Thank you

I just wanted to take a minute and thank everyone for their love and concern this past week during my little "episode". To my children I want to apologize for scaring you...again...but it really wasn't my fault, to my brother Jim and his family who dropped everything in the middle of the night, shoved sleeping children into the van and drove 200+ miles to get to the hospital in time to take me home, and to all my friends who have called with best wishes and concern for my health, Thank you all. You never really know who loves you until things go south.

I have to admit it was kind of crazy, waking in the middle of the night to extreme pain in the middle of my back, couldn't lie down flat, couldn't lie on my side, couldn't get comfortable at all. I don't really remember much of Wednesday night except Robin reminding me to wear clean underwear to the hospital (thanks Robin) I remember Bella being upset at so many nice men being in the house in a controled panic then wheeling mama out the door. I don't really remember the trip to the hospital (although I'm sure when the bill arrives it will all come very clear) but I do remember everyone being very calm and very nice to me. I vaguely remember talking to David and Debbie (David, I'm sorry that you had to listen to the medics when my phone didn't hang up)Then there's a pretty large gap of nothing. I remember going for a CT Scan and getting some really kick-ass drug that made a good portion of the pain go away. Then LeAna was there and it was time for me to go home. Of course LeAna had to remind me that I had to have the IV's taken out before I went anywhere.

Jim and LeAna took very good care of me. You guys will never know how much I really appreciate everything that you did. I love you all so much.

Anyway, tonight it will be a week since that eventful evening and I am slowly improving. Shingles, as it turns out, is really quite painful and annoying as the dickens. I just wanted to let everyone know how much I appreciate everything and how much I love you all.

Going to go prop myself up in bed now so that I can sleep. Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I know I'm counting my blessings.

Love Me

All is Thumbs Up

Alrighty then...it's been forever since my last entry so I figured I better fill in the space before there's whining in the ranks.

The summer has turned to fall and the leaves have fallen...as well as pine needles, branches, etc. I had a new patio installed and spent most of the time out in my swing reading and surveying all that needed to be done but wasn't going to be...because I was sitting in the swing reading. Patio's cause laziness.

I also got creative and entered a contest for creating the best book in a series of categories, one being family. I titled my work "Inside the Mind of a Crazy Old Lady" and though it will never win the contest I had so much fun doing it that I did a second one as well which I titled "Through My Eyes". I'm thinking about #3, but will wait till Christmas is over so I'll have some food for the book.

The best part is that all my children will be coming home for Christmas. Chrissy will be coming from Colorado, David and family and Debbie and Brianna from California, and Robin and Pete from Maui. The only rule will be mama gets the bathroom first! I can't wait. It will be the first time in many many years that all my children will be together with me.

Well, that's pretty much it for me. See...you didn't miss out on any earth shattering news. I'll try to be more on it with my updates.

Love me

Grandma's Vacation

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Sunday Morning

I have come to the sad conclusion that it's time for me to go see my doctor again! Damn it! It's nothing I consider "bloody and falling off" serious, but I figure when I sleep pretty much all day AND all night, don't wake up till 8:30 and am ready to head back to bed again, it's time to get checked out. It does give me the opportunity to get something for the arthritis in my hands, but I hate going to the doctor. I guess I should gear up for the "you need a mammogram, you need a fasting blood-work" orders from the doctor...crap!

Today is move all the crap away from the back of the house day. My new patio starts going in tomorrow and I have to move all the bricks (that I've moved 3 times already) and all the firewood, take down all the hanging goodies and plants, put the 4 bags of planting compost in the shed, move the maple tree and tomato plant, move the BBQ, table and chairs, and I think that's it, except for the swing and they can move that! The job is supposed to take about 3 days. I can't wait!

Then, on Wednesday, my store door will be installed...finally. I think I'm almost done with "Fixing" things. I still have the back patio roof and the front lamp post, but that's pretty much it.

Well, that's it for now. If I don't get up and into the shower right now I'll go back to bed! Have a great Sunday.

Love me

Sunday Strikes Again

Well, it's been a while since I wrote last so figured I'd recap the past little while. Yesterday my neighbor Steve discovered the bee's nest that belongs to the bee that stung me. The little buggers are living in a trash can I've been filling with yard debris. They chased Steve and his son away from my corner (and stopped him from filling MY can with HIS stuff) so I told him my bug people were coming tomorrow and would take care of the problem. In the mean time (sorry bees) I picked up a can of bee spray and sprayed the crap out of the can...from a safe distance, of course. I will leave a note for the Orkin man as well.

