15 Years Ago Richard Passed Away

This is Richard, when he was 45 or so. 15 years ago today he left this earth at age 65. Wonder how he is doing and when I will join him. I heard today that the only whole heart is a broken one. I will never forget that day I left our Rancho Bernardo house for the last time and I told my realtor Brian I knew what it was to have a broken heart. I also heard today that when we come into this life our hands are clenched because we think we need to get everything we can and when we leave this life our hands are open because we can't take anything with us. Richard didn't have much to take with him but he gave so much to others while he was here. A good man. I miss him so much.

Black Friday

Black Friday was no shopping day for me.  Instead I cleaned up the kitchen a little, slept a lot, and caugtht up on TV shows.  I had recorded Lady Gaga's Thanksgiving special and it was really good.  Unbelievably I had never heard her sing.  What a wonderful voice.  She sang a song from my youth that Betty Hutton used to sing "Wonderful You Walked By"--not sure that is the title but I know all the words and used to love to sing it.  Haven't heard anyone else do it since Betty Hutton.  Lady Gaga is an amazing talent.

Thanksgiving in Lake Almanor

Tuesday night we had to change plans to meet everyone at Tahoe because of some  Melissa car problems.  So I quickly took my Christmas turkey from the freezer and started Operation Thanksgiving 2011 at Home.  We had to bring up an extra table from the garage.

 Christmas one table

Thanksgiving on the other

Michael drove to Chico Wednesday afternoon to pick up Melissa and Sean, Maria and Johnny drove from Tahoe after just arriving there the night before, Mitch drove from Susanville, and Matt drove from northern Tahoe.

The dinner was fantastic.  Melissa made cranberry pecan pie which I really liked from the Lion House Pie Book and she also made pumpkin which was good, too.  Melissa also brought the rolls (I burnt the bottoms a little) and she made the mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and brought veggie appetizers.  Mike made an  excellent cheesecake and his famous Ramaki appetizers.   Maria made the sweet potatoes and stuffing and Johnny carved the turkey.   How did I used to cook a Thanksgiving dinner by myself when the children were little?  I can't imagine.

Matt brought flowers for all the ladies.   At the dinner table we played an interesting game that Camber had given Maria and learned a little bit more about each other.  Maria had brought leftover containers so everyone could take some food home.  At about sixish Mitch headed back to Susanville, Maria and Johnny headed  back to Tahoe for another couple nights and Matt and Mike drove Melissa and Sean back to Chico and then drove back up here.  A lot of driving today!

While everyone else was chatting and such Johnny was busy fixing the broken handle on my microwave and the hinges on the screen door.  I feel badly he has had to fix things each time he has been here, but it is certainly helpful to me.  Thank you, Johnny.

Oh, and I should also mention, not long after Matt arrived he had the troops organized and loaded my almost empty wood rack on the deck.  Thanks so much to Matt and the boys.
Maria and Johnny had brought Christmas for everyone and so that was celebrated before everyone went back home.    A very nice Thanksgiving and Christmas combined.

Thanksgivings Past

As I prepared for Thanksgiving I was remembering some from my past.  The second year of our marriage and when Johnny was about three months old we had Thanksgiving in our little apartment in Pacific Beach.  We had card tables in our living room and besides my sister Carole and her friend Jean, we had several others friends.  The tables really looked nice and as I remember our first big dinner entertainment was very successful.  Sounds like so much work with a new baby, I must have had lots of help.

The Thanksgiving dinners in our big home on the hill in Glendive were always memorable but mostly I remember when I was in high school.  Mom was such a great cook.  My brother Dick and his wife and baby Rod lived next door and of course, the missionaries were always in attendance.  The house had been remodeled and so there was a huge dining room with beautiful curtains on a huge sunny window.  Another favorite Thanksgiving in Glendive was in my junior year at BYU.  Marilyn had been dating an oilman from Arkansas in the summer and then she went to Idaho  to work in Ferrell's.  Arky called and proposed and we all gathered in our home on the 23rd of Nov 1954.  The Thayne's and I had come from Orem and Provo and I drove the plymouth back to use at BYU.   That was when I had my special Tender Mercy on a slippery hill in Wyoming.   It was a really lovely wedding with my Dad doing the nuptials and we all had long dresses.  Marilyn looked beautiful and Arky was so very handsome.

