Christmas traditions

House decorated.  Check.
Cards sent.  Check.
Cookies made.  Check.
Tree decorated.  Check.
Christmas Day dinner planned.  Check.
Packages wrapped.  Check.

Yep, it looks like we're pretty much ready for Christmas to arrive.  We still have a couple gifts to deliver, but will hopefully get that done Christmas Eve.  We've been to a couple Holiday gatherings already.  A new "first" was a Winter Solstice/Eggnog party, but we opted for a wine tasting party instead.  What fun! 

I love traditions.  Especially Christmas.  We wake up extra early.  The kids arrive.  We have a nice breakfast.  We leisurely open presents.  We visit.  Laugh. Talk.  It's a good day.  NOT! 

Oh, we have a wonderful Christmas, but ours is an extended family and some year's it's like putting together a puzzle, trying to make all the pieces fit.  But they do.  Every year our "tradition" is a little different.  When the kids were small and still living at home, it was easy.  Our dinner was usually ham and scalloped potatoes.  Bucky made Chinese food a couple years.  But now my menu varies depending on what time of day the kids arrive.  Bucky and Michelle also have her family to visit--her mom/dad and grandparents.  Plus it's her brother's birthday Christmas Eve!  Talk about a full schedule.  Poor kids.  Course, they somehow manage to fit it all in. 

But some times it's hard to work around all these other commitments into a holiday that also works for us.  I mean, really, who wants to wait until 4:00 in the afternoon to open presents!  I'd rather be in my pajamas recuperating!   

Because our holiday has become somewhat "un"traditional, I try to put a little twist on opening presents.  Maybe I'll think of a theme and buy gifts that fit within that theme.  For instance, if one of the kids was into gardening, their gifts would fall within that theme--gloves, yard art, picture of gardens or flowers. 

One year the kids couldn't open up their gift until they guessed what was INSIDE, based on the wrapping.  That was fun.  Bucky got his right off.  A DVD player.  His outside wrapping consisted of an electronics gift card hanging as a tag.  Tracy's present was a big box tied with laundry line.  For the life of her, she could not guess what her present was.  The morning was dragging on.  We were getting giddy from laughter.  Finally, we had to start giving her verbal clues.  I mean, the poor girl just could not figure out what was inside her box.  Bucky started guessing, trying to help his sister.  We gave Tracy clues that had to do with laundry, washing, etc.  Finally, Bucky yells out "IT'S A LONGENBERGER BASKET!"  How he ever figured it out, and not Tracy, I'll just never know.  But it was a fun game.

This year I'm not putting any name tags on the gifts.  The kids will decide who gets to open the present.... based on the outside wrapping.  On each present is a separate little gift, acting as the clue as to who the present might be for.  This clue is based on a gift list I either got from one of the kids or based on a recent conversation, or a hobby of theirs....  Sound hard?  I don't think so.  Okay, so to give you an idea....  Let's say the present is for Mike and I know he loves baseball cards, so I attach baseball cards to the ribbon and bow.  Course he would know it was for him.  But not all gifts are going to be so easy to read and could go to a couple people.  It should be fun.... 

We've noticed a new tradition happening this year....  Toys appearing as Christmas decorations on the tree.  Where's Waldo?  Merry Christmas! 

good neighbors

I'm one of those lucky people who has good neighbors.
You know what I mean? 
They're friendly.
They're happy.
They're always watching out for us.
Always with a smile and a wave.

Even once inside the house, I can feel them watching.
And watching.
And watching....

Say "hi" to Casper and his friends!  Scooby Dooo is there somewhere, too. 
They moved in a couple weeks ago....

Every holiday new neighbors move in.  They're not all this friendly, though.

independence day

Happy 4th of July!
Hope you have a fun, and safe, holiday!

a simple kiss

I want to kees you....

and kees you....
and kees you....
You are my favorite Valentine.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Christmas spirit

Christmas used to be my most favorite holiday of the year.... I looked forward to this time of year like a little child waiting for Santa.

A Christmas list of gift ideas would start to formulate in late October. Family and friends is given great consideration on the perfect gift(s) to give. This is not a task I take lightly.

