April Showers...

It is an old saying, but oh so true. April showers bring May flowers. We have had snow and rain and April first it was horrid! Everyone celebrated getting their snow tires off by sliding all over the place!!! In between the icky stuff we have had some fairly nice days. Which were very handy for getting stuff done. Another saying is that a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are some pictures with more than a few words to explain them!!!

First: What do you see here? Jon said that it looked like the alien material off of the modern War of the Worlds movie.

Next is the water problem out our back door. When it rains we get water, lots of water. These photos are after much of it has dried. The first is from inside the house and the second is from outside the house. Kinda funny, when we lived in Tillamook our house NEVER flooded. Here we get water inside whenever it rains or we get snow.

We finally got started on taking out the sidewalk (that is what the green spray painted line is for, we are taking it out in that area first and then the rest of it in a large section. Steve will repave it when it gets warmer. (now it slopes toward the house).

My garden was also worked on. OK, it will be a garden someday. The stairway to nowhere was moved 3 times. I had it near one of the length wise boards on the fence and Moses managed to use the stairs and the board to help him over the fence to the other side! This area is more work for him. He has to kind of go around and then over and he has already gotten stuck between the slats when he did it! (It was very funny as he was trying to be tough and was growling at a cat in the other yard while he was stuck.) The walk way thing will be where the bridge from Music Man will go and the green fencing stuff is going to be a water feature of some sort. WE have also marked off the veggie garden area and planted a western red cedar and put in the silver posts (really an old shower curtain rod) for my sweet peas.

Note, the stairs are the ones I dropped on my foot and left me a very purpley bruise that has merged into greens and yellows! Nice and Eastery, which brings us to the lovely flower that Jon made me for Easter. It is HUGE and heavy and, as Jon said, will never need pulled. It is supposed to be a dandelion, as they are one of my favorite flowers and not one of Steve's. (the smaller yellow one I bought in Tillamook).

More eclectic reading for April. Garden books, Mercedes Lackey, ect. And that brings us up to date with notes in a minor key!!!

Spring, sprang, sproing.

Yup, we did have spring and then it vanished. We do have some crocus trying to insist that the days are getting warmer, but we got some snow which makes it hard to believe. But, because of the snow, I was able to get a photo of my border made of International Harvester roatary hoe wheels. I will put up a photo of them on a rig this summer when we can get to the Mtn Ranch where there is one parked. Anyway, this side of the garden hasn't any rocks for decor, so I thought these might look nice. They do, however, they blend in very well, which makes them hard to see. They are also very heavy and fall over, so I need to come up with some sort of idea to hold them up. The tines stick in the dirt, but I can't put them in far enough without losing the idea of the sea stars.

Before the snow, we did have some excitement from home. Mum, for her birthday, got a volcano! Visit this site for some great photos. http://www.avo.alaska.edu/ I particularly like the lightning one from March 27, 2009. You click the information for Redoubt and then images and then you have to choose the date. It is cumbersome, but as you travel through the net you will see some excellant photos of Mt. Redoubt and the ash clouds. Along with mum, an Oregon friend had a birthday, too. Here is the cake I made them.... Happy Birthday, Mum and Jennifer!

There was going to be a heart of candles on the side, but didn't get that far!!!! LOL. Chocolate fudge and chocolate chips and chocolate fudge frosting. Gotta love Pillsbury!!!

And last but not least, my crocus! I can't wait til they start to multiply!

Doing some eclectic reading..just picking up any old book when I finish one and need a new one!

Spring! or the Pros and Cons of weed barrier.

It has been lovely this week. In spite of the fact that Jon started out this week by being very sick, things are much better now. It has been nice and spring like and stuff has been popping out like crazy. I first had to read The Secret Garden (In honor of spring and Mrs. Downs!) and while I was doing that, I decided to edge our front sidewalk. You know, our sidewalk is bigger than I thought! And it has a mess of cracking that needs fixed, but I am so glad I planted the bulbs back as far as I did, without the grass, they are much closer to the sidewalk!

Moses saw me taking a photo and wanted something from me and Max is just a scaredy cat and likes to hide under the porch. I also fixed the edges around my gardens that fell over this winter. They need something else, but I am not sure what. They are not entirely even, but they ARE upright!

In the back yard we had a problem. Weed barrier is very good to keep out the weeds and for growth of large worms, but not so good for plants that like to spread.

I had a bunch of iris that I discovered were growing on TOP of the barrier, so I divided them and replanted them. I should have done it last fall, but was not paying attention. I also found something that looks like a calla lily. There were two trying to grow through the barrier

I felt so sorry for them, that I moved them, too. And then after school, Jon and I went out and got me a 'fence'. I will show you a more completed picture of that particular yard arrangement later.

