tee hee

Finally my friend Kerri updated her blog. I was just getting ready to update mine, thought I'd cruise by her address and see if I could indeed give her a lump of trouble here. Nope, she's too fast...

Kevin and I just got back from an afternoon of mild running around. We are now home and preparing ourselves to do some home stuff. Mainly clean the place and discuss when we should really paint the one tall wall that remains purple in our cave. Do we think the family room and hall need some type of molding around the ceiling? What kind of repair we'll have to do when the guys are done installing the sliding doors on Wednesday? The list goes on.

I have made one new pillow for the blue sofa and have another in the works. It's softer and squishier than the ones that came with it, and it is a nice cream fabric that has quilted diamonds on it (Don't worry Mom, the cover comes off so I can wash it!!).

Okay, going to head out.

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

peace

ants...

Woke up, got out of bed....no comb across my head though. Went to the kitchen to grab a cup and found ants in my kitchen!!! To quote my dear friend, Megan, crapdammit!!! They were along on teh floor at the edge by the current "sliding" door. I killed the lot of them (yes, as in dead) and used Windex to clean the area. I don't know if the ammonia will make it so the new ones can't follow the sweet, sweet trail the now deceased ones left, but I'll give it a try.

Work has been zooming by this week! I have been asked out for girls night, but not sure I am feeling like it. All I can say is, we'll see how I am feeling tonight after work. I guess Naomi and some of her girlies are meeting downtown at a bar and then going to a movie, which I had already told her I wouldn't go to (not that I don't want to see the movie, nor is it that I don't want to spend time with the girls- it's just that I have a long bus ride home from downtown and I am lame).

Listening to Katie on Today gooshing all over George Cloony. Kind of sickening, actually.

I got word from Dad today that Mom got to hang with Hazel again!! She and their cat have not been able to be in contact with each other as Mom's immune system has been getting stronger. They went to the doctor's yesterday and her levels are where they were hoping they would be at this time and now Mom does not have to go in every week, just every other. As soon as they got home Mom called Hazel, and within a few minutes of coaxing Hazel came to her for the much needed lap time/snuggle. YEA!!! She was told that it will take about a month for her to feel back to her regular strength, but I see Mom squashing that and feeling like herself sooner than that. I don't know why, perhaps it is because she is the woman who, on her first day home, vacuumed. I know it was to make sure that her environment was clean and bacteria free, but still...she vacuumed!! :)

Okay, must go and fix me some lunch to take with me.

sliding door

Our new door arrived yesterday! It will get installed next week, although I wish it were sooner. I am hoping that all goes smoothly and there are no glitches, but I doubt that will be the case. They are going to have to cut some of the siding and change the way the door sits in the room a bit. As it is right now the old door sits in a little recess that is about 3 inches deep. When they are done it will be flush with the walls. I think, ulitmately, it will look better to have it flush. The door is soooo pretty!!! It's white, with panes and I can't wait to have it installed. To be able to open a door with one finger, rather than your entire body weight...ahhhhh.

I just got done reading my friend's blog...Kerri. She mentioned being sad when I don't post as often as I once did. I will try to post more often, but she don't post everyday either!! Yes, missy, I'm talkin' about you!!!! :)

My parents have informed me that they will stay at a hotel when they are here in December. This will make life less stressful for them, and most likely for us as well. I'm not sure what arrangements Mom made with the Holiday Inn Express that is just a hop skip and a jump away, but it's all taken care of. It will probably be best for everyone, and since we are going to rent a mini-van while they are here we can be the shuttle. We can get Dad put on the contract so he can be the shuttle driver between the two places too, if he wants. It is his vacation, so maybe we will take on that responsibility!!

The rains may have come home to roost. Which makes me a bit sad, because we were hoping to get the eaves painted before they started. I'm thinking there will be a break in the rain this next week, so we can get it done. There are some projects inside so we can just do those while the days are grey and rainy outside.

Don't get me wrong, I do like the rain. It is quite cleansing and rejuvinating. Our lawn is even coming back to life. So I guess we may have to mow it again before winter.

