One Little Square

Happy Anniversary

2011-08-15T20:03:00.001-07:00

In Remembrance of my Mom and Dad who would have celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary this month~

Bob and LeeElda were married August 12th, 1939 in Caldwell Idaho, when he was 19 and she was 17. They experienced many trials in those early years and I wonder how they survived at such young ages the loss of their first-born daughter, Bob going off to war, and many moves and beginnings.

They were always a great example to me of devotion to one another, and staying together come what may. (Mom hated this photo, but it cracks me up!)

Surprise!

2011-08-10T10:16:00.001-07:00

We had an awesome surprise last Thursday morning. I went to the airport expecting to pick up the "cousins" and instead found Rachel and Casey and girls-so much better. Let me explain: My friend Shirley asked me if I would please pick-up her husband's cousins from the airport since she was out of town and he had a meeting at work, I said "no problem". Little did I know that Rachel had conspired with Shirley and it was all a ruse~when I got there I saw a couple that I thought might be them and turned to look in my purse for the paper with their names, I heard a knock on my window and turned to see Rachel and Megan! AAhhhhh!!! The screaming and whooping ensued! I was so excited and flabbergasted. They stayed for 5 days, which flew by as we tried to fit in every fun thing we could think of. Here are some pictures of a few things. Rachel has more on her camera that I will share eventually.

Casey and Draper with Addison. It didn't take her long to warm up to Draper.

Gramma and Meg-she doesn't like to slow down for pictures!

Gramma and the cowboy (Olson)

Addison with Mommy

Olson-master of the goofy face.

Sara and Deacon-both wiped out after a day at The Enchanted Forest

Deacon-he slept the entire night, even with all our talking, laughing and commotion going on!

Rachel and Mom, it was so wonderful to have her here, but it went so quickly and there is never enough time to just soak it all in. I always wish I could just stop time and enjoy it all, knowing it won't end.

We went to the beach and spent a night at Waldport before going on to Eugene for Draper's USMC Family Day. Addison eating a s'more.

Gramps and the boys tending the fire

Those Stinkin' Missionaries

2011-08-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

Elder Yamada and Elder Bates~

We had the Missionaries over for dinner the other night, these guys are the greatest. If you've never fed the Missionaries, please do so, they're always so grateful and appreciative of the smallest things. They have the gift of bringing the Spirit into our home, and I am grateful for their efforts-each day trudging around looking for someone to teach the Gospel to-and often being met with slammed doors or indifference. But still they smile on and offer to help.

They showed us the newly re-vamped Mormon.org site and we looked around listening to some personal stories and testimonies from church members. I highly recommend it.

Also if you happen to meet a pair of LDS Missionaries, feed them-they will love you forever!

Catching Up

2011-08-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

So I have a little catching up to do~I've gotten out of the habit of blogging and I need to get back in the groove~I didn't take pictures of everything we did this weekend, but here are a couple from the Farmer's Market in Vancouver. Gorgeous birds who are happy to ride around on this guys shoulders.

Our "Soap Lady" Kathy from Farm Maid Soap, we've been visiting her booth and buying her soap for a couple of years now, you could say we're "regulars". It is wonderful, it's all we use. She is planning a trip to China to teach Tibetan women how to make soap from their Yak milk. You can visit her site to learn more-so cool!

My first project for my Etsy site, a small baby quilt from Moda's Central Park line.

I think it needs more quilting~

This is my dream quilt that I started last summer. I finished the top and then waited till I could afford to get it quilted. That was a whole year of waiting. I took it to Dell Drake (Dell-lightful Quilts) who has a shop just down the street from us. I love doing things locally and she does an awesome job!

These are Amy Butler fabrics, (I can't remember the name of the line) and the pattern is Turning 20 Again, a very easy strip quilt.

Love love love them!

This is a top I put together years ago-maybe 2007-and finally had it quilted this summer. The pattern is Yellow Brick Road, an easy strip project.

It feels so good to get things done, it makes me want to sew, sew, sew!

Lost It

2011-07-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

I'm home again, not by my choice but I am glad to be here. I wasn't " a good fit" for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District (according to my supervisor) and I was let-go during my 6 month probationary period. Bummer. I didn't love the job, but was willing to put up with it because I loved getting a paycheck and I thought eventually I could transfer to another position that I would like better. Well, no such luck.
All the trite sayings have been going through my head: When life gives you lemons...,God never closes a door...,Bloom where you're planted...,(not sure that one fits) but I am trying to make the best of it and make lemonade, look for the open window and bloom!
It's really hard, even at my age, when someone tells you you're not good enough to keep motivated and not get stuck in the poor me's. I keep telling myself "well, it's their loss!" And move on.
So moving on will involve things I love: Taking care of our home, sewing, crafting, children and grandchildren, friends and family. I am in the process of opening an Etsy shop, and finding my niche in the crafting world.
I'm trying to look for the blessing in this small trial. Some blessings that have been sprinkled throughout my days so far:
*Talking to Rachel and the girls on Skype in the middle of the day for as long as I want.
*Helping Sara with a sewing project and reading to the boys.
*Not feeling hurried or tired.
*Making real dinners.
*Having fun times with Natie-our laughing trips!
*Getting more exercise.
*Reading
I need a good name for my craft/sewing business-any ideas?

I got it!

2011-05-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

I have been absent from blogging the past few months because I just haven't felt I had anything interesting to say, and I mostly enjoy reading about other bloggers lives, they are so much more interesting than mine! But I guess I should do a catch-up post since I've had some excitement lately.
I finally landed the job I'd been longing for at the Library. After 3 tests, and 2 interviews I got it! I was even able to chose between the 2 positions I applied for. I took the full-time position at Content Management. Content management does just that-manages the content of what goes in the library-mostly books. We see the books before anyone at the library does. We are at a separate location and we receive the books and process them-start to finish-and then send them on to the library branches. I am still in training, but it is very similar to what I did at Clatskanie Library and I'm so thankful for the great training I got there (Thanks Elizabeth), except I don't have to/get to stop and wait on patrons in between the books. I do miss being with the library patrons, they are the life-blood of a library and I miss visiting with them and talking about books.
I am still adjusting to full-time work, after almost 4 years of no work it is quite a difference! Some days my arthritis makes any movement painful, so I feel like I am a slow mover and I come home and soak in a hot tub so I can try it again the next day. I miss my free-time and the time I spent sewing, talking to family and friends and just being home. I imagine I will feel better when that first paycheck shows up (I've spent it sooo many times in my head). I have to learn all over again how to manage my time and energy.
Calvin and Natie have been so helpful with household stuff and kitchen duty. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon!
So here's to a new beginning and a happy reading!

Valentine Crafts

2011-02-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

I've been a little obsessed lately with all things banner-like~I'm not sure of their official names: banners, swags, bunting, but whatever they are I love them! These are the ones I've made for Valentine's Day~ Next time I will make the center pieces bigger and put bigger letters on them, they are kind of hard to read when they are this small, but that is all I had to work with.

Up close...

These are going in the mail~North to Alaska!

Not a good camera shot, but I'm working with a point and shoot here!

Closer view.

So far I started with a fabric banner for my back patio last spring, and then a bigger fabric one for Halloween and now Valentine's, I think I need one for everyday and maybe St. Patty's or Easter, or how about President's Day? I could could put pic's of all the President's....okay I think I need to stop!

That was then...this is now

2011-01-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

It's always beneficial for me to look back over the previous year before moving on to the new, I'm grateful to have this blog and other journals to have pictures and words to remember where and what we did! The stand outs for 2010: Baby girl Addison Paige (Grandbaby #5) born on February 16th. I was able to be at Rachel's to help for a week or so and meet new baby Addi.
Draper leaving for Afghanistan-but better-coming home safe and being here for Christmas!

Visits with family and friends-Spending time with our kids and grandkids throughout the year. Carving pumpkins with Olson, Deacon and Megan. Waking up to baby Addi's sweet smile-every single time, Megan's funny sayings (Holy Crap that's a lot of cows!), snuggling with Olson at the movies, Shirley days, laughing with Natie as we drive down the road...

Gramps getting some help with those candles! #54!

Crazy ladies! Natie is my best buddy, we have so much fun together~

A beach trip and of course the Cheese Factory~with Janet my birth Mom.

Baby Addi

Gramps and Meg having a moment.

Beach day with Sara and Rachel, eating at Mo's!

Calvin with his sister Ranae.

Me and my BFF Kathy.

Our adopted strays, Frank (hunk-a-hunk-a-gorgeous man cat) and Charley (crazy chick cat)

New couch--WooHoo!

Beach Days~

Books I've Read:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett-Loved it

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver-Loved it lots!

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith-Not so crazy about it

Midtford Series by Jan Karon-Loving it again

The Midwife by Jennifer Worth-Really Good

The Virgin of Small Plains by (can't remember, I'll look it up)- Good story

The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square by Rosina Lippi- Light fluff but a fun read.

And plans for this year:

*A trip to Alaska to visit Rachel , Casey and those girls

*New House

*More fun visits with family and friends, cause that what it's all about.

Books I plan on Reading:

I'm setting a goal to read some of the Pulitzer Prize winning Novels and Non-Fiction, here is the list so far:

(1917) His Family by Ernest Poole

(1923) One of Ours by Willa Cather

(1948) Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener

(1950) The Way West by A.B. Guthrie

(1965) The Keepers of the House by Shirley Ann Grau

(2009) Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout

(1975) Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard (NF)

(1993) Lincoln at Gettysburg by Garry Wills (NF)

(1998) Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (NF)

I also plan on blogging more....we'll see.

In Remembrance

2010-11-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

Near Vicksburg

14 June 1863

Mr. John Cassiday

Montezuma, Iowa

Dear Sir,

After some delay I proceed to write to you in reference to the death of your son B.F. Cassiday who was killed in the late battle of Champion Hill-the sad and mournful news of which you are doubtful heard ere this. While it pains me sorely to give you this sad intelligence, there is one thing that consoles me-that is that he fell doing his duty-yes, he stood unflinchingly at his post until the last. He fell at the late hour of the battle. Was near me all the time during the hottest of the fight. At last I missed him after the battle was over, Sgt. Sheely found him lying to the right and in the advance, pierced through his breast by a musket ball. At one time during the fight we were compelled to fall back, he expressed his regret to me that he had to give way. It is unnecessary for me to speak to you of his worth; he was a faithful, brave, and gallant soldier, always willing to bear his part and perform his duty under every circumstance. He has left the entire company and all those of his acquaintance in the Regiment to mourn the loss of a brave comrade and fellow soldier.

He is the second one of your family who has fallen in the Army of his country. William R. Cassiday who was in my company and died of a disease at Milliken Bend was a faithful soldier who was willing to sacrifice the society of a kind family and any friends at home and go forth in defense of his country, has filled his mission here and gone where his troubles are all over-their places in our ranks are vacant and their obedience to orders and willingness to execute them in camp and in the field shall have a place in our memories while life shall last.

Would to God that this war was over and that peace once more reigned over a free country.

But the more I see my fellow soldiers fall around me the more I feel it my duty to stand by my country's flag. Which I expect to do until treason and traitors have been put down and the emblem of liberty (the Stars and Stripes) blow in triumph over this entire Republic.

We have Vicksburg entirely surrounded, our flag waves within 200 yards of theirs and will doubtless at any early date be in our possession.

Very Respectfully

J.W. Carr

Capt. Comdg

Co., D 28th Inf

Regs. Iowa Inf.

* John Cassiday is my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather. This letter has always touched my heart and saddens me to think of thoe families that lost loved ones during the Civil War. I give my thanks today and always for those who serve so we can continue to have our freedoms.

P.S. the picture is not connected to the letter-just one I found on the internet :)

Pumpkin Day

2010-11-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

Gramps and Deacon~aren't they the cutest thing ever!
I know these pictures are a little old, but I wanted to get them on here before I forgot. While Rachel was here with the girls we decided to carve our Jack-o-lanterns, even tho it was a bit early.

We were at Sara's and we had so much fun! Gram and Gramps were pretty much in charge of the carving, but the kids helped out where they could.

The designs were pretty detailed~it was kinda hard!

They turned out great~can you tell what they are?

In the dark...oooooh...scary!

