That's drizzle . . . not drivel--

Simply living... in the Pacific Northwest





Monday, July 29, 2013

Ten Things



Ten Things That Make Me Happy


(I really AM so easy to please!)

This post is part of Kenlie's Friend Makin' Monday at All The Weigh. Please add your answers to my blog, then visit Kenlie's and post there, too! 


1.  Seeing a Northern Flicker.

2. Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (ain't gonna lie)

3. When I teach something new to Hunter that he was convinced he couldn't do.

4. Going to my hometown in early October. It's the most beautiful time to be there.

5. Sewing something without making a zillion mistakes requiring lots of ripping and pulling.

6. Sitting by a fire with my main squeeze---talking quietly, laughing.

7. Putting a meal together with little effort--from things I have on-hand or leftover---to great acclaim!

8. My little space heater beneath my desk.

9. When my cat rubs her chin against my chin. 

10. Picking and using vegetables from my own garden, and making my own yogurt.

Now it's your turn---I'd love to see your answers!!

Contentment



I want to write about something that happened this morning, and it will be an exercise to see if I can adequately articulate what it was.

My new husband and I are still discovering our pattern of living together. Maybe just through the honeymoon phase, but still finding ways about us which are "new."

Lately we have been reading more. I should say I have been reading more. I've been more of a get up in the morning, check-the-email/Facebook/Google News Reader-type of reader for the past few years. I'm ashamed to admit it's been a few years since I've read more than a couple entire books. I think the last one I read was on my Kindle, an autobiography by R.A. Dickey (if you don't know who he is, I might write about him sometime).

At any rate, this morning I was up early, got the coffee going, and picked up a book I've probably read at least a dozen times, "Walking Across Egypt," by Clyde Edgerton. I had checked it out from the library because I thought hubs would enjoy it. It's the kind of genre we both like a great deal: home style good folks with kind hearts getting themselves into pickles. They are a nice switch from suspense thrillers, his other favorite.

He got up when he heard the coffee pot doing its death throe thing and, after pouring a cup for himself, kissed me good morning then turned to the kitchen table to continue the book he was reading, a novel by Garrison Keillor.

We sipped our coffee and read, I on the couch, he at the kitchen table. For the next hour, one of us would chuckle at something read, and the other-- hearing the laugh-- would smile. Two cups of coffee later, we set the books aside and each got ready for work.

Reading  separately, we still shared an intimate morning of humor together. Later we will end our day telling the stories we read that helped to make the start of our day special.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Cruisin' the Gut with my Main Man



An event Hunter and I look forward to and plan every summer is the annual Cruisin' the Gut in downtown Vancouver. Thousands of people converge downtown to look at cars, socialize and wake nostalgic about the good ol' days, reminiscing about first dates and first cars. According to The Columbian, there were more than 1,000 classic cars drawn to this event.

Hunter cannot get enough of them. He loves Ford Mustangs. He loves Corvettes. And now, he loves mini Coopers, or any car from Britain. Why? Because their steering wheels are on the right side. Ironic, eh? Here's a boy who doesn't even get irony. It's way beyond his "getting." He sees things differently, pretty much black-and-white. Things should always be how they've always been.

But lately, I've been noticing changes in my young grandson. In two days he will be eleven. Sure enough, that's an age when you SHOULD be seeing some changes. But Hunter's always been shy about his opinions, at least shy enough that he worries if his differs from yours. But lately, he has been voicing more opinions and displeasures, and not really caring as much about whether you agree or not.

So this really struck me....he was not only cool with the fact that the steering wheel was on the right side, but intrigued! Even more so when I explained they also drive on the left in Britain. (I'm certain he went right home and looked up a video on YouTube just to witness that..)

Back to the Cruise In-- this was a 2-1/2 hour walking excursion, from 29th St. down to Sixth and back. There's no "part way" with him and this car show. We had to see them all. I'm so glad we've found something like this to do together, because he likes the cars, and I like the vibe and the memories. Maybe he likes the vibe, too. He has developed a kind of strut, walking a few steps ahead of me where he used to just hang right next to me, even holding my hand up until this year.

But there is a limit, even where he's concerned. About 13th St. on the way back to 29th, he slowed enough to say, "Granny, my feet are sore-ing."

Yeah, man, mine too.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013


The other day, I was in my garden just gazing at my green bean vines, noticing how beautiful they looked with all their differing shades of green, glinting in the sun with just-appearing blossoms....and I found myself choked with tears. The feeling washing over me was "this is how I'm supposed to live...this is contentment. This is how I always wanted to live. This, right now."

