It was spring.

We have had some pretty days and some not so nice at all days. Today is one of the latter. On a sunnier day, Grandpa got out some wheels and did a bit of work. Looking good!

We also got to go up on the Umatilla River on Saturday (see last post). Very pretty area and J climbed a hill. We saw a perfect house up there, but S doesn't want to live 30 min from a town anymore. I don't think I would mind much.


Not doing too much else. Mostly reading home improvement magazines in hopes of a home that needs improving! Some of those improvements are a bit much, though! Speaking of magazines, I found one in a dr office with the most amazing prices for kid clothes. I don't recall the name of the magazine, but two in this article were twinkle living and anthropologie.com and had stuff like a popcorn handknit throw for $265 and a baby beanie for $88 (that one was from a different company!). It amused me that someone would put a hat on a baby that cost $88. It was obviously not a magazine for the middle class group. They also had an article about where to take your kids when you visit France with your family.
C'est le vie!

Tulips and S at work

I was finally able to get photos of S in his new uniform and working at his new job. The uniforms stay at work, so he dresses there. J says his uniform looks like a business suit. It has gray pants to go with it. Very chic. He also has a new cart for his tools. But, it is too small. He needs another one!

And Dot's tulips! Are they not beautiful?????


Not much else going on. Just reading old favorites, Pheonix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey, and wishing I was in Tillamook for the THS spring musical.
S might get out the grill tonight for dinner. Pork chop thingys. YUM!

Just another day in.....

Nothing new yet to report. It has been doing a spot of snowing today, my tomatoes I planted have black leaves at their apex, and S bought a placostomus (black bottom feeder) last Sunday that has already died. I told him NOT to get one as they always die no matter what we do, but he did and it did. >sigh<
We saw the movie Expelled this weekend. It was very good and it doesn't matter if you believe in Intelligent Design or what. This was very thought provoking and well worth the time it takes to watch it. Not a warm fuzzy movie, more of an informative one. Also saw The Star of Bethlehem again. I may have mentioned it in a previous post. The website for that movie is http://bethlehemstar.net/ and it is a powerful proclamation of how the technology of today can support the happenings in the Bible. I just need to learn how to spell! Anyway, today we were priveledged to hear a man from Voice of the Martyrs. He shared about the growing spread of Christianity throughout the world and what people in other nations do to seed the gospel in their worlds. There was one story he shared about a Muslim pastor who was taken captive and tossed in an Iraqi holding area. (this is a watered down version) He was put in a cell with 3 Sunni and 3 Shiite and when the 6 asked him what he was doing in there, his response was, "God has sent me to you to share the gospel!" And some of them did come to beleive.
So, I guess that things have been happening. Just not photgraphic ones!
Finally got The Secret Garden and it is as much fun as I remember!

Grandma's Garden

I have some more plants that I bought, but nothing is in color yet. Grandma has several hyacinths up and blooming and a lovely toad that shows up in her yard every year. The fun fishing decoration that is with all the daffodils is Grandma's Christmas present. It was in a Christmas blog.







This latter photo is a bunch more budded tulips and the other stuff is listed in one garden book as rose campion. They are a tall, soft, fuzzy stalk with a single hot pink five petaled flower at the top. They are a great flower. (there are few weeds in the planting areas, but not too many.)
I purchased some yummy smelling lemon thyme and a purplish spreading petunia plant as well as another pinkish one that is hoped to spread. I will plant behind them cosmos and shasta daisies and sunflowers. It should be nice when it blooms....
Not reading anything new. I need to find my The Secret Garden. I want to read it very much so.

YIKES!

I took a photo of my 'garden'. The 'grave' is not a grave. It will be the radish and carrot bed. I did finally get a few marigolds. They are tiny, but have itty bitty buds on them. I also bought another clematis and some lily of the valley starts. I do think mine are not going to come back. However, it is still winter. No matter what the calendar and the dates say. There is snow back on the mountains today.

Well, we took Teddy to the groomers finally. It was a bit spendy, but not too bad. They sedated him and shaved him to the skin. The groomer said she had to use a horse clippers on him to get the mats and stuff off. I felt so mean when she took his leash and led him off. He looked at me with his big brown eyes and almost made me cry. It was about as bad when we sent T off to Germany. Except, T knew what he was getting into and he signed up for it himself. Poor Teddy, all he knew was that mom took him to this cold echoing place where there were lots of yowls and barks and strange smells and left him! They also clipped his dew claws, a necessary procedure as S and I couldn't do it without our dearest neighbor in Tillamook!

So, here is before and after:

Our poor baby! He is kinda cold now and he has a bulge on his side. That was looked at in Tillamook and it was discovered it was just a bulge of fatty tissue. It looks awful now that he is 'bare'. However, he will be much happier this summer and he will be easier to comb and wash.
I did give him a special treat chew toy to help him over his trauma. I think I should have gotten him a bushel of treats!

