Sharing

Dear Seattle,

Please turn off the oven, I am hot and whiny and this sweat pouring out of me is gross!

Thanks. I'm melting.

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Dear spastic guy in the Kia Rio ahead of me at the stoplight in Kent today,

I just wanted to let you know, as I'm sure your darling girlfriend next to you does, that your ability to simultaneously smoke a cigarette and hawk a loogie out the window every 15 seconds really impressed me today. Good job! Consider a career in this because really, it's so neat to watch.

Impressed

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Dear Subway,

If you are going to put a sign on the interstate directing me to take an exit to reach your eating establishment, and then place a sign directing me which way to turn off of the exit, would it be too much to ask if said establishment is not going to be visible from that road could you add just one more sign to get me there? Just direct me through that one last turn because I need to pee and I am really hungry and that extra mile and non u-turn friendly intersection were kind of unnecessary.

Thanks,
Lost on the back roads

Today is one of those days where you wake up in the morning, turn around twice, sneeze, hiccup, and the day is gone and it's suddenly night time. You know what I'm talking about right? You question how many hours were in this day because you swear you did not see even one of them pass.

The Harv is so exhausted he can't lift himself onto the car seat, he'll just rest his head on it instead.

This morning we headed down to the park, it convenient that it's a half mile down the road. At noon there is a program that delivers lunches to the park to any kids between 1 and 18 yrs old. This nice elderly gentleman brings sack lunches in a cooler and hands them out to any kids that are around and when the lunches are gone he leaves...sometimes it takes quite awhile for all of the lunches to go and he's so happy when people show up to take them. We've hit that a couple of times now and Bekah's all over it because they give out CHOCOLATE milk. Yay for the stuff Mom won't make! It's a nice lunch though, today was ham and cheese sandwich, sliced pears, carrots and celery and the afore mentioned chocolate milk.

*the child climbs trees now...oy vey.

When Bekah was done with lunch, Adriana came with her family and the girls played for a couple of hours. Yes, I have pictures on the camera and will post them later.

After we walked home, we discovered Grant had been busy looking at camper trailers. Not for camping but we had been discussing the option of me using one for a studio. Lo and behold he found a 34' trailer right down the road for a really reasonable price! So we jumped in the car to go get a trip permit in Aberdeen since the trailer isn't licensed. He hired someone to moved it tomorrow! EEK, so exciting! I'll have my OWN space...with a DOOR. Happy Mommy dance.

But Mommy, I'm so innocent I would never touch your stuff, I promise!

Supper was made, 4 yr old is in the tub, and I am about to pour myself a glass of wine. Tomorrow I head back to Kent to get another load of stuff moved and run errands while I am there. That was all a lot more information than you needed but it is what it is ;)

103 in Kent today....53 right now in Ocean Shores. Yes, I'm happy with the move!

I went down to the beach earlier because Rebekah's friend is here visiting. Well that poor beach is lined two rows deep as far as the eye can see in either direction! Wow!

This morning I baked bread and now I am baking cookies...don't think I'd be doing that if it were 103 degrees! And you know, our Kent apartment is on the 3rd floor. I bet it's 110 in there...ugh!

Anyway....last night Grant and I went to do some geocaching sans children and dog. One of the caches took us down to the jetty up onto some tall dunes. I'd never thought to climb them before but what a spectacular view it provided! As we looked out over the water, we could see whales blowing water....estimating there were about 5 out there. I managed to get a couple of pictures, where you see the water spray (the white puff above the water) is the whale. Growing up in the midwest means this is pretty cool for us :)

Beach pics. Nothing too noteworthy. It's hotter than blazes back in Kent, so getting anything from there (or Ashley visiting) is currently on hold. The good news is, Rebekah's friend Adriana and family are coming to OS to escape the heat tomorrow! So, Rebekah will get to see her best friend right here in Ocean Shores. We are hoping to meet up with them a few times during their stay....adorable pictures to follow, I'm sure.

I have some great pics on the camera but again...too tired to go get them. We did some geocaching today and one sight in particular was stunning. I think the pics turned out...stay tuned to see :)

The Harv

More pictures of Harvey the Wonder Dog. Today we went geocaching for a couple of hours, I kid you not the dog came home and passed out snoring for 4 hours. One of the caches was located off of the road leading into the woods. Well we got about half way into the woods and Harvey is refusing to go any further. I finally figured out there were sand burrs on the ground that were getting stuck in his paws. So you know how Harvey LOOKS like a small dog? Only he's built like a brick uh ... out house? Yeah, I carried that dog back to the car to tend to his happy feet! Did he thank me? Well look at those eyes...of course he thanked me!

