'Sorting It Out'

Saturday when we stopped at Wal Mart, I bought four pair of dark blue sox to wear with my jeans.  Now why did I need more sox?  Because I hadn't sorted out my sox for some time, that is why.  I had a drawer full of sox and couldn't find any to wear.  (I do tend to wear them out because I am always wearing my sox with no shoes, even sometimes out to the mail across the street, the bottoms do wear out).  This morning I sorted and matched and found I had over 22 pair of black or blue sox, over 20 pair of white, seven pair of odd colors, and about 10 pair of nylon knee highs.  This is not counting my drawer full of panty hose.

I feel so good when I sort out a drawer or sort out a closet, even if I don't find anything to throw away, at least I know what I have and what I really do not need.  When we lived in La Jolla we had a Friday cleaning lady who not only cleaned my 3500 sq ft home from stem to stern, she also did my wash and dry.  When we would come home in the late night after our Friday night date, the house would be clean and Richard 's and my underwear and sox would all be neatly folded, matched and in our drawers.  What a wonder woman that Maria was.  She kept my home life in order.  Richard loved having his sox matched.  His mother had probably always done the same thing. 

One of my favorite authors from Ireland is always using the term "sorting it out" in reference to thoughts and making decisions.  This is so important to sort out our thoughts and opinions once in awhile.  What is refreshing about living with someone over 50 years younger than me is that we rarely agree on too much except what is good to eat.  And yet, I do not feel any animosity about it.  That is just the way it is.  A product from the 30's and a product from the 80's is  going to have  very different points of view about life.  Mike knows about things I know nothing about and I have experienced a life he will never know.

We both need to 'sort it out' from time to time and share.

Flannel Pajamas

Linda said Kristi was making Christmas Flannel pajama bottoms. Reminded me of how much I always wanted a Lanz Christmas flannel nightgown or pajamas.  I don't think I ever got them.  It was not a brand we carried at Anderson's Store and they were very expensive.

However, since I have been on my own I do always try and buy a flannel pair of pajamas each year.  Last year I bought two and I have a few that are well worn out and need throwing away.  The best source for pajamas I have always found to be Macys but if someone knows a better place, I would like to know.

As I said before, I love flannel.  When I was in junior high we tried to make pajamas.  They did not turn out as well as our corduroy jackets and ballerina skirts.  It was those seams!!!  I never tried to make pajamas again.  Except, after I was married I had one pair of silky pajamas I loved so much, I did buy material to replace them.  I think I still have the material!!!

Just in Time, A Sauce for Pork Tenderloin, and Christmas Plans

Michael cleaned out the gutters just in time.  The rains came and came.  Saturday I went to the Temple with Mary Anne and there was even a little snow between here and Susanville, but mostly rain and though there was no rain in Reno it was very windy and cool.  They were planting bulbs on the Temple grounds.

When I came home Michael prepared some delicious Nachos, always a favorite of mine.  So today, though I wasn't feeling too perky I cooked the dinner.  It was easy, pork tenderloin, but for a little variety it was roasted with bacon strips on it and there was a tangy sauce--not sweet but very interesting.

Here's the recipe so I will try it again some day:

1/3 cup chopped onion cooked till tender in 1 T butter, Add 1 8 oz can of tomato sauce, 3 T of sweet pickle relish (or just sweet pickle), 2 T vinegar, 1 t sugar and 1 t dried parsley flakes (I didn't have any of those) and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.  Good!

Today we watched "Invictus" about Nelson Mandela and I kept telling Mike we needed some background information so I finally looked up in Wikepedia about his life.  What an amazing person--inprisoned for 27 years and still accomplished so very much in his life.  We are all indebted to such dedicated people, who are continually learning and trying to give others a better life. 

I also made some of the Family Hot Fudge Sauce and didn't have any light corn syrup but the dark corn syrup works just as well.  Always a good thing to know.

Again this week I stretched the butter by whipping about 3/4 cup of water into 1 cup of butter.  Just don't use it for cooking, it is for spread only.  And I keep it refrigerated.  Better to use a little butter than margarine any day.

And yesterday I did buy Jan Karon's new book "In the Company of Others".  It was hard to choose between that and Nicholas Sparks new book--oh well, it will soon come out in paper back.  So happy to have time in my life for reading.  That hasn't always been so.

Linda invited me to come and stay with them for awhile at Christmas.  So I think I will take my Bear Paw Quilt, sewing machine and finish it off at Linda's.  At least Jimmy and Camber won't have to put up with me for so long this next year!

Another Jan Karon Book Due Out--Yea!

When I was in Maryland after Hurricane Isabel, my FEMA friend and I found a delightful bookstore and she started me on my Mitford Series.  I have read them all and loved all of the following except the last one which is due out  this month.  Her books make the simple things in life interesting and make you feel so very satisfied with this wonderful world and your family.  I love her writing.


The Mitford Years Series: In publication order they are:

At Home in Mitford, published 1994

A Light in the Window, published 1995

These High, Green Hills, published 1996

Out to Canaan, published 1997

A New Song (novel), published 1999

A Common Life: the Wedding Story, published 2001

In This Mountain, published 2002

Shepherds Abiding, published 2003

Light from Heaven, published 2005. This is the last of the nine books in this series.

The Father Tim Novels:


Home to Holly Springs, published October 30, 2007.

In the Company of Others, release date October 2010.

How Disappointing!

I tried to make scones with gluten free flour (rice flour).  The texture is not the same and I threw the whole batch out.  Although they say you can use it in your own recipes I have decided it will never be the same, so don't try, you will be disappointed.

Use 'their' recipes but not ones you have previously loved with wheat flour.  My favorite cookies were just not my favorite cookies... and now this...weird scones...yuck.

Mike Cleans Up

I saw my neighbor from Reno using a ladder today so I quickly asked if we could borrow it. No problem. Mike was able to get on the roof and clean off the pods and clean out the gutters. Yea!!

My neighbor also said he had more cedar logs we could have so Mike hauled those over and chopped up the branches that had accumulated and filled the wood bin. So we accomplished a lot today.

When I was working in the yard I speculated that I never see any other women around here doing what I do. Then I remembered when I was a freshman at the Y and doing the whitewashing of the Y on the mountain, we had a bucket brigade and I was with my Wyoming girl friend and I guess we were putting a little bit more effort into it than the California girls because someone remarked, "There is sure a lot of difference between the Montana and Wyoming girls and the California girls. I doubt it was meant as a compliment to us but that is the way it was, we used our muscles.

The Fence

In the early morning mist you can see the two unfinished sections of my neighbors fence. They are just finishing them now. The sections are a problem because of a tree stump. Why they didn't just cut the tree stump lower, I don't know. Anyway they have spent over three hours trying to make the fence look right. It will be interesting when the neighbor returns this weekend if he approves of how they did it.

