Weekend Pics

My parents moved east of Spokane last spring to Liberty Lake. Though the drive from Seattle is about an hour longer, I've come to love their new digs. Lately, my visits have included runs around the neighborhood, as there are tons of trails and paths to discover.

Last weekend I came upon (go figure) Liberty Lake! Who knew it was less than a mile away from my parent's home (when I actually mentioned this to them, they admitted to not have been yet, whoops). The lake was completely frozen over and beautiful. I returned with my mom and new cam to take some pics of the skaters and scenery.

My first panoramic!

No lifeguard on duty

I loved the colors in this shot



Skaters in THE MIDDLE of the lake y'all!







I had to "test the waters" myself







Puppy Updates

The search continues for the new little addition!

In the short time since my last post, I've learned more than I ever need to about the puppy business. My first thought was to adopt a rescue dog. These canines, after all, need a loving home more than anyone. My search eventually branched out into special needs dogs. After suggesting we either adopt a wiener dog in a wheel chair or one who was deaf and blind (the product of recessive genes and careless breeding), Nick quickly put a stop on the rescue idea altogether. While dressing my dog in sunglasses sounded cute, Nick reminded me that raising Helen Keller is not something we as first time dog owners are prepared to do.

Thus I have turned to private breeders. We are going to visit these little guys tonight. They come from a very good home, whose owners have socialized them with children, other dogs and cats, and keep the puppies in the house instead of outside kennels. The breeder is also very concerned with making the right match for both the new owners and the puppy. I've been so impressed with how invested she is with the process.

I think the one on the right looks like an Abner, don't you?

Prayers Answered

My mom went in for surgery yesterday. She did wonderfully, and is recovering well. Although what she went through could be considered a somewhat common procedure, it's interesting how freaked out her family was (myself very much included). We were all worried for her well-being and making it through.

Funny how little life blips like this make you appreciative of the things you have and worried about losing them. I am so thankful for wonderful parents and glad to have the chance to see them this weekend. I'll be home in Vancouver playing nurse.

Can't wait to see you mom!

Weekend Project: Windows

My parents came to visit this past weekend. It was our "delayed" Christmas, since I was working so much throughout the holidays. Nick and I took them around town, to a movie at our favorite theatre, the Alamo, but spent most of the time vegging out at home.

One thing on my mom's priority list was to address our lack of window treatments in the main room. In my defense, I would like to state that plantation blinds were specifically added to the lease agreement, but somehow we ended up with thin plastic roller shades instead. We always leave these closed for privacy, but that also means a lot of the room's natural light is left out.

Since I am still working on my sewing skills, cafe curtains seemed to be a good solution. They provide the necessary privacy, but at least now, we can see the trees and sun. We chose a basil green silk fabric (so pretty!) and got to work.

Pressing the fabric

Sewing time

Measuring the seams




The finished product (with the hideous blinds still up... for now...)

Thanks for the idea mom! I have one panel left to go :)

Back on the Transient Train

I've hinted and alluded to it, and now it's time once again to announce. I'm leaving New Mexico...yay! (Although I've hardly felt like a resident of the state in the last seven months). My family and I have decided that although it was out of the best of efforts and intentions, working together wasn't a good fit for either party. I was traveling back and forth an hour and staying the week to work for them, traveling on the road to shows, plus flying to Austin to see Nick, and it has finally caught up with me.

I'm excited for this next step. The problem is, I'm not sure what that next step IS. I'm packing my house up and have no idea WHERE I'm going. This is pretty gypsie, even for me! Everything will be put in storage while I look for work. Nick and I have decided with his work schedule and us wanting to be closer together, I should target the Austin and Chicago job markets. Nothing has been decided and I could just as easily end up in Seattle or LA again.

So now the packing begins. Luckily I have all my boxes still, pre-labeled from their contents of the last move. (what I wouldn't give for some strong magic movers to come and do the job for me!) I hope to be packed and stored by the weekend.

Here's to the new adventure!

My Father's Daughter

A delayed Father's Day blog

My mom likes to tell me that as I get older I’m becoming more like my father. It doesn't take too long to realize she's on to something.

• We tend to have the same “because I said so” rationale for our actions and opinions
  
• Our palette for cheese and beer are strikingly similar (although contrary to prior stories, most likely told at a bar, my family is not in the cheese making business


• We both laugh hardest at our own jokes (leaving the rest of the room to grant the courtesy chuckle)


• If you don’t know the answer to a question, make it up


• We have the same temper and can sometimes get a little too frustrated and angry, yet ten minutes later have no clue what got either of us so upset


• One book is not enough. Sometimes I’ll be in the middle of reading three different novels, which is nothing compared to the stack my dad has been known to acquire


• The more I try to fight it, the cleaner I’m becoming. I haven’t gone a whole day since moving to NM without making my bed (gasp). Soon I’ll be vacuuming the curtains… oh wait, that’s my mom…


• Given the choice, we would both relocate the humane society to our back yards taking care of every stray cat and dog (see below)

Mutt and Jeff

I was never the type of kid to want to adopt all the stray neighborhood animals. It wasn't for lack of heart, but more the area we lived in only offered animals who already had homes, possums (or opossums... what's the difference?), and squirrels. Not a wide range of choice for a little girl. Luckily, we had three cats of our own to keep me occupied and there was the occasional bunny or hamster when I had the itch for some extra "responsibility"... it's a good thing hamsters don't live very long.