Today I weed-whacked the back and front yard and mowed the lawn. Brownie points for me because I really didn't feel like doing it. Yesterday I had a contractor come by and he is giving me an estimate on what it would cost to put in a sprinkler system. He also had some great ideas for the back yard, like putting in a hard patio in the circle of grass space between the hot tub and the patio (excellent idea since that space is wasted anyway) Mr. Palmer is going to give me some estimates to play with. In talking to him, I also added to the list of "things to do" like, getting the trees trimmed and thinned properly, doing proper edging, getting rid of the funky wood stuff lining my flower beds, getting rid of the red brick divider around my butterfly garden, getting rid of the "bump" of soil on the south side of the house, just to name a few!

I also picked up a few more Christmas presents today, a couple more and I'm done! First time ever...I usually don't even START until November! Since everyone will be home for Christmas this year, I feel like I have to get it all done now. I'm planning meals, sleeping arrangements, etc. It's only August, but damn it I will be prepared!

Ok, that pretty much sums up life in the fast lane for me. Oh, I also went out to dinner with a very dear friend of mine. We went to Tad's Chicken and Dumplings out in Troutdale...awesome place to eat, reasonably priced, great atmosphere. I recommend not eating in the bar however, it's pretty noisy. Great friends, great food, great time!

Tomorrow we begin again.
Be safe everyone
Love Me

Touching Bases

Me again, just wanted to touch bases with everyone. I survived the extreme temperatures...barely...I think I'm just too darn old to fully appreciate the nice hot, sunny weather. Don't get me wrong, I love the sun and the heat, but 106 degrees was a little much for this old lady!

All is well with the world. Robin made it home safely and is back into her routine and Peter is happy to have her home again...so is Rusty. Chrissy is still doing well and misses us a lot. We had so much fun visiting her and helping her fix up her new apartment. I just sent off copies of the pictures we took as well as a poster I put together of special "us" photos. God bless Walgreens photo shop.

Anyway, I have to go move the sprinkler so my newly planted bamboo survives...everything else is toast and I don't want any more casualties. I lost my beans, peas, cucumbers, I have one squash that may grow...may not...and some tomatoes. Other than that, everything was fried! Ah well, if you're going to make it in my garden you either thrive by yourself or it sucks to be you!

Good night neverland!
Love Me

Gotta Love Me!

Chrissy called me this afternoon from Pueblo. It sounded like she was standing next to a couple of freight trains. She shouted that there was a tornado coming, there were golf-ball size hail stones coming down, and that if anything happened to her, she loved me! I asked her, "why aren't you inside???" Well, she was helping a young man in a wheelchair get in her building and out of the weather. She called back about 20 minutes later saying it was all sunny and clear again. Unfortunately, my nerves were already shot!

I think she took a lesson from Robin who called me one day asking me if I knew what a tsunami was. I asked her why (one of those fatal flaws mothers have) and she said that there had been an earthquake in Japan and there was a tsunami warning. I asked if she knew how to get to the top of the mountain the fastest way possible! Or maybe it was David she took a lesson from after he called me at work one day to tell me his car had fallen on his chest while he was working under it, but no, he didn't think it was bad enough to go to the doctor. Debbie, you're safe so far...Oh, no, I lied...remember the time you called me and told me that a load of bricks had been dumped on the front of your car from a truck crossing the bridge driven by a drunk??? And you wonder why my hair is gray and falling out!!

Ah well, the good Lord was watching out for them and I now have some wonderful grand children, step grandson, and Rusty.

Love you, me

And here it is

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A Boost to My Soul

What an amazing journey! Robin and I arrived home last night absolutely ready to NEVER see the inside of the car again. While sitting around the firepit with a glass of wine we reflected back over our trip with satisfaction...we did what we had intended to do. When we arrived in Pueblo and pulled up to the drive-through window, the look of absolute shock and disbelief on Chrissy's face was worth every rotten mile in that car. Her apartment is in a really awful neighborhood but is pretty cute in itself. After putting aside all the code violations (like no fire alarms, leaking pipes in the bathroom, and a hand-held shower fixture that sprays water all over the bathroom) and the fire escape that runs right outside both her windows (talk about easy access for the bad guy)the apartment is pretty cute with it's high ceilings and crown molding. The kitchen is tiny, with only room for a strange oven/stove contraption and s sink and small counter. It does have high cupboards so there is ample storage for dishes and food (of which there wasn't any!) She has a nice-size walk-in closet where she can sit at her vanity and hang her clothes. The nearest laundrymat is a good mile away so doing laundry in the bathtub is her norm.

