Melissa

Melissa works for her company with a desk and a computer at home and it appears her cat is her supervisor.  How well I remember the supervisors walking behind us at SBA and stopping to see what we were doing.  It appears that this cat is doing the same thing. Funny.

 Melissa is making some beautiful creations with her knitting needle.  Her she models one she has made for a friend.

Catching Up With Great Grandchildren

Keira enjoys scootering in Munich before coming home.

In their apartment they have a hammock that is lots of fun for Keira and Eden.

Eden is so cute as she climbs in the carriage the only way she knows how.

Poor Molly takes a step off the couch and has to have a pretty pink cast.   She just learned to walk this month, too.  

Snow, Snow, Snow

At first Thursday was mad with rain, rain, rain.  I panicked when I saw a huge puddle over my septic tank.  Not knowing if this could be bad I attempted to make an outlet at the corner of the house.  I made a little headway but there were tree roots holding significant dirt around them and I could not cut the roots.  I sent an SOS out to a few men in the church but probably they were working. I could not reach anyone by phone. Finally Jean and then Ron called and said it would not hurt the septic to have water over it, then it began to snow, snow, snow and there was no more problem.

I hate these moments in my life when I am all alone looking for help.  It is so stressful and there have been so many!!!  It seemed it all started with that first phone call when Richard had his heart attack in 1970 and there have been many moments since then.  It reminds me of the book I read years ago written by the first black student at BYU. It was titled "It's You and Me, Lord"  and that is the way I feel so much of the time.  When I asked Margaret the other day how she does it,  "It's the Lord, baby,"it's the Lord."  She is a very prayerful person but has such a hard row to hoe taking care of her husband and herself.  Since she had her stroke he has slid back and it is so hard for her.

I appreciated so much when Greg called some four days later.  He had been working at the prison and just saw my email...he offered help in anyway.  I do appreciate that so much.

By the time the snow was finished we had eight inches and I could not find the phone number of the fellow who said he would come over and use my snowblower.  That red hat in the picture is him.  I finally found the number and called.  I told him he might be the most important person I met this year. He said that was great because he is not important to very many people.  Problem is how can I afford to pay him each time it snows???  And here it is snowing again.  I think I will wait until Wednesday when the snow should be stopping before I call him again.

I  had a bad week, terrible UTI and then after being out in the rain, sore throat, earache and congestion.  Hoping the antibiotic will heal everything.  The first antibiotic she gave me was a Sulpha drug and I had a horrible heat rash reaction, so many things I react to.

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And, sitting and working on the puzzle has given me a backache, and I do enjoy puzzling so much.  I found if I sit on the bed and put the vibrator on the painful spot om my back and press against it against the back board, it really helps get rid of the pain.  It was just in one spot and felt like the shingles, strange!

When I realized I had volunteered to take funeral potatoes to the Branch Christmas Party I wondered How I could hold a hot casserole with two hands and get down my icy stairs without holding on.  So I created a holder.  I think I will keep it around, it may come in handy again.

The dinner at the Christmas Party was really good, the ham was so moist and tender and excellent side dishes.  I especially liked the spinach salad that Jane had made.  She said it was Jean's recipe.  I will have to get it.  I left right after dinner.  I just need to get lots of sleep and get well!!!!  The most important job I have right now is keeping me healthy for another few years so I can enjoy my home.and life.

New Christmas Tree, 2014

 All decorated for Christmas and this year I have a new Balsam Hill 4 1/2 foot tree for Christmas.  Since it already has the lights on it is very simple for me.  My new goal in life, simplicity.

Getting Ready for Christmas, 2014

For some reason I was very ambitious and made lots of goodies to send my family and I also made Jar Lid Openers from plastic shelf lining.  I forgot to take a picture but you just crochet an edge around them.  Since the lining comes in a package you may as well make a lot and I did.

The cutest thing I made for Christmas was Bingo games for the great grandchildren and I forgot to take a picture of that, too.  I saw it on pinterest when I was looking for bows.  You use M and Ms for the tokens.  I bought sturdy Christmas boxes to put the game in and typed up the directions and glued to the inside of the lid.  Can't believe I didn't take a picture before sending.  Kristie said they were perfect but they ate all the M and Ms right away.  I also always go to Margie's Book Store and look for almost new children's Christmas books.  This year I had credits from books I had given them so got nine books for $5.36!!

Since I am staying home for Christmas I decided to do a puzzle so I bought a very nice 1000 piece puzzle and though it is two weeks from Christmas I almost have it done.  I took pictures as I progressed each day or so.

Since I won't have a puzzle to do when Christmas really comes I bought another 1000 piece puzzle and it is from a StoryBook Series from China.  It is Snow White and Seven Dwarfs, of course.

I like puzzles better than cross words and I can listen to my books or tv at the same time.  For some reason at Christmas time it never seems like a waste of time!!!

Cute Little Molly has a Birthday

Molly turned 1 year old on December 1 and began walking a few days later, such a sweetie.

