Pictures of the Kids

Young Malibu after "gardening"____Chancey, Malibu, and Lindey ready for a treat

Chancey wants her treat first____Ready for clean up in the kitchen

"To-Do" Day

Awesome breakfast, Thanks Syvia!_________Linda's new daffodil!_________The bag o'bulbs will be safe back here!


Lefty Loosie...Righty Tighty!___ Sylvia and Linda sharing a moment___Denise and Sylvia as well

We started off by having an awesome breakfast with Sylvia, Jessica, Keith and Ginger (Linda's step mom and family)...Everything was so good, I don't know how we had the energy to start the "To-Do" List for the day. But we did...

I winterized her sprinkler system while Linda and Sylvia talked gardening (actually Linda was getting some daffodil bulbs - she also tried for tulips but I just couldn't do it!)



She's still looking good!_________This piece is really supposed to fit!____I think I saw that part over here!

Denise and Buddy taking a break_______Pull...Push...Pull! Oh what the hell!__________Come on Helen, it's this way!

I thought you had the right side!______Oh Me?...I'm holding the bungies!_________And I still have the power!!

Tada!! The boat is covered!________High Five and do a little dance_____Linda taking a well deserved union!

Then it was off to Linda's mom's house to put up a cover over boat (we bought it in June...we are right on it!!). How they can get a 10'x20' portable carport in such a small box I will never know...but at least all the pieces were labeled and the directions could be followed after reading them 4 to 5 times! What a team...although at times it was the blind leading the blind! The boat is now covered and ready for the winter...Yeah! We had to do a high five and a little happy dance! Now we are counting the days until we can use again- especially since next summer I will not be in school!!

Another Deck is Done!

Three words: Fab -You-Lus!____Even a view of "The City of Trees"

Doug giving the joists a facelift_______Even the underside was refinished!________and the 50' Catwalk was really fun

This was the deck I started before going to North Dakota...the center two railing sections had to be raised because the previous owner was short and had the rail lowered so that she could enjoy the view of the city. Everything was powerwashed and stained...have to thank Linda for the patience to stain the pickets underneath. The 50' catwalk on 4' centers made for a three-ticket ride if you were standing just right, its no wonder why they have a lockable gate getting to it - have to make them party proof whenever you can! Also repaired the joists underneath since a couple were starting to rot (add an extra ticket if you were on top)...Much better to walk on after we got done and defininately much better to look at!!! The taller owners can now enjoy the view of the city and the awesome sunsets!

Weather and Sprinklers

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow __________View of foothills from the deck____________ Sherry taking picture of mountains


Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, air goes here __________Linda attempting to help with valves ______Linda keeps busy with clacker

Seems that everyone thinks that I brought the North Dakota weather back with me...hmmmm, just because we got 1.7" of snow on Friday...by the way, the earliest on record since 1898...

But by Saturday it was gone in town but the foothills were georgeous...Sherry was over on Saturday and took pictures from our back deck...those Hawaiians are entertaining!

On Sunday, we kept on schedule with the sprinkler blow-outs - and here I thought I had it planned to where I wouldn't be playing with water on a cold windy day...nope! What the hell, throw on the thermals, bundle up, and git-r-done....

At least next weekend is supposed to be in the upper 60's - which will make it better to finish a deck - it'll be fun!!

Have a great week!

North Dakota Traveler

Lost in the corn maze with Paige and Hunter___ Doug and Beth take a photo op______ Chynna, Paige, and Hunter playing in the straw

Wine Tasting with Judy and Beth___________ Judy and I still smiling after a week________ Coffee with Dad

I just spent a week in Oakes, North Dakota reconnecting and visiting family. If someone had told me that I could spend 7 days in a town of 1,700 without running out of things to do I would have said no way! Yet, I did and had a good time. I actually ran out of time for the things we found to see and do...

Most days consisted of the cousins spending the day together exploring the family history through out the country side in a minivan. Actually it consisted of Judy telling Doug where to go and sharing a story about the family. It was great to know my Dads side of the family - got some great stories too.

In addition, we had the side trips to the corn maze / pumpkin patch, wine tasting and catching up over coffee. I also reconnected with my father after 16 years and hope to keep in touch in the future.

Thanks to All of you who made "And A Good Time Was Had By All" come true!

The Life and Times...

There is a story here....

I started this blog in order to help out a cousin who is traveling with her greyhounds around the country and wanted to share her experiences. However, you can not build and maintain a blog if you have no idea and get the occasional e-mail of "fix this please". So, I figure this blog is due to family and the preservation of sanity. Oh yeah, and a plug for greyhounds...Judy has two (Sandy and Allie) and they are the best.

So Linda thought it would be cool to have a blog as well. Great, we have nothing to post - or so I thought.

She aptly reminded me of our family and friends that extend from basically sea-to-shining sea (New Jersey to Florida, Minnesota to Texas, Washington to Southern Cal, and including Hawaii). Alright, her point was made...my bad.

Still what to post....hmmmm, think, think, think. We do nothing or so I thought. Once again, I was reminded that it was not the special things we do, but the everyday stories that we forget to tell people on the phone. The family/neighborhood BBQ, the first biscuit-n-gravy breakfast at our house when the weather starts getting cold, the birthday we went out for, and for some reason we needed a reason to have friends over get together.

Oh yeah, I got it now! So here goes, not sure how often it will get updated and how many pictures we will add (seems to me that we have to remember the camera for that)but when in doubt - check it out!