Hawaiian Style.....

Hi Girlies and Happy Monday!

I promised to post these pix several weeks ago, but time got away from me....  yes, again....  ;-D

I've been working away on my bathroom...  why does everything take about 2,079 times longer than you predict?

It's coming along nicely though and I can't wait to show y'all...  

My mother-in-law told me that these little cottages were built by the missionaries from England...  my brother-in-law said they were built by the missionaries from New England...  Hmmm...  Not sure, but they are the sweetest little houses ever, aren't they?

We haven't taken a drive up to Diamond Head in a long time, but took a little detour so I could take some pictures for you...  They're taken with my iTouch so the quality isn't great, but you'll get the idea....

See...........England!    :-D

They're designated historic homes, but I didn't get out to read the little plaques, hence the questionable facts.

Part of our pre-marriage agreement was that I'd never have to move to Hawaii...  I love to visit..  it's just beautiful, but the heat gets to me after awhile and I love the seasons here in beautiful and equally green Washington.  And, besides that, I'd miss my family.

But..........if I could live in one of these little beauties, I might just make the move!

Look at Diamond Head, right behind it and it looks like roses behind the fence, but it's actually hibiscus....  This is the one I'd choose.

Adorable.

So homey...  I think this one looks the most Hawaiian in design....  The shape of the roof... but it has a little red, English post box.  It looks so cozy to me.

I had to get a picture of this adorable thatched roof, even if I couldn't see the house........so quaint, isn't it?

Well, off to get some blood work and home to finish up the bathroom.  So many tiny details have taken up lots of extra time.  

My hubby and I have decided this will be our last undertaking this large (and it really wasn't THAT big)...  we're going to have to have these things done from now on....  We're OLD and TIRED.     :-D

Have a great week Chickies!

Spencer

xoxoxoxo

Beautiful, Beautiful Hawaii

We're home from a wonderful and restful 10 days in the islands... 

We stay........as usual.........in the very bedroom where my husband stayed as a boy....  his mom has lived in this house for over fifty years....  that's the view everyone has enjoyed for so long.....  Easy to see why she doesn't want to move.

She turns 89 today...  and sadly has Alzheimer's.  We heard many of the same stories over and over but she was so joyful in sharing them that they were new and fresh each time....   She's been very independent since my father-in-law's death over 20 years ago.  And, actually played tennis until about 3 years ago and was involved in a lot of charity work and her church....  much more content to be at home now.

It broke my heart when the end of our trip was nearing and she kept asking us to stay, to come back soon, she had plenty of room, could we move in, and telling us how much she'd miss us.  Bless her heart.  She stood in the driveway watching us leave until we turned the corner.  Boy, that was a tough departure.

Happy Birthday Sweet Maggie...  and yes, we'll be back soon.

The view above is looking left from her home....

This view is looking to the right.......isn't it fabulous?

Soooo beautiful........

This shot is from our first morning....  we always go out to watch the sunrise...  Not too spectacular this morning, but it's a great place to have your morning cuppa!

On our way home from Hawaii Kai...

Diamond Head..........OH MY GOSH........there are some spectacular homes and views up there.  Unbelievable...

Love the courtyards.  So many homes all over Hawaii have them.  They're not allowed in our little community, but oh how I wish they were!

Blue skies and blue, blue ocean....  I wouldn't mind coming down this road to make it home.......

Many homes have gates like these.  I wish I'd taken more pictures.  My darling hubby isn't as patient as I am in the picture taking department.    :-)

Look at that HOUSE!  WOW!  Wonder who lives there.

Lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company...  Ala Moana.  Even that little place has a view.......

My favorite lunch........Kona Brewing Company...  It was FAB.U.LOUS!

A good get-a-way is wonderful, but it's always so great to get home.  I left my bathroom remodel mid-stream so it's good to get home and get back to work on it.  I'm anxious to show you.....  Lots still to do.

And, I have some other pictures of some homes to show you.......they are incredible.  

I'll post them in the next few days.

So, until then...........Aloha....    :-)

Spencer

xox

Portland Finds....

Hey Chickies!

As promised..... the pictures of the goodies we found on our recent trip to Portland.  Gosh I love that place.  We had such a good time and the shopping is super.

