Queen Amazing

I discovered Queen Latifah in the movie "Chicago". I loved her song "When you're good to Mama", ask Katie how many times I've sung this to her. This summer I really enjoyed the new movie "Hairspray" and Queen Latifah's character, Motormouth Maybelle. What surprised me was her new album, "Traveling Light" which features jazz, ballads and other standards. I loved the album and was very excited when I heard that she was coming to Tacoma on November 28th.



Tacoma was so lucky to be the last stop on her tour. She was amazing!!! She is a gifted and talented singer. She is a generous performer, giving all of the musicians on stage with her a hefty solo center stage. She listened to all of the audience members who called out to her, asking them to repeat what they said if she didn't understand. Often responding in song. A very genuine and down to earth human being who laughed at herself when she burped on mike. What a totally special evening and I felt so very fortunate to have been there!

Home Building

Today is the annual Gingerbread Jamboree. I was lucky enough to wrangle an invite with Miss Evie. Head Contractor Eli picked his Mom as his sub-contractor. That left Eve with her dad. After I submitted my bid & hours of waiting, she selected me (I think that BA in Fine Art really put me over the top). Sorry Mitch.

The materials: Doesn't it just put you in a diabetic coma looking at it???



On your mark, get set, GO!!!!! Mary & Eli are a blur of frenzied activity. Ya gotta keep everything moving before that royal icing turns to a sugary concrete.



TA DA!!! Eve is a proud architect. Notice the fabu Christmas tree and snowy thatched roof. It looks good enough to eat, but don't try it.



Eli was a tough task master and really put Mary through her paces, but the results are great. I love the cane fence and how the candy canes flank the front door, how HGTV!



And now for our special guest star on this edition of Eve & Eli's blog. It's local artist Chris Sharp, braving the cold afternoon and adding some much needed beauty to our hood. Thank you Chris & carry on!

It's beginning to look a lot like ...

The Boone Robinsons. Yes, it's that time of year again when they take over my blog to communicate with their family and friends. First, it was Thanksgiving and now it's time to put up the tree.

The before picture: Eve and Eli stand in front of the new family tree. The old one just didn't make it out of the box this year. So Mitch, braved the elements and cut down a nice artificial pre-lit tree. Don't the kids look proud!



This the second year in a row that I have been included in this family tradition. My job is to bring cocktails and to put the hooks on the ornaments. Which technically makes me the hooker from down the street. The family is about halfway done trimming the tree, Mitch and Mary stand back to eye the progress and plan placement of the final ornaments.



Whoooooaaaaaaa, Nelly! Is this how we behave??? Santa maybe watching. It seems like someone's drinks are a little low. Stop fighting right now you two so I can refill your beverages of Holiday Cheer!!!!!!



Aren't they sweet? The 3 Boone Robinson women. Job well done! Just don't call me when it all has to come back down and get put away.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Katie is hard at work in Portland and spending Thanksgiving with her good buddy Becca. So, what's a Mom to do .... wrangle an invite from the neighbors. Eve made this beautiful sign to let us know that we arrived in the right place.



OK boys ... it's time to carve the turkey ... any volunteers??? We wouldn't want you to put your wine down so the rest of us can eat.



Beth to the rescue!!! Didn't know that she had a degree in Home Economics, making her a professional carver!



Norman Rockwell, eat your heart out! As you can see, Eve is finishing off the traditional bowl of chicken noodle soup, yum!



Wow, do you believe this? As we sat at the table and enjoyed each other's company, Mitch sprang into action! He cleared all the plates and loaded the dishwasher. He has the reflexes of a cat.



After dinner it was time to relax around the fire. Thanks for keeping the fire going Mary! And of course, Eve is enjoying some knitting time. What a smart child she is.



Dinner was great, especially the pineapple casserole and swiss chard au gratin. New traditions for next year. But when the evening was over, Iris says it all. Time to take our full tummies home and get a good night sleep.

Cleaning out my closet 3

As they say, the 3rd time is the charm. I finally cleaned out my closet, Ta Da!!! It may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to me. The stuff in this closet has been talking to me (& not saying very nice things for months. This closet was knee deep (no exaggeration) in stuff. I would stand in the doorway and either dig for things or throw them back in onto the top of the pile. I had planned to organize things weekend after weekend. Ask Paul, he is fond of saying, "Are you talking about that closet again." Well, Paul, it's done.

Ahhh, the wall of yarn.



And look, you can see floor.

Cleaning out my closet 2

The twins are headed back home and my knitting buddy cancelled, so it's time to tackle that closet. My phone dings (text message), Natalie and Chase need a babysitter tonight. Sigh. It seems the preschoolers that I know need my undivided attention and don't want me to clean out this closet.

Natalie wants to watch Monsters Inc.



Chase, what are you doing with that remote? You aren't fast forwarding to the scarey part????



Oh No!!!! It's the scarey part!!!!



Not the Party Animal tonight, Chase???? OK, time for bed for you.



