The Last day of the Year

I had a pretty good day.  Especially when I compare it to the days of a few days ago when I was down with that nasty flu bug!  It was dreadful.  I  just dinked around most of the day.  Surfed the net a lot, looking over things on Facebook and Ebay.  Was looking for a particular fruit dish and I finally found it.  Guy (or gal) wanted $27 for it but there was a "make offer" box so I sent over a bid of $15. Haven't heard back yet.  Stupid thing cost $10 to mail.

I rearranged a few rooms and took a few pictures of some of my collectibles to see if I could find out what they're selling for.  Found some but not all.

These 1991 Archie cars were selling for $8 a set but I found another seller who wanted $9 just for Archie.

                                          Back to the Future was going for $5

 Can't recall what The Jetsens and Flintstones were selling for but right around the same, I think.

 Never could find a  Little Lulu knickknack. At least I'm pretty sure that's Little Lulu.

 I'll have to look again for old rubber cars as I know they must be worth something.

This old candy box is made out of wood and the only reason I know it held candy is because it shows some ingredients on the bottom. Also saw these numbers below but I don't know what they signify.  Not sure what that mountain picture is either. Maybe Mt. St. Helens?  The lid comes off and I recall my dad had it for years. Kept papers in it.

 My dad also had this wood box with a hinged lid.  I found it selling for $20 and the seller thought it was 1930's or 1940's.  I forget what my dad kept in it. Maybe his hankerchiefs 'cause he always had those.

 My Aunt Elva gave me this pendant necklace in the middle or late 50s. I think she bought it at Mrs. Eisenbeis' Store or maybe the Dry Goods.  Seems like it was Eisenbeis, though.  I still wear it.

 This is a Christmas ornament I picked up at an Episcopal Church rummage sale several years ago.  It's Noah's Ark and may or may not be old.  It looks old.

 This 1943 half dollar necklace is probably worth the most money. Over $100.  I've had it since the 80s and wear it from time to time too.

 Catie made me this bead bracelet for Christmas and I absolutely love it!  Not too loose and not too tight.  I picked out the color of beads when we shopped at this bead/quilt shop in Renton.

 A Port Angeles friend gave me these colorful ice cream bowls with spoons.  I hate to even put them in the cupboard as they're so pretty.

I rearranged some rooms today, as well.

 This is my office where I spend entirely too much time online...but who cares. It keeps me happy. That red table I'd like to strip down to his natural color again. Maybe this summer. I bought it for $5 at a yard sale in Bellingham back in the 60's and I've used it for a desk and a sewing table ever since then.

This is my puzzle room and gym  (if you notice the exercise bike against the wall)  ha ha  One of my resolutions is to get on that bike more than I do now. We'll see how good I keep that resolution.

These next three pictures are my new sewing room which was a guest room until I moved the bed into my office and then it was a catchall.  Thought I'd be more apt to work on quilt projects if I had an actual area set aside for it.  Gotta' get out my CD player/radio in the closet. Not sure if it will even play my CDs, though.  I'd like to find a decent radio/CD/ tape player but they're hard to locate these days.  I'd also like to invest in a small TV since I have cable in there. No hurry on that, however, and I may change my mind altogether.

 i

This is my messy little recliner area where I eventually plop down in front of the TV to knit and watch movies on Netflix (and take naps).

Tomorrow I have a few more computer things to do and then I may set up my jigsaw puzzle. Am thinking I might write a Leader blog too as it's been a while.

I watched the Kennedy Honors Award show tonight (taped it on my VCR yesterday).  It was pretty entertaining. Noticed they gave a little more attention to Tom Hanks and Sting than they did the other three people, but that's okay.

The New Years Eve show sounds pretty good on tv tonight. Lots of good music but since I got up at 5:30, I know I'm heading to bed before too long.  Fireworks will most likely wake me up, though. They've been shaking the house with their booms all evening.  Ticks me off!

Plan on taking it easy New Years Day and then Friday I'll head into Sequim for a doctor appt, lunch with Lew, and a stop at Costco for groceries.  My cupboard and fridge are pretty bare.

I got a years' subscription to Ancestry.com from Mary and Andy so genealogy is back on my list of hobbies for a while longer. I'm excited really.  Andy got a real cool telescope from Mary. I can't wait to look in it next time I'm over there.  His deck will be a perfect viewing area.

Well, sure hope you don't get the flu.  It's going around our family and it's not nice.

Happy New Year!

Windsor Vista House thru the years

Took a drive past my old Kirkland house today.  Always interesting to see the changes......

Christmas Day

I left Port Angeles yesterday morning at 7 a.m. and got to my cousin Cindy's place in Gig Harbor a little after 9.  Mary arrived about an hour later with Jacob so we were able to get in a nice visit.  We keep in touch via Facebook and email but haven't really sat down together for quite a while.  Loved seeing my Aunt Velna's Raggedy Ann doll sitting behind us in this picture Mary took.

I decided to leave my car in Cindy's driveway since I hate going on I-5 alone.  Later that night, I remembered I had left an audio book (borrowed from the library) in the glove box so I emailed her to make sure the car was locked.  I kind of chuckled when she replied "Will do but this IS the harbor."  I guess that means they don't have car prowlers.  I chuckled again when I told Mary about it and she laughed out loud telling me: "I can't believe you think anyone would steal your audio book. Besides, thieves don't read."

Mary and I stopped at Safeway in Renton to stock up on a few items she needed.  What a madhouse it was!  Glad we decided to go that morning, though, and not wait until later in the afternoon.  I set up my laptop in the room I guess you would call the dining room.  They don't use it for that, however. It's more of a Jacob room.

