To finish out September. . .

We trimmed the "oldgrowth" Rhody down to bare branches. It is still almost to the roofline!! This trimming didn't seem to bother the birdies at all. They still sit up in it to "sun" themselves. This picture was taken from inside the kitchen early in the morning. The birds will start flying south soon - but I've really, really enjoyed having them so close for the last few months :) Andl next, I helped to finish off the garage. It is now the same color as the house (well - almost!!:) I think it needs some sort of trim - but I'm leaving well enough alone - it gone done - and for that I'm thankful!! Robert also came over and put my "stepping stones" down the side of it - so now there is no excues for "walking in the grass that is trying to grow!! and it's still trying. There are still huge "bald spots" but the grass is growing!! I'm watching it!!!! Makes me laugh - just sittin' 'round watchin' the grass grow!! Well, that's what I'm doin'

My frines had a great time in Spokane and I spent a fun filled couple of hours listening to their recollections of their trip!! "to live vicariously" - as another friend would say. . but they had a good time and I am so glad!! Even the dogs were gentle and easy to take care of. They can be really rough - but they were really good for me!! Maybe it's my "no nonsense" sargeant like voice!! hehe

The last weekend of September, Sharen invited us over to Klamath Falls to visit while our Mom Judy was there. Mom's birthday treat was lunch at the Crater Lake Inn. Tim is here and Keith didn't want to go - so he suprised me with a rental car - and I got to go anyway. Keith is sooooo wonderful to me. God was smiling on me when he arranged that introduction!! But everyone already knows that!!

So on Friday, off I went. I stopped in MP again - I'm determined to see at-least-some-of the people that I knew during the many years I lived and worked there. . . Actually did see a couple more people. . got caught up on some of the "news and happenings", found out where a couple more people are working. . . I'll have to visit there before I leave for the winter. . . And finally decided I'd better get on the road. It was a beautiful drive. I just enjoyed every second of the scenery that is out there. I had rain, sleet, snow, sun, rain, sun, snow, sun, rain and even skunk. . . I was so intent on following my map directions - and didn't have my co-pilot - that I forgot to gas up before the last 1.5 hour leg - that is a little short on gas stations!!! I was about 50 miles or so from KFalls when I happened to look at the gauge. It was just barely north of the red line!!! At Lake of the Woods the sign says "GAS" and I was truly thankful. . . so I went about 3 miles off of 140, back to the most beautiful lake!! with snow all around and the setting sun reflecting off of it. . . Really gorgous!! With a little country store sitting down by the dock. . . And they were Closed for the season!!! So now I've wasted 6 miles of my precious fuel!! Back to 140 I go. . . really praying now. . . I am so far out in the boonies that my cell phone even says "No Service". So, I'd just have to wait for someone to miss me, try to decided which way I decided to thru the mountains . . . and then to decide to come looking for me. . . so I'm asking God for a gas station. Price was no obect. . . just the ability to fuel my chariot!!! and, walaaah, there was one. And it was OPEN.. . and someone came out and put gas in the car. . . I was so relieved, so blessed, so happy!! It was almost euphoria. . kind of hard to explain. . if you have never been in the middle of nowhere. . and from you own stupidity . . . put yourself into a situation like that. . . .

So I got my gas, got back on the road and made it to KFalls. It was back to being a beautiful drive. The road wound around the south side of the lake and not all of the birds were gone yet. . Relaxing. Made it to KFalls and my "mapquest map" had different street names than the ones posted on the corners (where there were names). . . I made a complete circle - and then called. . . . I was only about 9 blocks away - but headed in the wrong direction - so glad that I called. So I got turned around and made it. Couldn't have missed the driveway, Sharen, Mom, and Jack were all standing out there waving at me!!! And Jack had made Pazzoli for dinner. . And let the weekend start~~~ What fun. . . . . to spend time with family is a total blessing!!

click here for the Crater Lake Slideshow. . . Mike and Sharen took some really beautiful pictures. . .

and HERE is a link to the story of crater lake.

Weekend

So far this week: we (mostly Keith) put another coat of stain on the fence. It needs some more on the east end - but I think it's done for now. . The white bucket next to the Rhody is oyster shells from the BBQ. As soon as I have time - I'm going to crush them and put them around the flowers ~ or trees ~ or somewhere. They are really good fertilizer.

Then we picked up the boards we have been walking on and put down some pavers. Not the most professional job - but we aren't sure yet just what we will be doing with this space - wanted something decent to walk on but also wanted something portable ~ so this is it!!

