Garage Sale, Rope, and Cascade Locks

Time flies way too fast when you fill up your life with activities and adventure!

Busy, busy, and more busy with work! Still short-handed so I've had to tackle more in-depth projects, including reviewing client leases and agreements to determine if a client's operator is in compliance with insurance requirements and, if not, what they need to implement in order to be compliant. Lots of due diligence, review, and advice.

In performing this role, I've learned a valuable lesson. Even if a person has the title of CEO, Executive Director, or even Attorney, this doesn't make them smart or fully understanding of business. I've had to explain some technical details and advice in very simple terms in order for these people to achieve full understanding. At first I was anxious during client teleconferences as I feared I'd be out of my league. Well, blew that thought right out of the water! Nice boost to my self-esteem to communicate so effectively with the upper echelon!

Enough of work! Manny and I are still going strong and we are taking the plunge to move in together on August 1. Will be great to share rent and utilities plus he loves to cook, clean, and even does my laundry. This last weekend I organized my garage and we had a yard 

Manny with his garage sale face

My clean garage

sale at his place to get rid of duplicate furniture.  Proceeds from the sale were sorely lacking but once we started marking tags as Free customers came out of the woodwork!

We recently paid a visit to Willow Grove just to walk in the sand and for me to look for treasures.  

On July 4th we stumbled onto the Longview Go 4th parade. Entertaining.

Here are a few more pics, including flowers with which he surprised me.

Homemade yeast rolls I baked

Manny's Portugese pea stew

Even though I'm busy, I've still fit in crafting! Lots of nautical rope projects, sand painted plastic castles, wreaths, and even wire art. 

Vintage berry baskets filled with DT floral and attached to a board

Wire anchor frame covered in beach wood vase filler

After sandcastle project

Ethel Mermaid wire and driftwood art

Rope Wreath

Made an outside table out of two Dollar Tree metal waste baskets and a platter

Coffee can covered with rope art

And another container covered with rope

Dollar Tree Sandcastle Art

DT starfish frame wrapped in rope

Last weekend we celebrated brother Jay's wedding reception in Cascade Locks. Sunshine, blue sky, and all my siblings together for the first time in years. It was an awesome day. Poor Manny was overwhelmed by all the names he tried to remember.

Congrats Jay and Linda!

The gangs all here!

Another plus is Manny gets along great with Jordan and Sam.  Last night we spent the evening playing pool with Sam at his boss's house and had a blast. Found out Manny is a top notch pool player.

I'm ready to relax this coming weekend! That garage sale took a lot out of both of us!!

Odds and Ends

What's been happening in my life?

Congratulations to older brother Jay and his new bride Linda, who were married in Paris!!!  Sis Erin was able to attend and it sounds like it was a fabulous adventure!

Speaking of love, my Manny and I are still going strong. I can't say enough kind words about him and the way he treats me like a princess. We've been making dinners together - one night at his place then one night at mine.  Sister Julie got to meet him last weekend when she visited and we went to lunch. Fun time!

Still crafting now and then when time allows. 

Driftwood boat

Tiered tray using Dollar Tree plates

Crab made from dryer vent metal

Mermaid and Merman using butter dish from Goodwill

Found a hubcap on the road and turned it into outdoor art

Painted and decoupaged old platter

Had a bunch of photos so decided to tape them to the fridge. 

Found a teal rug on Facebook Marketplace for $5!  Looks great in my bedroom.

Speaking of Facebook Marketplace...some of the photos and descriptions kill me!! Take a look:

I still have moments of grief when I think about the loss of my bestie. There are just weird things in life I would share with her or times we would talk about my love life or social activities. Miss her!

Sunshine On My Shoulders Make Me Happy!

Oh thank you sunshine and blue sky for visiting this weekend!

Picked up a $10 table on Friday, set it up today, then placed my free art easel on it. Will work pretty slick for painting!

Yesterday Manny and I visited the Saturday market in town where he bought steak for dinner tonight and I grabbed homemade olive hummus, a Seahawks car garbage bag, and a loaf of Jalapeño cheese bread.

After Saturday market we ran out to Willow Grove so I could pick up some driftwood and we could enjoy the river surf.

In the sunny afternoon I mowed Manny's yard while he emptied the bag and swept up the clippings. Last night he made mussels in garlic sauce for dinner. Such a great day.

Between work and time with Manny, it's been hard to sneak in crafting.  However, Jordan gave me some paper clay so I made a small boat and created another bell jar beach scene.

Just a New Manny in My Life

Since I moved in to my new place this year, a friendly neighbor, a Portuguese man named Manny, has frequently walked by to say Good Morning or chat during the day. He'd frequently invite me for coffee or dinner but it was usually when I was in my working clothes aka sweats, tee and no bra. Gotta have my Diva Mojo on before I break bread with a new guy.

Finally, he asked me to celebrate his birthday out to dinner and I'm so happy I said yes. He is fabulous! Kind, caring, loves old movies, makes me laugh, and we talk and talk forever. I can't say enough about how well we get along together.

We've had meals together, gone to the beach, and he's even teaching me Portugese.  Just an honest, sincere person who treats me like a princess.  Been a long time, if ever, I've had someone in my life like him. 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! I miss you Mom!