Today I was thinking about....

Today I was thinking about friends. I've had many friends over the years. Some that I've known for many years and some not so many years. My favorites are the ones that, even if we haven't seen each other for a long time, we pick up right where we left off. My sister-in-law, Lora, is like that. So are my friends, Leslie, Cathi, and Wanda. We don't see each other often, but it's great fun when we get together. I'm thankful for the friends the Lord has given me...they are all good women.

After knitting frantically all weekend, including the drive to and from Seattle, I finished a baby blanket at midnight last night. It's blocked and ready to go in the mail tomorrow to a yet to be born baby girl of a friend in AZ. I enjoy making things for babies...and when it's for someone special, I enjoy it even more.

I'm getting excited about going to Phoenix to see our family. I've missed them all a lot and it will have been nearly 3 months since I've seen them. Emily has changed a lot, Jason a little bit...Caedon will be taller and Megan is getting prettier. I'll be glad to be there. Nine more sleeps!

A good Christmas

We spent our Christmas in Seattle with Craig's folks. His mom's birthday is Christmas eve, so we were able to celebrate both occasions with them. We drove up there Wed. and got home today around 3:00. The drive up was pretty miserable...it rained a lot nearly the whole trip. It should be about a 5 hr. trip but took us a lot longer. Visibility was poor and that caused drivers to drive pretty slowly. Then there were places where there  was so much traffic, it was stop and go...mostly stop. But we made it and had a very good time. I feel very blessed to have Norm and UnaJean MacDonald for my other parents. I have learned a lot from both of them. The first time I met them, they had just lost their daughter in a plane accident...I learned how to mourn with grace. They insisted on continuing on with plans for a reception so I could meet friends and family all the while making me feel welcome. I fell in love with them on that first meeting.

I got the opportunity to spend some quality time with my sis-in-law, Lora, while Scott (her hubby) took Mother for her hair appt. and dad to shop. We always have a good time together. I love her dearly and hope, now that we're closer, we'll be able to see them more often. We all went out to dinner Thurs. night for Mother's birthday, then to Mark and Mimi's house for more food and visiting (Mark is Craig's younger brother). That was a good time...lots of talk, catching up, etc. Mimi had put out a beautiful table and the food was wonderful!

On our way up to Seattle, we stopped to look at a manufactured home. We are now considering buying  one of those instead of building. We have a lot of research to do to compare the costs of both, and this was the first step. The one we looked at was very nice...924 sq. ft, a double wide that's shorter and narrower than the usual double wide. It had 9 ft. ceilings and didn't feel all that small. It was very nice.

Tomorrow there's no church...they cancelled it because so many people weren't going to be there. So we're headed to a Starbucks to study...Craig will work on his book and I'll study for the Sunday School lesson I'll teach next Sun.

It was a very good Christmas and I am thankful for my family...immediate and extended.

What is he thinking?

Our dog, Bear, has a funny habit. When I set down his food, he pulls the dish away from its' intended spot. Sometimes he pulls it to the middle of the kitchen. Then he sticks his nose in it and walks around the bowl...with his nose in it! Then, at what he sees as just the right time, he eats. Sometimes he picks out one little piece of food and sets it on the floor; that gets eaten after the rest of the food is finished. This is a routine he goes thru twice a day. It's funny to watch. I wonder why he does that.

I've gotten the valances that I've been working on up and wanted to post the pictures of them. These are for the bedroom, "hallway" (although, a single wide's hallway is really narrow), and the kitchen. In the first picture you can see Craig's truck. 

It's raining, it's pouring......

Oh, my goodness! It sure can rain a lot here! I mean a LOT! In the last 48 hrs. we've had about 3 inches of rain! Our whole place is mud...we take our shoes off at the door on a rug, but the dog runs in the house so fast after he's been out, there's no chance to wipe his feet off. The floor needs to be cleaned but there's no point until we get a little dry weather. 

I've been busy the last couple of days getting the valances finished and hung. I'm please with the way they turned out...they help to sort of soften things. I'll post pictures in a day or so. I've got my sewing machine set up on a tv tray in the kitchen. The ironing board is hanging from the pantry door. Not my usual set up...but I didn' want to take the time to straighten up the 2nd bedroom to make a space to sew. Tomorrow I'll work on my last Christmas gift and then I'll put everything away. I'm getting a little tired of the mess so I'll be glad to put it all away.

