Christmas 2012

Christmas! A magical time for everyone-but especially for the children. It was so hard for Miss C to fall asleep on Christmas Eve-she kept checking Santa's travels on Norad every two minutes but finally she fell asleep and miracle of miracles it was morning! C and E left carrots for the reindeer, cookies and beer for Santa and they were all gone replaced by lots and LOTS of presents...... 

It took a lot of time to get them all unwrapped...

Sometimes Mommy had to help 

But for the most part those little fingers did just fine all by themselves....

Just what I always wanted! My own mini I pad!

Mom got a big surprise- a new tent! She was so excited she Pam and Alex put up an eight man tent in the living room!

Mama is modeling her specially made t-shirt. It's a one of a kind creation.....

And mommy is proud of hers-she wore it all day! 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Cookies!

As most of you know, every year I decorate cookies for Christmas with my granddaughters. This year was especially important after the events in Newtown, CT. I'm so blessed to have two beautiful healthy girls!

The preparation gets more and more complicated each year-but at least we don't have to start from scratch.....Everything that could decorate a cookie is made available...

And every year there's some new type of sugar to try out

This year there were 11 children and about 25 adults and zillions of cookies! 

Can you pick out Miss E? She's kind of standing next to her sister, Miss C. We had a nice combination of returning participants and newcomers this time. 

 Nobody could tell me why these three sat staring at the couch...a new kind of sugar high?

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving is one of those traditional meals we look forward to-turkey, stuffing, Kris's special mashed potatoes, Linda's  yummy yams, lots of salads, and Sandi's special pumpkin squares. The grandchildren are so excited when I pull up! Of course, my motor home turns into a playhouse of sorts. This is the view from my side window.

Here's the two munchkins-growing up so fast! They're relaxing in the MH after a rousing game of hangman....Miss E and Miss C learned the Christmas classic "Jingle Bells" and E was happily singing while coloring and C and I played hangman...

Our special project this weekend was to create a gingerbread house. Since the "house" had to set up overnight  Miss E and I put the pieces together while the rest of the family went to see The Rise of the Guardians (I don't think I have it right). Sandi and I slipped away on Friday to see "Twilight" thought it was the best in the series.

Everybody was pleased with the results: although  we had to assemble (twice) the house finally set up!

Lots and lots of gooey frosting, sugar candies and the obligatory peppermint posts made our first house memorable- and now we have cookie decorating in just a few weeks!

One more special project -it's a secret- for Christmas!!!

Boooo! Happy Haloween!

My two grandkids were invited to an early Halloween party so I got to see them dressed in their finery...Miss C was a cat and Miss E was dressed as a panda....Don't they look Cute?

Of course, they can't wait for the big day-I'm betting the little one will be scared out of her wits!

TWTWTW (That Was the Week That Was)

I went to Michigan for a family wedding and took time to reconnect with some old friends. MI was hot and muggy-I expected it would be much worse! The wedding-Jennifer Siebert and Sam Sherer- were married  in Gross Point Woods and the reception was at the Anthenium in Detroit near Greektown. Here's a few highlights:

Mary Beth and Steve Rivas-Mary is my niece, Steve is her husband. They're so good for each other!

The last time Ray and I were in MI was 6yrs. ago for their wedding.

Crissy  and Catherine Stephens...They are my great nieces (Mom is Rachelle and Dad is Howard). Oh, they are so pretty! Crissy  (L) is a Jr. Bridesmaid and Catherine is a flower girl. 

Jennifer and Sam were the perfect couple! They were full of energy  and transmitted some of that energy to everybody there.....

Here's my sisters: (L to R) Isa Pomponi, Me , Aunt Rita, and Ellen O'Connell. Ellen is Mary Beth's mom. The guy in the rear is Bob Pomponi- Isabellas' husband and the proud grandparents of the bride. 

