A couple months ago, in the midst of Tim's unemployment, my friend Lisa said she wanted to give us a pounding. I'd never heard of poundings before, but they're a great idea. In a pounding, a person or family is selected as the recipient (someone in need, a family that just moved, etc), then everyone contributes one pound of something. It could be produce, frozen foods, baked goods, non-perishables, or whatever. Just one pound per giver. It's basically a way to bless a person or family with food without any particular person having to spend lots of time or money to do so. The givers can either put all their stuff together and make one big delivery or spread it out in small gifts over a specified amount of time. Cool, huh?
Well, I sent Lisa a note after Tim got a job and asked if she wanted to give the pounding to someone else in a tighter financial situation. She said she really wanted to do it for us, regardless of Tim's job status. Totally sweet of her!
Anyway, she sent out invitations to the the month-long pounding yesterday and I've received a couple messages from people today who are taunting me with promises of delicious pounds later on, asking me if we like particular things, or letting me know they're bringing a pound to me at Bible study tonight. So fun! I'll be sure to let you know what random assortment of things we receive.
I've been the giver and recipient of various ways of getting food to people over the years, but poundings are new to me. While being on the receiving end is fun (and no pounds have even entered our home yet), I can't wait for an opportunity to be on the giving end. I love the freedom to give anything and the convenience of not having to do a lot of planning or work.
Have you ever been part of a pounding? Giver or receiver? What kind of occasions led to the pounding?
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
RALLY THE TROOPS FOR TAMMY & KYLE
It's time to show some tangible love. Come join the fun!
WHO:
Tammy & Kyle
WHAT:
Tammy broke her wrist last December and recently had surgery to remove a bone from that wrist. Her doctor has said she is not medically allowed to work until the end of September.
Tammy is an elementary teacher who was laid off at the end of last school year because of declining enrollment. Though she has interviewed for some jobs over the summer, she does not have a job at this point.
WHEN:
The goal for the moment is to help get Tammy & Kyle through September with as little stress as possible. Whether or not they need help into October will depend on the status of Tammy's wrist and her employment situation.
WHERE:
Tammy & Kyle live in Wilsonville.
WHY:
We all need some help from time to time.
THE PLAN:
Between the lack of a job and being one-handed, this family could be helped in a variety of ways. I will post a list of ideas and you can do whatever strikes your fancy. If you would like to help anonymously, which is always fun to do, then I'd be happy to work that out with you.
Meals - It doesn't matter if it's homemade, take-out, or store-bought. It could be a hot dinner, frozen pancakes they can toast in the mornings, or a stack of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat over a few days - any meal would work. The only restriction is on mushrooms, as there is an allergy in the family.
Groceries - A bag of food or a gift card to a local store would work. Thriftway, Albertsons, and Fred Meyer are all nearby. WinCo is about 20 minutes away.
Cooking prep - Chopping the vegetables, sauteing the meat, grating the cheese, and other various tasks for the week's meals.
Cleaning - Vacuuming floors, washing dishes, scrubbing bathrooms, doing laundry, etc.
Bills - Cash, direct payments to the apartment complex, gift cards to gas stations, etc. Chevron, 76, and Exxon are nearby gas stations.
Rides - Taking them to and from church, taking Kyle to and from Jr. High events, driving Tammy to the grocery store or on other errands/appointments. Technically she can drive, but she only has one hand to do it with.
Other - This list is just a brainstorm of ways to help lighten Tammy & Kyle's load over the next month. If you think of something else, then go for it!
CONTACT:
You can message me through the "Rally the Troops" Facebook page, e-mail me at bethanyandtim @ yahoo . com (spaces removed), or leave a comment here with any questions, to sign up for a meal, or to give anonymously. If you'd like to help in non-giving ways, such as rides or house cleaning, then you can either contact me or speak to Tammy directly.
WHO:
Tammy & Kyle
WHAT:
Tammy broke her wrist last December and recently had surgery to remove a bone from that wrist. Her doctor has said she is not medically allowed to work until the end of September.
Tammy is an elementary teacher who was laid off at the end of last school year because of declining enrollment. Though she has interviewed for some jobs over the summer, she does not have a job at this point.
