Got up with the sun yesterday and drove to Point Defiance Park. It is just about a mile from Joanna's house. It was a fantastically clear morning. The Olympic mountains were visible in all their snow covered glory.

Gig Harbor

Gig Harbor

Looking East at the Cascades

Trail in Point Defiance Park.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

table redo

Joanna and Andy purchased this cute little table at a second hand shop. It was painted blue and black! With a couple of coats of white spray paint and a coat of clear satin finish top coat, it's like brand new/vintage! Andy put up the shelves. Joanna got them all decorated...Now all we need is baby girl. She is quite the stubborn one.

Puget Sound

While we are waiting for baby, I have taken walks around the neighborhood. Just a few blocks from Joanna & Andy's house there are areas with unfettered views. On this afternoon I could see the Olympic Mountains to the West. There are usually ships "parked" waiting for their turn to enter the Port of Tacoma as well as ships coming in and out of the sound from all directions. It is ever changing and beautiful.

Room with a view

This is the view from Joanna & Andy's living room. On a clear day ( which is not that often) you can see the Puget sound and Vachon Island. The ferry runs back and forth all day between Pt. Defiance and Vashon Island. It is a beautiful view.

Waiting for baby

Arrived in Tacoma on Saturday. Joanna is doing well. She and Andy have the baby's room ready, clothes ready, bag packed... Now it all depends on baby. Last night we had a little activity and thought perhaps things were getting started, but alas, it was a false alarm. She is having occasional contractions, real ones, as well as pretty constant "Braxton Hicks" contractions. We are anxious and ready to go. Joanna was most disappointed to have to get up this morning and go to work. Not that she doesn't enjoy her job, but she was hoping to be headed to the hospital. We all know baby girl will come when she is good and ready. She already has us waiting on her every move. It's another circumstance to remind us that we are not in control. God has the upper hand as usual. His will be done... I just wish He would clue us in on occasion. We will wait as patiently as possible for this little gift from God. He will send her when He is ready. I'm thinking she is just so precious and wonderful that He wants to keep her for just a little while longer before He has to share her with the rest of us. If that is the case, we will be all the more patient. We love her already and are anxious to hold her in our arms. It's a wonderful and awesome thing...this life. Soon she will be here and we will not remember what life was like without her. I am so excited to be a grandparent. I am so proud to see my child become a loving mother. She is already a wonderful daughter and wife. I must remind myself with every breath to thank God for all his blessings.

SNOW, 10 days later

Here we are in Lincoln, NE. It's the middle of February. There is snow everywhere. Snow on the ground, snow in piles in parking lots and street corners. Snow falling from the sky as I write. Snow is forcasted again later in the week. Snow, snow, snow. I hate it! I'm tired of it! I want it to go away! Snow is sneaky...at first all clean, white and beautiful. It is a beautiful sight, as I watch it fall from the warmth of my living room, fireplace casting a charming glow. But then you have to go out in it. You must clear the sidewalks and the driveway. You have to drive in it. You have to walk in parking lots and on sidewalks where people were not so kind as to clear a path. Your feet get wet. Your feet get cold. Your shoes get filthy.

The snow gets dirty, really dirty. Snow gets ugly. I hate it! When I really get tired of this...

I dream about this...

You can take the girl out of California, but you can't take the California out of the girl!

It's been snowing all day. Actually since about midnight last night!

It is incredibly beautiful, no doubt about it.

I still long for warm weather and sunny days! Thankfully there is a solution...

Can't wait for SUMMER! Until then I'll drink to warmer weather and sunny days.

Easy, simple,DIY chalkboard door.

This is the door to our finished basement. It is right off the kitchen. It is (was) a cheap hollow core door. I hated it. So I decided to make it a giant chalk board. If it didn't work, I would just have to buy a new door... It worked! Here is the door before.

I taped up the hinges and the knob.

It had to dry for a couple of hours before the second coat. I was in a hurry because yesterday was close to 60 degrees and today we knew it would be colder with rain. The paint directions specified not to paint in high humidity. Tomorrow we have snow, so it had to get done yesterday afternoon!

Second coat on...

Hung up and looking good. Directions also said to wait at least 24 hours before using it as a chalk board. Good thing we went out last night, patience is not my strong suit. We had tickets for Mamma Mia on stage at the Lied Center...Loved It! "Mamma mia, here I go again, my my how can I resist you"... that's been playing in my head all day!

Got home from work today and still waited...it hadn't been quite 24 hours. But then I got the call from work. We will be closed tomorrow due to the 10+ inches of snow we are supposed to get. Just had to celebrate a day off! This was a very easy project. It took just 1 can of chalkboard spray paint. I had the tape on hand and of course the door! The paint can says it can be used on almost any surface. I am eyeing things around the house. Maybe a glass jar with a band of chalkboard paint to be used as a changeable label... or perhaps the bottom of a mirror, so I can write notes to the next person who uses the bathroom. "Good morning sunshine", "you look fantastic this morning", or "didn't sleep well last night?" Might be fun!