What We've Been Up To

It's been too long since we've posted. This is because there has been a lack of happenin' activities with us and also partly due to laziness (alright, I admit it, it falls heavily on the latter). So let me try to catch you up to speed on what's new in the Timko household:

1. We are the Timkos! I officially changed my last name this month. When we married I wasn't ready. I know... we dated for 7 years and were engaged for over 2... a decade should have been enough time to get used to the thought of me with a different name. We've now been married for 2 1/2 years and I was wanting to make the change. I was still a little anxious about it so Andrew volunteered to go to the Social Security office and DMV with me. It feels nice to be joined with one name. It's also really nice that I no longer have to point out that we're married but have different last names (people just assume that if you don't have the same last name, you're not married). It's fun calling each other Mr. Timko and Mrs. Timko. Andrew also likes to joke and say that since he's the original Timko, and Hazel had his last name before me, that he is Tim1, Hazel is Tim2, and I'm Tim3. Of course this is a little irritating to think that the dog has a higher rank than me, so we jokingly go back and forth on this issue.

The first Timko family photo

2. Andy's been on several trips. Andrew has had two "guy trips" in the last couple months. The first was when he met his friend, Donald, in Lake Tahoe. They skied for a day then came and picked me up for a day in San Francisco. We went to Pier 39 and the Golden Gate Bridge. The next day the guys headed off again. They drove down the coast and stopped in Monterrey and Santa Cruz. They climbed the Santa Cruz Mountains at Castle Rock State Park. They had reservations to skydive in Hollister but the clouds were too low so they drove on to China Peak Ski Resort in Lakeshore, CA and skied some more.

A couple weeks later Andy went on a trip to Southern California (SoCal, as the locals call it. I don't feel local enough or cool enough to use slang like that) with his buddy, Greg. He flew into LA (just an hour flight) and tried out hang gliding, surfing, and longboarding. All of these were firsts for him. Then he and Greg drove to San Diego where they took a sailing lesson. They spent Day 3 in Temecula golfing and at Harrah's Casino.

Andrew also just got back from a work trip to North Carolina. I'm glad to have him back until next month when he'll be travel back to NC for work.

3. I've been trying to stay busy. I'm not working but still manage to fill most days. I've made a friend who likes cooking and crafting along with me. Megan blogs, too, and she's much better at keeping hers up than I am. Our friendship is a blessing but its one drawback has certainly been the scale. Andrew doesn't like baked goods or sushi, so it's wonderful to have someone to share my food loves with! Here are a few things that have been made recently: 

1. Paper Mache Egg Wreath (tutorial for eggs found here)

2. Coasters (tutorial found here)

3. Bible Cover (Megan's design and sewn with her help)

4. Silhouettes of the fam (black fabric paint on fabric paper)

5. Scones (not pictured was the awesome lemon curd we made.

Read more about our afternoon tea and scone photo credit here)

6. Bread dough rising fail! This was my first bread making attempt. Although

it looks terrible, it tasted great! English Muffin bread recipe found here)

3. I cashed in on a Christmas gift. Andy gave me tickets to see my first San Jose Sharks game at Christmas. The Sharks are an NHL team here that play at the HP Pavilion (the Shark Tank). They didn't win but it was a lot of funny, anyway!

 4. We took another trip to Lake Tahoe. We have had an unusually dry winter which means very little snow has fallen in Lake Tahoe. But they did get hit for a week straight last month and we decided to take advantage of it. We left at 4:00 am to a resort south of the lake and I was hopeful that I would be able to expand my skills from my first skiing adventure. Unfortunately, not only did I fail to do that, but I actually did way worse this time around. Somehow I forgot how to turn and stop and never recovered those skills. I also managed to fall on the magic carpet. Yep. Pretty embarrassing. I couldn't even stay upright on a machine belt that only requires you to just stand there and not move.

 5. Hazel's been busy, too. Alright, that's not really true. But she did go to the vet for a checkup last month. Hazel has had wonderful doctors (one in North Carolina and one in Florida) and I was confident this one would be just as good by his glowing Yelp reviews. Yikes. Andy and I were so nervous for her as the vet kept calling our girl "little guy" and "little fella" and saying "he" over and over. He did do a physical examination, and I'm still not sure if he knows that my dog is female. There were other issues, as well, that make us comfortable dropping this guy and trying someone else next time around (things like, "We're supposed to call you with the results but you may have to call us because we forget"). We did find that Hazel is a tad overweight and needs more teeth brushing. So now we are working on getting her less anxious around her toothbrush and also cutting back her food a bit to help her lose a pound, which sounds funny to say but on a dog that should only weigh 10 lbs, an extra one is a big deal.

 So that's what we've been doing! I'm hoping the better weather ahead will mean more adventures again. We'll keep you posted!

