Happy New Year !!

I am still here! i have been extremely busy and stressed, so I have not been in the computer room at all. Poor baby thinks I dont love him anymore!

Our Brother was acting kinda spacey on Christmas, so he went to the Dr, and he ordered a CT Scan of his brain. Then Friday, the Dr called and had him go back in on Sat for another scan, because he saw something he didnt like. Today Mike had his third chemo treatment and was sposed to see his Dr for his brain scan, but wont now until Wednesday. We spent all day in the oncology clinic today. I am pooped! just sitting and worrying drains ya.

I drove up to see Tim yesterday and he looks really good. He starts work at Meridian Tires on Wednesday and MAY get to come home for a few hours on Sunday! Yippee!! All he will be doing though is going through his van and seeing what all he has left. Not much that I can tell.

The sun finally came out today! and tonight it is due to get below freezing, but still no snow.

I will be posting very sparely in the next three weeks, as I have a ton of stuff to get ready for the Playhouse. Just like me to wait until the last minute. THen I have to get started on prep for My show February 3-4 Auditions. SOcial Security by Andrew Bergman. FUNNY SHOW! It opens April 3, and runs through the 18th.

I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year. and Thank you for understanding our absence! I think of all of you every day! I Really do. It is so nice to have friends who stick by you through all the rough times.

Happy New Year!!

More Fun Quizzes at QuizPox.com

Free at last!

Tim is now a semi-free man! He is now in Work release, but he can wear real clothes and eat real food, and see his mommie when he wants to, and can have phone calls, and can eat homemade fudge!

He went to Bellingham last Tuesday, and Wednesday I went up and picked him up and took him to Wal-Mart to but some real clothes. He lost everything he had, so he is really starting over. I had been hanging on tho his tax refund check, so we used that to buy him a wardrobe! It was hilarious! We walked in the door and he started pitching clothes into the cart. We only had 2 hours to get there, shop and get back, so it was a speed run! But now he has a warm coat, waterproof shoes, UNDERWEAR! and several changes of clothes and a BELT! He was holding his pants up with the cord that was on the bottom of the jacket that they gave him when he got out.

He looks good, he feels good, he has a great attitude, and he is excited about getting a job and getting back to earning some money. He has to find a job, and goes to at least four places a day. He has to walk or ride the bus everyday, no cars.

When we pulled into Wal-Mart he just sat there in the seat. When I looked over and asked why arent you getting out, he looked surprised, and said "Oh WOW, I can open the door myself!" Little things...

You cant see his beautiful blue eyes but they are there. He is 6'5" and 260, so he is not a little boy any more!

I pray everyday that he continues on this road to a normal LEGAL life! He says he is. I have all the faith in the world that he will. (crossed fingers)

He can NOT come home for Christmas, because he does not have a job yet. He earns 20 hours of "social Time" for every 32 hours he works, so maybe by New Years! I can go up anytime though, and it is only 60 miles, and 1 1/2 hours away, and NO ferry ride! SO it is real easy to get there. WHEW! Only takes 1/2 a tank of gas too! So I think I will take him a prime rib sandwich on Wednesday. I am such a nice Mommie huh?

buttons...

I was shopping through the markdown bin at the Scrapbook store the other day and I eavesdropped on a conversation between two women at the counter. THe store was clearing out stock preparing for a move. Everything was slashed at least 60 % off the regular price. THe store owner was telling about her former father in law who was a button salesman, and had a WONDERFUL demo box. When He died, her mother in law gave the button collection to her. The woman she was talking with was quite a bit older, and had been well-traveled and had buttons from all over the world.

That brought back a memory to me. When I was a little girl, we moved every two years, as Dad was in the NAVY, and we went overseas and back and up the coast and down the coast. We drove from San DIego to San Fransisco which was our sailing point. We would then come back into San Fransisco and then either drive up to Washington or Down to San Diego, depending on the duty station.

We usually had to spend about a week in the Bay area waiting to get the car out of the import yard, and then gather all our baggage, and our express shipments, and then hit the road. Aunt Dutch lived in Salinas, Calif. which is just down the coast from San Fransisco, so we always stayed there with her until Dad was able to get the car, get it ready to drive, load it up and check out.

