Four Day Holiday Weekend...

Any weekend is off to a good start when Ethel and Lucy have a chance to catch up.  

After posting a couple message back and forth on social media we went for the "private" chat - a great phone call with lots of laughs.   

I learned there are only two glasses of wine in a bottle of Moscato.  'Nuf said. 

As the day turned to dusk we just weren't ready to go inside and call it a day.  

This time of year the temperatures are pleasantly warming during the day. 

 Night fall has just enough chill to make a fitepit very inviting. 

Or just sitting under the lights... 

We waited way too long to add the screen doors to the dining room doors.  

But it sure is nice now when we DO go inside to sit with the doors open and enjoy the breeze. 

Papa has made so much progress moving the pavers closer together.

We finally had to go purchase another load.  

1,050lbs to be exact.  

Loaded on wagon, unloaded into truck, carried into back yard, and moved into place. 

We have one corner and the walkway left... 

Progress. 

Every project has a supervisor...  

Ours is a shaggy, bossy six month old. 

So a coworker and I were talking.  He reminded me the Drive-in Movie was open again.

When I mentioned it to the kids at early morning soccer, they suggested we go on Sunday night.

So we gathered up the gang, bought our snacks and headed for Parma. 

We enjoyed the beautiful evening sky while waiting for the sun to set.    

Our partners in crime. Tate was off playing with his cousins.

Brit's sister Melissa and family joined as well.  It's our outdoor theater tradition.

The ol' farts.

Getting close!

Por Fin...  Rio 2 and for the big kids later we watched Captain America. 

 It was 2:30 by the time we got home.  

Needless to say our Memorial Day was pretty low-key!

Can't wait to return...

Happy Memorial Day!

When I joined the Navy, this gentle-man was my supervisor - and he was one of several who took me under their wings and did their very best to keep me out of trouble.  

Chief Arnold 'Flip' Turner

I was a small town girl far from home.  

I am so very grateful to Flip, as well as Lew & Donna (who later became our first born's Godparents)

and Mike & Linda (who actually shared their home with me) for being my family away from home. 

Yep - I was stellar at multi-tasking.  

My enlistment was four years.  I got out, proud to have served my country. 

And then married into the same service.

Our family started in California and moved to Virginia/Washington DC.

We lived in Venezuela  where we were "hired" for the job as a couple.  

We spent a tour living on base in Puerto Rico as well. 

We traveled all over the Caribbean..

We did our very best to represent America.  

Mike and his assistant Andy - our youngest son's Godfather

Social activities were a big part of our work together.  

We attended parties with the other Diplomats on a regular basis. 

Mike, Ambassador to Venezuela and Tom

I'm proud of the life we created, the country we served.

Mike with Vice President Quayle

I'm very proud to be an American. 

Catching Up...

Just your average clumsy week at work.  I kept busy Thursday as our department adjusted to outside events and our new inside scrubs.   It was our Employee Appreciation BBQ but we now have new grey scrubs which are not permitted to be worn outdoors.  

Fortunately we have plenty of carts and food service was great to arrange to have the food packed up for our department - I just had to bring it up.  It took three trips at lunch but we got everyone fed.  

Since I'm around until 7pm, I repeated the trip for the evening staff but this time was a much smaller scale.  As I was getting meal preferences, I stepped into one of the OR's, holding the heavy door open with my backside.  When I realized the room was starting to open the next case I went ahead and stepped further into the room, but neglected to remove my hand from the door jam in time - and the door closed on my fingers.  

Let me tell you IT HURT!  Plus it created all kind of drama.  As ice was applied my dear sweet friend and coworker completed the accident report just before I headed down to Employee Health.  It only took an hour with a trip to x-ray, but nothing was broken and I returned to work with a neon pink wrap and a splint on my hand. 

Graceful - but not a tear nor curse shed.  Just a majorly bruised ego. 

Saturday we went to Tate's soccer game.  Afterward his dad and Papa joined BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) for a 110 mile ride across southern Idaho.

Saluting those who served on Armed Forces Day

 

Sunday was quiet.  I worked in the yard while Mike did a special session at Birds of Prey for a group of Seniors from Canada.  The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed some time on the deck when Mike returned. 

Monday AM we were up early to take Ruger to Idaho Humane Society for his neutering.  As much as I would adore finding a female schnauzer and having our own litter of puppies, it's such a huge undertaking and responsibility.   Ruger is a fun little guy with a quirky personality.  He was out of the house all day and Lola took full advantage of  the opportunity to stroll through without having Ruger around. 

