Sock Hop

Saturday night we had a date!! We went to the Sock Hop here in the Park where we are staying. Keith was all excited!! He got to wear his next-to-favorite outfit! His jeans and a t-shirt.

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Last week, in San Diego, S'te made a Poodle Skirt for me. Out of the 100 people at the sock hop - 75 of them asked where I got my skirt. Our neighbor said it was to bad that we wouldn't be here next year as I could take orders for her to make more!! She did such a great job on it!

Now if there was just a little less of me to fill it out!!! LOL We had such a great time! We danced, and ate pizza, and laughed with fellow residents... I had so much fun that I had a really dificult time getting my old muscles and joints moving Sunday morning Whoo Hoo!
I had so much fun!

Nostalgia

Does anyone besides me remember this picture?

Now that I have figured out how to scan old photos
and put them on the flash drive
I am going to have a blast!!!!

My 3 Men!!

We arrived back in San Diego on Monday - This is a picture from the plane about 20 minutes before we landed at Lindberg Field. Keith and I got in from Florida about 12:30, Sharen (from K Falls via Bullhead) and Dad (Bullhead City) got in just as our gourmet dinner was being picked up from Popeyes (hehee). Rod and S'te, generous with thier home as always, just opened the door and we had a great time. Dad was amazed at how much the babies had grown since the last time he saw them 4 1/2 years ago. I was amazed that he took so well to all of them and they didn't drive him nuts (it's easy when there are 8 kids home). The littlest ones just absolutely adored him!
The kids went back to school on Tuesday so that gave us "adults" a chance to catch up, show pictures, brag on the kids, and generally eat, visit, and catch up on the 4 1/2 years since we were last all together. :) And 2 (actually 3) more children have been added to the family....

Aunt Sharen flew from Klamath Falls to Arizona last week and drove Dad down so we could have our little get- together before the kids move up to Bremerton next summer.

Cavelle had his own routine but really enjoyed having 4 extra people to entertain - but you can't bother him when he has a 'mission' - as in his food!Then we had a little reading after dinner....

Sharen, Keith, & I had a soak in the hot tub before calling it a night.... ooohhh it was great! Even if we did stay out there to long and got locked out! Security did come and let us in - thank you!!

S'te had made an appointment for us to have a 4 generation family portrait taken.... So on Tuesday, I made Dad a meatloaf, he washed cars, swept the porch, and otherwise kept himself busy. We put the meatloaf in the oven with the timer set and headed out for our 4 Generation Family portrait!

It's quite the task.... getting 15 people - and one of them being 18 months old and hungry - all to be looking in the right direction, at the right time, with the right look on thier face!! The woman at Sears was a trooper and did really well. S'te isn't fond of the way she choreographed us - but - it is done. We have Great- Grandpa, Great Aunt Sharen, Amah, Papa, Mom, Dad, and ALL NINE children!!! Truly a blended and blessed family!
Just as all was just about finished, we had a serious male family member bonding going on!! I think we wore them out... and embarassed Grandpa just a little..... LOL.... It is definately a fave!!

We made it back from San Diego in 1 (or 2) pieces.... Checked our mail, slept in our own camper bed for a night, unpacked, repacked, and headed back out to Orlando to meet Keith's own Little April! They were at the hotel when we arrived - all camped out at the pool.... in the nice warm sunshine!

We found our adjoining rooms, unwrapped gifts, outlined plans and then went to dinner. We had a really nice evening and more to come!

Next morning we got up and I wasn't feeling well enough to head out with the rest so I stayed behind while they went to Animal Kingdom.... Brennan got picked to participate in the Lion King show - he had a great time. Elizabeth could've participated also but her shy bug turned on - or so I heard.

But it looks to me like they had a great time! So all is still well at Animal Kingdom. Next day they went to Magic Kingdom.... by then Brennan and Rick were getting pretty tired - so they came back to the hotel - with Papa - while April and Elizabeth took in the night life. LOL They checked out Epcot and even made it back before midnight - don't know that anyone even heard them come in :))
The 29th we headed out to Melbourne Beach. It was beautiful. We got there several hours before the kids did, had dinner on the deck, and really relaxed... The kids got there and had bites and were really heavy eyed... Rick and Keith took them up while April and I sat out for a bit longer. There is just something about the stars and the sound of the ocean for relaxing totally! It was a beautiful evening..