Last night we had a little campfire in the back yard, our neighbors came over and we just sat around and chatted. Very relaxing.

These pictures were all taken from my chair at the campfire. We didn't stop talking AND the dog was out there...these deer couldn't care less. Pretty amusing.

Still being a slacker blogger. Today was mostly spent in the back yard. Grant has bushwacked out a ton of blackberry and other thorny bushes and so I started with cleaning up the little stuff that was left behind.

One thing led to another and pretty soon we had a campfire going. Later the neighbors came over and we all relaxed around the campfire.

Nice day...considering I started out the morning with a mini-meltdown trying to find places for things to go. Storage will be an issue in this house. But I am determined, thanks to 18 years of training (thanks Mom), that there will be a place for everything and everything will be in its place.

No entry yesterday...bad daily blogger!

In my defense, I was in Kent hauling crap down 3 flights of stairs. I also snuck in some quiet (much needed) me time and took a nap!

Today we are hauling that crap into the new house trying to find places to put it all. I usually consider myself a minimalist, but everytime we move I am reminded how wrong I am in my considerations. And I haven't even touched my sewing stuff yet! Yikes.

I'll be posting another entry tonight to catch up!

I may be off line tonight as I take a one night trip back to Kent for more stuff from the apartment. Not looking forward to the trip but looking forward to feathering the new nest :)

Okay, the geocaching pictures from the last couple of days....

Our little bundle of 4 yr old energy, searching for a cache in the woods.

Harvey obliging us with his typical basset hound look (read that: did you bring treats?)

Ashley posing in front of the sunny radio station sign. The funny thing was I turned to this station when we pulled into town due to that sign. Only later did I find out there was a magnetic cache attatched to the back. The picture was a ploy to distract the muggles from knowing what we were doing....very ninja of us, huh?

The engineer of our geocaching operations aka: my best friend and husband, out and about in the woods of Ocean Shores!

The deer around here are thick! These two were having a rest while Mom grazed a few feet away. They were quite unconcerned with our precence as you can see.

Today I have cleaning to do, always with the cleaning. And I have promised the 4 yr old a trip to the library, we are out of bedtime stories and I have read "Walter the Farting Dog Goes on a Cruise" for the last time thank you very much. I'd love to see Ashley pick up a job application today and maybe I'll bake bread too. What's on your list?

I know, I promised you pictures today, but....

the camera is so far awayyyyyyy... in my purse, I think. Sad huh?

Sorry folks. That geocaching is getting the better of me, I tell ya!

Tomorrow I'll work at getting you something more interesting....always tomorrow :)

Lots of geocaching today....pics tomorrow!

Making sandcastles on the beach at 8:00 at night

because it's only a 5 minute drive home....priceless.

On our way to Ocean Shores today, Ashley and I stopped for a quick geocache.

We got close, and when we turned on the GPS we discovered the batteries were dead. Did we give up? No we did not! We used the clue and our geo-sense and found that bad boy!

It was hidden near a really cool tree and so we just drove down the road until we saw the coolest tree ever.

It took a little crawling around in the woods but victory was ours. Forgive my appearance, this was after making 3 or 4 dozen trips up and down three flights of stairs in 90 degree heat...moving makes me glow.

A neat spider web photo by Ashley. I probably would have ran into the darn thing. Have I mentioned I love geocaching? I think I might have. :)

Is this a turkey vulture? We saw it on the shore while stopped for road construction (two of them actually). Anyone know?

A picture of Harvey watching me drink my morning coffee. So far, he's the best dog we've EVER had! I just gave him a bath which he tolerated well...although I did have to use a treat just to get him in the bathroom door.

He's still not excited about his food. If I doctor it up with wet food or people food, then he'll eat it. I went and bought expensive stuff from PetCo and he still didn't want it. I feel bad that he's not eating much but he seems to be fine so I guess we'll just keep an eye on that.

He doesn't play much yet either. They said he likes balls and rope toys and fetch, but when we throw a ball he runs after it, looks at it and then comes back without it. Hmmmm.

That's it for the Harvey update today. It's hot and gross in Kent AGAIN, heading for the ocean tomorrow!!

Another play date

Last week we were able to meet up with Adriana, her baby sister, and her Mommy for another play date. The girls had fun at Kelsey Creek Park!

As usual, we brought lunches and the girls had a picnic. Rebekah loves picnics for some reason.