Aunt Dutch was a very sweet old lady just like you would picture a little old lady in the early 50's. (she had to be all of 50!) OLD huh? Her only child was the same age as my Mother, so there were no little girl things in the house for us to play with.

Phyllis and I had to make do with what we could find. One of the things that we always got to play with was her sewing supplies. She had a HUGE glass jar full of buttons. Buttons of all sizes and colors, buttons of all shapes and material.
We would dump the button out on the floor and then try to match them up, the one that could come up with the most '4's of a kind, would win. We would then sew them together, so Aunt Dutch would know what matched what. The buttons were always a wonder to me, Where did they come from, what is a FROG? Does a toggle count if you dont have the other side? Plastic was not a factor then, as most of the buttons were either metal or shell or wood or glass.

Now I am much older than My Aunt was when I played with her button jar, and I too have a button stash. Mine is inan old Currier and Ives cookie tin from a Christmas long long ago. When ever I am getting rid of clothing that the kids had outgrown, or worn out, I ALWAYS cut the buttons off and put them in the can. Now mind you when ever I MADE something new, I always bought the thread, zippers, and Buttons the same time that I bought the material and the pattern, so I never used the old buttons.

Now I am in a point in my life where I could be doing something with all of these old and unusual buttons and as I dig through the tin looking for something, I notice the buttons that were on DOnnas first dress, or on her halloween Costume. I find TIms' cowboy shirt buttons, I find Jim's peacoat buttons, and soforth.

Just after I came back from the scrapbook store, I started googling buttons, and found tons of sites where you can find buttons of all shapes sizes, colors and materials. Sites full of old antique buttons, sites full of new plastic or glass buttons, And all of this brings me right back to Aunt Dutch and wondering what ever happened to that huge jar of buttons? I wonder if Gerald Edward knew what the value of that Jar was? Not in money, but in memories...probably not. Sigh!

BAD Week!

I am sorry for not updating, but things have been pretty grim around here.

We are in the grips of the nasty weather that Washington is known for...gray, cold, drippy, (not rainy,just drippy) dark and depressing. So when you are prone to depression any way, You just want to hibernate, snuggle under the covers, turn the blanket on high, grab the remote or a good book, and let all the animals jump in bed with you, and just HIDE!

I still have my house to clean before Christmas, and I just dont feel like it! I feel fine, but I am COLD! I am just shivering. I went swimming on Monday and the pool was even cold because the heater was out, and they had just gotten it fixed. It is hard to get motivated when you are chilled to the bone. Wednesday I did not go, as I did not want to go from cold house to cold pool! (BRRRRR)

Friday my Brother Mike got sick and had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital and he was admitted. He could not keep anything on his tummy. He goes in for his third Chemo treatment this next week, and I am so worried that he wont be able to tolerate it and they will have to stop.

I am not taking this well at all. I raised him, until he was thirteen, when I left home to start my life with Jim, and I was clear across the country. I had wanted a baby brother for years, and when I was 10 I got one. I have loved him since the day he was born. ANd yesterday I lost it. I just had to close myself in and just mourn.
I know things will get worse, and I worry so much about him and Sherry. Phyllis is keeping track of his progress on a site she created for him on caringbridge.com.
(I would link you here, but the link logo is gone from my posting page for some reason. No pictures either. If you go to Phyllis' site www.lifeonwhidbey.blogspot.com she has all the links there. You need to sign in and register, and I have not been able to access it, so it may need some tweeking, or it may be my dying computer!

ANYWAY!!

I appreciate all of you that are continuing to stop by and check on me.

oh GADS! I am watching EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION, and they are in Seattle dealing with the rain! Yes folks it really does rain that much down there. On to another week. Be safe!!

YAY!!!!

I'm getting a SON for Christmas. Tim got word last week that he will be transfered from Olympic COrrections Center, to a work release house in Bellingham. He will be going sometime next week, but they are not allowed to say when.