We all went to Wal-mart! Robin and I got two book shelves, one tall and one short, basic cleaning supplies (everything you need for a new apartment type stuff) we got her some needed clothes, then headed for the grocery dept. Since she doesn't have room for much fresh food, we bought lots of package, easy-to-fix stuff like soup, mac and cheese, peanutbutter, jam, etc. We did get produce and fruit, but in small quantities. Chrissy was totally overwhelmed and kept saying "no more", "please don't spend any more money", "I really don't need that", and Robin and I kept saying "shut up...yes you do!" We actually didn't get anything that wasn't absolutely necessary for setting up a new apartment, and I think the only non-essential I bought was yarn so she could keep her hands busy. Which reminds me, I have to send her my crochet patterns.

Chrissy and I sat one morning and I showed her some tips when she crochets her blankets like how to work the loose ends into the pattern, and how to make a douple and triple crochet stitch...she was so excited.

Monday we did the River Walk, which is a very nice walk-way along the river, paved, with lots of flowers, waterfalls, ducks, etc. We had lunch and mango sorbet (O.M.G. that was good!!) Chrissy took us to her church and we were able to go inside and meet some of her new friends (everyone we talked to was worried because she hadn't been to service that Sunday) We just missed meeting the Pastor, but the room where services are held was beautiful. There is a huge stained glass "creation" scene in the ceiling...absolutely beautiful. Chrissy loves her church...a lot...and that makes me feel so proud of her and also very secure knowing she has a good support system in her church family. Each service is recorded to a CD that is available the following Sunday for free, so she picked-up the one she had missed to listen to later as she really enjoys the way Pastor Robert speaks.

Tuesday morning arrived too soon. Chrissy had to get up for work at 6:00 a.m. She and I sat for a few minutes and she just held me and kept saying thank you over and over and how much she misses everyone and how much she appreciated the warm blanket from Sarah and the butterflies and angels Linda sent her (by the way, the angel that plays Amazing Grace chimes every time Chrissy goes past it...sort of like a hug). After a last hug she went off to work and I could hear her crying all the way down the hall. Talk about tear your heart out! Robin and I got up, cleaned up our stuff and headed for Chrissy's work, Carl's Jr. She was able to take a break when we got there and we sat under a tree and drank coffee and laughed together through the tears. Chrissy hugged me and said "Thank you so much, this was such a boost to my soul".

Driving away was awful. Chrissy stood and waved for as long as she could see us. I hated that!

Robin and I drove and took pictures along the way. We stopped at Devil's Slide and took pictures, stopped in Wamsutter, WY...that was a bust...and kept driving. We hit Utah, and got some money shots of the sunset, but refused to stop for the night til we hit Idaho. We stopped in Burley and got a room. Right outside out door were about 6 cowboys who were very nice and invited Robin and me to dinner...on the tailgate of their pickup. Beer and sandwiches...yummmmmy. We politely declined, saying we were only interested in seeing the insides of our eyelids. At 7:15 the next morning, said nice cowboys started their diesel trucks and let them run right ouside our door. I guess that meant it was time for US to get up. The water was bad and smelled like sulpher so we used bottled water to brush our teeth and take PTA baths. We stopped at the Wayside Cafe for breakfast as had been recommended by the motel manager. That turned out to be the best breakfast ever. They really know how to make pancakes and potatoes!

We had planned on stopping in to see my brother Bob on our way home but he had gone back to New York for work, so we kept going. We arrived back in La Grande at around 1:00-ish and I was able to get all kinds of puppy kisses from my Bella. It was so good to see her again. We needed to get back on the road, so left LG around 2:30. We arrived back in Portland around 7:00-ish. So good to be home...except all my plants died...deep sigh.

Today we return the rental car. I've talked to Chrissy already this morning and she is doing fine. She misses us a lot, but is in good spirits.

Well, I'll end for now. My next order of business is to put together the highlights of our journey for everyone to see and hopefully enjoy as much as we did.

In case I haven't said it lately, I want you all to know how much I appreciate and value your friendship. All of you are the boost to MY soul.

Love Me!

Colorado...Blast Off!

What a rush! I don't have a picture right now, but will tomorrow. Robin and I arrived in Pueblo around 2:30 and drove through the drive-up window and ordered a small coke. We pulled up to pay for the coke and she looked at us, her mouth dropped open, and the tears started. She came out and was sobbing all over the car, then said "I hate you guys". Love it!

We took her shopping and bought things she needed for her house, and some clothes, etc. She loved the blanket from Sarah, loved loved the angels, butterfly lamp, and fuzzy hug from Linda and I got her a small TV/DVD player for her birthday. She turns 30 tomorrow.

Right now we are sitting watching movies. I'll end now so we can spend time together.
Love me.

Colorado...Day 2

Well...day 2 started out with a bang! Robin and I went to breakfast with her friend Leigh. We went to a really nice place called the Dream Cafe and had some awesome french toast and coffee. Around 10:30-ish we hit the road for Colorado. It's hot and there just isn't too much to look at that isn't brown or almost brown until we got to Utah, just before Wyoming, then things started looking green. There is lots of road construction so we can't drive as fast as I'd like.

