December moments

Hi  Marti wishing you more happy memories 



They come
     and they go 
          those moments you wait all year to enjoy

so in a few photos 
     A few of those moments
                 (almost wordless )

Happy 79 th birthday at Nick's 

Christmas Eve with family 

One of three trees.... maybe my favorite  

Stringing popcorn 

Major cooking and baking and fun  

Dessert
coconut cake  and coffee  

Elf
P J's
then the movie 

Good night 

Candlelight and Carols in the neighborhood 

The Day has finally arrived  

Then my phone died again.... 

something sweet happened

It happened this morning
but
first the "background"

For many years I have been blessed ( spoiled ) with my cleaning princess Tammy.
Then she moved
Forced to find a replacement
   ( but who could take Tammy's place...she cleans, does plumbing, electrical, computer
          well, she can fix almost anything )
Our community has a newsletter..Next Door.  there were some posts about cleaning needs  and responses.   Four names,  and one was quick to answer and at my door and ready to start tomorrow.
Kind of took me by surprise and without a list of questions for her,  she gave me an estimate and her smile and, well,  Elizabeth is my new cleaning princess


That was August 1, and I am loving Elizabeth.   We do not chat very much, she works fast and hard and that works out fine.   She seems very wise for her years ... younger than my youngest child, and she has 4 children ( like me )




This morning, Elizabeth came two days early because she leaves tomorrow, Sunday for two weeks in Mexico, celebrating her in-laws 50th wedding anniversary.  She was telling me about her trip and then she asked me to pray for her.    I said I would be happy to pray for her.
She moved close to me and said " Pray for me right now"   
We moved closer and eyes a little swimming, I prayed for her ..her family... her trip... her life.



( Elizabeth is taking the place of Tammy in a new way...I am blessed )

December calendar

Fist comes


Trimming my tree...
BSF leader friends from way back
   

After being a leader for a few years, I decided I would reach out and try to get to know some of the other ladies a little better.  So, I picked the cream of the crop and invited them to a Christmas luncheon.   Darrell had put the tree up and I had scattered decorations around and made lunch.
One thing was missing the tree ornaments. So, when the ladies arrived I asked them to help and that is what has happened every year since.   I now call it my Trim My Tree Party.

Each year seems a little different.
This year was a smaller group, several had other commitments
  also, a new friend was added ( she makes great scones )

These two are Ole Favorites
one is just a little more weary than usual 

So, December celebrations can begin...

every year is different

and Thanksgiving 2019 was different

the guest list

the food

and even the beginning.

Yes !   Torches to light the path

Me, the hostess, in my pumpkin apron

Welcome
Christian, Anita, Tanner
( they co-hosted)
Damon
Asha and Arun
( they brought Karthik, but then took him back to his grandparents)
Jim and Shirley

Then  a little football...competition??   

Go Tannerteam !!

Family, neighbors ( now friends )

Did you notice the table?   Turkey,cranberry sauces,  ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, Brussels sprouts, pineapple, spicy southern spinach delight,  gravy, pickles, olives,rolls, butter, jam, sparkling cider, coffee, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, whipped cream and ice cream.



Very special time 
Much to be thankful for
         beyond food
               It was great
                   But, fellowship is far above


Blessings abound 

Changes

Life is full of changes 

Like downtown Seattle !


I drove downtown today ( Seattle will always be downtown, even though I live in Bellevue, and it is growing and growing ) 

The first change.... my old favorite parking lot, across from Macy's, now has the first three floors for rental cars.   And the price increased.  OK, so I didn't make the early bird  for $9.00... but for less than four hours   $19.00.
That is one reason I will not be returning.

The sky bridge to Macy's leads to an elevator that takes you down to the 3rd floor.  What happened  to  all the other 4 floors of shopping ? 

And what happened to what used to be the most beautiful ladies room in downtown Seattle? The airport has more appeal

First happy encounter... meeting my friend MaryAnn.  Planned.  On time.   

No star on Macy's...but I heard it is coming. Even though Macy's is closing, Amazon is going to take over the building and the tradition.

Primary mission: lunch and conversation. So we head out of Macy's and down Pine 

There is always a carousel for the holidays.  But it was still in pieces.  We keep walking 

Next stop Nordstrom.  
 This is the old Frederick and Nelson store.    Eight floors of everything you might ever need. The door man, and a row of elevators with people who operated them.  Sales people, who helped you.  Paul Bunyan Cafe in the basement.  Upstairs, 8th floor sit down restaurant ..The Rhododendron Room ?Also a little child care, while you ate...they make little necklaces out of straws..