WHEN:
The goal for the moment is to help get Tammy & Kyle through September with as little stress as possible. Whether or not they need help into October will depend on the status of Tammy's wrist and her employment situation.
WHERE:
Tammy & Kyle live in Wilsonville.
WHY:
We all need some help from time to time.
THE PLAN:
Between the lack of a job and being one-handed, this family could be helped in a variety of ways. I will post a list of ideas and you can do whatever strikes your fancy. If you would like to help anonymously, which is always fun to do, then I'd be happy to work that out with you.
Meals - It doesn't matter if it's homemade, take-out, or store-bought. It could be a hot dinner, frozen pancakes they can toast in the mornings, or a stack of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat over a few days - any meal would work. The only restriction is on mushrooms, as there is an allergy in the family.
Groceries - A bag of food or a gift card to a local store would work. Thriftway, Albertsons, and Fred Meyer are all nearby. WinCo is about 20 minutes away.
Cooking prep - Chopping the vegetables, sauteing the meat, grating the cheese, and other various tasks for the week's meals.
Cleaning - Vacuuming floors, washing dishes, scrubbing bathrooms, doing laundry, etc.
Bills - Cash, direct payments to the apartment complex, gift cards to gas stations, etc. Chevron, 76, and Exxon are nearby gas stations.
Rides - Taking them to and from church, taking Kyle to and from Jr. High events, driving Tammy to the grocery store or on other errands/appointments. Technically she can drive, but she only has one hand to do it with.
Other - This list is just a brainstorm of ways to help lighten Tammy & Kyle's load over the next month. If you think of something else, then go for it!
CONTACT:
You can message me through the "Rally the Troops" Facebook page, e-mail me at bethanyandtim @ yahoo . com (spaces removed), or leave a comment here with any questions, to sign up for a meal, or to give anonymously. If you'd like to help in non-giving ways, such as rides or house cleaning, then you can either contact me or speak to Tammy directly.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
8/25/11 THANKFUL THURSDAY
I'm thankful that the three little Ws, on a stinkin' hot Thursday (which is always our hardest day of the week) with a "to do" list five miles long, just came out to perform a dance routine for Tim and I that they'd choreographed secretly.
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
GONE FISHIN'
Tim spent yesterday salmon fishing with a group of friends and each of these guys caught one. Three cheers for successful fishing trips ... and for eating salmon!
Thanks to Tom for the picture!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
WHERE ARE WE GOING TO LIVE?
I get asked several times a week what our plan is in regards to where we're going to live. So, let me just tell everyone where things are at.
The lease for our apartment is up at the end of September. We really, really, really want to move out at that time. Staying here through another rainy season of mold does not appeal to us in the least.
We have two options for how to move - buying or renting.
Our buying budget is teeny tiny, which is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it's nice to not have to sift through 5.38 million houses we can afford. Efficiency always makes me happy, even when it means quickly looking at the handful of houses we can afford. On the other hand, most of the homes in our price range are short sales. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal to wait for a short sale to run its course, but we don't want to stay in this apartment into the fall.
Renting would cost us about the same per month as buying would. Yes, we could go for another cheap apartment to pay off school debt more quickly, but we're not willing to risk another mold situation. Evidently our place in Beaverton was a screamin' deal because I haven't seen any other homes and yards of that size anywhere near that price.
There are pros and cons beyond what I've mentioned for either option.
We also have two options for where to move - Salem or Portland-ish.
Tim has worked in Salem for five years and housing is far less expensive there. The downside is that we have absolutely no desire to leave our church and it would be at least a 30 minute drive twice a week and once December rolls around we'd have to drive the van, which gets worse mileage than the Toyota. Someone from our church has recently started a church in the Salem area, which would be another option, but all of us are really connected where we're at and leaving would be hard, especially for the four oldest Ws. It's not just about church services, but about the friendships we have with people there.
If we stay in the Portland area, then life goes on as usual. Tim doesn't mind commuting, though trying to keep his drive to 30 (ideally) or 45 (our max) minutes limits where we can look for homes.
Again, there are pros and cons either way and I obviously haven't listed all of them.
