Birthday and a lot more!

Had great day yesterday. Charlie invited friends and family over to help me celebrate my 75th birthday. Several didn't come because there is a tummy bug going around with all the nastiness associated with it. Olivia had it Sunday and a little bit yesterday. I had to run down to her school and pick her up just to be safe. Jopefully today she'll be in much better shape.

Sweet Megan brought a plate of cookies, and the neatest little appetizers around the plate.  circle of black olives with a slice of pepperoni filled with cream cheese in the middle. She called them torpedoes.  Mike and I ate most of them but I saved 4 of them for Bridgit for when she came home from work at 8 pm. It was a fun evening and I enjoyed it. I even forgot to open the presents that Olivia wrapped up for for me.

31 October 2014  Happy Halloween!!

I haven't stayed on the computer for vry much this week. Have just found out that the Lorazapan (Adivan) is causing me to have sleep and shouldn't have been subscribed Insominia. I immediately quite taking it and it has helped with me waking up feeling I was on a rocking boat! I may have been a sailor but rocking boats would make anyone fall down. At least that side effect has gone away. Now to figure out how to get a good night's sleep.

Today is a meeting of the "Cold War Patriots" and I have already met up with one of the ladies attending from Denver. She worked at Rocky Flats the same time as I did and was even in the same building but we never ran into each other.  I've been a member of tghis group for quite some time but this is the first meeting I've been to. I'm interested to hear the latest news from the government who is responsible for a lot of people with some pretty nasty ailments. I have Asbestos Pneumoconiosis which is to say my lungs don't work very well. That's why I'm on O2 most of the day and night.

Daughter Charlie as a 'Flapper' at one of the parties. Kit I used was 'Haounting Hour' by Kyra @ Russian Dutch Heart Designs.

This is "Moments like This" by Manuela Zimmerman. That's me with 4 of the 5 great grandchildren. Dominic, Aayden, Olivia & Kaddie with Charlie holding Aayden who was trying sleep...poor little guy didn't feel good.

This ia a Musician friend of ours with his lovely wife Pam on his left, and his sister on his right.

These two ladies have taken 'selfies' to a whole new level. The picture here is one I took for them so they could show off their Halloween costumes. That's Ashley on the left and Bridgit on the right. Kit was Yabba Dabba Boo by Lins creations.

Ooh Looky!! It's Ashley and Bridgit again. This time I used a couple of kits. Some part of Catch a Wave by mzimm, and a few parts but I found the gold frame on my hard drive and have no idea who made it for me. 

Time for some chores! Will talk again another day.

Overcast and rainy

It rained pretty hard this morning but it's all dried up now. Then I looked at the sky and that was a strange looking one up there. Mor like the cloud cells that spawn tornados. But there's no wind and no hail so I guess we're safe.   My daughter says we live in a bubble that she calls "The Hanford Bubble". We have mountains and pretty high ridges around us and it seems that the reallt bad stuff just hops from one range to the next. Misses us but this year all the weather geeks are predicting a heavy winter in spite of our 'Bubble'. I'll beleive it when I see it.

Grand daughter and her daughter are still with us, waiting on word of thier new apartment. I hope she gets approved, she's earned some good luck. But I get to enjoy our "Tiny Human" (thats Bridgit's nickname for her) and she looks out for her Nana. Reminds me to take pills or brings me the O2 hose if I've neglected to put it back on. She's such a sweet heart.

I went to the Senior Center Tuesday night and they sort of bullied me into getting a picture done in front of the flag so they can post it on the wall with the rest of the members of the Board. I didn't like plain so I fixed it up a little. And I'm adding a couple of other pages.

I used several kits and then couldn't remember which ones. I did remember Studio Manu and maybe one of her other kits by mzimm.

My handsome Grandson David and his lovely wife Brittany in a kit by Manuela Zimmerman.

Youngest of Lorene's daughters is Kaddie, my gr-grand daughter and her beautiful girls Ashley & Mia. Ashley is off in Portland to a "Chef School".

Lorene playing with her daughters and my grand daughter Bridgit is behind the camera.

The crew as they left last evening for a party at Connie's. We have Michael, His father & mother Brian & Ann and then there's my daughter Charlie.

The flowers are a little different in this second page by Linda kz and it's an old one of my youngest grand daughter Missy jumping into the leaves in Grand Junction.

And this is Gr-Grand daughter Olivia sitting in the leaves after Missy raked them all up again.

And that should be enough for tonight. Time to rest the eyes.

Autumn Comes

The leaves are only starting to change colors and drop like a small shower by the office window. Soon it'll be larger amounts until the BIG Sycamore by the house is bare again.  I enjoy watching the days pass by, watching the traffic (which starts at 5 AM), but when the snow falls the noise is much less. The blanket of snow acts as a cushion but in this area a snowfall doesn't last long at all. Last winter we had 3 days of snow and not all at once. Little spritzes of snow which didn't last the day out!

