Halloween in Mexico

Halloween itself does not seem to be a bit deal here.  Some of the staff here wore face paing and we saw 1 little guy with a pumpkin costume on during the evening but that is all.

We arrived in Rosarito Beach on Friday afternoon via a really nice taxi driver that brought us from Tijuana.  I had visited my own wonderful dentista - Dr. Ruth - she had to extract (do destruction - in her terms :) ) 3 teeth - so I wasn't really up for taking the bus down.  As always - the staff here at the Rosarito Beach Hotel are wonderful, nice, polite, and helpful.  We have visited here several times before - and have always really enjoyed ourselves - so - we looked forward to another great time.

We have now tried all 3 of their 'room' styles.  Oceanfront, garden view, and suite.  This trip we are in their 1 bedroom suite!  and it is complete with a well appointed kitchenette!  Many int the US could take a real lesson here.  We have a full size coffepot, blender, toaster, MATCHING dishes, dish soap and towels, salt - pepper - coffee - and drinking water - all right here all easily found.  The room also has the usual small fridge and microwave.  We have a great ocean view - right over the lower beachfront studios roof.  Makes for a really sweet place to sit in the sun and enjoy the morning coffee! The sunset was really beautiful out over the Pacific Ocean.

Unfortunately is has been a bit on the windy side for the last couple of days so the pools and hot tubs were not anything I wanted to brave - but Keith did go for a soak and was all smiles when he reported back to me that it 'was wonderful'!!

There was entertainment last night with dinner.  Our server, Manuel, kept us in peanuts, tacos, and chips (with guacomole!) while we divided out attentions between the big screen showing the World Series and the entertainment!  I thoroughly enjoyed watching Efrain Precsado and his great quartet of Our bartender Manuel kept in peanuts, tacos, and shrimp coctail while we divided out attentions between the dancers and the big screen tv showing the World Series!dancers.  The costumes and the verve of the dancers showed that they were enjoying themselves also!  http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianeb/sets/72157622584744251/show/
The pictures aren't even close to doing justice to these dancers - but I loved watching them!

Washington visit

My visit to Washington is coming to an end.  Tomorrow morning S'te will drop me at the shuttle so I can catch an airplane and meet Keith in San Diego.  He has to work but I plan to enjoy the sun and dry out from my two weeks here in the drippy fall!

I have enjoyed being with the kids and thier family.... doing the school thing, going to Tetee's soccer game (I missed Jaleel's Saturday afternoon tho' - and his team won!!), and cooking for people that eat - and I do mean eat!  I've always enjoyed watching people enjoy food that I've fixed!  Last night Brayana, Destini, and I fixed homemade pizza casseroles.  There was very little left over - even Cavelle had 3 pieces!  I found the 'soy' section at Safeway so was able to score some soy ice cream for Makk - so we all had ice cream for dessert!  Amanda and her family even stopped by for a short visit!  It was a great fun evening!

Today comes the job of doing laundry and making sure I've picked up and packed all my 'stuff'.  It is amazing how quickly one can get 'spread out'!! LOL

Makk is back to school this morning (he will still miss 2 days this week for post op followups)!!  It is so amazing how God made the human body as resilient as it is.  I know we don't always think so - I've had my bouts with self pity! - but to see this little guy looking so great - when not so long ago - it caused him agonizing pain to eat anything solid, move on or off of a bed (right after surgery), and terribly inactive due to the lack of nutrition his body was able to process - it is truly amazing!   S'te has taken them so that she can show the staff how to hook and unhook his tube and flush the port after feedings.  It is really sooooo much simpler than the oral fed formula drama so many times every day.  Technology is such a blessing (at most times LOL)!!

And... right after S'te left with the boys- thier PE teacher called - she has nominated Jaleel for some sort of award for his perseverence and focused (yes, Jaleel!) achievemensts on the UNICYCLE!!  He is the fastest in the school - and by the way - Makk is the fastest for his grade.  I've not seen him ride - I hope to for our next visit!  I didn't realize that he had advanced that far in such a short time!

I told her that S'te was probably pulling up at the school as we were speaking - so she was going to try to catch her there.  What a great achievement!  Way to go JMan!

So my next post should be from sunny San Diego!  I'm ready!

Uses for Coffee Filters

Coffee filters are eco-friendly and cheaper than paper towels!!  Try some of these hints and see for yourself.  I have tried most of them...

