An Update

This was what our little house looked like when we bought it.  That is Keith and Tim trying to figure out what we needed to do first.

This was after our first attempt at getting some sort of drainage syhstem going on.

The back door

and the brown garage is gone.  Boy was it ugly

Then our second try at fixing the drainage issue

Then the deck and shed came along

Then the patio we put in...

and now the new front!

and the new back ... hopefully all cleaned up real soon!

With the all new insides... sure looks nice.

A great tribute to D&R Traditional

thanks Del and Shawn!

Jellies

Last summer, while in Coos Bay, I got on a real creative kick.  I was absolutely loving my new kitchen, all of my new counter space, the full garden, the lucious fruits that I grew and others that I picked.

So I made a bumper crop of jams and jellies (among all the other STUFF).

My baby sister, Sharen, told me about some of the guests that will be traveling internationally to attend Brett and Maya's wedding and a few of the customs.  She was brainstorming a local delicacy to offer as token momentos (or something of that sort!) for a few of them.

So anyhow, I thougtht,

why not send some of this bumper crop of sugary sweets to offer up!

I know for a fact they are local to where Brett is local to!

So, the last time I was in Oregon, I boxed up a small (actually very small) sample of my homemade delights and mailed them off to Sharen, who...

put her talented mind and hand to..

decorating with gold lables

Wrapping so prettily

and making rather delightfully appealing, yummy looking gifts.

I hope they are enjoyed!

Dining Room Set

The dining room set that we brought out here 6 years ago succumbed to the difference in humidity several years ago - and I gave it away.  Up until now we've had the desk in the 'dining area' as we had bedrooms set up for the foster care we used to do.  Since we've quit doing the foster gig here in Florida - we made one of the bedrooms into a den/office type of thing and the dining room has been empty.

Which was ok -

Then when Sharen and Jack were here - Sharen and I decided to put the kitchen set in the dining room so we wouldn't have to sit all the way at the other end of the house.  And it worked really well.  In fact, I would rather sit in the dining room than in the eat-in kitchen area (I can see more LOL).  But, then I had this bare room in the kitchen....

So...

I got the card table and chairs out of the rv and set them up - for temp.  Uncomfortable, ugly (as only a card table can be), and inadequate but useful to fill a spot for awhile while I looked for something I liked.  Sharen and I did lots of shopping, looking, pricing, and discussing.  Did I want to put another table in there - or a conversation group?  Just what did I want to do with that space?  Well, for all of these months I've done nothing with it.

Our friends, John and Jessie are getting a new dining room set.  I LOVE the one she was selling.  Other than a few dings and nicks from being a hurricane survivor - it is beautiful!  So....

So, of course, the set that Sharen and I moved out to the dining room has been returned to it's rightful place in the morning room!!

And lastly but certainly not leastly,

See that bouquet on the table?

I received that a couple of days early.

Thank you my sweet Baby Girl!

10 Anniversary

The Crossing

Today The Crossing celebrated it's 10 Anniversary by hosting a meal at the Vero campus (that's the one Keith and I go to). We had a great turnout - got to meet many fromt the Lakewood Park and Beach campus's. I think everyone got plenty full, the kids had the jumper playhouse, and the adults had plenty of room to fellowship. Many, many great dishes were brought and there were lots of willing hands to help with the clean-up. What a wonderful bunch!

Keith left this morning for St. Louis, so after dropping him at the airport, I made a pasta salad and went on over.

Merchant kitchen - news!!

Our original kitchen - June 2008

Our remodeled kitchen (June 2009)

Our new kitchen (April 2010)

Who says nothing ever changes??? LOL

Home Again, again...

So here is Keith's new toy.  We were on the way back fom an appointment in Palm Bay and decided to stop in and look to see what was there.  Well, we found something!!  It drives like a dream and not having the stick shift is absolutely wonderful.  I am so short that when I get into the seat behind Keith - lots of adjustments had to happen before I could even reach the clutch.  Not so with this wonder of all wonders!!  Knicknamed "The Beast" by Keith - we have sure enjoyed having it!  Keith donated the Green Thing to the Church which in turn made sure it went to a good and deserving cause.  So all is happy in our world!! :o)

After I got back from my marathon return trip, for a late 6th Anniversary lunch - we went down to the BeachCombers - sat in the sunshine while we had a wonderful chummy lunch and watched the sunworshipers and the brave wave jumping children.  It seemed that all were having a wonderful time - and as I got to spend time outside in a really wonderful place with my dear hubby - I am happy!

6 years from Las Vegas!!  Yay!!

