How is it that one simple project leads to another

and another and another and..........Currently we are in the process of painting our cupboards.

When we moved the kitchen around and built new cupboards we could not get the finish to match as is evidenced by the above picture. Now just look at the miss matched colors, not the stuff piled on top. It is a remodel you know and things do get cluttered:)
Stan started by painting the insides of the cupboards. We chose a color called Gold Coast White by Behr.


Stan has gotten about 1/3 of the cupboards painted on the insides. Today, he sanded all of the doors and drawer fronts that are off. We will have to prime them next and paint them soon.

For those of you who are stressing because we are painting oak, be assured it is nothing more than builder grade material.

What is next? Paint most of the inside, new trim, new doors, paint the outside trim, sell, move.

That sounds good, sell and move. The house is really to big for two old people, ( just ask Stan)

and it is getting difficult for me to go up and down the stairs with my knees getting worse every year.

So, the plan? Sell the house, rent an apartment here in town. Stan wants to continue working so we need to stay here. Buy something in Eastern Washington. Stan can use it in the winter to go to and from the ski slopes. I can use it in the summer when I want to go to where it is warm.

Sounds like a win win, right? Wrong. I want a house. One that is finished and ready to live in.

(Granted this one was finished when we bought it, well finished except for the downstairs.) Stan wants to buy a cabin we can work on. See the difference? Cabin-house. I know there are beautiful cabins, but that is not in his plan. He wants one to fix up. He claims if we buy a house I will find a wall that is in the wrong place. I will. So why not just buy something we can put back together and save ourselves the taking apart part of it. My reasoning, with something finished already, I will not have as much trouble keeping it clean. Even in the midst of a tear down and rebuild. Oh what to do, what to do? Truthfully, I know we will get the cabin if we implement the plan. Stay tuned, this will not go away soon:)

A little bit of knitting and night lights

I had a couple of partial skeins of blue and white yarn, so I thought I would knit up a set of socks.

I was knitting a positive and a negative of each style, but unfortunately ran out of yarn before I could do a second stripe pair. I'm thinking they are pretty darn cute even if I did not get a 6th pair from the yarn I had.

On Thursday night Stan and I drove to Tacoma for our grandson Brandyn's graduation. Will write about graduates next week, after all of the ceremonies are complete. We live an hour and a half north of Tacoma on a good driving day. Since it has been raining so much, we decided to leave home earlier than usual. Consequently we were in the middle of the afternoon commute, but if we did not do that, we took the chance of something happening on the freeway and missing the graduation.
To entertain myself on the drive home, since it was dark I could not knit, I began taking pictures along the freeway.
All of these pictures are of one building. the first two as we were approaching it from the south. We were actually quite a ways from it when I took these pictures.

The next two were just a few feet from the building,

And the last two were as we passed it. I love the way the lights photographed in each frame.

I really need to learn how to take advantage of all of the settings on my camera, I know I am missing so much for not knowing. My learning style is one of someone demonstrating and explaining to me what each function is and my doing it as I am shown. I have the book, and I read it over and over, but I may as well be reading Greek. I keep watching in the catalogs that come out for extended learning for someone to offer a class on photography. When they do, I am hoping it will be at a time that I can fit it in. There was a class right before I went to Africa, but I just could not make the time frame work for me.

Never the less, I did have fun taking these, and until I can get some instruction, I will keep reading and experimenting:)

Food for thought:

Got this from a cousin in Texas today, I am in complete agreement. How do we go about implementing it?

Let's put the seniors in jail, and the criminals in a nursing home.
This way the seniors would have access to showers, hobbies,
and walks, they'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental
and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc. and they'd receive money instead of
paying it out.
They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be
helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance.
Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be
ironed and returned to them.
A guard would check on them every 20 minutes, and bring their meals
and snacks to their cell. They would have family visits in a suite built for
that purpose.
They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counseling,
pool, and education,
simple clothing, shoes, slippers, P.J.'s and legal aid would be free, on
request.
Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens.
Each senior could have a P.C., T.V., Radio, and daily phone calls.
There would be a board of directors, to hear complaints, and the guards
would have a code of conduct, that would be strictly adhered to.

The "criminals" would get cold food, be left all alone, and unsupervised.
Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week.
Live in a tiny room, and pay $5000.00 per month and have no hope
of ever getting out.

Justice for all.

Frizzy at Heaven's Gift had this play along on her blog. I like playing, so I thought I would go along with hers.