Tomorrow is my "little" brother's last day at the post office. He's been working as a temporary employee for about 8 years. After tomorrow, he'll be retired. He has a good work ethic. They will miss him a lot. He's the sort of guy that, when he finishes his work, he looks to see who he can help. He's the kind of worker that people like having around.

Tomorrow night we will go to a surprise birthday party for one of our new friends and Sun. night will be a Christmas party at church. So, our social calendar is full for the weekend.

Traditions

I started a tradition when Megan and Caedon were little. Every year I make an ornament for them. One year I knitted them each a little sweater ornamet, another year I cross stitched something...I don't remember what...maybe a gingerbread man. Every year...always handmade. I started out doing that because I wanted them to have Christmas ornaments to take with them when they grow up and move out on their own. Now I think it has more to do with teaching them that simple, handmade gifts are as good (or better) than something you go to the store and buy. When you make something for someone, you are giving them a part of you...your creativity and your time. Also, I want them to know that I love them so much that I made something especially for them...that the ornament, just like Megan, Caedon, Jason and Emily, are one of a kind.

The pictures are of what I made for each of them. Megan's is the cat...it's her favorite color and she likes cats. Caedon's is the gingerbread man with bites out of him...he has a great sense of humor, and I knew he'd get a kick out of it. The dinosaur is Jason's, and I knew he'd like whatever I gave him. Of course, the baby carriage is Emily's for her first Christmas. The polar bear and squirrel are for the children of the pastor Craig worked with in Costa Rica this fall. The robin is what I made for my friend, Cathi, in AZ.

I may or may not make ornaments for Pastor Alonso's kiddos again or for my friend, Cathi...but I'll make them every year for my grandkids...and maybe even my great grandkids. Traditions are a good thing.

Time flies......

As of yesterday, we've been in Oregon 2 months. It's been a fast 2 months in some ways, but a long 2 months when I think about how long it's been since I've seen our kids and grandkids. I miss them an awful lot....I can hardly wait to see them In Jan.! I know that that Caedon will look like he's grown a foot, and Jason will be bigger and smarter than ever. Emily is crawling and will probably be pulling herself up on the furniture. And Megan...my sweet Meg...with such a big heart and glowing smile. She will be a little more mature and, if possible, more beautiful. I am blessed with such a wonderful family. God is so good to me.

It rained all day yesterday. So we pretty much stayed in all day. I got another set of valances cut out...that will get sewn tomorrow. I also worked on one of Caedon's Christmas gifts...I'm making Minecraft shoes for him. I'll post a picture here when I finish them. And I got the ornaments finished for Michelle and Aubri. Every year I give them a snowman ornament ...this year I decided to make them. They will go in the mail tomorrow. 

This morning I took my first turn in the nursery at church. The pastor's daughter was in there to help me even there were only 2 kiddos in there. She's only about 7, but is the oldest kid in church. That made me think of Megan and how she was the oldest kid in our church for a long time. It's not easy having no one their that's your age. So she and I talked. She is pretty grown up for such a young one. But I enjoyed it. And I was so happy to be back to serving at church. That's what "it's" all about.

"Lord willing and the creek don't rise"

It's been raining...a lot. We've already had more rain this month than Phoenix sees in a year. And there's a lot more to come. Tonight the 10 day forecast shows the only dry day will be next Tues. The above picture is our creek. We've never seen it with this much water in it. It's usually NOT that wide and way more shallow. I just read that the governor has declared a state of emergency in 13 counties...and ours is one of them. There are many little creeks around here and a few rivers. They are all swollen. I overheard a conversation between 2 men yesterday and they were talking about the flooding on their properties. Our home (MoHo) is up the hill from the creek, so we won't get flooded. But it's still a little scary to see our creek fill up like it's doing.

Over the last several years I've done a lot (most) of shopping at Walmart. I've always liked that they would price match to other grocery stores. Doing that price matching was always easy. But, when I want to price match here, it's a very big deal with the cashiers. It's as tho' no one but me is doing this. They are reluctant to give me the price unless I have a copy of the ad to prove the price I'm trying to match. I actually prefer shopping at the Fred Meyers...the employees are very friendly and they have a better selection in many cases. I get points for reduced gas price at Fred's gas station...We got gas for $1.73 a gallon last week with gas points. So now I need to decide if I want to continue going thru the hassle with Walmart or if I'll stick with Freddies.

Those were the days....

