Happy New Year's Eve

2009... bring it on. I cannot wait to start a different year. Not that 2008 was horrible. It could have been so much worse. "What does not kill you, makes you stronger"... right?! There were many fabulous times and many not so great times. Lots of worries along with lots of laughter. Here's to the less worries part in 2009.

Tonight we are going to have our annual NYE get-together with the Thomas family in Newberg. I cannot wait to see them!! It has been far too long. We can always count on the Thomas' for good conversation, food and wine :) They rock. And they got a Wii for Christmas... that is always a hoot!

Last night was so awesome. Nat spent the night with Grandpa and Grandma in Silverton. Jim and I went out for a belated birthday celebration of our own. We saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. What an incredible flick! I adored it. I cried my way through it because that is what I do best... but I loved it so much. After the movie, we went to a restaurant called Tina's in Dundee (right in the heart of the Oregon wine country). Our friend Lori had given us a gift certificate there. It was such a cozy little place, and the food was very well-prepared, local and fresh. It was just the perfect night. I love spending time with Jim so much... I really am the luckiest girl ever to have a husband like him. How cool is it to still be madly in love after 18+ years of marriage :)

This morning, I got my allergy shots. Ugh. Don't have to go for another three weeks! Woo hoo! I'm getting back to my maintenance dosage again, slowly but surely. Then I headed down south to pick up Nat. We hit a few sales at the outlet mall (very few) and then headed home. Jim and Nat just left for the barn to see the Memo girl. I should be cleaning up my kitchen and doing laundry but here I sit blogging away. Guess I know what I will be doing next. I will also whip up a dessert to bring to dinner tonight.

I will have to do a separate post with all of my resolutions for 2009. It will probably be a long list... starting with finding a new part time job. I have decided that I really need to do that, and work at my business on the weekends and evenings. I guess I will be out there looking for a job along with thousands of others who are out of work so wish me luck ;) If you know of any good leads, let me know. I really hope to find something I can do while Nat is at school. A tall order, I'm sure.

Happy New Year to you all. Be safe tonight!! xoxoxo

Merry Christmas Eve

We had an early Christmas Eve celebration at my sister's house in Wilsonville this afternoon. Because of the weather, we met early so everyone could be home before dark. No fun driving on ice and snow. It was a nice, relaxing day. We all made a bunch of yummy appetizers to snack on, opened gifts, then played a game of Holiday Charades. Lots of fun.

Made it home... no problem with the roads. Jim's truck is a good snow vehicle. Nat is watching It's a Wonderful Life on tv. I wrapped a few last minute gifts. Just got a call from Elise and it sounds like we should be able to get to the barn tomorrow! I'm sure that is about the best Christmas gift for Nat... to see her Memo girl after so many days.

It will definitely be a white Christmas tomorrow, despite the rain we got today.... the most snow ever in Portland on Christmas :) It is still a winter wonderland out there. When I looked out the window a few minutes ago, it was snowing again! The flakes are really heavy and wet and not sticking.

Tomorrow we will open our gifts here at home and have a nice breakfast. Jim and Nat will head to the barn for awhile, and then we will go down to Silverton to have dinner with my family. My dad is making his famous prime rib :)

I'm just loving all of the wonderful Christmas cards... thank you all so much!! Delivery has been spotty around here... we have had quite a few days of no mail service (including today). UPS and Fed Ex are really on our naughty list as well... we are missing some packages. Really ticks me off, but what can you do??

I am so grateful for all of my family and friends. Happiest of holidays to you all. Here's to the best year yet in 2009. I'm really hopeful that it will be a good one :) Christmas hugs to you all!

Cookie-Makin' Fool

What to do during a big snow storm?? Why, bake cookies of course!! And lots of 'em!

Here are our new favorites:

Chocolate Thumbprints with Chocolate Vanilla Ganache. OMG are they delicious!! Crunchy and sugary on the outside, soft in the inside. And the ganache... what a treat!! To die for. I had extra ganache so we were dipping the cookies in that before eating them ;)

I used this recipe but changed the ganache a bit. I used a teaspoon of real vanilla extract instead of the vanilla bean. Instead of using the food processor, I chopped up the chocolate and put it in a glass bowl. I dumped the warm cream mixture on top and let the chocolate soften a bit. Then I whisked it until smooth, adding the butter to it. Make sure you let the ganache set a bit before adding to the cookies so it won't be runny and messy.

On top of all of the snow we got yesterday is a thick layer of ice. Just a mess out there so it looks like another day at home. The entire Portland area is just shut down. Don't think I will be baking much though... I'm down to two eggs!! Darn!!

I also deep cleaned my (s)crap room/studio yesterday. What a mess it was. Seems like it is the room where everything gets piled up. I went through boxes of stuff that had been there since we moved in. It looks pretty darn good right now. Still more to do. Maybe I will do that this afternoon.

Nat is missing Memo something terrible. Feel so bad we cannot get up there. She was supposed to work at the barn this afternoon too. Windsong is on the top of Chehalem Mountain with a very steep driveway. They always get a ton of snow and ice. Thank goodness Janice and her family live up there so they are able to take care of everything. Not easy for them in this weather. I sure do feel bad for them.

