My Life in 2010

When in high school I thought of the year 2010 as soooo far in the future!  And I would be so ollldddd    Here we are though, 2010, wow!  The best word I can think of at the moment, or perhaps, amazing!  I’m here, I’m still moving forward & enjoying life, old as I might be!

It’s all about enjoying the little things, I think as I look around my desk…there to my left, a picture of my Dad & Mom when they were in their 20’s, holding my oldest brother.  I love that picture, it represents family.  Close by is a plastic yellow & black frog that my middle grandson, Tanner, gave me, perched atop a resin pug.    It’s a mismach for sure, of things I love & that bring a smile to my face……

A smile to my face…that’s what God did this morning, with His perfectly amazing sky this morning.  The pinks, yellows & blues were brillant in display!

Sunrise.......To: Marlene.......Love, From God

Lookin’ out my front door

And just one more!

Perfect!

Loading wood with Jim this past week was an adventure!  I’ll have to take some pics while we are out there next time…We will be busy getting wood in for next year most weekends until April.  I’m building muscles for my 3 day cancer walk in Sept.  3 days, 60 miles!  Whew!  I’m working toward more mileage, I’m doing 3-5 miles 3-4 times a week now…

All are well, & looking forward to the roast Mama put in the crock pot this morning…best scoot & get the table set..

And a great time was had by all(famous quote,,,,”the Mama”)

 

Buh Bye 2009…..

December has passed us by……..and I feel like we were just becoming best friends!  Too quickly the presents are bought, wrapped & under the tree; and them opened, ohhed & awwwed over, then buh bye December!  I think I’m feeling a little regret at not savoring each day as it opened up to me.  You know how you can take your time with family & friends for granted???  Well, that is one of my goals this year!  Enjoy the journey more, not to be in such an all fired rush to reach the destination, but enjoy each step alongthe way.  Savor the ordinary, each friend, each person, live life more “on purpose”.  You know, instead of just letting a day happen, plan…plan to love more fully, laugh at yourself, laugh with others….Enjoy each person, activity that God has allowed into your day.(If you are reading this blog, perhaps along the way you could remind me of these goals)

One way, the most important for me, of staying the course is to spend time reading the bible, praying…not to mention it calms my anxious heart, and brings my thoughts captive to the goodness of God in my life.  I am always awed by His (God’s) creative touch in our world, His flowers, mountain sides, creation, the birds, the ocean.  It seems sometimes that these are precious gifts He has given to me to remind me, He is indeed a heavenly Father that loves to give good gifts to His children!  Thinking along the lines of His goodness, try to remember when last someone went out of their way to be kind…they served you, you received an unexpected gift that brought you pleasure, a compliment that made your heart smile….these are all gifts from a loving Heavenly Father, through a person used by him, and I like to say, “Whether they knew it or not”…

Here is a photo of my dearest husband….last one of 2009

My Hubs

Maybe this wasn’t fair, he had just got up & was getting his first cup of coffee…but then when did that ever stop me….hehe  Can I just say, “He’s the best!”…well there I said it!  He is the most kind, compassionate man I know & He’s mine

Okay, well off to work, the last day of 2009, it was pretty quiet, not too many visitors, so I made Brad & Kenny pose…. here they are, the two terrific men I work with…

• 

  My Brothers from a Different Mother........I've Officially Adopted Them!

  We often joke about being somewhere in the range of our 80’s or 90’s & still working at the station…Just young whippersnappers now!!!!

Okay, so we bid a fond ado to 2009, a bit sad  because another year is gone, a bit hopeful that the new year will bring new adventures for us to enjoy, and/or conquer!

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I’ve played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

 

Is It Christmas Yet??!!?

First we start off with the Christmas tea from a week ago…the tables were wonderfully decorated…various women from the church chose to decorate a table & be the hostess..So I did…

Here is a peek at our table…can’t find some of the pics… but a snipet here..

Found the pics…here’s another…

We, Mom & I had a great time!  We ate some really good food & may I say, some excellent desserts 

My breakfast buddies, (my bffs)  & I had breakfast at the Abel House for our Christmas Breakfast & gift exchange….Yummie lemon pancakes, with lemon sauce over the top, some sausage links & blueberries…the food was good, but the company was great!  We laughed, exchanged all kinds of useful information…(well, perhaps) & laughed some more & had Beth take a few pics for us…

We are enjoying ourselves too much!!!

Sharon!

Our grandson, Bryson, the jockey, came by…he has to work over Christmas in southern Oregon…I’m so bummed…our first Christmas without Bry here.  He came by & we opened presents, ate a little, then he had to scoot out the door.  Off  to Portland, then on to Grants Pass!  Here’s Bry & Papa in front of our tree

One more of my favorite men!

Here they are! Aren't they cute!?!