It all started about a month ago when I noticed these men measuring and remeasuring with a cord between our properties. Upon inquiry I found the neighbor was building a new fence. Actually one of my trees damaged his old fence this winter. There was a severe wind storm while I was in San Diego. My neighbors wanted me to pay for the damage but fortunately I had called my insurance company and they told me NO--The rule is if a Natural Disaster knocks over a tree the insurance company of the damaged property pays for the damage, not the owner of the tree. My insurance company said if my neighbors inquired of me (which they did) tell them to call them and if they sued, my insurance company would handle it. I was out of it. OK, no problem.

Except when I returned from town there was a new property stake about 8 ft within my front property line. I wondered why. AHA. I could see that if the fence company used the new property line to measure from they would avoid having the fence go through or in back of a large rock, a stump, and a tree. Unfortunately, the fence would not look good going in front of the big rock on my side and it would be too close to my woodshed and make it appear that I was not conforming to the boundary line rules.

I sought out my former neighbor for advice. He is a fireman and one of those good guys who know about things and likes to help other people. He ran off a map of my property and told me to measure from my lot stake on the other side 80 ft. He also told me to check and see if they had filed a architectual plan to be reviewed.

The following Sunday I had Mary Anne follow me home and help me measure. Sure enough the stake that had been planted was about 8 feet inside my lot line. The property owner came out and wondered why I was measuring and if I had questions why didn't I just ask. Mary Anne and I assured him, I was asking. After a lot of choice words and accusations both directions he said he would make sure that the fence complied with the proper lot line measurements. He would not admit to knowing who put the stake there.

I did call LACC and they assured me no one from the club had put the stake there and so I should move it to it's proper place. Unfortunately I could not budge it. Last week when Mike and I returned from a walk the stake had been mysteriously moved back to where it was supposed to be. The only ones in the area was the fence company working on another yard nearby.

This Saturday my neighbor asked me to come out and see if where the stake was, was now ok. I asked him who moved it. He said he didn't know. I asked him who put it there in the first place, he said he didn't want to talk about it.

Long story short--the fence looks a lot better on my side than if they had come in front of that huge rock and been on my property. And it looks like they are putting the bottom of the fence on either side of the huge stump??? I ask again, why not just chain saw the stump down???

They must not own a chain saw. Matt could have done it easily.

Talent!

I am forever amazed and perplexed by the fact that people who appear to have one talent, also have multiple talents.  How is that?  They can act...and they can also sing...and dance.  They can paint...and also write...etc. etc.

How is it that some are gifted with these artistic talents and then some of us have none???  Did we not develop the one talent we were given and not recognize and so we get none?  Do we hide whatever talent we might have had behind our fears and lack of confidence?

I wish I knew.  I wish I could sing.  I wish I could dance.  I wish I could draw.  I wish I could write.  I wish I was artistic with vision and ability to be able to create something wonderful.

I wish, I wish, I wish.

The Montana Years is a Book!

It finally happened. The Montana Years is published. Some of the pictures I enlarged too much but for the most part I am happy to have my memoirs of my first 23 years in print. Now to finish the San Diego Scene before my memory is gone.

Ciao Bella, yes!

Did I mention I have a new crush?  Not Ben and Jerry's "Cherry Garcia" anymore.  It is Ciao Bella Gelato--Dulce de Leche.  Oh my goodness--$5.19 a pint here, a real luxury.  So far I have only tried the Dulce de Leche flavor but I am keeping the Chocolate in my freezer to try soon.  You will love it.  And you can eat a little and be satisfied...or you can eat the whole pint and commit one of the Seven Deadly Sins...

I finished the greatest novel "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese.  It is amazing.  It takes place mostly in Ethiopia and you will come away with an awesome respect for surgeons but...  The story line is so unusual and the description of everything so intricate but easy to read and keeps you turning those pages.  The author is a professor at Stanford with an impressive medical background but also a writer.
Very interesting!  Random House gives a teaser:

"Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon. Orphaned by their mother’s death and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Moving from Addis Ababa to New York City and back again, Cutting for Stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, medicine and ordinary miracles—and two brothers whose fates are forever intertwined. "

(One of ) The Best Things in Life is Flannel!!

This week I changed from my summer cool, silky feeling sheets to my winter flannel sheets.  I hate to get out of bed in the morning I am so comfy in my flannel!  I love good flannel.  A few years ago I made myself a flannel comforter out of some flannel from Anderson's Store in Glendive.  I had rescued it from Mary's stash in her house.  It was made years ago and is so solid and soft.  It was such good flannel--not thin like so much of the flannel made today is.  It is my favorite comforter for napping and I won't give it away.  Anyway as I was struggling to get out of bed this morning from my "flannel haven" I thought I must run to the store today and find some flannel for receiving blankets for Meagan's new baby girl due in February.

One of my pet peeves is to see new born babies with clothes on and no blanket between them and their carrier--Mom, Dad, Grandma or whatever.  Hellloooo--that baby needs swaddling and protection and being comfy and cuddled in a nice soft blanket!  Anyway, Meagan, today is the day I shop for flannel.  Hope I find some good flannel, I am not going to Walmart for it...there is a great shop in town, if it hasn't closed down yet.  So many of the stores have closed...signs of the times.

So another project--this weekend while I have no car (Mike is going to Sacramento) I will try and make some comfy receiving blankets.

NewFamilySearch

The last couple of days I have been working in the church Family History program seeing what needs to be done on my father's genealogy line.  I was very discouraged last night because his great great grandfather was attached to a Danish family which would send us back along a Jensen line in Denmark---wrong, wrong, wrong.  I couldn't figure out how to undo it.

Jeanne's oldest son Steven

But today my nephew Steven was online the same time I was and he straightened everything out and taught me a lot through umpteen emails.  So much easier than reading all the directions myself.  I feel very good about everything!!! Yea.  Hope it isn't all undone tomorrow.

Steven was a toddler when I was at BYU so I was his babysitter quite often.  I will never forget the time I was riding with Jeanne and holding the new baby Dougie in my arms.  Stevie was standing between us (this was before carseats).  Looking very nonchalant and staring straight ahead he casually lifted his right foot and brought it back forcefully right on baby Dougie's head.  Still not sure how he did it so well.  Except for Dougie crying, it was almost funny.  Jealousy begins at a very young age.

Anyway I surely appreciated his help today.

Another Baking Success for Mike!

Marjorie came to visit yesterday and in honor of her visit Mike made some quiche--Marjorie loved it and had two pieces and another today before she left. I loved it, too, and did the same and I made some of Carole's Spinach Strawberry salad to go with it. Very good.

Tonight Mike made guacamole, taquitos and chips. Yummy. Mike is spoiling me with all his cooking, since it is the one thing I do not like to do. I should have taken Marjorie's picture. She is very slim and fit. It was fun having her to talk to--and we did talk nonstop. She went back to her son's home and leaves for Washington tomorrow.

OK, how do you spell taquitos?????

Pizza Time!

Best pizza I ever had. I am not kidding! Mike is a great chef. This was crisp gluten free crust with barbecued chicken, bacon, green pepper, onion, mushroom and cheese topping with garlic butter on the crust. It was really great. He made a regular crust one for himself. Just what I have always wanted around, a man who does the cooking!!!

