July/August

 Well, it's been a while. I will try to recap the following month or so for you. Near the end of July, we headed up to the cabin around Kevin's birthday. We went golfing on his birthday (his only present). But he doesn't mind that. He would rather do something like that than get a present any day.

He also did some pruning of lower branches off the trees near the cabin and we burned them in the fire pit that Michael and his friends made for us. It worked out really well to have that fire pit so close by. The weather was so nice, just right for outdoor working and playing.

 I picked some wild flowers and put them in these little vases that I have at the cabin. Love those little vases!

Here's the cat in a bag...totally random but I thought he looked cute :)

 While I was up at the cabin, I painted a picture of the old Paradise, Utah house that my grandfather grew up in (it was sold after he grew up) and that my grandfather and grandmother purchased back later in their retirement years. They remodeled it and lived there for ten or so years during my teenage years. I had promised my grandmother a painting of it if I could get it right...This is my attempt! My grandmother is pictured at the moment she opened the package containing the painting.

I think it turned out ok:) I'm glad I got it done for her. She's 98 this year and I really didn't want to make her wait too long for it!

August is a working month for me. No real extra time off except for weekends. We've been golfing a few times though and working on the house here. We are going to be building a deck off the back of the house with a covered patio. That way, I can hang mosquito netting all around it and put in some nice patio furniture! I will take pictures of it as it progresses.

We also have a spare bedroom that the cat has taken over. I can't do anything with it until we move some of the furniture out but I want to get a murphy bed in there...the kind that has a table attached underneath so that when you fold it up, the table can then be folded down and you have a work space. The cat won't be able to get up on the bed and we can use the space more efficiently.

Family reunion in Bryce canyon

I've been really bad at this blog but I gotta at least get some pictures in here from our trip to Bryce canyon at the end of June...so beautiful there! We flew in to St George and then rented a car for the drive. It was just four days but really filled with lots of fun and family.

This is Kevin in front of an arch that you can't see because of his arm...


 Ok, here's the arch...

 Kevin and I at another overlook...there were several stops along a tour that we took through the canyon.

 Heather and Annette on our horse ride through Red Rock Canyon...another beautiful spot. Heather was so excited...had been looking forward to the ride for at least a year. She did awesome!

 This is Jeri, Heather, me, and Annette before the ride. We were in a lodge near the mouth of the canyon called Ruby's Inn...a great place to stay.

Summer is going by so fast...already July. We will be heading up to the cabin again soon and I can't wait.

Thoughts on my Mom and my son

Ok, not gonna fulfill my two posts a month rule this time...just too wrung out. I am getting by just fine but anything extra right now is just too much. Mom is here and it's going well. She is comfortable and the girl we hired to spend time with her and help her is a real life saver. But it's a change of pace that I am adjusting to and I think it will take more time before I can really be back to normal. It's been really good having her here though...just a chance to be of service to her and to take care of her. I would not have this opportunity if she wasn't in need of support.

Jasper's 30th birthday is next week....his THIRTIETH!  Wow. I am not that old. Really. 

I'm so proud of him..such a good son and husband. "Proud" really doesn't even describe my feelings. I don't tell him enough how much his calm, reasonable, and reassuring outlook helps me and I am so grateful for him in my life. I can't imagine life without him and his beautiful, caring wife. They are just the world to me.

Well, back to the evening and my getting organized for the day tomorrow. Peace out (as Jasper says).

Last day of April

Well, I posted on the first day of April so I better post on the last to make sure I keep faith with my New Year's Resolution...remember??? Way back in January, we all vowed to do something this year to make our lives "mo' better, lah dat" (Hawaiian pigeon English). So mine was to post twice a month. January (ironically enough) was the only month so far that I haven't done it..(or was it February?) Anyway, this month has gone by way too fast and I am at a loss as to where it all went.

I vaguely remember looking for a cleaning person to come in twice a month to help us with the upkeep of our sprawling mansion (1600 sq ft). Found one on Craig's list. She ripped us off (small theft). Called the police. End of that story line. We now have a new cleaning person, recommended by a co-worker of mine who's house she has cleaned for years...she came and did a fantastic job! I tell you what, I used to clean houses and I appreciate the effort and detail that went into this latest person's work. I came home and just had to text her right then...so nice! What a luxury.

