Making Life Easier

Ordering deliveries from Walmart has really helped to keep me more organized and have a more complete inventory with a lot less work.


Had to buy an automatic can opener--the hand kind is just too hard to do anymore.


I learned a good system for getting pix from Instagram to Picasa--have to write it down though so I won't forget.


Melissa's electric heater is really nice for my bath and bedroom--haven't had to turn the furnace on yet.  Really enjoy the wood fire--the wood I have this year is very, very dry and burns so easily.


Nasturtiums grow so easily up here from seed and are happy.  Next year I will plant more and more seeds all over.   The deer have enjoyed eating them, too, since I am not spraying any longer.  This time of year they run out of food to eat.


We had an excellent class on Freezing foods and came away with an awesome chicken taquito recipe and a wonderful frozen salad recipe as well as a few others.   And now I have a fridge full of frozen Butternut Squash soup, Gluten free Goulash, red grapes and next week I am making the taquitos for Maria and the boys when they come.


We can now take our green waste to the maintenance area down the hill and LACC will take it to Collins for free!  I have been putting a bag out every week for Waste Management and they stopped charging me so either way is really good for me.

Keira Has Lots of Fun

A shopping trip with Dad--look at those necklaces and new shoes.

A trip to Disneyland!

Playing train with Mom.

All dressed up for playschool and she is bringing the treat.

Shopping for a pumpkin and Keira wants to do it by herself.  Go away, Mom.

Boating at the Bay.

Fun House with Mom.

Who has more fun the Keira?

All About Eden

It is so fun to see pictures of Eden and watch her grow.

Happy with Mom in the pool.

So much to see and learn.

Love to be with Daddy or just watch him.

Tummy time with Grandma Jennifer.

Such a happy baby.

Stewart Family

Everyone keeping fit by bicycling.

Up front and personal with Molly--what a happy smile. 

Books, Books, Books

Since the beginning of summer I have read or listened to 22 books!!!  I tend to read certain authors over and over:  Lee Child and the Jack Reacher books.  Anita Shreve,( I have read all of her books), Nora Roberts, Dean Koontz, John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks (Read all of  his), Harlan Coben, Joyce Carole Oates, Maeve Binchy and others I can't think of just now.

New authors I like are Gillian Flynn, J. Courtney Sullivan, Kate Atkinson, Lisa Gardner.

I also read some autobiographies: Maya Angelou, Tom Bergeron, Carolyn Jessop and an interesting one of a man growing up in the Glendive area.

The problem is that I do not remember anything about the book once I am finished.  I just read "Gone Girl" for the second time because I wanted to read it before I saw the movie and I could not remember anything at all from my first read last year.

I borrow most of my books online from the San Diego County Library through 'Library To Go' and have 10 on hold at all times so I always have books on my Kindle and my Samsung Tablet.  I find I often listen most of the night and miss part of the books when I occasionally doze off but it is a great way to fill sleepless nights without using your eyes.

It is nice to be able to just read a book all day long if you want...too bad time for reading comes at a time when your eyes get tired easily...thus the audio books are so wonderful.

The Masseys Arrive!!!

Keira at the airport...

I was so happy to have my granddaughter Meagan and her darling family (Matt, Keira and Eden) fly to Reno and then drive to my home on Friday, August 29th.  They were here until Wednesday, September 3, 1:30 PM.

Keira was delighted to find she had a big TV in her room.  From then on she watched "Annie" if she was going to nap or go to bed.

The weather was so wonderful (best time of the year) we ate outside and Matt cooked for us on the barbeque.  I also tried to make them breakfast each mother and I found they loved bacon and any kind of pancake.

A few times I got to take care of Eden and we got acquainted and I found she was a delight to hold and play with.  She loved giving me the raspberry.

At the concert while the others were dancing...

Taking Selfies...

Even Keira and Eden stayed with me alone without Mom and Dad for a couple hours while Mom got a dinner out together and alone for a change.  They said the Red Onion was good!!

Keira and Eden have fun in the house, too, the tinker toys and lincoln logs even got used...

Fun on the hammock and Keira painted the deck and played with Sadie, they became very good
friends.

The beach at Rec I was not the best place this year because the water was very low and Rec 2 had lots of rocks...bummer, but there was Miniature Golfing and Meagan finally got to try those Cinnamon Rolls--I had no idea she wanted one!

There was a short hike west of town...

Into the woods...

Fun exploring the shops in Chester with a trip to Frosties, of course.

And of course, the Bandshell.  It was the largest crowd I had ever seen and the noisiest Rock Band ever--we had to retreat to the fence to get a little distance.

And the renting of a boat and tube the day after Labor Day was great--no wind, nobody else on the lake!!!

Of course, we had to visit Buffalo Chips and Paul Bunyan...

Keira the Clown! 

Finally it was time to say Goodbye--I hope they come next year!  It made my summer!