Okay, that's it, I'm done for today. That satisfy you Kerri and Russ?!?

really, it's been that long?!

I didn't realize I had not done any updating. Sorry Russ!!

We went to Seattle this weekend to visit some of our friends. Their daughter, Vivian, is the perfect child! She and Kevin had a great time playing with Mr. Potato Head among other various toys. She is just smitten with Kev!! I know how she feels.

I have huge projects for myself at work. I must reorganize the stock room to get ready for Christmas goods. I am hopefully going to get Kevin to help some evening when we are closed. It will just be easier if there are no customers in the store when redoing everything back there!! We have a ton of old styles that just need to go away.

I have designed my closet, I want to have shoe cubbies instead of the boxes that I bring them home in. This way I can see everything in the morning and I don't have to open every box (yes, I do have them labeled, duh!!). I also think we may need to do some decorative painting/glazing on one of the walls in the bedroom as well.

Okay, I'm at work so I do need to go, but I did want to tell you all that we are still alive and kicking here in the PAC NW.

Oh, and Mom's doing great!! Her energy is getting greater and greater. She's been cleaning almost like she was before this all started. :)

Thanks to those who sent cards adn what-not when she was in the hospital.

no chain link

At least those were the words uttered by Kevin. I am inclined to agree, as I really don't like chain link. I just am at a loss figuring out how we will tell Juan. We want to be good neighbors and have a great relationship with him, but we do enjoy our privacy in the backyard. I was thinking we could tell him we like the wood fences better and were planning on putting one up next spring, but who knows.

Have had some fabulous conversations via email at work with a customer. She ordered a couple of pairs of clogs to be shipped to her in Canada and we got to talking yesterday when she placed the order over the phone. Just an hour ago she emailed me about their new kitten that they had to pts(put to sleep) last night due to a fatal virus kittens sometimes get (maybe something similar to distemper). I was honored that she would know she could write me about it. I emailed her back telling her just that.

It's been a slow day at Ye' Olde Clog Shoppe. I still have boxes that I need to get unpacked, but every time I try to people come in. It's not a shopping day though and usually I come back up front answer a question or two and they leave. Ah well, the world of retail is a fickle one indeed. I have to say though that the day has been zipping by. I will soon be heading home to try out another new recipe.

Last night's "Spicy Beef Salad" left a little to be desired. The beef, although Kev put it in the marinade before I got home (late once more) didn't have the kick either of us thought it would. Tonight we have a "Tequila Chicken Fettuccine." We'll see. Don't know how the two flavors will taste together, but we are up for new things!!

So, upon ending todays installment I will send out this...

I have not gotten one real email since Saturday the 27th!!! I know you all get a look into "our world" because of this blog, but I have not heard what is going on with all my friends in too long!!!

Hello, anyone there?!!?

Nothing too exciting

So I ended up writing up orders and doing some tedious paperwork last night. I know, "one shouldn't bring home work" but I have not been able to get these things done at work and I needed to get them done.

Kev called me a couple of times last night when the band was playing two of the songs I had hoped they'd play Monday night. Jerk. :) He had a great time, although I have not spoken to him much about it...unless I spoke in my sleep last night (a possibility).

We are going to head up to Seattle this weekend. We have not seen our friends Darrel and Megan and their little girl, Vivian, in over a year and a half. They bought a house 1 1/2 years ago and had been on us to get there so we could help with various projects, but it couldn't happen until this weekend. I am also going to visit Ahmed's friend's clog shop there too. I know, it's work, but I want to see the place I call every so often. I also heard that Viv is in her gold, metallic clogs I sent at the beginning of summer. I will have to take loads of pictures!!!

I am quite excited about December, I know it is a ways away, but the fact that my family is coming for Christmas is just wonderful. I have been testing recipes to make while they are here. I know I will be making clam chowder!!! I tried it this past weekend and even though Kev was skeptical when I told him I was going to make it, he loved it!! He even went so far as to buy a can of chowder just in case it was horrible. That can is still in our cabinet! Homemade cheesy crescent rolls too, not sure if they will be part of the menu, or if I will find another roll recipe I like better. I know, it's only October, but anyone who knows me knows I like to plan in advance. I am my mother's daughter!!!