We stopped in Little America in the hopes that Robin could buy all the truck-stop gifts she wanted, but it's been "remodeled" and now it's all high-end stuff.

As to my chosen photo...well, Robin and I stopped at a rest area in Idaho and while I ran into the little girls room Robin stayed with the car and typed her e-mail. When I came out, there was this nice policeman behind my car with lights flashing...Robin was oblivious...stopping truck next to us. He was a real cutie, so I took the pictures.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Tomorrow will be surprise Chrissy day. I'm so excited.

Love me.

Colorado...Day 1

Sorry gang, no pictures yet. Robin and I began our morning with breakfast at McMinimins. After that we headed east. The drive was long and hot, but I rented a car with good A/C so it wasn't a problem. We arrived in La Grande around 2:00 and waited till 3:30 till Jim got home. We left Bella with the family and headed for Boise where Robin was to meet up with her friend Leigh. After the 3-hour drive (ya gotta love GPS) We got to Leigh's house to find that she had forgotten (already) that we were coming and went out to play Bingo! So, original dinner plans shot in the butt, we came over to Bob and Linda's new home (my brother and his awesome wife) and we went to a place called Flatbread and had an fantastic light dinner.

So, now we are back at the house, Robin and Linda have gone to bed, but because I promised to drop a line or two every day, I'M still up. It's still about 100 degrees outside and pretty Chrissy still doesn't have a clue that we are coming. I'm so excited to see the reaction when we drive through the drive-through.

Well, I'm off to bed. More news tomorrow, and I'll also start taking some pictures. Today just wasn't a picture kind of day for me.

Love me

P.S. I !you guys

Getting Ready...Almost

Well, it's the day before Robin and I are taking off for Colorado. I'M NOT READY! I decided to rent a car so that, should we have car problems, it won't be MY car having them. I also opted for the extra insurance, because sure as God made little apples, if I don't have it, I'll get a huge rock chip or nailed in a parking lot! I haven't packed anything, washed anything, prepared in any way.

Tonight we are having friends over for a BBQ. Robin's friends are here and Linda and Del are on their way over. I'm hoping Jackie and James will show up, but who knows. It would be nice.

Well, my cake (yes, another one) is in the oven and I need to prepare the icing. I'll keep you posted on our progress.

Love me.

Counting Down

And the countdown begins. Actually, it began several months ago when I decided that I needed to take a road trip south and visit my daughter Chrissy. I didn't want to go alone, so invited Robin and Debbie. Debbie can't make it, so it's just going to be Robin and me, plus the trusty camera...of course. We are going to surprise Chrissy for her 30th birthday. She has no idea that we are coming and is going to be so shocked. I also think this trip is more for my benefit because I haven't seen her in close to 3 years and need a daughter fix.

I plan on taking tons of pictures along the way, and I promise I'll try to keep everyone posted as often as I can so you can follow our progress. I've decided to leave Bella in La Grande with my brother and his family so she will have someone to play with. I was going to take her, but it will be really hot and she doesn't do well on long trips anymore.

On another interesting jog, I think my kids have found their father. My oldest daughter Debbie had a really vivid dream this morning about her dad which kicked their desire to find him in the butt. She thinks he is living in a retirement facility in Florida. All the kids are kind of weirded out by the thought of confronting him again and are very concerned as to how I will feel about it. I told them I think they need to confront him if only for their own personal closure and it doesn't bother me at all. He is, after all, their father regardless of how I feel about him.

Anyway, I'm off to finish cleaning. Robin will be here tomorrow night and I have to finish.

Love me.

Change...Sometimes it's good, sometimes not

I moved away from my family home when I graduated in 1972. In the years that followed I made many trips back to visit and then brought my own children and introduced them to the wonders of the outdoors. As we kids grew with our own lives, my parents grew with their own and they sold the family home. Although it had new owners we were always able to go back and visit "the old House" and share our memories and compare notes with the new occupants. My brother and I would drive out to "the House" and walk the property, check on Buffalo Rock, get a drink of ice cold spring water from the resevior, and relive countless memories of rodeos, games we played, etc. I guess it was harder for Jim and me because we were born and raised at "the House" and even though it was in the hands of others, we were still connected to it at a heart level. Silly I suppose, I mean it is "just a house"...but not to us. Through all the years and all the new owners, it always stayed the same, it always had the "come on in the door's open" feeling to it. And time moved on.

