Just me

It's just me at home again for a couple of days. Makena went to her dad's this morning and Jamie is out of town until Tuesday. I will pick up Makena on Friday morning and then we'll head out to the Big G (Garibaldi) to visit my parents for the weekend. We haven't been there in a while, so we're looking forward to it. I'm also hoping to get out to my favorite antique shop in Wheeler - I can spend hours walking around in there. I have some things that I need for the property.

I woke up yesterday not feeling well - I always think it's West Nile and Jamie always rolls his eyes at me. I spent most of the day sleeping or just laying in bed. I am feeling a bit better today but still have a sore neck and stuffy head. I'm heading back to bed for a while and then have a CASA class tonight and I'm hoping to make it there.

Makena finally gave me a couple of pictures that she drew on her tablet...

Walden Island - Day 23 & 24

We did a little work on Saturday, not too much though. Jamie finished venting the toilet and had to make a run to the store for the remaining parts. I tried to do some reading and visiting. We then went out to play on the wave runners for a bit. Before going back to our house, we stopped to visit Mike & Pauline (the people we bought the property from)...and that's where the drinking started. We had been invited to dinner at Steve & KC's (the yellow house down in front of ours) - everything was wonderful! We were drinking there too and then off to another neighbors...and then another and more drinking. It was like a giant party! I have no idea what time we got back home (it's nice to just stagger home, but the moon isn't very bright sometimes.)

I woke up about 7:30am on Sunday morning with quite the headache. I did sit outside to read for a while and enjoy the birds though. Then I got Lilly (Steve & KC's new puppy) and walked around with her to find Moxie. They played together for almost 2 hours before we walked back up to our house to check on Jamie. He was still asleep and I finally woke him up at 11:45 - he was NOT feeling well at all. When KC got home from church, she came over to get Lilly and then I finally made something to eat for Jamie and I. I think it was a little before 4pm before Jamie got up and started moving around - he was napping off/on in the sun and recouping. I snuck in a little nap too.

Lilly found my camera case

Jamie did get the stairs enclosed so there is a bit more privacy in the bathroom. We cleaned up and went home a bit earlier than usual.

"Why I smiled today" - watching Moxie and Lilly play for almost two hours. Moxie is such a good dog - even though I had to remind her a couple of times that she can't "box" the puppy. I told Jamie that Moxie wants a puppy now. : )

Walden Island - Day 22

We didn't get up to the island until Friday evening. We mostly just unpacked, set things up and watched movies. About half way through our first movie, I saw (what I thought) was a bat fly through the room and then go upstairs. I looked at Jamie and said "did you see that?" and he said "yes" - whew! Jamie took a broom upstairs and looked all over for the bat as I was searching (not too carefully) downstairs. We couldn't find it, so we figured it went out the same way it had come in (which we couldn't find either). About 20 minutes later, he flies downstairs and swoops around again. This time, Jamie found him upstairs and got him out through the window. BUT...another 20 minutes later...here he comes again! Jamie found him upstairs again and got him back outside. Thankfully, he didn't come back and we were able to finish our movies. If you haven't seen he movie Stop Loss - it's a good flick. (I may be partial as Timothy Olyphant is in it.)

Jamie the 'bat stalker'

Moxie wanted to be sure the bat was gone before going to bed.

"Why I smiled today" - I've never had to try to get a bat out of my house. Good thing it's only 200 sq ft! He was good at hiding tho!

Woo-Whoo...It's Friday!

We are going back up to the lake again sometime today. I'm wondering how overgrown things are in the two weeks we've been gone. Jamie has a few small things to do in the shed, and then we were invited to dinner at our neighbor's house on Saturday. Other than that...rest, relax and enjoy the lake! I am on my last week of my foot splint (finally!!) and it's feeling much better. It did swell up again a bit last week but I think I'm good...I just have to take it slow...okay, I'll try. The doctor told me to walk only for a few weeks, no running - NO problem! : )

We went to dinner on Wednesday with our friends Martin & Renee - at Lil Cooperstown. I could probably eat there 3 or 4 times a week - the menu is big enough to do so too! We had a great time talking with them. (Oh - yes, Jamie did get the finally mow the yard this week, you won't have to send Nico over.)

While we were in Newport last weekend, Makena somehow lost the pen to her new tablet. That was A LOT of drama when she realized it at 1am! We looked everywhere and I found the replacement online for $35 - which Makena was none too happy about. (Especially since she is already negative with her allowance.) I had left a message for the hotel and they did call back to tell me it was found - whew! It arrived in the mail yesterday, but she is at her dad's until Monday. Maybe I'll draw some pictures and post them. : ) Love you Pook!

"Why I smiled today" - I woke up and Jamie was working in bed. I know this is not all that unusual, but I am almost always the first one up. I haven't been sleeping well, so he was trying to be quiet and not wake me. I love that we can both work from home.

Dutch Bros. "Relay For Life Day"

At any Dutch Bros. location today it's "Relay For Life Day" anytime between 5:30am and 11:00pm! All sales proceeds plus customer donations will be donated to their local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. Stop by for a cup of your favorite java!!

I have to admit, I've never been to Dutch Bros. Coffee but I know a lot of people like it. Sooo...I think I may stop by for my first visit today! I'm a Coffee Rush girl, but that's only when I have an extra couple bucks (or Makena is in the car begging for hot chocolate).

"Why I smiled today" - because I crawled into bed with Makena this morning to wake her up. Moxie followed me in to give her sister a wake up kiss - and Brandi was right behind us to jump up on the bed. Who doesn't like to wake up to their mom and pets all in bed with them???

Why I smiled today

"Why I smiled today" - because when I uploaded my pictures from my camera the following were on it from Makena...

