Happy birthday to me!

Well, I'm 63 today. What the heck? Not possible. Had a peaceful morning, playing Christmas music on the Bose and also on the piano and guitar. Tom had a six am meeting at church, so it was just me and the dogs! Talked to my friend Pam for an hour on the phone, her birthday is in five days, so she is just behind me! Got really sleepy at church and came home and fell asleep on the couch. Tom went to choir practice and is sleeping now in his chair. I just put a cake in the oven, so making my own birthday cake. Maybe Heather and Cara will stop over later.
Now officially 3 weeks until Christmas, as my mother likes to remind me on my birthday. Cara and I put the tree up early, she was really cute putting the ornaments on.. It would be nice to have a live tree, maybe next year, but at least this one won't dry out with the woodstove going. Since this is my first Christmas in the house with decorations(last year decorations were in Oregon) it is always a challenge to see what works in a new place. Upstairs in the landing are all the boxes and still some things up there that don't quite have a place here. Don't want to overwhelm the house as I sometimes have been known to do. Seems I either do nothing, or Christmas explodes in my living spaces! Trying for a nice atmosphere without too much! Need a few more lights outside on the front porch, it would have been a good day today to do it, but just too tired to try. I love the willow nativity set on top of the piano, and my old plaster one on the end table. Put the Chrismas village on the other little table, and Cara sure had fun with that, rearranging the people.
This week the Nativity Festival at the Church, and I am working there on Friday night and singing in the choir on Sunday night. Should be a great event. Tom's mom coming on Saturday and staying until after Christmas. Hosting Gary, Steven, Michael Marie, Abbey and Chris for dinner on the 18th. Maybe a new tradition will start, since we did not go over there for Thanksgiving this year. Should be fun, a busy couple of weeks!

Fall is here.....

Well, at least for now, we are back to the wet weather! Cooler also, I love the woodstove, it has been going all week. This morning it is out, but the house feels ok, so I may let it go for awhile. Cara had dance class at five last night, and then acro at seven. We have been doing that for three weeks now. She has Miss Libby for both classes, which is not as good as having Miss Augga at least for acro, but Cara is doing great, and having fun in both classes. In between we go get a snack somewhere, and once in awhile have some errands. Adelynn has been coming with us, as she takes both classes also. Last week I went in to the Zumba class there at seven, and it was fun, so I also went back Friday, and again last night. So that's Zumba three times a week! It is a little hard on my knees at the end, but I don't jump so much when I get tired. Moving counts! I have been in the pool every morning at 9am except for the Friday that I left for the airport. And I added the yoga on Thursday morning after the pool. That really leaves me tired on Thursday, but I feel the benefit, and hope to add another yoga class during the week later when Aria starts up another class. For now, Cara is taking swim lessons Tue and Thursday at five o'clock. I spent that time in the hot tub! Anyway, it makes me feel like I am busy, and the days go by fast. Before I know it, Cara is getting off the bus!

Back from San Francisco

Sunday night I got back from 3 short days in San Francisco, 2 nights. Brother Randall met me at the Bart area of the airport and gave me a card to get through the turnstile. We rode the Bart back to downtown, and then waited for a city bus ride to Hyde St. and Powell, only a block and a half from the apartment. Have not been there since 1996! Apartment hasn't changed much, top floor of a three story building built in the 1920's. Randall has the whole top floor, apartment is maybe 600sf, one bedroom, but it actually is pretty roomy. Kitchen is closet size, but WTH, he's a batchelor, and keeps his pantry bare for the most part. Mom was there, and brother Andy also. A Rattray Clan reunion. Nice. Randall went out to the gym, then had a rehearsal for a bit. After that we went out to a little diner and had dinner. Great food, and by the time we were done, about 9 pm, the place was packed and there was a line forming outside the door.

We put a dvd in back at the apartment, but I was crashing, and went to bed early. Cable cars start going by the front door at 6am, and I had been awake for awhile, so I got dressed and snuck out about 7am for my walk down to Fisherman's warf, which seems to be my tradition when I go to SF. It is about 11 blocks, but uphill to Lombard St. and then downhill to the water, so it is quite a workout. Stopped at Starbucks and had a hot chocolate and an oat bar. Cool and a little foggy outside. Then walked west a few blocks and headed back zigzaged a bit, looking for the area where we had dinner. Took awhile, but found the little market I was looking for and got a banana and some Diet Coke. Met mom headed out while at the corner of Vallejo and Hyde, so she gave me the keys, said Andy had gone out running, and Randall was still sleeping(he was sick, coughing and congested). So I went in and put water in the bathtub(no shower) and took a splash bath and washed my hair. Later when Randall got up we went a few blocks down Broadway to the Jug Shop and got two bottles of wine for Annie's wedding sent to her and Scott. Wedding Present shopping done! Then went to Walgreen's for a few supplies(ice for my diet coke!) and back tot he apartment. More climbing hills! About noon, I walked back down that way and ate at a Taco place I had noticed earlier, it was great. Then walked through a street fair and blues festival on Polk and then up California to Whole foods. We were eating in the apartment Sat. night, and so I got ingredients for Caprisio salad(fresh mozzarella, basil, baguette, mom had been given two tomatoes earlier). Walked back to the apartment(more climbing) and was ready to sit down and have some ICED Diet Coke! Decided I had walked at least 7 miles that day! up and down.

