The best thing about me, is you

Ricky Martin, you are a treasure!!  Thanks to Oprah I have been reminded of my amour for you - and seeing you with your children just did me in.  Mickey - thanks for the heads up to listen to the song he and a-songs- best- friend-Joss-Stone sang on Miss Oprahs show.... and I dedicate this to Mr Big.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfAxO83FDXA

Rainbow

What a delight to wake up this morning - so many things to be thankful for.

1.  Gary has today and tomorrow off so he was next to me

2. When I open the curtains a light breeze was making all the fallen leaves dance all over the street - it was so beautiful!!!

3. The morning was filled with the colors of fall and .... sunshine so when I went downstairs imagine my surprise to find

4. RAINBOWS everywhere in my kitchen!!

and all from this little crystal ball which I will name as my fifth thing I am thankful for today

Oh Happy Day

Though I was given express permission from sonny-jim to be excited and blog about it I think I should show some restraint here - I don't want to embarass poor Elliott with any over exuberant blog, long winded, yet entertaining as it might be...but I do want to express that I love being a parent at times like this - when BIG life moments happen like the announcement "I have a girlfriend" followed by a schmirk, a giggle and rosacea...Im so delighted to be present when things like that happen, and it brings back memories of being that age and feeling amour for, what was, the three top men for me - Richard Merrill, Kent Kilbride and who could forget Brett Searsby?  Sadly they were blind to my charms (their loss, jerks) but I do remember how it felt, to feel like that for the first time.  But I digress dear reader - Im starting the rambling I promised I would'nt so nuf said as I bid you all adieu and end with a cheers, to Elliott.  Im not sure whether I am allowed to publish a picture of the new couple so I chose to preserve their privacy with a seasonal decoration.

J'dour!!!

Oh how I love me some new ideeers!  Mr Big and I are currently in planning decor 5 for our boudair so Im spending the moments in between being a blogger/insurance agent/remodeller/wife extraordinaire/ etc looking for fabulous ways to inexpensively decorate this space - lookey here is this wonderous idea for housing pictures of wonderful people and places!!  I say BON-JOUR to these ideas, coming to a bedroom and stairwell and home near you!

thanks for the inspiration http://wenderful.com/ !

A month of thankfulness

November heralds all sorts of delights which I have chronicled previously.  One of the other lovely things about November is that in America there is a lovely tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving.

Coincidentally, I was readying the blog of Miss Lisa Sorbe.  I started following Lisa's blog on the recommendation of one of the worlds delicious morsels: one Kathy Williamson.  Kathy is one of those people that you instantly want to know when you see her - she's very ethereal in her look.  Beautiful face, long silver hair, elfin features - but the best part about her is her shiny light, you'll have to meet her one day so you know what I mean.  Anyhoo, I'm glad to know her for lots of reasons, but also because she introduced me to Lisa's (I think a rellie or friend of hers) blog which is really well written and though provoking....which brings me to her post from today which I am taking the libery of recycling AND bringing into my own realm:  Thanks Lisa for being so inspirational!

For obvious reasons, being thankful is so important. So, with November upon us and the delicious Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner, I've decided to dedicate this entire month to being as thankful as I can possibly be. A post for every day of the month, honoring something (or someone!) in my life that I truly appreciate.


(great idea right!)

Firstly, I have to pay hommage to Mr Big.  We had a discussion on the way to work this morning where he again reiterated that he always wants to do everything he can to make sure I get everything I want in life.  Really, Im not making that up, and he was sincere.  Isnt this every persons dream to have a partner in life that is so thoughtful of your needs?  Together we co-create a life that is something special.  I was blessed the day we found one another and am blessed that our love for one another continues to florish.  I am thankful for you Gary and to coin the song - "you're the best thing that ever hap hun hunned - to mee hee youre the worl huh hurld"

Oh cool, upon re-reading this I've actually counted 3 blessings already
1.  Gary
2.  Lisa Sorbe's wisdom
3.  Kathy Williamson
Yes!! Im on my way, there's no stopping me now!!
4.  My blossoming relationship with my sister Shona.  Shona writes the best emails ever, they are always packed full of news which I love and thrive on.  Living abroad is wonderful, and America is very much my home now, but its so hard to live away from your family.  Being able to communicate instantaneously with Shona through email is a blessing indeed.  She and Les (husband) and Laurie (neice/daughter) are hopefully coming next Christmas ... cant wait to have them here!

