Day 279

We hit the road today and headed to Kent to visit the Hansen clan.

A few weeks ago, they invited, Mom, Rob and me over for a visit so that everyone could meet Rob, and they picked this particular weekend because it's the Annual Salmon Days Festival in Issaquah.  So this afternoon, we packed up Mom's car and headed out.  It was an absolutely beautiful day to drive through our state and over the Cascade Mountains.  Lots of sun, and leaves starting to turn the bright colors of fall.

We hit the Hansen house just around dinner time, and as we got out of the car, the first thing I saw was this little family of black cats greeting us along with a nice round pumpkin.  Seems Halloween has come to Kent too!!

Day 278

Today, several of us from our office attended a seminar called Developing Your Emotional Intelligence.  It was a pretty good class, filled with a lot of information; admittedly some stuff you already know because common sense dictates, some you have already heard in other self-help or business workshops, but some of it was new or had a different twist to it that made you go, hmmmm.

The first half of the day we spent concentrating on us, individually. Learning about our communication style(s), before moving on in the afternoon to 'them', and what we can do better in dealing with others.

I thought it was a pretty good class, and a took away a couple good tips, not only for use in the office with co-workers, but also at home. (Like 'QTIP'.  That's a good one for me to remember...Quit Taking It Personally!!) Because it is a fact that we all could use some help in communicating with others... especially me!

Day 277

Oh my, is the mail an issue at our house!  Just take a look at this sack stuffed full with mail.

I have to admit, I have always been really bad about all things mail...getting it out of the box, opening it, throwing out junk mail, organizing it, etc.  It just seems like nothing good ever comes in the mail...only junk or bills, right?  Rob on the other hand is a faithful picker-upper and opener, each and every day in fact.  But in general, that's where it ends.  He too is not real great at throwing out the junk or organizing what's left.  So the two of us together can tend to accumulate some significant piles of mail.

This weekend we are headed out of town, and Alex is coming to stay with the pups.  So in an effort to tidy the house up a bit tonight, all I could do with the sea of papers on the kitchen table was toss them into this grocery sack...and make a mental note to myself yet again...must get better at organizing mail!!

Day 276

I'm a couple days late again, but say goodbye to September...and on to October!

The plate for this month's Precious Moments calendar is a little boy and girl on a tree stump, called Love One Another.  I have to admit, I'm not entirely sure why they were chosen to represent September, but loving one another is never a bad thing and always good to remember, right?

Day 275

It's just me again.  Every once in awhile I snap a picture of me. 

I was feeling feisty today and snapped this one, sent it to Rob and told him I looked pretty today.  Not sure exactly why...maybe I was just still feeling a bit 'up' from church yesterday...who knows. He seemed to like it anyway...he gets so frustrated at how down on myself I usually am.

Anyway, it's just yet another picture of me, sitting at my desk...trying to have a more positive and open attitude!

Day 274

Rob and I attended our first Mass today.  We went to Christ the King and did exactly what I said I wanted to do...put everything we learned into action.

Were we lost?  Most of the time!  Were we confused?  A little bit!  About 3/4 of the way through the Mass I realized that a few other people were trying to follow along too, that's why they were holding onto the laminated colored cards found in the pews.  They are essential the 'cheat sheet' for Mass.  If you don't know a particular prayer, or a response to the priest, almost all of it is included on the cheat sheet.  Phew...that's a relief for next time.

I did feel a little overwhelmed by it all, but at the same time, strangely at home there.  I really enjoyed the message Father Champoux shared, and could have listened to him go on a lot longer in fact.  I'm sure as Rob and I attend, we'll become more and more comfortable with the participatory part of the Mass, and what we are supposed to do and when.

Day 273

Today was our city's Annual City Fair.  It's essentially an open house of all departments in the City.  So I was up and at work on a Saturday morning.  But it was only for a couple hours, and I had fun putting fire department tattoos on all kinds of kids!

When I got home, it was such a lovely day, I decided it was time to decorate the outdoors for fall.  So I strung the orange lights around the banister (see the reflection in the window?), put out my hay bale, plastic pumpkins, little scarecrow, and this fall mum my mum bought me!

There...the inside is done and now the outside is done; we are officially ready for fall at this house!

Day 272

Today...I'm letting go of the reins, and giving my photo of the day up to Rob. 

