SEPTEMBER?!?!

How is it that tomorrow is September 1st? Where was summer? I was waiting for it to show up..it stopped by,said it would be back and....it never did  :(  Now fall is creeping in! I finally (but ever so reluctantly) put on my big fuzzy socks today,I'm craving comfort food and I am plotting Christmas..what the heck! SO I turn my thoughts to my fast approaching vacation. 7 days off ,6 of them in Sekiu with friends,family and fishing.. 6 whole days in paradise disconnected from the whole world. No running water and no flushy toilet yet for some strange reason...I love every minute of it!
Here's the campers we stay in,we stay in the one on the left-

Here's the toilet-

And here's the kitchen-

Here is the "busy " little fishing town full of anxious fishermen-

I love the sunsets in Sekiu,especially from out on the Straits Of Juan de Fuca.

A good morning fishing!I love this pic of my Dad,Vern and Lloyd. 3 very awesome guys and die-hard fishermen!

Oh now I am getting excited! Now I am also realizing I have A LOT to do in the next two weeks!Meal planning and precooking heart healthy meals my Dad will eat but that also taste good.He is very strict about his diet...and I want him around for as long as possible soo..turkey and chicken it is!haha
As for me,I sit here and think of all my favorite things I like to do while I am there..
I want to-
*wake up,make coffee and head directly to the beach. No checking the time or brushing your hair. Just barefoot in a cozy sweatshirt,waking up and having coffee with the tide and the sparkly rocks it scattered on the beach.

*skip the personal maintenance routine.Although I find a way to shower almost everyday, I love that for a whole week I have no use for make up,a blow drier or wearing fashionable matching outfits. Instead it's bandannas,sunglasses and a few layers of the most functional clothing I own..including rubber boots and rain gear if needed.

*have quality time with Vern without all the daily interruptions of our regular life. I love getting away with him and  relaxing and having fun with no cell phones,computers or schedules.

*fill the memory card on my camera. 1,100 pics is a fair challenge.

*sit on the beach,maybe even nap. When we are on the beach we are always moving. This time,I am going to bring a few good magazines,blankets and snacks and just go sit an hang out in a private little beach spot.If I am lucky enough to have a sunny day and a low,calm tide..I just might nap :)

*admit that I enjoy playing "house" at camp. Washing dishes with a hose,cooking over an open fire and keeping the camper somewhat organized. It's fun to change up the ol' routine!

So I change my opinion..HURRY UP SEPTEMBER! I want to go on vacation!
:)

Strawberry Bread

Strawberry bread
Preheat oven to 350

3 cups all purpose four
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups sugaar
4 eggs beaten
1 cup cooking oil
2 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
Mix it all up by hand.
Add berries last and fold in gently.

Bake fro 35-45 minutes in small loaf pans or about 1 hour and 10 minutes in 2 large loaf pans.
Remember each oven is different so be sure to UNDER set your timer so you don't OVER bake!

My Notes-
When the loaves are cooling,I cut a section out of the bread lengthwise down the center of the loaf  (but keep the cut shallow so you don't cut through the bottom of the loaf!)and fill with cream cheese.

The School Of Life Teaches Again..

agoraphobia

–noun Psychiatry .

an abnormal fear of being in crowds, public places, or open areas, sometimes accompanied by anxiety attacks.

 

I had a client recently with this disorder. She was very upfront and honest about it. I was thankful for the opportunity to meet her yet I realized I had zero knowledge on the subject,or how to help make being in my chair easier! Once we got chatting the appointment went very well. She shared with me her struggles with agoraphobia,praised her patient husband and 3 happy children and her new style was cut and dried before she knew it. Victory! She had survived,she felt beautiful AND she had fun! Victory! I love my job....;)

  compassion 

–noun

a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

 

 

Feelin' Chesty...

I SCORED at a garage sale today!

I got a chest freezer for $25!

