Friday, January 30, 2015

Seahawks Love- GO HAWKS




The name of my town has been temporarily changed to 12-Dale.



I saw this at a local church. Seahawk fans are referred to as the 12th man.

 
This our Seahawks center piece.  GO HAWKS!

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Caching Nevada- Day 3

Looking out from the Tonopah Welcome Sign
After finishing our ET Highway experience, we headed back to Vegas. (Day 1 and Day 2)We were torn because the big Seattle Game was in the middle of our day.  We decided to just check our phone for the stats.  Nevada caches I have decided are a combo of rock piles, beat up ammo cans, and cattle guard hides.

We left Tonopah caching our way out.  We noticed there were a few caches on old highway 95 so we decided to do those.  The road was no longer being maintained but it wasn't too horrible.  We were able to avoid most of the pot holes. IT was interesting to see mining pits right off the road.

I think the highlight of the drive back was definitely Goldfield, NV.  One of our favorite caches we found or should say we did not find was in the Junk Car Forest.  This is what I love about geocaching is that it takes you to incredibly off the beaten path places.
 
 
 
 
We also saw these subway covers.  There is no subway in Goldfield so the why they are here is a mystery. I have to say all the caches in Goldfield took you to really interesting places a house made with bottles, some ruins that only had brick archway left, an abandoned high school.
 
I can honestly say on this trip this is the VERY FIRST TIME I cached a airplane cache.
 
IT was also the first time we have EVER cached by a brothel.
We ended up with 60 plus caches on Day 3 and made it back to Las Vegas.

 


Sunday, January 25, 2015

New Year, New Linky Love




This Guy Took a Photo Every Time He Saw Someone Reading a Book on the Subway - This is fabulous.

E-Books are Damaging Your Health

Design a Maze for the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO. This is the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write the Shining. Deadline is Jan 31st. More details

A Couple Bought An Abandoned French Chateau from the 1700. This is What They Found Inside. This is really cool.  I would totally love to restore a French Chateau. 

Saturday, January 24, 2015

ET Hwy Day 2

We had a fabulous time on our Epic Geocaching Trip. More about our Day 2 adventures below.

Day 1 Details

We got a pretty early start and cached on.  We joked that we couldn't escape Rachel Nevada as it was in sight most of the day. We did about 131 caches and decided we need to just drive.  The constant getting out of the car was just plain tiring.  We did eventually get back to caching.  We ended up with 160 caches for the day.
Yes, a cow with antenna.
 
Most of the ET Highway is open range.  On the second day, we saw lots of cows and an actual cowboy herding cows across the highway.  I wouldn't drive the highway in the dark to much of chance of running into cows.  We saw a dead cow on the side of the road. We also saw some wild horses as well.

Highlight caches

In Memory Of Sgt Stevenson- (GCYEWH) -This cache was placed in memory of Sgt. Howard Stevenson who was shot and killed on Jan. 9th 2005. He was an avid Geocacher and loved to spend time in the Nevada desert. This cache was a bit of a hike and search up a hill. The view was awesome
 
View from the cache.  You can barely see the car.
Oh Bucket (GCI6VQ3)- This one had a clever container and we have no idea what the huge bucket was used for. But even better this cache was across from a rest area.
Me standing by the bucket. Oh by the way, I am 5'7"

We spent in Tonopah.  The Best Western had a recent remodel and I thought the rooms were really nice.  The mattress was superb. We ate dinner across the street a the Tonopah Brewing Company.  They were also going to have live music that evening. the food and beer was great. The motel also served a hot breakfast.

Friday, January 23, 2015

ET Highway Day 1- Travel Bucket List

Well, this year already I managed to take something off my travel bucket list. I wrote more about my travel bucket list here.

The Start of the ET Highway
My husband planned a trip to the ET Highway in Nevada with the purpose of geocaching along it.  We went without our kids.  This is the first time we have ever left our kids for more than one day.  We had an amazing time.  I have to give a great big shout out to Nonna and Pappy who took care of the two man wrecking crew.

The ET highway has over 2000 geocaches along it.  The highway according to hard core geocachers is considered a power trail. Specific Details about the ET Highway Geocaches.We only found a small number in comparison to what is actually out there.  We spent about a day and half caching the actual highway itself. We flew into Vegas and my husband proceed to rent an impractical but fun car - A CAMARO. 

We hit the road and found a few caches prior to the highway.  In retrospect we probably should of just started at the highway since we got such a late start. 
Alien0071
The caches are pretty much drive ups and in rock piles every 10th of a mile.  There was lots of starting and stopping. We were so glad we invested in a stamp to stamp the log book.  The first day we found about 92 caches. That was a new caching record for us. The landscape is so beautiful and so different from Western Washington.  I couldn't help but stare out at the landscape.
Landscape
Piece of Weathered Wood is a survey marker

We ended our day in Rachel Nevada at the Little  AleInn.  What a totally unique place. 
 
 
 We had no idea we were going to spend our night in a trailer but it was all good.  The food at the restaurant was exceptional and the people were friendly. We even had Alien Pie for dessert. Alien Pie I believe is Coconut, Pecan, and Raisin.  IT was seriously delish.  I also hard their alien casserole is great too.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Annual Reminder of Valentine Remailing

Want to mail your sweetheart a special card or message on Valentine's Day from the Sweetheart City of Loveland, Colorado?  Get your card specially stamped by following the directions below

  • Pre-address, pre-stamp all valentine’s and enclose them in a larger 1st Class envelope.
All envelopes should be sent to:
Postmaster - Attention Valentines
446 E. 29th St
Loveland, CO 80538-9998
All valentines will be removed from the larger envelope at the post office.

