All Out for Halloween

I am continually amazed at how the costumes and decorations for Halloween get better every year.

Almost Ready for Trip South

So the decision was made, I would spend my winter in San Diego (actually Del Mar) this year instead of Lake Almanor.  It is hard to be up here alone at my age.  I will stay at Jimmy and Camber's home this year and unfortunately, Kelsi will be giving up her room.  I hope it won't be too much of a problem for Kelsi and Lea to share...their bedrooms are very large and there is tv, and office and table space and just open space on the same floor so it is not like too much crowding except at sleeping and bathroom time.  Anyway, hope I am not too much of a nuisance.  Their home is very spacious and it should not be a problem I hope.

I will miss my own bed and my wood fire the most.  But the beach and sunshine and pool etc are compensation.  I breathe better down there so I feel like walking more, that is good.  I especially love walking on the beach.  I am not sure just how the parking etc situation is in the Del Mar beach area though and it is too far for me to walk there, will have to see.  But there is a dog beach not too far up the coast, and Sadie loves that.  And actually the yard around J & C's house is huge so I can always walk around their yard if I don't want to venture out all the time.  And the weather is divine, we know that.

They have a neat ward to go, too, with lots of young people, good talks, lessons, etc., very lovely people, a few of which I know.  Kelsi is in the middle of this picture with the bow.

Kelsi is in her final year of junior high and is always fun to chat with, and Lea is lovely and a senior in high school so should be lots of fun things to hear about and maybe even watch or go to???

and little Jimmy, or tall Jimmy now is always pleasant to be around.  So should be fun and Camber has always got lots of interesting things to talk about and share and big Jimmy likes to go to the movies and often drags me along so should be a fun winter.  I am torn whether to take any of my projects to work on, time always goes so fast and I get so little done, hmmm???

Linda will have lots of young people in and out of her house and still haven't seen Maria's finished and Mitch and Bahia and Matt are there so lots of activity around.  And of course, there is Meagan's brood to get to know better, hopefully they will come see me.

And, of course, I always have my computer and tablet and books so lots to do...definitely taking my computer and my music...I am sure there are many days it will be just me and the three dogs around.  My sister Carole is working on a ticket to fly down for the New Year's week when the Hardys are skiing in Park City.  I have not seen her in 10 years!!!

Today Mary Anne went with me and I got the new tires on my car and bought the antifreeze for the house so now I just need to finish packing and closing up and have 17 days to do it!!!!  Sadie got a new collar because for the first time she wiggled out of that other lose collar and she needs to have one that is more secure with her telephone and rabies information always available.
I like it.

Eden Goes Shopping with Her Mom

It Is A Good Thing,,isn't It??

If nothing else, I have learned the secret to losing weight.  Just strictly stick to the Special Carbohydrate diet which is for chronic diarrhea, and other serious illnesses of the digestive system.  Since I have been sticking strictly to this diet this last couple? weeks I have lost more weight, and I am not even trying.  And I am not craving anything...much.  Yesterday I went to Jack In The Box and they have my favorite pumpkin shakes (and yes, they are better than "Steak and Shake" and I resisted them.  Never done that before.  But if you realize the consequences will get to you sooner or later, it is fairly easy to resist.  Marilyn, at church, told me her daughter-in-law (diagnozed with Chrohn's) lost 40 lbs!

In 1996 I was told at my physical with Kaiser that I should lose 52 lbs.  I have now surpassed that and am almost at my favorite weight that I was at in 1978 when I was 45 years old.  Which was still 20 lbs more or so than I weighed in high school and 10 lbs more than what I was at when I decided I needed to join Weight Watchers after my last baby was born.  (They said I did not belong there).  However, I weigh heavy with these sturdy legs and arms so what is the best weight, after all?

My waist is not much smaller than my hips were in high school, ha, those were the days.  We had such tiny waists...this pix is probably when I was about 45 years old.

