Caribbean Craziness

For his birthday, Frank asked for a 2-week Caribbean vacation. So we had 1 day in the islands.

Frank's and Emma's Caribbean vacations started with the decorating committee of Chelsea and MJ. They made jelly fish, an egret, hibiscus flowers, and other memorabilia. We blew up balloons and hung crepe paper with "Welcome to the Caribbean" signs. Then Ella showed up! (Note the balloons resting on the deerhead.)Emma put on her lei and grass skirt while Erin and Lila tried to do a Caribbean hula for Papa.
One of Frank's presents was a lobster red, lobster-shaped hot mitt for his cooking protection.

The grass-skirt people included Emma, Chloe, and Chelsea enjoying a mango/strawberry Caribbean smoothie. After smoothies and other blended concoctions, we made roast beef, salami, havarti, turkey, provolone panini sandwiches on ciabatta bread. Special regae music was provided by MJ via her ipod playlist. Chloe did a pretty good hula! And Angelo does a natural swing (with his tail and whole body)!

GG turned 87 on April 9th, Emma turned 9 on April 24th, Frank hit a year ending in "0" on the 27th, and Mary hit a year ending in "5" on the 29th.

A marvelous time was had by all!

Update on the Spaghetti Dinner June 7th

Many of you are wondering, as are we, if the kitchen at St. Mary's will ever be done (remodeled) and if we at Sons of Italy in Marysville will ever be able to hold our spaghetti dinner fundraiser. Well, there is hope. Tony P reports that the new wiring looks complete, something is being done with the venting, and a couple of appliances are in. No floor tho, and more of the cabinets have been torn out. More about this piece of suspense as soon as I hear!

Larry C's big day and other doings

Larry C. had a heart attack on Sat. the 26th about noon. He's OK now. He was out mowing the lawn and went back in the house, dizzy, and told Sandy he didn't feel good. Sandy says that he then proceeded to make funny noises and his eyes rolled back and she called 911. Ilwaco Hospital or the aid car, unclear which, found him in fibrilation, about 250-285 beats per minute. Meds didn't stop it, so they applied the paddles and brought him back. They then shipped him to a hospital in Portland, Emmanuel something, where he had an angiogram yesterday. Angiogram was clear. This am, doctors were to decide whether to treat him with drugs or implant a pacemaker/defibrilator. We will talk with Larry at 6 tonight and find out what happened. He was resting comfortably at 6 last night.

Happy birthday wishes to Frank, Emma and my mom. We celebrated yesterday with a Caribbean party complete with rum punch, pina coladas, pineapple and coconut, and jellyfish!
Chels and MJ did the decorating and wore grass skirts and leis, as did Frank and Emma!! We made good use of the new blender, a C present from Erin and Erik, and the panini press, last year's b present from F and V. Pictures next post, I'm positive.

Razor clam tides this weekend, 4th and 5th, at Copalis. Tom is thinking of going down and digging with Cliff.

White in Coulee

I woke up about 8 AM and the ground and sky and hills were all white! Beautiful....

More soon!