Next thing I know, we were finishing up with the rental...several weekends in a row got the bathroom redone...looks great! The house is ready to go now!!! Yeah! No pics, what a slacker! (me)...Kevin was the hero here...if it wasn't for his persistent effort, we would still be looking at a leaking toilet and sink, a scarred up wood floor, and countless smaller details that went into cleaning up the rental. Way to go Kevin! We just need to find the right renter now.

On a serious note, my friend Sheri from work, became worse with her Leukemia. No more treatments. She was able to visit with friends and put her affairs in order before succumbing to her illness a few days ago. I am glad I went over a few times to bring cheer and food. She was a very social person right up to the last. May she forever rest in Peace. I will miss her greatly. It makes me think about my life, of course, and how relationships are all any of us has that lasts in any one's memories. Your accomplishments may be great but the real thing is how people remember how you made them feel. Jewel had a song a while ago and my favorite line is "In the end, only kindness matters..." That's so true and I try to remember it always. I fall short many times but Sheri was that kind of person. She set a great example for the people who knew her.

We took a quick trip to the cabin with Chelsie and Michael over the weekend and loved every minute of it. The weather was cold but that can have it's charms.  We did some work but not too crazy...mostly relaxed. It was so fun to get away with "the Kids" as we call them even though they are adults. They made it really enjoyable.

That about covers April. May brings my mom to live with us, at least for a little while. We might be taking her to Malad to stay towards the end of the month. I hired a nice college girl who is on summer break. She is going to come over once a day while I'm at work to help mom with things and break up the day for her. I hope it all works out. I guess we will cross various bridges as we get to them.

Post out.

March is coming to a close already...

I just had six days off in a row and boy do I feel relaxed! So nice to just be able to get things done without worrying about getting off work in time to run here or go to that appointment. I got my teeth cleaned (a filling needs to be replaced), got some work done on the rupulsive rental, got my moles checked, met a friend for lunch, met mom-in-law another day for lunch, took Chelsie lunch at work, (lots of lunches)...

I also started trying to find a elder care person to help out when my mom comes to stay with us in May. I put an ad on Craig's List and got a lot of good responses. A couple of these ladies seem particularly good and I will start interviewing shortly. I hope to have it all set before she gets here so that we can get her familiar with the person.

Starting early on the yellowjacket traps to catch the queens this week...priorities you know. Already caught two! I won't put a picture up because it's gross...just take my word for it.

Also, watching the grandkitties for the week since Jasper and Polina are on a cruise! Yeah! They both needed a break. Mafia has totally ignored us since the cats came. He only has eyes for them. Sometimes they play a little rough and end up hissing at each other but for the most part, they are good buddies.

Pretty tame stuff but it's my life!

Whoa March!

Already the 11th and I haven't put any thoughts down here! Wow, time flies.

After our trip to Hawaii, we got back to a routine around here, working, eating, watching  A-MER-ican idol, sleeping, working, eating, watching A-MER-ican idol...well you get the picture. We are all caught up (thank you TIVO) and are going to run into the snag of having to wait a whole week before getting another hit.

Good news is that boring Ben, (the bachelor on this season's The Bachelor) is almost done choosing his pretend fiance' so they can be pretend engaged for three months before breaking up. And the new season of The Bachelorette will start :) The "bachelor blogs" have torn this season up because Ben is SUCH a dweeb...pretty funny stuff to read. That's pretty much the only reason I still watch this mind-numbing dribble. Gotta know what happens on the show in order to get the jokes on the blogs.

I'm also reading a new Anne Rice novel (of Interview With a Vampire fame) about a werewolf...I know...another werewolf story. But this is pretty good. It's called The Wolf Gift. I'm enjoying the unsettled weather because then I don't feel too guilty just hanging out reading and watching tv. I have worked a lot of overtime lately too because it's been busy at work and less staff right now.

Jasper is traveling for work these last two weeks...Japan, Taiwan, and India. He called me this morning from India and it sounded like he was next door...amazing! Polina is in the thick of it at school like usual. We went for a walk yesterday by the river to give her a break from the books.

Chelsie is tearing it up at work, giving presentations, teaching the new software that the whole hospital is switching over to in the next few months, and working tons of overtime. She's loving the new responsibilities but is tired. Michael is also making inroads at his new job. He's had to navigate some pretty tricky politics already in his small office. Why is there ALWAYS politics at work? I guess because we are all just people. Michael has been asked for advice by his boss and others since he's "the only neutral person" in the office! That's a fine line to stay on but so far he's managing it.

Kevin is in the middle of a couple of weeks where visitors from Italy and Singapor will be here. Lots of meetings and showing these people around Boise, eating dinners with them, etc. So busy time for him too.

Well, I''m done for now...got a post in...yes!

February 2.0

We left for a trip to Oahu on February 7 and got back on the 15th. While there, I attended a conference for anesthesia providers with a friend of mine from school. Kevin's mom and sis were with us in the same condo and we all had a great time! It was a very relaxing trip. Here's a few highlights:

Our condo was located in Waikiki at the "Wyndham on the Beach Walk". It's a time share complex so there was some "selling" that went on. But we didn't sit through the presentation. The condo was two bedroom two bath so it was perfect for the four of us. Very clean and decorated well. We all agreed that we would stay there again if given the choice.

We did have to pry ourselves away from this very persistent lady at the front desk who wanted to get us into their selling presentations...she wanted us to call her "Aunty Aloha"...should have taken a picture of her. Anyway, it was kind of a running joke with us after that meeting...we would pass her desk at a distance and say under our breaths "Hi, Aunty Aloha!" 

We ate a lot of our meals at the condo but did go out a few times. It was a pretty lively spot right where the condo was located, a lot going on on the street at night...fun to watch.

We were just a few blocks off the beach so the first morning we were there, I couldn't sleep past 6 am so I got up and walked down to the beach to get a picture of the full moon over the water...so beautiful!

I ended up painting the scene in watercolors later in the trip. I also met an artist while walking through a hotel lobby that was painting in watercolors but using a very unique technique. He was happy to tell me about it so I tried it while painting this scene. I was so excited to try it because I've always had frustrations with watercolor and his technique was something I recognized as a way to get around some of that.

Anyway, I think it turned out well but I still have some things I want to change.

Just more scenery of the beach that same morning...a shot of Diamond Head under a tree :)

 Every Friday night, there is a fireworks show on the beach. We all went and watched. It's a very popular thing. I'll bet most of the hotels on the beach are empty during it because the crowds were dense! But that made it more fun.

 Kevin and I met up with my friend Kathy and her husband Topher for a sunset cruise that takes off right at the beach. We all had a blast...weather was perfect. Kevin and I have taken this trip before a couple of times but have always had to bundle up due to the cooler temps on the water. But this time we didn't have to put on the jackets.

 Our traditional pose in front of Diamond Head! Three years in a row now.

 Kevin on the boat, wind in his hair (you can't tell from the pic).

 You can see my hair...all over the place!

 Kevin's sister Teresa, his Mom Cathy, and I went a lot of places together too. Spent some time on the beach, drove to the North Shore so I could visit my grandmother (98!)  and so that they could attend a temple session (temple closed on Mondays and we went on a Monday so, doh!) We also tried to go to Hanauma Bay on a Tuesday (the next day) and it's closed every Tuesday so we were really striking out! We'll know better next time I guess. 

I thought this was a funny shot...Mom on a beach with China man's hat in the distance...:) She knew I was taking it...

 So, a very fun trip, lots of relaxation time. Didn't do too much but had enough activity to keep us all happy and worn out.

Now it's back to work and the rental project...no pics yet and I forgot to take a before shot! Kevin has already ripped into the bathroom vanity and has it out. Oh well...

Early February

As per my New Year's resolution, I am posting at least twice every month. I didn't specify that I had to post a lot in those two postings...

Kevin and I decided to get some bookshelves for the livingroom in keeping with our plans to continually make our house a little slice of paradise. We found these at Costco. I had measured the wall (kind of) and told Kevin that these would fit side by side and it would be perfect! I went and got them in the truck while Kevin was at work. We put them together in our livingroom...(well ok, mostly Kevin) and stood them up against the wall, and guess what! They had not 1/2 an inch to spare (whew!). They went up so nice! I was lucky we didn't get all the way to installing these only to find out they were an inch too wide or something because we had granite on one side and the end of the wall on the other!

We put a string of rope lighting inside and on top of the bookcases (looks nice at night) and now we have room to display all kinds of cool stuff like my Jane Austen collection from Barnes and Noble, my copy of Lord of the Rings (hard bound, all three books in one ;)...ok I'm a Tolkien nerd), How to Win Friends and Influence People, and some pictures...oh and of course, the busts of my children that I made out of clay and that they would probably rather I didn't display...

Let's see, what else...We celebrated Polina's 25th birthday at PF Changs at the end of January as a family. That was really fun. She is neck-deep in school and loving it. She is also very busy so we don't see her enough to satisfy us.

Our rental is empty and we are in the middle of redoing one of the bathrooms so it will be a while before that project is done. I really don't even like to remember that we have to work on it. It's so pleasant to just forget all about it. Then we get back from vacation and, oh yeah...that freaking project is still waiting to be done! The next Feb post will be about our vacation to Hawaii along with some before pics of the stupid bathroom project. Stay tuned!

New year...new resolve!

Well, I guess this counts as a sort of new year's resolution...to blog a little more often. Let me quantify that, to blog at least twice a month!!! How's that for a commitment? If I slip and go back to my old habit of not blogging until I feel like it, I give you permission to guilt me into compliance.

This year has started off rather uneventfully. We are not party people so we didn't go out on New Years Eve. We just watched Breaking Bad (wild show on HBO) and went to bed. Sometime around midnight we heard some neighbors yelling and a few fireworks but we couldn't be bothered to get up and look outside. The next morning, there were like ten cars parked around our neighbor's house. Looks like they had a huge party and we mostly slept through it.

Anyway, We got the Christmas stuff put away again, in record time, I might add. Last year I don't think all the boxes were back on the shelf in the garage until February. So I feel pretty good about that. I also cleaned out our spare bedrooms of all the stuff that I couldn't find a home for over the previous few months and just stuck in those rooms...letting it all accumulate as though I wouldn't have to deal with it some time or another. So that's done. Now I am looking at my house (as I do every year around this time) with a jaundiced eye...not liking stuff...wanting to change things...good thing I have to work or I would be tearing into it!

Two weeks from now, I go to Arizona to visit Mom and Jeri. I will also see Laura, a friend from school during that weekend. I will be glad to get out of the cold and see some blue sky. Then in February, we go to Hawaii as I think I mentioned in my last post...oops. Can't help it, very excited. I ordered a swimsuit online...which is a huge gamble because I normally try on AT LEAST 20 suits whenever I go suit shopping...never quite happy though even if I end up buying something. I estimate that I have probably bought, worn once or twice, maybe three times...20 or 30 suits over the years and then just given them away to goodwill. Anyway, I ordered THIS suit...

And the verdict is in...I LOVE it! I got it the other day and I quickly tried it on thinking, well, if it doesn't work, I will return it but will be SO disappointed! Of course, I look slightly different (not saying better or worse...wouldn't want to make the model feel bad) in my suit than the model in the picture but for me, it's probably the best suit I've tried on. The skirt is attached and can be worn higher or lower on the hips depending on how you tie it.  I'm set.    

Polina is back from Russia and we are looking forward to visiting with her and hearing about her visit home. Michael's birthday is tomorrow and we will have dinner here with the family. He just started his job at St Luke's. He works for a pediatric cardiologist as a scheduler/front office. He is very excited to be employed in his chosen field before he even graduates! We are so happy for him. Jobs are not easy to come by for new graduates and he still has a couple of semesters to go for his bachelors in Health Studies.

OK, my day is complete! I shopped at Costco (major rat race...don't go at 10:45 on a Saturday thinking you will just get in before the crowds...EVERYONE has that idea!), washed the dog, and blogged! So the rest of the day is MINE to do with as I please! Oh, and I cleaned the kitchen really well :) Not that I wasn't happy to blog...but I get a little writer's block sometimes...

So much for trying to outsmart blogspot!

I was going to be so smart and add the last pictures first so that they would appear in the order I wanted them to...namely chronologically. But the blog software must have changed such that now, the pictures appear as you add them in that order. Oh well, you will just have to hear all this in reverse chronology (?). what ev...

Christmas day, 2011...set the table for a relaxing dinner with Kevin and the kids (sans Polina, who is in Russia right now, visiting her parents). Jasper couldn't join her this time, hence the five place settings. We ate and played poker...Jasper won. But then he was the guy who brought the poker cards and chips...hmmm. Bet they were rigged somehow... I like to take a picture of the table each year to maybe get ideas for next year.

This is what I made for dinner on Christmas. I'm kind of proud of it because I made it up myself. It's basically whole wheat pizza dough with a cheesy tasting sauce (no dairy) topped with herbs, spices, and a potato/onion mixture. You put all that down the middle of the rolled out crust and then fold the dough over it and top it with prepared honey mustard and more spices...baked. Viola! It turned out really well and I will make it again for sure.

Time warp...Christmas celebrated 1 week earlier...still with me? We went up to a cabin (not THE cabin) in Tamarack, which is about a two hour drive from Boise. Polina was leaving to go to Russia on Dec 20th so we wanted to have an early Christmas with her. We tossed around some ideas and came up with renting one of the many wonderful cabins in Tamarack (a defunct ski resort development that still rents out vacation homes) for the weekend. We got up there and were blown away by how beautiful this cabin was...so comfortable and so nice! Four bedrooms, three baths, hot tub, fireplace, etc. We had every intention of cross country skiing like Polina wanted to do, but there wasn't much snow yet. We ended up taking some walks and spending time in the hot tub.

We set up a Christmas tree and everything! Here is Kevin in front of the beautiful fireplace (he built the fire, of course). We didn't have real ornaments for the tree so we tied a bunch of gift tags on it. It turned out cute.

Here is Polina hanging out in the kitchen area helping with dinner.

Jasper brought his computer so here are Kevin, Polina, and Jasper looking at something in the dining area. I think they were trying to find a movie to watch later on...

Chelsie and Michael helped with dinner that first night (and other nights too!) In fact Michael and Kevin made our dinner the second night by themselves because I had a slight headache (wink wink...) no I really didn't feel well. They did a great job :)

We stayed for two nights and then had to get home. It was a really relaxing way to spend Christmas...first of all...a week early so we didn't have to mingle with all the last minute craziness we saw all around us this past week. Secondly, a nice get away not too far from home but with the things we love like cabins and fireplaces and fresh mountain air. I'm thinking this could turn into a nice tradition! Next time there may be enough snow to ski or snowboard.

Time warp again! I threw my annual Ladies Brunch on December 4th this year and we made cupcakes! it was so fun. There were about 10 of us this time just eating and decorating and getting little candy sprinkles all over. Here is the finished product. Everyone got to take a box home to give as a gift or just to eat. I totally fell in love with these little silver boxes from Michaels Craft. It's the only thing that could make transporting cupcakes even possible.

Here is Chelsie with her 1950's housewife impression of domestic skill. She is such a pill! We had a blast!

My friend Nettie with her box of cupcakes...so cute! Everyone's turned out really great.

Kind of a funny story though. At the end of the party, Chelsie's sis-in-law Makinzee was leaving and had to put on her coat so she asked Chelsie to hold her cupcake box. There were a couple of extras on top in a plate made of foil. Chelsie held the box for her and when she went to hand it back, it tipped and Chelsie tried to catch it. The momentum from trying to catch it sent the loose cupcakes right down the front of Makinzee's white coat! Oh my gosh...should have seen the look on Chelsie's face! No harm was done to the coat though! I think I laughed for five minutes...

Well, that's my December! Backwards but still understandable I think. I am pretty sure I was able to come up with at least a post a month this year. I do regret not posting more but I at least can feel good about the ones I got written.

Next year we already have some exciting plans. I will be visiting my mom and Jeri down in Arizona in January. Our mom has parkinson's and has gone to stay with Jeri for the time being. I will get to help her for a little bit of time and see how she is settling in there.

February takes Kevin and me to Hawaii again! Kevin's mom, Cathy, and his sister Teresa will be going with us again and that always makes for a great trip. This will be the third time the four of us have gone together. We will be staying in a condo right off Waikiki beach. I will post from there once we get settled. My friend Kathy and her husband Topher will be there at the same time. We will both be attending a conference there for continuing education credits for anesthesia.

January and February might see some significant changes to the cabin up in Island Park since we will have a young married couple living in it and working on it. That is the plan so we hope it works out. That would mean that we will almost have the whole inside done!!!!!

June or maybe September Kevin may have to travel to Italy for work again and I may have to go with him this time! Lots of trips to Island Park (every chance we get, of course)...hoping to catch the huckleberry harvest this time...missed it last year..

And then it will be the holidays again...cross that bridge later.