Lovin' Life

Been Scrappin'!!!

2012-01-29T15:04:00.000-08:00

So organized
Bruce's work space
My work space

I can't tell you how thrilled I am with our new craft room/studio. Wow. It is bright, fresh, organized, workable and pleasant. It's so easy to get into the creative mode when I go in there. Sometimes I sort and organize. Sometime I look for ideas. Sometimes I grab a pack of pictures and just start working. I am in creative heaven. I even love having my husband come in to share the space with me for periods. What a great haven we created for ourselves! We both love it.

So, here's a sampling of some of my latest work. About half of it was done in the studio, about half in a scrap workshop with friends. I try to do something in there everyday. I shoot for two hour increments and usually manage to accomplish it. Yea for me. Back to creativity! On to more and more... Enjoy!

Summer layout
Jason

January, Bleh!

2012-01-25T10:45:00.000-08:00

I've noticed that I am not fond of January. Every year I seem to either wax poetic about the weather, the grey or the doldrums of winter. Heck, I'm not a fan of winter. Sometimes I post pics of our wretched storms. Not this year.

Even though we lived through three day of unbelievable ice last week, I'm not writing about that today. Hey, we lived through it.

Right now, I'm feeling the pain of loss of another sibling, the pain of family distress over relationship breakdowns and the pain of too much travel in the last few months to care for an injured mother-in-law. I am content to be in my quiet, simple home tending to whatever tugs me today. I am letting it happen as it will.

I have sorted, organized, tossed, cleaned, scrubbed and redone both large and small areas. Stuff is disappearing because, guess what? I have too much. Stuff is everywhere... part of the joys of a big house. More to fill up. So, I sort. I organize. I toss. I create. I clean. I toss. I organize. I create. And, I am making progress. I have more to create so I need to be able to see, to work, to get inspired and put it into action. God knows my kids don't want to sort, toss, or cart away my stuff. So, on I trudge... some days eagerly, some days not. I am getting it to a more manageable, workable space. Yea for me.

Vicki, My Vicki

2012-01-09T14:53:00.000-08:00

I lost my sister Vicki last week. I knew it had to come. She was so ill for so long, ten years with Alzheimer's. I thought I would be ready for it. Of course, I wasn't. It still devastated me. I loved her so.

Vicki was the oldest of our clan, about six years older than me. As a child I so wanted to be like her. She was fun, gentle, beautiful, gracious and artistic. Everyone seemed to like her. She could sing, dance, draw and create like crazy. I thought she was the coolest! Well to me she was.

Vicki married young. She was only eighteen. She quickly had three children. I felt privileged to be her primary babysitter. Sadly, her third baby lived only three months. He was sick from the time of his birth. My sister went deeply into grief. She lost a couple babies after that, and became seriously ill. It was a hard time for all of us. Grief was not understood or treated well in the '50's or 60's. Abruptly, she was taken from me as her family moved from Washington to California. I don't think I understood any of this at the time. I was only sixteen. All I knew was that I missed my sister. There was no internet then. Communication was difficult, expensive and infrequent. She went on to have three more boys, five total.

I grew up, went to college, married and went overseas. We had some visits during that time, both in Seattle and Cali. It was new to relate to each other as adults. It was also different and we were finding our way. She came with her family for my wedding. She sewed the whole time, making me clothes for my trouseau. She was always so thoughtful and helpful. She quietly contributed in amazing ways. She was one of the first to welcome me home from overseas (We travelled through Cali). I had a child by then so it was yet another way for us to connect... mom to mom.

The next years were busy for both of us... having and raising children. There were years between visits. Once we took our family south to visit her and my other sister. It was a crazy visit.. too many Chevy Chase moments. I knew she was struggling, but still communication was difficult. Her home life was not happy. She divorced after twenty years. The transition was difficult for all her family. I remember her struggling with self esteem for some time after that. It was hard being seperated from her children.

In the tragedy department, Vicki was dealt way too big a portion. It hurt my heart to see her with so much loss and sadness. Eventually, she married again and was happier than she had been in a very long time. Then the disease struck her. Again, I had a difficult time communicating because of her situation and disease. I made two trips south to see her before she got seriously ill. The first one with my other three sisters, the second with just one of them. It was hard to see her deteriorating. We had our handful of magic moments, but there was sadness too.

The magic was the "sister times": sharing, eating pizza or peanuts, laughing, singing (she knew all the words to Moon River!), just having "normal" family time. She was such a bright spirit, even in her suffering. She shone from the inside. I hated to leave her. I hated to see her losing to this horrible disease. Her spark was dimming though. I wept each time I returned home.

In later years, it was impossible to communicate with her. She stopped talking completely. She went through periods of not eating. He husband cared for her through it all. I don't know how. She went in and out of hospice as she went through those cycles. I missed her vibrant, joyful spirit. It was always a wonder to me that she could keep that spirit with so much personal tragedy. Like all of us, she had her faults. She made some difficult choices. Still, of all my siblings, I felt like I was most like her. I learned so much from her. I even learned from her losses and mistakes. I appreciated her generous heart. I continue to miss her. She blessed my life.

Vicki @ One
The twelve in '64 @ my wedding
The 60's Kathy, Vicki, Fran
1978 Are we cute?
Vicki, 4 of her boys & Ex, '70s
Sisters '95
Love my Sisters!
Last photo of the Twelve!
1998, Sisters!
Sisters having fun!

Reflections on a New Year...

2012-01-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

Some say New Year's is a great holiday because it is a time for new beginnings, new starts. I'm not so sure it is myself. I always find myself reflective on this day... of what has been in the last year, of what is coming in the next, of what I hope to see and do... Reflection is a good thing. It helps us take stock of ourselves and our growth, of our experiences, skills and faults. Taking stock then enables us to discover if we are on track... the track we want that is.

Life is a challenge. Over the years, I have learned that challenges and trials come our way. Some are huge, some are not. Some work to knock us down or crush us. Some allow our skills and God's grace to kick in and shine. All of them can teach us, hone us, refine us... if we let them.

So, I found 2011 to have more of these challenges than usual. My short list looked something like this:

Health: three gout attacks, plus bunion and bone spur pain, hampering my walking and exercise.
Familly Health: three surgeries, two people, two other cities, so travel involved, plus decisions, plus babysitting.
Home remodel: so much easier when we were 30 or 40! Wow, one room, lots of sorting and moving, lots of family help, several contractors involved and several months.
Family losses: One brother-in-law, one aunt (the last of her generation). Travel to California for the sister who lost her spouse.
Another doctor change: why is this so darn hard in my sixties? It's the third change in as many years.
The darn economy: I used to wonder why "old" people moaned about "fixed" income. I know now that it means, "no raises ever!" Funny, costs just keep going up.
Keeping up with family: that is immediate and extended. All live at least 200 miles away. Finding the balance for the travel to be a blessing is the challenge.
Execise: Simple. I don't like it. My body sometimes rebels. I struggle to keep it helpful, consistent and productive.

For 2012, I am hopeful. I am expectant of good things. I have a husband who loves me. We are in a home that we love. We have great and wonderful children, grandchildren and friends. We live in a quiet, pastoral community. We have a lovely church and pastor. We are working through the health issues. We are rolling with the punches. How can I not be hopeful? Life is good. 2012 will be good.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T14:40:00.000-08:00

And to all a good life. Funny how holidays go through cycles and evolutions through the years. Some packed with activity and family, some quiet and just the two of us. I noticed that even with best laid plans, things happen. So over the years I've learned to roll with those things. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't.

Growing up in the biggest of families, I still long for all the family together with loads of activity. It's only happened a few times since the kids all moved away. This year is different from most, because we spent six weeks recently going back and forth to Seattle to tend to a mom with a broken hip. She's recovering well and we are just wanting to be at home for awhile. I made a fabulous rigatoni last night for Christmas Eve dinner after mass. We had a quiet roll and coffee by our tree and then a yummy brunch together. Dinner plans today changed when our friend woke up very ill. So, plan B: Steak from the freeze paired with taters and salad. Quiet, but fine. Tomorrow we get to hug on some grandsons and a daughter. Yea.

I love being in our home when it is all decorated for the holidays. Our big tree has a great lean to it, but it's beautiful. Our table is beautiful. Life is beautiful. We are just relishing what we have, who we are, and the loved ones in our lives. Phone and Skype aren't the same as having them here, but I'm loving them just the same. God has given us beautiful children and grandchildren. We are grateful and blessed. I guess that's why I love Christmas so much. It's all about selfless love, giving to those precious in our lives. Thanks God for your gift that allows us to give to others.
Table set for Christmas Eve
Our tree with all the sentimental ornaments

The joy of giving
and receiving...

Girls... silly and smart!

2011-09-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Our little girl time came twice to us this month... one week of it they were here with us, three days we were with them to babysit. Both times were full, fun and a little bit silly.

The week they were here, we picked them up in Pasco, ate pizza and came home to settle in for their stay. On Monday, we played in the morning and then picked up Hannah and went to the Aquatic Center for the afternoon. It was a blast. Except when Paige greeted Grandpa with "I cut my chin and had to get stitches!" Had him going for a minute!

Tuesday, we had a lunch date with the ladies and Maddie at the GP. After lunch we went to the Children's Museum to play. They totally enjoyed themselves. We drove Maddie home to Adams and she gave them a tour of the farm and the animals. The girls would have stayed forever.

Wednesday was our stay in day. We made it an arts and crafts day. I taught them a little about sewing, then we made little photo albums. The loved it. I was amazed at how different their focus and their choice of pictures was. Both did a great job.

Thursday we went back to the pool to swim. Maddie came for awhile with friends. She got Gabi going down the big slide. Gabi thought that was the best. Paige kept to the little slide.

Friday was going back to meet Mom day. We only had the morning together so we played, finished arts projects and packed the girls things. It was a week (well, four days) that went too fast!

Our few days at their home sped by as well. Rather than taking time for photos, we did the necessary and fun things. They were silly, cooperative and helpful. We squeezed in soccer, homework, reading, spelling and cooking. Tripping time!
Park time!
Nails!
And Nails...
Best Buds!
Swimming...
CMEO
Museum time.
Paige, Maddie & Gabi.
Paige crafting her book
Gabi hard at work
So proud!
Paige's book
Gabs showing off
Gabi's book
Paige's birthday quilt
Miss secretary
Silly!
over powdered waffles!
Goofy girls
I'm ready for school!

Family Time!

2011-09-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

Last month we got some time with extended family in Seattle. I come from a very large family. I love being around them. We are many, varied, lively and fun. Somehow these family times are harder and harder to get as we are aging. Distance is a serious issue. But gathering is fun. It feels more precious since we lost one of our siblings. Time to treasure each other is priceless. I got to share and evening with two sisters and spouses, a lunch with a sister and brother-in-law and an afternoon with a brother and sister-in-law. I also got time with our daughter, son-in-law and mother-in-law. We had a picnic with the extended family that was most enjoyable. Seven of the twelve siblings were able to attend. I appreciated each visit and event. I am glad to have the time for laughs, for stories, for meal sharing, for just being family. My God, I love family!

Bruce & his mom
Michelle & Michael
Rick & the family totem
With Jane & Dennis @ Redhook
John, Bill, Judy
Cam, Mika, Tara, Judy
Brother Jim & I
The Dudes!