Randall had a gig at the Atlas Cafe, so he left about 3pm to drive over there and set up. Mom, Andy and I took a bus down there and got there about 5pm. Listened to the music and had refreshments. Met Randall's friend Ana, who sang a couple songs(in Spanish) with the group. Sweet gal, works at BAAQMD where Randall did. Anyway, she gave us a ride back to the apartment, and then came back for dinner with us. Randall made salad and broiled salmon. We had the Caprisio for appetizer. All in all, it was a really nice night, and the view from the windows at night was spectacular, golden gate bridge lit up with lights, and the lights on the layers of the city, and the bay out toward the west. Beautiful.

Sunday, Mom and I walked to the ferry terminal, about 15 blocks and caught the ferry to Sausalito. It was misty and actually rained and wind blew when we arrived, but we walked around the little artsy shopping area and then ducked inside a place called Winsome for lunch. i had a fritata and mom had clam chowder. We stayed in there over an hour to get warm and dry. Then when we left the sun was out for a little bit, walked around by the water, and then caught the ferry at 2:10 back to the city. The walk back was all uphill, and at one point we climbed 192 stairs up Broadway. Huff, Puff! I had to rinse off in the bathtub when we got back, as I was headed to the airport ! So, that was our great weekend as a clan, and I had never expected to get back to SF in my lifetime, and so it was a great treat to go again! Marvelous city, and having a great location to stay has always made it even better.

A much needed change

It's official, this grandma is off the couch! Monday this week, went to teh health club where my friends from church go and tried out the water fitness class at 9 am. Just happened to be the 30th anniversary celebration for the club, and my guest pass was free. My friends were not there that day, but the ladies were nice and it was a terrific workout in the water Pool is kept at 86-87 degrees, so it's easy to get in right away with no shivers! Besides getting in for free, the sign up fee was being offered at $30 in stead of the usual $100. I took it as a sign! Had to go home for my checkbook, but later went back and paid them and it is official. Now a member of the Stilliguamish Health Club in Smokey Point. It is less than five miles from home! Then on Tuesday, Gale Forrest and I had already arranged to meet in Sylvana at Zumba. Only five miles in another direction. Made it through the hour at a fast paced zumba. Hard, but really fun. So, M_W_F in the pool and Zumba on Tuesday. Beginning of something I have needed for a long time. The Health Club offers classes in the pool, or the gym all hours of the day. Beside the equipment room. So plan to take advantage as much as possible. Gale came to the pool on Wednesday and joined up also! (she had to pay the $100, bummer) but she is commited also to getting fit. I even have to return my bag of library books, unread! I know I will be too busy to read for awhile. quite a change from reading one book a day for the past few months. Books are good, but not sitting all day, reading!
House looks good, at least the living room is very cozy now, I don't wince when someone comes over. Relief Society Presidency was here for a meeting yesterday and I felt happy to have company and not uneasy about the house. Except for Tom's desk clutter, but I keep that door shut and call it "outer darkness".
Cara came home from school and we went to Costco to renew our card, and then went to hip-hop class from there. She did alright for the first half-hour, then started getting distracted, looking around the room and coming out into the hallway with one excuse or another. Then at 5:45 she came out and wouldn't go back in. I got disgusted and just left, pretty mad at her. I will give it two more weeks, and then will pull her out of there until she can appreciate that it is an expense and sacrifice for these classes. Maybe my expectations are just not realistic. I thought she would love taking hip-hop! Maybe it is not the right time for her. I will see if Augga will takje her into the Monday night acro class. I heard it is really full, but maybe I can squeeze Cara in somehow. There is a new hip-hop teacher starting next week, so we will see how that goes.
Oh well. Tom is working in Alger, so it's a long ways out of Mt Vernon, he got home really late last night. Lucky I had made rice for him, and Tara had left some soup here from the meeting, so he had a huge bowl of that mixed together. Well, today is Friday, and after Cara gets on the bus, I will leave for the pool again. Then have some errands and duties in Marysville. Hoo Rah!

First week of first grade for Cara!

