Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat...

Jeff and I packed up the household goods and set out for our first military duty station in the summer of 1988.  El Paso, Texas, or bust!  It was difficult leaving our family and friends.  But this was to be our new adventure and we were up for the challenge.  I never realized when we left Idaho, just how much about our lives would change.

Over the years, we created our very own holiday traditions, best suited to our nomadic ways.  We didn't have a lot of extra money for traveling, so we stayed close to home for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  These habits have shaped our current traditions and now are at the heart of how we celebrate the season.

Now, with our children grown and a grandchild in our midst, we gladly leave behind some of our old ways to make room for new traditions. One of my favorite new traditions is inviting grandson, Gavin, over to the 'castle house' so he can help decorate the tree.  We make hot chocolate, start a fire in the hearth, play selections from John Denver and the Muppets Christmas songs and adorn the tree with our memorable collection of ornaments. 

On Christmas Eve we will join Tarajean, Paul and Gavin over at Ann and Joe's for a lovely dinner. On Christmas morning, Jeff and I will enjoy coffee and raise our cups in a toast to our loved ones and those who cannot be with us on this blessed day. Then we'll head over to the Warren family home to exchange gifts, partake in a tasty brunch, and be a part of their family Christmas tradition. 

Happy Birthday, Tarajean! ENCORE

Posted this one again after I changed the final image in the slide show.  :-)  I love you, my beautiful girl.  So glad you had a lovely birthday weekend!  xoxo Mommy

Happy Birthday, Tarajean!

Gavin Lee Warren's 5th BDay 2014

Where is it written that I can't have two slide shows celebrating the same little guy and the same 5th birthday?  Is it a rule?  If so, I'm breakin' it!  Whoo Hoo!  Good Times at the Tulsa Zoo with my beautiful daughter and grandson.

Gavin Lee Warren's 5th BDay 2014

Where is it written that I can't have two slide shows celebrating the same little guy and the same 5th birthday?  Is it a rule?  If so, I'm breakin' it!  Whoo Hoo!  Good Times at the Tulsa Zoo with my beautiful daughter and grandson.

Gavin Lee Warren 5th Birthday Party

True Story

True Story: Tarajean and Gavin pulled in the driveway for a quick chat last night. While Tarajean and I caught up on this week's events, Gavin asked if he could watch Star Wars on the DVD in the vehicle. But, funny thing? He asked his Mom to go straight to his favorite good part. The End. And when I say the end, I mean, the very end....the credits. And Gavin hums along with a zest and vigor to John Williams's theme song score. He watched and listened and hummed along to this part several times while Tj and I were chatting. Made me smile. AND reminded me to give a listen to this amazing composer again! Great way to start any Friday!  Enjoy!

day!

There's no place like home...

I think it's the coolest thing ever to pack up the car, fill the tank with gas, program the GPS and begin driving. Road trips are the best. And I cannot think of a better way to experience America. (Jeff might beg differ but this is a road trip, after all, not an Appalachian Trail trip.) This time I logged 2,750 miles and seven states.  Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Louisiana.

Of course, it's always nice to have a destination in mind and people waiting for me to arrive on the other end of the journey. Family. Friends.  

Jan and James.  Thanks for always having a room ready for me.  Our visits are always a balm for this girl's heart.  See you again in the fall!   Jessica.  What a great week we had, heh?  Working at the deli together, seeing Mandy in Concert, making several batches of tofu, walking to Indian Beach to see the sunset, hanging out on Lido Key, meeting new friends, entertaining and cooking for good friends.  Thank you.  And Christopher and Leigh.  What a perfect way to round out the trip.  Thanks for making it so easy to drop in, stay a couple nights, hang out, rest up and then finish out the rest of my journey back home. 

Home.  It really is where the heart is.  

Happy 26th Anniversary, Jeff!

Peppermint Squishy Goo

This project started out as a fun "SLIME" making activity while we had Gavin over for a long weekend.  I   made it once, years before, with Abram.  I don't remember it coming together this easily or with this same wonderful consistency.  So glad we came across this better, more refined recipe on the internet.  

I liked the feel of the slime so much and found playing with it so relaxing, I had to make another batch.  This time I wanted to figure out the recipe for a smaller, 1-cup batch, using a different color and while whipping it up, wondering aloud, would it work with a drop or two of essential oils? or mess up the science of the reaction between Glue and Borax?  Had to give it a try.

The results worked out so well, I published a ScanGuide with my step-by-step directions, for future reference.   A new name, new purpose, new color and SCENTED.  YAY!  Way YAY!

Check it out!

A day in the life...

One of the reasons we moved to Tulsa, was to be close to Tarajean, Paul and Gavin.  This is a blessing every day.  Even on the days when we are not in touch, we are close enough to be 'in touch.'  Such a difference this knowing makes.

Living close gives us the opportunity to spend quality time with Gavin.  This weekend, for example.  Tj and Paul are celebrating their anniversary and Jeff and I are on Babka and Hempi detail.  We love these times.  Sleeping in the 'big bed' or camping out on the floor in front of the fire, making SLIME or scented play dough, creating Valentine's for Gavin's classmates, fixing and eating meals together, watching PBS's Dinosaur Train  or Disney's Planes.  These are just a few of the many adventures we will share with Gavin.

Only a few months shy of five-years-old, we will squeeze as many experiences into this adorable four-year-old's life.  Today's adventures will become tomorrows' memories.

Artsy Schmartsy

Happy New Year!!  2014 has a particularly nice ring to it.  Here's to all of us;  to good health, prosperity and happiness.  Why not? 

I promised myself, like all good new years' resolutionists do, to finish up a couple of projects before diving into a bunch of NEW ones.  So, here's the first project finished.

This slide show began months ago.  I didn't have anyone waiting for it or anyone's birthday or anniversary to hurry it up for.  It was for me.  Ergo, no hurry.  Funny how that happens.  It also took an inordinate amount of time to cull through my digital files (ahhhh, I hear another project calling my name).  But it is wonderful to have these images all in one place.  Much like a photo album...but better because music sets a mood.

Speaking of music, this music turned out to be prophetic.  As mentioned before, I started this project months ago, to include the selection of music.  I have to have the music in mind prior to starting.  Both songs are from Sunday in the Park with George, a Stephen Sondheim fave of mine (thanks, Skippy, for giving me the album waaaaaay back in the day, for my 28th birthday--and I only remember this because I lived in that little place on 7th street, just off Harrison, for one year). 

The first song is from the original cast album of Sunday in the Park, featuring Mandy Patinkin and the chorus.  The second song is Barbra Streisand's version of "Putting it Together," from the same show.  

Fast forward to several nights ago.  My sister, Jessica, calls me and asks, "What are you doing on April 1st?"  I laughed.  Does anybody really know (what time it is) what they'll be doing four months out on a specific day?  Well, I sure don't but I went along for the fun of it.....'what am I going to be doing on April 1st?"  Turns out, Jessica bought us tickets to go see the amazing Mandy Patinkin at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Florida.

"White. A blank page or canvas...so many possibilities." - S. Sondheim, Sunday in the Park with George.