Kristen's wedding

I see that I started blogging after my cousin Kristen was married, so I wanted to add a couple of photos from then too. Kristen is Kim's (see post below) older sister and was married in May. She was married at the Rock Creek Country Club. Both girls were beautiful and we enjoyed their weddings very much!!

Congratulations Kristen & Matt!

Kim's wedding

We arrived home this afternoon from Newport. My cousin Kim was married below the Heceta Lighthouse on the beach - it was a wonderful day and beautiful wedding! We left early Saturday morning and got the hotel in Newport, but our room wasn't ready so we visited with my sister and Chad for a while. Then we all got ready and headed off to the wedding; which we then realized we weren't really sure where the wedding was. We were told it was about 45 minutes (depending on who you asked) South of Newport - I think we made it with seconds to spare! That includes turning around once or twice and a quick stop for Jamie to buy a hotdog. (Because we all know how Jamie can be if he doesn't eat!! Grouchy doesn't even begin to describe him.)

Congratulations Kim & Danny!

Zeus was in the wedding too.

T, Chad & Mia were a floor above us.

The view from our room.

I was up by 8am and read out on the deck, listening to the ocean. I finally woke up Jamie & Makena at 10am (sleepy-heads) to get some breakfast and walk on the beach. Moxie loves the sand! It was a little 'hike' up and down to the beach tho.

Why I smiled today

"Why I smiled today" - We received our first delivery today from Organics to You (http://www.organicstoyou.org/) - a farm fresh home delivery service. It's a local business that delivers local fruits/veggies & now groceries right to your door - weekly, biweekly or monthly. I found the website while I was looking for gift baskets...and was interested right away! I can't get to New Seasons as much as I'd like to, and I think this is going to be less expensive anyways. Especially now that we have the Vita-Mixer! : )

Moxie was even impressed with the delivery guy - I think she liked his Afro.

Malibu Raceway

I took my Girl Scout Troop to Malibu Raceway today. They drove for 10 laps and then played in the arcade for a bit. This is one of the activities that they wanted to spend their cookie money on. Yes, they still have cookie money - I'm trying to make it last until next season!
It was a bit hot out, but as usual, they dealt with it great. Jamie drove too (and got a cute little purple car & helmet) he says that he beat them every single lap. : )

"Why I smiled today" - other than watching the girls race each other around the track; Jamie took us to dinner at my favorite restaurant Lil' Cooperstown. (We finished up our gift certificates - thanks again Dylona & Jason!) It was nice enough by then to eat outside and we had a great time out there! Makena seems to be 'catching up' on her smarty-pants comments from the last 3 weeks...she's been throwing them out all day! She thinks she's pretty funny.

Why I smiled today

Jamie made a deal with Makena 3 weeks ago. He told her if she could go 3 weeks without being a smart ass or arguing, he would buy her the Tablet that she has been begging for. It's a drawing/design tablet that connects to her laptop. When she draws pictures on it, they will then transfer to her laptop automatically. (Or it's something like that...I don't really know much about it.) Well, she did it and he brought it down to her this morning. She's been smiling and drawing ever since! Maybe I can get her to post a drawing on the blog sometime - since she has yet to post anything! : )

The Monster

Jamie has been looking for a backhoe for a while now and it's finally here. (Oh joy!) We've named it "the monster" as that's pretty much what it is. Our floating dock will be here in about a month and then we'll be able to get The Monster over to the island. Jamie can't wait to get it running and dig!

Walden Island - Day 21

Sunday was pretty much another play day for us as the weather continued to be beautiful! Jamie and I took the boat out for a while - I then drove as he went out on the knee-board. There weren't many boats out so I wasn't too nervous about it - although I dumped him (pretty hard) the first time. It's those 'sneaker waves'...I swear. : ) We also took the wave runners out for a while - until I ran out of gas. Thankfully there is a reserve tank! The lake has now taken a pair of Jamie's sunglasses as well as my favorite bandanna...I was bummed.

Jamie did do a few things on the shed, but it was just to nice out to work. Moxie and I layed outside under a tree for a while and watched the birds. I found a couple of bugs in the tree. Something we have plenty of out on the lake - birds and bugs!

The Throne

We finally have a working toilet! Jamie got everything hooked up for the toilet on Saturday evening. It sits 2 feet off of the ground (notice the little foot stool), so it feels like you are sitting on an actual "Throne"! : ) It's quite a bit different than the small portable one that we've had the last month - that one sits about 2" off the ground - and I like the new one MUCH better!

Walden Island - Day 19 & 20

Day 19 was really just getting up to the island. Then on Saturday (Day 20) I moved the 'kitchen' area to the other side of the shed so that it was closer to the fireplace. It gets a bit more sun over there now too. The weeds on the other half of the property got cut down (we have a kid that mows for us) so it's a bit more open.

When Jamie and Rick got back from Seattle, all they wanted to do was get in the lake! Franklin has now decided that he loves the water and the wave runner - Moxie still doesn't want to swim. Jamie did make her come out, and she wasn't very happy with him, but it cooled her off.

As I was walking around the property, I noticed a small rose bush under the arbor along a pathway. It's not actually on our property (the owner now lives on land and only her sons come over every so often) but it's just at the corner and I knew she wouldn't mind me clearing out the blackberry vines. She owns the largest amount of property on the island and used to have beautiful rose gardens everywhere - now they are so over grown with the blackberry vines because she doesn't come out. They even take over some of the pathways...so I cleared those out too. At one point I even had to get the chain saw out to cut through some of it!

And here is what Moxie looks like at the end of the day...it's not even dark out yet tho!

Thanks again Rick for bringing your camera!!!