Chubbapalooza 2010

We are home and have officially survived the first annual Chubbapalooza! 12 people and 3 dogs in a 4 bedroom rancher in steamin' hot North Idaho for 5 days...whew!

Oh the stories I could tell....

My Parents had a new screen door installed right before we all arrived. We all took turns walking into it..and that was BEFORE the drinking started!

My nephew took first in his division at the local Arenacross and we were all there to cheer him on!

It seems my family has fallen in love with Vern. They teased him all weekend about when he was going to marry me!I reassured them all that marriage or not,we are together forever :)

We hiked up to Snow Creek Falls one afternoon. A Mennonite family was also hiking the trail. The girls were so cute hiking the woods in their dresses and flip flops.They all had very long braided hair and examined us with a polite curiosity and a smile.I was taking a few shots of the falls and I noticed the girls were standing just up the trail and watching me..like my every move! I was friendly but a bit uncomfortable. I found out later it might of been because they don't allow themselves to be photographed. Had those girls never seen a digital camera? Wow.

I have lots of itchy,pink bug bites. I don't miss those Idaho skeeters! :( 

We cruised "The Valley",it's beautiful field of golden wheat (and a road we cruised as teens to sneak a smoke).

We visited my all time favorite Katka View to appreciate that gorgeous river valley I call home.

I saw a lot of old friends. It was nice to see the real faces instead of  Facebook!haha

We accomplished family photos. Victory! We were sun blasted and wind blown at the wildlife refuge where we took them at ....but they are great memories none the less ;)

(I love this pic of my sister but feel the need to note that she doesn't smoke and rarely drinks. That being said..this is the funniest picture of the WHOLE weekend! I love this sexy bitch!)

The biggest shocker of all ... After 32 years I finally got a Starbucks in Bonners Ferry Idaho!They are still working out the kinks and in-training..... but standing in line it felt like a dream!

I watched a childhood friend get married to a woman who loves him so much. I love it when the good people find good people to marry! James and Sarah Tucker I wish you all the best!

We "treated" ourselves to a detour through Yakima and Chinook Pass on the trip home. It was a dream road trip once we got near the pass. The mountain air was cool and Mt. Ranier was sitting pretty just before sunset.

I am sitting here enjoying the cherries we picked up at a fruit stand in Yakima mmmmm :)

Wow. Back to work tomorrow. It feels like I have been off for weeks! Reality. Check. :)

Sticky Thoughts

"If you keep doing things the same way,don't expect different results."

This was the quote that oddly stuck in my head all day today.
Hmmmm..something to ponder...
Of all the times that I beg for guidance from above,the timing and randomness of it almost makes me laugh!
What is the lesson to be learned? What habit or routine keeps me beating my head against a perpetual theoretical wall?
Or is my message for someone else?
Maybe you?

I Guess You Really Had To Be There But...

Vern looking at the bedroom light fixture " Oh dangit,looks like a light bulb burned out."

Me "Looks like it was because there are pine needles in it?"

Vern laughing hysterically "Yes Honey,that's EXACTLY what happen! The dam pine needles got in there!"

Apparently I was seeing the bits of light bulb guts the fall apart when it burns out..but I'm still not too sure the pine needles aren't invading our light bulbs....:)

Vern (while watching "Ice Road Truckers" on TV as the truck driver is struggling to stay awake) "Pull out a nose hair! That'll wake you up!"

Me  "I don't want to know how you know this."

Sometimes he is such an overflowing cornucopia of knowledge :P

Rambles

It turned out to another unpredictable yet productive day,much like yesterday..

First of all I must confess, that my ability to get showered and ready before noon on my day off  is nil.Unless of course we are up early for an exciting day but today lacked that type of motivation.Plus Vern is working the weekend so I felt a little more off my routine than usual.

My visit with friend's was put off due to busy schedules so I waited anxiously for Vern to get home so we could get our errands ran. First stop was to Olsen's Meats and then off to Kent to Cash And Carry.Our goal was to price and or purchase turkey breast and brisket to smoke for Chubbapalooza,plus also pick up a few jugs of iced espresso to power me through the next 2 weeks. (the coffee stands in Idaho are terrible) We purchased the turkey breasts at Olsen's..wow have you looked at the going rate for turkey breasts lately?! I will be snatching it up if I can find it for more hat $3.00 per pound! Turkey breast? Seriously?! So after a spell of sticker shock we were headed to Kent..