Año Nuevo State Park: Seal Breeding Extravaganza

On Saturday we drove to Pescadero, CA for a guided tour of the elephant seals on the shores of Año Nuevo State Park. I had heard about the tours from a California guide book and had bought tickets a couple months back and, animal lover that I am, was pretty excited for this day to come.

The tour was led by a very informative docent who told us anything a person could ever want to know about elephant seals. The shore of Año Nuevo is the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for the seals and for three months of the year they have tours so you can witness these amazing creatures up close.

From mid-December through mid-January, pregnant females arrive on shore from months out at sea eating and plumping themselves for delivery and nursing. They will give birth and nurse their babies (seal pups are called weaners) until their pup has put on 300 pounds. The males arrive in the meantime and battle other males for breeding access to the lady seals. Once the pup is weaned, the female will mate and go off to sea to repeat the process all over again. The weaners stay on the shore until March, when they go off to sea.

There were several things I thought were sad about the lives of seals (especially female seals). If you were a seal, you'd lead a solitary life alone at sea with virtually no interaction with others. Can you imagine being alone 500 feet down in the cold, dark ocean while watching your back for sharks? Then you make the looong journey to shore to have your baby where you must fast for 5 weeks. But that's not the worst part about your time at shore. The biggest bummer is that there are giant (3-4 times your weight) horny males who try to hop on for a ride before you've even given birth! You have to fight to get the blubbery blobs off of you. And you have to watch them fight and bark at each other to prove who the better man is to mate with you. You go through childbirth by yourself and only get to spend one month with your new sweet pup before it's time for that male with the big head to jump aboard and have his way. Then you return to sea to gorge yourself for the next birth. See. Super depressing, huh? I'm so glad I'm human!

The tour was a 3 mile walk where we came really close to these two:

Remember when I was talking about those amorous hefty males? Let's watch one in action, shall we?

She managed to break free! And this is how we left the unhappy couple. Doesn't it look like her big brown eyes are pleading, "Don't leave me here with this big galoot. Save me!" Poor girl. Here's a couple more big guys laying in the sand along our walk down to the beach:

Check out that schnoz! The males develop those trunk-like noses with age.

Do you see the babies?!

Before we headed home we stopped at Harley Goat Farm (read a previous post here about this amazing place!) for a visit to their cheese shop. Yum!

Happy Birthday, Hazel!

On Tuesday we celebrated Hazel's 3rd birthday. I can't believe our sweet puppy is 3 already! I just want to take a moment and relive the story of how Hazel became a Timko (because I'm a proud mom and love reminiscing about this!)...

Andy and I had always wanted a dog but couldn't while living in Panama City Beach because the apartment complex where we lived wouldn't allow them. I tried squashing the need for something cute and cuddly by getting a dog substitute. And Carlos the guinea pig would have been perfect had he not bit and growled at Andrew. Apparently male guineas do not take a liking to other males of any species. Who would have known? We had bought the full setup for our new furry friend... a deluxe cage, bedding, food, toys, an exercise ball, and even a harness and leash. I had dreams of evening strolls with my little furball and us cuddling on the couch watching late night TV. But Carlos didn't like being put in a harness and walked, and he wouldn't stop pooping long enough to let him roam free in the house. I was tired of cleaning his cage and Andrew was tired of the unrequited love. So we packed Carlos up and took him back to Petsmart where I like to think he was adopted by a family who was a better fit. When we moved to North Carolina we had two Betta fish, Frank and Rosalita, that we loved. They were easy to clean, cheap to feed, and I loved watching these two and their long, pretty fins (Frank was a vibrant blue, Rosey was a deep red). But they weren't warm to cuddle or fun to play with.

In January 2009 I had taken a trip by myself to Panama City Beach to visit my parents. One day I got a text from Andrew that said "coming home in 2 weeks!" and a picture of an adorable baby puppy:

The picture that was sent to me

I immediately called him, confused, excited, and giddy. See, we had never decided to get a dog. It was always something we talked about but never had said, "Ok, let's do it." So this was thrilling. The rest of my time in Florida was spent researching dog "stuff" and talking on the phone with Andrew about all things dog... food, exercise, gates, crates, toys, vaccinations, potty training, where she'll sleep, what her name will be. Lots of names were thrown out there. Other contenders were Minnie, Mabel, and Meatball. But Hazel was the winner.