If we could buy a house in Salem through HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door program, then we'd do that in a heartbeat. A $50,000-ish house would be worth the move. We'd have to stay three years, but we could get the house and school debt paid off much more quickly than we could otherwise. (Sidenote: There's currently a little house in SE Portland that a teacher, police officer, paramedic, or firefighter working in that area could get for $43,000.)
All that to say right now we're looking at all options. We have to stay here through September, which means rentals that would be available when we're ready to move aren't listed yet because current tenants haven't given 30 days notice yet. I'm truly fine with either renting or buying. It's the deadlines and being in limbo that sometimes stresses me out, which I'm sure some of you can relate to.
So, if you know of a rental that's around 30 minutes from Salem and available at the end of September, then let us know. We lived five years in 1,017 sq. ft. and over a year in 1,067 (we gained a second bathroom). The space is totally adequate for us as long as there's a garage or shed to store bikes, camping gear, etc. and a yard. We don't need a ton of space, though 3 bedrooms are a must.
So, that's our housing update. Just pray that we'd have wisdom as we make housing decisions, that we wouldn't have to stay here past our lease (our rent will increase if we go to monthly rent), that Tim and I would be in agreement about whatever the next step should be, and that if we do have to stay past September, that we could still be out before the rain comes and/or I'm in labor.
The lease for our apartment is up at the end of September. We really, really, really want to move out at that time. Staying here through another rainy season of mold does not appeal to us in the least.
We have two options for how to move - buying or renting.
Our buying budget is teeny tiny, which is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it's nice to not have to sift through 5.38 million houses we can afford. Efficiency always makes me happy, even when it means quickly looking at the handful of houses we can afford. On the other hand, most of the homes in our price range are short sales. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal to wait for a short sale to run its course, but we don't want to stay in this apartment into the fall.
Renting would cost us about the same per month as buying would. Yes, we could go for another cheap apartment to pay off school debt more quickly, but we're not willing to risk another mold situation. Evidently our place in Beaverton was a screamin' deal because I haven't seen any other homes and yards of that size anywhere near that price.
There are pros and cons beyond what I've mentioned for either option.
We also have two options for where to move - Salem or Portland-ish.
Tim has worked in Salem for five years and housing is far less expensive there. The downside is that we have absolutely no desire to leave our church and it would be at least a 30 minute drive twice a week and once December rolls around we'd have to drive the van, which gets worse mileage than the Toyota. Someone from our church has recently started a church in the Salem area, which would be another option, but all of us are really connected where we're at and leaving would be hard, especially for the four oldest Ws. It's not just about church services, but about the friendships we have with people there.
If we stay in the Portland area, then life goes on as usual. Tim doesn't mind commuting, though trying to keep his drive to 30 (ideally) or 45 (our max) minutes limits where we can look for homes.
Again, there are pros and cons either way and I obviously haven't listed all of them.
If we could buy a house in Salem through HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door program, then we'd do that in a heartbeat. A $50,000-ish house would be worth the move. We'd have to stay three years, but we could get the house and school debt paid off much more quickly than we could otherwise. (Sidenote: There's currently a little house in SE Portland that a teacher, police officer, paramedic, or firefighter working in that area could get for $43,000.)
All that to say right now we're looking at all options. We have to stay here through September, which means rentals that would be available when we're ready to move aren't listed yet because current tenants haven't given 30 days notice yet. I'm truly fine with either renting or buying. It's the deadlines and being in limbo that sometimes stresses me out, which I'm sure some of you can relate to.
So, if you know of a rental that's around 30 minutes from Salem and available at the end of September, then let us know. We lived five years in 1,017 sq. ft. and over a year in 1,067 (we gained a second bathroom). The space is totally adequate for us as long as there's a garage or shed to store bikes, camping gear, etc. and a yard. We don't need a ton of space, though 3 bedrooms are a must.
So, that's our housing update. Just pray that we'd have wisdom as we make housing decisions, that we wouldn't have to stay here past our lease (our rent will increase if we go to monthly rent), that Tim and I would be in agreement about whatever the next step should be, and that if we do have to stay past September, that we could still be out before the rain comes and/or I'm in labor.