In all the years that have come and gone and all the changes that have happened in all our lives, the one constant for me was "the house". I know that it probably sounds pretty stupid to maintain a connection to a structure and a piece of land, but the best memories of my life were shared there with my parents and brothers and sisters. I know it doesn't mean the same to them, but sometimes when I needed a little grounding I could always just drive by and remember when my oldest brother told me that if I jumped off the highest part of the roof with a pillow case it would act like a parachute (he lied by the way), or look at the apple orchard and remember the hours my sister and I sat stuck in a tree while "old board face" the bull stalked around the tree beneath us, and clearing pine cones off the lawn with a golf club (Jim, I really am sorry I almost killed you with that golf club but you should have moved!!) The best memories are of the family sitting around the firepit at night while our father played the guitar and sang for us. He has such an amazing voice that was so full of love.

In all the years and in spite of all the changes, it never once occured to me that the house too would change. The old owner passed away and "the House" has been sold again. I drove out to the property today and discovered that the final period has been placed at the end of my childhood. The new owners have put on the addition of a huge 3-car garage to house all their "toys" I'm sure. They painted the house a different color and there are boxes and crap all over the patio stacked so high you can't see the valley through the windows, and in the back yard is a big metal chain-link fence. I felt like somebody had kicked my puppy! Just like that, "home" was gone. Now it just looks like every other obnoxious big house that money "fixed" up to out-do the Jones's.

Maybe I'm just getting old and sappy. Maybe the fact that I've finally reached my official "senior" status makes me hold with such a tight grasp to that which made my heart grow fonder. Maybe that was my last link to my parents and my childhood, the things that made me feel safe and so loved. I feel sad for my brother Jim because he had the same "heart" connection that I did, I feel even sadder that my older brother and sister didn't. I guess everyone has something they old tight to themselves,something they try not to lose.

Change happens, whether it is for the better or not. It's late and I'm empty. I think that tomorrow I will begin again. I will make my house the "home" that my children remember with fondness. My grandchildren will remember Grandma's house with a smile. I have pine cones to clear off the lawn so I better go pick up a golf club!

Love Me

I tried to download the video of my back yard tour but the file was too big. So, in place of that, I wanted to share my little boys, Tyler and Dylan. I love my little boys!

This afternoon when I got home from work I went out in the yard and planted two more astilbe and the 2 gallon coral bells along the north fence. They really look good. Also, while raking up the pine needles, I discovered that the elephant ear bulb I planted earlier in the year has finally started to push up some green. I'm excited...of course, it doesn't take much to get me excited!

Anyway, just wanted to keep in touch. Love Me!

Fine...I'm Back!

Okay, okay, so I've been slacking. Several of you have mentioned my lack of mindless babble lately, so here I go again. I really don't have anything fantastic to report. I have moved the railroad ties that split the back yard so that they run parallel to the fence on the north side. This summer I will (hopefully) get out to the Bamboo Garden and select my bamboo to fill the allotted space. In the mean time, I planted some new grass that is coming up nicely. Unfortunately, now that the grass is coming up nicely, so are the mole hills...damn the little bastid! Today I did buy some mole repellent that will kill all the little grubs moles like to eat so maybe he'll go next door and make dirt hills in my neighbors yard.

Today we got an awesome shipment of astilbe in and I purchased 2 white, 2 pale pink, one deep fuchsia and one lavendar plants as well as a 2 gallon coral bells. The pale pink I'm going to plant in the cobalt blue planters I have on either side of the bench under the hazelnut tree. The rest will go along the north fence where roses failed last year due to lack of sun. Thanks to Scott's Lawn Service my trees, shrubs and lawn are amazing. It's so inexpensive to have them come in and do all the dirty work for me, all I have to do is water and mow! Love it!

Also on my list of cool stuff is my gas bill! Since I put in my tankless water heater, my gas bill has dropped an average of $30 per month to the point where this month (thanks to the rebate NW Natural gave) they owe ME $2.31! Now if I could get my electric and water bill to drop that much I'd be in business.

I guess that's it for now. When I get my new plants in I'll do a short video so you can get the full effect of the yard. Until then, enjoy.

Love me

Sunday Doings

Just a little show of a day in the life of my poppies, as well as a short preview of the back 40 in it's beginning phases. Soon to come will be bamboo and grass. Enjoy.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

How I Spent My Weekend

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Take Two!

I think I got it right this time. If not, here is the link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pegvanderbilt/show/

Well Crap!

Sorry everyone, I'm still learning about this Flickr thing...so much for my test run.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Sharing my new light on the world

Make a Smilebox slideshow

T.G.I.F.!!!