Thanksgiving

I remember Maria telling me to take lots of pictures and yet this is the only Thanksgiving picture I have!!

Matt came and I had made the whole traditional Thanksgiving dinner with Maria's cream corn, and Marilyn P's Sweet Potatoe Souffle and both Pumpkin and Apple Pie.  The missionaries had been by earlier to get down my Christmas Decorations and asked if I was going to be here for Thanksgiving dinner and I told them I was and my grandson was coming.  They said they could go to two dinners so I invited them.

It was fine.  Matt made the green bean casserole, I had the frozen pistachio salad and Matt did a great job of cutting the turkey.  We had put the stuffing inside.  I used the Bridgeford frozen rolls from Holiday and they were really good!  The missionaries especially loved the corn, never had anything as good and they ate the pumpkin pie.  We ate at 1 so they should have hungry for their dinner at 4:30 with the Martins.  We almost forgot the mashed potatoes, Matt and I were each using a pototoe peeler to get them in the water fast!

Matt and I watched the ballgame and he made a great fire--as usual it got so warm we had to open the doors.

Sadie loved having Bruce around.  Matt only stayed the one night and we went to Verizon the next morning, on his way back home, to discuss the Samsung Galaxy 5 Smartphone.  My contract has another two months so we didn't do anything but Melissa says I can get it totally free if I do the Galaxy 4 with A T and  T.

Anyway it was a lovely Thanksgiving,   Matt loaded my wood before he left.  My electric bill has been going up because often I will turn the electric heater on when I go to my bedroom for the night and don't bother with a wood fire.  Options are good.

From Oceanside to Asheville, NC to Annapolis, MD to Asheville

Maria flew to visit Melissa in Asheville and then they drove to visit Mike in Annapolis.  Hope they are not encountering any stormy weather on the way.  They had six inches of snow in New York.

A rainy day in Annapolis.  Love those colors.  I had a couple days in Annapolis in 2003 after the Hurricane Isabel.  Such a lovely place.

Resting at the Mall.

Shopping at the Mall.

Nice picture and I am glad to see they have warm coats!

Mike and his Mom.

Curly Heads.

Farewell to Michael and on to Asheville

Maria and Melissa came back through Greensboro, NC and met with Patty, from high school days.

See the pix of them 38 years earlier.  Wow, they both have aged very well!!!

Melissa and Maria tour Asheville, doesn't look like winter there.

Classy ladies!

Let's Hear it from the Hardys

I was talking to Kelsi and Jimmy on Sunday.  Kelsi was telling me about going to Cotillion.  James went  when he was in grade school and we had chaperoned it once.  I was very impressed by what they were taught.  He was a little older I think.  Anyway she says she really likes learning the dances but especially likes it when the boys have to "grab" things for you.  I thought that was an interesting way of expressing how the boys are taught to bring things to the girls and act like gentleman.  Let's hope it still happens somewhere besides Cotillion.

Jimmy was telling me that the youth from their ward in Del Mar have a "Temple Tuesday" once a month at the San Diego Temple.  Here is a picture of Lea and her friend with the Temple in the background.  So beautiful.

I

Pulsiphers head for Hawaii.

Somehow the Pulsiphers have managed to get everyone on board for a vacation in Hawaii.  They have all been getting very fit for it, too.  Everybody has jobs, of course, and Tanner is home but will be leaving for BYU Idaho in January so it is no easy thing to get them all on vacation at the same time!

Amy and Sarah show their excitement.

Amy and Gary show off their fit bodies.

Kristi and Mike left three children home and brought Molly, the baby.

Amy sent a picture in to Quest and they liked her picture so much they are going to feature it in one of the #CheatClean collages and are sending her a box of Quest Bars of her choice.  It pays to exercise and eat nutritiously!

They all completed an 8 mile hike even with little Molly in tow.  The family that "hikes together, likes together"? or something like that???  Looks like six people had to get time off from their jobs and two more from school.  Lots of organizing.  Looks like a fun trip.

Thanksgiving Time

Well, it is that time of year again--the saddest time of the year.  It was 18 years ago that Richard died the day before Thanksgiving in Susanville.  We had come to spend the holiday with Maria's family.

My brother David says he feels the same way  as my brother Dick also died at Thanksgiving time and Jeanne's husband died in early November also.  Thanksgiving, a time for remembrance.

 It really hit me this last Sunday as we were singing the first hymn, it was a song I was not familiar with but the music was by Alexander Schreiner, the great organ player and author.  It was "Thy Spirit, Lord, Has Stirred Our Souls".  For some reason it brought tears to my eyes and made me think of those sad Thanksgivings.  I should learn to play it on the organ, it is so beautiful.


Over the years the holidays have just not been the same without Richard in my life. Every year I have to decide, should I decorate for Christmas or not???  Seems I always feel alone, no matter where I am.  The Hardys were thinking about coming up this year for Thanksgiving but I really think it would be better for them to come up when it is warm and there is more to do.  It has been in the 20's the last few nights, the coldest we have had so far and I understand there have been some broken pipes. Thank heaven Matt called and he is coming for Thanksgiving and maybe he will bring a friend, I hope so.


