My Families Reunion 7-28-07

I am writing this on Tuesday which is the first chance I have had to sit down at the computer. The problem is that now I have to struggle to remember the details of this past weekend….tee hee. I can’t remember which day they came in now but Aunt Mary Ann and Milt were here too for the Reunion; Tuesday I think they came in.


Thursday morning we went over to my Aunt Millie and Uncle Marty’s place to help prepare stuff for the reunion. My Cousin Pat and I helped finish the six marshmallow cream pies that my Aunt had started. Pat had already made the big pan of decadent Brownies and after we finished with the pies there was the cutting of the chicken and getting it panned up for the Saturday shindig. It didn’t really take too long and we visited the rest of the day. Oops, Pat and I went into Roseburg to get stuff for the little kids to play with from Walmart and we ended up finding stuff for our Grandkids while we were there too. This first picture is Uncle Marty, Aunt Millie and my cousin Cindy.

Friday we did some laundry and then headed over to Reunion Central (my aunt’s place) to help with any last minute stuff. Pat had already done the green salad by the time we got there. My sister Lori and her girls were on the plane from Ohio and we were all waiting excitedly for her to show up and Andrea and her family were on the road heading up. Pat and Mike Corral’s son Keith, wife Stefanie and daughter Tana pulled in late morning so we caught up with them. This is the Corral families, Mike, Pat, Keith and his wife Stefanie and daughter Tana.

Andrea, Will and Ian, and Lori, Lindsay and Jaclyn hit the motel within a half hour of each other and they rested for a bit before heading out to RC. Even after Larry had given them detailed directions Andrea got lost once and took Lori (she was following her) on the scenic route out to our location. The rest of the day was playing with Ian and visiting with everyone.

Ian and Tana spent quite awhile entertaining and serving us all “tea and cookies”. They had a good time together and were cute with their imaginations.

We all had a lovely dinner together down under the trees. Cindy and her partner Dude, Aunt MaryAnn and her husband Milt, Uncle Dick and Carol and their daughter and her husband were there too. I may have forgotten someone…if so, sorry. Oops, I forgot HIS Lordship, Cousin Mike and his friend Linda. They showed up Friday afternoon too.

As it got dark we headed back to Sutherlin with Lori and Andrea’s cars following us back with the HUGE full moon rising over the hills…so pretty. We stopped at their motel and visited for a bit and then headed home.

On Saturday we headed over to the motel and then caravanned out to RC. We all had a great breakfast out there. Scott and his four kids, Jake, Chelsea, Sidney and Lyneki arrived the same time we did. The kids had grown so much since we last saw them! Michelle, Darel and Seth arrived just before breakfast. Seth was VERY glad to see his Granpa and Gramma and drove his parents’ nuts on the two hour drive talking about us.

We all had a big breakfast together and spent the morning visiting and playing with the kids. As Lori, Lindsay and Jaclyn had never been wine tasting Pat took them to a couple wineries near the house. Mike’s girlfriend Linda went with them. They all came back toting wine bottles.

Larry and I spent the day visiting and watching all the kids play. The kids all got along really well. Seth got bit by a large ant where his finger met his hand which hurt quite a lot and he cried and was scared of course. The ice and bandaid made it all better. Later Ian got stung by a bee on his arm, but Jake Thompson reacted really quick and got the stinger out, so more ice and another bandaid fixed that one. Then not an hour later Seth and Ian were both moving for the Frisbee that had been tossed in their direction and they cracked heads really hard. They screamed over that of course, Ian had a red ear and a knot where he was hit, I never did see if Seth had an injury. After they recovered from that they both took naps. Seth on the backseat of our truck and Ian on the backseat of his Mom’s car. All the kids were really good all day.

Around six it was dinner time, food, food, food and then ice cream cake with Elmo on top. It was Tana Corral’s third birthday and after dessert there was a piñata for the kids. They had a great time and Jake did the rope on the piñata really good. He was the one who finally blasted the thing open so the kids could dive for all the candy.

Around dark everyone headed off to the various places that they were spending the night. Michelle, Darel and Seth headed home as they were about 2 hours away and in the process of moving and are really busy. We went to the motel where Andrea and her family and Lori and her family were staying…Scott and his family stayed there too, so we visited for awhile, Andrea gave Ian a bath and then we gathered him and his stuff up with us. This picture is me, Cousin Pat, Sister Lori, Cousin Mike and his friend Linda.

Ian spent the night with us in our trailer. The kids have a hard time grasping the mobility of our house of course. He was puzzled by the patio we have here, versus where we were the last time he saw us. While Larry and I were taking turns with our showers and getting ready for bed Ian had a banana and then a bowl of Cherrios with banana. He had a hollow leg apparently. I got his bed ready on the floor and got him in it, went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and by the time I finished that and peeked out at him he was sound asleep! I’ve never seen a kid fall asleep that quick! Less than 5 minutes. This picture above or beside (who knows how it'll post) is Cindy's friend Dude, Aunt Millie and Aunt Mary Ann.

