Television – Unraveling a Life

Closing Out The Year

December 21, 2014December 21, 2014 simplypattiLeave a comment

This has been a difficult holiday season with losing my Cinny. I was still mourning my Holly. Yet I know that as long as I give my heart to boxers, that time will always be too short. Boxers have a shorter life span than many other breeds; nine years is a good lifespan. But I would never ever give up the love that this breed so freely gives. I will always be a boxer girl. It has been tough on Bruno and I have been in touch with NW Boxer Rescue to find him a new companion and another sweet love for us. I love this rescue group! I was sorely tempted when Kim let me know they had some puppies; after several days of waivering I knew that at this time I could not really meet a puppy’s needs. So I am still waiting for the right fur baby for our home. I leave it in the hands of the rescue group to find the best fit for Bruno, Jimmy, and me.

Before losing Cinny we kept busy preparing for Christmas. In November I took five days off work. It was glorious! I kept so busy and accomplished so much! Jimmy had a few days off and we concentrated on finishing the last of our shopping. We did a part of our shopping at Portland’s Saturday Market. Every time we head into the city we try to find new places to explore. It is such an amazing city.

I also decorated the house, knitted, sewed, and played in the kitchen.

Infinity scarves are really fun, fast, and easy. I have made an additional two since these pictures were taken. With the hubs working swing shifts, my evenings consist of curling up with my sweet boxer babies, turning on my favorite Brit TV shows (a second watching of Foyles War is my current choice), and knitting away. I also pulled out one of those weaving contraptions I found this summer at yard sales. I was hooked, it is totally mindless yet turns out a great looking scarf. All of these projects are from the bits and bobs of yarn I collected secondhand for pennies.

You all know how much I love Pinterest. When I saw these chocolate spoons I just had to make some. I wanted a little flavor so used a chocolate orange and combined it with a Hershey bar. I found the spoons at Goodwill and Walmart.

Got out for near daily walks. Always new places to explore at Minto-Brown Island.

One one of my last days off we headed to the beach. I am so grateful that we did. Cinny was more active than usual as she ran and played. We never would have expected that within 72 hours a brain tumor would take her from us. Look at that happy face!

I received this in the mail from my sweet daughter after losing my Cinny.

How special is that!! RIP my sweet Frassy and Munster.

Here is another sweet gift I received in the mail. Every year for the past 7 or so, a dear friend Louella sends me a home made ornament. I treasure every one. Louella also includes a goodie for the fur babies to. She has two handsome fur boy’s who like to be included in the giving.

Aren’t those just too cute!!

Inadvertently several years ago I started finding a focus word for each year. 2012 was balance as I learned to balance work/health/life. 2013 was adventure as I got married, left one job, moved states and started a new job. 2014 really did not have a word as it has been loss and imbalance again. In perusing Pinterest I happened upon Susannah Conway susannahconway.com and her wonderful workshops. I immediately signed up for this one

There is a facebook page where participants can share ideas and work together. I love it!

Her next workshop is

I am considering this one as well. I am pretty confident I have my word and will sharing it after the first of the year.

Here’s wishing you and yours a wonderful and blessed Christmas and New Year!

Patricia

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GOODBYE FEBRUARY….

March 5, 2012April 19, 2014 simplypattiLeave a comment

Oh but I was happy to see the end of February this year. It may be the shortest month of the year, but it certainly feels the longest. February started with this:

Ice on top of ice and snow. It was so hard packed I could walk on it without breaking through. Provided I could stay upright it was so slick. After a small break in the weather, thankfully just in time for my move to the new house, it once again gave us more of this:

Now I anxiously await the arrival of spring! I see new growth peeking through the ground and green buds dotting the trees. The promise of new life and beauty.

I had a houseful of visitors to help me celebrate the ushering in of a new month. Christina and kids arrived with my mom in tow. We had a glorious 3 days together and I was able to show off my new home. The grands loved the large loft and especially all the toys that I had stashed in their special nook. They explored the neighborhood paths with me and loved the duck ponds and creek. We were so busy I did not get any pictures and that makes me sad. Next time I need to keep that camera at hand.

Christina had just moved house herself and in redecorating she brought me three beautiful large area rugs that she no longer had use for. They fit just perfect in my home and I love them!

Not a good photo. I had just cleaned it and it was hanging to dry and I took it down just for the pic so it is a big wrinkly looking. It will go in the living room by the fireplace.

She also brought back a childhood toy of mine that she had used to decorate. I have the orginal Little Peoples house and a doll house that was made for my mom. I will use them all as decor in the guestroom (well actually it is the grands room and being decorated just for them). Here is a pic of it that I nabbed from one on sale on the net. It is identical to mine. The inside has three rooms upstairs and two down. I spent endless hours playing with this as a child and it makes me smile each time I look at it. A perfect addition to my home!

And as always I sent a carload of stuff home with her, too. Between all the girls and myself we cycle a great deal of stuff from home to home as we change decor, need extra accent pieces, need crafting supplies, or just think something we have needs a new home.

The decor of the new home remains a work in progress. I keep changing things around a bit here and there and finding new things to add little by little. As I work on setting up home and decorating I have fallen in love with Pinterest. It is quite addicting if you are not careful. But what a great way to organize and catagorize all the DIY home and craft ideas you find all over the web? Yeah, just what we all need, one more reason to spend yet more time on the computer. I already follow too many blogs!

