Here We Go! It's 2026 and time to get livin'

My new obsession is . . . playing with dolls! I've been busy designing and sewing doll clothes. First I tried working with 1:6 scale. It fun but then I tried 1:4 scale. That was even better! and now I'm working with 1:3 scale ball joint dolls. Now that is a BLAST! Yes, I've spent a small fortune on this new hobby but what else am I going to do with my money. Spend it on "sensible" stuff? Me? Hell No! To make things even sweeter, Regina gifted me with Ron's Canon camera! It's awesome. I've been playing with the thing and I think I might have a clue to what I'm actually doing. Maybe not. Stay tuned I'm on a roll here.

Anyway this is K.C. one of my newest addition to the BJD collection. So. Much. Fun 😜

Happy birthday in Heaven Momma! You left us waaaay to early and I really wished I could have known you better. I have so many darn questions for you and I wish you could come back for just an hour or two . . . or more. My heart hurts for all the people in life that I have lost - all of them too early.  

    

            

I raise a glass to all of you that have gone before me. May we meet again in Heaven!

A New Chapter in My Life:

 This is us now. I moved into my new house in August and sold our old house in October. It was really hard but again I did it with a lot of help from family and friends. My cats adjusted to the new house quicker than I did! A lot of worry is off my plate now. I am going forward and I'm going to enjoy this life that I have been blessed with.

Happy New Year

 My heart is still heavy with grief. I'm starting this year very cautiously. I'm still trying to figure out how to go on with life without Chris. I'm scared, I'm worried about what will happen to me and I want Chris back so much it physically hurts. I drink too much, I worry too much and I feel so alone even if my family is here and have been wonderful about helping me. I feel like this is a journey I have to go alone on. Chris would tell me to move on but it's impossible to "move on". It's a hurt I feel like it never leaves. So where and what do I do now?

 It's been a very tough year for me. I miss my husband so much. I feel like the grief is a physical ache that never goes away. Maybe one day I will get through the day without crying but it hasn't happened yet. I'd give ANYTHING to have him back with me.

Today is Our 45 Wedding Anniversary!

 

Me, Dad and Anne - that was a long walk down the aisle!

    My beautiful sisters, Carla and Regina                        

Mr. and Mrs. Hamling!

45 Years Ago Today

    

Can you say "scared shitless". I mean WTF was I doing? This marriage shit was for real now. It was our wedding rehearsal the evening before the wedding. I will not lie, it was getting scary.

Holy crap, I guess it's too late to duck out of this now!!!!!!

Rehearsal was at Ascension Church, Father David, Bob Kuhlberg, and Dean Loberg (top left). Regina and Carla, my bridesmaid and matron of honor - and a very nervous me and Chris (top right). Chris and I at the rehearsal dinner - remember Beef and Brew. After dinner a bunch of us "young uns" crammed into Jerry Manning's VW van and got soooooo stoned.

 Chris and I traveled to Spokane on Thursday June 9 to visit with our friends Nancy and Dean. Our friends treated us to a ZZ Top concert that evening. Here we are at dinner before the concert. Great times, great company and a great concert!

Happy Birthday to Nancy! 88 trips around the sun and she shines as bright as ever. 

 Happy Birthday to Jonathan and Dae! Dinner at Que Pasa on Friday, May 6. Great food, great drinks and best of all great family. 😻

A Most Excellent Christmas Day!

 Merry Christmas to all!

Xmas Tidings

 

Behold . . . the Hamling Christmas tree. Kind of looks like last year's tree and that's because it is! I love artificial trees, no mess and no extra expense every year. Goes up lighted and decorated in 15 minutes max. Best of all, my cats don't care. No climbing the tree or peeing on the tree. Don't have to remember to water the damn thing and don't have to worry about it drying out and being a fire hazard.

I've had better Christmases and I've certainly had worse. I wish Chris felt better, that would be the only Christmas present I want.

Merry Christmas to me.

It's been 44 years - so what do I do to celebrate?

 

Got me a tattoo!

September Birthday and Changes!

Here comes September! It's Regina's birthday month and we celebrated with dinner and a beautiful cake designed by Kristine Paulsen. She's an artist and could have her own business with the cakes she makes. 

And here's to changes! My new haircut!

 

 Happy to Me! Jan and I celebrate my #66!

Jonathan's 21 Birthday . . . Las Vegas Style!

This is my Grandnephew Jonathan. He turned 21 in May. How do we celebrate 21st birthdays in our family? We go to Las Vegas! We managed to cram so much fun and quality family time into three days! Miniature golf under black lights, Lazy River at MGM Grand, dinner at Guy Fieri's restaurant, gambling, ride on the High Roller, escape room (we solved the puzzle with over 9 minutes to go), birthday cake at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant, Fremont Street Experience and just having fun together!

and I got a hayfever attack at the gardens in Cesare's Palace. But it was ok, I survived.

Fun in the snow - Pacific Northwest Style

Snow around here starts off kind of like this, not a big deal and usually only sticks around for a day or two. A novelty at best.

 But not this year. Our winter weather "event" started off with a little snowfall, but then we added ice and wind. And things start to get a little wild.

And next thing you know, it's gettin freaky.

Snow started to fall on Thursday, February 11 afternoon. Power went out about 8 PM. Next morning, we woke up to a very pretty mostly white winterscape. We can deal with that, we have a generator for the well and a wood stove for heat. However, it gets a little old when it's Sunday and the ice is weighing down limbs and just driving down the highway is scary shit! Finally, the power comes back on Sunday evening about 7:30 PM. 72 hours of living like a refugee. No thanks, glad this type of weather only happens every 40-50 years around here.

 

Behold the Hamling Christmas Tree! 

 It's a great day. Joe Biden has been named President Elect. I'm looking forward to a return of respect, diplomacy, dignity and unity for our country. Today is a great day!

September 24, 1977 2 PM Ascension Catholic Church. Chris and I got married. I was scared shitless that day. It had hit me the night before that marriage in the Catholic church is FOREVER. That is until one of you dies. We were 22 years old and forever seemed like a long time to me then. But it's 2020, 43 years later and we are still together. Marriage is scary and it's not easy for most of us. But here we are! And wow, has the world changed from 1977.