We had an interesting day in Susanville, first to Mike's dentist.  He was so kind as to fix a small filling au gratis--most appreciated.  Then on to Lassen College to drop off a transcript request--immediately someone popped up to see Maria's Mom and she graciously took our picture.

Whenever I run into one of Maria's friends they always make comments as to how beautiful I am, or "now I see why Maria is so beautiful"--very nice friends.  This was Laurel who is going on an Ensenada Cruise with Maria at the end of the month.  I was telling her about the one I went on with Meagan and tried to reassure her that Ensenada was not dangerous, how good the night shows were and the food was great...plenty of it.

Then we went on to Safeway where we looked all over for UDI's products but could find none.  We talked to the manager and told him UDI's listed Safeway as a store that carried their products.  He said he does not determine what comes but their freezer space is so small, he doesn't have room to carry it anyway--their loss!

Anyway we bought our food there and then stopped at Jack in the Box--problem, no electricty.  Then we stopped at a gas sation--sorry but no electricity.  We went north and same problem, everywhere we went except Port A Sub--however, they were crowded with high school lunchers because Burger King had no electricty.  So we went back to see if Wal Mart had their own generator--evidently it was a power outtage all over town but before we got there we found Jack in the Box would be opening shortly so we stopped there for lunch because the Pumpkin shakes are back  And on the way back toward home the gas station was working (gas is 26 cents cheaper a gallon than in Chester.)

Finally, back up the mountain to Lake Almanor.  Big day in Susanville, yea!

Just in Time!

The back deck just had time to dry before the rains came!  It was a mini miracle we had dry weather just long enough to get that chore completed.  Yea!

Wow, it is so fun to have a cook in the house.  Mike makes super guacamole among other things.  Yea!

And since he has the scanner set up and updated I am having fun digitalizing pictures--old pictures.  When I get into our family slides, I will really feel I have completed something.

Since Linda started her "We Walk In Their Shoes" (link on the right) I have been busy seeking out the family histories.  One grey briefcase I cannot find????  Probably left it sitting in a Family Center in San Diego or Salt Lake.

It has been fun reacquainting myself with my ancestors and Linda has been busy with Richard's ancestors.  I especially enjoyed looking at the fantastic monument and park dedicated to Sarah Sturdevant.  Supposedly she has more descendants than any other woman in this dispensation!!!  You must see that.

We have a rich heritage and the one thing I know is that we do not know what poor is, what sacrifice is, what dedication is.  Those ancestors who embraced the Gospel through all odds, came to America, and never faltered in their faith have us forever in their debt.

Thanks, Linda, for starting the website.  I hope many will enjoy it and perhaps contribute to it.  I have learned so much in just the last few days and so much more to read.

Both Decks Are Stained!!!

Front Deck

Today Michael sanded the whole back deck and I cleaned out all the slats!  The squirrels had about a 20 minute activity in the morning and were quiet the rest of the day with nothing else dropped on the deck as of now.  Amazing.

Back Deck

Anyway then we stained the whole deck.  I am so glad the weather stayed warm and dry and we could complete this.  I never could have done it alone.  My neighbor had told me about this new way of doing it and it worked great.  Yea!

Aunt Ellen's Scones

When I was a child and we visited Mom's sisters in Ogden, Utah, her sister Ellen always made scones for us.  They always tasted so yummy.

Also in a Larson Newsletter from 1982 I came across her recipe entitled:

GRANDMA ELLEN'S SCONE RECIPE

Dissolve 1 yeast cube in 1/4 cup warm water.

Mix 1 C milk, 2 T sugar, 1 t salt, 2 T shortening or oil and 1 beaten egg.  (I would imagine she scalded the milk and added the yeast when all was lukewarm)

Add 2 C flour.  Beat by hand with a wooden spoon to form firm dough.  Let rise.  Punch down and rise again.  Roll thin on floured board.  Cut into squares or strips.  Let rise 1/2 inch.  Cut dashes in the squares.  Deep fry in oil or shortening.  Brown on both sides.  Remove to dish covered with paper towel.  Serve with butter, jam or honey.
(We used sugar and butter as well.)

I have never used this method where we let the strips rise again.  Now I know her secret as to why they were so light and airy!

A Sad Christmas for my sister Carole!

While looking for Family Histories to add to Linda's new Blog I found an article in a Larson Family newsletter from 1982. My sister Carole, who is six years younger than I, had written about "A Christmas I Remember". If I had known about this, I had certainly forgotten, and it could be that since I was a teenager at the time whose life revolved around my friends and current new boyfriend I may not have even been aware of it.

This is the story. I was a junior in high school. Carole would have been in 5th or 6th grade. While she was doing her early Christmas snooping she found a beautiful doll hidden underneath Mom's bed. She said, "It had real hair, eyes that open and shut and a very "fussy" white dress and bonnet. I was so excited as I knew it had to be for me, even though I was getting a little old myself.  Indeed it made for a memorable Christmas when the doll went to Janet (as "her last doll to sit upon her bed").

I always liked dolls and I remember this one well. I named her Becky Ann (after my boyfriend whose last name was Becker and my last name Anderson). On Christmas Eve I remember taking her with me to show my friends as my boyfriend and I went to meet them for Midnight Mass. She was a beautiful "last doll".

I called my sister Carole yesterday to ask her about this. I remember very well asking my mother for a doll that year as my "last doll" but Carole must have been unaware of this. She said when she saw it and just "knew" it was hers she began to ask for a doll from Mom just so Mom would know she really wanted it. Alas, we lived in a small town and when Mother realized she needed to get another doll, there was just "left overs" on the shelves and she could not replicate the beautiful doll she had purchased for me.

So here Carole was remembering that disappointing Christmas 30 years later!!! Not unlike my not getting the Shirley Temple doll I wanted for Christmas. I wonder if Mom knew about our Christmas disappointments???? It is hard to forget those kind of moments. So sorry, Carole, I never knew!

Grandson Plus...

I can't believe a whole week has gone by.  Last Saturday I went to Chico and met Melissa and Mike and Mike came home with me, and Melissa and a friend stayed in Chico to meet with friends. 

It has been good having Mike here, I have an in-house computer guru, interesting conversationalist, handy man with muscles, cook, painter, shopper, driver, as well as a great grandson who is a friend!! 

We have been busy organizing our lives, visiting the library and bookstore, staining the deck, cleaning up after the squirrels, viewing movies, reading books, organizing my computer, playing video games (Mike) and cooking and eating...Bandido misses his favorite sleeping place but other than that all is well...till Mike gets bored and moves on.  Such is the life of grandmas.

Saturday was Temple Day in Reno for our Branch so Mary Anne and I went down and had a very nice day.  Picked up some good walking shoes as well.

Oh, yes, and now Linda has started websites of the Family Histories of all our families and that will occupy plenty of my time.  Life is sunny and warm in Lake Almanor.  Fall is on hold until we finish staining the front deck, stairs, and lattice.  Glad I have Mike here to help me.