Updates for April

OK, I was told I needed to add more information. Kinda hard when there is nothing really going on and I have no photos.
First, T called!!!! He is dirty, hot, and fine. So, that is great news. If you would like to send him mail, please contact me as his address has changed to one in Iraq. (Some of you may have his new address, some may not.) The best place for news is a site called armytimes.com A bit gossipy, but very interesting.
I did some sewing for a play this weekend. Will do more next weekend. The play is 'Little Women!' I am also loaning T's Vocal Ensemble tux to the tall skinny kid who is playing Mr. Laurence. The jacket is too short, but the rest is ok. Well, I do have to somehow take in the pants. I finally met someone thinner than T!!!!!!! And the neatest thing, the kid uses a cane the exact colors that are in the vests!
I planted some stuff this week. Most of it was in the seed stage, but I found some garlic chives and chamomile and lavender. The lavender isn't ready to be planted yet. Too cold outside. Also waiting on my tomato plants and geraniums. The geranium is going in the most funky planter in the world. It is called a 'Down Under Planter' and they are made in Australia. You plant them and hang them upside down! Very nifty. I did find a website for them, but we'll let Jake put them on her really odd and random stuff links. (mostly because I am not sure how.)
It is bedtime and so I will chat with you all later.

The Last Days of 'Spring' Break

Well, Wednesday was icky, Thursday was sunny and cold and windy, Friday was back to the start of winter again. (hmmmm. That almost sounds like a Billy Joel song!)

Thursday we were tearing up the ceiling in the old house (we still haven't moved the awkward plant yet so we can fill in the 'cellar') and S realised that the panels were like the cards T used to make houses from. So, that is what J did.

Then, he decided to try and burn it.

But it collapsed and it was caught on film.

So, he tried another plan...and finally decided to make the ironclad. One of T's sturdiest designs.

This one was very well built and did NOT blow over and was satisfying to watch burn.

Then, it proceeded to snow on Friday and then it hailed. The stones were the size of peas!

This is a long post, but I imagine after the weekend, not much will be going on. At least, not much that is photograph worthy!!!

Book of the day: Dear Enemy by Jean Webster--Sequel to Daddy-Long-Legs. EXCELLENT Read!!!!!

Spring Break?

This has been a pretty unusual spring break for Oregon. We have had snow and sun and wind and rain and snow. In spite of the absurd weather, this is what we have managed to do:
Hang out in trees.


Dig holes, one may eventually turn into a tunnel!

Plant strawberries in a raised bed (hope raised beds work here!) and dig up bushes that grow in the wrong place. This one decided to grow inside an entry that leads to the unsafe underground place under the old house. We took some of the larger roots and heeled them in near the strawberries.

Book of the week. Another one by Mercedes Lackey, The gates of sleep. I can't find my Secret Garden book, so may have to check it out from the library!
We are still in the name game, we'll keep you posted!

Name the Bear!

Ok, here is our newest addition. He needs a Tillamooky name. He was created on the Wilson River and he doesn't need to hold a flag all the time. He just has one because I wanted him to hold one. Anyway, help us name him. S and I would like to call him Wilson, but J doesn't like the name. He says it is a brand name for volleyballs.


On another note, Happy almost Easter! My sis, on her blog about the Diverse Work in Progress, has a great recipe using hollow chocolate bunnies, miniture cadbury eggs, and peeps. It is called an Easter turducken (check it out, if you haven't already. You have to look for it in one of her later March blogs.) S and I are co teaching Sunday school tomorrow and I made 'Easter cookies' or 'resurrection cookies'. It took me until I started to mix them until I realised what they were! My sis made them for 4-H years ago, but they were called 'Forgotten cookies'. Someone adapted the recipe and added scripture to it. We are also making nail crosses from some old square nails that S found in an attic of somewhere around here. (Note, the old stuff blog? It is EVERYWHERE.) We'll hang them on red ribbon. After all that work, I just hope we have more kids than 2!
One very exciting note, I got to see Enchanted finally. I Loved It!
Book of the day (one I got for me for Easter!) by Mercedes Lackey, the Fairy Godmother (again!).

Random Whatevers

I so much wish I could write this from driving in my car. I have the best ideas there and don't remember them when I get home. How typical.

I wanted to metion to everyone a happy holy Easter week. This is my most favorite week of the year as Palm Sunday kicks off the whole reason for the existence and ultimately the death of Jesus. I was working with some kids the Sunday before last and we were talking about His arrival in Jerusalem. Jesus said the rocks would cry out if the people couldn't. Can you imagine that? If you were standing in the street and the rocks at your feet suddenly cried out 'Hosanna!' I have seen muppet rocks sing and tell bad jokes, but this is reality. How amazing is that?