I've been in pet mode again lately. My house in New Mexico gets lonely and it would be nice to have a cuddly companion to hang out with. Unfortunately my travel schedule isn't conducive to keeping a plant alive, let alone a furry friend.

Needless to say, it should come as no surprise that I launched my own very local animal outreach program.

Meet Mutt and Jeff.

These two are the happy new inhabitants of the my parent's backyard (there are already three kitties living inside). And although they reside outdoors, I make sure they have just as many meals, love and attention as their in-home counter parts.

The ultimate strategy of my "outreach" is to relocate these scruffy yet lovable felines to a new home in a certain Austin, TX ;)

Downtown LV

Downtown Las Vegas has this unique charm. It strikes me as a cross between the city's retro Rat Pack era and National Lampoons Vegas Vacation, $1.99 buffets anyone? I remember years ago (I'm about to age myself here) when there was no laser light show, Vegas Vic waved hello, and the hot blonde on top of the Glitter Gulch flirted with the crowds below by tossing her long leg.

Downtown Vegas came along long before themed hotels, mega casinos, dance clubs, and five star restaurants. I vividly remember walking along Fremont Street as a child with my grandfather. We approached the Golden Nugget, which at the time was one of the ritziest casinos. Through a window we could see a high stakes game of Black Jack in progress. Within 5 minutes, one of the players lost $10,000... A LOT of money to a 12 year old. That was the first time it really dawned on me that this was unlike any place on earth (I'm exactly not sure was the lesson meant to be taken from the experience. It probably had something to do with learning the value of a dollar... still working on that one)

Regardless of life lessons, Downtown is still a fun place to visit for an evening. As the urban renewal continues, I look forward to the one-time gem shining bright again.

Back after haitus!

I took a few days off during my time in Portland, Seattle, and Spokane. This is mainly because I knew I would be seeing 99% of my readers during this time, and let's face it, a little in person time is still superior to the Internet (right?)

Rest assure, now that I am home, I have plenty of topics to address from my trip. Stay tuned all week, there are some good ones! In addition to posting, the next few days will involve some intense catch up at work, thawing out from all the snow, hail, and cold weather, enjoying other costume options other than the clothes I have been carrying up and down the West Coast in my two suitcases, and ditching the fat girl that somehow ate Carina last week.

Here's a glimpse from my time in Seattle with Kim at the M's game and Baby time with the Trailer girls in Spokane:

This could easily be my favorite place, the M's beer garden (applicable only when accompanied by good friends)

There's nothing like a creepy guy popping in your pictures. Classic!

The room for Mel P's shower in Spokane's Davenport Hotel

Jamie's clever flower arrangements and decor, Thanks for hosting!

Yes, even our baby showers involve alcohol... perfectly normal

Setting up before the shower (and wearing the same dress to another occasion, I'm such a fashion faux pas!)

Baby P wouldn't kick for me ALL weekend. She and I already have some issues to work out. Just remember who's taking you to Disneyland, kid ;)

It's not an A Phi gathering without the uber posed group picI can always count on Katie to keep us oldies hip by telling us what the youngsters are saying these days. She's such a slu (minus the 2 t's)

Leftover wine? More for us ;) Jamie manages not to be left out in any photo opDinner at Luna in front of a mural featuring the scariest animals on the planet.
I have to report that despite my thought it could NEVER happen, Coconut Cake has officially been replaced as the best dessert I've had, by their new Maple Cake, it is warm caramel deliciousness!

On the other side of the dinner table. "They could be sisters"

I'm so greatful to have had the opportunity to see almost all my good friends in just two weeks. What a trip! Laughter, tears, and new memories were had by all.
As soon as I unpack and do some laundry, I'll be ready to repeat the adventure!
~Love your gypsy friend :)

Mum's the word

I got to thinking that I failed as a blogger (or excessive life documenter) because during my mom's visit, I never got a picture of us together. I joked with my mom that people might just think I made up this whole visit.

Fortunately, my mom left evidence of her trip. Anyone who knows my mom is well aware that she has a certain fondness for doilies. One might even go so far to say that she is a doilie enthusiast. I grew up with these crocheted wonders draped over couches, table tops, mantles, bathroom shelves, sometimes even our cats! To my mother, a doilie is the quintessential finish touch to a decorated room.

I caught her sneaking some into my house from the stuff we went through of my great grandmothers. The next day, I began to notice doilies popping up in every corner. I'm happy to say, most attempts were foiled, although I did catch one last lonely doilie on the table after she left.


She can be SO sneaky.

Spring Cleaning

This past fall my great grandmother passed away at the ripe age of 95... I'm telling you, the people on both sides of my family live VERY long. The other thing my family is infamous for is our ability to collect clutter!
With the Nana and my mom in tow, we set out to go through the boxes upon boxes of stuff my great grandmother (Grandma Womack, to me) had collected through her years.

There are many things I admire about my great grandmother. She was a strong Christian, devoted mother and friend, and avid traveler who continued to take trips as long as she was physically able. We found her travel journals today from European and cruise trips she had taken.

She also spent many of her early years living in Hawaii and California. There are some great pictures of her in hula attire and the beaches she lived on.

Although I am working hard to be the generation to break the clutter cycle, I did get away with a china set, some dinnerware, and great family photos. (My attempt at pictures of pictures to post below)

My Nana as a baby with her parents

Picture of four generations... yes I'm the baldie in the lefthand corner with the chubbie cheeks