New Year's Eve weather was really nice for spending an afternoon on the beach - I helped the kids make sand castles and dig holes - then to fill them back in again.... we went up and took cat naps so that we would be hale and hearty for ushering in 2009!

We met the kids just after dark, had another really scrumptious dinner, and managed to sit outside until about 9:30. The sun, sand, beach, and water, complimented by all that wonderful food just made it impossible to stay awake!!! Here is Keith clowning just before he went off to sleep. I catnapped with the balcony door open and Times Square on the tube - I was awake for the ushering in of the new year and watching the many fireworks shows from said balcony before waking Keith, wishing him a happy and healthy new year before he drifted off again....

New Year's Day saw us packing up again - this time to head back to the RV and for April, Rick, and the kids to head back to snowy Missouri.... We had a blast and it was so special to be able to spend the holidays with both of our girls and their families.... Now we just have to find a way to get us all together again!!!

And to you!

I wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Properous,

and Joyous New Year!!

Christmas was a hoot! S'te woke us this morning so that we could see the kids open gifts before we had to leave to catch our plane to Florida.

Christmas Eve we had our big dinner and then we went ~ en familia~ to Church at the Rock... It was great... I love the feeling of peace that comes over me whenever I enter the House of God.... I was very moved by the entire program. It was perfect.

Each of the kids got several "favorite" gifts. There were lots of squeals and ooohs going on during the openings! Cavelle was the first with a favorite - and it withstood the test of all the other gifts.... a noisy little lawnmower that deserved the place of honor - right in the middle of all the action!! LOL It didn't matter where we "hid" it - it returned as fast as he could find it.... He was definately determined!!

I bonused my own self with 2 grandmother necklaces and a bracelet, as well as a handmade card from Raquel. I would post pictures - but my picture poster doesn't want to work at this time - it keeps telling me that they are busy..... Imagine that!!!

Hope a very Merry Christmas was had by all!

Babysitting

Keith and I babysat for a couple of days during our visit to San Diego. It was a great time. We had some ups ~~~~ and some downs _____ and a misunderstanding or two - but for the most part - we did great!!! The kids are all growing up to be wonderful young adults and little people!! The all have such distinct personalities that I really miss seeing each of them grow during the times that there are so many, many months that I don't get to see them!

I have been so fortunate these last few months!! I got to see them in July, and in November, and in December, and it looks like I will be imposing on them again in January.... Whooppeee!!

So according to Rod and S'te - they enjoyed their little getaway - and I enjoyed having the kids.... so it sounds like we are all happy!!

Packing again!

We no sooner got to Florida than Keith was assigned a meeting back in San Diego! So, after being here 25 days, 10 days at hsome and 15 days (I've counted each and every one!LOL) we are headed back to San Diego! Of course, this is no hardship for me - other than feeling like a total transient, of course!

We have packed up the RV so it is safe and nothing should blow away while we are gone. Our flight is tomorrow afternoon - and we will arrive in San Diego while it is still afternoon! - Boy do I like the East to West flights! We will stay with the kids YIPPEE! until Christmas morning - which will include watching the "babies" so Rod and S'te can do whatever-it-is-he's-got-planned for thier 13th anniversary! A lot has happened over those years!!

I received sad news from Maryland a few days ago. Jeremy's father, Joe, has been suffering with esophageal cancer for the last few years and finally succumbed to it on December 5. I know in my heart that he and Jeremy will become best of buddies up there in Heaven - and I'm hoping that between the two of them - they will find a way to help us find out what happened to Jeremy here on Earth. All thru the years Joe has remained a good friend to our family, and has remained very special even after his death. He definately is a special sort of person......

So off with the sadness - and Celebrate our Christmas Season. Merry Christmas everyone.... No one is getting cards, very few gifts went anywhere, and I am happily wandering along..... "Joy to the World!!"

Sebastian

We've moved into the rv for the 'season'. We are in a little park just off of I95 about 11 miles north of our home in Vero. Some friends from Canada are staying in the house - so we are in the rv. We brought the rv up on Sunday and got it pretty well set up with the screen room and all the little things like water, electric, and CABLE!