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.  I LOVE THIS ONE!

2.. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

4.. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust. THIS WORKS WELL TOO!

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent The soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.  WONDERFUL FOR GRANDKIDS!

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease..  WORKS GREAT!

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

just pictures

On my way up the Oregon Coast......

I found this while 'surfing' and I love it!

Just for today when my heart feels like breaking, 
I will stop and remember that grief is the price we pay for loving and the
only reason I hurt is because I had the privilege of loving so much.

Our Weekend

On Friday the older 2 girls went with their Youth Group for retreat.  I dropped them, clothing (a LOT of clothing LOL), sleeping bags, pillows, and snacks off on our way out of town.  The younger 3 and I went down to DuPont, Washington to spend the weekend at the Liberty Inn!  

Jaleel and Taniyah were eager to see Mak and I know that all three were eager to see their Mommy and Daddy!!  The days without them went along well enough – but they missed them badly.  Actually, all of the kids missed Rod and S’te a whole bunch and did well in helping me keep body and soul together!

Anyhow, we spent a leisurely weekend at the 'hotel' as Taniyah was excitedly announcing in the days leading up to it.  The kids swam, S'te was able to come over from the hospital and spend some time with them down in the pool.  Rod came and took the older 2 over to the hospital to see Makk while Cavelle and I hung out, had dinner, and kicked back.  Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to go hug my grandbaby boy - by the time we got there I had a full fledged cough, runny nose, plugged ears cold ~ so a visit was not in my baby's best interest.  So I did the next-best-thing and made it possible for the others to spend some time with Makk.  Rod and Jaleel had to make a quick trip back up to Bremerton Saturday afternoon for Jaleels football game - which he and his team won - by the way!  They are heading off down the line to the playoffs - 1st time in 4 years they've had a good season!!  Way to go team!!

While Jaleel was off playing on the wet and soggy field - Tetee, CB, and I took the Hostesses advice and visited Charlies Safari down in Lacey.  It is a great place for kids to let off some energy when there has been 5 straight days of rain!  I think they had fun.  I was entertained and it was a great way to while away an afternoon.  We spent so long there that it was dark when we finally returned to the 'Hotel'.  LOL  They were all worn completely out and we had a nice calm deep sleep, no-argument-about-bedtime night.  The kids slept in this morning to the tune of ~ I woke them up so we could go to breakfast and they could get a swim in before we headed back North and pick up the returning girls.  We did get in a quick visit with Makk when we stopped to pick Rod up (he came back up with us) ~ even I had to at least see him before I left ~ but I kept my distance!  He had a rather rough morning and was not real excited about the company - but he was feeling much better by the time we left.

We made it back to town safely, the girls are home safely.  Everyone is tired (especially the ones back from the retreat LOL) and all tucked safely and tiredly in beds (with visions of lollipops dancing in their heads)!

The hope is for Makk to be released and be able to come home within the next day or two.  He is sore (of course) and was doing really well before (in my humble uneducated opinion) they decided to push him on the feeds and he started having issues again.  S'te and Rod have been vigilant in returning items on his trays that he cannot have and should not be eating.... since he hasn't had solid foods in so long - large meals or hot dogs (complete with roll!) didn't seem to be in his best interests (in their same kind of opinions).  Hopefully (again in that same sort of my opinion) the medical gurus will back off and let his little system find it's level and go from there.  Of course, that is the Grandma talking there!

Thank you everyone for all the prayers - I know that they have helped him in the quick early recovery - and he is feeling and doing much better, his voice sounds less raspy - and it can only get even better!

Makkiah

I spoke with S'te late last evening.  Mak is doing a bit better.  He has allowed them to raise the head of his bed to about 20 degrees without having to terribly much more pain.  They have allowed him to suck on ice chips a couple of times also.  His pain meds have dropped a bit - his bp has come down enough they know his pain level has dropped... all really great news!

They haven't tried a tube feeding yet - will not do that for another day or two yet.  I heard that they want to make sure he can tolerate his own body fluids before they put anything else into him.  He said his throat feels better than 'it ever has' even before the surgery - so the reflux levels must be down quite a bit.  So things are looking up for him!!