I will know when I get the phone call, that he is in work release, and when I can come see him. He MIGHT be able to come home for Christmas Dinner. Bellingham is only an hour's drive away, and no ferries to deal with, so It will be easy for me to get there.

I am so relieved!! Now to get him through the next 6 months and then on to a full time job! I guess being a Mother never stops! He sounds so UP! he swears that he will NEVER do anything wrong again. We shall see. I have faith in him and Told him so, so Hopefully hw will not dissappoint me. I think he grew up quite a bit in there.

My Brother Mike started his Chemo last week, had two in hospital treatments, and came home with a bag strapped to him. He goes back on Dec 17Th for another treatment. He is feeling a lot better, and since he was put on antidepressants, his mood seems a lot happier too. At least it sounds like he has some hope now where before he had NONE. I know this is just buying him time, but My God, 3 years plus is a long time for a miracle to happen.

My husband died giving himself an insulin shot, so he never even saw it coming and left a lot undone. At least Mike has some time to do what he needs to do, and plan for his ending. Hopefully there will be a cure or a remission, and hewill have many more years. Cancer is such an EVIL Beast!

With everything that has been going on, I forgot to make Christmas Cards this year! So some of you will be getting an e-card and a promise that I will not forget you next year. I feel so terrible about that! I remembered it today! SO even if I got started tonight, there is no way that I could get them made, mailed and paid for this month. You will all just have to forgive me.

NOw to re-decorate the bottom of the tree, as I hear Schroeder in there knocking the lower ornaments off again! I forgot about having a kitten too. ACK!!

Got Milk?...

Last week, Western Washington got slammed with a 1-2-3 punch from Mother Nature. First we had cold and snow, none of which stuck here, but PILED in the mountains. THen came the wind...129 MPH clocked at Bay City, Wa, on the coast. We got slammed too, but not that high! THen came the rain! 5 " in Seattle and lower Pugert Sound around Tacoma and Olympia, and the coast.

We live on an Island in the middle of Puget SOund, right in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. WHat this means is that the warm moisture laden winds hit the olympics nd dump all the rain on the western and southern slopes and by the time it comes around to the North and down the Strait of Juan De Fuca, it is just really high winds. Whidbey Island and most of the San Juan Islands only get around 17" of rain a year. So while we were listening to the weather reports of the rain falling and the floods starting, we were sitting in sunshine, tied down to keep from blowing away.

The rains hit the deep snow in the mountains, and soaked the snow pack causing avalanches to close North Cascade passes, Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie pass which are our major E-W highways. THe rain then flooded the rivers in the lowlands, THe Chehalis, and rivers south of us, covering I-5 over 10 feet deep for over 20 miles. THat pretty much shuts off our trade routes. Highway 101 which runs along the coast from Mexico to Canada was closed in many parts around the Olympics due to fallen trees and mud slides. So we had no supplies coming in from the rest of the country.

THe shelves in stores were getting rather empty.

TOday they reopened I-5 after the Army Corps of Engineers knocked a hole in a levy and allowed the water to go back into the river and drain I-5. THere were semi trucks lined up for MILES waiting to get through. THey finally got through about 2 hours ago, bring milk, and diapers and water and food to THe Puget SOund Area.

We were not affected as much as Grays Harbor and Pacific COunty were. THey were flooded out of their homes, and left with out electricity due to the high winds. Trees are down every where, and the main power lines from the Bonneville Dam blew down also. It is really pretty grim there.

My lights did not even blink through the winds, I think the last storm and outage did in all the trees and branches and weak lines so that we are ok for a few months. Maybe..

Fresh Milk sure tastes good, and I am sure that the major malls are glad that their Christmas Supplies are finally able to get through.

It seems that we always have a major punch from Mama just before the holidays...usually the wind and flooding in the mountains, but this one was different and slammed the southwestern part of the state right where they hurt the most. THey are already the most economically challenged part of the state, due to the ban on logging and fishing, so what they lost will hurt them harder than what we lost. The Seattle Area has come through though like they always do, and have already sent trucks full of supplies and blankets to Aberdeen and Hoquiam, and the power crews are working hard to get the main lines back up.