Wednesday

Hello lovely ones - I hope your week is going well.  I have to say, that while my week is going well Im so tired.  Not sleepy - completely spent and fatigued tired.   Needing a holiday tired.  And sadly - this means I have been pretty unproductive round Castle Allen this week.  On Sunday afternoon I had it all mapped out - Monday Mr Big would beat me home and tape off the walls, Monday night I would paint the ceilings, Tuesday we would tape off the ceilings, Thursday I would paint the walls....  we did acheive one thing, the tape was brought out from the garage.  Period.  And now we find ourselves here, at Wednesday, with no paint up.  Guess what we will be doing this weekend?

Sundays Happenings

I woke up with a headache, and that really REALLY should have been the que to simply roll over and go back to dreams, but alas - there was work to be done.  Shiza, I hate work.....still, Project Oakes must charge on and so we find ourselves still working on the stairs.  This time we roped in expert help in the shape and form of Brother Patrick (plus, good fortune was shining on us and my dear neice Miss Makena came along for the ride and the majesty that is plastering)

Brother Pat is an expect drywaller and I think that you have been introduced to him previously as we carolled him into painting the girlies room early last spring.  (Cottage Stone, its a beautiful color)...anyhoo, I digress - though Pat is talented in many things he really is an expert drywaller and plasterer.  The stairwell project had to come to a screaming halt before any painting started because there was all manner of scraps and nicks in the plasterwork of the stairwell and this was mostly due to the fact that it is narrow as hell ( in fact, so narrow that you can't get a queen size base to a bed up there but that's a story for another day) and as furniture has been moved up and down it over the last century damage has naturally occured. 

Before we started the real work at hand we chatted for a time about whether a particular wall was load bearing and whether it should come down.  Not sometime in the future friends - oh no, today - see, when brother and tools and a projay get together this is EXACTLY the sort of thing that happens.  My contribution to this discussion was rapid shaking of my head and runaway bride eyes at Mr Big...fortunatly he got the picture and the wall is still standing, for now.  Pat checked in again "are you sure - I have the sawz-all here....." Neigh brother Pat, neigh.

Pat did however put our curiosity at rest one and for all in the question that had been burning since we purchased our home a year ago (today)...what IS that weird box at the bottom of the stairs.  A tap here - a chisel there....

Plaster rains down....

and now in bigger pieces....."you can patch this hole....right Pat?"

these handtools just arent cutting through.......

DRUMROLL PLEASE.....I can now reveal what was sealed in this box, for perhaps the last billion years...duh - duh - duh - da DA DAAAAAA.....

Insulation and a load bearing beam.  Damnit.  No lost treasure from the civil war, no long forgotten jewels, unless you call insulation a treasure because this box is stuffed to the gunnels with it.  I had hoped to make our riches from the contents of this box or at the very least have enough in there to finance the purchase of the teacup pig Barron Von Snout that i have so yearned for.  Sadly readers there will be no pig purchases, there will not even be a fond farewell to the box - it must remain there (in the place of what would have been a lovely pendant light).

Onward though, Pat patched all the walls, they are now ready for painting this week.  While he and Mr Big where working I made soup for lunch - this was a new receipe which I was semi concerned about but it ended up delicious!  Kale and Chorizo Potato Soup.