The other 5 and I are 'bonding'! LOL  The older girls are helping in many ways - it is amazing how things change as they get older.... now for the hormone levels to just level out (oh, I'm so relating... mine are going the other way... LOL), Jaleel is busy from the time he wakes until bed with school and sports.  He does take time out to eat - but so far - that is about it!  Tetee has made it to Head Start - and I've even remembered to pick her back up... and CB and I have become best pals.  So I have had a wonderful time so far.  Sometimes relating different happenings might sound a bit b***** but really - nothing out of normal is happening...

Oh, and BTW my DD has learned e-speak... he puts LOL on everything he sends to me... he said it is for 'lots of love' -  that is my funny for today... LOL

Thank you Good Samaritan....

Had a flat (almost) when I came out of the bank. Had 5 minutes to pick Tetee up from school. Got her in time. A good Samaritan at the gas station filled the tire up with air while I dug for the 75 cents the machine wanted. Bless him!!! then to Goodyear to hear that they could fit me into their schedule tomorrow afternoon..... (sorry I couldn't schedule the leak for a better time! LOL)... Fellow sent me to Sears 'right across the street' ~ that I never did find.... I asked for "real" directions... since I am totally unfamiliar territory.... drove around in circles.... Tomtom blurting directions at every intersection... Found Midas.... Thank you God!! Midas was able to find the leak ~ there was a flat sharp piece of metal in the tire~ fix the tire ~ provided a little play place for the 2 littles ~ I had gone thru the McD's drive thru (and they forgot the Ranch dressing in BOTH sets of nuggets) so they did have something to do ~ but Midas got the tire fixed and pulled the car close for us. Thank you Midas!

Then on to Target... oh... and did I mention that it is raining cats and dogs thru all the get in the car, get out of the car, buckle carseats, unbuckle carseats.... and I did buy an umbrella at Target!!! so that was my story from 10:40 - 1:30!!

Better than best news is that .... Makk is out of surgery... it went from 10 - after 1 pm.... and he isn't out of Recovery yet... but he is safely out of surgery. I feel a bit disappointed because they didn't find any obvious reason for his digestive paralysis.. I was so hoping they would look and do a "House" thing as say .... 'oh, no wonder, and we can fix this right now'. Unrealistic -I know ~ The tube is in, the wrap is done, the specialists all got their peeks of his insides... just waiting ~ still praying for a merciful recovery period. What trauma for an 8 year old....

Some day I will type up the story of my drive North... LOL...

The Great Pumpkin!!

10-10-2009 12-22-57 PM_0030
Originally uploaded by Amah

Saturday Clint and Sallie came over... Joe and Halley too. They brought the little trailer... they loaded all 340 pounds of pumpkins on it and brought it down to the garage where it got weighed! Joe did the weighing for us... The biggest was 144 (I think) pounds, and the smaller 3 each were about 75 pounds each.

Joe loaded 2 of them into the car so that I could bring them with me up to Bremerton for the kids, the largest went to Sallies for Halley and Tucker to carve for Halloween, and Clint dropped the other one off at Judy's.

I know there are lots and lots of bigger pumpkins. Ones that would make these just look like seeds... but they are the biggest ones I've ever grown, or even seen for that matter. And I am proud of them!!

After getting to Bremerton on Monday, the World Newspaper called and asked about them... sooooo funnnnyyyyy!!!

Just a Vent

I'm venting today. Something I usually have to do with myself - or make Keith listen to me. And poor guy, he seems to think that I think that he should have solutions to everything... so ... if you are of a mind to, read on......

I just listened to 'Breaking News' on MSNBC and it seems that now the police are being questioned in their responsibility for a 24 (or so) year old woman who was detained, taken to the police station, and released. Evidently, her family and their lawyer thinks the police department should have shouldered the responsibility to made sure she had arrangements to get home, or made arrangements for her. They say that they had no right to keep her and she wanted to leave. Who wouldn't? So here we are again with the government responsible for private aspects of a persons life. I wonder out the side of my head, just how many figures will this cost an already budget strapped department? When will we, as adult Americans, take back the responsibility for ourselves? "We" don't want "Big Brother", but insist, via mega lawsuits and an overzealous media, on the same Big Brother being responsible for every aspect of our lives.

We buy a house we can't afford... Get the "Government (aka taxpayers) to subsidize us so we don't have to move to something we can afford.