Monday, August 22, 2011
MARSHMALLOW GUN WAR - SEVENTH EDITION
Our first (and probably last) Friday night battle and perhaps our smallest group yet, but still a great time. You really can't go wrong when you have food, marshmallow guns, and fun people!
The "taking it to another level" award goes to the boys who created marshmallow blobs.
The "pacifists can shoot guns" award goes to Catherine.
The "I'm not good at giving out awards this time because I kept my fueling station at the table, rather than on the field, because my belly was keeping me from getting comfortable on the ground and so I didn't have a good grasp on who was doing award worthy things" award goes to yours truly.
We've talked about squeezing in a totally spontaneous war sometime before the weather gets cruddy, but we'll see. If not, then we'll pick up our guns again next summer.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
25 WEEKS
Exhibit A - The outdoor shot where it looks like the park bench is coming out of me.
Exhibit B - The indoor shot with a shadow that totally distorts the size and shape of my head.
Neither shot will win any photography awards, but at least you can see how big I am these days.
Exhibit B - The indoor shot with a shadow that totally distorts the size and shape of my head.
Neither shot will win any photography awards, but at least you can see how big I am these days.
Friday, August 19, 2011
MENU - SECOND HALF OF AUGUST 2011
Here's the food we're currently eating.
BREAKFASTS
oatmeal x4
Tam's granola (crockpot) x5
blueberry sour cream pancakes (double & freeze half)
easy cranberry granola (taking for breakfast on vacation)
baked oatmeal (prep previous night)
SNACKS
popcorn
fruit & veggies
oat & almond breakfast bars
black bean dip & tortilla chips
DINNERS
leftovers x 2
tacos x2
meals provided by someone else x2 (on vacation)
smoked turkey & black bean salad/strawberry, kiwi, & spinach salad (taking to potluck)
barbecue chicken salad/cornbread (double of each - one for us, one to deliver to another family)
ranchero onion burgers/potato wedges
rice, kale, & eggs/fruit
enchiladas/beans (crockpot & freezer)/green salad
spinach lentil soup/toast
creamy rotini with broccoli & ham/green salad
salmon (Tim's catch)/frozen peas & corn
DESSERTS
lemon bars (taking to potluck)
BREAKFASTS
oatmeal x4
Tam's granola (crockpot) x5
blueberry sour cream pancakes (double & freeze half)
easy cranberry granola (taking for breakfast on vacation)
baked oatmeal (prep previous night)
SNACKS
popcorn
fruit & veggies
oat & almond breakfast bars
black bean dip & tortilla chips
DINNERS
leftovers x 2
tacos x2
meals provided by someone else x2 (on vacation)
smoked turkey & black bean salad/strawberry, kiwi, & spinach salad (taking to potluck)
barbecue chicken salad/cornbread (double of each - one for us, one to deliver to another family)
ranchero onion burgers/potato wedges
rice, kale, & eggs/fruit
enchiladas/beans (crockpot & freezer)/green salad
spinach lentil soup/toast
creamy rotini with broccoli & ham/green salad
salmon (Tim's catch)/frozen peas & corn
DESSERTS
lemon bars (taking to potluck)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
8/18/11 THANKFUL THURSDAY
I'm thankful for some time with my sister's family.
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
GREAT GIFT GIVERS
Our kids are so good at choosing gifts that the recipient will like! I appreciate their thoughtfulness and the way they have secret meetings to strategize their gift giving. This summer they picked perfect gifts for each family member's birthday, but today I'll show you what they did for Tim and I.
I love fruity desserts and Naomi gave me a giant bag of Skittles.
The boys knew my big skillet was trashed, so they went in together and bought me a new one. It's deeper and lidded. I love it!
>
In our pre-kid days of more free time and less financial responsibilities, Tim used to golf. He hasn't gone in years and the kids pulled all their money together and got a gift certificate for him to golf 18 holes at a local course. He was totally surprised ... and pleased.
I love fruity desserts and Naomi gave me a giant bag of Skittles.
The boys knew my big skillet was trashed, so they went in together and bought me a new one. It's deeper and lidded. I love it!