Am now reading Alaska books. Read House Upon a Rock, even if it is a bit early for it and am on Watch for a Tall White Sail.

In like a Lamb/Lion?

So, what is your verdict? I was thinking it was a bit more lamb like and then we got snow! It was a very big surprise, but it did make the flowers stand out better!

I like seeing how these brave yellow pieces of the sun show up in the most unlikely places. In Tillamook I have photos of them shining forth, covered in snow. And then there is my favorite memory picture from after a flood and there were bright spots of color reflecting in the muddy water just inches below the bloom. They are spring. So, it is on the way...as slow as it seems over here in the NW.

Also was able to get a couple of fun cat photos. They held their wrestling move long enough for one shot, but not two! the little paper ball is one of Moses toys, but they were wrestling because Moses jumped Maxwell. He does that often.

We spent today traveling to a place near La Grande. I had gone up that direction last spring with Karen H and it was a lot different. Now there is snow and it was really cold. We got to go to a gun show and saw some friends. For me, that was the VERY best part, seeing Donnie and Noelle, I mean. We spent time with them eating at a fun restaurant and it was wonderful. (They were in Baker for a basket ball tourney. ) We have photos of Steve and Jon with the new loot. However, as Steve had changed and his shirt was dirty, I will not post the photos here for anyone to see. Those who are interested can email me, if I don't email you first! And I will send the pictures to everyone..Not ANYONE, but everyone!!! (A semantic distinction.) Below is Tony's newest toy. I do not know what it is other than a german something or other. And there you go.

Reading some new Mercedes Lackey books!

Dumpster Diving

One of our neighbor's was in the process of moving to a much smaller house. The lady was older and newly single, so the house was basically stripped of all the belongings and they were tossed. After several days, Jon was about to go bonkers seeing all that stuff ready to be picked up by the garbage truck, so he and Steve did an after dark visit. It was amazing. This garbage crate was over full and the two managed to find several interesting items.

I particularly liked this shelf unit. Steve liked this stereo Jon brought home for his room and Jon likes the little crossbow, which reminds me a great deal of Disney's Three Musketeers (non animated one). All in all, it reminded me of a great old children's book called Junk Day on Juniper Street. Which is actually what happens in July during Caledonian Days. Every yard has a sale going on!!!

They also found a smaller working bike with gears, a hand held dirt devil with all the recharger stuff that is practically perfect, and assorted other items. I don't understand why they did not just call Salvation Army and tell them to come out at a certain time for a pick up. (was this a sign or our times? When one tosses instead of passing it on? Landfills r Us?) They tossed furniture, bed frames..one that was very pretty out of black colored metal, but I had no real use for. On further reflection, it would have been neat for my yard. I have always wanted a garden bed! Ah, well...maybe another time.

Later in the week we had snow again. It was really pretty and I decided that my weather rock mom sent needs another legend. If rock is covered in white crystals, you've got snow!

I guess if I could not have snow for my birthday, at least I got some for my niece's birthdays! Which are days apart at the END of Feb. Now for spring, right?

Have 3 more Anne books to read and then off to springier books. Unless I am wishful thinking!

It's raining!

Yup, as I write this I am listening to the rain fall on the roof. Note, that reminds me of a song from college..The raindrops fall upon the roof....sigh...

Let's see. Since my last missive what have we done? Oh, Jon was a part of a Pipes and Drums thing at the HS. Steve always goes to the games (I don't, just because I figure it is fun for him to meet all the kids he used to go to school with!) and so he took pictures of our boy. I also tend to stay home because Jon plays for a short time and I find it hard to spend 4 dollars to only get to see Jon for a few minutes. I may go next year.



(I had to 'fix' this first photo cuz it was in the gym..)

Later this month I had my Sunday school class practice some first aid with the story of the good Samaritan. I think the boys had fun and I deduced that if I am ever in an accident, not to call the boys. They re enacted the story from start to finish four times, including trussing up a victim, in a little over 15 minutes. On the other hand, they would get the job done fast!



Reading lots of Anne McCaffrey books.

Happy Belated Birthday to my baby....

I was going to do what Noelle did and post a baby photo of Jon, but I am not sure where the cutest one is...I will keep looking. And I still cannot find the instruction CD for the scanner, so need to get pictures put on a disk at a store. As I said, stay tuned! Anyway, here is our celebration of his 15th birthday. NOTE: he did NOT get his permit yet..I am not sure if this is good or bad!
Here is Moses fleeing from Nana's present in the hands of Jon. Moses did try to stalk it a few times!

Here he is blowing out his candles. (On a interesting note, he plays a bari sax very well and STILL managed to leave one candle burning!)

The second photo is a new shirt that Nana sent. We all thought it would be large, but as you can see, it is not bad at all! He also got a watch that is totally cool!!!!!!!! It is on a carabiner thing, and I hope that is the right word, and hooks on his belt loop. Tony had one like it, but not quite.

