Another day

When we moved here, we discovered that we had no T Mobile cell phone coverage. We had heard that Verizon was the way to go. Well, still no coverage. Which meant needing to get a land line. In the last couple of weeks there have been 2 guys here (at different times) that have AT&T and had 2 bars on our place. So we were thinking if we changed carriers, we could get rid of the land line. Craig spent yesterday and this morning on the phone with the Verizon people and found out that because we couldn't get coverage, they would let us out of our plan. So off to AT&T to sign up with them. Dan was very helpful and told us that if we couldn't get service now, we'd get our $ back. We went home and....no service in the house and sketchy service outside. But we decided to keep AT&T because we got twice the GB for the same $. 

The next step was to go to the Verizon store to turn in our phones and get credit on our bill. That took way too long, but the manager was super nice and helpful. So, this is all taken care of, but we still have the land line....(heavy sigh).

I went up to the garden to see if it needed water and noticed that my spaghetti squash is finally on the move. I also planted some more lettuce and radishes and bell peppers. It makes me feel really good that things are growing and I don't have the brown thumb I was afraid I did.

Tomorrow the lady from the forestry service is coming out to look at the trees that are dead and advise us on what to do so we can have them removed. We hate to see so many trees go away, but if they're dead, they could eventually fall on a structure. There is a beetle that has damaged the trees...you can see where they've been.

That's all for today.

I'm baaaaaack

It's been over 2 months since I last posted. It's not that there hasn't been anything going on...I really don't have a good excuse.

Since I last posted I've been to visit my mom in Mich and the kids and grands in Phoenix. Craig was in Africa for 2 1/2 weeks...I stayed home while he was gone to take the chicks. The chickens have gotten old enough to go out to the coop. We got a rooster...he's a few weeks older than the hens. He has just started crowing and doing his rooster duties. He's pretty good at keeping the girls together and is somewhat protective of them...that's very good. The chickens provide some pretty good entertainment. 

My garden has also gone in. I have green beans, peas, beets, watermelon radishes, brussel sprouts, cukes, romaine lettuce, bell peppers and spaghetti squash. The squash is slow in coming up. Craig put in 2 blueberry bushes, 2 rhubarb plants and 4 marionberry plants. It's really starting to feel like a farm around here. We've talked about getting a male goat for meat, but that won't happen for awhile. Perhaps next year we'll start with some bees, too.

We no longer attend Emaus Life church. After going there for 6 months, we finally realized it just wasn't a good fit. Last Sun. we went to University Fellowship church. The preaching and the music was really good...good biblical message and music that was "vertical", not me-centered. However, it's a huge church. Even tho' it was a holiday weekend, there were somewhere between 300 and 400 people there. We really prefer to be a part of a smaller church, just don't know if there's one out there. So we'll keep looking I guess.

We also have been up to visit Craig's folks. His mom ended up in the ER and then an inpatient with Complete Intermittent Heart Block...it's an electrical block. They ended up putting in a pacemaker which should help a lot. We were so thankful it happened while we were there...brother Mark was out of town and they would have been on their own. God was so good to put us there at that time!

Craig has been working very hard on Fred and has his new office complete except for a few furnishings. It's so nice!  He does good work!

Memorial day was a small gathering of friends here at our place. We met these 2 families at Emmaus and really connected with them. So it was good to see them and catch up. Because we don't have a barbecue, I went to Fred Meyers and got some already cooked chicken. That worked out pretty well...it tasted good.

That's about it for today. I really will try to be better about posting here.

Back

The baby chicks are now almost 5 wks. old. They've lost a lot of their downy feathers and are getting their normal feathers. They are a lot bigger...we've put a net over the brooder so they won't fly out as they try out their wings. Yesterday we took out the little feeder and put in the large one that will be in the coop eventually. It took them awhile, but they finally figured out there was food in there. They'll be ready to go into the coop while Craig is gone to Tanzania...I just need to figure out how I'd go about getting ahold of them.

Earlier in the week Bear had a tick under his "chin". I researched on the internet the best way to get it out. I used the method where you rub the tick in a circular motion...it said that they really hate that. It started to back out...the more I rubbed, the farther out it came...but not all the way. So I got my tweezers and went to work on it. I was amazed at how hard it was to pull the rest of it out. I knew I wanted to get the head, so I was doing this carefully. Finally, after pulling on it for quite awhile, it was out...head and all. I'm sure this won't be the only time I need to do this.

