Hello, again

Summer travel has been a blast. The computer will now "boot" but is as slow as molasses syrup and that really frustrates me. Almost impossible to upload photos so I haven't bothered to blog...feeling the photos are the big draw.

The most recent trip was the Utah family reunion. Please just hop over to Trevlyn's blog or Linny's blog to see photos.

We had a blast.

It is so hard to put into words the JOY I feel being with my kids and grands. It's the greatest. The only down is that not all are involved and the family is still too spread out across this great land of ours. I may just blog without photos and see if that has any value to you.

Happy Day from MSK

Today

A blessing to wake up to a day to walk with Kirby, appreciate the gorgeous flowers that manage to bloom in 112* heat, tidy the house and then . . .

. . . load up Trevlyn's car with my bags and head to the airport.

Here I come OREGON.

I'll tuck myself in bed tonight only after going out on Jody's front porch, feel the chill, listen to the frogs chirping in her pond and SMILE.

I don't know how much blogging I'll get to do but I'll give it my best shot.

The guys will hold down the fort while I'm gone.

Happy Day from MSK

Take A Peek

My cousins Skippie and Garry have a live web cam on the deck of their lake home. We have our cousins retreat there in the summer and have more fun than you could imagine a group of senior gals having. Yes sireee.

Click here to see the updated, live photo. Mt. Jefferson is almost in the center of the screen, currently covered in snow. This is facing west so hopefully you can imagine the gorgeous sunsets we see in the evening.

I've seen this several times before, it's at one end where a river empties into the lake. We drop anchor here and have our gourmet lunches.

Another view though these are pitifully small.


Not us, but we are on a delux pontoon boat that has all the "bells and whistles" one could want. It may surprise you to know that this boat goes fasts enough to pull a skier. No snide remarks about pontoon boats please.

See you Oregon buddies soon. I'll miss the AZ family but not this heat. Whew!

Family, Family, Family

We are a spread-out-family. My heart breaks that the cousins can't be together more along with the aunts and uncles too. Building strong family ties is exceedingly important to me and a must. So you will understand my excitement that the AZ kiddos and grands have made their summer vacation be a trip to be with the Utah branch of our family.

How fun that one of the grands keeps sending me cell phone photos so I can be a part of their fun. Here's Miss T in the Conference Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and I looked at pictures of this center and I told her she may get to go and see it in person. I hope it was fun for her.

"The Cristus" statue on Temple Square in the Visitors Center. I remember lining up my kiddos when they were tots for a picture in front of this moving art work. I'm told Trevlyn did that also with the grands.

The temple spires. Cloudy days are okay so the sightseers don't get overheated.

Little cousin Miss P in a cute hat. I know how excited Miss T was to spend time with Miss P, she took up matching jewelry for them to wear.

Fun at Lagoon!!!! Aunt Dori was Super-Aunt-Dori making herself go on the "scarey" rides with the grands.

Miss T somewhere.

Probably the most daring grand when it comes to the wild rides. Such a fun grand.

I hope that great, great memories are being created.
I'll be happy to hear about the trip to Heber to see Great grandpa K.

Thanks kids for extending yourselves to one another. Blessings on your heads.

Lame-o

RATS!!!! I just spent considerable time finally blogging about the past few days and mistakenly put it on my blog Butte-iful Sisters. Just check out the pictures etc. over there. Boy do I feel lame.

Still Showing D.C. Photos

These are the last of this museum. I still get to share more of D.C. and monuments...Lincoln, Washington, WWII and Vietnam War. The monuments were so impressive. Did you know that there is no fee to see all the museums and monuments? That was a pleasant surprise to me.

I LOVE sea shells.

Vacation Continued

Deep underground, awaiting another train transfer. I found this very interesting but was a bit uneasy with the speed of the trains, no barriers and our precious 4 grands.
Reminding me of the movie "Night At The Museum". Soooo much to see.

My "gang" and then this lady and child squeezed in behind...kind of humorous.
Darlings Ella and Parker.

Sweet hearted Jackson and caribou

Two "kings" in my opinion.

What great kids with all the walking we did. There was a lot to keep their interest though.

Taking a little rest with our "lunch" we packed-taken through this incredible stone. I thought this was rather artsy of me.

Sights and colors everywhere. I'm sorry you don't get the scale of this whale...it was gigantic.
Yes, thee ruby red slippers that were on Dorothy's feet!!!

News From Danville

Safe and sound. Fun people to share a row with and good visits yet managed to get some crocheting done on a flannel baby blanket. What a treat to have four darling grands to greet me with hugs and kisses. That's just about thee best. I enjoyed a comfy and cool sleep in the basement family room. This morning I was delighted to be asked to "do" one of the grands hair and then Jackson and I walked Parker and Ella to the bus stop. Many noisy birds that sounded like Starlings. Christie, Jackson, Asher and I went shopping and just the drive through the PA countryside is a thrill. It still looks like winter here with the bare branches and I love it. I saw a bunny in the yard and crocus too so spring is close for this area. We will be having a pot roast with potatoes, carrots and onions for dinner and the chocolate chip cookies are just out of the oven. Cooking is just one way to show my love. I hope you are all well. 3

Backwards

I'm trying to wrap up the Oregon photos but managed to post them backwards. I still have a few more to share but this is it for today. You may want to go to the end of this post and read upwards but that's not necessary. Thanks for your calls kids and appreciation for these vacation picks. Wish we were all together up there for a vacation!!

My feet after the wedding. I was the last out of the kitchen and saw this pile of ice someone dumped. Oh this felt good.

Skippie sewed she, Cindy and I matching aprons for serving at the wedding. You know what an apron freak I am and this was soooo great. Much thanks Skippie.
Linny flew up for the wedding and was part of the terrific kitchen crew. I can never get enough of my kiddos and grands.

Grapes washed, dried, snipped into portions, packed to transporting to wedding.

When it came to mixing all the ingredients for the chicken salad, I called in the muscle!!! Thanks Paul and Ben. How fun work is when with fun family. I so appreciated and needed that help!

Fun at the Clackamus County Fair in Canby.

We love the livestock at the fair. Emily "Aunt Mimi" loves being with her nieces and nephew.

Emily and Matt photo. Cute, cute.

After the parade to open the fair we walked back to Emily & Matt's house. Matt was in the front of the parade in the fire engine but we were late and missed seeing him.

Wonderful, small town America parade in Canby. Candy was being thrown everywhere and our gang left with bulging pockets.

What a combo...horse and flag!!!!

Crossing the river on the ferry-looking downstream.

Driving onto the Canby River Ferry. I love this!!!

After all the years taking my morning walks while in Oregon, this year there were actually yard/garage sales in her neck-of-the-woods. I got these planters at a steal. Yes, I'm with you...how do I get these home. Welllllll, maybe, Skippie and Garry might have room for them when they drive down in January. If not, and that is a real possibility, Jody, please, please hide them so Ed doesn't throw them away. I think I need help.

Self portrait hoping you could see how sweaty I am after an hour in the sun picking blueberries. This was a very warm three weeks for Oregon.

My gallon bag of blueberries. They are in Jody's freezer. I thought I might get around to making jam and then trying to jam to AZ but it didn't happen. Cindy and Jody also picked a gallon each and there was good visiting while we melted.

Cindy and Jody at a nursery by Jody's home. I took the sister's for their birthday lunch then we enjoyed the flowers and blueberry picking.

The end of todays photo-journal of the Oregon stay. Love and kisses kids. P.S. I managed to wear matching shoes on my walk this morning. Thought you'd like knowing that :)