My latest project was to get the driveway painted.  I took a piece of siding  and went to Lowes so that I could just get grey paint that matched and wasn't anything drastic - well - dull grey was the stock color and both the salesman and I thought it would match.... Boy!!  There I went thinking again!!  It is really blue - thought maybe it would get duller (since the color name is "Dull Gray") as it dried - but no such luck!  So I put the white border on it hoping that it won't be quite so noticable when it fades some :o(  One driveway down - one to go.  Got the other one all powerwashed - and have the paint - now I just need the ambition!! Anyone got any to spare?  LOL

I have also finished my 1st try at the 'cable stitch'.  I took it out several times - learnd a LOT and will do as S'te suggested and put it in the cedar chest for 'later'  - which means it will be one of the things the grandkids will have to divvy up someday :o)

And last but not least!!  The house in Oregon is within weeks of coming together!!  Double Yay!!  Keith is thinking that we might rent it out for a couple of years - instead of leaving it empty for so many months at a time - so - as it gets closer to finish - he will decide.  I have a couple of pre-requisites - and housekeeping and being willing to keep up the yard are two big ones!  I would also like to have someone that would continue to work on the property to keep it as nice as it is...  not asking for much - am I?  LOL

It is warm here - today we've done our aquacises in the pool, I went to line dancing where I managed to tangle all 66 of my left feet - but had a great time doing it - and have done a parkwide bike ride...  Keith is having a nap and I'm wonderin if the volcano in Iceland is going to keep friends here longer...  being selfish - I hope so LOL

Oregon

The texture is on the walls! 

It seems like it's been a long, long time coming, but I guess it hasn't been all that bad with the wet weather and all the 'ground up' work that had to be done.  It seems like every time they started something - something else had to be fixed before the first project could be completed.  Keith has renamed it the 'New Money Pit" since the kids have given up on thiers. 

So right now I'm in Oregon, ensconced in the camp trailer.  It was a stormy wet horrible drive down,  the usual 8 hour drive taking 10 and a half - several traffic slowdowns (clear to 10 miles of 2mph) - hail, rain so heavy the wipers couldn't keep up, oh, and did I say hail?  So I made it - and it rained horribly for the next two days - today the sun is out - and I have much to do.  

We have had the horrible jolt of yet another family member passing on to be with God.  May you rest in peace now Margo, and please God help Teri and Mom Judy through the processing of thier grief.  Be kind and be gentle with them.

I have my flight plans (finaled now - thank you baby!) don't have to spend 9 days in the San Francisco Airport waiting for my connecting flight!  and will be back in Vero next week.  Ready for the warmth and sunshine!  As much as I love south coast Oregon - I so dislike being bone chilling, damp, wet, cold!! 

Hopefully I will have more progress to report by the time my visit is over.  Now off to take Tim shopping.....

  

Some Washington Pictures

Jaleel is playing the drums in the band at school.  We went to his band concert and made it just in time to hear his band play thier one and only piece.  JMan said he was 'so nervous'!! 
The bridge is a 'floating bridge' - built on pontoons!

And here is the view of the Olympic Mountains that are between Bremerton (this is actually Silverdale) that I see whenever I take Taniyah to school.  I was on the other side of these mountains looking for a way over (instead of around) when I drove up Hwy 101 last October :->!

Cavelle has crowned his Mommy as Princess for a day!

And of course there has to be photos of at least some of the grandbabies!!

My March madness!!

The month is already half over!  We finished the yard - boy - that was a lot of work - then -

Rod had to go to North Dakota for something or another - and he was to be gone for the whole month - He no sooner got gone that Cavelle got sick, Tetee got sick, and Mak ended up with MRSA on his back.  So... Being the inveterate traveler that I am - and with permission from Keith.

I headed for Washington.  Keith found a half decent fare, reserved it for me, and got John to ride with us to take me to the airport.  All in about 4 hours!  I was in Seattle at midnight that night!  S'te met me - and I've been here ever since.  I have been of a little assistance in watching the little ones while S'te does Dr. daily med appointments with Mak - and we've been to marathon basketball games.  No one has won a game that I've been to - but they play really, really hard!  It has been fun!

Mak has been having odd issues, first the MRSA, which is FINALLY healing up. He got his Mickey button changed on Friday.  He comlained of a tummy ache Friday evening - and on Saturday he didn't want any feeds.  He said he felt like something was 'stuck'.  By evening he was in terrible pain - So to the ER he went.  About 1 am I got a call from S'te that he was being taken via ambulance to Mary Birch Childrens because something was blocking his small bowel.  S'te's friend Shirley came and stayed with the little kids while I ran a bag to Naval Hospital and traded cars with her - so that I would have the carseats! :)

I hung out with the kids Sunday morning and then off to Tacoma to pick S'te and Mak up.  They had to change out the new tube - again.  Theory has it that the balloon migrated again and the valve part that is used for him to 'burp' wasn't functioning properly so there was just more and more pressure building up in his tummy!

Then from coming home from the hospital on Sunday afternoon - to playing basketball on Monday evening - it is amazing how resiliant this guy is!  He tires easier than the others and the coaches keep a pretty close eye on him - but he plays hard - and is really quite a rebounder!

and it's lunch time!

