What a very busy month this has been for me filled with so many fun as well as challenging things to do. No wonder I go to Green Valley in winter. It's much more restful down there.
I was so happy to attend Taegan's award ceremony several weeks ago. She was chosen the most outstanding student in her Social Studies class. I also got to view the great article she wrote after she interviewed me and used some great photos of his military life and experiences in Vietnam. Good Going Tae!
Congratulations to Taryn on her graduation from Empire High School with honors. She'll be representing the district at a medical conference in Boston at the end of this month. She'll be attending UA this fall and has been working hard to obtain various scholarships for a free ride. She's just about there. Good Going Taryn. Her mom had a big surprise party for her afterwards and I even had some of the delicious and professionally decorated cake that one of Sunshines's friends created for the occasion.
Our desert has turned into the rain forest as we've had over 5" of rain in May and caused more flooding in fruit room so Holly put ladder up and I cleaned out the sludge of dirt and leaves (she has vertigo on ladders). Then a terrible dusty wind storm went through yesterday afternoon causing all sorts of havoc with trees felled and two boating accidents on Bear Lake with loss of a doctor and three children's lives So sad to hear and makes the four hours of our power outage a very minor inconvenience. I must say our lawn looks gorgeous and Holly loves the new lawn mower I bought after that piece of junk that Ryan used for three years.
The felling of this beautiful silver maple wasn't caused by a wind storm but by environment. It's been dying slow but sure for many years like all the other silver maples here in Providence. Many have their opinions why, but nothing definitive. So I had it taken down along with several other large bushes and stumps ground out. Holly and I were sure we had identified all the sprinkler heads so wouldn't have damage, but one of the hoses could'n't withstand that whirling blade and I had to have it repaired.
Amy made the mistake of coming over to ask us if we would watch her home while they were on 10-day cruise and we asked her to help Holly move dad's old potting bench down to patio where she has made a darling entrance to her place. Holly has been fired up to get things in better shape as we both want it beautiful
here without so much upkeep. We're making good progress and she can tell when I'm done and sends me in the house.
She was selected to be on the team to develop the new organic line of fish that P. Farm wan'ts to introduce so she has been working days and getting up at 4:30 - 5:00 is not her cup of tea.
These are my Lewis cousins who love coming to my home for lunch following decorating the graves in Logan and Providence cemeteries. It poured rain and some couldn't come due to family weddings, grads, or illness, but they all loved the delicious wraps that Holly was in charge of. I was shocked at Bob's appearance and demeanor. He's changed so much, aged a lot, shuffles around like a 100 year old man and I felt
badly that he's been damaged so much. He and Kate have sold their P.C. cabin, their home near St. Geo, his motorcycle and expensive car. Sharlyn came and after a fun family history jeopardy game put together by Lance she told us all about the woes in her and daughter Lisa's lives.
When I went to Paradise to put flowers on Henry and Zella's grave I passed their former house with new addition that owner Brent Pulsipher put on. I'd like to take a look inside when it's all completed.
Took a fabulous raspberry dessert to Uncle Del and Carol. They are in mid 80's and he's not doing well with congestive heart failure which took Grandpa Henry. They were surely glad to see me and they are the last of dad's older relatives in Paradise.
My right eye is looking great (yea), so says Dr. Young at my midday checkup today and he'll make a slit, (yipes) in the left eye when I return from keeping a blurry closeup eye on my CO blondes next week while Katie's at Girls Camp.
Some of you have heard via Facebook that I've gifted and am selling my beloved Pacifica to Taryn to drive to UA and wanted to know what I replaced it with. Well, this is a beautiful slightly used silver Jeep Cherokee which came with all the safety items that a woman with deteriorating vision could want. However, after 2.5 weeks I knew that it was not for a gal who weighed 87 lbs as it has a smaller wheel base made for sturdier bodies. Holly said she would buy it but "Dave" would yell at her so she's made the good decision to stick to her debt free plan. I've traded it in for another car that might suit my needs, but had better drive it for 2.5 weeks before I trade it in..........
How do you like our beautiful April spring? This was from 10 days ago and we awakened to more mountain snow this morning. We've had lots of rain in between which has been great for Holly and my gardening projects.
