A Moment of Reflection

Well it's Sunday and Toast has some elevator music going (he says it's his Sunday listening music) and surprise he's asleep on the couch.
I just wanted to express my appreciation for all those young men and women who serve in our armed forces. I pray for them every day and thank the Lord that there are people willing to do that job. I'm proud to say my dad was in the Air Force and that he too served his country. Also my baby brother Ben who I miss very much (dang him for living in Alaska) he is also in the Air Force and my nephew Jessie Cool. Bless them all for their service. We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful country even with it's problems it's still the best place to live. I hope everyone takes a moment to ask God to bless our soldiers and their families at sometime while we are all out having picnics or cookouts. Everyone have wonderful and safe holiday!!

Mother's Day

I've been meaning to post about M-Day. So here it is. I had a great Day! I am one happy 'Mutha'. Thank you all my children for making my day so great. I appreciate that you appreciate that I'm your mom. I hope all of you who are mom's had a great day too! Hang in there and keep up the good work you are doing, it is "totally" worth it! Take it from someone who's been through the mill a few years. Love you all!!!! MOM

Adventures in babysitting

I know it's been a while since I've slogged through a blogg. Just thought I would post my thoughts about this last week spending time here with Tev and trying to pitch in with this whole Enok thing. What a character! I have enjoyed my stay here as always and glad I could be of some help to Tev while she's been so diligently taking care of Enok and trying to keep tabs of the goings on at home. I got to witness a miracle on Monday with Malik......he was already up and dressed for school before I even got up to get them up. THEN he even got his own breakfast, put his shoes on with out being told (I just had to tie them), brushed his teeth with only being told once Ummmmm....oh and sang pretty much all the way to school. Don't get me wrong he generally does pretty good but that day was exceptional. Alas it was a one day thing but hey it was great!
I'm a big girl now cuz I drove into the heart of the city which I don't do very well, makes me very nervous, but you know us moms, we suck it up and do what ever needs to be done for our children and yes grandchildren. I'm still such a country girl (you know....turn at the big pine tree and broken down truck kind of directions).
I stayed the night on Tuesday night so Tev could have a break. I don't know how she did it all those nights and days....very tedious trying to keep an active two entertained with limited resources, thank goodness he's so stinkin' cute and loveable. He basically melted the hearts of all the nurses there and Tev and I are like OH BROTHER! I was thinking, stop....... you're embarrasing yourselves you silly nurses, but I guess it was to his advantage cuz he could be a hand full.
I see better now the wisdom of having kids while young, as I've gotten older I get worn out a bit quicker but being reminded of the 'joys' of motherhood has been good too. Especially when the kids are so good like Jarek, Malik and yes even Enie. I always look forward to spending time with the fam regardless of the situation every moment is precious. I apologize if I wasn't too informative, not too good about 'writing' like my daughters but there you go.

sprong?

durned prognosticating rodent, anyway. I truly hoped he might get it wrong this year and we could begin in earnest with the garden prep activities, but all in vain. Seems like almost every year we get an abundance of lilac buds and then one last murderous snow storm. When the weather channel indicated a pretty strong possibility of snow and freezing temperatures, i figured i would try to cheat the global warming whoha and cover the bush with a big grey tarp and put a non-green incandescent light under it to burn all night long and contribute my share of co2 and excess warming to the planet. It looks like the buds made it through the night still kicking. I left the tent in place the next couple of days, relying on the forecaster's assurance that the frost potential still esixted. The same low pressure system that destroyed Bret and Tev's fence brought some pretty fierce winds to the mountain through the night so i was gald to see the tent still standing in the morning. We supposedly have a few more nights of below freezing temps, so i will deprive the lilac of direct sunlight till we head for the valley after my last day of rotation for this tour.(which will be wed. 1 april) can't hardly wait for the luscious smell of fresh lilac blossom. (think positive)

whooooosh! blowing off the dust

Well since it's been a long time since I've written I guess I better dust off the Ol fingers and get typing.
Granny is now back in her casita, snug as a bug in a rug. She's so happy to be there.....finally. I know she's missed her home. I've been taking care of her for about 5 weeks. Two at Val's and three here at my house. I've really enjoyed spoiling her and taking care of whatever she's needed. This whole service thing has been really good for me. Yesterday I took her to her last appointment in Tucson and now she will be going back to her original doc. She's doing really good and hopefully will behave herself and do the things she needs to, to be able to stay home. She received a thumbs up from the doctor and we are all grateful. Thanks for all the prayers in her behalf and in mine, especially when I've had to do a lot of traveling. Also, thank you Thad for being so generous with money and car and time in helping to take care of mom.
We also took some time to visit with Kathy and the boys. Bless their hearts they are always so sweet and gracious everytime I've had the chance to see them. Please keep them in your prayers. Kathy is doing much better battling her graves disease. She's been reading up on healing herself nutritionally and it seems to be working for her.
I thought I would have more to say but I don't. Sorry for taking so long to post but I just haven't taken the time to do so. Thank goodness for second chances. I'm not saying I'm completely repenting for not posting but I will do better.

Getting Dusty

This blog is getting dusty mother. I know you have been busy, but we would still like to hear from you on occasion. Tell us what crazy shenanigans you and granny have been up to. 

just so ya know

For those who are interested Granny will be coming home with me this weekend to stay for awhile til we can get her re-settled in her own little home. The fam up on the mountain will be able to spend some time with her and I know "Ankle" Manuel is totally excited about her being closer. She's coming right along and is having to learn to behave herself as far as her eating goes. I think she now understands how serious she needs to be about eating the right things. We are never too old to learn. Keep all the prayers coming in her behalf I do believe she's a living miracle. I'm grateful for the chance I've been given to take care of her.

"fire is cool" (beavis)

Arose before my alarm sounded (0530) and checked my phone's text in-box to see if i was dreaming about Nephi and Naomi...t'was no dream. Congratulations to the both of them. Nephi said that as long as the paper work is officially accepted, they are officially married.
Then i got myself ready for my appointment for the annual fire department physical. I had to go fasting so they could do a blood draw to check cholesterol levels, glucose levels and generally have me in a weakened condition so i wouldn't put up much resistance to the pokes and prods. They got what they wanted out of me. (though it took a little effort for the urine sample because of the dehydration factor) Then they ran the battery of tests to see how much I've deteriorated during the last year and what kind of a liability I have become.
Hearing test: ok in the mid ranges...weak in the upper tones in left ear and sub standard in the very low frequencies for both ears, but not so bad that medical or technological intervention is required...yet.
Pulmonary function test: above 100% in all catagories. about 120 in the cellular level portion (in other words, my alveoli are in excellent shape for a geezer)
Eyes: 20/30 for distance. Not quite that good for near stuff. that's to be expected with age
EKG: Looks good as far as i can tell. have to wait for the follow up visit when they do the treadmill stress test and have the doc interpret it.
Body composition: I fell in the desirable range for BMI and percentage body fat.
Then I hurried home to get some breakfast down and rushed to Taylor to do some flash chamber live burn training. (hence the title above) The idea was to give our crew experience in recognizing and anticipating flashover conditions in a structure fire. As fuel is burned in an enclosed space and the temperature rises and the available oxygen is depleted, the smoke (composed of unburned hydrocarbons and products of combustion) gets thicker and banks down. Eventually the gases in the room reach ignition temperature resulting in an amazing display of grace and beauty known as a rollover. Wish I could have had a heat-resistant camera to record the day's events. Wow! It almost seemed as if the fire had a soul and is was living being. It got plenty hot in there, but probably did not exceed 600 degrees because the reflective stickers on our helmets didn't burn off. A few of us did get slightly scorched, but no major damage to the gear. All in all it was a very productive day and one I'm sure everyone will remember for a long time. Now everyone involved has to wash their turnouts to remove the carbon particles that have become imbedded in the fabric. It's fun to watch all these macho guys man up the washing machines!

more winter?

After about a week of exceptionally good weather i was rather hoping that Punxsutawney Phil would not see his shadow and we could slip into spring a little early this year. But no...there still must be plenty of faithful saints praying for continued moisture here on the mountain, because it has snowed off and on all day. Not that its not appreciated. Not that we don't need as much as can be sent. It's just that its a lot easier to shovel rain than the snow. Had a chance to run the little Lucas Mill again to make some lumber for the downstairs bedroom remodel that's going on. Was rather fun and it reminded me that grandpa June indicated a desire to mill some lumber to help with a project that the Historical Society had discussed last year. Maybe when the weather gets nice again i can give him a jump start. Not actually as in hook up the cables to him or anything, its just that he has not even seen the mill in operation. I'm sure he could figure it out. He and Quentin have a supperhuman ability to master the mechanical things of life.
As you read previously, mom is in Patagonia and even though i miss her terribly, its probably good that she is not here to see me transform her living room into a dry kiln. I have been very careful to move stuff out of the way and place plenty of tarps to portect the new floor. But hopefully this blazing heater will get its magic done before the weekend and the stack of lumber will be gone in time. It sure is nice to have tools and time with which to work.
Speaking of nice...I am really fortunate to have Quentin and Yesenia so close by. They invited me to Yessie's parent's for Sunday dinner and fed me again tonight. I appreciate them in numerous ways, not the least of which would be the fact that i can smooch on a beautiful granddaughter at will. Sometimes i just ache to see and hold all the grandkids. Makes one appreciate the moments when it actually happens. Also makes one grateful for technology so we can keep in touch electronically if nothing else. So keep those pictures and blogs a commin'...
Hasta ls vista, bay bay















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Patagonia update

Well here I am in Patagonia, it's the end of the week and I'm still sane (or the same as I was). This place has it's own kind of beauty but......I would not like to live here. I've enjoyed the time I've been able to spend with my mom but to be honest I wish it was in Claypool. I'm a little more familiar with the area etc..... I soooo look forward to when I can go back to my own home. Mom has a doc's appointment on Monday and we'll find out whassup. We're all hoping for "great" news but will settle for good. All's well, all's well.