Squirrel!

I feel the need to write tonight, but yet I'm not sure what it should be. I have deleted several beginnings. Thinking it wasn't what I needed to express. My mind tends to wander all over at times. Okay a lot. Jumping from one thought to another. I made a comment recently to a friend, that my mind works like my black lab Maggies'... squirrel ... it gets distracted frequently and easily. You know, like a dog who is doing something, sees a squirrel and gets side tracked for awhile until you can reign them back in.

The thought of squirrels, brought a memory of talking with my stepbrother Chris. He's an amazing guy, very driven, creative and talented. One evening we were having dinner at our parents house and the subject of my "squirrel" mind came up. I quite often have problems accomplishing tasks I set for my day because I get side tracked by a "squirrel". An example would be, I start the dishes, I walk into the other room to see if anyone left a cup in there. I see a shirt that was left and needs to go into the laundry basket. I walk into the bedroom to put it in the laundry basket and notice it's full, so I take it into the laundry room to start a load of laundry. On my way I stop by the bathroom to pick up any towels that need to be washed and notice the sink needs to be wiped off. As I walk by my office on the way to get cleaner I notice my computer and remember an email I was suppose to send.... This can go on and on if I'm not careful. A few hours later I wander back by the kitchen to see the dishes (still not done) that I began that morning! Nor is the laundry in the washer or the sink wiped down. Then I think, no wonder I never accomplish anything on some days. I chase to many squirrels!

After describing a typical squirrel episode, we talked about how that also can happen to people in general during there day and life. Their goals get squirreled! The squirrel can be caused by many things. Above is one example, but what about the co-worker who interrupts you with something they need. A friend who calls or stops by. A child with a need. All those things can happen (my example is an extreme, but plausible in my life) . So how do you keep focused? How do you get back on track when you've been squirreled? Life is full of distractions. Things come up everyday that you just can't avoid or ignore. I like being flexible for those occasions. I also like however; feeling like I've accomplished something each day.

Since that talk, I've thought quite a bit about it. I've come up with some things that have helped me. I keep a list of things I need to do. Give them a ranking of importance. I keep lists of things I need to purchase when I go to town. Yes, I still get squirreled. But the most important things are usually accomplished. My dishes still have a tendency to get forgotten. My strategy is not completed. It is a work in progress. I hope to find more solutions to my squirrel problem. I will find them... as long as I don't spot a squirrel.

So cool...

The world around us is so amazing. No matter where you are you can find things that are just beautiful, unusual, or just plain cool.

This picture was taken out behind our house. The snow started to slide off an old tin roof. It slid in a long sheet and froze as it curled down toward the building. Not completely falling off that day, but just hanging there. It reminds me of an ocean wave... but frozen ;)

It doesn't matter where you live, you can always find something to intrigue you. In the desert it was the beautiful flowers that would bloom in the spring after we had rain in the winter. Or a leaf as it is changing colors during the fall. I love to sit and watch the birds that fly by and I'm always amazed at how many different types there are where ever I'm at.

My challenge everyday for myself is to take the time and find something beautiful, unusual or just plane cool. I challenge you to do the same. It makes life a little sweeter. It makes me thankful for the wonderful planet we live on, problems and all.

The Year of Change

A lot of things changed for us this year. My husband lost his job after being employed with the same company for 9 years. Unfortunately the Las Vegas economy was hit hard, especially in the construction industry, which he had worked in for over 30 years. After months of no positive feed back looking for work, we decided maybe it was time to go in a different direction. Things fell into place once we made that decision and we moved to his family ranch. And the adventure began...

I had to have surgery right before we moved. I wasn't able to help pack or move! Thank goodness for a great husband and many wonderful friends from church who were willing to come over and help. What a blessing they are!




Lloyd starting to box up our Vegas house...




One of the trailers/loads to go north...




Lloyd and a couple of great boys from our church took the first smaller load up. This is the crew at the other end who helped unload it! What a great group of family and friends we have been blessed with.

Inspiration Day!

Okay here is a link that is pretty cool. Finish Strong!

http://www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html

Need a little inspiration?

Hey guys, I am still really here :) Just been pretty preoccupied with a few things here and there. Here is a really great video clip. Well worth the 12 minutes to veiw it!

Forgiveness

This is so good I had to share it with you.