Grist Mill and Corn Bread

2010-11-08T09:34:00.000-08:00

This is how we started our Saturday, marching soldiers outside our apartment. We stayed and watched the Veteran's Day Parade.

Then we took a drive out to the Cedar Creek Grist Mill, it's about 8 miles from Woodland WA, set on the beautiful Lewis River.

We got a quick tour from these guys, both volunteers and full of interesting information!

We walked to the other side of the river and watched the Salmon jumping up the falls.

We got both cornmeal and flour ground right there at the mill that day. I made cornbread last night with the cornmeal and flour, using the recipe they gave us at the mill. Here is that recipe and 3 others to share.

Perfect Corn Bread

1 C flour

1/4 C sugar

4 t baking powder

3/4 t salt

1 C yellow cornmeal

2 eggs

1 C milk

1/4 C shortening

Mix flour with sugar, baing powder and salt; stir in cornmeal. Add eggs, milk, and shortening. Beat until smooth. (Do not overbeat.) Pour into greased 9x9x2 inch pan. Bake at 425 for 20 to 25 mins.

This one is more like cake, sweet and moist:

Corn Bread

2 C Bisquick

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C corn meal

1/2 t baking powder

Put in a bowl and mix together.

In another bowl put:

2 eggs

1 C milk

1 C margerine

Mix together with a spoon.

Add:

Bisquick mixture, stir all together and put in cake pan and bake at 350 for 30 mins.

And one of my favorites, from my friend Edith:

Mexican Corn Bread

1 C butter

1 C sugar

1 C shredded cheddar cheese

1 can creamed corn

4 eggs (one at a time)

1 C flour

1 C yellow corn meal

4 t baking powder

Mis together and put oin a 9 x 13 pan. Bake 350 then turn down to 300 for 1 hour. Will be slightly gooey, needs to set.

Not sure where I got this one but is is yummy too!

Pineapple Corn Bread

1 C butter

3/4 C sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 C creamed corn

1/4 C crushed pineapple

1 C shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 C flour

1 C cornmeal

2 T baking powder

1 t salt

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs beating after each. Blend in corn, pineapple, cheese and dry ingredients; Pour in buttered 9" square pan. Bake at 325 for 30 mins.

Excuses

2010-11-04T12:13:00.001-07:00

This is Frank~This is why I never get anything done. This is one of his favorite napping spots, right in the middle of my project basket. I don't want to bother him during one of his many naps!

Or here..he looks so comfy.

Or here, he just wants some lovin'.

And don't even get me started on these guys!

I did manage to get this banner made in time for Halloween. It was a "no sew" project that was fun and turned out so cute.

Something told the Wild Geese...

2010-10-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

This is a favorite poem of mine and I thought I would share it today. Our weather has turned to Autumn and the rains have started. I think of this poem every time I hear the geese calling as they fly overhead. Happy Fall!

Something Told the Wild Geese

Something told the wild geese

It was time to go,

Though the fields lay golden

Something whispered, "snow."

Leaves were green and stirring,

Berries, luster-glossed,

But beneath warm feathers

something cautioned, "frost."

All the sagging orchards

Steamed with amber spice,

But each wild breast stiffened

At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese

It was time to fly,

Summer sun was on their wings,

Winter in their cry.

Rachel Field

October Beach Day

2010-10-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

While Rachel and the girls were here for a visit on their way to Alaska we took a day trip to the beach. Sara and the boys and Janet joined us at Arcadia Beach for a terrific day in the sun. It was a perfect day for running and exploring.

Beach baby Addie~she is so darn cute!

Deacon, Olson, and Meggie~They had so much fun running and looking for shells.

How did they get so big? (Thanks Rachel for the great pictures)

Trip to Chehalis

2010-09-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

Natie and I took a quick trip up north to Chehalis the other day. We were happy to go because a couple of weeks ago we went to Packwood to the largest Flea Market in Washington state where Natalie lost her wallet, we were hoping that an honest person would find it and it would make it's way back to her (along with the $41 inside). Our hopes paid off and the Lewis County Sheriff's Office sent her a letter saying it was in their possession and she could come pick it up!

We decided to shop around while we were there and found a snazzy quilt shop: Sister's Quilts, and a cute gift shop with a friendly cat: the Mercantile, and a yummy Farmer's Market.

And this weird Duck thingy: And the $41 was still in the wallet Yipee!! for honest folks!

Vintage Faire and Book Signing

2010-08-26T10:46:00.001-07:00

**I should be sewing, but I just want to take a minute and show some of the fun things we've been doing! these are the ladies from Vintage Touch in Lebanon OR~Julie Webber and Patty~Calvin and I met them at the Vintage Faire in Sublimity Oregon last weekend.
Lots of fun stuff to look at, I love just browsing through the stalls and getting ideas and reminiscing about how things must have been back then. Spotting things that I have (in storage) and things that my parents and grandparents used~

Love the pink radio!

Then we drove home through the "Side roads" and stopped in Silverton for their Art Fair and somewhere out in the country we found Swan Island Dahlia Farms~I wish you could see this one for real~it was bigger than my head!
Just rows and rows of beautiful Dahlias

On Tuesday evening Natie and I went to Powell's Books in downtown Portland for a book signing~Mother and crazy daughter!
I have been reading Posie Gets Cozy for a few years now and was so excited to meet Alicia Paulson and hear her talk about her books: Stitched in Time and Embroidery Companion

Franciscan Ware

2010-08-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

I need more dishes like I need another hole in my head...so the saying goes...but I just couldn't resist these (and I really tried) when I saw them in our local "regifting store". I think I went back 3 times and they were still there so I knew that it was a sign-they were meant to be mine!

I have a love, no to be truthful, it's an obsession with all things dish-like. Dishes, bowls, plates, crockery, bowls, platters, bowls...We have enough to feed an army! So when I saw these they just spoke to me~"Rebecca, we should belong to you ". I love the colors, Aqua and cream, and the ripples.

These are Franciscan Ware from 1936 the Coronado pattern. Franciscan Ware was made in California beginning in 1934 and there are many colors and patterns.

These have seen better days, and are kind of beat-up with chips here and there, but I love them all the more for it, it means they have been well used and loved.

Play Date

2010-08-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to put up a photo to show how big those Grandkids are getting! This was when Rachel and the girls were here visiting a few weeks ago, we all went to the park for a play date. From L-R Natie holding Megan, Rachel, Sara holding Olson holding Deacon. The kids are getting bigger and the grown-ups are getting smaller! (Thanks to Weight Watchers!) I love all my kids~and miss the boys that could not be here in the photo.

Beach Baby

2010-08-08T18:11:00.001-07:00

Cutest babe on the beach! Baby Addi (Addison Paige Schanz) at Gearhart.

Swanky

2010-08-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

Two recent projects that were made from "Swanky" by Moda: a baby quilt~
And summer dress for Meggie from Simplicity 5695. It is size 2, but I think it is much bigger-I haven't tried it on her yet so I'm not sure about the fit.

I love the bright colors and designs of this fabric!

Hexi's

2010-08-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've been obsessed as of late with these little hexagons. I saw them being done all over blog land and couldn't resist trying English Paper Piecing~love it! It is easy and kind of mindless hand work that I can do while watching TV or just relaxing in the quiet. I've been using up some of my scraps and I'm not sure what they will end up being, because it will take a lot of them to make a quilt. Grandma's Flower Garden is what I have in mind, but that may take years to accomplish!

There is a great tutorial on one of my favorite crafty blogs ~Bee in My Bonnett

http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/2010/04/hexie-paper-piecing-tutorial.html

Summer Reading

2010-07-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know summer is halfway over, but I'm just now getting into the summer mode and spending more time reading. So here's a list of some books that I've already read, some I am reading now, and some that I want to read (always the longest list).

The Help by Kathryn Stockett~Loved it! I'd been wanting a book that had a good story and involved the south, this was it. It takes place in Jackson Mississippi in 1962 and is told from the viewpoint of 3 different women, 2 are black maids and one is a white 20 something college-graduate. I kept having to remind myself "this takes place in the 60's right?" because the thinking and attitudes towards blacks seemed like it was coming out of the 30's or 40's. It's a "don't want to put it down" storyline with great characters~a memorable story.

Younger Next Year for Women by Crowley & Lodge~this is my second time through reading this. It is a wake-up kind of book and it made me rethink my efforts in exercise and get my butt off the couch and moving more!

the 9 inch Diet by Alex Bogusky~A real eye-opener into the sneaky conspiracy in America to make everything big (including us!) It is like reading a comic book almost, with lots of pictures and diagrams and a fun outlook, but it packs a serious punch-It made me look around and notice how much everything has grown-our plates, drinks, silverware, and along with them our appetites. I've down-sized to 9 inch plates-they looked so small to begin with, but they are just right!

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver~I'm currently reading this and enjoying the lyrical writing style of Barbara Kingsolver. This is set in Southern Appalachia "the wrinkle on the map that lies between farms and wildness" where there is an abundant natural world and Kingsolver describes it beautifully. I find myself taken in by her descriptions of simple daily life
I stop and reread lines just for the beauty of the poetry "My sister has expanded her soul for my support in ways that sometimes resemble wings. My daughters are such experts in grace and wonder that they deliver me a world baked fresh daily." and that's just from her Acknowledgements~I'm not sure how I feel about the actual story yet, but I'm still reading because I love her writing.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon~I'm about halfway through this 2nd novel in the Outlander series. (I think there are 9 books in all). I don't know if I will get back to it. I zoomed through the first book in the series, Outlander and now have trudged through this one. It goes slowly and I just want to move through the story and get on with it! It is a Historical Fiction/Romance in one and this one focuses a little too much on the romance-enough already!

Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth~I've read a few of Roth's other books and she gives great insights into the crazy dieting trap. Sometimes while reading I think she is actually inside my head-how can she know so intuitively what I am thinking? This will be a book I revisit and underline and ponder over.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith~I just picked this up yesterday after seeing it on a blog. It was written in 1998 and is now back in print. The narrator is 17yr old Cassandra Mortman, it tells the story of her and her family who live in an old English castle and after I read the first lines I was hooked: "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. That is, my feet are in it; the rest of me is on the draining-board, which I have padded with our dog's blanket and the tea-cozy. I can't say that I am really comfortable, and there is a depressing smell of carbolic soap, but this is the only part of the kitchen where there is any daylight left. And I have found that sitting in a place where you have never sat before can be inspiring-I wrote my very best poem while sitting on the hen-house." ...can't wait to get to it!

The Writing Diet by Julia Cameron~I picked this up on a whim..hmmm..2 things I need improvement doing, writing and dieting!~The line that got me was "readers will learn to treat food cravings as invitations to evaluate what they are truly craving" It looks like a great way to encourage creativity.

I wish I didn't have to do anything else but read....

A Little Square

2010-07-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about changing my blog name for awhile now, but couldn't find anything that fit, then while I was reading a very inspirational talk by Julie B. Beck* it came to me in a story she told "Not long ago, I was given a little afghan by a friend of mine. It was made by her mother, who is in her late 90's, Alba Gardner. This afghan is made up of a number of smaller squares. My friend said her mother told her, "I'm too old to do anything for anyone." She used to make afghans, but she said that it's too much of a project now. She said, "Well then, Mother, just make a little square." So Alba started with one little square, and then she made another little square. Little by little, her daughter pieced them together for her. Then she could give something to the humanitarian center. She has made many gifts like this for others in need by taking care of one square at a time and having someone help her piece them together. "

This story hit me like electricity. It's so simple but so profound and works in many different areas of my life. I gave a lesson once about journal keeping and connected it with quilts~how our lives are little pieces of our experiences here and there all sewn together like a quilt, a journal is a life quilt in progress. This story reminds me of that~how each little square adds up to a finished project-good or bad-so take care in the making of each little square-it counts.

When a task seems insurmountable, break it down into little squares and one at a time it gets done. I think of this when I'm faced with my weight loss journey and when it gets overwhelming I repeat "one little square". Or if I think what I'm contributing to a certain cause is not much, repeat..."one little square". Like the daughter in this story, there is always someone to help me piece them together, friends, family, and sometimes complete strangers can say or do something to help me put my pieces together!

This is how I think of my life~little squares all bound together with love~the perfect name for the blog that hopefully represents the many different things that make up my quilt of life!

