This, That and The Other.....

The economic realities of our nation hit home recently when B called to say his store was being shut down..... He's worked there for eight years and has great benefits. He was offered a job in Spokane, but didn't want to take it because it meant being away from K & K. The good news is he was offered a job with his brother Q at Irrigator's, he will be in purchasing, is looking forward to a new and different challenge. So immediate disaster is being avoided. He also blew up the engines in his truck (not BLUE), and the Honda in one week. Let's just say when he does it up, he does it up BIG! He loses health benefits, but will continue with a 401K. I am encouraging him to COBRA for a few months and get some check-ups. So let's wish B good luck in his journey!

October was a too-full month for me - 3 events, our first 5K fun run, a board meeting and topped it off with Star Night. A couple of 13 hour days, a 12-day straight run of work, and off to Phoenix to check on our cabin. It's so nice to get away from constant interruptions.....

I've had a lot of trouble sleeping, some people at work are down-right nasty! I know at my age finding a new job will be a problem, so Big Guy and I are talking retirement. BG is taking on a new associate TODAY! and is hoping to cut his hours in May. As for me, I'm looking at selling Malaga, or refinancing it to hold a contract, so I can retire also. The closer retirement comes, the more BG worries about money, but really, with all the rentals, we do ok. Better than a majority of people, I would guess.

My main thoughts now are gearing up for the holidays. Hopefully I will get the office organized, right now it is a stack of boxes. But if not, well there's always another day. Hope you are all doing well - love you both!! Mo

My Summer of Content!

It certainly has been a year of big changes for my family! First, the wild march down the aisle to "We Are Family"....and the good intentions were felt by all, from 6 months to 93 years old! Bless this Union is all I can say!

It certainly has been a year of adjustments - not only for me, but my family, Larry and his family. And I have to say, all is going well.

For the most part.... haha! I think after being single for over 20 years, it was a shock to wake up to someone sleeping along side of me. Every...Single....Day....for a whole year! AND - guess what? I have to FEED him every single day. Not scrambled eggs for dinner, and a steak for breakfast, but what my dear husband wants, usually in reverse order.

I know I have been out of contact with my sisters and friends, but life is sweet... We are learning to entertain - family and close friends first. We had to wait for HOURS for Larry to bring ice our last dinner.

BUT... when I sit on our patio in the morning with my coffee, and can see the crops growing, being scraped back to the ground in the fall, hear the traffic on Highway 17 or not, I can see for miles! And I am sooo content! And yes, we painted our house, a little birthday present from my love! Love you all - Mo

The changing seasons...

Can't help but notice the turning leaves on our trees...my river birch (which I call the 4 sisters) always turns first, but this year the thunderplum was quick behind it...not the walloping down of foliage like you see in the Charlie Brown cartoon, but a subtle whisper of change that you would miss if you weren't paying close attention. Most of my flowering plants are done, except for one very confused wisteria, and my volunteer sunflowers! Notice I don't see much yellow finch anymore, too. I guess I relate to this change in season, as I notice the change in me as I get older, more this year than any other. My hair is turning whiter, I have more love handles than ever before, and my joints talk to me non-stop in the morning and late at night. Sort of like the herons I hear every spring and fall!
As I recognize these changes it prompts me to "do" everything I can possibly do before I change too much!! This camping trip this weekend was again marked by my inability to stay upright without my cane, and the dizzying different ways of "how can I fall gracefully" ( the answer is there is no graceful way!) I have the wounds to testify that I better figure these things out, and soon, before I need an orthopedic surgeon to put me back together, again! It makes me impatient to do and see certain places that I will not be able to enjoy if I loose much more of my mobility...like Zion and Grand Canyons, all those great red rockes that roam around southern Utah and which require lots of walking around and oooooohhhing and aaawwwing over, and need to be patted by me when ever I see them, individually, so I need to be able to walk and climb! I have this huge intense "itch" to go, do, see, enjoy now, now, and now!!!
In between I will satisfy myself by closing out this garden, cleaning it up, moving plants to different spots (some need more sun because of the tree's getting so big!) And, making plans for that next trip! Aiming high, for the more complicated, recognizing I will probably have to settle for the more lower sights. As long as I can still do it, I will do it. After all, like Popeye the sailor man said, "I yam what I yam!"
Enjoy the colors in your yard and home, and thank God that you can. More later, t

Growing up and old!

