Wednesday Quote

List maker

In addition to having three yards of bark delivered this weekend I felt I had a ton of things to do.  To be honest it was a little overwhelming.   I decided to do what I do at work - make a list.  Although the list was long it helped to keep me focused on what I wanted to accomplish.  Also, if I thought of something I just added it to the list - this way I wouldn't forget and also didn't have to do it right that moment.   Did I finish everything on the list - no - but close.  Still need to polish the spoons, wash my car, and scrub the upstairs shower.  However, the one thing we did finish was the yard!   It is so pretty right now it just which makes all the hard work worth it!  I am just lucky to have a husband who will help with the process as it would be just too much for one person.

The 8 am arrival.  And can I just say you could hear this thing coming from far away.

That seems like it might be too much but I guess we will see.

The finished product!

Maple had to get her petticoat trimmed. I was tired of it dragging on the ground.   Also, I have to say I LOVE my flowers on the front porch this year.   Don't miss the potato vines at all.

My lilac bush and peonies are much happier - as is Tom the Tiki.  The bed was a MESS!  Should of taken a before picture but I think it would of been to awful to post so you will just have to trust me.  This is the bed that G found the giant snake.   Thankfully I was not there for this.  It's the third one he's seen.  Hmmmmm.....

My hanging basket seems happy as well and is growing more and more.

This is my favorite bed and the one I can see from the kitchen sink.  So peaceful. 

Don't think the weekend was just filled with hard work however.  Got a text Saturday afternoon to go over to our friends for a cocktail and games after dinner.   So we headed to the Martel's around 7:30.   The boys hit golf balls in the lower field while W and I relaxed on the back porch with a glass of Skinny Girl Margarita.  Then we went inside for strawberry shortcake and some games of Catch Phrase.   The boys won 2  out of 3 but W and I are clearly the better players - we just always end up holding the game piece at the wrong time.

Aloha Friday

via Pinterest

How fun would a party here be! 
The sun is out the furry one is on the mend and I have 3 yards of bark mulch being delivered tomorrow.
Should be a fun weekend.   Postponed the cheese making class until August so will probably head to the farmers market tonight since the weather seems to be perfect for it.

Had a great time last night meeting Kathleen and Jill's new husbands (took the camera but forgot to take pictures).  Have to say I have not laughed that hard in a long time!  Funny how with some friends you can not see them in forever but its like you just saw them yesterday.   Blessed to have people like that in my life.



A hui hou kakou malama pono

Top Ten for Summer

Here are ten things I want to do this summer.  I will be sure to post updates as I check them off!


Go to the drive-in



Learn to make cheese



Go on a bike ride (hopefully on my new bike)



Try a new restaurant

Play golf (at least once)



Dip my toes in the ocean



Can something

Re-organize my closet

Go see Packy at the Zoo

Make homemade bread

 This should be fun!  Of course there are a ton more things I would love to do but I do have to go to the cubby 5 days a week for at least 8 hours so this is a good start. I'm actually going to be doing one of these things this weekend - so excited!  



All images found on Pinterest



Wednesday Quote

Father's Day

Have to say it's hard to believe that my dad is actually 77 years old!  Goodness!  It seems like yesterday we had that big party for his 50th.   There were a ton of people and a ton of food and a ton of fun.  My Uncle Sam and Uncle John even came up for the occasion.

Since I've gotten married father's day has a new twist and that is that I spend the day with my mom and my dad spends the day with my husband on the golf course.   Honestly I think its great.   I'm lucky that we all get along and that they can spend 5 hours together and have fun.  Plus there is usually a meal at the end that is shared together so I get a little time with dear old dad then.

This year they played Chehalem Glenn in Newberg while Berta and I shopped at Bridgeport.   And then we all got together for Famous Dave's BBQ at the house after.   Have to say I didn't think Dave's was that great.  And my meal was missing most of the chicken I was supposed to get so I don't think we will be going back there any time soon.  But it was fun to be together and watch Rory win the US Open.   I caved and let everyone eat on there laps in the family room so they could watch golf.   It's what the boys wanted so how could I say no on Father's day?

Just took a couple of snaps with my camera of the gift opening......

I feel blessed to have the father I do and to of had the childhood that he and my mom gave to me.  As I get older I realize not everyone was as blessed.

Chive blossom vinegar

I recently saw a great post on Food in Jars that lead me to try something fun with my chive blossoms.

Chive blossom vinegar!

Super easy.....

Pick the blossom's and soak them in water to get out all the dirt and bug's

Then just put them in a jar and cover with vinegar.

How easy is that!

And it looks so pretty!

Not sure what I will use it for yet.   It has the faintest chive/onion aroma and is a lovely color of pink.  Next time I download pictures I will take one and post the final product.

Farmers first and Kevin's bday

A busy but good weekend even though the weather was still yucky.  Yes yucky.   Its the middle of June and for most of the weekend I was freezing.  

Friday the Tualatin Farmers Market started.   It is down at the Commons and I love it!   Its not very big and wraps around the "lake" but I think it's just big enough.   Has a little bit of everything - including live music. 
Here's what we got this week.


