White (second day after) Christmas

I've seen snow on every single Christmas for the past thirty years... and this year in Pennsylvania, there was only a dash of snow on xmas day, but two days later (when I had to travel to the Pittsburgh Airport) there was a blizzard!

Amazingly Gorgeous December Day

The sun was out and the pond was frozen.  Definitely picture-worthy!
Pennsylvania is beautiful any time of year!

Happy Holidays

Xmas picture time

Getting the pups ready for their xmas picture was a challenge- they were just so darned excited.  This year's stockings are hanging on Henrik's mantle. How do they know what they are when they only see stockings once per year?  Because these doggies are... S.P.O.I.L.E.D. and they know it!

'tis the season

P-U!

Meet the stripped skunk- native to Florida, super cute, and full of stink! Maverick and his side kick Sheba learned all about the defense tactics of these little buggers. And Henrik learned how to clean up the smelly spray on two big dogs! He found out that tomato juice is a myth and the only real remedy is a bath of Dawn dishsoap, baking soda, and peroxide.

Afterwards, the sweet pups were rewarded with yummy peanut butter kongs... because they are well-loved and incredibly-spoiled :)

Closing his eyes in deep concentration

All gone, ready for more

Clean Pups

They got a good scrub today since Grammy K is coming to visit soon!

Clothesline

Hanging clothes on the line has always been part of my laundry routine- until I moved to a neighborhood where the HOA does not allow clotheslines!  Have you ever heard of such a thing?  With Henrik's help, I think I've outsmarted them- we hung up a retractable clothesline (think old fashioned Italy, where they go from one building to another) on my lanai so I can pull a little "now you see it, now you don't" magic whenever necessary.  Mmm, fresh laundry scent is uncomparable!

Pumpkins!



 On Halloween we sat in the driveway and carved pumpkins, drank wine, had pizza delivered, and handed out about 250 pieces of candy to all the neighborhood munchkins!  Unfortunately, jack-o-lanterns don't last long in the hot Florida weather... after just one week, we have sad, sad pumpkins!

Leak... Leak... Flood!

Being a homeowner is hard... and expensive!  The past few weeks have been a plumbing nightmare!  After hearing a trickle of water in my kitchen for days, the following madness unfolded:
-Henrik seconds my option: I have a leak!

Yes, this is the bathroom that I already remodeled!

-Water meter confirms said leak as it spins out of control.  Water company turns off the water to the house.

-I try to relax on the pre-paid cruise vacation in Bahamas, plumber is scheduled for the day we return

-Plumber says yes, I have a leak, and its under the foundation of my house. He refers another plumber

-The Sleuth detects the leak, marks an X on the tile in front of oven, I write him a check for $300... all in under 25 minutes

-Oodles of phone calls to everyone in the phonebook and many deep breaths later, my plumber-neighbor comes over and gives me option A) break open floor, fix leak, repair cement slab, and retile kitchen

-I choose option B) Henrik helps him bypass the leak and replumb half of the house

I finally am able to flush toilet, do laundry, and sleep peacefully for a few days until:

-I slip on kitchen floor coming in from garage, why are my feet wet?

-Henrik looks at carpet in garage and confims, yes I have another leak- now the spigot behind the washing machine is dripping and the carpet has spread it across floor

-We pick up supplies from Home Depot and soon discover this is a job for the plumber

-Neighbor Bob returns, replaces hardware, gives me the go-ahead on regaining normality in my life

I celebrate by washing an super-size load of whites, in hot soapy water. Hours later:

-On my way to the mailbox, I step over a big puddle at the bottom of the driveway

-My brain (and pocketbook) are too tired to even realize this is not normal

-At 11pm, I move clothes to dryer and notice squishing between my toes as I walk in soaking wet carpet in garage

-Henrik assures me it is not the end of the world and I will survive as he discovers the drain hose on the floor behind the washer

-I panic and pick up everything I possibly can off my garage floor in a fit of rage (45 gallons of water has soaked everything!)

-The next day, I moved everything outside in the front yard to dry off in the sun, and steamcleaned the carpet, twice. Had to tell people who stopped to shop that I was cleaning, not selling!
-Organized everything into Rubbermade bins and built shelves to keep things off the floor

After a week, the carpet is now dry (and clean!) And I can even put my car in the garage!  Even though it was an unfortunate expense, perhaps these plumbing nightmares are what it took to motivate me to tidy up a bit?