Back to the real world.  It is now Nordstrom's and only 3 floors of goods...
We pause on the first floor..handbags. We chat with the salesman about the robbery in Bellevue Nordstrom.   He showed us the type of handbags that had been "lifted"  $4,000 and up.  They are real animal skin.  They are Gucci Zumi.   Now I know and now you know. 

That is the Gucci display on the far wall. I touched a bag, it had a $10,000 price tag. 

On to the 2nd floor   

The black for MaryAnn,  the pink for me.  

By the way.. those are real flowers  in the ladies room at Nordstrom's  



Final stop at the Cafe.   The food is always good, but I have to say,  the service is just not like it used to be.  Oh well.  MaryAnn and me, we just wanted to talk  ( the pumpkin pecan dessert was delicious)


All good things come to an end.  
But wait...is that piano music, live piano music?
Yes !  And wait, is that Joe Rojo, the pianist who played for years at Nordstrom in Bellevue?
Yes!   He told us that he was the first and now the last to play the piano for Nordstrom.   He still looked the same.  Well, he said, I am 58.  

My trip downtown was now worthwhile,  very worthwhile.
Hearing a favorite, Joe,
and being with my friend MaryAnn

Shameless selfie...


By the time I got back to my car it was raining and then hail ... lots and lots of hail... then sunshine and home.


I live an exciting life.

all in a days work / life

It started last week

a little leak under the sink


Handyman hubby put a can under the sink

Smiling

I told my friend Kim and guess what?  She has a leak under the sink, too and her hubby put a can under the sink too!

Smiling

Then, on Wednesday night, my friend Mary said the same thing...her hubby does not bend easily, so he just shoved a can under the sink.

Smiling

Then on Thursday evening, just before company dinner and then Bible Study, a little more water was collecting in the can
Hubby said he would take care of it tomorrow.

Smiling
until
just after our company left, I was minding my own business, washing the dishes and
BANG under the sink

The garbage disposal dropped...right off the sink !

That was about 10:00 last night.
Hubby said he would deal with it in the morning.

Today, hubby had errands lined up and it was about 1:00 before he got under the sink.  But, I had texted a few friends.   I know someone was praying.  30 minutes flat and we are back in business 

Smiling 

Up and running
Keeping a tray under the sink for a day or two to make sure.

Smiling 


We live an exciting life

Friends / Family

Hey..

What good is a story without a picture?

What good is a lousy picture without an explanation?

Overlake Hospital on a dark and stormy night 

I admit, a very lousy picture, but it is the only one I took last night.

We had  said good night to my wonderful friend Judy Cantrell... she just got her first pacemaker !   Should be up and full of energy real soon.

Hubby and I headed down to the lobby.  
First stop ladies room.   
Next stop, window shopping at the gift shop  ( it was closed ).   Hubby had engaged in conversation with Phoenix  " Lady in the lobby" 
While looking in the window, I spotted a reason to come back when the gift shop is open  a plague that reads

  " Let your light shine "

I read it to hubby and Lady of the lobby said
"Oh, you must be a Christian, so am I ".  
This began a 95 % one sided dialogue that entertained us for the next half hour.  She was going to call for a ride to her "shelter" and we offered to take her there.  She had been in the ER for 5 hours, and though we do not know why, we do know lots of other information


Born in 1945.  Raised by a Jewish family. She  got engaged to a Jewish lad, but when he found out she was a Gentile, he took off for Israel.  But, he came back 20 years later ( married ) had a mid life crisis.. seen the Passion Play , so now he is  "my brother".  Served as a missionary in Thailand. 
Was a greeter at New Life, but it is too far away, she  doesn't have a car , so now she goes to Valley Bible. 

A new name, Hope,  Risen out of the ashes of death to life forevermore 

resurrection hour I have died so many times you know and God has  resurrected me so if you've got something to do, do it.  

Quite a bit more but, 

I think we can all agree, that enough of the conversation has been recorded. 

And, I am sure I will always remember the Lady in the Lobby,  and I hope I will spot her again in Bellevue.  

for me?  at the end of the third day, no one noticed my new hair color or the lovely watch pendant that hubby gave to me about 50 years ago.  So, I can't tell anyone that the watch doesn't work right now, but is very pretty.    

and

as you know

I live an exciting life

yesterday, very exciting !

Found !!

Rejoice with me  !!

