Sunday, November 30, 2008

A bit of knitting news. I'm finishing off a pair of socks and then I have to decide what I want to knit next (I've been knitting these socks for so long I've decided I'm not allowed to start anything else until they are done). I have a Sock Monkey kit from Blue Moon . I can't wait to knit that but I also want to do another Noro Scarf. I have STR in Grinchy to make my annual Christmas socks. These are socks I knit in Christmas themed yarn over the Christmas holidays. I really need to get away from scarves and socks and knit a vest or something but I have these scarves and socks I want to knit. I guess I can knit whatever I want though. I just feel a tad boring.

We had a movie watching and pizza for dinner type of day. We watched Hoodwinked which was really good. Then Alvin and the Chipmunks and now we are watching Evan Almighty. I love that movie. Now that Thanksgivings over and school is back to its regular schedule tomorrow it seems life is back to normal again. Good. I'm not good with changes in the routine.

Oh and the outside of the house is decorated!!

It hasn't snowed. That picture is from last year. This year it looks just the same and I don't want to go outside and take another picture (it's cold out there - and I'm lazy).

Last but not least........I did it!


ETA: actually it appears I didn't. I wrote this post but must not have pressed publish post. Oh well!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Well, last night we went to Wights Nursery in Lynnwood for our annual Tree decoration purchases. At Christmas time the nursery is transformed and all they sell is Christmas decorations. We love it. Each year we all get to pick a special decoration that's just ours with the plan being the kids can have theirs when the move out. So we did that and then we had hot chocolate and did a bit more shopping. It was great day all round. Simon was stuffed full of turkey leftovers and scraps so he slept through us going out (he was also tired from all the activity of barking at xmas tree and decoration boxes which were in the house without his consent). Today we have nothing planned but we'll see how feel. A movie maybe....

Friday, November 28, 2008

I am so full and sleepy. We had our Thanksgiving dinner today. It was very good. We have most if the inside decorations done. The tree is up. It's raining so the outside lights will have to wait. It's feeling like the Holiday season now. I got a pack of Mrs Meyers seasonal peppermint cleaners and so I started using them. The smell peppermint really makes it feel like Christmas for me.


Here's the tree

Time for a nap I think.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving







"The First Thanksgiving" (1915), by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris


(American painter, 1863-1930)

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Well, I did brave the shops today. It wasn't too bad. We have a huge turkey in the fridge and everything else we may need for the next few days including lots and lots of diet coke for me. We won't have our Thanksgiving turkey dinner until the kids get home on Friday and afterwards we'll put up our Christmas decorations. That's one of the traditions we've made in our short time as a family. I'm looking forward to it. As for tomorrow we plan to relax, watch some movies and snack. We're well stocked up on snacks. Don't you love holidays?

At the moment I'm on the sofa with Simon using my leg as a pillow. It's very cute.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Can you tell from my previous Bag Balm advertisement that I don't have a lot to say. This posting every day thing is hard. I really don't think my day to day activities of errand running, cleaning and knitting are worth posting about. Today I ran errands, cleaned and did some knitting. See, not interesting! Brian is at work this evening and I'm watching some episodes of Peep Show that I have on DVD. I think I'll just stay home tomorrow as I don't want to deal with the last minute panic before Thanksgiving. Most of the shops will be shut for one day - aaargghh panic! Brian and I will be spending Thanksgiving relaxing and enjoying some time together. We have been invited to lunch by well meaning people who seem to think that we can't be home, just the two of us. I'm not sure why that's wrong. We'll see the kids the next day and well, we see them every other day too. We're ok if they are at their mothers and we have to go through the day without them. They are having fun and we'll manage to have a good day too. But for some reason that's not quite enough family to have the meal with so we've been invited to share other peoples. A nice thought from kind people but we won't be going. We have lots of places we could go but we've chosen to stay home. We're looking forward to our day.

*** Happy Birthday to my Sister. It's already passed in Australia but it's the big day here!***

Monday, November 24, 2008


Recently I stumbled across Bag Balm. I didn't know of it before, not being from here but apparently my mother-in-law swears by it and always has it on hand. Well, I love it. It's wonderful. It's like a miracle cure for dry skin, abrasions and even little sore areas on bulldogs noses! I first got a small purse size tub and now I have the huge tub. It's that good. I have dry, sensitive skin so its not often I find ointments and creams that don't upset my skin. If I ever leave this country I'll have to take a lifetimes supply with me.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

I got more knitting finished today. These

Dashing!

There wasn't much else going on. Brian got out in the garage and did lots of tidying, sorting and organising. It looks great now. One more cute picture (today).


This is why Simon isn't an outdoor dog. This is him waiting to get in after a bathroom break. Awww!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Woohoo! I never thought I would see it this low again. These are 2004 prices!!!
I just got home from Ipanema Brazilian Grill in Seattle. I am so full. Lots of meat there. It was all delicious though. Now I feel like healthy eating forever. It'll pass.