A charity is considered, weighing pros and cons of each and every one. Collections start to accumulate for food drives and the homeless.

My collection of December magazines are brought out and each and every one is looked at, all the while drooling over what could easily become our home this season.

Special menus and recipes are considered. What better time to get together with friends and family and share good food.

Lists are started. Every aspect of Christmas is written down so as not to forget to do any single part of it.

I have dozens of Christmas novels that are read and re-read every season. Never mind I know how they all end, they make me happy.

The freezer is full of cookies, fudge, and Party Mix.

Every corner of the house will be decorated--including the bathroom and bedroom. Wherever your eye rests will reveal some kind of eye candy.

Christmas cards are written, with a short, personal note written in each one.

And all the while, Christmas music can be heard in the background.

So where is my Christmas spirit this year??? I feel more like Bah Humbug than Ho Ho Ho. In year's past there wasn't any single part that I didn't love with all my heart.
Minimal decorating has been done; slapped up like it doesn't matter. It was done out of obligation, not spirit.
The novels still sit, collecting dust.
Christmas magazines of year's past will sit for another year.
I suspect sugar cookies will be the only baking I do this year.
Christmas music has taken a back seat to other priorities.
We'll get a tree today.... I suppose....
Oh, and don't expect a Christmas card this year.... or if you do, it'll most likely just have "Merry Christmas" written in it.

See what I mean about having the Bah Humbug attitude this year? I even considered going south for Christmas so I didn't have to bother with any of this.

The Grinch has certainly stolen the Christmas Spirit....

one batch too many

21 cups of flour, 18 eggs abeating, 9 cups of sugar, 6 cups of butter, 3 batches of sugar cookies.... and a table full of caallloorrieessss..... (sing to the tune of Partridge in a Pear Tree....)

It ended like this....

A long, folding table AND a card table.... covered with decorated sugar cookies.... I suspect you could have gotten a sugar high just looking at all of the cookies. Big ones. Small ones. Christmas trees. Stockings. Stars. Mittens. Ornaments.


It started like this....

First one batch of sugar cookie, then a second. Two batches is a norm for us. It gives every one enough cookies to take home and enjoy, plus enough to give away to family, friends, and co-workers. But as they laid there, stacked one on top of another.... it just didn't look like enough.... I bought some new cookie cutters this year and they were on the large size, so it's possible they used up more cookie dough, and we may not have enough... So two batches became three batches of sugar cookies....

Now, looking at these pictures of undecorated cookies, you have to agree that it doesn't look like all that many.... and this is three batches! So you see my dilemma! But I digress....

Somewhere in the middle of all this, came the decorating....

Decorating sugar cookies is an annual event for my daughter and I. We make them twice a year--Christmas and Easter. My son's significant other and other extended family members usually join us. This year my ex-husband's wife also came. Technically, she's the kid's step-mom, so that makes her family, right?

Baking and decorating cookies is usually an all-day event. It was also a huge mess, trying to roll out dough and decorate at the same time. HUGE mess. Now, I do the baking one day so when we all get together, we only have to decorate. It's so much more fun and much less hassle.

The details....

We use only the best, the finest, the most expensive professional decorating tools we can find. Toothpicks. Skewers. Paintbrushes. Cheese spreading knives. Baby spoons. They seem to work just fine.....

Here's Michelle and Tracy busy decorating. Only 239 more cookies to go! We try to make each cookie unique... paying attention to details that will make it so.... At least for the first few dozen. As the morning ticks on, the icing gets slapped on a little quicker, cookies tend to be a little messier (at least on my part), and details.... well, the snow man with the black top hat, the orange nose, and red scarf flowing in the wind.... is now a white snowman!

But we have fun. It's one of our family traditions that I look forward to every season. Spending time with my daughter, making memories, is important to me. And having Michelle join us (in the blue), makes it even more special because one day she could truly be a part of our family in the legal sense (she already has our heart).

Here's some of my favorite cookies. New to my stash this year is the snow globe! Isn't it cute? And the stocking was also a fun one to decorate.

spring.... not quite here....

