Ice!

No, Not on our windows or in our driveway.

The St. Pete Times Forum Christmas party (Adam’s 2nd job) had ice skating!! 

We laced up our rentals (Uggg) and headed out the same way the players do.  It was kind of cool going down that covered tunnel and stepping out of the box onto the big rink.

It took a while for my legs to get re acquainted after a 2 year hiatus, but I did ok.  And so did Adam.  I think he was a little more nervous than I since he’d only skated a handful of times. 

I used to skate on our drive way back home.  And no, we did not ice it over, it just happed sometimes, so I would put on my skates and go out.   It was fun until you hit a patch of asphalt and bit it.

It was a nice evening, we only stayed for an hour and Adam didn’t actually see anyone he worked with in his department, but being together out of the house was nice.  Between own our work schedules we don’t have that many nights together until the Christmas Invasion, so we’re enjoying the time we have now.

 

Burr?

So it's supposedly cold in Florida right now. 
It's in the 40's...maybe even 30's at night.
We do have our heat on and I did make Adam bring in his struggling Basil plant last night.

But seriously.
We Are Loving It!

I got to wear Tights to work!

And Boots!


And My Cable Knit Sweater!!!!!



I have yet to pull out the hats, scarfs and mitten; and I doubt i will.
I wish it would last, but it's supposed to be 70 by Saturday.

So much for winter, but that's what you get when you live in Florida I guess.

I hope all of you up North are enjoying your snow.
Feel free to send some this way, I'd love to see what these people do with a little white stuff on the ground. I bet they'd close down the city :)
Sweet.

Thanksgiving 2010

We arrived early to Grand Rapids; 10:40 instead of the scheduled 10:55.  Jonathan informed us that he would be there at 11:30.  Which meant that he had just left Lansing. Great.

So we call my cousin Chris and 15 min. later he drives up with Sherry Jo yelling “Pleva!!” out the passenger window of a minivan.  We were able to visit with my family for about a half hour before Jonathan and Lexi arrived to take us onward to Pentwater.  So I am Thankful for little brothers being late.

Thanksgiving day was very low key.  Joseph and Jen arrived sometime around noon.  Drinks were poured and cooking began.  I honestly have no idea where the day went, but I do know we ate a lot, drank a lot and played a lot of cards.

 

The following morning I was informed of a miracle in the Pleva family.

My mom was up until 3 a.m.!!!

That will never ever happen again.  And I missed it because I went to bed at 1:30.  Bummer.

Friday my good friend Felicia drove up from Kalamazoo for a visit while Adam and my dad went hunting. 

We worked on her save-the-dates for her wedding, then headed downtown Pentwater for some “Black Friday” shopping.  I could have done cartwheels down the center of Hancock Street.  Even the shop we went into wasn’t “officially” ready for their big sale the next day, but none the less we found some GREAT deals and I spent a little too much .

After our retail therapy we headed out to our cabin where we had a nice elk dinner and played some cards.  Oh! of course Hula hooping.  Mom and Dads new craze.

 

Saturday said goodbye to Felicia and welcomed back Joseph.  The guys were out hunting so mom and I headed back out to the cabin only to be met by Joseph with a “get in the truck”.  Excitement!

Jonathan had shot a 9 point buck just on the edge of our property with the help of Joseph ‘pushing’.  I think that means he made a lot of noise to scare any deer to run in the direction of the hunters.  Everyone was excited and happy-Adam got to witness his first deer gutting (which mom & I  declined). 

 

We spend the evening celebrating our friend Kareen’s retirement then hitting up some friends houses for after party drinks.  It was a busy fun Saturday.

Sunday brought about the usual. Church; saying goodbye to Joe & Jen & Jonathan.  It was a relaxing day.  We did make a visit to Grandma who is recovering in the Medical Care Facility.  She looked  100% better then she did when I visited her the day before.  When I told her I was going back to Florida the next day she made a “boo hoo” sound and pretended to rub her eyes.  And then it really hit me, like a knife in the chest.  This very well could be the last time I say goodbye to her.  It was hard leaving, realizing this reality.  She was in good spirits and good mind, so it’s a nice memory to have.

Monday we said goodbye to Mom & Dad and Marina and Gretta-who we spoiled beyond repair.  It was a much needed get away and we were glad to be heading back to our own place, but realizing the next few weeks will fly before we gear up and do the family thing all over again, on our turf!

 

Did I mention how cute she is?

It was a Good Weekend

Jonathan shot his trophy buck-The biggest ever at Camp Buckweiser.

Everyone was happy and excited; and he couldn’t stop smiling.

More to come on our trip up north….

Can you smell the turkey?