November is short for My Birthday Month is Over

As an only child, I have always celebrated my birthday for the entire month of October.  Now that I'm 31, nothing has changed :)  Thank you to all of my wonderful family and friends.  I am so spoiled!



Camping with the pups on Cape Romano

 

Henrik made all the girls at work jealous :)

Brittany and Maria outdid themselves with a surprise dinner party for me :)

Halloween Costumes

Off we went to the costume party- dogs in halloween collars and us in middle eastern apparel! People didn't recognize me in my Cleopatra wig, haha, and Henrik in his authentic Saudi Arabian thawb and keffiyeh.  We sported a lot of long black hair!

Sea Bean Conference!



12 species of beans in a 15 min walk!



Eight days of travel with Sarah McGuire: Naples, Cocoa Beach, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra

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Rendezvous with Terri and Joann at the International Sea Bean Symposium

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Good times!




Only my friends would get this excited about Sea Beans!

Gorgeous Atlantic- Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida




The Sarah's one our sister Reserves

 

Majesty of the Seas

KC, Donna, myself, Henrik, Wendy, and Rachel in the Schooner Bar

 I just returned from my first ever cruise!  What a unique concept- thousands of strangers trapped on a boat with so many amenities that you forget you're in the middle of the ocean.  We set sail from Miami en route to Coco Cay, a private island in the Bahamas, but due to rough waters, we only dropped anchor for a few hours and weren't able to disembark.  So we went to Nassau instead, in the rain, but we all had a wonderful time regardless!

Even the Porter celebrated by Birthday Month :)

The would be the private island owned by Royal Caribbean in the background

Key West Wedding Weekend

Simply a gorgeous day for a trip across the 7-mile bridge

Allegheny Girls!

Sporting my new Bebe dress from the second hand shoppe!

Hulme & Twiggy (haha, haven't heard those nicknames in years!)

Rehearsal Dinner at the Yacht Club

The Best of Key West

Henrik and I are having a blast in Key West! We are staying at a quaint bed & breakfast right off Duval Street. He has met three college roommates so far, with more Allegheny friends to come at Jessy's wedding this afternoon! We've been to Sloppy Joe's and the Southernmost Point in the continental US. And even met a drag queen from Sweden! Lots of characters around this place, that is for sure :)

First of many days on the boat

Two happy dogs

Mav and Shebs had such a great time on the boat!  We went out to Cape Romano, one of my favorite places in all of Florida, and they got to swim and play to their heart's content.  Gorgeous weather, great company, all the makings for a wonderful weekend.  Sans jellyfish sting on my arm :(

Water temperature = 88.6 degrees!

Maverick won't even walk on wet grass... but he will sit down in the ocean!

Thoroughly enjoying ourselves: sunshine, ocean, dog toys, Pabst Blue Ribbon

Labor Day Weekend in SC

What a lovely visit to South Carolina!
Flight to Greenville: visit Henrik's awesome friends.  Delicious food, great company.  Trip to the lake!

Tubing on Lake Jocassee

Moments later- a spectacular fall from Henrik

Drive to Myrtle Beach: stop by Henrik's alumni flight school. Visit family and meet Baby Addison!

Henrik used to fly this plane, many moons ago

Baby Addison, about 15 hours old!

Drive to Georgetown: cook dinner with Susan.  Introduce Henrik to Garden State!
Drive to Charleston: shopping on King Street.  Visit Morris Island Lighthouse.  Out on the town with old friends!

A random good samaritan took our picture and emailed it to me, how nice

Drive back to Naples: eleven hours of signing along to 80's music, laughing, and good road-trip snacking!

Dog Dreamland

This is the definition of Happy Dogs

Mav and Shebs love spending time at Henrik's house!  He has a giant yard, complete with woods and lots of wildlife.  They hunt.  They run after the ball.  They get spoiled with meat treats and constant care.  And go for rides in the big blue Ford!  What more could a dog dream?

We all crammed in the cab to go for a ride- they love the big bench seat

Mav is always hunting for something in those palmettos

No idea how she fits that tongue back inside her mouth

Such a handsome boy

Sheba loves her Chuck, she thinks she can't live without that ball