>
In our pre-kid days of more free time and less financial responsibilities, Tim used to golf. He hasn't gone in years and the kids pulled all their money together and got a gift certificate for him to golf 18 holes at a local course. He was totally surprised ... and pleased.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
FOUR MORE Ws
I've noticed Home Treasures, a little gift & home decor shop in town, several times, but I never have a chance to stop when I'm driving by. A few days ago my sister and I popped in to check it out. The vast majority of the inventory is stuff that's too pretty or formal for my taste, but a lot of it would make good gifts for various people in my life.
They did, however, have a nice selection of something I like. Ws. Oh, yes, I came home with four new Ws. Four! The silver and pink floral ones are magnets, which now reside on my fridge with the other W magnets, and the round ones are charms that will go in an eclectic display of Ws that I'm collecting.
I know it's silly that I love Ws so much , but I'm ok with it. We all have our quirks and this one is pretty harmless.
They did, however, have a nice selection of something I like. Ws. Oh, yes, I came home with four new Ws. Four! The silver and pink floral ones are magnets, which now reside on my fridge with the other W magnets, and the round ones are charms that will go in an eclectic display of Ws that I'm collecting.
I know it's silly that I love Ws so much , but I'm ok with it. We all have our quirks and this one is pretty harmless.
Monday, August 15, 2011
NAOMI'S BIRTHDAY BASH - 2011
A group of Naomi's friends and family met up at Town Center Park to celebrate her birthday over the weekend. The sky was grey, but we all had fun. The kids splashed in the water and played capture the flag, the adults chatted, and everyone fed their faces.
Elizabeth and Addy, two of Naomi's friends, take a break from eating their own pile of chips to squeeze in close for a picture with Naomi and her Cheetos.
This year Naomi chose a gumball machine cake, inspired by both her addiction to gum and the gumball machine at the Cherry's house.
Naomi crawled onto John's lap to warm up after lunch and ended up staying there while she opened all her gifts. He's a good sport, helping her to read all her cards and reminding her to say "thanks" when she moved on to the next gift too quickly. So thankful for extra grandparent-ish people that our kids love!
Totally fun party for a totally fun girl!!
Elizabeth and Addy, two of Naomi's friends, take a break from eating their own pile of chips to squeeze in close for a picture with Naomi and her Cheetos.
This year Naomi chose a gumball machine cake, inspired by both her addiction to gum and the gumball machine at the Cherry's house.
Naomi crawled onto John's lap to warm up after lunch and ended up staying there while she opened all her gifts. He's a good sport, helping her to read all her cards and reminding her to say "thanks" when she moved on to the next gift too quickly. So thankful for extra grandparent-ish people that our kids love!
Totally fun party for a totally fun girl!!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
FRIENDS WITH FOOD
We've had two recent invitations to harvest food from the yards of friends. Check out the loot! That's six pounds of blueberries and a ridiculous amount of kale and spinach. The blueberries and most of the kale are now in the freezer, spinach is in the fridge for salads (I'll probably end up freezing some), and some kale is in the fridge to be used for kale chips.
Friday, August 12, 2011
NAOMI'S BIRTHDAY, PART TWO - 2011
Naomi kicked off her birthday with a doughnut date with Tim. You'll notice that she made sure her doughnut coordinated with her shirt.
The next thing on the birthday schedule was a mid-morning opening of presents from family members. She dug through about 25 layers of tissue paper to find some coins one of the boys had taped together and added as a last minute part of his gift to her. She also had her first experience with silly string. That gift was a huge hit and brought on some hysterical giggling once she figure out what it was for.
Naomi and I headed to Cold Stone for our ice cream date after she woke up from her nap. Though she almost chose one of the many pink flavors they had, she ended up getting her usual cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears mixed in. Again, this coordinated nicely with her outfit.
She chose rice cooker mac & cheese, cantaloupe, and grapes for her birthday dinner. Delicious and easy!
And, as per tradition, we wrapped up the birthday with some pictures of her in the birthday outfit. Some with toes, some without.
The next thing on the birthday schedule was a mid-morning opening of presents from family members. She dug through about 25 layers of tissue paper to find some coins one of the boys had taped together and added as a last minute part of his gift to her. She also had her first experience with silly string. That gift was a huge hit and brought on some hysterical giggling once she figure out what it was for.