I think the last big & heavy winter we had was the first year I lived here in the North West.. We moved here in 1977 and that winter going into 1978 was a really terrific one. I showed my little girls (10, 13, & 14) how a car can make 'cookies' on an empty street and cautioned them that it wasn't something they should try themselves if they ever got a license. I grew up in Pennsylvania where the snow came in late October or early November and stayed until March or April. And I remind them of how I used to walk to school 5 miles in the snow, up hill both ways. It took them a while to figure that one out.

I realize that I've posted quite a few scrapbook pages and I've given credit to all the wonderful designers that I use. They make my scrapbooking so easy and I get all the praise, (as if I had that kind of talent) so I have to tell them, I just take the pieces and put them together, Miriam, Raspberry Road, Russian Dutch Heart and other pretty ladies are the ones who make the kits I use. I put the names on the bottom of each page. And I can't forget that Linda kz puts together the some of the sayings I tuck into them.

Aayden had a 3rd birthday and enjoyed himself. 

Amyah is just the sweetest little baby and always happy.

Youngest brother George doesn't seem to change much. Still a handsome little devil.

Beautiful Olivia is learned the art of 'selfies'.

Aayden loves to play outside when he's here at his Grandma's house.

They spent the weekend camping out in tents just like the old Woodstock concert but this one was the Dave Matthews Band.

Charlie with her daughter-in-law Brittany at the DMB concert.

Our dogs, Chazz the elder and the puppy Junior. Junior is changing colors in the face so he doesn't look so much like Chazz but they still like to play together.

Olivia and I went to Sausage Feast which happens every year as a fund raiser for the local Catholic church. They have the best German Sausages (made locally) and krout! 

A very pretty award

I was very surprised and honored to receive a note from Kyra telling me she had posted an award on her blog for me. Now I'm going to pass it on.

This award was originated by Belinda of Idiot Writing. The conditions for accepting the Butterfly Light award are:   First, link back to Belinda, then:

1.  Write an acceptance post, making sure you link back to the blogger who awarded you and thank them.   You may not add this award to a post with other awards.

2. Individually name and re-award a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 9.999,999 bloggers.  You must let them know either personally with a comment on their blog or a "pingback".

3.  Write a short paragraph that is entitled:   "How I'm Spreading Light" or "How I am a Positive Influence".

1. I'm honored by this beautiful award. I enjoy reading Kyra's blog and following her gardening and I've had great fun with the beautiful scrapbooking kits she makes and then so generously shares with us.  Thank you so very much Kyra!

2. I sending this on to Miriam of Miriam's Scraps @ http://miriams-scrap.blogspot.com/ Another one of my daily stops in the internet highway! Even if it's just to look around and I've found many a beautifully designed kit from her. Her Wedding kit came as I was making a gift for my Grandson and I took two of her kits to make 52 scrapbook pages of the Grandson's wedding pictures. They absolutely loved them but it was all done with her kits.

3."How I'm Spreading Light"  I'm still learning this system but I'm grateful for the help along the way. I believe the scrapbook pages that I put together are bringing smiles to everyone who sees them and they are all saving them onto their own computer.  Some are even printing them out in a good sized picture and hanging them on their walls. Thank you all. Maybe Wal-Mart should thank me for the business I'm making for their photo shop.


I'll be back later after a couple more practice attempts.

Surgeries done, then a Hospital visit for 3 days easy!

Both eyes have been fixed. I'm not wearing glasses now except to see to sew. Even my computer work is ok with out glasses.

Then a week after the last eye surgery, I got into a little discussion and got too upset. Sent my blood pressure up and caused pains in the chest. My Grandchildren and my daughter took real good care of me in the hospital. They were almost tossed out of the hospital. The final diagnosis was 'agina' but 'nitro' brought it down real quick. Now I carry a little bottle with me at all times.

This is the weekend to get our car fixed. A good smariatin sent a card with enough money to pay for all the parts and now the boys will get it done. And a second guardian angel looking out for us brought by a gift card for Auto Zone for a sizeable chunk of change so we are all set.

My little Olivia is with me on the weekends now. Some quiet time for her (her temporary house is loaded with noisy kids and she's not used to that. It's really wearing on her so she comes down here and rides the scooter around the cul-de-sac and plays with some new friends here in the trailer court.

My Grand daughter got the name and number of the Knights of Colombus and they brought me a hospital bed and put it together. Now I'm getting a really good nights sleep! I can use it as long as I need to and then give them a call to come and pick it up.

Here's a couple of new pictures

Olivia enjoying the company of the puppy and her Great Auntie.

Miss Moe on another one of her jaunts with the beer of the day.

One of the girls my daughter grew up with, all grown up and a Grandma to boot. 

Sweet Olivia playing on the new art work in "downtown" Grand Junction, CO. They change out the statues every year and this one was a good one for Olivia. It was one of the only ones I could use the kit Funny Little Critters" with.

I smell good smells coming from the kitchen so it must be time for lunch.

Bye for now!

