Home Cooking in Seattle

So yesterday I flitted about town and then last night I decided I needed to "earn my keep" so I did the dishes, folded the laundry, and made a nice homemade dinner. We had Pot Roast, Gravy, New Red Potatoes, Carrots, Green Beans with Turkey Bacon, Lime Jello Salad, and Blueberry Muffins. Ice Cream for dessert. It was, if I may say so, YUM!! My kids ate it up....Pun Intended!!

Have a day filled with good food, good company, and laughter!
Janie

Janie in the Land of OZ

Yesterday I went shopping with my daughter-in-law, Amy. We went to several stores where there were racks and racks of clothes in all sizes, shapes, and colors. It was over-stimulating for me! I felt like a kid in a candy store!!

Now you have to understand that where I live in Alaska we have a Sears and Fred Meyer and that's it for shopping. There are a couple of second-hand stores which sometimes have something really cute and nice to wear. I'm not a small girl so finding the right thing is very difficult. And so most of my shopping has to be online and then if something comes that doesn't fit, I have to return it, paying postage twice in some cases. I have been lucky in that many times I get free shipping because I'm a "good" customer. LOL

I wanted to find a lighter weight coat yesterday so when we got to Nordstrom's Rack (now my FAVORITE store) I started looking for something. They actually had more than one rack of coats and jackets in my size!!! I tried on some coats that I "thought" I was looking for. Nothing looked good. Finally found a nice black trench-like coat with a cute ruffle at the waist in the back. Nice. Conservative. But then my eye caught sight of a really cute, sexy leather jacket, with ruffles and snaps and it fit like it was made for me. I usually have a problem with the arms being too long for me but this was just right! Amy, being the dutiful daughter that she is said "OH, You have to get this!!" Well, to make a long story short..I did and I actually got both of them! The original prices for each coat was very expensive but they were marked down almost 50%~!! 

Then I found a really good pair of sunglasses and a couple of nice cotton nighties and a purse. All together it was a little over $100! 

Black Trench Style Coat

Blackish-Brown Leather Jacket with Leather Ruffles on front (and back!)

Leather Ruffles on back of Leather Jacket

The psychology of a person like me walking into a huge store with rack after rack of clothes is quite interesting. Everything, and I mean everything is awesome....from the clothes, jewelery, household goods, shoes, furniture, baby items, etc., it is taken for granted by those who live here. But for me, it was like a "fairy land" where all things were possible. I do not take for granted that I will be able to get what I want or need when I'm in Alaska because getting what you need is so difficult and sometimes impossible. Here, it is really like Christmas, your birthday, Valentine's Day, and all other days of celebration rolled into one....EVERYDAY!! 

Looking for something to eat? Oh, my....the choices are endless!!!! I'm sure that over time the newness and awe of all this will wear off but for how, I'm just Janie in OZ!!

My Little Red Chariot!

Have a wonderful, stimulating day,

Janie

My Children and Children-in-Law

Whenever I come to Seattle my children treat me so nice....wine and dine me and entertain me and just make me feel so special....I mean "REALLY SPECIAL". They don't treat me like some over-the-hill grandmother (that I really am). No Sireeeee!! And I love every minute!!!

I am not only blessed with wonderful biological children, I am blessed with truly wonderful "In-Law" children! My daughter is married to a really awesome guy who has always treated me with so much love and respect that loving him has been automatic almost from the moment I met him. He is so sweet and well, just a special kind of person. He is somewhat of a celebrity in their circle in Seattle and so the opportunity to meet other interesting and creative and talented people is not unusual. He isn't afraid to introduce me to his friends and that is such an honor to me! For instance, last night, my daughter and son  in law (This special guy will be called M), and my son and his beautiful wife (A) took me out to a cute little place called the Little Red Bistro. 

Little Red Bistro - through the rain

Now the place is just like a little cabaret....maybe out of the 1940s or something....red and black decor and not all glistening and new but a place that is loved and used. There are some really awesome paintings on the walls and I found out that the person responsible for these was actually there and M knew him and introduced us. He was so nice and let us go into the back where they have private parties. The place had such ambiance! Black and red velvet, special lighting and it was set up for a private party to be held there later.

