Catch Up

Time - foe or friend?  At the moment it's my foe and for some reason I just feel like I don't have enough hours in the day to do all the things I would like to be doing...you know how it is!  If any of you holds any sway with the lottery fairies I would be grateful for you putting in a good word.  We dont need gobs of money - just enough to be able to travel, take care of our family finanically, have no mortgage and have enough to be able to live the high life, along with enough to make in unneccessary to work..course, its not that I don't love where I work, I do...its just that it really put's a hitch in my proverbial giddy up in relation to what I would love to be doing.

One of the things that has been a little neglected is my new found enjoyment of writing for your dear readers - as one person pointed out - its been a whole 7 days since I entertained you with the ramble that is my life.  Sorry pals...I'll try to do better, promise.

YAY Offerings to the birthday altar

As I have said in the past I am a lucky lady to have met Mr Big and to have him join in my farscal made up festivals.  Today was the first day of the birthday celebration polooza, and imagine my surprise when he turned up with my favorite sandwich (whole wheat bread, lightly toasted with sliced turkey, crispy bacon, jalapenos, banana peppers, black olives, tomatoes - ranch chipotle....mmmmm) at lunchtime, followed by a visit from the pixies AND home made cupcakes frosted with york peppermint patties....we then go out for dinner to the greatest Indian Restaurant around, Mayuri  http://www.mayuriseattle.com/ - I always have the same thing, chicken or shrimp tikka masala - hot, with a side of raita and garlic naan bread.  The sauce tastes like its been slowly, lovingly cooked for hours, the chicken is always perfectly tandoor roasted, the bread bubbly and crispy all at once.  Mr Big is much more adventuresome than me and is still busy making his way through the menu.  His favorite this is the Chat menu which is full of all kinds of deliciousness and is very inexpensive ($4-$7 a plate).  What other restaurant is full of people, continually coming and going, on a Wednesday night?

We came home and walked the pups and sat on the couch to relax when my eye is caught by a little bird sitting on the hutch - none other than yet another gift.

this time a dear little bird, just perfect for adding to the autumnal centerpiece in the dining room.  Thanks Mr Big, you complete me. (and not just because of your gift giving prowess).

Back in the land of the living

What kind of glory is it to be back at work!  I'm feeling so much better and am glad to be back at work...at least till I can find a way to make my millions selling artwork!  And it's amazing how many things I have had in my day already to delight me....first, Mr Big drove me to work (he is home today) AND confirmed he will sweep me out to lunch with him (a rare treat indeed).........then, Geneva (the middle steppie) put a delightful post on my facebook page acknowledging the fact that TODAY IS DAY ONE of my month long birthday celebration "let the festivities begin!" is what her message proclaimed.  I love her!

For those of you that might be interested, the month long birthday celebration started off as a lark actually - when Mr Big and I first got together we were chatting about one thing and another and I mentioned that I had this little tradition of having the entire month of September dedicated to my glory and that I expected a grand gesture daily but especially on the birthday day.  Of course I was joking (not) ... but being the wonderful person that he is Mr Big bought into this fantasy and has, for the last 8 years, delighted me in continuing on this celebration... and I for one am not disuading him.

Life List

I found this spectacular idea a couple of weeks ago on the blog site of Epiphany Camera bags (by the way, if you want a camera bag that is built for girls this is the place to go ) of creating a life list.  When I've mentioned this to friends they also used the term "bucket list".  Basically its a list of things you want to achieve/get/do/experience and course, Im a visual type of lass so the idea that she showed was perfect.  My friend Hailey and I, and Gen and Dottie spent the good part of an evening HANDCUTTING millions of butterflies - it was a really fun evening that could have been tedious, but was in fact incredibly calming and inspirational with the ladies sitting and talking about their dreams.  Well friends, after many days ticking by - I finally have them up.

Each butterfly carries a different life list item and when its achieved you can take your butterfly into the can 

What do you intend to do with your one precious life?

