Refuge

For me, going to my parents house is a refuge.

Until we play euchre. Then it's more like a stronghold.

Going back home to our house is also a refuge.

Our church is another place of refuge.

Campgrounds are always a place of refuge. The only exception is the one down in southern Indiana that used to be part of a mental facility. The large living quarters were still there and it was creepy. That place was not a refuge for me.

Where do you find refuge?

Celebrate

There are things happening around us (Bill and me) that may not give us reason to celebrate.

My grandmother had a TIA last Friday and is still in the hospital.

Atticus brought a half-dead mouse into our bedroom last night.

I did not get a good night's sleep after that.

Bill's car is still in the shop and will hopefully be ready by the end of this week (if the part they need to fix it arrives).

However, there are things to celebrate.

My grandmother will be turning 94 this month.

Atticus is a good hunter and Bill is amazing because he removed the half-dead mouse from our bedroom.

Juliette has been with us for thirteen years on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, we will celebrate my parents' 48th anniversary.

Bill will start his new job a week from tomorrow.

We finished the guest room and we are moving in the furniture.

just because days

If you read about our trip to Vegas (starting here), I mentioned that I did some baking and cooking for Bill's family.

Since I'm visiting my family for a few days, I thought I would do some cooking and baking for them. I offered two choices for dinner: Four Cheese Macaroni and Meatloaf or Lasagna, Caesar Salad and The Bread. Dessert will be Vanilla Rich Chip Cake.

The winning dinner is lasagna, salad and the bread. Yum!

Mom and I went to the store tonight to buy the ingredients. I can't forget the sugar this time, because there isn't any to add! (The cake uses a box mix, shh don't tell anybody. But it's so good, it doesn't matter.)

I'm thankful for dinner choices and spending time with family for birthdays, Mother's day and just because days.

dry heat or humid

Bill and I differ on our choice of ideal temperate location.

He loves the desert. He loves visiting his parents in Henderson, Nevada. It's dry. It's usually hot. His sinuses are clearer, his skin is healthier, and his asthma doesn't bother him.

I prefer humidity. My sinuses are clearer, my skin is healthier and I can make my hair pretty wavy. I don't mind the sweat and dripping that comes with it (when it's summer).

When we've gone to visit his parents, my skin dries out, my sinuses dry out, my hair goes limp.

Bill has more allergies here. He doesn't have to worry about his hair, but his skin varies with the seasons.

All this is leading up to our trip for his birthday. I am amused by how different we are when it comes to ideal locations based on weather.

I can't wait to take pictures (yes, I'll post them). We're going to a buffet, we'll do some hiking, and we're hoping to check out the Bellagio. I'm also hoping to go to this museum. I'm going to make this cake for his birthday.

In the meantime, it's supposed to snow an inch here today/tonight.

I'm ready for 80 degrees and sunshine.

maybe not warmer, but more sunny

The south. Which to Michigan folks is everything south of the state line.

I was born in Michigan, but we moved to Indiana when I was seven. When I met Bill he accused me, and everyone in our small Indiana town, of having a "southern" accent. Since I was going to school in Savannah, Georgia aka the real south, I didn't think too much of it.

Flash forward eight or so years and Bill and I move back to Michigan. One of the first visits back to Indiana to see my parents and I realize how much of a southern accent everyone here has. Huh.

Today, I'm thankful for the south. Whether it's the state line or not, it's less snowy and there was even sun shining bright. For our friends who live south who want to know why I didn't call, it's because this is a super quick business trip for Bill. I came along to save postage on a gift/blanket I made for Cyndi and to get a super huge tub of fundraiser laundry detergent from my parents. We'll be gone just over twenty four hours. There wasn't enough time for me to call and let you know that we would be here. Next time, I'll let you know. We'll be here longer.

Christmas 2012

Here are the pictures from Christmas!

First, Christmas with Bill and Emily. It was a quiet "Christmas" day the Sunday before. We had our Big Breakfast and then we opened presents and our stockings.

We had a small exchange, mostly clothes.

Bill got season 15 of "The Simpson's" on dvd!

Next, Christmas Eve with Cyndi, Jerry, Skylar and Spencer at Mom and Dad's (and Bailey).

Spencer is really good at ripping the paper.

Skylar is really good at being goofy.

Bailey is really good at being in the middle of everything.

Skylar and Aunt Em pose for a Christmas Eve picture.

Skylar is excited about her Nutella from Aunt Em and Uncle Bill.

Uncle Bill and Spencer are good at playing.

Bill opens a gift from mom and dad.

We hope your Christmas was as joyous as ours!

here's to my parents

Today, along with St. Patrick's Day (which means everyone is Irish today), is my parents anniversary. But it's not just another anniversary, it's their 45th!

Forty-five years.

That is a long time.

Congratulations Mom and Dad! You've been terrific role models for us.

Here's to many more happy years together!

And Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Labor Day (it's not the end of summer)

I'm not a Union worker, but I do enjoy Labor Day. The extra day off is always filled with some activity. Today was no different. We (Mom, Dad, Bill, Amy, Adam and I) watched the last Whitecaps game. It was the clincher between the Fort Wayne Tincaps and the Whitecaps as to who would continue into the playoffs. It also just so happened that the Cool Cats were singing the National Anthem.

The Cool Cats did a wonderful job! I'm so proud that Quota helps them and gives them opportunities that they might not otherwise have (we had nothing to do with them singing the National Anthem).

The Whitecaps, on the other hand, did not seem to really want to make it to the playoffs. We left after the 7th inning and the score was 3-1. Amy sent me a text at the top of the 9th, it was 5-2. They're the AAA Tigers team. If you're not keeping up with the Tigers, Bill and I stayed up to watch them beat the White Sox 18-2 last night. Holy cow! So the Whitecaps didn't win (the final score was 7-2), but the Tigers seem to be doing okay. For a Detroit team (that's another blog for another day).

We often forget, especially with the weather that swept through overnight, that summer is not over. It's not over until September 23rd, so while we enjoyed some 60 degree weather today with the smells of autumn in the air, we must remind ourselves that it's not over yet.

euchre with the parents

This is going to be an interesting post. Why? You ask, because we're currently playing euchre. As in, I'm sitting at the table with my laptop on my, er lap, typing away. While the cards are shuffled and dealt around me. It's already taken me two rounds to type this much (I just took a trick with a Queen).

I've blogged about euchre before. If you can find the post, you win a prize!

Oh wait, no you won't. I just forgot for a moment that I'm not Pioneer Woman and I don't give things away. Because I'm poorer than she is. If I could give something away I would. No, wait don't leave. I'll give you a free dinner. There. That's a good prize (and I mean it. You just have to come here or invite us to wherever you are and I'll cook).

Bill fixed his big breakfast and it was, as usual, delicious. After that we played a round of euchre. It's Mom and me vs. Dad and Bill. The men won two out of three rounds this afternoon. Currently Mom and I are up one round and we're in the middle of the second (and the score is 6-5). I'm getting yelled at because this is only slightly distracting. So go google euchre if you don't know what it is and if you do, I know you understand.