Maritime Girl

Stewy

2011-06-29T13:36:00.000-07:00

On my 15th birthday, September 14th, 1971, Stewart went to a novelty store in Oil City, Pennsylvania and purchased my most memorable childhood birthday present. He had it gift wrapped by the store and I was so happy that he had thought of me. After all, he was my big brother and this was the first occasion that he had picked out a gift especially for me. It wasn't a present that mom had purchased and written Stewart's name on with her disguised handwriting skill. This was a gift that was pure fun with no practicality involved.

The gift was intriguing because I had never seen anything like it. It was a money grabber piggy bank toy. (see picture below)

When you would put a coin in the slot, the box would tremble and then a hand would sneak out and quickly snatch up the penny. I only used pennies because I only made 50 cents an hour babysitting. This was a great novelty gift for my teenage mind.

I saw Stew just a few weeks ago. He was lying in his hospital bed and we were having a light conversation about old memories. Stew was trying to be brave. His one liners were sparse but he managed to fight the pain and enjoy a few moments with his visiting sister. I reminded him of his great gift to me on my 15th birthday. He had no recollection of that money grabber piggy bank toy that remains so vivid in my mind.

The gift summons up those good old childhood memories of days long passed. The days when we played hide and seek on Columbia Street, delivering newspapers, the family dogs, the neighborhood friends, driving in the car and screaming for ice cream,eating too much candy and pop at the corner store and then paying for it when we saw Dr. Cusik, swimming each summer, street hockey, ice hockey, firecrackers in pop bottles, the reindeer at Wentworth Park, Louisbourg and the crashing waves and the list will continue on whenever I think of Stewart and his 15th birthday present to me..

Thank you my brother for being a part of my life. Until we meet again.

Love Shauna

This song is in memory of you Stew.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtMN3mXmvqU

Stew and Shauna (1958)

Granddaughters

2011-05-08T23:36:00.000-07:00

Sugar and spice and everything nice. That's what little girls are made of. Mae and Ayla 2011

Ahhh Weddings

2011-05-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

The past few months I have had the opportunity to be a part of two precious unions. The first was my son Brian to Taylor Parker. They married in the Salt Lake LDS temple. They were so beautiful and Tom and I welcome Taylor to our growing family. She is sweet, kind and intelligent.
The second was my niece Malia to Brandon McArthur. They married in the Seattle LDS temple. They looked so happy and I was glad to be a part of the celebration.

Sue, Mae and Olivia at the piano

2011-04-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

Sue and Olivia were showing Mae the ropes on the piano. She loves music.

Nurses Pinning ceremony at BYU-I

2011-04-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

Brian and Taylor

Lauren and Taylor

Taylor's mom

The two nurses

Congratulations to Taylor on graduating from nursing. That is quite and accomplishment at 20 years of age!
She will make a great nurse and we were glad to be a part of the happy occasion.

The Happy New Recruit

2011-03-23T23:07:00.000-07:00

Matt the Military Man

2011-03-23T23:04:00.000-07:00

Matt was sworn in today to the U.S. Army. Congratulations Matt. We are proud of you and wish you the best in your future dental schooling and career.

Our business partners/relatives/friends

2011-03-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

It is so nice to work with the Mellors. It has been 8 years now and we feel blessed to be able to work with such great people.

The Jeans

2011-02-08T09:49:00.000-08:00

Ayla Jean, Casi Jean and Shauna Jean. We had a wonderful moment in time together for the blessing of Ayla Jean. I am pretty sure I will always be calling her Ayla Jean for the rest of her life. My mother, Jean Gladys Dodson, was smiling that day, from heaven.

We enjoyed the day with Pedro's family and were treated to delicious authentic Mexican food, all prepared by his mother. Thank you Griselda!

Thank you for a memorable weekend. Grandpa's pretty sure that Ayla loves him best.

Our ship-Navigator of the Seas with Royal Caribbean

2011-01-23T23:04:00.000-08:00

We celebrated our 35th anniversary by taking a cruise to the Caribbean this year. We had a wonderful time together and enjoyed the sun and warmth in Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

This ship was huge and had an ice skating rink, rock climbing wall, miniature golf, pools, theaters, and a shopping mall in the middle. So fun.

Cruising

2011-01-23T22:31:00.001-08:00

This is the boat that was used to ferry us over to the Grand Cayman.

Tom enjoying the view from the Windjammer restaurant. We both had plenty to eat!

Each night before we went to bed our room attendant had little towel animals in our room. This is the monkey.

Shauna at the ruins in Cozumel.

The very grand dining room that we ate at every night.

On our way to swim with the stingrays.

The view from the windjammer restaurant.

Hurray!!!!!!

2010-12-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

We had the best Christmas gift this year. The Boise Millers are moving back to the area. I was so happy to know that we will have the gift of kids and grandkids close by. Jordan accepted a position with a company in Spokane. Tom and I are thrilled.

Blessings

2010-12-19T15:36:00.000-08:00

It is snowing outside and Christmas carols are playing on the radio. The house is quiet. Tom is upstairs taking an afternoon nap. It gives me some time to reflect on the wonders of the season.

Today in church I heard the children sing with their angel voices. The choir sang and gave a beautiful rendition of several favorite Christmas hymns. The speakers expressed many heartfelt messages about the Savior and his birth. I was renewed and thought how lucky I was to celebrate another Christmas season.