Emmy's

Today is Sunday - the best day of the week as my hoards of readers know, this is my favorite day.  Mr Big came in quite late last night (actually, this morning) so he didn't make it to church with us, bad luck on his part I say - Margaret Owens was there http://www.margaretowens.com/Links.html and I found my eyes filled with tears more than once - so I decided I had to have  some of her lovely tunes, they''ll be coming to work with my daily drive.

Its now only 5 sleeps till Dave Matthews at the Gorge, so I'm in full on planning mode for our road trip, I think about the only thing I need to get now is a rain slicker.  I know, its weird I don't have one when I live in a place that gets so much moisture... but the closest thing is a snow jacket and it wont be cold enough for that...so Geneva and I went to Burlington Coat Factory to find a light jacket - sad for me, there was nothing that would work for the body - but good news, I did find a fantastic pair of shoes to wear with my birthday outfit - arent these beautiful, and a complete steal at $16.99

Happy Saturday

Gaz and I had a late night last night and we kind of slept in which we felt guilty for - especially because it is one of those treasured weekends that we have with the three musketeers.  Once we'd had lunch we headed out to Pike Place Market - a Seattle landmark and one of the oldest continuous operating Farmers Markets in the country.  Course, because this was one of the last weekends of summer, and it was blue sunny skies - everyone else had the same idea.  Still, a lovely afternoon!  The flowers are one of my favorite things about the market and arriving there all the window boxes are filled with a riot of color

The flower sellers are legendary here and at the moment the fleurs du jour are zinnias (my birthday flower), dahlias, sunflowers and gladioli - you can snap up a huge bunch for less than $10 - they are so thoughtful they even wrap the stems in wet newspaper because most people are going to be walking around with them before going home! 

Most of these flowers are brought in first thing from local flower farms - you see everyone walking around with them especially on 1st Avenue.  They are almost like the most fashionable accessory!

I made the gals crouch down in front of some of the buckets - right after I snapped this picture they fell backwards and almost took out the two buckets behind them, luckily they inherited Gary's feline relexes and regained their composures before it was too late!

and here's my heart, Mr Big, bringing me flowers....he's awesome.

After we walked the top floor where else is one to end up but the Allen Family favorite - Daily Donut.  We have had many a drive from Everett to here only to find them out of donuts (a travisty) or closed (yes...a tear or two is shed at these times).  Daily Donut is the perfect moist mouthful of fried dough, grease and sugar.  Thanks Gary for standing in line for our bagful!

While we were there I took the opportunity to snap a picture of Elliott - he should be renamed Gigantiott now that he is equal in size to Mr Big at 6ft 4in, so I guess he should be named Mr Big Jnr?  Anyways - as you can see, he was rocking the pink!  This is possibly my favorite all time picture of him so far.

Oh - and check out the wedding snap, these two were having fun threading their way through the crowd while two photographers tried their best to take some memorable images.  I never really thought about the market for wedding pictures because of the crowds, but I would love to have seen how these turned out

I've heard of the bubble gum wall but I never realized that it was at Pike Place - so we paid a visit and left our DNA on the wall by way of gum. 

It was a very lovely day!

Beach Fun

The light was so stunning this evening, breath takingly lovely...so I grabbed Mr Big and the trusty Nikon and we headed over the hill to Mukilteo Beach.  I find it instantly lifts the spirits being by the ocean!  This weeks photo challenge is "Beach Fun" and though there were a bazzillion people having beach fun, this little guy (a stranger...whose name was gus) was really someone I had to take a picture of.  Right after I snapped this image he turned around to his dad and reported "I cant feel my legs".  I heart you Gus.  Thanks for the picture.

Oh - and by the way - only 10 sleeps to go and its ROAD TRIP to the gorge to visit awhile with Dave.  See you then dear!