Of Terrorism and War

2011-09-11T15:26:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2001 nearly 3,000 innocent Americans died when terrorist attacked the Twin Towers in NYC, the Pentagon and an attempt on the Capitol. It is a day to be remembered by all Americans. I remember it as on of the hardest, longest, saddest, and loneliest days of my life. I was teaching a class in another town all day. Focus was difficult. My students and I were all stunned. The U.S. had never been attacked in such a way, at this scale before. We were not at war. The victims were ordinary citizens doing there jobs. I came home that night to an empty house, transfixed by all the images and stories. Towers burning and crashing. People covered in dust. The anguish and pain on the faces. Those images will never leave me. Those victims deserve to be remembered. The wars that followed this act still make no sense to me. I don't believe war is meant to make sense. I don't believe in war any more. I understand the desire for justice and retaliation. I also understand the need for forgiveness and compassion. So many wars, and still we do not learn from our history... I remember VietNam as if it were yesterday. I was not in the military. I was a civilian. I will never forget those images either. The bombing of our embassy. Trenches and soldiers everywhere. People running in terror. Children without limbs. Bullet-pocked walls in buildings. Mortars exploding in the distance. So many years. So many lives. So many unanswered questions. So many wars. When will it all end? Why can't we simply live together in peace. I pray for it every day.

Boys.. Forever Joys!

2011-08-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

Our annual week with two wonderful boys just ended. Can you say FUN?

Day One: Monday... we played at home, super shooters, mini pool, dominoes, movies. Great time.

Day Two: Tuesday... games in the morning and a trip to Pioneer Park, afternoon at CMEO (Children's Museum of Eastern Oregon)... it was packed because of Terrific (free!) Tuesday. Had a blast! Evening at Roy Raley Park for National Night Out! Huge blast... free hotdogs and ice cream, cotton candy, juggler, rides on go carts, fire & swat vehicles to wander in and out of and a dunk tank. Can't top it!

Day Three: Wednesday... games at home, Pendleton Aquatic Center at noon... three hours of unadulterated fun! As we get ready to leave Jay tells me he hurt his chin. I check it. First Aid checks it. Our neighbor the nurse checks it. We all agree - he needs stitches! Two hours later, lots of fuss and bother and pain and six stitches later, we finally head home. Boy, did he deserve the big ice cream cone he got after dinner! He was a brave, cooperative, well behaved boy from start to finish. And, the care he got was top of the line!

Day Four: Thursday... no more water allowed... we played games, worked on a bird house and cards, watched movies, went back to the children's museum. Yes, fun, but quite subdued.

Day Five: Friday... games and work on the bird house in the morning, Smurfs movie in the afternoon. Silly, fun movie. Plans to go for pizza got adjusted so we ate it in.

Day Six: Saturday... going home day... we left home early, lunch packed, for Baker City, then McEwen Station to ride the Sumpter Railway to where else? Sumpter! What a lot of fun that was! There was a mock train robbery and a chance to explore the Sumpter Dredge. They loved every minute and were already planning for next year. It was a first on a train for the boys, and a first on a horse for Jason. Bobby chose not to get on the horses.

It was a fun-filled, boy-filled, fast paced week. What a blast!

Pool time.
Costumes!
New train exhibit
Lovin' it all!
Gocarts!
Rice Park
Cute stuff
Pioneer Park
Love Pioneer Park
Great park!
Museum Day
They loved the pool!
Stitches!!
Conductor from Boise area
Steam Engine!
Train ride!!!!
Riding the Pullman Car
Sheriff on the lookout!
Give me your Gold!
Bandits!
First time on a horse
Brothers by the steam engine.
Jason at the wheel
Bobby in the Cab
Sumpter Dredge

Families are the Best!

2011-07-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

Recently, we gathered our whole clan at the Oregon Coast. This is our sixth, all-family vacation, our fourth at the coast. Yes, it's a very long drive. Yes, it is worth it to be on the ocean. Weather was not very cooperative, nor were the planes out of Denver. Our son wasn't able to get to us until our second day.

Yet, we had the most wonderful time. The best part was all being together in the same house just steps from the beach!

We played and explored in the ocean and on the beach. We visited the Oregon Coast aquarium. Baked a cake. We hosted a friend's eighteenth birthday party. We had a formal,family photo shoot. We visited Newport's bayfront and got fresh tuna. We created glass pieces, four this time. We barbecued and feasted together. We created origami. We watched movies and played games. We ate s'mores. We swam in pools and hot tubs. We laughed. We shared. We enjoyed baing a family. Lack of sunshine did not dampen our spirits!

We do this every two years. It takes lots of planning and juggling, but boy, is it ever the best! Love our family, beach time.

Clowning it up at the aquarium.

Gabi & Paige being fun

Jason, Rich & Gabi

Bobby & Anne

Jason & Paige... buds!

Playing in the surf

Surf time

King of the rocks

Michelle & kids

Michael, Bobby & Gabi

Origami time
Anne & boys

Rich, Valerie, & girls

Michelle & Michael

Michael & Paige

Michael & Stephen

Waiting for our shoot

The gang at the aquarium

Fab four

Prehistoric four

Grandpa Bruce
Valerie shaping her glass

Stephen at work

the girls waiting their turn

Michelle creating

Anne working her glass

Finished paperweights

Sunset

Finishing home, Part 2

2011-07-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

Our room is almost done! We are using it, loving it, working it out. It still has much organizing to happen when we get the rest of the storage cabinets. We are also still minus the closet door... but it is beautiful and functional! Yea. I think we are even going to be able to work together in it. Even better. Thanks, family for all the help.
Bruce's space before shelves are built in closet.
My space
Another view
Another view, getting there.
Storage
storage
Paper racks & punches
My idea board
Shelves are built in closet

Sisters, Sisters...

2011-06-07T13:53:00.000-07:00

Some years it is very challenging for me to get sister time. Let's face it "sister time" is a gift. I think it's something all women need. I know I surely do. I find it is time I both value and treasure. Where else can I find women who are good friends and also share the same genetic material? Funny, noone we meet has trouble figuring out that we are sisters! We not only have a long history, we share many similar likes and dislikes. It's the best! Who else but my immediate family is going to know me so well and love me still...

This year has not been anywhere near normal for me in many ways. I'm half way through the year and I have already had two long weekends with sisters.

First of all, my older sister, Fran, lost her husband in March. Secondly, I reserved plane ticket seven months ago to visit my sister, Jane, in her new home in Arizona.

So, in April I went to sunny California to visit Fran. Jane got to come for a couple nights. We laughed, we cried, we ate, we shared. We had good sister therapy time. We called our sister, Cindy, to include her since she couldn't be with us. We all hope for the time when the four of us can get together. Life has just made that gathering too much of a challenge right now.

In May, I went with my husband to sunny Arizona... sunny being the other key thread... to visit Jane and her husband and see their new home. What fun. We laughed, we played, we ate, we discovered, we sat in their pool, we relaxed. Good sister therapy time. Aaaah. It was good, very, very good. I am very grateful for my sisters and for sister time.

Me & Fran @ her home
Jane & Fran
Fran & I at lunch
Enjoying Jane's pool
At the community grill with Dennis & Jane
At the Olive Mill
Now that's a cacti
Casa Grande ruins

Home, Finishing Home

2011-05-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

The last time I went about finishing a room in our home, I was in my forties. I was working and had a decent income. Recently, we decided to finish the last room in our house. It is a basement room with no windows, two walls being concrete. Ah, yes, adventure and challenge. I'm no longer in my forties and the retirement budget is tight. A whole new game plan!

So, for thirty plus years, we have used this space as a catch all, husband tinker space. It had one wall firred, basic lighting and wiring on one wall. Usable storage area -- that means, "Go ahead and throw anything you can't/won't make a decision about, or don't know where to put right here!" Imagine how it piles up over the years, with people moving in and out of our house. It was an amazing, jumbled mess!!!

I cleared out the room in less than a week. Wow. I made incredible discoveries. Boxes belonging to adult children, and others who lived here at one time. Books that I actually wanted to read. Treasures from this person and that. Many boxes of collected items from previous jobs belonging to me and my husband. Many things that had long outlived their purpose or sentiment. I still have more of it to sort but it is now accessible and a much smaller pile. One huge truck load went to the dump. Another went to a yard sale. The rest of the stuff is going to get diminished even more. I'm getting brutal with the toss and throw.

Let me share what I have learned about remodels later in life.
The work is harder, the energy is less.
I still love the creativity of design and function.
There is still excitement in making something out of nothing.
Family is a life/budget saver. We would be lost without them.
We are face to face with new physical limitations because of age.
It's a great thing to be able to hire help with the stuff we can no longer do.
I continue to be amazed at all the decisions to be made along the way, from very big ones (Closet/no closet), design, color, contractors, quality and products.
I was stopped cold one day by an electrician's question about white or ivory face plates! Aaaaaaah. Hadn't thought about that one... Or how many lights in a lighting unit? All I knew at the time was two lighting units.
Progress can be very fast and very slow.
Construction still makes a horrible mess.
I'm still good at the planning, negotiating, and creating.
I want it done now... oh, and I want more money to do it.
I can already envision myself and the hubby in there creating and tinkering and enjoying our quiet lives.
Life really is good.

Of Love and Marriage

2011-05-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

So, going to weddings tends to stir up my emotions.
I feel nostalgic.
I think of our own wedding and marriage.
I marvel that it is still an institution that works.
I appreciate the God factor in the relationship thing.
I am also amazed and blessed by my marriage.
I wonder how ours has worked so well, when so many don't.
I know it's not just some starry-eyed, mushy-hearted feeling.
There are no fireworks after forty-seven years.
There are good things, though.

It is so many things, all working together... and yes, I mean work!
It is love.
It is commitment.
It is respect.
It is tenderness and consideration.
It is humor and laughter.
It is communication.
It is shared values and goals.
It is keeping on through struggles.
It is compromise and negotiation.
It is fun and adventure.
It is exploring new territory together.
It is hard work and partnership.
It is balance.
It is choices, many choices and decisions.

And yes, it is God at work in each of us.
If I didn't believe that I would be just relying on luck,
and I can't seem to do that.
I was blessed when I met my man.
Many things and situations have worked against us to tear us apart.
Still, we persist. We love. We commit.
Is is easy? No.
But, history shows that rainbows really do follow the storms.
Golden, mellow moments really do happen.
He values me. I value him. We work together.
We work through our differences.
We like being together.
Sometimes, I don't want to analyze the why.
I just want to enjoy.
We are blessed.

Mazatlan, Mexico, Round Nine

2011-04-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

One more time, we flew to the Pearl of the Pacific south of the border.
Once again, it was a time to relax, refresh, rejuvenate, renew.
Once again, it restored us, body, mind and spirit.
So many distractions this time, family deaths, loved ones in distress...

we went because the soul can only take so much before God says, "Step back,
take a break, enjoy some sunshine and beauty for awhile. Then you can go
back to the struggles of life with new energy, new perspective. Go, be
with me for now. Be yourself. Be."

And It was a gift. God blessed us with warmth, goodness, tropical charms,
great friends, amazing cuisine, water and sun therapy, and the most
beautiful place and culture.

I know, each time we arrive, I feel like I am home. Odd. Few places
stir that emotional response in me.
It is home. Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay is home. Mazatlan is home.
No wonder I return to life restored. Thank you, God.
Best friends at Topolos
Fried ice cream
Fabulous sunsets

Silly Michele at Los Zarapes
Cave of the Lion
Michele & Terry
Bruce & I
Pool time on my birthday
Party time at Los Zarapes
Native dancers
Michele cutting loose
They made the salsa at our table
Oscar, amazing singer
Preparing Spanish Coffee
Happy birthday on a jazz sax, oh yea!
What great place to celebrate
Bruce chilling on the veranda
Infinity pool, my favorite
Servers with flair!
cerveza por favor?
Bruce & Kindle by the pool
Michele loved her kindle!
Jose, master bartender!

