Where has the time gone...

Guess its been a while.  Can't say it's because I've been busy. More a feeing of having nothing to say. Not that I really have anything to say now....haha!

One exciting thing is I've been back to Alaska!  And my husband finally got to see the glaciers and he also got to see brown bears. I really enjoyed all the time I have been lucky enough to spend there...

I've been enjoying my time in the kitchen more as well. It's not nearly as scary as I thought it was.  And I've been very pleased with some of my results.  Even my oldest son commented on how far I've come.  It was a proud moment!

I work at a school so I have lots of time off. Last February I decided one of my goals for that week's vacation was to 'try a new recipe'.  Challenge set.  I hummed and hawed, rung my hands and dug in.  I had a mission.  I went with something simple, something that sounded good.  And it worked, I was thrilled and excited to feel I'd just added to my rotation.  So come April vacation, I knew I was going to try to add to my victory.  Since then, I have tried several new recipes, some good, some not so good, a few I felt I cold work on to make more to my liking....but overall a very positive experience.  I will say though, I have a secret weapon.  A dear friend who is good at this stuff who is patient with me and answered all my silly questions.  Thank you for your patients and support.  He has helped me get over the fear, taught me to tweak a recipe to my preference, and especially to make notes of what I did!  This past month, I think I have tried three new recipes 'just cuz'.  How cool is that?  i mean on a Tuesday....not a week to think and plan, just tonight!

April vacation is coming so I'm going to have to work hard to find something new.  Or not.  Maybe I will just make some of my new favorites.  :-)

Football Season

Here it is Sunday night and we have the late game. Makes for a long day. There are some good things though, dinner is done, laundry is put away, so all I have now is football.  And tonight's game is special.  Both boys are home which has not happened for a long time. Hope I can stay awake long enough to enjoy it!

Once Again.....

You ever had a day like this, when all you wanted to do was pull the covers over your head and sleep the day away....my Bo really had the right idea.  No, don't want you to get the idea that he was spoiled or anything.  Not my Bo. 

and then those times when you just want to be a clown...

The beginning....

Enjoying the fall and I was looking through pictures and I found a picture of the project I selected for my very first tole painting class.  Tole painting?  Basically, trace and paint, shade and sign.  Trust me, anyone can do it. 

I did not believe the teacher when she said that I'd be done by the end of the second night, but I was and I was so excited.  Now I have a bunch of 'these' all over my house.  And I've given some as gifts and people really seem to enjoy something that was created with them in mind. 

Been a while...

these are some others that I've done.  It's fun.  It can be frustrating at times too.  Our teacher is great and seems to enjoy seeing her students create.  And it's not your typical class where you might sign up for a number of weeks.  This is you show up, you pay.  No beginning, no end.  I think that is the best part. 

Alaska trip...

There was nothing about this trip that was not spectacular.  Even the plane ride into Anchorage was scenic.  This was a trip with just the boys and me.  Our first big adventure so I figured a cruise would be the easiest way to see a lot without a lot of hassle.  Well, I was right.  This was the best trip I've ever been on.  The only trip I've even been on that by the end I was not homesick.

A trip I would highly recommend to anyone.

bus ride

even the bus ride was so beautiful....