Update

Whoa. It's been almost two weeks since I've written anything. Sometimes I just don't have anything that I think is worth saying. The Fall semester has begun and I am again returning to school. I am taking 10 units. I am hoping to work towards a degree in nursing. It feels a little weird to be on campus taking physiology during the day with all those young people, so I just try to keep my head low and act like I belong there. Two of my classes are online which is nice. I am only on campus two afternoons a week. I call it my mid-life-return-to-college stage of my life. We'll see where it leads.
I just found out that grandbaby #3 is on the way. N and E are going to have a baby! Apparently the little darling is a pre-nuptual conception and will be due sometime in January. An exciting event no matter what the circumstances! I am so happy for N & E. Next week they will have an ultrasound to find out the gender. Can't wait.
Reebs is in love, Jo is growing up too fast, Monger is a full fledged teenager, and Arbiter thinks he should be done with his education at the ripe age of 12.(He chose this internet name for himself).
These names of course are not their real names, I just think it's best to leave some details of their lives uncovered. You never know, they may want to run for president someday and we wouldn't want anyone to be able to dig up any loose dirt from their past! Can you just imagine that? The media uncovering events like how they treated their mother when they were 14 or who they were dating and where they worked in H. S.??? It would be insane. So just in case they want to become public figures, their names will forever remain anonymous. (even though some of you know what they are!).

Fogust

I don't mean to be whiny or ungrateful, and I suppose I am, but seriously..... this has got to be the crummiest summer weather I have ever experienced in Humboldt County. I wonder what my winter outlook will be like if I am this gloomy during the summer. You know the feeling. When the sky is dank and gray all day long.... it sort of drapes over your spirit as well. Today after I dropped S3 off at his summer job, S4 and I rode our bikes out to the college. We actually got dripping wet! Not with sweat, but with drizzle. Or maybe I should call it fizzle, being it was more of a super heavy fog than an actual rain. Funny, funny. Here it is Aug. 18 and I am still waiting for summer! And school starts in a week! EEeekk! Ok, I'm done whining. Enough. Reebs does a good job of demonstrating my sentiments!

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day browsing the internet searching for vacations. I know, it must have something to do with this weather..... I looked at Cancun, Hawaii, Zihuatanejo (Mexico), Cabo. I am dreaming of sunny weather! I have a credit with the airlines that I need to use before November, so I am looking for a way to spend it. The flight prices have gone up dramatically in the last year. Whoa. Mexico is still looking like my best bet. So if I don't post for a while that might just signify that I have flown southward, toward the equator, in order that I may get some summer weather somewhere!

The Costco Experience

Most of us have seen it. That person who returns the rusted out b-b-que that is probably 5 years old to Costco for a refund. Or how about the ones who bring back the nova-foam mattress cover after they've slept on it for a few weeks only to decide that they don't actually like it? With disgust we carefully maneuver our carts past the refund counter while we mumble something under our breath that sounds like a cat hissing when its tail gets stepped on.
"Oh, come on. That person's not really expecting Costco to give them their money back, are they?" Hissssssssssssss.
"Can you believe it? Abusing the system that way...Tsk, tsk....
Well, today that refund abuser was me. I can hardly believe it myself. Somehow I wound up offering to ride along with my son while he returned the demolished RV cover back to Costco. It sounded like a nice time to bond and chat, which it was, but it was also horribly embarrassing! For one thing, it took us two carts to get the thing back into the store. A flat one for the poles and then a regular cart to cram the plastic cover into. How he would've done it on his own, I know not. As a wayward pole slid off the side of the flat cart making a loud clanging sound, I almost took out a woman caring a child in her arms. That brought a few looks. I just kept telling Nate to keep his head down and don't look up! Just then I thought I heard him scream one of his little man-type screams that he does, because a snail crawled out from under the canvas and started to crawl up his hand. He mentioned that the canvas cover had been outside on the ground for a few days. That would explain all the snails. Eventually we made it inside to the refund counter amid the long hard stares of those loyal Costco customers marching past us with their carts loaded with recent purchases. Did they have to look so long? Did we really look that ridiculous? We really did look that ridiculous.
Just then, no.... That's not who I think it is heading this way, is it?
No.... please, I don't want to see anyone that actually knows me....
"Well Hello, How are you doin'? "
"Just great " I lie.
"Is that all your stuff there?"
"Mine?...This stuff?... Oh no, it must be this guy behind me...it's his stuff."
"Hmmm, well, Hey, great to see you."
"Yeah, You too!"
I think I have successfully pulled it off.
Just when I hear my son ask me,
"Do you hear a rooster crowing in here........You disowned me over a canvas RV cover!"
I couldn't help but laugh and apologize, but c'mon...I had to save face.
We laughed about it in the car on the way home!
And the refund? Yes, Costco did give us our money back even though I bought the thing a few years ago. (without the snails, of course).
That's got to be the best customer service any store has to offer. Since they have such a great return policy, I look there first to buy what I need. Then if I can't find it there I will get it elsewhere.