We plan to visit friends and family over the next few weeks, take in a movie or two and give thanks for the precious life that we enjoy.

Happiness is contagious!

2010-11-21T19:15:00.000-08:00

Today I was seated on a plane from S. Cal to home and ended up sitting next to a very happy man from the Philipines. He sat in the middle seat right next to my window seat when plenty of other seats were available. I knew he must have had a reason for snuggling up next to me.

After one hour on the plane I realized that he needed a listening ear because he talked the entire plane trip. This was a pleasure because he was full of kindness, enthusiasm, positiveness and intelligence. He had a smile that did not stop.

I was blessed by his presence and felt like spreading his cheer the rest of the day. I loved how he talked of his blessings despite losing his wife to lung cancer two years ago. He also used the word Wow quite often and gave me a friendly nudge when he did so.

Thank goodness for good people. This was a great ending to a wonderful trip to see my new granddaughter Ayla Jean. She is a beauty and is going to have a wonderful life ahead of her with such attentive parents.

I was welcomed home to a blanket of snow on the ground, fresh flowers, a clean house, my Karli and Tommy.

It's good to be home!!!

Gingersnap Recipe

2010-11-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

Here is my favorite recipe for Ginger Snaps

1 C shortening
2/3 C molasses
1/3 C brown sugar
2 t. soda
2 t ginger
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t cloves
1 t salt
3 C flour

Add the flour slowly at the end after mixing the first ingredients. Dough should stick together and not be crumbly. You may only need 2 1/2 cups so be careful. Bake at 350 for about 9-10 minutes.

My mother made these cookies all the time and they are yummy if you like that crisp taste. I remember eating these by the handful with a tall glass of cold milk. Good memories

New Grandma

2010-10-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

Another baby granddaughter in the Miller family just yesterday. Welcome to the world little D. Mom and Dad are doing well and we look forward to seeing our new little one very soon.

Photos from our family reunion

2010-09-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

Came across my photos from last month and of course I had to post one of us with the grandkids. They are precious and we miss them. I have a message saved on my phone from Oster and he is singing Happy Birthday to me. It is a keeper and it brings a smile to my face every time I hear it.

Cross Country

2010-09-10T17:21:00.000-07:00

We had the pleasure of drivng with Brian to Alabama this past week. We had so much fun seeing his new location and a good part of the country. Each night we stayed in some nice Marriott hotels thanks to Smart Cookies coupons. They were so appreciated. It made travelling for 10 hours in the car very enjoyable.

We also listened to books on CD the whole way across the country. Pete Sampras and Flags of Our Fathers. They were both interesting but you have to be a tennis fan to appreciate the Pete Sampras one. I came home inspired to write my own book after listening to that. I figured that if someone could write a book entirely about a tennis career then certainly there must be an audience for a person that has had two broken knee caps. Now really, how many other people do you know that can say that.

I thought I was the only one but a young kid at the pool where I swim said that he had done the same thing while snowboarding. I guess I am not so unusual!!!

Anyway, Brian is surrounded by southern hospitality. What an experience. Plus he is engaged to a lovely girl, Taylor Parker. He met her at school this past year. Marriage scheduled for early 2011. Congrats to both of them.

We got to enjoy Nashville one night before we left for home. It is a beautiful city and we loved the White Castle hamburgers. Yummy!!

The New Digs in California

2010-08-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

We just came home from visiting in sunny and hot California. The new condo for Casi and Pedro is in the background. The kitchen shot was when we were in the middle of cleaning and sorry for the repeat photo. Doesn't Casi look cute with her belly. Little D will be here in 8 weeks.

Very fun stay with the Diaz family and we enjoyed visiting the LA temple visitors center.

Fun Trip With Kar

2010-08-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

Kar and I headed to Canada for the day. We had so much fun. We stopped at Wolf People and saw a couple of wolves that were in a pen in the back of the building. They looked like the big bad wolf in Little Red Riding Hood.

We explored Cranbrook and found a Liquidation World to do some shopping. Kar bought a few T-shirts. We bought some huckleberries in Bonners Ferry and ate dinner at the View in Cocalalla. Great restaurant. I am going to miss this girl when she goes off to school. I almost convinced her to stay home instead of go to college but that was only for about 2 seconds. She is moving on. So sad for me. Good luck Kar and have a great year in the books. Love Mom

Salt

2010-08-22T20:10:00.001-07:00

Tom and I went to see this movie. The first of the summer. It was action packed and totally unbelievable, but fun. She would have been killed after the first stunt but hey, it's Hollywood.

Noses

2010-08-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

Last night Tom and I went to see a free movie in CDA park. The Wizard of Oz. It was sooo fun. We brought our lawn chairs and watched the show with about 300 other people. I had never seen the show entirely before. I think I was always in the kitchen doing dishes or folding laundry before.

This morning we went to a baseball game in the park between the Mennonite Church and New Hope Church. Lots of fun and good sportsmanship. Then we went to the farmers market and I bought some bok choy.

Does the nose on the witch have any similarities with my nose??? Just wondering.

Love this pic of me and Parker.

Random Shots

2010-08-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

Random shots from our week together. Rachael's mother Charlyn Cord made the most amazing cupcakes for Casi's baby shower. They were delicious too but it was hard to destroy such a cute cupcake. I think she needs to open a cupcake shop here in town. Coeur d' Alene Cupcake. Sounds good and I would be a customer.

Grandkid Photos

2010-08-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

Squirrel vs Tom

2010-08-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

See squirrel sitting on top of the recliner. Most people don't have a recliner sitting on their back deck but we do. It was borrowed from the Courtyard for my recovery and is waiting to go back. Meantime the squirrel is enjoying the comfort of the chair. Tom's been hunting this critter. Notice the BB gun laying across the recliner.

More photos

2010-08-17T22:57:00.000-07:00

Family Photos 2010

2010-08-17T22:15:00.000-07:00

We were so pleased to have everyone home for a few short days. Joni and the kids stayed the longest. Pedro was only with us for a few days. We did do many fun things. Huckleberry picking, picnicking, boating, target practice, swimming, moose and bald eagle spotting in our backyard, sandbox, sidewalk chalk, birthday party, baby shower and wedding reception. Whew---everyone made it home safely and we look forward to our reunion next year.

Maritime Girl's Very Good Granola Recipe

2010-08-17T14:06:00.001-07:00

My daughter is asking for my granola recipe so here it is. I found this on the internet and then tweaked it a little to make it my own. ( Sweetened with honey, unsweetened applesauce and coconut).

Maritime Girl’s Very Good Granola Recipe

Makes about 2 pounds

I tweaked the recipe from davidlebovitz.com…/granola_recipe.html . I added a few things I had on hand and left out the brown sugar and rice syrup that his recipe had suggested. Of course you should do the same. I always double this recipe and it seems to work just as well. I usually use 3 jelly-roll pans for this doubled amount.

5 cups multi-grain flakes or old-fashioned rolled oats
3 cups almonds/walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 cup sunflower seeds
3/4 cup untoasted sesame seeds

1 cup flax seeds

1 cup bran flakes

1 cup shredded coconut

1cup raisins
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon dried ground ginger
1 teaspoon sea salt

Warm the following in a small saucepan:

3/4 cup (180g) unsweetened applesauce (or another unsweetened fruit puree)
1/2 cup (80g) honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 300F.

1. In a very large bowl, mix together the flaked grains or oats, almonds, sunflower and sesame seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and salt.

2. In a small saucepan, warm the fruit puree with the honey, and oil.

3. Mix the fruit mixture into the dry ingredients until thoroughly moistened, then divide and spread the mixture evenly on two baking sheets.

4. Bake the granola for about 45 minutes, stirring every ten minutes, until the granola is deep golden brown.

5. Remove from oven, and then cool completely.

Store the granola in a large, airtight container. It will keep for up to one month. I have never had it last that long!!! Enjoy.

Joni's 32nd birthday and Tom's 57th

2010-07-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

32 years ago on the 20th of July I was blessed with my very first baby and she was a beautiful little girl. I was up early to take Tom to work and then I had about a million things to do. Go to the store, pay bills, Dr's appointment and Tom's birthday. I did everything I needed to up until the Dr's apt but after visiting the Dr I went to pick up Tom because the Dr said I was in labor and was going to have the baby that night. We went to the hospital around 4 o'clock, Dr Rasmussen came around 5:40 to break my water and then we waited for our little baby to make its way into the world. Tom was with me the whole time in the labor room helping me along and then around 8:30 it was time for me to deliver. Tom got ready to go in and then at 8:48 pm July 20th Joni came into the world. Tom and I were both so pleased and I was so happy to have our little girl. She weighed 7 lbs 11.5 oz and was 20 3/4 in tall. Tom got to hold her for awhile and then they put her on my tummy so I could see her. She looked so beautiful. The nurse kept saying she is going to have black hair and I was so pleased that she had Tom's hair and not mine! I went to the recovery room for about an hour, Joni to the nursery and Tom to call friends and relatives.l We all got to together again around 10:30 pm and we fed Joni for the first time. Tom went home around 11:30 and then I tried to sleep which I didn't do all night. I was too excited I guess. The next day Tom, Joni and I all got better acquainted and I got to see what a good baby she was. She hardly ever cried. We came home from the hospital today. On our way we stopped off at Sears and bought a mattress for our crib which Tom held on to all the way home ( on the roof of our car). Our first day at home has been a success. Everything seems to be going well and the people in our ward have been a help. It is so fun to see Tom and Joni together. You can just see how proud Tom is and it makes me feel so happy. Tom has been doing the housework and I am just taking it easy. l I am heading off to bed now because I am real tired but a happy mother and wife. ( Journal entry July 21st 1978)

Happy Birthday Smart Cookie. You are a wonderful daughter and I am lucky to be your mom.

4th of July

2010-07-09T23:35:00.001-07:00

Tom and I were invited over to our friends house for the 4th. We had a potluck and then later that night we watched the fireworks over Hayden Lake.

It was beautiful and I somehow forget that I live in such close proximity to lakes and mountains. Such beauty and the weather is absolutely terrific right now.

We were sitting out back tonight and commenting on how nice it is not to have those nasty mosquitoes.

We are anxious to see the family later this month.

Good week.

GPS questions

2010-06-22T22:05:00.000-07:00

My kids gave me a Tom Tom GPS for Mother's Day. A few days ago I used it for the first time. I don't understand how it works but it sure is fun.

Blog Comments

2010-06-18T18:07:00.000-07:00

I have decided to review all comments before they are posted. That way I can get rid of any inappropriate comments.

34 Years Together Happy Fathers Day

2010-06-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

It seems most people want to know how married couples met. It can be a mystery at times to think that two people that never really knew each other before can commit to being married to each other forever. Well for posterity sake I thought I would write about our story and share it with my blog followers.

Part of it will be from my journal and part will be from my memories of that time 34 years ago.

In 1976 I would often go to SLC to visit my friend T who was in the SL nursing program. She was instrumental in getting us together. This is how it came about.

1. I saw Tom for the first time in the U of U Institute church parking lot. My friend T pointed him out to me from a distance. I must admit I liked his tallness, dark hair and smile. She told me he had recently returned from a mission which I later found out was 5 months previous.

2. The first time I met him he was with his cute friend S T and they were helping a girl move in to the apartment where my friend T lived in SLC. This time I really liked his smile and dark curly hair but he was with another girl so that was fine with me. I was not the pushy type in any way.

3. A few weeks later he came over to T's apartment to drop off Valentines for all the girls living there. I was just visiting so I wasn't a recipient of a card but I did get to meet him. That was it for that encounter. This time I liked his thoughtfulness.

4. Later that same night of the Valentine delivery he came over to the apartment to play "Dictionary" with me, T and Steve. It was a fun game and we still remember one of the words that we had to define that night. ripophogy which means the eating of filth. Crazy that we still remember that word.

5. The next day he asked me to a Doobie Brothers concert which I said yes to. It really was a concert at a local church. The U of U college symphony was playing. Later that night we went for a walk through the local graveyard and he showed me where some of his relatives were buried. I remember there was snow on the ground and it was cold outside. We went into a local laundry room to get warm.

6. I asked him to a girls choice dance at my school. He traveled the 50 miles to see me and then went back home. We also drove to Bridal Veil Falls that night. That should have been a forewarning of things to come.

7. Tom asked me to see a Janice Ian contest so once again I made the trek up to SLC by hitching a ride from someone on the ride board.

8. And so it continued until he asked me to marry him on May 18th. We were married on July 28th after knowing each other for only 5 months. Call us crazy but it has worked.

We have had our adventures and our trials right from the start. Within a few months of our getting married I was fired from my job and we had a fire in our apartment. The fires continued through the years consisting of joys and hardshipsthat intertwined our lives.

Now after all these years we still enjoy our simple bonfires in the backyard and the flame continues.

Isn't She Beautiful

2010-06-07T18:38:00.000-07:00

We had 4 wonderful days with our only granddaughter baby M. She is in the stranger danger stage but managed to warm up to us just before she headed home. She loves her mommy and daddy. She was the first one to try out my refurbished high chair that we purchased at a thrift store in California. It was great because she sat with all the grown ups at the big table.

Brothers

2010-06-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

Gotta share the pic of the brothers. They are so cute.

Swimming Again

2010-06-04T15:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Karli for helping me get back to swimming. I was fearful of doing this with my fragile knee but knew that I would feel great if I could get in the water. It felt heavenly. It has been since April 9th that I have been in a pool. Too long. Anyway, with Karli's help I enjoyed the water today and I enjoyed it soooooo much. Love swimming.

Memorial Day Was a Great Memory

2010-06-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

It all started out with our oldest having baby S. Everything went well and they are back at home enjoying the new baby. A healthy 8lbs 7oz.

The rest of our kids came home to HL and we had a great moment together.

Mae wore her new cool jean diapers, went to Schlotskeys with the Cords and J and R, saw Casi for a short day, visited with Brian and Taylor, visited Grandpa's grave with Grandma Jerry. Tom and I both agreed that it was a perfect weekend.

Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds Dark Chocolate

2010-05-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

I bought a can of these to deliver to my mother in law yesterday and went back and bought three more the same day. They are wonderful and low in carbs too. I will definitely keep some of these in my cupboard for a little snack.

Mother Dear I Love You So Part 4

2010-05-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

He informed that mom had a terrible accident in our backyard and was in the hospital. She had a broken nose and eye socket and when I saw her later that evening it looked like she had been hit with a baseball bat. I later recognized that same injured face when I cared for women in the hospital that had undergone face lifts. ( I don't recommend these)

We never knew the cause for that accident because mom suffered amnesia in regards to the episode. We speculated that she tripped over her bathrobe while feeding our pet rabbits and fell right on her face. She endured the surgery well and was healthy enough to make an appearance at Heather and Tom's wedding a few weeks later. Thanks goodness for sunglasses to hide the bruising. I thought she looked as pretty as ever with her new eye socket and fixed nose.

She only had to be in California for three years but I will always remember those special times that I shared with my mother in the land of quakes, fires, floods, smog, sunshine,thrift stores, auctions and orange groves. She was a true mentor to me and showed me how to keep going when life takes us down a difficult path.

She moved to Pennsylvania in that same old blue station wagon with her downsized family. Another act of courage, another story to tell.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Mother Dear I Love You So Part 3

2010-05-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

One summer in 1970 we ventured across the border to Tijuana, Mexico. That was an experience. My parents were so uneasy about that whole experience. The trip down on the freeways was better than any extreme roller coaster ride of the time. Your heart would be racing and you knew at any moment you might end up on the side of the freeway in one of those tangled crashes. From choosing the right exits, watching out for semi trucks, mom holding on to the front dash in her usual death grip, "watch out Bill and wrong way Bill", nerves on fire, it was one of those Type E attractions at Disneyland that everyone was so willing to get on but so anxious to get off.

We made it across the border and Tijuana was sketchy at that time. Mostly poverty from all angles with tin shacks and cardboard dwellings. The touristy section that we were aiming for was crowded with people and we proceeded to find a place to park the car. There was nothing for free so my parents chose a parking lot and we left the car to purchase a few souvenirs. My little brother and I each purchased a puppet and then we headed back to the car for safety and a beeline back to the States.

The car wouldn't start and they had to pay some money for repairs to get it going. It was not a pleasant experience and it left a sour memory in their minds of Mexico. Needless to say my parents never had a desire to return to the Baja.

Each day my mom would pick me up from school after some of the seventh grade girls kicked me off the bus in an attempt to be cool. I was wimpy and my mom rescued me from further harrassment by always givng me a ride home from that day on. One day she wasn't in the car. My brother was there instead. I knew something was up. He informed me that...

Mother Dear I Love You So Part 2

2010-05-05T15:11:00.001-07:00

(The same coat 40 years later. Just add a few stripes in your imagination)

One week when I came home from school I found a new multi-colored coat that she had found at the Chino swap meet. It was beautiful and I was always so thrilled at her kindness and generosity towards me. She was always thinking of everyone but herself. I have always admired that about her. The coat was velor and was mostly red with thin stripes of yellow, orange and green. She loved to find deals and quickly developed a long standing love for second hand stores and the plethora of clothing that people were so quickly willing to cast off. I think that second hand store love has eagerly been adopted my most of my children. They know who they are so I won't name names.

My older brothers bought tickets for my parents to attend the Hollywood Bowl and see Jose Feliciano. I know they must have been out of their comfort zone to be at such an event. She remarked at how it was outside and under the stars. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall and just see their reactions.

Each year that she lived in California became a little easier. She was quickly introducing us to casseroles, tacos, fresh strawberries and McDonald's hamburgers. There were foods that we never were exposed to in the preCalifornia years.

One summer day we ventured across the border to Tijuana, Mexico. That was an experience. My parents were so

Mother Dear I Love You So Part 1

2010-05-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

My mother was a pioneer in many ways. By the time I was a preteen I saw her take on an amazing act of courage. She sold most of her treasured belongings, new 67 VW Beetle, fur coat, handmade picnic table and paid for home to make the trek from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to Southern California.

She traveled in the old blue station wagon with her entire family (7 people all together) to the foreign land of S. California. She was close to Disneyland, Hollywood, shopping malls and freeways galore. Everything that was so opposite of her Maritime life. How did she do this I often wonder. She was 48 years old and moving can be about as stressful as anything in your life. I am sure she had questions. Did we do the right thing? Will the kids be happy in their new home? Will I make frieinds? Will Bill like his new job?

She made the jump and we were on our way as a family to our new home. Scary, exciting, fascinating.

I am amazed at her courage. I lived through this time with her and I know that she was challenged. She missed the old gravel roads that led to the barren countryside and had to make due with small creeks that she somehow explored with my little brother and me. She disliked the cement walls that divided everyones property but found joy in exploring the weekly auctions in Chino, California with her new friend Martha Frazier.

One week when I came home from school I found a new multi-colored coat that

2010-04-30T22:56:00.000-07:00

Knee Update

2010-04-30T22:42:00.000-07:00

Some are wanting an update about the knee. Well, it is healing slowly and each day gets a little better. I am glad I only have two knees because I don't want to do this again ever!!!

Today I was loaned an electric recliner from the Courtyard. It is amazing and makes sitting and reclining so much better.

These are the knees that I think of in my mind. My real knees are not to be published on the net!

Vote for your Favorite

2010-04-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched the show and decided to call in and vote for my fav. So I decided to vote for all 6 of them. They were so good. Each one of them did a fantastic job and I figured since they all did better than what I could have done they each deserved my vote. What if everybody in America did the same thing????

A Million Things I Love

2010-04-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

I made these cookies today. I followed the recipe from my daughter's website. A Million Things I Love.com This is a great uplifting blog and she is only on #387 so she has a long ways to go to make it to a million. I hope she does because I love checking out the things she loves everyday. (I might be a wee bit biased) I used 1 cup of raw cane sugar instead of the using both white and brown sugars. I am sure they will taste the same as the originals.

Joyce Dillman's French Bread

2010-04-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Joyce D. brought me a loaf of her famous French Bread. It was so delicious. I have almost finished the entire loaf in only one day. Joyce is am amazing cook and I enjoy everything that comes from her kitchen.

Carfax Kudos

2010-04-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

Brian and Karli encountered a deer on their way home from college last week. They were not hurt but it did wreck their car. This is not their car but it belongs to some unfortunate person that posted it on the internet.
As a result of their accident we had to do some car shopping and now we are big fans of Carfax. The price is minimal and it could save you big headaches in the long run. Brian encountered a seller that said the car had 10,000 miles. Carfax said the car had 186,000 miles which is a huge discrepency. I will always check with Carfax from now on. 1 for $34 or 5 for $44. Not bad.