See the homemade fresh donuts on the left?   One word - Yum!   I forgot to go back and get some of the beef that was there but there is always next week or the week after.  Also, need to remember to get bread next time.

Saturday we went to the vet - yes again - for another follow up appt for this one

The other vet was there which I think was a blessing in disguise.   She thinks it the medicine that she is on that is making her pant so much so we are going to lower the dosage.  If that doesn't work then we are going to change her medicine.  This is a tactic I don't think the other vet at the office would of gone with so I was glad we got to see her for a change.

Saturday night we went to a bday party for Kevin. I made devil eggs to take - always a crowd pleaser.  Had a great time and saw some people we just don't see that often.  Lots of kids and dogs running around just a fun atmosphere where everyone and anyone is welcome.

Separate post coming for Father's Day....

What I'm Reading....



via Amazon

This was a 99 cent bargain at Amazon and so far so good.   After all it's summer so that lends itself to lighter reading.  

As for the last book - Waiting for Spring - it was just OK.  I would give it 2 1/2 stars out of 5. Can't say I would recommend it but I think it was also a bar gin book so it was probably worth a couple of bucks.  It had everything, sex, drugs, divorce, murder, babies, you name it and it probably happened in that book.  I have to be honest that I skimmed throught this quite a bit but the ending was what I was hoping for.  

Aloha Friday

via Pinterest

Isn't this lovely?  It's the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea.   It's where we spent our honeymoon.  I hope to go back some day soon....maybe for our 10th anniversary.

A hui hou kakou malama pono

Wednesday Quote



via Pinterest



Being born a human being is a rare event in itself and it is wise to use this opportunity as beneficially as possible.  We must keep in mind that we all want the same thing, so that one person or group does not seek happiness or glory at the expense of others

                                                           - Dalai Lama

Clydesdales!!!

OK so one thing I love in this world and love to see whenever I can are the draft horses.  It's one of the reasons - along with the baby pigs and the red barn ice cream - I like to go to the State Fair every year.   So how excited was I when I saw on Facebook that the Budweiser Clydesdale's were going to be making an appearance!   I was pumped and put the date on my calendar.   They would be there from 4 - 6 so if I hustled out of work I could make there in time to see them.  

Mission accomplished!

The trailers were huge and there were three of them. 

How pretty is he? And I'm not even a horse person.....

Not sure if you can see it but the Budweiser symbol is on their blinders.....

How fun is he and so well behaved.   Gotta love his Budweiser necklace!

Buckets underneath the carriage and the wheels are so old fashion looking.

Here is the original Budweiser commercial that first showed the Clydesdale's - after all there isn't much you can't find on You Tube.  It doesn't say what year though.....had to be in the 70's.   And for wikipedia fun facts can be found  here

So glad I took the time to go see them.  To be honest I thought I took more pictrures.   I have a video of them on my phone.  I'll get if off there one day and post it as well.....someday.

Last Weekend

Computer problems last weekend and just too busy to download the pictures this week so this post is a little delayed.....

Last weekend was the first of June and really the first nice weekend we have had this year - sigh - so we were excited to see it and welcomed it by BBQ'ing every night!   I love this of course because it means less cooking and less clean up for me.

Friday night G wanted hot dogs - I try and avoid hot dogs as much as possible.   I'm not saying I don't enjoy a good ol' Costco dog every once in a while or have one at a game but there are better things to have in the comfort of my home.   At this point the treadmill was still broken and I had a prescription I needed to pick up so I decided to walk down to Haggen's, pick up my px, and a little something for dinner.   As luck would have it they had salmon burgers so I picked myself up one of those along w/ a red velvet cupcake, some buns for G, and a couple of other things and headed back home.   I didn't get a picture of the salmon burger but it doesn't really matter because I won't be having it again.   The ones at Whole PayCheck are muuuccchhhh better - lesson learned.   The walk was great but I really wish I had my bike - would of made the 2 1/2 mile trek go much faster.  The cupcake was delish!   Red velvet with cream cheese frosting made me think of my friend Jackie.

 Moving onto Saturday.   Spent some time in the yard battling the weeds in the flower beds.   We didn't have time to mulch but hopefully we will next weekend if the weather holds.   Did a little more planting in the garden (pics to be posted soon) and ran to the store again to get something to BBQ for Saturday and Sunday only this time we went to Whole PayCheck.   We got a NY steak - delish!  And I made a fresh salad and G had some Texas toast on the grill.   Tasted just like summer!   Which is appropriate being it is June.   Some pics of the dinner as follows.  By the by the salad is in a salad bowl I got at Ikea that was like $5  dollars or something equally ridiculous.

I almost forgot one of the highlights of Saturday evening.   What does one deserve after a long day of working in the yard.   A nice cool and refreshing and fun cocktail!

Here's my new favorite: 

I know the picture is going the wrong way but I can't figure out how to fix that and I think it's kinda funny for the drink to be on its side.   Anywho Smirnoff Mojito cut w/ a little passion fruit Skye and some Le croix sparkling water is my new fav - delish!   A little fresh mint from the garden and you are good to go.

In other news - G was able fix my treadmill - yeah!  But I still want a bike - something like this....

via here