Reception in NJ

They threw us a reception in NJ on Saturday. It was upstairs in the meeting room. Hubby's mom and Andrea R. put everything together. Cindi made a collage out of pics of hubby and I. It turned out really nice. The food was delicious, potluck style, then we had a brief hymn

sing afterwards. Everyone has been very kind and generous to us. I really appreciate how welcome they have made me feel.

Thanks Mom

I was tired of unpacking, so I tackled a project. I made a table runner! I have a duplicate runner that I'll add that material in the back to, and I intend to make a tablecloth to match for the dining room. Thank you Mom for the sewing machine and sewing kit. I had everything I needed!

Stained glass and other niceties

We put up the stained glass window from Aunt Karen last night. It looks so elegant. It's hard to tell from the photo, but the color of the wall really compliments the colored glass. It's a north facing wall, so it won't get direct sunlight, but it makes a stunning statement as people enter the house. THANK YOU Aunt Karen! Scott really likes it too! I unpacked my espresso machine too. Aaaahhh. I have missed cappuccino in the morning. The kitchen is pretty much all done, and the living room is back in order. Now I have to work on my clothes (yea!), craft closet, hat closet, and everything we temporarily 'dumped' in the spare bedroom.

FUZZ plague

HELP!!?! I have a serious fuzz problem and it's driving me crazy. Have you ever noticed that when you get new towels, they leave fuzzy stuff all over you when you dry off? Very annoying, so I am washing my new towels several times to help with that. When I took the first load out of the washer, I panicked thinking a Kleenex had gotten in the load. Nope, it was fuzz. Mutant, multiplying fuzz. I have washed those towels TWICE in a row so far. And I run the dryer for 20 minutes, clean out the very full lint trap, and run them again. Over and over, the fuzz keeps coming. This is the dryer lint from 2 loads. It's ridiculous. I even tried picking some of it off the towels before I put them in the dryer, but it didn't seem to help.

Does anyone know how to treat towels for fuzz? Or is there anything that can be done other than washing them over and over again?

Moving Day

Today I finally got my things. Wahoo! I have been living out of a suitcase for nearly 4 weeks. I can't believe guys can function with only 3 pairs of shoes, if even that many. I was going nuts, AND my feet were freezing. We got all but one box, which the driver claims he was never given at the warehouse, yet it was on his list... But one missing out of 108 isn't bad. One box split open too apparently and they just dumped the contents into another box. Well, now I am missing a much loved hat box (they gave me just the top to it), and 3! black wool hats, 2 of which were vintage. I am really bummed. Sure, they are sending claim forms to fill out,, but I loved my hats. :( The fact that I have no idea what was in the missing box is very disturbing too. They just describe the boxes or items on their manifests, they don't list what is inside them.

Mark and Andrea came over with their 2 boys and Kate. They were all a tremendous help. It had mercifully stopped raining and snowing, but we still set up a fire brigade line to bring things in and up the stairs, so as to save the carpet. Andrea and Kate helped me unpack and put away all my kitchen stuff. It was bitter cold out today, in the 20's with winds gusting up to 40 mph. Verrrry chilly.

In other news... Sara is having a baby girl. I'm so excited, my best friend is having a baby!

Happy Valentines Day!

Wishing all my family and friends back home a Happy Valentines Day! May you get all the flowers and chocolate your little hearts desire.

xx love, nan

Snow, Snow, Snow

It snowed all day today. I got up early just to see it... yes, it's still a novelty for me. I was soooo brave and actually drove in it to do some errands. I learned about driving slowly, and how windshield wipers actually freeze to the window. Hubby and I went to Mark and Andrea's for dinner and I discovered how hard it is to walk on snow and ice in heels. The roads started getting really icy and they recommended we go home instead of staying for meeting (which isn't until 8pm btw, we usually don't get home till 10pm). It turned out to be a good idea. We passed 2 accidents on the way home... took a little longer driving at 30 mph, but we made it home safe.

Good news and bad news. The mover should be arriving around noon tomorrow. Wahoo, I'll get my things finally... BUT its a mess outside! Snow, ice, slush all over. Hopefully it doesn't rain or snow tomorrow.

Flyers Win!

Hubby and I went to a Flyers (hockey) game in Philly tonight. I am a Flyers fan by marriage. They defeated Detroit 6 to 1, scoring 5 goals in the 3rd period. Woohoo! It was all very exciting, and I don't really know hockey. It's easy to get caught up in it when you're actually there, it was a lot of fun!

It's supposed to snow/rain in the next day or so, which is NOT a good thing. The moving company is scheduled to arrive on Weds. Ug. We'll have to get some plastic to put down on our beige carpet before they track snow and goock all over the house.

My first snow

My first snow
Originally uploaded by joleesikora.