Musings

2011-04-27T13:18:00.000-07:00

Writing is usually so easy for me.
Lately, life has had me so distracted
that the writing hasn't flowed.
Several things I know, however,
Life is to be lived, enjoy, celebrated.
Moments fly by faster than
the wind can kiss my cheek.
Moments need to be treasured, then
remembered. Writing and pictures
help us to remember over time.
I plan to keep on living with love,
treasuring time and family,
celebrating moments before
they slip away. I also plan
to write things down as I can,
to display photos attractively
in a number of ways,
to remember with love each one
of the family and friends who
bless my life and keep me living.

I Can't Believe He's 10!!!

2011-03-06T15:05:00.000-08:00

Robert, Bobby, Bobs, Roberto, Bobert is ten in ten days. The family was in town with us this week, so we celebrated while they were here. One of the first things he said to his grsndpa when he arrived is, "I can't believe you don't have any ice cream!"

Following family tradition I asked him what he wanted for his birthday dinner. Bobby chose a spaghetti and we made cupcakes for the occasion. He had to decorate his cupcakes with math symbols. He loves math. We invited Becky, Ashley and Hannah to join us (the boys were at baseball practice). So, we feasted and feted the birthday boy, and mostly just had fun. Bobby was very happy with his "Pharoah's Quest" legos. He and is brother and mother spent the evening assembling and playing with them.
Brothers!
Grandma & Ashley
Grandpa & Bobby
Jas & Mom
Time for Wishes
Girls Mugging!
Brother love
I'm ten
I love it!
My wish is...
Putting it all together

Newport!

2011-02-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

I love February.... I get to go to Newport! It's also the time for green to appear and for buds to sprout... love that too.

This year was perhaps the wettest time in Newport ever! It was wet, wet, wet. Now, that never bothers me because I spend much of my days there scrapbooking. Boy, did I break records this year! I did 84 12x12 pages, plus one 8 page mini-album. Did I say it was a wet week? Oh, yea. I so enjoyed myself though.

It's a week that means we get to visit our favorite spots no matter the weather: Nye Beach, Agate beach, Yaquina Head Lighthouse(didn't make it this year), Lincoln City outlet mall (also didn't make it there this year), favorite restaurants... The Rogue Brewery, Cafe Stephanie, Gracie's Sea Hag, Embarcadero and this time a new favorite... Nana's Irish Pub-best Rueben in the country!

Our days were pretty quiet because of the weather. One day we had rain, sleet, wind, rain/snow, sunshine and clouds. Craziness. I was grateful that our travel days were clear though. They were even mostly sunny. We stopped at friends on the way to the beach and with family in Seattle on our way home... long, long trip, but oh, so good.
We relished the relaxation. Apparently, we were overdue for the relaxation thing. So grateful for time to kick back and regroup.
Spray at Depoe Bay

Yaquina Bay Bridge
Sunset after the fierst storm
Bruce at the bridge viewpoint
Thursday had some sun breaks
Me at the bridge viewpoint
My main man loves the beach
Yea for sun!
Fascinating sky all week.
The sun came out the day we left!
Bruce & his mom
Michelle & Michael

January, Oh, what a Month

2011-01-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

January, January
when are you going to go?
I feel your days,
in many ways...
as dull, and dark, and low.

Speed along, go away,
I'm ready for the sun.
Take the doldrums with you
and bring me back some fun.

Times to clean and organize
only bring me down.
Reassess,
oh, what a mess!
No more time to analyze.

It's wet and cold,
I'm green with mold,
Please leave so I can move,
I want you gone,
I am so ready for a groove.

No more snow or ice
they are not nice,
one-eighties are not good
I want to drive without a slide,
and smile again when I ride.

So, lift the fog of winter days,
until I see the sky.
The blue will bring my heart to life
and diminish the whats and why.

Christmas is the Best!

2011-01-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas. I love that it's about the birth of Jesus. I love that it means family time, sharing and gifts. I love that we are allowed to feast freely without feeling guilty. I love that the season is full of surprises, lights and colorful decorations. I love Christmas trees, wreaths and manger sets. I am a little bit Christmas crazy. In a perfect world, it would last much longer and it would include the whole family without difficult travel. Alas, the real world means it's not like that. We have to choose a family member to go to, and the travel is stressful for me. And the time goes WAY to quickly.

This year we went to Spokane for the first time in several years. It was so much fun to be with the little girls. There is nothing like Christmas with children. The wonder and appreciation in their faces is priceless. I love making gifts. I love giving gifts. I love receiving gifts. We did receive wonderful gifts from our children.

I especially loved finishing the dollhouse that Great Grandpa Bruce build in 1975 for my children. I worked on it for five weeks; painting, wallpapering, trimming with sills, baseboards and curtains, sewing blankets, pillows, and curtains, stocking with people and furniture, mortaring the bricks on the chimney and glueing in flooring. It challenged me. It pleased me. It filled up many days for me. The end result is far from perfect, but it's attractive and play-able. My two primary goals. I still have more bricks to put on the chimney... later.

Anyway, we took it to Spokane and surprised the girls with it. Valerie says we were quite amusing as we arrived with Duke in the front passenger seat and me in the back with the dollhouse. Valerie and I set it up under the tree Christmas Eve. In the morning, Paige says to me, "Grandma, look what Santa brought us. It's a dollhouse and it has beds just like yours does." (Since they had played with the rough version at our house for years.) Later that morning, her mother told the girls the story of her grandpa making the house for her and her sisters and how they used to play with it as kids. Grandma finished it for the two of them, so it was now theirs to play with. At first, Paige seemed disappointed that Santa didn't bring it. Then she settled in to the reality of what Grandma did and that it was theirs. They were such a treat to watch in their play with it. It felt good to pass it on to the next generation. Great Grandpa Bruce gave our family a great gift!
Paige in her Icelandic hat
Gabi in her Icelandic hat
Christmas Tree
Bruce & Paige

Bruce & Gabi
Gabi's gift to Mom
Paige's gift to Mom
Paige & dollhouse
Valerie & Randy
Santa Daddy & girls
Santa & girls
Gabi's favorite shirt
Helping Grandpa
Helping Mom
House before
House after

Picture Perfect Day...

2010-12-23T10:38:00.000-08:00

Our Gabi recently made her first communion/confirmation. She prepared for months and months. It was a lovely, rainy, December day. She looked so gorgeous in the dress that I made for her special day. She spoke her part out loudly, and simply shone through the whole event. We had took pictures and shared the cake with the parish afterwards. Her daddy cooked a great dinner. She simply smiled, and smiled, and smiled. It was a perfect day.
Little darlings
Goofy darlings
Really goofy darlings
She's a beauty!
Baptismal/confirmation candle
She was nervous & excited!
Waiting to process in...
The family
Proud Grandma Barbara
Proud Grandma & Grandpa
With the Bishop
Class pic with Bish & pastor
Photo time (no pics during Mass)
She loved her presents, then she took a long nap.

So Much to be Thankful for...

2010-12-04T15:18:00.001-08:00

I love Thanksgiving. I love preparing the feast. I love preparing the table. I love being with family. I love all of it. Oh, and it's one of my favorite dinners besides! Turkey, yum. Dressing, yum. Pie, yum. All of it. I love all of it.

This year we went to Boise, between the storms that hit the mountains. Our only mishap was a blowout, fortunately after we exited the highway. I am so blessed and thankful.

I'm thankful for:
my husband, dear, sweet, silly and thoughtful.
my children, unique, wonderful, amazing and fun.
and grandchildren, precious, hilarious, affectionate, and special.
my home, my safe, warm harbor.
my siblings, every one so treasured.
my friends, humorous, faithful and faith-filled.
my community, small and limited, yes, but wonderful.
our health, our resources and freedom.
our car that gets us safely to our family.
my abilities and talents, especially my creativity.
art and music that keep me fresh and alive.
my faith, for my God.
all the ways that God has blessed my life.
each new day.
Robert loves his pie.
Sharing a joke.
Dear Bruce
Waiting for pie. Bobby refused to smile.
Jason!

Finally, Halloween

2010-12-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

Oh, my have I been lax! I haven't posted the pictures of my lovelies at Halloween. Of course, I just got the boys pics last week so I'm not too errant! They were all so delightful in their costumes... I just love the dressing up for the holiday. It's the best part of Halloween. So, here the four monsters in their costumed Best! This year we have a cheerleader, a fairy, a soldier, and a ramped up ironman...
The girls
G.G.
Our charmer.
With attitude!
Blondie
The boys
Soldier Bob
G.I. Robert
Jay our ironman
Take that
Jason's pumpkin with freckles.

Paige McWaige is Six!?!

2010-11-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

Wow! How did six years go by so fast? Our little, glib, funny Paige is now 6. Funny, she is indeed. She chose her birthday dress and the haunted castle birthday cake. She knows just what she wants and doesn't want. She has no problem telling you both!
She even chose the Halloween sprinkles flavor cake! She probably chose the steak and potatoes dinner also. Talk about your crack-me-ups.

Her birthday was celebrated in the family's new house with her extended family. She was very involved in preparations and very helpful. She loves birthdays. Mostly, she loves sweets and presents. What a little barrel of fun is this girl!

Haunted House crafted by Mom.
Sisters!
Love my sis...
Gabi
My dad
Auntie and Jacob
Grandma and Nicole
Birthday girl.

Blow!

Oh, to be 95!!!

2010-10-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

The big event this week is Grandma Dora hitting the magic age of 95!! Wow.

We went to be with her last weekend to celebrate. All she wanted was spaghetti dinner (Her Italian recipe) and german chocolate cake! So, we packed up supplies and trekked North. She won't go out to eat anymore, so I cooked in her tiny apartment. She loved her spaghetti. She loved the cake and ice cream. She loved our being there to celebrate with her. It was a small gathering of just five of us, but we had a good time. Of course, baseball was on all evening. She even loved her picture book and her phone card.

Happy birthday, Grandma. So glad you made it to 95.

Michelle and Michael
Bruce and Michelle

Our Town is going Solar!

2010-10-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of Summer, we became aware of a program in our community that would allow us to add solar panels to our house inexpensively. This was made possible through the cooperation of our city with Energy Trust of Oregon, LiveLight Energy and SolarWorld. We were offered a zero interest loan from the city, that, combined with our tax credits brought our cost to less than $3000. With the prospect of saving 30-50% in our energy costs, and helping our environment, we couldn't say no.

Already in our first month following installation, our usage is down 50% from last year at the same time. Now, how can you beat that? No maintenance, no noise, no smell or off gases. It's perfect! Thanks to our city, the contractors and the above mentioned companies almost sixty homes are now solar.

Wow. Kuddoes all around.

Check out the website and the news clip from the Tri-Cities KEPR news program.

http://solarizependleton.com/main
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/105494508.html

Little Boys, Lots of Joys!

2010-10-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

Recently, we participated in the birthday party and family celebration for Jason, our precocious seven year old. Wow. I learned some things. Mostly, I'm older than I thought. They wore me out. Yes, I did enjoy it though.

Like boys parties are LOUD and active. Yelling, running and jumping are the biggest part of the party! Did they all have fun? Oh yea. Was is wild and wonderful? Oh yea. Is this one rambunctuous seven year old? Definitely!

We had about ten kids (only two girls) at the house for outdoor and indoor fun. They loved the trampoline, hide and seek and the swing set. They also loved frosting their cupcakes in wild colors and eating the cupcakes and ice cream. It was non-stop for two hours. Crazy time. Jason was in his element and very energized!

We were a little more subdued for the family dinner... lasagne, of course! Cake, ice cream and presents. Oh yea. Gotta have ice cream! Gotta love boys' birthday celebrations. Happy birthday Jason!
Loving the cupcakes!