A couple of weeks ago Craig was working  on Fred and it was time to put up the sheetrock. He knew he could do the walls by himself, but needed help my help to do the ceiling. That took a couple of hrs. involving getting on a ladder and holding up the sheetrock with my head. But, we got it done.

We've been fortunate to have 2 different sets of friends come thru in the last couple of weeks. First was our friends, Geoff and Shannon Husa...they are missionaries to Pau Pau New Guinea and are home for a year. We met them in Florence on the coast for dinner and enjoyed visiting with them for a few hrs. This week it's been Bob and Marla Davies, friends from our church in Prunedale, Ca. (We were there many years ago). They are buying property in Florence to build their retirement home. It'll be so nice to have them only 50 miles away!

Craig leaves for Tanzania on Tues. and will be gone for 16 days. It will be hard to have him gone so long...I'm pretty much going to be here alone that whole time. I'm not going anywhere this time because of the baby chicks...they need more care than we'd want to entrust to anyone else at this point. So I'll stay home and try to stay out of trouble. 

Emily turns 1 on the 30th. I wish so much I could be there for that...but it just can't be. I'll go on April 27 and visit for 5 days. I'm really looking forward to that! I do miss my kids and kiddos.

I know I'm not very consistent

My husband is so good about blogging everyday...and I'm so bad at it. But, I'll continue anyhow.

We have our flock of chicks...8 little hens. They are cute to watch. When they sleep, they look like they've done a face plant into the floor. They almost look dead. They're kind of like puppies...very active for a period of time, then sprawled out sleeping. Then, back at it again, running all over their enclosure. We have 4 different breeds: sex linked (rhode island red mixed with another breed), buff orpington, barnevelders, and cuckoo marans. They'll all be pretty docile/friendly when they get older. We'll get a rooster when the girls are ready to out to the pen. Did I mention the They are currently living in our 2nd bedroom?

I wanted to get the Cuckoo Marans for 2 reasons: they lay an egg that's the color of a Hershey chocolate bar. And they are described as "goofballs" which will be entertaining for us. I'm looking forward to watching them. Chickens are pretty fun to watch anyhow. 

Craig continues to work on Fred...I'll be helping him to wrap the beams on the main floor...he's putting cedar over them. I worked yesterday tearing out weeds and old bushes from an area up against MoHo...we'll probably plant berries there since it gets a lot of sun...when it isn't overcast.

My trip to MI to visit my mom went well. Craig was in Puerto Rico teaching while was in MI. He had a good time...once again, fell in love with the people. He's had many Facebook requests from folks there. He had a fainting spell on the plane going from Portland to Dallas. Paramedics boarded the plane and escorted him off. Because the airline executive decided he needed to be checked out and approved for flying, Craig ended up going to an ER and then being kept overnight for observation (his cardiac enzymes were elevated). He did get the okay from the dr. to fly and was on his way. The staff at the hospital was very accommodating to help him get on his way for the flight he needed to get on. He had only good things to say about his stay there.

Craig's going to Tanzania the end of the month and will be gone for about 2 weeks. I'm staying home to take care of the babies. He has had an appt. with his new cardiologist and was given some advice that should help him fly event free. I'll go to visit the kids the end of April for 6 days...Craig will stay home to take care of the babies then. A week or so after that we'll head up to see Craig's folks. Then, I think we're home for awhile. Baker Rd. is a great place to come home to.

It's been too long...

It's been a while since I last posted. I've been in Hudsonville, MI since the 19th. I'm visiting my mom while Craig is in Puerto Rico teaching. We both get back to Portland tomorrow night about 40 min. apart. Then a 2 hr. drive to get home. I've missed Craig a LOT...we're together so much of the time since we moved to OR, that it's really strange when we're apart. Just one more sleep...

An hour ago I was watching the National News on ABC and learned that Chris Christie has backed Donald Trump...oh my goodness! What little respect I may have had for him is out the window now. How in the world can he think this is a good idea?! I just don't get it...how can people consider DT as a legitimate candidate? I canNOT see him in international settings! Will he pitch a fit when he thinks some dignitary has been mean to him? Who knows? He's a loose cannon. My only answer is to pray for the next leader of our country...whoever it's going to be, they are going to need it...so are we.

