Back to blogging

I haven't added to the blog (or anything else) in a couple of months. I have been working non-stop getting ready for my first craft show (which was this past weekend in Brookings.

I wasn't as prepared as I wanted to be for the show, but it was okay. The show was a bit disappointing, but we heard from other vendors that the crowd was nothing like it normally is. It was a great learning experience and that was what we needed for our first show. Now we know what we have to improve on. We'll see how the next one goes.

The good news is that the website is up and running (www.sparklesanddangles.com). It's not perfect yet, but it's functioning so that's a start.

So there's nothing much to report here.....the Lumberjax ended their season in the semi-finals, losing to Calgary. We got even worse news a couple weeks later when they announced that they are planning on leaving Portland. I'm not taking it well and am very disappointed. Oh well, just saves us some money I guess.

That's about it for now. Hopefully I will have time to keep the blog up again. Thank you for your patience. :)

E

Time flies...

Is it finally Spring? The weather has been beautfiul the last few days. Today it was 77. I hope it lasts.

Since our last post, the boys (Geoff and his best friend, Robert) visited, we've been to 2 lacrosse games, I've been creating bead stuff, and we slipped into a new month.

Our visit with the boys was a lot of fun, as always. We saw 2 movies - Monsters vs. Aliens and I Love You, Man. They were both good. Monsters vs. Aliens was my first 3D movie. We went to a Lacrosse game on Sunday while the boys were here. The Lumberjax lost. We spent the rest of the time watching movies at home and playing video games.

We went to another lacrosse game last weekend. The Lumberjax beat Colorado in OT. it was an exciting game, but a little too close for comfort. We watched the Friday night game online. They lost to Edmonton. It was also a close game, but got away from them.

Baseball season officially started today. The Cubs and Mariners both started the season with a win.

i spent this past weekend working on bead things. I made a lot of progress, but I still have a lot to do to get ready for the craft show in May. Last week was very exciting as I received several large bead orders and my business cards. They turned out very well.

Miss Priss has surprised me again. She has been sleeping in the other bed she got for Chrsitmas. It has been upstairs sitting on the chest in front of the window for months. I finally caught her sleeping in it the other day and she spends some time in there every day now.

Time for sleep. Sweet dreams and a great week to all.

Been too long since I've posted....

I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since I posted...at this point San Diego is just a memory.

There was sad news today. They found the remains of Stephanie Condon. She has been missing for over 10 years. She disappeared October 31, 1998. That was the year we moved to Oregon. Stephanie was on the Riddle volleyball team that my cousin, Kendy coached. I did stats for the team that year. I guess this is the result that I expected, but there was some hope that she was still alive and okay. At least her family can have some closure and move on now. These are the times when I really hope that there is such a place as Hell and that whoever is responsible for Stephanie's death finds out for sure.

On to happy things....

I've been very busy doing things with my beads...not making anything other than a mess though. I'm starting a little business with them so I've been getting ready...getting inventory organized, getting business cards, making plans, etc. Dad and I are going to try to have a booth at the 70th annual Azalea Festival in Brookings Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully it will go well and will inspire us to do more. If not, I'll stick to online. I'm hoping to get some stuff on Etsy and Craftmall soon. I also bought a web domain. I just don't have anything on it except the name, address, and phone number. www.sparklesanddangles.com

Kyle goes up to get Geoff and his best friend, Robert, Friday. Then they come back to Vancouver on Saturday. They will probably go back home on Tuesday or Wednesday. We will go to a Lumberjax game on Sunday. Thank goodness. I've missed it.

I still haven't gotten pictures from the trip organized. Hopefully I can get that done once all my bead stuff is organized.

Happy Wednesday.

Off to Southern California....

Tommorow morning we leave for La Jolla, CA for Impac's company meeting. I'm really looking forward to the time away, seeing everyone, and SUNSHINE...hopefully.