I did this little project out of first day of school photos and some that I had left over from the cruise. This actually shows most of the family. Some of Keith's sisters and my siblings are missing - but the kids, grandkids, and Keith's Mom are all hanging on the wall now!!

THEN, this morning I forgot my camera when we went to the Myrtle Point Harvest Festival. It has sure grown since the little 3 block (if that much) clutch of booths it started with. We witnessed the Rooster Crowing Contest, walked thru the entire legnth of Main Street looking at the most awesome Antique Cars, watched a member of their Volunteer Fire Dept carve animals out of chunks of cedar (we bought raffle tickets for one of them but must not have won it LOL) and that was really an awesome show. It is totally a work of art - these animals are. . . We visited the skate park and watched some really talented kids (and some not-so-kids) compete for prizes there. I was amazed at how much talent some of them showed. And one little guy was already doing the big curve and I sure wish I had my camera!!! We saw restored military jeeps and tractors. . All kinds of really great crafts and so much more. . . . I actually only saw (and talked) to a few people that I knew and recognised a few that didn't remember me ~ so I left that alone. . . I saw Alfred, Ike (Few-Fingers), and Grandpa Ray. I talked with a few others that remember Mom and Dad - I haven't spent much time in Myrtle Point since Mom died. . It's just to hard. We also went into the Loggers Museum there and spent some time talking with the volunteers there. I have been there several times but they keep adding things and it just keeps getting better! We stayed until just after 1 and left when it clouded up. When we got home - the sun was shining - a beautiful afternoon!! And we ate a whole "organic blackberry pie" that Keith bought at the Festival while watching Rainman.

Tomorrow will be Church and our friends will be back from Spokane with stories to tell. So It's been full and it's been fun and it's been interesting. :)

There is Green!!

I limed the dirt

I fertilized the dirt

I planted little bitty seeds

I watered and waited

and

I waited and watered

and

I have grass!!!

Just little bitty tufts of green sticking out

of select spots in the huge brown dirt pit

but I HAVE GRASS!!

Like little tufts of soft hair on a baby's head

I HAVE GRASS!!

It's not long enough

or lush enough

or big enough

to even take a picture of it

BUT I HAVE GRASS!!

It's amazing the little things that make you feel good!!

It's UP!

If you look really closely, you can see my baby birdies. They are learning to fly already!! Keith knocked down the nest so they are sleeping on the crossbeam right above where it was. They are sooo cute!!

The guys work hard on getting this fence done!!

And then, finally, at last,

(actually only a couple of weeks)

Mission Accomplished!!

and even before lunch.

Time to celebrate with burritos and chips.

Great job guys!!

BTW - this is over 100' of fenceline -

now I get to go and stain it -

that should take longer than building it!!

I am trying really hard to post 2 video/stories that Jeremy's father wrote.

One is the "Tribute to Vietnam" which is very touching for those of you who remember those days. War is horrible - but so very different than it was.

Remember 9/11!!!

The other is closer to my heart. It is a song with video that he wrote for Jeremy. He and Jeremy didn't know each other - at one point Jeremy tried contacting him - and at another - Joe tried contacting him. But neither happened before Jeremy disappeared in August of 1986. This video is amazing and very a wonderful thing to listen to.

Please take this time to remember all of our Soldiers, past and present, the men-women-and children that were victims of the terrorists that tried to "take down America, and also say a prayer for all of mankind - from the person that mastermined the tradgedy that shocked the world all the way to the person who hasn't yet given information on the whereabout's of Jeremy. Pray for them all - they will need them. . .

Does it get any better? ? ?

Today Alice Faye is leaving to go back to her home. . She stayed with us last night and today we relaxed out in our yard. . nice weather, little wind, wonderful. . Friend Lucy also came by with her little grandson. .
Isn't he the cuttest little guy!!! He loved the baby birds (actually more interestedin the black and white mound on the floor under the nest) and generally explored the yard while we had a great visit.

Took Alice off to the airport and she called from Portland, she is thru 1/3 of her travel home!!

Here is the best invention ever!!! I never knew one even existed!! An apple peeler, corer, and slicer!!!! I had about 1/2 of a bucket of apples left over after doing the 2 Apple Betty's - so I tried my hand a the first actual fresh apple pie I've tried to make in about 30 years. . and if my memory serves me correctly. . . it was totally inedible!!! LOL But this one turned out really good - maybe following the recipe all the way works- ya think?

