Game night

Food, fun, games, laughs and friends is what life is all about. Boy oh boy, have we ever been blessed with the greatest friends!!

Game night at the Woodbury's

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words"

Life is too short

Yesterday I went to my Uncle Harold's wake and this morning was his funeral. It's always nice seeing the family but so sad that we meet up under sad circumstances.

This past summer we went on several camping trips with many members of my family and it was awesome. Oftentimes on those trips it was mentioned that we hardly ever get together as a family anymore other than some birthdays and major holiday's.

Ya know, life is really too short. Even if one lives to be 110yrs old. It's still too short. We talked about each family member taking a month and and having a day or night that they family comes over for food, fun and laughs. Last month my nephew and his wife hosted a Pumpkin Carving party/Fall festival. This month my family is going to have a chili cook off up at our camp and next month Ken and I are hosting a Christmas event.

I think it's so important to make those memories and enjoy one another's company. I never thought I would have lost both of my parents at 10yrs old. If I would have thought it was possible I would have made more memories, been kinder and done my very best. Life has a way of throwing curve balls and we never know when it will end. Nothing lasts forever and nothing is ever going to be perfect. So don't wait for the perfect moment...it may just pass you by.

"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right,. Love the ones who don't just because you can. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Kiss slowly, forgive quickly. Nobody promised life would be perfect, they just said it's worth the ride"

Make your ride one worth remembering.

The Over The Top Democrat

Did you get out and vote today? If not, I sure hope you had a good reason. I feel it is our duty and an amazing privilege we have been given to elect our officials. I was filled with excitement and hope as I drove to my voting place.

I will be beyond ecstatic for the never ending phone calls to stop and my mail box won't be bursting at the seams tomorrow with the "vote for me because so and so sucks" type of fliers. I am hopeful and excited for the outcome of today's election.

I want to write about my experience I had yesterday. I was using the leaf blower/sucker in the front yard when a gal in her early to mid 20's approached me. At first I thought she was the neighbor from across the street returning a piece of mail she accidentally got. Nope, it was a young gal informing/begging me to vote a certain way. Now, I don't think I am straight Democrat or Republican or Independent and often times, I wish we could vote for Papa Smurf. There's always the over the top, psycho Independents, Democrats and Republicans. I know several of those types and I appreciate their opinion even if it is not shared by me.

Well, this gal called me by my full name and I realized I was in for it so I played along with her psycho babble. I asked her questions and the answers she gave were nothing close to factual. She would stumble on the facts about her candidates and couldn't even say their name properly. She then went on to tell me what Human Resources are....like I was some sort of idiot. She, assumed several times that I was a teacher because I was wearing my home team sweatshirt and jogging pants. Now, I have nothing against teachers and I find them to be rather fabulous. But when she referred to me as one several times because of my apparel and told me I NEED to, and please vote Democrat I seriously wanted to blow her away with the leaf blower.

She then went on to say that the folks on the Democratic ballot are very similar to the folks currently in office....UMMMMM, I live in MI, the U.P. We are often forgotten or not even acknowledged on the map of the United States. I feel the current office holders are not doing their job and I hope for change. I guess I should have said, " thanks miss psycho Democrat for sealing the deal for me. Your current Democratic officers suck and you are now telling me that the ones running are extremely similar to them...." Did I mention she mentioned the teacher thing several times? After about the 5th time I told her I support my home team and happen to find the outfit comfortable.

One more thing...I was hounded two more times today from this political party begging me for their vote and telling me why I needed to. I mean, seriously, that kind of nonsense turns people off and is completely rude.

I am sure I may have offended some people by writing this but this is my blog, where I can write about whatever I choose.

I love my Country and I feel completely privileged that I have the right to vote. I respect other's opinions and do not, and will never force my personal opinion on someone.

Betsey Sue

Betsey got a new kitty house on Friday.

I had a few Cheetos's and our cat, who thinks she's a dog decided she wanted to lick my cheesy fingers. I just love how her tongue is sticking out mid lick.

She is doing so good since we had to put Buster down. We weren't sure how Betsey would do with being an only cat amongst all our pups. I am happy to report, she is the most lovable, social little butterfly than she has ever been. She even runs to the back door when I let the pups out. I recently bought her the collar she's wearing and a leash. To my surprise, she loves going for walks!! Pretty odd seeing she has never, in her 16yrs been on a leash.

