Happy New Year

Here we go again, another year under our belts! "Life is Good" and we are hitting those Bucket Lists like a storm....have to, but the problem is.....we keep adding to the lists. That's another blog in itself.....

Christmas was awesome, loved having the family here, all found a pillow and soft spot to crash, food was rampant, smiles big, hugs here and there, happy grandchildren, crafty women, funny gifts, serious gifts, meaningful gifts too. The most important thing for Bob and I is that our family was all here at one time and we wouldn't give that up for the world.


First (ANNUAL?) Gingerbread House making contest. Future Aunt Liz worked with Henry, Aunt Sarah with Eli, and Aunt Raina worked with Charley. The men voted and Barb (me!) was Jeff (like on Survivor) announcing how it was going and taking pictures too. I wanted no part of this, but it turned out to be extremely ***SPECIAL*** (thanks Sarah).


We are excited that Liz is joining our family, wedding will be June 23rd. She fits right in, loves the kids, loves Greg too of course, and helps around here to the max! She's also a true competitor and adds sparkle and input to everything we all do -- hot chocolate, wine, fresh veggies, and cool wrapped packages.

Just thought I'd quick post a blog because I'm happy and feeling good. Have used my new red Lodge porcelain enamel/cast iron pot the last 3 nights, new healthy recipes and all had carrots in them, so I think Bob is now ready for a PILE of cooked carrots all by themselves one of these days :-). It's been fun to experiment, mostly to have the time to do that without any obligations.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.
Smile, keep dreaming, loving those grandchildren, planning trips, reading, fishing, and anything else that makes your heart happy.

Inspired.........

Having fun at the B&B household in the Bay!

Here's my gift exchange for the Palasz/Schneider party:

And here are my "life changing" gifts for a member of our family. As I said, I was inspired to do this (by Sarah and her blog):

Trying to play Words with Friends on my iPad too, but there seems to be a hang up so I again will have to call (and be inspired by) Sarah.

Happy Holiday happenings to you at your house.

Hats

I want to make a hat calendar and thought if I posted this, then I'd have to do it.

Boston - from my camera's point of view

Words, words, words - I have too many so I will start by letting photos describe my
Boston adventure.

Trinity Church was awe-inspiring inside, said some prayers for my niece in this special place as the organ started to play.

Outside Trinity Church, facing the Boston Publilc Library (I think?) where we went inside and wandered around.

I'll leave this to your imagination but it made the three of us smile on our first hungry night.

We are on vacation, away from it all, distracted totally, in the "lounge" at the Sheraton.

The ceiling in Quincy Market where underneath many people enjoy feasts of all sorts.

Top & bottom, Quincy Market -- a fascinating place full of vendors selling food items of all sorts. It felt like we could walk a mile and still be surrounded by bagel pizzas, cupcakes, chowder and more....

Below is where I had lunch by myself, sitting at the "oyster bar" while it rained outside. I was in heaven.

A dumb waiter that was being used during the entire lunch.

My lunch at Union Oyster House - so much fun, it was amazing.

The Freedom Trail / Red Line, on a non-stop rainy day.

View of Boston skyline from the Salem Ferry. [Too choppy for me :-(]

Fried dough in Salem, Ma. Made fresh, sprinkled liberally with powdered sugar and then get it all over your jacket and face, delicious.

We sort of wanted to buy one of these hats, but realized we'd never ever wear it.

Being tourists was on our itinerary.

Velcro anyone? A day without a shoe untied is a day without Anna.

My favorite photo of the trip - on the Subway with friends.

What a view...

Our view from the 29th floor as we ate breakfast.

Boston residences

Rubbing the lucky golden shoe of Mr. John Harvard - or is it someone else?

Study group areas - Harvard Square

We hit the Starbucks across from Harvard and it hit the spot.

Our last photo - saw way too many of these donut shops in Boston.

Ok, back to those words, words, words ~~~ well, they'll be coming but would bore most of you, so you'll have to wait. Just listing some topics here so that I don't forget when I return to edit this: Taxis, coffee yogurt, Shaws, 5 Napkin Burger, shuttle adventure, yoga, Copley, Salem, queasy ferry ride, Newbury Street, concierge, Nertz, comparing head lamps in a dark motel room, Blue Man Group, Top of the Hub, Coach store & Boston Rob discussion, Fantasy Football discussion at Security, the Sheraton Hotel itself, Running the Wharf, Wrong floor, wrong room, Skinny menu, subway transit system....and more if I can remember.

TGIF - and there's nothing like good feelings on a Friday! Just thoughts I want to put down from my heart ....

Henry called me "Gram" at least 3 times when I visited him last time and it was special.

I hate to ask my friend Kathy AGAIN, but I will have to break down and ask her for that beet jelly recipe, one more time! Age has a way of rearranging my notes around the house.