Hello, I'm back

I've not been posting because I had cataract surgery and just before the surgery my eyes were so blurry, it hurt to squint and type.  I had one surgery last Thursday and I'm able to see really good from the Right eye.  The surgery next Thursday will take care of the left eye.  Then by Saturday, I'll be through blinking or trying not to blink (whatever it is) and I should be seeing pretty good. Still wearing glasses this week but not allowed to drive yet. Except the carts in the stores.

I can still drive the carts. That's because the degenerative bone disease isn't getting any better. I can walk about 20 feet or so and then I get a pain in the hip and lower back.  I'll get that taken care of sometime in the not too distant future. Meanwhile I'll keep taking extra Calcium and Vitamin D.

One of my favorite subjects has moved back home (or at least in the same city) and she loves to spend time with Nana. I need to get some new pictures of her. She's getting so big and I'm shrinking (comes with old age) so soon she'll be taller than me.

I haven't done a whole lot of scrap booking because it got pretty tough to see when the cataracts got thicker. I didn't say anything for a few years, I just got closer to the screen but it was evident that I needed to take care of it.

Here's a few that I've done before the surgery and sitting really close to the screen.

My oldest Grand daughter, Bridgit, who like all young people take "Selfies" of them selves.

Same Grand daughter Bridgit doing push ups because she belched where I could hear it. It was only 10 but she's always good about it and tries really hard to be out of ear shot when she burps.

Daughter Charlie went to "Blues" festival where some bands that we are well acquainted with were competing. Aside from getting really burnt she had a great time.

This was a benefit concert for Veterans by Michael Peterson. Sponsored by the American Legion and the Combat Vets. I sat in the shade all day and answered questions and gave out literature.

My "darling" Olivia in the pool at her friends house.

A Golf Tournament, put on by the American Legion to benefit our favorite charity which is Time of Remembrance.  This is a 3 day weekend, where we gather the "Families" of the fallen into a hotel and provide Rooms, meals, counselors and companionship of others who've lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan. It's an emotional weekend and we pay tribute to their loved ones both Saturday night at a candle light vigil at the Veteran's Memorial in our largest park and then on Sunday morning a reading of all  the names of the fallen from Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. At least the names of those that have been reported to us. That's the golf course where we hung some of the banners of the Heroes. 

Time for a rest to the eyes and some more drops. 

A new week almost gone

The big "Columbia Cup Hydro Races" are over and the OBoyOberto won for the 2nd year in a row. We watched the time trials and practice runs and the Dash for Cash plus the Air Show Practice runs across the river on the Pasco side. It was great, since it was Friday and no one was there. Lots of space and no charge. Charlie got some pictures on her phone for me to use since I hadn't thought to take the camera. It was a great 3 or 4 hours in the not too sweltering heat. 

Our temps are running in the low 100's for the last month now. Hope it turns to fall real soon.  Fall and Spring are my favorite times of the year. I enjoy Winter here in the Tri-Cities because we don't have extreme snow but we do get some pretty cold temps. 

I've done the Dexa scan, finished the PFT testing, and the Lasik exam is next week. That should take care of tests for this year.  I got tired of the VA cancelling my cataract surgery on me and then during the 4th pre op physical telling me that they won't clear me for the surgery without a Cardiac Specialist release. They never asked for that a year ago when I started but now they want one. So, I just got a referral from the civilian doctor for lasik surgery and that pre-op exam is next Monday. Don't know yet when the actual procedure will be but it's not as much of a hassle as working with the VA. And that's pretty sad since I served 20 years in the Navy and can't get half what I need from them now. Oh well, that's life working with government programs.

My Grand daughter and her daughter are moving back here to the Tri-Cities next weekend also. I am so looking forward to have my Olivia around more often.  I haven't had any new pictures of her in a couple of years but I'll make up for it soon.  She likes to do photo shoots. Here's a couple from last years shoot in Grand Junction. And I can't remember which kits I used the day I made these pages. Now I'm putting it in the picture when I make the scrapbook page since I'm loosing memory.

Olivia and her Mom in Grand Junction, Colorado

Another one of the two lovely ladies.

I wish I could remember the designers names and kits. If anyone recognizes their work please let me know. I'll be happy to give you a shout out here!

Darling Olivia when I put her in the bath tub with her stuffed toys to get her out of my way for cleaning.

This was such a great shoot. Bridgit got some really good pictures.

Some beautiful kits for Autumn, but I can't remember the names.

I'm going to do a little more organizing on my computer. and I have to clean up the corner of my bedroom where I sprayed for ants last evening. They were all over my end table by my bed. I set a drink of soda on the end table and an hour later it was covered with itty bitty ants and they made their way to my bed so I ripped it apart and slept in the recliner for awhile. Not much sleeping from 11pm to 2am, just moving around in the living room from recliner to couch and still not getting to sleep. So I just went to my bed and slept on the bottom of the bed...no ants there. now I've got to get that room put back together.

Have a Blessed Day!

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