I wore my khaki pants today. They're actually the pants I used for work at the hospital. I had on my navy sweatshirt and realized I looked like I did a lot of days at work...khaki pants, navy shirt. My first thought was of my former co-workers. I worked with some really good nurses and nursing aids and I miss them a lot. Then I thought about the time before that uniform. For a long time we could all wear whatever scrubs we wanted. Then, someone decided there needed to be more distinction between the different staff positions. That's when I ended up wearing the standard Walmart uniform for my job as a unit secretary. It left something to be desired, but no one mistook me for a nurse anymore. I really like wearing fun scrubs when it was allowed. I would make my own tops and buy the pants.  When I worked at the children's hospital in Michigan, I made them out of cartoon fabrics. When I started working at Del Webb in AZ, I made them out of pretty fabric...and some fun fabric, too.

Making the change from fun scrubs to required uniform was the first big change I saw in my work in he medical field. That was sort of a cosmetic change. Most of the other changes  I saw had much more affect on people...so much so that I was glad when we decided I could quit. I saw nurses and nursing aids stretched beyond what seemed reasonable...caring for 6 patients per nurse and many times 20 patients per aid....in most cases, that's not what those people signed up for. The constant pressure to create a good patient experience, constant documentation, not enough help...I've seen too many nurses burn out. They want so much to help people, but the hospital setting is so different now, many are leaving to find ways to do that without so much pressure. And who can blame them? It's just so sad that the corporate powers that be have decided that the dollar is what medicine has become rather that serving the public in the best way possible.

Okay...I'll step off my soap box now. Thanks for "listening".

Sewing again

I haven't done much sewing in a really long time. When I worked at Rogers Dept. Store in Grand Rapids, Mi for 10 years, I did a lot of sewing...both at work and at home. I did alterations at the store and for people at home. So, I guess I sort of overloaded on sewing. It had been a hobby for me for a long time. But, when it became my job, it kind of sucked the fun out of it for me. Today I set up my sewing machine and worked on a few Christmas gifts. When I finished that, I brought out some of the fabric I bought and got the bedroom valances made. It felt good to get back to my hobby. I got very spoiled by the sewing space I had in our houses. Today I set up the machine on a TV tray in the kitchen. I'll make a space in the second bedroom later, but just wanted to get some of this done  and didn't want to take the time to get it set up in there.

All in good time.

The Hallmark Channel?

Yes, I'll admit it...I stay up late to watch smarmy Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel. These movies all seem to have pretty much the same "plot"...
boy meets girl, girl resists boy (or vice versa), boy and girl admit they're in love and they live happily ever after. The acting isn't very good in some cases, okay in others. I guess I just like a nice love story.

Today was a stay home and get stuff done day. Baking, cooking, working on some Christmas presents. It was rainy for most of the day. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get out in the garden and do some more cleaning up out there. It's very overgrown...I got a good start on it earlier in the week but there's lots more to do. When I was a kid, I hated (HATED) doing yard work. On the Saturdays my mom said we'd all be out working in the yard, I promised to do all the inside work if I just didn't have to go out there and work. I don't know why I hated yard work so much. And now, I really like being out in the garden. Maybe it's because it's my garden...I don't know.

It's the little things.

We babysat for the couple we had Thanksgiving dinner with. Dad is a stay at home dad and mom is a dr. Dad had a chance to play hockey today and mom called and asked if we could come watch the 2 girls. We said yes. She hadn't told him that she'd arranged for us to do that and surprised him with it this morning. He was very happy that we could stay with the girls. It sounds like such a little thing, but for him, it was a big deal. It got me to thinking about gift giving at Christmas. There are so many great things to buy and give those we love....so many expensive things. Robyn's thoughtfulness didn't cost a dime, but it meant a lot to her hubby... and gave her joy in return. I think that when we go out of our way to make others happy, it makes a huge difference for the giftee and the gifter. Just something to think about.

We had a busy morning before we went to babysit. We went out for breakfast to a place with great bacon, then stopped at a place that sells Stihl chainsaws (we bought one), then stopped at a place to get 2 windows for Fred. Home for an hour then off to babysit. And that's life on Baker Road....

"...baby, it's cold outside...."

When I took the dog out this morning, there was freezing rain....ice coated on the car and the windows! What?!! And it was so cold! When I told friends in Phoenix that we were moving to Oregon, I usually got questions asking how cold it gets in the winter and statements about all the rain. My answer to the cold question was usually that it wouldn't get too cold and yes I know it rains a lot...that's why it's so beautiful. I was NOT expecting freezing rain. The weather forecast says it'll warm up just enough so we won't have to deal with it for awhile...that makes me happy.

