Completed Chairs and Other Stuff

Here they are! My mom did a gorgeous job on the slipcovers. We broke them in tonight with my guy, his momma and his aunt. I'm so happy with how my apartment is coming together.
The kitties are both settling in, and since mom is leaving tomorrow, I will really begin my nesting too. I'll post more pictures as I add new things and work on new projects! So far my sewing has been limited to a couple of these pillow covers (mom did the other two!).

Wishing I Could Feel Guilty...

I am sitting here in the new apartment, listening to Mom as she is working on reupholstering my two dining room chairs. It's 1120 pm, and we had a nice dinner and coffee with my prodigal son and his girlfriend. But here is mom, back at the place, plugging along on the sewing machine.

I bought the two chairs a year ago at IKEA, because they were on clearance (for $20 a piece), and are a nice shape, and, after all, how hard can it be to get slipcovers or reupholster them? Oops. No slipcovers available...so "hey Mom, can you do my chairs while you are here?". She should have said "no". I think she's put in about 12 hours on them. They look great, and they aren't even done. But they will be wonderful. I have great faith in her.

She probably wishes she'd put her foot down...but oh, I can't even feel a bit guilty!

Pictures to follow (if she ever finishes them!).

Reading Books about Death Right Before Bed

I was a little concerned last night that I would have nightmares. I just started reading a history of the worst avalanche disaster in the country. The White Cascades is engrossing, written as engagingly as a novel. But I made the mistake of skipping to the appendices and reading the list of the 96 who perished. It was heartbreaking, as I had already become attached to some of the people, even though they lived and died in 1910.

However, I think I might be even more concerned that I didn't have nightmares and slept like a baby.

I'm Moving!

Finally. I have found a very kitchy and eclectic apartment in a 1914 mansion in Stanwood, WA, population 12. Slight exaggeration...it's around 4500 now. That means I have a new 35 minute commute to work. But it also means I am living 15 miles closer to my guy, and also important for my mental health, am going to be able to finally unpack fully without the spector of the house sale looming over me. Moving begins on the 10th, with the bulk being done on the 12th. I will post photos when I am all decorated! I am sure the kitties will be very excited playing with the laser light on the new tile floors.

On Taxes

I just finished finding how much government waste I am funding this year. Let me just say, it ain't no picnic being single. Apparently, I am, according to the government statistics, in the middle class. I'd like to see those politicians live on my wages without a roommate in this area. It's tough! However, others have articulated my thoughts already, so here are a few taxation gems.

The taxpayer - that's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination. ~Ronald Reagan

If the Lord loveth a cheerful giver, how he must hate the taxpayer! ~John Andrew Holmes

The best things in life are free, but sooner or later the government will find a way to tax them. ~Author Unknown

I guess I had better include a bit of attitude adjustment here at the end:

I am thankful for the taxes I pay because it means that I'm employed. ~Nancie J. Carmody

San Juan Island in December

At the end of December, we took the ferry up to San Juan Island. Gorgeous, sunny weather. But don't let the blue sky deceive you, it was bitterly cold. On such a perfect day, my camera got quite the workout, and here are a few of my favorites. One of the nice places we took a walk was a little pullout we found that had trails along the bluff on the west side of the island.

Looking west from San Juan Island

Joe, contemplating whether a double or triple gainer is possible from this height.

Actually, he's not even close to the edge.

Lime Kiln Lighthouse, San Juan Island

Quote of the Day

He is the happiest
Be he king or peasant
Who finds peace in his home.
~Goethe

On the Socialization of Medicine

No one who knows me will be surprised...these would be funny if they weren't so true!

Book Review: Almost Friends by Phillip Gulley

The Harmony series by Phillip Gulley features Sam Gardener, a Quaker pastor in small town Indiana. Much like Jan Karon's Mitford series, it is filled with quirky characters and a very human minister. Which I love. Sam struggles at times with his faith, with the perception from many that he only works one day a week (really, only one hour), with being on-call 24/7, and with loving his flock. And there are a few in his congregation that are truly unloveable.

Have you ever confronted someone that has done something really offensive? This passage made me laugh aloud, and then call my mom to read it to her:

The problem with Matthew 18, Sam finally concluded, was that it assumed goodwill on the part of the offender. Jesus, being a nice guy, believed if matters were presented to people in a straightforward manner, they would do the right thing. It ws Sam's opinion that Jesus had died too young and was still in the grip of youthful idealism. Five minutes with Fern and Dale would have doused Jesus's optimism considerably.

I think I know some Ferns...and Dales.

Gulley, himself a Quaker minister, writes with alot of candor about the internal struggles of Pastor Sam. It's all too easy to forget that pastors are people, too. The books in the series all stand alone. They are a quick read, great for bedtime...or a little escape.

Um...

...didn't Columbus Day used to be a holiday? Maybe I just remember doing all those fun craft projects at school.

*Update: According to Wikipedia, Columbus Day is a federal holiday. I'm confused, because the schools are open and I am not getting holiday pay.