What a week! Wednesday was very exciting because I got all but one of my new windows installed. The difference was immediate and amazing. Before the new windows went in, there was a definite draft everywhere. The back sliding door was "bowed" so badly there was no seal to prevent cold air from coming in. Now, the whole house feels "secure". Next Saturday the remaining window goes in...my bay window. I can't wait! They look so good. I'm particularly in love with the garden window in the kitchen. It still surprises me when I come into the kitchen in the morning and have a huge, bright window looking out into my back yard. When the last window goes in I'll stain the new trim on the inside so they all match.

My little bees are doing great (I think) The weather is warming up so the little buggers should be coming out to help pollinate my trees and flowers. The flowers are starting to bloom, the lilac trees are budding nicely, and it's time to start mowing again. I think I'm going to invest in a little chipper/shredder. There is entirely too much wood falling out of my trees! I cut up the big pieces, but the rest is just a pain in the assets to clean up all the time. We'll see, maybe there will be a great sale at work and I'll get one cheap!

Well, the electrician didn't show up today. When he was here installing the new plug for the water heater, he screwed up the circuits and my hot tub fuse keeps popping. Of course I didn't find this out until I went to jump in and there was ice on top! So, I call the company the the nice man was supposed to be here after 3:00 today...but Nooooo! Ah well, Easter weekend I'll give him a break this time, but I'm not taking another day off work, he'll have to come at my convenience this time.

Well, I'm off for now. My little Tyler's 3rd birthday is on Sunday. They grow too fast! Dylan just turned one a week ago. I'm starting to feel my age! I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter.

Love me

Getting back to normal?

Well, I don't know if getting back to normal is really the right thing to say. Last Friday Bella and I drove down to Sacramento to celebrate Dylan's first birthday and if I work it right, you will be able to share the day with me. I have had so much fun putting these video memories together, and thanks to Glenn I don't even screw them up as badly as I did the first couple of times. I still don't have all the bugs worked out yet, but we're getting there!

Anyway, The trip down was uneventful. The weather was beautiful, there wasn't too much construction, I found David and Tonia's new apartment without difficulty, and was greeted by David in the parking lot and Tyler on the patio. After we all went shopping for birthday stuff and food, Debbie and Brianna came over and we all hung around and chatted till Grandma pooped out and we all went to bed. Saturday was an up early day due to having to make potato salad and get everything to the park early enough to grab a good spot. The day was awesome...windy, but warm and clear. The party went off without a hitch, David manned the BBQ and everyone brought other food items to share. There were lots of family and friends there to share in the celebration. Dylan scored big time in the toy department and had his own personal piece of chocolate cake which resulted in a serious cake overdose! He loved it! Brianna was such a wonderful help, keeping up with Ty Ty, swinging him on the swings and following after him on his big-wheel. She was fantastic!

The party wound up and Tonia was off to her church meeting. The rest of us stayed at home and relaxed before going out to a wonderful dinner at TGI Friday's. It was so good to have us all together at once. We got to talk to Robin and Chrissy so got to share a little of the celebration.

Sunday was another up early day...David and family off to church and Bella and me back on the road home. After the usual tear-jerking farewell, I was off again. The trip home was not bad, it snowed a bit on the mountains, but didn't slow me down at all. I got home around 6:30-ish, fed the cat, unpacked, and fell into bed.

Monday was hard to adjust to since I could hardly keep my eyes open. Tuesday was another early day because the electrician had to come and finish wiring my new tankless hot water heater. I just got a call today saying that my windows are finished and will be installed next Wednesday. The bay window I ordered for the front is on another truck so will be installed once it arrives. I am SO excited! Now all I need is to finish my back yard and all will be right with the world.

This isn't as clear as I would like it to be, but you can get an idea of how our celebration went. Love me!

Quick Trip

Heading south tomorrow morning for my little boy's first birthday. It just doesn't seem possible that he is a year old already! Tyler will be three next month on the 12th. Time is passing to quickly for my tastes. Anyway, just an FYI to keep everyone in the loop. I'll have great pictures when I return.

Love me

As the Sun Set

Wow! That was entirely too short a vacation!

I left Portland Saturday morning during a crazy rain storm. I arrived in Maui at 12:55 during a crazy rain storm. It rained almost the entire time I was there with the exception of scattered periods of beautiful blue sky. It was wicked humid too. Poor Robin kept shutting windows and turning the fan off while I was dripping wet fanning myself. It was so much fun! I got to meet Rusty, Robin's dog, who is the biggest baby I've ever seen...I just loved him! I also got to see Pete and Josh's music studio...built by the both of them...you can check it out by going to www.mauiwavestudio.com and see what the boys have been up to.

I took some really great pictures that, if I can figure how how to do it, will put together a video thing so you all can enjoy my trip. I'm really missing that nice warm weather, even if it did rain a lot.