I really shouldn't buy a single thing.  I have enough to fill two houses and am ready to sell off some of the overflow, but when one is a treasure hunter, it's really hard to give it up...  I just can't!

Love, love, love vintage seam binding.  I have about 47 gazillion yards of the stuff.  I've had a "thing" for ribbon for a long, long time.  I could put bows on everything I own for the rest of my days and still wouldn't use it all up.  That's just how I roll....  Everything's cuter with ribbon, right?

Loved that little loom.  It looks like it might be painful to use, but I'm going to give it a whirl one of these days.

A cute little biscuit jar for my kitchen re-do.  I've been collecting things for a couple of years now.  I'll be happy to finally get moving onto that project.

Cute drawer........has dividers.  No clue what I'm going to do with it. 

Any ideas clever girlies??

Those little apples?  A whole bag of them at the Goodwill for 4.99.  What a buy!

They say that number 8 is the number of money.  I need some of that, for sure!

We've been working on the master bathroom.  The first room in the Spring Cleaning lineup.  It is going to be SO darn cute.  I'm excited to show it to you.  It's going to be a few weeks from now, however.  We're leaving in the morning for Hawaii.   :-)

  

Whooopeee!

Some good eats and shopping are in my future.

Better go pack!

Spencer

xo

Aloha! Part Two

Hey Chickies!

I was thrilled to find some of the lost photos from our Hawaii trip.  I don't know why they ended up in my Picasa photos in August 2010, but they did.   :-)  Ahhhh.... technology...  paired with a non-techie.  Not. Pretty.

I love Hawaiian Style architecture.  It's so very different than the look of homes here, in the Pacific Northwest.

And, most of them are on concrete slabs so they're level with the ground.  I like that too.  My husband said it's to help with the termite problem that effects many homes there because of the humidity and weather.  It is BUGGY...   

Many homes have courtyards.  I am CRAZY about them.  Especially in the environment there.  No need for a mud room or a cold weather entry.  I loved this gate...  and would love to go beyond it to peek around!

I showed you, in my first Hawaii post, where my mother-in-law lives....  these homes are right across the canal from her home.

This is an ENTRY!  Holy cow.  I think it's probably about the size of Bellamere Cottage....  no, not the entry.  The whole darn house!

There are regulations regarding linking lots together making one home, so the homeowners get around it by having an entry that links one lot to the other.  Can you see the entry over there on the left?  And, the garage on the right?  House between....  well, there is more house over on the left side of that entry too.  WHOA Nelly!

Doesn't it look so peaceful?  The view is spectacular from these homes...  Oh how I'd love to visit.  But, I don't think I'd want to be cleaning the place.  The home across the canal from my mother-in-law's has a full time maid and gardener.  Oh, wouldn't that be heaven?  A view AND a maid.  I'm in.

I liked the door on this one... and the high roof line.   Such a typical look.

A yummy courtyard.  Love the landscaping.  Doesn't it look clean and fresh?  And, just look at that blue sky!  I was just like that every. single. day.  Lovely.

Can't imagine this home....  and we were wondering how they got by with the lots size on this one.....  it's in the process of being built right now and this sign was out on the street.  There were tons of worker bees there when we drove by.

I'd have taken tons more photos.......but the Hubbs was driving.  You know how they are......"do you have enough pictures yet"....  

Because I want to get back to...........

Some paddle boarding on the canal....  

The neighbors were so nice and let him borrow their paddle board.  He was in heaven and spent HOURS out there paddling up and down the canal.

My Hubby's sister took their mother to the Dr. to discuss her dementia on Monday...  So, so sad.  The Dr. asked her to draw a clock and all she could manage was the circle and a few numbers.  She didn't know what year or day it was....  she said she didn't get a chance to read the paper yet.  It just breaks my heart.  And, sad for my Hubbs to be here, unable to spend more time with her before she loses more memory. 

Have a great weekend!

I'll be with my daughter trying to prepare for a garage sale next weekend.  

I have to keep reminding myself that it's fun to spend time with her so it's not all bad, but it really is a LOT of work.  They're always worth the work though....  nice to get rid of stuff AND make some extra money too.    :-)

Huggies and Lovies too!

Spence

Aloha!