*I can't get the link to work so you'll have to do it the old fashioned way: You can find the entire talk at lds.org. Go to "Serving in the church, then Relief Society, then BYU Women's Conference.

Beach Weekend

2010-06-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend here...Gearhart by the sea...it was your typical spring coast weather, but that's okay. I love to watch the ocean anytime of year.

We took a side trip on the way home to one of our favorite places. (Note: Calvin is holding a bag of squeaky cheese!)

Calvin, Rebecca, and Janet

While Janet, Natalie and I were taking a walk on the beach we noticed a lump of something..hmmm..as we got closer we saw it was a seal pup, we thought at first that it was dead, but then we saw and read the sign

He was just taking a little rest! He was so dang cute! It was hard to stay back, I was so tempted to go up to him and snuggle.

We never saw the mama come back, I hope she did. It seems mighty irresponsible of her to just go off fishing like that, and leave her baby on the sand-with all sorts of dangers lurking about. Sometimes Mother Nature is so cruel and harsh!

Yakima

2010-05-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took a 7 hr. round trip for a 7 hr visit with Rachel, Casey, Megan and Addison. Casey was interviewing in Yakima WA, so we took a scenic drive down I-84, over the Columbia at Biggs junction and through beautiful south-central Washington on 97 then on in to Yakima on I-82. As you round up the hill into Washington you are met by "windmills on steroids". I have always been so amazed by these giant wind turbines. They have a Zen quality about them, so soothing and majestic. I tried to get some good pic's but Calvin was zipping down the hill (on the way home) and I was just randomly pointing and shooting out the window! The sky was beautiful and we could see rainstorms far off. I love the openness of that part of the country, and if Casey takes that job (fingers crossed) we will get to see more of it!

This was what we really sent to see:

Baby Addison (3 months)

Big sister Megan (2 yrs) Just out of the swimming pool.

We had a quick and great visit. We went on a little walk around town, to a soap store and the library, a great time in the pool with Meggie and some lounging time in the hotel room. Then it was back in the Subaru and headed home.

Farmer's Market

2010-05-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Our favorite saturday shopping spot, the Vancouver Farmer's Market was in fine form today. Lots of sunshine and growing things:

Brussel Sprouts

Tomatoes and Bee Pollen

Furry friends:

Talent:

I forgot to take a picture of the food--too busy eating it! We tried the Fettucine today. Yum.

Pillow Talk

2010-05-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

I have been sewing like crazy the past few weeks, making pillows for my cousin Becky, and thought I would share just how easy it is to make pillow covers. I found great instructions on a blog called Cottage Magpie, click HERE to see.
Here are the ones I made. I did more, but didn't get pictures of all of them. I made a few adjustments to the pattern I used. I like my top back flap to have a wider hem (does that make sense?) so I cut that piece an inch bigger. I also used pinking shears to finish my edges not zig-zagging. (Thanks Shirley for the loan of your pinks!)

I've also been making scads of these aprons

They are quick and easy, using a kitchen towel, fat quarter, and 3 yds of ribbon. I got the instructions at Craft Warehouse. If you are interested let me know and I will send you a copy.
Now I can move on to finishing projects that are stacking up in my "to do" basket!

Come What May...and Love It

2010-05-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

This has been a week of changes. I don't like change, I thought I did, I thought I was a person that can soar through changes, because I've had many in the past and seemed to do fine. Maybe it's my old age, or maybe I'm just sick and tired of change! Or maybe just too many at once, good or bad, is too much.
It all started with a "new to us" couch--yipee, something that I've wanted for sooo long (anyone who was acquainted with the old green dump of a couch we previously owned knows why), but still it was hard for me to do it; like maybe I didn't deserve a "new" couch, and maybe I am getting out of my comfort zone, anyway, the acquisition of said new couch caused our entire apartment to be in a uproar-moving every single piece of furniture we own and emptying out every closet, nook and cranny. Putting things in storage, taking stuff to Goodwill, basically reevaluating my stuff-(this goes deep, deeper than you can imagine, that's why it hurts). Agonizing over every decision (exactly why I still have the big green chair) and wondering why do I have so much stuff!
All this was brought on by the fact that someone I have grown to love and depend on is moving-not far-but moving still the same. I haven't talked much about Janet on here because it is a big story and I haven't taken the time to begin from the beginning with this great story. So I'll just say for now, that Janet is my birth mother, and we met 3 years ago. One year ago she moved to Vancouver, about 15 mins. away from the "Shady Glen" (That's my new name for the apartment, it makes me feel special), and we have become close, friends, I don't know if friends can describe it. How can you put a label on what we are, we are family. She is having a chance to fulfill a dream of living by the ocean (one we share) and I will get to see her and enjoy good times at the beach...but still it is a change, I won't be able to call her up on the spur of the moment and say "do you want to go..." It will be different than what it is now, not necessarily better or worse, just different. Different for me is hard sometimes.
Add to this another change, our Ward boundaries were changed on Sunday. Our Ward had grown to 780 saints--too many. So now we are a member of the 1st Ward, Vancouver West Stake. I was just getting to know everyone, and make some good pals. They won't be going to 1st Ward with us, I won't know hardly anyone again-we'll be the new folks-again. Different-Hard.
My kids have thrown some change into the pot as well. Natie is planning a 5 month trip to Mexico to teach English, just talking about it and planning it makes me a little crazy...Mexico-5 months-Natalie-good thing it is far in the future and I can put it in the back of my mind for now!
Rachel and Casey are planning on big changes, he will be graduating soon and they have been looking for jobs and new places to live...Washington (yes), Arizona (no), Alaska (NO). Do they know what this does to a Grandma?!
And last night, I had to say goodbye-for real this time-to Draper. He had a bonus 72leave and flew home for a final goodbye before heading off to Afghanistan on Friday. My children are my heart, and with all this busyness of moving furniture and organizing I have been pre-occupied. Now I have space, and time to soak it in and I fear. I fear change because it brings with it the unknown, that is where faith steps in.
I keep thinking of Elder Wirthlin's last conference talk "Come what may, and Love it", wise counsel from his mother. He says "The Lord in His wisdom does not shield anyone from grief or sadness. How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can't--at least not in the moment. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life. If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness." Then he gives some great advice:
1. Learn to laugh
2. Seek for the Eternal
3. Understand the Principle of Compensation: The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.
4. Trust in the Father and the Son
So I will begin to trust and push away the fear, replacing it with faith. Because different is sometimes hard, but I can do hard things~ (The couch looks great, by the way!)

Me and Ree

2010-04-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

I can now say I did it...waited, and waited, and waited some more to see her~The Pioneer Woman and I are now best buds~she said "Hi, so glad to meet you" and now we're old pals. I already felt like I knew her, but now, she knows me!
Ree Drummond is the Pioneer Woman she has blogged daily for 4 years now about her life on an Oklahoma Cattle Ranch and is now touring with her first ever published Cook Book. (For those of you living under a rock, and have no idea who she is). She made a quick stop last night in Portland and my patient husband went with me to see her. It was a packed house and I was the last one to get a ticket to stand in line after her little question and answer session to get to say hi and have her sign my cookbook. We waited for 4 hours. Good thing we were in a book store, in a mall, so we had books, and frozen yogurt to pass the time, and lots of friendly ladies to visit with. Some even came as far as Pendleton to see Ree.
She was so friendly and kept right at it..

Signing, and smiling, letting everyone have a picture, with only a couple of bathroom breaks. And then finally, she met me~BFF's!

Finis !

2010-04-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally did it. The cross-stitch I thought I'd never finish is done! It took about 3 years (I think, I should have kept better track of when I started). It feels good to accomplish such a big goal. This is the biggest Cross-stitch project that I've done. Now to get it framed! I can't decided on whether to have mattes and glass or just a nice frame.
I'm already on the look out for a new project and went to an awesome Needlework shop yesterday that gave me all sorts of new ideas-working with Linen-which I've never done because I'm chicken. It is much smaller and takes better eyesight and concentration(at least that's what I think), but the lady at the shop assured me it was easy and I could do it! So I think it will be my next project~now to find a pattern I love!
Up close look:

How To Train Your Grandson

2010-04-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

We met Draper and Sara at the movies last night. Here's how the conversation went when we pulled up in the parking lot:
Olson: GRANDMA!!! (followed by a big hug)
Me: Hey you, what are you doing here?
Olson: We're going to see "How to Train your Dragon"
Me: Great, can we go with you?
Olson: Sure, and I'm going to sit on your lap!
Deacon: DRAGONS!!
Followed by snacking, snuggling, and great Dragon surprises. I love that little boy (I'm not little anymore Grandma, I'm 5), he lets me rub his head and scratch his back, and still loves to sit on my lap-even in public.

Who Do You Think You Are?

2010-04-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a lot of family history lately and I'm addicted. I love to think about the stories that I do know, learn new stories and wonder about the what if's or just the what's, where's and why's. There is a new TV show called "Who Do You Think You Are" on Friday nights on NBC (I think), that got the fires going again. It is focused on celebrities and helping them find out more about their progenitors. I am so jealous that they get to travel and see the places where their families lived.
I have loved geneaology since I was young. I remember sitting on the floor with family group sheets and pedigree charts spread out before me, wanting to know more and wanting to know those people. Who were they, how did they live, what did they wear, and did they ever wonder about their future progeny? I loved listening to the family stories and wish now that I would have taken notes! While I was visiting with my cousin Karen last month I loved hearing her story and seeing the pictures of how she and Joe met and married in 1959. I wondered to myself~why didn't I know these things? Well, probably because I spent many years being a selfish teenager and young mother (not that young mother's are selfish-just busy ), more focused on my interests, problems and issues than on other's. But now it gives me a new understanding of who she was and is, and increases my love for her~turns my heart to my family. That is the thing I love most about family history, it increases the love I have for my family~my entire family. (And as I will write more about in the future~it has grown!)
Ancestry.com and Family Search through LDS.org are great tools. Years ago when I was first doing this I had to go to the Family History library and do a lot of writing to different states for information. Now it is available right here at my personal computer! Amazing!
The silhouette's above are of my parents, Bob and LeeElda. I don't remember what year they were done, but I love them and I finally got around to getting them framed and on the wall. I love to see them everyday and remember things about their lives. They had trials and joys, they weren't just names on a chart. I learn from those life experiences and by doing so increase my love for my family.
My Mom was a hairdresser and had her own beauty shop in our house in Portland. While I was at Karen's Joe brought out the sign that use to hang from the pole as you went up the stairs to the shop, it had been in some of my Mom's stuff and ended up at Aunt Pauline's (Karen's Mother). It's funny how something so simple can bring back so many memories and feelings~I love it and put it up so I could look at it everyday.

Maybe I'm getting overly sentimental in my old age~I'll be one of those Grandma's that cry and reminisce at the drop of a hat!

Baby Days

2010-03-01T17:46:00.000-08:00

I am home, and missing this little doll~oh, those newborn joys~the smell, the softness, the little faces and smiles. This little sweetie looks so much like her Mommie did. Addison Paige was born on February 16th, at 7 lbs. I was able to spend a week with Rachel, trying to help as much as I could. Big sister Megan wants to be a helper too!

I'm glad Rachel is so patient, because Meggie loves this baby!

We managed to get some sewing time in~

A blanket for baby Addie. We met the designer of this fabric, Amy Hamberlin, at her quilt shop in Idaho Falls. It was so interesting to hear how she went from quilt shop owner to fabric designer.

I also had a great visit with my long-time friends Kathy and Jay~

We all went to High School together~Go Antelopes! Can it really be 35 years?! I also stopped on my way home to visit with my cousin Karen in Adrian. We had a great family history chat-comparing notes and pictures. It was so great to hear more stories and get some facts cleared up. She gave me a copy of some personal history written by her mother, my Aunt Pauline. I love it! I have been transcribing it onto my computer and enjoying the stories. I stopped at the Owyhee cemetery to say hi to my folks, and saw all the new headstones of the people who have passed since I was there last.

Time passes much too quickly. I know my parents would have loved to see these new grandbabies~

More pictures~

The morning of the delivery

New sister!