When I returned to North Carolina we made a trip to buy all the supplies we would need for the new member of our clan. Then the big day came to pick her up. We had to wait 6 weeks from her birth to bring her home. I think this is the recommended time that she needed to spend with her nursing mom and also to get her first round of vaccinations. The breeder led us back to a room in her house that had a baby's crib and there inside was our sweet girl. She was so tiny that she felt too small to put in the crook of my arm so I held her with both hands against my chest. She was so small and fragile I was afraid I'd hurt her. It was hard taking Hazel away from her mom. The mom didn't want to let her go. The breeder also liked Hazel a lot. She said she was so pretty that she wanted to keep her as a breeding dog but couldn't as she was not sure of Hazel's dad. Yep, Hazel's mom had gotten out of her cage and had a tryst with an unknown male. Scandalous. Since the breeder was pretty sure Hazel would be a full-blooded dachshund but couldn't be positive, she couldn't breed her and sold her to us. Good for Hazel, good for us. She asked us what name we chose for our new dog. When we told her 'Hazel', the hard-of-hearing woman said in a shocked and disappointed tone, "Weasel!?!"

We had brought her new cage with cozy bedding to keep her comfortable on the ride home but I couldn't set her down. She was shaking and scared. So she sat in a blanket in my lap crying the whole ride home. Although we were happy about our new addition, Andy and I were also a little heartbroken having to tear her away from the only home she had known.

When we got back to our apartment I laid on the floor with her on my chest. She stopped crying and we both took a nap in that position.

How Hazel felt most comfortable in her new home

Here are a few other puppy shots that make me melt from her first days with us:

So, as it turns out, we don't think Hazel came from 2 full-blooded dachshunds. Her dad was either a miniature dachshund or a chihuahua. Which actually turns out to be a great thing. She is much smaller than a full dachshund (just 10 lbs compared to 25-30!), and she has long legs that will hopefully aid in supporting her long back better than the short stumps that cause problems for most dachsies.

To celebrate the big 0-3 I took Hazel to get a few things at Petsmart (thank you Mike and Hannah for the gift card!). 

We walked to the park that night so Hazel could spend some time running off-leash (yes, we're holding her in these pictures but she did spend time running, too. Poor puppy. She's smothered by us!).

When we got back to the house we celebrated with a peanut butter/banana cake with yogurt "frosting." 

Needless to say, she loved it.

...And ate every last crumb.

Happy birthday, Hazel! We love you!

Lake Tahoe, Take 2

This Thanksgiving, we decided to get away and spend some time in South Lake Tahoe. This was our second trip to Lake Tahoe since we moved out west. Our last trip (which you can read about here) was in June and Andrew had been looking forward to winter for some snowfall to ski.

On Thanksgiving day we skied at Heavenly. This was my first time ever so I wanted to do a beginner class. And although Andy has skied several times he took the class with me. Having him by my side made it much more fun. He was very patient with me while I tackled the bunny hill over and over then he spent some time on some real hills while I sipped hot chocolate in the lodge.

For our Thanksgiving meal, we ended up at a pizza place. We assumed we would have our choice of restaurants, but South Lake Tahoe is a pretty small town and most places were closed.

Next year we'll be be doing some better planning for the holiday meal, but other than that it was a great trip!

So Much to be Thankful For

This Thanksgiving I wanted to reflect on all the amazing blessings in my life. Here it goes (one for each day of the month, in no particular order).

1. God and Jesus- For being my creator, dying for me, forgiving my sins, answering my prayers, being by my side so I never go through any struggle alone, and the promise of eternal life.

2. South Bay Church- For helping me get back on track with Christ. I love my women's life group and volunteer group. The pastors and congregation are so friendly. It feels like family when I am with you all, and that's really comforting when I'm so far from "home."

3. My husband- My best friend and partner through life.

4. Family- Including the most loving and supportive parents a girl could ask for.

5. Friends- Old and new.

6. My Dog- I love how she squeals with excitement when I walk through the door. She's a sweetheart and a great companion.

7. Places We've Lived- We've had the opportunity to live in a handful of states and gotten to explore areas we might not have been able to otherwise.

8. My Body/Good Health- I'm so blessed to have no physical limitations.

9. Living in America- I so often take for granted my freedom. I am so thankful for the soldiers who put their lives on the line for our country, and for the families of soldiers who sacrifice while their loved ones serve. I'm also thankful for the police, fire, and rescue workers who fight to keep us safe.

10. Great Food- I love eating. It's one of my favorite hobbies. So I'm thankful that I have so many options to keep my mouth and stomach happy. I like just about anything but sushi, pizza, apples, yogurt, and just about any dessert are my true (food) loves.

11. The Outdoors- Green grass, pretty flowers and trees, blue skies with fluffy clouds. The sun and rain for helping to grow the beautiful things in nature. Also, the sun for keeping me warm and rain because I love a gloomy day every once in awhile.

12. Naps- Few things are better than a mid-day nap. But, if it just happens to be raining when I take a nap and I can hear that soothing sound as a fall asleep, I am seriously in heaven.

