Bead, thread and time....

While in stranded in Wenatchee,  my sister and I were busy beading. I really enjoyed making these tennis bracelets  and challenged myself to make the  "Garden necklace" as well..The beaded tennis bracelets are crystals and  silver or colored beads pearls. I attached magnetic clasps for ease in connecting them. I will be selling these for $25 apiece  and the necklace I will  keep for myself.
 We really enjoyed hours of chatting , laughing and sharing sister stories as well as a few glasses of wine.. Aren't these pretty?

Camera Delivered

Horray.. It  just arrived.. I am so Grateful my daughter PJ  sent it to me.. Now I can post the pictures of the results of the storm that  held me captive in Wenatchee for 12 days! These were taken the afternoon I arrived.. See  no snow except on the top of the Cascades.  And then it started snowing.....

the next morning  this was my car.  My car was actually brushed off and the next day it looked the same. We measured 8 inches the first storm dropped and another 4 the next day...

It sure is pretty to look out and see...but horrible if you plan to travel far... So  Now I am home  Yeah! and we have NO SNOW! Happy girl I am.... Ours melted before I got home ...Its cold in the mornings, and no rain...Winter is still here I am sure...

A bit of a change in 2012

What did you do today? I have been pondering a change.. well not really  a big one  just a bit of one over on my Thishensacookin  blog site.  Change is good... and I  have heard many gals say they "don't cook, don't like to cook or don't have a clue what to cook" so I am going to  lend a hand.. I think it will be fun..I will be starting a virtual cooking class! Come on over ( the Link is on the sidebar on the right) maybe you'd like to start  following along, get some new ideas or just enjoy the read... You are welcome..  drop me a question or comment....But  put on an apron, you never know what you might spill, slop or get too close to in the kitchen.....

I am coming Back

Actually I am BACK...  I have been very very busy and away since January 9th. I was In Washington State visiting my daughter and sister.My travel plan was to also go to see my mother who lives in the Seattle area..  BUT  Old man Winter, Mother Nature and Jack Frost  interrupted my travel route and I ended up at my sisters  unable to continue my journey over the pass to my Mom's.
 Old Man winter decided to dump 12 inches of snow on us and Mother Nature poured on the rain when along came  Jack Frost who  happily joined and slept on the highways.. leaving me stranded for 14 days. Thanks to my sister and her husband  we battened down the hatches and enjoyed a lot of "sister time" beading, cooking , chatting and drinking wine.. All in all it was a great visit.  Upon returning home ( the first day the sun shined to melt snow, frozen streets I was off to my daughters again where again Jack Frost  decided to fill the roads with Ice and I was stranded again for 3 days...I was in such a hurry when  the sun came  out again  I left behind my camera with  the story the pictures will  tell of  my journey...) My daughter is mailing it to me today so I can post by weekend I hope.. In the mean time I have laundry to do and clothes to unpack. re group and enjoy my husband now that I am home safely...  I promise to get back to Blogging as soon as the camera arrives.. Enjoy your days and stay warm...   it is winter ya know in the Pacific Northwest!

Happy New Year

Its here the New  Year... I grabbed this picture from the web.. Love the Celebration Scene.... Fireworks and boats afloat with  people  all Ringing in a New Year..'
 
How will you celebrate this year?   Are you making plans? What are your aspirations, dreams, goals.

I don't make resolutions because I  never  seem to  keep them... But I do have dreams, plans and ideas.. Starting with  travel... January is  the planning month..After spending time at the beach over Christmas  we may head out again to relive that experience,weather permitting. Not getting too far ahead  here.  It is set in February I am going to Australia to visit my daughter Nancy.. ( aka Self Care Girl). Really looking forward to seeing her and her husband for a couple weeks.
On the Domestic side....   planning to do some interior home painting.. well  needed and I already have the paint... I plan to read more and have started some great books on my Kindle fire..  I joined a Book club in October and  will enjoy meeting the members monthly. Charming chicks have plans for a possible Hot Springs trip this month as well.. again weather permitting..
So it is Here the New Year.. I will continue to add  more dreams, ideas and plans  to share with you.. Let me know what you have planned  this month... Go ahead get started... I will catch up...

Christmas at the beach

Christmas at Yachats, Oregon
We rented a  lovely home through Beach Vacation Rentals..and will  go back for sure in the summer
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We had a fabulous time with some of Clay's family  Here  Sister in law Jackie and me  in the Beautifully painted  house.  Bright colors  through out.. No way would you feel gloomy here in any weather.  Clay and  his brothers Steve  and Pete

 

We enjoyed the waves crashing onto the shore and the weather was mild. A bit of morning fog and as expected a bit of rain..Took many seaside pictures and here are a few.

This is Face Rock  at  Bandon , Oregon. ( do you see her face looking up to the sky?)

* WARNING    
The next photo may be disturbing .. 

While at the beach sadly a dead  female Grey Whale washed ashore,  I had never been so close to a whale before...The  Marine Biologists were examining and taking samples to determine what caused her death.

 The Lighthouse in the fog.. and a few beautiful  Elk we saw on the way home. Making our trip more eventful.

Here are my kids..Years ago and today

Here they are at 2, 5 and 6 years old... Oh My! Where has the time gone.. Since it is Christmas I had to post this. It is one of my favorite pictures...

They have grown to be very responsible, respectful , compassionate and productive adults.

