Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Love locks at Chambers Bay Park

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

It's true. Time flies. But not only when you are having fun - though those particular minutes, hours, and days seem to sleep more easily through our fingers.

I've found that time. Just. Flies.

For instance, my honey was on vacation last week. There were just not enough hours in the day! We . . .


We had a wonderful time. I think maybe they were embarassed by us!

- traveled to see my cousin in the Tacoma area where we ate, hiked, visited, walked, sipped coffee, ate some more, and watched exploding fireworks

- shopped for an RV trailer as a part of our long term plan to build our own small home

- returned home and cleaned house with much attention given to fine detail

On the first hike we got lost. This was our trick for choosing the correct path on the next hike.

- decluttered, packed boxes, moved furniture, and prepared our home for sale

- shopped again for an RV trailer - and purchased a lovely used model that we pick up on Saturday where we will attend a class on how to make everything work

- washed windows and removed cobwebs

- spackled and touched up painted walls

- filled the garage with boxes, bags, and large items for storage and donation

Titlow Beach at low tide

- spent hours talking on the phone with various service providers and business people, asking questions and learning the ropes about selling and building homes

- and finally, put our home on the market

We are exhausted!

The above schedule did not allow time for reading email, blogging, writing, or any other creative endeavor. I barely had time for grocery shopping, but we were getting hungry and I had to cave and make the trip.

The fun continues tomorrow. The gray girls and I are banished for 4 hours while realtors visit and walk through our home. I think Monet, Mabel, and I will visit some grands. Won't that just make their day fantastic? The grands will love it. The cats, not so much.

Oh, friends, I could have used you. At the least we could have stopped for a bit and sipped a cup of tea. Rest and relaxation. Do consider a visit soon so we can catch up. I may not have furniture, but I always have hot water and tea.

Fireworks on the 4th

Old Mother Hubbard Says It's Time to Go Grocery Shopping

A sweet potato and a few onions...

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

You do know the nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard, right?

Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard
To get her poor doggy a bone.

When she got there,
The cupboard was bare,
So the poor little doggy had none.

Presenting, on life's stage, Old Mother Hubbard.
Played by Angie.

Seriously.

Old Mother Hubbard needs to go shopping for groceries. Now.

I resist grocery shopping. I don't know why. I will scrounge, create, and do everything I can to make it last just one more day. All to avoid grocery shopping.

Maybe it's the lines, the crowds, the cost, the forgetting something on the opposite end of the store and making repeat trips, the foraging through produce to find the freshest, the struggle to open produce bags, touching raw meat packages...

Probably it's the having to take it all home and put it away.

But I so love having food to use when I prepare meals!

We are down to wilted celery, one sweet potato, a few onions, and garlic. Oh, I think there may be a dried up bit of ginger hanging around as well and some frozen peas and corn. Almost out of milk, yogurt, and bread.

Two pieces of frozen salmon and one package of frozen ground turkey make up the protein portion of our diet (per what is in the fridge/pantry/cupboard). I suppose I could count the canned chicken and tuna.

Well, that sounds like I have plenty for another day of Grocery Store Avoidance.

Yippee!


Frozen Food Tip:
Guess what?! The package directions actually work for frozen brussel sprouts! I've never even glanced at the directions, but did so last night on a whim. You can MICROWAVE the entire package - and they come out perfectly moist and not soggy and gross!

TEVA Rant

Why is it that the Velcro straps on my much beloved Tevas randomly unlatch but when I sit on the floor at church playing with kiddos, the Velcro gets me stuck to the floor so tight I almost need help getting my foot free?

Alas. My poor Tevas. This is pair number 3. They are on their last leg, er, foot. But can I find them in a store? NO. Is my style still available anywhere I look? NO. Can I find Tevas? Yes. But weird styles and curvy soles are all I discover.

I love my Tevas. I wear them from February (if the weather begins warming) through October (if the weather stays warm). My permanent tanline resembles the straps on my Teva sandals. Once this pair falls apart for good, I am shoeless. In Yakima.

So if you ever happen to be out shopping and see this style of Teva, please let me know! I'll be right there.

Do you have a favorite brand of shoes?

Christmas Shopping?

Have I got some great ideas...all books, of course, since I LOVE books. These books are available through the links posted at the bottom of my blog. Please feel free to check out these resources. Happy Shopping!

By yours truly:

I Can Pray (my very first hardcover book for preschoolers/children; English)
I Can Give (some Spanish phrases)
I Can Do It (some Chinese phrases and characters)
I Can Be More Like Jesus (some French phrases)

For parents, grandparents, teachers, and childcare workers:

Families on Mission - Ideas for Teaching Your Preschooler to Love, Share, and Care

Numerous other excellent gifts and resources are available. What do I love? I love giving gifts that share a message, whether it's a book full of creative ideas, deep thoughts, or an inspirational story. I hope you'll check these out.

Many blessings on your Christmas season. May it be filled with the love and light of Jesus!