The Subject was Roses

When I left home 3 years ago I blamed him for everything that was wrong here. . .when I came home I blamed you. . .now I see that no one is to blame. . .not even me.—Timmy

Timmy was a soldier who left three years ago a boy and comes home a man to a home that is filled with rancor and an undercurrent of disdain and blame for all their unhappiness.

"The Subject was Roses" is an earful of everything that no one should say in a marriage or to their children.  How sad tht a marriage could be so filled with wrong communication or no communication.  It was disturbing but enlightening to see what all the wrong words and misunderstandings could do to cause such sadness.

It was a 1968 play and a 1970 movie with Martin Sheen, Patricial Neal and Jack Albertson.

It really made me think again how smart David and Emma Ray Mc Kay were about relationships and making a happy home together and how the wrong words and attitudes can destroy relationships.

My Favorite Cookie

Tonight I tried making my favorite cookie with the Gluten Free flour I bought from UDI's.  They say you can use the same amount in your recipes but actually it didn't work too well.  It needs more flour and the texture is not as good.  Bummer...

Tomorrow I pick Michael up in Chico for a little visit here.  Yea, I won't be so lonely anymore and maybe we can take a few adventures together.  Hope he won't be too bored!!

Everything I Never Wanted To Do--But Often Enjoyed Doing!

Today I found the resume I did when I switched from Loan Processing to Customer Service at SBA this year.  Because I want it printed in my book so I can reflect on all the work I did after 5 years of school teaching and 20 years of child rearing I am uploading here:

Janet E Hardy
Self-Assessment

I have over twenty-six cumulative years of experience working in an office environment specifically in loan origination, loan processing and loan funding of homes, apartments and business endeavors. I have had to analyze business loans with partnership corporate and Schedule C income. I have supervised up to ten loan officers in all aspects of loan analysis in the mortgage brokering business. I use the HP Financial Calculator with ease and skill and I tend to be analytical by nature and like to understand the reasons for following procedures. I owned Choice Mortgage Inc with my husband from 1984 until he passed away in 1996.

I have been employed by SBA since 2000 with part-time (5-7 months each year out of the years 2001-2006 and 2008 working as a SBA Reservist Loan Specialist in the Fort Worth and Sacramento offices (also Guam) and served in the field in Maryland and West Virginia for the New York Office and in Louisiana, and Texas for the Sacramento Office. As a loan specialist I analyzed the use of proceeds, duplication of benefits, credit worthiness of borrower, disposition of insurance, and making a recommendation for a loan decision to the Supervising Loan Officer. During 2005 in Sacramento I also supervised other loan officers in their loan analysis and I also served as a Team Leader in two Disaster Recovery Centers in Texas during the fall and winter of 2005.

Work History

1980-82 Obtained CA real estate license and began originating and processing trust deed loans for Richard D Jones Mortgage Inc of La Mesa, CA. I learned how to verify ownership, credit worthiness of the borrower, value of the collateral, verify the intended use of proceeds, obtain title insurance and hazard insurance. Properties involved were homes, 1-4’s, apartment buildings and small businesses. Many factors came together to determine a good investment. The loans or investments were offered to the private sector for their investment portfolios. This basic loan analysis was the foundation for the years that followed of asking credit decisions and protecting the interest of our lenders.

1982-4 Set up the conventional side of the mortgage company for brokering loans to banks, savings and loans, mortgage bankers and credit unions. This involved learning the underwriting guidelines of each lending entity as well as the packaging of each loan. The loans originated and prepared were home loans, 1-4s, and multi-apartment loans. We had specific training in learning the different programs, credit guidelines, financial parameters and packaging requirements of each lender. An emphasis and many hours of training were given in reading income taxes to determine the net worth of individuals and their businesses. As I grew in my proficiency I became the supervisor of the loan officers and processors. This involved teaching and training and monitoring of their work.

1984 My husband and I started our own mortgage company. Choice Mortgage Inc., and my roll was the conventional loan brokering side of the business doing all the things I have mentioned in the above paragraphs. Through all this process of teaching others I was also involved in originating my own loans and guiding the borrower from origination to funding and closing of the loans by the chosen lending entity. I had to know how to qualify the borrower in the way the specific lender wanted them qualified. Here again, many classes were taken that were given by lenders, title companies, and appraisal companies for implementation into our loan brokering business. Many operating procedures had to be read and understood regarding VA, FNMA and FHLMC guidelines. Loans that were originated were home loans, 1-4s and multi-family. It was my role to approve each loan that went out our door to be delivered to a lender.

1985 The first computer loan processing program was introduced and I had to learn the program and teach the processors to prepare the loans for submission. More often than not, I was “hands on” in the computer program. This program involved loan analysis and the transferring of all credit, ownership and income data from credit reports, tax returns, property profiles, escrow instructions and title reports. Loan officers had to be taught how to use the program for comparing loan proposals, qualifying the borrower and determining which programs to present to the prospective borrowers for selection. This now involved not only the fixed rate loans but all the different types of adjustable and balloon loans as well. There were training classes given by an invited guest or myself every week in the different aspects of choosing loan programs and analyzing the borrower to make good credit decisions.

1984-1996 Four different computer loan processing programs were learned and utilized over the years and for the conventional loans and two other processing and escrow programs for the private loans. Four different accounting programs were learned over the years before teaching the bookkeeper how to do the accounting on the computer. My role throughout these years was first and foremost the manager of the processors and loan officers. This involved ongoing instruction in new loan programs and guidelines so agents could make informed loan recommendations. This also involved reviewing each file for approval before delivering it to a lender. And of course it involved supervising the processors. The most processors we ever had at any one time for private and conventional loans were five and the most loan officers were ten.

1996 My husband passed away and I closed the business to retire. Then my son asked me to be the officer manager for his financial business. I did administration work for the first six months and then they asked me to start a mortgage entity under their national company’s guidelines. I did get it started and then my role became entirely loan analysis to keep all credit and collateral worthy loans going to the processors and canceling the others before too much time was spent on them. This involved another new loan analysis program. In the meantime I had also acquired my securities and life insurance licenses.

1999 I semi-retired to the mountains of Northern California but continued some accounting for my son’s business and part time work in an escrow office of Fidelity Title Co.

2000 I joined SBA as a way of using my expertise and earning more money doing something I enjoy.

2001 Summer - I was called to Fort Worth as a Reservist Loan specialist and worked in the office doing analysis of use of proceeds duplication of benefits, credit worthiness of borrowers, capacity of borrowers, disposition of insurance, and making a recommendation for a loan decision to the Supervising Loan Officer. In the fall I was called back for 9/11 and worked on homes as well as business loans.

2002-Summer - I was called to Fort Worth again and just returned home and then was called to the Sacramento office and on to Guam to work as a Loan Specialist making loan decisions until March 2003.

2003 September to February 2004—I was called to Maryland and then West Virginia and worked under the direction of the New York Office. I was doing loan origination in Disaster Recovery Centers on this assignment.