Family Helps in the Big Move in 1999 from San Diego to Lake Almanor

October 28, 2017

For some reason, I am full of energy in the middle of the night and so I was checking out the family blogs to see who is still doing them.  I read Linda's from start to finish and enjoyed it so much.  She has their whole courtship and marriage with lots of movies so concisely done. You can get through it rather fast.  Not like mine, which has a lot...of words.

What was especially interesting was the movies of my move from San Diego to Lake Almanor in 1999 when the Pulsiphers brought me and all my furniture from San Diego and with the help of the Valkos and some of their friends moved me into my house.  What a huge job!!  What a commitment!!!  How do we survive without family???  And they had 10 children in and out and about, helping but playing, too, and taking the movie and playing in the snow.  I don't know how the parents handled it all so well.

It was fun watching the dancing and plays and creative fun the kids were having at Marias's house in Susanville.  So funny.  I wondered where Craig learned to dance so well.  He and Melissa looked really good for being so young.

I was especially impressed with how the yard and house looked when I moved in.  So much has been done to it since, mostly by Mark, in the house and the boys in the yard and Pulsiphers in the rock patio.  Such an improvement now.  It really has been a wonderful place for me to live.  It was fun seeing Bandido as just a puppy, too.

Jimmy and his friends had packed all of my things in the moving van but unfortunately, when James drove it up the hill to the Pulsiphers, something happened and it all got messed up and Gary and his family had to repack it all.  Gary drove, actually, Gary paid for the truck, too.  So appreciative for family helping, as I say.  What a time that was.

When Craig was interviewing me in the movie it was obvious I was overweight but it was also amazing to see how happy I was and how light-hearted I looked.  This was three years after Richard died but I was glad to see I was not so weighted down anymore.  I was really happy with the move.  

I had felt so bad when John said I could not afford a house when I told him I was buying a house in Lake Almanor.  I remember crying and calling Maria and she and Mark consoled me.  But actually John was right.  I could not afford and not realize all the extra costs of home ownership.  I had a lot of tears before I was able to really afford it.

But I was so blessed when Maria found an advertisement for retired loan professionals to work for the SBA during times of disaster.  I was hired in 2000 but did not get my first assignment until September of 2001.

More Pix of Kate's Birthday

Another pix from Kate's Birthday Trip to Magic Mountain

Special pix of Mom and Oldest Daughter, where did Kate get those curls?

How quickly children grow up, look like sisters!!

Love those curls and sun glasses, you look classy, Kate!

Jacob

The family will be visiting Jacob in Hawaii for Thanksgiving.  They are missing him.  I was surprised he has almost 1000 followers on Instagram.  He is a surfing champ.  I remember having such fun with him over the years, he was a delight to take care of as a toddler because he was so interested in everything, every toy I could come out of the closet with, he was fascinated to try.

My Friend Carla

I called my childhood friend Carla (Berta Mae to me) who is living in a Senior Residence Home in Boca Raton, Florida.  She is really loving it there and spends a lot of time exercising in the gym.  She says she does not get tired.  That is good to know.  She broke her hip a few years ago and then while healing from that she broke her leg so it is wonderful she can be so physical.

I forgot to ask her where her grand piano is...wonder if she still has it.  Her boys are both living there in homes of their own.  Evidently, they moved to Boca Raton to be involved in Addiction Rehab facilities.  She is very proud of what they are doing.

This was when her partner was alive.

This is when she was Miss Montana.

These are from several years ago.

Pumpkin Time with the Masseys

Eden was enjoying her first field trip and Nico gets to tag along.

Christmas Jammies...time for fun and dancing.

Looks like Mom and Dad get a night out!

Oh, wow, looks like another night out!!

The Valko Boys

 Mitch and Bahia are living and working in San Diego now.

And Michael has finally shown up on Instagram...yea, Mike we miss you!!

Matt is looking good and his hat reminds me there are still some of his hats here!

Lea and Jimmy

It will be fun to see what is going on with these two, Lea, the beautiful model type and Jimmy the skateboarding whiz and goalie expert.  Lea is a senior!!!   And Jimmy a junior!!!  I am really going to feel my age with all this beauty and energy around me.