Last week I transplanted about 20-25 large strawberry plants from a friend's overgrown yard and Holly prepared an extended version of my tiny spinach area in herb garden since she and I consume a lot of spinach.
The day after yard man sprayed all the lawns for weeds and give nutrients - it rained hard for most of day and night (so much for that spraying job). Yesterday was beautiful.
Holly took over and went to town (er... rather to the garden). She worked for hours raking leaves, transplanting errant canes and made them into soldier rows in the north garden. Then she placed many of the huge leaves in between all the rows. I tackled the roses, iris, grass outside it's specified areas. She cleaned off area in north side garden that I had landscaper remove all those huge fitzers last year, turned the dirt, and then transplanted the rhubarb plants to a better place to get watered by the sprinklers instead of Gloria pulling the hose every few days. They LOVE water. We transplanted iris around the ugly utility box several days before the rains began.
Her dad would have been so proud of her, having a plan, doing the jobs in proper order and cleaning up all the tools and putting away (just like all my kids do when they're finished with a job). Sometimes she'd send me for a tool and it took me awhile to find it as I hadn't studied her filing system in that wonderfully organized garage. She surely loved using the new shovel and rake that Lance/Becky gave me for Christmas
Tomorrow we're going to visit Andersen's to choose the new plants, ground cover, and lots of vegetables to plant to beautify and nutrify.
I've been to one dental appt - another one on Tue. Saw my eye surgeon and have the have another surgery on both eyes. Am scheduled for a colonoscopy in May but don't have to have an endoscopy now.
Here's a photo of good AF friend Barb Hammond after we met for lunch in Tucson three weeks ago. Her husband Bill was dad's assistant on Guam and she and I traveled the Orient shopping for jewels and junk. We spent time comparing our aging ailments which is par for the course of active adults.
That's it for now, loooooooove, mom
Taegan is doing a report for school of her papa who served in Vietnam. She interviewed me and wanted some photos of him in his uniform. Thanks to Holly, I sent her this cute one along with three others and look forward to seeing her report.
Three more agave cacti in front and two in back are shooting out their stems and then they will die. My neighbors and those who do their walking along Pato are keeping watch on their progress.
Nice neighbors Jack and Dick took down the old fence rails that former owners had erected to "borrow" this community property land to use as their own. It's getting too much work for me to maintain and keep up so by returning this land to the HOA their people will do it for me. Last week the landscapers came and thinned out the overgrown cacti, dug out other dead ones and killed a rat and removed two nests under two clumps of these agave's. No wonder Jeri's succulent plants were constantly missing from her cute plant stands.
They were nice to save all the small starts which I transplanted out back and in ports along my front sidewalk. Now when those three out front die sometime this year I'll have some replacements for them.
Lance is recovering slowly but surely from shoulder surgery, but will have to wear a sling for several months. This is Issac with him and I'm delighted to pass on the good new about Shad and Sarah being pregnant again. They had those two previous miscarriages and things are looking good for this baby. She's due in Aug and Shad will be leaving for Kuwait in Oct. They have been living in Grand Junction, CO. Also Eric and Cindy are due in November so the Hansen family is growing.
Mike who has 28 years of computer exp has spent at least 7 hours helping me get my computer working better after Geeks restored my previous crashes and didn't put them under me as the administrator (he's not a fan, but I did tell him how one found the work I had lost on mom's history last summer). Hopefully this week he can set me up with an image point on my hard drive so I can recover any possible retrievals. (heaven forbid)
Yesterday Brooke and family came down and spent the afternoon with me with a colorful narrative of their fabulous trip to the UK. I hadn't seen them for quite awhile and it was a fun afternoon especially with yummy strawberry shortcake and souvenirs they brought.
With highs in the 90's now I'm walking earlier and earlier everyday. The 2.92 miles I put in this morning starting at 7:30 was the best ever as I felt good the entire way. My goal is to reach 3.0 miles before I leave on the 12th. Brady is also feeling the best ever as he takes time out each day to get his exercises in. I want to stay as healthy as I can to see my grandchildren grow into fabulous adults.
When I spent a Sunday afternoon with Brooke and family I was delighted to see how beautifully Ffiona presented the meal to all. Brooke prepared it and she presented. It was delicious and I brought 3/4's of it home to enjoy during week. Maybe culinary arts are in her future.