One memorable Thanksgiving with our children was at Knott's Berry Farm.  At that time they were serving family style and it was a huge room filled with lots of strangers and delicious food being passed around long tables.  I am sure they don't do that anymore.

Another favorite Thanksgiving destination when the children were little was Big Bear.  We rented cabins and went with the Martin Hardy family and visited Santa's Village on the weekend.

Another outstanding Thanksgiving in my mind is 2003 in Maryland.  I was working for the New York SBA and they had borrowed a Marriott kitchen in a motel and served a really delicious dinner.  The butternut squash was especially outstanding.  One of the guys and I had to drive from across the Chesapeake Bay to attend and only had to bring some bottles of wine and cider.  It was well worth the drive.

A couple of times I was in Fort Worth, Texas SBA for Thanksgiving and they would have huge potlucks and did the deep fried turkey out in the parking lot of the big SBA buildings.  Those Texans are marvelous cooks, it was so good, not only the turkey was outstanding, but the wonderful cakes and pies!!

The year of Katrina and Rita I was stationed in Galveston, Texas and we ate at a wonderful buffet.  Thank heaven things were up and running by Thanksgiving even though I had lost 20 lbs in Sept and Oct from scanty eating.

Unfortunately Thanksgiving will always be associated with Richard's death and my own brother Dick as well.  For my brother Dick's funeral I believe I flew to Glendive without Richard or the children.  It was the first time I had been in the new chapel built in Glendive and as I remember a very nice service.

Then my Richard died on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving after we had flown to Reno and Maria had picked us up.  He had heart attack at 2:20 am.  We had a sad Thanksgiving dinner and then Maria flew back to San Diego with me and Richard's body, not sure which day we did what, it is all rather foggy in my mind.  However, this time of year is always a little bit hard for me as it is a very sad remembrance.

My Worst Nightmare-Again!

Today I was headed into my office when the telephone rang.  Since I don't keep a phone in my office anymore I did a quick turn, tripped on the hall coat rack and went straight down on the floor.  Luckily my hardwood floor is a lot softer then cement and my left hand and knees took the brunt of it--two nails broken, knees were under heavy jeans so not so tragic.  However, it scares me how easily I can go down.  I have to step so carefully.   Ok, falling is one of my fears.

In the paper today I read about another flue fire.  Another of my fears.  I cannot get my fire as hot as I should to burn up the creosote.

 I was just reading last night that in the last days fear would grip the world, well, fears, I have them.

However, Pres Hinckley said 'Fear Not, Only Believe'.  Michael says I need to think 'more positively'--so what's new, I have always had a problem with that.  Problem is, since 1980 I have had more challenges than I deserved I think, so it is hard to think positively about the next 10 or 20 years, I mean, how can things can better at my age?  A miracle?  Michael asked me if I believed in miracles, I do, but not for me.

Two nights ago I watched the documentary about Gifford.  She and her husband and her mother certainly think positively and they have received and continue to receive a miracle I think.  Yes, I believe in miracles, but not for me.

Today I am listening to 'Diane Krall Radio'--so lovely, so soothing.  Music is my miracle, and the time to listen to it and appreciate it, in it's many forms.  Yes, music is my miracle.  What if I couldn't hear, that would really be tragic.

50's Music

I have finally found the perfect way to exercise.  Yes, it is dancing but so much easier since I discovered Paul Anka Radio brings music from the 50's with just the right beat to keep you moving and make it fun.  Yea!  Goal is a minimum of 1 hour a day at least.  So far I have done it but my legs are aching.  Still much better than finding myself a mile from home and panting and cold by walking in this winter weather.