Sweet memories

As we were driving home from Seattle Fri. evening, we passed a free'dway sign that was the exit for Champoeg (pronounced shampooey) State Park. We camped there a couple of times when the boys were young and once or twice just the 2 of us. It's very nice...not too far from Newburg where some friends live. But the best thing about this park is just outside it's gates. There is a reproduced Lewis and Clark encampment. There are volunteers there dressed in period costume, a cabin like the one they would have lived in, a blacksmith and some other things like that. Very interesting. At certain times of the day one of the male volunteers comes out and shows how to load and fire a musket. The boys liked that a lot. 

Seeing that sign brought back memories of the fun the 4 of us had when we went on our 2 week camping trip every summer. We would camp our way up the coast from either our home in southern Calif. or central Calif. Our final destination was Seattle to visit family. We'd stay there with the folks for several days and then camp our way back home. When they old enough, their job was to set up our 2 2man tents and unroll the sleeping bags. We had a good time and we loved the northwest...which is how we ended up moving to OR. I'm so glad we spent our vacations camping...it gives our sons some fun memories to look back on.

Our most recent adventure

Yesterday we decided to do something we have never done before. We drove to Junction City (15 miles or so away) to attend a livestock auction. We weren't looking to buy anything...we just wanted to see what it was like. We got there when they were selling chickens...there were 2 cages with multiple chickens and roosters and a box with a rooster in it. Then there were 2 tiny lambs that were being auctioned off together. Sheep and more lambs, goats...babies and adults, piglets and pigs...really big pigs, calves, cows and steer(s). Some of those critters were pretty good sized. Some of the calves were probably not even a week old...and they were so cute! I told Craig that it's too bad they grow up to be such enormous animals. I think the calves were my favorite. 

I don't know much about auctioneers...mostly I only see them on tv on the car auctions. But this guy seemed pretty good. He'd take a deep breath and rattle on and on for a long time, draw in another big breath and go on. We wondered how he could do it for so long. We had fun and want to learn more.

Gas prices are really good here...$1.76. 2 weeks ago it was $1.79 at one of the stations we go to. Because I had points from purchases I've made at their store, I only paid $1.29 a gal.! That was so wonderful! This store is Fred Meyer, a northwest chain and a Kroger store (like Fry's in Phoenix). It would be nice if gas could stay low for awhile.

It's a mystery

We have a bit of a mystery here on Baker Rd. There are a lot of [mostly] red bricks all over the place. Most of them are near the creek. Some of them are connected with old cement. I was out digging up the bricks today...there are certainly more out there, but I got most of the ones by the creek. We're not sure what the bricks were built into...thus, the mystery. We would love to know what that building wa2s. There's no sign of it now except for the bricks. I'm not sure what we'll do with them, but we'll put them to good use. 

We've gone thru all of our first cord of wood...that was the wood the wood that was dry enough to burn. Now we're into the second cord we bought...the wood that isn't quite dry enough yet. So, starting a fire in the wood stove isn't quite so easy as it was before. Starting our fires has been Craig's job...and that's good because I'm not very good at starting a fire when the wood is dry. 

The laundromat that I have been going to is not a very nice place. It's dirty and over 1/2 the machines don't work. So, I found the next closest laundromat...it's 16 miles from home. But it is much nicer. Because it's also a dry cleaner, there's always a manager there. So if anything is not working, there's someone to tell. And it's clean...in the time it takes me to do my wash, the manager is out sweeping and emptying garbage...twice! Very nice. And it's no more expensive than the other place. I may at some point decide to combine my laundry day and my grocery shopping day to save on the gas. But, since gas is so cheap, I'll leave it the way it is. 

This afternoon I saw Donald Trump's news conference and then a rally he held in New Hampshire. He was pretty tame compared to pre-Iowa caucuses. I was wondering what happened to his belief that if you don't win, you're a loser. I guess he knows now what it's like to be a loser. Maybe he'll decide that the voters are being mean to him and he'll quit. One can always hope.