Wow! Just back from summer vacation, and having to accept some things about myself that I would really rather not! Truly it's been just recently that I needed help getting up (who doesn't, right! I know you do!) Then, the having to use a cane for days at a time (well, I know you had days when you wish you had one!) Recognizing that your baby girl is in her 30's, and my baby boy is fast approaching that pinnacle of rite that it has gotten to be, anymore. Leave alone the fact that my oldest grandchild is getting his drivers license, soon. Can it be so???? I have to state here, now, that I feel 17 inside my head. Imagine the fear and sadness I feel when I remember I am that plus 36 years!!! Alright, I admit my memory is silently slipping out of my head (I think out of my ears, because they are getting a lot bigger than I remember them being.) And the sisters garden?? That's when I need my cane the most (though a sturdy 5 gallon bucket works, too!)
Somehow I had gotten the idea that I was done with babies, babysitting, changing diapers, listening to young parents recite every color of poo and spit that their little bundle of joy has blessed them with! With that phone call that relayed the information that we were going to hear the pitter patter of little feet once again, my body groaned with protest. But, we try, right. We try to bear everything upon our shoulders, just like we did when we were of child bearing age. But, truth is, there is a reason you have your babies young!!! But, my life has been full: I have been born into a family that was just as strange as anyone elses's, to two parents struggling to do the right thing (whatever that was!) My 3 older sisters were so strikingly different, that people sometimes said no way...but to hear my voice is to conjur up our Pat, in a tone and emphasis which was never uniquely hers. To look at our newest grandchild on my side, to see his eyes is to remember our dad's expressive eyes. Mo and Margie are similar, too, and share the same hobbies (of shopping, shopping) where Pat and I shared the voice, the hair, the body, and now, the age.
Well, I really am not crying about getting older. I accept it with some grace (if you ignore the snide comments made out of the side of my mouth!) I am greatful to have been born into this family, I love each and every one of them (even though I can't admit it a lot of the time) and I cherish happy memories about them. So, if you don't want those memories going local, I will take into exchange gold or silver...just kidding. I am truly glad you are still on this journey with me! More later, t

Oh Glorious Day!

I had a wonderful day at church last Sunday - for 2 reasons. First - it's been far too long since I've been to church, and going again really made me realize I miss being a part of this church. Second - Khearyn was baptized!

Here is the family getting ready for the big event - Aunty Mac (Grandma Karen's sister), big sister Rhyan (yes, I know she is growing up quickly!) with Kharsyn, Grandma Karen, Khearyn with his mom Melyssa.

It was a beautiful outdoor service, not too hot, not cold at all, and there was a slight breeze. Pastor Eric called for everyone who was to be baptized to come to the front. Other people were taking Communion at stations set up around the area.

Melyssa and Khearyn get a big hug and blessings from Pastor Eric. It was a tearful moment for them and me! Darn sun kept getting into my eyes! Okay, yes I cried.....

Sorry I'm having troubles lining up the pictures. Anyway you get the picture I hope!

Khearyn celebrated with his first ever Popsicle!

All-in-all, a very glorious day! Hope all is well in sister land! Love to all - Mo

The End of an Era

I am sure being the Chatty Cathy from the old days, aren't I?

But reading about Mission Control being shut-down puts a very real lump in my throat:
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/after-shuttle-lands-mission-1029198.html

Because we were brought up SAC-brats, it is especially heart-tugging, don't you think? Think of all the engineering, ingenuity and pure brass it took to put a person on the moon! And no one thought we couldn't. What an amazing accomplishment for our country!

If you have ever seen the Mercury capsule, you would be so darn amazed our country had men brave enough to fly in that teeny, tiny little thing! Even watching the launch / return flight of Spaceship One at the Mohave Desert several years ago - you know you are looking at some kind of Buck Rogers vehicle out of the comics. But it worked..... because at that time our country had dreamers, problem-solvers, risk-takers, and some very smart and determined people and government behind them.

If you ever get a chance, watch "Rocket Boys" or "October Skies" - a great movie I made Riley watch, well, maybe a few times....

It's always sad to see the end of an era. When America was proud, smart and determined. I'm proud too - to be a part of an amazing generation.

Love to you - Mo

Reflections on my 40th Reunion...

Wow - can't believe we just had our 40th high school class reunion. It makes me feel...humble I made it this long, sad it's not my 10th (haha), and yes, a remembrance of the fact that in a few years I will be 60.

I don't know why turning 60 feels like such a milestone. The only other birthdays that impacted me were: 13 & 31. Well, 13 because I was FINALLY a teenager, and 31 because I was, well, older than 30.

Although I suffered a 24-hour bug, I was so darn excited to see the many people who traveled far & wide, and then not so far, to see our classmates. So many local people don't bother to show up which is disappointing, but hey - not my problem.

I found out the 6th grade boy who drove me mad because he was soooo much smarter than me is still - yes, smarter than me. He now is a faculty member at CWU. The not-so-smart, so popular guy from my sophomore year is, well, smarter than he looked back then.

