Home in the Pacific Snowwest!

Good morning, everyone! In reality, I'm back in Spokane with the snow and the 9 degree weather. But in my heart, I'm still in Orlando, wearing my two piece swimsuit, laying next to the pool & enjoying the beautiful warm sunshine! :)

I finished the Princess 1/2 Marathon in 3 hours and 37 minutes. Not my fastest time but I didn't run at all. It was a wonderful race and I can't wait to do the Disneyland 1/2 marathon in September.

More later. Just wanted to say GOOD MORNING!!

DisneyWorld is just in time...it's snowing big time in Spokane!

Good morning! I leave in a few hours for Disney World. The snowflakes just starting coming down an hour ago. I put the snow shovels away on Tuesday, perhaps a bit too premature on my part. Oh well, I'm not going to shovel. I'm headed to FLORIDA!

I'm about packed and thinking about what little things I might need to get done before Lisa takes me to the airport. The beagle boys got a bath this morning so they won't be stinky for Mr. York while I'm gone and I've got dishes done. Everything else...who cares?! :)

I'll try to check in while I'm gone. Not taking my computer but one of the girlfriends will probably have their's.

Have a wonderful four days while I'm gone!

Project 365

Yesterday's and today's pictures for Project 365 are somewhat related! Klaus the terrorist kitten on the step, ready to attack at any moment. Not sure which non York critter made the tracks in the freshly fallen snow (sorry, Jenny, I HAD to do a snow picture today!), but interesting layout of footprints! The prints didn't go any other way but like this. Very strange!

Photo Hunt: #144 Aftermath

Aftermath: It's been very sad in Spokane to see the different businesses and homes that have had roofs collapse because of the heavy snow. Here is just one example of the ruined buildings in the northside area of Spokane:


For more of this week's photo hunt, go to tnchick's website!

"Spokane Under Snow Seige"

WA State and Spokane!

Where is Spokane? It's in Eastern WA, very close to the Idaho border. We're 300 miles east of Seattle!

The title is taken from NWC.com's post and you can read all about Spokane's battle with the snow/ice/slush/short tempers on their website.

http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/NW_010709WXN_spokane_snow_LJ.164d38f.html

A few excerpts:

• Spokane has received more than 78 inches of snow -- about the height of Michael Jordan -- since mid-December. That's far above its average of less than 50 inches for an entire winter. Normally about 16 inches would have fallen at this point.


• Treacherous roads are a major complaint. Many are covered with ice, heavily rutted and reduced to one lane by piles of plowed snow.


• One man was arrested by Spokane police after gunshots were fired Monday morning at a private snow plow operator who was clearing a parking lot. Police said the motorist apparently got upset when the plow operator honked his horn.


• But two women who work at the Chocolate Apothecary in downtown Spokane have found a coping mechanism. "We are surrounded by chocolate," said owner Susan Davis. "It's all good in here."

Wonder if I can get there from my house today? I think I'll stay in my safe home and work on my stash of chocolates here, plus enjoy my Starbucks Christmas Blend coffee. A perfect time to get caught up on rubberstamping, too!

Thoughts and Smells of Spring!

Here in Spokane, some of us are getting a little weary of the snow! My friend Jenny and I agree on this one thing: no more snow pictures!!

I spotted this flower arrangement today at my church while I was there helping a friend upload pictures onto her Facebook. I just stood there and inhaled the amazing fragrance of the fresh flowers. It was heaven on earth -- I have the smell of the flowers imprinted into my memory bank, perhaps enough to last til spring!

The sad thing: I had to re-enter the snow zone....yikes! We're at about 70" accumulation of the white stuff. Good thing I snapped a shot of the flowers for Project 365. It's kept a smile on my face all day long!

I found this spring quote this evening...“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” (Anne Bradstreet) Perhaps she's right! Boy, Spring is going to be one big party at this rate.

One more quote. With the thaw starting to happen in the Great Pacific North Wet (PNW), this is kinda appropriate. I'm usually not very happy with getting wet in piles of gunky slush. But I'll have a happy heart because..."Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.” (Doug Larson)

Stayed tuned for tomorrow's picture. I'm going to locate the kayaks in the garage. We might need them!

Gratitude Friday list...

1. Company Girl Coffee Friday. Woohoo -- I'm always game for more coffee and friends. Rachel Anne's daily challenges help me to remember to be "Jesus with skin on", making life more enjoyable around my house!

2. Early mornings when no one else has been outside yet. This snowy picture was taken out my back door at 8 AM.

3. The Snowblower! It's been a lifesaver these past few weeks. (although after falling today, I'm officially retiring from the snow removal team at my house!)