Praying

Today has been a rather sad day. Our daughter-in-law, Michelle, has a brother named Craig (also my hubby's name). About 5 wks ago he had surgery for pancreatic cancer. He was in the hospital for several days and then sent home. Last night when he got up to go to the bathroom, he noticed blood coming out of the drains that had been left in from the surgery. He ended up in the ER, scans were done, discovered he was septic, given a transfusion...long story short, they took him into surgery for what the dr. called a dangerous surgery that only 5% survive. We got several updates from Steve, but nothing since the decision to take him into surgery. I have literally been praying all day...for Craig, for his wife, Laura, for his parents, Fran and Trent, and for our dear Michelle. I have to admit that I've shed a few tears today as I've prayed. I'm feeling so sorry for this family that is in such anguish over their husband/son/brother...I'm so sad that they are having to go thru this. These precious people are all saved and know that the Lord is there with them and knows their pain and worry. I know that they are finding comfort in His tender arms. Craig has a lot of people praying for him...a lot of people that he doesn't even know. But, those of us who know the Lord and belong to Him...we're all sisters and brothers in Him. So, when I ask friends on FaceBook to pray, I know they will. And I am comforted by that.

I have felt today like I want to hop on a plane and go to Michelle and wrap my arms around her, sit with her, cry with her, pray with her....whatever might help. But, I can't. She knows how much I love her and hurt for her. Sometimes it can trite, but I'll say it anyhow...I will keep praying because I know there is a lot of power in prayer. Praying doesn't in any way guarantee Craig will survive this...but it does comfort those involved and God is listening.

So, I'm asking that you pray, too. I've met Craig, of course, but I really don't know him. Even so, he is my brother and ....I pray.

A wicker what?!

Today we went to the 11th Good Earth Home, Garden & Living Show in Eugene. (Craig was with me so we walked thru it pretty quickly...not leisurely like I would if I was on my own.) There were a lot of vendors...many organic products, a lady with 2 alpacas (she had sheared wool and it was so soft), construction companies, a bed company, spice company...lots of vendors. Think sort of a hippie-type event. But I think the most unusual vendor was for wicker caskets and organic cotton shrouds. There were also some sort of urns, but I didn't see what they were made of. Craig and I were talking about it later and our thought was that using an organic casket and shroud made no sense since the casket goes into a cement box with a lid when it goes in the ground. These caskets can go all the way up to $1400 or higher...pretty much a waste of money. Don't you think this is odd? I sure do.

There was also a chicken booth. There were some babies and an adult hen and 2 roosters. Craig spoke with the woman there and we learned about a couple of different breeds that we should be considering. We got some good information.

We also stopped to talk with a man at a metal roof booth. Craig had questions about the metal roof on Fred...somehow some rain got in and he needed to find out how that could have happened. This guy also had lots of good info and we'll be calling him next week to have that roof looked at.

All of that in about an hour...my hubby moves fast. I'm getting excited to be getting our chicks in early Mar. I thought Craig was done with the coop, and then he started adding something to the front. He's putting a porch on it! It's going to be so cute...he knew I wanted it to be cute and he's making it happen! Now I'm really excited. This will be the start of our little farm.

Really, Sarah?

It's going to be a long 11 months until the next president of the USA is decided. It's going to be a really long 6 months til the Republican nominee is chosen! If it wasn't evident before yesterday, it certainly is now. Why is that? Well, in my humble opinion, the entry of Sarah Palin into the mix ensures that. I've never been a fan of hers, but after yesterday's announcement of her support of Donald Trump...well, I've moved over to just plain not liking her. She has an almost abrasive way of pushing her ideas. I have to wonder if she was just feeling left out of all the craziness and knew it would be most controversial if she went with Trump. And to say in her speech that "this is going to be fun" sounds like this is some sort of game. Her stepping up for Trump takes that much more credibility away from the Republican party. 

Politics is so disappointing. We should be able to look at potential presidential candidates and puzzle over which of these good people would make a great president. Instead, it seems like we're choosing the lesser of the "evils". I can't imagine what our fore fathers would think. I believe as Christians we are called to pray for our president (our leaders). I also think that we are to respect the position. That is becoming more and more challenging as we see all of the possible nominees (Rep. and Dem.) attacking each other. Lord, please bless our country and our president...present and future. Please guide them to the wisdom they will need.

Today

This morning we actually had some sunshine and no rain. So I got out side to stack some wood for kindling...it will get cut down to usable sizes later after it dries. It's scrap wood from the little cabin, Fred. (Craig's been out there working very hard to change it into an office/guest room.) After that was done, I moved back into the garden to work on getting all of the old grapevines down. I made some headway, but there's  a lot more to do. It was so nice out...a little chilly, but not bad. I wish I could be out there chipping away at that a little every day. But, since the rain prevents that, I have to find other projects to do indoors.

