Rainy Day Butchart Gardens

My Mom had mentioned in October that she would like to go to Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC. So as a pre Christmas present we went last week.  I went many moons ago and it is still a magical place. We arrived before the lights were turned on and it was less rainy.  Is less rainy a thing? We walked most of the gardens.

The gardens provided umbrellas which was a good thing. It was so wet.

I loved the sunken garden. I did remember this from a past visit.

3 French Hens - Effile Tower in Background.Hens eating Parisian pastries

4 Calling Birds - Birds have cell phones - Ha Ha

The theme in the gardens was the 12 days of Christmas.  We warmed up in the cafe and spent some time looking a the lights.

We left feeling very damp but happy. Whatever the weather this place will put you in the Christmas mood.

Pre Christmas Linky

One way I avoid cleaning is to browse the internet.  These are the interesting links I found this week in the lead up to Christmas.

Homemade Christmas Ornaments

This Bicyclist Rides 9 hours to Create a Reindeer Picture with His Fitness Tracker

2020 Reading Challenge

Scientist discover how gene mutation causes Autism and intellectual disabilities

Follow Your Passion is Crappy Advice

What I read Dec and Year Round Up

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.  Check out what everyone else is reading. My reading has been on the slim side.

Match Making for Beginners by Maddie Dawson was a quick light read.  If you like a bit of quirk I think this is great read.  A match maker leaves her apartment to her nephews fiance who she barely know in hopes that she will become the next match maker.
***currently free on Kindle Unlimited

The Cut Out Girl
Is the true story of a survivor of a Jewish survivor of WWII. Lien de Jung. She was child taken in by the Holland Resistance Movement. The author's grandparents hid Lien but later they had a following out after the war. Bart learns of her story and explores what happened to Lien. This story brought me to tears.

Best Books I read 2019

 Only Woman in the Room
Celine
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
The Time in Between
The Gown
Reading People

Wordy Wednesday

Here is my very seasonal letter board.

Wordy Wednesday

Just a bit of Harry Potter for ya. This is currently what is on my letterboard.

What I Read November

The year is winding down but my reading hasn't. Once again the Hot Reads table at the library caught me . I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit link up. Check out what everyone is reading.

Garden of the Lost and Abandoned by Jessica Yu

This is the true story about Gladys Kalibblat who is a journalist in Uganda who has column called "Lost and Abandoned".  She investigates children left abandoned on the street and tries to reunite them with their families.  But Gladys involvement goes way beyond that.  Gladys is amazing and how she really rally's all her money and connections to take care of some street kids.

The Book of Separation by Tova Mirvis

A raw read of a woman who walked away from Orthodox Judaism. If you like to read about other religions check this out. I find other religions fascinating and Orthodox Judaism is seeped in tradition and rules. Tova Mirvis decided she couldn't live within the confines of Orthodox Judaism and this is the story of her separation.

****At the time of this blog post this book was free on Kindle Unlimited

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

I have read several other books by Marie Benedict such as The Other Einstein and Carnegie's Maid.

"The Only Woman In The Room" did not disappoint. If you like reading about famous people and underestimated woman this book is for you. I did not know Hedy Lamarr's back story and it is incredible. She was a film actress but also a scientist/inventor. Marie Benedict also has a new book to be released Jan 7 called Lady Clementine on Winston Churchills wife.

Fruity Pebbles Cookies

I gave Fruity Pebbles Cookies a shot for our band bake sale. They were strangely addicting. Recipe here. They did turn out flatter than I intended and I am not sure why. Maybe because I used a silicon mat.

Googling My Way Through Life - Updates

A few of my posts have some updates.

The Secret - Another treasure has been found in Boston. Secret Treasure Unearthed in Boston

Amateur Sleuths - Nancy Moyer . There is a sizzle reel made for possible Oxygen special.

Check out my entire series here

Googling My Way Through Life - Visual Cookbooks

I have a 21 year old son who is learning to cook.  He is autistic and cooking is hard for him in less it has a microwave involved.  My son gets overwhelmed very easily. We do a lot of cooking and baking together because he really enjoys it.

I have been trying to develop a somewhat visual cookbook.  Where things are broken down with some pictures. A lot of visual cookbook ideas I googled were for lower functioning people or for recipes we don't use at our house.

Visual Recipes for Non-Readers

This is the start of my personalized book I am making for my son. Below is a sample page.

I used Project Life App to create the page. It is so easy to do this way.

Check out my entire series here

Googling My Way Through Life -Macrame Snowflake

I have a snowflake thing. At Christmas, I like to do an Elf  "the movie" garland in my dining area.

It has evolved over the years.  I also usually have snowflakes in my front windows.  I  thought this year I would try to make macrame snowflakes.

I gave it a shot. Not entirely satisfied with my results. Probably going to try to make another one. I had to watch the tutorial a couple times and this one pictured below was my second attempt.