The chicken coop is nearly finished. Because it's been so cold, Craig had to wait to paint. Tomorrow he's putting up the trim around the window and door and the corner pieces. Then, he's going to teach me how to caulk. I'll post a picture of the coop when it's finished.

Good grief!

I can hardly believe this is the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas! 50 years! First it was the 60th anniversary of the green bean casserole and now this....I'm beginning to feel a little old. As these events arrive at milestone-type anniversaries, I'm less that eager to admit that I watched the first showing on tv. I used to proudly state that I was there for the first time. Now I shy away from owning up to it at all. I step away from groups talking about how looooong something's been on tv. It's all quite disturbing.

It's pretty cold here. When I got up and let Bear out this morning, it was 24 degrees out....brrrr! When the temps are so low, I feel like making soup and baking. Yesterday I made con chowder to have for lunch the next few days. This morning I made little apple "pies" out of crescent roll dough. Tomorrow is BigTable at church, so the apple "pies" will go there for that...I'll leave a few home for Craig. I put apples in the crockpot last night when I went to bed to make applesauce. It smelled really good when I got up. I think what I really like is the way it makes our little house smell...makes it very cozy.

Thanksgiving here was very nice. Not like it used to be, but nice. We've met a young couple with 2 small kids and they've only been here 2 weeks. We met at church. We had heard that they were pretty homesick, so we decided to take them out for T'giving dinner. It was very nice to get to know them.  I reminded me that when I was growing up, my parents would invite anyone over for T'giving or Christmas that didn't have anywhere to go. We had two ping pong tables and most years both those tables were full. It was a good way to grow up. I learned that sharing with others is really the best way to go. Thanks, Mom and Dad.

A Birthday Celebration

This week is the 60th birthday of (drum roll please)....the Green Bean Casserole! Yes, it's 60 years old. I heard a story on NPR about it. I have to admit that I've probably only made it once or twice...it's not a favorite nor a comfort food for our family. But the reporter said that it will most likely be on 30 million Thanksgiving tables in America on Thurs. That's amazing to me. We'll be going out to a restaurant with a new young family at church for Thanksgiving. There will probably be green bean casserole offered. I'll probably pass on it.

I was at the laundromat today...I was sick yesterday when I normally would've gone. There was a homeless man in there again doing his laundry...when I saw him last week, he was doing some repairs on his sleeping bag. Today he was making repairs on his outerwear. He has a little sewing kit with several items in it. He seems pretty well prepared to do any mending he'll have. I wonder who taught him how to mend. Maybe he just taught himself out of necessity.

JFK

Yesterday was the anniversary of the day President John F. Kennedy was killed. I remember that day. I was in the 7th grade at Hyde Park Jr. High in Las Vegas, Nev. We had an intercom system in the school to get announcements every morning. The principal got on the intercom and in a very shaky manner told us that the president had been shot. She was obviously very upset but trying to hide it from us. It was a strange thing to process as a child. At that point in my young life, I hadn't known anyone that died...so the thought of the president being shot and maybe dying was unimaginable. I honestly did not know how to process it. As soon as parents could be called, they dismissed everyone from school. I think that the leadership thought the parents should tell the kids the news of the president's death. 

I grew up in a very conservative family, so my family didn't care too much for this president. So, while there was a little discussion about the day's events, there was nothing talked about to help me understand...which I really wanted to. What I didn't realize at the time was that my parents didn't know what to say to help me. They were as "thrown" by this event as I was...as everyone was, whether Democrat or Republican. It's hard to explain what goes on in a crazy person's.

I have a cold. Unfortunately, when I get a cold, Craig doesn't get much sleep. That's because I snore...I can't help it. He has described it as the sound of a rhino in heat. That seems a little harsh. Hopefully, he'll be able to get some sleep soon.

"Mud, mud, glorious mud....." (John Lithgow)

Have I mentioned that it rains a lot here? Oh, I'm sure I must have. Because of that, there's a LOT of mud. We have a shoe brush-y thing to try to clean off our shoes before going into the house. It gets a lot of it off the shoes, but not all. When we would go tent camping with the boys when they were little, it always took me a couple of days to used to the dirt...on them and in the tent. But then we'd go on about our vacation and having fun and the dirt wasn't a big deal. I'm kind of that way about the floor in our house. Little doggie footprints and pine needles all over. The floor ends up getting vacuumed and washed twice a week. But an hr. or 2 after cleaning it, it's dirty again. It's really not a big deal to me. I know people for whom this would be a major problem and they would fuss and fuss about it. Nope...this is country life and it comes with the territory.