My indoor project for today and tomorrow is to make two of these therapy books:

I made this one for Josh when he worked at the kid's therapy place. Now that he's working as a hand therapist for adults, he's asked me for two more. People in the places he works now want them. It's a tool to help with dexterity. There are different sized buttons that the patient has to button and unbutton. Apparently it's pretty useful. So I'm working on those for a day or two.

Craig's also been working on the pen for the chickens we'll buy. We will order the chicks the end of Feb. and they'll arrive early March. We're both looking forward to raising chickens again. They're fun to watch. And it's nice to have the eggs. When we bring them home, they'll live in the 2nd bedroom in a little container... we have to keep them warm and that's the easiest way. So we'll some little house guests for about 6 weeks.

I miss 'em

We got home from Phoenix Mon. night. It's very quiet at our house. I was getting used to the sounds of Jason and Emily, Megan and Caedon. And the loving doggie kisses from Bauer and Cooper. We had such a great visit...but it went so fast. 

We haven't been retired for very long...3 months to be exact...and it's amazing to me how quickly we've fallen into our new life. There's no particular place we need to be at any particular time...well, except for Sundays. I've already [sort of] forgotten how busy my life was when I was working. And, after being at Steve and Michelle's, it's hard to remember how really busy life was when we had 2 little ones under our roof. Wow! So much activity and energy!

And, so, we're home with our quiet life...which one do I prefer? I love them both. God has blessed us with a beautiful place to live that's peaceful and a wonderful place to visit that happens to be our family....and not so quiet.

Family ties

We made it to Phoenix to see the kids and grands. We had dinner our with everyone...something we've missed a lot. It's so good to be here at Steve's house with his family. Watching Steve and Michelle as parents gives me such a joy! They are very good parents. Josh and Aubri are wonderful parents,  as well. Megan and Caedon are amazing...and that's largely because of their parents. Craig thinks he's going to have a hard time getting me on the plane on Monday...that's true. It will be hard to leave them again. But, knowing that I'll get to see them in a few months again will make it a tiny bit easier.

It feels comfortable driving around the area. It doesn't feel  comfortable to drive around the Eugene area...that's because it's still new and we lived here for 9 years. So I'll continue to use the Garmin to find my way around Eugene and it will become familiar eventually.

Blast from the past "

I made something for dinner last night from a cookbook I got at my bridal shower MANY years ago. It's from the Betty Crocker cookbook "New Cooking For Two Cookbook". The copyright date is 1971...the year we got married. I made the Shrimp Creole recipe. I hadn't made it for a very long time...I sort of forgot about it, actually. I don't know what made me think of it, but I'm glad I did. It was so good! 

It made me think about old things versus new things. Old recipes are usually pretty good. Old cars (pick up trucks, too) are very good. Old men are really good...at least my old men are (that's you, Craig and Dad). Old[er] sons are super  good...Josh and Steve...they become friends as well as sons. Old books, old music, old homes...lots of really good old stuff. 

New things are good, too. We've had many new things this year. There were trips to Oregon looking at property. In March we welcomed a new baby into our family...Emily Jean made her appearance a little early. She, just like her big brother, Jason, are bright stars in our family. (Their older cousins, Megan and Caedon are quite smitten with both of them). We purchased property in Oregon for our retirement and spent our July vacation working in MoHo to make it a bit more livable. As we moved into the summer months, my job changed. I look back on that time now as preparation for retirement. When we first started talking about moving away from the kids, I cried...because of leaving the kids but also because I truly loved my job and the people I worked with. Not being at the hospital working gave me a chance to separate from the job and the people which made it easier to leave. Retirement is a new thing for both of us and I highly recommend it. We left AZ Oct. 10 and I drove the car while Craig drove the truck with all our possessions...I had never done a drive like that as the driver. 

Once we got to OR, there was finding new stores to shop at and a new church to go to...we haven't lined up new doctors yet. We found the stores, and are going to a church with very nice people. And then there's getting accustomed to life in a single wide. And now, the cold and rain...lots of rain! It was a good decision to move here...we love it...it's beautiful. We're only a 5 hr. drive from Craig's folks and that will allow us to see them more often. 

So, as we look forward to this new year, we look forward to the new things the Lord will bring our way. He has truly blessed us with a wonderful family and a beautiful place to live and so much more.

Happy New Year!