2004 Fall - I was called to the Sacramento office to work as a Loan Specialist and then became a Supervisor over a team of six. I worked until March 2005.

2005 Fall - I was called by Sacramento Office to travel to Louisiana and then into Texas and worked until March 2006. I was doing loan origination in Disaster Recovery Centers and then was called as a Team Leader for two different Texas Disaster Recovery Centers.

I retired in March of 2006. But applied in 2007 to return to SBA. In Fall 2008 I worked as a Loan Specialist in Sacramento.

Now I am asking to be put to work again as a Customer Service Representative doing originations in the field.

When Will It End?

My patio and yard is completely covered again (4th time) with the empty pods from the cedar tree. I cannot believe there are any seeds left up there but the squirrels keep sending the waste down. Yesterday I saw a baby squirrel for the first time and he was darling, I must say. I wonder how many babies there are??

I sat outside with my binoculars for a long time and looked up into the tree.  I could not see any movement in the trees but just some split seed pods drifting down.  I did see some dense areas of the tree though and I guess that is the nest(s).  Surely they move into the wood pile for winter though, right?

These are still beautiful the 4th bloom around.  Marjorie and I both bought geraniums at the first of summer and then they froze one night.  I brought mine inside for awhile and then miraculously they came back to life.  Since then they have bloomed over and over all summer long.
 

It is a gorgeous day to day...When I walked in from getting Bandido groomed I noticed my bear still here and I thought about my bad memory again.  For two years I thought that someone had stolen the bear off my porch until last Christmas I found it at the bottom of one of my Christmas decoration boxes.  Such is the problem of old minds...

Hold Tight

Last night I started reading Harlan Coben's mystery "Hold Tight" at 6:30 pm.  I finished it at 12:30 pm, steady reading exceept for a bit of up and down letting Bandido in and out of the house several times.  It was about teen agers, the internet, pharm parties, unlawful prescription refills, suicide, murder, adultery, illness, mental retards, kidnap, spyware, gps use, etc, etc.  Oh, my goodness, he writes a great mystery about ordinary people getting into extraordinary trouble.  I am so glad I am not raising children in today's world.  There is too much you need to be aware of--things I have never thought about.

I also made whipped butter.  You can make a butter spread that will go twice as far by whipping in 1/2 cup ice water to every cube of butter.  I read again that instead of using the margarine spreads you should use butter because it is real food... so make a whipped spread.  It works!

Emma Ray McKay's Advice on Marriage (after 51 yrs of marriage)

"A husband wants to see a wife who has made herself as beautiful as she can, a woman who has poise and charm, who greets him lovingly and cheerfully, who studies his every mood, and can tell when he wants to talk and when he would like a complete rest.

"Peace in the home is really a woman's responsibility, and if she wants happiness, she must work for it--yes, and pay for it, too--by being at all times kind, self-sacrificing, ready to help, ready to serve, in fact loving to do anything the head of the house desires because his desires are also hers.  And she must always remember that wisdom is made up of two parts: nine-tenths silence and one-tenth brevity."

"...There are many qualifications that a woman should have to be a good wife and mother, but the most important is patience--patience with children's and husband's tempers, patience with their misunderstanding, with their desires, with their actions."

(In regards to a husband throwing a mattress out the window instead of carrying it dowstairs carefully so it won't be soiled)  "Will you rave and rant at him, call him a stupid creature who never does things right, or will you think. 'Oh, what's the use!  The thing is done.  Better make the best of it'?  Always the latter if you can make yourself be calm.  Even a slightly sarcastic remark will bring a disagreeable answer, and you'll wish you had not said a word."

"...A sure way to bring gloom is to show that your feelings are hurt.  You cannot live long with any human being and not have something come up at times to irritate you.  'Offense we must expect.  The question is what to do with it when it comes.  And although we cannot help being hurt, what we can help is showing that we are hurt."

Father said, "No man should ever tell a joke or make a comment at the expense of his wife.  He must be loyal to her above all else, if they are to have a happy and united relationship."

From Lawrence the son:

"In reading over these principles of human relationships as my mother wrote them, I can honestly say that I never observed either of my parents violate any of them in our home.  Theirs was a remarkably loving and appreciative relationship.

And it was romantic.  Mother always looked her best for Father.  Even when both were in their eighties and nineties, Mother was conscious of her grooming.  Whenever she was ill and confined to bed, she urged the nurse to "Hurry!' so that she could greet Father with her hair combed, her lipstick on, and her bed jacket pretty and fresh.

For Christmasses, wedding anniversaries, and birthdays, Father wrote Mother little love poems and she treasured them above any gift that he might buy her.  She had a special box of inlaid wood in which she kept these poems.  We still keep them in that box."

'The Art of Rearing Children Peacefully' by Emma Ray McKay

"...nearly every woman can be a mother, but not the right kind of mother.  The successful mother must plan, and arise early to carry the plan out.  If she does not, the meals are late, the dishes drag, the husband is cross, and the woman is flustered.  If she does not plan a week ahead, the meals are of a sameness and unappetizing.  If she doesn't plan three months ahead, the sewing is not done in time for school.  There is discontent and perhaps whining.  If she does not plan a year ahead, the gardening, the house-cleaning, and the education of the children are neglected."

"If the mother doesn't have obedience when the child is very young, two or three years of age, she is going to have much trouble as the chld gets older...."

"...In the early walking stage...a mother must be gentle, never scolding but helping him to learn pleasantly the many hundreds of new things, to him, in the world.  If she says, 'Don't do that,' every other minute, he will pay absolutely no attention to her.  It is useless to tell children not to do things unless at the same time you give them a suggestion of something they can do.  Instead of saying, 'Stop playing that drum, it is driving me crazy'. Try saying, 'How would you like to make a tower with these blocks?'  If he says 'No', try something else that you know he likes.  Keep him doing.  but if there is something that he must not touch or play with, and you tell him that he must not, and gently lead him away, be sure that you do not permit him to handle the article the next minute, or your desire will mean nothing to the child."

"The time baby starts to notice things is the time to start making him polite by thanking him for everything he gives you, by saying, 'Please' to him when you want something, by excusing yourself if you walk in front of him, or if you accidentally knock over his blocks."

"Treat all your children with equal affection." 

From Lawrence:

Mother was wise and thoughtful in her parenting and seldom had to change a rule because she never made them impulsively.  She considered motherhood her career, and she gave it the kind of intelligent consideration and planning that made her a wonderful success at it.  I can remember as a chld how I loved and respected my mother because she did not discuss my failings with the neighbors.  She certainly did not approve of the way some of the neighbors aired their children's weaknesses before us. 

She and Father were scrupulously honest with us.  Mother never tried to slip out of the house, she always explained where she was going and when she would be back.  Mother was never one to sit and fill the time with idle chatter.  If our work was done, she would sit down with us and propose, "Let's play a game!"  Mother and Father both enjoyed games.  I should also mention how supportive my parents were in what we did. 

As a result of their gentle, loving discipline, we children were never afraid of our parents or afraid of getting in trouble for trying new things.

