Finding God in the Garden

I was in the most beautiful garden last Saturday! Our Alter and Rosary Society had a retreat and day of recollection at a members house. Dee is in her 80's and does all her own garden work. She has paths everywhere and around every curve is a new surprise! A lamb peeking out from behind a birdhouse, stones with bible verses, roses and hybiscus everywhere, birds in cages...what a wonderful day!!

Not such a good day...our sweet chocolate lab Brandi -in the picture with me at our garden pond wall-died this morning...she was 11 1/2. She had a collapse last Tues while walking at Lindo Lake...her favorite activity..and spent overnight at the vet after draining fluid from around her heart. Vet said could recur..prob from a bleeding tumor for which there is no real treatment....She was much better the last few days...puppy to the end she was running down the driveway yesterday.

OK I really will get the camera out tomorrow!! Lots of things to picture around here....first we have seven yes 7 new chicks!! And I will put a few pictures from our trip to Death Valley. For now gotta go!!

Spring Cleaning and Catchup!!

WOW I had no idea it has been so long since posting...guess the whole idea is to do this frequently!!! But then we have been busy!!

The Houseful: We seem to have had a string of visitors lately!! Love it!!

Dave had a conference in SD in Feb and brought several of his PHD alumni with him for a great evening and home cooked meal. We had fun watching the curling on the Olympics. They created a whole new scoring system for the game!!

Carol had a bike race at Lake Morena end of Feb so came for Sat afternoon to dry out with friend Chris for dinner and evening and much appreciated WARM showers!

We went out to see the race the next day. Fortunately the rain had stopped but there were still some really flooded patches on the coarse...everyone finished muddy!!

The pic is her 2nd place finish!!

Sarah and kids have been here for a couple of weeks staying with her parents. Jason was finally able to join them last weekend. It has been great to see everyone. The kids are wonderful!! They had a great trip to the zoo and to Legoland. Seems as if Connor is a ride officianado..really likes roller coasters!!

Old Business:

1.We have a rooster!!!...yes one of Mario's chicks last summer turned into a full fledged-no pun intended-copy of his deceased dad!! We have named him Rocky in honer of his barred-rock heritage! He really is living up to the "cock-of-the-walk" colloquialism in our English language...struts all over and has his way with the hens...keeping order in the chicken hierarchy...BUT he has a long way to go when it comes to cockadoodledooing!! He sounds like a boy whose voice is changing ...all over the scale and never knowing what note will come out!! It's getting better though. And those of you who visit will be happy to know that unlike his predecessor he does NOT crow ALL night!!

2. We..Dad and I ...are resolved to go camping frequently this year!! As you will see we bought a popup trailer last fall. We have used it about 5 times since getting it and really enjoy the luxeries it contains...no more treking to the bathroom at 3am!! It even has room for guests!! It really is nice to leave on weekends...seems like there is always one more thing to do around home so you never really relax and Dad particularly needs that break. We figure the more we camp...the less each trip costs us...I think were down to about $1800 per weekend now!!! Pics from next trip in April!!

Old now New Business:

All you who know me realize what a procrastinator I am.

The ongoing PROJECT of cleaning out the family room really does need to get done.

But God has a plan!! (More like a kick in the .....)Yesterday our plumbing backed up and the drain to the sink in the laundry room and the toilet there flooded the laundry and about half of the family room. I had to take out everything including to the rug and move the piano to scrub and sanitize the floor. Not a preferred method of spring cleaning but incentive and effective none the less. So the rug has been thoroughly scrubbed -thanks to Dad, behind the piano dusted and vacuumed, the floors mopped and lots of boxes moved out!! I had already started paperwork because of taxes so this project just might get done this week!!

Remembering a Friend

About a month ago a very good friend and fellow choir member died after a long battle with recurring cancer.
At her funeral another family friend sang "Untitled Hymn". Such a beautiful song...and so perfect after all the uncertainty and pain she endured....I was thinking about Sue today and found the song on U-Tube......enjoy


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PANiveIKVX0&feature=related

Memorable Demise

Well for all you non rooster fans out there...Mario has gone to the virgins in the sky!!
Yes our Majestic Barred Rock Rooster is no more. Just keeled over one morning.
Now mind you he was VERY busy this spring and we had five chicks born. Three have survived and one may even be a successor....acting very cockerel!!! It will be smaller though as the lineage is now Barred Rock and Banti.
Anyway, good news for all you who sleep in our guest room when visiting...your nights and mornings will only be punctuated by gentle clucking from the chicken yard...not all night crowing!!!

Transitions

OK so I don't write much....Guilty as charged Jay!!! I found the following in my blog drafts. I at least thought I had posted part of it

Written in June :
Okay...its been way too long since I have written/blogged. Seems like everytime I would think about posting- something would delay it...then I had major computer problems and my Toy got to go to the computer hospital for two weeks....AJ took very good care of it and voila here we are back on line!!



I've been thinking for some time that our family has had a time of transition with all the BIRTHDAYS, GRADUATIONS and MOVES...celebrated and or endured over this past few months.



It started in December when Carol GRADUATION with her Master's Degree. She's done the difficult work of jobhunting...found a great job in her field, MOVED into a cute house in Fresno and is settling into her career with the USDA!!



About the same time Mike finished his year probation with the CHP and has settled into a 12 hour shift routine that he seems to like. Even though its weekends for now he can still spend good time with his family... Brooklyn, growing by leaps and bounds, turned 2 on the 25th of June. Sydney will start 4th grade this fall and will be 10 at the end of August.They have just MOVED to a larger house!!



Then in January Jay and Susie MOVED!! After a long stint in the desert, a short visit here, and the hastle of movers and houseclearing, they drove clear across the country to Virginia to a beautiful LARGE house waiting (due to careful planning!!) for them!!



March brought leave and a long visit west for Jason and Sarah and kids. It was great to have them here for a couple of weeks and to meet Alex who is wonderful!!! Connor and Miriam are sooo cute and growing way too fast.

ALSO three BIRTHDAYS..Jason, Sarah and Connor!!



March also took us to Texas for Dave's GRADUATION...Doctor of Physical Therapy!!! We took a belated present for Amy's BIRTHDAY Mar 10th.

We really enjoyed seeing parts of San Antonio this time there with them. It was fun to have Howard and Linda there too for such a grand celebration.Next for them was a MOVE from San Anton to Virginia. Amazingly they live very close to Jay and Susie and have been able to spend weekends and short trips together!!!



April also brought a wonderful BIRTHDAY celebration for me!!! Imagine turning 60!! Bob planned a wonderful surprise party with my best friend Marianna. The Alpine Inn and the food were great. So many people came from far and wide. Thankyou to all of you!! My sister Patti and her friend Steve stayed for a week and I got to be tour guide for Point Loma and Torrey Pines trips.

So the transitions continue.....