We enjoyed some of the sights around town as well…this blog wouldn’t be complete unless we showed you a pic of our house & then around the town…

It's not the Griswalds', but the Wests!!

Around town...

Well, it’s time to bring this blog to an end…and I’m sure Mama would say, “that a great time was had by all”, but alas, she’s on the phone with Cathy!

The Mama, Chitting & Chatting with Cath!!!!

 

Brrrr….Winter, the Leg Lamp & Molly

Brrr…we awoke to a cool 20 degrees this morning, no snow, just oh, sooo cold!  Jim got the fire blazing before he left for work!  Yeah!!  Molly & Tilbe are setting on their blankie in front of the wood stove 

Molly & Tilbe Getting Warm

Got some pics of the Leg Lamp Jim got for an early Christmas present…hohoho!!!!  He was soooo pleased!!!

It was very fun ordering the Leg Lamp & then keeping it a surprise!!!  I had to pack both cartons up the stairs into the attic!!!  The Mama had to help me wrap the big thing!  We had fun…giggling about it:)

I’m looking forward to the Christmas tea we are having at church…I’m decorating a table.  Which always seems to involve more than mere decorations, there’s the coordinating of the plates, sliverware, napkins, tablecloth & centerpiece…then there are the favors for each guest(choosing just the right ones…oh my?!)  Practicing how it will all look on my table at home, then packing it all up & taking it to the church before Saturday!  I’ll post pics after the event!

The house is almost decorated outside, Jim still has some garland & lights to put up…next weekend our small town has “Festival of Lights”, a parade & most of the houses in town are decorated with lights!  There is one section of town known as “Candy Cane Lane” & each year they out-do themselves with decorations…(Oh, did I mention we watched Lampoons Christmas the other night on tv?  Clarks lights make me think of Candy Cane Lane.)  I love the part of the show where Clark’s neighbor comes over & the squirrel jumps on her!!!!  Oh MY Gosh, how funny!!!  Ok, everyone must watch that show at least once during the holidays..  At our church potluck yesterday, after we put our ornaments on the tree, we ate & they had a big screen playing “It’s a Wonderful Life”…another favorite!  You couldn’t hear, but there was close captioning….it was even fun just to see the characters on screen..

Well, I must get off to work early this morning…I had a flat tire yesterday & must get it repaired….the “temp” tire Jim put on allows me to go only 50 miles per hour, so guess who is tooling down the highway(which the speed limit is 60) doing only 50!!!!  It’s me…pics to follow…LOL!!!

Enjoying the Christmas season…..(a great time was had by all)

 

Winter Mornings & Ty

Good morning!  It is official!  It’s winter here….While my friend Aimee & I went walking this morning, I dubbed us, ” The Polar Bear Walking Club!”  It was 28 degrees this morning…oh so cold, the wind made it even colder!  It was dark when we walk(6:15am)…but by the time we made it home the sky was painted in beautiful pinks & blues…

Winter Sky

I am so loving this picture out my front door!  I’ve got a warm fire going in the woodstove, so the Mama will be warm when she awakes…

Yesterday we had to go into town after I got home from work, the sky was so clear you could see “the Mountain”, Mt Rainier!  It is so pretty with it’s snow covered peak!  Then on the way home….my friend, the hawk was standing guard over the field coming into town…These are my two favorite things to view in a day; the mountain(affectionately known as “my mountain” & my friend, “hawkie”…:0   SWEET!

I’m not sure but don’t think I’ve published any pics of Ty’s new prosthetic limb….ok, it’s weird to most, but he had it done in camo…so…we think it’s the coolest!

Ty's new leg ...:)

He has had it for awhile, but loves showing it off…he showed it to Pastor Steve last Sunday:)…usually he will run on it & show you how fast he can go!  So sweet!  He also got to go to WalMart with us on Sunday after church & we saw Santa Claus there….He had his picture taken with him…Twice!  Once when he was tooling around the store with me & once with Papa & Grammie!!!  What a Ham!

The Mama is doing well…staying warm in the winter is her main concern…we do our best, but when it hits 80 in the house..!!!! Oh my, we dying & she’s just right…!!!

We will insert some pics of Jim with his most recent possession next blog…he received a leg lamp for early Christmas last night!!!  It’s really funny!!

Well, must scurry off to work, I’m late…

And a Great Time Was Had by all……..

 

Some Football, A Birthday, & Some Cake

Yesterday started out with a little sleep….waking up to go watch Tanner play some Football…It is so fun watching our middle grandson play flag football.  I have no doubt he will be a great all around athlete…

He did a great job & it was so much fun watching the little guys…

Tanner on the Line...

Then while they finished the game, I walked/ran the track for a couple of miles…the gramma must stay in shape to keep up with the grandboys:)

Then off to Olympia for some shopping, eating & celebrating…we shopped til we were all starved…Mom found some new slacks & a sweater, we got her a new white vest for the birthday.  Our good friend, Teresa went with us, the more the merrier!