Trampoline time
I like my calendar!
Ka-ching

With the fam

And blow!

Household Projects

2010-10-09T14:50:00.000-07:00

I have lived in our lovely home for thirty-two years now. I love our home. I love to keep busy. I love to create. I love to try to do things myself. Now, wouldn't you think that those last four things would keep me motivate and moving along on the household projects? I'm retired. This is the time when I'm supposed to be energized for all those things that I didn't have time to do or finish while I was working. Hah. That's funny. Somedays, I just don't want to do anything.

Somedays, I find myself easily motivated to dig in and do what needs to be done. Houses requires constant maintenance and upgrading. I loved hiring someone to do remodel projects ten years ago. That was fun. I came up with the vision and someone else did, probably better than I could. I must say, we have done a lot in the years we have been here. We landscaped the yard front and back, more than once. We finished four rooms and a closet in the basement. I have redecorated more than once. I have painted everything that doesn't move, inside and out, at least twice. I've wallpapered and panelled and torn both down. I have replaced flooring. We rebuilt our deck twice. Our windows and roof have been replaced. We just added solar panels to the roof. It seems like a lot. Maybe I'm just tired.

The thing is, that I always seem to have a list of something else that needs to be done. Some of it's basic maintenance, like restaining the decks or taking care of the yard. Some of it is dreams for freshening or changing, like new flooring or gutting and updating the bathrooms. Will they happen. I don't know. I just know that I have to keep pecking away at the projects as long as I can.

Long ago my mother instilled a pride in my home in me. It's so American! It seems a little odd now in this unstable economy with so many foreclosures. Home really is where my heart is. It's a safe, pleasant, happy place that I want to continue to enjoy with pride. So, I keep working at motivating myself to tackle the latest projects. I'm always glad I have when I see them finished. Home is good. Life is wonderful. Somedays, it's just to be enjoyed. Somedays, it's time to do a project.

Solar panels
Solar converter
Freshly stained back deck

Freshly stained front deck

Am I Adventurous?

2010-10-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

My writing has been a bit quiet lately... Not too much stirring in my brain I guess. But lately, I've been thinking... am I adventurous?

My son is presently on an adventure - a trip to a foreign country alone at forty-four. I found myself wondering... have I?... would I?... could I?

In retrospect, I have done some pretty adventurous things in my young life:

I survived growing up in a very large family, sandwiched among seven brothers.
I went to live in a foreign country with my brand new husband at age twenty.
I lived in a war zone for ten months.
I had my first child overseas.
I raised four beautiful children into wonderful adults.
I made three different houses our home.
I moved with my family eleven times in fifteen years.
I started two completely different careers in my life with little prior information of those careers.
I returned to school at forty-six to get my college degree in Pastoral Ministry whilst I had three children in college and one in high school.
I commuted over two hundred miles to college, staying in another city alone for days at a time.
I taught myself many new skills to do-it-myself in improving an decorating my homes.
I stepped out in faith again and again because I knew God would be with me.
I have visited, adventured in, and enjoyed seven countries, living in two of them for an extended time.
I reestablished myself and our family 300 miles from home to support my husband's career.

I guess I have been adventurous after all. Funny how I don't really think about it that much. I think I get my courage to step out from my mother, who moved thousands of miles from her family right after her marriage to my dad. Each day is a new adventure in some way. I am grateful for each day, and each adventure.

Anniversary to Remember!

2010-09-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

After forty-six years of wedded bliss, I have come to notice that some celebrations of our anniversary are more memorable than others. Some celebrations that stand out in my mind are the ones spent at favorite places like Cannon Beach, Leavenworth, Glacier Park and ones spent with favorite people like family events on our twenty-fifth and fortieth, and those spent with special friends.

This year was memorable because it was spent in one of our favorite places (Lake Chelan) with some of our favorite people (Terry and Michele, friends of over forty years). Besides that, we were at the beautiful Tuscan winery Tsillian Cellars, dining at the italian restaurant Sorrento. It was gorgeous, delicious, fine food and wine, sitting outside gazing at the incredible lake view. It's pretty hard to top this perfect combination of place, people, aesthetics and tastes. In fact, I don't think we can. Thanks, Terry and Michele. Thanks, Bruce.

Tsillan Cellars tasting room
Anniversary Toast
Great view
Beautiful spot, perfect weather
Wonderful friends, also married forty-six years!

Eleven Days of Boys!!

2010-08-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

Boys of Summer

No, it wasn't eleven days of May... it was eleven days of August. We spent time with our grandsons in Pendleton, Seattle and Boise! Whew. They arrived the day before our trip to Seattle to be with extended family. I don't remember the boys ever being with the Seattle branch of family. They had a lot of firsts that weekend... first time over Snoqualmie Pass, first time on Alkai beach, first overnight at Nonna's apartment, first Hemmen family picnic, first meeting of Hemmen cousins, aunts and uncles, first time at Aunt Michelle and Uncle Michael's. It was a great and wonderful family weekend.

The boys had another first with us on day five, Monday. We loaded up the canoe, the life jackets and supplies for our outing at the local reservoir. It was a perfect day for it. We unloaded the canoe, got set up and put Mom and boys in the boat for the launch. Grandpa climbed aboard and shoved off. From the boat launch, I took the picture of their new adventure. The boys were given the boat rules. "Sit in the middle of the boat." "Hold as still as you can." "Listen and obey everything Grandpa says." Sounded great. Looked wonderful. Pause.

Seconds later, the canoe tipped to the right, and they all went over into the water. I watched horrified. It was only a few feet from shore, but it stopped my heart when I couldn't see Jason. In a moment, Mom was pulling him from under the canoe. The folks in the ski boat next to them, helped bring the boys in and right the canoe. Jason was bound and determined he was not getting back in the boat. Everyone was fine, but shaken. Grandpa, Mom and Bobby got back in the boat and rowed out into the water. Jason happily stayed with me, playing in the water near the shore. After thirty minutes the family returned, soggy but satisfied. It was an exciting way to begin the week! We returned home for dry clothes, lunch, movies and quiet time. Mom packed for her trip back to Boise. Ice cream cones and popcorn were the big treats of the day. We had quite a learning experience, when all we planned was a little boat ride!

Tuesday was our Children's Museum day. This is a favorite place for all our grandkids when they come to town! We enjoyed the fun of the grocery store, pizza parlor, costumes and construction zones, fire house, science room and the Oregon Trail area. They found several new friends to play with and managed their play very well. It was the best! Three hours flew by. We topped off the afternoon with drinks and cookies at Great Pacific.

Wednesday, we ventured out to the Aquatic Center. Our town has a wonderful pool and family gathering area. The boys demonstrated the great progress they made in their swimming lessons in July. They did not want to come out of the pool in the three hours we were there. Again, they made friends and had the time of their lives. Water boys for sure!! I couldn't resist, I had to get into the pool with them for over an hour. It was a perfect day because it wasn't too warm or too crowded. We came home to ice cream and dominoes.

Thursday, we went to the county fair. It is held in a town thirty miles away. It was a very hot day, but we got there fairly early. They checked out the farm animals, the petting zoo area, the exotic animals, the arts pavilion and the children's pavilion. This was their favorite place! They had games, activities and puzzles based on scientific principles. They loved it. Bobby built stuff using one tool or another. Jason liked the experiments and games. They didn't even want to leave for the carnival. Finally we talked them into it, and they took four rides each. They were so busy and excited that they barely ate the lunch we packed for them. Full, fun day! We capped our day by roasting marshmellows on our back yard fire pit.

The next day we took the road trek back to Boise to return them safely home. We spent the tenth and eleventh days playing and enjoying them in their own home. I would have to say that our eleven days in August, were eleven days very well spent!

Dinner on Alkai
Yes, a beach in the middle of the city!

Cousins!
Love my cousin!

With Mom, Grandpa & Nonna
With Grandma & Grandpa
Nonna's almost 95
Super Jason

Launching
Ready
Moments before the dunk
Jay
Successful return
Wet Bobby
Soaked Jason
At the park
Park time
Gotta buy groceries
Sir Jay
Sir Robert
Pizza pizza!
Master chefs
Love cookin!
Water boys!
Love swimming...

Jason @ the fair
Bobby our fair boy
Lunch time.
Love this one...
Gotta build!
Builder Bob
Yea machines
I'm flying
Take off
Love our grandpa
Marshmellow time
Jason and Dad
Mom & Dad
Whole family

It's Hemmen Time!

2010-08-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

I love my family. Crazy, funny eccentrics that they are... I love them all. We are big, noisy, lovable group. I must say it is harder and harder to get together as we age. So many things intervene... health, distance, finances, family responsibilities. Funny, we have wrestled with those issues for a lifetime. Funny, odd that is.

So, we get together, in twos or threes or fours as we can. Small tastes of family until days like Saturday! It was more like forty of us! We had a real live picnic. Yes, it has been awhile. Did the weather cooperate? No. Did we care? No. Was it summer? Who could tell? What mattered was we were together... to share, to eat, to laugh, to play, to reminisce, to be family. It was good. It was very, very good. And, yes, it went way too quickly!

Thanks family for the fun time! Thanks for being mine.

Sisters plus two
Three of the five sisters

Brother Jim & Val
Food, magnificent food!
Cousin Ben, Bruce, Cindy & Jane
Bro Rick & Michelle
Bro Alan & Carola
Bill & sister Jane
Bruce
Hanging out after dinner
Bros Jim & Rick
Gaming
Wii dancing

Girlies, Part Two

2010-07-30T21:49:00.000-07:00

Wondrous Wednesday started out cold and gloomy. We had rain and thunder so we postponed our canoeing outing. The girls and I loaded in the car and travelled thirty miles down the road to see a movie. We pick "Ramona and Beezus". It was a fun "girlie" movie. Loved the water fight scene! When we got out we called Grandpa and discovered that our town had a blackout with no power for two hours! Boy, did we plan our afternoon well! Home for Grandma's specialty, spaghetti and meatballs.

Thrilling Thursday began with the dog walk and scrubbing out the canoe. We packed a lunch and loaded up. We went just out of town on the reservoir, unloaded the canoe and started out. Hubby and I discovered very quickly that we had forgotten how much work the rowing, loading and unloading was. Wow! We enjoyed our ride though. It was so peaceful. The girls were great. Even the little one controlled her wiggles! We ate our lunch when we got back, and then headed home. Grandpa left us for his volunteer job and we had our tea party with my new tea set. We giggled and sipped and sang along with the radio. So silly! After our chili dog dinner, we roasted marshmellows out back. Sticky and yummy!

Fortunate Friday started with scrapbooking covers for the girls books. We got a great deal done before it was time to pack our lunch and the car to head out on our road trip (a whole hour!) up the Umatilla river. We found a campsite, had our picnic lunch and played by the river for awhile. It was a great spot! The girls really, really didn't like the crawdads, especially the live ones! They really had a good time though. We finished their books when we got back and took off for main street for the farmers' market. We found them some beautiful necklaces. Pizza and movie night was a perfect cap to the day.

Scooter girls
Scrubbing the canoe
Cleaning
Unloading
Here Grandpa
We love the canoe ride!
Tea for three!
Plus three
Silly girls
Love our tea time!
Marshmellows
Roasting
Sticky fingers!
Picnic lunch @ the campground
River time
This is fun
Love the river!
Paige's book cover
Paige's back cover
Gabi's front cover
Gabi's back cover

Girlie Girls!

2010-07-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Each summer we try to have a week with our grandchildren visiting us... sometimes the same week, sometimes different weeks. This week is Girls Week! Blondie and Little Red are here for six beautiful days.

Girls week can mean any number of activities, some girly, some not.