On Sunday as we were leaving Ian wanted to do all the things we do with him when we are in Ukiah because that is what we did the last time he was at our “house”. One of these times the boys will have to see us pull in or pull out so they can get their heads around the concept of our house being in different places!

We had breakfast with Andrea’s family and Lori’s family at a nearby restaurant, then Andrea, Will and Ian headed home. The rest of us headed back over to Aunt Millie’s. Scott and Keith’s families were there having breakfast and then they headed home too.

As I have reached my mildly advanced age and never been wine tasting, Pat very willingly took me, Lori, Lindsay and Jaclyn to a couple wineries that they hadn’t gone to the day before. I am a light weight drinker and after the first winery I was feeling “it” already and by the second I was getting a buzz and feeling a little silly….and then we headed home. It was fun, interesting and I bought a couple bottles of my favorite. Now that I know what is expected I’ll have to start hitting wineries on the road, Larry hates the stuff so I probably won’t do it very often. The whole country seems to be dotted with wineries.

So the last of us hanging around spent the rest of the day visiting and grazing on leftovers. Lori said her good-byes to everyone and then we headed home.

Lori and her girls flew home early Monday afternoon. We had breakfast and then they headed out. Larry skipped breakfast and walked to the restaurant from our RV Park because he claimed he was still full from all he had consumed all weekend and the thought of looking at or smelling anymore food was going to send him over the top! We were going to put our leftovers in a box and take it out to him, but we decided to play nice!

Lori and both the girls are going to try to get out this way more often now instead of waiting 17 years between visits…hopefully so.

It was a grand family reunion and the weather was perfect! In the interest of simplicity I didn't go into who lives next to who and who is who's parent, our families tree is too confusing...it would take me three pages to describe it, but I need to give mention to Uncle Dick and Carol too.

And here I am on Thursday finally getting this posted! Larry’s Uncle Gene and Aunt Bonnie have been on a road trip and stopped here in Sutherlin a couple nights to visit with us. They got in on Tuesday afternoon and left this morning after we had lovely coffee and pastry’s at The White Horse Coffee and Tea House here in Sutherlin, a hidden gem! It was 99 degrees yesterday, had the a/c on and today too! I have to get caught up here on the computer because we are hitting the road tomorrow.

Love you Mom 7-31-07

I was writing the text for my entry about the Family Reunion when I decided to switch gears. I am not a mushy, sentimental live in the past kind of girl, but I guess with the family reunion and being around most all of the people that were so important to me from my formative years I decided I had to do a little tribute to my Mom.

Yesterday was her birthday, she was born in 1937 and on todays date, 17 years ago she died the day after her 53rd birthday of breast cancer at home with many of these same people at her bedside.

The pictures sometimes don't line up with the text so I'll just list the text in the same order as the pictures and hopefully you can figure it out.

The first was when she was dancing and was probably a teenager (I forgot the date and am to lazy to go back and look). The second was when she was dancing in San Francisco in 1963. The third and fourth were from 1977. The fifth was on my wedding day 9-3-77, 30 years ago and the last was taken on 7-29-89 with Lori at the top, Mom on the right and me on the left.

We love you and miss you.

Quick & Pics 7-30-07

I just wanted to get some quick pictures up for your enjoyment! I haven't had time to really sit at the computer and get this blog updated. Hopefully tomorrow!

The first pic is of Ian, 4 1/2 and Seth, 3.

Then here is Andrea our oldest daughter who is Ian's Mom and Michelle our youngest is Seth's Mom.

Lori and Me, she is 18 months younger than me, because she is taller I like to tell people that don't know us that she is my older sister...pisses her off...my job as big sister.

Jaclyn, Lori and Lindsay in the back and Michelle, Me and Andrea in the front.

Jaclyn is Lori's youngest, Lindsay is Lori's oldest, then Michelle and Andrea.

Yard Animals 7-25-07

We have been busy over at my family’s visiting. Every day Uncle Marty picks 20 pounds or so of green beans. I’ve gotten there a couple times in time to snap beans.

This first picture is of the beautiful buck that likes to graze through my Aunt and Uncle’s beautiful flower garden. I just thought I would keep you all posted so you don’t think I have dropped off the edge of the planet. I’m sorry for those of you that follow my blog daily that we aren’t doing something more exciting!

Our family reunion is this weekend. My sister and her two girls are flying in on Friday and leaving on Monday. Andrea and her family arrive Friday and Michelle’s family arrives on Saturday which is the big gathering day. More of my cousins arrive on Friday too; we’ll have lots of fun catching up and eating!