Thursday Thirteen Code

Thirteen Things about Places I've Been 1. On a local ferry named "La Bamba" between St. Thomas and Tortola in the British Virgins. 2. On a sailboat in the Caribbean, island hopping, with Cap'n Frank, 1st Mate Veronica and deck crew Tom. Barbecueing on the back rail, chasing the Laughing Gulls away, and drinking funny punch. 3. On a ferry between Edmonds and Kingston watching the dolphins chase us, having my first Coke (it came up my nose), and on my way to stay in Poulsbo with Grandma Hayes and Grandpa Alec. 4. On a sailboat I named the Enjoye in San Francisco Harbor, once tied to the pilings of the Bay Bridge for the night, and several nights being towed back to Alameda since we had no money for an engine. 5. On a 13' boat out of Sekiu with 10 foot waves and 18 salmon on board! Just trying to stay in the boat and clean 18 fish was a real trick! 6. On a Sea of Cortez tour boat in the harbor at Cabo San Lucas, watching Argentinians dance and waiters pouring Tequila Sunrises. 7. On a sailing pirate ship in the harbor of Cancun with lots of swashbuckling pirates sailing the ship, and then being by pirates from another ship. Very entertaining! 8. On a 13' Valco motoring out to the dolphin at Mission Bar at midnight with no lights and just for fun! Very quiet and full of awsomeness. 9. On a float plane on Great Slave Lake out of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, to see the tundra terrain from the air. The natives took floatplanes wherever they needed to go, like to a doctor or a hospital, and tourists/fishermen used them to get to floating fishing camps. 10. On a rowboat on a lake (St. Mary's?) in Glacier Park, Montana. 11. On a ferry from Anacortes to the San Juan Islands (Guaymes, Shaw, San Juan, Orcas). Totally beautiful and wonderful on a sunny day. 12. On one of the tall sailing ships, a barque in Port Gardner Bay, when it sailed in to give tours. 13. On a 16 ft. runabout with 10 ft. rollers in the Straits of Juan de Fuca when Joe O. and Tom were seasick, Karen and Jason not much better, and I piloted the boat back to the dock!

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Critter land in Coulee

The Punteney's have a new blog called "couleecritters" if you want to check it out. Randi set it up for them.

Speaking of the Punteney's, Tom and I and Angelo will be heading over there to Coulee this morning. We'll be celebrating Pat's birthday and just visiting with everyone. We'll be home next Monday so I'll talk with you all then.

Tuesday Tidbits April 15th

Tax Day! Sinking of the Titanic Day! Sandy's Birthday!!

Today was a nice day. I slept soundly until 8:30, probably because Tom had such a wonderful fire going and the whole house was snugly! And, he let Angelo out before he had a chance to wake me. GG had her Korean neighbor for company and bagels this morning so I didn't pick her up until 12:30 to run to Prov for the pro-time blood test. GG is on cumudin (sp?) blood thinner since before her open heart surgery last August, and she needs a blood test every couple weeks to make sure the cumudin level is "just right", not too thin and not too thick!

We went to the old C Van's meat market on 15th and Rucker in Everett. It has been converted into The Red Umbrella Restaurant with soups, sands and salads, along with a latte bar and a wine bar, and lots of cozy little tables. We had the roast beef and cheddar on wheat with a bowl of fruit and raspberry Italian sodas. Very nice. We're going back. After lunch we drove thru north Everett admiring all the blooming trees: magnolia (tulip, light and dark pink), cherries (Whitecomite or something like that); and plants: Irish bells, forsythia, rhodies, Star magnolias, and many more. Beautiful. I especially like the pink star magnolias since I only remember them being white in years past.

We drove out Mukilteo Boulevard to find more beauty but it didn't get much better than around 15th and Rucker! North Everett is really beautiful. Also all the cherry trees are in bloom on 16th St and almost as gorgeous as the UW Quad , MJ. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera. GG and I enjoyed the trip, even cruised thru Forest Park but there wasn't much blooming there yet.

And tonight, Chelsea called Papa and wanted to escape so he picked her up and brought her to the beach. She spent most of her time here on the laptop. Then we went to Froso's for huge shrimp Caesar salads for both Tom and Chelsea. I love their dinner salad which is covered in shredded mozzarella and my favorite ranch. Num!

So, we stopped by Staples cuz Chelsea needed pencils and we bought cool erasers for the rest of the girls. Discussed spaghetti dinner options with Chris and Denise, watched the beginning of Biggest Loser, and raced home about 8:30 to watch the big finish. Of course Allison won and we were pretty much rooting for Kelli. They both gave their all!

So now it's after 11 and I'm having breakfast early tomorrow am at Jake's in Snohomish with Rita, Ginger, Don, et al. Then there's Lodge at 6:30. We're taking pesto.

Ciao Bella!
Labels: Doings, GG

Friday Fill-In #67 (but my first!)