Happy Birthday to Maria

Maria and Johnny having a wonderful Yosemite Birthday Weekend.  Happy Birthday to Maria on November 15th!

On facebook on the 15th Maria wrote she felt loved.  So happy for that.  The last time I felt loved was over 15 years ago.  Must cherish it while you have it.  Unfortunately we rarely recognize how really blessed we are until we have lost it.  We are too busy living our life to take the time to recognize the abundance in our life.

Singapore Wallhanging

I think the wallhanging and pillow covers fronm Singapore are such a reat addition to my Christmas. Meagan and I had such fun shopping for them and making the decision

I just realized I packed away Kirsten, my Swedish doll I dress in her Christmas costume, I think I will have to unpack her. "We need a little Christmas, Yes, we need a little Christmas" --I will have to get out my favorite Christmas cds and videos, too.

Pandora

Yesterday I created several radio stations on Pandora and then Mitch and Cara created several while they were here.   I am so amazed at all the bands and artists I know nothing about.

So I have not watched any TV today but just listened to music all day long.  It is very enjoyable.  Each song seems to have a memory from a time and place or a person.  And it is certainly more enjoyable than sad movies or depressing news.

Thanks Pandora.  I love your service.

Knitting Almost Over

Yesterday while finishing a hat for Mitch (didn't get the picture) and a second one for Mike (one that was large enough to cover his ear phones) I watched 'Ethan Fromme'.

It was over 60 years ago that I read it and over 15 since I saw the movie so I couldn't remember anything but the sledding accident. It was a total shock at the end. Certainly not the happy ending I like to have. However, when I read the Spark Notes about them making a suicide pact I totally missed that. My mind does wander but this is what is wrong with movies--in a classic like that you should just stick to the book. That being said, in my mind from watching the movie, I envisioned them planning on making their move west in the future and this sledding was just an enjoyable pleasure before Mattie had to leave. I thought they hit the tree when they avoided running their sled into the three children coming up the hill.

At any rate it is a sad fact that once choices are made you often have to stick them out if you don't have the means or the ability to change them. What a sad life for those three and you wonder how it possibly could have been more enjoyable for them to make the best of it but hard to see how--just had to endure. When I read it years ago it seems we were led to believe that they were being punished for their sins, but I am not sure I believe that.

When I read the Spark Notes I could see I had missed a lot of things the author was trying to tell us. But how do the critics know what the author means unless the author said so herself??? I had a literature teacher in college that said we could believe anything we wanted to from a story as long as we could back up our theory.  He wouldn't grade us down for a different opinion if we made a good point.

It made me think about the fact that are many lonely, unhappy people that are not being punished for anything, just don't know how to change their life. While I was eating lunch today I saw the brother of my neighbor sitting outside in 40 degree weather listening to his music. Was he banned from the house or was it his choice?

He used to come up with the neighbors after they built their house in 2005 and he would always bring his camper and stay in it even though the house has plenty of bedrooms. He liked to feed the deer and was kind to Bandido. He seemed very shy but ventured over into my yard once to tell me how much he liked it.

My neighbor had told me his brother had lost his good job and was living at home with their parents. He didn't have any other family. When he never came up again I inquired about him and my neighbor said that his cigar smoking made his (the neighbor's wife) unhappy and he didn't have his camper anymore so he couldn't come up with them. Since the wife wasn't with them on this two day trip I assume he had brought his brother to be kind but still he appeared to be banned to the outside although I did not see evidence of a cigar. Just looks like a very sad man.  Must be very hard to have a successful brother with two lovely homes and a nice family and he has nothing.  Lots of sadness in the world.

Mitch Turns 21

Mike brought home a pizza and I baked a cake and Mitch and Cara came up to celebrate Mitch's 21st birthday tomorrow November 13th. We played 'You Don't Know Jack' and Mike has new competition--Cara beat him one game!