We've been here 4 days now and had the rv service people out twice. We got here Monday afternoon and it got a little chilly - so I set the thermostat for 70 when we went to bed.... Keith got up about 5 and the lights were dim and the furnace wasn't working..... He had to start the motor to get the lights brighter and make the furnace work. I didn't think much of it and went on about my business. I put my foot in my slipper (that was outside the bathroom door) and it was WET!! I again thought a few choice things and thought maybe one of the vents is leaking. Checked out the vents and they were dry as a bone..... Tried to turn on the HW heater - and it wouldn't light - so I checked the propane - we are at a little less than 1/2 of a 30/40 or so gallon tank - thought well, maybe the guage on it was wrong and called the office to see about getting the propane filled - we have to unhook EVERYHTING and take the coach up to the office to fill the tank - since it is not a removable tank... one more thing to look at if we ever buy another rv!. I so didn't want to do that!! We only had it all hooked up for 2 days!! - so we went to WallyWorld and bought a small heater, a 2 burner hotplate (I couldn't find the other one {it was under a bunch of stuff - I found it later} that was a 1 burner), and an electric pot to heat water in for dishes, faces, etc. So after we got back another thought came to me and I started the motor and tried to light the tank again - it worked..... So I figured out how to light the hw heater but the stove and furnace still didn't want to work right

Thursday morning the carpet in the bathroom was soaked....the carpet in the hall was wet, and the carpet around the toilet was dripping..... so guess what! We called Indian River R.V. and believe it or not - the serviceman, John, was already in the park!! He appeared about 2 hours later.... The foot valve was leaking - the toilet is to old to get parts for... and while he was here he checked out the electric issue. Well that was an easy fix!! He checked the circuits - all were working and then started crawling on the floor looking in the cabinets.... I asked him what he was looking for and he told me "the converter box". I have absolutely no idea what one looked like so he described it to me. I knew right where that thing was and I had often wondered what it was - since it had the cord still wrapped around it and in that 'plastic' sort of stuff. He looked at us like we just flew in from Mars and had a great big chuckle. The converter box - which, by the way, is what keeps the batteries charged, wasn't plugged in - so it couldn't charge the batteries, which is what the HW heater uses to light, as well as the gas stove, the furnace, and the overhead lights, etc. All of that sort of stuff.... He plugged it in, put all the covers back on the pertinate openings that he'd uncovered - and Keith and I are wondering if it was ever plugged in. Maybe that is why the previous owners gave up on it with only 8,000 miles on it. So today... we have hot water, I can cook, the lights stay bright, and we have a new toilet!! Thank you Indian River R.V.! And John was so nice - he just chuckled when he could've had a big belly laugh about Novice RV'ers and thier issues! And I still have an electic "pot" and a 2 burner hot plate that I didn't have before...... Yippee!!

My Thanksgiving Dinner!

I have yet to figure out why EVERY SINGLE time (at least it seems so) I try to cook a "nice" or holiday meal - something goes horribly wrong.

Since we didn't have any plans for joining anyone for dinner - I cooked. I got my turkey in, my stuffing and potatoes done, simmered my giblets for a couple of hours, and made a great looking giblet gravy. The gravy and stuffing is what makes the meal - at least to my way of thinking. And I need gravy to eat turkey. A deep fried turkey doesn't seem to need so much - but oh well, I roasted the bird - it came out beautifully! I didn't do the fruit salad or green bean casserole - but we'll have that at Christmas with S'te and family (oh, yes!, we get to spend Christmas Eve with them!)

I put it on the table and took a picture - for those who think I've forgotten how to cook, LOL I took the picture and realized that the bowl of gravy was still sitting on the stove.......

I started to pick up the bowl and realized it was still really, really hot - grabbed the potholders and picked it up and WALAAH, the bowl broke into 4 pieces. I put the potholders down, thought (I think) a few choice things and immediately tuned into a blubbering mess.

Keith came running in to see what the CRACK was and met me 1/2 way down just as I was grabbing a dish cloth. The gravy was to hot to wipe up and to big a mess to even look at right then....... so we had dinner....... after dinner Keith helped me clean up this mess......