Naomi and I headed to Cold Stone for our ice cream date after she woke up from her nap. Though she almost chose one of the many pink flavors they had, she ended up getting her usual cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears mixed in. Again, this coordinated nicely with her outfit.
She chose rice cooker mac & cheese, cantaloupe, and grapes for her birthday dinner. Delicious and easy!
And, as per tradition, we wrapped up the birthday with some pictures of her in the birthday outfit. Some with toes, some without.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
TIM HAS A JOB!!!!
Salem left a message for Tim this morning saying they had a job for him if he called by 5:00 tonight. He's been out of town for three nights, so I'm really thankful he got the message!!
Evidently they had a teacher retire unexpectedly and Tim's taking over the position. It's at an elementary school and he's endorsed for middle and high school, so he'll teach under a temporary endorsement while getting his elementary endorsement.
I've known for two hours, but I've been away from home the whole time. It's just about killed me to not be able to share our good news!! I've told one stranger and a few Creekers I ran into while I was out, but now the world knows.
Oh, we're so thankful!!!
Now to figure out our housing situation ....
Evidently they had a teacher retire unexpectedly and Tim's taking over the position. It's at an elementary school and he's endorsed for middle and high school, so he'll teach under a temporary endorsement while getting his elementary endorsement.
I've known for two hours, but I've been away from home the whole time. It's just about killed me to not be able to share our good news!! I've told one stranger and a few Creekers I ran into while I was out, but now the world knows.
Oh, we're so thankful!!!
Now to figure out our housing situation ....
Friday, August 5, 2011
THE NEWEST RUNNER OF THE FAMILY
Tim took the little Ws to Wilsonville's Kids Fun Run last weekend while I was in Seattle. We didn't know of anyone else who was going, but they ended up running into several families we know and Rachelle, who was one of the ones there, sent us this picture of Naomi. Stinkin' cute!! I wonder how much faster she could have run without carrying the weight of all that non-aerodynamic hair?
I asked each of the kids how it went. Silas, in his box-checking way, let me know how he ranked for his age group. Devon, true to his nature, told me about some dance moves he picked up. Naomi, who is evidently a bit competitive, said "I smoked my boys". That would be her brothers, the ones she didn't run with.
I asked each of the kids how it went. Silas, in his box-checking way, let me know how he ranked for his age group. Devon, true to his nature, told me about some dance moves he picked up. Naomi, who is evidently a bit competitive, said "I smoked my boys". That would be her brothers, the ones she didn't run with.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
8/4/11 THANKFUL THURSDAY
I'm thankful for 80 degree days, even if it takes until August for them to arrive. Hot enough for shorts and tank tops, but not so hot you shrivel up and die.
What's something that you're thankful for?
What's something that you're thankful for?
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
BFM '11 - SEATTLE
The BFM, which stands for Big Fat Meetup, is an annual weekend away for women who met on a homeschooling forum that I'm part of. It has nothing to do with school and everything to do with laughing, eating, and playing for three nights and four days. The location changes every year and three years ago a string of financial miracles allowed me to go when it was in Huntington Beach. This year it was in Seattle and since it was close enough for me drive to we planned ahead for me to go. As it turned out, I ended up co-planning the weekend with my friend Heidi. Tim is currently unemployed, which puts a damper on vacations, but we'd already paid for the trip, so I went and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
I'll tell you a little about my trip, but I must confess that I have very few pictures. I don't know how I managed to come home with an almost empty camera, so I guess I'll be stealing pictures from friends who went and were more diligent about taking some.
I filled my van with three local-ish friends and headed north on Thursday morning, picked up Heidi (my co-planner), then went to our hotel, which was on Lake Union, to greet people as they arrived. Deana showed up with some booties she'd made for the 6th W. So thoughtful!
Some of the group went to Melting Pot for dinner and some of us ate from the rooftop of a building downtown (someone loaned their apartment to a member of our group for the weekend). I was in the rooftop group and we all bought our dinners at Whole Foods, then elevated into the Seattle skyline. Not only was the view amazing, but dinner was great, the company was fun, and I got to eat the best cheesecake in the entire world. This picture doesn't come remotely close to doing the view justice or showing what a gorgeous day it was, but I had to include it so that you could get an idea of what it was like.