Funny thing..I wished for a chest freezer a few weeks ago when I realized trimming the food budget means buying in bulk.

We are true carnivores at this house and meat is a huge percentage of the food budget!

Plus fishing season is coming soon..

If it goes as well as last year we will fill that freezer full of salmon in a week!

All that zucchini in the post below equaled 16 cups of grated zucchini!

I froze it in 2 and 4 cup sized for making my Mom's recipe for chocolate zucchini bread.

I love watching people wolf it down having no idea how healthy it is..

especially people who claim to dislike zucchini..he he

Seems I lost that recipe when I had the computer bug a few months ago,

damn internet.

I will post it after I call my Mom and get it

:)

I found a great deal on strawberries and made a few loaves of strawberry bread today.

I filled one loaf with cream cheese-it's beyond words it's so good.

Are you drooling?

Do you want the recipe?

I will try to freeze the rest of the berries before I am tempted to make more bread.

It disappears fast!

The rock tumbler is still tumbling in the garage.

Week one of medium grit sand accomplished.

Now it's in week one of polish grit.

Then one more week of another polish...

But

The rocks are starting to look impressive!

Smoother than river rocks and soon to be shiny like gems for jewelry!

Back to work tomorrow..

pray the back to school rush is gentle on me

:)

Friday...Again ALREADY?!?!

I have done my best to savor every little bit of falling in love and starting a relationship. We have been together 2 1/2 years and yet we still have so much to share and learn as a couple.I love the newness of it all,learning how to communicate and how to best be supportive of each others' needs despite life's ups and downs.I saw a great quote once that explains what I'm feeling-"I can tell you in an instant that I love you but it will take me a lifetime to show you how much". I feel lucky that I get to learn how to love and care for a man that loves me as much as Vern does!I might sound old fashioned but I take great pride in keeping my man happy and my house in order (as much as possible,keep reading..)!
My newest lesson hit me today. When Vern works 7 days a week for more than 2 weekends in a row..I need to pitch in more with housework! I didn't realize how much he does before I get home in the evenings!We have our hands full taking care of Del AND his house and yard! So I am switching gears and preparing to do some meal planning tomorrow and some much needed dusting and cleaning before I go back to work for the week. The make ahead meals were a life saver last week, so I thought I would do a few more for this week. As for the house,I will bleach and vacuum what I can and sanitize and windex the rest.The deep cleaning will have to wait. I appreciate my hard working man,I will continue to do my best to support him anyway I can :) Even if that means I have to keep cleaning up after his 48 year old brother..*sarcastic sigh*

 On a lighter note,I wanted to share this weeks harvest from our garden! The little corn were so delicious despite the fact that they looked a bit funky! haha Tomorrow I am grating and freezing all that zucchini for bread this winter.Thankfully this year I have a food processor,thanks Vern!

AND THEN..
I found these cute little things at Rite Aid and couldn't pass them up..

I am going to spray paint them...just not sure what color yet. Perhaps I will see what we have in the garage..
I want to use them for planters yet...they would be cute inside too...like maybe with sand and candles or magazines...or a houseplant. Hmmmm? Any suggestions creative friends?
PS- I edited my mole and crow's feet out of the pic above for the "Botox" effect(haha) and erased under eye circles! Did you notice? What do you think? I don't think I look different enough to ever consider getting stuff injected in my face!

After a long day..

We still found time to celebrate!

Congrats Babe!

You are an awesome Dad,

you have been a VERY patient ex husband.

I am excited to watch you continue to enjoy being a father,

without being made to feel like a monthly paycheck.

As always,

I am here to support and love you,

no matter what,

with all my heart,

forever and ever

:)

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Happy Birthday Trevor!

The zoo was a blast!

We had fun hanging with the birthday boy and his girlfriend Shelby today!

Yes...

I rode the camel!

It was a bumpy ride and very short

But..

Check another one off the bucket list,

-Ride a camel.

haha