Marvelous Monday was a very girly day. We went to the park to walk the dog and to play, we went shopping for pretty, necessary things, we went to the pool to swim, we went for ice cream cones at Dave's, we watched Free Willy and ate popcorn together, we painted nails, we cooked amazing hamburgers, we made a great salad, we feasted with Grandpa, we read books and tucked ourselves into bed at night.

Terrific Tuesday was just as full! We took the dog for his walk (on scooters, of course!), we trimmed up bangs, we went for lunch with the girls (new friends for these two girls), we played at the children's museum, we went to a friend's house to paint pictures, we drove our new "country" friends home, we ate a fine dinner, we watched another movie, read books and went to bed. Wow, how it flew. Oh, what fun we had. None of us wanted to tear away from the good times.

Tomorrow should prove just as grand.

Swimming fun
Gabs
Sillies
So pretty
The ladies
The girls
Goofy girls
At the museum
Making pizza at EOCM
New Best Friends!
Painting with Grandma Becky
Artistes

Summer Musings

2010-07-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

Sunshine bright, filling me with light,
Gentle breezes stir comfort in my heart.
Summer flowers glowing with color,
Barbeque aromas wafting through the air around us.
What a fine time is summer!
A time for resting and relaxing,
A time for catching up with friends and neighbors,
Time to enjoy the extended family,
Time to read on a peaceful day,
Time to delight in my wonderful deck,
Time to help a daughter move,
Time to bring the grandkids home,
Time to connect with those I love,
Time for music indoors and out,
Time to enjoy the fruits from the market,
Time to do projects about my home.
Summer is such a fine and beautiful season.
I wish it would last even longer still.

Coasting with the Boys!

2010-06-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

We just completed a week at the Washington coast with our daughter and two grandsons. Yea for family and beach time! It was a fun time mixed with high energy/volume and slower, quieter activities.

We started it out at the Irish pub for dinner and music. Jason announced that it was his favorite place and he was going to be a server there when he grew up. The boys bought flags in the gift shop; Ireland for Jason (his favorite island) and Scotland for Bobby (just a bit of it in his blood). They enjoyed them for days. We taught them to play dominoes while we were waiting for our food. They loved it. A later trip had Grandpa teaching Bobby to play Acey Deucey. Another new favorite. It was a good week for games since the weather was a bit cool.

We did the usual beach activities, picking up treasures, running in the surf, building sandcastles, flying kites, climbing the rocks of the jetty and walking the sandy shore. We went to the community pool to swim three days. We played in a park. We had a full day that included a trip to the Interpretive Center, lunch at the Irish pub, Galway Bay, a surrey ride and miniature golf (I got my first hole in one!). Our inside activities were the usual games; dominos, Mexican train, Spiderman yahtzee, rummikube, sequence, watching cartoons and the boats in the harbor and just being together.

All in all, we had a great time. We had our ups... like the great sandcastle by committee and chasing the surf. We had our downs... like the new kite disappearing into the bay. We ate well, played hard and enjoyed the family time. What's better than family at the beach, after all!?
Aren't we cute?
Our great castle!
Fun day
Bobby loving the sand
Jason hamming it up
Look unison of purpose, miracle!
Boys in their new doo-rags.
Me & Bobby at the pub
Bruce & Jason
All of us. Great food & fun.
Anne & Boys
Grandma & Grandpa & boys at our condo

Yea for Another Birthday!

2010-06-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

As my spouse and I face the struggles of aging, we have learned to celebrate the little things, the joys in life. Each day, I am grateful for another day, for my partner in life, for our home, for our health, for our family and friends. A grateful heart is my companion these days. Life is a gift. My spouse and my children are gifts. My friends are gifts. Thank God for each of them.

So, a milestone like another birthday may seem like no big deal... I see it as part of that gift. Life is short and precious. It flies by way too quickly. It seems like yesterday that we were courting and planning for our future together. In truth, it was almost 47 years ago. Our children are now, close to, or in their forties. I stand back in awe and disbelief, shaking my head. Inside, I feel like that young bride, that young mom, still. Funny, my body doesn't match that notion at all.

And so, I am grateful. I am loved. I am blessed. God has been very good to me. I've been given another year with this wonderful husband. I was able to celebrate his birthday, with him and our friends of forty years. I am so glad to have him in my life. Thank you, Bruce for being mine and loving me.

Moving Projects

2010-05-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

Does anyone like moving? Does anyone like what you have to do to sell a house? I certainly don't. My hubby, family and I moved eleven times in the first fifteen years of marriage. Three of those moves have been across oceans. It's never an easy job. We also sold two houses, so we did all those "have to spruce up/fix" projects necessary to make the sales. Maybe this is why we have been in our present house for over thirty years. I really hate moving. My husband hates it more than I do.

So, I can really empathize with the daughter who is getting ready to sell a house and move in the next month. I spent a couple weekends there recently, helping however I could... packing, cleaning, sorting, cooking, stripping wallpaper, repairing a wall, painting, etc. Hard, necessary work.

Last weekend, I was asked to tackle the problem wall in the kitchen. The wallpaper had been removed, only to discover damage underneath. There were too many layers of wall paper and it was put up right over wallboard. Yikes. I'm telling you it was a real mess. So I did my random texture using joint compound over it. It covered all the disasters, big and small. I painted it the living room color (wheat), then dry brushed the kitchen color (ivory) over it randomly. It looked awful. So, at my daughter's suggestion, I mixed a little of each color together to get a middle tone. I then dry brushed that on top. Wow. What a difference! It looks great.

My daughter and 5 year old granddaughter stripped the wallpaper border from the to walls with cabinets and painted those. Blondie was quite the little trooper. She painted both walls behind the refrigerator. She was great. Valerie got to supervise for part of the day and a half that we worked on it! What a kid! We replaced the cabinet knobs and called it good. It looks so much cleaner and brighter. Now to get the place listed and sold. Can't wait to see the new home!

Paige is amazing!
Texture is on
Finished wall.
So beautiful.

Exercise, part Two

2010-05-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

Seven months later, I have learned a few things about exercise. Simple things really.

I learned that I don't love it yet, but I miss it if I can't get to the gym.
I learned that I feel better because of it.
I learned I can lower my blood pressure and my cholesterol stats.
I learned that the gym is no longer a place to be feared, but a familiar place.
I learned that it is essential for increasing my energy levels.
I learned that I'm not competitive, but I can follow a program and a schedule.
I learned that anyone can take charge of their body and make a change.
I learned that I am determined to reach my goals... healthy and weight loss.
I learned that my perseverance is stronger than I thought.
I learned that I don't like the "slug" feeling I get if I can't exercise.
I learned that I can get this old body strong again.
I learned that developing the habit is half the battle.
I learned that I can get to like this achy body of mine.

So, I am continuing on, inspite of physical set backs. I will work with my limitations and press to increase those goals. I don't give up easily. My mother taught me resilience and tenacity. I tap into them everyday that I go to the gym. I am determined to reached my goals. Who knows someday I may even enjoy it.
http://health.yahoo.com/featured/109/17-ways-exercise-sends-health-soaring/

Grandma Carrie's Quilt

2010-05-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

This last weekend, I went to our local quilt show with a friend of mine. We both love quilts. We have both made quilts for family members. It was such an enjoyable experience. I found myself reflecting on my family quilt "miracle" story. It seems appropriate to relate it now for Mother's Day.

My mother died in 1995. It was too soon to lose a mother, especially one so good at everything. She really was a renaissance woman. She created stuff, beautiful things, out of nothing. Sewing was a special gift of hers.

Here's the miracle. While we were at a memorial on the anniversary of her death, my brother-in-law, Dennis found a brown bag in a closet he was cleaning with what he remembered as fabric squares and scraps. It was a very old, soft paper bag. He opened it, and found a quilt top that Mom had given to them, fully assembled. She had said it had been started by her mother, Carrie, and most of the squares had been hand stitched together. Neither he, nor my sister, remembered it being assembled. Wow. He said it would be great if it could be finished. I told him that I did some quilting and was willing to finish the top and put it together for hand quilting and binding.

I worked on it through the winter. I also arranged a long weekend for all my sisters and our daughters at the Washington coast to finish the top stitching. It was a wonderful healing time for all of us as we gathered around the 'grandma quilt'. Most of the ten girls (five sister, five daughters) of our weekend had never quilted before, so it was a new adventure for all of us. We had a fantastic time, and all signed grandma's quilt before parting ways.

I wrote this later, as I scrapbooked the pictures and the memories of the weekend.

A Family Quilt

Sing a song of sisters, daughters, nieces and cousins.
Sing of days spent weaving our stories into
our mother’s quilt.
Our patchwork of fabric and colors clearly become
a piecework of our own lives.
Our needles slip over and under the fibers
as together we share our dreams.
The stitching wanders and grows with
our laughter, stories and love.
Our five generations represented – Grandma Carrie
and Mom passing their tales on to us.
We sit and sew, retelling them all, with our own
memories shading the words.
We continue the family history, as we add to it
and make it our own.
Never forgetting the next generations as
we witness the coverlet’s beauty unfold.
Though it ‘twas planned a century earlier,
our stitches and threads all blend.
Carrie and Grace’s lives now experience new birth
and weave through our hearts and our hands.
Our own families with us present, we continue
the saga anew….
In the warmness and love of this blanket,
our mother and grandmother’s quilt.

Gabi's Eight!

2010-04-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

My, how time flies by lately! I not only have grandkids in school, but they are growing up before my eyes! Wow. Wow. And wow!

So, Gabi reached the magical age of eight this week. We joined the family for the weekend to celebrate with her. Talk about your busy little girls. She participate in a sleepover, a soccer game, a build-a-bear birthday party for a friend, a dragon movie, dinner out with the family at Red Robin (her choice), and a birthday celebration for her afterwards. The next night she went to a climbing wall with her girl scout troop. I'm glad I had my kids young. I'm not as good at keeping up with them these days. Boy, to I give it the old grandma try though. It's fun being a part of all of it. Super, girl fun. Here's a few of the photos from the weekend.
My free sundae
At Red Robin
I'm Eight
Grandma Barbara & Grandpa Bruce
I love presents!
Grandpa Red
More presents!
I love the cake Mom made

Nine is a Wonderful Age!

2010-04-22T14:25:00.001-07:00

Our Robert, Bobby, recently reached his ninth birthday. We celebrated with him twice, once as family at our home, once in Boise with his friends. It was kind of low key, but nine is that kind of time.

Bobby is our smart, curious, grandson who loves the outdoors as much as his inside games. He enjoys the mountains and the ocean, and any variety of computer/playstation games. He is growing up so fast, I want to slow it down a little. I'm sure he would have other ideas about that.

Since our children really enjoyed our camping trips and fishing with their dad, we gave both Bobby and Jason fishing rods for their birthdays... Jason's is quite early! During the few days with us, we went to the park so they could practice casting with Grandpa and their mom. They were loving it. Hopefully, we can squeeze in a bit of fishing this spring and summer.

In Boise, I took Bobby and three of his friends to see "How to Train a Dragon" in 3-D. We then came back to the house for cake and playing. They had a blast. His mom and I loved the movie also. Oh, to be nine again!
A fishing pole!

Jason
Hi, it's my birthday
Casting
CAKE!
Bobby's friends
Yea birthdays!

To My Parents

2010-04-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

I was blessed with extraordinary parents. In two days, I will mark their wedding anniversary with warm thoughts of them. They were wed just shy of sixty years when we lost Mom. Dad was so alone after she was gone.