Bathtime hair

Sweet Sorrow

2010-02-11T11:50:00.000-08:00

I was just trying to get a shot of Draper and Sara, and didn't see the other couples until I put it up on the computer~
Draper left on Tuesday for the start of his deployment to Afghanistan. He will spend some time in California for training and then "boots on the ground". (I'm still trying to learn that USMC lingo).
We had a nice "Family Day" in Eugene before he left, but each moment is full of the unsaid-"you are leaving, we are staying, there will be an empty spot where you usually are, please come home safe."

2010-01-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

My first entry for the new year! I don't know why it takes me so long to write a post, for some reason I think I have to write the great American novel each time, so I hesitate to even start. Here is what we've been doing the past few weeks:

Celebrating this guy's 28th birthday. (My first born) He had lots of help opening his gifts. I will eventually write a post about Draper, but it is so hard for me to do so, I need to prepare and know I will be alone so I can cry copius amounts. I am such a softy when it comes to my kids...see I'm already starting to tear up-where's a kleenex!

Celebrating this old guys 53rd birthday. (Who is that crazy woman next to him?)

Finishing up Christmas projects~

Starting new projects: every little girl needs a blankie for her dolly.

Making friends with this little chickie..no I didn't make her, I bought her for a friend (no Shirley it's not for you, why would you think I would get this for you...) and now I don't think I can give her up. We have a relationship, we've bonded, she loves me :)

And this mystery picture. It was on my camera, no one claims to have taken it, and no one can figure out what it is...any help?

Soon we will be celebrating this crazy girl's 21st birthday. Don't tell her I put this picture on here, she will be sooo mad!

Happy New Year from all of us...

The End of a year

2009-12-31T21:51:00.000-08:00

I have so many things I would like to say about this year and how glad I am that it is over, but that is for another day-maybe never actually-there are some things better left unsaid. I will just leave a few pictures to sum up what I love...

Deacon~Christmas Cookies

Christmas cookies in full swing!

Meggie-the frosting is the best part!

A baby and rain boots! Christmas morning.

The whole gang L-R

Deacon, Sara, Draper and Olson

Natie

Casey, Megan and Rachel

Presley

Just because he's so dang cute!

A day at the beach

They took this baby girl away from me, she calls me Mommo and she loves lip balm. It's going to take a few days for me to recover.

Ramblings

2009-11-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

We took a drive yesterday out SR 503 to Cougar, just because we've never been and I thought it would be a good idea to get to know our new state~Washington. I grew up in Oregon and love it, it has everything; ocean, desert, forests, mountains, wildlife, quirky people, you name it, you can find it in Oregon (I'm a little biased on the subject). But I figure since we will now likely call Washington our home for a while we should get to know and therefore love her as well. So we had a beautiful winding drive from home to Battle Ground (I need to find out why it is named that) and through our favorite town on the trip Amboy, then Yale, and Cougar~(not much there). We stopped for a break here at Yale Lake, it was quite peaceful, a little treasure at the end of the road.

"Walked for half an hour in the garden. A fine rain was falling, and the landscape was that of autumn. The sky was hung with various shades of gray, and mists hovered about the distant mountains-a melancholy nature. The leaves were falling on all sides like the last illusions of youth under the tears of irremediable grief. A brood of chattering birds were chasing each other through the shrubberies, and playing games among the branches, like a knot of hiding schoolboys. Every landscape is, as it were, a state of the soul, and whoever penetrates into both is astonished to find how much likeness there is in each detail."

Henri Fredric Amiel

----------------------------------------------------

The Robinson Boys

Grandpa Great, Gramps, Draper, Deacon and Olson

November 2009

In Remembrance

2009-11-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

To honor all those who have served and continue to serve our country without question.

Bobby Clifton Brown

Served in WW II

U. S. Navy

Draper H. Robinson

Served in Iraq

U. S. M. C.

This poem was written in 1915 by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD in the Canadian Army while looking out upon the cemetery of his fallen commrades.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;

To you from failing hands we throw

the torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Life and cookies

2009-11-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

I've been a little blah when it comes to blogging lately. I just don't feel that I have anything great to say or exciting to report~same 'ol, same 'ol, around here.
Here are a couple of things that have kept me busy:

A table runner to spruce things up for fall~
And this Nativity cross-stitch I have been working on for years, I'm hoping that this will be the year I finish it!

Grandma and Grandpa "down the hill" are coming for a visit this weekend, it will be great to see them and have some family time.

It must be the cool weather and dark days, but I'm having an overwhelming desire to bake...which is usually followed by an overwhelming desire to eat! Somebody stop me!

Pumpkin Chocolate chip cookies (sorry about the fuzziness-and I can't do it over because they are gone!)

Why?

2009-10-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

Why do I have so much laundry~I can never get it all done~when only 3 people live in this house?
Why are the dishes never done~when only 3 people live in this house?
Why are sprouts better for you than Little Debbie Swiss Rolls?
Why does my bladder lose control when it sees the toilet?
Why do you have to fill out an application and a resume for a job? Why not just say "hey I would be really good at this job, please hire me", and they do?
Why does my list of acceptable foods keep getting smaller?
Why do I always leave my coupons at home?
Why can't I find the spell-check on this thing anymore???

Just a few things that have been keeping me up at night!

JellyRolls

2009-10-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

The latest projects on my sewing table~I love pre-cut fabric. It makes everything go so much faster! This Jellyroll will soon be...

A crazy stip quilt.

Also working on a baby blankie.

Trip to Yellowstone

2009-09-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

Isn't it comforting to know that Old Faithful is still faithful~she's doing her job, even in the face of adversity. The polar ice caps may be melting and we're in the middle of a recession, but she still blows off steam, right on schedule~

The buffaloes are still roaming the range...

Nice people are still offering to take your picture

You can still experience the joy of a "new car"

And see a mama moose in the Teton's

And see views such as this...All is well in the world!

You know you're in Idaho when...

2009-09-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

This is the view we saw driving down the main street in Pocatello ID!

Mom: There's a Brahma Bull in that van

Natie: It almost looks real

Rachel: It is real!

How do you explain something like this? You're in Idaho, that's all you need to know!

So that's not the real reason we were in Idaho this is why we went~

I'd drive anywhere to see those blue eyes and hear "Mommo!"

(More pic's and stories to follow)

Birthday thoughts

2009-09-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

I've felt all these years that I wasn't really the one in charge~raising this girl, this "old soul" in a child's body. She was here to teach me a thing or two, and I have been so incredibly blessed to have her in my life. And so I share my thoughts of Rachel on this, her 24th birthday~

Was it me hanging on to her so tightly or her reluctance to come into this world that made my labor 36 hours long: Trying everything, walking the halls, even getting on my hands and knees trying to get her to turn the right way, desperately pushing to get this 9lb screaming dark-haired child into the light. Her gusto, patience, and tenacity were evident from the start. She started Kindergarten a year early 'cause she was ready to go..."just drop me off Mom", and she never looked back.

We've always put an extra candle on her cake in honor of her shared birthday with Grandad Brown, she's never minded, she's good that way~oh except for sharing her name~Rachel was known as Sissy for the first 3 or 4 years of her life, and then Natalie came along and Calvin called her Sissy, Rachel immediately let him know "She's not Sissy, I'm Sissy"!

Rachel's strength is a quiet one, and so much like her Dad, it's often hard to know what's going on inside of her. But in her quiet way her example of faith shines through and is a beacon to me, a reminder that there is more than the here and now. My hardest day as a mother was when I had to watch my child put her first-born son in his grave and my ability to protect her was gone, it was beyond my power. But I have learned from Rachel's example that the power we can rely on is the Lord's, He is our strength and where our happiness will come from. We are a forever family~and so glad to have Rachel LeeAnn as our daughter. Happy birthday Sissy!

Shhh, I'm Reading!

2009-09-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

I've been catching up on my reading the past few weeks, and I have one I loved, one I didn't and one I can't decide whether to read or not.

I absolutely loved "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society". I had been eyeing this book for awhile wondering about that weird title, once I started reading I didn't want to stop. The story is told in letters, which at first I was skeptical about (I had just finished the next book which was in interview form and wanted a plain ol' narrative) but it flows seamlessly and the voice of the writers comes clearly through their letters. It was reminiscent of other book loves; Anne of Green Gables, and the Mitford series by Jan Karon because of the quirky characters that come alive through great writing. I found myself wanting to move to the isle of Guernsey and get to know these folks. The history of WW II is a bonus, with so many stories. I didn't know about the German occupation of this small island and the hardships the people had to face. I'm sad that the author Mary Anne Shaffer passed away last year and so we won't be able to enjoy any more of her stories.

Now "The Witch of Portobello" is a different story. I tried to like it and stayed with it till the end when I really wanted to quit (I'm loyal like that).
I felt like this was just a vehicle for the author's weird beliefs, he was preaching about his spiritualism and he didn't make me care about his characters at all. They were flat and I didn't care about them or the plot, if you could call it that.

I've had "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" on my shelf for the longest time and now I'm not sure if I want to wade into this one. I've read some reviews on Goodreads and most are not favorable~~so do I want to spend my precious time reading 562 pages of maybe? Have any of you read this one or heard about it? If so, let me know what you think!

I'm Moving to Italy

2009-08-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

I just finished (for the second time) "Under the Tuscan Sun" by Frances Mayes. Saying "I love this book" is an understatement. I loved it even more the second time through and will probably read it again in a few years. If you've only seen the movie please read the book, they only used the book as a loose outline for the movie and if you love home remodeling, history, beautiful writing, all things Italian, cooking and reading about cooking, quirky people or gardening this true story will find a place in your heart~it did mine.

Death Is Not Dying

2009-08-20T11:39:00.001-07:00

***This was supposed to go in the next post (A New Side), so read that first and then this***

more about "Death Is Not Dying", posted with vodpod

A New Side

2009-08-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

I've had some pondering moments about blogging lately and I often wonder what am I doing here on this blog. I started blogging while I was traveling with Mr. R (hence the name of the blog) to keep my kids and other friends and family updated on where we were and show some of the sights of our travels, but since then our circumstances have changed and we no longer travel...so now what, what is so interesting about my life that anyone wants to read about it everyday or even once a month? I mean who wants to see the scads of pictures of my adorable grandkids?

I read a lot of other blogs and love to hear the voices of other women who are trying to raise families, but I notice most of the blogs I see are written by women who are younger than me, and still have kids at home. Where are all the women in my circumstance~an almost empty nester? Closing in way too quickly on 50 and wondering what comes next?

My pondering has led me to think I need to change my blog perspective and be more real about who I am. Not that I am hiding who I am or feel that I am presenting a "fake" me, but I don't put my whole self out there very often. I guess I figure most people who read my blog know me well enough~but maybe not, and anyway it's a blog, if you are reading it and don't like it click the X and move on! Or leave a comment and let me know what you think.

I'm not going to turn this into my personal journal and pour out all my inner feelings but I will be more open about my spiritual and religious beliefs, because that's who I am, I am a Mormon, I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints~I am a beloved daughter of my Heavenly Father~that is at my core and I feel the need to express my love for Him and my Savior here and more fully elsewhere in my life. Hopefully I'm not going to get preachy and spout doctrine, just share my testimony more often, share those things that are uplifting and cause me to ponder~

Like this BYU devotional from Elder F. Enzio Busche, just the things I needed to hear today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snAjZ8mfoYw

Or this talk I listened to yesterday from a woman who is now gone, but she left such an inspiring message. It is about 55 mins. long, so listen when you can have a quiet hour~
(I couldn't get it loaded on to this post, but it is the previous post).
Enjoy and ponder....

Just For Today

2009-08-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

I will live through the next twelve hours and try not to tackle all of life's problems at once.

I will learn something useful.

I will learn something that requires effort, thought, and concentration.

I will be agreeable.

I will look my best, be courteous, and considerate.

I will not find fault with friend, relative, or colleague.

I will not try to change anyone but myself.

I will have a program. I might not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will save me from two enemies~hurry and indecision.

I will believe in myself.

I will give my best to the world, and feel confident that the world will give its best to me.

This has been on my frig for years now, I think I found it on a bookmark. I may not follow it to the letter, but it has come in handy since I have a tendency to get overwhelmed and try to solve all of life's problems (even those that are not my own).

Now that the temp has lowered to a more reasonable place (103, 106, 107 is ridiculous) I can think more clearly and get something done other that sit in front of the fan and sweat!

"What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance."

