One of the most well-padded packages I’ve ever received arrived today, containing a lovely gift from friends Teri & Jim… a hand-made sailboat ornament. L.O.V.E. I.T.! 🙂
Here’s to friends, family and fun. Embrace them all, every day!
A wee sailboat.
Tag: family
My peeps.
Today Noreen and I went to a glass fusing class in Tacoma. We each made 5 glass Christmas ornaments. I have to wait another week or two to see how they turned out… until they are fired, and they’ll mail them to me. But we had a lot of fun.
Afterwards, all my sisters and my brother met to spend some quality time together and yuk it up a bit. I had a really nice time. I have lived away from home for over 30 years, and though we get together every now and then, it never seems like enough. I’m glad we spent today together.
We ate lunch in a bar / restaurant loaded with Seahawks paraphenalia. They play tomorrow, but I’ll miss it – since i’m flying while they’re playing. I hope they make the post-season, so I have a chance to watch them on TV from Austin. Go Hawks!
Soccer chicks.
After work today, Noreen and I met up with Francine to watch one of her soccer games — they can play year round in a really nice indoor facility. Fran’s been playing soccer since she was a wee lass. 30+ years later, she’s still playing, and turning her kids onto it as well. Pass it on…
Tis the season.
When I was growing up, my mom would make Chex party mix every year around Christmas time. I spent many a New Year’s Eve playing board games with my family – and there was always a big bowl of party mix on the table.
Though I rarely make it, it’s something I identify with the holidays. Today mom and I made a batch.
Here’s the recipe that’s made the rounds in our family:
Party Mix
1 small box (~14 oz) each: Wheat Chex, Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Cheerios
1 bag pretzel sticks
2 lbs mixed nuts
1 1/2 lbs butter, melted
3-4 Tbsp Worchestershire sauce
Garlic salt
Mix ingredients in big brown paper grocery bag. Melt butter on low heat on stovetop and stir in worchestershire sauce. Place dry ingredients in shallow pans. Pour melted mixture evenly over dry ingredients.
Bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes. Sprinkle with garlic salt between stirrings, to taste.
Celtic knot glasswork.
My mom has been on my mind lately, so earlier this month I decided to make a trip to spend some time with her before the Christmas bustle. I can work from her house there and spend the evenings with her.
So today, after work, I hopped on a plane. It is pouring rain here, and is expected to do the same all week. I wish i could bring some of this water home with me…
I’ll also have a chance to see my sisters and brother while i’m here. An added bonus. Noreen gave me this beautiful leaded glass piece that she designed and made just for me. Celtic knot… love it! She does beautiful work. I can’t wait to pick out a place to hang it at home.
Joie de vivre.
Even though the chill of Fall is in the air, we, of course, headed to the lake. We raced in the beer can today. We had a great turnout: Wally & Joe on Zen, Kurt & Kevin on Dancer, Lori & Doray on Camelot, Dave and Wiz on MisGuided, and the 4 of us on Nirvana. We got off the start line a minute and a half late (need to work on that). Monte and I, the racing novices that we are, debated re: tactics as we sailed the course (need to work on that, too). 🙂 We didn’t win, place or show, but had fun.
Afterwards we anchored up in Arky South in our usual spot for the night.
My sister is visiting for a week. She took her turn on the winches and at the wheel. Another natural mariner 🙂 Julie joined us, too.
I enjoy it very much when family comes to visit, and when we hit the road to visit family as well. We both come from big families but don’t live close to them. My thoughts are especially on the importance of spending time with family, as I learned that my cousin died unexpectedly and tragically from a pulmonary embolism this week – a complication from relatively routine back surgery a few days before. So sad. So sobering. He had just turned 48 a few weeks back, in the prime of his life, raised a wonderful family, and was an active and accomplished Air Force colonel, getting ready to chart the next phase of his life’s course. I had a chance to visit with him in Seattle last summer. So glad I did.
Cousins’ pizza party.
My cousin, once removed (i had to look this up…my cousin’s daughter) is visiting Austin this week. Alison and her boyfriend Zac came over for dinner tonight. Monte slung several doughs and we made a bunch of pizzas. My cousin, Devitt, also joined us. We had a really nice visit. What great kids!
Alison and Zac are both amazing musicians. They were playing Rachmaninoff – from memory! Our own house concert. 🙂
Saying goodbye.
Today we drove down to San Antonio for my uncle’s funeral. The mass was very nice, and the burial was at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, where they held military funeral honors. One of my cousins from Colorado also flew down to attend. Having 4 cousins together was quite rare for our far-flung family, so it was a real treat.
Rest in peace, Uncle Devitt.
Sheila365 