Two Reversible Aprons

These take more time than they are worth, but kind of cute, though does anyone wear aprons any more?  These are for girls. Anyway finally found a use for this material, could do a couple more but not this year.

That makes 16 projects completed since I started this "use my yarn and use my material" scenario.  I am on a roll, but still much left---two more almost finished.  Get a life, Janet!

A Long Night

Two nights ago I started listening to 'HEARTWOOD' the final published book of Belva Plain.  Since Belva Plain died in October of 2010 at 95 and the book was published in 2011 I wonder if she was really that old when she wrote it.  She didn't start writing novels till she was 59 and wrote them all long hand on yellow tablets, she did not own a computer.  She had about 20 best sellers and I have only read about two so still have much to choose from.  I did the download from my Plumas County Library to Go.  It was one available, so that is why I chose it.

Belva Plain's final novel, HEARTWOOD, is a moving story layered in psychological reflection, which has more depth than any simple drama or ordinary work of fiction.

Last night as I was listening to it I kept falling asleep and waking up and then would have to reset the chapter and listen to what I missed.

I almost quit at one time because it was more negative than I wanted but I am glad I kept listening because there actually was a romantic happy ending.  It presented the age old problem of being married to one man and in love with another. 

Belva Plain writes about families, many of them Jewish American as she was.  She leaves a lot to the imagination rather than having sexually explicit scenes. 

It was a long night but I did finish the book all in two nights.  I like to be read to...

Christmas Memories...

I love getting all the Christmas decorations out because everything has a memory.  There is the wall hanging I made when we lived in Pacific Beach in the 60's, the tree skirt I embroidered for our Victorian Christmas tree in our Rancho Bernardo home (all the Victorian homemade decorations have never been hung here), the red wall hanging and pillow covers from my Singapore trip with Meagan, the rocking horse from Rancho Bernardo, the teddy bear from Guam, the moose from Maryland, the moose Maria gave me, the Santa Camber gave me, the wreaths Nadine made, the Santa Sharon made, the goose from Utahna, the duck from Candy, the pillows from Linda, the pillow cover and angel from Marilyn, the nativity scene with the broken angel wing from La Jolla,

the Christmas tree I made in Relief Society in the 70's, the Scandinavian dolls from Camber, the village houses purchased at Big Bear, the cottage from Maria, the house from Matt and Mitch, the Popcorn Mouse from Jeanne, the snowmen purchased for Lake Almanor,  the floppy Santa from Camber, the handmade decorations from Linda and the Indian Angel from Marilyn (these are the only decorations that get put up), the straw donkey from Sweden, the wooden candle holders from Marilyn, the mini doll and wreath from Carole, the hanky angel from 13th Wd or RB?, the needlepoint stockings from La Jolla,

 the throw from Matt and Mitch, the granchildren mittens from Provo, the reversible placemats from Linda, and it goes on and on.  Everything has a memory from a house, a place, a time or a person.  I should have the Blue Velveteen rabbit out instead of packing it away with my dolls as it was one of the last things R and I purchased at the Harvest Festival in San Diego.  It is so Christmas.

Some Thoughts

Interesting comment made by a Judge in "Harry's Law" tonight.  She said, "I find life and law often depend on which Judge you get."  Something to think about.  Life is not fair and too much depends on the opinion of ONE person.  Not that 12 always get it right either.

I don't know who picked out the dresses for Carrie Underwood tonight on the GMA Awards, I loved the long gold one but  others  I thought were atrocious.  She is usually dressed so lovely.

I am also getting tired of seeing women's legs so much, especially when they are a little bow legged but even if their legs are ok, I think a flowing dress  or a lower hemline are so much more flattering than a tight dress with low bust and high hem.   Faith Hill looked outstanding and Nicole and a few others in their long dresses.