The food at this place was absolutely amazing...and I almost fell off my chair at how inexpensive it was compared to Alaska prices! The menu wasn't huge but, oh my, it was good!!!! For appetizers we had a spinach dip with little toast squares. When the initial squares were gone more came magically to our table. Then I ordered Beef Bourginoun (I know this is not spelled right). It came with a small cup of veggies and lots of steamed or baked red potatoes. It is out of this world! The meat was so tender. This was followed up by a cup of coffee in a cup the size of a soup bowl!!! 

And of course, no meal is complete in a place like that without dessert. I chose the Peach Melba because M recommended it. It was outstanding!! Peaches with a raspberry sauce with ice cream and flavored whipped cream on the top! I waddled out of that place!! 

Peach Melba ... YUM!!

In all we were there from 7 pm to 11 pm, laughing, talking, sharing as loving family members do. M regaled us with one story after another and of plans for the future this summer. He is both handsome and charming and really fun to be around. Before the evening was over he told me he wanted to take out tonight, just the two of us. I am honored he would spend some of his really precious time doing this. I know I will have fun...He's just that kind of guy and I won't feel like some 65 year old, over the hill grandmother at least for a few hours.

My other "not born to me" child here is A. She is married to my son and is one of those people that when you meet her, you love her. And I do. She is full of life and really cute and outgoing. I felt close to her from the minute I met her. She is like another daughter to me and I am so lucky to know her. She always makes me feel so welcome when I stay with them. She is kind and generous beyond measures. I'm really jealous of her because she is a tiny little thing and wears the most amazing shoes ever!! The word dynamo comes to mind when I think about her. She and my son are so much in love and it is heart-warming to be around them both. 

My son and His darling 'A'

I know that I have talked about my kids before but I just have to say that my "Seattle" kids are really terrific. I miss them terribly because I don't see them but maybe once a year, if that. So when I do get a chance to spend time around them, they reinforce that being a parent is one of the greatest gifts you give yourself.

My Alaska children (my daughter and her honey, A) are just as awesome in their own right. My son in law, A, literally saved me on Thanksgiving during our huge ice storm. He is a wonderful guy who would do just about anything for you. And my daughter is such an awesome person...always there to lend a hand with something or lend her shoulder and expertise as a psychology major....and beautiful on top of that! So, I just had to say that today I swell with pride at the family I have been blessed to have, to their being really wonderful adults, contributing to society, making others' lives better because of their presence.  I must have done something right along the way to deserve their wonderful love. 

I wish you a day filled with happiness,

Janie

Zentangle of the day:

This is not one of mine, but I love it and wanted to share it with you.

Rules and Consequences of Life

Black on White: Greeting Card

Have you ever thought of the “rules” of life? 

For instance, when you park your car, there are rules aren’t there? Yup! The dirty looks you get if you don’t stay in the lines or if you don’t put money in the meter…well there are consequences. Oh, and when you check out at the supermarket do they let you leave without paying? I think not! And what if you “accidentally” put a package of carrots in your purse….um, consequences!  

And then, there are the rules that we have little control over….like when you get past a certain age your body doesn’t work the same, everyone’s body is governed by that rule! A rule of nature, so to speak. Nature’s rules suck sometimes… and the consequences of not taking care of our bodies is even “sicker”! No pun intended…

Well, so do speed limit rules…you know, when you are late for an appointment and the speed limit is 25 mph and there are absolutely NO cars or houses or people around? But, if you break the speed limit, WHAM! There will be a cop in your rear view mirror!! Any consequences? Probably at least a warning but more than likely a ticket!

Rules are not written down sometimes....rules about behavior to each other….rules about not being rude to others, rules about treating others as we want to be treated, rules about general kindness, rules about being thoughtful of others before ourselves…..some people call these the “Golden Rules”. Well, whatever they are I’m here to say that they are broken all the time. 