We fly out of Portland at 10:25 tomorrow morning. When we arrive at Torry Pines we will have lunch. Then Kyle and Don can relax or scout around while Nora and I are in afternoon meetings. We will have dinner in La Jolla Thursday night, more meetings on Friday then hors'doevres and cocktails Friday night. Nora and I finally decided what we want to do on Saturday. We're going to Birch Aquarium (http://www.aquarium.ucsd.edu/), then to The Flower Fields in Carlsbad(http://www.theflowerfields.com/), then to the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego (http://www.gaslamp.org/). We're going to have a great time. I can't wait to see Sandy and meet Rogers' wife, Kandi.

We fly back on Sunday. Instead of coming home, Kyle goes to Phoenix until Thursday. :( Hopefully while he's away I can get the house back together. I still have Valentine's Day stuff up. Since Easter is so late this year I waited to put Easter decorations up. I resisted the urge to decorate for St. Patrick's Day.

Happy weekend!

New Link

We've added a new link to our list (over on the right). It is another blog where we are sharing our favorite recipes. Feel free to try them, comment, and share your favorite recipes.

Enjoy!

Tuesday stuff....

Kyle has been in eastern Oregon since Sunday. Once again, I had a plan in mind for what I wanted to get done while he is away. So far, I've done nothing from that list.

I rearranged the family room again. The couch and 2 chairs are back where they started. Kyle's recliner is relatively in the same place. The biggest difference is that I moved the hutch out of the corner and into the living room. I complained to Kyle last week about going to Costco by myself and having to lift the 40 lb bucket of cat litter, but I can manage to move a solid wood hutch 1/2 way across the house. In the corner where the hutch was I have a little desk with the computers and one for the printer, scanner, etc. Hopefully this will help my back (not sitting on the couch leaning to the coffee table to work on the computer) and I will use the scanner more because it will be hooked up all the time.

This past weekend went fast, but we did get some things accomplished including some much needed rest. Saturday night we went to the Lacrosse game. The Lumberjax won. They are still one game behind Calgary. At the end of the first quarter, the Lumberjax were leading 5-0. The final score was 12-10...a little too close for comfort considering how the game started. Now we have to wait another 4 weeks until the next home game. That one will be a lot of fun because Geoff will be here and maybe his friend, Robert.

This weekend we go to Roseburg for Alisha's dance recital and Cheryl's birthday. We'll probably go down after work on Friday and will be back Sunday afternoon. It will good to see everyone. We haven't seen mom and dad in quite awhile.

Kyle will be back home on Thursday. YAY! I have a lot to get done before he gets home, as usual...

Happy Friday!

It's Friday!! Yay!!

I finally got a good night's sleep last night. I was so happy that I actually got out of bed when the alarm went off instead of hitting snooze for an hour.

Congratulations to Nora! She found out today that Jeremy and Tina are having a little boy. It looks like she's getting a granddaughter and a grandson now. How exciting! I'm so happy for her.

We started the weekend with dinner out at On the Border (www.ontheborder.com) tonight. Brisket Tacos rule! I tried the pepper jack mashed potatoes tonight instead of beans and rice. They were okay, needed more cheese. I added some of the queso which perked them right up.

Tomorrow night is Lacrosse - Lumberjax vs. Philadelphia Wings. Portland is 2nd in the division behind Calgary now. Go Jax!!

Kyle leaves for eastern Oregon Sunday. :( He'll be back Thursday night. :) I wish I would have planned to go to Phoenix with him in 2 weeks, not only to spend the week with him instead of being home alone, but because it's that time again - spring training. The Cubs and Mariners both won today. Go Cubs!! Go Mariners!! We haven't been to a game in a few years. Maybe we can work one in this summer....Hmmm, could go to Lacey for bead shopping (www.shipwreckbeads.com) then to Seattle for baseball. I'll be checking our calendar!

Lots to do this weekend - take down Valentine decorations, return Christmas gifts that never made it to the recipients, laundry, cleaning, etc. I think it's supposed to be raining all weekend. It was 26 degrees this morning. I would be happy if that was the end of that. Some people from work are going to Florida and Hawaii next week. Maybe they'll bring some sunshine back with them.

Happy weekend!