Babies and Fence

We have new additions to an old nest. Out in to toolshed!! I thought baby bird season was over - boy was I wrong!! We have this nest (that seems awfully full) and one on each side of the house!! We were talking about replacing (or installing) some new soffits around the house - but we didn't get that done in time :( Now we have to wait for the new families to flee the nests before we can do that project. . . .

Meanwhile out back. . Keith is busy working on the fence that came down with the duck (chicken) wire. This (as usual) turned into more of a mission than just putting up a fence. They had all sorts of setbacks in just getting the posts set tightly on top of the concrete wall. It was a challenging task. . . but they gotter done!! The hardest part of the fence is up now - they are actually working on the bottom part now. . .

Oh, and Clint stopped by with another gift from a wonderful friend. . . a dozen jars of home grown, home canned green beans from his dear wife. . . how she finds the time and energy . . I'll never, ever figure out. She makes me tired just watching her .. . and when I try to help . . . I just get in her way. . I'll figure something out. . .

Its BBQ time!

IMG_1024
Originally uploaded by Amah

Thanks to Clint's suggestion on Monday afternoon - we are having a BBQ on the Sunday before Labor Day. Here is Keith and Sallie deciding what the layout of their "stuff" is going to be. Clint spent 2 days hauling tables, chairs, bbq's, dishes, canopies, and even a firepit, and to much other stuff to even identify - over from thier garage and Sallie's "party box".

Sallie cooked a bushel of oysters and the salmon and bottomfish that Art and Lucy brought. Clint cooked the 3 dozen crab that they also brought with them (they had just spent 2 days fishing and crabbing in their new boat). Sallie raided her garden and brought a HUGE veggie tray and a hollowed out watermelon filled with melon balls, a 3 bean salad to die for., and I don't know how many homemade dips (both for the chips and for the fish) . . I fixed a potato and a macaroni salad, baked 2 apple crisps (from our apples), and I don't even remember what else, and Keith manned the other bbq with hot dogs, hot links, and hamburgers. Other than the meat and chips - everything we ate was home caught, home grown, or home made. . . it was fit for a King (several, matter of fact!!)

Our longtime friend, Alice Faye, just happened to be visiting from North Carolina, so we were really happy to see her here!! My Cousin Robin brought part of her family and I was truly excited to see her!! I've not seen her since she got married - somewhere near 25 years ago!! Aunt Nita got the days mixed up so they weren't here to enjoy our largess!! In the end run - we had about 25 people show up. Wwe had lots of friends here - and a really good time!! Can't beat that for a 5 day notice -

The weather cooperated wonderfully with a nice 79 high and just enough breeze to keep everyone cool!! Some played darts, the kids had fun with lawn darts and even got the croquet set up. It was just a wonderful day. The only way it could've been better would've been if our children lived close enough to visit us for times to share. . .

Hope your weekend was as wonderful!!

As usual: click here for the slideshow

Today's Soapbox

This weekend is all about our Country's Working People. Thank you all for working hard, contributing to Society, keeping the economy going, and paying the taxes on the wages you make. These taxes keep our Country running. . They keep the illegal immigrants in healthcare, roads for them to drive illegally on, schools for thier children to illegally attend. I wonder how "good" these things would be if they weren't overcrowded, abused, or overused by those who did not respect our County enough to follow OUR LAWS to come here. I feel for the children. . . and I feel for those who saved and planned and hopped thru the hoops to be here legally. . . and I've got nothing at all against the hard workers wanting better for thier families. . . and I've got nothing against immigration. . but I've got a whole lot against illegal. I do something illegal - I pay a fine, go to jail, pay higher insurance, etc. ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL . . as in NOT LEGAL.

This thought is prompted by the idea that our government has decided to allow the Mexican Businesses to even compete with our trucking and transportation systems. This is wrong!! In effect, our government is exporting more jobs - the truck drivers jobs!! And how "lawfully" will this take place? We already know that in San Diego - "drivers" with illegal cargo (usually people) drive the wrong way on freeways with their lights out to be unseen. Lawful? Now they will be able to do it by the truckloads. . and not just 20 miles (as the law stands now). . . all over the USA!!!!

Now, to my way of thinkin'~ there may be a way. . . let the Mexican Government hire American Workers to build thier own roads - and they can only use the roads that THIER taxpayers paid for. . . ya think that might slow things down? Or make it a provision that the Mexican Drivers have to be paid equal to American Drivers with a hefty road use tax on top of it. Something to make it profitable for the American PEOPLE (not corportations) instead of kissing a bunch more jobs goodbye!!