Finally a visit...

While I was on a job in Price, UT, Sondra brought Wally along for a nice visit.  It wasn't very long, but jam packed with love and good chat.  Thanks for coming to hug me. 

I am in love

Love longer days
Love my job
Love my family
Love the dogs
Love the friends
Love the washing machine and dryer
Love the computer
Love Love
Love Hugs
Love birds singing
Love the spring bulbs coming up
Love email / internet
Love freedom
Love laughter
Love eating
oh, so many things to love

Irish Fest Scottish style

One of Maybell's annual IRISH FESTS was well attended. 

There was so much GREEN and good food too. 

Some even turned GREEN enjoying all that there was offered.

There were old friends too. Too bad you can't see that Penny's tiera was Flashing GREEN.

Dave & Sam keep Maybell pouring a little of the GREEN. 

Good thing there was a few leprechans to do the driving home before Erin Gobraless showed up.

A family wedding

My cousin Nona got married today and was such a beautiful bride.  Elliot is such a lucky fellow to have found such a Rose in his life. Congratulations to you both. Afterwards they were joined by family for a lunch at Ivar's Pier 54 in Seattle.  :)

The folks came to Salt Lake City to attend Jay's services.  We are always happy to see them. They enjoyed Jay's visits whenever they were in town.  RIP Jay. We all miss you...

Teen D

Today one of my nephews turns 13.  Such an interesting time in ones life.  Still a child (in the big scheme of things) yet anxious to be a part of the next phase of life.   Dalton's experiencing all kinds of new things thru scouting. One of which is winter camping.  Ok Mom (Brenda), breath.  It'll be ok to have your baby go out into the winter wilderness. 

A tribute to a friend - RIP Jay!

It's sad you don't get to say goodbye to a loved one when they die suddenly.  I know God has a hand securely wrapped around us both loving us telling us it is going to be ok. They are at peace now and we will be soon.  Some grieve openly, some grieve silently, some don't grieve at all. Others just love.  I will miss the laughter Jay always had, the twinkle in his eye (as Donna pointed out), his positive attitude abt everything and his friendship.  He would help us get thru some tough times by just being there for us.  He would talk to the drunk when it was needed. He would talk to the deaf when that was necessary too.  We helped him get through some tough times he had to endure.  But most of all - we were friends and we loved each other. 

I remember the time we took him camping/fishing with us to the Grays River area in Wyoming.  One thing about Walt that some know and some don't .  He searches for the unknown when he is out in the fresh air.  Jay drove his own truck that trip and what we failed to plan on was that Jay's little pick up didn't get as many miles to the gallon as our rig did.  We drove over hill and over dale without thinking abt filling up with gas. Why would we, we had enough.  Jay got a little nervous cause he wasn't closing in on EMPTY.  Then we got seperated.  We just thought his little truck couldn't keep up going up the mountain side.  At the top we waited and waited but NO Jay.  Hmmm where did he go.  This was the days before cell phones and he didn't have a CB either.  No way to communicate with him. Ugh.  So we turned around and went back down the mountain looking over the edges to see if he went over the side down down down to the bottom. Whew, were we ever relieve to see him parked on the side of the road heading back down to the main road.  See, he didn't have enough gas to go trapsing all over the hillside looking for us.   Instead of getting mad, Jay just laughed and laughe abt some a...s..o...l...e dragging hither and yon looking for the best fishing hole in the west.  Never did find it that day, but we did find a great friend.  One who will go anywhere, do anything with/for you.  I know you won't have to FEEL - WORRY - STRUGGLE abt anything anymore.    Go ahead and laugh all you want now. It will feel great.  By the way, Happy Birthday today.  RIP friend, We'll miss you, Nana and Pinky.

A new favorite

Our latest favorite cookie mix is one from a company we came familiar with not too long ago -   The Prepared Pantry.  It's a small company located in Rigby, Idaho.  They mostly are a shipper of prepackaged baking mixes and cooking gadgets thru their online store.

 But they have a local retail store that anyone can shop at.  I have gotten good use of my most treasured gifts ever - the Kitchen Aid - making up the most wonderful items (cookies and bread so far.)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year family & friends...
The past year brought a lot of loss and sadness in our lives.  I pray 2010 will be peacefull and happy for all. 

     Our Thanksgiving was interesting and quiet. I mixed up cookie batches - biscotti, eggless chocolate chip and Grammie's German Chcolate for the better part of the morning. Walt was sleeping off a cold. Abt 1ish our friends Dave & Donna called and said "How about dinner at 3:30 up at Silver Fork"? Score! to think I was thinking of Golden Corral! I managed to get one batch of cookies made before we had to head out. The weather was very cooperative. SUNNY - and 44F.

    The Silver Fork Lodge's special was all you can eat Turkey dinner.   We considered it a treat to ourselves. Their daughter Julia was home from school in Boulder, CO and came along. It was a very relaxing elegant place in a rustic lodge up near one of the ski resorts in the mountains with a fireplace burning real wood. Good food and good company made it for a great evening. Only problem, Walt had DayQuiled up to keep his cold symptoms at bay and then enjoyed a Rum & Coke and a glass of wine before eating. Hmmmm that ended up in the bathroom. Needless to say... we brought his dinner home with us. He was feeling better by the time we got home 4 hrs later. So, with some of the ham we brought home, we made him a sandwich which stayed down. Leftovers are always a good thing to have..      Today, Happy Friday (I am happy I could stay home) I mixed up and baked somemore cookies... Oatmeal raisin, more Grammie's German Chocolate and some shortbread. I had a pot of water with some spices in it simmering on the stove which made for some really homey smells. Walt watched some old movies and the dogs just hung out -Louie inside and KC outside. Louie is struggling with arthritis and OLD age related issues but still hanging in there.

     Our area hasn't had but a couple of feet of snow in the mtns which makes for tough going for ski resorts, but good going for those of us who drive around alot for our job and for contractors who are trying to get as much outdoor work as they can done. But it puts the water district on edge for next year. Our luck, all of a sudden it'll start snowing and won't quit. Hmmm Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

     Here's wishing you a very happy moment and a smile for your face :)