So long 2011, Hello 2012

2011 was a good year, 2011 was a bad year.

Mostly good, as all of my family is healthy, we have a safe, comfortable home and I started my blog!

The bad is that I lost my full time job in September and though I have not found a new one, we are able to still live comfortably and I have enjoyed a bit of a work break after 32+ years of working.
I have looked for work but have not found anything yet.

The following 12 photos are snippets of our lives this past year. Not necessarily the best or worst, but a bit of something from each month.

January

New Years Day, 2011. All around the table for dinner. Bill is not wearing a shirt as he had surgery (shoulder replacement) just 3 days before. 

February

Snow, snow, snow!! It seldom snows here in Occidental, so flakes that last a bit on the table are something to get excited about :)

March

Nothing much going on this month but I did craft this Lucky Day wall hanging from 

my vintage supplies. 

April

My hubby and I went to Petaluma to check out the spring Antique fair and sale. Found  a few treasures, but it is always fun to see the value of things I already own! 

May

Scrapping with some friends on the Russian River. A beautiful spot to craft, chat and relax. 

June

Family reunion time! My hubby's family celebrates with a reunion here on the ranch every year, but my family, not so often. We should though, because we had a great time!

July

We had lots of fun activities going on in July, but I think Henry and I enjoyed a Giants game at AT&T park the most. Especially as the Giants won!

August
August was a quiet month, I worked a lot. But we did take time to help Aunt Joanne celebrate her birthday. Happy Birthday Joanne! 

September

Since my job ended in September and I had been working a lot the last few months I decided I needed a real vacation. So I went up to my sister's in Oregon for a week to shop and play. 

October

I was off work just about three weeks when my old employer called me and asked if I could go to Boulder, CO and help out for a week. A free trip to Colorado, sure!

November

My friend Jenny was expecting a baby and our friend Heather and I hosted a shower for her with all our scrappy, crafty friends sharing in Jenny's joy. Jenny was due on Jan 2nd, but her sweet Isabel could not wait that long and she arrived on December 15th, a healthy bundle of JOY! 

December
December is always a busy month, with all the holiday activities, decorations and baking. One of my favorite things to do is bake goodies to share with friends and family.
One of my favorites is decorating sugar cookies with my boys.

Right now there is less than three hours until 2012. I hope the new year brings
everyone good health and happiness.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

November Daily Thankfulness x3

November 28th, 29th & 30th.

I have not been on the computer much in the last 3 days. One of the reasons why is that I am very thankful for the early Christmas gift I received. A new iPhone! 

My son gave it to me for Christmas and let me have it early. I have had so much fun playing with it I have not been here! I am so very thankful the last three days of November. 

And busy crafting (to be seen tomorrow). 

And taking down all the Fall decor so I can put out all my Christmas decorations. 

I can't wait to put the Christmas decor around the house! 

The trees, the village, Santas, Snowmen, and more! 

I will post my hand crafted decor after I put it all up around the house. 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 26th

Today I am thankful to be home! 

I enjoyed my visit with my sister in Oregon. We had a nice visit, ate a delicious Thanksgiving meal, had a fun day out shopping (away from the big box stores). I did my Small Business Saturday shopping on Friday! 

But home safe and sound in my own bed is wonderful!

Today we drove home from Oregon down Hwy 5. Not as lovely a drive as Hwy 101, but there was a dusting of snow on the hills and Mt Shasta's snow covered peak was beautiful! 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 24th and 25th

Since I am away from home right now, celebrating the Thanksgiving weekend with my sister in Oregon, my Internet access is limited. 

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and we had just a small group to celebrate, me, my sister Lou, my hubby Bill and son Henry. Though we were a small group, we had a big meal. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans (but not the yucky green bean casserole, sorry if you like it), cranberries and pumpkin pie for dessert. Champagne and cider to top off the meal.

I was so thankful for my family there, but missed my two older sons, Daniel and Ben. Daniel was at his girl friends as he could not travel to Oregon with us and Ben had to work. Ben thankfully had a holiday meal with all his co-workers, so he got to celebrate too.

It is hard now that my boys are growing older and not always with us to celebrate every holiday. But they have grown into wonderful young men who have never given us any serious trouble and avoided so many of the trials that teens go through. They make us proud!

Today we will all be shopping, but hitting all the "fun" stores and avoiding the big "Black Friday"

crowds at the mall and big box stores.

I am thankful today for shopping in Oregon, no sales tax!!!