Then, on Monday, we had another fun holiday. Did you know that St. Patrick's Day is a bio friendly day??? It's green!

J and I have been working on a project he is doing for US History. Pretty fun, but it would have been better if he had done it more spread out rather than most at once. It is almost done and is due on Thursday.

More scrappin' photos and one of our many really cool finds! We found most of two of those stoves. And for those who wondered. J is the fuzzy dark spot over the light looking spot near the scrap stuff out in the middle of the field. He is riding his motor bike.

Pictoral Notes

J's puzzle project. Grandpa's first fish of the year!


What S does when he is unemployed!!


J on Jo's old bike J riding in the field--look close!

It appears we have the internet again. It is pretty great..but we can't get the camera and the computer to 'talk' now and so are unable to download the photos from one to the other. One of new connections seems to be in the same place and creating difficulties.

It has been very springy here. I will have to go and get some of my favorite spring quotes! We have had wind, thunderstorms, lightening, hail, sun, rain, and assorted temps. Pretty interesting!

Book of the day: The Dark Hills Divide first in a series about the Land of the Elyon by Patrick Carman. Not sure how it is going to go, I am only in the first chapters. They are kid lit. J is reading the Andromeda Strain to S. Sort of carrying on in his brother's footsteps!

G Notes

G notes are for Great Gilly-whopper Wonderful Things. OK, S still hasn't found a job. There are several out there and he has to choose. (I keep having flashbacks to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!!! 'Choose Wisely.') But, we may just be getting the internet in the next week or so. For me, that is totally wonderiffic! To be able to add photos to this blog..to be able to go online whenever I want...To be able to go internet shopping!!! (Well, not so sure about that!). Anyway, we have been internet hopeful before, so I am just waiting to see what happens.
T leaves next week for the sand and we are thinking of sending him another electronic toy. The DS Nintendo is my favorite at this time. The screen is small, but it is very user friendly.
J got cold feet as to his solo. He said it sounded better on an alto sax anyway. I was sad, but not too surprised. The trimester has ended and most of his grades are not too bad. Some are and some are not.
Am reading a new book by Robin McKinly (Beauty) and it is not too bad. A little confusing, but I would like to add it to my collection. It is called Dragonhaven and is about a refuge for dragons and all the hoopla there is in creating a refuge for creatures people don't believe exist..although, they really do. The dragons are either dangerous and need exterminated or they are rare and need protected, but you can't rescue and raise any orphans you find...

In like a Lion!

My kids made lion faces today to celebrate March. I can't wait until tomorrow until they can march around the house all day on March 4th (in honor of Mrs. H!!!!). I won't be watching them, but I hope they won't forget to march forth and up and down the stairs! Anyway, it is very cold and a bit windy outside. Not a lamb like day at all. BRRRRRR.
We have made up a resume for S. I printed out a few, however, he found a typo. So, I will need to redo a page. I am convinced that typos appear magically after you proof read. He has some leads and is busy doing little house jobs and moonlighting automotive jobs. Except they are during the day!
Talked to T this weekend. Actually, S talked to him longer. I was sick and J was on a ski trip where he learned to snowboard. T is doing ok, but is ready to move on to somewhere else. Which happens this month.
No new books, I was sick all weekend and didn't even want to read!

Funny things are everywhere

You know, Dr. Suess wrote a great book about funny things being everywhere..not just on Jake's blogspot!!! (Check out the Stuffed DNA on one of her recent posts). They can be things or happenings and you just gotta laugh.

So, a funny thing that is recent. Very recent. S hasn't really lost his job, but he is not sure he wants to keep it. The shop where he is/was working is closing. The owner wants to move most of the mechanics to a shop in another city, but there was no discussion of pay or where they would work. It is already a very crowded shop. It has been an interesting experience being a part of a place that did their best to get him, promised him one thing and then gave him something else. Tillamook wants him back, but then we would be apart again....It is definitely bemusing. We will keep you posted as to what we are planning on doing now.

J still hasn't had his tryouts yet. Jazz band is a class that takes place on a day for 'special' classes, so when there are assemblies..well, they happen on those days. J said none of the other classes are important..like Jazz band! he gets to go skiing again this weekend to make up for the aborted trip he went on a few weeks ago (they were stuck in traffic for three hours due to an accident).

Gardening here is uncertain now. Mostly because of where we may or may not be. I have never actually planted stuff in this zone. When we were here when T was born, we didn't have much garden that I remember. I think we borrowed the neighbor's! It would be fun to grow watermelons though!

Still reading the Joust books. Am halfway done.