I only wish I'd found it sooner. My husband plays a huge, huge, part in this sense of contentment as he fully buys in to the notion of simplicity and doing for ourselves. We share core values associated with our style of living and that makes such a difference.

I intend to bottle away the aforementioned feeling--kind of a "happy place" moment--- to be uncorked on one of those drizzly days this winter when I feel sluggish and without purpose. Hopefully I can pour that feeling out and remember the throat lump and the misty-eyed revelation triggered by those verdant veggies that summer day.

What about you, dear reader? Have you ever had such a moment? Do you try and recall them in those later down times? Does it work for you?

Monday, July 15, 2013

Foodie Question--FMM


Thanks to Kenlie for hosting!
I guess for most of us who are trying to lose weight or maintain a weight, we're interested in food. I'm not sure I'm a certified "foodie," but I may be close. I've become more interested in making my own dishes, my own yogurt especially, eschewing pre-packaged products as much as possible. 
In the spirit of Friend Makin' Mondays, let's explore fun thoughts on food!
Foodie Questions
1. Do you make grocery lists?  I do, but I usually find out afterward they were incomplete.
2.  Do you have a routine when shopping in your favorite grocery store?  Produce first, refrigerated and frozen last. Avoid the chips/cookies section like the plague resides there.
3.  What is your favorite seasoning?  Chili pepper for corn-on-the-cob. I'm pretty much a salt & pepper girl.
4.  What is the healthiest food in your fridge right now?  My vanilla nonfat yogurt I made myself!
5.  What is the most unhealthy food in your fridge now?  Full fat mint butter.
6. What is the most exotic produce you’ve ever had? Dragonfruit. Look it up...it looks like dragon spawn, truly. And for the $8 I paid for it on a lark, it really wasn't worth it....evil.
7. Tell us about your favorite local restaurant.  There are several, but right now I'm loving Sabor Mexicano. The food is so fresh, the street tacos are small, just right for dinner and don't come with a bunch of other extraneous fatty Mexican goodness. The service is friendly and very fast, too.
8.  What kind of pasta do you prefer (regular, whole wheat, etc.?)  I don’t eat a lot of pasta, but I if I do, I usually get not whole grain, but a blend. Not a fan of WW texture. You?
9. If you could make one food calorie-free for an entire week, which food would you choose?  Oh! Oh! Chocolate chocolate chunk cookies! Please!!
10.  If you had to choose would you rather give up french fries or chocolate?  The fries---I've pretty much given them up already, and don't miss them....but chaawww-co-laaatttte...(drool).
Now it's your turn---how would you answer these questions?

Monday, July 8, 2013


Friend Makin' Monday
Linking from Kenlie's All The Weigh blog....check it out. Especially if, like me, you like weight loss support.
1.  Are you a planner, or do you prefer to see where the moment takes you?  I'm not averse to spontaneity, and I like to make plans. They just usually don't pan out, so I make room in my life for Plan B's.
2.  How often do you blog?  Not often enough. In my mind I blog a lot. It's just finding time and space to do it. I am still finding my voice and my focus.
3.  Do you color your hair?  Nope. Used to, but decided I just wasn't fooling anyone. And it's a hassle I can do without. I like my grays more and more as time goes on.
4. If you had to choose between running or riding a bike, which one would you choose?  I do bike.  I have for several years since I bought my sweet li'l yellow ride. I don't run unless I'm saving a child's life.
5.  Have you ever traveled outside of your home country?  Yes, when I was just out of high school I traveled to 12 European countries in eight weeks. I've also taken a trip to Guadalajara with my sister. 
6.  Do you like weddings?  I guess....I've had several. Ha!!
7.  What is your favorite guilty pleasure on TV?  I watch almost nothing but sports, but occasionally catch myself flipping around and stopping on shows featuring mediums reading people in the audience. I'm still on the fence about them.
8.  Are you good at math?  I used to hate math, or at the very least feel begrudging about it. But then in college I took three (only one was required; I became enthralled) courses of statistics. Yeah, I know.
9.  What is the last movie you watched?  I can't remember...it would have been further back than yesterday.
10.  Share five adjectives that your friends would use to describe you.  Smart, smart-alecky, caring, funny, flaky.
Bonus:  Did you celebrate Independence Day?  If so, what did you do? We went to a car cruise-in, a benefit for veterans' services here locally. Ate some semi-bad food there. Went home and prepared a killer barbecue for family. Then watched grandchildren light off fireworks and watched our skyline for the neighbors' light show. Went to bed at 10 to the sound of M-80's.