My Little Lady Friend

Tonight my little lady friend, Anika, and I had a sweet Saturday night date.

Here's how things went down...

[Captured by my cell's RetroCam.]

We played in checked on her 'rents newly planted garden.

We resisted the temptation to eat ate dirt.

We investigated the backyard in great detail.

Seriously.

Every nook 'n cranny.

Every single one.

We got 'em all covered. :)

We ate dinner, but there was no time for pictures, we were busy.

We went for a stroll and found our happy little selves in Fred Meyer's flower section.

So many pretties to admire!

So many "UH_OH!"'s to exclaim whenever "Meh" (that's me) accidentally underestimated the width of the stroller and ran over a stray blossom or two. Whoops!

Next stop: Sbux. We forgot to document this part of our date. There was simply too much socializing to do, too many people to greet, and with such enthusiasm!

Following our coffee date, we continued our walk and once again found ourselves home. We played outside, this time in the front yard.

We found some dandy 'toys' in the garage.

Watched the neighbor kids.

Played Hide-and-Seek.

Next thing on the itinerary: Bath Time!!!

She's thirsts!

She is...

...the thirstiest person...

...I ever did meet.

Post bath snuggles with Bunny on her fave oh-so-cozy sheep rug.

Sleep tight, Little Lady! "Meh" loves you!

Lessons in Pack-Ratting

As of this afternoon, I've scored a couple new friends. Their names are Rick and Sue. Sue is the neice of our deceased neighbor. Sue's aunt (our former neighbor) passed away earlier this year. Recently her house was listed and sold within a short four days! Sue is currently wrapping up the big job of cleaning out her aunt's house in order to allow the new owners to move in.

I am pleased to announce, the following treasures are now in my possession.

I made a HAUL at (practically) the price of a STEAL.

 (What can I say, it pays to make new friends?! ;0 )

...Mmm, I love me some Thrifty Success. :)

Rocking chair, I look forward to sitting in you and loving...

~ Dashing Details ~

Pretty stoked about this retro mag holder. I'm excited for the day when it sits next to the rocking chair in future Wee One's room with children's books spilling out of it. :)

This will definitely reside on Wee One's wall. The little squirrel in this picture will forever remind me of our neighborhood squirrel that faithfully, everyday, runs the power lines in front of our house. :)

Sue's Grandpa Ed's very old, very worn plate, complete with his name on the back.

Many, many pretty linens.

A big, funky suitcase. The perfect prop for a future shoot...

Rick and Sue gave this one to me. They said it was a gift. For what I'm still not sure, but I sure do like it!

Knowing that my mom will cringe at every word I'm about to spout, I will spout nonetheless.

I want to be like Sue's aunt. Sue told me her aunt saved everything. Okay, okay, so maybe everything is excessive, but check this out!

Left over plates and napkins from her son, Sue's cousin's, birthday party back when he was a little boy.

Whoa. I love it.

Inspiration: That stray plate from my bridal shower that I've debated tossing, time and again. Today reminded me why I'm glad I've moved the darn, but pretty, paper plate to CA, back to WA, to our Lynden rental, and now to our Portland home. Someday, when it, too, is yellowed to perfection, I'll ever so tenderly show it to my grandkids and I'll tell them the stories that go with. "Did you know that my mom, your great grandma, dressed up in a wedding dress made of toilet paper and paraded around the house at my bridal shower?!" And that, dear mi maMa, is why I, in this category of life, choose to go against what you attempted to teach me.

Here's to hoping I get one grandkiddo as crazy as myself, who'll actually appreciate it...

Here's to selective pack-ratting!!!

Rick and Sue, thank you for being so wonderful. Thank you for taking an hour of your day to give me a house tour, talk about your aunt, share her things with me and tell me the story behind every item I chose. Thank you for making this, my first night without the hubs (who, as of today, began his new permanent placement on graveyard), better than I would have ever guessed it could be. I thought I'd be lonely. Well, I am, but for now, I'm blissfully distracted.

Life is full of little blessings, for that I give thanks.

~ Posted by this mama-to-be, from her "new" 75+ year old rocker.

PS Mom, I'm sorry!

A master minimalist I am not.

...I need a bigger house... :)

Happy to Announce!

Last week Brian and I mailed these out to immediate family members...

Now that our family knows, we get to share our news with everyone else!

* * *

* * * * *

* * *

There are many, many details yet to determined but as we anxiously muddle through the paperwork,

we are happy to announce...

Our little fam is officially in the process of growing and, as one of my family members felt the need to clarify, no, it's not another puppy. :)

We are looking forward to having a little person to love and very much coveting prayer as we continue on this exciting journey!

Hebrews 11:1

Day #4 Where the Pirates Prance, Prowl 'n Play

Sunday. Final day in Spokane.

On Sunday morning we picked Janna up and the three of us went to her church.

I don't have any pictures of us at church. I know, surprise, surprise. ;p

After church we ate a scrumptious brunch.

One last pic together before leaving Whitworth.

Lovely sun spot.

[ Didn't you know, we're angels?! :]

A couple pics snapped of downtown, from the freeway, as we sped away...

Day #3 Where the Pirates Prance, Prowl 'n Play

Saturday AM. My favorite.

Janna took me to Pleasant Blends, this a.dor.a.ble little coffeeshop. We shared a yummy bagel and caught up over delicious beverages, just the two of us.

It was lovely.

Here she stands [so cute!] in front of Ballard, where she's lived all four years.

Here's a little looksee inside her apartment...

Picture Wall!

This little 'Pray" thingamabob was such a fitting everyday reminder,

in such an unexpected place.

Ah, college...makes me laugh. :)

She sleeps on the floor, Crazy Lady!

In her kitchen.

Living Room.

In the afternoon we wandered around campus and took pictures like mad women.

For your sake, the following is a very condensed gallery of our 'work.' haha 

I warned you...

Mad Women. :)

Again, in front of Ballard, her other home.

We stopped by Allyssa's track meet to watch her jump.

We went to Froyo.

I fell_in_love with this building.

I wanted to take it home

...and make it my home...

Well, minus the 'No Trespassing' paint, of course.

You think I'm joking, I'm not.

It's everything that is my current dream home.

(Someday I want to renovate an old factory or wearhouse and turn it into the coolest house you ever did see.)

I have big dreams. Just ask my poor husband and dad. :)

But that's a whole other blog post...

On Saturday night we went to one of Janna's fave downtown spots. I couldn't get over how f.u.n.k.y it was. We drank out of mason jars, sat in an old tilt-a-whirl and everywhere I looked I saw brick (the good, weathered-looking kind) ancient pipes, and old windows and doors being repurposed.

I sat in that tilt-a-whirl, with two of my closest friends, on vaca, surrounded by Meganville-ish things and my insides melted.

Sooo happy...

Brian wanted to join in the tilt-a-whirl fun. Who could blame him?! :)

Eventually, I think the enchanted surroundings wore off on us and we all turned silly!