I have found my lost coat !    Well, my friend Zena found it, in her closet !   I had missed it for a few days and then started calling friends, family, restaurants... and then Zena called me...
""I was looking in the closet and saw something red. I don't have anything red, and then I recognized it was yours "

I harbored the thought that maybe I loved my red jacket too much.  
Then... 
I was pretty excited when she called.  I drove to her house quickly and we had coffee and cookies to celebrate !  


I live an exciting life  

sleep over

Love it when there is a school holiday and little man spends the day and sometimes night with us.

This adventure started Sunday evening at the Burg.... and it started with a bang....well, actually...silence...
Found out that Sabrina does not like listening to Christmas CDs when the engine is not running.   It seems the battery is not happy.
Thankfully, this sort of adventure happens often at the Burg and they were well equipped  to get us running again. 

We were a little chilly when we got home, but Grampy had a great fire going and that is where little man likes to sleep.  On the floor, in the rec room, in a sleeping bag, close to the wood stove.  And after watching Elf and eating popcorn, that is what he did.

He slept in until 7:30.   We read the story of Jonah.  He ate 2 waffles and then he prepared a little treat for me....carrot soup.

Now it is time to do some baking.   He brought his own supplies

We each made a batch of Fisher scones.   One of us added M & M's the other, craisins.

Now it is time to wrap some up and take them to neighbors.

First stop,  youngest neighbor ... his grandma made me coffee and his grandpa served treats, ( two portions of tiramisu which little man consumed promptly )   they encouraged us to stay, but we had made other plans.

A trip to Bellevue Square..free cheese sample at Beecher's.. lunch at  McDonald's.   The play area, where we met our friends Anna and Sophia.  Then to the Lego store

Such amazing things at this place.  Bought one stocking stuffer and our friend Anna bought one for little man, too.    We said our goodbyes.

Our final stop, 3rd floor Nordstrom's...the balloon.. 

Little man also brought donuts in his suitcase.  A friend had sent $$ to buy a dozen birthday donuts... his special day is the 25 th. 

One tray of scones to a nice couple next door.  She had just had both knees replaced. Friends had brought her fudge.  It was very good.  

The boys across the street were not home, but their mom was sure they would appreciate the scones  ( especially the ones with blue and green M & M's, no doubt )

On our way to Bartells,  we stopped at another Sophia's.  She was delighted to see us and she looked hungry, so...


Pokemon is the attraction at Bartells... one pack of cards $4.49 


And got home in time to put a few more pieces in  our puzzle.

Keeping pace with an almost 8 year old..... might be hitting the sack a little early tonight.      
         
 Would do it again, anytime






p.s.  in case you heard the news.... we were at the same Nordstrom today where two women stole about 10  handbags worth $4,000 to $6,000 EACH.    10:30 this morning, just before we arrived. 
Yes.   I heard right.....You heard right...  $4,000 for a purse !!!!  





I live an exciting life.

Hi Marti...

I am pretty sure you feel the same way I do about what I saw at the mall today...

I kept seeing those legs...and feeling  colder....

Then she came along 

Am I the only one who covers legs in cold weather.

or...is is just because I don't have  cute legs ?

the truth comes out

Just when you think you are a mild mannered person....

Your phone needs a new battery... you go to the apple store. You ask if you need an appointment to buy a battery.  They say, yes, come back in an hour and 45 minutes.
You come back and they check out your phone and they agree, you need a new battery.
Then they say, come back tomorrow we are going to be closing soon.


Then what happened ?!?!

I don't want to talk about it.

happy Halloween

on the run... just off the press...

Yes, 152 treat bags ready with a true story included 

getting in the mood

                                Happy Halloween  

First group....very polite boys
biggest smile lives across the street
another lad recognized Darrell as the traffic guy on school days
All said thank you !! 

Two girls...so happy and found their picture from last year

several very happy girls took photos of the photos

Guys came and stood there
I said " Aren't you going to say something?"
"OH,  Happy Halloween "
Then, they saw the photo door and took pictures 

two very sweet girls saw themselves and were so happy

then their mom came and checked out the door display 

                 Mostly last years guests...but a few from years past 

One large group of kids came and one fellow said
    " Why don't you just leave the candy on the doorstep and..
that was when I interrupted him and said
 " Then you would not be able to say Thank You"
Pause..."Thank you "  

One sweet family ( Dad, Mom, twin girls ) came and chatted. He said he grew up here in Cherry Crest and now lives in that house. He remembered buying ice cream here ! 
OH...I remember you and your brother....hugged..and then they posed for a photo

Welcome back Sam ! 

Last guest arrived at 9:30...kept the lights on because I still had 46 bags of candy.

So, total for 2019,   106 Guests at my door 

It was a good year