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday, April 11, 2008

1. I love springtime in the winter!
2. Eggs Benedict, sausage and eggs, and cheesy omelets are foods I love to eat for breakfast.
3. It seems I'm always searching for my reading glasses!
4. Reading til I fall asleep is a great way to end the day.
5. I think I will make the Grand Marnier/cream cheese dip with fresh fruit for Rita's birthday! YUM!
6. Trail mix with lots of peanuts and M & M's is what I've been craving lately.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to seeing the Blair's new house in Arlington and having a crab louie for dinner, tomorrow my plans include a birthday lunch for Rita and Sunday, I want to work at the rest area, update my blog and do a late Friday Fill-In!

Tampico's and Angelo

Angelo, our "Italian English Springer Spaniel" taken tonight.
( He wouldn't stand up so you can't really see his new haircut.)

And, more pictures of my flowers!

Last night we had a really nice time at Tampico's with Veronica, Frank, MJ and Chloe. We had margaritas, chile verde in all forms, tamales and enchiladas. MJ and Chloe had their favorite virgin strawberry margaritas and Chloe had flan. We hadn't had a chance to just visit in forever, it seems, so this was good. We caught up on news and friends from the old neighborhood in Marysville (John, Linda, Jim, Danelle, Tara, Ashleigh, Billie, Kelly's and many more). It was also my first chance to see Chloe's tiny new tiny nose jewel. It's pretty. MJ has controlled herself for the moment but will, I'm sure, head back for more piercings as soon as she is allowed or turns 16!! She already has two nose rings and lots of ear piercings. We'll see what happens next, right , MJ?

The Maier family will be in one of the Carolina's in September for the Unschooling Conference where Veronica will be one of the noted speakers. From there they fly to New York, and on to Ireland and Italy. They hope to spend some good time with Chiara and her family as well as realizing the lifelong dream of visiting Ireland. I think I must have mentioned this trip before in my blog because now I remember saying "I'm so jealous!" MJ will have her camera and will, I'm sure, keep me posted visually!

And, as for tomorrow, it's housecleaning time and laundry day. How exciting!

The Doings, as Veronica calls it

Sunday April 6th was Angelo's 5th birthday. Angelo is our "Italian" English Springer Spaniel, he is beautiful but not very well-mannered when the girls come in the house. He is positive they have come only to see him and he gets a little over-ecstatic. But Happy Birthday, Angelo. We have suffered thru many epileptic seizures with Angelo, so his having made it this far is a miracle attributable to pet meds! Angelo got his spring haircut on Thursday, "pictures at 11".

On Monday both the male and the female loons appeared. They are so big and so gorgeous in their spring plumage. They are still here enjoying the good diving (loons can dive to 300 feet we read!). We also have a pair of Mallards, they alternate between the estuary out front, the drainage ditch out back, and the pond in the Cox's field! They have stayed around for a couple weeks. Last week we had a pair of white swans on the jetty; very gorgeous, but I didn't get to see them fly away. We have innumerable Eagles, one young mottled Eagle that perches on the roof 2 doors down, and many Osprey, terns, seagulls, and Golden-eye. Wednesday we had a Greater Yellow Legs calling to us and searching the lapping water for special treats. The Grebes were singing last evening, it was still 70 degrees at 6PM. We don't have very many Grebes yet, but I love it when they sing. We will have a Grebe songfest about the first of June, or the first warm evening.

Wednesday I went to Jake's in Snohomish for breakfast with the SHS Class of 61 crew. Ginger brought her neighbor Nadine who quilts and Sarah's daughter Monica joined us. Monica is working in Redmond, volunteering, and hoping for a part-time position soon. And Saturday, Sandie had a few of us over to celebrate Rita's birthday. It was a big one, ending in 5! Ginger, Sally, Dede, Rita and I had a wonderful little party. Betty was at a wedding and Sue couldn't come. We think Diane is in Arizona at her sister's. Happy Birthday, Rita!

Next week is Sandy C's birthday on the 15th. Scott will be celbrating his on the 16th in either Louisiana or Arkansas. And, we leave to visit Pat and Allison in Coulee on the 17th, after the Mille Cugini meeting on the night of the 16th. We will again be celebrating Pat's birthday (on the 20th), his 51st this time!!! April is quite the birthday month!! Buon compleanno to all!

Ciao for now!

A Thousand Cousins (Mille Cugini)

Tom and I belong to the Sons of Italy, Marysville Lodge #2659, and the lodge's name is "Mille Cugini" which translates from the Italian to "a thousand cousins" in English. Everyone of Italian descent and everyone who is a "wannabe" Italian is welcome to join a local lodge. We trace our heritage back to Italian home towns, discover our heritage, and try to retain Italian customs, dances, songs and "Tradition". The Sons of Italy sponsors the Italian Festa at Seattle Center the last weekend of September. Our Canonica family has a full-fledged celebration of Columbus Day.

Since we joined the Italian Lodge about 12 years ago, we have become pretty involved and we have a lot of fun. Tom's son and daughter-in-law have also joined and are totally involved in our annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser in Marysville. This year the dinner is schedule for May 3rd at St. Mary's in Marysville. Unfortunately, the church chose this spring to renovate the kitchen, and it was supposed to be completed in March. Of course, it isn't complete, just barely started, so we will have to change the date or change the venue. We will keep you posted.

Well, what I started to say was that we, as a group, also do some community service which gives us some good feelings. Tom and I are both past presidents of Mille Cugini and are currently serving as State Deputies, Tom to Sno-King Lodge in Shoreline, and me to Bel Porto Lodge in Bellingham. This weekend, Sno-King Lodge provided the free coffee concession at the Northbound Smokey Point rest area on I-5, so Tom and I worked the noon to 6 shift, raked in a couple hundred dollars in donations, and had a wonderful time talking with all the travelers heading to Bellingham, the Tulip Festival in Mt. Vernon, Ferndale, and Canada. I had a memorable conversation with Kaiser, an 18 month old boy, who had a wonderful time grinning at me, and I grinned and baby-talked right back. What fun! I also met a couple from Viet Nam, a Grandma and Grandpa who had just landed at SeaTac and were on their first outing in the USA. They headed for the men's restroom together and I tried to explain. Not much luck. The daughter then translated. I learned that "Mama" in Vietnamese is "Ma", not sure of the spelling so when I tried to explain "Mama" and pointed to the women's room, and I further explained "Papa" and pointed to the men's room, I at least was headed in the right direction!

So, about Bel Porto Lodge in Bellingham. If any of you is planning to attend the Sea to Ski celebration that has been a Bellingham tradition of many years on Memorial WeekEnd, be sure to stop by the Sons of Italy meatball sandwich booth on Cornwall. It's on the parade route and their sausage sandwiches are REALLY good with great marinara, fried green peppers and onions. They may even be serving Italian sodas. And tell them Mary sent you!

Spring Flowers April 2008

My present to myself a couple days ago was this pot of spring flowers. They're so pretty, I bought two! One for Rita's 65th!! birthday, can you believe it!, and one for myself. I LOVE them!

...And more players!!

Devon Tom Mannus Vince, the big winner!

....More Poker April 5th, 2008

Joe and Chris, neither one came out on top, in fact they went home when I did about 11 PM.

Pat's 50th+Birthday and Poker Party

Pat finally got to celebrate his 50th birthday! He did it in fine style by playing poker with a bunch of high school friends and family. Allison brought Lonnie over from her work, Tom and I were there of course, Vince, Chris, Joe and Devon and many others. I'll try to load additonal pictures in my next blog.

Pat is sporting a shiner, an infected eye which he acquired in California the day before, and which he had treated in Mt.Vernon Saturday am.

Vince was one of the big winners! The rest of us just had fun playing Texas Hold 'Em with a lot of great people from Marysville High Class of 75. Thanks for the great party, Pat and Allison. Oh, and have a Happy 51st Birthday on April 22nd!!

HEEEEEERE's MADISON!!! It's spring break this week for the Everett School District and Madison has been out to stay a couple times. Yesterday we went shopping along with MJ and spent The Divine Miss M's gift cards from Old Navy. She got a new volleyball, very cool, new sweats, skort, top, flipflops and EYESHADOW!! We all had a great time! This morning Madison had to model the new duds, including the new flipflops. Cool 9-yr old!!

MJ got new shorts and eyeshadow. We all got lunch at Panda at Alderwood.

This afternoon, as we were leaving MJ's, Mads blew kisses to Trey who screamed and ran away! We dropped MJ, Chelsea, and Chloe off at the big house on Ev Avenue. Megan and Mads, too! They were going to do the laundry and help Chelsea work up the courage to get a piercing this evening. We'll see what happens!

Pat and Allison are on their way to Bellingham; Pat is finally celebrating his 50th birthday at the Tulalip Best Western. It's pretty close to his 51st birthday but health problems kept the celebrations to a minimum last year. This is a Texas Hold Em extravaganza, followed by trips to The Q by those of us who fold early!

Tonight, Tom and I and the Pets are going to Angels of the Wind for the 99-cent entrees for dinner. And the Pets have never been there. I'm sure we'll win at least $600 like Joe J. did last time we went! The Knight in Shining Armour won at Ringquest!!

Scott should be at Chris and Don's in Tularosa by now but he hasn't put anything on his blog; he probably has no connection until he goes to the Tularosa Library where Chris volunteers. First, they were going sledding in the White Sands outside Alamagorda! Wish we were there. It should be pretty warm.

Arrividerci!

Monday Meanderings

So, I've been thinking about that week in Hawaii and remember a lot of details, so below are 10 memories of a week on Waikiki:

1. Grandma Hayes was visiting Ross and Barb at their apartment just off Waikiki. and she would walk to town with us and join in the festivities. She was probably about 70.
2. We decided we could spend our Christmas money and fly to Hawaii, also, inviting ourselves for a week.
3. We flew in on Christmas Eve when the airline was serving free Tom and Jerry's, followed by heavy sidewinds as we landed, which were followed by heavy airsickness.
4. Brother Ross and wife Barb had two twin beds so we split the boxsprings from the mattresses and had beds for 4! Someone didn't sleep, I think!
5. Ross was stationed at Pearl Harbor on either the USS Tiru or the USS Blackfin submarine and they had recently returned from Japan and the coast of Viet Nam (they were never in Nome).
6. We played a lot of Monopoly, saw the turtles, stood in the waterfall on the Pali, chased critters on the walls.
7. We went to a few night clubs; in my mind, we saw Don Ho (did that really happen?) and sang Tiny Bubbles, and another night went to a piano bar where we sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and I've not been able to stomach the song since.
8. We danced a couple nights at an open air bar on the beach; the bar was called Queen's Surf. It was a great nightspot! The perfect Hawaiian venue.
9. On New Year's Eve, we ate dinner at Dairy Queen (broke) and walked up and down the main drag with the rest of the population of Waikiki. Everyone hugged, kissed, drank and celebrated the new year in the street, must have been 1969??
10. We ate a box of confiscated steaks and almost nothing else the entire week.

Ten Things That I've Done that You Probably Have Not

1. Grew up on a dairy farm outside Snohomish, shoveling stuff and working hard; driving a tractor, a 52 Jimmy, cutting hay, stomping silage, climbing a silo!

2. Had fun as a Junior Counselor as an 8th grader, at Camp Silverton, with all the 5th graders as campers.

3. Worked in a food booth at the Seattle Worlds Fair in 1962, serving milkshakes and crab salads. The booth manager absconded with the money! Other workers were college students from Texas, California and Seattle.

4. I have a lot of relatives that seem to get caught up in earthshaking disasters:
Lynn 9-11-2001 in NYC; Veronica, Frank, MJ and Chloe in New Orleans during Katrina and Rita, then Key West for Wilma; V & L's Aunt Barbie, husband and children lost on Mt. St. Helen's in 1980.

5. Spent 3 weeks in the sun in Cabo this past January.

6. Lived in San Francisco for 3 years, on Mt.Davidson.

7. Worked in San Francisco for a time in 1964 before quitting to go to CWSU.

8. Spent a night on a sailboat tied to the pilings of the Bay Bridge (no engine). The tide eventually turned and we sailed back to Alameda.

9. Spent Christmas in Hawaii once.

10. Sailed out the Golden Gate without getting seasick!

Tagged by the Zombie Queene

Well, whatever "meme" means, I've been tagged to do the alphabet meme by the Zombie Queene who was tagged of course by Zenmomma. Here's my first try:

A-Available? For lunch, for dinner, for fun!
B-Best friend: Tom
C-Cake or Pie? Pie! I just made wild mountain blackberry and had some for breakfast!
D-Drink of choice: Smith and Wesson; it's a great Kahlua and vodka kick! Also White chocolate mochas!
E-Essential thing used everyday: My arms! to hug my husband, my dog, my grandkids, my kids and maybe even myself!
F-Favorite color: I have several favorites but Raspberry has been coming first lately, then striking aqua blue, and of course purple.
G-Gummi bears or worms: Bears, I guess. But I'm with Qacei and Ronnie on this: Swedish Fish!
H-Hometown: I was born in Snohomish, Washington, lived in Concrete for a few years, and grew up on a dairy farm near Machias. The barn is still standing!
I-Indulgence: Angelo, MJ, Chloe, Chelsea, Megan, Madison, Colin, Emma, Ella, Lila!And purses!
J-January or February: February cuz Valentine's Day gives you warm huggies.
K-Kids and names: Veronica Ann, Lynn Christine, and Christopher Mathew
L-Life: Has been an adventure and is passing in the blink of an eye!
M-Marriage date: Independence Day, 1992 was anything but!
N-Number of siblings: I one of 6: 2 sisters, 3 brothers.
O-Oranges or apples: Oranges, big juicy ones; maybe tangelos.
P-Phobias: A little claustrophobic and always need some fresh air; in a car, in a plane, never on a train! (I think I'm Dr. Seuss)
Q-Quote: "Cognac, you shitdumb!" VAP age 3
R-Reason to smile: I live at the beach and can walk it, enjoy the lap of the water, and be refreshed instantly.
S-Season: Summer.
T-Tag three people: I'll choose Denise, Allison, and Chloe.
U-Unknown fact about me: I don't think there are any, or if there is one, I'm entitled to it, don't you think? I like that answer and I'm leavin' it! Invoke the 5th Amendment!!
V-Vegetable you don't like: Canned peas and canned spinach.
W-Worst habit: Loving the thrill of the hunt for the perfect machine at the casino!
X-X-rays you have had: Knees, before and after; teeth, hands.
Y-Your favorite food: Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad, chocolate, Turtles, breakfast out!
Z-Zodiac: Taurus, aka big purse and lots of money!

Tom's Update

My blog has been "google-ized" so it has taken me a few moments (days? weeks?) to get back on board. Tom has two aneurysms of the aorta in his abdomen, one above the other. The doctor, rather surgeon, has suggested Tom wait until they are larger and then determine the best procedure to follow. Abdominal surgery is risky and requires a difficult recovery. Dr. Cook hopes to have studied and perfected the new stent graft procedure currently being developed in England, and then he can perform that on Tom later this year. The next CT scan is scheduled for 7/17 to make sure the aneurysms are not getting too big or growing too quickly. The idea is that it took many years for them to reach their current size of 3.8 cm and 5 cm and they will stay dormant until the end of the year. Cross your fingers. More on this in July.

A new twist today is Tom's chronic bronchitis that has been coming on and being treated since January. Today he had several pulmonary tests on his lungs, what else? and was told his oxygen levels are good, lung capacity is diminished somewhat, and when albuterol is used, lung capacity increases 24%, which the technician says is "significant". He may have to begin using inhalers. The culprit is many things, diabetes, heart disease, bad arteries! More later....