All of the islands are secure. Ya know there is a distinct advantage to living on an Island...we float in floods. ;)

and Mary Lou in Texas...send me your email again please? (i lost it again :( )

The measuring Wall...

As we were growing up, it was very common for Mom to line us up about once a year and place a book on our head, then push us up against the door jamb and make a mark where our head stopped and the book began. Then she put the date and our name right next to the mark. Sometimes she would put our age also, but usually not.

We were a Navy Family, and we moved at LEAST every two years, so there were not too many measuring marks left behind on the door. However, there WERE many doors left behind with measuring marks on them.

When Mike was about 10 we moved into an old run down Victorian house in Coupeville. Dad had since retired from the Navy, so we were staying put...sort of. Mom and then I marked Mike's growth every six months or so.

We were never ones to ruin the ambience of the house with a fresh coat of paint, so the marks were there for all to see. WHen I was married, and then a mother, and then a SINGLE Mother, I moved back home, and added DOnna's name to the measuring wall. We would have to hold her up, but she was added there with the rst of the family. SHe grew, and Mike Grew, and the dates passed another date as the kids grew.

Mom and Dad moved out of that house, (maybe because it needed painting...)and into another. THe old VIctorian was sold for a song, I think to the tune of 35,000. The new owners put a LOT of money into refurbishing the Bones and the inside of that house, and we thought it was sad that the measuring wall would be gone.

One day while Mom was sitting in her usual spot at the corner of the Bar at Seeleys Tavern, a couple walked in. Mom, being her usual outgoing self started talking, and discovered that the couple was the one who bought the house. THe lady said that she enjoyed all the history that was ensconced in those walls, and mentioned the fact that there was a measuring wall on the door jamb and wondered what ever happened to the people measured there. She told Mom that she thought it was so enchanting that she left it totally as is, the only part of the house that was not painted over. THe score marks from the measuring instrument,(sometimes a pocketknife, sometimes an ice pick,) still intact, even though the names were fading. Mike and DOnna and the rest of the family had lived on in the history of that house.

I am sure that it has been painted over by now, as this story took place over 35 years ago. THere are new people in the house,and it is once again for sale, although I am sure that they want substantially more than 36,000! Last I heard it was over 1,000,000!!

There are older people living in it and if they still measure, I am sure it looks something like this...


Sorry, I just HAD to. (Snicker...) The story is real though!

Larry Nelson...A Cup Of Christmas Tea

One of my favorite radio personalities was KOMO AM 1000's Larry Nelson. He had a deep musical voice that most women in the morning were in love with. Larry would recite poetry, play wonderful music and banter with his listeners. It was a wonderful Program. Every Christmas, Larry Would read this poem with his musical voice, and the world would come to a screeching halt until it was finished. He backed it with sound effects and christmas music. By the time he was finished, there was not a dry eye in the Pacific Northwest. He did this every year. By the time I left for Adak, Alaska, he was advertising when he would be playing it, so people would be sure to listen. Traffic pulled over, work stopped and everyone listened to A Cup Of Christmas Tea. It was magical.

The radio station has since changed it's format to news only, and Larry has been put out to pasture. I hear his voice every once in awhile advertising Dux Beds or whatever. CHristmas just isn't the same without him. My mornings aren't either. I wonder if KOMO really knows what they have done. pity no one will tell them. Pity no one would listen anyway. I still every Christmas think of that magic moment when The whole Puget Sound area halted and heard a little bit of Christmas in the air...sigh.

I wrote that several years ago, and thought it warranted re-publishing. Larry Nelson died today. The outpouring of tributes and memories has overwhelmed KOMO's website. They exceeded their bandwidth! An ABC affiliate news station, and it was swamped! Larry died of Lung Cancer.

The people that were able to get in and post on their webpage, all had the same memories of how much a part of their lives he was. I woke up listening to him tell in awe about the Berlin Wall falling. He took THE BREAKFAST TABLE to Berlin and broadcast with the chip, chip chip of the wall being hammered down reverberating in the background. I think that is the one moment in History that I will always remember.

