Our Christmas Tree

Christmas tree making the great room festive while we play games and exchange gifts.

Christmas Morning

No dressing up for this picture, but we were having a very relaxed Christmas morning just enjoying each other and opening a few gifts from Santa. We were so excited that Nik made it home from New York. That storm they had last weekend almost kept him there, but he was creative enough to work with the airline agent and they found him a route home. It is so great to finally be in our own home after a year and a half.

Merry Christmas

I know. It has been quite some time since my last entry. But getting moved in and unpacking just the boxes to "start up" as well as readying the house for Christmas was a little overwhelming. Andrew, Rich and I did get out in the forest to select an Alpine fir tree to decorate. It is beautiful and about 14 feet tall. It took us about a week of intermitent hanging of ornaments to make it look like Christmas. We also had to get the basement ready for Andrew and Nik to have "rooms." Rich created walls with grommeted canvas and cardboard screwed into the 2x4's. It looked great. We hosted our entire family for Christmas Eve dinner and realized this was the first Christmas celebration we had ever hosted in our own home. We were always the visitors or stationed too far away. I did not have time for cards before Christmas, but will get them out soon. Pictures will follow.

Lots of SNOW

We woke up this morning to 12 inches of beautifful white powdery snow. And an early morning ride down the mountain in the rhino. It was fantastic and rode over the snow great. Rich spent part of the day snow blowing the road with his tractor and snow blower attachment. After arriving home from work, Rich came down and picked me up in the rhino. We got another 4 inches of snow during the day. It is now taking a break. Maybe more tomorrow.

SNOW, SNOW and More SNOW!

About 5pm tonight, it started snowing. Our first big winter storm. My new snow (sticky) tires on my Explorer make it very easy to get up and down the mountain. BUT tonight we are expecting 10 inches of new snow. So, Rich and I headed up to my Mom's and loaded up the RHINO on the trailer. We got it up to the mountain and parked my Explorer at the bottom of the hill. Now, I will be able to get to work in the morning. Rich will drive me down in the Rhino and off I go. It is now almost 11pm and the snow is still coming down. It is so beautiful. Well worth traveling down the mountain in the Rhino, plus it is fun! I'd love to take you for a ride. Come and visit.

Still Unpacking

Well, we have been in the house since last Thursday and we are still surrounded by boxes and paper. It is more difficult to unpack and get organized when I'm working 3 days a week. But I am making some progress and soon we'll be all moved in.
Yesterday, Sunday, Rich, Andrew and I hiked up a trail on Blewett Pass and found the "perfect" Christmas tree. It is an Alpine Fir and is about 15 feet high. I love it! And in the process we found a very nice snowshoe trail.

Tomorrow, Thursday, is the BIG DAY

We passed the county inspection. Today, was little item fix day at the house and tomorrow morning Rich and I will be arranging the furniture and starting the unpacking process. I can't remember what I even own, so many things have been packed for over a year. I am so excited. Once the place is somewhat put together, I'll get a tour of pictures up on the site.

Front and Rear Exterior

Final inspection is tomorrow. The gas line was hooked up and the house was cleaned while we were in New York last week. SO, I think we will be moving in this week. It looks like there will be exterior painting in the spring. It has gotten too cold here to finish the trim paint. This week the highs are going to be in the teens. You can tell from the pictures we got snow last night, about 3 inches. The wind chill will be in the single digits or negatives.

L shaped deck off the breakfast area and the dining room. The glass railing system makes the view more enjoyable.

Master Shower with full glass wall /door. Deck off the master bedroom. The glass deck "railings" have been installed.

Tile and Vent Hood. This picture is for my friend, Cindy, because she noticed a while back that the tile didn't go all the way to the cabinet. Now it does and it looks great.

Fireplace

Me and Nik in "his office."

This is a new work area for the theatre students for planning. The Theatre building is in the process of being remodeled and it looked great.

Models of set designs for classes by Nik

Nik's Class Projects

Projects include puppets for "puppetry class, models of set designs and a painting for another class.