Bucket List...

My friend, Mrs. Vox at If You Don't Like it, Get the Hell Off My Blog - or something similar, just posted about the things she wants to do with her daughter instead of buying her "stuff."  So, she asked about having a bucket list.

I made one several years ago, but it probably wasn't very realistic.  So, I'll try again, with things I think I can probably actually accomplish in my remaining years.

1.  Bike the Route of the Hiawatha
2.  Raise over $10,000 for a charity
3.  Build and live in our barnhouse
4.  Get a wildlife rehab permit
5.  Go on another cruise (or 3 or 4!)
6.  See Belize
7.  Own horses and miniature donkeys
8.  Visit Vermont
9.  Take the kids and grandkids on a vacation
10. Drive across the United States (maybe on Route 66!)

Doesn't that all sound like fun?  I know that I could actually cross at least 3 of those off my bucket list by the end of next summer. 

What's on your bucket list?

Free Flooring?????

My sister used to be married to Bob.  They lived in a cute little "shack" with no power or running water up past Reserve Park.  Bob reminds me of - me.  He loves anything old and is sure that he can find a use for just about anything and everything.

When Linda and Bob moved to Oregon, I went up and helped them move the contents of the shack and several wonderful outbuildings.  I'd love to have one of the outbuildings for a chicken coop.

I drooled the whole time.  Bob had some of the most awesome things stored away.  One thing I remember in particular, was tons of old flooring.  BEAUTIFUL old flooring.  So, when we were in Portland, Bob came to breakfast with us one morning.  I mentioned to him that if he ever decided he wanted to part with it, to let me know as we wanted to possibly buy it for our new barnhouse.

Evidently, Bob is ready to part with some things.  I know that I couldn't have pried it away from him 3 years ago.  But, he said if we would bring a truck over, he'd give it to us.  Oh my God!

Bob thinks the flooring came out of the old gym at the Caldwell High School.  I'm sure it would take some work, but how cool would that be to have that in our barnhouse?  I'm so excited to start this place I can hardly stand it. 

Our count so far:
20 ft. backbar out of the Dry Creek Mercantile - free
old farmhouse sink from the Dubys - free
3 old bar stools from the Homedale Merc - $100 (purchased at a yard sale about 5 years ago)
flooring from the Caldwell High School gym - free

I love that our new barnhouse will have a wonderful history as soon as it's built.  I know there won't be a day that goes by that I won't look at the floor and think about where it came from, or the backbar from the Merc, or the sink from the Dubys.

As soon as we sell our house, we're heading to Portland to pick up our floors...

Thelma and Louise, and Louise, and Louise...

Well, here it is in pictures.  We had such a wonderful time, but what really mattered was that mom had such a good time.  It was, after all, her 80th birthday party!

Mt. St. Helens was magnificent.  So hard to imagine the power of a volcano. 

To my wonderful sisters, thank you for making it so much fun.  To my niece and great niece, thanks for joining us for part of the time. 

And to mom, you're such a wonderful inspiration to us all...

THIS Was Strange...

I'll be writing a post about our wonderful long girl's weekend for mom's birthday, but first I have to write about one of the most bizarre things I've ever witnessed.

While driving to Mt. St. Helens on Sunday, my sister Kate, a total bird-nerd suddenly yells, "What's that?  Are those birds?"  Then just seconds later realizes what she's seeing.  Only now, we're all seeing it.  We watched it for about 45 seconds before they flew behind a mountain.  I handed my camera to my niece Lisa to get a picture from her window and this is it.

It was a commercial airliner, flying low with two fighter jets off the right wing and two more off the left wing.  It was so bizarre.  We watched the news and nothing.  Why on earth would 4 fighter jets be flying in formation off the wings of a commercial plane?  I know that many other people must have seen this.  It looked like the plane was possibly going to land in Portland although we were in southern Washington when we saw it.  Did any of you Oregon people see it?

We even thought of Will and Kate, but they were already in LA.  If there had been a terror threat on board, I'm sure there would have been something on the news.  You know how I love this kind of thing, but I want the mystery solved!

Any ideas?

10 Things I Learned From Mom...

In honor of my mother's 80th birthday (in a few days), I wanted to re-post a "tribute" I did to her several years ago...

10 Things I Learned From Mom…

Use proper English

Never use the word “fart”

Mom will always eat the burned pancake

The person who makes the telephone call, should always be the one to end the call

If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all

The words to “Mairzydoats and Dozydoats”

No matter how bad you feel, NEVER complain

That “You Are My Sunshine” is the best song to sing to your kids

No matter how old you are, you’re never too old to have fun

No matter what, mom will always love you

We love you mom!



I'm Such a Scrounge...

Scrounge - Seek to obtain at the expense or through the generosity of others or by stealth

We had some people move into a rental a few doors down about 3 months ago.  She works in the field of chemotherapy as a doctor.  She couldn't find a job here so they packed up and moved to Texas.

Hidden Springs had our annual yard sale a few weeks ago so I wandered over to see what the neighbors might have.  I came to find out that they evidently shopped at Pottery Barn - a lot.  They had a beautiful sisal rug that was 8 x 10 that I really wanted for our living room.  I talked to them on Friday night and they wanted $150 for it (looked it up on the website and new it sold for $300 - on sale).  So, I waited.  Near the end of the day on Saturday, I went back over and the price was down to $100.  I offered them $60 and they took it!  I love how it looks in the living room.