I am.... loyal
I think.... Our Country is in major trouble.
I should... be more prayerful.
I dream.... about living in Africa.
I want.... to live a life that will always bring honor to my family.
I know... I need to spend more time in Bible.
I don't like... messes or dirt. (How do I ever think I could make it in Africa?)
I smell... furniture polish.
I hear.... the tv playing.
I fear....change.
I usually... knit every day.
I search...for what God would have me do.
I miss....my baby sister, Meg.
I always...go to bed very late at night.
I regret...not going to college before I got married.
I wonder... why?
I crave... sweets/carbs.
I remember... the joy of becoming a mother.
I need... to be loved.
I forget... where I put things.
I feel... content.
I can...not dance .
I can't... tell people no very easily.
I am happy... Dave,Tricia, and the boys will be home this summer.
I lose... things all of the time.
I sing... rarely. I sound like a cat wailing.
I listen... when it doesn't seem like I am.
I shop... sales.
I eat... when I'm stressed or sad.
I love...spending time with my family.
I wish....People would comment when they visit my blog. And that I knew who was visiting from India.

If you care to join in, just copy and paste this into your own blog and write in your own endings.

Last weeks knitting.

This particular piece is one I am having a terrible time with finishing. I do not even know why I made it. (Except it is being pushed as a must have.) I made it one time before and did not enjoy it then either. If I post it here, I might be motivated to finish it. All it actually needs is sewn up and buttons sewn on, then a collar knit on. Maybe in a few days, or months, or years I will be able to show you the finished item.

Last Friday, Angie and I went to Yakima, which is on the Eastern side of Washington State, for a Fast Pitch tournament that Shaylene #3206 was in with her High School team. Sadly, they did not place, but it was a great learning experience for them. On the way over, I started these longies, knit during the first game, and finished them on Saturday. They are 100% washable wool.

Saturday, after I finished the longies, I started this cute little skirt.

I finished it on Sunday.

It too is 100% wool, but the blue is only hand washable.

I am slowly but surely building up my fund. I only hope I live long enough to make the projected $5000.00:)

I haven't managed to get much done this week. I have started a little pair of tights that I will have to finish in a couple of days, then I think I will concentrate a little more on hats for Tricia to take back up to Dillingham and try to sell for me.

Birthday Pie

Stan is not to fond of Birthday cake so I thought I would bake a pie instead. Problem is,he does not like fruit pies that much either. I drug out my trusty Taste of Home Cookbooks and in the Baking Book Edition I found this!!

Coconut Banana Cream Pie! You begin with a crust made from coconut and then fill it with a homemade custard sauce and bananas. Recipe will follow.

Everyone went up to Gina's house for Birthday "Cake". Gina did have angel food cake with strawberries and cupcakes for those who did not want the pie.

Needless to say, the kids ate the angel food cake and most of the adults had the pie.

Coconut Banana Cream Pie

3 cups flaked coconut

7 tablespoons butter (a cube is 8 tablespoons)

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup all purpose flour

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups half and half cream

4 egg yolks, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 large firm bananas sliced

Whipped cream and sliced bananas, optional

1. In a large skillet, saute coconut in butter until golden. Reserve 2 tablespoons for garnish. Press remaining toasted coconut into the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9 inch pie plate. Bake at 350 for 7 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. I did not take into consideration the baking time and my coconut was a little dark when it came from the oven. Next time, I will not brown it as long in the skillet.

2. For filling, combine the sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt in a large saucepan. Stir in the half and half until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot filling into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature without stirring.

3. Place bananas in the crust. Cover with the cream mixture. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Sprinkle with the reserved toasted coconut. If desired, garnish with whipped cream and bananas. Refrigerate leftovers.

Very rich and decadent. Enjoy:)

May Birthdays and one June one.

May birthdays actually begin with Breanne (#1203) who turned 17 on May 1. For some reason, I cannot find a picture of her on this computer. It could be that she is not very anxious for gramma to take them. What ever the reason, remember Bre, Gramma loves you the most, she alway has and always will.May 9th Kris hit the big 40. I praise God every day she was allowed to continue her life here on earth. When you face the real possibility of someone you love so dearly going home, it does not matter how much lip service you pay to your faith if you are not willing to really trust Him and live it. Kris, I love you so deeply and do give all of the Praise to Him for still being able to hug you,
Gina, my baby, turned 3o something on the 28th of May. Here she is hugging Jonah, her baby, right after his preschool graduation ceremony. Gina was my rock the entire time we were in Georgia, sensing how much I hated being away from the rest of the kids, she was always there for me. Sometimes refusing to go out with friends so I would not be alone nights while Stan was working.

It did not go unnoticed G and I love you for it.
Today, Stan, my true Rock here on Earth, turns 64. We have been together in one way or other since we were 15 years old. We met when I baby sat for his sister and started dating on my 16th birthday. I truly hope that we see many more birthdays together, I love you and cannot even begin to fathom how I would manage if you were the first to go. (Sad that we have reached the age that that thought even is a possibility.)

Happy Birthday to Everyone!!:)