I hear rumors that spring has sprung. We're not quite feeling it here yet.... although it is getting daylight earlier and I do see the little red hat of my garden gnome sticking out through the snow so that's a start! But instead of seeing this when I look out the window:




We're still seeing this:




But soon.... the snow will disappear, the soggy soil will dry up, the little red knobs of rhubarb will peak through the remaining snow and ice. Soon....

Meanwhile, Easter will be on us before we know it (March 23) and I've been busy making mental notes for the menu, decorating ideas, and new craft projects.

I found this cute easter eggs book last year and am excited to try some new ideas this year.



I need to buy some eggs and get them dyed and blown out, and then I can start adding all my pretties. Isn't this ribbon just too precious?


And all these cute little embellishments will be perfect!


To get a finished project like this:


I'd really like to make decorating eggs an annual event, like our cookie decorating party, but we've got a lot going on this time of year so I might have to do it alone.

Have a great day!

out with the old

2007 was a good year. Oh, we had our share of, uhm, shall we say, "moments" but they were just that. Moments in time. And in all things there is a silver lining. Here's my top list of silver linings.

1. I started blogging! I have to admit, it's not as easy as it appears. It takes more time than I care to spend on it most days, thinking of something to write about, finding pictures (or taking pictures) to go with it. I commend all of you faithful bloggers. No matter how busy your lives are, you post. Once you get hooked on blogging, you get sucked in to other's lives. It's nice to know that if I go to my favorite sites, there will be a new blog most days. Not the case with me; I may not write for a month's time! I don't blame any friends for sticking around if I can't write a new blog most days of the week. But the silver lining is, they do. Out of the blue, I'll get a post from a long-time reader asking how I'm doing and if I'm okay. So I know I've affected others "out there" with my life as well and I hope that's a good thing.


2. Brianna.... My husband's 17 year old daughter was still living with us. Wreaking havoc in our lives. Sucking the life out of us. Lying. Stealing. As I'm writing this, I'm thinking there's no way there's a silver lining in this so I will stop and think for a moment, to reflect back and maybe get a different perspective..... (This is me, thinking: Mike got divorced when his kids were just young; 3 and 5 I think. They grew up with the belief that their dad abandoned me. That's a harsh word for such young ones to use.... so you know where it came from. A bitter and revengeful ex-wife can do horrible damage; and she did. It's true Mike left his family behind and moved to Alaska and it's true he found a new family here. But if there was ever a man who loved his own children and who tried so desperately to stay in their lives and to blend families, it was Mike. He was relentless in staying in contact with phone call after phone call, care packages, cards, airline tickets, but there's only so much you can do if you're ex refuses to let you have any contact with your kids. So Bryson and Brianna grew up thinking and believing their dad abandoned them. Now 14 years later, Brianna is forced to come here to live because she has gotten out of control. She hates me because I'm the other woman. She hates her dad for abandoning them. Let's see. Silver lining.... Silver lining.... I could make excuses for Brianna. That her mother is verbally abusive. That maybe Mike should have been there for more important events in their lives. But it's hard to be there when you don't know there's an event.... Silver lining.... Silver lining.... During the year she lived with us, we tried to be kind, considerate, loving, and respectful towards Brianna. Regardless of her behavior, Mike would remain calm and respectful. It was clear this was not parenting that Brianna was familiar with. She came from a loud home where drinking, yelling, screaming, and fighting were the norm. This we learned after she came to live with us. Silver lining. Silver lining. Maybe if we just keep it up; keep treating her with love, kindness, and respect that maybe, just maybe, she'll take something away with her; and when the time is right, remember back when she lived a different, a better life, for a year's time. That there is a better way to live.... Silver lining... Silver lining.... End of me thinking.) Brianna called her dad a few days before Christmas. He said it sounded like she was a different person. She had moved far away from her mom and even apologized for her horrible behavior while living here. She even wanted to speak to me, to apologize. I'm not certain I'm ready for that, just yet. I would need to know that it was sincere, that she has truly changed for the better. And that would be proven by on-going actions towards her dad and I. But the silver lining is hope.... Hope that my husband will, one day, have the relationship he so desperately wants and deserves with his children.