It snowed last night!! It was only a few inchs but Hubby was annoyed because he had to wait for whoever it it is that clears the roads (mental note: need to find out who does that) to do so. But I was snapping pictures! Its really beautiful actually. My car is probably going to pinch me somehow in revenge for putting her through this.

Outside

It is not nice outside. It was 18 F on the way home from meeting tonight. I take some consolation in the fact that the locals are freezing too, and they say this is a little unusual. My car is not happy either. She refuses to give me power steering for the first 15 minutes or so in the morning, and even then she is making noises I've never heard before. Poor car. My wiper fluid is frozen solid too. I wear gloves in the car. No, not as a fashion statement, although I had considered it,... it's just REALLY cold.

I ventured outside, on my own, today to go shopping. After staying inside all day yesterday I figured I needed to get out. You have to be really motivated to leave the house when its so cold. Walking in and out of warm buildings and warm car into frigid wind that stings your face gave me a headache. It's no wonder people here get sick so often, that can't be good for you but I don't see anyway around it. Anyway....with map in hand I tootled off to the mall, driving a measly 45 because my car apparently refusing to shift when she's too cold too. I did have to smile though... get ready folks.... gas is $1.96. (And if you're not jealous enough, they pump it for us out here!) I gleefully rubbed my gloved hands together, thinking that maybe this place isn't so bad.... : )

Hubby drove his Mountaineer to work today and found another little surprise the boys had left him. Apparently they hooked a horn up under the rear bumper so that it would honk every time he stepped on the brake or used his turn signal (just the left one). I about died laughing when he told me, imagining his consternation and the look of bewilderment that must have crossed his face. Not to mention the looks from the drivers around him. I laughed so hard it brought tears to my eyes, I wish I could have been there to see it.

I'm finally home

Man, that sounds weird to say. I'm home... and its 30 degrees outside. It's deceivingly sunny, but when you get close to a window you can feel the cold air and hear the wind howling. I really do feel like a California pansy now. The ground outside is frozen and feels like concrete when you walk on the grass... makes a cool 'crunch' sound, which probably means I'm killing the grass as I go goosestepping through it. What can I say? This is all new to me. I've also concluded that one of those things that starts your car (read as heater/defroster) remotely is more important than a dining room table. This is a partial view from our kitchen window. See that white patch? Yes! Its snow. This is going to take some getting used to.

We made it home late Friday night. We initially thought we wouldn't make it back till Sunday afternoon, but we kept pluggin' along..(and the navigator is really bad at math and she may have miscalculated the mileage by a teeny bit). We made 2 sightseeing stops, the Alamo in San Antonio, and New Orleans. The Alamo was pretty cool, if your not interested in history it would be ho-hum, but hubby and I liked it.

I really wanted to see New Orleans. Sis and I went a few months before Katrina so I wanted to see how it had changed. The French quarter looked about the same, except for the noticeable absence of people. The streets were dead. Perhaps it was because it was quite cool that day, or maybe this is an off season for them, but it felt really strange. You could still hear the jazz music sis liked as we walked the streets, but it had a softer, distant sound, not the flamboyant energy it once did. I went back to the hat shop! Thank goodness it was still in tact. Poor hubby just sat in a chair while gawked and gaped at each work of art. And, much to his delight, I left empty handed. Maybe next time. On the way out of town we witnessed more evidence of Katrina's fury.

We had surprises waiting when we got home. Someone had put balloons and tacks behind the door which would create a loud noise when you opened it. Thankfully, I have a cautious hubby who suspected something was afoot and opened it veeerrry carefully. I also found the mustard packets under the toilet seats, and the hose that shoots water all over when you go to flush. It was pretty funny. They did a few other things I wont post in cyberspace, but all in all we had a good laugh.

We called the movers to see when my things would be arriving, and they said not till the 12th-14th. AAACK! Another week and a half living out of my suitcase. I have 2 pairs of shoes, a few t-shirts, 2 skirts, 2 sweaters and 3 pairs of pants. THANK GOODNESS I packed my long underwear in my suitcase, or I would be a popsicle right now. I have nighties coming out my ears but no clothes to wear!! Guess I'll have to stay in the house. :)

Hubby went back to work today. Woohoo! I told him not to take it the wrong way... but I was really glad to get some quiet time! After 2 weeks in such close proximity... I need space! I do have things to keep me busy though. The house needs a good cleaning, and things need to be moved around a little. He did clear out a closet and some drawer space for me! I was quite impressed, but the project isn't done yet. He wanted help finding something to wear Sunday, and in the process we added about 4 shirts to the Goodwill pile that he hadn't worn in years and didn't even fit. I'm pretty sure there are others lurking in a couple closets that can be added as well. Remember bomber jackets? Navy suit coats with lots of gold buttons? Flannel shirts with the sleeves rolled up? Yep, sleeves were still rolled. I suppose someone would have laughed themselves silly at the stuff I weeded out of my closet a few months ago too, so I should be quiet.