I have “almost” always tried to be nice to everyone I meet…to treat others as I want to be treated. Sometimes it’s really, really hard but mostly it’s easy because I have made it a habit in my life. Take marriage or our families, for instance….it seems like the people we are supposed to love the most are sometimes the people we hurt the easiest. Why is that? Well, I believe it is because our loved ones have no ‘walls’ around their hearts and feelings and we can plunge that dagger of hurt right in without a barrier present. 

The big question for me is “why do we do that”? As a child I grew up knowing that my father didn’t like me…and I didn’t know why. He made it abundantly clear by his treatment of me from the first day I can remember him hitting me or yelling at me to the last day I saw him when I was in my 40s when he was swearing at me. I know that his youth wasn’t fun, that he had a parent who was very unpleasant and who probably hurt him a lot and that he had to quit school to support his family. But did that give him the right to break the rules of treating his “loved ones” with less than respect and love? I have known other people who have treated their wives, children, and siblings in the same way. 

The newspaper says that 50% of Alaska women have been or are abused in some way. There aren’t even statistics on what’s happening with kids! 

I’m appalled at how humanity treats each other!! Suicide bombers, dishonest deceitful people running our world, the prisons full of hateful, hurtful people…it’s all too much to deal with sometimes. If I think about it too much it brings me down even more than I normally am. 

What I don’t want to happen is that I become hardened or callous to these awful and unkind things going on around me. I want to be the one voice that stands out in the crowd to say “I’m sorry”, “I love you”, “You are my friend”, “We can do this together”, “Let’s make this right”, “I forgive you”….etc. I don’t want to EVER contribute to the hate and anger and unkindness in the world. So, every day I try very hard not to “strike back” at those around me who don’t have the same view and philosophy as I have. Some days it’s a lot harder than others. 

I believe if we each envisioned that today was the last day we would be on earth, that we would treat each other better…that we would be kinder, would be less petty, would look at the big picture of life instead of the nit-picky things that are with us every day.  Does it really matter if the lid isn’t put back on the toothpaste? Does it really matter that the sink is full of dishes? Does it really matter that the front walk hasn’t been shoveled? Does it really matter that life has dealt you a bad hand? Sure, all these things matter, but not in the BIG picture of life. In the big picture I do not have the right to place on your shoulders my problems, my pains, my upsets….my responsibility to you is to treat you with love, dignity, and respect. At least that is Janie’s philosophy for what it’s worth. 

Enough said…..

My tangle of the day:

Black on white: Greeting Card.

Going On A Jet Plane

Remember that song? "Going on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again, oh babe I hate to leave." Was that Peter, Paul, and Mary? http://ilike.myspacecdn.com/play#Peter%2C+Paul+%26+Mary:Leaving+On+A+Jet+Plane:51261:s3753751.10271635.14319806.0.

2.47%2Cstd_46711dd2874e49a8a1d65a5ea42e24cc

Anyway, tomorrow morning I am leaving on a jet plane for a much needed vacation. I will get to see my son, Aaron and his wife, Amy and my daughter, Tambo and her husband, Mark. They are very fun-loving and are really into Rock Band....and I get to play when I'm there!! The weather will be in the 50s and I couldn't be happier. Why, there might even be dirt!!!! ~dancing around~

Seattle has always, ever since I can remember, been that "get-away" town, where you could have all the fun in the world or relaxation you wanted. I love what the big city has to offer....cultural events, rock concerts, shopping, outlet malls, restaurants and eateries with food from all over the world, shopping, the water...piers and boats, the Aquarium, the Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum, and a very special movie theater, among more things than I can even remember. 

So, the movie theater (Gold Class Cinemas) is one of 4 in the USA. When you walk in it looks like a night club, complete with couches and love seats, dim lights, and a fireplace. Your 'server' comes over and greets you, takes your 'drink' order and then escorts you to your theater. In the theater are 4 rows of large recliners with a table in between each set of two. There is a very large screen on one end of the room. Your server gets you all settled in with a little "tour" of your surroundings...how to adjust the chair, and oh, here's your pillow and here's your blanket. Then the server takes your dinner or 'munching' order...anything from pizza to a special dessert of cookies and ice cream and everything in between. Once your food arrives you are instructed to notice the button that you can push at any time and your server will come running to get you whatever your heart may wish from the drink or food menu. Now, THAT's the way to see a movie!!! I'm hoping to have a return engagement!!