Dennis is my oldest, He is one of the best Children and Adult Comedian Entertainers in Colorado. Look for him..you will  find his business  at Dennis Michael's Comedy Magic Show  he married to Michelle Goodman VanderHouwen, she is one of Colorado's best artists see her work @ Paint Decor and he has two children  Alex Vander Houwen age 23 and Charles 3 yrs.





Nancy is a project manager working abroad in Australia for the Boeing Company. Married to Simon Cook * also  with the Boeing company and living and working in Australia, she has a son Jacob Boucher 21 yrs.  You may also know her now as Self Care Girl on Facebook.

..

Paula (PJ ) is a certified teacher in Yakima.Currently she is  substitute teaching.   She has 3 sons Alex Ziegler 18years   Peyton  10 years  and Mason 9 . She is very involved in her sons sports  programs as  Player Agent for East Valley Little League and Head Coach for  East Valley Youth Football.

Yes I am very proud of who these people have become....

Special & Spoiled...

I have tried before to tame my hens. It is hard to do unless they are handled a lot when they are baby chicks.
This is Lily.  She comes running to me anytime I happen to open the back door..In fact she often stands at the door waiting... It is funny to see her come a running. The other 4 hens quickly follow but only Lily will wait for us to pick her up.. We stroke her feathers and gently release her to eat the treats.. I do love my chickens.. it is cold here  dipping below 20 at night so I make sure to feed the "girls" warm treats before they retire to their coop.  They really love warm  noodles, rice  and oatmeal.. I make sure they get  the left overs. I have not had to put a heater in their coop..they seem to huddle together  just fine.. Their water however is heated and inside the coop. Yeah,  I think my "girls" are special and spoiled too...

Let the Magic begin...

 Twas only December 2nd a cold windy day but   we had to get started on Christmas Decorating...  We decorated the outside of Blue Sky Farm today. Now when it gets dark we can Turn on the switch to reveal  the Magic! I will post more pictures then...
 We will  be putting  "bird friendly" items on the outside porch tree for them to nibble on throughout the cold winter. Leaving the tree standing after Christmas.
Since we will be away for Christmas We decided to focus on the outside only this year.. and enjoy the beach  house where we will  bring simple decorations to warm the cottage...Tomorrow I will be attending a Christmas Artisan show that has been  enjoyed in Klamath Falls for 44 years! We want to also attend the Snowflake Parade later this week.. ..cant wait.. more pictures to follow...

Welcome December

Okay, It a has been a very long month of November.  Let me bring you up to date:
Thanksgiving is over..  We had many things to be thankful for. Friends, family and a safe journey. Home for a short while before we hit the road again....
  Thank you all for your  many condolences for my aunt, we know we will miss her and her immediate family will gather strength and comfort from each other. Aunt Alyce believed in Life and we will celebrate her life by moving on...Enjoying  each day and each other.

December first is tomorrow.... As I
pulled out my calendar,  I see I am  going to be busy.. Which is a good thing...Starting with today,  Four of my Charming Chick Farm girl members got together and each made  an ornament  for ( One of our yearly projects, which  is to provide a memorable Christmas to a family who may not otherwise have one. We get our needy family from the Salvation Army and provide a Christmas tree, Decorations  which we make, a complete Christmas Dinner, and a couple gifts for each member of that family.) We will gather with the other members  Dec 11th  and deliver them with a fresh cut Christmas tree.
Saturday, I will post  pictures from an Artisans Craft show I will attending with a few more of my Chick friends and Lunch as well... there is so much more going on as my busy month unfolds..with  Clay's Birthday trip with  other friends  to the coast and a concert. A Christmas cookie exchanges and other Holiday parties

With my family members spending Christmas with their families in different states and our daughter in Australia, This year we will be renting a house  and spending Christmas with Clay's family on the Oregon Seaside..and  I  must  have a Christmas tree so I found a cute small table  top one and decorated it  to take along with a candle centerpiece for our table there.  Its a perfect  size to pack and take dont' ya  think?
Please, Be sure to come tag along with me as the Activities and Events unfold...I will be posting pictures  as I go...Ho ho ho!

Sadness in the family

Today, I am Thankful for my Mom. She is 82 years young.  She is  the youngest of 4 girls in a large family of 10. Several of her siblings have passed away   during  her life time, including her parents. She has had a few  illnesses as she ages, but She is a strong woman. I am especially thankful She is still  with us .  Yesterday her oldest sister of 90 died unexpectedly, we now know from cancer. She had not been feeling well for a few days.. My Aunt was a "Rock" in her family. Her family  nicknamed her that "Rocky". Aunt Alyce  had a good long life and lived it to the fullest with her children and grandchildren.  I know her absence will leave a large void in her immediate family and my heart aches for them today.  As Thanksgiving approaches  I can only think how grateful I am that I have close family ties and we have Mom still with us.  This year my Mom will be with her own remaining sister and nieces and nephews, as they gather around their table, they will celebrate the life and Love that  Aunt Alyce leaves behind.. RIP dear one..You will be missed by every one. ( she didn't want a service, just that later her family have a Big Party)...  That was so like her....


Thank you all for your kind words,   I appreciate them.

Here she comes..

Caught these quail running  for cover as the snow started  falling again. I am thankful we planted these  berry plants here for them to seek shelter. We love our resident birds so much. There is snow predicted for the next couple days and it started early hours this morning.  I didnt get my plant pots  put away for the winter in time so you can see how much snow has fallen on the porch. So bundle up Birdies  find shelter quickly because "HERE SHE COMES"... Do you feed the birds in your yard?