Hope everyone stays warm and cozy today!!

Cabin Fever *w/update

Remember that post on Saturday... where I was wishing for snow and wanting a FEW days at home. Boy did we get a few days at home. School has been cancelled ever since and I have only left the house a few times. The first couple days were nice and now...

I AM GOING STIR CRAZY!!!

It is really getting old at this point. Poor Nat has not been to the barn since Saturday. I don't have chains for my car so there is no way I am going to attempt the Windsong hill. Forget about buying chains... everywhere is sold out. I've baked enough cookies and candies to feed a small army. Wrapped a few gifts. Did laundry (and even put it away!). Watched lots of movies and old Buffy the Vampire episodes. I even cleaned my house... a little bit. I still could do more cleaning but yuck. 

ENOUGH ALREADY! And guess what?  It is snowing. AGAIN.

I need to finish my Christmas shopping. I need to get allergy shots. I need to go have coffee with my friends and deliver their gifts. My girl needs to ride her horse. My girl also needs to get to school to deliver her friend/teacher gifts... not to mention get an education before having another 2 weeks off. Sigh.

Did I mention that this is GETTING OLD??

And get this... it snowed in Las Vegas??? LOTS of snow! What the heck??

Update: Okay, no more whining! I'm so glad to be home again after being out and about today. I was able to get allergy shots, run errands and even get Nat to the barn! Whew!

Winter Wonderland

We got quite the snow storm here in Oregon on Sunday. Usually when we get snow, it melts within hours. Not this time... we got an arctic blast of cold air along with it. There is still lots of snow on the ground and it is really, really cold!! In the 20's right now! We are supposed to get more snow tonight and tomorrow, as well as over the weekend. Crazy!

Jim took some pics of our neighborhood. I really love the rose pic :)

I ventured out this morning for my post-op appointment. The main roads are okay but the neighborhoods, side roads and parking lots are ice rinks! Everything went fine at my appointment. Healing nicely. Had to hit the post office with the rest of the world to send out an order. Insane! 

We are not going to the barn today. Guess we need chains to get up the hill. Elise will take care of Memo for us. What a lifesaver. We are starting to get cabin fever so I hope we can get up there to see the Memo girl soon.

Stay warm!!

Good Mail Day

Not only did we get a fresh batch of Christmas cards from friends and family, Natalie received two really cool letters from the United States Equestrian Federation!

She and Memo have won two Region 4 Championships for 2008:

Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year, Region 4 Champion, Arabian Specialty Horse

Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year, Region 4 Champion, Arabian Hunter Jumper

She will be getting some awards in January, and their photos will be in Equestrian magazine in March! Very exciting news at the Dukes house!! We are so proud of Nat and Memo!!

In other news, I'm feeling better every day. In major catch-up mode!! So much to do around here. I've been buried in laundry, housework and the holidays. Today I spent the majority of time in the kitchen making lots of goodies: candy cane hearts, fudge, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Chocolate Caramel Bars and Peppermint Chocolate cookies. Whew!

We are hoping for the snowflakes to start falling any minute here in Oregon... keep your fingers crossed. Another day or two at home would be a dream come true for me ;) Not looking forward to the Arctic blast of cold air to go with it. Hope our warm-weather-loving pony survives okay.

Off to hang up some Christmas lights around the house...

Blogging + Percocet

Could be an interesting combination. 

Had a minor day surgery on Thurs. Wasn't even going to blog about it. Thought it would be no big deal. I was kinda wrong.

Went to the day surgery center at our clinic's branch in Portland. What a great, professional bunch of people. Every nurse checked in on me every time they walked by my bed. They were thorough and caring. The anesthesiologist (sp?) was great. My doc was great. They all took good care of me. Jim took the day off of work to be with me. He was amazing too.

It took me awhile to come out of the anesthesia. I think we got home about 4:30. Took longer than I thought it would. Was in a lot more pain that I expected. I have been taking percocet as well as 3 motrin fairly regularly since I got home. The first evening/night was the worst.

Every day since has gotten better. I'm moving slowly. Still have pain. Lots of bloating and cramping. Sore throat from the breathing tube. The meds knock me out so I'm sleeping a lot. Haven't really eaten much. Maybe a good time to start that diet.

Jim and Nat have been the best. I am so lucky. Everyone has been so thoughtful with cards, emails, phone calls, texts and even flowers from Shauna. Elise has been taking care of Memo and picked up Nat from school on Thurs. I'm so blessed.

The surgery was something that I have wanted/needed to do for some time, and due to our insurance changing the first of the year, thought I should go ahead and get it done. Details are tmi!! No need to worry. I'm just fine.

Jim and Nat are at the barn getting a much needed break from waiting on me. I'm buried in a nest of pillows and blankets on the sofa with the laptop. Just woke up from a nap.

I might be a little late with Christmas cards and such this year. The decorations might not be up in time. Eventually I will be back to my old self and get everything done. 

Thanks again to all of you for your well-wishes. Love you all.