Heart Full

We're going to miss Jim on our daily walks

The past two months have been up and down on the emotional richter scale.  One day while walking by last month, Jim told us his wife had fallen in the night and he found her the next morning and when they examined her at the hospital they found she had had a stroke.  For the next two weeks we watched a dramatic change come over Jim.  He had been slowly ambling over his yard wishing he could do more and by the end of the 2 weeks he'd gone to sitting, sitting with a blanket, sitting with his feet up wrapped in blankets, to sitting with oxygen.  He would report how Madge was doing each day because his son would come everyday and bring him where he needed to go.
I went to Utah and when Laura and I went walking he told us she died.  Ahhh, he was so sad and so were we.  Two days later he threw away the oxygen and hardly used the walker.  I was hopeful that his heart was doing better and his legs were less swollen.  We visited for a little longer when we went by.  He seemed to be shaky on his feet and reported falling a few times.  We'd watch for his cane to hand to him when he showed us pictures on his walls and told us about his life.
I went to Texas to drive back with my daughter and found out Jim died the night I got back home.  Every time I leave something bad happens.
89 years old, married for 60 plus and left a heartbroken son and some very sad neighbors.

I wonder what he said when he met Madge again.

I wonder if he'll remember us and all his neighbors who loved him.

Laura is doing it again!

Mountains of fruit, bowls and bowls of salad, cookies (hundreds) all individually packaged, and a huge list of things to remember to put in the car tomorrow.   She is catering the Concord High Senior Picnic. She isn't doing the hamburgers though she is bringing the grill.  It is awesome to watch a genius at work.  How she can make the mounds of groceries disappear and reappear as recognizable delicious food is fantastic.   Laura starts out with a list (after her daughter told her what she wanted) then organizes it into stores.  So we hop into her van and pick up ingredients from different places - this lady really knows her stores and which will give her the better deal.  Some of the owners know her personally and she knows just who to ask for the best produce (or please reserve 7 3lb packages of chopped romaine for Monday).  Then there is a place in her dinning room and front entry that the boxes and sacks usually end up.  Baking and preparing are meticulous with gloves and precise cuts.  (Not my scoop melon and chop up - no Laura's are all square approximately the same size!)  Her mother-in-law (Grandma Nausin) supplies an extra oven, refrigerator and makes up huge batch of Snickerdoodles.  There are special sized muffin cups, cookie sleeves, matching napkins and exactly what plates and cups go together.  I watch Laura slice and dice, copy exactly what she does and then try to speed up the operation.   But it's her presentation that takes the prize!  Laura brings her own utensils, serving bowls, platters etc. and a picnic is really poetry when it's done!

Don't Put That On Your Blog

Twice in one week
I'm taking someone's picture and they immediately say, "Don't put that on your blog!" So a few people -very few- know that I have a blog and that I occasionally post on it.  So what is this big deal about the hordes from the public (yeah right) finding out a few things about their life?
My children - who don't get on - all have informed me they don't want to be featured here or there.  My husband doesn't want stories about him put on, my sister says maybe but not much, my greater family I don't ask, - so I'm left with...... my friends!  Except some of them don't want to be the main scoop either.
Maybe I'll go to the dog park and look around.......

I think I'm a Lizard

I've noticed this summer that I change personalities when I'm with other ladies.  Sometimes I talk a lot, sometimes I'm quiet, it seems to depend on who I'm with.  At girls camp,  with my mom, with my best friend, even with my sister - I adapt to a person that I may not be with another person.  Rebekah, my daughter says I try to please everybody - including salesperson (she thinks that's going too far).  I never really noticed until she pointed it out and now I've been looking all this summer what I do when I'm with different people.
Chameleons change for protection - but I don't feel threatened, nor do I have an extra tail.  I do acquire different skills.
Years ago I was friends with Ann Brown and we would go to look at wood working tools and I got all kinds of things for the cub scouts I worked with.  Every Christmas I would watch over her shoulder and help out with all kinds of nifty gadgets like wind chimes and wooden benches. I gave away really cool stuff.   She could always come up with any tie slide I could dream up.
Now I'm walking with Laura and seeing all kinds of flowers and my front yard actually looks nice more often. I've had fun going to huge gardens and touring old houses.   Mealtimes have improved immensely.  I was looking at Bonnie Mattson's table and wondering if I should get some matching napkins to go with my plates.  I'll be seeing my sister Susy this weekend and I'll probably end up doing somethings she likes and coming home with something special.
I think my photography is the only talent that doesn't come from somebody else ----- but you know my mom paints pictures.....

Did you know there is a BEACH at Lake Tahoe?!!

This summer has been great doing the California tourist thing! 

I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge -( it is really orange/red).....

played with the kids at Boardwalk in Santa Cruz (burn at the beach)....

 and then Rachel, Diane Chambers and I went to Lake Tahoe.  Now having been in California for more than 20 years I've had many friends 'go to Tahoe' for the weekend, a day trip, or a week and heard what fun it is.

ITS TONS OF FUN!!! AND IT HAS A BEACH!

 A beach surrounded by mountains and trees and alpine forests.  Wind, sun, puffy clouds and jet skis, canoes, kayak, speed boats, pleasure boats, fishermen, and water skiers!  There is even a huge paddle boat.  Those in the know said the sand was driven up and dumped there.

I couldn't resist asking these boys to jump for me - no I have no idea who they are - just boys having fun!

Late in the afternoon the clouds came and thunder and a bit of lightening, so we went home after a bit of sight-seeing.  For those in the know I about had heart failure hugging the car door between Emerald bay and another lake up there - two cliffs with a tiny road in between.

I love California!

Didn't walk with Laura last week,

 but I did walk a lot......a whole lot.  Up hill down hill and across camp back and forth.    Girls camp is really a wonderful place to be.  The elements are the same each year.  Something bad always happens, a miracle two, three or four takes place, blessings are given, and prayers are answered.  Walnut Creek Stake Girls camp is mostly a hiking camp and as such as adverse conditions are built into the structure of the program.  You can't take ten to twenty girls, sleep in the mountains, jump off boulders into ice melted lakes, cook your own food and not have stress and aches and pains somewhere along the line.  So answers to prayers are very important and real.

What do You do in the Summertime?

 Having a dog is really fun, having a dog who loves water is superb!  Add a few boys in the mix -

 Hilarious!