4. Friends who came over for dinner last night and played games, too. What a great time!

5. Continual supply of dry socks. There's puddles of melted snow on my floors and I'm always stepping in those puddles. Thank goodness for dry socks (and slippers when I finally put them on!), plus David who keeps my supply stocked!

6. A new camera. I was able to buy my camera on base this week for a great price. Keeping this one up high from puppies and kitties!

7. Living Proof Ministries! Beth Moore has challenged us to memorize two scriptures a month. I have chosen this verse for the first half of the month: Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

1st day of the New Year...

It's the first day of 2009....I have yet to figure out anything for a resolution, goals for the year, verse that I want to claim as "mine", not even a meal plan for the week. Nothing! While I don't think that's a bad thing, I'm feeling STUCK at the moment and wondering what exactly I should be doing. Help!! Ideas? One thing I have begun: I joined "The Project 365" group, taking a picture a day for a year. Here's today's photo, cute puppies just waiting for someone to drop a carrot for them.


ps guess what it did today in Spokane? Yep, you guessed it...more snow!

The Sun and Blue Skies~

After today's snow storm, it was GREAT to see the sun and blue sky!

STUCK in the snowglobe again -- who keeps shaking it?!

We have had major snow falling for the past few hours. It's coming down so fast with HUGE flakes...it's like someone is shaking the snowglobe non stop!! Look for yourself.... and then dream with me about yesterday's post!

view off of the front porch

my car's out there!

the backyard swing

bird bath and dogs' piddle path maze

Thoughts of Spring...

....and pictures of the spring flowers....might keep me going til the snow melts here! I know they're under the snow somewhere and will come out to greet me when the timing is right~

Enjoy these beautiful pictures, compliments of FreeFoto.

Gratitude Friday list...

1. As much as I'm tired of it, the beauty of the snow! The sun was out for about 20 minutes today and the snow glistened with all of the crystally flakes.

2. The animals that surround me! "Dogpiling" on the couch has a whole new meaning when there's four dogs on the couch with me....I definitely stay warmer with them!

3. The wonderful extended family I have -- my aunts, uncles and cousins are the greatest! (We don't get to experience Zimmer family get together this year due to the snow storm and pass condtions. I will miss seeing everyone!)

4. Friends who stop by just because! I was blessed with de-icer this week~ how fun to turn on the tea kettle when friends stop by.

5. A full cupboard and pantry of food, a refrigerat0r/freezer full of food & being able to share with our neighbors in need.

Scenes from the Beautiful Pacific Northwest!

~Happy First Day of Winter~

Spokane: Kerri's bird bath!

Olympia: Laura's birdhouse

Portland: Wendy's Love Seat

Hansville: my mom's windmill

Yummy snowed-in Blueberry French Toast

Good morning! Another snowy day in Spokane and I'm not going anywhere today. I looked in my cookbooks and my cupboards to see which things would match to make a yummy breakfast for the three of us. This is what I came up, courtesy of Gooseberry Patch "Farmhouse Christmas", and it was wonderful! Two pieces of blueberry french toast, bacon and orange juice made for a great snowy Sunday morning breakfast. (see the end of this post to get the review from the boys!)

Blueberry French Toast

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

2 Tblsp cornstarch

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup plus 3 Tblsp water, divided

3 eggs, beaten

6 slices bread**

2 Tblsp butter, melted

cinnamon sugar

Place blueberries in a 13 x 9 pan. Blend cornstarch, orange juice, sugar and 1/2 cup of water together and place over blueberries. In shallow dish or pie pan, beat eggs and 3 Tblsp of water together. Dip slices of bread in egg mixture, allowing bread to absorb eggs and then place on top of blueberries. Brush bread with butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake in 350 oven for 15-20 minutes or until bread is lightly toasted and blueberries are bubbly and thickened.

** I used Poulsbo Bread (I grew up in the Poulsbo area!) I also needed more than 3 eggs because of the bigger bread. I will cook it a little bit longer than 20 minutes next time I make this recipe, but I am thinking it's one of my new breakfast favorites!! We'll see what the boys say...if it gets a thumbs up, it's a keeper.

WOW -- they both came in and said it's more than a five thumbs up recipe! Ian didn't like the nuts that are in the Poulsbo bread but that's easily fixed for next time if he's here! That's all the bread I have at the moment, though, and I can eat Poulsbo bread anytime, anywhere.

Gratitude Friday List...

Another day off from school because of the big snow storm! Christmas break has officially started here. Hmm, what to do, what to do? First, grab one of my Christmas Village mugs out of the cupboard and fill it up with Starbucks Christmas Blend coffee. I think there's creamer in the fridge (sorry, no Reddi Whip yet!) ....and then you can sit down to read my Gratitude List. Please add your own Gratitude list to mine~ after all, it's Company Girl Coffee time!