We realized the gravy had gotten into the vents at the top of the oven and I wondered out loud about taking off the handle to clean them out.... Keith "helped out" by asking if there were screws on the inside of the oven door..... I looked, yes, there were.... so I unscrewed them... the whole oven door came apart!!!! Well, I got everything all cleaned out and we began trying to reassemble it. One screw had hibernated, the molded fittings on the sides of the door had broken, the bottom 'thing' had bent, and nothing wanted to fit again. Keith, with his infinate patience found the missing screw (in the rail to the underneath drawer), and got it all back together - minus those pretty plastic pieces that you see on the sides. The bottom of both had broken off.

So the oven is back together, we are still eating turkey (I froze a lot of it), the floor under the stove is very, very clean, and I am minus one of my cut glass bowls.

That is my story - I am over it now..... I can almost point out the appliance that fits to most of the meals I have tried to cook..... That is my story - and I'm sticking with it!

I took this picture in Orlando when we got home. I never believed we'd ever see $2 gas again. Boy, don't ever believe anything that I believe in 'cause the gas here is down below $1.80 now!

Here also is a picture of our "shrubs" after neighbor Jessie finished cutting them down to size. She was afraid to cut them more than 1/2 way. Things do tend to grow around here. I planted this Hibiscus about 3 years ago and it was a little bitty $5 plant! Same with the others that I planted - and the rubber trees are over my head and still going strong!!

Today we are finishing the load up part for the RV. Boy have we got a lot of "stuff"! And it's all good stuff - stuff that hasn't been used in years and stuff that we've never used but it came with other "stuff" that we got! The thermometer says 80 degrees out and I'm hot. I have to keep reminding myself that it is winter here - when I see neighbors with sweaters and jackets on!!

So, we will be on "cell phone" only for the next few months as we wander our way around.....

Back East!

We are back in Florida - for a few weeks anyhow! We got back last Wednesday - did the red-eye - So got very, very little done on our first day back. We've started cleaning out the stuff to put into the RV, got the bushes trimmed back (with the much needed assistance of neighbor Jessie), have piles of brush for the recycle to pick up, and went to the grocery.

That's what I've done in 5 days. Not much. But I'm getting there!
Just wanted to check in.

Will do pictures in the next day or two!

Me and my Pity Party!!

Woe is me!!

My 'puter is back in the shop again! It's been there for 2 weeks now! Hope to get it back before we leave San Diego on Tuesday!!

We (at least I) had a wonderful time getting to know the babies (from 18 on down) again - I live for seeing them grow! What a blessing! They all are so different, so individual, but at the same time they are all so sweet and giving. Shows what great parents Rod and S'te are!

I am using Keith's 'puter to type as he and Dad are 'napping'! We drove up here to Bullhead City yesterday. We've had a great visit.... Boy the winds do blow!! Dad said these winds are the ones fueling the fires in California. Those poor poor people!!

Anyhow, wanted to let everyone know why my emails are few and far between and that we are doing great. We will be headed back east on the red-eye on Tuesday.

So, join me in my pity party!! And pray for those who have been displaced and are endangered by those horrible fires.... when I think of them - I feel so totally and completely blessed~ in so very many ways!

We arrived on Wednesday afternoon. It was an ok flight for me but I think it may be a lot easier to come down here via Portland. At least that way the longer portion of the flight is on a plane that Keith's legs will fit into the seat. He was really cramped throughout the entire trip. The second flight was between San Francisco and San Diego. The airlines had switched our seats to a middle and aisle - so I took the middle - since the would've had absolutely no place to put his feet if I hadn't!
We got here in time to help celebrate Ladaria's 17th birthday. She has matured so much!! Hasn't she turned into a beautiful young lady? I certainly think so!!