More on McKay Discipline

Child Discipline by David O. and Emma Ray McKay as reported by their son Lawrence.

1--Expectations: It was very clear what we were expected to do and they themselves were so self-disciplined that we were never confused by seeing them behave in a way different from the way we were supposed to behave.

   Rule: Never give a child or an animal a command that you cannot immediately see is carried out. (A command was never given twice)

2--Love: Our parents' expectations provided the path for us to follow, and our love for them provided an irresistible motivation for us to walk that path.  We learned to love them because they first dearly loved each other and us.

Examples: Kicked a girl at school--When Father heard about it, he took me to girl's house for me to apologize.  He didn't scold me or nag me, just became part of the process of setting that embarrassing situation aright.

Scolding was not part of the repertoire of either parent.  Father just looked and we knew.  He never used any physical punishment but he had a firm rule: "Never repeat a clear command.  If you repeat it, the child will always wait for the repetition."  In a letter to his wife Father wrote:

 "There is a lively two-year-old boy here in the train, and a mother who is constantly, constantly, constantly saying, "Donald!" "Donald, don't do that!" "Donald, dear, come here!" etc., etc.  And Donald does "that" and Donald doesn't come here, and so another future American citizen gets his first lessons in disregard for law and order.  I am so glad I have a loving wife who is also a wise mother, and I love her because she is both and more."

Another example:  We were riding to Huntsville in the surrey.  Father was driving, Mother was in the front seat and Llewelyn and I were sitting on the rear seat.  I was not very old, and I was scuffling with Llewelyn.  This was dangerous, of course, because one of us could fall in front of the wheel.  Father quietly told me to stop.  I persisted.  Then Father let me out of the carriage.

I can still remember walking up the hill, seeing the team and surrey going along, getting farther away by the minute.  I was old enough to have walked the rest of the way and was certainly in no danger on the country roads of those times; but Father let me walk just far enough to comtemplate the lesson in sufficient leisure, then stopped and waited for me.  I was a much-chastened boy when I climbed back into the surrey.  There was no more teasing or quarreling.

Note: I think my mother must have read Mrs. McKay's booklet 'The Art of Rearing Children Peacefully' because she and Dad used this type of discipline.

More Reading...

I read another Francine Rivers book called "The Scarlet Thread".  It was the story of two families--one a modern day girl and her marriage and one of her great grandmother and her trek along the Oregon Trail.  Actually their problems were very similar.  Francine Rivers is a Christian writer and I like the way some of her characters talk to God.  It reminds me of myself and the way I think.  Very enjoyable book.

Then I tried the first book about Rabbit by John Updike.  I thought it was very depressing.  I am not sure I will read anymore of the Rabbit series.  He is a very detailed writer but I didn't care much for the mundane characters he was writing about.  Maybe I am not cultured enough.

I also read another James Patterson book "Swimsuit".  Too gruesome.  I don't think I will read anymore of his graphic serial killer books anymore either.  Happy endings and uplifted thoughts is much better for my psyche.

I found a Jan Karon book "Light to Heaven" which I had never finished on my shelf so I am happy about that.  I love her books and have read all of them but that one.  She writes these books about the town of Mitford and the pastor and all the people he deals with.  Very interesting and joyful to read.

I also read the life of President David O McKay as written by his oldest son.  What a loving and beloved person he was but as his son says, he would have been that way in whatever kind of life he lived, whether a farmer, businessman or prophet.  He was just a remarkably spiritual person who had a distinguised career in the service of the Lord and a deep devotion for his family.

The love affair he had all of his life with his wife was one that set an example for everyone.  He wrote her beautiful poetry all of his life.  I remember her speaking at BYU on how to raise peaceful children.  Like my mother, she never raised her voice.  And her advise for how to treat a husband and he how to treat a wife are legend.

He told his son that the rule by which he governed his life was: "I never make a decision without asking myself, 'How will I explain this to the Savior when I meet him?'  He also said, "Love is the greatest and purest power in life, and I am thankful that it rules our home and reigns supreme in our hearts."  And of course he was the one that said, “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.”

Mountain Tales

I went over to admire the deck my neighbor has been repairing.  A tree had crushed part of his this winter.  I then proceeded to tell him I didn't see how I was going to stain my deck when the squirrels were dropping all their mess on my deck.  Actually it is on my deck and in the yard for about 25 feet around the tree.  It is a continual ping every second it seems.  Evidently they split the green seeds in two and take out the center and lick it and put it in their cheek to hide later.  Evidently their saliva makes a scent that will make it easy for them to find this winter.  These droppings have been going on for about a week now and as fast as I clean them up they are replaced by more.

I look up into the cedar and I can't see the squirrels.  An old nest was pushed out.  I learned that they bare their babies in the summer and they make clean nests to avoid having bad fungi to harm them.  Evidently they are very clean squirrels.  That is nice to know.  I don't remember ever having this much mess before though.  I can only think from the amount of food they are gathering and the number of holes around the yard that we are in for one long winter.

My neighbor then told me a tale of his own.  He said he and his wife were in bed one night when he felt something flying around their heads.  (He sleeps in the nude)  though what that had to do with the story I am not sure.  But he told his wife to lay very still and he got up and the bat began flying around his head and he walked down the stairs (can't you just picture that) and opened the door  and walked outside and the bat went outside with him and flew away.  I can only hope that never happens to me. 

I did have bats in my umbrella the second summer I was up here.  One flew out when I started to open it up.  I immediately called my friend's husband to come and get rid of them for me.  Although we had bats flying around the light posts at home in Montana and swooping down at our heads I never got used to them.  That is one reason I do not like walking in the evenings here.  The bats are swooping around.  My neighbor says I should have my grandson built a bat house to go along with my bird houses.  He said they eat the mosquitoes.  I have never seen enough mosquitoes to bother with that, thank you.

Lady Antebelum and John Updike

There is a great concert of 'Lady Antebelum' I have saved on my TV--I love this group, especially their song "I Need You Now" and they are fun to watch

I have decided I am going to have to read more of John Updike.  The rumor is that he has never had an 'unpublished thought.'  If I want a few laughs I just have to bring up some of his quotes.  This is one I love.

Any decent kind of world, you wouldn't need all these rules.

And especially for us oldies:

Looking foolish does the spirit good. The need not to look foolish is one of youth’s many burdens; as we get older we are exempted from more and more, and float upward in our heedlessness, singing Gratia Dei sum quod sum. (By the Grace of God, I am what I am)

Labor Day Weekend

Church is always fun on holidays.  There are many visitors and today there were so many families with boys and so many of the boys bore their testimonies.  It was very inspiring and impressive.  One of the young boys reminded me so much of my John when he was about four or five.  He loved to get behind the microphone.   It brought tears to my eyes.

One of the men observed than when we were away from our families we always had our ward family and that is so true.  I don't always like to go to church alone but I am always glad to be there and be among 'family' once I get there.

Mona from Phoenix was visiting and she is like a breath of fresh air.  We surely miss her in the Branch.

This morning I listened to a great talk by Dallin Oaks on 'Timing' and how we try to plan our lives but "Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans" as John Lennon (I think) said.  Elder Oaks made the point that it is good to make plans but we should continually do our personal best in obedience and preparation and be ready for the Lord's timing, not necessarily ours, as it is impossible to know exactly what changes will come about in our life.  How true!  How many times have I had to reinvent myself and go with the flow and it does no good to stew about when is the right time to make another change.  I just need to keep my life in order and be ready.

I am in to another great mystery by Harlan Coben "The Woods".  I feel like I would like to know the main character and be a part of his solving the mystery.  Great book!  I really need to get busy on some of my projects--but "I'll think about it tomorrow" as Scarlett said...

Great Grandson is Two Years in November!

Ryan Stewart
Look at this picture and then look at my Montana picture--quite a resemblance!

Twins are One Year Old!

Sage Fuqua

Happy Birthday Girls!

Raina Fuqua

Promises

Yes, I should be out staining my deck but I am enthralled by yet another new author (to me).  Carole had mentioned she liked Belva Plain so I checked out her "Promises" and Yes, I like her, too and will definitely read some more--not sure why I have overlooked her in the past.

This book was particularly interesting because it treated both the side of "the other woman" and the "wife who is left" by having two different scenarios going on at the same time.    In one situation the husband left a marriage and in the other the husband did not.

Some interesting observations in the book were:

Divorces are so much more complicated and take so much more planning than big weddings...

With the new divorce laws the husband usually ends up 40% financially better while the wife ends up about the same worse...

Over 50% of marriages end up in divorce...

Very few divorces are because the wife is unfaithful...

It is the children who are most affected for the worse...

Don't know how much any of these are true but it was an enlightening book and a 'must read' for anyone who wants to be the 'other woman' or a wife who thinks her husband could never be tempted.

Gas Leak

Yesterday I was watering early in the morning and it was very still.  I smelled gas.  I thought I had smelled it the night before but this time is was very strong.  I smelled both my neighbor's and my tank and was sure it was coming from mine.

I called in and they told me to turn the tank off (told me how) and then go outside.  Bandido was not in the mood for a walk but I dragged him for awhile anyway and then he was insistent to go back in.  Remembering the story that Myrna had told me about her friend's daughter being in a house in Jackson Hole that had exploded because of a propane gas leak I felt guilty finally letting him go back in the house.  I had my book to read but he was bored sitting in the dirt.

No problem, the house did not explode but there was a leak and the gas man fixed it and checked everything out.  Just in time, too, I barely had time to shower and dress to meet Jean, Mary Anne, Margaret, Sue, and Annette for lunch. 

I had the crispy chicken salad again which is very good and filling.  It is my big meal of the day.  Margaret was turning 85 but looks so much younger.  Where has all the time gone?  I can't believe how old we are.  It was fun chatting with everyone and then a quick trip to Holiday Market.  Saw Melissa's Ex-- Brendan, and he said Hi.

I do feel aged especially when I carried a watermelon up the stairs and didn't lift my foot high enough on the last step.  I fell with the watermelon taking the brunt of it and my shin the rest.  I feel so stupid when I trip.  I just have to hold on when going up and down stairs, that is evident, what a klutz.

Marjorie has an electric chair to wisk her up and down the stairs of her new home--what a great idea!

Maria called and told me about the big IZIGG party at Jimmy's house--which she later confirmed was a great success!!

Oh, yes, since Desperate Housewives is only once a day now, old Ali Mcbeal shows have taken over the other two hours of my TV excitement for the day.  What a life.  I would rather be working...

More Books

This week I also read a Mary Higgins Clark mystery which I had actually read before.  She is known as the "Queen of Suspense" and I always enjoy her mystery books especially by cd or tape on a long trip.  She writes a lot of books with esp powers in them but it always seems very realistic.  I like her books but it is always a fast read for me as I like to solve the mystery as quickly as possible.  She always manages to have a little romance in them, too.

Also this week I read a Nora Roberts book called Tribute because the heroine's movie star grandmother was named Janet Hardy.  I was remembering why I gave up Nora Roberts books and why I am not interested in reading more.

Her books are too much like a Harlequin romance books, not realistic, plus the women all seem to swear a lot.  Since I do not know women who swear a lot, it does not particularly appeal to me.   In reading about her I find she is "America's Favorite Author" and she has written over 200 books since starting in 1981 when she was at home with two young sons.  At that time Harlequin romances were being written mostly by British women and she was rejected as an author.  However, Silhouette came out  with a desire to be like Harlequin only with American authors and Nora Roberts was an instant hit.  If you wonder how anyone can write that many books, it is because she is very disciplined and writes 8 hours a day.  Stephen King thinks she is 'cool'.

Sounds like she lives in a wonderful place, though.  I did love Maryland when I was there after Hurricane Isabel.

For a quick, fun read that is not too realistic but has beautiful women, handsome men, torrid romance, mystery,  murder and such you might like her.  I think I will go back to reading other favorite authors myself.

Gorgeous Day

It is another gorgeous day in paradise.  After doing my watering and cleaning I spent the next two hours reading on the deck.  The weather is sunny, no wind, under 70 degrees.  I really need to get to work on the lattice and deck, maybe tomorrow.

Read, Read, Read

My reading nonstop is continuing.  On Monday morning I finished my third book read this weekend:  Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers--there is a sequel coming out this fall.  Francine Rivers graduated from the University of Reno and lives in Northern California and is a Christian Author.  I like her writing very much and this book takes a teen ager at the turn of the century in Switzerland until she is a widow with all her children married.  Ms Rivers really brings her characters to life and writes without any extra words.  I look forward to reading more of her books.

Yesterday I picked up five more books from the library and for the fourth time this summer reread a book.  This one was "The Weight of Water" by Anita Shreve.  I see there was a movie made of it in 2001 though I am curious to know how they could possibly capture this book on screen.  I may have to rent the video just to see.  I really enthrall in Anita Shreve's books.  I have already finished it.  This has been a great summer of good books.  What a life!

Sun Tunnels and Secrets

My sister sent my niece's book for me to read and I started it at suppertime and read it straight through till I finished it.  I couldn't put it down!!  What an interesting book with all it's side story secrets and mysteries, romance, music, family relationships.  It was just a fun, fun read and very touching.

On "Good Reads" they give this synopsis:

On a trip to the Sun Tunnels in the Utah desert, Norma and her sisters find a body on the side of the road. But this awful discovery turns out to be the least of their problems. Norma's husband just passed on, and she learns he kept a secret from her for sixty years.

 LaRue is keeping a secret from Norma. The sisters' young friend Tony is keeping a secret about his famous father, and Tony's mother is keeping a secret of her own. Tony is secretly in love with his friend Kelli, who recently escaped from a polygamist cult. And who is the mysterious young car thief with whom Norma feels a special connection?

Everything converges in Grouse Creek at the Fourth of July celebration. Will secrets prove everyone's undoing?

Definitely a five star read!