Off for an early dinner celebration…

Here they come from the kitchen singing "Happy Birthday" to Mom!

She held the parasol as they sang to her...

How fun it was…we were so full when we left…oh my gosh!  Mom was trying to feed us all some of her birthday cake…we still had one more stop to go, Allison’s for cake & ice cream!

Mom & the boys…

More cake & ice cream…

And then some cards…Allison was the Winner!!!!  And a great time was had by all…………

 

Fences, Fall & Life

We, well yes, I helped, are building a new fence.  The old must go!  I’m surprised that Homer, the dog next door hasn’t busted through it already.  Molly & Tilbe are getting used to it.  They can see Homer much better now…hehe

The new fence is so nice....

Jim worked very hard, & then had to readjust some of the board again!  I was the gofer, board replenisher & nail puller person:)  We only have 3 more sides to do, but this is the longest of all….We did get to know Homer, the neighbor’s dog  during this process & he really is quite nice!

Our neighbor is trying to sell a couple of lots across the road from us, I was saddened the other day when they took down the big, beautiful tree!  It has been there since we moved here & I loved to watch it during the different seasons…the leaves are(were) beautiful!

I’ve built a fire the last two mornings for Mom, it’s been chilly in the mornings, but the sun is shining & the sky is blue as of this minute…

Must get to work…after work I get to pick up Tanner, our middle grandson & watch him practice flag football..I love it, I’ll have to post some pics.  The little guys are a Hoot!

Blessings to all, enjoy the wonderful day……….”and a good time was had by all”…(famous quote:)

 

Tyler, Fish & The Fair

We had the pleasure of our youngest grandson, Tyler on Saturday.  He can ask nearly a million “why” questions within the best part of 15 minutes…He is our resident comedian as well, (I think he takes after me:)

Tyler

Tyler can bring a smile to your face just by being Tyler…how sweet he is!

Jim went fishing on Friday, he caught alot of fish, but had to throw them all back…you could only keep the hatchery fish, no native!!!  Ugh!!!  Oh, well,  he still brought home fish…& smoked it!!  The best, wish you were here to taste…you almost can smell it just by looking at the pictures:)….

and here is the fisherman now!!!

We took Tyler to the county fair & we had to see every animal there:)..It was really fun, Tyler loved the animals!  He was able to pet the rabbits, see a zedonk, part zebra & part donkey!  A Zebu, some yaks with really long horns & a dog show with lots of chihuahua,  a boston terrier, and a yorkie.  All of the dogs were rescued from a shelter or puppy farm.  Ty & I had our picture taken with them…

Those dogs were from “Howllly wood..hehe

And a great time was had by all…..

 

Summertime, Hot Weather & “The Garden”

We have had a beautiful summer thus far I must say.  Today has been the hottest by far, I think the official weather for home was in the 90s, but the thermometer outside in the sun it was 110!!  At around 7pm it was cool enough to open the doors & let some air in.

I filled up the kiddie pool for the little pugs… Molly was trying to get her favorite blue tennis ball out of the pool!  She was a crack up!  The poor little pugs were havin’ a rough day…

Tilbe was tooooo warm!

Mom & Jim were enjoying each other while cooling down…  Hard to believe Mom would ever be too warm..hehe

The garden is doing well…although the tomatoe vines are growing the tomatoes aren’t getting ripe yet..The carrots are coming along & I harvested all of the radishes…you can see the tops of our sweet onions too!

Jim & I went camping this past weekend with a group of friends, we had a great time.  The girls, Molly & Tilbe stayed home with Grammie:)  After Jim made a quick trip home for a warm quilt & some other necessities, we slept soundly..funny how all that outdoor air can tire you out!

Well, tomorrow is going to be hot as well, by the time I get off work it should be pretty warm..Oh!  The joys of summertime!

 

Spring has Sprung…well, maybe…

Welcome to the West blog, it’s been awhile  since an update so I’ll fill in the gaps.  We (Mom, myself, & Allison) made a trip to meet Cathy in a far away town, where people wait on us…and we cool our toes by the pool..

Here is Cathy and Allison…guess what they just did?!?

Then there is the Mama, oh she was a “Big Winner”,,,

Can I just say that I enjoy being with these women…they are so much fun!

Allison was being silly…imagine that!!!

Mother & Daughter

When we got home Jim & I headed for southern Oregon to see our grandson, the jockey!!!!  We enjoyed watching Bryson with the horses…

Jim was one proud Papa!!!

Jim giving Bry a “leg up”…  it was so hot there, we enjoyed  our time by the pool & Bry hung out with his Papa & Gram…and may I just say, to paraphrase the Mama….”And a great time was had by all!”