Since I turned 50 I haven't felt very good. Doesn't that sound awful. I actually caught a bad chest cold during my 50th trip with Brian and up until the past few days I just haven't been able to shake it. I was struggling to keep up with the most basic stuff around the house…

I turned 50 last week and my very generous and thoughtful husband took me on a trip to celebrate. There he is below – we stopped for some lunch in Tacoma after we flew into Seattle. We went to Olympic National Park and stayed at the Crescent Lake Lodge. When we arrived I promptly plopped…

It's been a warm dry fall and so far we haven't had a hard frost. I pulled out all my tomato plants and was left with a bunch of green tomatoes. Keeping them in a box or a bag seems to make them ripen in a few days. I've been making lots of pico de…

I have, finally, painted my red sewing room and I am very pleased with it. We started here – a rare tidy moment but too colorful for my taste. And now it looks like this. I inherited my mom's pretty wooden bookcase. It's much more attractive than the cheap shelf I had there before.  I…

I had feelings after our visit to Amsterdam. When we were walking along a canal in a residential area one morning I said to Brian"they are just more advanced here". No wonder they have an over-tourism problem. They know how to make a place comfortable, clever, practical, fun, healthy and beautiful. They've figured it out…

We had a great (but quick) trip to Amsterdam last week. I've got lots of photos but I thought I'd start with the photos that Claire took.  Some happy cats live in Amsterdam. Maybe the happiest was the sweet one above that Brian and Claire got to know at a cafe. And one happy dog…

I came home to a very sad ending for my cantaloupe. I blame the chipmunks.

Things are humming along here at the Chapman house. The girls are working really hard at school and I'm enjoying the last blooms of the season in my garden. I harvested a couple carrots. I love Aster season! I have been shocked at how big my nasturtiums have grown this summer. I have to keep…

Just got back from a weekend in Midland. Got to see Grandma C. and Aunt Sandy – a huge treat! And then spent some time helping mom clean out her attic and move some stuff to her new apartment. After sorting through these very old things my sister and I agreed we have learned a…