Dusty

One of the delights of summer in the Pacific Northwest is outdoor concerts and yesterday was just such an occasion, and to make matter's even BETTER it was a Dusty 45's concert!!

The Dusty's are one of my favorite bands and I will be forever grateful to my bestie Hailey for introducing them to me.  The Dusty's are an Americana Rockabilly group - the write and sing all their own songs, some with harmonica, some with trumpet - all with amazing vocals, drumming, guitaring and stand up bass. 

And to top it all off Billy Joe (the lead singer and a ladysnack) finishes up the sets by standing on the bass, singing AND playing a trumpet which he lights on fire as the cherry on the top of their delicious concerts.  If you havent been to a Dusty's concert - skip, no run, to their site http://www.dusty45s.com/ to find a local gig to attend.  I can't wait till the 18th of September till we see them at the Tractor.  Tequila-rockabilly-fun laden pre birthday celebration HERE WE COME!!

Jeff Grey is as you can see, he's quite yummy...and the way he handles that base is an obvious indicator for what a lovely boyfriend he would be...so I pushed he and my friend Hailey together, shot my cupids arrow and (drum roll please)....they had a photo together which I was asked to not publish...actually - Im now leaving up to fate and the gods to see what happens from here.  All I can say folks is...watch this space!

Autumn Leaves

I know I know - it's August and I should'nt be thinking of Fall, but I am.  It might be because I am painting a fall abstract right now, or it might be because it's a fall kind of day outside - but I think it's because I saw a little sappling tree this morning with every one of its leaves gold, red and yellow.

I immediately updated Mr Big by text - and he sent me this beautiful "poem" which actually is from the song autumn leaves by Nat King Cole...


The falling leaves drift by my window



The falling leaves of red and gold


I see your lips, the summer kisses


The sunburned hands I used to hold
 
Delicious

Dave Matthews Concert

See you in 17 short days beauty!

129 sleeps to go!

As you know I am a Christmas FANATIC - in fact, the madness is already gripping me... as you can see from a post a couple of weeks a go I am already starting planning for our annual Christmas Party (first Saturday in December, yes - you are invited) AND I've already got a couple of gifts purchased. 

Imagine my surprise when last week Mr Big joined in the fun! "When do you want to start the negotiations for the day the tree and decorations get put up".... It of course, made my heart swell with love for him.  Also today he sent an email with a December calender AND a suggestion that we should grab our dear friends (Tadpole, Ronnie, Jason, Lois and Hailey) and head to Leavenworth to a snowy cabin retreat for a couple of days. http://www.comfycabins.com/troll.htm looks to be the choice, right on fish lake.  All we need is to pray for lots of snow around the cabin, but not on the road - we need to actually be able to drive there.  The cabin is nice and close to Leavenworth where they have a wonderful Christmas festival http://www.leavenworth.org/modules/pages/?pageid=266 every year that we attend.

Gotta Wear Shades Geneva!

Sweet summer afternoons spent at the park with the kids, I savor these last days before school.  We live right across the road from historic Clark Park so what better place to chill out and enjoy some rays.  Here is our 14 year old Geneva Rose "chill-axing" as she calls it.  The perfect image for this weeks iheartfaces photo challenge

If you stop by to check out my blog I would love you to leave a comment.  You can also view all the other wonderful entries by clicking on the logo below.  Happy summer to you all!


 

Ahhhh Sunday!

Sunday truly is one of the most fantabulous days of the week don't you think?  Im looking forward to a relaxing day with the family before starting what is bound to be a crazy work week.

The fam and I had a terrific day yesterday PLUS we aquired some wonderful bargins for Casa Allen.  It all started on Friday night with the craigslist find of the century ....

A table and chairs for the princely sum of only $34!!  Thank you to the folks moving to Idaho, AWESOME find.  We have always had the highly affordable - highly unattractive plastic chairs and table and I've always wanted a wooden indoor set for ourdoors so we have been keeping our eyes peeled on the listings for one...and now, voila!