I am working on posting pics on Flickr, first I thought I lost the picture CDs or that they were packed in boxes, but I found them. Its just a matter of finding the time to upload them!

Countdown

Countdown
Originally uploaded by joleesikora.

Yep. Down to the wire. 5 pm on Thursday I finally finished my dress! I think I have my cell phone buttons permenantly embeded in my ear from all the use its gotten lately. Most of the relatives have arrived. Oh, and its freezing cold here. I think its warmer in NJ than it is here right now. Its been getting below freezing every night for the past week. I now I sound wimpy, but for here that is really unusual. For us 4 nights out of the year it may fall below 32F but not all in a row! So, wedding has been moved indoors. Its still on the same property, but we had to alter the decorations a bit.

This morning we are going to get our nails done, and hopefully RELAX a little. Packing is nearly done, and there are a few loose ends to tie up, but other than that..... I'm getting married tomorrow!!! Woohoo!

My adorable nephews

The boys
Originally uploaded by joleesikora.

Aren't they something? C. has taken to calling the baby "chub, chub". Hmmm, wonder who he learned that from? He is getting bigger by the minute, and he smiles back at you now!

ONE MORE WEEK!

ONE MORE WEEK!
Originally uploaded by joleesikora.

A week from today, I will be a married woman. Yikes!

Showers in Hemet

Scarf knitted by Juliana
Originally uploaded by joleesikora.

My Aunt L. threw a personal shower for me! Since I already had nightgowns and whatnot, it was a 'winter accessories' party. I was given lots of useful winter gloves, scarves etc. Everyone has been so kind and generous, it has been a bit overwelming. This was a scarf my sister knitted for me. Love the color, and it has a special whole in it that I can feed it back through so it stays on my head! This other one was knitted by Comfortably Crazy. Those colors will go with everything! And its soft too!

Kedge and Becky, and many others I'm sure, put on a General Shower for me too! A fabulous winter theme, decorated in white feathers and white fuzzy scarfs. And the food as usual was fantastic as well. Ladies came from near and far to wish me well, and I really appreciate the effort they made to come. I received some wonderful gifts that will be very useful in our new home, and entertaining guests. I hope that we will see many of my west coast 'family' back east! Here is the quilt that the sisters have been working on for several months. Thanks again to all of you who worked on it~ It turned out beautifully, and I love the colors! I can't wait to get it 'home', and start decorating.

working on the hem

working on the hem
Originally uploaded by joleesikora.

No sleeves yet, but it's coming along

slooow progress

slooow progress
Originally uploaded by joleesikora.

The partial dress.... and no! No more sneek peaks until the wedding.

Leaps and Bounds

Progress! I'm making progress! I finally have some time to work on my dress now. Thanks to Kedge, it is coming right along. Mom has been working on Do's bridesmaids dress and I like the fabric even more now than I did when we got it. The red is just stunning. Maybe I'll ask Sara if she is keeping hers after the wedding...

PACKING. Nightmare. Not enough hours in the day, and there is so much to be done it's hard to know even where to start. Note the hat box pics.. I got all those to fit into a wardrobe box and 3 other smaller boxes. Yikes. We have decided to hire a mover. Sounded like the best way to go. They are going to load and unload the truck (which thankfully includes THEM carting the piano up the stairs at WK's). I have had a good experience so far. I went to movingscam.com and read up on the do's and don'ts of moving. They even have a Black List of horrible companies, as well as a spot for recommendations. I will let you know when it's all over with if I recommend this company or not. So far, they have been very friendly, helpful and informative. What a relief. Now we won't have to drive a UHaul cross country. We will just be driving my car, doing a little sight-seeing and taking it easy.

I started a Flickr account and I'm still trying to figure it out. http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotrodhanna Lord willing, I am going to post wedding pics there in Feb after the move. I'm still trying to figure out how I can get a slideshow from flickr to post on this blog. Any suggestions?

Old pictures

My mother-in-law-to-be wanted some pictures of me growing up to use at our reception back east. I will share a few amusing ones I found.

You can see my love of chocolate goes waaaaaay back. I can spot a box of See's Candies a mile away. There must have been Bordeauxs in that box! And yes, I took it behind the chair so I could eat in peace. I sure hope See's ships to New Jersey.

Kids now days have iPods. Yep, this is a genuine record player. We used to trek to the library at least once a week to stock up on books, records and cassettes. Thank you mom!! I loved to listen to books being read to me. Still do, although the technology has changed a bit.

And finally, 5 generations! I insisted on including SugarPlum in the picture.

THE STORY OF THE CANDY CANE

I found this really interesting. Click on the link, and scroll to the top of the post.


A place to journal: THE STORY OF THE CANDY CANE