Well, next weekend (The 28th) I'll be driving south for my little boy's first birthday. Dylan is growing too fast! The following month will be Tyler's birthday. He's almost ready to start school! I hope to get all my kids together for a quick minute in Sac. because I only have Saturday to enjoy them before I have to turn around and drive back on Sunday. I'll have more pictures of all my kidswhen I get back.

Get ready children...Grandma's coming south!

Hope everyone had a great weekend...I sure did...Love Me

Aloha

Just a quick note to all that I'm jetting out early tomorrow morning for sunny Maui! Robin found wicked cheap tickets so off I go. It's only a short trip, I'll be back Tuesday night and back to reality on Wednesday morning. Bella is being taken care of while I'm gone and Mittens as well.

I'll be back soon and have a wonderful bunch of pictures to share...thanks to Glenn and Windows Movie Maker. Ya gotta love men and modern technology and new toys.

Love me.

My Senior Moment

I think my brain has finally turned to pudding! I've been making my Amish Friendship Bread for quite a while now. I baked 6 loaves on Sunday and just finished another 6 tonight. My first loaves, however, put a cap in an otherwise good day.

I whipped up the first batch, seperated out the 4 new starters (two in bags, two in bowls to use now), and mixed all the ingredients for two loaves of lemon bread. The oven is hot and ready to go. I'm halfway into whipping up the second batch when I glance at the oven and realize I've forgotten to set the timer on the oven. I figure about 10 minutes have passed since I started the new loaves so set the timer for an hour and five minutes. It takes about 10 minutes to hand mix the batter since you can't use metal of any kind. I turn around to get two new pans ready for batter and realize that I forgot to put the first two in the oven! I set the stupid timer, but forgot to put the bread in! Now I feel stupid!

Anyway, I've got two in the oven and four ready to go. I made 4 lemon and 2 banana this time. I think I'm getting breaded out and will probably freeze the remaining starters I have on the counter.

Well, just wanted to share my senior moment with the rest of the world.

Love Me!

Bees for my garden

This is my little bee condo! Last year I discovered I have a plum tree in my back yard. It only produced a couple of plums, but they were both really good! The little cardboard tube on the table is full of mason bees who, when the sun shines on them and warms them up, will break out of the tube and build houses in the little holes. The nice bee lady said to fill the square holes with straws so that the bees can build inside the straw and at the end of the year I just have to pull out the straws, clean out all the bad stuff, wash off the bee babies and put them inside a bee baby house till next spring when the new bees will come out and start the process all over again. Now the purpose of my little bee adventure is so that these little critters will pollenate my trees and flowers and make good things happen! I'm pretty excited about my little venture into bees and will keep you updated on their progress.

I also went to the Yard, Garden and Patio show this weekend. I was feeling kind of rocky, but went anyway because I already bought the ticket and I wanted to see my bamboo gardener. The show was great! I purchased calla lilly bulbs in flame, yellow, and chocolate. I also purchased a Red Tiger Abutilon which looks like a little orange chinese lantern with red veins...really cool! Later on this summer I'll make an appointment to go out to the Bamboo Garden and get the grand tour and lots of information about what type of bamboo to plant along the north 40. The lady gave me some good ideas and I'm excited about progressing. I still have to get rid of my railroad ties and plant grass and get rid of a lot of stone, but such things will keep me off the streets and out of trouble...well...off the streets anyway.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Bob??? Are you still alive and well? I see Linda on sometimes, but you have been AWOL! What's the deal??? Jean??? You still with us???

Love you all! Me

Well Crap!

I went and did it this morning. I was taking my shower, had my hair all lathered up with shampoo, turned around to rinse my hair and opened my eyes just to see a spider dropping slowly down in front of my face! Now, since I moved in to my home a year and a half ago and found I had hobo spiders running around, ANY spider is NOT my friend...especially if I'm butt naked in the shower, lathered up, with one eye open. Needless to say, in my frantic effort to escape said spider (and when one is in a shower...there really isn't any place to go) I crashed and burned. My one consulation is that when I crashed and burned, I took that damn spider with me!

Today was also the Home and Garden show at the Expo Center. This is a yearly event that brings out the masses and tempts us with all the cool toys we could have, it creates fantastic ideas for landscaping, additions, etc. and makes it all look so easy. It's also massive in size and after having bit it in the shower this morning I was moving slowly and carefully. I met with my window people, found out where I can get a top made for my hot tub for less than my first born, and entered to win $3000 in gas, a really cool BBQ, or something else I can't remember. I spent two hours wandering and gathering information and headed home.

It's now 6:15 or so and I am in agony! If I move...it hurts. If I cough...it hurts. If I breath...it hurts. This does not look good. I'm sure it will go away, it's not like I broke anything, no blood, no bruises, no brains! I'm debating on whether or not I can make it out to the hot tub and be able to lift the lid in order to soak my aching bones. Naaaa takes too much effort, and the wind is blowing pretty hard...my luck one of my tree branches will fall off and bonk me on the head!