Friday, November 21, 2008

I finished my Noro Scarf just in time to wear to the Hockey game tonight.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

I saw an article from Forbes magazine about what your favourite dog breed says about you. Actually, it doesn't really go into what it says about me but more whether a dog is suitable to my personality. At least in the Bulldog one which, to be honest, is the only I read.

English Bull Dog

"You are a cut up, and your dog is lovable but mellow. Its pushed in nose tends to make it difficult to breathe in warmer weather, so don’t expect a companion on long walks or hikes. Also, steer clear if you are overly fastidious, warns Daisy Okas, assistant vice president of communications at the American Kennel Club, as English bull dogs tend to snore and slobber."

Not sure what a "cut up" is but I don't want a companion or hikes or walks because I don't want to do that sort of thing. So yes there. But I am fastidious and he does slobber (very often on my clothes) and snore. But look at that face. I can tolerate the slobbering and noise. He can do no wrong in this family.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Is it only Wednesday? This week is going by so slowly. Usually the weeks fly by which isn't good but this week is going too slow. We're going to a local ice hockey game on Friday and then on Saturday Brian and I are going to drop the kids off with their mum then to Ipanema Brazilian Grill (sans children yay) in Seattle for dinner. The days leading up to that are full of boring stuff which is probably why its dragging. Today was just running around and dropping off and then the always unbearable parent teacher conference at the middle school. Poor 12 year old had to "lead" his own conference and he was obviously hating every minute of it. Why do schools do that? Just have a normal conference. He'd already told us just about everything at home already. One of things he had to show me was his report card which we got last week and read. He also had to explain it to me. Aaargh! I've seen them before people!!! I know what the letters mean and I can read so I got the gist of the teachers comments too. What a waste of time. Afterwards we both had to fill out a survey asking if they should do student led conferences again. We both said No. So there!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

I'm bored with this blogging every day. Today I was woken up at 6am by a child wanting a lift to basketball practice. I was not happy. Now I'm tired and I can't be bothered thinking of something to write. I'm going to go and watch Wall E instead.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Busy knitting.
Socks.

Fingerless glovesI'm also knitting the Noro Scarf which I love. I can't stop. Love, love, love it.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

I am exhausted. This morning we went to Ivers in Seattle for brunch. Then we went to Woodland Park Zoo which was great. It was a cool, dry day and perfect was hiking around the zoo. There weren't many people there so we got good views of all the animals. All my favourites were out and about and doing interesting things. Last time we were there it was hot and they were all asleep.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Yesterday I did some shopping and then had lunch with Brian at our favourite Vietnamese place. They do the best Sweet and Sour chicken soup. It's so good. We have it a lot! Then we came home and had a visit from the kids Mum and her partner. They brought home 17 year old and took 8 year old and next Friday they will take the rest of the kids for a week as its their turn to have them Thanksgiving. I'll have a nice quiet week. They stayed for bit and we watched some 30 Rock and then they left to get over the mountain before it got late.

The kids will get back the day after Thanksgiving and that's good timing because that's when we put up our Christmas decorations. I know my sisters will be ill thinking about having decorations up from November 28th but that's what we do. So with Christmas on my mind I have been looking at these

I love Delia Smith.

Friday, November 14, 2008

I had a big day and now its late and I haven't done a post. I'm very tired and I'm going to bed. So this it it. Got a problem with that?

Thursday, November 13, 2008

There's a really nice, big moon tonight (way bigger than it looks in the picture). It's a really crisp night. Lovely. I also have a tag that my sister did. Here's what you do

1.Go to your sixth picture folder then pick your sixth picture.
2.Pray that you remember the details.
3.Tag 5 others, leave a comment to let them know they’ve been tagged.

Here's mine


Its the information board at Bear Meadow near Mount St Helens. It explains about a photographer who was there when the big eruption happened. He stood there taking pictures (as seen on the board)before he realised the hot ash filled cloud was coming at him fast. He and his colleagues ran and got in their car and drove off through the darkness caused by the cloud that was still coming. It's a great story but not much of a picture. My sixth picture couldn't have been one of the actual mountain. Oh no.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I've been reading through this book lately.

I've wanted it for a while and I finally just went ahead and bought it. I'm glad I did. It's really good. Its in chapters on different meats or vegetables. He explains the best ingredients to get, how to recognise the best quality meat and veg and also how to grow the various vegetables. It's almost making me want to plant a veg garden. Shame it's winter. I always imagine myself with a big vegetable garden, going out with my apron on and selecting the days ingredients and then cooking up tasty, nutritious meals. The reality is I'm way too lazy and I hate gardening (and sometimes cooking) so its never going to happen. I can still dream or at least read about other people doing it.

* I read about here, here and here. Oh and I like this too.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Its Veterans Day!Relaxing with Tv and chocolate. That's been my day. Brian and I have been watching the 2nd series of 30 Rock on DVD. Its our favourite show. I've also been eating lots of chocolate. That's it. Nothing else to report. My life is so action packed.

We also hugged and spoiled our Veteran. Tonight we'll spoil him some more with a nice dinner followed by pecan pie.

Monday, November 10, 2008

The girls went back to school today and with 17year old at his mothers that means I have the house myself during the day. Well, not exactly, Brian is doing a different shift as is home during the day but that's OK because we actually get to have conversations without being interrupted. I clan to catch up on my winter knitting. I didn't get any done today but I will get to it sometime this week.

Happy Birthday to the US Marine Corps!!!!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Today was just an ordinary, lazy Sunday. No excitement or drama like my sister had. So this post is a message for my little darling niece who broke her foot. Get better soon Aislin. I wish I was there to hug you better. I miss you. Take care and get lots of rest. I'm thinking of you!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Today we had a big rain storm followed by sunshine and we got this
Pretty!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Today, we went to Petco to get precious pup his special bulldog formula dog food and while we were there we had a look at the animals. I got "can we get one" when we looked at

Ferrets....
Chinchillas....
mice.....
look at all the mice...
There were lots more in the there. There was also an acrobatic mouse display
We also saw rats, cats, Guinea Pigs and hamsters and at every cage I was asked "can we get one?". We didn't get any. Its was still fun.

Thursday, November 6, 2008







It's hard to tell from the pictures but it has been wet, wet, wet today. It hasn't stopped raining. It has been really dark and windy too. A day to be inside and we have been. We have been snuggled up warm and dry. The girls have been working on the last couple of days of school work ( they are back to regular school on Monday) and I have been knitting. I have a nice hot comforting meal for us tonight. It's nice.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

The clocks going back and it getting dark so early is taking a bit of getting used to. I keep thinking its later than it is. Today I went out to my favourite yarn shop and half way there I had a bit of a panic that it would be closed when I got there. It was only 4.30pm but it felt like it was much later. I'll get used to it soon enough but for now it's weird. Now I'm just going through some new knitting magazines looking for something to knit with my new yarn.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008



Who will win? It's very exciting. At this point its hard to tell. We'll be watching the results come in tonight.

Today it's cold and wet. Autumn is here. There is snow in the mountains too I'm told. The clocks went back on Saturday and its getting dark at about 5pm. I love that. I love the dark, cold nights. It's a day for warm comfort food so I think a lasagna is on the menu tonight. I have to go out and shop but I'd like to stay snuggled indoors with cups of tea and scones. Oh well, there will be plenty of opportunity to do that over the next few months.

Monday, November 3, 2008

This is an extra post today because I am recommending looking at another blog I read. Bea at Baa Baa Blacksheep has the two cutest bulldogs in the world (after my own that is haha) and she had a competition where readers had to guess which of two bowls representing the two candidates the dogs would pick. This post has the pups picking their bowls for competition. It's too cute.
Please hurry and come Election day. I have lived in this country during an election year but it was my first year and I was shell shocked from arriving in a new country and having a new husband with six (ahem ) adorable children so I didn't take in much of the political hoopla. This time around I'm settled in and part of the community here so I'm right in the middle of it and oh my god, it seems to have been going on forever. I am so over it. I was over it in February! It just seems to have really dragged. I've heard other people say this so it's not just me. Now, the problem isn't so much what's going on out there. I can turn off the TV and radio and ignore whatever is on the Internet. My problem is that I married into a family of know it alls*. Not pleasant people who actually do know all and are modest and it keep it themselves, like me. I mean loud know alls who think we all need to know just how much they know and they will make sure we all hear it. 11 year old know all has been going on and on and on....well, you get idea, about politicians and the election and who she is going to vote for. Tsk! We are all forced, on a daily basis, to listen to her profound and well researched opinions on everyone. Things like " is evil", or "Obama rocks. I love that one speech he made" etc. While I'm sure it's great that she is interested in politics and what is happening to her country I really don't want to hear it screeched at me 50 times a day. And yes, its screeched. "OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!! HE'S GREAT!" So tomorrow the change I will get will be peace...for a day or so. Oh and I am very interested in the results and I do care who wins but please lets stop talking about it now.

* Don't worry, I have said this to their faces and it's fine. They think of it as a compliment actually.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Actually the morning after the morning after. Halloween that is. The evening went well. We had about 100 trick or treaters. Thankfully there were many big groups so I didn't have to go to the door 100 times. I had time to drink tea, watch old movies and eat about 50 mini Twixes between trips to the door. The kids came back with huge hauls and now I keep finding tiny candy wrappers all over the house. I don't like that much and it causes me a lot of stress. It's not as stressful as having to open so many Twixes to get a satisfying amount of chocolatey treat. I decided it was best not to take a picture of the small mountain of wrappers after I was done. I don't need evidence of my gluttony lying around. I did learn one thing though. Buy bigger Twixes!

As is usual for me, once the holiday is over all decorations annoy me and must be removed. So by 11am Saturday morning all pumpkins were in the green bin and the other decorations were in storage in the garage. Ugh, I even bored talking about it. I'm done! Next up are the Christmas decorations which I will enjoy until Boxing Day.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Well, I'm going to give NoBloPoMo a go. I'm copying my sister. The goal is to blog every day for a month. Can I do it? I generally have trouble blogging more than a few times a month so we'll see. I'll give it a go. I can't be sure the posts will be entertaining or even mildly interesting but that's not the point.
Simon's bored already!