A Walk in the Park

The colors of fall are every where now...so beautiful!




We have seen a coyote, lots of deer and an egret by the water during our walks in the park. I had my camera this day and captured this peacock just outside the park.



Grandma and Joshua at the Park.




There wasn't much wind so Joshua had to run his legs off just to get his kite up in the air. There was a draft higher up that carried his kite to the end of it's string. He was so proud...and Grandma was so pooped from trying to keep up with him.

Camping, fishing and smores!!!

We took our grandsons Jacob and Joshua camping for a couple of days. It was great!
Both boys remind me in very different ways of my son as a young boy. It was fun.




We did nature hikes, went fishing, did arts and crafts, caught poly wogs, played card games and Yahtzee, and watched a couple animal movies. Jacob was the big winner in the game department. I think he won just about every game we played.



Joshua is the more patient fisherman. He caught 4 fish.






Jacob had gotten a big bite but lost the fish and his hook so he traded in his pole for a bucket to catch poly wogs.

Take me out to the ball game...

Jacob and Joshua are on the same team this year. (Jacob is almost 9 and Joshua is 7.)
This is good for the boys. Josh is learning a lot from his big brother.
It also makes it easier to watch a whole game instead of going back and forth between 2 different games. They were warming up with the team when grandma got her camera out. Without having to say anything, they both looked at the camera and said "cheese".






Jacob was the only one to hit home runs on both teams that played. This was his second one that game. These 2 home runs brought home a total of 6 runs.
Joshua did great too. He got base hits each time he was up to bat and even made the final out of the game. He was playing 3rd base and stopped a ground ball then tag the base making a forced out. He did it so naturally even tho he seemed so surprised at what he did.

Fort Bragg

After Tax season, Bob & I spent a few days at Fort Bragg. We walked the beach, gathered tumbled glass at Glass Beach, visited the lighthouse, museums and botanical gardens. The weather was great with only morning fog on one of the days.





...and the sunsets were spectacular...if you look close, you can see Bob standing near the point. Just click on the picture to enlarge it.





We strolled the streets of Mendocino. These pretty flowers were growing outside the restaurant where we had lunch.





We took a drive "through" the redwoods, so to speak.





These trees are so huge! You can see how little our car looks next to them.

Mt. Calvary...(AKA some hill near Butte College

At the very top of this hill/mountain are 3 crosses. Bob and I refer to this as Mt. Calvary. Many times we have gone there for sunrise services on Easter Sunday. Usually 30 or more people will be there. This time the gate was locked and we seemed to be the only 2 that took the chance in climbing over the fence and hiking to the top.....It was really very intimate.



Up on top...It was sad to see one of the crosses broken.
Sorry the pictures are blurry. I set my camera for "twilight" since it was before the sun came up. Never try new camera settings before an important event.


Here comes the sun.....It was so awesome to be praying by the crosses while the sun came up....to each of you, have a blessed day!

Table mt. hike

Joshua spent the week end with us.
He is in Cub Scouts and needed to go on a hike to help earn one of his badges.
So Grandpa & Grandma took him for a hike to Table Mt. We went to the big waterfall, only there wasn't much water going down. It was fun anyway. Joshua, being a typical little boy, thought it was more fun to walk beside the stream (and sometimes in it)instead of on the path. (I had to buy him a new pair of shoes for church the next day.)
It was a good day for kite flying. He was so proud to get his kite up in the sky. In fact, it was so high he ran out of string! Boy...he could hardly wait to tell his brother. It was a very rewarding week end.

Winter is finally here!

We took a drive to Mt. Lasson recently. It was a nice peaceful afternoon.We stopped to stretch our legs and throw a few snowballs.

Since the groundhog saw it's shadow, we have had lots of rain, snow and strong winds. Yes, we need RAIN. The lake is so low. It is starting to look more like a pond.

As you know, my husband is a CPA, so we are deep into "Tax Season". (I'm back working in his office.)
It's 1040, 1040, 1040, 1040, 1040, 1040..........

Groundhog's Day

Most people have heard of Ground hog's day. While it isn't any kind of a holiday, it does appear on calendars and marked on Feb. 2nd. My birthday is also on that day so all my life I've been called the "family groundhog." If the gr.hog sees it's shadow on that day, it is said we will get 6 more weeks of winter. As you can see by this picture, the "family gr.hog did in fact, see her shadow. Yes... I know, where I live, we desperately need winter, (rain mostly.) The lake here is soooo low, it will take more than the grhog's shadow. Does any one know a "rain dance?"
I did have a great birthday. I feel so blessed and loved. I had heard from so many family, old dear friends and new friends. All of my birthday wishes left me feeling quite special indeed. I thank each and every one for making my day so great....Did you say, how old am I? As my husband puts it, I am two nickles. (55)

Fire proof

Last night my sisters Marilyn and Evelyn and brother Wayne (and their spouses)came over for dinner and a movie. I had bought the movie "Fireproof" which I was eager to share with family. It was great bonding time for all.
All my sisters and brothers could not make it last night so I'll have another dinner/movie night soon.
The movie is now on DVD for rent, so PLEASE do if you have not seen it. (The "Love Dare" book is a big part of the movie.)