 Oh my.....  Ten days of bliss.........    :-)    

My darling husband actually grew up in Hawaii.........in this very spot...........Kailua, Oahu.  His mom still lives there so this was the view for much of that ten day visit.   It rained one night........while we were sleeping, but other than that we had perfect weather every, single day.  We usually go in the fall, so I'll remember that May's a much better choice.   Not nearly so humid......and my hair wasn't plastered to my head for ten days straight.

Normally we are on the go the entire time we're there, but this time the trip was dedicated to my husband's mom.  Aging and in the latter stages of dementia.  I think they said she was in stage 7 out of 9...  or something along those lines.  She asked my husband if he was older than she.  So, so sad.  

 These photos are from her back yard.......Oh yes, I took lots and lots of photos......but, par for the course deleted most of them from my memory card when I was trying to download them.  NUTS.

My Hubby did lots of paddle boarding on the canal and grew up surfing out there in the ocean.  EVERY DAY!  And, we have the dermatologist bills to prove it.    :-)   Sunshine's not such a good thing in large quantities. 

 The view looking the other way.  Isn't it just beautiful?

 My sweet and ever so funny daughter loves Dog The Bounty Hunter.  Crazy, I know!  But wanted a shirt or something with Dog on it.  We loaded up my mother-in-law and went to Hawaii Kai for lunch and a smidge of shopping at the Dog Store.  I found her a cute, little pink hat.......she was tickled......just the ticket for her.

 Had lunch in Hawaii Kai at the Kona Brewing Company........YUM!......and stopped by the Blow Hole on the way home.....

We had Chinese food twice.........it's WON.DER.FUL there.......so different than the Chinese food here........Minute Chicken with Cake Noodle.......my favorite.  I order it every, single time.  

Italian food one night at the yummiest restaurant with lots of the fam.........and sushi with our wonderful friends another evening......and a Mother's Day party for the lady of honor on Sunday.........My hubb's family can COOK!  Deee.Lish.

I'm afraid to hop on the scale.  

Nope, we didn't do any of this fine dining.......who knew they had gourmet Spam Mac Nuts?

My grandson loves the stuff......  his request?  A Spam slicer.  Found that at Long's, but didn't buy the Spam Mac Nuts.   I had to take pictures of the huge Spam selection at Safeway, but sadly, those were some of the pix that were deleted.  You wouldn't believe how many different kinds there are.  Everybody loves Spam!

We went to Honolulu one morning to check out the Ala Moana Mall.....HOLY COW!  We have some of these stores around here, but certainly not all of them.  Some of the brands can be found in some of our stores, but WHOLE STORES of them?  WOW!  And, I've never been in a Harry Winston.......they had the prettiest ring in the window.  My heart was going pitty-pat.     :-)

Neiman Marcus

Betsey Johnson

Chanel Boutique

Escada

Juicy Couture 

Tory Burch

Dior

Coach

Dooney & Bourke

Fendi

Gucci

Hermes

Louis Vuitton

Prada

Salvatore Ferragamo

Cartier

Chanel Fine Jewelry

Harry Winston

Jimmy Choo

Tiffany's

If I could walk in heels Nordstrom had a pair of Valentino shoes that were sooooo cute.......well, and about 1500 dollars.....   :-)    not in my budget, for sure.

We actually got back on Thursday last week, but when I fired up my computer to blog about the trip........well, it just didn't fire up.

The handy-dandy repairman came yesterday.  Thanking Jesus that I have a warranty.

I took some photos around the neighborhood........I'll show those to you in the next few days.  AMAZING!  So glad those weren't part of the deletion tragedy.

Missed all of you........Happy to be home.........raining here...........but was beautiful while we were gone.  Naturally.

xoxoxo

Spencer

Check out dwellable HERE for more information about Kailua.

It Really Is The Small Things In Life! Show and Tell Friday. An Award!!! Yippeee! And, Random Stuff.... :-)

Hi there little Sweetie-Chicks! I've been ever so busy and my blogging has been on that 'ol back burner!

First up.........it really is the SMALL things in life........My darling Hubbs installed a new faucet for me! Isn't it a cutie? I had the yukk-o builder's grade number that was none too pretty......although efficient!........Now, this is really big stuff here at Bellamere Cottage. My dear, darling Hubbs is NOT a MR. FIX-IT.....He has learned a few things along the life's highway, but not toooo much in the home repair department.............because............