The week before Christmas, he would schedule the program with STAN BORENSON, the Swedish accordian player, who cracked everyone up with his witty songs. He would also play SIX WHITE BOOMERS, and STOP THE CALVARY, and of course he would replay A Cup Of Christmas Tea. Tonight the radio station KOMO AM 1000 played it again, and of course there was not a dry eye in the Sound! He was wonderful.

Rest well Lar...You will be missed.



A Cup of Christmas Tea
by Tom Hegg



The log was in the fireplace, all spiced and set to burn
At last the yearly Christmas race was in the clubhouse turn.
The cards were in the mail, all the gifts beneath the tree
And 30 days reprieve till VISA could catch up with me.

Though smug satisfaction seemed the order of the day
Something still was nagging me and would not go away
A week before I got a letter from my old great Aunt
It read: Of course I'll understand completely if you can't
But if you find you have some time how wonderful if we
Could have a little chat and share a cup of Christmas tea.


She'd had a mild stroke that year which crippled her left side
Though house bound now my folks had said it hadn't hurt her pride
They said: She'd love to see you. What a nice thing it would be
For you to go and maybe have a cup of Christmas tea.


But boy! I didn't want to go. Oh, what a bitter pill
To see and old relation and how far she'd gone downhill
I remembered her as vigorous, as funny and as bright
I remembered Christmas Eves when she regaled us half the night.


I didn't want to risk all that. I didn't want the pain.
I didn't need to be depressed. I didn't need the strain.
And what about my brother? Why not him? She's his aunt, too!
I thought I had it justified, but then before I knew
The reasons not to go I so painstakingly had built
Were cracking wide and crumbling in an acid rain of guilt.


I put on boots and gloves and cap, shame stinging every pore
And armed with squeegee, sand and map, I went out my front door.
I drove in from the suburbs to the older part of town
The pastels of the newer homes gave way to gray and brown.


I had that disembodied feeling as the car pulled up
And stopped beside the wooden house that held the Christmas cup.
How I got up to her door I really couldn't tell...
I watched my hand rise up and press the button of the bell.


I waited, aided by my nervous rocking to and fro
And just as I was thinking I should turn around and go
I heard the rattle of the china in the hutch against the wall
The triple beat of two feet and a crutch came down the hall.
The clicking of the door latch and the sliding of the bolt
And a little swollen struggle popped it open with a jolt.


She stood there pale and tiny, looking fragile as an egg
I forced myself from staring at the brace that held her leg.
And though her thick bifocals seemed to crack and spread her eyes
Their milky and refracted depths lit up with young surprise.
Come in! Come in! She laughed the words. She took me by the hand
And all my fears dissolved away as if by her command.
We went inside and then before I knew how to react
Before my eyes and ears and nose was Christmas past, alive, intact!


The scent of candied oranges, of cinnamon and pine,
The antique wooden soldiers in their military line,
The porcelain Nativity I'd always loved so much,
The Dresden and the crystal I'd been told I mustn't touch.
My spirit fairly bolted like a child out of class
And danced among the ornaments of calico and glass.


Like magic I was six again, deep in a Christmas spell
Steeped in the million memories the boy inside knew well.
And here among old Christmas cards so lovingly displayed
A special place of honor for the ones we kids had made.
And there, beside her rocking chair, the center of it all
My great Aunt stood and said how nice it was that I had come to call.


I sat and rattled on about the weather and the flu
She listened very patiently then smiled and said, "What's new?"
Thoughts and words began to flow. I started making sense
I lost the phony breeziness I use when I get tense.
She was still passionately interested in everything I did.
She was positive. Encouraging. Like when I was a kid.
Simple generalities still sent her into fits
She demanded the specifics. The particulars. The bits.


We talked about the limitations that she'd had to face
She spoke with utter candor and with humor and good grace.
Then defying the reality of crutch and straightened knee
On wings of hospitality she flew to brew the tea.
I sat alone with feelings that I hadn't felt in years.
I looked around at Christmas through a thick hot blur of tears.