3. I returned to work. I love being retired but actually love going to work more. I can honestly say I miss not working this winter and can hardly wait for spring to get here so I can return to the nursery. But when my kids found out they were pregnant and asked if I would babysit for them, I was taken back a little. (Okay, I was probably just really scared about being responsible for babies after all these years.) I love working! I want to work! How could I give up doing something I love to do to babysit? The silver lining? Now that I've held my precious little grandson in my arms, I know that babysitting will come first. Oh, I'll figure out a schedule where I can do both, but babysitting will definitely come first.


4. Hunter James.... I became a grandma! I have to admit, up front, that I never quite understood what all the "to do" was about being a grandma. I really didn't know. I had no clue..... But then Hunter James was born and I held him.... and now I know. The problem is time. I don't get enough Hunter time. There's two other sets of grandparents that also need time with Hunter--my ex-husband and his wife and Michelle's parents and all her family. Granted I deserve more time because, well, because I just do! But I reluctantly smile and wave the kids off as they head out, taking Hunter with them, to another set of loving arms.... My sister tells me this is just the way it's going to be. That I need to get used to the mother's family getting more time because that's just how it goes. The silver lining? This morning my daughter Tracy and Adam find out the sex of their baby. And if what my sister tells me is true (about the mother of the mother getting more quality time then the father's mother), then that means I'll get more quality time with my daughter's baby! Course it doesn't hurt that Adam's parents live down south! This is all said in fun and I hold no grudges against any other grandparents. Really.... ;)

As good as 2007 was, I just know 2008 is going to bring good things, good friends, good moments in time. I hope you're along for the ride.

Christmas decorations

I love looking at Christmas magazines. Every year I bring the same stack of magazines out and look through them, oohing and aahing over all the creative decorating ideas. Some times I actually create them for our home. Like these wreaths. It's a simple idea. I found some inexpensive berry wreaths at Joann's and the perfect red and white ribbon. Or so I thought. Once I got it home and hung, it was just too stark for the green cupboard doors. Even with the garland and lights on top, it still just didn't look right. A friend and I were contemplating this problem when she said, "I have just the thing!" She went out to her car and brought in this berry vine that I added to the garland and lights and it finished the look. Now when you look at the cupboard, you don't just see the red berry wreath, but rather it is blended in with the berry vine above. I love this look.

A new addition to my Christmas decorations is The Village. I've always loved the cute, little cardboard village homes from years past. My village isn't vintage, but they are precious. I got these from Room Service Home. They're not small but about 10" high, but are a perfect size for the large cabinet I have them on.

What I like about these village pieces is that you can put a string of lights inside the homes so colored light shows through the windows.

As you can see, I love twinkle lights this time of year and will include lights in most of my decorations. There's just something magical about them. Plus, they brighten our otherwise dark and dreary winter days.

Ho ho ho!

at our home....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....! In our home, things are taking shape and we're slowly getting ready for Christmas. Lights and garland are hung outside and decorations are nearly done inside. It's been a slow process this year, for some reason. Maybe I just have other priorities on my mind--like a new grandbaby due any minute! Well, by Saturday anyway. The kids go into the doctor's tomorrow and even though Michelle is only a little over a week overdue, it sounds as if the doctor is going to induce labor.

And with the temperatures being so cold, as low as zero this week, our brand new boiler system has decided to not keep the house warm. Getting the inside temp from 57 to 62 degrees has been a major undertaking and has only been achieved by plugging in a couple heaters. I can hardly wait to see our electric bill next month.... So we've been struggling with keeping the house warm, having repairmen in and out trying to figure out if there's something wrong with the boiler (couldn't find anything), and have concluded that our boiler just can't keep up with the cold.... Never mind that it's the top of the line and it keeps other homes in the area warm.... Not exactly the answer I wanted to hear and I can't help but think there's just one small detail that has been overlooked by the half dozen men that have been researching this problem the last few days. I've asked the questions, but I'm a woman after all and what do I know about heating systems.....? I have to admit, nothing! The best I can do is ask questions that might lead them to keep looking. But the decision has been made. The boiler just isn't sufficient for temps in the teens and below.

So the solution? A pellet stove. My husband has wanted one for a long time now. I'm not so happy about it. I still believe this boiler should be sufficient and we're just overlooking one teeny tiny thing that would fix the problem. But, then, a lot of homes in Juneau rely on alternative heat systems to keep their homes warm in the winter and often run two different heating systems at the same time.