I was happy to see that Hope on "Dancing with the Stars" finally got a beautiful dress to wear.  She really looked lovely.  Makes a difference in how they dance.  I am not sure who chooses what they wear but they got it right this week.  I think some of her outfits were definitely not flattering.  I also wonder why they pick such short outfits for ladies with heavy thighs, doesn't make sense to me.

Anyway that is my opinion tonight.  Today I didn't have much congestion but now that I have been  sitting here in the cooler air my throat is sore and tight and I am all stuffed up.
Woe is me.  I will never get over these fall allergies.

Four More Projects Completed

For a little girl, I think.

Today I made a real "find" in my trove of material.  It is a knitted tubular cashmere which made three of these tubular scarves.  They are very expensive to buy.  It is perfect with my fur jacket and so warm and soft, I will definitely keep one.  The other two??  Too warm for San Diego??  Not sure.  You have to be somewhat sophisticated  to wear it, ha!  I don't recognize this old lady.  She is living in my house though.

Today I am listening to Vic Damone Radio--and so my generation, love it.  It is a gloomy day but not too cold.  My congestion is hardly at all and I have not  built a fire in the stove.  I wonder if there is a connection with all that burning of branches and wood???  Hmm.

Chris Botti Radio

Tonight on Roku I am listening to Pandora Radio, a new station for me called the Chris Botti station.  Wow, it is wonderful.  I always thought Chris Botti was playing a sax and here it is a trumpet.  Shades of Harry James...he is so good and plays with so many other artists, I love it.

It is quite lonely here tonight but I have some Christmas lights up and have started to decorate my living room for Christmas.  We are still having fall in the dining room.  Richard always liked that I decorated the house for Christmas but did not like to help except for the lights on the tree.  I don't have a tree here but lots of Christmas trees outside.  I love my cozy little home, even if I am alone.

Thomas Jefferson said he didn't think we were to have perfect happiness but lots of calamities in our life (or something like that).  He was very sad after his beautiful young wife died and four of his six children.  He then fell madly in love with a married woman in France. When that ended in sadness he never was interested in love again but devoted himself to his country and Monticello.

For Thanksgiving in 2003 I was in Maryland and one of the SBA guys from New York cooked wonderful Butternut Squash and mashed it.  I loved it and ate most of it and he gave me the rest to take back to my hotel.  Last night I peeled, cut up and boiled and then mashed it and it is so good, I can't believe I have not eaten more of it in my life.  The peeling of the skin is so hard though.  I wonder if there is an easier way to prepare it that I don't know about???

Aha, I just checked on Google--microwave the squash for two minutes to make it easier to cut.  Then cut in pieces before using a sharp vegetable peeler (something I do not have).  Then cut in smaller pieces.  Got it!  How did we know anything before Google?

More Wyoming Cousins

This is Kathy Anderson Bishop who is my brother Richard (and Mary's) daughter. Her husband is Myron and they were both raised in my hometown Glendive but later moved to Wyoming.  Myron is holding Jackson Richard (Aarons boy), the girl in the dress is Darian and the other girl is Kirstin (Mikes girls) and Kathy is holding Ayden (Matthews boy)

Back Row:  Nathan and  Amanda, Kathy and Myron, Mike, Jennifer, Aaron and Jackson, Matthew and Ayden

Front Row:Kayla, Teresa with Kerstin and Darian, Stephanie and Ryan, Courtney

Nathan,Myron,Mike,Ryan,Aaron,Mathew

The Bishop Five

Teresa Bishop with Kerstin, Kayla Bishop,  Kathy Bishop with Darian, Courtney Bishop, Amanda Fellows, Stephanie Bishop, Jennifer Beals

(I hope I got it right, Kathy!--I know there are two missing--Big Family!  And I understand Kathy is a superb cook who always had great meals for her big family.  Bakes lots of bread and...)

Two More Projects and More TV

All this congestion I have had has been good for one thing.  It has kept me indoors near the fire, watching Roku and knitting.