We are unsure of her actual birth date but it's sometime around the beginning of November. Happy Birthday my sweet feline princess kid Betsey Sue.

Random Shenanigans

You know all those thoughts I have whirling around in my never resting brain? The same thoughts I can't seem to put into words? I thought it would be fun to do a post about some of the shenanigans, thoughts and dreams I have floating around in my scattered brain.

I truly have THE best husband. Ever. I know I say this often but I cannot even put into words the love I have for this man. He inspires me so much and keeps me focused and makes me a better me. I am by no means a walk in the park on a sunshiny day.

We recently joined the deaf club here in Esky after being asked several times. No, I'm not deaf yet but we know that that is what meniere's disease eventually does. This group has some of the most amazing people and we are honored to call them friends. I debated for some time if I should join so I asked Ken's advice. His reply? "Kat, I think it would be great, embrace what is going on instead of being scared." So bless his awesome heart and these fab group of friends. I am not afraid and I will embrace it for what it is and no longer pretend everything is "just fine."

On September 12th we had to put my dear fluffy boy Buster Brown down. My heart still aches for his snuggles but I know he is in a better place. We buried him up at camp, right next to Sassy and Alex. He was 16. We still have Betsey Sue (another feline kid) and she is doing awesome. We were worried she would be lost without her brother. But alas, she is more sociable and lovable and energetic as ever.

I had an amazing birthday in August. Ken and I took a mini vaca and took the suburban and camper and pups on a eastern U.P. adventure. The highlight of that trip was being able to spend it with the ones I love and all those sunsets at Paradise. I definitely need to show pics.

I find myself missing my Mom and Dad more and more as time goes by. I don't know why or if it's "normal". I wish I would have had time to make more memories with them. Ten years was not nearly enough.

I put up two of our Christmas trees yesterday. I know it's early, but I was extremely crabby yesterday with all sorts of family drama. p.s. I despise drama and would rather free flowing, happy, love one another and be considerate vibes. But, I love Christmas and it brings me happiness. Plus, I was only a couple days early from when my "normal" decorate for Christmas bonanza begins.

Ken and I are both dieting. Rather, eating healthy. The word diet makes me think that you're hungry all the time. Believe me, we are not hungry. It's actually hard work to pack all those calories in during the day when you are eating good calories. Ken has dropped 18lbs now and if I wasn't so dang bloated I'd be down 12.

I wish I could get a hysterectomy so I wouldn't be so dang bloated and all that other fun lady junk. I mean, the stuff does me no good and cysts and endometriosis kills!! Last night I asked Ken if he'd slice me open and do surgery himself. I'm sure next week will be better.

I still sometimes have thoughts of wanting to be a Mom. I don't know if those will ever go away.

I'm very excited about the surgery Dr's in WA did on a man that suffers from meniere's. They did a procedure similar to a cochlear implant but hooked the electrodes to certain parts of the inner ear. When the man feels and attack coming on he will be able to utilize this unit to hopefully stop the attack. Technology is fantastic!! I sure hope it works and progresses. I'd love to sign up for something like that. To have my life back, or to some degree would be beyond smurfy.

We got a stellar deal on laminate hardwood flooring today. $0.61/ sq ft!! Plus all the underlayment is FREE after rebate!! Do you even know the awesomeness of that!!! Next weekend Ken and I will have a big project on our hands. This is where not hearing the greatest works to my advantage. I am sure there will be bickering and frustrations expressed.

I am so proud of my husband for all he has done, all that he is and all that he is becoming. I swear, I fall more deeply in love with him as the days pass by.

There's so much more I could write, so many more ideas, hopes, dreams and goals and future plans I wish I could just blurt out. Life is great!! We have a stitched quilt thing on our wall in the living room that it sums it all up...."We may not have it all together, but together we have it all"

What I did yesterday

I have so much to talk about but when I go to type it out it comes out as gibberish. Once I get my mind focused on all of the awesome and exciting things around me I'll have more words to say. For now, here's a peek of what I've been up to the past couple days.


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in the Woodbury house.

"Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind." ~ Mary Ellen Chase

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth...