Mary gave Cindy two sacks of clothes for Cindy's new grandbabies (a boy and a girl) 'cause Jake has been given so much this past year that he sometimes outgrows outfits before they get much use.  People have been sooooo generous.  M&A have received car seats, high chairs, toys, beds, clothes, etc. and have had to buy very little.  They are going to have to move some of Jake's cars out to the garage, however, as they're running out of room.  Now that he's walking, he's already outgrown some of the equipment.

 Catie and Andy were both dying to get on this ATV given by Dean and Candi Johnson

                                         Jake really enjoys all these boxes this morning

                                               His laptop computer. It even has a mouse.

                                  My sister,  Janie,  made  this shirt.  Mary really liked it.

                                                           Hey!  That's Mickey Mouse!

I've noticed that Jake is especially fond of stuffed animals.  He gives them a hug and then throws them to the floor.  Andy says it's because he has one particular monkey that makes a jungle sound when tossed to the floor so Jake throws every thing down and waits for them to speak to him.  Ha ha

Mary opened a special brownie pan that I gave her from her "want list" and commented on how sturdy and well built it was.  She showed it to Jake and said:  I may pass this pan along to you and your wife someday....or your husband, as far as that goes.  You have to expect everything these days.

Unfortunately, Catie woke up sick this morning so she's had to stay home. Her apartment is about a mile away.  She probably caught the bug from Jake as his whole daycare was sharing the flu.  So much so that the daycare had to close.  Catie babysat all day for Jake on Tuesday 'cause Mary had a big presentation to give at work and couldn't stay home.  That's probably where she picked it up.  I hope it passes quickly.  (And that I don't get it!)

One of my favorite gifts this year was a ONE YEAR subscription to ancestry.com.  Now I can search to my hearts' content and not have to hurry knowing my sub. is about to expire.  So excited.
It's 2:11 and we've still got gifts under the tree to open. We took breaks as Jake needed breakfast, lunch, and naps. Mary and Andy are on the phone with his family in Pennsylvania right now.

I'm using my camera for videos and my old  cell phone for a lot of the pictures I'm taking.  I downloaded about 9 short videos on YouTube as it's easier to share that way. I'll attach them here.

Just took a pumpkin pie out of the oven and we'll have our special dinner on Saturday when Jen and the twins come over.  They'll spend the night too and then we'll all go home on Sunday.

Saturday morning

Up super early but I don't seem to have a choice about when I'm tired and when I'm not anymore.  Just have to go with the flow.  Yeah, that's me...go with the flow.  Perhaps that's why I found this picture on Facebook so entertaining today.  It had a lot of comments of "oh, that's me".  So I guess it's okay that I'm the way I am a lot of the time.

I checked a DVD out of the library yesterday -- Saving Mr. Banks with Tom Hanks.  Boring beyond words.  I got halfway through a movie on Netflix with Robert DeNiro and Ed Norton that I'll return to today -- The Big Score, I think it was called.

I got out all the ingredients and did the prep work for my dessert at tomorrow's dinner.  Better than Robert Redford made with pistachio pudding, Cool Whip, powdered sugar and cream cheese on a almond crust.

Saw Mary's post on Facebook of Jacob sitting with Santa.  What a cutie pie! Last year on this date, we were awaiting his arrival with a lot of nervous anticipation.  Amazing how fast time flies. He'll be one on Tuesday and I'll be at his house visiting on Wednesday.  Woo Hoo!

Okay. Off to do my Yahoo Crossword of the day, surf around the net a bit, and head for the kitchen to whip up dessert.  First though, I think I'll go look for a video to post. This one makes me glad I don't have a kitty (although I'm still playing around with the idea of getting a dog) We'll see.....

Fun Friday

Jenni and Maddie stopped in early this morning so I could sign some papers and Maddie could look through my Santa hats to find one she liked.  Her basketball team intended to wear them today. She was excited because today is the last day of school until 2015.

I baked up two batches of cookies (one pumpkin and one banana) and after setting aside a large plateful to serve on Sunday, I made up packages to deliver here in town.

I had an armful of past Leader newspapers to give Joyce Lee but she was already out and about like me, so I left the papers and a plate of cookies on her porch.

Went by Virginia Tomlinson's and visited a bit. She was babysitting her 2-year-old grandson. She's getting around with a walker as she's still in physical therapy for the knee replacement she had a while back.

Also stopped by Ed & Kathy's with a few cookies  (my son-in-law's dad). Took a picture of them with their sweet dog, Maggie.

Got an email picture from Mary showing Jake playing "outside" the gated tree they just put up. He was having a good time with the wrapping paper tube.

Got a nice picture from Ruth in my Christmas card showing her with her grandchildren --both good looking kids.  Robert was just awarded a full sports scholarship to the college in Idaho.

I swung by the library to pick up an audio book to listen to when I drive to Gig Harbor next Wed. Also decided to get a DVD movie with Tom Hanks -- Saving Mr. Banks.

Kitchen is all tidied up and dinner is leftover cornish game hen so I don't have one single thing on my agenda today except to relax and enjoy myself.  I moved my computer from the kitchen table back to the office/sewing room hoping I would stay offline a bit more.  Really easy to sit down and surf the net.

Think I'll settle into my recliner with my knitting needles and see what I can find on Netflix.  Last night I started watching this show with about 20+ episodes on working dogs.  Very interesting.
Dragnet is on MeTV right now and it's very entertaining -- mostly to see the stilted acting and the props from days of the 60's.

Tomorrow morning/afternoon I'll whip up our Sunday dessert --Better Than Robert Redford.  Yum!
Think I'll make the two pans of lasagna too.  Nice to have it all done and sitting in the fridge.
Have a nice weekend.