Kale is a much maligned veggie - I love the look of it more than anything, specially its afro curliness.

plus - what's not to love about sausages??  Anyone who knows me knows I's a fan of the sausage

Once Pat and Nenna left it was time for our seventeenth thousanth trip to Lowes for paint and the like.  The previous owner was quite fastidious god bless him.  All the paint for the house is clearly labelled so we simply took the old can to Lowes with us for them to make more of the same and to shake the old paint so we could use that too.  We were ably assisted by unnamed painter person who was utterly fasinating to me - wholly and soley because she had the biggest arse I have ever seen and somehow, she had encased it in jeggings.  Aparently the jeans were brand new so it was a sad day when she was hammering the lid shut on the can and our green paint splattered all over her ample derriere and the ground.  NEVER FEAR - water was nearby and she was cleaned up in a jiffy.  We really needed coffee after that harrowing experience and so we headed straight for Starbucks and a grande Americano, whipped cream and one splenda please.  While we were waiting the lifetime it took for them to pull the espresso what should I spy?  HOLIDAY CUPS thats what!

What a complete delight!  The message says "our friends think of us an an odd couple but we only think it's odd when we are apart" sccccchweetles.  What a darling message plus snowflake PLUS a dove PLUS snowiness. Ahhhh - it just made it taste all the better.  Thanks Starbucks!

Oh - I nearly forgot - I wanted to show you one of my favorite things - my raggy rose broach.  I know I look like a crazy woman, I always do when I take my on photo at arms length.  I think that the arms length is part of the issue - my arms are about as long as a penguins.  Nuf said. I present to you awesome rose pin on old navy sweater.  I really should have been wearing lippie in the picture

A thespian in the family!

It was indeed a great honor to be able to see Elliott, 16, do such a fantastic job as the lead in his play today.  I think he was so brave getting up there in front of a bunch of people at the North Shore Performing Arts Center in Bothell and was completely entertaining in the best of ways.  His group was called "the Rude Mechanicals" (origins of this name are unknown at this time....) and here is a photo of the merry band

and here is the man himself, resplendent in guyliner

Here is the theater.  This is the High School Campus theater - pretty cool huh!

Elliott's group was a part of Drama Fest and all the plays were produced by students

Here is his mention in the program, perhaps the beginning of a big career??  It would be great to be supported in our old age by a son who was a movie/tv/broadway acktorrrr!

OK - I got to admit, the pictures in the auditorium suck eggs - you arent allowed to use a flash in there PLUS I dont have a tripod...sooo result = not my best work, never mind, at least we have a representation of his first lead in a play, forever in the history books!

The play was at an end and it was time for Elliott to skip (aaaaaaaaaaaa - almost entirely my favorite part!) onto the stage WITH a sprite and take a well deserved bow while we hooped and hollered in the crowd in admiration for his MAD acting skills.  We were so proud of you El, can't wait for the next show!

On the way home Mr Big took me to his business park, not romantic typically...but check out these GOBSMACKING colors on the autumnal display!!!!

Jalapeno Chips

Its Saturday Morning here at Castle Allen - Mr Big is being his typical wonderful self and has already done a bunch, gone to the emmissions test station (first in line as predicted, Dora passed with flying colors!), got new tabs for the car (again, first in line) and now he is on the third leg of the lawns, attempting to beat the rain...I on the other hand have been a schlumper.

As you might have guessed Im blogging - 2nd, the only thing Ive achieved is to shower, dress (twice) and am sitting listening to Adele and waiting to be picked up and taken to brunch and the casino to celebrate unnamed friends birthday.  Its 10.30am and Im starved, so I ate what any person about to go out to brunch would stuff down their biscuit shoot - Jalapeno Chips.  And they are mighty MIGHTY fine friends.

Though I feel guilty about not doing much more than make my self delectable I have to admit its been quite a delightful morning - I woke without an alarm at 8am and the sun was streaming into our boudair.  When I opened the blinds the sun had set all the colors in the autumn trees all kind of wonderful - amber, crimson, red leaves were almost shimmering in the light breeze.  Kids where being swung on swings and whizzed around the round about.  I love our hood.

Wreath!

Im on hold with the help desk at my work as I type this - and what do you think the most perfect hold music would be for an insurance company?   "Hang on, help is on its way" - sure, but ours has "You are so beautiful to me, Joe Cocker..... don't know how that translates to what we do, but I love that song and I got to listen to it in its entireity thanks to the awesome response time.

