Paintings

This is the most incredible painting of England. If you zoom into it, you can see people on the bridge. It has some really cool English sites. I got it with the one below.

This one is Brooklyn Bridge, and I think the two towers are still standing. I am not sure someone will have to let me know if it is or not.

I paid $25.00 for these paintings, what a steal. It adds to the places pictures I have been hanging.

Changes Are in the Air

We woke up this morning to about 55 degrees, it was wonderful, the sky just looked like rain. Then several hours later, VWULA rain. If you look close you can see the sprinkles, everything is getting washed off. It left that wonderful smell of rain.

Since it is raining, we decided not to go to the Draft Horse Classic there is always next year. We had a great time last night at Tom's, Debbie was classic debbie. She was drinking many margaritas, she is super insecure about Tom going on tour in Europe for two months. Last night there was about 40 people there. It is a good thing I made a big pan of enchilada casserole, cuz the food ran out.

I took off all the sunscreens on the back deck today, and it made it seem alot bigger, now you can just look down and see the garden grow.

Weather Changing

The weather reports say that today we will be 84 degrees which is atleast 15 degrees cooler than the last week, and tomorrow it will be 15 degrees cooler than that. Yes, yes, yes, I am not looking for Winter but Fall would be great. The sky was full of beautiful clouds this morning from our decks. It is so nice to wake up to beauty, we love it.

Tonight we are going to Tom's for a Mexican Fiesta Potluck. I am making an Enchilada Casserole to take. It should be eventful, Tom and Debbie are making Margaritas and Appetizers, I believe there will be about 15 couples so the food should be great. I will let you know tomorrow. Tomorrow there is a 'Free' Draft Horse Classic at the Fairgrounds, and Tom's band is playing so I think that is what we will do tomorrow. It is amazing how much goes on in this County every weekend. I will take pix of the Draft Horses, they are incredibly beautiful and huge horses.

Fall and The Harvest Scarecrow

It is amazing to me that there are already Xmas decorations in many of the stores! Wow, really it is only September, today is the first day of Fall. I found this little harvest scarecrow at the dollar store...I hung it on the front door signifying Fall. Now if the weather would just feel like Fall.

Hot Again Today

We have had really hot weather for the last week, today is going to be no exception. There were clouds early this morning and a breeze, but believe it or not it is already 70 at 6:30 am. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to break and get cooler. Let's hope so...

Matt and Heather

Mario sent some pictures from Kidd Lake to us and this was my favorite. Both Matt and Heather look so peaceful. Which by the way, was a very hard thing to do this year...They were both smiling though. A good picture of both.

One Week Old

It is so hard to believe it has already been a week since Grady was born. These pictures were 1 week ago today, before we left the hospital. Crystal is getting herself and her children into a routine. She is getting Connor  back into Speech and PreSchool, and trying to get some kind of regularness going on. She is doing a great job, and I am very proud of her and James, and Connor.

Tired Out Today

I have been working with Matt this week, and OMG I am so sore today. I could not go with him to work today, my hands feel alot older than 55. It is supposed to be close to 100 degrees today, so I think I will try to stay in. Something happened to our air conditioner yesterday, so it wasn't working, and boy was it hot. We had Ryan, Naia, Aya, and Cindy Menig over for dinner last night. It was nice but very tiring.

Crystal and Grady

So after Crystal put Connor down for a nap, it was time to feed Grady again..You can see in Crystal's face how exhausted she is. I have a couple days work with Matt and then I am gonna go back and see if I can help her. Isn't Grady adorable. He has little wimpers already, he is doing really well. Now if Crystal can just get a little rest, it would be great.

Trying To Wear Out Connor

Crystal and I went out back with Connor this morning, he loves his patio, all his toys are out there.

Sunday at The Swicegoods

This morning I drove to James & Crystal's to see the family, I cannot say enough times how nice it is only being a couple of hours away.  They are all doing very well considering it has been less than a week since Crystal had Grady...The whole family is super tired, but doing amazing. Crystal seems like a pro with both boys. Connor loves his baby brother but still wants mom's attention. Crystal is busy as you can imagine. We played outside with Connor for awhile today trying to tire him out for a nap. It worked he went right to sleep when it was time. He rode his little radio flyer bike around and around the patio. He drew with his chalk, their patio is a magnificent piece of artwork from the colored chalk. It reminds me of when my girls were young.

Christmas Lights Already

The garden is done and Matt has moved on to the next important project. We are having a Christmas Party on December 10. The house needs to be lit up, in Matt style, way before then.  Matt built his own workbench out of wood from a clean-up job. Recycle, recycle, recycle, that is our motto.

As many of you know this is atleast a 2 month project to get the lites all working and then up on all the trees and the house. This will be the lst year in a long time that it will be really lit. More pictures to come as it goes up. Of course we can only afford to run it the night of the party, and Christmas and Christmas Eve. Possibly Thanksgiving if it is done by then. It is too expensive to run it more than just that few a days.