Talked with Juan, our neighbor, last night. We talked a bit about spliting the cost of a chain link fence to run between our properties. I told him I'd talk to Kev and let him know. We had been wanting to put up a privacy fence, but teh more I started thinking, the more I thought we could maybe plant some trees like the ones that are sheilding us in the front, from his driveway. I will have to talk to our landscaper (our friend who owned his own landscape business in Eugene, OR a little while ago before moving to Portland). He said he'd help-for food. He suggested trade, I suggested feeding him. He liked the idea. I am sure I mentioned him and our deal before, but just a quick refresher.

Okay, going to finish my coffee and get my things together so I can head out to the bus in 40 minutes.

I know, excitment abounds.

russ, this is for you!

Went out last night to see Kevin's favorite band play, Ween. It was such an incredible show!! I have not been to see them in three years, we figured out. Every year they have come I have every intention of going, but then a buddy of Kev's comes along and I send them off with my ticket in tow...(think Zumo last year, Russ).

Kev was sooooo excited because they played some songs he always says, "they never play this live." Russ, I am sure you will appreciate this, they played Fluffy!!!! I was happy just to hear some live music again. Of course, getting up this morning was not easy, but with enough coffee I will be fine. I see going to bed early tonight.

Russ, I did want to tell you I screamed for Beacon Light, but no luck.

Ah, well. Sorry everyone else who was thinking I was going to give you interesting information...this post is pretty much for Russ (and anyone else who loves Ween).

I will try to think of exciting things to post later tonight, when Kev goes to the second show of a 2 night show.

more photos...

So today we puttered around the house. Went grocery shopping. Did laundry. All kinds of fun things!!!

Wanted to do more yardwork, but it was very hot here again today (90+) and so instead of risking heat stroke we decided to just clean the house. I know we would have been fine and a little hard work in hot weather wouldn't be the end of us, but there is not much we are going to do to the yard until next spring.

Thought you all might want to see a few things.

Here is our new sofa with the photos I finally decided on.

Our fabulous chest from Jill and Mark. I just love the way it is all shaping up.

And finally, our bedroom with the real duvet cover we use...

Kev just announced he was going out back to read. It is a bit toasty in the house. I may go grab a hard lemonade and join him.

Until next we meet (sorry there isn't anything fun and fantastic happening for me to write about, but I did want to write something). Kev tells me I am "going to loose eyes." I assume this means readers. :)

things are looking up

I spoke with my Mom this morning after receiving two rather lengthy emails from her. What a difference two days at home has made!! She sounded so wonderful. She actually got released on Tuesday, a day earlier than they had told her originally. She's been vacuuming, and resting as needed. She is such an inspiration to me. Such a strong woman. I am honored to call her Mom and friend.

As for the house, we have done not much more since the last post. I have redone the pictures on the wall behind the new sofa so that picture is now outdated...

Still waiting to hear from The Depot about our sliding door. I am ready for it to be installed as it has gotten hot here again, what in the 80's?! It's a good ten degrees higher than usual. This makes the house quite warm.

We are going to have to figure something out to keep the one neighbor cat away from the screen though. Simon and the little grey one, we've renamed Earl, have a love affair going on. Simon was actually petting his head the other day when Hammuda was at the house. And just yesterday while the other cream colored cat was out there Ms. Chloe was going ape, screaming and carrying on. As soon as the dog joined Jerry (the cat) Chloe started chirping and meowing at Tommy. We're not sure, but we think she wants a dog. Don't worry, not for a while would we go down that road.

Lunch is calling my name so I bid you all bye for now.

Mom is getting sprung from the joint!!

I got a call earlier today from my parents saying that Mom was getting out of the hospital on Wednesday. I am very excited as this means her cell counts are getting much better and she is on the mend. She did ask me if we were spending money on this blog (because of the pictures) and I assured her no we were not. She is quite cranky I guess, Dad says it's a side effect of being taken off some of her meds. I am just glad that she has the moxy to tell me what she thinks! :)

Okay, so here are a few more tasty treats for you!!