My parents came from two different worlds to share their lives and raise twelve children. Now that alone is extraordinary. Allow me to tell you more. Mom was a shy eighteen year old when they wed. Dad was the quiet, thoughtful one working for the border patrol. Both of them came from Catholic backgrounds with three or four siblings. Dad had three brothers. Mom had two sisters and two brothers. They were opposite in many ways but had a genuine love for each other.

I don't think I realized how much they gave to me as parents until I, too, had children. I know I was greatly challenged raising four children. I can't even imagine having twelve. Through all our ups and downs in our huge family, I came to treasure much that I learned from Mom and Dad.

From them I learned the art of resourcefulness and cooperation. Team work made the toughest tasks easier and more enjoyable. I received an abundance of opportunities to develop my creativity. All kinds of creativity. Mom would stay up until the wee hours sewing, knitting, making all sorts of crafts for us and for others. I was given the great joy of music, dance and art. My memories of singing around Nonny's piano, and shoving back the dining room table after dinner so we could dance, will stay with me forever. Mom taught me how to create treasures out of trash and ordinary things. Dad shared in imaginary games with us in the evenings. Humor was also a big part of our lives. Dad loved a good joke.

Both parents gave me a love for life, for family, and for caring for others. It seemed we always had an extra person at the dinner table. I was inspired by each of them, in their own ways, to seek a deeper spiritual path. I appreciate that I was challenged to be a better person by my parents. I was encouraged to continue my education after highschool. I was also loved, and shown how to reach out to others in need. Mom was a professional volunteer for the schools, the church and the neighborhood. Dad did his part too, cooking breakfasts and helping with fundraisers at church.

Yes, life with a large family came with struggles and hardships. I could have allowed myself to get stuck in those. I chose to focus on the good stuff, the good times, the good values that our parents brought to us. They contributed greatly to who I am, and I am grateful for that. I became stronger for the trials. I learned resilience with the ups and downs. I developed courage because of the hard times. I am faithful and persistent toward the goals because of their influence. I know good things can take time and patience. Thanks, Mom and Dad. I'm proud you are my parents.

A Kinsch Easter

2010-04-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we had the great joy of hosting our whole extended family--children, spouses, grandchildren and grandma. It was a full, fun-packed, busy couple of days.

We played at home and at the park, we shared stories, we celebrated birthdays, we baked and decorated a cake, we colored Easter eggs, we hid and found Easter eggs, we shared family meals, we shared the chores, we laughed and loved and generally enjoyed each other. It was serious and silly, loud and quiet, tender and rowdy, traditional and new. We simply celebrated being family together at Easter. It was a wonderful time and gift. Thank you all.

Of Family Lines and Such

2010-04-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a strange, up and down last couple weeks. I have hit the gamut of emotions. Highs, lows and in between.

Wonderful things are happening. Challenges rising left and right.

Here's to the wonderful things... life's great joys! Here's to discovering new things about me and my family history.

My brother the family researcher discovered some key items of interest in my mother's family line. On the maternal side: my grandmother's name was Carolina, not Carolyn (my middle name) as I was told. My great-grandmother was born in Mexico of Mexican parents, not Castillian as I was told. I am 1/16th Mexican. Good to know about identity. On the paternal side: my great-grandfather William was a farmer and went by the name Willis Washington. My great-great-grandfather was born in Alabama, was a slave owner, (not something I'm proud of) and died at 35 in Texas. My great-great-great grandfather was also a farmer but in Tennessee. Family names of Thomas, Willis, Winters, Washington go back to George Washington, our first president who is a first cousin, eight times removed, and to Col. Henry Willis, grandfather seven times removed who founded Fredericksburg, VA.

The irony is, my mother's ancestry takes us back to poverty and prejudice in Mexico and Texas, as well as back to wealth, power, leadership and land ownership. It was quite a revelation to discover this whole new side of my origins. My brother has traced the Thomas line back to England. This is brand new information and has taken quite some time for it to sift through my being.

My mother grew up on the Texas/Mexican border. It was a tough life. She left that area at eighteen and rarely went back. We didn't know that side of the family at all. She told us so little about her family. It could be she didn't know. It could be the poverty and prejudice made it too painful to recall. I know she felt the rejection acutely, even in church, where neither the whites, nor the Mexicans accepted her family.

New information means a couple things to me. One, I have much more to discover about my lineage. Both sides of Mom's family were caught up in the societal and racial tensions of those times. I also have some heritage of which I can be proud, as a person, as an American. Like any heritage, there are stories to discover and record. There are also those areas of human pain, struggle and shame. I will continue to learn, to sift and sort information. I will also attempt to get to know some of these ancestors, illustious or otherwise.

For Love of the Ordinary!

2010-03-29T16:10:00.000-07:00

When I come back from vacation, especially Mexico, I find myself wishing I was back there relaxing and enjoying myself. So, I've been home for two weeks and I still feel that, but I am also finding that there are blessings in the ordinary, everyday things.

Each day, I have my routines; get up, drink coffee, eat breakfast, do my crossword, shower & dress, go for the dog walk with the spouse, go to the gym to work out, make & eat lunch, visit my e-mail & Facebook, clean the home I am blessed with, do laundry, watch a couple favorite shows, craft or do art a little, plan and make dinner, enjoy dinner with hubby, clean kitchen, read or visit by phone or watch another couple shows. Ordinary. Very ordinary.

I have discovered that even though there are some of these activities that I enjoy more than others, all of them work together to become this life I lead. Is it simple? Yes. Is it worthy? I think so. Is it life altering? In small increments, yes. I make time to care about others. I treasure the time with my spouse and family. I share with friends. I volunteer. I create as I can. I reach out to others.

But, most would call this ordinary. I must say it seems way more boring and ordinary than when I was working... but, I might choose the words peaceful and content instead. I'm way okay with ordinary. I enjoy the quiet, everyday routine. Do I throw it off when I can with something new? Oh, yea. I like surprises! I like my life. Peaceful and content is ME.

Mazatlan, oh, Mazatlan

2010-03-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Mazatlan, Pearl of the Pacific
'Tis where I want to be.
Sunshine sky, sea of blue,
Beautiful beaches stretching so free.
Birds galore, blossoms abound,
There's nothing like a Mexican sun.
Rich, colorful culture,
Friendliest people add to the fun.
Friends join us to share,
The adventures we invent.
Forty years long our relationship grows
So in our hearts, they're made a dent.
Amazing cuisine, seafood delights,
Food to give one great dreams.
One time a year, we are wandering here
Our hearts wanting more, it seems.

Ode to the Children

2010-02-23T18:47:00.000-08:00

Little ones, you come to me,
you make me giggle
and make me laugh.
You run me ragged for a day
or two, and make
me wish you lived here too.
I love the silly chemistry
that happens when we play,
you think of this,
I think of that,
We think of oh, so many things!
So, when you come, the four of you
it feels like the walls
are breathing new.
It matters not just what we do
because the joy is in
your being you!
Come back again for those
adventures true,
We'll make them up together
for each day brand new!
Thanks for love,
Thanks for laughs
Thanks for hugs and
memories.

Scrappin' Record Broken!

2010-02-16T17:06:00.000-08:00

I'm not out to break any records for anything. If they happen it's because I'm doing what I love. While at the coast recently, I occupied myself with one of my favorite activities: scrapbooking. Yes, I love it. I love the tactile experience of picking and touching the papers and embellishments. (Maybe that's why digital scrapbooking never appealed to me.) I love the chosing of the photos and the layout. It always renews the memories of the experiences and the connections with my loved ones far away. It's perfect rainy day activity. Perfect! So, I kept at it quite a bit over our seven day stay, off and on. I made time for other activities and jaunts to the beach and favorite places. Still, I managed to complete 76 pages. This is way more than usual. I have to confess, some of the high numbers come with making duplicate pages of some layouts. Still, I was very pleased with myself and the layouts. I also have some to share with my children, which is always fun. What do you think?

For Love of Newport

2010-02-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

I love many Oregon coastal towns. While Cannon Beach is my absolute favorite, Newport is the one we go back to every February. The simple reason is practical; it's where our condo group has a place. So, Embarcadero, it is year after year.

We prefer to be on the ocean, but have become quite content with the bay and marina view. I usually reserve a two bedroom unit just so we can spread out and be comfortable for seven days. It works! We cook in and we eat out. We have found many favorite haunts that serve incredible seafood like; Whale's Tale, Quimby's, Cafe Stephanie, Rogue Brewery and Canyon Way Bookstore/Restaurant. This trip we found the South Beach Fish House. Yum!

Mostly, we do the simple things to have a relaxing week. We read. We walk the beach. We visit the lighthouses and shops. We wander the bayfront. We go to the neighboring towns, like Waldport, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay (Gracie's Sea Hag!). We surf the web. I bring my scrapbooking supplies and pictures and keep busy on the rainy days. I love the setting and the view. It allows me to work at my hobby and stay relaxed. It's amazing how quickly a week can fly by! When we have children or friends with us we visit the aquarium and some of the other tourist traps. It's a great place to spend a few days or more. February is perfect because the crowds are not here. I think we'll just keep coming here annually. It's like a home away from home. Thanks Newport. We love you.

All About the Beach

2010-02-03T14:39:00.000-08:00

What is it about the Beach?

I just cannot explain
the draw it has on me...
My soul feels the tug,
I have to respond.
I have to walk it,
smell it,
hear it,
see the surf crash
over and over,
and then over again.
I am captured by it's mystery,
it's beauty and grace.
I am awed by it's power
and surprised each time.
It matters not, the season
or the location,
I am forever undone
by what it does to me...
inside where I am most
truly ME.
I am most ME at the beach
communing with the ocean,
and my God.

Art... I love Art!

2010-01-25T20:07:00.000-08:00

I found myself getting reacquainted with paints and all the processes related to paint, recently. Can I just say I love paint? I love painting! I want to share pictures of a recent book I made for a friend. It's primarily done in paints, a little layering and stamping. I was pleased with the result. So was my friend. I enjoying the Coptic binding I learned in my last class, also. I hope you like it.

Back cover

Crockpot Days...

2010-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

Somehow winter seems like the best time for crockpot meals. I think it might be the cold, grey weather that makes it so appealing. I also tend to think of it as "my lazy woman" cooking. It doesn't take much effort to put my ingredients into the pot at ten a.m. Best of all, I get to forget about cooking for the rest of the day. I have some favorite recipes. I like to try new recipes. And, I have some we love repeated over and over. My pot roast recipe is one of those. I use it for beef and with chicken breasts. Today is the chicken day. It goes likes this:

1 3-4lb. Pot roast or 3-4 chicken breasts
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 package dried onion soup
3-4 garlic bulbs, minced or grated
1/2 cup, 2 Tbs. of water (or white wine)
1 can sliced mushrooms, drained
2 handsfull of baby carrots
2-3 potatoes, chunked

Mix the dry & wet ingredients into the crockpot. Add the meat and vegies. Cook on low for 8 hours. Go enjoy the day. Come back at dinner time, and add mixture of 1Tbs. cornstarch and 2Tbs. water to thicken the gravy. Serve and enjoy your dinner. I know I will.

Winter Blahs.....

2010-01-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

It is the month of dark and dreary,
The cold is even in my bones.
I cannot get the simple energy
To see the difference in tones.

Sky smothering the houses with grey
Clouds hanging tightly together,
People clustered inside near the heat,
Warming themselves with each other.

Waiting for sun, wishing for Spring,
So slowly I saunter through the days.
With minimal interest in anything
That will explain the many odd ways...

That I avoid doing about everything.

Exercise isn't a Four Letter Word!

2010-01-18T13:10:00.000-08:00

Three months ago, I started on a journey to get healthier. I knew I had to make changes because of my family history and the fun stats that the doctor shares with me about my health... things like weight, blood pressure, cholesterol. I was not doing well in any area.