We lose our job... We spent way more than we earned, have mega credit card debt, live in a house we knew we couldn't afford, and have saved nothing. Ask the Government (aka taxpayers) to extend unemployment benefits because we are broke.

Not only do we employ undocumented workers, we miss the point in that, they are sending everything they can out of the US! Every dollar they send to where-ever-they-sent-it-to is a dollar that will never again be spent in the US. It is not income or sales taxable. Wonder where our money is going? Look at the nearest globe!

And not only are the undocumented workers sending the USD out of our beloved US, every time we buy something that is not 'MADE IN THE USA' we are sending those very same USD's out of the Country. I am just as guilty of buying something because I want it now and don't have time to research an item to find one 'MADE IN USA'. Those same USD's that have rebuilt Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc are what are not being spent in the USA. Where does all of our money go?

Every time illegal drugs are purchased, the foreign drug cartels are getting richer and the citizens of the USA are getting poorer. Not just from the effects of the drugs... but from the dollars being sent out of the US.

What happened to the day when we, as Americans, respected ourselves and our neighbors? We morally did not overcharge, gouge, steal from, or pillage our fellow citizens. We did not take what we were not entitled to, ie worked for what we got. And those who did were castigated, ostracized, or just basically 'frowned upon'. I know it sounds really silly, but, our decay as a country, a society, has decayed since our basic morals have gone downhill to the me, me, me stage of development (I think that is somewhere around 3 or 4 years old).

I am not talking about all of us. There are many, many people who are great, wonderful, upstanding people. There are many, many people who legitimately need and deserve assistance. There is a whole generation of children who's parents have given them over to daycare and the schools to raise them... and then blame the 'government' (school system) for not raising them correctly. Those are the same standing there with their arms (not just hands) filing lawsuits that do nothing for the continued good of the many.

ok,,,, I'm done for now. Just wait until the next segment of MSNBC comes on!! I'm switching to HGTV.... I don't get near so upset.... LOL

Makkiah

All Prayers Front and Center!

Makkiah's surgery is scheduled for October 14th for his g-tube, fundo, pyloroplasty, rigid and flexible bronchoscopy, laryngoscopy, endoscopy, sinus biopsy and possible lung biopsy. That's only three weeks away

This is a direct quote from S'te.

I know prayers from coast to coast will go into the surgery for this precious little guy who just happens to be my precious Grandson!

Amazing!

Last week was eventful. We had a new HVAC system installed at the same time as I was doing some blackberry juicing, and canning pears. On one day an evaluator came out to check on the little guy's progress with walking, and I had set a time Friday to go out and do one final big blackberry picking with Clint. With the vacuum running constantly (the little guy is still crawling) to pick up the lint, dirt, and other falling debris from the install and the other things going, I was staying fairly busy.

Well, on Wednesday as I was doing some green beans I noticed that my back was aching quite regularly. Then on Thursday, as I was peeling and water-bathing pears, it kept getting worse. It was working it's way up under my right shoulder blade and nothing, no position change, NOTHING eased the ache. By Thursday night - I was in pain. Real honest to goodness outright pain!.. From my front ribcage under my arm around to under my ribs in the back and up under my shoulder. So I put the remainder of the pears back in the box with a promise to start again 'tomorrow' and took it easy for the rest of the evening. Well,

Friday morning didn't do any better. I couldn't relieve the pain by standing up - or sitting - or laying down. SO I did what every smart person would do ~~ I called and left a detailed message on voice mail at the Doctors office wanting to know what I should do. Should I make an appointment or go to the ER. I wasn't getting any better and I couldn't continue this way for much longer. I wasn't in debilitating screaming pain - but enough I couldn't focus on anything or do anything. And I knew something was wrong - more than likely another gallbladder attack that would magically disappear as soon as I entered the medical domain ~ LOL..... Well....

An hour and a half later, still no call from the Doctor office - so I call them back again and get the magical words "I'm here all by myself and I do the best that I can. If you are in pain you should probably just go to the ER because that's where we would send you anyhow." So, WHY DIDN'T YOU RETURN MY CALL AND TELL ME THAT AN HOUR AND A HALF AGO!! So.....