Dead man walking

I'll admit it...I stole the title from my hubby. We were driving to church a couple of Sundays ago and saw this new addition to a field...it wasn't there the previous week. He looked at me and said, "dead man walking". The turkeys are destined for Thanksgiving tables. When I took this picture today, they looked considerably larger than when we first spotted them. They probably won't be out there when we drive by a week from Sun.

This is the time of year when food banks asking for and receiving extra food to feed people less fortunate. There is a term that is being used here in one of the ads on tv...."children that are food deprived". I wonder why they have chosen to use this term instead of "hungry". Personally, I don't find it any more effective in getting me to feel badly for those kiddos. It seems like a politically correct term...which I'm growing less and less fond of as time goes by. Don't you think we should just say what we mean? I do.

"People may forget what you said or did, but they won't forget how you made them feel"

I'm not sure exactly who said this...I've known it for a really long time. I even have a small, framed stitchery on the kitchen wall with this saying. It's so true. I think it's important to do things (or say things) in a way that leaves people feeling good...or at least, not feeling bad. I've been left feeling bad and it's not nice. It's not hard to do and say things nicely. I guess that's the Golden Rule, isn't it. 

I went to Joann Fabrics this afternoon...I really like that store. Sadly, tho', it takes about 35 min. to get there. There isn't one at our end of Eugene, so I have to head east.  (Most of the stores I used to shop at are on that east end of Eugene. That's so sad.) I'm making valances for some of the widows. Craig has done so much to make a lot of the living  space very homey. This will be my contribution.

I saw this on the Today show...pretty cute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX_kKA6gXCg

...back in the saddle again....

I know it's been a few days since I posted anything...I didn't think I'd probably be posting every day. So, here goes the last few days on Baker Rd....

I enjoy working with kids and have missed not doing so since we left Pathway. This past Sun. I helped with the kids in church...th.ey were assembling the Christmas boxes that will be sent to Samaritan's purse and then on to needy children in third world countries. It was fun to interact with the kids and watch as they prepared these gifts for those children. When they can work me into the schedule, I'll work with the kids, teaching and doing crafts.

Mon. is laundry day. Because we have no washer and dryer, I head for the laundromat. Sometimes I'm in there by myself, sometimes there are one or two others. No one talks...we're just getting this chore done. Yesterday, I met a woman who has recently moved into the area. Her newly retired military hubby is now a police officer in Roseburg and they are living in their travel trailer next to his grandma's house. Without giving all the details, this is a heartbreaking situation for this woman. Grandma does not like her (and that's putting it mildly) and she is a very likable person. Anyhow, we talked for the 40 min. that it took for clothes to dry. It was nice to have someone to talk to. I think she misses the military life...the common bond she had with other military wives. And her hubby is gone all day with a 1 1/2 hr commute to and from work. Mostly, she's lonely. So we decided to do our laundry together next week. By the way...she had never been in a laundromat before.

Today I've been to the gym for a low impact/aerobic class then came home and baked cookies...I know...but they're for Craig and they're gluten free. It's pretty gloomy out today...rainy and will get windy later. (Perfect baking weather). Bear does not like rain. He's gotten used to light rain, but real rain...not so much. He'd rather stay in the house and do his business there....no no no...bad dog!

We'll go to Lowe's to get some supplies for the chicken coop and then probably out to eat...nothing fancy...either Carl's Jr. or pizza. We have a really good pizza place with very good (not gluten free) pizza. And it's pretty inexpensive.

There are a lot of homeless people here. There is a tent "camp" on the west end of Eugene that we drive by...many tents with those homeless folks. There's been some discussion about the legality of their presence there. Today I heard a reort that said it'll probably be alright for them to be there, but it gets light late here and dark early..and it's cold. So now the discussion is letting them be there dusk to dawn. That seems like a good idea if it's going to be okay for them to be there 8pm to 6 am now. As long as they are otherwise law abiding, I say let them stay.

Friday, the 13th...BWAHAHAHAHAH!