We all met back at the hotel Thursday evening for chatting, snacking, and playing a game involving fun trivia about each of us. Heidi and I handed out bags filled with all sorts of goodies, including these totes with a logo our friend, another Heidi, designed and embroidered.
Aren't they cute?! The embroidery Heidi is the same one who has done some of my Ws, both embroidered and woven. We were also able to take the logo design and have it put on water bottles for everyone. So fun!
On Friday morning several of us met at Pike Place Market and spent a chunk of time shopping, eating, and visiting the gum wall. An attempt at taking the Underground Tour fell through, so a group of us headed to a Greek restaurant for lunch, then headed different directions. My group started at Pioneer Square and walked toward Seattle Center, stopping when the mood struck. The mood certainly struck when we came upon a gazillion trees with sweaters in Occidental Park. Hilarious!
Our group met at Ride the Ducks, which was highlight of scheduled events for me. So fun! Lots of historical information for the tour aspect, but also some good music, a funny captain, and lots of laughing as we rode an amphibious vehicle down the roads and through the waters of Seattle. Bonus points for getting to sit with Heidi, the co-planner variety!
Just a quick shot of the skyline from the middle of Lake Union taken while on our Duck Ride.
After our tour was done, we walked a couple blocks to Buca Di Beppo and inhaled a fantastic dinner. That night several of us hung out in the pool room, whether chatting around a table, swimming in the pool, or soaking in the hot tub.
Saturday morning was spent lounging around our room as people got ready for the day, then we all hopped on the Bainbridge Ferry. I ended up spending our time there with Thea. We split a gigantic panini, laughed hysterically as we tried on silly glasses, and found a few treasures as we browsed the shops. We ran into a couple BFMers on the ferry back to Seattle and kicked around with them on the waterfront as we killed time before dinner.
That day I scored two Ws! The blue one was from a shop on Bainbridge Island and the other is a type setting block that Thea found at an antique store. Pretty pleased with those two purchases!
Saturday night's dinner was at The Crab Pot, which was delicious. Some of the group went to do karaoke and the other part went back to the hotel. I'd had about 10 hours of sleep in two nights by that point and had walked countless miles over a few days, so I opted to head to the hotel and relax in the pool room with some of the people from our group before heading to bed.
Sunday morning we all met for breakfast in the hotel, then everyone headed for home. Leslie gave me these knit dishcloths, which I'm happy about. Someone else had made me some a few years ago, but I'm a dork and ruined them while washing sharp knives. Lesson learned and the new ones won't be used for that purpose.
The time away was physically exhausting, but otherwise totally refreshing. Of course, there are a million details I've left out, funny stories that won't ever be shared publicly, and loads of memories made. I'm so thankful I was able to go!!
I'll tell you a little about my trip, but I must confess that I have very few pictures. I don't know how I managed to come home with an almost empty camera, so I guess I'll be stealing pictures from friends who went and were more diligent about taking some.
I filled my van with three local-ish friends and headed north on Thursday morning, picked up Heidi (my co-planner), then went to our hotel, which was on Lake Union, to greet people as they arrived. Deana showed up with some booties she'd made for the 6th W. So thoughtful!
Some of the group went to Melting Pot for dinner and some of us ate from the rooftop of a building downtown (someone loaned their apartment to a member of our group for the weekend). I was in the rooftop group and we all bought our dinners at Whole Foods, then elevated into the Seattle skyline. Not only was the view amazing, but dinner was great, the company was fun, and I got to eat the best cheesecake in the entire world. This picture doesn't come remotely close to doing the view justice or showing what a gorgeous day it was, but I had to include it so that you could get an idea of what it was like.
We all met back at the hotel Thursday evening for chatting, snacking, and playing a game involving fun trivia about each of us. Heidi and I handed out bags filled with all sorts of goodies, including these totes with a logo our friend, another Heidi, designed and embroidered.
Aren't they cute?! The embroidery Heidi is the same one who has done some of my Ws, both embroidered and woven. We were also able to take the logo design and have it put on water bottles for everyone. So fun!