The Mom Song

Amen! Too funny :)

In Memory of Mom

Today was my mom's birthday. She would have been 75 today. It seems strange that she has been gone for over a year and a half. Yet, her memory is still strong in my heart and mind. She lived with me, Lloyd and Ashley for several years after her 1st stroke. Then Parkinson's disease shortly after the stroke, came along.

She lived with us for 5 years then she had to go into a nursing home. One of the hardest things I have ever done was taking her there. She and I lived alone for many years after my older brother and sisters left home, me being the youngest. Mom wasn't perfect, I don't know a mom who is. We all learn as we go along and make mistakes along the way. But for me she was the best mom I could have ever had.

She taught me about patience, compassion, service, never giving up, faith and living with the things you can't change about yourself and working on those you can. She went back to school after 40, as a single mom. She earned her bachelors degree in education and a masters in computer science. She wasn't to far from being able to get a doctorate, but decided that wasn't something she wanted or really needed. She taught for 20 years in the school district here.

Although she had many ups and downs along her life's journey, I will always remember her faith. A strong testimony of Jesus Christ and his church. Going to the temple once a month when it was hours away and weekly when one was built across town. Her testimony of tithing and how the windows of heaven are truly opened when you obey it. I know there was many times when we lived on very little, but always ended up with what was needed. Not what we always wanted, but the needs were always met. I know raising four kids, working and going to school wasn't easy for her, but she always had time to fulfill her callings in church and with a happy heart.

So as a warm memory of love for my mom, I wanted to share this with you.



Sometime in summer probably in 1934. Most likely taken in Southern Nevada.




Mom in the mid 1960's



My mom and brother (both gone now) at my wedding in 1988.



My mom in the middle of two of her best friends. Teachers she taught with for years.



Mom a few years ago with her dog jasmine. She loved that little dog.

No this isn't an advertisement for Sonic Drive Inn...

This is a picture of my daughter, going to drive on her own with her very recently acquired drivers license, to her job at Sonic. Oh the gray hair is coming quickly...

Funniest part is she now has her license before her 24 year old brother! She thinks it funny. Now when he comes to visit she says, she can drive him around to do things. ;) Silly girl.

This is where you hope and pray that your child survives the early driving years as you did. Mostly unscathed, lessons learned not to harshly or dramatically. And mostly you pray they walk in that door each and everyday whole and happy.

Sod Party

Before...

Saturday morning family and friends came over to help us lay some sod in our backyard. It is so amazing to watch the transformation of dirt to green in just a couple of hours. What is it about a green lawn that just makes you feel good? Most of our yard is desert landscaping but this small square. I love it, Lloyd loves it, Tig loves it, the dogs love it! All around its a good thing ;)

After...

Here is a few pics of the work crew having some breakfast before work begins. I have to say thanks to everyone that helped... Devin, Morgan, Ashley, Forrest, Shayla, Josh, David, Britni, Grandpa Pruet, Tigone (the official grass tester) and of course Lloyd. What a great bunch. Thanks guys!

Finally more than a couple of almonds...

My small but wonderful almond harvest :)


We have lived in this house for more than 13 years now. In all those years I have planted (and replanted) fruit and nut trees in the hope of actually being able to harvest and eat what the trees produce. Can I just say, yeah right! It may sound silly to be excited over 4 dozen little almonds, but that is the most any tree has produced that is edible.

It is like UGHHHH... Every year I have this nice orange tree that produce the best "lemons". Pomegranate bushes that, this year cracked and dried up by August, and a lemon tree that still has not produced one lemon! I have had horses and dogs eat my trees several times and have had to start from scratch again. So those cute little almonds are very exciting...

Almonds bring back some great childhood memories for me. In our back yard we had these two big beautiful almond trees. I remember as a kid going out in the fall and picking the almonds up off the ground, shelling them and eating them right there. It is funny, but I love raw almonds. No salt, not roasted or candied. Just plain straight from the tree raw almonds.

For those that haven't seen almonds from a tree this is what they look like:



First they have a fuzzy outer shell that when ripe opens up.



the hard inner shell is what
you see in the grocery store
when you buy them in the shell.



after you crack open that shell
you have the yummy almond.


Hopefully someday, I'll have more than a few dozen almonds. Who knows maybe I'll actually get pecans, peaches, apples, pears, apricots and whatever else I get planted :)

20 years...

October 1, 1988




September 6, 2008

My how 20 years just flies by! Today, Lloyd and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. It seems like I've always known him and that we've been married forever! And I mean that in a GOOD WAY! Honest Cupcake :)...

