Thankful

Today is Thanksgiving.  I am headed to Salem to spend the day with my family.   We are taking G's mom with us as well.   We had other plans but they didn't work out and really the only thing I care about is spending the day with the people I love and care about most.   This year hasn't been all sunshine and roses but I am very grateful for many things........

1. A husband who loves me
2. A furry one to snuggle with
3. A mother and father who love me unconditionally
4. Friends to laugh and make memories with
5. A job to go to with a boss I adore
6. A roof over my head
7. Trips to the islands - both of them
8. The sound of the ocean
9. Red velvet cupcake batter soft serve yogurt
10. Memories of those I loved who are no longer with us

A good friend of mine will be able to be home with her family for Thanksgiving this year.   This might be the first time in 10+ years she has been able to do that.  I am so very happy for her.   I hope that you too are able to spend the day surrounded by those you love.  And that not only today but that every day you take a moment to stop and think what you are grateful for.

Sunny Day

cant remember where I got this

Just for the record I love Sesame Street and grew up with it.  It pains me when I hear someone say their little one doesn't like it because it doesn't have enough movement and stuff going on.  I'll admit Count Dracula is a little scary but who doesn't love the Cookie Monster and even The Grouch.   I heard recently that they are thinking of Ernie and Bert getting married.   It made me laugh.  I never thought of them as "partners" just two guys living together.   If they do that however I think it will be great.   But for some reason I'm sure there are others out there that wouldn't agree with me.  However, I think those are the same people that are trying to stop the funding to Sesame Street so does their voice matter?  I think not.   I do have to say however that Elmo is a bit much for me some days.   But I would take him over Barney any day.  And I guess now we really know how everyone feels about Big Bird.

Sunny Day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street

Beekman 1802

So there is a little show on the Planet Green channel called The Fabulous Beekman Boys and I love them!  Well I love Josh more than Brett but I digress.....

They came to town to sign their new cookbook at the Williams Sonoma in NW.  So I went with a couple of my besties.   If I thought they were adorable before I think they are even more so now.   They didn't sit behind a desk either.   They stood up - in their wellies - and hugged everyone and took pictures.  I'm sure they were exhausted when it was all said and done.   Brett mentioned Martha - which cracked me up - especially if you watch the show you understand.   W gave them a hard time about all the people they had to hug and how they were giving fake hugs to some of them - they laughed.   Some strange women took our picture when we were standing there with them - she actually pushed the women aside who was taking our picture with my camera.  It was hilarious.  Josh and Brett thought for sure we must know her --- ah that would be a no.

It was a fun Saturday all around even though it was cold, rainy, and windy.   Hadn't been down to NW in years and its fun that not much down there has changed. 

 Before we went to see the boys we had lunch at Elephants.   Love that they are in the location they are now and was able to pick up some casseroles to throw in the freezer.  Sidebar fun fact ---  the building that Elephants is in now - it used to be a restaurant called Il Fornio - this is where G and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner.  There is a fun room in the back with a big fireplace called the garden room.   After we got our autographs we walked around and did a little shopping.  W and I made a new friend on the street while waiting for S - he asked us to help spell out what was on his hat - times like that are priceless.   

Wednesday Wisdom

via Coco & Kelley

Words to live by during the upcoming holiday season.......

Wednesday Wisdom

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Sunday prep

So since I posted so many pictures of the trip in yesterdays post today will be photo less.

Just a quick update of the food prep for the week.

Sunday cooking:

• This week in the crockpot- a whole chicken. Thus will yield at least two meals. Will use the bones later to make some stock.
• Veggie spaghetti sauce (tomatoes, olives, onion, garlic, mushroom, t sauce, t paste, fresh & dried herbs)- one night with turkey meatballs and one with cheese ravoli
• Apple spice bread - TJ box mix spiced up with some orange and lemon spice and almond extract
• Lunch mush - I roasted cauliflower with a couple potatoes and onion. Then mashed it together with some garbonzo beans with the immersion blender. Also added some curry and paprika. All divided up and ready to throw in my lunchbox
• Also baked some eggs for grab and go breakfast to be wrapped in a flour tortilla with some laughing cow cheese

Later I'm going to stuff a little sugar pumpkin with some bread and cheese. Need to find the recipe however. I will take pictures and post if it turns out to be good.

Island Anniversary

Hard to believe but G and I have been married for 9 years!  Wow time does fly that's for sure.   This year for our Anniversary we decided to take a trip just us and the furry one to the Island - not the tropical one the other one.  So we went back to the same cottage we did this past summer for a full week.   Can I just say how relaxing and wonderful it was?

We stopped at Pike's market on the way up to pick up some lunch, Beechman cheese, fresh flowers and some other little things.  We sat on the deck and read our books in the sunshine.   We had wonderful meals at some old favorites as well as some new ones.  I took hour long (and sometimes longer) walks on the beach down to the ferry landing and collected treasures and took pictures.   We played cards.   We rented movies.  We drove to the other side of the island and explored new towns.    But most of all we just relaxed.

I am so grateful and lucky to have someone that I can share times like these with and who wants to share them with me as well.

Here are some pictures......warning - there are a lot

ummm wonder if we forgot anything

homemade donuts at pikes market

lunch at pikes market

making cheese at beechman's

a gift from the owners - we were their first return guests

first morning sunrise

relaxing and reading

these are in front of every house at the beach - you can tell this hasn't been used in a while

this is my friend - we will call him sam, sam the sea lion who scared me so I scared him and he ran away

spent one morning watching the airliner come into Everett - see the plane on the back?

Greenbank farm

G making friends

my new favorite town - coupeville

lunch at knead and feed - also a new favorite

deception pass - the bridge was scary!

navy base at oak harbor

bo-bo - bogey's friend who lives across the street

beyonce's cousin who lives at the Whidbey winery

Aloha Friday

via here

I wish you all a peaceful weekend.....

A hui hou kakou malama pono

Wednesday Wisdom

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