Tonight as we were sitting on the couch, he started to show me several pictures he took today with his phone...of this creepy little creature. According to Rob, you can't tell the scale from the photo, but this Praying Mantis was really quite large.  It was coming down the sidewalk onto the parking lot as he was leaving his office, and so he stopped and took several photos of him crawling along.

As he was showing me the photos, he asked if I had a photo for today yet...and when I said I did not, he suggested using his.  So, now I've got Rob getting in on the 365 Project.  I kind of like it...he's welcome to take more photos as far as I'm concerned!!

Day 271

This is Christ the King Catholic Church.  Tonight, Rob and I went to our first RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) class here to see what it is all about.

RCIA is the process through which interested adults and older children are gradually introduced to the Roman Catholic faith and way of life. Rob and I have had many discussions recently in our home regarding faith and religion and where we are now, where we see ourselves going.  Rob keeps feeling a connection and a pull toward the Catholic church, and I am very open to it as well.  So, after having a couple discussions with my good friend Tom Huntington, he suggested that we start tonight, as the series of classes are just getting underway again.  He is a deacon at the church and participates in RCIA, and told me tonight was an introduction to the church, a tour of the building, and some etiquette do's and don'ts on attending Mass for those new to the church.  Rob and I agreed it was as good a place as any to start.

In the end, after two very informative hours, my head was packed with information, and I was exhausted and hungry.  But, I did enjoy the class very much, and am now looking forward to attending Mass on Sunday to put it all together and put what we learned tonight into action.

Day 270

Ermahgerd!  Permpkern Sperce Lahtter!  Or for those of you unfamiliar...Oh My God!  Pumpkin Spice Latte!

This is just too funny...to me.  Through Pinterest I have discovered, along with many others, the Ermahgerd girl photos.  I seem to be the only one who really finds the humor in these things, but I do find most of them quite hilarious, and even crack myself up when repeating them in some kind of strange 'Ermahgerd' voice, with a face that goes along with it.

Today, Billie found this Starbucks one out on the web somewhere and again, I thought it was pretty funny...and it did in fact make me want a Pumpkin Spice Latte!  She ended up printing this one out and slapping it up on my office door.  I think it will be there for awhile!

Day 269

I woke up this morning not feeling well.  I hadn't slept well, felt run down and a little sick to my stomach.  I decided to stay home for the morning...which then turned into the whole day.  I think I needed a mental health day.

The only thing I did all day was lie in bed and read The Secret.  By late afternoon I needed to do something...and I needed something sweet.  So I found this recipe from Martha for Glazed Lemon Cookies.  I ended up making the cookies and the Lemon Glaze...then topped them with some crushed up lemon drops. 

They were yummy!!  And what a surprise for Rob when he got home from work...he loves all things lemon!

Day 268

He's just too cute to be scary! 

There isn't much going on today...not a lot to photograph, so I thought I'd show you one of my favorite Halloween decorations...this sweet little not-so-spooky ghost. 

He sits up on the arm of the couch, just behind a Halloween pillow, and next to the perfectly matched orange blanket...that's his spot and it has been for several years!  I just love his little rosy cheeks, and although you can't see it, his backside is cute too!

Day 267

I just couldn't do it...I couldn't wait until October 1st to decorate the house for Halloween.

I didn't go all out, I only put out the stuff that is stored inside the house.  I still have two totes full of Fall stuff in the garage.  I'll save that for another day.  For now, I just rearranged the furniture into its Fall/Winter location, and put out the little stuffed critters (like spooky kitty in the chair), the leaf table runner, and a couple other odds and ends to get in the spirit.

Bring on cool nights, red and orange leaves, jackets and sweaters...I am so ready for Fall!!

Day 266

Like the sign says...Welcome to SausageFest!  Every year Christ the King School holds a community event - SausageFest, as their fundraiser.  It has gotten so big over the years, it has become the Tri-Cities third largest event.  And with the turnout we saw this year, I believe it!! (I mean, can you see the sea of people in this picutre??)

Rob and I, along with Billie and Keith went to check things out.  It was perfect weather, which is why the turnout was so great.  Tons of folks everywhere you looked.  Lots of game booths, lots of food booths, music, a beer garden...you name it, there was something for everyone.

Day 265

Yesterday...sunrise.  Today...sunset.  Another smoke filled day in our area.  And although it is not pleasant to breathe, burns the eyes, and makes visibility poor...I have to say it sure makes for some interesting skies!  This is the sun setting tonight, with Old Glory...right out our back door.