Check out the entire series here

Google My Way Through Life - Butchart Gardens at Christmas

I usually do a lot of googling prior to traveling. Is it too early to start talking about Christmas plans?

My parents are coming at Christmas to visit. We have been talking about taking the ferry to Victoria to see Butchart Gardens Christmas Lights. I am the only one who has been to Butchart gardens and that was way back when I was a teenager way back in 1986. Photographic proof below.

Photo taken on 1986 trip

Photo taken on 1986 trip

Thrifty Northwest Mom had some Tips and Tricks for Butchart Gardens at Christmas

Because of my Geographical Location in the Pacific Northwest , we most likely take the ferry from Anacortes or Canada.

Check out the rest of my series here

Googling My Way Through Life - Adult Coloring (Halloween)

While watching TV the other night,   I wanted to do something but I didn't want to create a big mess to clean up. So I found myself googling adult Halloween coloring sheets.

The coloring above is called  - Quilting Spiders
Similar coloring page - zentangle spider web

I colored the web and added the writing in sharpie. Lastly, I went over it with the cheap pan water colors.  The writing says-
Oh, what a tangle web we weave when we practice to deceive

Check out my entire series here

The Transition Situation-Autism and Reaching 21

I don't think there is a Autism term or situation I haven't googled.  I have written a lot about my son and autism.  I have his permission to share this. This is simply my perspective and I realize the spectrum is wide.

My son graduated from his transition program this year.  For those not in the know, it is a program  where students after high school ages 18-21 are given a chance to gain employment skills or complete educational requirements with support.  My son met all the graduation requirements in 2016  but his diploma was held until his 21 birthday. This was a bitter pill for my son. A diploma meant to him that he achieved the success hoped. It was also further proof that he was disabled. However it was the best things that happened for him. It gave him a chance to practice necessary skills and for us that assist him to figure out what kind of supports he was was going to need as an adult with Autism.

There is a  hope that students will be more employable by completing the transition program. Some students have disabilities but not all.  Some are missing graduation requirements. Good Transition Programs expose young adults to the adult world with job shadows, internships, transportation training, and reinforcing activities of daily living.

My son's #1 goal was to work. As of February of this year, he was employed but the place he was working changed owners and as of July my son was out of a job. He completed one online college math course and this fall is taking a on campus college computer course. So he is back to job hunting.

There is no safety net of school is liberating but also scary as heck. All the supports are basically gone. They call this falling off the cliff. My son does receive some services - job coach and case management.  I am his caregiver and I am reimbursed for some of my time. My son pays me rent. These are all good things but now my son is constantly in my orbit. It can be suffocating at times. He signs for himself and I am not his guardian. So I am simply an adviser with little or no power to intervene on his behalf.  It is totally like being a back seat driver. Sometimes this is frustrating as my son gets easily frustrated by lots of questions or communicating with government agencies. I am still learning this dance with him.

Googling My Way Through Life - Repainting the Front Door

I just want my front doors to look better. I really like my front doors. They are meh at best. I have a few dents on the inside door. I would like to eventually replace completely but double doors are expensive. Up close the doors  have started to rust. We get a lot of rain in the Pacific Northwest so the doors get wet a lot. I have steel doors which are great to put magnets with plastic spiders on top.

up close

I would like to repaint the front of our doors black. I guess black or charcoal doors are good for resale - article here. This has led me to studying the doors in my neighborhood and so far I haven't seen a black one yet.

Should I repaint my doors black?

Check out my entire series here

Googling My Way Through Life - Beth Moore and Lighting up the Internet

Oh a controversy always has me googling. For many years, I have attended a bible study that has used Beth Moore bible studies for years.  Beth Moore is perhaps the most recognizable woman of faith. So when she was dismissed/attacked by John MacArthur, Evangelical Pastor. He basically said "Go Home", YouTube link here.The internet lit up.

Article about the controversy

The first of I heard on it was Jen Hatmaker another bible teacher, podcaster, fighter mentioned it.
Sarah Bessey, preacher,  wrote a passionate essay about it. (See her field notes)

I loved Beth Moore's tweet

I did not surrender to a calling of man when I was 18 years old. I surrendered to a calling of God. It never occurs to me for a second to not fulfill it. I will follow Jesus - and Jesus alone - all the way home. And I will see His beautiful face and proclaim, Worthy is the Lamb!

— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) October 21, 2019

My personal take on all of this. John MacArthur came after the wrong person. I consider Beth Moore a biblical scholar. I would also consider her perhaps one of the more conservative bible study teachers in comparison to a Jen Hatmaker. Chances are if you are a woman in a main stream church you have done a Beth Moore Bible Study. I am pretty sure angered anyone who ever done a Beth Moore bible study.