This is the back yard of the home where my DH grew up. He surfed EVERY day........he didn't hang around learning how to change faucets, re-roof a house or change oil. He was way too busy LIVING! And, he has loads of pre-cancer stuff to prove it. His Dr. calls him a dermatologist's dream.......Those two little "bumps" out there are the Mokes...pretty? Yeah, what a way to grow up!

This is the view to the right...........the Koolau mountains...........My MIL lives on the canal.........so, straight out is the canal.........right....Koolau's............Oahu, Hawaii.....

Left..........yeah, the Pacific Ocean.......wouldn't it be a tough place to grow up???

He moved here about 17 years ago to be with his girlfriend. No, that was NOT me...... :-) But, after that didn't work out, God brought us together miraculously and we've been living happily ever after in the beautiful NW.....

My dear, darling hubbs and I actually had one of our two wedding receptions right here on this very lawn....... :-)

Now, you won't want to miss all the other lovelies who will be listing fun and interesting things! Please check them out at There is no place like home........it's on my sidebar! :-)




Now, onto the Mount St. Helen's eruption.........well, I was amazed! I got comments from lots of gals who lived a LONG way away and got some ash or who heard about it on the news....day and night! This was so long before cable news shows with their round the clock coverage and certainly before the internet. I had no idea so many people were "in the know" and remembered it..........yeah, I DO live in a bubble! :-)


On a totally different subject..........should you need batteries.......ANY kind of batteries, I'd like to suggest Interstate Batteries as your choice. I saw one of their commercials recently where they asked if you knew Jesus.........!!!!!!!!!! WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I have only seen the commercial once, so I can't tell you exactly what the commercial said, but I sure DO remember that! I'll be making all my purchases from them from now on. You may even have a superstore in your area.....but they sell on the net too.

I simply cannot figure out how to add a link, but if you search for Interstate Batteries you'll find it! :-)

And now!!!! I've been given an award by the wonderful Melly over at His Pink Princess. I'm so pleased. A GOLDEN HEART! WOW! Thank you Melly......you really need to visit this little gal, if you haven't already, she is a DOLL......from Down Under!! You'll find her link on my sidebar........you know I can't handle that linking thing........

Part of this award is to give it to five other Golden Hearts......Well.........I thought and thought and there is just no way I can only choose five. Every single one of you has lifted me up and brightened my day........Soooooooooo..........if you've left a message for me please take this golden heart as your very own!!! You're ALL Golden Hearts to me! xoxoxox



I hope you have a glorious Memorial Day weekend........I'll be spending mine remembering our fallen. I am grateful to them and to the other dedicated men and women AND their families who are serving now and who have served. If you are one or know one.......GOD BLESS YOU!!


Hugs and Kisses,
Spencer

Could this FINALLY be the solution??? I have tried everything I could think of to organize the mess in my car for YEARS! Baskets, tubs, totes.......you name it. Still, every day, I have stuff flying all over everywhere! YUK! I wanted something with loads of pockets and handles so I could take it in and out of the house easily and short so the "stuff" would be accessible. I didn't want the items inside to be hidden.......too hard to find AND I don't want somebody breaking into my car to get my HANDBAG only to find the little tote full of coupons! Not that I'd like them to find money, but you know what I mean! :-) We went to Hawaii last October and found this yummy reproduction barkcloth.........perfect for this project, I think! Now I'm hopeful that I'll easily be able to find my shopping lists, coupons, lotion, sunglasses, hand sanitizer, lip gloss, pens, notepads.......and on and on and on........I even made a side pocket to hold my water bottle. It was soooooooo hard to make. I have a nice sewing machine........NOT a professional one by any means. I backed the pieces with iron-on EXTRA HEAVY duty pellon........my sewing machine DID not like it and I had to fight through the whole darn project. Somehow, in the "old days" when the fabric was thick one could just plow through it anyway. Hmmm.....not anymore........it just blows a fuse on these new electronic numbers. I broke two needles too.......but in the end, although not a perfect sewing job........I have a tote to bring in and re-load with all the things I need when I'm going to the store (and a book......just in case!!). Yippppeeee! Now, if it works I'm going to one reallllly happy girl!

Oh.......and it looks wavy because of all the little gems I have stuffed into the pockets.... :-)

Wishing you a WONDERFUL and Blessed Wednesday!

Spencer