Books being read: Anne McCaffrey! It is my February read..well, except for Feb 14 when Tracy and I read The Blue Castle.

the end of January....

The end of January was beautiful..we had freezing fog, which is very pretty. After that there was a day of soft, fluffy magical snow. It made the world even more beautiful than it was before! Moses on the other hand, was not as impressed. He decided to climb a tree and got stuck. Needless to say, he got down by himself..after I hauled the ladder out and over to the tree. The snow and frost vanished fairly rapidly and left us with spring.

The tree across the road and one near a friend's house.

I wanted snow for my birthday, but it did not happen. Oh, well...I did find a couple of teeny tiny daffodil spears sticking up through the hard ground and if I can't have snow, I will take daffodils!

Finally got to read The History of the Snowman by Bob Eckstien. You MUST find it and read it. It is a wonderfully intellectual and fun read.

skipped notes

Many things have happened in the last whiles. Not the least has been that our computer has been in a state of hiccups. It worked, but only if the phone was on. Very odd and the kindly man who visited us removed a phone jack splicer and now it is faster than ever!

One of the most amusing things that I have had happen, has to do with whales. My Sunday school class is made up of boys grades 3-5. I have a running total of 1-7 depending on the day and the weather. This particular Sunday we had two. We talked about the story of Jonah and discussed how whiny he was (really, he was!) and then made itsy bitsy Jonah's from pipe cleaners and whales from empty milk jugs. As the boys wanted to make boats and I had extra stuff, they did. Using the whales and pipe cleaner dudes, you are supposed to toss the dude in the air and catch it in the whale mouth. Simple, huh? So, I sent the boys out into the sanctuary to play while I tidied up the room. (my room opens out into the sanctuary and is VERY cold most of the time). After I finished my chores, I walked into the sanctuary, where the sounds had changed from really noisy to not so noisy, and almost froze in shock! I had forgotten there were two baptisms that morning, which meant the baptismal was full of water.

Now, if YOU were a boy and had a little guy who floated, boats, and whales, and water...what would YOU do????

Exactly. They had pushed aside the curtain hiding the baptismal and were having a great time! I suggested they keep quiet, roll up their sleeves, and admonished them not to fall in and proceeded to watch them slosh Jonah from the tipsy boats and then scoop him up with the big mouthed whales. I also was thankful that no more...umm....proper member came up during the play to become distressed with turning the baptismal into a tub!!!!


Here, for your edification is a whale I put together from the leftover bits. I got the directions online and it was very simple! Jonah was more difficult. He is just a couple bits of pipe cleaner twisted together and clothed in a bit of cloth. I had more red than other colors, so our Jonah's are a bit sunburned.

Books being read: Not the Brian Jacques one pictured, although it is VERY good. I picked up some more Tamora Pierce again and one written by an 88 year old lady that is the size of the Portland Yellow pages. It is about a women's club...have not gotten very far in it yet and can see where it should go, but as it has about 3 and 1/2 inches of closely type written pages left, I am not sure how convoluted the trails to those ends will be!!!

AR notes

OK, here is yet another Henry. Personally, I think it should be black instead of silver, but that is the way it came. It comes in this small box that Jon is holding...really! And see what was in it? Looks kinda like it needs a lampshade, huh?

And when you open the stock up you find:

Lots of parts, this last item is the rear sight.

Here it is all empty. Now it can float! But it is NOT a certified flotation device. I could not find any mention of such thing in the manual.

Once it gets put together in the proper order you have a
U.S. Survival Rifle, perfect for Bear Grylls..if he ever decided that pre-killed raw zebra wasn't tasty enough.

you gotta go and see this!

On the blogs I read and vist (on the right) there is one called Living the Travel Channel. My friends Karla and Paul are in the (I hope I got this correct...) UAE for a while and this is their very interesting blog. In the latest post, she and her husband bought some toys because they are pretty offbeat...well, there is a beat to the desert warrior camel, but it IS off beat, too!!!! Anyway, pop over to their site and watch the videos Karla made..be prepared to chuckle.


On a more US note, freezing fog is really beautiful!!!! And Rod and Dot are having their anniversary today...of many years!

this photo was taken in '07.

Dinner Muse

Well, he might not be a muse, but he is amusing! I am so glad I did not have to go to school with him today! He is in rare form...or maybe he is just himself and we were more attune to it today.

Dinner takes less than a hour, to eat, not prepare. Our conversation covered a wide range of subjects. I made a soup using potatoes that I had used in a previous roast. I don't peel my potatoes for two reasons (I am lazy and they are supposed to be more healthy). Jon observed that 'these potato peels come off just like model decals do...'

Appetizing, huh?