This last picture is of an animal I saw in my front yard imitating a lizard. Ain’t he cute?!

Mostly pics 7-22-07

Nothing much scintillating to tell you about. We've been over to my Aunt and Uncle's a couple times and helped peel and slice 108 pounds of peaches for freezing. We got a wonderful cobbler out of it!

The weather has been partly cloudy and warm. We've just been hanging out. All these pictures were taken at my Aunt and Uncle's place. They have some gorgeous flowers and a great vegetable garden! I couldn't resist taking pics of course!

Rainy day 7-17-07

Yesterday we took a drive out towards Elkton to the Kellogg Cemetery. Granny is buried there and she had taken us to all the family cemeteries in the area several years ago. It was neat hearing the stories of who was who, just a shame that I can’t remember any of them! The drive is very pretty along the Umpqua River…lots of forest and mossy trees.

In the little town Drain we came around a corner and this house almost blinded us! Wow, what a lot of work and patience! We walked through the few antique shops in Oakland and then headed home. Oh, we stopped and had an ice cream cone, mocha almond fudge, I think the rocky road might have been a better choice.

I took two long walks yesterday, a little too long but I am way better. This morning it started raining and has rained a little off and on all morning. Cleaned house went to the store and that will be about it for us today!

Hey Pat! 7-15-07

Hey Pat, look who I’m holding! What a cutie!

Yesterday we met my newest cousin. Anthony LaPilusa is 4 months old and quite the handsome youngster. My cousin Stephanie, her husband Marcus and Anthony were visiting Steph’s Grandparents, my Aunt and Uncle. We went over there to visit for awhile and snoogle the baby and being the kind person that I am I HAD to torture my cousin Pat with a picture of me holding her Grandson…tee hee. Anthony’s Grandparents Pat and Mike have been RVing around the northwestern states the past few months and won’t see him for another few weeks.

We didn’t get home until after ten…a wild, late night for us! Then at three thirty a.m. we were RUDELY awakened by some little dog yapping up a storm and then the owner calling the dog’s name, but of course the dog couldn’t hear over its own noise. That went on for a little bit until the owner went to get the dog, it had cornered a raccoon; we know this because of the loud discussion being carried on outside of our window by the owner and someone who wanted to know what the heck was going on…did I mention three thirty in the morning!? What IS the matter with people?

So I think a nap might be in order today…I’ll try to fit one into my busy schedule. I’m planning on cutting Larry’s hair, taking a walk and maybe doing some laundry, but who knows…plans can change!

Pomegranate Flowers 7-14-07

Not much has been going on. Tuesday we went out to see my Aunt Millie and Uncle Marty for a bit, we had a nice visit. Tuesday is also the day that it got over 100 degrees here. It was still 90 around bedtime. Clouds had formed to the southeast of us and gave us a lightshow after dark. By the time we had turned in for the night the clouds had moved over us.

We woke Wednesday to a warm morning because of the clouds, but it didn’t get as warm. After 7 p.m. big black thunderclouds moved over us and for the next three hours we had a fantastic thunderstorm, lots of stunning lightning, thunder and fortunately rain. In the three hours that the storm was over us we got over a half inch of rain and quite a few little fires started because of the downstrikes. Thursday we never saw the sun and Friday started out cool but warmed up. Today we are back in the high 80’s.

Wednesday I was able to take a walk without limping for the first time in two weeks. This took way longer than I expected to get better. Yesterday and today I walked a little over a mile. I have some discomfort, but every day it gets better and better. It might be another month before I try jogging again though!

I finally remembered to take my camera on our walk this morning and the turkeys were walking around. I guess they had their tails fanned out earlier according to someone passing by us. They have so many iridescent colors in their feathers.

This orange flowered shrub is a pomegranate. The flowers are so vibrant and look very papery.

This picture of our very handsome boy Ian was taken last month, he was in his other Grandparents renewal of marriage vows ceremony and looked very dapper!

We drove around Roseburg a bit on Thursday and that is about all we have been doing.

Rabbit Rebuttal

You just never know the response you’ll get when you do something unexpected. This picture of the jack rabbit that I posted to this blog a few days ago generated a complaint from a reader:

“What the hell is with that rabbit? Is it dead?! How’d you get so close to it if it wasn’t dead? It looks weird. I kept reading and rereading the blog entry looking for an explanation of the rabbit and there wasn’t one!”

Well, I could say it was just one rabbit showing another rabbit how to freak out a human by playing dead.

I could say it WAS dead, but weird would be putting a picture of a dead animal on my blog. Though I must admit that at least they aren’t moving and WOULD make taking their photo easier. You’ll notice there is a lack of wildlife photos on this blog. The reason for that is that every time I get the camera and just get it focused the subject moves away.

I could say it was a baby rabbit showing how to tuck and roll for a somersault or it is a rabbit doing an imitation of a nautilus.

So for any more of you out there wondering: the rabbit was behind our trailer, I was inside and when I snapped the picture from above it, it had reached down to chew on its leg. Simple. Oh and I cropped the photo in close when I posted it on the blog.

So Michelle, are you happy with the explanation!!??!!

Oh, just in case; the other picture on that days posting was of a deer through the screen door and even though I mentioned seeing wild turkeys, there was no photo of the aforementioned fowl.

For some reason I can't put a title in the title field. 7-6-07

Yesterday, Thursday I tried a little walking again and I started icing my still very sore knee. The cold seems to give it some comfort. I guess I should have been doing that all along. I keep trying to keep it loose, but just a little walk/limp around the circle gets it all wadded up and sore, limping aggravates my healing right knee also. What a pain! It is embarrassing; I am slower than the old people! I might have to steal a walker! Hard to believe that over a week ago I was excited about jogging and today I would just be happy to walk!

Today was a little cooler, we had the a/c on the last couple of days for a few hours in the afternoons, but we didn’t need it today.

I sat down at the computer as Larry was going outside this afternoon and I told him I saw some smoke wafting through the trees. He walked into the street to see it and then he is telling me to call 911…a structure. 911 on the cell phone is stupid, I got a department in Monmouth…he didn’t even know where Sutherlin was, not to mention Monmouth is two and a half hours from here. Fortunately the lady across the street has a landline and she called. It turned out to be a gazebo and hot tub and people with hoses in the backyard got it out. It would have been bad if it got into the trees right behind us! So that was our excitement for the day.

We had salmon and salad for dinner and then we went to the DQ for a Moo-latte…yummy. I had mocha which was very good and Larry ordered mint, but we couldn’t taste any mint.

Today I walked up the hill to the library and then later took a walk around the block…I can walk a little easier, but not much faster, the ice helps keep it from getting too aggravating.
Larry converted the drawer under the window in the bedroom to a shelf. He said a few potty words, but of course did a brilliant job! This morning on our walk at the top of the hill we saw the three turkeys. They have so many pretty colors in their feathers, even though they are unattractive birds.

I finally remembered a picture of our home here in Sutherlin. Really nice big sites.

July 4th 2007

Happy Independence Day! It is hot and windy here today. I only took a couple pictures of the big parade here in the RV Park. There were all of 8 golf carts and they zoomed by with their flags waving in the breeze....and that was it.

Hope you all had a wonderful day!

Settled in Sutherlin 7-2-07

Today we got settled in our home for the next month. Larry was at the office when it opened getting our stuff confirmed, the office isn't open on Sunday, but fortunately Larry had called on Friday and they gave us a site we could pull into and this morning we were official and this site is down at the bottom of the hill where we can get a satellite shot. There are more trees up the hill, but no shot to the sky.

We just settled in and relaxed and enjoyed the warm sunshine. Larry took a walk into town this morning...Sutherlin is less than exciting. I took a couple of very slow walks up the hill to the club house to turn in some books and pick up some others from the little library.

As we don't have plans to be doing very much I may not post every day, can't imagine you wanting to know when we go to the store and do laundry, clean the toilets etc. I'll let you know when I start jogging again, that is always entertaining!

In Sutherlin, Oregon 7-1-07

Wow, half the year is gone already! We did some yoga this morning, trying to keep the rest of my body from going south while my legs heal up, which is happening at a snails pace.

We got ourselves all tidied up, put away stuff and hooked up. Larry went to the office to take care of our electric bill and was gone for a half hour…the lady in the office talked his ear off. He got back and asked me if his ears were bleeding. WE hate parks that don’t tell you their costs up front and this is the only park we have run across in our travels that had a $7.50 basic charge for electricity and three other charges on top of our actual electric usage.

We were on the road just after 10:30. It was mostly sunny and being Sunday there was quite a bit of traffic on I-5. We headed south for Sutherlin, Oregon. We are staying here at the Escapees park for a month. We’ll find out for sure tomorrow when the office opens. It took us two hours to get here.

I forgot about the rabbits that are all over the place here, deer too, so I have to remember to put my little petunia bowls up in the truck at night. I didn’t take any pictures of our site because we aren’t sure if we’ll have to move in the morning or not.

We have a family reunion near here the last weekend of this month and we didn’t have any real desire to trek around between now and then so we decided to stay here a month and explore the area and just kick back and enjoy the summer. The summer before last we “worked” and last summer we traveled, it seems that this summer we are just going to take ‘er easy!