Code Of Arms

Cathy asked to see a picture of her room. Here it is with the crown molding. Notice what the sign says in the teddy bear's hand?



We had Code of Arms Construction hang crown molding in 3 rooms. This is the owner, Chris Ecton. He is also the one we had do a room re-model last year. He's a great guy, (a christian too).

Crown Molding

Hey girlfriends...Just wanted you to know that I'm putting crown molding in your bedroom here, also in my home office and master bathroom. Your room is always waiting for you.Lets try again for a reunion this spring-early summer.
P.S....Have our blogs become a thing of the past? Is FACEBOOK the latest thing now?
(I just learned how to blog!)

Prayers are needed

One of our church family's young son had a skiing accident on Friday. He is in intensive care in a Reno hospital. I just learned of it in Church today. He has multiple injuries, including a broken neck. His name is Cody. Please add this young boy to your prayers.

The Secret Code

The last time the grand boys were over, they talked about how cool it would be to have a secret club house and to be able to make a secret map and write in secret code. They were really big on this "SECRET" thing. So I told them I would mail them each the alphabet with a secret code for each letter. They could then write letters to one another in this secret code. Rannon lives about 25 miles from Jacob and Joshua. They were so excited. Grandma had scored some big points!!! They asked how I knew about this kind of stuff since I was a girl. I told them, "It's a secret." (Having raised a son was a big help.)

Testosterone overload !

I had my 3 grandsons over night. These little boys are so much fun...but a little too rambunctious. I had rented the movie, "Dog Gone" for them. (It was only 1 dollar at the "Red Box".) Excellent movie for young boys. They laughed so much. The next day we went to the park for a nature walk and to ride their scooters. (Really, I had to get them out of the house for a while.) After lunch everyone enjoyed banana splits, and before the sugar kicked in, they were on their way back home. (I'm old but not stupid)...I LOVE being a Grandma!

A precious moment

Often Jacob & Joshua go to church with us when they spend the night. We also give a blessing before eating a meal. Well, the other day at dinner, Joshua spoke up and said he wanted to pray also. Grampa said absolutely. That little guy (he's almost 7) thanked God for the food, his parents, grandma and grandpa, his friends, Santa, his numerous pets at home, ect., ect., ect.,......Amen. When I told his mom about that, she said at Thanksgiving dinner at her parents house, Joshua wanted to say grace. She said they finally had to stop him so they could eat. When I expressed to him that I was proud of him for wanting to pray, he said, "Grandma, God likes it when children pray. God listens to them." .... Ahhh, God bless Joshua!

Happy New Year!!!

Joe and Cheryl invited us to their house for New Years eve. They had a huge taco bar with everything you could want on a taco. Cheryl makes the best salsa. She has given me her recipe but it never turns out like hers. (I did manage to snag a bowl of it to take home.) She also had a goody table with cookies and candy and sparkling cider. I wish I had taken pictures.
My nephew and his wife and 3 kids joined them.
Bob and I being the old folks, didn't make it till midnight. We both started yawning about 10 pm. It was foggy out and we had a 30 minute drive home so we left early.

Now that the holidays are behind me, I can take a deep breath and reflect on how blessed I am. To all my friends and family, I wish you a healthy and prosperous new year. Your friendships are most precious to me. I love you all and I know my walk through life has been greatly improved by your examples.

God is Great and Life is Good!

Christmas Day

My son Joe, his wife Cheryl and their children Jacob, Joshua, and Mallorie joined us on Christmas Day. The kids opened presents and we had a nice dinner and fellowship. I had hoped to have both Wendy's family and Joe's family together for Christmas but it didn't work out. Wendy's family came over the day after. It was all good.
Cheryl and I hit the after Christmas sales early the next morning. It is a good bonding time for us. We always go the day after Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas. I picked up all new ornaments for the tree for next year

Christmas cookies..yum...

My two grand daughters each had a turn to stay at grandma's and make cookies for their family.It was as much fun for Grandma as it was for them. Wow, I had sugar and flour everywhere! Of course we had to sample our freshly baked cookies. After they had cooled, we put them in a decorative box with a pretty bow. The tag read, Do not wait till Christmas, enjoy now! This is a picture of Mallorie putting icing on her cookies.

Grandma's elves !

Mallorie and Jacob spent the night. They wanted to earn some Christmas money so I found some chores for them. Grandpa muttered something about child labor in which Jacob said it was more like capitalism since they were going to be paid quite handsomely, as he put it. They sure learn quick.

Time to decorate...

...My nativity.


Jacob and Rannon decorated the Christmas tree. I stated this tradition a couple of years ago. They enjoy it so much and I must say they do a great job... within their reach. After they are asleep, I move a few to the upper branches.