My little men

It was an early start to the day
              and a sweet one.
                                 

   doesn't take them long to start playing  .

and
then
comes
baking time

                              We are baking a little brownie to share

                                                    Watching the brownie rise

       one seems to prefer milk and pouring milk
                                              the other prefers the brownie

                        You have to admit it is a fun tea set - 
                                        Curious George

               always a willing helper.      then it is outside we go

                               Time to help Grampy....

                                               Here we come Grampy...

                  Watching while Grampy puts nets over the fruit trees. 
                                               And here comes Uncle D

                                               Time to play with Uncle D.

                                 That ball went so high..it landed up in the tree

               Time for a coffee break. 
                   real coffee and little short bread pups.
                                  

                                      How did that lid get into Mom's coffee?

                                            

  Busting some moves for Emily  and playing with Mr. Potato Head

                                              Thanks Emily.

                   Hungry again...........
                                  That calls for a trip to  
                                         The Burg   

       And now it is time to say goodbye
So, does it take 3 ( sometimes 4 ) adults to keep up with 2 little men under 4 years old?

  Maybe not,  but I am always  glad to share the joy !

It happened tonight...

Good News for about 150 little people

 It takes a while to get ready, and some shopping, but every year I look forward to  October 31

      These little people come to my door and smile.   I  take their  picture  and give them
                 a little bag of treats. There is also a gospel story inside each bag.

This year everyone got the same tract.  "The Rest of His Time"  By  our friend Berwick. 
So, I can explain there is a true story in each bag. And a calendar for 2013 ( that is new this year )

I try to give a "healthy" collection of sweets along with  the real treat.

This year was different.   Almost everyone smiled and said thank you. Some were very surprised at the size of the treat. Some were kind of excited and stepped right inside the house.  A couple refused to have their photo taken, but most just smiled...a couple said "cheese"  I am used to those cheesey smiles. I love them. 

Other    comments:
WOW
You have a nice garden
I like your house
Hey, there is a story inside. 
That is the best Mom
I am going to read the story   ( and that is what I love to hear )

 For many years a family that we babysat, would come and have cider with us.  Sometimes all four of them. Then it would be two, or three.  Then one.  One and a friend.   Last year, I think they forgot.
But I decided to  make the cider anyway.      It came in handy when  I was runny out of treat bags.   I hurried up and made 10 more, grabbed a little mug of cider and answered the door bell again.

Then it happened.   I saw her standing there.    That middle aged lady with the not so cute outfit. And her waist was a little big,  well not exactly trim.    She looked alot like someone I know.
 OH ! NO ! It was  me. I was looking in the mirror.     That was when I decided to leave the candy for the youngsters. I gave myself one more little sip of cider  ( for some reason, that is all that was left ).

  And just to celebrate the final group of 5, before  shutting off the lights  ( not enough candy left to make a decent treat bag )  I allowed myself a smidgen of chocolate. 

Now these little men did not come to my door, but we were at a party together yesterday and since they had the cutest smiles, I thought I would add them to my story. The little German lad ( with the stein treat bag )  is Sebastian and the fiesty Fireman is Tanner. 

I live a very exciting life.

Just a piece of Chocolate cake please

We were having lunch together at the Boarding House and all I ordered was a bowl of soup and a piece of chocolate cake.  I had been looking at the menu for a few minutes waiting for Renae,  so by the time I ordered I was very ready.  Ready for chocolate cake.

"OH, I'm sorry, that was yesterdays special. Today we have carrot cake."

NO.  I make a great carrot cake, so I never order it at a restaurant, especially so close to Easter when I will be making it for sure.  ( this year it just might  be a flop ) 

I wasn't rude, but I think she knew I was disappointed, since I just got soup.

That was Wednesday.
On Saturday we were dining, and I do mean dining on the 16th floor, at  Holt's.   Now that is a story for later.   But I mentioned my experience at The Boarding House  and got some sympathy.

The  following Wednesday ....
                               .Now that is what I call a Chocolate Cake ( with the letter K   )  

 And it was delicious .  And the second piece for breakfast the next morning was also very delish!

Thank you Tina. You will always be our Celebration Cake Princess.  

I live an exciting life .

Not your usual garage sale

IT all starts with memories from our last sale - we have one every year ( usually)
Last year was great!
I can't remember how much we earned, but we had great food and fun. And we had Jane and Jeanne.
Jane was visiting from England. Her visit was unexpected, but she played along very well, protecting
merchandise that anyone thought was free. Jeanne, who is now is Honduras and wishes she was here, was our display artist. It is all about presentation.
So with that in mind we were set.
Barb always comes to spend the night. That is fun right there.
Laura is moving, so she had good stuff to add, and good customer conversation.

Check List:
Ad- check
Signs- check
Coffee - check
This year we added a canopy in front of the garage.
By Six Friday morning I was up and had my first cup of coffee, and
starting to put 79 pieces together to erect our canopy. Single handedly I had it 90% ready when Darrell came and offered to help with the final touches. I let him get in the act.
The sale is now open.
Our first sale
And our first ever email sale. A friend had been over on Thursday for a BSF luncheon and noticed a couple water dispensers. She forgot to check on them before leaving, so she sent her request via email.
PLUS, when she came to pick them up she brought 6 of the cutest muffins with fresh raspberries on top.
Our favorite customers, Denise, Vivian and Emily. They came across the street at least 3 times, purchasing several items.
Our biggest customer, was Collette $ 61.25
People always want to buy your display items. Like our antique coat rack. Never. The table with our adding machine. No. The tool that is peeking out from the sheets hung along the wall. You know better than that .
Or can we have this $20 coat for $2. ( not this time )
Each day Barb made her special sandwiches ( that is not why I invite her, but she knows better than to come without them)
The sun shone for most of Friday and all day Saturday ( 80 in Seattle!)
All together we sold $725.00 - a record!
So thank you
Nita - for putting the Craig's ad together
Darrell - making and posting 14 garage sale signs
Imhoffs - the canopy
The Lord - good weather, good sales and good times
See you next year....