Sonoma California Softball

Amanda's team, Cal State, Monterey Bay, just played a 4 game series at Sonoma University. Lori drove the 400 miles and we tagged along to enjoy Amanda for these two days. The weather was beautiful, a little chilly but 60 degrees! They played a double header last Friday and Saturday. Amanda was warming up the pitcher above. Monterey Bay managed to eek out 3 wins out of the four. The trip went well for us old folks. We were testing our traveling legs after the big slow down year 2011! It appears that we can manage to do some traveling again!

Amanda was delighted to see us all and we were able to have dinner with her. Our family still enjoys each other and as long as we're able, we will be there with thanksgiving!

Church Anniversary Celebration

Sunday, January 8, we were honored with a reception after the worship service. A nice group stayed and enjoyed a taste of cake and punch! Our pastor had us gather in a large circle, holding hands she offered a prayer for us and then opened the prayer to anyone who wanted to add something. . .there was a long silence. . .then one by one our friends added a thanksgiving for something we had done for them. . .things in our distant memory. . .overwhelming! This was an unexpected event after which I made a difficult speech. . .unrehearsed! Fumbling for words, I was able to share our celebration at Lake Tahoe with family! I told them of the questions I had asked our grandkids. . .about who you guess was the troublemaker in our marriage!! They chuckled at the answer! How do you correct the trouble? I asked? When Joel quickly added, "You say I'm sorry!" Our friends responded!!! and readily agreed with Joel that the correct response was to look each other in the eye and really mean it! We received many cards and personal comments. . .we had no expectations only a fun time together but went home pleasantly exhausted! It was a grateful reminder that the little things we do for others, hospital visits, taking a loaf of bread to someone hurting, sharing our cabin with a terminal cancer friend, taking that step towards others often when you don't feel like it. . .all were reminders of what someone said, "People don't remember all you do for them but how you make them feel."

Our 60Th Anniversary is not a bragging time but a time of thanksgiving. . .that our Creator God has given us time together and given us wisdom to forgive and grow in our faith and commitment to each other and to our family. You all are the true riches of our lives!

Christmas In Tahoe

We started planning for a family Christmas gathering before my March heart surgery. It seemed like a long way away! But the time train keeps moving and before we knew it, we were travelling to Lake Tahoe! Roly had negotiated for a 6 bedroom 3 story house with an indoor swimming pool on the lower floor. We wondered how we would handle all the stairs!! but we did OK slowly with lots of help carrying things from a mini kitchen to the main kitchen. Can you imagine 24 of us in the same house for 1 week!!! We did it!! Played lots of games, had a wonderful Christmas and everyone had a stocking filled with many surprises! I took over 200 photos and will give you a brief sampling, and all unposed shots with some members missing. We all managed pretty well, all families had a bedroom, kids ended up sleeping anywhere. Lots of cushions and large rooms to get lost in. . .and of course the swimming pool, sauna and hot tub on the lower floor!! All this half way up the mountain with views in every direction. And this year, the entire northwest has had no snow!!! Lake Tahoe thrives on winter snow. Tubing was out but Ice Skating was available. Most of the time, everyone found interesting things to do and there were ample electronic devices and recharger's all over the place! Now we are all home and the Time Train keeps moving us to our next destination and we have found that if you never plan anything, you will arrive there, at Nothingville! Remember Sound of Music, "Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could?" So remember, always be planning something, something to look forward to, and you will arrive there and make a new memory!

Christmas in Ashland

Esther & I have been making sand candles for the past 12 years at our annual Church Advent Faire. It's always one of the most popular craft tables averaging about 25 candles. We go non-stop from 11:30 to 4 pm before finishing and wicking the last candle!! This year Jana, Payton and Derrick came to Ashland for the week-end. They helped with set up and made crafts for their Eugene, Oregon Christmas.

Over the past year and a half, Esther has been working hard on completing Payton's special Afgan. Payton knew it was coming. She had picked the colors several years ago and then forgot how long it took to complete a project like this!! Grandma had learned this craft from her mother, Florence Tuckey and has been making Afgans for all the grandchildren!!!

We are now focusing on our Christmas Celebration at Lake Tahoe!!!

Relatives Land in Oregon

Debbie & Keith Hake with Nathan & Jonathon (Phoenix, AZ) made Oregon their Spring break destination! It just happens their oldest son Brian is beginning his graduate studies at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where Jana's family resides. They ended up in Ashland for a few days. Fall weather was beautiful so we headed up Mt. Ashland thinking we would see lots of snow. About 10 inches had fallen two weeks earlier with the promise of ski season opening on Thanksgiving!!! As we headed up the nearly 8000 ft peak, Mt Shasta appeared off in the distance. . .about 60 miles south. . .but no snow!! We arrived at the lodge and still no snow! Thinking we would drive to the summit, Keith bounced us in that direction and the fork in the road headed up looked more risky when Debbie chickened out. Esther and I have made that drive numerous. . .slow but doable. Keith decided to turn around. . .drove a few blocks and parked at a great scenic overlook with wonderful views in all directions. Everyone got in the mood to rock climb. On our way back, we stopped at the Ski Lodge to look at the ski run. . .and behold, several small patches of snow, enough to make a foot tall snowman!!! plus many near misses of wet snow balls. It was a great memory!

Wilson's Visit Oregon

Jane & Larry Wilson are those special friends that stay connected over the years. We met in Elkhart and have continued the friendship with gusto!! Both Wilsons are now retired and living on the East Coast. They arrived the last week of August at just the right time. We didn't plan on a health detour that grew full bloom August 28. We had spent several days at the coast and had a relaxing time. Esther's leg had been bothering her. On our way back to Ashland we stopped in Roseburg where a springy rest room door put Esther on the floor. It was now very difficult for her to walk and we ended up at the Ashland Emergency Room. Since then and many tests, a herniated disc seems to be causing the problem. Sept. 20, she had a Cortisone shot in the spine. Healing and pain relief has now made it possible for her to slowly walk around the house. We are thankful.

In spite of this detour, we had a wonderful time with the Wilson's, who were a big help during this stress. The photos are from the Charleston area on the coast. The top is Sunset Bay and the bottom, Bandon Shoreline. Dahlias were gorgeous at Shore Acres. The pink flowers at Hall Lake near Lakeside are unknown. The Oregon coastal beauty is breathtaking and refreshing to the human spirit. . .a wonderful masterpiece by our Creator!

The Best Tomatoes in the U.S.A.

Esther has 3 tomato plants, in pots, staked, tied and 4 feet tall! We have even had several nice bright red tomatoes about the size of a tennis ball! They also grow great tomatoes in Texas. I suppose Ashley & Zack are growing some in their raised bed garden. But Roly's have really entered the tomato competition in Corsicana, Texas. On Father's Day they sent me a box full of ripe tomatoes all properly hybrid labeled! We even rated them according to taste!!! What a treat!

Then I received a photo this Indiana tomato grown by our friend, Dan Monroe, who now lives near Indianapolis. He finally had to pick this 1 pound 14 ounce tomato before it broke his plant! I can almost taste it - it's been a long time since I've seen one this large! And I have to say to all you tomato growers, your as good as the best and better than the rest!!!!