I smile thinking of Greg & Liz getting married next June 23rd and the special time and place we will all enjoy.

I am so proud of Raina who puts on presentations and masters it; and includes me in her gluten free adventures too.

I smile thinking of Sarah away on a gals' weekend out East. I hope it's more than she hoped and she takes lots away that proves she's already an awesome mom, friend, wife and daughter!

Loving the beat of "Punked Up Kids" by Foster The People, dancing around the kitchen, and hoping the words are not rated R.

What's more fun than planning a trip with friends? Suitcase is on the spare bed and little things find there way in there - hope I can close the lid when the time comes to depart -- next week!

Some of my favorite pictures lately:

Sydney's toes peeking out of a corn pool on a gorgeous Fall day.

Raina & Lori, the last two left in the Spoons game - Survivor #6

Heading to Soldier Field to see the Badgers win.

You never know who will be a star when hanging with fun friends - Paul in the Amish countryside

Bob posing by Bill's car at Puckaway

A great dad, husband, father-in-law, grandpa and great grandpa, holding his current youngest great grandchild.

Happy Birthday Raina!!!

Hope you have a great weekend leading up to your Monday Birthday. You are special and a joy to have as a daughter. You are a great friend, wife, mother, sister and in-law too!! We wish you happiness and relaxation this year as new adventures and new life await you. You have jumped up and down higher than Sarah & Greg and kept us on our toes. We love you very much.

I'm trying to put a slide show here all about you, you and you - hope it works. Enjoy~~~

Another Bucket List item checked off!

Went to Lutherdale yesterday with two good "quilty" friends and browsed the quilts that would be auctioned off today at noon. Bob was working, so what the heck, I trekked back over to the auction, got caught in a big thunder storm, dark pouring rain, but I smiled and thought it was a great summer adventure (of course I had a super umbrella)! Voted for my favorite 3 (of which the winning 3 get hung for all to see and get auctioned off last). Guess what! I must have good taste because two of my favorites out of over 200 quilts were 2 of the three top choices! Anyway, I sat there with my book in case I got bored, and took it all in. Mostly ladies from all over the place, excited ladies, many of whom are quilters themselves.

Lutherdale itself is an awesome camp for kids and adults alike and we were introduced to the camp staff in a very fun way. Cream puffs and other goodies were sold. Then the auction began. I must have had a permanent smile for at least 45 minutes, before I finally relaxed. It was great.

I had a bidding number, yes, and of course got caught up in all the excitement, although I vowed not to and kept my card tucked inside my purse. I bid on one quilt, but it went higher than I wanted so I bowed my head. (You have to because otherwise they keep looking at you and encouraging you to bid higher.) Then a frivolous one came up for bid and I had to have it for a godchild of mine. I got it and was pleased to come home with something. Tried to bid on a Halloween table centerpiece item for my friend, but she wanted to pay $25 and it went for a whopping $185 -- ooops, out of our league!


Well, I wasn't bored, and I chatted with a couple of nice ladies around me who told me how it all worked and they were with friends and having a great time. Watching the audience is almost as much fun as listening to the auction itself.

I paid for my quilt, tramped back to my car half way through the auction, in wet mushy grass, but it was all worth it. Lots of smiling faces were sighted today. The $200 silent bid I put in on one king size quilt turns out to be a joke, because it was the top choice favorite of all and I'm sure it went for over $600, but I'll never know because I left. Quilts are artwork and should be treasured and handled with white gloves, but used! I came home and gently touched every single quilt in our house, most made by my mother-in-law and another hanging made by a good friend. I felt a bigger appreciation of their time and love. Cuddle up.

...the cottage, the cabin, the lake, up North...

Just a peek at some of us who love it up there. There will be more pix in my next post.

Happy Birthday Sarah

I am thinking of you lots today and enjoying the memories of 35 years with you in our lives. It is too special to describe in words. The joys you have given us are gifts we treasure, from the whining, thank-yous at night before you went to sleep, wonder and excitement you express/expressed for all new experiences, each new year in school, swimming for South, playing the flute, the red bike, the roller blades, playing school, hair cuts changing your personality, loving your grandparents, graduating and making us so proud, teaching, traveling to visit us, becoming a wife to a great guy, and now you're a wonderful mom. Have a special day and know that you are loved by many, but most of all by me and Dad.

The Path

The path around Geneva Lake never ceases to amaze me and it's enjoyable every time that my feet tread lightly.... Here are some photos from a recent walk with our friends. We took two separate walks that day - one before breakfast out of Williams Bay and then after breakfast out of Lake Geneva. Peeked at some quiet turtles and day dreamed about who lived in each house we passed. Even saw the trees where I want to play hide & seek someday.

We wished we could have gone further. Dogs on leashes and friendly walkers met us on our way.

Make it a Happy Summer!