Deer Maurauders

My gardens have all had devastation--it is my fault.  I have been neglectful of spraying with the deer deterrent spray.  You can never stop being watchful!!!  

First Cozy Fire of Fall

Today when I came home from Church it was still in the 50's outside--it had rained a little and stayed cool for two days.  I used it as an excuse to start a cozy fire in the stove.  Loved it.  One of the accolades of living in the mountains.  Next week it will probably be up to the 80's again before fall really sets in but for today it was lovely to take a nap in front of a roaring fire.  "If you are lucky enough to live in the mountains, you are lucky enough."

Every Last One

I was lucky on Friday when I snagged a recently donated book at the Chester library.  It was Anne Quindlen's newest book "Every Last One".  I just finished it.  Even though I only started it last night and spent most of the day in Reno I had to read every minute I had available until I finished it.  I love her writing and the way she taps in to my inner most feelings.  This is a the review that "Good Reads" gave and without giving away the plot, it should tempt you to read it also.  I warn you though, most libraries will have a waiting list--as I say I was lucky. 

"In this breathtaking and beautiful novel, the #1 New York Times bestselling author Anna Quindlen creates an unforgettable portrait of a mother, a father, a family, and the explosive, violent consequences of what seem like inconsequential actions.

 Mary Beth Latham is first and foremost a mother, whose three teenaged children come first, before her career as a landscape gardener, or even her life as the wife of a doctor. Caring for her family and preserving their everyday life is paramount. And so, when one of her sons, Max, becomes depressed, Mary Beth becomes focused on him, and is blindsided by a shocking act of violence.

What happens afterwards is a testament to the power of a woman’s love and determination, and to the invisible line of hope and healing that connects one human being with another. Ultimately, in the hands of Anna Quindlen’s mesmerizing prose, Every Last One is a novel about facing every last one of the the things we fear most, about finding ways to navigate a road we never intended to travel, to live a life we never dreamed we’d have to live but must be brave enough to try."

As for the trip to Reno, Mary Anne and I had a nice day at the Temple again and drove through lots of rain.  It smelled so fresh and made everything so green.  I was happy to see it rained in Lake Almanor, too.

Birthday Time

Tomorrow is Mary Anne's birthday so we met at Burger Depot for lunch. Margaret is on the left, Jean in the middle and Mary Anne on the right. These are some of the nicest ladies you would ever want to meet and I have known Mary Anne and Jean since I moved here in 1999 and Margaret came several years later. Our ages range from 85 to 58--I should have gotten myself in the picture. Happy Birthday, Mary Anne. Since Mary Anne is the youngest we let her drive us everywhere. Tomorrow we go to Reno to the Temple as we did last Friday as well.

For the Birds

Some times it is hard to find anything important I do in a day but I do have one steady job and that is keeping the three bird baths filled with clean water. It is so dry right now. The birds like to bathe mostly in the late afternoon and the robins definitely take the most thorough baths.

 Maybe the smaller birds are afraid to get in but at least they use it for drinking all day long. Just previous to this blurry picture two birds were fighting over it and this one won.

Happy Birthday, Richard! 79 Years

After Richard passed away in November 1996, many memories were received in the way of cards, condolences and letters.  Today I will share some of the memories from our daughter Maria about working with her Dad.  She worked closely with him for many years in the business in many different areas.

"I started working for Dad at a very young age - or I should say he started having us work for him.  He often had jobs he needed done that were perfect ways for kids to make pocket money,  probably it all began with stuffing envelopes.  I can remember getting a penny a piece, and I got quite fast at it.  One of my favorite recollections is getting to go to work with Dad on a Saturday at Mansfied Mills, all by myself.  I must have been very young, maybe 6 or 7.  I can't remember what I did while I was at the office, but I remember the rest of the day very well.  We stopped at the gas station on the way to lunch, and I was so impressed with the fact that everyone knew Dad.  Some called him Dick, others called him Mr. Hardy but he was treated as though he was very important and he treated me as though I was very important, introducing me to everyone as his 'beautiful daughter'.  Then we went to John's Waffle Shop for lunch, where again, everyone knew him and again he introduced me as his 'beautiful daughter'.  After that day, I don't think I every looked at my Dad the same way again...

I started working at the La Mesa office on a regular basis in tenth grade - after I got my driver's license.  I can remember I didn't get paid very much, Dad didn't want to be accused of nepotism.  He would make up for the small salary in other ways as in allowing me to use his gas card.  And it was OK since he was always willing to give you a job, if you were willing to work where you were needed most.  I learned many of the different jobs that way.  Jones Mortgage was a bigger office, with several girls working in different parts of the loan processing - not like when he started Choice Mortgage where one person followed the whole loan.

I can remember when I was learning the beginning of processing private loans, one of the girls gave me some general instructions and then I went at it.  The girl who was training me flagged a lot of the areas in my package and then gave it back to me, it kind of depressed me that I did such a poor job.  Afterwards my Dad had walked by my desk and could see what was happening, he sat down next to me and told me a story about when he worked one summer for the forest service.  He helped clear fire hazards from the forest.  When he was being trained they would have the trainees go through and clear the hazards and then the trainers would follow them and attached red flags to the areas they missed and then make them do it over again.  He said he hated having the flags behind him and so got really good at it really fast.  He went on to explain this procedure in training me to process loans was the same principal.  Seeing the mistakes I made so obvious would help me to remember what needed to be done, and I would get better at it quickly.  He had this natural ability of making people feel really good about themselves, although I was his daughter, it certainly didn't apply to me exclusively.

My Dad was an excellent personnel manager - he might have missed his calling - he was amazing at making all the girls feel needed and encouraging them when things got difficult at the office, whether it was business related or employee related.  I can remember many times listening to him talk to different employees at their desks, mostly listening to their problem, giving them understanding and helping them to feel better, even at my young age, I was absolutely amazed at his patience, kindness and generosity of other's feelings.

Another time, I was in charge of a complete mailing.  My Dad was out of the office, and I wanted to impress him with my ability to get it completed and mailed off in record time.  I did, however, when he got back he realized that I missed one letter that was supposed to be inserted..it was the most important letter of the whole mailing and with out it, the mailing didn't even make sense.  I felt terrible, and there was nothing I could do to fix it..the mailing was already at the post office being processed.  Dad was so amazing..he knew how badly I felt, there was nothing he could have said to make me understand anymore had badly I failed..instead he told me that it was OK, he knew the best person for the job was the one who made a huge mistake..because they'd be the one to make sure it never happened again.  He hid his disappointment well, and left me feeling as though he had complete confidence in me.  I never did make that mistake again.

Maria wrote many other interesting experiences working with Dad which should be shared another day.  She finished her letter about Richard with these final words.

...Interestingly enough though, the worse things got, the more Dad read and shared his insights and testimony.  When I was having a difficult time with money and he felt badly that he had none to give, he had great wisdom to share instead.  he always stayed positive in his views and was a wonderful example of perseverance, integrity and courage.

My dad may have died penniless, but he was wealthy to me, wealthy in all the things that mattered.