~~Jane Austen

We came up with some great ideas to cool off during our little heat wave. We are such wimpy's around here, we're use to it cooling off at night and last week it was unbearably hot for those of us with no A/C so we:

*took LOTS of cold showers

*Swimming, lots of swimming

*get your top sheet wet and lay over you with a fan going~~oh so wonderful

*Otter Pops!!

*Spray bottle and a fan

*Lots of driving in the Subaru with A/C

*Visit people with A/C

So we survived~lived to tell about it. It will go down in the books as the summer of '09 "remember when it was so dang hot...."

What do you do to keep cool?

This Week

2009-07-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

Things are starting to bloom and grow around here...

My project for this week, a little quilt that I bought in Montana...

Oh, and guess what? What do you see amongst the green?....

Can it be a little color?

Yes! I'm so darn stinkin' excited!!!

So Yummy~can't wait for the first tomato from the Robinson garden!

Happy summer to you all~

The Fruit of my Womb

2009-07-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

A long time ago in a far away land I had three babies...they grew up into the most amazing grown-ups, I love them~
Draper, Rachel, and Natalie

Meggie!!!

The three grandkids...Meggie, Olson, and Deacon, this is the best shot I could get, they weren't cooperating!

So, Rachel has come and gone, I am sad, but so happy to have spent a few days with her and Meggie. I am exhausted and will write more later about the fun we had!

Fourth Fun

2009-07-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

I'm a little slow at getting our 4th activites on here. I guess it's the summertime slump, everything seems to slow down~and as for around here not too exciting, not yet anyway, just wait till next week!!
Olson, Gramps and Natie poppin' the poppers

Isn't he the cutest dang thing? I just want to snuzzle and kiss him, rub my hands through his hair~eat him up~he's starting to get a little too old for all that stuff, but thankfully he still likes to sit on my lap "Grandma sit down so I can sit on you" my favorite words. (Yes, I'm talking about Olson not Gramps!)

Here is our treasure from the Farmer's Market, my favorite Saturday activity. Goat's Milk Soap~the best, you gotta try! and newly dried lavender hmmm, wish you could smell.

Mission Completed

2009-06-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

All photos taken by Cpl. Lydia M. Davey

The old school building

I can breath a sigh of relief~Draper is home, safe and sound~not that he was in any great danger, but just the fact that he was flying around the world with a bunch of guys with weapons strapped to their bodies can make a Mom worry~Mom's are like that.

I am so proud (and a little jealous) that he was able to join in this effort to improve the education of the children in this African village. He has some great stories of the locals~impressing them with his "magic" tricks and local flavor~goat for dinner~

http://www.marines.mil/units/marforaf/Pages/Main.aspx

Here is an account of their trip:
SHARED ACCORD delivers new school, new hope to remote village
Story Date6/14/2009 By BylineMaster Sgt. Grady T. Fontana, UnitMarine Forces Africa
DatelineBEMBEREKE, Benin — Page Content-->
BEMBEREKE, Benin — Deep in the middle of heavily vegetated terrain, about 15 miles east of here and from any paved roads, lays Konarou, a small town of about 850 villagers. In this town, small clay huts scatter the fine, reddish, dusty soil and the nearest town rests about four miles away.
In the middle of Konarou is a larger straw hut, a school, designed to accommodate about 35 students—and no more. Since the school is so small, it can only accept children five through ten years old.
Benin is a country where 45 percent of the population is zero to 14. For a town the size of Konarou, the school was inadequate. In came the Marines and Sailors.
About 42 service members from the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11, are working around the clock to build a steel-constructed building at Konarou that will stand as a new school for these local villagers.
The construction is part of Exercise SHARED ACCORD 2009, a scheduled, bilateral field training exercise aimed at conducting small unit infantry and staff training with the Beninese military.
Bani Kore, a local villager, is among the 30 locals helping the service members erect the school. He recalls a time when he was a young, school-aged boy.
“I walked [four miles] to get to school,” said Kore. “It would take me two hours. I would leave for school at 6 a.m. to start at 8 a.m., and I would finish at 5:30 p.m., and get home at 7:30 p.m.”Not all the village children in Kore’s time attended the current school at Konarou. Some were too old, others chose to travel to surrounding villages, and the rest just didn’t go to school. Kore traveled to the next town.
“Many don’t go to school because the old school is unappealing,” he said.
This new school will have new furniture and three classrooms that can accommodate up to 90 students.
“The old school is insufficient,” noted Kore. “Now a lot of older kids can go to school. And perhaps, children from other villages will travel here to attend school.”
“The whole community will benefit from this construction,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 William E. Yobs, officer-in-charge of the Operation Enduring Freedom Trans-Sahara, NMCB-11. The new school site was chosen for the civil-affairs project because of the current economic situation of the town and the condition of the old school.
SHARED ACCORD is a 15-day training event with humanitarian activities schedule to run concurrent with the exercise. This gave the service members a short timeline to finish the school, and meant they had to work at a feverish pace.
“We basically have seven days to finish the school,” said Master Sgt. Graham P. Hilson, operations chief, Alpha Company, 6th ESB. “We’ve been in 24-hour operations for the past seven days.”
These service members worked a four-hour on, four-hour off basis. Soon, they increased the pace to six on, six off. According to Hilson, all were exhausted by the end of the shifts.
Philadelphia native Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric L. Green, a utilities man with NMCB-11, had wheelbarrow duty. Time and again he wheeled to the cement mixer, filled the wheelbarrow up, and pushed it to various locations in and around the site.
“It’s physically exhausting and messes with you in a different way,” he said. “I compare it to going to the gym and dead-lifting 100 lbs., then walking it for 100 meters, 100 times.”
Off to the side, Lance Cpl. Kyle J. Conklin, a Reserve combat engineer with 6th ESB, sat with exhaustion in his eyes and a six-hour buildup of red dust on his face.
“It’s all worth it. The six [hours] on, six off wears you down, but we’re also building a big connection with the locals,” said Conklin, a construction engineer student at Oregon State University, and Corvallis, Ore. native. “You get a sense of pride that you’re serving a bigger cause.”
Despite the non-stop schedule, finishing the construction project keeps Conklin motivated.
“Education is the key to make the world a better place,” said Conklin, as he leaned back on his foldable chair for added relief. “One of these kids might grow up and change the world. You never know.”

Brigade Encampment

2009-06-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

We traveled back in time this weekend as we attended the Brigade Encampment at Fort Vancouver. I love living so close to the National Reserve, Fort Vancouver and Officer's Row. It is a beautiful spot, rich with history.
The Encampment tells the story of Hudson's Bay Company and those that brought in the pelts and supplies to the Fort. So cool to see them all dressed in period clothing and living like they would have then,

I tried to imagine what these guys look like in "real" life, they probably sit around in offices, wearing polo shirts and go home to watch ESPN. But not this weekend, they don their cotton and fur, load the black powder, and throw some meat on the pit!

They were great (didn't love posing for photo's tho). One of the black powder guys even spoke to us in his french accent~making it all the more realistic.

You can go to nps.gov/fova for more info and better pictures! This would be a great place to bring kids for a vacation~you can tour the Fort and have a live history lesson!

Turn Up The Corners

2009-06-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

I met a woman in need yesterday and shared with her what little I could. All the time in the back of my mind wondering "is this for real?" Am I just being scammed? I hated that feeling of distrust. It's probably from watching too much TV news, you know the reports of "watch out for the latest scam", story at 6.
I had just been killing time at Home Depot, after dropping Natie off at her first day of her new job (yay Natie!), waiting for Costco to open to peons such as me when a woman called to me as I was pulling out of the parking lot. She said she didn't want to approach the car and scare me, but would I be able to help her buy some gas. In her east coast accent she described her flight from an abusive husband in Florida, her brother had driven from Winthrop WA to rescue her and now her husband had canceled her credit cards~they needed help to get to her brother's place. I told her sure, I can give you some gas money, to which she replied "you must be a Christian, I've asked seven people and you're the first one to help."
So I drove over and met her and her brother at the gas station, used my card to give them $20 worth of gas, probably not enough to get up north to Winthrop, so I hope they found more help along the way.
But what bothered me throughout the rest of the day was this nagging feeling of "what if", what if, they were elaborate scam artists taking advantage of ignorant housewives, and somehow they were going to drain my bank account of it's entire (woowhoo) balance. I kept going over and over the entire encounter, looking for the loop holes...I hate that....I hate being mistrustful of fellow human beings. Is that why we don't smile at each other as we pass in the grocery store or scream at each other in crazy acts of road rage? Do we think everyone is out to get us? Are we so jaded that we can't make eye contact with ordinary folks just like us wheeling a cart through the grocery store, or help someone broke down on the side of the road? Okay too many questions~ I will put away my soap box.
So, I've been trying to remind myself to smile more lately, I guess for the past year or so. I've seen other people, women mostly, with frowns on their faces (If you chance to meet a frown....) and so I have been recognizing that I frown a lot as well, without even knowing it, and it ages me. I think everyone looks about 10 years younger when they smile! Instant face lift! Even if it is just a turn up the corners smile, you know the kind, not the whole show your teeth kind of smile, but just turn up the corners and look pleasant kind. It's funny how it affects others, for example after my gas-assistance incident I was pushing said cart through the aforementioned Costco and met up with one such frowny lady~I smiled, a simple, sweet, "turn up the corners" kind~she glared, still frowning~I nicely, still smiling~gunfighters at high noon~until the sun broke through and what? She smiled~a big show your teeth kind~success~I twirled my gun back into my holster and rode off into the sunset~smilin' Jack, ready to spread sunshine and happiness for another day.
I don't know where the western theme came from~maybe the Clint Eastwood movie Mr. R was watching last night. :)
P.S. She looked 10 years younger!

I'm In Love

2009-06-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

.......with green ! Everywhere I go it's green I see. It use to be red, red things would pop out at me, red was THE color. Lately, I have been lusting after all things green. It started when I watched the movie "Bedtime Stories"~I have always been a "background movie watcher", I would love to be a production assistant for movie/TV making, I love all the details in the background of a movie. Sometimes I pay more attention to how a room is put together than what the actors are saying. I think that's why I like to watch certain movies over and over. So anyway, I was watching Bedtime Stories and they showed this new hotel~all done in black and this most glorious shade of green~I couldn't take my eyes of the color! I wanted them to just stop the movie and show me more of the hotel. For days afterwards I couldn't stop thinking about this green~like it kept me up at night (I know I need to get a job or something). Now everywhere I go green jumps out at me, it is my new color.
But the problem is I have all this red~how do I go about changing over to green? Especially when I am on a limited budget and don't want to spend a lot on this temporary apartment? (I know there are other more pressing problems, like what to do about North Korea, but I can only focus on my little world right now).
So I have just started small, adding a little green here and there....like this pot from Fredy's....

All the choices.....

99 cent Goodwill bowl!

Maybe now I'll be able to sleep at night!

Prayers For Sale

2009-06-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

Funny that I should pick a book about friendship. Our new Relief Society President told me the other day that I look like "everyone's best friend", I wanted to cry and tell her "I don't have any friends here". But instead I just smiled and said "Oh that's nice". Maybe that's why I identify with the characters in this novel by Sandra Dallas, (one of my favorite authors).

Friendship, quilting, depression era history, and long-held secrets combine together to make this a great read.

Hennie has lived through the Civil War and the Great Depression~can you imagine the things that came to pass in her lifetime? From horse and buggy to cars, airplanes, running water, electricity. Just the changes in fashion are mind boggling! Hoop skirts to short skirts
Hennie takes a newly wedded Nit under her wing and they develop a bond of friendship that comforts them both.

I loved the references to quilting, cooking and the stories of the mining days of Colorado. It reminded me of Sumpter OR, with the gold dredge.

What I like about it most is the message that we all have hurts and events in our past that haunt us, but by sharing our hearts with others we can find comfort and help others do the same.

Daily Inspirations

2009-05-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this blogging thing lately, how it is such a big part of my life now, like an addiction: I look at it every day, think about what to blog during the day and think about other blogs I have read. It's taken the place of daytime TV (the Today show, Oprah-well the re-runs anyway). It's a good thing and a bad thing I guess. It's interesting that even tho I am sitting here in my little cramped apartment in a city of thousands, I feel connected to others through the wonder of the internet. Does it take the place of "real" human interaction? If I didn't have this would I be out making connections in real life, or just sitting here being depressed about not knowing anyone? Hmmmm...
Anyway, I thought I would put down my thoughts about how blogging has affected me~
It allows me to burn up some of my creativity, by designing the page and all, I know there are those out there that do it "for real" and I don't compare myself to them, it's just fun to tinker with things on here!
I have "met" some amazing women and gained insights to my own life by reading their ponderings. I've also kept in touch with friends I love, that I may not otherwise have been a part of their happenings~so cool! Like Katie B, we met in college at TVCC so many years ago (13 to be exact) she was Katie P then, and formed a wonderful friendship. It's been fun to watch her find a guy, get married and now her cute kids are growing up. I remember sitting on the porch swing on the front porch of the old farm house in Imbler talking about guys-how do you know which one is "the" one! Now I get to peek in on her life and still feel connected. I love following my cousin Cristi on her world travels, living vicariously!
Of course seeing pictures and keeping up with my kids and grandkids is an added bonus. That Meggie is so dang cute! I miss Rachel and her (Casey too) so much it hurts sometimes. I saw a girl walking down the street yesterday that looked like Rachel; same body shape, same hair style and color, (until I got closer and she wasn't as cute) but I immediately broke out in tears; you crazy old woman, I told myself, pull yourself together! (It must be hormones). Anyway, I digress...
Then there are those who I follow that I have never met, only through the blog-world, but they are instant friends. Some of my favorites to read you may enjoy as well:
The Confessions of a Pioneer Woman: I love Ree's take on life from the perspective of an Oklahoma ranch wife-so fun! Livin' Louisiana: Since I can't just jump on a plane and get there, this is the next best thing, she spreads the spicy flavor of that part of the south so well, and an added bonus to find out we are connected by our shared religious belief! NieNieDailogues: I feel honored to get a glimpse into the life of this courageous woman, who is recovering (along with her husband) from a horrible plane crash. I think of her so often when I think I have problems and wish for her strength. I pray for her recovery and comfort~this is one of the tender mercies of this blogging experience: my faith and spirituality has been strengthened by praying for a complete stranger~but a stranger no longer. The Haystack of Light: I found Krista through another blog (strange how I can find myself wandering through blogs and end up thinking "how did I get here?") this girl has spunk, creativity, and talent! I love reading about her life and gaining a stronger testimony of my Savior through her words. Segullah: this is a blog connected to a newsletter written by LDS women, always insightful and like this morning, made me cry like a baby with a touching post from a woman who is losing her mother.
So those are a few of my daily inspirations, people that keep me connected and moving on through this wonderful life.

Out to Africa

2009-05-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

We had a great Memorial Day, eating and visiting with Draper & Sara, the boys, and Janet & Rick~ Draper leaves tomorrow for his summer drill. He will spend 1 month on the African continent, in the country of Benin. It is there between Nigeria and Togo (sorry the maps are so small-but you get the picture). They will be building a school there, out in the boonies, living in tents eating MRE's~kind of like scout camp!

Here's the gang~

Thanks Draper for serving your time, we'll miss you!

Good Reads

2009-05-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

I recently received an invitation to join a friend on goodreads.com which got me thinking about books and my favorites (not a hard thing to do). I love to read and can easily get lost in a book, my second favorite is to talk to another book lover about books and authors that we love~~my college lit courses were like visiting heaven!

I have had books and authors running around in my head, keeping me up at night and the early morning ever since (thanks Shirley!). So I thought I would share some of my tops~let's say, five of my favorite authors:

One: L.M. Montgomery: "Anne of Green Gables" this series from my childhood~and forever after~started the fire burning. I was Anne, and I fell in love with her heart and the beauty of P.E.I.

Two: Fannie Flagg: "Fried Green Tomatoes", "Standing in the Rainbow" All of my favorite things wrapped up in one package, humor, stories from the south, strong women, history, mystery....

Three: Jane Kirkpatrick "All Together in One Place", an Oregon author who has the talent to put you in the shoes of those she writes about. I met her in person~a great lady.

Four: Bill Bryson "A Walk in the Woods", anytime a book can make me laugh out loud, it's a keeper!

Five: Stephen King "Pet Cemetery", "The Stand", Okay, so I know he's a little creepy, but I just have a creepy side, and I love the way he makes his characters real-I know these people-boy, that's scary!

Hope this gets your reading juices flowing~let me know your fav's~I love a good suggestion!!

I Need Help!

2009-05-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

Left side

Right side

This is the view from my "patio" doors. I use that term loosely~the patio is about 8x10, surrounded by sad little plots of earth, a wall directly in front and fences on each side. A well-placed Maple with huge leaves and our 2 story building make for a generous lack of sunshine, only a few hours in the morning and late evening. So what do I do to spruce this place up? What plants do I plant in this one little patch of dirt? Do I go with pots?

So far I have one hosta, one bleeding heart that the squirrels attacked, one vinca in a pot, and one lavendar. I put up the old white bed frame (look familiar Rachel?) and planted sweet peas to grow up there~hope that works out~they've come up, now to keep the squirrels from eating them!

This is the only view from the downstairs, and I get a little crazy looking out there seeing sadness and desolation!

Can you tell how desperate I am by just showing you these awful pictures? HELP!

Beach Day

2009-05-11T10:54:00.001-07:00

Arcadia State Park near Cannon Beach~~my favorite spot to enjoy a beach day!

Just looking at it brings back the peaceful "beachness" of it all.

Happy Toes!

Natie's design.

Questions???

2009-05-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have a few blogging questions:
Followers, what is the purpose of adding yourself to someone's follower list? Does it just let them know that you are reading their blog?
How do you keep track of all the comments, like ones on past posts that you may not look at anymore?
Thanks!

Sunday's Joy

2009-05-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

There's a smile behind that pacifier!

Draper, Sara and "the boys" came over for Sunday dinner and a visit~~my favorite thing. These boys are so dang cute, and it's the little times here and there where memories are made~Deacon's laugh as his daddy tickles his knees, Olson's funny remarks, a great snuggle while watching a movie. Grand kids are the greatest thing!

A Saturday in May

2009-05-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed with wonderful friends throughout my life~This is Kathy, we've known each other since High School (35 years) yes, thirty-five years! Yes, I know we don't even look 35 years old~~but it is true. We met at good 'ol AHS and have traveled through the years always in each other's hearts. We've always been invited to the Kygar/Hay family get-togethers over the years and we just feel like we're a part of their extended family! We did it again this Saturday to say farewell to Erin (Kat's oldest daughter). She is leaving (on a jet plane) with her little family to spend three years in Germany (Army husband).

Megan, Kathy, and Erin

Matt (Army husband), Erin, Andrew, and new baby Ellie

Kathy (holding Ellie) and her sisters, Patti and Susie.

Shirley Day!

2009-05-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Shirley (some of you already have the pleasure of her acquaintance). She recently had a birthday (I won't say which one), and we celebrated by having a fun day traveling around, shopping, lunching and just general craziness!!
I made her a little "quilt" table runner~~she loved it~~can you tell?

Mary Engelbreight, cherries!

Such fun! I love you Shirley!

Charm Packs

2009-04-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a Charm pack

They often have 36 to 48 pre-cut squares of coordinating fabric. They make putting a quilt top together so easy and fast! Love 'em! (Just a note) When you buy a charm pack be sure to get extra coordinating fabric for borders, backing, and binding. I've made the mistake many times to think "oh, I'll find some later" but it is hard to find just the right fabric later! Have fun sewing!!

Sew Charming

2009-04-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

I'm going to try and explain how to make an easy quilt top out of "charm packs".

1st step: Make a 9 patch, any combination will do since they will be cut up and moved around later on~

Now take that stitched and pressed 9 patch and cut it in half,

like so...

And then take each half and cut it in half again, like so. You will have 4 of these for each 9 patch.

You can then move them around in different ways,

add sashing or a border..what ever makes your day! You can make a table runner, or baby quilt or full size quilt depending on how many charm packs you use. I had a bunch of charm packs and didn't know what to do with them, this has helped me use them up~it's quick and easy!

Beautiful Day

2009-04-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

This is a view of the National Historic Reserve that is just across the street from our apartment. I wish I had a better camera so you could see all the little blue flowers that are blooming amongst the dandelions~they were beginning to mow today so I thought I better get a shot.

Deacon Charles Robinson enjoying his ice cream like only a child can!

The Robinson guys: Grandpa Great, Gramps, Draper, Olson and Deacon

The beginnings of a baby quilt.

Just some pic's of the latest happenings around here. Grandma and Grandpa Great stopped by for a quick visit, we had a great time visiting and eating and playing at Golf-o-rama! You can never have a bad time playing miniature golf! Especially with a 4 yr old.

Step Bump, Step Bump Bump

2009-04-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1752195
I found this through another person's blog...laughed till I cried! Hope it gives you a giggle for the day!

When you wish upon a star!!

2009-03-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, Natie and I were going crazy one day, listening to every rendition of "when you wish upon a star" we could find and these were 3 of my fav's~~so now it is your turn to choose!! Just click on "pop-out" player and scroll down to the 3 star songs; one by the original Disney movie guy Cliff Edwards, one by Nsync (yes, Nsync, can you believe it) and #3 by Bryan White ( a country singer) who knew there were other people who sang this song. Then let me know your favorite, if I hear back from you I will send you a homemade journal (see next post for particulars on those!)
Oh, and keep wishing!!!

Jon and journals

2009-03-31T10:50:00.001-07:00

Jon Boy

I must not be the only one who is either too busy or doesn't have much of a life to blog about (the latter for me), everyone in my blog world has been pretty quiet--I miss you all! I had a grand day with my horse yesterday. He had not been brushed or cleaned for a few days so he was a royal mess--I loved it--I had to wash my clothes twice to get the smell and hair out! Rear view! (That's Maggie the goose, she is always just a step behind!

I have also been digging through my scrapbooking stuff and working on a book I am putting together of my Dad and his life. I also am thinking of selling my journals at the local farmers market--going to check into the logistics of it all. Here is a sample of what they look like~~

They start out like this:

And then I go crazy:

I love working on them and some days I am more inspired than others, but I especially love the "traveling" type journals. I have thought about putting them Etsy--does anyone have experience with that?

Bold Spirit

2009-03-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading "Bold Spirit: Helga Estby's forgotten walk across Victorian America" by Linda Lawrence Hunt and thought I would share some thoughts on this amazing story. "In 1896, a Norwegian immigrant and mother of eight children was behind on taxes and the mortgage when she learned that a mysterious sponsor would pay $10,000 to a woman who walked across America.

Hoping to win the wager and save her family's farm, Helga and her teenaged daughter Clara, armed with little more than a compass, red-pepper spray, a revolver, and Clara's curling iron,(my kind of gal) set out on foot from eastern Washington. Their route would pass through fourteen states."
This sounds like a fictional story, but it is true.
I can't imagine doing this now..in 2009 much less over 100 years ago, dressed in Victorian dress and wearing leather shoes-no Nike or Adidas. That in itself would make a great story, but add to it the devastating consequences of their trip: Women of this era did not just up and leave their families--even for a good cause, and the death of two of her children from Diphtheria while she was gone added to her deep grief and guilt. This caused the family to blanket her great achievement in silence, even burning the detailed memoirs that Helga had written.
I thought this would be a good story of an adventurous woman, but it was more than that. It made me ponder the importance of family stories, good or bad, they are part of who we are and who we come from.
This was a stunning book...I recommend it! Anyone want to borrow it? Let me know!

Harley

2009-03-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is how I felt today...just taking a break and napping in the sweet hay! So I didn't get a lot done today, I have these pesky fibroid tumors that act up on occasion and today was not a good day.
This is Harley the resident pig at the stables where I go to take care of Jon. What a life, he just snorts around the place until he feels like napping in the hay. I think I could take a few lessons from Harley!

Just Horsin' Around!

2009-03-03T09:29:00.000-08:00

I am in the middle of a remodeling project~~a life remodel. I just decided that my life doesn't match up with how I really want to be living so I'm tearing out the old and building it new! Kind of like a kitchen, new cupboards, counter tops and flooring! And boy is it going to look good when I'm done! But before the new me is accomplished there will be pain~~oh yes, the pain. Physical and spiritual. The spiritual may be too personal to talk about here, but I can tell you about the physical~~it hurts! Every bone and joint and muscle and whatever else is in there that can hurt--does hurt--most everyday! I have given LA Fitness a new name "La Torture Chamber" I just go there to see what new place I can cause to hurt on my body! Even my armpits~~how can that be? But, enough complaining...it is a journey, Rome wasn't built in a day and fat is not removed overnight! So I will continue on!
What I really wanted to talk about today is another part of my "remodel". Horses. Yes, Horses. I have always loved animals, and felt that I have some kind of special connection to them, my Mom even commented on it in my baby book: "Rebecca has a special affinity (a natural attraction or feeling of kinship) with animals" anyway, the point is I love animals and horses are on the top of the list.
For my 16th birthday my Dad surprised me with a mare and a colt, Babe and Daisy, and there my love continued to grow.
Since we live in a townhouse in the middle of Vancouver it is a little difficult to get my horse fix, so I decided to pursue it and make my self extremely happy by putting horses back into my life. This all leads to yesterday afternoon...and the wonderful time I had with Jon. Jon is a beautiful Arabian and and we bonded as I brushed him down and cleaned his hooves and soaked in the wonderful aroma of horse~~there is no better smell in the world, not even fresh baked bread can equal the smell of horseflesh..they should bottle it! Pungent and spicy! Eau de Equine!
So I will continue to go once a week for my "date" with Jon and others in the barn until I reach the acceptable weight that I can hoist myself onto the back of one of these wonderful creatures and gallop off into the sunset! It is a great "carrot in front of my nose" to keep working at getting the weight off, all the while bringing pleasure back into my life. Giddy up!!

Big Shoes to fill

2009-02-24T12:19:00.000-08:00

We found him! Every now and then I think about Paul Bunyan--the statue I remember from my childhood. I grew up in north Portland (the corner of Fiske and Harvard for anyone familiar with the place) and I have many great memories from that time. We moved away when I was 13 to the "dry" side of the state. I love to go back to my old neighborhood, it's great to visit the past--everything is so much smaller! What's the deal?! All except Paul, Paul is as big as I remember him! We use to go eat at a restaurant near here and I was always so entranced by Paul, I loved him. I remember begging my folks to go see Paul. I haven't been back to that sight since we moved away (1973-37yrs!) so I looked it up online and found the directions, and sure enough there was Paul, waiting for me! "Hi Rebecca, glad to see you made it back, I'm still just standing here watching the sights of Portland as they go by" (if he could talk, I'm sure he would say something like that). He was erected in 1959 (the year of my birth--coincidence you say?) and he faces the Expo center.
The restaurant we use to go to is now a strip joint--is nothing sacred? and the MAX line zooms right pass Paul, progress must go on, but it is comforting to me to know that Paul is still standing--watching over the city of Roses!

(I don't know how to flip this picture around--sorry!)

Date Night

2009-02-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm really reaching here~the only thing I can think to write about concerning romance is the old standby...Date Night. Mr Robinson and I have been trying to incorporate this habit back into our lives, and it has been fun. We don't have real exciting ideas, but were working on it. We went for dessert one night, and spent most of the night just looking for a place that had pie..difficult to find, but memorable. One week we checked out a famed restaurant--supposedly served the best Reuben sandwich--not by my standards--but we could use that one for a while-looking for the best Reuben-sounds yummy! This week I think it will involve antique jewelry and Paul Bunyan hmmm..(I'll report back).
The main idea is to get out there and spend time together doing something fun and possibly unusual, something you don't ordinarily do together-building some memories along the way.

Romance continues...

2009-02-19T14:02:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day has come and gone and hopefully the romance has not!...gone that is! Thanks so much Katie B. for your comment about the romantic gesture your hubby made~moving from Oregon to Idaho for you! Now that's romance~making a sacrifice for a loved one!
The days here are kinda of grey and blah, doesn't make me feel too romantic or energetic. Yesterday we did have sun, so I packed a lunch and met Mr. Robinson for his 1/2 hr break, a nice little get together in the park. Sometimes romance is in the little things. For his Valentine present I had Natie take a picture of me (torturous) and framed it for his desk at work~~now he has my lovely face smiling down at him all day! This was a great sacrifice for me because I hate getting my picture taken, nothing is good enough. Can't find the right outfit, my hair is all wrong, where did those wrinkles come from--and that double chin....so I just had to get past all that and know that he would appreciate the end result, no matter what it looked like. And guess what? He did!

Your Turn

2009-02-10T11:34:00.000-08:00

I can't read the romance book anymore...All the ideas sound sappy and gooey!! I think I am on romance overload~~so it is your turn. I would love to hear from you'all. Any ideas or thoughts on romance, or stories of some wonderful romantic thing that your spouse (or significant other) did for you in the past, or visa-versa! If you want to--comment on them here and then I will re-post them on my blog in the future. Thanks for the help!

A Penny for your thoughts...

2009-02-08T10:25:00.000-08:00

We walked all around Vancouver yesterday (2 hrs) and I was determined to get some pic's for this blog, but I came home empty handed, so just words again today!
A lovely romantic story:
During their first date she picked up a penny from the ground and said, "A penny for your thoughts." He shared his thoughts and she paid him. (He saved the penny.) As they continued to date they often gave each other pennies as special little love tokens. One day, two years later, he presented her with two ring boxes. As she opened them he said, "A penny for your thoughts...and a diamond for your heart. Will you marry me?" AHHHHH, doesn't that just melt your heart!
I guess my idea for today is to keep on the lookout for romantic things, and soon you will notice them more and more.
Idea # 848:
"Train your subconscious mind to find romantic ideas for you. Hey, why should your subconscious mind be doing nothing but daydreaming all day long while the rest of your mind is doing all the work? Scientists say that we only use about 10 percent of our brains: This is a way to boost your brain efficiency to 25 percent or better!
Seriously, you can assign a small portion of your brain the task of being constantly on the lookout for romantic ideas. The goal is to retrain your mind to stop filtering out those ideas, and start letting them come to the attention of your conscious mind. What starts happening is that romantic articles and gift ideas will start "jumping out at you." Guaranteed."

The "L" word

2009-02-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

Day five: Lingerie
Okay, you know I had to get to this topic sooner or later, so I might as well get it over with...Lingerie! The topic of lingerie is the one place where love, sex, and romance all come together. This is why the topic is so enticing, so sexy, so sensitive!
In his book " 1001 ways to be Romantic" Mr. Godek says "Gals: Guys really, really, really, really, really, love gals in lingerie~~ladies, regarding the sexual side of love, if you remember only one thing from this book, remember this: Men love lingerie. Thousands of men in my Romance Classes have confided or complained that having their ladies wear lingerie more often is the one thing they want intensely that their women tend to hold back on."
I know that this has been a difficult one for me, since my body image is not great, I often have a hard time feeling wonderful in lingerie...but knowing how important it is I make an effort. (That's all I'm going to say about that).
Some ideas from the book:
* Go lingerie shopping together.
* Timid about shopping in a lingerie shop? That's what catalogs are for! Have your guys mark his favorites.
* When in doubt, wear a garter belt and stockings.
* Guys: Spread out on the bed the lingerie outfit you'd like her to wear.
Happy Shopping!! (I've already done mine!)
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source..." Anais Nin

Thinking of you

2009-02-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

Not feeling too romantic today, I'm in a Vicadin haze~~I spent yesterday at the dentist because of a raging infection in a tooth that has a partly finished root canal--long story--anyway, the pain and swelling are subsiding, but I have that "dragged through a knothole backwards" feeling this morning! Tonight is "date night" so I better get with the program!
Day Four: Thinking of YOU
Ask yourself What's important to your partner--then make gestures that reflect it. Wonderful insights can be gained by asking each other quirky questions:
1. If you could be a comic strip character, who would you be?
2. If your name were to appear in the dictionary, how would you define yourself?
3. If you could create the perfect job for yourself, what would it be?
4. Who are your heroes (Fictional and real.)
5. If you had three wishes, what would they be?
6. Could you live for a year in a tent with your spouse?
7. If you could accomplish one crazy stunt that would land you in the Guinness Book of World Records, what would it be?
8. Would you rather be really smart, or really good looking?
9. If you could be a super hero, who would you be?
10. If you were Rick, in the movie Casablanca, would you have let Ilsa leave at the end?
11. What one part of your body would you like to change?
There are lots of ways to use these--like in a game for FHE, or maybe a circle journal type of thing, or emails. Just think of all the things you will learn about your lover!

Engrave upon my heart

2009-02-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

Since I don't think anyone reads this (I'm assuming that since I never have any comments) I guess I could blog on endlessly about inane things (inane: lacking sense or substance). But I will carry on with my proposed "romance" posts, just cause I said I would!
Day Three: Engrave upon my heart
I think engraving is the most sentimental thing you can do to any gift~~whether it be jewelry or books or whatever, just engrave a sweet message or date and it suddenly becomes a treasured memento!
Such as getting your lover a wristwatch and inscribe it with: "I always have time for you." ahhhh...isn't that sweet?? See how it just pumps up the romance factor!

Remember the Sweet things

2009-02-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

Day Two: Deliberately Go Looking
So often we can list off all the little irritating things our spouses do and say, but how many of us if asked could list the nice things they do for us each day...a little harder for some I might think (I'm thinking of me).
Ellen Greene has written a book that gave me reason to stop and think, what if I only focused on the positive and gave thanks everyday for the kind acts done by my husband...hmmm...what would happen then? Her book, "Remember the Sweet Things" is taken from journals she kept over her 20 years of marriage~a running list she kept of every kind, thoughtful gesture-no matter how small-her husband, Marsh, did for her during their years together. "It is a beautiful meditation on love and life, and an affirmation of the power of gratitude."
You can see an excerpt in February's issue of Hallmark magazine, or go to hallmark.com to see more-a link to Ellen's blog and more. (Have tissue handy).
As I read some of the simple things he did, I was so touched by his devotion, but even more so by her gratitude at writing them down. They may have been simple things, but by her making the effort to put them down on paper to be remembered they became more~~great acts of love, collected one at a time.
So I resolve to deliberately go looking for those small and sweet things that my husband does for me everyday...so far a funny and sweet email from work this morning!

Romance

2009-02-02T10:34:00.000-08:00

I have been reading up on romance, "Romance , you see, is the expression of love. Romance brings love alive in the world. Without romance, love is a sweet but empty concept"~~ so in preparing for Valentine's Day I thought I would share some tidbits with everyone (the vast audience who reads my blog). These are taken from the book "1001 ways to be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. I will try to post one good idea a day for the month of February!!
Day 1: Love Letters
A well-crafted love letter will bring a sigh to your lover. Love letters also make treasured keepsakes. Many people feel uncomfortable or silly when attempting to write a real love letter. Some think it's not cool to express their true/passionate/insecure feelings. Maybe you'd feel more comfortable if you could only see someone else's love letters, huh? How about a selection from an unabashed love letter from Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine De Beauharnais:
"I wake filled with thoughts of you. Your portrait and the intoxicating evening which we spent yesterday have left my senses in turmoil. Sweet, incomparable Josephine, what a strange effect you have on my heart!"
I'm swooning!
I also love the letters written by the prophet Joseph Smith to his wife Emma, while they are not particularly "romantic" they melt my heart with the love and feeling they posses: "Remember that I am a true and faithful friend to you and the children forever. My heart is entwined around yours forever and ever. Oh, may God bless you all." You can find more of these in the Relief Society manual for this year "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith" lesson #20.
What a special gift it would be to have a sweet letter to look back on, or for our grandchildren to have to remember their romantic grandparents. I have some letters written by my parents during WW II, I love to see the pet names they had for each other!
So get busy and write!!

Missing Yellowstone

2009-01-31T18:24:00.000-08:00

Buffalo Jam

Coyote and Black Wolf

I have so many great memories of our time spent in Yellowstone, sometimes I find myself wishing we were there again. Yellowstone is a magical place, and being able to spend 5 months there was a gift I will never forget.

Just imagine walking out your front door to these friendly neighbors...and more. As soon as you drive through the front gates the world slows down and peace returns.

We are planning a trip this summer! I urge everyone to go at least once in their life~~and don't rush through, take your time and enjoy.

A Few of my Favorite "things"

2009-01-30T15:36:00.000-08:00

Just going through some old pic's and saw these~~a couple of years ago at Seaside with Draper, Sara, and Olson, having a fun time on the beach. My favorite guys in my favorite place!

Birthday girl

2009-01-29T11:57:00.000-08:00

Well, I know it is a little late, but Happy birthday Natie! Natie turned 20 on January 18th~~can you believe it? My baby is no longer a teenager! So pack your bags and hit the road baby! Just kidding, I love having her here at home. We are like two peas in a pod~~it's scary how much we are alike, even strangers comment on it.
Here is a little history on the Natster: born in SLC (5 mins. after our arrival at the hospital), third child, didn't cry when she emerged from the safety of my womb-just looked around in wonder, cut her own bangs when she was 3 (who didn't), has a contagious laugh, is a loyal friend, and is so tenderhearted.
Funny story: Once when she was about 3-4 we were in a bathroom stall in Wal-Mart, Natie went... Mommy went... then she loudly announces "Gee Mommy, your bottom is really, really big" needless to say we didn't leave our stall until the bathroom was empty!
I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to raise her spirit in our home. She teaches me every day about empathy for others, kindness, and forgiveness. I know she will continue on to do many great and wonderful things! Watch out world!

Hard Bodies

2009-01-28T08:31:00.000-08:00

My life is boring, so I haven't had much to blog about, but I am so tired of looking at the squirrel blog that I must say something!
We have begun a new life of exercise--we joined the local LA Fitness about 2 weeks ago and boy are we sore! Everyday is a new discovery of what muscle we have abused to the point of pain. I have to admit tho that, unlike Calvin and Natie, I haven't been too sore. So I'm either not working hard enough or I'm just special!
We have been using the pool, hot tub, and sauna a lot---love it!!! I love being in the water, it is so relaxing after a hard workout.
I have started to see small results, a few lbs. lost and more energy to get through the day.
Some days it is hard to get excited about going, because I am basically lazy, so it is great to have Calvin and Natie to encourage me to get out of the big green chair and get going! It will take a while for me to feel comfortable wandering around the gym feeling like I fit in with the crowd--you know the ones--hard bodies that are super serious about the whole thing!
It just feels good to be moving more. It's easy for me to slide backwards without noticing that my fitness level has gone down (especially at my age!) so this is a great way to combat that downward slide!! And the big 50 is getting closer by the day!

Caught on film!

2009-01-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

Since I am "petless" and will probably remain so until we buy a home, I have to be content with the squirrels who frequent our back patio. Here the little stinker has figured out how to open the food tub and just help him/herself! They are so smart and always so hungry!
This was not an easy shot to get...I felt like I was on safari..creeping across the living room floor, stalking the great king of the forest...I eventually had to crawl up on the couch and hold the camera over the arm of the couch and shoot it blindly. It's hard to fool a squirrel!

The Whole Fam Damily!

2009-01-02T18:05:00.000-08:00

Here are the kids and grandkids all together in one place!

We decided to try to get a picture of all three grandkids at once! Good Luck you silly grown-ups! Olson is always ready for a picture-tip the head to the side and smile! Daddy is trying to help Megan, but she is more concerned about Deacon in "her" chair!

Olson--still ready, Megan--Leaving town...

Olson--helping Dacon with his head placement, Megan getting her hands on the chair!

Olson--still ready! Deacon--keeping his eyes on Meggie (he knows she wants that chair!)

Closer

Well, this will have to be good enough! Olson Brown Robinson-almost 4, Deacon Charles Robinson-13 mos., and Megan Audrey Schanz 11 mos!! The cutest grandkids on the planet!We spent New Year's Day at Draper and Sara's for Draper's 27th birthday. I had to stop and pinch myself--my entire family in one place--it's times like that, that I would like the clock to stop and let us just play.

Snow Day!

2008-12-21T08:38:00.000-08:00

Yes we have snow! Not an ordinary event for this area so it really stops everyone in their tracks! The "Arctic Blast" is still hanging around~~freezing rain is next, there is a thin crust of ice on everything out there this morning. I ventured out on the back patio to clear off the feeders for those poor hungry birds and squirrels!
Mr. sunshine face where have you gone?

Oh, there you are!

As beautiful as this all is, it is hindering my Christmas shopping! All week things have been icy and road conditions ify, so I have put off all but the essential traveling. Hopefully conditions will improve before Christmas Day so we can get out there and finish things up! 17 degrees this morning~~Brrr~~church has been cancelled, so it looks like we will be staying home and cuddling by the fire! ( well, no fire, but we can cuddle!)

Baking Day

2008-12-15T12:40:00.000-08:00

Big Soft Ginger Cookies!! Yummy~~
These are one of our Christmas favorites, they smell sooo good, I wish you could have a whiff of our kitchen right now!
Baking is one of the Christmas traditions that I cherish. It just wouldn't be Christmas without yummy smells coming from the kitchen and piles of goodies to give away and eat!
This always brings memories of my Mom. She was Martha Stewart before there was a Martha Stewart! She would spend days preparing and baking for the holidays. First was the trip to the store to purchase pounds and pounds of butter, dates, nuts, coconut, cherries, chocolate, etc. and then the baking could begin. I was enlisted to help with the endless chopping, mixing and taste testing! She would have containers full of different cookies and breads that she would keep in the freezer to replenish the pretty trays she kept for when company would call. It seemed they never ran out!
Some of my favorites: Cherry Date Holiday Rolls, Brandy Cookies, Coconut Cherry Drops, Ritzy crackers, Fondant swirls, Date Pinwheels and yes, Fruitcake!!
I try to recreate the memory every year, but it never seems to be just the same. I guess it is the perspective of childhood that makes it seem so much better.
Happy Baking to you all!!

Beach Day

2008-12-12T09:06:00.001-08:00

Tolovana State Park--Cannon Beach--Haystack Rock
Pebbles on the sand

Two old folks on the beach

We took a trip to the ocean a few weeks ago, my favorite place on earth. The ocean always calms me and re-energizes me at the same time. It was a perfect beach day in November, that's what I love about the Oregon coast--no matter what time of year you go there is something to enjoy--wind for kite flying, sun for worshiping, sand for running your toes through, rocks and shells for collecting, seagulls and pelicans for music, and of course the waves for stress relief--pack up the car let's go!! I feel so lucky, blessed, and glad, that I live where I can hop in the car and be at the beach in an hour or so.

The End of the Road

2008-12-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

It has happened, the dream has come true! Calvin has transferred to the Materials Lab and will be traveling no longer! I'm still not sure I have taken it all in, our permanent home will now be Vancouver WA. (I have always been an Oregonian and it is hard for me to transition to being a Washingtonian)

This is what we have have hoped for for the past 12 or so years, I guess you hope for a thing for so long that you eventually forget about and doubt that it will happen, but out a nowhere-here it is! This will be so great, no more packing up and heading off to places unknown, we will stay here in the apartment until we decide where we would like to buy a home--somewhere close by here in Vancouver (I'm dreaming of living in the country and raising Alpacas-but that is for another day).

I feel a little bittersweet about the change, no more adventures and time alone on the road with Calvin; but at the same time I relish the opportunity to stay home and domesticate--organize, clean, decorate, craft my heart out. It will be nice to stay in one Ward and make friends, have callings and just get to know the area.

I have been having a hard time sleeping because my mind is whirling with all the possibilities!!

Will I need to change the title of my blog???

The Internet has arrived!!

2008-12-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

Olson--Soccer trophy

Deacon~~Happy 1st Birthday

Meggie and Mom

Four generations: Great Gramma Robinson, Gramma Robinson, Rachel, and Meggie.

WooHoo!!! The internet is now installed and working right here in our home! I feel so special-no more trips to the library to wait in line with smelly people. So I hope I will be much better at regular blogging.

Many thanks

2008-11-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all...We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day here in Adrian with some of Calvin's family. Calvin, Natie and I arrived here Weds. evening, safe and sound. Rick and Ranae with some of their grown kids enjoyed turkey day with us. We had a rollicking good time playing Phase 10--I'm sure I set the record for the longest time spent on phase 3!!! And who knew Rick could do such great bird calls! I love times like these when I can enjoy our family and not worry about other things.
I am impatiently waiting the arrival of Rachel and Meggie, they are on their way from Pocatello and will be here shortly--can't wait to love on that baby girl! Grandpa Joe turns 73 today, we have him going on a jigsaw puzzle!
We will head home on Sunday, and then return back here the next week to work on our motor home--still traveling!

On the road again

2008-10-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

Our Baker City days are coming to a close, we should be outta here this weekend or early next week. You never know with the Fed's, it's kind of like being in the military--they change their minds and "things" happen--kind of like a fickle woman!
We've really enjoyed our time here, with a couple of side trips. One up to Sumpter to see the train and the dredge and then we drove through the Elkhorns down to Haines and home again. The trees were just beginning to change and the Tamaracks are so bright golden. Last weekend we took a antiquing trip through Baker, La Grande and Pendleton. So many antiques!! I love to wander through the old stores, especially the ones that haven't been messed with for a long time--everything brings back memories--that's how old we are!! We're always saying "I remember that, or I use to have one of those" that's how you know that you are older than dirt! We had an awesome dinner at Hamley's Steak House in Pendleton, I love the history of these towns; gold, ranching, pioneers, rodeos, cowboys. We are going back this saturday for an underground tour of Pendleton--I'm excited!
We then drove up to Hell's Canyon and over the Eagle Caps to Wallowa Lake, Oregon's little Switzerland. So beautiful with the changing leaves and a little snow on top. We stopped in Joseph for some dinner at the local pizza pub and while I ws washing my hands in the rest room my ring (wedding band) just slipped off my finger and down the drain it went before I could catch it! Of course it was an old crusty sink with no stopper or catch in the bottom--the owner had to come in and a man that was eating dinner there helped her to undo the trap and luckily my ring was still in there! It was a tense moment until I saw it!
We have been trying to eat at all the yummy places around town, one of our fav's is the Geiser Grand Hotel pasta night--so yummy and enough for 4 people! The Geiser is known to be haunted, but we haven't seen anything fishy while we've been there--but of course I haven't been down to the dungeon where the rest rooms are--I had a scary experience there once! They are having a special tour through the hotel on Halloween night, you are accompianed by Ghost Hunters! that ought to be spooky!

Baker City Days

2008-10-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are in Baker City, the weather is so beautiful--sunny and warm. I love this part of the state, sagebrush and cowboys! I know I will be thinking otherwise as soon as the snow flies! I don't think we will be here that long tho--you never know.
We have been able to visit with some of our friends that live in this area and my brother, it is so nice to catch up on old times.
We made some wonderful friends in the Glide, it was sad to leave them. The Ward we went to (Roseburg Ward) was very welcoming and friendly--an amazing RS Pres.! I love the church and the charity and love we experience where ever we go.
This living on the go is a learning experience for me, I love seeing new places and meeting new people, but at the same time I am sad to have such a short time in each place--sweet and sour!
On Saturday we drove out to Cove to swim in the warm springs pool. It was so nice, we were the only ones in the pool, (besides the snake) it was sunny, warm and the water was perfect (except for the snake, Calvin removed him). We went to La Grande and had a great visit with my brother and his wife--pizza, ice cream and football--although we did watch a few mins. of bull-riding!
We hope to get time to drive up to Sumpter and over through Hell's Canyon. We have friends and family in the area so we hope to get to see them as well!
I wish I was better with putting pictures on here, the last ones I put up weren't so great, probably my camera's fault. I will keep trying!

Lazy Days

2008-08-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

I am such a bad blogger!! Since I have to wait to come into the library to update this I don't get it done very often. There are 1 hour limits on computer use--daily, so that limits me as well.
We are still here in Glide, enjoying beautiful weather, not too hot, not too cold and no rain!
Calvin is working overtime--weekends and all--to get this job done by the deadline, so our weekend fun is limited. I went "home" to Vancouver for a few days to see how things were there. Natie is taking good care of the apartment and now has a roomate--Kendall, who is attending WSU.
We are hoping that Draper and Sara and the boys will be here over Labor Day for a visit, we are excited to go to the Wildlife Safari in Winston to see Lions and Tigers and Bears--Oh my!!
We should be done here in a couple of weeks and then on to Baker City, OR for the fall--what a beautiful place to spend the fall, I am excited to be there and to be closer to our family on that side of the state for awhile.