Adriana brought bubbles to share and that provided LOTS of entertainment.

Once we move, we're going to try to meet at a park in Olympia so the girls can still see each other. I'm so glad because according to Rebekah, the sun rises and sets on her friendship with Adriana!

My camera battery is dead and the charger is in Kent. This bites because today was a gorgeous day here in Ocean Shores and I could have had some beautiful beach pictures! Oh well, next trip the charger will come, along with our bed, the cat and 2 goldfish.

I had to take this picture the last time we were in Kent because really, who would believe it? I should have taken a picture of the inside too because it's exactly what it says. One wall is smoking stuff, pipes, cigarettes, papers, etc. In the middle is t-shirts, and on the other wall is formal dresses...you can't make that stuff up folks.

Harvey is home

I wasn't ready to be too optomistic last night but we did get him today! From the listing on the Kitsap County Humane Society page:

Hi! My name is Harvey and I’m searching for some new digs. I’m a liver and white male Bassett Hound. I’m approximately 4 years old and have been neutered, so I can go home with you today! My previous family owned me for 4 years and surrendered me to the shelter as they are being deployed to Afghanistan. I love to play ball and am very good at fetch. I would like to go on car ride adventures with you. I love to be groomed as it feels so good and makes me even more handsome. I love to play and enjoy all outdoor activities. I like rope toys and other dog toys too. I enjoy going for walks and am good on a leash. I like other dogs, cats, and I like most children. I know come and sit. Fireworks make me nervous. I have been crate trained and am housebroken. I’m used to eating twice a day and enjoy biscuits, pig ears, jerky treats, and pupperoni. I was kept in a fenced area for my safety. I will let you know a stranger is approaching by barking. I’m the calm, cool, happy, friendly type. I am protective of the children in my family.

He was only brought to the shelter yesterday!

So we made the 3 hour drive, fell in love and brought him home. He loved going to the beach this evening and he's crashed out on his blanket right now. More pictures to follow I am sure.

Love this pooch...I'm just sayin'. Aren't bassett hounds the cutest?

It's official...

In my book anyway, once I have a library card I consider myself a resident. This morning Ashley and I went to the Ocean Shores library, got our card and checked out books and movies.

I bet there are not too many library's that have full time residents, but ours does. Meet Olivia and Waldo. Aren't they cute? They're sweet too!

Bekah, Grant and I went back this afternoon so Bekah could get her books and Waldo was hiding, but Olivia was sleeping contentedly in a chair next to someone reading a newspaper.

Ashley took Bekah for a bike ride down to the park this morning where there was a triathalon taking place and now the girls are making brownies. Grant and I are kicking back and relaxing a bit before the next painting phase.

In the next week or so I am thinking of holding a drawing for my followers, something Ocean Shores related maybe? So if you're not a follower make sure you sign up over there ---->

Hot in the city

We bailed out of town one night early because of the heat again, enough already...forget everything you've ever heard about rain in Seattle because it is a BIG FAT LIE. Ask my balcony garden.

So anyway, we followed the city traffic out to the coast tonight and will be working on the house over the weekend. We have paint for our bedroom this time!

Tomorrow morning Ashley and I are heading over to the local library for the used book sale...can't wait to find some good reads to pour over while listening to the pounding surf~

Ikea fix.

A trip to Ikea today, I needed a fix. I also needed a rug for Rebekah's room since she has no carpet. $25 later I had this lovely pink number.

Ashley's room needed a lamp, and for less than $20 we found this one. I think it'll look good with the red and gray walls and black accents in the room.

And most importantly for $5 we had 4 hotdogs, 2 drinks, and 2 bags of chips. You just can't get a cheaper date than Ikea :)

The Sunday after the 4th. I'm glad we were heading TO Ocean Shores, because this is what the traffic FROM Ocean Shores to Seattle looked like. Over 70 miles of this scene...stop and go. I can't think of ANYTHING worth attending that would make me be okay with sitting in that kind of traffic. Stop and go for over 70 miles? How long would it take them to get home?

Before and durings

I won't call these before and after because they aren't done...but it gives you an idea. I'm guessing I don't need to tell you who these rooms belong to!

The colors are not showing up real well here but closest to the camera is purple, the next wall is light blue, and the far wall is pink.

Grant is currently working on trim in Ashley's room. Bekah's room is mostly done as far as paint/trim goes. Now we I need to work on curtains and such. Bless Grant's heart, he's done almost all of the painting, I only take credit for the taping.

I'll do a video tour when the rooms are finally done, but like I said, this at least gives you an idea.