Steve made a comment about his hair. It is shorter, but it has a tendency to curl and it annoys Steve. He asked Jon why he pulled his hair forward around his ears. Jon said that he just gets it all wet in the morning and lets it do as it likes. It is expressive hair.

'Expressive?'

Later, we were discussing music to sleep by. (Jon has been listening to a Jim Croce greatest hits he found on the side of the road) When Jon was little he listened to lots of piano music. One of my friends got us a CD by David Lanz. Jon did not remember it, so I put it in. As we listened to it, he remarked, "It kinda rings a bell. Not like a church bell, more like a Christmas bell you hear outside of Walmart."

He's our ding a ling.

As dinner neared the end we went through the mail on the table. Jon had a letter from the church. It had been sent Jan 9 and we just got it today. Steve asked if it had Grandma's address on it. At the same time I asked if it read PO box 42. Jon, confused said, "It reads 97813."

Which is the zip code. One question at a time, parental units!

His parting comment after dinner was: Do you know what depleted uranium music is? Obviously, we had no idea and wondered if it was something Mr. Griggs taught them about in science. His answer: Heavy Metal. And it was NOT Mr. Griggs, it was pure Jonathan.

He gets his permit in two weeks. Maybe.

The oddest thing I find, is that this son of ours is the almost the exact same age as a friends'...and HER son plays sports and dresses well and likes girls. Jon does guns, casual camo, and jazz music.

And random comments.

skips in the record.....

Let's see, it's a good chance that the taxes on our house are going up. Due to the new addition we had a very nice assessor visit us and I found out the house had not been re-valued since 1979!!!!!!!!

I have been called a few times to sub in Pendleton, but have had to refuse. Not because I am too busy, but because we live too far away! In Tillamook I could get ready in 15 minutes and get to town. I could do that here, but they usually call me about 40 minutes before they need me. I think we are about at least probably 30 min from Pendleton and then I would have to find the school and then some parking! Parking lots in Pendleton schools are very large! I am so frusterated!

There is a job I am doing an interview in the morning for. It is part time, which is a very good thing. The bad part is that the job is from 5am to 8am..and I detest mornings. But, I will do it because it would be a very good job and it is in town. The very worst part is that I don't think I can count on one finger the jobs I have gotten when interviewed for them. I have walked into interviews professionally, casually, positive, nervous, and nothing seems to work. Maybe if I walk into it knowing I won't get it...but that seems so defeatest. Sometimes, I am the second one chosen and the first one bails, so I get it by default. We'll see what happens!

And this morning, Jon put on one of his 'new' Salvation Army shirts (it is cute, all white and says in purple and orange letters, 'ExFed'.), and arrived for breakfast. Now, I washed that shirt just after we bought it. I dried it and then folded it and put it in his room. I generally don't do this, but got really grumpy with the state of his floor and tidied up for him. He was grumpy back, but the deed was done! At any rate, the 'new' shirt was thoroughly wrinkled! I, in a very annoyed voice, said, "Jon, I washed that shirt, dried it and folded it, and now it is wrinkled."

He responded, 'yeah.'

"Why?????" I asked.

'Well, it looks better this way,' he answered.

And there we have it.

vote for snowman!

Visit the today's snowman site on my links and vote for your fav snowman. I put ours in, but didn't give it a cute name. This is my first snowman contest!!!! LOL.

No snow, snow..No snow, snow...

Kind of like he loves me, he loves me not!!!

We had fairly clear weather to PDX to get Tony to the airport. Most of our lovely Christmas snow had melted and we ran into some gicky stuff in the Gorge, but all in all the roads were fine. We had dear Z meet us again at the airport. I managed to take the pix when his eyes were closed. Tony wore his War Pigs shirt from boot..Boom Shakahlakah!!!!!

Before we got there, Tony ran around Best Buy and got a new puter..I looked at cameras and did not find one. There are too many cameras out there..it is too hard to decide!!! Then he had to rush to the boarding area cuz we dinked around too much!! It was very awful. I cried and cried.

On Friday, Jan 2..it snowed again. I only took one photo because they were starting to look all the same!!!

This snow pretty much vanished. There was some left, but nothing to bother with. Until Sunday night. It stormed and blew and snowed and we even had snow coming in our skylight!!!!!! It was amazing and of course, there was no school on Monday for the first day of school!!!! At 730 am we had a huge drift on our sidewalk, which Jon did NOT move. He said it looked too cool!!! He was right, but it is in the way.

Everything is pretty much back to normal..we have wind and it is kind of warmish out. Very amazing Christmas break. Jon hoped that school would be out on Tuesday, too..just to make it even on both ends of the break, but they went back today! I think he said today they ended up with 19 days of break due to the weather!!

Digging out plant books...I can see that spring might be somewhere around the corner!!!