1. Laughter! You should see the puppies run as fast as they can through the house and then belly slide under the couch. Stay out of their way -- they're quick. You have to see them in their snow maze, too. Mr. York and I created a maze for them in the backyard. They don't like the snow but they love running through the maze and snow flying everywhere.

2. The US Postal Service! I LOVE getting snail mail, anytime of the year. But yesterday was a sad day because the mail didn't get delivered because of the snow. Those poor people! I think I'm going to make some brownies in a little bit to give to my wonderful mailman when he arrives around 3 pm, 4 pm or maybe even 5 pm today. (Hmm, no mail at all!)

3. My kids! They're coming home for the holidays~ one from a teaching job five hours away from us and the other one hopefully flying in from college in CA. We haven't been together for Christmas for three years. Mr. York and I were in Germany for the last two Christmases.

4. Friends who truly know what the little things mean to me-- papertowels and Starbucks delivery to me today!! I still can't get out of my drive way nor have I tried. I've had enough exercise of shoveling snow to last me for a bit. So I was very thankful for the delivery~ I know, how'd they get here?

5. And...my last gratitude item ends on a bittersweet note: Today would have been our friend Uwe's 45th b'day. He and his beautiful wife Veronika lived next door to us in Germany -- they were our family and we spent so many fun moments with them over the two years!! He passed away unexpectedly in October and I know that he is very much missed today. Would you please remember Veronika and the boys in prayer? We love them tons and wish we could be with them in Germany during this holiday season.

Where's my one horse open sleigh???

Hmm, haven't seen it and I NEED it! I don't think I saw it in my garage this summer when we were cleaning out things, but I don't have a horse, either! Crum....I need that one horse and an open sleigh!!

We have so much snow here that I can't even get out of my driveway. We have set a new record for a 24 hour period of snowfall here in the beautiful Pacific NW (23.5" inches!!!) -- the old record was set back in 1984. Mr. York and I were newlyweds and boy, do we remember that winter!! We'd never seen so much snow. He would come in from the flightline after working all night, smelling of de-icer and he'd be freeeeeezing as he crawled into bed. We lived in the tiniest and coldest single wide mobile trailer. Hehehe, did I mention we were newlyweds?!? Perhaps love kept us warm and alive that winter!

I'm going to see if I can find some big carrots and maybe I can coax a horse to plod down my street -- I've got to get to Walmart! I'm out of paper towels (for those puppy accidents since they don't seem to appreciate the a-mazing piddle path I dug out for them in the backyard!) and my friend at 2nd cup of Coffee says that Walmart has Reddi Whip in many different flavors. (wait, she says there's only "wonderful" and "wonderful chocolate". I thought the whole door was full of Reddi Whip and then I looked again, just the front of the door!) I'm missing out -- I need it for my hot chocolate and lattes! I ran out of coffee in the house earlier but I remembered that I had two pounds of Starbucks Christmas Blend beans in the car -- I got Mr. York to wade out to the car for that necessary 4th cup of coffee today!!

ps My friend Charlotte just called -- today she lives an hour away (usually a half hour!) and she has TWO horses!! Bummer she can't loan me one~ School is closed again tomorrow and I could go on a long sleigh ride to meet up with girlfriends for coffee! Where is that sleigh?!

When it comes to snow...

“When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels”

SNOW!!!!!!!!! Both here in Spokane and in Portland. Lots of it! Hubbie is out shoveling and I'm thinking about making a snow angel.

This picture is from my girlfriend's house in Portland.

Gratitude Friday List...

on Saturday. I didn't have a very gratitude attitude last night. In fact, I still don't but I'm thankful for friends who come alongside me and love me right where I'm at!

1. Friends who are available for a big cup of coffee during the busy season
2. Friends who send notes of encouragement
3. Friends who love me through thick and thin times
4. Friends who will take time for a walk in the freshly fallen snow or whatever season it is!
5. Friends who pray for me
6. Friends whom I'm glad to call my friend! (that one brought a smile to my face!)

I'll work on the gratitude attitude!!

How to Make a Snow Angel!

How to make a snow angel: The creation of the snow angel is a simple process. The first step is to find snow, preferably a smooth, powdery, virgin area about two yards in diameter. Slushy or icy snow is unacceptable, not only it it harder to move efficiently, it also has a risk of soaking through the clothes. The next step is to lie supine, spread-eagled in the center of the snow, the limbs are then swept back and forth, creating a trough through the snow, when it's finished, the snow angel should have the apperance of an angel, the arms forming wings, and the legs forming a gown. From Wikipedia

I'll be making my own snow angel soon enough here in the beautiful Inland Northwest (we're getting lots of snow tonight!) but here's an image to give you a glimpse of tomorrow's activities at my house: