Neeeeeeew Year

Well it's been a long while since I posted.  Not much going on...a visit from Dave and Jilly in Nov, a pinochle party in Nov, which I was runner up champion, a visit from my dad, a trip to LA to see my niece's violin recital, oh yeah...Thanksgiving...did I have time to be Thankful?  Annual dinner with our CAMPP's family, and visit from the Carrell's...Wedding anniversaries, a visit from my one brother, Christmas...and here we are New Year and January half over...With my computer down it is difficult to post to my blog...does anyone out there read it anyway?  so not even sure why I try and post...maybe a new year's resolution   not to blog....
But it has been beautifully rainy here the last few days!!  Love it! Love it! Love it!  Described as 'Hollywood Rain' kind of in sheets, gusts of wind...and I'm enjoying every minute of it, because before too long the sun will shine and it will be time for swimming again!

All Saints Day

I was thinking this morning about the love for my husband of almost 38 years!  Which led me to think of the blessings of God.  Which led me to the people God has put in my life through the years.  The Saints in my life, some who have gone on and those who continually walk with me in daily life.  From the faithfulness of my grandparents...at an early age, packed us in the car (actually my uncles car, old Chevy, blue-ish if I remember correctly) and drove us to the little Baptist church on the side of the hill to my friend Susan, to my CAMPP's friends, to those I have attended church together and home Bible Studies, I think of the Bishops and the Chenots, the Schmolls, all who did not or have not led perfect lives, but by their life and words continually pointed me towards God.  To these, to numerous to mention by name, I thank my God for you and your input in my life.  The chuch of God being the hands and feet in small unknown ways living their lives in obedience to God.

Birthdays!

It was my mother in laws birthday.  79th birthday at that.  she had never had a pedicure! The girls (Jill and Lorie) and myself had discussed it several times over the spring and summer, but her birthday seemed like the perfect day to treat her!  The callous removal!  she was grossed out!  and time for waxing!  She kept telling the man it was hot, and he kept telling her it was warm!!  Needless to say the salon was full of our excitement and laughter! 

This is the men celebrating her birthday...Scott was somewhere juggling two little men...drinking DP!

when are they coming for me?

Play ball

Henry has a natural ability to throw the ball and hit a golf ball.  Who taught him to use his legs to throw the ball??

 
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1061753883898&saved

God's way

I am truly amazed once again by God's way.  Reading Luke 1 this morning, what appears to be hardship and hurt from man's perspective, God indeed blesses. Elizabeth was barren, yet she continued to be faithful.  God says she and Zachariah were blameless, not sinless, but blameless.  In their day to day life, the mundaneness of life, they had their hurts, and longings and wants and desires, but in all that they remained faithful and 'blameless'.  And our God comes, comes into their midst and blesses.  And not just with a baby, but the cousin of Jesus, the son of God, His son!  Makes me ask, am I being faithful, 'blameless' in the mundaneness of my life? and as I write this, I am reminded how my God has come, come into my midst to bless, blessing too numerous to list and I am amazed by His ways.        I Cor 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?

More than a weekend

Inspired by the 'do it in a weekend' magazines, I documented our 'weekend'.
We've been accused of not being tree friendly in our home, seeing we've removed' several trees from our yard. This corner had two large California redwoods.  With the pool it keeps us from planting things which shed! The dilemma what to do with this corner. Enter, conversation with yourself,'going green, grow your own vegetables, farmer roots, past garden experiences,the taste of homegrown tomatoes and vegetables out my back door! One of those thots lead to planter boxes...which means Duane gets to build them!

We had the empty corner...




add at least one trip to the local Lowe's store for wood and supplies




a little hammering



more hammering


a lot more hammering, bags of planting mixture, oh and some plants...my favorite part



add zucchini plants and an already started tomato plant since we waited so late in the year



can't forget the sprinklers, how many trips to the hardware store did that take?




a few stepping stones...


lots of California sunshine and heat, and thanks to the early started tomato plant, not too long for some homegrown tomatoes! yum!!!


and zucchini...on its way


perfect



watch out...it's taking over!!!


last week, well the zucchini plant is done...zucchinied out! We are still holding out for a few more tomatoes, but its time is short...

'our' weekend project, which stretched into several weekends and actually we still haven't finished the corner,  the stepping stones don't have any gravel in between them, and planting a few more plants...but we are almost done. As the fall weather begins to cool, it really does, doesn't it? we will finally finish our weekend project. One of the benefits? Duane learned to make killer zucchini bread this summer. And we've enjoyed some tomatoes, our weekend project has been fun all summer.