How to Train Your Hubby

 

As we slowly move into our next season of fall, Terry and I make an attempt to go outside and enjoy the last of the nice weather of summer. We saw the live action version of "How to Train Your Dragon" in the theaters, so off we went. I have seen the animated version, but felt this could be interesting. 

Interesting it was! They did such an excellent job of selecting actors, and the writing was wonderful. The dragon was beautifully crafted to fit so well in the film. If you are searching for a great movie to see and you enjoy dragon tales, go see "How to Train Your Dragon." I highly doubt you will be disappointed in any way, but then again, each to his or her own. 

Opening the double doors to the theater, we noticed the line. This is unusual for Roseburg Cinema; however, it is a holiday. In the end, it was definitely worth the wait and worth the money. Good movie!

We were two happy patrons of the arts after seeing this film. 😏😊😉But this is about as artsy as either of us gets, or as patrony. Fun day and nice time spent together!

I believe when the film began, we were one of four couples in the theater. I'm not sure why a long line, but I was completely happy to be able to enjoy a movie without having the back of the seat kicked or kids screaming in my ear while trying to hear what the characters in the flick are saying. 

Like I said, the film is worth watching. 

***

Because of the holiday, Terry and I were able to have another day together. Wednesday afternoon came around, and we decided to go out to eat. We haven't gone to Denny's in a while, so that was our choice for the evening. Good choice too. 

Terry had ordered a Grand Slam breakfast meal after being told his original order could not be served. They had run out of sirloin steak. But all was good. He enjoyed his breakfast for dinner choice, including pancakes. 

He poured on the pancake syrup and enjoyed each and every morsel of cake goodness on that plate. I watched him with a twinge of jealousy, as that dish has too much sugar in it for me. All is well, though, as I can substitute the syrup for Mrs. Butterworth's Sugar Free syrup and enjoy flapjacks like he does. After dinner, I headed out to the store to score some pancake mix with the sugar-free version of syrup. I knew what I was having for breakfast the following morning, and we did just that. 

***

It's Friday, and we are a day behind our regular Thursday evening picnic in Stewart Park. We held off on the picnic stuff last night because Terry was off getting himself a new tattoo. I will let him share what it is and how that is healing. 

Today, he is at the store as I write this to pick up some chips for our picnic dinner. I can't wait. I love the time we spend in the park. We laugh, chat about life, and enjoy nature under our favorite leaning blue spruce tree. It's "our thing" and we definitely plan on keeping it up until we can't any more, either due to health or the upcoming weather. 

Our evening dinner in the park gave us time together to enjoy nature's beauty. We hug our favorite leaning blue spruce tree, unfold our chairs to set them up, and then we open the bag to get our chips and sandwiches from either the local deli or from Subway. Tonight, it was Subway. 

The air was warm, although a crisp breeze traveled through the area, bringing with it the slightest hint of the upcoming seasonal change. Beautiful afternoon with plenty of time left to enjoy it all before darkness set in. Typically, we leave no later than seven to get home and walk our fur babies. 

***

Wednesday of the week brought with it a nice thunder and lightning storm. As I drove to the store to retrieve items we needed for the evening, I was able to capture a couple of short videos of what is considered by many to be a small storm, but a storm nonetheless. I love lightning and the way it stretches across a gray sky. 

These first two videos are of the storm as I was sitting at a red light, heading to the store.

After shopping for the items needed, I came out to the car to darkness and a couple of jolts of lightning that made me smile. 

Stormy skies remained over the downtown area of Roseburg for several hours, sending periodic bolts of lightning across the sky. I went inside after my trip to the store, so I missed whatever show the storm gave us. As I put groceries away, I could feel the house shake and hear booms of lightning strikes in the distance.  

***

I spent this week adding many more sets and pieces to my store. Admittedly, I have become wildly addicted to crafting jewelry. Running out of beads and feeling guilty about spending money on so much jewelry, I have been holding off on buying beads and other findings until more of my items sell. So many people are designing and creating jewelry now that it's a tough gig. I do it as a hobby, but I cannot allow myself to add so much jewelry to my house that my husband and I sleep outside. It is time to pull the reins tight and stop buying "stuff" until I sell a bit more. Although I sold three items today as I'm writing this. 

