since he was dropped off in a box and I adopted him, I decided the name Moses might be appropriate.

The highlight of his day seems to be finding as many ways as he can to attack and bite or scratch me. I spend most of the day dragging him around while he hangs onto one of my feet, biting me all the way. Trying to pet him is an exercise in futility, as he prefers to use my hand as a chew toy.

He did, however, come box-trained, so that has worked in his favor. Good thing. He needs all the points he can get on his side, especially considering this "free" kitten has already cost me $150 at the vet, just to get him checked over, tested for cat leukemia and treated for ear mites. He's good company, though, and I'm kinda glad I found him.