And the candles and the holly she'd arranged on every shelf
The impossibly good cookies she still somehow baked herself.
But these rich and tactile memories became quite pale and thin
When measured by the Christmas my great Aunt kept deep within.
Her body halved and nearly spent, but my great Aunt was whole
I saw a Christmas miracle, the triumph of a soul.


The triple beat of two feet and a crutch came down the hall
The rattle of the china in the hutch against the wall.
She poured two cups. She smiled and then she handed one to me
And then we settled back and had a cup of Christmas tea.

Copyright © Tom Hegg

What the world eats...

There is a report on Time.com about WHAT THE WORLD EATS, and it is quite revealing. It gives you a picture of the family, and all the food that they use for a week, and how much it costs.



This was a picture of the least amount of food...
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp

Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23
Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat




This was another family...note the difference in the number of family members...

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village

Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Family recipe: Mushroom, cheese and pork




This was a family in the Middle East
Kuwait: The Al Haggan family of Kuwait City

Food expenditure for one week: 63.63 dinar or $221.45 Family recipe: Chicken biryani with basmati rice


What I found most interesting is the TYPE of food each family buys. You will note that the top picture is of an East African Family, and they only have beans and rice and a few bowls of other food.

I watched the entire photo show, and the families from the most developed countries, ie: US and England, spend a lot on junk food. WHereas the ones from the most underdevelpoed countries are just trying to survive.

I look at the table that I set last Thursday, and the food that I STILL have in my fridge, for ONE person...and I feel so guilty. My Mom used to tell Phyllis to EAT your veggies, there are little kids in China that are starving. (Phyllis HATED veggies!)

When you see a story like this, it causes you to stop and reflect on what your families habits are. I am not the one to blow my horn on how healthy I eat...(NOT) but it does make me wonder what I would be like if I had grown up in one of those other countries, or had grown up with parents who believed in healthy eating. We truly are what we eat, and it is very depressing to me. Stop by and check out the rest of their pictures, and see what they tell you. I'd be curious to see what each of you spend per week, and what your favorite foods are. What would happen if you took away the junk food from YOUR family?

Maybe if we all stopped the junk food and sent the money we saved to a needy family for HEALTHY eating, in twenty years we could have a really healthy world.

TA_DA!!!!

I dont know what I did, but after checking everything on my template and cussing really loud...I FOUND it.

It just popped back on!

Anyway, here is Bob's Afghan that i just finished. It is a "Prairie Wheel" pattern, done in Khaki and navy blue to look like a ship's wheel, His choice of colors. It took me quite a while to finish it, but now I am on to other things! I finished Rusty's afghan, and gave it to her for her Birthday, but forgot to take a picture of it. It turned out really nice!

MAybe I will make something funky this time.

now for more Turkey...

HELP ME!!!

Is anyone besides me having trouble posting pictures from blogger? FOr the past 5 days there has been no picture icon on the posting editor toolbar. Am I broke or is blogger?

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Well I was going to put a BIG TURKEY picture on here, But for some weird reason, Blogger took away the photo put-in-here option, So I guess I will say a very boring

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! pooh! Cant even change the font or color. Whassup with THAT?

Another Grey Drippy Sunday...

I woke up this morning, to drip, drip, drip right over my head. My gutters are clogged, and instead of going down the drain pipe, the rain was dripping right on to the bird feeder right outside my window. DIdn't stop the birds though, They were all clinging to the sides and pecking away at the suet. Schroeder was sitting half on my head and half on the pillow, watching them. It was dark and dreary out and all I wanted to do was pull the cover over my head and go back to sleep.

Sadie had other ideas though, so I had to get up and let her out to pee, SHe had to go really bad, but she did not want to get out there and get her tushie wet in the tall grass. I grabbed her by her collar and drug her out. THen the cats wanted to be fed, then I had to make a pot of coffee, cause Bob was bringing the Seattle Times and the New York Times over to read. SIGH!!! No sleeping in for me.

I made a batch of gingersnaps last night for Mike, as those are his favorite cookie, and had them in a tupperware bowl to take over, and When Bob came over he found them and ate Mike's cookies! THe ones I had left out for him were the not so pretty ones, and those he left on the cupboard. I called and left a message for Mike to come get them, but so far he has not.