All in all...spider incident not with standing...it was a pretty good day. Next week is the Yard, Garden, and Patio show at the convention center. I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Love Me

Sometimes you feel like a butt...

Yeah...there are days like that!

I've been doing a lot of thinking during the past few days about the contents of a letter I received from my daughter Chrissy. My heart hurts. Chrissy is doing very well. She has moved into a transition house in Pueblo, CO, has a job at Carl's Jr. and works full time and always volunteers for any over-time, she volunteered to postpone her parole hearing for 3 months in order to have a better, more solid financial base to show she is taking care of business and is responsible enough to be allowed her own apartment, and has really begun to straighten her life out.This is where the kick in the pants comes in. Chrissy made the decision to common-law marry Dan (the rat bastard). She said they weren't able to correspond unless they were married, so filled out the appropriate forms and are now common-law married. Talk about having the air kicked out of you. My first impulse is to shake her till her teeth rattle and ask her if she's out of her mind. How can she want to be attached to someone who spent years abusing her, helped her down a really wrong path, stood by and watched her put in jail, and now that he's in jail himself, marries him so they can correspond! "But he's found God" she tells me. Personally, I'd like to introduce him to God! He has changed since he's been in jail.

After beating my head against a wall for a couple of days I wrote her a letter. I asked her what the heck she was thinking. How can she want to be around that. Doesn't she remember anything that he did to her...the beatings, the hospital trips, the jobs lost, the self-esteem destroyed, the loss of her family???

Then I let go. I have to accept that she is 29 years old and not my "little girl" anymore. She has decided that this is the person she wants in her life regardless of what he has done. I told her my fears...that I'm afraid that he will turn her down the wrong path again because it's the easy way, and that one day I'll get that phone call saying that she is dead, beaten to death. I told her that I love her unconditionally and will always support her, but that I would never forget what he has done.

Letting go is really a hard thing to do. I've spent my time as a single mom being in control. I have been able to "fix" problems my children had. I wasn't always good at it and failed at a lot of important places, but my children grew strong and wise. Having to let go feels like I'm watching my baby having fun swimming in a lazy river and knowing there is a raging waterfall around the corner but not being able to shout out a warning. It hurts to let go. It hurts knowing she is willing swimming towards the waterfall.

So, there it is. I pray that she will be okay, that she will make wise decisions. Please Lord, keep her safe.

Love me

God's pruning

Saturday morning the forces of nature decided that my pine tree in the back yard was entirely too tall. The top 20+ feet of one of 3 spires snapped off, missing the roof AND fence as it crashed to the ground. The only possible casulties may be the plants put in last year...but hey...they were perennials so they should come back right?

Well, I'm off to get ready for work, have a great Monday...keep your fingers crossed that I don't lose any more tree tops...I don't figure I'm THAT lucky.

Love me

And the sun sets...

Just a quick follow-up to let everyone know that I survived my doctor's appointment today. I'm happy to say nothing is falling off...yet...another follow-up in 6-8 weeks and a few test results to come back and all is well. Thank you to everyone who volunteered to drive, dog sit, hold my hand, or get drunk with me. I love you all!

Love me.

It's a Dog Day!

Ok, I get to be a sissy lala for a minute, but only because I don't usually worry about stuff like this. I have to admit...if only to myself...that I'm a little worried about what the C/R surgeon is going to find tomorrow. The poking and prodding is bad enough, but I worry about him finding something. I'm almost positive it's going to be something very simple to fix, but I also have to face the facts that I'm 54 and although nothing has fallen off yet, there are some things that are getting kind of loose! I am NEVER without duct tape or WD-40. OK, I'm done now, thanks for listening to me whine. Love me!

I HATE This!!!

Well, crap! Now I get to feel extremely sorry for myself for the next little while. David, Tonia and the boys just left to go back to California. I can remember leaving my mom's house to return home and looking in the rear view mirror to see her standing all alone in the front yard with her hands clasped in front of her and tears in her eyes watching as I drove away. OMG!!! I AM my mother! (Note to self: make greater effort to get to California to visit all children and grandchildren more often)

I had a wonderful visit. I got to spoil my little boys, David worked on my "honey-do" list and cleaned my gutters and fixed the vent in the attic, Tonia and I got to visit and go shopping, and I got to cook for my kids. (Sorry about the crepes David) We got to go out for breakfast this morning before they had to leave...it's amazing how slowly one can eat to put off an unpleasant situation.

Thank you for coming to visit, I had such a good time with you and my little boys, we will do this again sometime soon. Be safe, and know that I love you.

Love Me