So, the decision to exercise more and in a better way seemed to make sense. Dietary changes had only minor impacts on the health issues. It was a tough decision because I don't like exercise. I never have. I am basically clumsy and have been hampered with bad vision besides. So, it's easy to talk myself out of exercise. Too easy!

What I came up with as a plan included a new gym, a computerized program (ActivTrax) that included all muscle groups, and an aggressive workout schedule. That started October 13th. It includes work with machines (including cardio), handweights and an abs series. Yes, aggressive... and necessary. The most I ever did before this was a twenty minute walk and three days a week of light aerobics.

I have followed the program with an hour and a half workout, five days a week for three months (except when traveling). It has been a huge challenge for me. I am committed to it and often tempted to quit. I keep telling myself I have to do this for me. I want to be here to watch my grandkids grow up. I also want more quality in my life... more activity, less aches and pains.

Here's the good news... no, I don't love exercise yet, but I don't mind it. I work hard at it. I am more comfortable with doing it. My blood pressure is way down. I haven't lost more than a couple pounds, but my muscle content is up 4%. My goal is go get the body fat down more, and get the other numbers into a healthy range. I've lost an inch in my waist and an inch and a half in my hips. I'm not ready to buy new clothes yet, but they fit better. Best of all, I feel better. 50 minutes of cardio a day hardly fazes me any more. I plan to reach my goals. Maybe I'll even like exercise one day.

Homemade Chili - Comfort Food

2010-01-17T14:09:00.000-08:00

My mother was from Texas. She was a great cook. She really knew about comfort food. She had a couple recipes that I still long for (on long winter nights) and have been unable to duplicate. She made a great pot of chili and usually paired it with cornbread. I never managed to get many of her recipes. Over the years, I have developed some of my own that come close to hers. Chili is one of them. She always made a pot for moving day, anybody's. It seemed to ease the struggles of a hard transitional day. I made some yesterday for a friend's "moving day" dinner and thought I'd share my recipe. It has just enough bite to it... not fiery hot but spicy! Enjoy. By the way, people tell me I have become a good cook, also. Thanks, Mom, I think I owe that to you.

Mom’s Chili

1lb. extra lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 clove of garlic, minced
1 28oz. can of tomatoes
½ teas. Ground cumin
1 teas. Cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 cans red beans (or one ea. Red, black, pinto - Drained)
1 7oz. can chopped green chilies
1 can beer

Brown ground beef with onions and garlic. Drain excess fat. Add tomatoes and seasonings. Add beans and chilies. Simmer uncovered 1 ½ to 2 hours. (if you like a milder chili omit the cumin and cayenne. (Recycle the cans, please.)

We Had a Boise Christmas!

2010-01-10T14:18:00.001-08:00

Boise is a fun little town. We like it because our daughter and her family are there. Two little boys do much to lift anyone's spirit! We spent about five days with them over the holidays. We make cookies, played computer games, assembled legos, watched movies and generally just enjoyed each other's company. Love those boy-o-s! Love Christmas with young children. Fun is their middle name.

Making cookies with Mom.
Robert & Jason

Presents!!
Love presents
Nonna gave us snuggies!
My boys..
Dad's happy
Grandpa likes this one.

New Day, New Year!

2010-01-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

It's Friday, January 1, 2010. Another new day. Another new year. Mostly, what comes to mind is "Thank God!" I relish, respect and savor a second chance. I work daily on my attitude of gratitude and openness to new things. That's not so easy for me, being human and all. But rather than make a new year's resolution, I choose to be grateful for another chance at living my life.

Thank you, God for another day, another year. Thank you for the ways you have blessed my life, for the ways you have carried me through the trials and losses. Thank you for the love and goodness in my life. I promise a new commitment to you, and to living my life fully. If I can live out those two things, I will grow and improve my life this year. I will be more able to reach out to others that I encounter on my path. I am grateful to be alive and to be loved. Life is good in 2010. Goodbye to 2009 and all the experiences, good and bad. You are now memories, though still a part of me. Hello, to the new. I am ready for you.

Christmas Blessings.

2009-12-22T22:53:00.001-08:00

Christmas is only a few days away. It came very quickly this year. I got the shopping done early. Thank God. It's been a harder December than usual. Losing my brother was a rough blow. I also lost a niece and a cousin shortly after, and it kind of knocked me back. It kept me from noticing any Christmas spirit. The usual parties were cancelled because of snow or freezing rain. I missed my family's party in Seattle. That was hard.

I live in a small town hundreds of miles from my children or my siblings. Some days that distance seems so long. Those are the days that I am so blessed to have my wonderful husband. He has been an extra gift to me this Christmas. He has listened. He has held me. He has comforted me. He has given me love and encouragement. I am blessed to have him. He helps me to be aware of all my blessings, gifts at Christmas and throughout the year...

... each brand, new day.
... our deep and growing love for each other.
... my beautiful children and grandchildren.
... our comfortable home.
... our health and contentment.
... our faith.
... our crazy dog and cat.
... our amazing friends and extended family.
... our peaceful, little town.
... our church community.
... our gifts and talents.
... our collection of books and music.
... our freedom to be who we are and do as we please.
... our humor and sense of fun, laughing every day.
... our community and our country.

Yes, we are blessed this Christmas. We will spend it with family this year. We have riches beyond measure that continue to give us grateful hearts.

Bill, My Big Brother

2009-12-08T14:18:00.000-08:00

I have seven brothers. Yes, I know. I'm lucky. They are all so different. I grew up sandwiched in age between five of my brothers. It was a fun place to be in the birth order, also very challenging. I had no sisters my age, so I was always trying to keep up with, be with and emulate my bigger brothers, Tom, Bill and Jim. Now being boys, they didn't much like little sis tagging along. Seriously.

Let me tell you about my brother, Bill. I lost him last week. It was too soon to lose him. He was only 68. He was one of a kind. Energetic, outgoing, upbeat, generous, resourceful, compassionate, thoughtful and considerate. Don't forget funny. He loved to make people laugh, and he did... a lot.

I learned many things from Bill as a child. How to catch snakes, frogs and pollywogs. How to climb trees. How to play a killer game of Kick the Can or Red Rover. How to fight like a boy. How to sneak out of the house. How to race up and down 12th Street. How to create a play and act in it. How to do amazing pretend games, like; Ghost, Walk on the Ceilings, and Ritzy Restaurant. How to be enterprising and adventurous in so many ways.

He is the only brother that ever gave me a flower on Valentine's Day...because I was his sister. I looked up to him. I also saw conflict and pain in him. We didn't talk about it much, but I saw him act out occasionally because of it. He had a flair for mischief. He was good at marshalling others to join him in his antics. The only time the cops were called on me, I was with him on the neighborhood church roof. The only time I was busted by Dad for sneaking out, I was with him. His pranks were legendary.

As adults, we grew apart some. Life took us in different directions, geographically and emotionally. When he went through his first divorce, I was upset. His wife was one of my closest friends. I treasured his boys. Suddenly, they were gone from our lives and we were not allowed to talk about it. It was a painful time. I saw it was painful for him, but I was also angry with him. It didn't help that it was the first divorce in the family, a family where we were told divorce was not an option.

As the years went on, we connected on many levels. He always had some great idea or adventure to promote. He often had a encouraging word. Once, he gave my husband and I a weekend in a condo. It got us interested in doing it more. We learned to love travel, as he did. He came to visit us in our small town, on a business trip or two. I loved having the one-on-one time with him. That was so hard to get in our big family. This city boy saw the positives of living in our small community.

He had serious health issues; two major heart surgeries. The last one was so severe that he was in an induced coma for months. He was even more upbeat after that, calling himself Miracle Boy. "Everyday above ground is a good day!" he said. He taught me to roll with the punches life sent me, laugh at the hard stuff and lean on my family and friends for support. I am so glad we had him for three more years after that, even though I didn't get to see him very much.

My crazy, wonderful brother Bill was a gift. I thank God that I had him in my life.

The oldest six in '45
My family in 1953
My family in 1967
Ten siblings in 2004

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T23:34:00.001-08:00

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope for good things for all of you. So many things that I am grateful for...

My darling, silly, wonderful husband and companion of forty five years,
My beautiful, individual, accomplished, precious children,
My amazing grandchildren, blessing me daily with their goodness and beauty,
My home, our abode, this safe, warm place where we so love being,
Our community... small yet vibrant, nurturing and happy,
My education and skills, all those talents that God gave me and allowed me to develop,
My faith, and my life experiences that caused that faith to grow,
My siblings, each and every one,
The resources that allowed me to retire, to explore a new chapter of my life,
The gifts of art and music--both feed my soul,
Friends, true, God given friends that love me in spite of myself,
My health and well being, giving me the ability to go and do as I wish and need,
Nature in all its incredible greatness, calling me, restoring me, holding me close,
Freedom to be, to choose, to live, to grow, to love, to treasure.

I'm sure there are so many more. These are the ones that trip lightly from my tongue. Thank God for all the blessings in my life. Thank God for my life.

My Book is Finished!

2009-11-23T13:13:00.000-08:00

What a fun and challenging class this has been. It was just what I needed to get nudged out of my creative box. I tried new techniques, I came up with graffiti that meant something to me, I bound a handmade book using Coptic binding or a change stitch. Fun stuff. It made me think and then create... just what I needed.

Some of my graffiti is:

Live, love, laugh
I am beautifully and wonderfully made.
"Not all those who wander are lost." J.R. Tolkien
"The object isn't to make art, it is to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable." Robert Henri
Lyrics from "Longer Than" by Dan Fogelberg, "Just the Way you Are by Billy Joel, Imagine by John Lennon.
A hero lies in me
I come to the sea to breathe
"How do I love thee, let me count the ways.."
"Dwell in possibilities." Emily Dickenson
Forgiveness is worth the struggle and hard work.
"The future belongs to those hwo believe in the beauty of their dreams." E. Roosevelt
"I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end." Abe Lincoln
"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." Mother Teresa
"Despite everything, I believe that people really are good at heart." Anne Frank
"If you judge people you have no time to love them." Mother Teresa
Love is the thread woven through the tapestry that is family.
Friends are family you choose for yourself.
Life is a beach, bring a surfboard.
Gotta dance, gotta sing.
All the windows of my mind are open to the day.
Laughter heals.

Yes, there are a few more... gives you a capsule of who I am though.
Here's my finished product.
Graffiti of My Life
My coptic binding
Back view

Graffiti Class, Continued

2009-11-22T14:47:00.000-08:00

I have progressed to the point where I have my pieces and parts created. I have made the color washes, the smaller add-ins, the collages, the combined collages (cutout shapes), the signatures (sewing the pages together), the covers. I've done painting, stenciling, glueing, writing, sewing and top texture.

Next up, I just need to bind it all together. All set for lesson eight, the big finish.

Here's my signatures and covers.
Signature 1
Signature 2
Signature 3
Signature 4
Front cover
Front inside cover
Back cover
Back inside cover

Art Journaling, "Graffiti of my Life"

2009-11-13T13:34:00.000-08:00

I'm enjoying my on-line art class. It is combining my love for painting, using mixed media, writing and scrapbooking. It is also challenging me.

So, this week we are putting together our color washes to which we added a layer or two (gesso and written graffiti) with our add-ins (the smaller pieces made from cut music. It's kind of exciting to see it come together. Next up will be assembling the pages (or signatures, as Dina calls them) to begin the binding of our albums. Take a look at the pages now, with the add-ins.
Pages 2-3
Pages 4-5
Pages 6-7
Pages 8-9
Pages 10-11
Pages 12-13
Pages 14-15
Last page

Thank a Vet

2009-11-11T13:31:00.000-08:00

Today is Veterans Day in the good, old USA.