THanks to all of you who helped me figure out the sidebar book thingie, But Bill showed me the link, and voila! There it is. It is a little confusing though because it said I was not logged in and I thought I was. Oh well, I made it. Now let's see how much money I get from Amazon!! (Yeah RIGHT!)

is anybody out there smart?

Well that is a wide open question! What I need to know is how you put the books you are reading on your sidebar? I see blogs that have a picture of the book they are reading, and I would like to do that, but cant figure it out! I also cant figure out how to use PYZAM to change my blogger template. I have a "test" blog but it just keeps reverting back to the first template.

I would appreciate any clues you can give me....

TANK EWE BERRY MUSH

More wind...

Well the storm system that three days ago was slated to miss us and go straight into Vancouver Island, changed course ever so slightly, and slammed into Washington State last night. Wind gusts of over 60MPH were hitting Whidbey, And Power is out all over the COunty. I guess I was lucky as I have power. It went off during the night, because everything was blinking, but it was on when I woke up. THe wind was surely whipping when I went to bed last night though.

I love to lay in my bed, all snuggled in and listen to the wind roar around me. I know that my house is snug and secure, and there are no trees within damage distance, so I say let 'er RIP!

I woke up around 900 this morning, with rain coming in the open window above my head, and hitting me in the face. The wind was coming from the SSE which is rare for this spot, usually it is straight up the Hood Canal, which is SSW from my house. actually more S than anything. But this day's wind is coming from everywhere.

Bellingham reported gusts over 97 MPH and Clallam Bay had 92MPH. I looked on my local weather page and the highest gusts we had were 61 MPH around 800 this morning.
THe worst is due to hit sometime between now and 4PM, but It looks fairly calm out there to me. MAybe our worst is over.

Sadie and Lint did not want to go out and pottie, so I had to throw them both out, and watched while Sadie ran out peed and ran back to the door. What a wussie Puppy!

I need to go bring in another wheel barrow of wood to dry out, just in case the power does go out and the air gets cold. SO wish me luck, I am venturing out the front door to the wood pile....

AWWWWWWW.....

This is Purrpumpkin...he is ready for adoption at the agency in Calgary, AB. I was over visiting with Leslie and Carl mentioned that Bilbo was getting some new cat toys, and had a link to the place that sold them. You all know what a SUCKER I am for kittens. SO I went and looked at their site, and at all the cats/kittens they have up for adoption. Purrpumpkin caught my eye, and I am in Love...AGAIN. It is just a really good thing that Calgary is at least a two days drive from Coupeville, not to mention I do not have my Passport yet. So I guess Purrpumpkin will just have to be satisfied to go to another home. I really think Carl and Leslie should run right down and adopt him. It will give Bilbo a kid to raise and give Leslie something to do with her now so boring life. (LOLOLOL)

My baby boy kitten, Schroeder, is now a teenager, and if he doesnt start minding his manners, he is getting pitched out to play with the coyotes! Noe I really would not do that to him, but believe me it is tempting. Last night he brought me a present and deposited it on the book I was reading in bed...a big GREEPY black spider! Wow mommie can sure move fast when she has to! Schroeder got a lesson in bed time manners. You can lay on Mommies book, you can butt her head with yours, you can oh so cutely lay in front of her to purr while she reads, but you CAN NOT BRING HER SPIDERS OR BUGS! Once the crisis was over and the spider smashed all over the wall, I went back to reading my book, and he came out from under the bed and oh so prettily pranced up tp the head of the bed, and lay down between my book and the wall, so I could pet him to sleep and read at the same time. Little boys do still need their mommies at times. Especially when they know they are in trouble.

HMMMM, I sure wish I could afford to go adopt purrpumpkin. Carl, you need to go get him for Bilbo!!

Comet 17P-

I went out again last night to see what I could find and all I saw was RAIN! so much for clear skies through the weekend! This may be as much as I see of this comet. It certainly is a pretty sight on the screen though!

