it's in the little things

Yes, my husband is home from Alaska!!

Life is bright and busy again.  I've been enjoying the little things, the tiny moments that happen and are gone in a flash unless you really, really pay attention and hold onto them as long as you can.  For example, riding shotgun as we travel down the highway, windows down, sunroof open, sun shining, singing along to classic country songs, my hand on his leg, his arm resting on my arm.  Just like that.  Nothing fancy.  Just together.

We've been really living up the mundane.  Like shopping for bed sheets.  And going to the Department of Licensing.  And making a Costco trip.  And this one week has come and gone in the blink of an eye.  I'm just thankful for my husband and our life together.  I wouldn't want it any other way.


Life around here in pictures:

Heart shaped wildflowers...

 

Industrious honeybees...

 

 

Sweet Pea blossoms...

 

 

A breakfast fit for royalty:  garden grown summer squash, beets, and basil alongside store bought carrots and onions, fried in coconut oil with two beautiful fresh eggs.  Seasoned with sea salt and fresh pepper.  So super good.  I felt spoiled!

 

 

 

 

 

We spent some time in Fairhaven this afternoon.  It's a cute old town type community.  The buildings were full of character, the streets were cobblestone, and many of the businesses were guarded by sweet old dogs laying in the doorways.

 

A pretty garden terrace in a side alley...

 

 

 

Our lunch:  burgers and fresh cut fries...

 

 

 

 

Blake completed a five day intensive wrestling camp today along with a good number of his team and about 100 other wrestlers.  It's called "intensive" for a reason and those boys were exhausted and sore! 

 

Here's the group right at the end just as they were being dismissed...

 

 

 

And here they are after root beer floats and burgers at Red Robin...

 

 

 

 

Until next time!

 

Day 42

Wherein I write about the time my husband went to Alaska to work on a commercial fishing boat...

The man is my best friend, the air in my lungs, the purpose to my heartbeat.  He's been away for forty two of the longest days.  Forty two lonely sleeps.  And only now that we are just hours away from reuniting (48 hours and the countdown continues) do I finally feel that the weight is being lifted from my chest.  His absence was crushing.  I read that and it does sound just so dramatic and silly.  But it's what I've felt and I won't deny that.  I love my husband with all I am.  We are truly bonded as is the goal of marriage.  Two souls united as one.

I'm thankful for the opportunity he had to be part of a great crew for a great captain.  I'm thankful he got this experience.  This trip was his first ever flight in an airplane.  His first time to Alaska.  His first time commercial fishing.  And I trust that he's made memories, been challenged, and will come home having gained from these six weeks.

For me, I'm ready to put this behind us.  I did not have fun.  I felt lost the entire time.  (Side note: days 9 - 15 with my sister were a welcome and wonderful reprieve).  I survived by keeping my head just above water for six weeks.  But that's all.  I survived.

Day 44 will be a happy reunion!

Day 36

Wherein I write about the time my husband went to Alaska on a commercial fishing boat...



I am currently:

Reading...  Monk, An Original Mystery Novel by Lee Goldberg

Watching...  4 seasons into a girlie show on Netflix with only 2 episodes left!  Can you say "binge watching"??

Trying...  to be artistic with watercolors.  T-r-y-i-n-g.  And making pretty things with markers and colored pencils.  The visual arts are, sadly, not my forte.

Cooking...  Not much cooking happening in my kitchen recently.

Eating...  Atrociously.  Things like Little Caesar's and Klondike Bars and popsicles which I try to balance out with lots of apples and baby carrots.

Drinking...  Water and coffee and water and coffee and water and coffee.

Doing...  I gave myself a full on mani-pedi today.  There was pink glitter involved.  There is often pink glitter involved.  I've also been experimenting a bit with my hair and makeup.  This is what a single girl has time for I guess. 

Here's a recent hair and makeup shot that I sent to my husband:

 

 

Going...  With much free time to fill I've done my share of bargain hunting, thrifting, and coffee shop sitting.  I've also taken myself to lunch more than once.  Actually, I did every one of those things today.

Today's lunch from The Lotus Tea Bar.  A chilled glass bottle of water and a sandwich called "The Dancer" (turkey, cream cheese, arugula, spinach, provolone, and blackberry spread).

Loving...  this dog.  My Charlie is so faithful, loyal, selfless, loving, patient, perceptive, and sweet.  In this picture he had spotted a seagull perched on a building while we were in the parking lot.  Maybe he was wondering how that white chicken got itself up there?

Thinking...  my eldest son and I are very similar.  We share much the same personalities and have a way of communicating with each other using only facial expressions.  When I first saw him, moments after he was born, my first thought was, "he has my eyes".  It was surreal at that moment to see a part of me in that tiny little creature. 

What do you think?

Hoping...  There is an unconfirmed date that my husband might be coming home.  I won't publish that because I don't want to get too excited in case it ends up being later.  But it's soon.

 

In case you didn't see the picture on Facebook, here he is, fishing in Alaska.  Sigh.  He's so handsome.

Listening...  My new-to-me car came with 3 months of satellite radio.  I've been taking full advantage of that since I learned how to work it.  Lots of  "Coffeehouse" and classic country and crooners.  The no commercials aspect is amazing.

Smelling...  It's beautiful here on Whidbey Island and my windows and doors are open most days.  The breeze is fresh and clean.  Not much rain so I've needed to water my garden.  One sunflower has bloomed.

Until next time!

Day 31

Wherein I write about the time my husband went to Alaska to work on a commercial fishing boat...

He's been gone for thirty-one days.  Texts are inconsistent and unreliable.  Phone calls are a rare luxury.  When I'm loneliest I'll reread the texts he's sent, study the pictures that have come through. 

But, we've turned a corner.  We're nearer the end than the beginning.  We're in homecoming month.  And now I look forward to being close to him, holding his hand, spending every day with him. 

We'll be celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary shortly after his return.  And we're taking a trip to Oklahoma together and road-tripping home, just us two.  These thoughts have helped me through many days.

As much as I would have loved to spend every day of the last thirty-one days in my pajamas, I've tried to keep myself active, distracted.  That's not to say I haven't spent my fair share of time doing absolutely nothing.

Day 22: coffee meeting to discuss the church picnic
Day 24: meet up with a friend to talk about her grand adventure to the Dominican Republic
Day 25: make spaghetti and meatballs and have a dinner guest
Day 27: Independence Day church picnic

filling a piñata at the picnic

 

Day 28: home town parade with friends and a movie marathon at home

photographer capturing the folks across the street from us

 

Day 29: take in the mall in Bellingham with Blake

The first sunflower of the summer.

 

I prefer the black and white version (so dramatic!)...

 

And today, Day 31:

Sleep in as late as a teenager.  Get dressed and put some makeup on.  Take myself out for Chinese food.  Walk downtown and hang out at the coffee shop.  Walk through the farmer's market, stopping to listen to the young man playing his violin.

 

 

Until next time!

Day 20

Wherein I write about the time my husband went to Alaska to work on a commercial fishing boat...

So here's how the last four days have gone:

One day was spent productively, doing yard work, baking, that sort of thing.
One day was spent with my boys, going to pizza and a movie, that sort of thing.
One day was spent at church, playing piano, teaching Sunday school, that sort of thing.
One day was spent on the couch in my pajamas, cancelling plans, eating chicken nuggets, that sort of thing.  (Just keepin' it real)

If the past three weeks has revealed anything to me it is, simply, don't take any moments with your husband for granted.  It is those little moments that I miss the most.  Ok, sometimes he is really corny, like really corny and I roll my eyes and tell him how corny he is and he deflates a little.  But I'd rather have him here and corny than not.  And I realize how much he is my comfort, my safe place so without him here I am often directionless. 

So, do I like the single life?  No.  Not.  At.  All.  I'm over it.  Sure, I get to watch as many chick flicks as my heart desires.  I share the bathroom with 2 males rather than 3.  There is a lot less going on day to day.  But, it's not worth it.  I'd rather have him here.  I want him to kiss me for no reason.  I want to know he's sleeping beside me when I wake in the middle of the night.  I want to be interrupted by him while I'm putting on my makeup just because he wants to look at me.  I want to bake things for him.  And cook for him.  And drink coffee with him.  And watch Jeopardy with him.  And go for walks with him.  And hold hands with him.  And hear him breathing.

There are some jobs I have to get done while my husband is away.  One of which is to pull ivy.  We have ivy for days.  For days.  It covers fences and climbs trees and roots itself down deep into the ground.  I chug away at it.  Get blisters.  Get scratched up.  But it's a good distraction.  Today after church and after taking my puppy dog for a walk (he needs to lose a bit of weight) I spent some time getting blisters removing ivy.  Then after I was sweaty and bleeding I laid down in the grass and had a bit of a photo-op with my chickens and my dog.  Cause that's what we do.

The evening sun was shining through the leaves of the cherry tree, the insects were flying low and the chickens were foraging near the garden....

Nuggets, Pearl, Minty, and Elsa (Braveheart was behind me, digging near the ivy I had just pulled)....

Charlie was quiet.  I thought he had gone inside the house but I soon spotted him....

He gets in the garden but never can figure out how to get out.  So, he'll wait.  Sometimes he'll give a little bark just to get my attention.

 

 

So I open the gate and he's so happy that he comes out with tail wagging and a big smile.  He doesn't even mind that I was taking pictures of him in his predicament.  And he doesn't mind that I continue to take his picture.  This dog loves me.