Rod's thing was cut short so he will be home later this afternoon - and - Keith wants me to stay here until the house in CB is done - so that I can go do the final walkthru from here instead of having to come clear back out from Florida again - and S'te says they won't kick me out until the house is good enough to stay in.... right now it's still in pretty rough shape....

but

I'm hoping that it will be habitable soon!

Yard Work!

I'm guessing it is time for yard work.  We woke up to bright sunny skies and  a promise for mid 70 degree weather.  So ~~ we put it off ~~ we went to Church, then Keith had lunch, then I put some laundry in, then I gave up - we went outside to do the 'duty'~  Boy do things grow up and over !!  We trimmed the rubber trees down.  They were about 7 or so feet tall.  I had to dig out the sprinklers - in this sand they tend to sink every year. 

So I got about 1/8 th of the work done.  The back of the side yard and 1 side of the back yard.  I got the sprinkler heads dug out, mulch (from the front) under them to keep them up where I want them, the rubber trees cut back, the frozen parts cut off of the hibiscus, and 10 bags of mulch down.  That was just the area in this picture!  I didn't put any under the rubber trees.  I still have to go around them with the shovel to sever the 'roots' that tend to go all over the place. :-<

Keith trimmed this poor frostbitten hibiscus to within inches of it's death - but it is budding nicely.  It was frostbitten that badly during the cold spell back in January - when it was warmer in Seattle than it was in Orlando!!  We pulled the old bark from here and put along the back where we have some low spots in the sand and around the back 'bird' and tomato plants.  Yes Sharen, believe it or not, we still have tomato plants!!  They broke off at the ground and then resprouted - don't know if we will have tomatoes but they are sure determind fellers!!

Jack and Keith cut the monster down that I had mistakenly planted right in the middle there.  Still trying to figure out what to put there.  If the middle hibiscus doesn't come out of it's funk, I may trim it and replant it there.  It has turned into a huge beautiful bush every year.  I think it would look good there on the large bald spot.... I doubt seriously if Keith will agree with me enough to move it - but who knows - hahaa.

But I believe we are done for today - my hint - Keith put all the tools away and has gone back to his Facebook Poker game. :->  At this rate - we will be done in 8 days.  And this will give me time to work on the decision of the hibiscus.

Bathtub

Oh, blast insurance companies!!  They seem to think that they are doing us a huge favor when they pay out for the things that they so gladly take our premiums for!~~

The Nursery

 

The Bathroom

Progress is slow

but there has been some

but

the

Insurance company

is

even

s l o w e r !!

It is really, really frustrating!!

I got a call from Lowes this morning.  The last of the materials for the rebuild is being delivered today.  Now all I have to do is figure out a way to pay for it!!  For some reason when it is time for the premiums - everything is real expensive - but when it's time to 'pay up' - everything is real cheap.  Like - where can I carpet an entire room (material and install) for $154??    And remember - this isn't in a major metro area either (so everyone charges freight on everything too!) !!

Frustration central!!

Super bowl - Tailgate Lakewood Style

Being that I'm not a die hard for either of yesterday's teams - I had a great time at Lakewood Villages Super Bowl Tailgate.  They started the afternoon off with the installation of the new Social Club Officers - btw, I'm glad we got another year's worth of great volunteers to plan things for us!!

Then we chowed down on homemade chili, served up by more volunteers, and even more had the grills going for hot dogs and burgers.  We (I) visited with a lot of residents that I hadn't yet caught up with for this season and had some really good chats.  Got on the volunteer boards myself and will be hosting coffee this Tuesday and working the kitchen for Bingo that night.  That gets me back home in time for NCIS!! LOL  Tuesday has always been my favorite TV night.  They move the show and I just get a new Tuesday show...  So much for programming..

Keith brought out our tailgate camping recliners, the cooler, and we kicked back with those diehards that stayed to watch the game on the 'big screen'.  There was a vaariety of whooping and hollering going on.   We had Saints fans and Colt fans alike - all cheering and booing at the game.  It was a lot of fun!  We had leftovers from the Cookout and munched our way through until game end. 

I rooted for the Colts - I remember them from being a kid in Baltimore - back in the dark ages when we had Johnny Unitas (and the Jets had Joe Namath!).  Keith has always been partial to the fun he had in New Orleans - so he rooted for them - it made for some good natured ribbing and kept the game interesting!

It was cooler than usual for Vero - so sweatshirts (of all colors) were the order of the day.  I in my Oregon Ducks and Las Vegas, Keith in his Key West and Oregon Beavers - friends all over the hall in Gator, Steeler, Charger, Titans and who knows what other teams were represented.  All in great fun!

Nancy and Lou in thier tailgate regalia!!

Now we need our tickets for the Valentine's Day Dance - but first - I'm headed out to see what we need to do to get some grass seed planted and then off to the Line Dancing hour.  I fully intend to stay busy this season - no kids - I will be doing something!!

Hope you had a great superbowl too!