John MacArthur comments make him sound afraid of Beth Moore and afraid of women. The church has a big enough tent to include everyone. The church should be inclusive. Jesus actively sought out the disenfranchised and those on the fringes. Being male doesn't qualify you alone to preach. I pretty sure Beth Moore doesn't consider herself a preacher but a teacher if you are hung up on that. However, I believe anyone could be called by God to deliver his message that includes anyone of any gender.

Beth Moore studies taught me to really study the bible in a thoughtful way and how to apply the bible to my life.  It saddens me that John Macarthur wants to discredit just Beth Moore but any woman that feels calls to preach or teach.

Check out my entire series

Wordy Wednesday - Eyeball Humor

I just can't stop with the eyeball humor. See the rest of my eyeball decor.

Googling My Way Through Life - Unsolved Crimes and Amateur Sleuths

Oh once or twice I have fallen into the unsolved crime black hole. I found myself googling all kinds of things.

Recently in Seattle they had Crimecon- Crowd Solve where experts and amateur sleuths got together to go over two cold cases that they hope to crack. These cases were out of Thurston County in Washington state. There is also a podcast called Hide and Seek which investigates Nancy Moyers missing person case. That was one of the cold cases that Crimecon was working on. The Podcast is a good one and hosted by all things an insurance agent, James Baysinger,  turned amateur sleuth.

There is also whole forum for this called Websleuths not related to Crimecon.

Check out my whole series here

Googling My Way Through Life - Bulk Banana Bread Baking

I was gifted a large amount of bananas after a race this August.  I gave some bananas away and I froze a lot bananas.

I have slowly been chipping away at my frozen banana stash. I have made several batches of banana muffins and banana bars.

I have been searching for a easy large batch banana bread recipe. I gave raising arrows Large Family Banana Bread Recipe a shot. This recipe makes 4 loaves.I turned 2 regular loaves into 4 mini loaves.  I overfilled my mini loaves so it was a smokey bake. I did add mini chocolate chips instead of nuts.

4 mini loaves

I would also like to give Good Cheap Eats - Coconut Banana Bread a shot as well. It is a 4 loaf bake as well. She also has an awesome zucchini bread recipe that makes 4 loafs as well.

Check out my entire series here

Googling My Way Through Life -New Edition of Fix Freeze Feast

I was googling some bulk recipes but I hate to make something in a large amount and FAIL. I have a couple of cookbooks that consistently take out the fear of bulk cooking.

My favorite cookbook, Fix Freeze and Feast, now has a 2nd edition.  I recently purchased the 2nd edition for a bridal shower.  The new edition has 25 more recipes and pictures.  This is one of my go to cookbooks.  I had convinced myself to buy the new edition for myself but my husband beat me to it. My book is looking pretty bad and well loved. (previous edition on the right in above picture) This version of bulk cooking/make ahead is totally doable. I cannot stress how practical this method is.

My go to recipe's in the cookbook

teriyaki sauce, An's Pork Chops, Mozzarella Meatballs

I have't written about my love of this cookbook many times - Check it out

This post has been in my cue for a long time but I haven't push published. Turns out Little Earthlings beat me to it. PLEASE check out Little Earthlings Post on this cookbook.

Check out my entire series

Googling My Way Through Life - Best Items for Bake Sales

Our band holds a huge craft sale and bake sale as a fundraiser at the beginning of November. So, I am never sure what to take. I usually make poppy seed bread mini loaves and M and M cookies.  I even made Jello Cookies. 

But it got me to thinking what is the best selling bake sale baked good.

Taste of Home - 60 Bake Sale Recipes
9 Simple Bake Sale Recipes
6 Favorite Bake Sale Goodies


Anyone have suggestions for baked sale goods?

Check out my entire series "Googling My Way Through Life"

Googling My Way Through Life - What to read next?

I usually have a very long To Be Read (TBR) list that I keep handy.  I am at the mercy of the library for my books.  So sometimes new and recent released books, I will have to wait weeks to months to read.  I often google titles to read.

I like suggestions from

Modern Mrs Darcy- 16 Books Recommended by Independent Book Sellers
Reese Witherspoon - Hello Sunshine
Emily Clark
Hot Reads Table at the library and that is not google friendly. (I have a love hate relationship with the Hot Reads Table)

Some of the favorite Books that I have read this year

Celine - Notice this was one I picked up off the hot picks table.

The Gown

Check out my series here

Googling My Way Through Life - Mr D and Mermaids

I follow Joe Dombrowski on Instagram.  He is a teacher in Seattle, Washington also a comedian with the show Indoor Recess.  He is really hilarious.  I just had to google his mermaid video to share.  He tried to convince kindergartners he was a mermaid.

Check out the rest of my series

Googling My Way Through Life - The Very Brady House

All my best googling happens during TV watching. I have been watching the Very Brady Renovation reveals on HGTV.  Both my Husband and I were wondering what they were going to do with the house once the reveals were done. Google did not disappoint.

Chances are the house will be part of some giveaway as either a chance to stay the night or the whole house.- Hollywood Reporter

Check out my entire series here