An old view of our bedroom. We now have a different duvet cover and have yet to take a picture of it.

We have a fabulous bookcase. We got it at Ikea for a song!!

Also, remember those fabric doors?

Okay, need to go check on my cheese cake. Made some banana bread and a cheese cake for friends who are coming over tonight.

Okay Dad helped me figure out the pictures!!

So, now if you click on the house link it will actually show you the front view of our abode.

The fun begins now!!

I once told you all of the hideous green kitchen.
We walked in and thought how pretty will this be if we paint it yellow and white. So what do you think? Improvement!!!
We added
knobs and coblat blue accents. I love my new kitchen!!!

This will be all that I post now, I want to keep you all intrigued!!

Ta for now.

And we have pictures?

Kevin showed me how to set up a photo link... Let's try.

this is the front view of the house.

I am going to post this now and see what happens, if it works the rest will be posted either later (after I eat dinner) tonight, or tomorrow.

Love to all...

pictures hung, but for how long

I have hung the family photos up above the new sofa, but I am not sure how long they will stay that way. We also took the French doors off that led into the cave. They opened inward, and just kind of hung in mid air. If we wanted to shut them we would have had to move the tv and the desk. We have talked of having them open towards the living room instead. It makes more sense (as I am sure you would agree if you could see what I am speaking of).

The orders never got written and I doubt I will have time to do them today at work (I will try though). I am sure that I will be as busy as I was yesterda, but I will hope the time will speed by faster.

Kevin was busy and did a little painting yesterday too. He painted the wall behind the new sofa, since it was so dark with the "bark mulch" behind it originally. Just one more wall and some trim to paint in the cave and it will be done (for the time being).

Okay, bus going to be here in minutes and I better get out there to catch it!!!

d'oh! I knew there was something else....

I was going to tell you all.

A good friend of my boss (his name is Hammuda) stopped by the house yesterday. Hammuda is the handy-type man around the shops when he is not living in LA. He once told me he would help us do anything at the house when he was back in Portland, I guess he likes me and since I've done random things for him (shipping, writing of letters...) he felt like he wanted to do something for us.

I looked up yesterday and he was standing outside the shop, looking in and laughing. I called out, "if you have nothing better to do than stand out there and laugh at me I have a house you can go crawl under." He and I had talked about the hump that is under the kitchen and bedroom (some contractor who'd worked on the house told us that two owners ago had raised the house on the beam that runs lengthwise and had raised it too high). Hammuda wanted to see if this was true so he went by yesterday, crawled under the house, checked the attic, looked everywhere and this is what he said.

"You made a very good buy. It is a great house, it is very sound. I didn't see any shims of any kind under the house so I don't think what the guy told you is correct. It may have been some water damage from some time ago, but I see no moister anywhere now." It made me feel so good to know that A. he likes me enough and would go crawl under my house and B. that he thinks we made a sound buy. I value his opinion and to have him say these words to me made my heart sing.

Okay, just finishing up at work and then it's off to catch the bus home. Where pictures wait to be hung and some orders for work need to be written up.

and we have a living room!!

The new sofa/sleeper is beautiful!! It has made the cave feel a bit darker, so we are exploring a different paint on the wall behind it. It is a gorgeous blue fabric, but it just absorbs the light in the room. We have added another lamp, but still want to paint the wall behind it a white.

The living room is now looking like a room we can use, finally! We arranged it when I got home from girls night (I ended up going and having a wonderful time). Now, tonight, all we have to do is hang pictures and finish moving a few things around and it will be perfect. But, knowing I am my mother's daughter, I will always be moving things around in every room.

It could be Christmas time now, I want my family to be here now to see everything!! I know that my Mom is going to love it, just as my Mamasita did.

Well, Ground Force is calling my name (best garden/design show- on BBC America).

stomack/stomach...what's the dif?

Boy, and I thought I was proofreading these posts quite well.