Ahhh Finally! It’s the week we’ve been waiting for.
Our Three day work week.
The week that we’ll fly (non-stop!) to Michigan. (thanks mom and dad)
My first Thanksgiving with my immediate family in 8 years!
I haven’t had a Thanksgiving turkey cooked by mom since 2002.      I haven’t had her stuffing and all the fixings in 8 LONG years.

There have been many fun, memorable thanksgivings over the last 7 years.

2003-2005 St. Petersburg FL

 

2006 in Arlington VA

 

2007 on Marco Island

 

2008 in Wilson NC


2009 at home in Tampa FL



But really, nothing beats your moms cooking, right?  I can’t even remember what it tastes like…it’s been THAT long.
So what’s on the menu?  Well I got a sneak preview:
Turkey-duh.

Stuffing!!!!!!!!! (can you tell i like stuffing? Really looking forward to this after lasts years disappointment)
Green Bean Casserole (jonathans request)
Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes (because i told her we HAVE to have mashed AND sweet)
Brussels Sprouts (my doing-new recipe)
And I pray…pray! Moms Cranberry salad with the eggnog stuff.
Oh and Pie. I’m pretty sure there will be pie……Pumpkin Pie.
HA!

“Pumpkin pie! Pumpkin table, pumpkin chair, pumpkin napkin….”and it goes on. 

FYI he’ll be 21 this year. 

I think this is in the running for best inside family joke…right up there with the Gold Hangers.

To all those traveling this holiday: Travel Safe. Drive Safe. Buckle up!
And to all: Have a wonderful Thanksgiving-there really is so much to be Thankful for.  Gobble Gobble

New Adventures

Well, if October flew by I don’t know what November is doing…Thanksgiving is NEXT week!   We are gearing up to go to Michigan and have a fun family thanksgiving.  Adam will try Deer hunting for his first time while mom and I clean out the vases from our wedding. You know, the ones filled with sand and a candle.  Yep, 14 months latter they’re still fill with sand and after an 9 hour reception…melted wax.  But chores aside-It will be great to get away, enjoy some cold weather and of course see our Puppy!

I’ve been working on my sewing again. A dress for Kylie and some Christmas presents.  I really do enjoy the process of making;  cutting out the shapes, deciphering the instructions and unfolding my stitched fabric to find a cute little dress or whatever it is I’m making.  Adam (the eternal entrepreneur) has been trying to get me to sell my items since last spring, but I’ve enjoyed making them for others and like the fact that a I may get to see my work again. 

Miss Naomi enjoying her first Yoga class in the outfit I made her.

Kylie Loves my clothes too

However, it’s my latest project (shhh the Christmas presents) that finally got me thinking…ok  maybe I can do this.  So I ordered some labels, set up a new email and opened an online shop.  There is nothing in the shop yet, but it’s all ready to go.  Then I brought my items into work, because people had been asking to see what I had been up to.  And they gushed.  One guy even point blank said “I’ll take two, maybe three”  So the shop may sit empty for a while until I can create some inventory.  But it’s there….waiting for me to start my new adventure.

Wood

On Saturday, between Adrianne’s games, we headed over to the Sarasota Architectural Salvage store.  We were told there was a trailer of wood on sale out front, but at 1st glance Adam dismissed it as crap and we wound our way to the back of the store to survey the reclaimed flooring.

When we got back there and saw the selection we started crunching numbers in our head….ouch. This was not what I had in mind I told Adam.  We can buy NEW wood for this price.  So after wondering around a bit more we thanked the store clerk and headed out.

Passing the trailer I said, Let’s take one more look.  So I began digging into this:

Under piles of green and white bead board I pointed out wide planks to Adam and he would dig them out.  Our pile on the ground grew and grew as did his realization that maybe we had found something. 

15 Boards later I told him that was enough and took a stack of one’s into the store to pay. $16.05 was our grand total.  I borrowed a hammer and a saw and for the next, oh 45 min, we pulled nails and sawed aged boards in half under the HOT NOON Florida sun.

Picking nails up off the ground I reminisced about my Granny and Grandpa.  Picking up the nails was Granny’s job-Grandpa was the Carpenter. But when my dad built his cabin Grandpa was too old to hammer so he took over her job and walked around picking up the nails.

As Adam was cutting the boards to fit them into his car he started to get excited. “I’m not sure what this wood is, but look! Check out the grain; It’s still wet; wow this isn’t pine!”

With planks between us and filling the back seat the car ride home smelled of sweet lumber and fresh cut wood. (One of my favorite smells)  Sunday we would take it all into his shop at work and uncover what we hope will become our new dinning table.

Stay tuned…