OK Natalie, your parents are out and Chase is in bed .... Time to Jump on the Bed!!!!



Go Natalie Go!!!!



Time to brush your teeth.



Let's read a Clifford book.



Alrighty, close your eyes and time to sleep. Nighty, night Natalie.

Cleaning out my closet

So that was my plan today, clean out my closet. Then I got an offer I couldn't refuse: a lunch date with my twin nephews Brandon & Lucas who are 2 1/2 years old. Oh yeah, their parents came along too, but I didn't take any pictures of them, so they are barely even worth mentioning. Hey, that's what happens when you have kids. The kids get all the attention & you are merely their chauffers.

As you can see, Brandon won't have to rely on a scholarship to get into college, he can work his way through school stripping at bachelorette parties, just like his dad!



After this twosome destroyed their pizza, it was time for dessert. Brandon looks over the menu with a keen eye.



"Hey, what kinda dump is this that doesn't serve tiaramisu or molten chocolate lava cake???"



Lucas was very pleased with his chocolate sundae on white ice cream.



But when his energy starts to wane, Lucas abandons his spoon, which takes way to much effort and just plants his face in the bowl. Also just like his father.




"Hey, wait a minute. You got more ice cream then me!"
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
Alright boys, I think it's time to take your parents home and head back up to Ferndale. Thanks for visiting, we'll see you in Yuma.

Welcome to the Hood!!!

Meet Beth & Barry. They are the new residents of Nakatomi Plaza. (If you don't know about Nakatomi Plaza, ask Mitch, he really tells the stories best).



Beth & Barry are originally from Georgia and have recently moved here from New Orleans (yes, they were their during Katrina & Rita). I met them at the annual neighborhood Oktoberfest at Kyle and Tiffany's. They are such fun and interesting people (ask them about the Daquiri Drive Thru) that I decided to invite them to Monday Night. Foolish and naive people that they are, they actually came. Hopefully they will keep coming back.

Katie's digs

Katie is all moved in and ready for company! So the next time you are in Portland, give her a call, she would love to see you!

Katie's dining area is just waiting for you to stop by for dinner. Notice the beautiful dining table that Katie assembled all by herself. And where would one get such a stunning piece of furniture??? Why, World Market of course. Just ask Katie and she would love to sign you up for your very own World Market credit card!



Now this is a kitchen to get busy in. Can't you just smell the chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven??? Yum!



Hmmmm, this furniture looks familiar, but I didn't see it at World Market. Katie picked this out four years ago for the "Mighty Spicey" room. Its her little piece of home away from home.




Is this a fabulous bedroom or what? Don't you just love the window? On a clear night Katie gets a great view of the stars while warm and cozy in her bed.



Back in August when we were getting Katie's place already to move in to, her good buddy Becca came over to hang out for the evening. there was no furniture to sit on so they sat on the floor and swapped YouTube videos. After Becca got off work this weekend, we went out to dinner and then back to Katie's place to hang out. They popped open the laptops and started swapping YouTube videos, but now they have furniture to sit on.



So when you are headed south on I 5, give Katie a call. She would love to have you stop by and if you have time, take a tour of her new hood. And if you are really lucky, like I was last week, you might come home with your very own World Market credit card.

Working Girl

I'm in Portland visiting my favorite person, Katie. Today. she had to work, which she does alot. Also, one of the reasons that I need to visit her since all of this work is preventing her from coming to Tacoma for a weekend. But I don't mind because I love Portland. And I love Katie. So it's a win win weekend.

Katie works at Cost Plus World Market and she loves it. She loves the store, since much of her furniture came from CPWM. Of course, she bought it all before she got the job and the employee discount. But she bought it in Portland (no sales tax). My theory about shopping in Portland is that you are making money so buy, buy, buy! And I live that creed, just ask any yarn store owner in town & they will tell you that I live that creed.

Back to Katie, here she is at her cash register, working hard! I apologize for the picture quality, I had to take these pictures with my phone spycam. Taking pictures of your daughter at work with your nice digital camera is just sooooo uncool and high school. But everyone takes pictures of everything with their cellphones, so that makes me soooooo new millinium.



This is Katie and her good buddy Leah. Katie really loves the people that she works with and we all know how that makes all the difference in the world. Leah was the person who handed Katie her job application way back in August and told her that CPWM was a fun place to work. Hopefully as the crazy holiday season descends on them they will all keep having fun! BTW, Leah is so totally cool. You can't tell in this picture but the frames of her glasses ... they would be green! Katie knows the smartest most stylish people.

South 5 True Grit

There's nothing better than watching a good movie on a cloudy fall afternoon. You loved the original .... now here is the sequel, Official Opening Night Selection for the Tacoma Film Festival 2007. Brian and the boys really made this one for Tacoma. Unlike those uppity Seattle-ites, we Tacomans get the inside jokes in this film. Watch closely, watch often and you will see some of the supportive families who have stood behind their men on this project. Also enjoy those Tacoma icons that make us proud to be locals. So before I give it all away .... watch and enjoy!