I have sold about 10 pieces or sets of jewelry, kept a couple for myself, and even sent two pieces out to friends or people helping get my jewelry out among other social media users. With the three I sold this morning, I can now say 13 pieces or sets. Anyway, I am digging beads and findings out of a box I've had for years, using up the remnants of items I purchased years ago. I did create a couple that are made from new beads, too, but also using the older beads with the new ones. 

Years ago, I made a jade necklace with gold spacers between each jade round. Not too long ago, the stretch cord the necklace was strung on broke, sending my coveted jade beads throughout the bedroom carpet. I got on my hands and knees and collected all of the jade I could find. 

When I made the necklace, I did not have the experience yet of not beading on the elastic cord if you are making a necklace. I completed this jade necklace, bracelet, and earrings, but chose to keep them. 

Necklace, bracelet, and earrings made from Czech rainbow glass beads, some black lava beads, and a large rainbow rhinestone. 

These stackables were made with leftover faceted coral beads, silver, and gold spacers. 

I had enough leftover coral beads to make a faux pearl and coral bead necklace with earrings. 

The final few coral beads I had, I added them with more gold spacers and beads to make a couple more stackables. 

Not wanting to make the post all about jewelry, you can find all of the jewelry on eBay, vipe-438, or in Facebook Marketplace. More is added as time goes on and new techniques will soon be added. 

***

Now, on to the big news of the week! Terry and I settled in to watch the second game of the season for the Oregon Ducks. This week, they were playing the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The season opener was against Montana State, with a final score of 59-13, Ducks. That game was definitely a bit of a snooze, as everyone figured the Ducks had that game. But this week, even though people figured the Ducks as the winners of the game, nobody, and I mean nobody, considered the game to end the way it did. Our Oregon Duck team walked out of Autzen Stadium on Saturday with a huge win over OSU. They flew off the field, wings spread high, with a quacking good score of 69-3, Oregon. The game was surreal for me. 

Congratulations to our Duck team and Coach Lanning for such an incredible outcome. The Ducks definitely brought their A game. Once OSU's quarterback is healed again, I would love to see another matchup of the two teams, just to see what may happen. Good game, OSU. Good game. Not because we won, but because you all played an honest, good game. Trust me, the Ducks and the Duck fans know what it is like to get crushed. I think most teams do understand that feeling. Hold your heads high. You did well. Especially since your coach opened his mouth to belittle you in a couple of ways before the game, such as saying you are the best players they could afford, and speaking about how much money the Ducks spend on their season. I guess fans were wanting the man fired last season because of things being done and said that are not seen as being a good coach. 

***

My daughters are at the memorial for their father. I know it's tough for them, but I am sending hugs. The celebration of life is what they all need for closure. Upon a loved one's death, there always seems to be the residual guilt for this or that or the other. The what-ifs of "If I had been there," or "I should have visited more," or "I should have said I love you a lot more."  It seems to be a mix of survivor's guilt and the thought of wanting a do-over of the last few months of someone's life to give you a better chance of spending time with that person. Now is the time to release all the guilt and the should have, could have, and if I had done this or done that. I would just like to see my daughters release all of the guilt, whatever amount it comes in, at this celebration of life. 

I am spending the day cleaning and doing things around the house, along with sending my girls the highest amount of loving vibes I can muster. They were all loving toward their dad. And Tom, may you move on into a pain-free, beautiful place along your next journey. Tell your mom, dad, and sister Faye hello from me, will you?

***

Well, today is Sunday. Monday is coming upon us in a few short hours. It's back to work for most people then, and so begins another week. 

We would like to end the week by telling all of you thank you. Thank you for sharing our adventures, our memories, and our overall lives with us. We wish all of you a blessed week with all of your dreams coming true. 

***

Back to the drawing board ...

Or should I say jewelry boards? Whatever I call it, it's work and love of creativity all in one. It's like being a chef with a new frying pan.

And so it goes ...

Until next week, thank you!

Terry & Vicki Macrae

Partners in Crime

This woodburning piece came back into my life. I had to hang it to remind myself of the love of woodburning, as is the love of jewelry making. I made the woodburned piece in '93.