On Friday morning several of us met at Pike Place Market and spent a chunk of time shopping, eating, and visiting the gum wall. An attempt at taking the Underground Tour fell through, so a group of us headed to a Greek restaurant for lunch, then headed different directions. My group started at Pioneer Square and walked toward Seattle Center, stopping when the mood struck. The mood certainly struck when we came upon a gazillion trees with sweaters in Occidental Park. Hilarious!
Our group met at Ride the Ducks, which was highlight of scheduled events for me. So fun! Lots of historical information for the tour aspect, but also some good music, a funny captain, and lots of laughing as we rode an amphibious vehicle down the roads and through the waters of Seattle. Bonus points for getting to sit with Heidi, the co-planner variety!
Just a quick shot of the skyline from the middle of Lake Union taken while on our Duck Ride.
After our tour was done, we walked a couple blocks to Buca Di Beppo and inhaled a fantastic dinner. That night several of us hung out in the pool room, whether chatting around a table, swimming in the pool, or soaking in the hot tub.
Saturday morning was spent lounging around our room as people got ready for the day, then we all hopped on the Bainbridge Ferry. I ended up spending our time there with Thea. We split a gigantic panini, laughed hysterically as we tried on silly glasses, and found a few treasures as we browsed the shops. We ran into a couple BFMers on the ferry back to Seattle and kicked around with them on the waterfront as we killed time before dinner.
That day I scored two Ws! The blue one was from a shop on Bainbridge Island and the other is a type setting block that Thea found at an antique store. Pretty pleased with those two purchases!
Saturday night's dinner was at The Crab Pot, which was delicious. Some of the group went to do karaoke and the other part went back to the hotel. I'd had about 10 hours of sleep in two nights by that point and had walked countless miles over a few days, so I opted to head to the hotel and relax in the pool room with some of the people from our group before heading to bed.
Sunday morning we all met for breakfast in the hotel, then everyone headed for home. Leslie gave me these knit dishcloths, which I'm happy about. Someone else had made me some a few years ago, but I'm a dork and ruined them while washing sharp knives. Lesson learned and the new ones won't be used for that purpose.
The time away was physically exhausting, but otherwise totally refreshing. Of course, there are a million details I've left out, funny stories that won't ever be shared publicly, and loads of memories made. I'm so thankful I was able to go!!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
MENU - FIRST HALF OF AUGUST 2011
The first half of this month is a little crazy with extra people staying with us some days and half our family being out of town other days. Here's what the plan is.
BREAKFASTS
Tam's granola (crockpot) x7
oatmeal x5
breakfast pizza
bright day banana muffins (double batch, use some on camping trip)
wheat germ whole wheat buttermilk pancakes
baked oatmeal
SNACKS
produce
popcorn
DINNERS
leftovers x2
tacos x3
Mexican casserole/cornbread/salad
pasta salad
chili/cornbread
chicken & green bean stir fry/rice
sweet & sour chicken (trying it in the crockpot)/rice/strawberry, kiwi, & spinach salad
potato wedges/tomato slices/peas & corn
salmon/rice/salad
grilled Hawaiian chicken (or broiled, since grills are now forbidden here)/tropical salad/rice
cracked wheat & rice pilaf/veggie stir fry
Subway (being treated by company)
hot dogs/fruit
DESSERTS
birthday cake
ice cream
BREAKFASTS
Tam's granola (crockpot) x7
oatmeal x5
breakfast pizza
bright day banana muffins (double batch, use some on camping trip)
wheat germ whole wheat buttermilk pancakes
baked oatmeal
SNACKS
produce
popcorn
DINNERS
leftovers x2
tacos x3
Mexican casserole/cornbread/salad
pasta salad
chili/cornbread
chicken & green bean stir fry/rice
sweet & sour chicken (trying it in the crockpot)/rice/strawberry, kiwi, & spinach salad
potato wedges/tomato slices/peas & corn
salmon/rice/salad
grilled Hawaiian chicken (or broiled, since grills are now forbidden here)/tropical salad/rice
cracked wheat & rice pilaf/veggie stir fry
Subway (being treated by company)
hot dogs/fruit
DESSERTS
birthday cake
ice cream
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)