My neighbors were up because some gutter workers found their front door open.  The raccoons had gotten in and made a terrible mess in the kitchen.  It is unbelievable to me as well as to him that he had left the door open.  I have watched them as they close up the house and they are so meticulous.   He is getting older, no doubt.


This month there were so many birthdays.  Kate's was the end of October and then Ryan, Jimmy, Mitch and Maria all had birthdays in November.  I just send the E Cards anymore.


I finally got a speaker for my tablet.  It makes it so much easier when I am doing work and don't have to be so near to hear.  Of course, I have my big speakers I got in Guam but I use them on my computer, I just got one of those little round ones like Linda showed me.


I am listening to the life of Billy Crystal.  He is really an unpretentious nice guy.   So far one of the funniest chapters I thought was his lamenting about how much more fun the Christian holidays were than the Jewish--with Christmas trees and presents and Easter bunnies, chocolate eggs, etc. and the Jewish holidays are all about fasting and asking forgiveness, etc.  It was so funny and I have never heard any Jewish person talk about it like that.

Halloween 2014 with Great Grandchildren and Grandchildren

Kristi said Halloween went with too few pictures and Molly crying too much.

Keira loved trick or treating in her Unicorn costume and Baby Eden looks darling as a duckling.

Melissa is barely recognizable in her white hair!  It was snowing for Halloween in Asheville.

Kelsi is ready for trick or treating in her Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood with friends!

Sarah is a pretty mouse and Ryan a race car driver in Henderson.

Kelly is a diva as always--looks like a 60's flower child.  Peace!

Amy is a logger who looks kind of dangerous with that ax.

Kate looks cute in her boots trick or treating with Molly and Mom and Dad.

Ryan and Amy with a really spooky guy, who is it?  Ryan's grandparents have a neighborhood that really go all out for Halloween.

Case in point, look at this house where Kate is.

Tanner gets in on all the fun with his family and Sarah looks so pretty.

Looks like Halloween is alive and well in 2014.  I was downtown in Chester just as the trick or treaters started from store to store and I was really impressed with the costumes.  I wore my standard sweat shirt and jeans--oh well, nice to be old and do whatever you want even if it is boring.  At least I had a new haircut.

Who Knew? Microsoft Rocks!

My computer was so messed up I was thinking I would have to buy a new one.  I first complained to Web Security about some problems and they told me they were not virus problems so to call Microsoft.

So I made a call to the Microsoft Answer Desk the next day.  Oh my, what wonderful service I received!!!  The first gal got my Internet Explorer to working again and ridded me of several nuisance things I could not get rid off myself.

  

I had to leave her to run and get my flu shot before it was too late but when I came back I called back and talked to another fellow.  He fixed another problem and then I had a Task Scheduler that was corrupted and he worked on it but he could not solve the problem but he referred me to another fellow and he ridded me of a virus and deleted some other junk but could not fix the task scheduler either!!!  Neil said he would have a Level 2 Rep call me back in the morning.  And a Level 2 called me at 8 AM and he fixed the Task Scheduler just before the power went out.  In fact if I hadn't had a land line we could not have finished our conversation for me to test it myself.  He said he would call back when the power was back on to make sure it was working fine.  He did and it was.  In fact he called again this morning to make sure all was well.

I had forgotten my Outlook had not worked for a long time and wouldn't it be nice if that was working again.

So I called again and I had a young lady and she did such a beautiful job I decided to upgrade from my 2007 to 2013 Office--yea I love it!   However the printer did not work.  It had not installed when I she upgraded I guess.

So I called back late this evening and another young man said the support staff wasn't there but he would try and fix it--and he did.  It was something about the spooler.  Who knew you could get this kind of service with just a chatline.

Yes, I decided to buy the service for a year for $149 but when it costs $50 an hour for local help, this is really a bargain!!!!  I figure I used them for at least 8 hours already (my computer is slow and they scan and etc and keep coming back till it is all done.)  I had someone come in a couple years ago but they surely do not know the Windows and Office programs so not worth the money.  I also went to a guru in San Diego but he did not get things permanently fixed either.  Cost though.

Why struggle and struggle by myself when they can figure it out so fast and work my computer remotely and fix it so easily without any help from me.  Yes, Microsoft is good to work with.

I do remember when I was just starting with computers and Windows and a young man on the phone was so patient at helping me and I had no paid service at all.  Guess I will stick with Microsoft.  Isn't that why they provide the chat and remote service, I think so.

Oh, yes, one of them loaded a different virus program and it eliminated 31 things my own security had not...yes, I have a trial time for them also and I may switch services!


PS On Halloween night I called and lo and behold there was a staff working.  I could not understand how to get my Yahoo contacts into Outlook, though I had tried for a long time.  The little gal took over my computer and faster than I could follow she had it all done!!!  Super!!!  Microsoft rocks!!!