Just think of all the things that you've done in the last 20 years. I know for us, there has been a lot of ups and downs. Happiness and sorrow. Adventures and everyday life. Health and sickness. Family, kids, church, work, etc., it has been a very full 20 years.

Last weekend we decided to take a little trip to one of our favorite get-a-ways and went fly fishing and leaf peeping. It was so much fun. Thanks to Dad and Jerri for letting us stay at their house and fish their pond! As a bonus we were able to see them, both my sisters and my stepbrother Doug and his family. It was great!

Here's a few pics of our fun weekend.

All I can say is... Lloyd...

Leaf Peeping trip up Cedar mountain.

It was gorgeous up their!

Just pretend we're standing by

each other :)

I love the fall and all the vibrant

colors! It is my favorite time of

year!

Visiting my sister Lynne.

Taking a tour of her not

yet finished home.

(Note: Tonya's is finished, but

I didn't get any pictures!)

Lloyd fishing,

One of his catches,

that got-a-way :),

Another nice rainbow!

Me fishing,

The two that went home.

Normally it is just catch

and release, unless they

get injured. These two

decided to swallow my

hook!

Here's to another great 20 years!

Fall in the air?

It feels like a Monday after the Labor Day weekend. It also feels like fall in the desert. Growing up and living in the desert southwest, I have a different outlook on fall. Our leaves usually don't start changing and falling off the trees here until November. The end of November. So what makes it feel like fall. This morning when I woke up at 5:30, the temperature was below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact it was only about 69 degrees outside at my house! YE HAW! :). Cooler temperatures are what I anticipate from about mid April till October. I know my friends and family up north are rolling their eyes about now. Honestly, when all you see is sun, day in and day out, and your lucky if the low temperature dips below ninety at night, you really appreciate a storm rolling in. Rain if we are lucky, clouds and the smell of rain is a treat. Hot, sunny, blower dryer affect winds get old, fast. So, as I enjoy this short reprieve from the norm (cause it will heat back up for the rest of the week), I think I'll do something you try not to do in the summer (all six months of it :). Maybe I'll bake, or go for a walk OUTDOORS! Who knows?

Have to begin somewhere

I decided to get on the band wagon. With so many family and friends getting farther and farther away, and ME being the worse journal and letter writer, I thought maybe this would help. We'll see. I make no promises :).

Summer is all but over (except the heat here!). The kids are back in school. Ashley is a junior in High School and working at Sonic.

Ashley and her FIRST paycheck!

Jesse graduated from UC Davis the beginning of August. He and Nicole have moved into a house with some other friends and are getting on with life.

A really old picture of Jesse and Nicole the last time they both visisted.

Britni and David are married.

Mr. & Mrs. David James Richards...

Bailey is away at college.

Bryana now lives back east and works in DC.

Two of my very cute nieces Bry & Bai.

Morgan, Devin and Antigone

The other nieces are off doing adult things (like working :). (Notice lack of pictures? Hmmm.)

The nephews are either back in school also and working or working and doing their own things. (Amazing lack of good pictures of nephews together!)

Dom, Nadine & Jenna at Brits wedding.

(Have to get pictures somehow :)

The sisters have moved to New Harmony by Dad :( and left me in the big city alone...

Me and Dad at wedding. Me and MEAN big sisters :)

What does all this mean? My house is very very QUITE for the most part. Well except for the plane crashing into the neighbors house. Huge plumes of smoke and fire. Helicopters hovering day and night, people driving through the neighborhood to try and get a look. Official type people everywhere. But other than that pretty quite.

Pretty scary stuff. Second one this week! Thank goodness no one in the home was hurt, unfortunately the pilot was killed. I was talking to Morgan on the phone when I heard it. Looked out the laundry room window and could see the flames and smoke.

Thank goodness for Morgan and Tiggy who come to play. Tiggy makes me smile and laugh. She is a lot of fun. (However; she misses giving Britni the EYES.)

Tiggy helping her Mom sing Grandpa Frehner's Farm at Cousin's camp!
I LOVE this picture! It is so Tiggy!

She came over tonight for awhile. She loves teasing her Uncle Lloyd! There is no better sound than a little girl or boy laughter and giggles! She loves our two littlest dogs. I think they are the real reason she like to come see us. Well them and the nacks (fruit snacks) I have in the cupboard.

Tiggy and Pebbles sitting together. Chiwa the wonder dog.

I mean even Britni loves Chiwa. She and David have pictures of her everywhere! ;)