However, something I want out my future are the critters who thought (without the landladies permission) to take up residency under my beautiful flowering bush on my back patio. They had used the three huge rocks that previous owners and placed there for decoration to build a huge hut using all sorts of debris and materials. This photo was taken after the crash. I was too astounded to take one when I first discovered it. A naturalist would have been amazed and given them high marks, but not moi. When I took a large tool and crashed it down nothing ran out and attacked me (of course I didn't do it at night when they are out and about). After I had filled garbage can with this stuff and continued clipping the very long branches I saw another one on the right side of this area. (My poor eyes didn't see this-one either). I nearly had a conniption fit. I tackled that one after the garbage can had been emptied the next day and again nothing ran out to defend his fort.
Hyun spent his day off helping move these huge boulders to various parts of yard and he continued to rake debris trying to leave colored rocks where they were meant to be. He's got big muscles that his grandmama lacks.
Yea! That's looking much etter..........................but this guy, or couple, or family were determined that they couldn't be evicted that easily and when I checked the area several days later there was a huge hole again on right side going under the dirt toward the fittings of the house. Now I was really getting miffed!
So I found a tool with a hook on the end that opened up the awning above and got down and couldn't believe the nest under there that Hyun and I had missed. It included a huge nest with shredded materials and fibers plus all the rest of the tree pods twigs, leaves etc. and cacti debris they could find. Then I pulled out two huge pack rats deader than door nails. Yuck!!!!
Before I prepared lunch for us, Hyun also helped blow all dust, leaves, dirt, etc out of garage after we moved lots of boxes I've been storing in there. Nice neighbor let him borrow his blower and it's so good to have that done. We get so much of that dirt and dust here in the desert - wonder why????? And I'm sure many of you will be shocked - but I've decided that my box fetish has to go. I'll keep those that I use for moving back and forth, but without all
your dad's stuff and not using as many large boxes for shipping to all of you I'm cleaning out.
Back to the critter problem. After I cleaned up the dead rats and all their stuff and continued to wonder how many were feeling at home on my property. So I put out two large containers of delicious rat "food" to see if there were any takers. Next morning when I checked both were completely empty. I went in the house and made an appointment with exterminator I use for termites. He checked the low rise condo out and agreed that putting some bricks and pavers
that Hyun
had moved behind patio would be good to dissuade them from thinking this was usable property for their summer home. So I spent the rest of morning cleaning out the nesting hole, filling it with old bricks and rocks and leveled out the rocks and dirt so I could place one side of the pavers
under neath the siding to secure them from being lifted up. Guy left a large container filled with rat elixir and will check each week to see how much is missing. The next morning when I checked, Renaldo Rat had returned and tried to dig down to the blocked up nest using another route. No other evidence of his gathered debris was around the tunneling. Will see what the exterminator finds on Tue.
Hope you'll share this saga with my grandchildren so they'll know of my adventures...
Hi y'all, and congrats to many of our family who are celebrating birthdays this month. Brayden's was on 6th, Katelyn's on 10th, Brady on the 12th, Taryn on the 24th and Dylan on the 28th. Then also extended family are Dustin on 2nd, uncle Bob on 19th and Lance on 23. Hope it's a good time for all of you.
Bob was hit harder this time with stroke than last summer, but he's into P.T. now and looks like he's having a bit of lunch break. Left side of body still compromised and Kate says it's going to be a long road ahead. Let's keep him in our prayers.
Here's the infamous tree in neighbor Barbara's back yard that is causing lots of contention in neighborhood. I've been asked to be the arbitrator between Cindy and Barb to resolve the issue since I'm friendly with both of them and they have hated each other every since I've been coming to G.V. I' not sure if even Henry Kissinger could resolve this issue, but we'll see what happens.
And that reminds me that I wanted to resend this photo to those who didn't get it. I'm tired to replanting cactus that we've planted since living here. For some reason they haven't survived while others have. But three weeks or so ago I rode to Tubac (tourist trap of Mexican products for those who don't want to shop across the border) but of course these are priced for American shoppers. Jack and Jeri were headed to Mexico to get some meds (still much better prices) and since I hadn't brought my passport they dropped me off in Tubac so I could by this darling red rose and quail to fill in for he missing cacti. Hopefully they will be easier to maintain.