I'm one of those baby boomers that was born at the tail end of World War II. My dad told me that my birth kept him from having to go to war. In a way, I was proud of that, especially after I saw the toll that the war took on his younger brother, my uncle.

War does change people. I know. I was in Saigon for eleven months during the VietNam war. Yes, I was there as a civilian. Yes, I came home with a whole new appreciation for our vets and for freedom. I also came home very much a pacifist, wanting no more war. It took too many years to end that war. Those vets never got the acknowledgement that vets from other wars have received. They deserve appreciation, too.

In my young life, VietNam was war number three that I have experienced. We have since had two wars in Iraq, and one still going in Afganistan. I still believe it's time for no more war. I also believe we need an armed forces for defense. Let's all give veterans our acknowledgement and appreciation today.

Art Journaling, Classes 1-4

2009-11-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

I decided to challenge my creativity this Fall and take a class. It's on-line from the Debbie Hodge website, taught by Dina Wakley, Graffiti of my Life.

So far, it has been challenging and also stimulating to the dormant creativity. It's great to be mixing things up with paints, spray inks and stencils, words, fabric and threads. I haven't mixed things up that much lately. It's sparking some new enthusiasm and ideas, which is just what I was looking for... so, on I trudge through the world of art.

Here's some pictures from the first four classes. Four more to go!

Color washes

Add-ins

My collages

My contained collages or cut shapes

94 is a Good Year!

2009-11-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

Our Grandma Dora, my mother-in-law recently reached 94. Wow, what a milestone! She did this while living independently in a senior community. She's happy there.

After living alone in the family home for fourteen years, she decided she wanted to be with people. She has dinner with them, and plays cards or bingo nearly everyday.

We went to Seattle to celebrate her birthday with her, our daughter and her husband. Another daughter flew in and joined us for the day. Now, it could have been a sad day for her. We attended a memorial for a lifetime family friend who was also 94. Instead, it was full of people who cared about her, and who shared stories and laughs. We celebrated her life and her friend Bob's. She said it was a good day. She was very happy with her robe and with her family around her.

I only hope I am as sharp mentally and physically at 94 as she is. She does amazingly well. It's good to see her content at 94 or any age. Happy birthday, Mom.

Five is Fabulous!

2009-10-31T16:02:00.000-07:00

Little Paige our youngest grandchild is five! Five! It's so hard to believe how the years have flown... Now, this girl acts very much like five. She has for some time. She's like a little grown up sometimes. She finally hit the magic number. Was she ever excited. She made invitations for all of us. She wore her favorite princess dress. She got her favorite spaghetti for dinner. She had a great cake cut into flip flops and a purse. She had presents. She had her family with her. She was a very happy girl!! It was a fun time!
Sisters!
Birthday girl and Grandpa Bruce
Cousin Cole & Sisters
With Grandpa Red
Happy Birthday
Ski hat and gear.
Lip gloss.
Cake time

V. is for Valerie...

2009-10-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

Valerie is our first born, the oldest of the clan. Somehow I lost my brain in June and didn't post this on her birthday. Sorry, girl. I certainly do think of you a lot on your birthday and every other day.

So, let me tell you about our V.

She was born in VietNam. Yes, the war zone. Some would call that a rough start. It was the 60's. We thought it was glorious to have her anywhere. She was a very bright spot in a difficult time for us. She may have taken her time coming, but she emerged beautiful and full of smiles. This girl was up for anything. At three months, she moved with us to Manila, Philippines. We stayed there until she was 10 months old, and then began the long trek home. We made stops in Hong Kong and Tokyo for a few days each. This girl was well travelled before she was a year! She was also precocious and full of adventure. She walked at 8& 1/2 months. Her dad has often called her a trailblazer. Yes, she is.

At ten months, she met her very large family and was instantly in love! She relished every contact, every person. She still is very family oriented.

She is charming, intelligent and witty. She crunches numbers with the pros. She is responsible, organized and goal oriented. One of her favorite places, besides home is the great outdoors. She loved the camping, fishing and hiking from the start. And yes, she still does. She has a real appreciation for the arts, music and culture. She is a good and fast friend to those close to her. She is lots of fun and yes, still full of adventure. What a great oldest child she is!

At one year
With Mom & friend in Hong Kong
On her 1st B-day
Yes, I can paint.
I'm so cute!
Look what I caught!
Helping my dad.
I want to be outside!
HS graduation
80's!
I love to read!

With her girls at the coast

Scrappin' Again...

2009-10-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, I love to scrapbook. No, I don't do it enough to satisfy my creative side. It's something that helps keep me connected to the family members that live far away. Lately, I've been spending a lot of time scanning slides, old photos, negatives in an attempt to build my digital archive. It's kind of tedious, boring stuff... so, gotta scrap to get over it. Mostly, I do it at home alone. Sometimes I go out for crop nights. Here's some of the latest.
Paige's 4th B-day
More Paige
Me & Bruce
Two Boys
Two daughters, two grandkids
V. & Gabi
Gabrielle
Grandkids
Jason's 2nd B-day
My Sweetie

Decisions, decisions!

2009-10-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

Today was a monumental day for me. I made a decision to join a gym to get in shape. Two things that have a part in that decision: I come from a family with high risk for heart issues, and it's cold and wet so outdoor execise is limited. Add to that, I had an aerobics class that I really enjoyed cancelled. No, I won't be going back to that gym. I am overweight and not liking that. I love to eat and I'm a great cook. Bad combination! So... I have a plan and a goal. Bottom line is to get healthy and workout regularly.

You don't need to know my weight loss goal or my execise plan. Suffice it to say, this is unpopular and unfriendly territory for me. I feel good about my decision but I also feel vulnerable and a bit hesitant. I'm working at the diet stuff. I know what I need to do so, tomorrow the exercise part begins. Wish me luck. I'll let you know when I reach my goals.

Marvelous Mentors

2009-10-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

Recently, I went to a memorial for one of my many mentors, an art teacher. I have been reflecting since, on the wonder and beauty of people in our lives that mark us, change us somehow because of what they teach us. I have certainly had my share of mentors.

In my twenties, Michele was the one who taught me to be myself, to develop myself. It was essential and timely. It made a huge difference in my life and helped me shed some of the fear and to embrace the courage to try new things. It gave me the impetuous to return to college and get an A.A. degree. I discovered I was capable and smart.

A few years later, I ventured into ministry and Charlene became a mentor. She taught me to trust my faith, myself and my talents. Because of that, I entered a ministry program and found a broading of my growth and my views.

In my thirties, I had a number of different mentors. Carol taught me to explore new options for growth. Her influence helped me decide to return to college to complete my B.A. degree. Carol Ann taught me to set goals, how to reach them and also how to take smart risks. I learned to develop skills that I didn't know I had.

Another Carol taught me to embrace my fun side. I found my sense of play and laughter. Jeanne taught me to get personal in my spirituality. I reached depths with it that I didn't know were possible. Joan and Becky taught me the beauty of forgiveness and healing. I learned to give and accept forgiveness, and the strength and peace that come as a result.

Catherine taught me how to be more positive in my approach to life and work. I was able to walk away from negatives and be more upbeat. Mike taught me even more about the beauty of spirituality and forgiveness. I was able to move through huge hurdles in my life more peacefully because of his guidance. Arnie taught me how to love and teach in sacramental and scriptural ways. My life and faith became more balanced and integrated as a result.

Marge taught me to trust and release my creativity through art. She challenged me at art and gave me the skills to put my ideas to canvas. My hunger for art was thus activated and put into action. Bruce taught me to keep on keeping on with art, and to do it with passion and fun. I am freer and happier in my expression of art because of him. Michael taught me to broaden my view of art, to explore new possibilities.

Would I be who I am without any of these mentors? Not really, no. Not this version of me. I am grateful for each and everyone who has left a mark in my life, especially for my mentors.

Six is a Beautiful Age!

2009-10-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

Our youngest grandson was six a week ago. We were fortunate to celebrate with him. What a ball of fire he is! Wow.

This boy does not have an inside voice. He tends to explode into a room. He is fun and funny, cheerful and happy and has the energy of two six year olds. He hugs like he's eager to crush you with his love. Give him a choice between indoors and outdoors and he will pick the outdoors. Helpful is his middle name. He wants to be in the thick of everything. He says he's going to cooking school, he loves that too. So, whether he is on his bike, at karate or swimming, playing with his toys or in the backyard, he is full of enthusiasm! What a kid. Love him to death.
Brothers love ice cream cake!

Love my Birthday!

Yum!

Goofy boys.

Presents!

Love presents.
Wow.

Super Jason!

Son of Mine

2009-10-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

One of my four beautiful children is a son. He is a prince among sons. It's his birthday today. Since he went away to college it's been a rare birthday that we get to spend with him. Often that means, we pick an alternative time for our celebration. Mostly, I spend his birthday thinking about him. It warms the heart when kids live far away. Yes, I love my kids!

As a boy, Stephen was curious, intelligent, precocious, loving and considerate. Oh, there were the boy-factors as well: daring, adventurous, animal-lover, outdoorsy, active. As a man, he is still all of those. Add to those... accomplished, responsible, decent, and talented. He loves the outdoors and his cycling. I love that he is so balanced and good. I treasure him. I treasure those times with him. So proud am I to call him, son.

At 6mos.
Favorite hat.
At four.
First Communion.
Soccer time
HS Graduation.
Showing his fun side.
At the Oregon coast.
In the mountains.

Rocky Mountain High, Colorado!

2009-10-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know... John Denver is no longer with us, and his music is old, but I want to burst with this song when we go to the Rockies! Now, for someone afraid of heights to admit that I love the Rockies... well, yea, a little odd. But, it is so overwhelmingly gorgeous! It's also nothing like where I live or have visited. It's breathtaking... always.

We went to visit our son, Stephen, recently. Colorado is uniquely original, especially in the Boulder area. We love it. We wandered about in various places in and around Boulder, Rocky Mountain National Park and Nederland. We found each place enjoyable, because we were with our son and because of the natural beauty. It's a good place to live if you are young and active in the outdoors. We love the outdoors and work at being reasonably active for our ages... hence the walking rather than hiking. We don't even mind the altitude. We had a lovely visit to our son's new home and to a glorious part of our wonderful country. Thank you, Stephen.
At Rainbow Curve
Stephen & Pam
With me, yes hanging on..
You can see why he lives here.
Me & my guy.
Beauty!
September Aspens.

Dad & Son.
Nederland City Hall
Our nearby lake walk.

Mom to the End

2009-09-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

The beautiful thing about a Mom
Is that she is ever, just that.
I can always click in to a
Quality or a memory. She is there.

Mom left me years ago-- too soon.
We were just becoming what I dreamed.
Yet, today, her birthday, I know
She is with me to the end.

I cannot call her, but we speak.
She tells me that she's proud.
I share my "mom" thoughts back
With her, I feel her nod and smile.

She never got to meet the little ones.
I missed her presence at the weddings.
And yet, I hear her in my head,
The words are kind and loving.

I would have liked to share the now,
So, she could rejoice in all that is...
But, in my heart I know she's here
She is my mother to the end.

9/11/09

2009-09-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

Seven years later the pain is still sharp and present. I don't think I will ever recover from the enormity of this national tragedy. I feel the sadness of the loss each time I see the images. Yes, it's easier not looking at them, but I am convinced we need to remember... not only for the victims but for us, as a nation. We can not only survive, but we can be better people by resolving difficulties between us and those who are different or opposed to us. I believe in peace.

Please remember today. Remember the victims. Remember to pray. Remember to work for peace.