Anyhoo you may ask yourself - has akeewee girl gone bonkers?  Why is she entitling this rambling Wreath!  Friends, I'm crazy for wreaths.  Not that you would know it looking at my home, we only have one autumn wreath up right now - but that is soon to be remedied!  Wreath number two is about to be started - check out this wonderous one from Mary Janes and Galoshes

Its destined for the girlies bedroom - isnt it adorable?  All you need is a wreath form, a million lunch sacks and a round (with scalloped edge) punch and voila, wreath.  Here are the instructions: http://www.maryjanesandgaloshes.com/2010/02/butterfly-wreath-think-spring.html

Jack O Lantern Time

Pumpkin Carving time is upon us - and the kids did us proud this weekend.  Friday night was a combo of things 1. Purchasing said pumpkins from the QFC Pumpkin Patch AKA Supermarket - at  more than 29 cents a pound you can suck it Bob's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch = QFC it is!

I love it how the kids choose the largest of kins to cart home.  Here's Dot's :

Need I say more?

For the non-yanks reading this (Hi Mum and Shona) pumpkin carving may seem like a simple task.  Neigh friend.  First of all, if your child has selected a giaganic pumpkin actually cutting the "lid" so you can gut the pumpkin hard - the skin/flesh of Dotties was at least 2 inches thick....then, when she suggested she would like a landscape with clouds, the sun, birds and flowers....then, then it got really hard.  Luckily the part that I hate most (the gutting) was done pretty quick by all

We are in manland (Mr Bigs garage) in this photo - look how happy Dottie is scooping the innards out of her sisters pumpkin - thats her pumpkin to the right waiting its turn patiently.  Actually when you look at the waiting pumpkin it looks terrified, and when you think about it, wouldnt you be too?  Just standing in line watching your pumily get gutted....

Thats why we choose to put the pumpkins out of their misery SWIFTLY and QUICKLY as soon as they are back from the patch

....course, some of the family take this task with a little more zealousness than is "normal"

but it gets the job done.  Once they are snuffed out its time to pull the insides out.  This allows for maximum light (and stops it from being such a tasty treat by a passing racoon)

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Here is Elliott and Dottie carving after gutting

Here is Geneva's Jack O Lantern - old school style

you cant really see Elliotts very well but its a Santa jack o lantern

Yes, Mr Big DID use a drill for the finer detail of a nostril on his jack o lantern - he likes things "just so" with his art

and I just went simple - a monogram of our last name WITH shark bite out the side WITH a scoch of glitter

Then it was fire pit time

I love hearing the fire cracking, its so comforting.  Plus, if you move the camera in a disco swirl while its still taking the photo you get this

which I really likies!

Also Mr Big put pork chops in the crock pot with a little jerk seasonings in the morning, and hey presto - pulled pork when we got home.  Friends, you may or may not know this about me, but I revere the magical beast that is THE PIG.  Yes, its cute - but more importantly....ITS DELICIOUS in so many frickin ways - what other animal gives so much?  Bacon, sausage, ham, pork roasts and chops.  For me the following wrap was exquiste and most certainly an epicurian delight (yes, I know unknown friend - you would need to remove the jalapenos so you could eat it but then....I would dare you to stop at one)

Saturday heralded the fabulous fun that being parents to teens brings - driving them south to a party or event of some kind in Bothell.  Today was spesh, we had two.  Elliott had a teen drama get together (see you at Midnight El, Dad is resting comfortably now so he will not fall asleep at the wheel on your return leg) and Gen was at her galpals house for a halloween party.  She looked UH-doorable as a flapper gal.  Here she is making the perfect "bow" with red lippie

I did mention to her that the shoe was perfection, but the crocheted friendship anklet was perhaps not in true keeping with the era....btw yes, your eyes are not deceiving you - these are size 10 flippers on a 14 year old

Pearls, check - these are a must for a flapper gal

Feather headband and sequins - check (j'dore the beaded detail)

assume the appopriate pose and voila!  Delightful daughter in perfect costume...

I just love this shot (yes, she was almost falling to her death, but sometimes, sometimes - you have to have this type of prediciment to get THE SHOT.  I think you will agree - its fantazmic

Once night fell it was time to light the kins - and here is the spook-a-licious results