Went to the apartments last night to have a dessert party with our friends who still live there. It was nice. We got to meet Kerry's sister, Steph, who is visiting from the UK. They invited me to girl's night, which I am still on the fence about. On one hand we really need to save money and with the sofa arriving I am antsy to get decorating, on the other it would be nice to get out with the girls (most of whom I've not seen in a while-they are the coffee girls Kerry sees every Thursday). I will wait and see where they want to meet and when and go from there.

Things with Mom are progressing, but aparentally not as quickly as she would like. She has her good days and she has he rough days. Her white cell count is rising though, which is a good thing. I know she really wants to be home for the recoperation part. But, she does need the more sterile environment of the hospital for a little while longer. Everytime I speak with her she sounds a bit stronger. I keep telling her this, but I don't think she believes me. I promise, I am not giving her lip service!!!

Well, it's time to get ready for work. Must pack my lunch.

Ta-ta

sofa sofa sofa

I got a call today from Ethan Allen that our new sleeper/sofa is ready to be delivered. WOW, that was fast!! I had gotten a call from the woman we "worked" with about it being shipped on the 15th from the warehouse. Overnight delivery?!?! I doubt it, probably was scheduled to arrive then and she got mixed up? Anyway it is ready to be in our home. I left them a message, as they were closed for the night, and I left Kev's number as well so if they can't get me they can get him. He's got a bit more flexible schedule than I do right now.

I have heard from our friend Russ that I have taken too long to post...this is a problem, I am sorry. I do wish to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUSSELL T (15th) and DAD CLOCK(16th). We will have a toast in honor of you both this evening, with whatever we decide to drink (I'm going to guess Squirt).

Speaking of drinking, I must go and figure out what we will be eating this evening. My stomack is telling me it's been too long since I ate my lunch.

Bye for now.

update time

Okay, let's see if I can remember all that happened this past week:

Wed: Peggy arrived and Kevin and she picked me up at work to go out to dinner downtown. We went to a great Italian place that we have only been to once before, but must remember it in the future for it's GREAT happy hour menu. Every plate is just 2.95 and they are pretty substantial. We shared five plates and had some drinks before coming home to crash. Peg loves the house and was quite impressed with what we have already done.

Thurs: I worked while Kev and Peg went and saw Finding Nemo. Such a sweet movie for Mom to take her son to. :) I took the bus home and we grilled steaks and made my Mom's warm dijon potato salad. It was a nice evening, and the margaritas flowed very freely!!

Fri: We woke up with the wild hair to drive out to the coast and stay the night. First we did some running around town, we ordered the sliding door, got an extra key made for our friends so they could feed the cats, etc. Then we were off to Newport. I found a hotel that was on the beach, every room had an ocean view. The price was right and so we stayed the night (thanks Mamasita!!). It was so relaxing and nice to spend her birthday out there.

Sat: We spent some time in Newport, went to the Historic Bay to do a little souvenier shopping. Got a beautiful bird feeder for 1/2 off!!! It is now hanging outside our kitchen door. After we got back we decided to go get some food and invite some friends over to grill out with us. One of whom is a landscape designer. He isn't working as one now, and misses it. I told him if he would want to do some things for us, (pruning our cherry tree, helping me landscape the front lawn) we could talk payment. He, instead, suggested trade. I offered to feed him. He accepted happily. We will tackle things next spring as the rains are now coming and to do too much now would not work (I will follow things he says as he used to own his own company down in Eugene, OR).

Sun: We got up before the birds (Peggy and I), went downtown and walked in the 12th annual Race for the Cure. It was a fantastic event, just like last year. Although this year there were six of us who walked together (with the thousands of other women). After we walked we went to Jake's Grill-a fabulous eatery here-had our celebratory mimosas and ate some great breakfast. Kevin showed up right when we had finished up and paid and took us home so Peggy could get ready to go to the airport. A teary goodbye, but we are planning on going to TX in the spring so we can enjoy their new pool!!!

Where is Walter in all this, you ask? Well, it rained and rained and rained in Dallas and they canceled his flight. By the time he would have been able to get here he would have only had a day to spend here. By and by it was not worth it. This let Peggy stay the whole time at the house with us, which was quite nice.