Keith and little guy took me to the ER. . . it was 11:29 when I signed in. I remember that because the volunteer said it wasn't 11:30 yet so I marked through what I had put in the space and rewrote it. LOL.... They did a great job at Bay Area Hospital. I had my bloodwork done, an ultrasound, pain medication, very polite and nice nurses and aides, and they had a surgeon in talking to me by 2:00. Now, to some of you, that doesn't sound really great - but I've sat in many ER's longer than that before triage even got to me, so other than the lightening fast ER at Philomath that Keith went thru last year, this was the best visit ever - as visits to the ER go! So...

By 5 pm I was coming out of the recovery room minus a gall bladder and being put into my room for the night. Everyone was nice and pleasant. I didn't feel like I was infringing on anyones time or activities. I was checked on regularly, helped out of bed many times (the IV was running thru me LOL) and walked up and down the hall before lights out for the night.

Dr. Hamn, the surgeon came and saw me this morning, said I passed muster, things looked good, and he repaired a hernia as well as the gallbladder removal. We chatted at length about foster care. He and his wife had older guests into their home until a final child showed them that they no longer cared to continue opening their home and their lives for the potential problems that come with dealing with these abused children. If it were up to us - we'd have fixed all the issues at 1 sit-down. But, sadly, it doesn't work like that. He seems like an extremely nice man as well as a talented surgeon.

Clint came and rescued them from me about 10:30 on Saturday morning and I am glad to be home. I still have beans on the tepees, tomatoes on the vines, and a box of pears staring at me - as well as a back yard that badly needs done... but - I am following Dr.'s orders and doing nothing much for right now.

I appreciate all of the prayers and well wishes that were sent my way, I am sure they have helped immensely. It's always nice to know that there are people out there who do care... :-)

So, now, back to my chair and the remote.......

Pumpkin!

Keith points out the biggest pumpkin in our patch (besides him) LOL

Another is hiding down there too.

The ever fruitful bean tepees. I've been picking and canning for 2 weeks now. Still beans to go! Tim said tonight - 'guess what Keith - green beans for dinner" LOL

I have some in the pressure cooker as I type... LOL

I have also been picking blackberries and have learned how to steam the juice out and make jelly so I have no seeds. As well as 2 huge cobblers that the 'guys' have inhaled. I do so love for my offerings to be appreciated!
A small sample of what I've been doing.
This is what I keep in the house for 'instant access' LOL

A sample pickin'My handsome helper!

A few green beans done!
Juicing the blackberries.
No pictures of the gallons of jam, juice, and frozen berries that we now have!

And I have pears to do tomorrow!
And apples.
And
And

soon the tomatoes will be overrunning me.
Bountiful Earth!!

Labor Day

Rod and S'te had planned to bring the family down for the Labor Day Weekend. I had all sorts of goodies gathered to send back up with them. Some of the 'bounty' from the garden that seems to never end as well as the goodies that I had baked and canned during the summer. I love my remodeled kitchen. It is so nice to work in. A REAL cook still wouldn't have enough counter space or enjoy the odd layout that we ended up with. But I all love it! I have enjoyed using it all summer long. I have baked, canned, juiced, steamed, gelled, stir fried, boiled and anything else imaginable with the veggies and fruits that I've grown and picked so far.

So anyway, back to my story. The Navy decided that Rod's trip wasn't going to happen as we'd hoped so.... we got permission to take one of our babies and all of this STUFF to them. We had a really great time. I can't believe how much the kids all grow and develop so quickly. I got to see first hand and from the other side of the fence, how Sharen and I must've been during our pre-teen/teen years. oops... lol... The kids all seem to be loving the life up there in Washington and seem to be adjusting well to the change. School has started for them and all is chugging along. Mak is still having health issues but hope is eternal that somehow the puzzle pieces will fit and a diagnosis will be found along with the cure for the issues that just seem to be blooming.

So we make it back home - no tickets, no problems, no issues YAY!! and another holiday for 2009 has come and gone.

Meteorlogic First Day of Fall!

It's September 1st and.....

And we are getting new neighboros... One day a few weeks ago a piece of equipment showed up and cleard the lot across the street....

Then someone showed up to pour concrete. Then one morning I woke up to a huge hole at the entrance to my driveway (I was suprised!). They had to dig really, really deep to find the sewer line LOL... and they found water instead.... What was planned as a morning procedure turned into 2 days.... and we got new rock clear down the road and into our driveway... Works for me!!

and yesterday a package from Gerald arrived.....

and guess what!

I still say my face isn't that fat (sound familiar S'te?)... but if that's what I look like.... it's what I look like.

