Yes, my! They have grown up, haven't they? t

Its really me, Margi!

Hi, from me that has never had time to blog!

This last year has gone by so fast for me that I stare at year 2009 in total disbelief. It don't know when it started to happen but I was reassured by Mom that the days would become shorter and whole years would slip by faster and faster. Well that is happening to me now. It is totally crazy!

The holidays were great! Sorry about the presents being so late but I hope that you enjoyed them. I have really enjoyed my new teapot and jellys that both of you have given me.

Our German family has been in contact with a friend of mine and they write her weekly. Gerda received her Christmas present from me late as she told her postman to place all packages in the shed. She finally looked into the shed last week and was surprised to find a present. Gerda had been on a trip during Christmas..I think it is very hard for her due to her loss of Jurgan. Karin, my friend, will be returning to Germany in April to see her Mother on her birthday and hopes to meet Gerda and the girl during her visit. Her Mothers lives close to Herborn...and Karin is so excited to meet with them!

I just love all of the photographs of both of your families! These children have grown in lovely adults and have such beautiful children of there own now...Okay Mo no more red glass from me!
Take care, Love ya, Margi

Red glass & blogging

I do have a thing for red......if you saw my Christmas Eve table, you can see I have red & white china (Johnson Brothers Castles - based on English castles, of course - since we have visited quite a few of them while stationed at Brize Norton AFB).

Marge spied some red goblets on sale at Pier One, one thing led to another, and now I have 14 new goblets. Lest you think I don't have enough red glass though Margie - I actually couldn't "set" my table the whole way because we have to move it. So I'm enclosing some pictures for you two.

First off, the china cabinet "before". What a mess...I don't usually walk around with my camera (maybe I should!) and take pictures, but I had to make some room for the goblets. And since we are sisters, this isn't a big surprise now, is it?

This is a picture after I washed the goblets, dusted the interior, etc., etc. Much nicer, thanks for blogs that get us off our fannies and do some cleaning!

If you think I don't have enough red glass, I went through all the cupboards, and put these in a storage container:

Yes, that's my stove they are sitting on - they are a little dusty, but are going into storage anyway, so don't tell. Sorry Kate - Myriah gets my china & red glass when I'm gone.

This is my favorite pattern - it's called "oyster & pearl" and was made by Anchor Hocking in the 40's & 50's. It's a little spendy, so I only have one piece, so if you see a piece in a garage sale or thrift store - pick it up!

Just in case you think I'm all about being serious, here is an important family collection of classic beverage containers:

I bought these for one of our last outings at Dan's (old) cabin. The kids each have their favorite (Kesiah is the lady bug, Riley is the blue dog, Myriah is the purple monket, etc., etc.) But now I have to buy one for Kharsyn!

I also have a collection of turquoise glass - based on a old family heirloom - can you guess what it is? That's all for now - the sun is shining here and I hope it is shining on you. Love to all - Mo

Not much to report on, here. We still have 6 inches of snow on the ground! Every day I hear pieces of my chimney falling in on itself! I just hope it waits until warmer weather to completely fall in!
I love living in older homes, this one was built in 1938. But, there are some drawbacks: plumbing that has never been updated, and is intimate with tree roots from blocks away. Flooring that was original, and which the dogs think are great chew toys! But, we will replace the plumbing in spring, flooring much latter, probably. Really want to get my wood burning stove installed, even if I have to tear out this old chimney to do it!
Waiting for spring, like everyone else.
I really enjoyed watching our new President get sworn in, and apparently I wasn't the only one! I am truly proud to be an American! Think warm thoughts! t

Groovy Baby!

Wasn't it Forest who loves the Austin Powers movies? I think Trudy was quite upset with me when he came over once and saw one on the VCR - my, that does date me, doesn't it?

When I visited my favorite store (Goodwill) I spied these sheets. Hmmm, what can someone who actually sews do with these babies? They are so cute - I want an apron!

I wish I had one ounce of sewing skills! The last time I tried to sew, I was pregnant with Chris. I sewed the shoulder thingie upside down......lost patience......no more sewing for me! But this just might inspire me to start again.

I'm saving one sheet for myself, the other goes to BGF Kate. Kate is getting tired of me finding her projects - like felted purses, which I just discovered (hey - this is Moses Lake!). I went straight to Goodwill and bought her a bunch of wool, came home and washed and dried them twice, and sent them to Spokane via friend Barbi. It will be fun to see what Kate ends up with - she is so talented. And I do so want one for our auction in May! Take care & love to all - Mo

Antsy for Spring

It's fun to have a blog - right Trudy and Margi?? - except when not much is going on in your life.

Hmmm..... well, I'm feeling better, the snow is gone, and every once in a while the sun peeks out to remind us that spring is coming. Might take a few months, but like Margi says "to everything there is a season". Winter is a time to tackle a few indoor projects, like cleaning mirrors (haha). I have a few things I need to have a handyman come in and fix, but need to make a list so I don't forget anything.

I did make marshmallows - no pics, sorry Kate, and they were very, very sweet. Even I who can handle a ton of sugar can only have one or two small ones. The recipe called for putting them on oiled foil - but they stuck like crazy! So I ran them under some hot water and they came unglued pretty quickly.

The good thing about winter is waiting for the next Sears Christmas Catalog - gardening style. Of course I mean all the catalogs you get this time of year for flowers, fruits, veggies, etc. I'm not sure if I want to plant anymore, except for some purple basil - it's big and beautiful, just what I like.

Brady was scrolling through my camera, and asked me why I took several pictures of a tomato. Well, folks, this isn't just any tomato, it is one of the best tomatoes I ever ate! Just looking at it made my mouth water. Kay, my friend from work, brought some in and they were wonderful. So I saved some seeds, and should be starting some soon. So if you are very nice to me, I'll let you have a plant or two!

See, it gets star treatment! Hope everyone is safe and healthy - love to all Mo

Day Tripping

I took a quick hop to Coulee City last weekend with the Big Guy, and we stopped at Blue Lake (Rimrock Cove) on the way home. There were deer everywhere. Here's an inquisitive gal:

She's got the cutest ears! I can't believe people actually shoot these animals. Further on down the road, we found more:

Obviously these are well-love (and protected) animals, which is great. We even saw a 2-point calmly eating his supper by the side of the road. BG called Brady to tell him I shot a 2-point, Brady got pretty upset (3-points or more, according to the law). Actually, I shot him with my camera, but it was getting pretty dark, and we know my camera doesn't do well in low-light situations. But maybe my NEXT camera.....

Rimrock Cove is a small community on Blue Lake, consisting of single-wide and park-model trailers, with a few cabins thrown in. Here's a picture of my NEXT cabin - I bet it's got a dining room big enough for the Cook family table!

I guess you enter it on the side? It's nice to have dreams isn't it? Have a great weekend - love to all - Mo

Winter What???

I'm not sure how you take pictures of Christmas lights - but here is my nephew (Margi & Dennis' son) Casey and his wife Jen's house - all decked out for Christmas. I stopped by there tonight to pick up some items (thanks Margi!), and had a nice visit with them, and Bryer and Keeley, their children. Bryer is still my little buddy, I had to visit his new room (he switched rooms with his sister Keeley), check out his fort, etc., etc., all those special things Aunt Mo does when she comes to visit.

A few weeks ago, I was cruising town looking at Christmas lights with a friend, and as we turned the corner at Pelican Point, I saw what I first thought was a nuclear waste dump site glowing in the distance. As we got closer, I discovered it was my nephew Casey's house! This picture doesn't do it justice, as we got six more inches of snow last night, so it is hard to see the candy cane lights. But here you go - Casey gets the Christmas Spirit of 2008 award!

Speaking of snow - we have about two feet on the ground now. I woke up this morning, looked out the window, and was not very happy. I have to allow at least another half an hour to clean the porch, clean the car, shovel my way to the kennel, shovel my way INTO the kennel, look for doggie dishes (I can't find Spook's dish - maybe next spring?), feed the doggies, can't latch the gate because of too much snow, find a bungie cord, well, you get the idea.

Here's a picture I took of a planter in the front of my house right about Christmas time - it has (or had) a boxwood in it:

This is the same planter this morning, after sweeping off the porch:

It is there....just barely. Gosh, and more snow tonight! But if you want to see real SNOW - check out my BGF#1 Kate's site at http://www.3anklebiters.blogspot.com/.

That's as exciting as it gets tonight kids - Happy New Year and stay warm. Love to all - Mo

Christmas in Moses Lake

Christmas Eve at my house included 14 for dinner. Here's a picture of my table all decked out - the table extends to 10 feet, and we actually have to pick it up and put it in the living room - I call it the Cook family table! It is really nice to have a table everyone can sit around - in my next life I want a dining room big enough for it.

Kharsyn was quite busy in the family room - it's a good thing I can close the door when everyone leaves. Kharsyn really likes the lamb Riley and I picked up at a garage sale - he's NOT REALLY playing with the Barbi house.

If that look like a leg lamp I'm opening, well - it is! If I look a little tired, it is because I was wiped out with (almost) walking pneumonia. It took until yesterday before I felt better. (hey Margi - I'm wearing the Christmas sweater you bought me) Jeremiah doesn't look too thrilled with the opening of the presents deal.....

Kesiah was all decked out in her Christmas finest - she looked like a lovely elf!

Christopher loved his leather Steelers helmet he received as a gift.

This picture shows Brady, Rhyan and Melyssa. I couldn't quite fix Brady's eye - he's such a card though, I thought it was fitting.

Did I mention he is quite the card? Hmmm - don't know where he got it.... He's opening his gift from Christoper, wrapped in Christopher's version of wrapping - a Walmart sack, a Safeway sack, well you get the idea.....

Deena's cousin Amanda always joins us for Christmas Eve - she's a wonderful girl. Looks like I should have cleaned my mirror - hey I'm new to this picture taking thing!

Quincy is all decked out in his new Ford cap!

We played games (that is what the clothes pins were for) and ate a bunch. I was happy to send the Cornish game hens (thalidomide chickens) home with my guests. My new friend did well - even helped with two loads of dishes! I expected him to hid out in the bathroom or something - the house was very noisy with all the kids - they were much more at home here than at Trudy's! I remember one Thanksgiving at Margi's house (the first one on Birch) when Dad actually ate dinner in the laundry closet. We couldn't find him for quite some time - he was enjoying the quiet.

All in all, except for being sick, it was a wonderful Christmas. New Year's Eve was a quiet dinner with my friend, and home to bed very early..... I slept all New Year's day, and finally am feeling quite chipper. In fact I'm itching to try a new recipe (do I hear groans out there?? hey - I'm a good cook!) I'm going to try to make ..... marshmallows!

As I (thankfully) close out 2008 - to be put in a box and buried in the yard maybe? I want to thank my family and friends for all their love and support in 2008. Man, I am blessed with a lot of friends, and I needed them (especially during my own personal version of "Days of Rage"). I miss my friends who have gone on - especially Byrdeen. Starting the new year with a new friend is a good beginning....

May you be blessed with health, family, friendship and love in 2009 - but more importantly, may you appreciate these blessings! Be happy, be honest and be kind - a good recipe for a good life. Love to all - Mo