After Gary had picked these up we went to the Seattle Vintage Flea Market and picked up a bunch of delightful things.  One of my new prized possessions is Tony, the 10 point stag which came home with us and was prompted showered and spruced up with my new favorite color spray paint PISTACHIO.  Dont you think he is the prettiest $8 (including paint) ever?

and he is looks almost like he is smiling looking out toward Clark Park. 

Course because we were downtown, we decided on Dim Sum for lunch.  As you know friends, I could eat my body weight in steamed shrimp dumplings and hum bow every day of the week, and one of our favorite places to go is House of Hong.  Ok, I admit, the place is no palace and the waitresses walk off laughing like drunk faeries when you ask as question that you will never get answered because they dont understand english...but that's all part of the wonderous ullure of this place.  Dim Sum, for the uninitiated, is a variety of foods (including several kinds of steamed or fried dumplings) are served successively in small portions from, (and this is the best part) wheeled carts that tiny Chinese ladies trot around the restaurant with.  It's actually a good exercise in assertiveness because each little plate had a nominal value (usually $3-$5) but if you can't say no..you might end up with a squilliion dollars worth of steamed goods in front of you.

We usually always look for the same things because we love the flavors: - steamed hum bow with bbq pork (also my sister favorite - Shona, when you come home to visit, we'll take you here and tell them to bring the buns till you pass out)

and steamed shrimp dumplings

course there are other things that are must haves - the shrimp toast (tiny pieces of shrimp meat mixed with something delicious, spread on a piece of baguette, battered and deep fried), soy sauce chow mein, pork pastries, Steamed Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce and garlic, honey walnut shrimp.....its all so so good!  My only complaint about House of Hong is they are the only place in town that charges for a refil on your soda.  Other than that its always consistently terrific and we wish we were closer to you House of Hong, then again - we would be built like Houses if that were the case!

More treasures to bring home from the market included tres cool "moulds" which looked wicked awesome in the firelight and were only $10 each!

We love to have a fire in the evening and treat the kids to smores (for any kiwis reading this a smore is a honey flavored cracker sort of like a digestive biscuit, put on the bbq with a couple of squares of chocolate on top and marshmallow and then another cracker on the top - heat until gooey and voila!) - tonight Gary invented quite possibly one of the planets most delicious smores to watch the fire and the satellites by...ROLO SMORES.  Oh yesssss

Gotta wear shades

I heart iheartfaces - it really helps get the creativeness out and about.  Every week you get issued a new photo challenge - this week is "surprise" and I've already submitted this photo, next week is "Gotta wear shades" so I already have my thinking cap on regards what Im going to shoot to submit.

Shout out to Bob Geldof

I love our Monday evening family meetings, it's the little unexpected things that come up that are so entertaining and though the kids are getting older - they just keep inadvertendly getting funnier and funnier and tonight was no exception.

After a delicious "meatless Monday" pasta, Dot shared that she was made to go to YMCA Camp jail for using the word "tits".  She said she was not the person that used this word, and she was "pissed off" at the leadership team for unfair jail time. 

Thankfully something has sunk in through the 12 years of parenting and she immediatly recalled us telling her in the past to "stand up for your rights" and to "not let injustices happen" and made it known that she this punishment was unjust, but they still put her in a time out aka... jail.  Upon arriving home she actually was quite upset about it and was lementing her time in "jail" *dramatic pause* "for 10 minutes".  Of course we took her grievance completely seriously and suggested she call a brother in arms, Nelson Mandela to talk about her unfair incarceration,  and perhaps reach out to Bob Geldof to start a Live Aid style concert.

I love our family.

SUPRISE! Photo Challenge

It's such a joy looking for the perfect picture in the theme of the week for the iheartfaces photo challenge each week.  I think this photo of Dot (daughter) captures the joy of surprise....I hope you agree! I'd love to hear your feedback if you have the time.