Other than changing diapers, transporting to visits, and watering very dry (brown) grass - life has been a total non-event lately....

Done with that!

Well, that's done! It is really nice out there. Sharen and friend, Michelle, came over for a couple of days. I think we spent more time out there than anywhere else!

She also brought me a couple of pictures that our brother has drawn... He is such a great artist. Sharen also had the picture he drew for her - and I didn't think to take a picture of it... I'm really bummed about it too. It also was really pretty!




Now to find frames!

Another beginning....

A few days ago we decided we wanted to move the gazebo over closer to the new deck. Of course, I didn't want to do it the easy way and put it on the deck.. SO... we are putting in a patio...

Here is the beginning.....

The middle


and the end of today....
I have about 300 blocks in...and about 100 to go.

My hands are raw
My head is sunburnt (that's why Keith's hat is on my head)
and I feel a great sense of accomplishment!

Keith has been great about watching the boys
while I play in my rapidly disappearing sandbox!

And I will wait until about 10 pm to see if I can still move.... LOL

Dad got the back terrace all lined out and the first blocks went in. The 'berry patch is now really well defined. (That's a joke!) But the raspberries are in and producing!

Dad had to leave and didn't finish the project so Keith and I completed putting the blocks on (Dad had already done the hard part) ~ and we had to hire someone to 'smooth the edges' hehee......


It really looks great out there. All smooth - no lumps and bumps - and the seed is already growing! By Labor Day - we should have a really nice little play spot in the 'orchard'! The fruit trees that Sallie planted the last 2 winters are really taking off. We had a lot of really good plums this year - the crows thought so too! They got most of them before we got a 'picker' for the ones we couldn't reach!


The pumpkins are taking over the world out back! We will have to go to the neighbors yard to pick the sunflowers... hehee!


They are trying to take over the radish bed and the other pumpkin bed. Talk about greedy!


And it's a great year for zucchini! I've baked and frozen bread, made brownies, and had lots of stir fry. Amanda took some home, Tim was 'gifted' with some, Sallie took all she wanted for now, and . . .


The beans are taking off. I hope someone really wants green beans really, really badly ~~


And ~~~ squash anyone?

This is just what Clint and I picked one morning. We've certainly got a bumper crop going!

Summer is progressing!! LOL

More, more, more

It seems like the faster I go - the behinder I get!

The baby will be a month old soon and still is no closer to sleeping for longer than 3 hours at a time (not at night anyway LOL)! Totally adorable, of course, as all of my babies have been.

Went to Powers to Uncle Jim's 83rd Birthday. Had quite a turnout and saw many that I haven't seen in years! He had family travel up from California and down from Portland and over from Arizona. Michelle was in attendance with her 2 youngest - and she has another on the way !! Way to go girl! I spent the day getting re-acquainted with many of my family. Of course, Baby slept most of the day - so he was ready to stay awake most of the night so Sunday was pretty much a rest day. Other than a bit of weeding - not much else went on.

Keith has been out of town for the last couple of weeks - he will be home again tomorrow! Yippee! I miss him so much when he is gone... Just miss him.... Dad came in to town and spent the afternoon and had dinner - I fixed meatloaf - I think he could eat it as often as Keith could! i saved some for Keith as I know he really, really likes it too. And he will be home tomorrow! (I'm sure I already said that - but I'm sooooo glad!)

Dad is looking at putting a couple of terraces in our back yard. Can't do all of them as the garden is in the way... Boy is it growing! We already done cabbage, cabbage,and more cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, strawberries, onions, lettuce, and raspberries from there - and lots more to go!

I took pictures of the picnic and of the garden - but again - I can't get the picture upload tool to work. That gets frustrating as all getout!!!

Anyhow, all is well here, missing my dear husband, and trying to keep myself occupied. Hope all is well with you.

Busy week~

Independence Day was great! Sallie the chef invited several over and we had our own celebration with wonderful food. Of course the food is always wonderful when we are at Clint and Sallie's. We had BBQ'd tuna, tri-tip, and chicken, accompanied by all the salads, chips, dips, fresh garden veggies (and I mean RIGHT out of the garden!), and great company! We met several of our neighbors that we didn't know and saw a few that we haven't seen since we were here last year. We are all so very thankful to all the Men and Women in Uniform that makes free and easy gatherings like this possible. Without them things like this wouldn't be possible!