So many things to see and do and sharing it with my family is even better. How lucky can a girl be?

So, HANDS ACROSS TIME below....

Happy Zentangling or traveling, dear friends,

Janie

And Then There Were Flowers

I was having a really tough day yesterday. Tough day emotionally. Then my husband came home from work and there He was, standing at the top of the stairs with a bouquet of flowers in His hand! I absolutely adore flowers and especially roses. This bouquet contained roses too!  So today I took pictures of the flowers and wanted to share them with you.

So, OK, flowers don't make hurts and troubles go away but they sure can lift my spirits! Flowers have always been my weakness...I really love them!!

I have always loved flowers...my all time favorite is the Gardenia. I think they are just so exquisite! Perhaps that's why I draw flower so much. Plus, I'm a Taurus so I'm really connected with the earth and love flowers, plants, trees, etc. I love flowers so much that I put together a large scrapbook on flowers. It was a lot of fun and I was photographing flowers everywhere we went with a less than ideal camera. But that didn't matter because I had pictures for my scrapbook!

For those of you interested in my Zentangle stuff, there are two new books just out and can be found on Amazon.com., http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Zentangle&x=0&y=0

This is one of my newest favorite Zentangles....with a little something different that I saw on one someone else had done and I loved it!

Black ink on white paper with gold highlights

Black ink on off-white paper

 Black ink on cream paper

 

 

Wedding Dresses and Zentangle with Gold!

I just got hooked on this show on Netfliks called "Say YES To The Dress"! It is a reality series (I don't usually like reality shows) about Klienfield Bridal Salon in New York City. The story revolves around 3-4 brides who come to the store and all the bridal consultants and owners that help these ladies find that one special dress that will make their special day perfect. 

Now I'm a  "girlie-girl" and love, Love, LOVE wedding dresses!! This show even has a designer that comes on once in a while and they take two gowns and make one out of it sometimes. This show even takes you to the work area where the real magic happens, where fittings happen and things are finalized!! 

I have seen beautiful gowns from name brand designers that I have known about all my life and been able to see them close-up. It's so cool learning about the brides and their stories and what kind of weddings they end up having, so the stories are completed for the viewer. 

This show makes me want to go buy a wedding dress!! Or at the very least, try a bunch on just to feel beautiful again. I really miss dressing up and looking glamorous once in a while...of having a place to go to and be seen and have on that special gown...maybe not a wedding gown, but an evening gown would be so awesome! 

It has been no secret around our house that I have been having some pretty tough depression problems...some of it is due to the chronic pain I have and other factors. This show makes me feel so good, and brings tears to my eyes when I see these mothers and their daughters finding the special dress and crying because of the wonder of the moment. There is something so special about "that" dress....

For my first wedding centuries ago I wore a dress that my girlfriend made for me. It was a simple empire waist, white satin dress, long and straight with a bit of lace on the bodice with long sleeves and a square neckline. My veil was the same lace as the dress. It was pretty but did not have the WOW factor that a bride wants for her wedding day. The dress didn't have a zipper and my girlfriend who was my maid of honor, had to sew me into the dress.

For my second wedding I had to find something in a week's time....and living in Fairbanks Alaska the pickings were VERY, VERY slim!! I chose a yellow, two piece linen suit, with the jacket having short sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. It was nice...but not special. I really *REALLY* wanted to wear something special...but the situation and circumstances didn't warrant it. It was really planned by my fiance and I only had a week to get it together. 

I do not plan on ever getting married again and at my age there is no ball gown with a WOW factor in my future. Nope, my time for something special is long past...and in a way I feel gypped that I didn't get to ever have that experience that these brides and their mom's have. The closest I have ever come to that was wedding dress shopping with my youngest daughter for her wedding. We actually flew to Seattle to shop for the gown and it was a delightful experience. She looked stunning in everything! 

Anyway, if you get a change and are into brides and dresses, go check out this show. It is a wonderful diversion!!

Have an awesome day!

Janie

PS. So I have done a few Zentangles with some added gold leaf on them. I really like the look...and am interested in what you think....