Argentine Missionary Reunion

2010-04-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

Tom and I headed down to Utah for a little missionary reunion with old friends of 35 years. We had a wonderful visit and it was great to get together with such good people. They are truely golden.
After so many years we all have had our various trials but as the years speedily rush by it is so worth it to be around each other again. Even if it is for a brief moment in time. Memories are so much better than things.
Karla has the names posted on her blog.

60 Degrees is 100% better

2010-04-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

This morning my knee could bend to 30 degrees and today after PT I am able to stretch to 60. That's 100% better. I also had the pleasure of walking through the grocery store with the shopping cart to pick out some food for the week. That was so great.
I love the produce aisle, so colorful, and the little bench in front of the pharmacy came in real handy.

Showers

2010-04-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

Bridal showers, April showers and hot showers. I will choose the last one as my favorite. After not having the privilege of a hot shower for many days I finally had the chance to stand in the shower and enjoy that feeling of being clean.
It was amazing and I am so grateful for clean hot water that I have taken for granted for far too many years.
I am once again enjoying the simple things of life.

Getting to Know You

2010-04-14T22:51:00.000-07:00

Once again I have been given the opportunity to know who I am. Last Friday night I had an accident and fractured my R patella. Ouch you might be thinking and rightly so. Pain is one of my constant companions right now.
With a stiff upper lip I managed to get through the surgery on Saturday morning and then rested most of the day. I arrived home on Sunday evening and since that time I have been testing out pillows, positions, pain medications and various other methods to try and keep comfortable. I am thinking I need to round up a recliner for a few months. That would make getting up and down easier.
I will be on the search tomorrow on Craig's list.
Going up and down stairs is manageable but only once up at night for bed and once down in the morning for daily life. I am also able to sit at my desk and on the couch.
Today was day 4. I am glad it is time for bed. It was a long day.

April 8th, 2010

2010-04-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

I have not written on my blog for a long time. I don't have a camera right now because I gave it back to Brian. It really was his to begin with.
Life is good with plenty of swimming and spring cleaning right now. We are also preparing for Brian and Karli to come home for the summer. That will be joyous. We love having the company of our kids.
We are also looking forward to visitng Joni and David when they have their new baby next month. We are anxious to see baby O again too. Since we only get to see him for a few weeks each year these moments are precious.
We are planning a missionary reunion soon with some of Tom's old Argentine buddies. Plus I will get to see my sis and brother in law.

March Shower for Jalyn

2010-03-13T20:27:00.000-08:00

Today we had a bridal shower for Jalyn. The food was great and we all had a fun time. Bryce showed up at the end to meet all the ladies.
Tom managed to do a very good job of babysitting the little kids that came.

Good Find

2010-03-07T21:17:00.001-08:00

Why has it taken so long for me to get to these books? To my children. Please check them out and see what they have to offer. Good stuff.

Waffle Cone Maker

2010-03-07T21:10:00.000-08:00

I still love my waffle cone maker that I purchased at Liquidation World many years ago. Tonight I made a fresh batch and they were a hit with the kids that ate them. Good purchase.

A Perfect CDA Day March 6th 2010

2010-03-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

With temperatures in the mid 50's we had a great day yesterday. We went to the park and the city was teaming with kids, dogs, jugglers and athletes. We are blessed to live in such a beautiful part of this country. CDA was definitely at its peak yesterday. Today was the same.

An Apple A Day

2010-03-03T19:02:00.001-08:00

Last fall Tom and I picked several boxes full of apples from Joyce Dillman's apple orchard. The apples have been stored in our garage for the entire winter and they still taste great. Today I decided to do something with those beautiful apples. I ended up with unsweetened applesauce and one apple pie. I need to this for two more days in order to use up all the apples!!!

Family Home Evening

2010-03-01T23:10:00.000-08:00

Now that we are empty nesters it is fun to get together with friends from church and have family home evening each Monday night. We have had great discussions, watched some DVD's and had delicious treats. I recommend this to all empty nesters in the world.
Today was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Sunny and mild. This has been a superb winter in the northwest!!
I am sorry the Olympics are over. Tom and I both agreed that we felt sad that the games were over. How about that hockey game. Way to go team Canada. I was singing the Canadian national anthem all last night.

More Trip Photos

2010-02-25T22:10:00.000-08:00

We have been back from our trip for almost 2 weeks now. We had a great time traveling all around the country visiting the kids and grandkids. Baby M is a little angel. I found her just like this in her crib after her nap. Jord and Rach are handling their busy schedules in a very organized way.
Cas and Pete are living in a very nice CA apartment. See pictures We also saw Pete play soccer one night.
At J and D's house we enjoyed being in the east coast snowstorm of 2010. We ate, talked, shoveled and enjoyed baby O. He was happy whenever he could play with his shovel and be outside in the snow. Just like his mom.
D made some yummy eggs and hot dogs over the wood stove. Thanks to their 4 wheel drive car we were able to make it to the airport and back to our snow free home.

Trip Photos

2010-02-25T11:28:00.000-08:00

Valentines

2010-02-20T16:51:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Team 5

2010-01-17T17:59:00.000-08:00

These are the women that I have worked with for the past few months. We made some good friendships and had some wild adventures. We stopped to help two men in two separate motor vehicle accidents on our daily travels to Shoshone County. Thank you Jenee, Wilma and Linda for making the H1N1 seson a pleasant experience for me. Let's stay in touch!