Besides the heating problem, our house stinks! It started yesterday and we cannot find the source of the problem. I personally think a little rodent died in our crawl space but my husband thinks the culprit is the Food Saver used to process salmon last April! I don't think it would start to stink eight months later. Honestly.... We thought maybe some tuna juice spilled and so have cleaned every inch of our counter with bleach to kill the smell, but with no luck. You open up the cupboards and drawers though and it stinks horribly!

So this is what we've been up against this week. Limited heat, stinky smells, and still no grandbaby!

But on a brighter note, here's some pictures taken outside on a cold morning. I usually display a variety of Christmas ornaments in our bird bath with greenery, but my bird bath is further out in the yard this year so I just put some greenery in a large planter dish and set it on the table on our front porch. It looks lovely!



Ho ho ho!

the white envelope

For years our family has found a worthy cause to donate to over the holidays. It all started with a struggling co-worker who was worried about the holidays because they didn't have money for Christmas. Every day I would hear of their struggles and worries of no Christmas so decided to do something about it. I didn't know much about their situation but envisioned the three young children waking up Christmas morning to no decorations, no tree, no presents, nothing. It was going to be a bleak Christmas. So I made this family my first act of charitable giving.

Tracy and I made a gingerbread house, bought a present for each child, baked cookies, and delivered it all, including a box of satsumas. Imagine my surprise when we walked into their apartment to find this large, beautiful tree with presents piled high underneath! Needless to say, I was not only shocked but embarrassed and a little perturbed as well. But we graciously wished them all a Merry Christmas and went on our merry way. As it turned out, the presents were from grandma and grandpa but it didn't make it less embarrassing for me because I thought we were helping a family truly in need; not a family who just wanted more. But this became an annual tradition of finding one cause to give to over the holidays.

One year we bought several sets of long johns and wool socks and donated them to the local homeless shelter. Another year it was donating nonperishable food to the Food Bank. A lot of our charitable giving was done through work--collecting travel-size shampoos and other toiletries for the Aware Center, adopting a family from the Salvation Army, contributing to the newly formed Boys and Girls Club. It was at work that I received an email that has had a lasting impact on me.

I don't recall who sent it to me or why. The author was unknown although searching on the internet shows that this story first appeared in Woman's Day magazine, 12/14/82. It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years or so.

I'm such a sucker for sappy stories; stories that tug at the heart; for good deeds done by others. This story had such an emotional impact on me that for the last several years we have included the White Envelope in our holiday giving. My kids will see the envelopes laying among the branches of the Christmas tree, but they don't ask about it, they don't pick it up and see who's name is on the envelope. They know what it is.

This White Envelope holds the name of the charitable organization we have picked for the holiday season. The organization we have donated in each family member's name as part of our gift to them.

In the last few years, the recipient of our donation usually has to do with rescuing dogs and cats. They need advocates to speak on their behalf and my sister is one of them. Rescued Paws is a nonprofit organization that has rescued over 650 dogs and cats in the last year! In one year!! The best part about this organization is that it is a "no kill" organization which means these poor unwanted, abandoned, and abused dogs and cats don't have to worry about tomorrow. Their foster care families keep them until they are adopted out. A handful of women volunteer their time to make this happen; it's all done in their homes; on their own time. And we're not talking about an hour a day. These women dedicate the most part of every single day to their rescue attempts. The dedication and time spent on behalf of these poor little creatures is incredible and they truly are the advocates for these abandoned and abused animals.

You can see why we've chosen Rescued Paws as our charity of choice these days. Here's what I do. I read through the stories that have been written about each dog and cat and pick out a few that tug at my heart the most. I post their picture and their story on the poster and again remind the kids why we're making this donation. We've never really talked about this envelope; I don't know if it has tugged at their hearts like it does mine; I don't know if it holds any value to them. In my little world, it does; so we continue with the tradition in the hopes that somewhere down the line, they, too, will carry on the tradition with their family.

If you have a hard-to-buy for person on your Christmas list, why not consider making a donation in their name to Rescued Paws? It's a good thing.

christmas past

Here's some pictures from last year's Christmas decorations.


This is our tree.


One of my many Snowbaby ornaments. My husband collects them for me; snow globes, figures, ornaments.


Some pretty ribbon.


One of my rustic ornaments. This is a goose.


This is an ornament my daughter, Tracy, made many many years ago. It's still special to me.




This is a scene from my Snowbaby arrangement. I love it!


Happy Holidays!

it's officially "the holidays"

I anticipate this weekend all year long. Thanksgiving is over and the Holidays officially begin for our family. We start out with the Day After Thanksgiving Specials (NOTE: It's so important to me, it's even capitalized!) and then move into the Public Market where you can find 200 vendors selling homemade and other crafts. Mike has been busy hanging cedar garland and clear lights outside on the porch railing, around the door, and on trees and I'm supposed to be decorating inside. I keep getting side tracked though with too many other things to do. Like this post. And making lists of everything that needs to be done. And looking through Christmas magazines from years past. And filling my calendar. It all has to be done today so I know what to do tomorrow!

My family has two traditions. Tracy and I make wreaths and door swags every year for ourselves and others we give to friends. And we bake and decorate thousands of sugar cookies. Or it just seems that way after we're mid-way through. Both are quite the ordeal though because I can't do anything small.

First up with be wreath making. In years past, my mom would send up a large box of cedar, holly, and other Oregon greenery. After she passed away (11 years today), my dad carried on the tradition and then after my dad passed away, my sister, Georgia, did. We're talking a HUGE box with enough greenery to supply the neighborhood. I'd set card tables up and we'd bring all the greenery inside the house where we could drop clippings and needles on to the floor and not worry about it because of the hardwood floors. The main objective though was staying warm.... I know down south my sister makes her wreaths outside but it's just not feasible here. I'd have all the wreath forms, ribbons, wire cutters, and floral wire bought ahead of time, plus accessories we could add on to the wreaths if we so desired. I've never been such a good wreath maker, but it turns out okay. I always make a swag to hang out on the mailbox stand.

Our Christmas decorations always include the outside and always looks so nice, not cluttered or junky. Some day I'll get ambitious enough to make a wreath to hang on every split rail fence post. Our neighbors and best friends usually get some kind of greenery creation when we're done. I'm afraid we'll no longer get our box of greenery from down south anymore because of the post office's new procedure for mailing boxes. In case you didn't know, they no longer go by weight, but by the size of the box. And I can say from experience, it's no longer cheap. So today or tomorrow, my sweet husband and I will go out into the woods to cut local greenery. It's okay, but we don't have cedar here or holly or boxwood. We have horribly spruce with horrible needles that stick you. We also have hemlock and pine. It'll work okay for swags but not so well for wreaths. I guess the best part of getting that box of greenery was it was sent with love. It was from my family, whom I miss so terribly this time of year. It was our one connection over the holidays. Oh, well. Life goes on.

We're expecting snow today.

my traditions this time of year

I know I'm not alone when I say, "I hit the after Thanksgiving Day sales." Yes, it's a family tradition even though I'm the only one in my family that does it. I tell my husband, "I go for the socks." Yea, ah ha.... sure.... But I do! My daughter gets a dozen new pair every year and the boys, too, get a dozen white sports socks. Course you can get them just as cheap a couple days later and avoid the morning madness, but it's that madness that I love. I love getting up early, with sleep still in my eyes, my hair a mess and coffee in hand and head out. Most years my sweet husband will go with me, support me, because he loves me that much. (Personally.... I think he has just as much fun as I do although he would never admit it!) For me it's the beginning of the Holiday season, of which I absolutely am crazy about. I don't care what time it is. I don't care that there are hordes of people. It's just fun. It's festive. People are happy. Plus there's free coffee and donut holes! So there you have it. It's all about the donut holes!

Let's see.... My Thanksgiving dinner is usually typical of one my mother would have made. I've had the same menu for all of my adult life, with few deviations. It's definitely a traditional dinner; very simply made with way too much food. It's always a good day though. We spend most holidays with my ex-husband and his wife. It hasn't always been this way, but we became friends after the divorce and it's good for the kids. This year Soapy asked to host dinner, which is a first. It should be a good day.