Our new screen doors were installed as well.  They were made by a woman here in town and look like they were installed with the French doors.  Very nice quality and craftsmanship.  Definitely do not have that 'added on' look.  We are so excited to have the doors.  

We've waited 8 years (when we installed the French doors) to sit here at night and enjoy the breeze coming in off the shaded deck outside.  

Our little guy came home, somewhat groggy from anesthesia but happy nonetheless.  He spent a quiet night on our laps.  Not too spoiled.  

We still have a few projects to wrap up.  The garden is planted.  The flower pots are filled.  I'm closer to finishing the fresh coat of paint on the interior trim downstairs AND Mike is doing a scrub on the deck outside.  No need for an expensive deck cleaner - simply water, vinegar, baking soda and lemon.   In a couple of days he will get it resealed.

Have a great week!

From the Front Row...

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope everyone had a very special Mother's Day.  

It was my wish to have everyone together under one roof, 

share a meal, and enjoy the time together. 

My family gave me the perfect gift for which I'd hoped. 

The gang went together to plan (and cook) a delicious brunch

 complete with beautiful flowers

and a Mother's Day banner. 

We enjoyed omelets with our own favorite toppings, 

as well as some yummy homemade (Great-great's recipe) 

zucchini-blueberry bread and fruit salad.  

We indulged on mimosas and fresh hot coffee.  

We sat together and visited.  

It was so special to have the time together. 

Everyone is so busy with their own busy schedules.

It was perfect!

Thank you all. 

Erin, Baby C and Chris

Britnee, Mr. T and Matthew

Karissa and Krieger

Mom and Dad

The Mother's Day Gang

Mother Theresa

Old Friends and Birthday Road Trips...

So...  way back when...  I was going to spend ten months living with someone I didn't know.  

We met because our 'guys' were room-mates and preparing to deploy for ten months on a Navy cruise. I'm sure we both spent a moment or two with our 'guy' asking if they'd lost their minds. 

On the surface we had absolutely nothing in common other than being female.  I was serious, tried to be stable, nose to the grind-stone, serving in the Navy,  etc.  She was fun-loving, carefree, moving from Hawaii where she took photos of tourists and arrived with everything she owned in the back of the smallest car I'd ever seen.  

In the end our roller coaster ride brought us closer together.  We can honestly accept one another, faults and all.  We've seen each others highs and lows.  We married our 'guys', moved duty stations (more than once) and had children.  

Her home was shared with us when we wanted to leave Venezuela for Thanksgiving and family was just too far.  Her home was my refuge when Puerto Rico was recovering from Hurricane Hugo and I needed a taste of normalcy.  Our husbands retired and our new lives began.  But we always found our way back. 

She's had to face some big questions of late.  Despite her broken heart, she continues to be a strong.  I'm certain it isn't always easy.  I wanted to show her some of the beauty that surrounds us this Spring.  For her birthday we drove to McCall for lunch.  It was an easy choice - she's never been.  It was the perfect place for the two of us to spend a day together with our cameras - doing a little hiking, exploring a few cute shops, and seeking out delicious chocolate fudge!

Thanks for going with me Sister-Friend!

Believe in Yourself

Sigh...

So what do you do when you no longer know what to do?

I'm ready to throw up my hands and say 'I'm done'.  You win.  Everyone's darling - sweet and helpful to those of importance. Yet cold and walled up to me. I know I'm not alone but I have to work in the 'chill zone'.

My day has gone from trying to get enough details to finish a job when asked - to having tasks explained and not being able to find them to finish - to being told the tasks exist but they will be passed on.

When talking about the problem, the things shared were deflected.  This is when I shut down.  I was blown away by the finger pointing.  Of course the thing we all know about finger pointing - if you are pointing one at me - there are three more pointing back at yourself.

For months now I've been tracking tasks with information to share or pass down or making inquiries with no response in return.  How is this communicating?

I love the people I work with...  It's what keeps me coming back. They are reassuring.  They are positive and upbeat.  They confirm - it's not me. If it pertains to the masses you are disinterested.

This had the potential to be a great situation for two people.  If you had just stopped worrying about being the most valuable to everyone.  Instead of being threatened by my help, share information that would enable me to do a better job.  A better job for BOTH of us.  It isn't a competition.

This has been going on for over a year.