13. Seasons- As soon as I get tired of the heat of summer, Fall rolls in with its cooler temperatures. Winter puts me in "cozy mode" where I love to snuggle under blankets and bring out my favorite clothing...fleece! And just when I'm done with being cold, Spring starts. It gets a little warmer and nature comes alive again. Then summer begins and the shorts come out. How lucky we are to have four changes in the weather each year.

14. Books- Some to gain knowledge, some just for fun. I'm thankful for authors who share their gift. I'm also thankful for an amazing library with so much to choose from.

15. Blue Ridge, GA- The small town where Andy and I got engaged and were married. I love it.

16. Bodies of Water- We grew up in a lake town and lived for years near the ocean. We feel at home where there is water.

17. Andrew's Great Skill- Andrew was blessed with being tech-savvy. He knew his gift from a young age and has been building on it ever since. I'm so thankful that his knowledge has provided for our family.

18. "The Basics"- I have never needed to worry about having a home, car, clothes, heat, etc. I am incredibly thankful I have all these needs provided for.

19. Growing and Discovering on a Daily Basis- There are new things to learn every single day. How cool is that?!

20. Senses- I have all 5 and am so thankful I get to experience life with each.

21. Adventures with Andy- We've been on so many. I'm really glad he pushes me to do things I wouldn't normally do. I know I would have never been rafting, scuba diving, kayaking, or skiing (snow or water) had it not been for him. He also pushes me to go on camping trips way more often than I ever would.

22. Kindness of Strangers- I love when someone you don't know goes out of their way to do something nice for you. Even just a smile or 'hello' from someone I cross paths with makes me happy.

23. Clean Water- I am so blessed to have clean water in abundance. Clean (and cold!) from the refrigerator, kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, outside hoses... Some people don't have clean drinking water, and we have so much clean water we can use it to bathe and swim in and even water our lawns.

24. Technology- Cell phones, the Internet, email. I am so glad I can use all of these to be connected with others.

25. Our Bicycles- Andy and I love our bikes! We ride around our neighborhood and take them to parks in the area. We also like running errands together on them.

26. Music- I have no vocal or instrumental talent, so I really appreciate that those who do share their gift. Music can completely transform my mood and I am always singing along to the radio or some mp3s in the car.

27. Great TV Shows and Movies- Because life would be so much less fun without Nurse Jackie, Dexter, The Office, or any of the great movies we are able to watch.

28. Weekends- I love having two days each week when Andy and I can connect and have fun.

29. Understanding/Forgiveness/Compassion- Because I am not perfect (that's a big understatement!), I'm so glad others still accept me regardless.

30. My Teachers Throughout the Years- I've had so many terrific ones. A big 'thank you' to all of them for passing on their knowledge.

And a Bonus:
31. Holidays- I'm like a big kid at holiday time. I love them all. I'm glad that we have so many throughout the year to bring a little extra excitement to life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Be Thankful photo found here.

Carolina Weekend

This weekend we got to spend some time out east! Andrew needed to go to North Carolina for a short work trip so we decided to make it a mini-vaca and I would go out there to meet him for the weekend. He flew out on Wednesday morning and I left Thursday afternoon. What an amazing weekend! The weather was perfect and the views were awesome. We are suckers for the fall. There's something so cozy about the cooler temperatures, bringing out warm clothes and blankets, and my very favorite part is the way leaves turn their red/green/orange colors.

We ate some awesome food out there. Andy and I have never been fried chicken eaters, but decided to try Bojangles' for the first time. I know, we lived in North Carolina for over a year and never ate there which is like a Californian who has never eaten at an In-N-Out Burger (and I'm ashamed to admit I have never eaten there, either!). So all I have to say for myself now is that I have a lot of years of fried chicken eating to make up for. It was pretty great. We also ate some amazing barbecue that must be mentioned (you can't be in NC and not eat barbecue, at least, that's my excuse). Thank you, Eric, for the recommendation!

We spent our time checking out the Lake Hartwell (Anderson/Clemson, South Carolina) and Lake Norman areas. We loved the towns of Mooresville, Cornelius, and Huntersville. And this pumpkin decoration in the yard of an area home was so adorable:

And we really loved Lake Norman. I'm pretty sure that Heaven for Andrew would be a house and boat (with skis and a spotter) on the lake. That sounds pretty good to me, too.

Andy was also happy to get to see the U.S. National Whitewater Center which offers rafting, rock climbing, kayaking, and hiking... all Andrew-esque activities.

Andrew even found a new pair of pajamas at Target (he didn't really get them but I think it must be said that adult footie pajamas are awesome).

We were sad when it was time to leave but we were so glad to get home to see Hazel. Andy picked her up at Petsmart this morning (we arrived back in San Jose late last night when they were closed). Like any proud mother, I have to show off her report card: