J K L M N O P

Road Reports! Flooding!

2012-01-19T19:54:00.000-08:00

We've been watching these closely the last week!! Today the red keeps popping up everywhere! but earlier in the week it was filled with many many blue round dots! giving snow reports, road conditions and chains required warnings!

Weather! MORE!

2012-01-19T10:57:00.000-08:00

I think I should start with the weather forecast!!! YIKES! forecast is from http://forecast.weather.gov/

Sheriff getting wet to make sure only those who live above the water level get access, or have a high enough profile vehicle get through.

Those are cars stranded in the street because they were foolish enough to try to make it! Way to deep!

This 4-wheel drive vehicle was hesitant about going, they kept opening their door to watch the water level as they gingerly passes through!

The red spot behind the dark car is a canoe! They had front door canoe service! Their car was sitting under water! further up the street!

WEATHER!

2012-01-18T22:36:00.000-08:00

January 15, 2012

on our way home from Special Meeting!

January 17, 2012

January 18, 2012

right at the road on both sides! Wonder what it's like tonight?

January 18, 2012

Neighborhood where Jay grew up! He saw it this way before, but it has been years! 3 weeks ago all the rivers were several feet low! Now they are well flooded! Water is gushing out of manhole covers everywhere!

Gorgeous day by the ocean!

2012-01-17T20:02:00.000-08:00

Coast Guard towing drill! It was a lot of fun to watch them!

Freeeezzzzzing Cold but this sure still looks like FALL!

2011-12-11T08:31:00.000-08:00

Thankful for little things that add up BIG

2011-12-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

At the first suggestion (option) my reactions were:

Do I really need it?

I'm too young?

And of course I realized and didn't want to be that tied to regular doctor visits!

Several months of testing... and the options were:

Either - or!

Either the recommended procedure/device

no driving - as in long term.

I happen to have put on over 40,000 miles a year in the last couple of years.

Thankful for:

A doctor so willing to make it work into my schedule (also didn't want to wait) that he did it on his day off!

Yes He is an excellent doctor, or I would have gone else where to have it done.

He was pleasant even though I didn't make his job easy (took an extra hour)!

That Jay is willing to have his days so broken up to be the kids and my chauffeur!

(6 weeks of no driving for me).

For a husband who does dishes,

washes clothes,

cooks!

cleans!

helps me with even the most mundane tasks of daily living!

(Basically mom, while mom checks out for a break!)

And of course - for great kids who help out!!

And to feel like being up and going!!

That mine isn't one of the ancient ones!

That so far everything is working and healing as it should!

Getting use to a new routine!

For my own bed!

For a husband who tries to comb my hair!

That I've figured out how to comb it with one hand - granted it's not pretty, but it's not everywhere!

Fun!!

2011-12-03T08:03:00.000-08:00

Neil runs a forklift at work similar to this, so he was raring to go when the neighbor had it and we could use it!

perfect weather, perfect reach!!

Notice how they hang on until...

they get a lesson on how to go down ...

and they receive the controls!

Aren't older brothers wonderful!!

Process repeated!!

Around town!

2011-11-28T15:50:00.000-08:00

Count 'em! Spent all day outside our living room window!

2011-11-27T21:19:00.000-08:00

2011-11-16T18:34:00.001-08:00

Osten loves the manual transmission. Buena Vista Ferry

2011-11-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

a few of us

2011-11-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

Portland

2011-11-13T06:24:00.000-08:00

Portland Airport

Interstate 5 bridge over the Willamette River

Columbia River/Hayden Island

downtown/Portland State

Vets Hospital on the left & OHSU on the right - skybridge between

Tram that goes from the Willamette to OHSU

Casey Eye Institute at OHSU

Huge crane

2011-11-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

5 star plus for a night Thanks to dear friends while we visited someone near and dear to us!

2011-10-31T20:15:00.000-07:00

This home was built as a sales tool! Gorgeous! And the view was delightful.

Taking shots at each other!

Our Host and Hostess!

A Day At the Coast & Employed!

2011-09-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

Gainfully employed! And a happy camper!

Vegas thru the lens of Neil's camera!

2011-08-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

At Hubby's Request!

2011-08-08T04:32:00.000-07:00

Another one added to the collection!

2011-08-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

Before and After

2011-08-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

Before:

Can't see the top here, but it was cracked and water marked. Pretty rickety!

After:

A little glue and a little finish! Back to it's original beauty! The way I remember it for years!

(A wee thanks! Maybe someone will recognize the photo I 'stole'!)

A few Finds!

2011-08-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

Estate sale finds! These pictures don't really do them justice but they are two gorgeous pieces!

Laundry rack!

Hit and Run!

2011-08-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

One day several weeks ago, I went into the bank. I hurried out to get into my car and several people said, "Hey, ma'am, someone just hit and ran your car." They gave me the license of the car and make. I called the cops but they were no help as it didn't match the car. So... Jay was not happy with the cops - they wouldn't even talk to the bank. They asked how much damage and Jay immediately said $1000. You could tell he thought Jay was being a jerk. ...so sports car = college probably student. description of the person was a minority ethnicity. Jay said, "I'll find them." 10 days later....

this is the text message I received! The car and before I could show up the driver of the car showed up. Jay just told him he'd hit and run our car and pointed out the paint from my car on his bumper. He gave us his info. We went and got estimates and all were $900-1000! Just like Jay said. His insurance was Geico and they have their own estimator so we took it up and got the check - more the the estimates we received here in town. Turned around and sold the car before we had even deposited the check. The short of it is we put 40,000 miles on this car in 14 months and ended up not paying a penny for the car -- because of the shortage of new Japanese cars they are paying a premium for used.

Replacement car

VW TDI

Nothing like being a month Late! Congratulations Neil!

2011-07-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

High School in 3 years!

Spring! Or is it?! These are usually done blooming in early April at the very latest!

2011-06-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

Rare!

2011-06-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

She still does not like/refuses to pose for pics! So here are some one of the boys shot!

We have ENJOYED

2011-06-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

So thankful for the godly influence - a quote many of you may have seen from Joe Layman "I'm thankful for those who loved my soul more than my friendship"! Would aptly describe our thankfulness for the help he has tried to share with us! Oh to truly take steps deeper into the will of God.

Jay gave the two youngest a hair cut - Dellas wanted one too!

Turkey in front yard!

2011-06-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

Awwww! Fish!

2011-05-31T15:19:00.000-07:00

A Very Special Lunch with these Very Special People!

2011-05-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

new look some of the time!

2011-05-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

By request

Yesterday in pictures! (It was a great day!)

2011-05-07T20:21:00.000-07:00

My morning cuppa!

A trip through the antique store and watch for the purchases in a later pic!

A rare thing for us - Jay and I had dinner out together! It was delicious! It was fun - we ran into several of the friends eating out too!

Dear, Sweet Sarah made treats for my birthday! They were delicious and gone in a moment!

Miles worked but the rest of us went to the brand new Cabela's that just opened in Springfield!

My favorite purchase! Does anyone have clue what it is?! I have been wanting one for quite sometime!

And....since I've left you have for several weeks on Osten's find in Seattle - ...! No Explanation required!

Oooops! Not Once, Not Twice, BUT Three Times!

2011-04-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

When your leg is strong enough to land a football in the trees - one must not play football under tress! So .... Miles kicked a ball - into the tree (#1) and to try and get it out threw #2 into the tree trying to dislodge #1! Dad stands at the window watching and laughing! Finds two basketballs and throws them out the window.

Result.... #3!

So.. the boys find baseballs and while they would hit the balls hard it wasn't enough to dislodge them.

Chasing baseballs!

Dad takes pity and brings out the chainsaw! Boys help set up the ladder. (Older boys aren't in the following picture because the had to go wash the poison oak off from retrieving the ladder)

Down comes the branch with two footballs in it!

Balls retrieved! (Basket ball got left. A good wind ought to dislodge it, but who knows when we will get that.)

Under 11 hours!

2011-04-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

Osten made a 'find'! but not out the back door!

Alas, pa and ma embark to retrieve the find at noon!

Here are some pictures on the way and back!

Seattle is normally a 5 hour trip each way.

Thankfully we made it in under 5 hours each way.

Round trip total (including deal time) 10 1/2 hours.

First sight of the Space Needle

Port

Seattle Seahawks QWest field on the left

Down by the wharf

Neil - Spring Break - Self explanatory!

2011-04-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

Neil's pictures from Spring Break - Luke AFB Air Show

2011-04-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

This last picture is a very common site! A bunch of our houses are located in their flight path! Fun to watch them!

Spring!

2011-04-09T22:12:00.000-07:00

Beaver Weaver!

2011-04-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

Taken with my phone! Quite impressed with the quality!

Neil 2011

2011-04-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

Yummy!

2011-04-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

Jay's and my plates! BTW we are loving the camera on our phones! So handy!

Spring Break - LMNO

2011-04-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

I offered to help but they said they would get it. None of these show the finished product with the grout and trim back on, but it gives the idea! They picked out the tile, tore up the carpet, laid the tile, grouted, and put the trim back up! Turned out they didn't really have a lot of free time, but they got to do the things they wanted and IN THE SUN! Around here SUN counts for a lot! We just had our first 60 degree days this year. We usually get a week of them in February, so they were long over due!

Weather is a mixed bag these days!

2011-03-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

Common here - maybe not so much else where

2011-03-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

May be fairly common here - but the beauty and promise still speak! We love it every time we see them.

Interesting find!

2011-03-06T06:49:00.000-08:00

For some of my western friends! Though it was an interesting friend! Now I may have bought it if the horn actually blew when someone opened it! ;)

Some of the texts I sent home!

2011-03-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

Two more Texts from Hubby! Her Birthday!

2011-03-04T05:59:00.000-08:00

Another Text from Hubby - while I was gone - badly missing out!

2011-03-03T05:58:00.000-08:00

Our oldest and youngest after Virginia P's funeral! How badly I wanted to be there! She was special in a very quiet, unassuming way. Would love to have a smidgeon of her grace.

Text Mssg from my Hubby, While I was away!

2011-03-02T11:43:00.000-08:00

He and the boys pulled my stove out and cleaned it good and the stainless behind & around and under it!! A yucky, greasy job! Beautiful results!

A pet peeve of mine - when I come home people ask me if my house still stands! I have to say they do an awesome job when I'm away, thus making that comment a pet peeve! The only thing they really have a hard time keeping up with is laundry and they do try there!

Guess there aren't enough books around here to read!

2011-03-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

Antique Store find and what was in the package from my Sis!

2011-02-28T06:41:00.000-08:00

On our Anniversary, Jay and I did a little Antique Store hopping!! We saw this and debated about buying it. We liked it but weren't sure about getting it home and was a bit more than we wanted to pay. Mom and I went by one day and I stopped in. Jay and I had been kicking ourselves for not getting it. They were dismantling the stall when I walked up and the guy said we aren't allowed to sell anything. So I was giving him my business card and asking him to contact me because I wanted to buy the brass valet. A lady walked up and said I'll take a check for it and he'll carry it out to our truck with other stuff and you can get it there. So that was what we did!! They also discounted it over 50%! About $75 less than Jay and I had agreed on! So I bought and called him later! The boys all want it in their room now!

While I was gone for sooooo LOOOONGGGG! my sis called and wondered if I had rec'd her package. NO! I haven't been home to receive it! Lenore found the slip and went and got it!! This is what I found when I got home!! Thanks sis!! You know exactlty what I like!

It's first use will be as my Bible Bag!

No School! Snow Day! Rare around here! And quite a bit for us!

2011-02-27T07:27:00.000-08:00

Played with the saturation of this one!

Original

Deer and a cat!

2011-02-26T16:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks Drew for taking such neat photos!! The little bits of glare is because it was taken through the window and someone's reflection is showing up!

The cat sat crouched like that for 20+ minutes until Miles opened the window and threw something at it!

A Special Guest! Fun weekend!

2011-02-25T18:14:00.000-08:00

A few for the blogger audience!

2011-02-21T20:23:00.000-08:00

Before & After

2011-02-13T20:29:00.000-08:00

BEFORE!

AFTER!

Wonderful evening with dear folk!

2011-02-11T21:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Papa!

2011-02-04T07:43:00.000-08:00

2011-01-28T19:53:00.001-08:00

2011-01-28T19:52:00.003-08:00

2011-01-28T19:52:00.001-08:00

2011-01-28T19:51:00.001-08:00

I Love Text Messages!!

2011-01-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

Here's the updates Jay and I receive when the kids are out and about! Philip was stoked to get to go boardin' with the big kids!

Osten got a ride on the snowmobile with the ski patrol! No broken bones just bruised from hitting a tree. Not exactly the phone call I longed to hear. but was glad for no broken bones!

Lenore sends me this and later a text she decided to buy it!! Many cute bags she wants to make!! Miles trying on suits in Neiman Marcus in AZ in December!! We won't talk about price tags!

It happens when you get TOO MUCH RAIN!

2011-01-17T20:38:00.000-08:00

Kids were in Bend for the weekend - for a bit of boarding and of course Special Meeting over there. I texted them Sunday after noon and suggested they check trip check before heading out this morning! Trip check was and is full of road closures - flooding, sink holes, mud slides...! They made it home no problem. As we headed out this morning this is what we saw. Luckily we had the camera with a good zoom! Couldn't get too close ourselves! Jay went to school with the uncle of these guys.

front view

rescue tractor - a little much mud in those duals

the lake was not suppose to be there - encroaching on the straw bales.

He was trying to dig a ditch to drain the water. Said it only spun once! Yikes. They could hardly walk in the mud!

If they couldn't get it out with this tractor they had a drag line coming in. The stuck tractor is 200 HP!

Oh! the joys of farming!

Caught!

2011-01-14T14:19:00.000-08:00

She hates her picture getting taken! Look what I found on the camera! Don't know which one of the boys got these, but I like the succession of expression in them even if the photography isn't perfect in each one!

HOW DARE YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF ME!

OK! MAYBE THIS WILL GET RID OF YOU

NOPE - I'M RUNNIN'!

CAUGHT!

Oakley addicted!

2011-01-11T15:52:00.000-08:00

I guess Osten and Philip can be left out of this edict, although Philip would have a pair if we could find them in his size! Jay hasn't had a pair but ... I found these sunglasses for my Hubby! XO! Just in time for our trip to the Sunny South!

Going Home! Going Home!

2011-01-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

Wings to a windmill!

Strong winds all the way to Stockton! These clouds were coming into Palm Springs

Lots and Lots of snow! Going over the grapevine (So. Calif) and basically from Redding to Canyonville! I gave Jay a break for a half hour before Yreka and they drove the rest of the way home from Canyonville! I also drove Santa Nella to Williams. I drove this drive a half a dozen times (both ways - so a dozen times) last winter and never saw snow on the road! Doesn't look to be the same kind of a winter this winter!

Kids went to a BUNCH of g2g!

2011-01-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

One day they got together at Tempe Market, Christmas Eve a bunch went to the park and played football (L was the only girl), Sunday eve they met up again at Tempe Market, Monday they went to Castles and Coasters (roller coasters and mini golf) and Tuesday they went hiking and swimming!

And I got to meet someone from a blog I have ran into! Our realtor's brother and family were in town and we all got together! Had a great time! I will admit I had to go back and visit their blog! I know a couple of people who visit that will know who they are without clicking the link!

Cars!

2011-01-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

We are a house full of guys (girls don't count ;)), so you might as well like cars. If you don't - it doesn't matter anyway - except to you! :)

My sis and her family!

2011-01-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

My sis and her family at the all you can eat smorgass board! Gotta love all you can eat steak, especially when you have a bunch of teen age boys!! Think our two oldest went back at least 8 times for steak and talked grandma into getting them some too!

Cactus - and Our Limo Ride!

2011-01-07T06:09:00.000-08:00

X-mas Day Wreck on a Dirt Road - Note 3 Life Flights!

2011-01-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

2011-01-05T05:51:00.000-08:00

Saguaro coming thru the porch roof!

Neil

Mom

Phil

Lenore

Jay

Aunt Philene

Uncle Gene

Football/Basketball Stadium/Arena

2011-01-04T04:42:00.000-08:00

Phoenix Cardinals Stadium ( Where the Ducks will play soon!)

Phoenix Suns BasketBall Arena

Inside US Airways Arena!

One huge outlet and extension cord!

Bass Pro, Mesa AZ

2011-01-03T04:27:00.000-08:00

The ride down!

2011-01-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

Here's how you pass your boredom! PUSH UPS!

Had a video we got in the front from the back of Neil on the floor doing push ups! It doesn't want to upload tho'!

Looks like Miles was behind the camera!

Teaser! I have way more pics to come!

2011-01-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

Waterfall in Scottsdale's Fashion Square

For our anniversary we at at McCormick and Schmick's in Scottsdale.

Jay had this trout and green beans - absolutely the best trout I have ever tasted! He had a Caesar Salad with it.

I had this Crab Louie that was really good too!

Jay's creation and follow up on the camillia

2010-12-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

A Couple of Pictures shared from MU Staff - the building in the back ground is where my hubby works!

2010-12-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

ESPN Game Day - MU Quad for the Civil War!

2010-12-04T09:09:00.001-08:00

Playing with camera

2010-12-03T03:27:00.000-08:00

Be careful or his lights will come on like this - not good especially in a school zone!

Thought the clouds had character. Not often we can distinguish them here!

10 days ago we had snow! So we were a bit surprised to see this bloom!

2010-12-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

2010-11-25T14:34:00.001-08:00

2010-11-25T13:56:00.001-08:00

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2010-11-25T13:39:00.001-08:00

2010-11-25T13:37:00.003-08:00

2010-11-25T13:37:00.001-08:00

2010-11-25T13:36:00.001-08:00

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2010-11-25T11:15:00.001-08:00

2010-11-23T17:30:00.001-08:00

For all you midwesterners that routinely get snow - we are ill prepared for it here! It started snowing last night - they didn't come out with plows, sand, salt or nothin'! until 7 AM!! Not such a problem for us as we can drive in it, but the problem is the other guy - they are weapons worse than guns!

2010-11-21T11:37:00.001-08:00

Happy 50th Jay!

2010-11-21T03:51:00.000-08:00

2010-11-12T10:46:00.001-08:00

2010-11-07T15:36:00.001-08:00

Fall beauty

2010-11-07T15:04:00.001-08:00

2010-10-31T12:46:00.001-07:00

90+ and gorgeous

2010-10-29T15:15:00.001-07:00

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