Birthday Lunch by Gail

2010-01-17T17:21:00.000-08:00

I attended the best luncheon this week. We had stuffed green peppers, tossed salad, garlic bread and homemade cake. It was delicious. Thanks Gail.

Good Movie

2010-01-10T21:27:00.000-08:00

We are watching the HBO mini series John Adams. So far it is a great glimpse into the life of John and Abigail Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. We have only seen the first disc but so far I can't wait until I get the next one from Netflix.

Fish Processing Plant

2010-01-09T12:35:00.001-08:00

The kids went on a fishing trip during Christmas vacation thanks to our friend Troy Black from Black and Associate Auctioneers, Inc. They came home with 35 fish that needed to be cleaned and frozen. As you can see in the photos they were able to do a great job. Tom and I are broiling up some right now for lunch. Yummy with butter, lemon and seasoning salt.

Old Testament 2010

2010-01-02T22:09:00.000-08:00

I always enjoy the new year and the opportunity to study a new book of scripture. This year it will be the Old Testament. I really like the website Beardall2000 which is a great study aide. I discovered this when I lived in Colfax, WA and the teacher used this as an additional resource for further study.

She Stole Our Hearts

2010-01-02T16:03:00.000-08:00

Casi and Pedro still in love!

Grandparents at Play

2009-12-30T14:28:00.000-08:00

Adorable Kids

2009-12-30T14:15:00.000-08:00

Mike and his adorable kids.

Best Friends

2009-12-30T14:10:00.000-08:00

Jordan and Mike met up for some fun memories. Mike is doing great and he has adorable kids.

Togetherness

2009-12-30T14:07:00.000-08:00

I think we may need to look for a bigger couch next year.

Great Grandmas and Mae

2009-12-30T14:01:00.000-08:00

Now I know where Mae gets her beauty from.

Men Cooking in the Kitchen

2009-12-25T14:25:00.000-08:00

Brian and Tom worked hard today making holiday preparations for our big dinner. Brian made the candy and Tom was KP.

A Touch of Snow

2009-12-25T14:20:00.001-08:00

This year we received a nice reprieve after last years winter blast.

The Stockings Were Hung By the Chimney With Care

2009-12-25T14:14:00.001-08:00

We have a quiet day today here at our house. We are celebrating tomorrow when most of the kids are home.

Brian Skiing at Schweitzer

2009-12-25T14:11:00.001-08:00

Brian took a day off and went skiing up to Schweitzer.

The Best Church Job Ever

2009-12-22T21:56:00.000-08:00

Finally Tom and I have the best church job ever. We have the privilege of being den leaders for the Webelos scouts. This is the best and we are excited to work with these fine young boys. Look at how well behaved they were while making English toffee. They even agreed to wear the aprons.

Goodbye Old Dishwasher

2009-12-22T21:45:00.000-08:00

Thi

Our dishwasher found a new home today. Brian posted it on Craig's list and someone offered to give it a new home. It served us well for 18 years but it was time to say farewell.

H1N1 shots

2009-12-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

Ok, I haven't written in a while for two reasons.

#1 I have been on a team of travelling nurses that go all over Northern Idaho to administer H1N1 shots. I have met some really great people and mastered the art of shot giving. During our travels we have come across two separate car accidents. In both case we were able to offer moral support to the drivers and neither of them were seriously injured. They were both driving too fast for conditions and hit a patch of ice which caused the mishap.

#2 I lost my card for my camera so I haven't been able to take pictures. I hope to find it or buy a new one by the end of today.

I hope to be back on board by the end of today.

More Thanks for Grandparents

2009-11-28T21:55:00.000-08:00

Grandparents. These two women are fine examples of grandmas. They are aging beautifully. I just love the twinkle in their eyes and their big beautiful smiles.

My Tom

2009-11-28T21:49:00.000-08:00

Still thankful for my Tom after 33 Thanksgivings.

The Day of Thanks

2009-11-28T21:12:00.000-08:00

Once again the Millers gathered for a true Thanksgiving feast. We ate the most delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings. We had bits and pieces of the Miller and Mellor families. Spencer joined us from Rexburg which was a treat. I loved the placecards at each plate. We had old and young which made the day a real treasure. Thanks Mellors for opening your home and sharing your hospitality. Enjoy the photos.

New Moon

2009-11-23T08:48:00.000-08:00

Grandma and the moon over CDA Lake. I am not a vampire. This pic is for my grandson that loves the moon.

Early Snowfall

2009-11-23T08:28:00.000-08:00

Boise Beauty

2009-11-09T06:02:00.000-08:00

We had a little visit with baby M this past weekend. She produced her first giggle with Grandpa.

Jordan and Rachael gave wonderful talks in church that we were pleased to be able to hear and see. Baby M is an armful of love and can she ever go a long time in between feedings. (7 hrs) Whew! I was even hungry.

Jury Duty

2009-11-04T20:43:00.000-08:00

On November 2, 2009 I had to go to jury duty for the very first time in my life. The hardest part was finding a parking place. My old next door neighbor was the judge that day which made it more interesting.

He assured all the potential jurors that he would accommodate their concerns. One woman had anxiety attacks, another was nauseated, another had job concerns, another felt she was too prejudiced. In the end the prosecuting attorney kept all of the original 16 chosen and the rest of us were sent home and told we would not have to return for two years. The chosen 16 had to stay for two days to serve on a grand jury. This means they had to determine if there was enough evidence to actually go forward with a trial.

I learned a great deal and would gladly return to serve again. This time I will leave in plenty of time to get a good parking space!!!!

81 Good Years

2009-10-24T22:31:00.001-07:00

Today my mother-in-law turned 81. She is amazing and I can only say that I have been blessed with the best ever M I L. She is industrious, generous, determined, fair, intelligent, loving, caring, self sacrificing, athletic, funny, a great cook, superb grandma, great housekeeper, old fashioned in the technology scene, self reliant and young at heart. She is also reliable and politically active.

She has raised 6 wonderful children that have been a great addition to the world.

I feel blessed to have been included in this wonderful family for the past 33 years. Thanks Jerry for showing me how to be a good grandma and for leading such a good life. Our whole family thinks you are the best.

The Horse Whisperer

2009-10-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Tom has a love for horses? This is his new friend. Lucky is his name. He lives across the street at the Wormuth's house and Tom is his new trainer.

Swine Flu Joke

2009-10-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

I was talking to my 9 year old nephew the other day that was recovering from his swine flu symptoms. I said to him, "I heard you were feeling under the weather Evan. He quickly replied. " Oh, yes, we've had lots of rain and wind lately."

Michael Buble'-Catchy Tune

2009-10-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

I was on my way to an appointment this am and heard this tune on the radio. Wouldn't you know it was Michael Buble'. America needs a lively upbeat song these days. Thanks for adding a bit of sunshine to my life today Michael. Check it out. I Haven't Met You Yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AJmKkU5POA&feature=player_embedded#

Eagle Scout Project by Kent

2009-10-13T18:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, I love this Eagle project done by our amazing neighbor Kent. Now we have directions that shouldn't confuse anyone. Thanks Kent!!!!

Grandkids

2009-10-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

I love my grandkids and I am so grateful for them. They bring sunshine to my life every day and I love to see their blogs and everyone of their pics. Here's to baby O and baby M.

Letters Without Windows

2009-10-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful to get a "real letter' in the mail. When I retrieve my stuff from the mailbox I am so ecstatic when I see a real piece of mail that actually has some personal identity attached. A few handwritten words are so welcome. Let's keep the USPS alive and well and write someone today.

Exercise and Jack

2009-10-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Since I've had to take it easy the last few days I must say that I miss going to the gym. Exercise is great and I appreciate Jack La Lane and his push to make everyone more fit. I met him when I was working at a talk radio station in SLC. I just heard that he was celebrating his 95th birthday and did 95 push ups and 95 jumping jacks. Impressive.

The Air Boot and The Reader's Digest

2009-10-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, there are two more things that I am grateful for.

1. The Air Boot-no need to explain.

2. The Readers Digest-on pg. 164 of the Nov 2009 issue states, "people who wrote down what they are grateful for felt 25 percent happier after ten weeks than those who did not." I'm taking the challenge.

A Date With The Swimming Pool

2009-10-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

This past Monday I made my way to the local swimming pool for my usual 1/2 hour of pure relaxation. I found an open lane and instead of going down the stairs and swimming over to the lane I decided to jump in.
That was the moment where my intelligence left my mature mind. I plunged into the water and shot like a bullet to the bottom of the pool, slamming my R foot into the concrete bottom. My first thought was that I had just done something really stupid. The pain in my entire R leg made this a reality and not just a thought.
I'll just swim around for a while and shake off the pain I said to myself. That worked for about 20 minutes but then the pain never left and I had to face the fact that I couldn't stay in the pool forever. Somehow I would have to get out of the pool and let go of my pride.
With the help of some very professional lifeguards I was able to get to the dressing room and then out to my car. Whew, I felt like I had just completed a marathon. Not that I know what that feels like but anyway, I made it home.
Now I had to get inside without putting any weight on my foot. You guessed it. I crawled across the garage floor and up the two steps into my laundry room and then found some old crutches that had been collecting dust for several years. Yeah, that modern invention made life so much better.
I am now recovering from an injured foot. Diagnosis. Bruised heel that was slammed against concrete. I'm not sure what the real label is but it should be better in about 6-8 weeks I hope.
It was an adventuresome day and I was so grateful for several things.
1. I only injured 1 foot.
2. Experienced lifeguards (one was a mechanical engineer that had recently been layed off from her job and was lifeguarding to pay the bills)
3.The ability to crawl like a baby. This can be a great way to get around when the legs aren't functioning.
4. Crutches.
More later on my gratitude.

President Boyd K. Packard

2009-10-03T15:35:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching both sessions of the Saturday 179th General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can't tell you how thrilled I was to sit in my own home and watch the meetings on the internet. This is a milestone for us since we do not have cable or satellite TV.

In years past we have tried to listen or watch over the internet but it was very patchy and half the time the connection was buffering. That did not happen today and I was so pleased.

My favorite talk was from Boyd K. Packard ( the last one of the day). He gave a very strong talk about listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit that included many real life experiences.

Fall is here and so are the stinkbugs.

2009-09-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day it felt like fall. There was a crispness in the air this morning and it was about 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. I love it I must admit. This is my time of year. EXCEPT FOR STINKBUGS!!!

Had the chance to skype with baby O and that always makes me smile. I also received a sweet letter from baby M thanking me for my stay this past month.

I must say that having grandkids is the the frosting on the cake of life.

2009-09-14T17:23:00.000-07:00