 

 

 

 

 

And my chickens.  Here's Braveheart.  She was being very social.

 

 

And Pearl.  Very inquisitive.

P.S.
My husband is doing fine.  He misses home.  He asked that I send Peanut M&M's and homemade Gingersnaps. 

Day 17

Wherein I write about the time my husband went to Alaska to work on a commercial fishing boat...

It is a wet and rainy Thursday.  I woke today and half-heartedly pulled the blankets up to resemble a made bed.  I'm on my third cup of Tony's coffee.  My place on the couch is marked by a fuzzy blanket, a spread of art supplies, and a mystery novel.  This is my place today.

My husband is "at sea" for the foreseeable future and communication is sparse.  It could be another month before we are together again.  Sometimes I torment myself by imagining that he's just gone to run an errand and any moment he's going to pull up to the house and come inside with his bright smile like he was never even gone.  I like doing life alongside him so much.

Our eldest son is now a licensed driver.  And legally insured (be still my racing heart $$$).  His first licensed and unsupervised venture was a joyride with his brother all over the back roads of our island.

  Pictures from Day 9.... my 38th birthday

Flowers from my husband

 

Ice cream cake

 

 

And my sister was here.  We spent a wonderful week together.  We did a lot and we did nothing and both were equally great!

 

I did a photoshoot with my birthday flowers....

 

 

  Photos from Day 14.... Friday Harbor

My sister and I took the ferry to Friday Harbor and had the BEST day of exploring and chatting and shopping and coffee drinking.  I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

See the kitty??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time...

Day 7 and some of my favorite things

Wherein I write about the time my husband went to Alaska to work on a commercial fishing boat...

My phone is my constant companion...even more so than before.  I never know when he might text me or even call.  But that communication with him on a daily basis has been a life buoy.  We might not get to text daily in the coming weeks, as they are getting closer and closer to being out on the water fishing.

I still miss him, my heart aches,  that won't end until he's home.  But for now, I'm doing better.  The days are pretty empty and sometimes feel pointless, I didn't realize how much of what I do, I do out of love for him.  But I haven't cried today.  Well, that's not entirely true.  I cried watching this performance from the Tony Awards, particularly from 1:50 on.  All the feels!!

 

 

Thank you, Sara Bareilles, for writing one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.  And thank you, Jessie Mueller, for knowing how to personify your character in song.  Amazing!

 

So it is day 7.  One week down.  That actually feels quite good to say.  And do you want to know what happens on day 9?  My sister is coming to visit me!!  Yeeeeeeeee!!  Bring on days 9 through 15!

 

 

 

___________________________________

 

Some of my favorite things at the moment:

 

1.  wet n wild 1 step wonder gel 

 

I have "Under My Plum"

The color pictured is "Left Marooned"

You can buy this stuff at WalMart.

 

 

 

2.  Joanna Gaines

 

 

~~ Magnolia Market

 

~~ Joanna on Pinterest

 

 

3.  Jewelry Cleaner

 

I wear my wedding ring every day.  The only times I take it off are when I'm kneading bread dough or wrist deep in meatloaf.  This homemade cleaner works like a charm!  You can halve this recipe or just eyeball it.  Let your jewelry soak for about 15 minutes then use an old toothbrush to gently scrub  if needed.

 

Mix together:

• 1 cup hot water
• 1 T.  baking soda
• 1 T. salt
• 1 T.  dish soap

 

 

4.  Stitch Fix

 

If you've never heard of this let me explain:

 

This is an online personal stylist.  You fill out a questionnaire about your typical style and what things you look for in your clothing.  Then you sign up to have a stylist send you pieces to try.  There is a $20 styling fee for each shipment of 5 pieces.  You can choose to keep all the pieces or just one or two.  The $20 fee is applied to the cost of your items.  If you don't keep any of the items they do keep your styling fee for their services.

 

Pros:

• You are in control of when you get a shipment.  They aren't sent automatically unless you choose that.
• It's so fun to have a stylist pick clothes for you!
• The boxes come filled and packed with care and it feels like Christmas!
• You're going to get to try things that you wouldn't normally choose for yourself.
• Shipping is included in your $20 styling fee (this includes return shipping).

Cons:

• The pieces can be pretty expensive if you're a penny pincher like me.
• If you don't keep any of the pieces you are still out your $20.

So, yeah.  That's Stitch Fix.

 

Even though I sound like a commercial, I'm really not trying to sell you anything.  I'm not associated with Stitch Fix in anyway except that I signed up for their service and I'm really having fun with it.

 

If you did decide to try it they have offered me a $25 credit for any referrals if you follow this link:

 

Stitch Fix Referral

 

 

There you have it.  Some of my favorites.  Until next time!