I know, I know....that was yesterday. But, I want to tell you why Fri., the 13th is important to me.

I've never really put any stock in Fri., the 13th being an unlucky day. Norman and UnaJean never did either. They got married on a Fri., the 13th in April many, many years ago. They've actually always treated the 13th as a special day. Any time of year there's a Fri. the 13th, they celebrate. I'm not sure what UnaJean did for Norman to celebrate...though she has always done special things for him. But, I've seen some of the beautiful Royal Dalton figurines he has gotten her to commemorate that special  over the years. He knows how much she loves beautiful china things to put in her lighted china cabinet. He loves to make his "Sweetie" happy. Sometimes he calls her his Supervisor. Norman and UnaJean are my in-laws. I love them very much. They have always treated me as a daughter, not as a daughter-in-law. Mother has taught me so many things and has loved me and let me know that she's glad I'm married to her son. I've known women whose MIL's have been horrible to them which makes me extra thankful for mine. She has been a great example for me as to the way I should treat my sons wives.

And Dad is such a sweetheart. He has been a good example to his sons as to the way they should treat their wives. That's just one of the ways he has blessed me. 

The first time I met Craig's folks was just days after they learned that their daughter, son-in-law and unborn grandchild had been lost in a plane accident. You could say that it was the worst possible time for that sort of meeting. They had planned to have a reception for me in their home so I could meet the family and many friends they have. They went ahead with that reception. They welcomed me in the most loving way and never made me feel like I was in the way. I heard them on the phone comforting people that had called to comfort them. I had so much admiration for the way they dealt with their grief...they were amazing.

So, that's my story about Fri., the 13th....and my two favorite lovebirds.

Look! It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's .....Llama!

The drive between Baker Road and Eugene is interesting...to me anyhow. It starts with passing our neighbor's place across the road. They have Arabian horses and they're beautiful. Early in the day they are usually in the pasture that's by the road. They romp and play and it's fun to watch. Another place further on the route is a place that has a couple of geese, a big steer, goats and an alpaca. That alpaca is out in one part of the large yard or another, rain or shine. (I love the pouffy hairdo he has on the top of his head!). Oh yes...there are also peacocks. Along the way there's usually someone on a bicycle towing a small trailer containing all their worldly possessions or maybe their laundry (having just come from the laundromat). We drive by a large reservoir and can usually see egrets standing in the water. Beyond that is a Norwegian Fjord Horse ranch. They're a sort of stocky workhorse. Next to this ranch is another and the only thing I see there is one  solitary   lonely.......llama. He's usually laying down and appears to be watching the traffic go by. (I think llamas are comical critters). Another mile or two down the road we come to Lowe's and we don't usually get any further than that. Maybe I'm easily entertained, but I think it's fun to see these "different" things.

We're working on our chicken coop...actually, Craig is working on it and I get called in to help a bit. I convinced my hubby to put in a faux dutch door...he knows I want it to be cute and he likes to make me happy. I like to do things to make him happy, too. We have fun together and that's good. That makes life so much better.

That's it from Baker Road today.

The first of many

This is my first official blog entry. I am in no way the writer my hubby is over on
Vagabond Thoughts. But, I think I may have a few things to share.

This is a picture of the drive into our property. I love this drive...it feels like I'm entering a different world. It's beautiful and green; there will be flowers in the Spring and it will be even prettier then.

We're settling in. We've been here exactly 1 month today and much has been happening. Craig has added base boards and window trim in the living room and hallway...what a huge difference that makes! Shades and blinds have gone up on most of the windows and the wood burning stove was inspected and is fired up and warming our home now. Craig blew all the old pine needles and "stuff" off the roof of the mobile home to check for and fix any leaks. It rains here a lot and we haven't had any leaks since he did that. He has the fixed the foundation on our little cabin down by the creek and begun the demo on the inside. And we've begun construction on the chicken coop (the guillenero). We'll get some chicks in the Spring and we want to be ready for them.

Most importantly, we've found the church we're going call home. Emmaus Life is small and meets in a community center and the people we've talked to are really nice. Now it's time to find how we can best serve there.

We've joined a gym...it's in Veneta and is surprising nice for the size of the town. People there are also very nice. I'm going to Zumba twice a week and a low impact (pretty good cardio) class twice a week also. They are small classes and I'm beginning to get to know the ladies in those classes.

Well, that's it for my first blog post. I don't know that I'll do this every day, but maybe...that depends on what goes on in my day.