Someone said you should get permission before posting pictures of children.  But I feel if they posted publicly on Instagram, then I can put it in my blog.  I am about the only one that reads it and I really enjoy keeping up with everybody as much as I am able.  And, the purpose for my blog is because I will not remember...I really enjoy looking back and seeing and reading everything.  So glad Maria got me doing a blog...

Here they are with their Pulsipher cousins and nieces and nephews.  What a beautiful picture.

Makoshika State Park outside Glendive, Montana

I subscribed to Makoshika State Park on Instagram and am amazed at the pictures I am getting.  We hiked around there outside of Glendive for years but I must not have gone far enough in, I do not remember seeing a lot of these areas.

Medical Numbers

So Dr. Salehi had me do the blood test and I went in for the result.  She wanted me to take statins drugs again.  I don't know why she forgets we decided not to go that way.  Actually the total cholesterol of 285 is good compared to the 360 I had for years.  I just looked at them all again and it has been a lot worse.  My HDL was 65 which Kaiser said is good and just advised me to watch my diet.  We will see what the heart doctor says.

However, the micro-albumin/creatinine ratio was 40 and 30 is normal.  She recommended I see my urologist which will be easy to do as she is just up the road from where I will be living in Del Mar.  However, I had just had a Uti and been on antibiotics so that may have made a difference plus I was on the ibuprofen for the pain, too this last month.  Anyway I am in much better shape than I have been at times.  I should walk more than 10 minutes a day though now that outside yard work has almost ceased with the colder weather.  And I should renew my dancing!!!

I see in 1996 it was recommended I lose 52 lbs so I need to lose 2 more!!!

Nothing said about my blood sugar.

But I am back on my low carb, no sugar and making my own food.  Today I made the white beans baked with tomato juice, honey, vinegar, seasonings and ham hock.  And it is delicious!  Tomorrow I will do the homemade yogurt again and the spaghetti sauce and I know that is good.  Plus I have the spaghetti squash for my pasta sub.

I also found Fodys online which because of the fodmaps has all kinds of sauces, etc that are ok to take.  It is expensive though. 

Kate, Oldest Great Grandchild Celebrates Her Birthday!

What a special birthday celebration for Kate.   Grandma and Grandpa, Mom Kristi, Sarah and Craig took her to Magic Mountain so she could do the roller coasters!  Something she doesn't get to do when she is with her younger siblings.

Ravens or Crows???

There has been a large group of black birds all over the street and in the yard and across the street and I wonder what kind they are and why there is such a gang of them hanging out together and what they are doing!!

Then I see a lone black bird, larger, swooping around.

Since I can never remember the differences I looked it up.  The large group are Crows and they often travel and live in large groups.  Their tails are straight across.

The lone guy may or may not have another with him but they seldom gather in groups.  He has the tail that is longer in the middle and he is a Raven.

Now I know, I should take their pix.

Kelsi, the Youngest Grandchild

Kelsi was born just seven months before my first Great Grandchild, Kate.

Evidently, Kelsi will be giving up her great big bedroom for me for the winter!!  And I will get to spend lots of precious time with her I hope.  Kelsi is always a delight to be around, loves life and everybody in it.  I hope she can teach Sadie some tricks again.  She is very good at that.

I will be arriving on the Tuesday morning before Thanksgiving and will be traveling with Mary Anne, who will be visiting her daughter's family in Santee.  She is flying back the next week, however, and I will be staying till almost April.

Kelsi and I have spent a lot of time together.  I remember one time when I was tending her and her friend as they used the pool and were sitting in the Jacuzzi I heard her come to my defense.  I am not  exactly quite sure what her little friend said about me, but Kelsi defensively said in such a loud voice I looked up from my reading, "She is not!" and they were both staring at me and then Kelsi smiled at me so sweetly, as if to say, "It's ok, Grandma."

 Kelsi has been in Cotillion and is dressed up so pretty here with her beautiful Mom.

Looks like she got to watch the college girls play Soccer.  One of their dear friends is on the BYU team this year.

Hello, World!!!!

A few months ago Kelsi and Camber got to go to New York with James and Kelsi saw her first Broadway Musical.