Met high school friend, Ann, for annual lunch at Sweet Tomatoes after shopping; baking for neighborhood and missionaries; taking many computer classes; and walking over 2.5 a day at brisk pace are keeping me busy---------
----along with my sewing and quilting projects. My neighbors want to be involved and help me find good deals at White Elephant, Good Will and estate sales in area and donate those so they can feel good also about sharing with the needy here.
Congrats to Rebecca for landing the job she was hoping for at Rowan's Washington Elementary School. With her experience and work ethic she showed at the preschool her boys attended, I know she'll be a great asset to each and every classroom she'll be involved with...and the hours and school schedules will coincide with her boys. Good Going Rebs!
WOW what a finish to the game! I guess I can't do two things at once anymore. I wasn't finished with the blog and Justin called to tell me he got my blog (I'd lost it) and to turn the TV on again.
Let's see where was I?
Happy birthday to 13 year old Ffiona at Green Tomatoes in Tucson.
Happy birthday to 14 year old Derek also. When I talked to him on his special day his voice has changed so much I didn't even recognize him. They're are all growing up toooooooo fast.
I continue to sew, quilt and made large donation to a needy Vets organization down here in dad's honor. I also gave 25 small blankets to Sunshine for her neonatal nursing friend to use at TMC in Tuscon. Thanks again for the great gifts and gift certificates to help with my sewing needs as doing these charitable projects make me feel so happy.
I'm feeling great most of the time and much of that is due to the "MapMyWalk" walks I'm taking listening to my favorite music with good beats that I've downloaded from Apple store. This really helps with my digestion, getting my heart rate up and more oxygen to my brain. I decided to start watching Jeopardy again while I'm tying each quilt and actually have been able to answer a lot of the questions (unlike when I watched with Brady and Mary a year ago). Thanks blond grand kids for the music gift card. I walked 2.5 miles yesterday and kept wanting to dance to "Sway" and "Smooth", but kept up the good pace.
Attended a lovely convert baptism last weekend for a sweet 38 year old gal I liked a lot. It was well attended by friends and members and the Mission president and 4 sets of missionaries were there and I took some of the my baked goods to share with them. Another one of my favorite things to do down here.
Made a stack of fat free HI PROTEIN pancakes that Becky's sister told me about on our trip to WY last fall. I've missed eating pancakes and tried a delicious blueberry one that Sunshine cooked for Christmas breakfast . It was sooooooooo good and didn't kill me the rest of the day. She sent a few home with me and I have had one each Sunday morning til gone. I tried one of these I made with strawberries and they tasted good, but did take a long time to digest due to the heavy concentration of protein.
I'm taking a number of computer classes this month and next to hone my skills and keep many of those darned grey cells from dying too quickly.
Heard Brady, Mary and Hannah had a great cruise through Panama canal, several fun islands, rain forest and Colombia, South America but didn't bring back a huge green stone like Michael Douglas did in "Romancing the Stone".
I'd better quit before I lose any more of this missive. Mom/G
Spence and Amy have free air flights, a Stampin' Up car, a speed boat and a riding lawn mower. But they don't have a good old truck to haul stuff so they use their good old suburban to do the job.
Holly, Amy and I measured the square footage we would need to complete coverage of areas Holly, Eric and I had prepared the last six weeks and Spence drove up to Franklin for some rolls of newly cut sod to lay.
By the time Spence returned Holly had left for work and he and I began at far north area next to fence and worked our way up to utility boxes. We did the area next to the driveway and around the boxes as needed. We could have used 20 more s.f.but we'll see how it fills in by next spring.
He is such a great neighbor and friend to help me out with this project of making yard work around here much easier for Holly and I. She has some good ideas for our project on north side and around back for next spring.
To keep the little goblins off this newly planted grass Holly came up with a great idea of using tape to ward off all those ghosts, monsters, batmen, and spider-men on the lawn.
It really worked well as many of those kids left my front door and headed across the lawn to the Johnson's and then turned around and left via the sidewalk.
Sooooooo glad it's all done and yesterday she and I carried gifts of thanks to Spence for all he'd done before several of her friends came by to stamp Christmas cards.
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