To ensure delivery by Valentine’s Day 2015:

    • Foreign mail must be received in Loveland by Feb. 3
    • U.S. destined mail must be received in Loveland by Feb. 6
    • Colorado destined mail must be received in Loveland by Feb. 10
  •  Proper postage must be affixed, especially for foreign mail.


Friday, January 16, 2015

Go Seahawks! Linky Love

 
Posting this early in case you need extra inspiration to cheer the Seahawks on. GO HAWKS!


My Seahawks Coffee Filer Wreath

Queen Bee Coupons has some Party Ideas

All Things Seahawks over at Thrifty Mom - check out all the Deals . Love the post on how to throw a party for 12 for $25 by Shopping Grocery Outlet

Petition sent to NFL to Stop Bullying Marshawn Lynch


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Reading Challenge, Boys on the Boat, Seattle Seahawks

I am taking Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge.  Details are here and in the graphic above.  I am also linking up to Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone is reading.

I read the Boys on the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olymipics by Daniel James Brown. This book is also part of our county's reading program - Whatcom Reads. In addition, this also falls into the category of a "Book I Kept Meaning to Read".  I kept putting this off even though the book has gotten rave reviews.  I didn't know if I would like a book about Washington State Crew Racing and their 1936 Olympic Bid. 

I loved the book.  It is about the Washington State University Crew that went to the Olympics in Berlin.  Several things resonated with me.  First the book is written from the perspective of Joe Rantz.  Joe had a incredibly hard up bringing and was a self made man.  His family was dysfunctional and there was a lot of turbulence in his younger years.  Everything he earned came through hard work.  Joe's work ethic reminded so much of my grandparent's and Pappy's drive to succeed.

Secondly, I have watched crew competitions in the past but now I want to watch again simply because  the writing in the book draws you in. I want to know more about crew. 

Lastly, this book talks a lot about teamwork, fluidity, and being in the zone without using any of those words.  In order to be a crew and crew member each person needs to care more about the person sitting in front of them and behind them.  This similar sediment was espoused by Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks Quarter Back and Pete Carroll, Seahawks Coach. I actually finished book during the Seattle Seahawk playoff game with the Panthers. GO HAWKS!

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Headboard Bench

 
I got this awesome headboard bench from my parents for Christmas.  They purchased it from a local antique mall.  I am using it in my entry way.  The bench that was there previously was in rough shape.  I had been on the look out for a small church pew or bench.  I love that this headboard bench has a shelf underneath.  I think it is the first one that I have seen with one.

I will be changing the blue outline to a different color.  The blue just doesn't go with my décor.  I will probably add a pad to the seat part simply because boys are rough.  My husband I have been batting around ideas about using burlap coffee bags or just burlap for a pad cover.

Friday, January 9, 2015

#NoBraces2015

First Day of Braces
2012
Charlie got his braces off yesterday.  I think that is quite the milestone. He has the metal grill since October 2012. Yikes!  He even came up with the hash tag above - #NoBraces2015.
Charlie's Selfie
#NoBraces2015

Thursday, January 8, 2015

T-shirts with a Message

Now that I have kids in adult sizes, I regularly browse the T-shirt selection at Value Village and Goodwill.  I am always on the look out for those with unique sayings.  These are a few in the last year that have caused me to reach for my camera. I never purchased any of these shirts but when I was browsing these caused me to chuckle. Clearly, there are some sayings that just shouldn't be put on shirts. You know what I mean.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Exceeding on New Year's Day

I started my New Years with a bang.  If you check the previous post , I had a quote that goes something like this - Bacon -the meat that exceeds.  Oh, it exceeded alright.  I ended up in the emergency room with stomach pain aka a gall bladder attack on New Years Day.  The night before we had bacon,bacon, bacon pizza.   I ended up having my gall bladder out on New Years Day. I believe that is truly a unique way to ring in the year.  All kidding aside, the people who took care of me were great.  I can't thank Kevin's co workers enough and awesome Mrs. Epi for stepping in and helping with my kids.

The good news is I am recovering. 

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Quotable Habit

If there are no white hats, if everyone is evil, if the deck is always stacked, if everyone I love is a monster, if no one is worth saving, what is the point?”
... “There is, incidentally, a point.  If there are no more white hats, if the deck is always stacked and if everyone you love is a monster, there is in fact someone worth saving.”
“Who?”
“Everyone!  Everyone is worth saving.  Even the monsters, even the demons.  Everyone is worth saving.  In the face of darkness, you drag everyone into the light.  That is the point.  At least I’d like to think that is the point. Of you.”
                                                                                                                                                        (Scandal)
 
 
I have habit of writing quotes on the back of my to do list.  I thought I would share what I was quoting last year.
 
Sometimes you will
never know the value
of a moment until it
becomes a memory - Dr Seuss
 
There are no wrong
turnings. Only
paths we had
not known we
were meant to
walk - Guy Gevriel Kay 
 
On the road of life, you can't get off
the exit ramp without some bumps
and roadblocks -and a few detours - Oprah
 
Be a warrior
not a
worrier (Ps 116:2,Phil 4:6-7)
 
Po to Shen (Kung Fu Panda II)
You've gotta let go of that
stuff from the past, cause
it just doesn't matter. the
only things that matter is
what you choose to be now.
 
with enough money,
anyone can create a
pretty house.  But it
take intention to
create a home - Nester ?
 
Be like Bacon,
The Meat that Exceeds
 
I live by the ABCs: Adventurous, Brave, Creative - Walter Mitty
 
To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.
 
Some people try to turn back their odometers
Not me, I want people to know why I look this way, and some of the roads weren't paved.
 
Isn't everything worthwhile a gamble? Can't good come around sometimes through some back doors? - The Goldfinch
 
Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading - Thomas Jefferson