Here's a typical Costco run for our family. Wesmonger went with me last time I shopped and he victoriously exclaimed that this should last us a month or so...
How about a week, Wes.
Really? was his reply.
Really.

A Getaway

This is how I like to spend summer weekends..........in the sun, in my bathing suit & flip flops, hangin' out with the girls in the redwoods, cruisin' with my dog.
It sure beats this!


I canned a bunch of strawberries the other day. Mmmm. I made some whole wheat rolls to go with it!

Summer Time in Salmon Creek

Happy feet. This is what feet should be doing on a hot summer day in August. Although here on the coast we have had the coolest summer I can ever remember, the inland valleys regularly have daytime temperatures in the 80's which lures us to the rivers and creeks for fun in the sun.

And of course, sleeping is required. All I could accomplish after all the activities I have been writing about was a nice afternoon nap. Even though it looks like I collapsed upon a pile of hard rocks, I actually found a small portion of warm sand in which I carefully nestled myself.

All that napping makes one hungry, so of course we then spent the rest of the afternoon doing that among other things.

Important things like sitting under Mark & TJ's veranda which are loaded with grapes



and watching the cows and donkeys graze on hay and grass.

Did I mention how much I love summer?

Family

They grow up so, so fast. One day they're babies and the next thing you know, they're getting jobs, going to college, getting married and having children of their own. Enjoy the journey.

BooBoo butt

Sethy

Primitive Blogging

Back in the day, as my grandparents used to say, before this technological era of electronics where we use blackberrys, palm pilots and laptops to manage our days, there was the family chalk board. On this board we would post the days or the weeks appointments, the daily chores or a bible verse for daily inspiration. With the advent of every type of personal management device known to man, the simplicity of the blackboard brings the busyness of the daily routine to a pace that somehow just seems a bit more manageable.
During the family visit, the inspirations were eagerly jotted down on our family chalkboard. Each day there were new "posts" written by whomever paused and wrote as they passed through my kitchen. Many times the inspirations are drawings; other times it may be a famous quote or verse of poetry or song lyrics. Sometimes the board isn't quite big enough to display all the creativity and sadly we have to erase it to allow for more chalk blogging.
Cruising through my kitchen each morning on my way to the coffee pot I enjoyed all the little sayings that my family posted on the board. I felt this was another opportunity to become more familiar with each one of my nieces and nephews as each one of them has become more eager to share their insights as they enter early adulthood.

Arriving at our friend's ranch, we were greeted with their family inspiration of the day which happened to be JoJo's birthday greeting!

Happy Birthday, darlin'!

More Wedding Pix

My mom & Nate


Awaiting his beautiful bride

"I do"


S4 reading Colossians 3:12-17


Mr. & Mrs. Nick & Evelyn Downey

Boo & Beau

Mom & Son

The Babies

The photo shoot

Off they go.