Reconnecting with people I knew way back when, well all I can say is blow those memories away. So many of them are amazing people with lovely families and lively lives - love them all!

And the people I DIDN'T know back then, but really want to know now - well a perfect opportunity to sit down and find out how they have traveled their lives. And actually MAKE a connection.

All I can say is I had a LOT of fun - I sometimes feel segregated from my class because of being a "base kid" - but 40 years later have found out it doesn't really matter.

Love to you all - Mo

These Idylic Days of Summer!

Loving life on the ranchette.....these are the days my friends!

We were happy to host a family barbeque for Big Guy's daughter and son-in-law from NYC - yes, the same couple we attended their wedding two years ago! This is their first time at our new home, and also the first time they met the Fam Damily, if you know what I mean!


Brandee and Amber have lots of catching up to do...

Brandee's husband James was a hoot! Nothing special to eat - barbeque hamburgers & hot dogs, chips & dip, but FRESH cherries! Yay! They loved it!


Thankfully, Lexi was a great barbeque queen! The boys were a little tired out from whatever....They all have that don't mess me with us look in their eyes!

We were missing quite a few family members, Myriah, Jeremiah, Riley, Kharsyn & Khearyn, and speaking of Khearyn, he has quite a lot of hair:

Also missing were Larry's daughter Paige and her family, they were busy with taking the kids to camp - remember those days when you were chauffeuring kids from one end of the county to another?

Cats and dogs are learning to live together - the cat thinks he's a dog. He was best friends with Brady's dog Mack, always checking out his food and exploring his dog house. Unfortunately, Mack was killed on Highway 17. He was a lovely dog!

Molli & Spook are now "free range" dogs - it is fun to watch them out in the neighbor's field, or racing down the canal across the street. Today Spook went to round up our cat Wildfire, who was venturing too close to Hwy 17.

We love eating or just sitting out on the back patio at night, or coffee in the morning. The dog & cat show is so funny - Wildfire, our cat, will swat the dogs tails, or try to eat their food. The dogs don't really like that, haha.

Life is still hectic, but these are the lovely, slower days of summer.

Love to you all - Mo

Life in the Fast Lane....snore!

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted on our blog - sorry sisters! Life has been hectic on the ranchette.... I can't even make a list, just trust me.

Big Guy and I have both been working hard, taking care of our combined rentals, and with the late spring I have been spraying weeds and trying to plant something colorful around the house. Because of moles and gophers, and coyotes, oh my! I'm limiting myself to a front garden, a small back garden and using up lots of my planters.

We just returned from 7 days in Phoenix, which was a blessing as we slept for 3 days to just feel normal. We got a lot accomplished down there, but we are both looking at each other and asking ourselves, "when can we retire"?

So stay tuned...

Love you to pieces - Mo

Settings ▼

Settings ▼Wow! It's been a long time since I've posted here, and now I know why! They've changed the format! I'm lost! But, I could feel my older sisters frown on the horizon, as she looked at all her postings. So, let's see, had a good holiday, but am glad they are over! I always feel like I've been blown over during the holidays, that they just mow me down to the nubs! So, it's a quiet relief to come out the other side of them still in one piece. We are enjoying our new grandson: I get to watch him while his mom and dad work, and had forgotten how enchanting a new born can be: they just swallow you up. Must be some sort of survival thing (lol). Matt's brother has moved out of the wrecked room just in time for Kaylee and Braydon to move back in. They had some hiccups in Utah, and are rounding up their wagons here until they get a few things figured out...like what to do for a living, stuff like that. We hope that they will enroll in some sort of technical training (LPN?), and at least have a solid foundation to build the rest of their life on. Kaylee is pregnant, I forget when she is due. Max is about 1and 1/2 now. Matt and his mom left here at 5 am yesterday morning in my truck hauling a u-haul and got there at 5pm. Matt called and said they left Lehi at 7am this morning, so expect him in at 7pm. The trailer makes so much noise that there really isn't any real threat of them dozing off! The kids had sold most of their stuff and are hauling just the baby stuff and their clothes. Food storage, of course... So, this should be interesting. I am thankful that we have the extra room to help out our kids. It's definitely nothing fancy, but it is warm and dry.
Am tired of winter, too, of course. Can't wait for the soil to thaw out so I can go play in the dirt with these new grandchildren. As usual I have been feeding the birds, and as usual a chicken hawk has marked this sanctuary on his dinner map. Fortunately they don't scream like rabbits do!
So, I am thinking of you, sisters. I hope that we can get together again, soon! Will write more, later (sure!) t