Well, we got off to a good start of school this week. She came home every day, and went right up to her "room" at the top of the landing and played school! Tuesday I cut it short so we could go to the lake, and Wed and Thursday we went to the Dance studio for classes. Wednesday was supposed to be the acro class, but when we got there, the teacher was doing the future starts dance class at 5pm. so that's where Cara ended up. She had a great time in there, her friends Adelin and Elliot were in there along with Marisa from last year, and our neighbor Sidney who rides her bus. There were seven girls in all. They did some acro and then mostly jazz dance. Heather got there about 5:30 and got to watch. So now we just have to figure out how to keep her doing the extra acro work somehow. Unless we sign up for the Monday night class with Miss Augga, and that means paying for three classes! The Thursday Hiphop class went well, lots of students. Sabrina from the summer class was there, so I enjoyed meeting up with her mom, Patti, and we talked alot while watching the girls. met some other moms, too.
Wednesday night there were so many Morman Mom's(grandma, me and Nanny, Ashley) we laughter about the Mormon bench we were sitting on. Rosia, Marisa's mom didn't know we were all morman's, even Miss Augga! Her husband is the President of the Spanish branch, and it was so much fun to be part of a group for a change. Our neighbor Tamara was there, her little 4 yr old Marisa had been in the 4pm class. So we all were just chatting like magpies. Last winter and sping, the Wednesday kinder combo class was my social life, meeting the other families that were watching their girls. All way younger that me, but it was still something to look forward to every week. And now when I chance to see them again, at the store or somewhere, it is nice to know someone to say hello and visit with for a moment.
Then Firday, Stacy picked up Cara after school, so that's our first week accomplished without too much drama!
Thursday I had made a haircut appointment over at the salon above the JohnLScott office. It had been recommended to me last year by a lady that I met at the tanning place. I saw her at the open house, and then in Costco, and I spoke to her and asked her how her boy was doing. Then I mentioned the haircut place, and she remembered me from last fall talking to her. So, I got brave, made the appointment, and went over there about 1:45 Thursday afternoon. Right away, before Gina was ready, I met a lady with a Saints t-shirt on, and started talking to her about the Saints. She is from New Orleans, and lives in Washington now, her kids got transferred and now they have a house to sell before they can move back down south. Has to travel to Virginia now(Navy ) to see the grandchildren they moved here to be nearby! She's Cajun and her name is Jean(pronounced the french way) I really liked her, so I hope to see her again somewhere. They live off Smokey Pt Blvd somewhere.
Then Gina was ready for me, and we hit it off famously. she made me PROMISE to not cut my own hair, and she evened my hair out and thinned it in all the right places. She has a plan, but we have to let it grow out some before she can do what she wants. So, it looks good now, and will really look great by Annies wedding, which is our goal. She was so nicve to me, ane it felt good to be pampered and treated like a person that mattered, not just another head to cut!
So, I am feeling happy to give myself these little treats.
I have ridden Buckwheat two times, Thursday and Friday in Jerry's fields. One day I saddled up and took the dogs also. Yesterday I just sent bareback across from Heathers in the small field. Went around it four times and then sat on her while she ate grass along the driveway. Except for the 100 yards or so that I have to be on the road, it is a great place to ride! Thank you God, that I finally met Jerry and had the nerve to ask his permission to ride the edges fo the fields. I hope to go over today and pick blackberries for cobbler.
Tomorrow we are having the misionaries for dinner, and Owen, too. It is going to be nice out, so we are going to BBQ hamburgers, have corn on the cob and salad and cornbread and beans! Oh yeah, and watermelon! I am excited to have company over and hope Heather Cara will join us after Cara gets back from Mike's. It is nice to still have the warm weather for at least another week, I think.
Made some cookies last night and took some over to the Moore's as a thank you for the help watching the dogs and unloading furniture. Had a good visit with Brenda, and saw her house, and the boys are trying to tame the jungle that is their yard, and they are making progress. Brenda is happy, and her house is nice. So many men/boys living with, I can't imagine what that is like!
Today is Saturday, and it is Stake Conference, so Tom will be going to the Church around 3 and then I will go at 7pm for the adult meeting. Still have some projects I want to finish up, so hope I can get them done today. Cleaned the bathroom up yesterday, and it really looks better. Now the laundry room is my next project. It is not a very nice room, so have an idea of how to make it somewhat better. We shall see.

Labor Day in Washington

A great weekend all around! Sunday had church in the morning, then headed to a potluck BBQ at Rusko's landing(private) on the Stilliguamish River where Heather and Cara were camping with the Rusko family. Had a great meal and met Larry and Cheryl ? don't know last name. Larry knows Tom from the YMCA and they have horses and live on Lake Ki. Really enjoyed talking to them. They actually stopped over on Monday morning, when they were over at the neighbor Jerry's to get hay. We had just loaded up 32 bales out of Jerry's field, and with Mike Parada's help, it was stacked on the pallets and salted. I will tarp in a day or two, before the weather turns. Cheryl has MS and uses a walking stick, really nice lady.

Tom cut up the scrap lumber for the wood stove, and I wheelbarrowed it over to the cabin and stacked it. Then he started on the cabin, and got it cleaned and back together after his last project in there. He is going to put his computer out there, I just have to find him a table to put it on. Going to Value Village today to look. It will be wonderful to have his papers and stuff(messes) NOT in the house! My life is improving! Also there is a TV out there, so if we can get another DVD player, we can watch movies. Fun.

I gave Buckwheat a bath later in the afternoon, then came inside and started dough for calzones. Have not made them in ages, and wow they were fantastic. Cara and Heather came for dinner and it was just so special to have that fun family time. Tom had take the little air conditioner over to Heathers house and got it going. Her front rooms get so hot later in the day. So that will be good for awhile until the weather cools down.

So, this morning, Cara's first day of school! She acted a little shy about going this morning, but when the bus finally came, she was gung-ho to get on and go!