Yesterday as I was heading to work at 7am, I noticed that they had left several pieces of furniture behind and the realtor taking care of the place had put them out on the driveway for the Arc to come and get.  NOOOOOOO!  One item was a rocker that I had sat in and tried out during the yard sale.  It was incredibly comfortable but I didn't feel like I needed to spend any more money.  When I saw they had left it behind I was thrilled.  So, I called the realtor and asked if I could have it and naturally he told me I could take whatever I wanted, but I'd better hurry because the Arc was coming that day.  As soon as another waitress got to work, I told her I needed to run home.  I bolted out the door hoping that the Arc hadn't already come and picked up my treasures.  As I drove up, there he was, loading my items into his truck!

ACK!  I told him the items I wanted and he graciously helped me unload them and put them back on the driveway.  When Ival got home, we walked over and packed it all home.  What a score!  As we carried the rocker home, I noticed the tag said "Pottery Barn Kids" so I Googled to see what kind of rocker I have.  As it turns out, it's a Lullaby Rocker that sells for $600 new.  It's in perfect shape although I'm not fond of the denim blue colored slipcover. 

But I love this cream-colored one.  But, they don't make the slipcovers anymore.

They also had a bench with a rattan seat (in perfect condition) and the tag says "Ballard Designs."  I looked it up and they don't have the exact one on their website, but something similar sells for $569.    Who would spend that kind of money for a bench????  But free?  I'll take it - and paint it white.  I'll put it on our wraparound porch at Jacob Springs.

Last but not least, I got these too.  An outdoor coffee table and side table.  The coffee table is the only thing damaged, it has a small piece of wood out of one of the planks, but I'll paint this too and use it on the porch with the little matching side table.  

SCORE!  How I love to find a bargain - especially when it's free.  I'm not, and never have been a label shopper.  I'm much too cheap.  But, if it's free from the wealthy neighbors, I'm certainly not above scrounging.  So, $1,500 worth of stuff for a mere $60 - which I paid for the rug.  Now if we just had a home at Jacob Springs... 

See This?

I'm going to order one of these.  This will be for our new house.   I may have to correct the punctuation error and put a comma after shit, however.  I don't think I could look at it every day with a punctuation error and not have it drive me crazy.  I guess I was a secretary for too long.

I love it.  Don't you!?

Werkin' At The Merc...

I get up early every morning.  Always before 6am, usually around 5.  Don't ask me why, my alarm clock is obviously off somehow and has been for years.

Thursday night I got a call that someone wanted to see the house on Friday.  After Ival left for work, I went up and cleaned the bathroom and made the bed.  I had planned to clean slowly and have it done by noon.  Enter Murphy's Law...

At 7:40am, I got a call from my boss.

"Did you know you're supposed to work today?"

"No I'm not."

Yes, you are."

"No I'm not, I never work on Friday."

"Yes, you are.  You are the opener today."

"Damn, I haven't showered or anything.  Give me 10 minutes and I'll be there."

So, I did what I could with the bad hair, threw on some makeup and drove the 1 minute to work.  I hate when that happens.

It was a pretty busy morning, as Fridays usually are, and exactly why I only work Monday and Tuesday.  I have my routine, and I don't like to stray from it.  But, around noon a nice couple came in and sat down.  I went over and the "nice lady" said, "Hi Jodi."  I must have given her the look, because she said, "I'm BoisecommaIdaho."  Damn!  I've read her blog for several years (although she's gotten a new job and hasn't posted for a while - a loooong while) and had never met her! 

So, meeting Kristen made the discomfort of straying from my normal routine worthwhile. 

It was nice to finally meet you Kristen.  You're just as awesome as I knew you'd be!

A Much Needed Mini Vacation...

My daughter is going to see her cousin in Portland this weekend.  They've been best buddies since they were born.  They were only 3 months apart and they grew up only being about a mile away from eachother.  I feel so glad to know that even though they now live hundreds of miles apart, they still remain close.

Jacki has a small home daycare and watched Lisa's baby, Koby, for the first year of her life - until Lisa moved to Portland.  Sniff, sniff.  But tomorrow, Jacki leaves to go see her baby for the first time in almost a year.

Isn't that just about the cutest child you've ever seen? 

I hope you girls have a wonderful time!

Ranking Pixar Movies...

We all love Pixar don't we?  Well, except mom.  She's never seen a Pixar movie.  Someday, I'm taking Finding Nemo or Up over to her house and we're going to see a Pixar movie!

The powers who be - whoever they might be, have ranked the 11 Pixar movies and here's their list. 

11. Cars
10. The Incredibles
9.  Bugs Life
8.  Toy Story 2
7.  Monsters, Inc
6.  Finding Nemo
5.  Toy Story
4.  Up
3.  Ratatoulle
2.  Toy Story 3
1.  Wall-E
 
Hmmmmm.  That's not how I'd pick them.  Here's my ranking...
 
11. Toy Story 2
10.  Ratatoulle
9.  Toy Story 3
8.  Wall-E
7.  Cars
6.  The Incredibles
5.  Bugs Life
4.  Toy Story
3.  Up
2.  Monsters, Inc
1.  Finding Nemo
 

It was hard to decide between Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc.  I love them both. But then again, I also really loved Up, A Bugs Life, and the original Toy Story.    Hmmmm.  I just thought of something.  Maybe we need to rent a Pixar movie to watch while we're in Oregon for mom's 80th birthday.  Wait!  I know, how about a Pixar marathon!
 
What's your favorite?