November Daily Thankfulness

November 22 and 23rd

I was busy yesterday the 22nd getting ready to travel north to visit my sis in Oregon. I did not get a chance to post for yesterday,so I guess I am thankful I was busy getting ready to travel.

Today we traveled up hwy 101and hwy 199 to my sister's in Oregon. We started out with cloudy weather from home to Eureka and after Eureka we hit lots of rain. All the way north.

But despite the rain, the trip was uneventful. Just lots and lots of beautiful scenery to admire. The Avenue of the Giants is always a beautiful side route to follow and hwy 199 along the Smith river is another beautiful roadway. The fall color was beautiful in the vineyards and the trees. One of my favorite times of the year.

I am very thankful we had no car trouble and the roadways were clear, even with all the rain.

And now turkey day tomorrow! Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, cranberries and pumpkin pie.

Yummm!!!

November Daily Thankfulness

November 21st

Today I am thankful for these two little fur babies, Hayley and Trigger. 

They always greet you at the door with excited faces and wagging tales. No matter what the day may have brought you, they are happy to see you! 

They require so little. A warm bed, a full dinner bowl and a scratch or two behind the ears and they will love you forever. It is easy to be thankful for such devotion and love. 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 20th

Today I am thankful for my hubby, Bill. 

Today I hosted the baby shower for Jenny. We had a great group of gals come to celebrate with Jenny and are looking forward to welcoming baby Isabel. 

The shower went well and after all the ladies left, I had pile of dishes to clean. I put the leftovers away, and was going to relax for a bit before "clean up". But my hubby went in the kitchen and started cleaning up the kitchen, loaded the dishwasher and washed all the big bowls, etc.
While I relaxed and posted my photos from the shower on Facebook. 

I didn't ask or expect Bill to clean up after my party, but I appreciate that he did. 

We have been married almost 32 years now (come February).

There have been ups and downs as in all marriages, but over time Bill has been very thoughtful and I am thankful to have shared my life with him. 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 19th

Tomorrow I am hosting a baby shower for my friend Jenny. Her daughter Isabel is only about 6 weeks from making her debut to the world. 

Our friend Heather is co-hosting the shower with me. I have been having so much fun planning the shower as I have three boys and seldom get to live in a world of pink and girly stuff! 

Today I bought a few last minute items for the shower. I went to our local candy emporium Powell's Sweet shop to buy pink M&M's and Jelly Belly's for the shower. 

I looked on line for candy in pink and there were so many to choose from. But since I needed them for just the shower, I did not want to buy the big minimum quantities, so I bought mine locally. 

But there were so many choices! Pages and pages of candy in pink! 

And just as many for other colors also! 

jelly bellies   Pink M&M's

So today I am thankful my friend Jenny is going to become the mom she has wanted to be for a long time, in just six or so weeks. And thankful I have been able to plan this shower for her to celebrate Isabel's arrival.
And thankful to play in a world of pink! 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 18th

I am thankful today for my sister-in-law Joanne. She is my not only my sister-in-law but my friend.
I can always count on her for help, for fun, for anything!

She has been very good to her nephews and taken them on many trips and adventures.



She is funny and giving. She is the family historian and always keeps in touch of all of the family,
both near and far. We love her and are thankful she lives right next door!

November Daily Thankfulness x3

November 15th, 16th & 17th. 

Three days of thankfulness I missed posting, but the three things I am most thankful for. 

My three boys. 

No longer this small and sweet, but still my most precious treasures. 

I am even more thankful for the three fine young men they have grown to be. 

November Daily Thankfulness x2

Missed a day, so I have two to post today!

November 13th.

I am thankful for one of our fall and winter traditions here on the ranch. When we can burn chip piles from the firewood we have a hot dog roast over the coals. 

Usually the coals are just right about dinner time. 

We cook the "dogs" on the pitch fork and eat outside in the field. A cold weather picnic. 

And I am even more thankful when we have marshmallows to roast too!

November 14th. 

The holiday season is upon us, less than 2 weeks until Thanksgiving. And the Christmas ads are already in full swing. 

I love the holidays and love to decorate. 

I am thankful this love of decorating has rubbed off on my sons. They spent their Sunday putting out the holiday lights and figures. Our yard is  alight with Christmas Cheer/1 

November Daily Thankfulness

Novenber 12th.

Today was a quiet day. I didn't have to go anywhere and chose not to go anywhere. 

I relaxed a little, cleaned a little, watched a movie. Baked a cake, made a big pot of chili for dinner. 

Thankful that there was no where I had to go today and make that 15-20 mile drive just to get gas, groceries or about anything. 

Thankful that I could just enjoy a relaxing day and take the time to appreciate a beautiful sunset. 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 11th.

11/11/11

Today is a day we should all be thankful. And not just on 11/11/11, Veteran's Day.
But every day. Especially thankful for our service men and women,
in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard, Coast Guard and all who have served to protect our nation and our flag. Many serve even when they are not sure of the reasons they have been sent to serve, but honor the pledge they took to serve their country and defend our flag.

My Heros


Ray Feige             William Feige              John Nally

Thank you for your service.

November Daily Thankfulness

November 10th.

Football ended tonight. My sons freshman team played their last game of the season.
No, they did not win, but they played with heart. They were a very small team, usually only 3 to 5 team members on the sidelines during games, while opposing teams often had 20 to 30 players on the sidelines waiting to play.

I am thankful that no player was hurt this season.
And that all the boys played to win, despite being out numbered by every other team.


My son is the big guy, #60. 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 9th.

Today I am thankful for my scrap room and all my scrap, craft & sewing supplies. 

I love to craft all the time and having a full supply of goodies in my room means I can start a project whenever inspiration hits! And not have to run out to the store to find something. Which is hard to do at 11:00 pm at night, especially when you live out in the country. 

I will be the first to admit that my room seldom looks like this! Usually after a bout of crafting it looks like a hurricane blew through the room! 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 8th.

Today I am thankful for modern medicine! I recently had a cold and like almost all of the colds I get, they turn into a nasty dry cough. It is hard to talk, hard to do much activity and hard to breathe if I go outside in the cold dry air. 

I made an appointment with my doctor today, after only a week and a half of this cough. Usually I wait three weeks before I break down and see the Dr. This time I decided why wait 3 weeks? Why not see the Dr. early and get rid of it sooner!

 Three prescriptions later (a pill and two inhalers) I am hopefully on the mend. 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 7th.

Today I am thankful for being able to spend some time with my friend Heather working on 

"baby shower" projects our friend Jenny. 

We are hosting a shower for Jenny in a couple of weeks and needed to get together to plan and work on favors and such. The photo above is just a "sneak peek" of the shower decorations, since Jenny reads my blog, I can't share all the decorations until the shower. 

Jenny has been wanting a baby for a long time and we are all excited for her and her hubby Jimmy to welcome Isabel Dorothy when she arrives around Jan 1st or 2nd. 

(Or when Isabel decides it is time to arrive! )

November Daily Thankfulness

November 6th.

Today I am thankful for sweet little babies. I got to meet the newest member
of my extended family today.

Sweet little Chase.

He is just a month old and this was the first time I could get together with his mom to meet him. I wanted to see him last week, but I had a nasty cold and did not want to expose the little guy to that! 

A new baby is like the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.
Eda J. Le Shan

Sweet little babies, so new, so perfect, so loved! 

Welcome little Chase! We are so thankful you are here and glad to have you join our family!

November Daily Thankfulness

November 5th.

Today I will be thankful for the rain. A few days ago I was thankful for the sunshine so I could finish a painting project. Now I am thankful for today's rain. 

It is getting late in the season and this is only the second rain we have had and it is needed! I love the rain and winter season. Rainy days are so nice for staying inside and reading, snuggling on the couch or doing a fun crafty project. 

Plus, I am getting tired of watering my potted plants on my deck! 

November Daily Thankfulness

November 4th.

Today I am grateful for the fresh eggs we receive from our chickens. We started raising chickens this spring when my son Daniel built a chicken coop and bought 10 little chicks. Five Red Sex Links and five Ameraucanas. In September he added four mallard ducks to our brood.

We ended up with two roosters in the bunch. One we returned to the farm supply, the other we kept. He greets us with his crowing at all times of the day and night, not just dawn. I don't know how much longer my son will keep him around. I sleep right through his crowing!

Each day we check the nests and there are often two or three eggs. Or more. When we hear a lot of cackling from the hen house, sure bet there is another egg.
The girls are quite proud of themselves when they deliver!
And it is a double delight when these fresh eggs contain a double yolk! Something you seldom find in eggs from the grocery store!

We have had cattle and sheep here on the ranch for years. Raising animals is part of our routine.

But to enjoy the fresh eggs our new hens produce
is truly something to be thankful for!