Gorgeous House

Ben Law builds a wooden house

This is my idea of perfect!

Fair Time!

Evergreen State Fair!  First, see the horses especially the gentle giants. A pony ride for the girls with smiles of pure enjoyment and then the big carousel.  Grab a treat and walk thru the bombardment of carny noise to see the inspiration's for the next year.  The quiet contemplation of quilts and needle arts, so beautiful then showing granddaughter J the possibilities of building with K'nex or drawing pictures.  Wondering how canned food entries received blue ribbons when the air space at the top is too much (I follow this rule to the letter: quarter, half and one inch) Hmmm!  An interesting talk with the Master Gardeners (they want to recruit you!). They introduced us to what looked like a round zucchini (which are too wet for my taste) but was pale orange inside . . .  crossed with a pumpkin! A Pumchini!  We visit the cows, my daughters neighbors have Limoisin's, to say Hi!  Watched a class going on:  Dexter cattle originally from Ireland and naturally miniature, no horns producing both for meat and milk. Sounds good to me. Then a quick peak at the 12 day old baby pigs, the girls were quietly in awe!  Cooing over the pygmy goats, the dairy goats, a quick peak at the chickens (too may to comtemplate as always). We're exhausted, V sat in the stroller mostly but J never complained and at 6 yr. that is pretty amazing. This was good day (overcast, of course). I am amazed at the lack of crowds and the entries for baking, canning and a few other departments have half of what I used to see about 8 yrs. ago. Sad!

Family

Saturday was the annual family picnic. Grandpa is 92, getting frail but still able to teach Bible class (he was a missionary till he was 80). Our family may number in the 70's and almost half came (a few families from out of state).  We get together a couple times a year to keep in touch. It's seems to be getting harder every year, not everyone comes (or thinks it's important). Sad . . . .   Still, it was good to see everyone, fun for the kids and good food.

Went to my parents this week and took my two granddaughters with me, what a joy they are. 'Helping' with little chores like gardening and looking for deer (they walk thru all the time). Their mom came the next day bringing the baby goats.  My mom fell in love, she grew up with goats and other small animals because instead of tithe food was given. They would play with them and then would end up on the table, this was 60 yrs. ago or so. It was fun to watch! My son came also, he helped my dad with digging holes for posts and moving log rounds to be split.

A longtime, good friend of my moms is in the late stages of Alzheimer's, we started on clearing out some of her things for donation, sale and clothes for her to wear.  The closet took about 4 hours and left us tired. Next will be her sewing room which is 10 times the room and stuff. OMGosh, but mom cannot do this herself and the husband is overwhelmed already and has to find a 'home' because of the wandering off and the agitation over noises and changes or talking as if knowing you, then a string of words come out all meaningless and disconnected. My granddaughter found her to be a bit scary, it was hard to explain what was wrong, I tried. She was so artistic (and crafty) and now it's buried and gone! Very sad.

Thrown a curve

Disease and permanent injury . . . . unfathomable, we cannot walk in the shoes of others suffering.  Living beside it brings it's own challenges.  Learning the way a disease works doesn't always help, support isn't always welcome!  Strain . . . fear . . . alone . . . crushing . . . when does it STOP, never!

Our landlord, a very caring, good man has said to me 'I respect you for taking care of and sticking by your husband'.  Inside I feel bad though because it's isolating and mentally challenging.  It doesn't stop, ever!  It does NOT make me stronger, sometimes I do want to run away!  Motivation is going backwards, dreams and goals evaporate in thin air.

I believe . . . .

We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.

Crazy, Busy Week!

Starting with following the truck up North (helping to move our daughter 'E'), a normal 1 1/2 hour trip took 2 1/2 hours.  One of the highways was closed for Blue Angel flyovers.  Our older grandaughter loved the trip in the big truck! The unload went great, with the living room and kitchen mostly set up by the end of the day.  With the help of her friend, we finished up to 90% of unpacking the next day.

I like to dabble in simple wood projects and put together a raised bed for gardening (it was an 8' x 8' changed to a 4' x 8'.  We built another and filled them with her transplants (fingers are crossed). I also donated my compost because it's done and has thousands of worms (need to keep 'a few' for my new bin which was started last month). Our 3 yr old granddaughter was picking them up and feeding them to the chickens and showing them to anybody interested!  E also bought chickens (six) and 2 baby pygmy goats she picked out before they were born (3 weeks now) and orphaned (they lost thier mom the day after birth).  Our grandaughters were happy with the chickens but are crazy about the goats, feeding bottles, running around and petting them. They will be a 4H project this next year.

So exhaustion and achy joints a week later but feeling good for a job well done!

A moment in my life ...

Outside my window . . . I see a 27 foot moving truck!

I am thinking . . . it will be a long day.

I am thankful . . . for the 3 moving helper my daughter hired.

In the kitchen . . . already bare bones.

I am remembering . . . the good family get togethers.

I am creating . . . a mess!

I am thinking about . . . the very shortened distance to see my daughter, thank you.

I am hoping . . . for a smooth moving day.

I am looking forward to . . . help at the other end.

I am hearing . . . two little girls 'look grandma (they are popping bubble wrap)

Around this house . . . lot's of little loose ends to clear out, looking good though.

* found this idea from 'likewise ye older women' and will use occasionally because . . . I love the idea!