I just finished the "Doc Martin" series about a perfectionist country doctor who had an aversion to the sight of blood and  had undiagnosed Aspergers..  Yet he was an excellent doctor--just had no people skills, and definite intimacy issues.  He also said just what he thought, not realizing the consequences.  All work and no play type person.  Very interesting.  And the English people are always intersting as portrayed on BBC.

Roku is also an excellent way to pick up the documentaries you missed.  Last night I watched Ken Burns'  Tho0mas Jefferson.  What an amazing man he was and yet very conflicted on slavery as most of the Southern politicians were..

I am also disappointed in the direction they are taking "The Good Wife".

Michael is gone for the week to Sacramento so I am really homebound--such is my life.



This one will have to go to a short person or for use with jackts instead of coat.  Pretty though.

 Not too many in the family who could use this--and then of course it can always go to 'Good Will'' if certain parties don't like it.

Looks Good on Fur Throw

The multicolored yarn was intended for a vest years ago.  It makesa lovely scarf with the fuzzy...

Another Project Completed.

My goal this year is to use all the yarn in my yarn box. Then I have to gift out everything I make. Lucky family, ha.

More Utah Cousins

This is the Steve Thayne family having a traditional Halloween Party.  Steve is the oldest son of my sister Jeanne.  Ryan Thayne is in front and his girl friend Maria is the Cat Woman. Autumn and her boyfriend Chris are on the left. Winter is in the center next to Wizard Steve and Spring is on the right with Mom Sheila and Winter's baby.

My Reading and TV

Latest documentary I just enjoyed is "Steve Jobs, One Last Thing:"--what an amazing man, always searching for a better way, always learning, always sharing.

I really enjoyed reading my niece Carole Warburton's latest book "Just Shy of Paradise". She really knows how to weave a story using local history. mystery, romance, comedy, she has it all. Very well written. I read it all the first day I received it in the mail. Thanks to Carole (my sister) for the gift of the book.

Bramwell is a British miniseries about the late 1800s.  She is a lady doctor, which was practically unheard of at that time.  There are about 51 episodes I think, all so interesting.  I watched it on Roku so could go from one to the other without any interruptions, took about two weeks to watch it all.  Excellent.

I never even saw "Out of Practice" when it was on in the 2005-2006 season on CBS.  It is extremely funny and I like the stars that are in it.  I can't understand why they did not continue it.  It is so much better than a lot of the comedies.  Who makes these decisions????   There was only 21 episodes but very well done.  I watched them all in one day.  Also excellent.   Thanks to Roku.

Snow!!

It is 5 P M on Thursday and the snow started 30 minutes ago. Hope it all melts tomorrow...


Although it's very nice to sit by the fire and watch the snow fall.

Fall Leaf Candle Holders

OK, the Fall Leaf Candle Holder project is completed. Far from perfect but kind of country looking. Melissa gave me the idea. Bandido and I had more fun collecting the leaves than I did finishing the candle holders but another project completed!!!

Utah Cousins

My sister Marilyn and husband Arky's son Bob Smith and wife Dayna.

Bob and Dayna with children Ben and Mackenzie Smith and Casey Greer (wife Kristin) and  Michael Greer.

Michael, Bob, Dayna, Ben, Mackensie, Casey and Kristin

Michael,  Casey, Mackenzie and Ben

Hardy Halloween

Jacob on the right.

Kelsi on the left.

Jimmy carving a pumpkin.  Kelsi in the rear.

James and Camber on the left.

Where's Lea on Halloween?

Maria and Johnny Halloween

Foul!  Ump and Player being Cozy!!

Stewart Halloween

Kristi and Brynn

Ryan, Brynn and Kate

So cute!

Twinnies Halloween

Sage and Raina (or is it Raina and Sage?) dressed up as Dorothy.

Keira Is a Cute Little Duckling for Halloween

I think Keira is wondering why they are all dressed up as animals.