I have been on a bit of a mission this year to see what store or nursery has the best selection..(I will blog about this later)...but today after Cash & Carry Vern was sweet enough ( he would never complain but I know it's not exactly his idea of a good time haha) to let me stop and wonder through Carpinito Bros. garden supply and nursery in Kent. Although I love the rush of exploring a new nursery..but I was quickly disappointed. The flowers were fairly common,the selection was slim but the prices were decent. Not good enough for me to go back again,I can get the same thing locally and spare myself the traffic nightmare. BUT I can never seem to  leave empty handed so I got a new Dahlia. It's a beautiful sunburst of light pink and yellow and already stands 3 feet tall!Pictures coming soon :)

I found the Dahlia a new home in the planter box next to the raspberry and I hope they can learn to get along...that raspberry grows about 4 inches a day! Oh and since I am already rambling..and we are talking about the garden..guess what?! There are big yellow blooms on the zucchini and a few little zucchini starting to grow! Also the tiny yellow crooknecks have arrived! This is the first time I have grown these and I was so happy to see they are ambitious like the other squash.Oh but the little baby ones are so cute! The "green thumb" in me strives for a lush summer garden but I also love this time of year when my garden is full of miniatures!

Tomorrow I go back to work,it's never easy to get excited to work on Sunday but I know Thursday will be here before I know it :)

21st Century Laugh

You know you've entered the 21st century when :-

1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 30 years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )

12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list...

~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~ ~~~~~~~

NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself ;oP

Have a great weekend!

Fumbled Friday

This morning I had a pretty full schedule of things to do. A visit with friends in the morning,a photo shoot in the afternoon,haircuts for Vern and Trev and a friend coming for dinner. I was feeling overwhelmed so I rescheduled the visit for tomorrow when I wouldn't be as rushed. Ah,relief..ok re-plan day. So I throw in a load of laundry and divulge in girly shows I don't watch with Vern around:). The morning disappeared fast! So,about noon I text my photo appointment and she needed to reschedule. No problem,ok,re-plan day again. I put a batch of muffins in the oven and did a little house and yard work.( Ok so I admit I forgot about the muffins and went running inside like a crazy woman,saved them just in time!) Finally around 1 pm I got in the shower and attempted to really start my day BUT at this point all I really feel like doing is cooking a nice dinner and finishing the laundry.I sent Vern in to nap when he got home,rescheduled haircuts for tomorrow and started dinner. Oh that's right we have an extra coming..better make a little extra and cook to impress! So that's just what I did! I made a tasty "semi homemade" chicken dinner and cooked a whole chicken on the smoker! Mmmm smoked chicken with fresh herbs from the garden :) Our guest arrived a little later than expected and had already eaten...I just had to laugh to myself..what an unpredictable day! So Vern and his friend had a little "guy time" while I had a little more "Cara time". A long hot shower and a few more senseless TV shows to top off a great day,sweeet! So my mind turns to tomorrow. I realize I have scheduled another busy day of things I didn't get done today! Ugh. No worries right? After a day like today I can't be too sure what tomorrow will bring.I guess I will just go with the flow again and get done what I can :)

Thankful Thursday

Today's gratitude :)

I have a photography job tomorrow! My first photo shoot with a pregnant Mama! My creative juices are flowing,I love that rush!

I am beginning to get my energy back just in time for the sun! It has taken me a few weeks to get used to my new meds but I feel better and better everyday!

Although I have to work today,it's my Friday and I get to wear a new outfit! Somehow that just makes work that much better :P

The countdown begins for CHUBBAPALOOZA!! 8 more days until we leave for Idaho!5 days of weddings,reunions,photos,food and fun!

I have the bestest,most amazing boyfriend in the whole world <3 I love living life through thick and thin with such a great partner! Loving him takes my breath away daily..I asked God for him and I am in awe everyday that he delivered such a wonderful answered prayer :)