I finally have my house in some semblance of order. All the rugs were washed, and the floors vaccumed, and everything put away. I even had all the dishes done! Now for most of you this may be an everyday thing, and wonder what the Big Deal is? Well I am NOT one to spend a lot of time on housework. FOr one thing, it HURTS! when I push that Vaccum, my back hurts like hell. I did it though. I used my office chair, and just scooted around on it and pushed the Vac ahead of me. Worked like a champ.

I even vac'ed the bedroom and office! I washed the bathroom rugs and cleaned the crap off the DR table. WHOOT! I went to bed knowing that if I died that night, the paramedics would not be afraid to come in and drag me out. Even the catbox was clean!

I woke up in the middle of the night to weird sounds coming from the front of the house, and determined that it was a cat batting around a toy. I went back to sleep. When I woke up again to use the bathroom, I turned on the light and screamed! ARRRRRRGGGHH!!!! Schroeder, the little SHIT, had opened the new pkg of toilet paper, and literally killed a roll of fresh TP! It was torn into little bitty pieces all over my bedroom and bathroom. SO much for clean house.

I headed into the LR where I left the Vacuum, and screamed again. He had found the trash sack that I have sitting beside my recliner, for yarn bits, and coke cans and used kleenex etc, and It too was scattered all over the LR! I know it was him, because he was asleep INSIDE the paper sack! ANYBODY WANT A HALF GROWN KITTEN?

I forgot about the trash sack. ANd I forgot to put the TP in the closet. SO I guess it really is MY fault! I am sure Schroeder thinks so...

Monday Morning

The past two mornings have been absolutely gorgeous! THe sun breaks over the tops of the alders out back around 830AM. Sunday Morning I woke up and it felt so good coming in my window that I just lay there 1/2 asleep and soaked up the sun!

This morning, I woke up around 700, I think. All I know is I saw the moon and venus right out the window like they were painted in the dark blue pre-dawn sky! (Yes Jim Bob, I KNOW that the phase is incorrect, it should be a waning crescent not a waxing one.)I lay there and watched it until it started to get light, then I went back to sleep and woke up again to the sun beating on my face.

I Love to lay there all comfy, under the electric blanket, with the cold clean air coming in the window, and the sun beating on my face. Suddenly the sun went behind a cloud. I cracked my eye open to see why, as I did not notice any clouds before, and came face to ass with 2 cat butts, sitting in the window soaking up the sun! So much for morning pleasantries!

I have gone out the past few nights around midnight to see if I can catch sight of the comet that is going by, but so far I cant see it. It was just to the NE of Pleaides Sunday night, but I could not find it. THe news said that it was the brightest comet in centuries. I find that hard to believe, as I saw one about 10 years ago that was pretty bright. Fuzzy but bright.

I went swimming tonight, and even the water in the pool was cold! BRRRR....On the way home, the fog was forming down low in the swales and valleys, but the sky up where I live (around 250 feet up) is crystal clear.

Tomorrow I am going to see if I can get the lawn mower started, and hopefully mow down a spot in the back yard for Sadie to use! I dont think she likes her little ass getting tickled by the tall grass. I am such a good mommie sometimes.

50 more days until CHRISTMAS!!

http://www.northpole.com/Kitchen/Cookbook/

In the ORIGINAL email, these were all links, but somehow in copying them and forwarding them, they are no longer. But Phyllis found this gem at one of the links, and it is really COOL!!

Any recipe you could think of is there.

Well This was a wasted post, none of the links below work!!! WAAAHHH
ANd only the C showed up in COOKIES!

Well SHIT!!!

This is remarkable! Even if you have no particular interest in baking, please pass on to the bakers in your life. They'll appreciate it. Just click on the name of the cookie and bam the recipe is there. Good to keep handy either by saving it in your drafts or in a word program.

1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss Treats Taralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee Squares Traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies Traditional Gingerbread Men Cookies Triple-Chocolate Chip Cookies Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Waffer Balls Walnut Butter Cookies Walnut Crumb Bars White Chip Chocolate Cookies Wild Oatmeal Cookies Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms