Top Ten for Fall - update

So I know that technically it is still fall but it hasn't gotten about 40 degrees in days so let's face it - it's winter.

My list for Fall was here.   I did pretty well although I didn't accomplish all those that I didn't will just be put on the list for winter.

1. Try a new restaurant (really this is my goal to do every month)
   Yes!   
   Knead and Feed - if you are ever on the island and in Coupeville this is a must stop for lunch
   Tucci - did a date night here last month.   I had some wonderful salmon and G had some great chicken.   Great little spot in LO and we heard a rumor they might be moving to Blinn's location on the lake.  That would be nice for sure as they have a great little HH.
2. Take a cooking class 
   Nope - will move this to winter list.
3. Clean out the flowerbeds for winter (didn't get to this last year and I paid for it in the spring)
   This I did do - and I will be much happier come the spring because of it
4. Make something on the sewing machine
   Well you see if we are going to be perfectly honest here I kinda broke the little crafting sewing machine I bought.   The bobbin or whatever its called is all messed up so this one would be a no.  
5. Paint the kitchen
   Forget this was on my list - dagnit.  This inspires me to do this - this week.
6. Play cards with my husband
   Done a lot of this.   Actually played this past weekend.  In case your wondering I won the best out of three
7. Go on a ferry ride
   Yes!  Actually went on two.   This of course makes sense.  One over and one back.  If I'd only done it once I would still be on the island and that is not a possibility at this point in my life.
8. Make whoopie pies
   Nope - still haven't done this.   Good night I must do this for the holidays.  Thinking chocolate ones with cream cheese middles and crushed peppermint around the sides.
9. Go wine tasting
   Yes!  Whidbey Island Winery - great little spot on the road to Langley.  Have driven by many times and we finally stopped.   It was a great little spot and of course I had to bring a couple of bottles home with me...hee hee
10. Finish the photo wall in the family room
    This project has been yanked.  I gave up.  I just could never get it how I wanted it.   I think I am trying to do it on the wrong wall.   Now that wall needs a giant letter.....more on that another time

Stay tuned for Top Ten for Winter.  I know you are on pins and needles just waiting for it aren't you??  Ha!

In other news....I went back to work today for most of the day and G stayed home by himself.  I wasn't completely comfortable with that being all the crap he's on but he seems to be doing pretty good.  Day by day........that's how we are taking it right now.  And I'm doing my best to keep anything away from him that might stress him out.  

Merry, merry!

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

Countdown

I am so excited!  We are going back to the Island for our anniversary for a whole week! 

I can hardly wait to board the ferry and leave all my cares on the mainland.  I think I might make myself one of those chains of paper rings like you did when you were a kid for a countdown to Christmas.  You know the one.   You think I'm joking but I'm half serious.  What color to make the rings...... 

The Island

Last summer we went to Whidbey Island.  Not sure why but it seemed close enough that you could drive there and I could be by the water and try something new.   We had a wonderful time and have always wanted to go back.....and so we did.  However, this time instead of staying in an Inn we stayed in a little cottage and took the furry one.   Let's just say that we can't wait to go back again next year.   And we hope to go to the same place but stay for a week instead of 3 nights.   I guess that means we had a good time.......

The Cottage........
......was wonderful!

The View
The sunrises were amazing!   And when it was clear you could see all the way across the Saratoga Passage to the Cascades.  

The Food, The Drink, & Langley
We ate at some wonderful places!  
Homemade chicken noodle soup and salad at Pickles and the bread was wonderful as well.  Will be a new go-to on the island for us.

Tasting room in Langley for Ott & Murphy

 

 No vacation is complete without my Skinny Girl

Prima bistro is probably one of my favorite restaurants.   Had some amazing clams and G had the smores dessert which we had last year as well.

  

 This is the wonderful apple sausage corn chowder from The Braeburn in Langley.  I had a caprese sandwich to go with and it was all wonderful.

The Deck......

.....was perfect for reading, relaxing, and playing cards. 

The Beach.....

.....was serene.   I collected some fun rocks and beautiful shells to take back as a little slice of the island.  Also, found a walking stick that I had to take home.   Also accomplished one of my top ten!  I know it says ocean and technically this is the sound but I think it all counts.

The Ferry......

.....is part of the adventure.   Just a quick 20 minute ride across the sound.   It was so windy on the way over you couldn't go outside without your sunglasses getting blown off but on the way back it was more peaceful.

The Golf.....

.....you didn't really think we would go on vacation without some form of golf being mentioned did you?

This is what the refer to as pasture golf.  This place was too funny for words.  We didn't play because the day we drove out there the weather was less than ideal but I think the pictures are worth thousands of words.

Island Greeens

The Wildlife.....

.....drove the furry one insane.   She learned a new word on this trip "bunny".  

And last but not least.....if you are looking for a vacation home word on the streets is this one is going for a good deal.   Was right next door to us so you know it has a great view.  Just needs a little TLC.....