One more day in Seattle...

I have been soooo busy, up early, to bed late... no time to post on my blog, but I promise to catch up when I get home on Monday about....

Getting together with my Family
Christmas Party with Santa in Ravensdale
Nieces Bridal Shower
Mom's tree crisis
Hugs with Roxanne the spot dog who freaks out about cameras
Shopping with Sis
Pictures with my nephews new baby
Costco with Mom
Cookie Day


I am having such a nice visit. I don't know if I will get to do everything I wanted to while I am here. But my time is not over yet, so I am hopeful.

The boys seem to be doing good when I talk to them. The reports on puppy training have been up and down... one moment nothing is going right, and the next they are bragging up how good she is doing.

My Man seems to really be feeling all the early mornings drives to the high school for zero hour classes, and helping the kid cover the dog watching job, and meals and laundry, and dog duty, and up in the middle of the night with the puppy, and dishes... I should be well appreciated when I get home.

Here's to hoping.... "absense makes the heart grow fonder"!!!
I know he loves me, but it is always a good feeling to be appreciated.

Home during the holidays...

I love being home during the holidays... and since I won't be able to come for Christmas with my family, I made a quick trip this week by myself to spend some time with my family.

I have to seriously get better at taking pictures, I was so wrapped up in visiting with everyone as they dropped in last night (Mom put out some food and everyone came by after they got off work and ate when they could, some early, some late ~ very sweet Mom, it was Fabulous to see everyone on my first night here)... I ended up with two pictures all night. Sorry for all the eyes closed guys.

I am loving the centerpieces on the table (I might have to sneak them into my bag before I go home)... and notice the tree in the background with sections of missing lights. She has bigger tree issues than I do:) I will have some service to provide before I go home. Fun, Fun!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree....

Growing up in the Northwest, we ALWAYS had a fresh evergreen tree for Christmas. I loved picking out the biggest tallest tree that would reach to the very tip top of my parents cathedral ceilings. I always said I would never ever own an ugly fake tree.

Well my life changed, I found myself downsized, single mom, living in a small condo, and the world of fake trees had come along way. So with no man in the house to deal with the chopping down of the tree, and the carrying of the sappy sticky messy heavy, and in Seattle, almost always WET tree. I degrated to a fake tree, however I went to all lengths to make it seem like a real tree by lighting evergreen smelly candles everywhere!

Shortly after the first clean up and putting away of the fake tree, I was in love! It collapsed and boxed up so easily, and it gave me so much independence... I knew I could tackle anything. The next year set up, and my love relationship grew even more, and it grows deeper every year. I will never go back now.

My biggest Christmas shocker came last year when my Strong Silent Mysterious Man tells me he has never liked our tree too much. Now mind you, he has never helped, offered any opinions, suggestions, shopped, nothing towards bringing any Christmas Joy through decorations into the home to this point and all of a sudden he has this opinion about my tree.

"It is tooo hodge podge" he tells me. "Too many colors and no theme". No theme? I had collected bears my entire life, and had a million and two bear ornaments on this tree painstakingly draped with hand strung popcorn and white twinkle lights. And each year as Two J's brought home a handmade ornament, it was carefully added to the one from the previous year to cherish and reflect on his growth each year!


So my people pleasing skills take over, and since this is one of the hand full of opinions he has ever shared with me... and in my long term 14 year efforts to get him into the whole Christmas Decorating stuff. I decided I could make a change, and find out just what he thought was a beautiful tree and have that for him at Christmas time.


So my efforts last year did not earn up to any standards, much less mine with an attempt at a contemporary look with blue and silver. What a flop! I hated that tree!

Was I going to be able to find the look he wanted, and be happy myself? I wasn't sure, but I wanted to try. It would have been an easier task had I been willing to go spend any money on it. But to find a look on $1.99 in a box, was going to take some time.


I began again the day after Christmas last year... and thought about it all through the year. I would find a treasure here, and there, and then return them later. It was quite a process.


After a few trips into Walmart this year, looking at the Christmas decorations beginning in October... I was getting some ideas in my head. And by the time Thanksgiving came, I was ready... I was so excited. I had actually found a few 1.99 and less items to put together the perfect tree.


Thanksgiving came and went, Black Friday up early... and as soon as I got home, I was so anxious to put our tree together. My man had to work, and my son said it was too early, not even December yet, so I was on my own.

Since I was sure how "the look" would turn out... it didn't hurt my feelings this year to go it alone. That way I would only have myself to blame if it failed again.


One piece at a time... layering... ribbons and hanging each piece just in the right place, berries and twigs poking out in the most natural way. Then finally....

The Star! We always had an angel on top of our tree growing up, and I have bought so many tree toppings... there has never been one special one. This star had never made the cut before because it didn't light up... but it seemed to catch all the sparkle and the essence of "the look" this year!

We have enjoyed the tree so much this year. My man, silent as he is, hasn't commented much... but it has helped bring the spirit of Christmas into the home with it's glow.

There are no other decorations up yet. I will have to work on that when I get back from my trip to Seattle ~ leaving this morning ~ better go get packed!

The first bath...

Her first bath...

Besides picking a name, I am having such a hard time getting a good picture of this little girl. She is so black and never sits still long enough to even get her focused.

But she is settling in and feeling more comfortable with us.

Even learning to run and play with the other dogs in the yard.

It has been the most painstaking process I have ever been through picking a name for her. We had so many good ones to chose from, and added even more to the list before it was over...

Nauvoo
Blue
Reno
Bobbie
Maxine
Tahoe
Remmington
Lakota
Salem
Sable
Onyx
Shiloh
Sequoia
Jedda
Savannah
Lacy
Quinta
Sebus
Danielle - Danny
Talula (choctow for leaping water)
Jet
Obsidian
Java
Athena
Maui
Seymore (I actually like it by itself... not seymore butts though!)

We either couldn't all agree, or it didn't flow with Morgan and Rudy's names... or it just didn't fit her little girl personality.

I think we finally settled on...

TAYLOR

The new addition...

My Strong Silent Mysterious Man gave me my Christmas present early this year... she is the cutest sweetest thing. It was very sweet and I love my man to pieces, but I can't say this hasn't turned my world upside down!

We can't seem to come up with a name for her, but here are some we have tossed around...

Memphis
Cinder
Montana
Aspen
Sahara
Cannon
Gentry
Shadow
Matilda
Storm
Lilly

She is a black laborador retriever, and we hear has strong pointer in her blood lines, she is 6 weeks old. She is very snuggely, but seems to be able hold her own with our other dogs as well. Who's worlds are also upside down today.

Help, it is really hard to train her calling her "hey, new dog" (because we refuse to let a nickname like baby 0r princess stick because we can agree on a name to call her). "New Dog" is just not taking!