We are going to Jeff and Vickie's tonight, one of their daughter's is having a birthday party, and us 'ol fogies' are crashing it. Should be fun, it is beautiful weather.

Connor and Grady

It is so wonderful two have these two special boys as grandchildren. And Crystal was such a good mommy trying not to make Connor feel any less special than he is...

Mimi and Grady

I spent Tuesday night at the hospital with Crystal and Grady. It was a very long night, with nurses and doctors in and out...We made it out of the hospital late Tuesday. I am sure Crystal is ecstatic that she is not in the hospital anymore. She is doing really well, she had a much easier delivery this time.

Welcome 'Grady'

It is amazing how much Grady looks like Connor. I told Crystal she was making 'clones'...Grady looks exactly like Connor did when he was born. Crystal and Grady got to go home about 5:00 pm yesterday.Connor was missing Crystal something fierce.

Crystal and Grady

Here is the little guy with Crystal.

Grady Richard is here

Crystal had Grady Richard at 11:38 this morning...they are both healthy and happy. James and Sue Swicegood are watching Connor tonight, and as i speak I am on my way to the hospital to see Crystal and Grady. I will take pictures and post as soon as I get home.

With Connor Today

Mimi went to Connors last night, Crystal went into the hopsital about 6:00. They admitted her at 9:00, so I drove here then. I got here around 11:30.Heather was already here. We went to bed about midnight and then Connor woke up, wanting mommy. I went and got into his bed with him and sang "twinkle twinkle" until he was even sick of it. He said "mimi read now"...so I read for hours, he finally fell asleep about 4:00 and we woke up at 6:00. I called James, and the baby is not here yet. I will keep you posted.

Sunset

Last night after Matt planted, he watched football so I went into our room and opened up the blinds, and OMG...what a beautiful sunset from my bed. We have never opened the blinds because it is so hot. What a wonderful surprise that was, It seemed like it lasted forever.

Veggies Are In, Deer Are Out

Well atleast we think they are out for good. It is a tall and pretty strong fence. Matt happily planted brocoli, cauliflower, beets, lettuce, carrots, garlic, etc. had to buy them in 6 packs, too late for seeds.

New Background

I thought that my new "sun bursting" background was appropriate for this time. I always try to remember how many wonderfully great things there are in this world to appreciate. And still I try to 'LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME'. Love to all of you, you are all in our thoughts and prayers today.

Crystal Calls Early This Morning

Matt and I were watching the 9/11 ceremonies this morning, becoming more sad as it went on, when a call...no one calls early. It was Crystal, she has been having contractions all night long...

That's all I know, I will keep everyone posted.

Hey maybe we will have a 9/11 baby, and oh yeah...MAYBE WE WILL LEARN HIS NAME!

9/11/11

It is so crazy that 10 years have gone by since that terrible day...I can still remember exactly how I felt then. Heather and I had been watching a airplane disaster movie at the lodge in Graeagle we had just moved there. Matt was still in Grass Valley and Crystal was at college. Heather and I woke up to the big screen tv displaying an airplane crashing into a tower. We both thought it was the movie from the previous night. About a second later people starting pouring into the lodge in a panic to check out and get home.

It was then I realized what had happened. I was so scared for the rest of my family that was not right there with me. The panic in the tourists faces made it so much more intense.

This morning Matt and I were watching the memories of the 9/11 and it was just as real and just as scary as it was 10 years ago.

Thunderstorms

Last night we had thunderstorm clouds again, the rain did not make it to us but we could see it and smell it all around us...So pretty with the sky changing colors and the clouds were all around. The sky turns a kind of yellow color right before you can smell the rain. I love nature.

Fencing The Garden

Our Landlords bought the fencing for our garden because they said we were improving the property. This is a gesture we are not familiar with. So yesterday Matt spent the afternoon fencing the garden. It is all done now. And of course Matt has already started planting. YEAH, our own food again. Norm and Carol left yesterday to explore around Graeagle.

People in the Prowler

Norm and Carol came to visit yesterday. They are staying in mom and dad's trailer for awhile. We had a nice dinner and visit last night. When I got up this morning it took me by surprise when I saw the Prowler windows open, it took me a minute to remember someone was in it.

My Friends Are Back

I was on the computer this morning early, and my friends let me know they were here also. I opened up the front door and VWULA...Deer.

Sunset Last Night

It was so hot yesterday, it was sweltering last night. When I got out of the shower, out our bedroom door I saw this "hot evening sunset". It was pretty, lets you know, there is a God.

The Garden is Getting There

Matt finished installing all of the lodge poles for the garden, now when we can afford the fencing itself, we will be able to grow veggies again. It has been really difficult without any home grown veggies! Matt has worked really hard, these poles are 7 feet tall, and they are in the ground a foot...Lots of work but it will pay off next spring...