We took the plunge and went up to Powers to visit. For as much as Keith travels - he doesn't care for the Powers Highway )-: But he went and we spent a really nice afternoon visiting with Aunt Nita, Uncle Jim, and Dad. Then they dropped by here for a bit Thursday afternoon. I got to show Dad our little place here and talk a bit about all of our 'big' plans~ several years' worth to put it mildly... but who knows what we might get started... with a little help from our families.... LOL
Kim's picture!
Keith is gone again for awhile. It's a good thing he loves to travel - as he has been doing a lot of it lately! We went up on Thursday for him to fly out really, really early on Friday morning. Then Baby and I came back down the coast. It was a really pretty drive. Beautiful blue sky and the dark green trees! Just Wonderful! except the part where I got stuck in the Oregon Country Fair traffic... And I wasn't even going to it. I'm not near 'country' enough for it! LOL

I got home just in time to welcome 2 little girls for the weekend and the three have pretty much kept me busy today. The girls "helped" me pick peas and strawberries and thin out the carrots. "We" also got some apricots, apricot jam, mixed berry jam, and strawberry jam done for Amanda to take up to S'te this weekend. Got all of that done just in time for Amanda to take some still~cooling jam up with them. Thanks so much Amanda and Jason. I got all of S'te's 'stuff' sent up ~ and forgot to give Amanda Danika's birthday gift... CRS... it's coming of fast....

Time to get kids ready for bed....

Driving, driving, driving, done....

Left on Monday evening to take Mak, Tetee, and CB up to see their new home... as Tetee so sweetly put it. My week with them has come to an end and it is time for them to bless their parents!! We really had a wonderful drive up... the kids (including CB - unbelievably!) watched ET - likened him to a foster kid who needs to be taken care of until his parents can come get him - Stopped at Drain to have Mexican dinner - boy, oh boy!, can CB eat!! he ate his dinner, sampled my dinner, and finished Tetee's!! Mak - bless his heart! - had his formula topped off by a cup of broth - heated by the wonderful waitress we had there. Then back into the car for the remainder of the trip....

As per normal for us... we got our directions mixed up and had to be 'found' and escorted to the new abode of the Elmores - about 2 am - after many miles out of the way and back again. We didn't end up far from them when Keith finally called and said SOS!!! Rod and S'te were there within minutes to show us the way in!

We truly enjoyed spending the day with them, getting the grand tour, playing checkers, and soaking in the 'new' hot tub!

We got up this morning and left the sleeping Elmore clan to catch the Bremerton/Seattle Ferry!! It was a beautiful crossing. I love the water!! and the georgeous homes along the waterfront!! It took just about an hour before I could see the Seattle skyline - I recognised the Space Needle from our trip to Seattle back in '99!! LOL




We made a wrong turn coming out of Seattle so ended up going clear down the I5 to the I84 before going East to Pendleton. I'm not sure how much time we actually added to the trip... :-( ... but ended up in Pendleton right at 4 pm. End of visiting hours. So we will stay here tonight at the Holiday Inn Express.. and visit tomorrow before heading back to the Coast! It will be a short visit.... but still a visit... ;-)

According to the news/weather reports... It is going to be really hot, hot, hot tomorrow... all the way to the coast... Thinking I'm really thankful for A/C!!!

So... anyhow.... this is where I am for the night... headed out to the pool....

Having fun now!

We have had a really nice visit! We went to Mingus Park for lunch, to feed the ducks, and to play, play, play!
Mak is giving CB a good push at the Toddler Playground


I think they are enjoying themselves!

And of course, our little hamarina!!


CB fed some ducks and ate some of the bread himself..

Mak shows CB just how it's done...

CB entertains himself really well. He seems to like the deck a bunch

while Tetee watches cartoons all huddled up

and Mak just lays back and enjoys his Sunday morning TV fix...