Short Post

Very staccato note!
OK, at the library again, it is loverly outside. We had rain and then sun and it is very nice. I miss the rain. I really want to start a garden...it should be fun, yet a lot different from Tillamook.
Went to the dr today, so had no kids. Dr is very nice and personable, I think everyone will like him.
Haven't heard from T in a while. J does his jazz band tryout this week, last week they had an assembly! He was really annoyed that they ditched his jazz band for an assembly. He is working on a puzzle for shop, it is very cool!!! I was quite impressed.
Still reading the Joust books, I picked up the last one in the series today. That is way fun! I now own the whole series!

Late in Feb.

I am using T's computer, we have not sent it yet and it is not letting me do photos or spell check. However, it is nice to get to go online and hang out for a while. So, maybe he won't get this after all!!!!! No, I will send it tomorrow...unless I can get to the PO before it closes today.
Babysitting has been fun, the dogs are always a joy! (not) They have a tendency to run off and need picked up. They are cute, though. Tiny critters of a mixed breed. We made Sunnypatch hats today (lots of twirled pipe cleaners and bugs that they colored were glued on in a variety of forms. They turned out rather cute.)
My neice has a birthday soon. OK, both of them are having birthdays soon. One will be 4 and one will be 19. Amazing how time flies.
Spring appears to be on the way. There are bulbs up everywhere and they are so purty. Even if they are just shoots. It is still very cold, though. Today it was 29ish this am. BRRRRR. I am going to put together a mulch area this weekend. That plan is in a book I am not sure how to spell the title of and then I have more great ideas from 'Trowel and Error' by Ms. Lovejoy. It is so much fun to read gardening books! But, it will be different gardening over here.
The books I am reading this week are the Joust series by Mercedes Lackey. I ordered the last one with a gift certificate I got for my birthday. It is one of my few series I don't have packed somewhere!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well, it is Valentine's Day and I was told by someone that today is also 'Single Male Awareness Day'. Cute, huh?
Not much going on here. Heard from T, he is playing airsoft in the woods, but it is called tactical something or other in wooded terrain.
I just wanted to let people know that we are still here and putting the best foot forward one day at a time.
Book of the day, the Valentine's book by LM Montgomery, The Blue Castle. I read it EVERY Valentine's Day. It is wonderful!

Still here.

OK, we are still around. Just not able to use the net much. I am at our Athena library now and not much has been going on. Lots of babysitting, but I think I may have gotten the kids to recognize that 'p' is for parrot!!! Cool, huh? Also, for pirate, purple, and pink!
House in Helix is still there. More on that subject later.
It appears T's orders are changed again. He might be leaving mid March. Better than this next week!!!!!! His Sgt told him he needs to relax.
Books of the week are a series by Mercedes Lackey and some one else...The Obsidian Trilogy. The other author is a man and wrote a kids book I recognized. They are pretty good.

a very short note

Thank you for all the prayers for Tony. He really appreciates them and just keep praying. He is supposed to be in a training this week.
Athena has been hammered by snow and ice, pretty fun in a very cold sort of way. I made a lumpy snowperson today while playing with the dog. (I will have scads of photos to load on here when we finally get the internet again!!)
J will be 14 years old pretty soon. Me, well, I will be older, too. S and I are a bit sick, the varied temps and the dry air I think are playing havoc with our systems. I guess we are used to the Oregon coast.
Book of the day: Patricia Wrede's Mairlon the Magician duo and a trio by Mercedes Lackey and someone else. I will write more on them later (after I read them).

Jake wanted 7 random facts. Well, let me think. A random fact is something that is true and yet well, random. OK, 1) I like dill pickles and peanut butter on wheat bread. 2) I used to detest chocolate. 3) I don't like driving (you can pay less attention when you are a passenger). 4) I enjoy reading coookbooks almost as much as my sister (but, I don't take them to the bathtub!). 5) I need a nap. 6) I put cinnamon in almost everything I cook. 7) I like real kettle korn (Papa Llama's from Tillamook, Or)

A quick note

So, for this run of staccato notes, I now have T's address!!!!! It is:
PFC Hansell, Stephen
CMR 411 Box 2074
APO AE 09112
Many of you will also get this along with a photo of T to hang on your wall..just so you can remember what he kind of looks like. I say, kinda, because a friend sent a video of a musical program he participated in last spring and he looked VERY different. The photo will also help you remember to pray for him. His orders, last we heard, were changed so that he will be heading off to the sand in mid Feb and not early March, as we had thought.
On another note, we think we found a house. It is in Helix, Oregon. We will let you know how that goes. I am too nervous to say more at this time. It may or may not pan out. (Sorry, that was a very obvious statement!).
It is super cold here with snow. This am it was 10 above and now it appears to be around 28..in the sun!
The last note today, we don't have the internet yet. The wireless thing from Qwest was a bad idea. It worked not at all. Verizon was better, but not much! So, we will have to look at a satt dish if we stay here..if we move to Helix, they have internet at the house we looked at!
Book of the day: Something else by Grace Livingston Hill. I need some warming bubble gum type books at this time!!!