Here's the recipe for one of my traditional salads I serve on Thanksgiving Day. It's a recipe passed down from my mom, so holds a special place in my heart especially this time of year. She passed away two days before Thanksgiving 11 years ago.... This is a very sweet salad. Very delicious.

Carrot Salad

6 cups (about 4#) carrots, cut in 1" pieces, slightly cooked (until just crisp tender)
1 white onion, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp prepared mustard
1 tsp worcestershire
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup oil
1 can tomato soup

Mix all ingredients and pour over HOT carrots. Cool.

This is such a good salad and even if you don't care for carrots will find this a refreshing salad. Have a joyful day!

the day after the 4th

The 4th in Juneau is our biggest holiday. We have a population of about 32,000 and I think 30,000 turn out for the festivities! We have one highway to and from town. I take that back. We have the "old" Glacier Highway (two lanes) which was replaced by Egan Drive (four lanes). Egan is our main road. We have a town that sits on the side of the mountains and overlooks the water. We have limited parking. Yet, we have thousands and thousands of people who head downtown for this:

Brian Wallace, Juneau Empire

The parade of cars downtown starts early in the evening; by 8 p.m. That's because everyone has their favorite spot to sit and watch the fireworks and they do anything to claim their post. We have our fireworks at midnight on July 3. This is because it's not dark enough any earlier and if we had them on the 4th, it would be past every one's bedtime.


They fire the works off from a barge in the middle of the Channel (Gastineau Channel) and people line up wherever there's a view to watch. Boats anchor up in the Channel. People sit on top of buildings and climb the highest mountains. They park in the meridian of the highway, with their coolers of survival food (and beer), camp stools, boom boxes, and blankets. It's the biggest party of the year!


Then, on the 4th, is the parade. Again, the entire town shows up for the parade at 11:00. Again, with their camp stools and coolers of survival food. Heaven forbid that we should go hungry! The firetrucks are the first in line, tossing salt water taffy to all the kids, and adults :) It's a mad dash to see who can get to the candy first! Our floats aren't covered with carnations and other gorgeous flowers but crepe paper, spruce tree boughs, and other foreign objects.


Everyone with a cause is allowed to join the parade.... We have a lot of people marching--the Philippinos and Hawaiians in their garb and performing their national dance. Everyone with an antique car joins in. Marching bands. The best part of our 4th of July parade is.... it's always sunny! This is one thing you can pretty much count on every year.


My kids are grown and there's no longer that need to join in the festivities. So we've found other things to do over the 4th, but it's a little sad. I do miss the people, all 30,000 of them! I almost miss the parade of cars, the waiting to get somewhere. Being up past my bedtime. Maybe next year.

Happy 4th from Juneau!

easter past

I know Easter is over but I feel cheated.... I had so many cute decorations that I didn't get an opportunity to share with you. So if you'll just give me a minute, and give me a chance to share just a couple of my favorites.

Decorated Eggs: Here's one of my favorite decorated eggs. Isn't it precious?! In all fairness, the eggs were quite old.... as I had dyed and blown them out years and years ago; I just never finished decorating them. So a trip to our local Joann's and $33 later.... I had enough ribbon and sewing notions to decorate a hundred eggs.... never mind I only had eight to do! But it's such a simple and fun project that maybe next year I'll invite my daughter (Tracy) and my son's fiance (Michelle) to help. While "down south" recently, I found a book at Williams Sonoma on decorating eggs. Beading eggs will be next....

Sugar Cookies: And these are some of the 200 cookies we decorated the day before Easter (Tracy, Michelle, and I). Making decorated sugar cookies is an annual Christmas event with Tracy and I, but this year we invited Michelle and it was just that much more fun. I made the dough and baked the cookies the day before so we could get right down to business. Five hours later.... we were tired but so happy with the way they turned out. Aren't the carrots just the cutest? ;)

Easter is one of my favorite seasons, as it's so easy to do "homemade."

Tomorrow I look forward to sharing some of my other craft projects with you.... but now I really must get dressed and head to the first garage sales of the season! Wish me luck on some good finds!

Have a sunshiny day!