The weather has been pretty nice if a little windier than usual. About normal for here but a little chillier than they are used to. The valley has been really warm - so that means more wind for us.... so cool it valley!! We get some strange looks in our long sleeves and sweatshirts :-) Highs have been low 70's just about every day. Garden is doing great ~ the sweet peas got so heavy they pulled the fence forward and fell - Keith had to 'rope' them up or we'd be picking off of the ground!! Mak has had fun picking strawberries on a daily basis and Tetee helps me water every afternoon. CB runs and runs and runs his little legs off keeping up with everyone! Mak helped me pick the broccoli and cauliflower amidst Tetee's comments that she 'don't like that stuff' so we were wasting our time... LOL Well, she didn't eat it - but Keith and I sure did! and planted more for later..... :-)

Time is almost up, we will be taking them home next week. I am sure glad they got so spend some time with us.. What blessings~~

Frustration

If anyone ever, ever, ever asks you if you want your AT&T services bundled.... run, don't walk, run away from the conversation!! Keith has just spent 2 whole days trying to find out why we have a late payment on our accounts that have been set up on autopay for somewhere around 5 years!

Back when we went on the road again.... In April, I called AT&T, that used to be Bellsouth, and asked them to disconnect our home phone number. The very nice man at the other end of the line convinced me that I didn't really want to do that - but instead - I wanted to have all of my oh-so-important calls forwarded to my cell phone. (2 months later 2 calls have been forwarded~~) So, for only about $20 per month, my whole billing system would not get all messed up and I wouldn't lose my number, and everything would transition on all smoothly, nicely, and I'd continue to have a wonderful, nice life.....

Fast forward to when Keith opens 2 AT&T bills - one for long distance and 1 with a late payment on it!!!!! So I go back to my email that said "Your AT&T bill is ready to review" and.... I click on the link.... and I use my login and password (as I have most every month for about 5 years) and I am greeted with the message that.... "changes have been made to this account and it is no longer accessible online".

So Keith calls customer service.... He gets the 'residential people' - because that is the number on the bill he has been sent... They can tell him that the bill is overdue - they can't see why - because the line has been put on remote call forwarding so no further information (or the billing breakdown) is available, so I get concerned that his cell phone and data card will be 'suspended' also. So I ask why it isn't on the bill.... no one can tell me - because it isn't residential. So I go look at the wireless website and I see where they have charged the credit card for June, the bundled mess for May, April, March but no information any further back. By this time Keith has been on the phone for a couple of hours being transferred here and there and he just wants to know what the billl is for and to pay it. So I try to pay it online.... again ... cannot access account online.... even tho' the continuous recording says... 'save time and go to att.com'!!! What a circle jerk!!!

So Keith calls back and presses the option to pay the bill that should have been an autopay and we never got a paper bill and couldn't access it online... and the woman says 'there will be a $5 charge to pay this bill via a live representative'!!! So I lose it and tell her that I am not giving AT&T an additional $5 for thier errors and messed up systems!! and Keith hangs up!!!

This morning at 5:30 am he gets up and starts calling again. He finally gets the bill paid - hopefully without the $5 additional charge and he was trying to find out why the bill was late and not autopaid so that it would not happen again (and he has the paper in front of him that says they have received wireless payments monthly forever!) and NO ONE COULD TELL HIM just what the $150+ broke down to nor could anyone guarantee that his cell and data card would not be interupted.!!!

So about 7:30 this morning - after being transferred around for 2 more hours... we will not have a landline in Florida any longer. Keith's cell and data card are safe, the bill is paid, we still do not know why we have been double billed, there is no call forwarding, and no one can tell us because no one (even the combined billing department) can access a combined bill once it has been un-combined and no one can see the individual portions of a bill that was combined.

AND, for taxes, I need the prior bills. The ones from January to May. The ones that I usually print only the pages I need for records. I cannot access them online as the service has been interrupted. They transfer Keith to the department to get copies of the bills that we didn't get because we did it all online and electronically (you know - save the trees! and the burn barrel) and I didn't print because it isn't the end of the year and I don't need them yet.... and she says ~ ~ all bright and cheerful ~~~"Of course we will gladly send you whatever copies you need. There will be a $3.50 fee for each previous bill added to your next bill. What address do you need for it to be sent to?" At that - he hung up. I was wishing all sorts of bad things on the system as a whole (not any singled out person!) and sorely wish that 'customer service' was again CUSTOMER SERVICE. In relating the same story over and over again for 2 days - and receiving totally irrevelent answers over and over again - I don't know if I wasn't explaining what happened in English and understandably - or if no one really cares as long as they get paid. I'd bet on the latter!!! And poor Keith.....

So, as the many, many reps at AT&T continually said..... ~~~~ "HAVE A NICE DAY!!"