Today was a sick a bed day. I have a touch of the flu and spent most of the day snuggled up in front of the fire dozing off and on. The wind was blowing up a storm and the fireside was so pleasant. I did a bit of reading off and on and finished the third in the Ladybug Farm series by Donna Ball. A light pleasant read. Tonight will be some Brit series and perhaps a bit of knitting.

Marching on,

Patricia

BREAKFAST, BOOKS, AND BUMMIN AROUND….

October 30, 2011April 19, 2014 simplypattiLeave a comment

Has anyone else felt like the month has just slipped by in an instant? I have certainly felt that the past season rushed past while I've barely had a chance to take a deep breath. How I just loathe the rush of passing time!! I try to savor the days, but they so quickly become weeks….. so is man's eternal battle to slow down our dratted time allotment here on earth.

During the past flying week my eldest, Christina, came for a visit. She came by herself to celebrate her birthday.

It is hard to believe that my baby girl is 32!!

While I missed my sweet grands, it was so fun to have some mother/daughter time with just the two of us. I was excited to share some of the best of my lovely village with her and my fav spots while we got in some major bonding time!

Every day must start with a good breakfast. Here we are at Olive chowing down on some yummy goodies.

My daughters all inherited my love of thrifting, sewing, and reading. So a perfect day for us included visiting the local second hand shops and the used book stores. Here was our favorite by far!

Isn't this just amazing? There are books upon books. We spent a good two hours just digging through stacks and piles. We both came away with some great treasures!

Back at home we pulled out the sewing machines and Becca joined us. The two of them worked on Halloween costumes for the grands. I was happy knitting away on mittens.

Next morning we headed to Colville Street Patesserie.

Check out these goodies!! YUMMMMMY….

Not really what one should have for a healthy breakfast, but what a treat!! We brought home an assortment to nibble throughout the day.

The week end was magical! We ate too much, stayed up too late, laughed until we cried, and just simply enjoyed time together creating new and wonderful memories!! I hated to see it come to an end. It was through misty eyes that I watched her pull out of the driveway headed home.

Christina will be headed back to pack up her household and prepare to move to a farm in a remote part of Oregon. She has fully embraced sustainable living and has huge gardens and herds of varying livestock so this will be a great opportunity for her to enlarge her livestock herds and the income they generate. And…..she will be closer to me!!!

And so it was back to my usual routine…well not quite….

My youngest baby girl Becca is moving to Nevada. Her hubby has been offered a great opportunity and left a week ago to pursue it. I am so happy for them both and what this will mean for their future. But it also means my baby girl will be miles away with my sweet Bella! While Matt finds housing and gets settled in the new job, Becca has stayed behind to finish the term of school. This will begin a new chapter in her life as she has never been too far from home, being the baby of the family….. But they have struggled so hard and are now expecting their second child. I am so happy for them both. But……Nevada…that is miles and miles away…….sigh……

And….my middle sweet pea, Erica, got asked to present her work at not one but two different conferences next month. Being a working mom of six she may have to miss one and Skype the other. But as industrious as Erica is, it will not surprise me to see her physically present at both. Erica, the brainiac, is busy plugging away on her PhD.

I am so blessed by my three children. Each one is so distinctly different in their personalities. Each one is so precious to me and I adore them!! I see parts of myself in each of them. They each have a small part of some of my weaknesses. Yet they always amaze me with their strengths and abilities. It just takes my breath away and makes me so proud when I look at them and see what amazing individuals they have become!

With the change in weather and the early darkness, I have been spending the evenings inside reading and watching Brit TV. Here is what has been on my reading list:

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. I discovered Kate Morton on Amazon and adore her books. The Forgotten Garden was good, but The Distant Hours is great!! It was one of those books that was magical and I just could not put it down.

A Charmed Life by Liza Campbell. Liza is the daughter of the twenty-fifth Thane of Cawdor Castle and as any Shakespeare fan knows, that is the Castle Macbeth. This is her memoir of growing up in the castle with a father who is, well, almost right out of a Shakespeare tragedy. Fascinating reading!!

I am currently working on Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, a nice change of pace from the intensity of the past two books.

On my list to read:

Three Philippa Gregory novels:

The Other Boleyn Girl

The Boleyn Inheritance

The Other Queen

I got quite heavily involved in the made for TV series The Tudors. A bit violent for my usual likes, but a fascinating look at the life of Henry the Eight. When I saw the books by Gregory at the used book store I could not resist. I love anything to do with British history from 1066 to Elizabeth I; be it fiction, fact, book, or movie. My impractical self wanted to get my grad degree in Medieval Studies at U of Cardiff in Wales. Gonzaga and Communication/Leadership Studies won out from my practical side. So I indulge my love through books, movies, and very occasional travel…

I also have on my list:

Three Cups of Tea. Have wanted to read that since it came out..

Atomic Farm Girl. I can relate growing up in the shadow of Hanford…..perhaps I shouldn't read this?!

The Language of Sycamores….just because I love Lisa Wingate's novels.

That should keep me busy for a bit.

In other news, I have decided to take the plunge and buy a house here. This has been a tough decision as I was not sure I was going to stay here long term. But I love the community, have a great job, great friends, and my children and grands are relatively close by. So I am beginning the process. Next week end I will meet with my amazing realtor and begin looking. I'll let you know how that goes….

Happy Haunting…it is almost Halloween after all!!

Patricia

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