And then next came Halloween!! There are certainly lots of children here! I stayed here with Cavelle and handed out the bushels of candy that S'te left behind before she went out with the "troop" to do thier own Trick or Treating. I had 3 pieces of candy left when they returned!!! Cavelle had a blast waving at all of the really cute costumes that came visiting. It is sure different from the dozen or so that would come by in Vero or the 3 that visited last year. There sure won't be a bundle of leftover candy left here!! Anyhow, here are this year's goblins.....
Cavelle actually stayed here with me but I wanted a picture anyhow~


Jaleel was a "dead" football player~




Brayana was a "granny football player"~
Makkiah was a member of "SWAT" ~





Destini a Cheerleader ~

Taniyah was a Geisha ~ in the dress that Daddy brought back from Singapore ~

Ladaria, Raquel, and friends were Candy Bandits~~

And I think they all had fun!

~Happy Halloween to you too!~

Frannie

Happy Birthday Frannie!

There was a birthday party held at the Eagles for Frannies' 80th Birthday. Clint, Sallie, Keith, and I went and, tho' I can't speak for the others, I had a great time! There was lots of great company, I saw many old friends and renewed acquaintenances, and ate until I couldn't chew another bite! We listened to stories and tales of Fran's life via her children, friends, and many customers of the Cabin who've know her during her many years there.

Getting ready to get ready!

Wow!! S'te really put a post on her blog!! Not any real info - just a sign of
intent to put real info LOL!!
As we pretend that we are actually getting ready to head south (I wonder sometimes) - we have a new project started. Don't know just what the actual completion date will be...... So anyhow - here is the new "chicken shed" - or actually lack thereof. Keith, Clint, and Tim had it down and burnt in just 2 days. The ashed actually are still smoking - but for all intense purposes....

It is down.... And here is the new pile of materials that should replace it at some point.....


And someday we might actually do something to the house!! Keith has been working really hard on getting the washer and dryer re-plumbed - since the vent had to be moved for the new and improved "chicken shed". Not such an easy job!! As with everything else - a "simple" job has turned into a nightmare!!

And amoung all of this - I am trying (without much progress) (but I do have oven cleaner in the oven!) to get things cleaned up to close up to head out!! Not an easy job either.....

TUNA!!!

We didn't get our fish on Monday as planned - but on Tuesday - WOW - boy do we have fish!!!!

We filleted one - so that I could get some loins to BBQ next summer. I love BBQ tuna - It's sooooo yummy!!!! Then Clint, Sallie, Tim, Keith, and I went to work. We have 16 fish to "process" ~ for lack of a better term. hehee




Here we have the tuna in the ovens and are taking our lunch break before starting up the CANNER!!! It's in caps because until recently - I've never seen such a big canner!!! It will take 51 half-pint jars at once!!

At the end of Day 1 we had 120 1/2 pint jars. Some oil packed with peppers, some with garlic, and the rest was baked whole and then canned. Keith had a bowl of tuna for breakfast this morning before he helped me get the next 5o or so jars ready for the canner.

Look at our fillets! Can't beat that for waste!! I don't think we will run out of canned tuna anytime soon!!

End of day 2

I SMELL LIKE FISH!! EVERYONE SMELLS LIKE FISH!!! Keith and Tim went to Sears looking for a tractor part..... The salesgirl told Keith ~ "You smell like fish!" it was funny.... then when Keith had to call her back ~ he just said ~ "it's the guy who smells like fish" ~ and she knew right away who it was..... heheee!!

We now have 217 1/2 pint jars of tuna and 5 more fish to "process"!!! Think we have enough>>>> I haven't had the urge to make a tuna casserole just yet - but soon I'll have to! ROTFL

Family

On Saturday we went to Robin and Rick's for dinner. It is the first time I've ever seen or been in a geothermal house. It is great. The floor heating and the solar hot water. Truly amazing. McKaley and kids came down from Philomath, Kerry and Mat brought Aunt Peggy out and we had a wonderful dinner of ham, criossants (McKaley made them), all sorts of other goodies, all topped off with one of Robin's cakes. We had a great time catching up and renewing our ties with relatives that have been far apart for a really long time.

Here is Kerry with her little granddaughter of 4 months

On Sunday, Grandaughter Amanda brought her two georgeous babies up to see us. Here is Danica, Amanda, and Koby! We went got acquainted again here at the house and then took the kids to the Outdoor/In to play and eat.

We had a wonderful time and I look forward to keeping all of my family a little closer........

Tomorrow is Tuna Day!!