After the wedding I stayed with my friends Mary Ann and Jimmy Henry. We've been friends since 2nd grade, and they are Kristins' godparents. Next year we will celebrate the 50th class reunion. While in school the six of us girls hung out-probably since 4th or 5th grade, so it was a real treat to see them! It's been 25 years since I saw some of them. They are (Lto R) Me, Pat, Marse, Janice Kathy and Marilyn. It's remarkable that they all stayed in the same area....Of course, I had to be the outlaw.....

Jimmy is just Jimmy...what can I say?

Jim took me on a nostalgic tour- We renamed it "It's time for me to die" tour....He's pointing out the area where we all skated and did lots of other activities-the fairgrounds...now gone!

My church is no more...sold to another religion

We HAD to have white castle-AKA rank burgers-for lunch. A Friday night tradition!

This cute little bunglow was my home in Royal Oak...I sold it in 1976 for $23,500. I'm told this is a very desirable area now and the houses are worth $250k!!!!

Memories....they're great and now it's time to go home! 

Lavender!!!

The Sequim Lavender Festival should be on everybody's bucket list! I was here 8 years ago-just happened to be here at the right time. This year I planned a little better, and several friends were here to share the enjoyment. Sequim is located on Washington's Olympic peninsula and is well suited for growing all types of lavender. There are farm tours and street fairs-something for everybody and lavender products you might never see anywhere else! Each farm offers acres and acres of lavender, some areas where you can cut your own, musical entertainment, food and gift shops filled with locals' crafts. Just before the weekend we (Jeanne Williams, Teresa Johnson and I) visited the Sunshine Herb and Lavender Farm owned and operated by the Ragsdales. Jeanne thought they might be relatives, since her maiden name is Ragsdale. There's a possibility they may be cousins.....

You can drive yourself to each farm or pick up a shuttle to visit the 8 farms on this venue. There are many more farms you are invited to visit.  On Saturday, Cecile Thompson and I visited the Olympic Lavender Farm, The Jardin Du Soleil, and the street fair with over 100 venders. Whew!

At a u-pick, this gentleman has a lovely bunch!

And, she's gathering a fragrant group...I just bought a few plants...

Now, I have to plan a trip back to Coarsegold....going to MI for a wedding!

From Port Townsend to Port Angeles

...And little stops in between. I've been here before, eight years ago-but I don't recall sightseeing too much. I do remember going to Victoria and since I've been there recently I didn't want to go again, so I just took day trips to see what's on the Olympic Peninsula. Of course, you have to take into the fact that it's beautiful, sunny and warm for two or three days, then stormy, rainy and icky for the next three days..so trips came in spurts.

This is Discovery Bay. Its East of Port Townsend and flow into the Straits of Juan De Fuca

Right at the point of the Bay is a very nice Visitors information/center run by the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe. It's actually in a little town called Blyn. As you get into Port Angeles you see the signs to the Olympic National Park 

The drive to Hurricane Ridge is stunning! Not to be missed!

The deer are so tame-but it's best to remember they're not! They can do a lot of damage to a car. I saw a lot of signs about elk but no live elk today....

There's a spectacular Visitor's Center at Hurricane Ridge-and the view-oh my!

I took these to show the panoramic view of the Mts., including Mt. Olympis

And now, on to the Lavendar Festival this weekend!

Mt. St. Helens

I'm continuing my travels north and stopped at Columbia Riverfront RV park in Woodland, WA. Ray and I worked here in 2001-02 and I like to stop here to renew old friendships, and take the opportunity to sightsee. Here's a photo op-with your friendly elk.......

Ray Arntsen is a dear friend I don't see too often. This visit we took a drive up to the Johnson Observatory at Mt. St. Helens. Ray lived here when Mt. St. Helens erupted (May 18, 1980)  but had never been to the Johnson Observatory! Naturally, the weather wasn't cooperating but still well worth the trip.

The fallout rock and ash actually covered the Toulle River-in some parts it was 600 ft. thick! 

No matter the weather-if you're in the area this is a must stop.