Molly's Retreat

I spent this last weekend at the beautiful Palouse Divide Lodge for the bi-annual scrapbook retreat. I went on Thursday afternoon-after the big blizzard and returned on Sunday afternoon. During that time I was able to nap, read a book, take a hike up the hill to the lookout and then sled down - there was over 6 feet of snow on the ground not to mention the 12 foot snow drifts and burms. All this and scrapbooking too.

Debbie Kuntz is the Creative Memories consultant who puts the weekend on and she does an amazing job as hostess. Several times a day, usually while we were dining, she'd secretly add something new to our tables. We were treated with 8 sheets of 12 X 12 paper, several pens, brads, decorative flowers, stickers, tags and candy. On top of this she was giving away product in an hourly drawing. I walked away with several scrapping tools, a magazine, a canvas tote, paper packs and a Cricut cartridge not available to the public.

I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of the weekend but I was too busy enjoying myself. I completed 82 pages and below are some of my favorite layouts from the weekend.

A Fond Farewell

The Bingleys - Tonya, Lyssa (3), Chris, Hayden (5) and Preston (8)

Change is in the air and it's not just the Obama campaign that's touting it. Our friends, the Bingleys, have decided to uproot and move to Billings, MT where Chris accepted a position at his alma mater, Rocky Mountain College.

I met Tonya almost 9 years ago at P.S. I Love You, the mom's group we attended. Preston was 9 months old and Annabelle was 6 months old. We hit it off and soon our families would get together for various events, parties, camping outings. As Preston got older both he and Josie (Annabelle would be an innocent bystander) would partake in some nasty fisticuffs. This didn't hinder our relationship with Chris and Tonya, thank goodness, as I remember some blood being spilled on more than one occasion.

The Bingleys are a ton of fun to be around. They are also very kind, caring, great secret keepers and too nice for words. They are one of the main reasons we bought our house on Grant Street as they lived just a block away from us. Just four months after we moved in,though, they decided to build a house somewhere else. I have to admit, I was a little perturbed that they would want to move away from us but at least they stayed in the same town. Tonya's sister just moved here from Alaska last year and now the they are leaving the state so I don't feel so horrible now.

Chris and Nate would have man-dates on occasion. I had to laugh at the thought of them at the coffee shop drinking microbrews and sharing a dessert, Chris, well-groomed wearing his nice work clothes while Nate was the rough and tumble construction worker (you draw your own conclusion here). Nate had a great friend in Chris as he was the one who taught Nate the in's and out's of homebrewing. Chris was also one to throw a gathering together quickly: whether it was a guys-only-after-work meeting at the winery, dinner at their home or a family sledding day.

Once our kids went to school and Tonya went back to work we'd see them only ccasionally at the pool or at a social gathering and we'd always say, "We need to get together!" and then a few months would pass. We were so thrilled when we went to a dinner auction and sat with them and I got drunk and bid on a vacation home in Sisters, OR and that they wanted to go with us. We hadn't spent time with them in so long we were excited at the prospect at having a whole week rediscovering how fun the Bingleys are. Well.....it was just a week before our departure to Oregon that they broke the news about their move....and that they wouldn't be joining us after all.

So to get back at them for breaking our hearts I am posting this wild and crazy picture of their family. In all seriousness though, they will be greatly missed by everyone whose lives they touched during their 9 years here on the Palouse. They will have no problem making friends in their new hometown and those who do will be very lucky indeed.

We have been very blessed to know you Chris, Tonya, Preston, Hayden and Lyssa! All the best to you in the Big Sky State!

Happy Easter!

Staying true to our late timing we wish you all a belated Easter!

Down and Out

I'm sick. I have bronchitis, a sinus infection and a mild ear infection not to mention a few unmentionable ailments that happen when you consume as much over-the-counter drugs as I have. I was hoping to have made it through this sickness storm as most of the people we have been in contact with have already had the illness back in January.

I've been a 'net surfing pro today though as typing uses up what little energy reserve I have. Although after typing this I just got tired so I'm going to take a nap now.

Window Washing

The sun came through the big windows in our living room today and with the sun rays gave forth the vision of months of dust, finger and nose prints smeared all over the windows (not to mention cobwebs in every corner of the house). I get now what they mean by spring cleaning as the winter grays and shorter days camouflage the every growing dust and grime that accumulates through out the home. I attempted to use Windex but for some reason it just seemed to streak the streaks even more.

Well, today I got out my trusty Cleaning Plain and Simple book by Donna Smallin and actually took some advice from it. I've had this book for two years now and have barely cracked it open. For some reason I thought just having the book around would make my house miraculously self cleaning.

Grandpa's Best Window Washing Formula (it really works.)

1/2 cup sudsy ammonia (couldn't find sudsy so just used plain)
1 pint rubbing alcohol
1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid

Combine the three ingedients in a bucket. Add enough water to make one gallon of liquid that will make for the cleanest windows you ever had.

I used a squeegee to wipe the windows clean but it says you can also use lint-free clothes, newspaper and/ or a chamois cloth.

Now I just need to figure out how to get the outside of the windows washed.

The Big Tease

I've lived long enough to know that Mother Nature has a sense of humor. Just the other day it was 50 degrees out, spring bulbs are popping up, the 2 feet of snow is all melted, the grass is fluffing up nicely and the birds are chirping up to fevered pitches. I was phasing out the winter gear by moving boots and heavy jackets downstairs. I was beginning to get my "happy" on after it's long winter's nap. The best thing of all was the fact that I finally was getting warm. Winter Out! Spring In!

I've lived 140 seasons to know better. That freakin' Groundhog was right. We still have 17 more days of winter and the evidence is right outside our window, in all it's frosted, white, fluffy glory.