Whew, it's been a long time since I've been on here. Every once in awhile when the world seems to be too much or too hectic we all need a break...and that's what I took. Time to rejuvenate and heal and have some up to our eyeballs fun adventures canoeing, camping, hiking, embracing each other and ourselves.

I've got sooo sooo much to talk about, but yet have no clue where to even begin. Life is wonderful, my heart is full, and we are at peace.

I will have more to write about...but for now, I am going to put up a Christmas tree or two and make some cookies and a cake. We are having 11 friends over Saturday night for game night. It's going to be fantabulastic!

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself ; I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." ~Groucho Marx

New ear implant for Meniere’s disease

New ear implant for Meniere’s disease


There just may be hope and relief on the horizon!!! =) This excites every bone in my body

The end is near

Before I show you the new floor I've sooo totally gotta show you the ceiling in the den/dining room all finished!! Shazam!!

Look at the floor!! Ken and his dad layed the laminate last weekend. Ohhh, did I mention we only paid 77 cents per square foot for this yummy floor? Yup, totally awesome sale at Menards! It's not junky quality either. It had far better qualities that many of the more expensive ones.

Ohhh, a couple more things. The underlayment plastic stuff was free after rebate!! So, in a couple weeks we'll be getting a check, which will then be used to buy the remainder of the items needed for the bathroom remodel.

One more thing....Ken's parents had a rummage sale the end of July and we put a bunch of our non used, don't need anymore, this is cluttering up our house type things in the sale...anyways, guess what??? We were able to completely pay for this floor with the money we made!! BONUS right?!?! Get rid of stuff which we don't need and be rewarded with a beautimus new floor!! Bozinga!!

Buh bye yuckoid orange linoleum and fake marble looking linoleum stuff that always snagged my toes.

Putting up the Harvest

The gardens, the wilderness and our neighbors have blessed us with oodles of great fruits and vegetables that I have been canning. Two of my favorite books are the Ball Blue Book of Preserving and Small- Batch Preserving. Both are extremely amazing.

This is just a small portion of what we have "put up" so far this season.

So far we have preserved:

5 - 1/2 pts blueberry jelly (blueberries were foraged in the woods)

2 pts blueberry jelly (blueberries from the woods)

8- 1/2 pts bluebarb jam (blueberries from the woods and rhubarb from my garden)

10 pts green beans (beans from the garden)

7- 1/2 pts sugar snap peas (peas from the garden)

5pts garlic green beans (beas from the garden)

12 pts dilly beans (beans and dill from the garden)

7- 1/2 pts apple maple jam (local maple syrup and free apples from our neighbors apple tree...they were given to us, we did not steal them lol)

5 pts red hot applesauce (free apples from our neighbors apple tree)

6pts red hot apple wedges (free apples from our neighbors apple tree)

8 qts baby red potatoes (from our garden)

9qts white potatoes (from our garden)

2 qts green beans (from our garden)

2qts sugar snap peas (from our garden)

6pts stewed tomatoes (tomatoes and green peppers from our garden)

3 pts zucchini relish (zukes and green peppers form the garden. Red peppers given to us from my cousin)

7- 1/2 pts blackberry jam (blackberries picked by my sister's house)

We have also picked raspberries which were made into a custard cake dessert, strawberries that were froze, peas were shelled and froze, onions dried for future use in coups, salads, etc. Before I began keeping track I made rhubarb sauce, rhubarb jam, strawberry rhubarb jam and a few rhubarb desserts. The rhubarb comes from the garden and the strawberries were picked at a local pick your own strawberry patch/farm. We also have blueberries in the freezer from our foraging adventures.

Other goods I will be preserving in my very near future is more applesauce in the fall when we go to the orchard, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, stewed tomatoes (we can never have too many jars of those), whole tomatoes, salsa, sweet pickle slices, hamburger dills, sweet pickles, tomato soup, hopefully pesto, roasted red pepper spread, summer squash, zucchini, peaches, cherries for pies, cherry jam, cream corn, whole kernel corn, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and more beans and peas. August and September are busy months here for harvesting and home preserving. Our gardens are just beginning to give us an abundance of what we need on a daily basis. In the coming weeks I will have my hair in a pony tail, forget the eye make-up (because it would just melt off my face), towel on my shoulder and my green rooster apron around my neck. It's a great time of the year!! (Just don't judge me if you see me out in public and I have forgotten to take my apron off...hehe)