Click here to view more beautiful expressions of this weeks theme "surprise"

About ready....to burst

I am so thrilled to announce that I am almost ready to open an online store on http://www.etsy.com.  If you don't already know about Etsy .... you should go visit, think of it like an ebay that individual artists and craftspeople sell their wares on (no bidding though).  I've brought numerous items on here, especially jewelry and have always had a really nice interaction with the sellers.  I've always wanted to own my own business and maybe this might turn into that, who know..but I am throwing caution to the wind and sewing the seeds for it.

The store is called Divine Notions and will start by selling "initial" door adornments and paintings and perhaps even some photo cards in time.

Now all I need is the time to create so I can build the inventory and get going.  WATCH THIS SPACE!

Holiday Party Countdown

I know what you're thinking.  Im crazy for thinking about Christmas when summer isnt already over...but I can't help myself.  I love throwing our party each year and am on the lookout for beverage dispensers to use this time, vintage would be better - but look at this sweet number I found

http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=cprod69150027 and on sale!  This year my goal is have the usual great party but with less effort, and especially with less running from person to person with drinks.

Surprises

Normally I am fine to let a surprise play out and am not one of those that looks for presents or reads the last page of a novel because they can't wait, but friends, seriously - WHO CAN WAIT for every Sunday's episode of True Blood??? Thank God for the internet and the spoilers - this week I could quench my thirst for more True Blood in the following http://www.buddytv.com/articles/true-blood/true-blood-spoiler-what-is-soo-37749.aspx ....Sookie a faerie? That makes perfect sense.  Thank you Buddy TV.

Sleepy Sunday

What a nice weekend its been in general, but today's been the best - nice a relaxing!  The car's still in the shop - it's in good hands with our friend Mike at Carson Cars.  Mike is such a lovely person, plus he is always so generous to our whole family.  If anyone needs a great used car (I know what you're thinking, no such thing exists....but it does it Mike's place) or you need your car repaired, its definatly worth a trip to Mikes.  His salesman don't pressure you and are all really nice people....anyway, thats where the truck is right now.  We actually just sent it in for a service because its been making weird noises (but at 210,000 miles you kind of expect that!)..the weird noise ended up being a leaking head which Mike's team fixed right up.  We are looking forward to getting it back today or tomorrow - meantime we are driving in a sweet loaner, a buick century.  If I ever get a speeding ticket in the US its going to be in this car.  It's really a sports car in disguise and is a super peppy car!

We all loaded in the car this morning and set our for our Sunday ritual - a 40 minute drive south to church, (which, coincidentally used to be a 2 minute walk from our old place).  CSL is a great place to set you up for the week and todays topic was on forgiveness and how to forgive you have to love and to love you have to be forgiving.  The concept that love and forgiveness are wrapped up together really seems simple but it came as a bit of an a-ha moment to me.  If you're interested in knowing more about CSL you can visit online at http://www.spiritualliving.org/about-us

After church we headed to one of our favorite places, Bengal Tiger they have delicious indian food at anytime of the day or night but on the weekends they have a wonderful lunch buffet.  Those of you who know me well know that buffets....not really my style typically, I dont like to line up for my food (seems to akin to what you would do in prison) and I dont really like people all over MY food :-)....anyways, Bengal Tiger and the MGM Grand Buffet in Vegas are my two exceptions, oh, and the Super China Buffet at Northgate. Back to the Bengal Tiger, the buffet is $6.95 per person, phenomonal value!  It was a great way to introduce the three kids to Indian food a couple of years back when we started going and remains one of their favorites.

Course, the only problem with a buffet is that you almost always eat too much and butter chicken typically leaves you in need of a nananap post game - which is precisely what we did upon arriving home.  When we got up after our hour long snooze Elliott had harvested all the onions from the pottage

Gen was in her usual position on the couch, reading a magazine

and Dot was watching home alone.

Course Betty just was glad of the opportunity to rest, she was exhausted from a days sleeping.