life at 50 something

a few weeks before Christmas Son said he wanted Ham potatoes and gravy for dinner. So I bought a great big one, (we both love it) then I found out we were going to Lynden to see Mom and Daughter and Grandkids! whoop whoop !
so Christmas Eve with no hurry we button up the house in Port Angeles, leaving Tigger in charge...
 a beautiful afternoon for travel across the Puget Sound, across Whidbey Island, and up  I-5
 I arrived hungry to Moms this table will do ! notice my almost empty plate? I started with Brownie caramel/cream cheese pie. yep its as decadent as it sounds and looks ! she saved the last batch of peanut butter balls for Son to help dip
CHristmas Eve we piled into C's van and she toured us all around to see the Christmas lights. Coaches house wins my best of show! then we went back to see the Grandkids open a present(new pj's) and make the gingerbread houses. what fun they were for the adults mostly, but the kids seem to enjoy the entertainment, hope they enjoyed the eating !
 opening her presents while  Z sleeps ! Merry Christmas !
 great grand puppy loves his Christmas bone !
 Granddaughter is sweet 16 already !
 Grand Son

 Daughter
 BOOTS!
 He's looking more and more like his Daddy, getting taller like him too !



the gingerbread houses we all helped make after seeing lights on Christmas Eve what fun!
 they grow up so quickly!!
 selfies from another prospective........

gotta love how much they are changing. what an exciting time they are growing into !!
so glad I got time with them short as it was ....I am Thankful.

we left on Christmas day and had an uneventful trip home Tigger was very glad for our return as we started a fire and that gives him a warm place to curl up. I hope you had a Merry time where ever you were and love whomever you were with.

GOOD-BYE 2014!!

frost on the pumpkins for 5 nights running, yikes its chilly out there! then I look at the weather for family in NY and they are expecting 3 inches of snow....that 4 letter word !
I live in the pacific northwest  for the wonderful winters!  rain can get dreary but oh my never as bad as snow and cold like I grew up in ! as I age it hurts me in ways I never knew pain could... this year I stayed to late in NY my arthritis is having a field day with my hands. doing honey and cinnamon every day for help. My sweet little Ivy came home yesterday, Mom and her friend brought her all the way over, ate, napped  and  left. I didn't take a single picture...what is wrong with me? those two ladies are 75plus years old and they are so active, bless them Lord! they are good people, and our world needs more good people.
 I have a funeral to go to today. a Mass for Mike..... thankful he is no longer trapped in a defective body, fly free my friend, I am glad I knew you when I did! but you are dearly missed.
 along with my little doggy Mom brought bead stuff to me from a neighbor that moved back to the Philippines. she has lived in Canada, New York City, and Lynden, Wa, over the last 5 years. she was a world traveler she brought jewelry making supplies all over the world, high quality stuff, gemstones big marble size!  while I am not into big jewelry I am hoping i can make some pieces that will sell and help me get that dream vehicle ..... so be watching for pictures~!  real pearls corals that are now protected......I am more than a bit over whelmed by all the different things and possibilities where to start ? I have made some dragon flys with the glass and seed beads.....maybe I will photograph them ....

my 2nd home. Thank You Dusti and Roger for always welcoming me !
so much color still on the trees !
 so much fun in the leaves!!

my cousin Pam and her Fiance' Greg came to visit ! bringing me a much needed care package  :)


pumpkins and gordes growing in a lilac bush..

last night was Spirits in the Castle at the 1890's house in Cortland, NY. all the proceeds went to the roof repair that must be started and completed soon or they will not be able to repair whole walls withing the castle.  I cannot believe how much more damage there is than the last time I was there 3 years ago. it was fun with 13 of our group doing it together, no spirits for us, but we made the best of it and had a grand time. more pictures when I can get them to load ! 

Car that friends gave me, that hurt me to drive,  and I in turn passed in on to David......where it died.....
 Carrie and her 2 children, Nikki & her youngest in bottom right corner
 above and below my sweet IVY.  she has spunk for sure, tho her health is failing fast. 14 years this Thanksgiving. she is on meds for the rest of her life for a heart murmur....
Ivy and I walk the former Lake Aldwell......

 a pretty tree
 mt Rainier

 the west doesn't see this much,  it shut down the whole city of Portland.
 for M....
 mt St. Helens, from I-5


 a very icy coydog not scaring a single goose.....
 Her new kitchen
 a pretty february drive

 and a walk at Lake Lacamas


this tree caught my eye its grown around the column, gave me great ideas.......
 a March walk in the woods...the kids kept going....
 we stopped to find a dry place to sit, not much dry around here this time of year...
 after the walk.......


                                        
 thats as close to the real thing as I can get!
 

the beautiful Kalaloch Cedar Tree, January 2014, this side fell in a wind storm March 2014
 here she is below in April, they had the road closed and we walked in.

  help in Mom's garden..... Nephew Shane..

 in the small end of the garden.....at the corn patch......
  the main part.........
 some of Mom's scarves .......
 our beautiful KaBenZee, rip 4/13/14
 Mom's biggest red potato......
  and Carrie picking corn...........











  Nikki & her children
 youngest JC.
 Mom teaching Nikki to crochet
 Mom/ Great Grandma to you JC.....
 teething on Mommy
 fun in Carries back yard
 Mr.C and I had a great time in the pool together, grandma in her dress and all !! LOL!
 SPLASH!!
 silly me trying to sit on the noodle thingies.......
 jumping past the noodle....
 time for the big kids to play.....
 Sebastain is a good baby sitter...

 crocheting with help?
 my beautiful coast


 Concrete, Wa.  Elk herd



 Marblemount community hall  first sunday in august is always the salmon bbq go for a nice drive and have a great meal

 taking a break
 our cooks
 the fire the fish yummmmmm!



 making a big pot of Aunt Larena's chili.....
 beautiful fly by
 the garden in the morning mist, see the redwood left of sun flowers, farther back, almost straight above the yellow bucket....
 here she is in all her healthy glory !  so thrilled she survived the mildew issue !
 her trunk has grown !