Now that my tummy is full (we grilled out yet again) and my body is tired, I think I am done with the update. I will be a bit more on the ball in the future, just with the Mamasita in town I rarely got on the computer!! She's too much fun!

is it tuesday already!?

Time has been flying by!! Mamasita Peggy gets in tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited. Kevin is on cleaning duty today because I have a huge order to get written up when I get home for a shoe show I am attending on Monday the 15th. I love going to the shows, it's wild though because we are seeing spring/summer for next year and it's still summer now.

BUT it feels muuuuuch cooler. Mr. Zafino was right (the weather guy I watch) it is cool and overcast. There are even patches of green in our grass since it started raining yesterday!!! We'll have to mow again before we know it!

I got a call today about our sofa! It is shipping on the 15th from the warehouse and should be here in about two weeks. I still am hoping it will show up in a week, but not counting on it. So we will soon have a house with a living room that is more than just a house for boxes. Of course this means I will have to go through the box marked "filing cabinet crap" sooner than later. Ah well, such is life.

I have not written about my Mom yet, because I have been having a hard time knowing what to say. I've not known if I should write, but I know there are friends of mine who want to know what is happening and how she is doing. Also when I type it it means it's true.

Most of my friends know that my Mom has been battling cancer now for many years. She has had good reactions to the past two treatments, the first being chemo the second being part of a trial group trying out rituxan treatments. The third is now upon us and she is doing a stem cell transplant in the next few days. She has been in the hospital for almost a week now doing a chemo regime to kill all her cells so that she can have her healthy stem cells transplanted back into her. She'd had them harvisted when she was healthy just in case she had to have this procedure done. The results can be quite good, giving the person up to 7 years of remission.

It has been quite a hard, long, boring treatment for her and she has told my Dad how homesick she is. She will have to be in the hospital for about three weeks, in isolation because her immune system will be out of whack and she will be very prone to infection. When she gets out and is home she can not have contact with Hazel, their cat, and all of the plants will have to be removed as they can carry bacteria that could harm her.

This has been a very tough time for my family, but as the troopers we are we have pulled together and have given Mom as much support as humanly possible. If anyone would like her address at the hospital to send her a card, email me and I will tell you what it is. She can't get flowers or fruit, but a nice card of "hang in there" would do wonders for her.

If you could just keep her in your prayers and send all your good vibes her way that would be very appreciated by us.

light at the end of the heat tunnel

The weather man says it is only going to be in the upper 60's by tomorrow. This is a nice thing and boy am I ready for some cool weather. And it is supposed to rain!!! : ) I don't think I am the only person who is longing for it to cool off. I know the midwest folk in my life are ready for a cool down themselves.

We are steadily getting the house ready for Mamasita Peggy and Daddy Walter's visit. Kev is looking forward to spending time with his mom. I can fully understand why.

We are also preparing for a fiesta tomorrow night. The little cookout with Naomi and her husband has turned into a full fledged Mexican Fiesta!!! It should be fun. Still no word on the sofa, but I wanted to have people over and got sick of waiting for the new sofa to arrive!

The sliding door is ready to be ordered, we just have to go pick out the trim. Then it only will be two weeks before the door to come in and we have to make plans for installation. I am quite excited as it sounds like the glass is sealed very well and treated for UV protection. Our current door makes the kitchen so darn hot!! I'm sure I have mentioned this all before.

Boy, the wierdos have come out today. I just had a woman in who mentioned a spot on the wood of one of our shoes (it was glue that would rub out if she would have let me touch the shoe) and then went on to say, "it looks like someone got into the box, someone who was doing narcotics in the store." I simply said it was glue and tried to usher her out asap. She then asked if I was famous and how Jerry was, you know, my husband from Hawaii...I just said I didn't know Jerry and wasn't from Hawaii. A couple of fun girls who came in as she was leaving said I should have told her I'd tell Jerry hi for her. Oy vey!

Well, only an hour and a half left at work and I have things to get finished up before heading home.

Love to you all...