What can I say?  A new place, a new set of stores.  Today was a close to home day.  Leisurely get up time this morning.  Five year old Lilly stayed all night at her uncle’s house with all the cousins.  It was a very quiet, unusual morning.  Lilly is by no means loud but just not having her presence here was a big change.  We just moved a little bit slower.  So “mama” and me we decided to do a little shopping.  That propelled us into “FAST MODE”!

The first clue that it would be a good day was when we saw a bright sign alongside the road that said “HUGE SALE”.  Oh dear, I told Ericka that sometimes my car just had a mind of its own and I would have to see where it took us.  Then we saw the next bright sign that said “MEGA SALE”.  Oh, it was getting better.  Where else to shop when you’re 2,000 miles from home, your car is already packed up to the hilt, and you don’t really need a thing.  But that is where my little Silver Fox took me.  It was easy to find and it was a “HUGE-MEGA SALE”.  Come to find out the people putting on the “garage sale” had bid on a storage unit and bought the entire lot, sight unseen.  They had no idea what was in the boxes until they unpacked them.  And…they were still unpacking them.  The driveway was full of displayed items and the garage was full of boxes that were stacked higher than my head that they were unpacking as fast as they could.  They said they would have lots more out by tomorrow.  It appeared that they had the entire contents of a household.  Really it was rather sad to think that someone  lost all they owned through an auction of their storage unit.  But, I guess it was good for the couple who purchased it because a lot of items were being sold.  Including to me!

No, I won’t go there.  You can quit worrying Dave, I think I can still get it all in…barely.  Oh man, I better hurry up and get home!

Well, then we went to shopping row.  There were five places we stopped.  All were different and all were within two or three blocks.  The first store was called “My Favorite Things”.  Then “The Hospice Store”, “The Idaho Youth Ranch”, “The Thrift Store”, and lastly, “Goodwill”.  What a run!  Ericka and I had a blast shopping!  Did I buy some things? YEP!  You see, where I shop is very exclusive and they have limited editions of most items.  There are usually only one of a kind available and you must be very fortunate to find the “ONE” that is in your size.  One kind in only one size.  I hit the jackpot!  But enough of that as I don’t want my husband’s eyebrows to raise off of his face.  Speaking of my husband…Today is his birthday.  I received a selfie from my son with my husband in the photo also.  Check it out at the end of the blog. He has nine more days of actual “working days” until retirement.  He has a paid holiday on his last day and doesn’t need to go it.  When I talked to him tonight he actually sounded excited about the prospect of retirement looming so close.  We know it will be a big change in our life and we look forward to the transition together.  I am so grateful and thankful to have my husband by myside.  As of next Tuesday it will be 42 years of marriage that we celebrate.  I could go another 42 years with this man!  There is never a day that goes by that he doesn’t make me laugh.  I love you honey!  Does it sound like I am missing him???

As we left the last store I turned to Ericka and told her to remind me to never take her shopping with me again!  You see, everything I bought was ALL HER FAULT!

After shopping we came home to fix lunch for the hungry crew that was coming over, famished from a romp in the park.  Where else do you go when you have four children under one roof?  TO THE PARK OF COURSE!  Fortunately I made a pasta chicken salad a couple of days ago.  I quickly made a green salad, put out some fresh fruit and WALA!  Lunch was prepared.  Afterward the family left so that little ones could nap.  Actually they just drove them around in the car for a few hours so they would sleep.

Five year old sleeping beauty napped here and then everyone came back for dinner.  I prepared a stir fry consisting of Brussels sprouts, onion, garlic, bagged kale and  Brussels sprout salad mix from Costco, pecans and pumpkin seeds cooked in coconut oil.  It was delicious.  Added some stir fried chicken and some fresh fruit and dinner was ready.  David S. is cleaning the kitchen as I type so I can get to bed earlier tonight.  What a great help he is in so many ways.

I am just so appreciative of the opportunity to be here with family I see so seldom.  It is rejuvenating me and putting a desire in my heart to make attempts to try harder to see them more often.  Night is winding down.  It is 10:00 pm. And we must get up early in the morning as we are going on a hike around TUBBS HILL.

“  Tubbs Hill consists of over 120 acres and is bordered by Lake Coeur d’Alene on the west, south and east sides. There are several miles of hiking trails on the hill that provide spectacular scenery for everyone to enjoy.”The above is an excerpt from the web.

We plan to do several miles of hiking in the morning.  I have a date with a young man for lunch at McDonalds, and then we are going to attend a car show, “Car d’Alene”.  That is what it is called.  I kid you not.  Car d’Alene is an annual car show that takes place in Coeur d’Alene.  So, I say good night.  Sweet dreams!

SHOP TIL YOU DROP

by Kathleen Martens

Shop til you drop

Is not my style.

I just do it

For a long while.

 

So much to browse 

So much to see,

Bringing Ericka

Is the key!

 

She pumped me up,

Liked it all

When I walked out

I was 10 feet tall.

 

She pointed out

Bargains galore

All the reason

For me to explore!

 

And when I hunted

I found too much,

Blouses and pots,

Knives and such.

 

But I only bought

Just what I needed

And that inner voice

Was not heeded.

 

Oh me, oh my,

I still have far

To travel my road

In my Silver Fox car.

 

I hope I still fit

When my packing is done

And when I unpack

I hope its still fun!

 

So, I say good night.  Sweet dreams!