California Road Trip - 2013 - Photo Heavy!

Road Tripping - The scenery was lovely!  Day 1

Whole lotta goofiness goes on on a road trip - we have a million of these

Cocktail at the end of a 12 hour drive on Day 1 - Destination:  Davis, CA.  That is Matt

My BFF of 30 years - Erin and her daughter Shannon and us, Davis Farmers Market, Saturday

Back on the Road, Saturday am to Sonoma.  Sami took a photo of her camera taking a video - like the McGiver setup?  Me too!

We logged One-Thousand-Seven Hundred-Twenty Miles (1,720)  on our whirlwind 5 day trip to CA and back.

Three states were traversed:  Oregon, Idaho (No - You Da Ho! - inside joke for sista Paula), and California.

Sonoma CA - Love the views!  SO Californian

I love MapQuest!  And Teen Nagivators

Me and my babes Sami (15) and Jake (14) at St. Leo's Catholic Church, Sonoma, CA

Sami and Auntie Avis (one of my younger sisters)

Me and my sista Avis.  We are 18 months apart. 

A photo of my dad's family - he is the one straight in the back, with the big smile

My Uncle Tim Walsh, reading a poem he wrote about his Mother, Avis Walsh, whose funeral we were at

Kids and Auntie Avis, hotel pool in Santa Rosa, CA

Sassy Sami in her new bikini, hotel room

Kids and Auntie Avis outside a great Mexican Restaurant near our hotel

Drinks!!!!!!

The Mariachis - boy, were we lucky!  They rocked!  Another band came in and they had a mashup

Uncle Tim, his daughter Nicole, Me, Avis and Aunt Andi - Tim's Wife.  They all live in Colorado.

We went for my Grandma Avis' funeral.  She was 101 when she died.  She was well loved by her family and her church.  The father who gave the service was Father Joe Joe. A young whipper snapper who has been with the parish only 2 years.   He did a wonderful job sharing his stories about her.  The parish ladies kept telling him to visit Avis, and he was surprised at her alertness, intelligence, and beauty.  She wanted to dance with him, when he visited her while she was dying.  She smiled all the time.  And he knew, she was a special spirit that God has with him now.

On Sunday we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge

My copilot was very busy

And I drove, again

But we made it to Santa Cruz!!!!!!

Jake was on a mission... Digging...

This is Brian K.  Another BFF of 30 years! 

Me!  I love the sun..The sand was toasty warm.. bottom of your foot jumpin' hot warm

Those are my two.. and those are Pelicans!

Did I mention I love the sun?

My gorgeous daughter - she is a CA girl!

Me!!!!! 

Jake.. digging some more!

Sami burying Jake - at his request

That's all that was left!

View of the ocean from our lunch spot on the pier

Chalkboard Car - grab chalk and leave a message! 

Sami's Message

Jake's message

And the Giant Dipper... Oh my neck hurt for 2 days!

(more to come in another post)........

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Only in Haines, Oregon

Sign Outside the Haines Mercantile

Here's a Closer Look.  Notice Anything Odd?

Cute little plant that was delivered  from a 4H club and a reminder of the Haines Yard Sale

Have you ever been to our little town?

Heavy emphasis on little.  Maybe 300 people?  One grocery store, two restaurants/bars.  Post office.  Cute city park.  And the Haines 4th of July Rodeo.  That's it!

We are on the Anthony Lakes Scenic Byway.  Traveled by lots of out of towners, tourists. Goes right by my house.

Yesterday was our big community wide junk garage sale.  LOTS of people came through! 


Asaragus.  Really? 

The kids and I joked about it all week! It's actually a hard word to say when you are playing around.



I've been tempted to sneak over with a sharpie and insert the letter P.  Might just do that today.  The real 'test' will be if I can correct the sign that is inside the store,  in the produce section - also misspelled, but with e's.

Such a rebel.

National Scrapbook Day - A Card for one of the Studio Calico Challenges

My take on Lisa Spangler's Studio Calico Sketch - version 2

My first take at the sketch.  I just didn't like it!  So dressed it up, above.

Lisa Spangler's Sketch for a Studio Calico NSD Challenge

OK.. So this little card?  Took forever! 

In actuality, it probably didn't take all that long, but with my Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (the kids diagnosis, not a physician, mind you) and my tendency to get sidetracked with:  having to tidy up my scraproom before starting anything (which includes dusting, going through product, etc), then doing laundry, making lunch, snacks and dinner, and answering the beck and call of my kids? 

Yeah.  It took all day for me to get this accomplished!

So, there you have it. One card made for today's festivities for National Scrapbook Day.  Via the Studio Calico blog.

And of course, I used my Studio Calico Card Kit for April.  That would be 'Spencer'.

Thanks for looking!

My Mother Lied to Me... Again

Oh lord. 
So... my birth mother lied to me again. Is it any wonder I have trust issues?  They go way way way back.

She called me up saying she is part of some 'Cancer genealogy study' and had sent me a big old long email and wanted to know if I got it.  No.  I changed my email.  So I sent her my new email address so she could send me the long explanation.  Did she send it?  No.  Result? She weaseled my new email address out of me. 

(All part of the process of my divorce - new home, new address, new name, new email, new job, new life)

So, instead, she proceeded to ask me the details about my surgery.  Trying to make the connection between me and her and the supposed genealogy issues.  Fishing.  For what happened to me.  And this is how she operates.  Big ol' fake story to try and get you to divulge information.  Which I did.  On a certain level.  That all the tests came back negative.  Whatever.

She creeps me out.

Then she started in with the 'where are you working' questions.  I managed to steer clear of the actual names and places.  Why?  Because she will stalk me!  And call me at my work!  Which is work!

This is the mother that called one of my employers to tell them how much I deserved a raise.  When I was in my early 20's.  Without my knowing.  My boss/coworker/friend told me.


Oh lord. 
The therapy I should be paying for right now.  But instead I purchase scrapbook supplies. 
And adult beverages.

Driving Lessons

Sami - 15 years old and behind the wheel - on the Anthony Lakes Highway

Sami doing ranch chores - feeding her goats

Jake helping out - he rounded up Sami's goats - stinkers

At the ranch headquarters - lots of room for a new driver

Leaving the Ranch and heading to town

This week we have been learning how to drive my car.  I say 'we' because both kids are getting behind the wheel.  Why?  Two backups are better than one, and it just seemed fine to teach both.  Or, I am a glutton for punishment.

No, we don't have driving permits, yet.  Sami is 15 and Jake will be 14 on May 17th.  Sami went to take her permit test but failed.  That one very last question!

The kids drive quads and tractors and dirt bikes on the ranch.

They are good at driving when you own the road and you don't have to share it with anyone else.  And they both can operate a clutch.  My car is an automatic, the shifter is busted, and it's a strange concept to them to 'count' which gear you are in. I think it's a good learning experience to try and know what gear you are in!

However, in town?  A very scary place.

There are 7 miles between the ranch and my house.  And, Sami is learning how to drive in turns on a highway, and how to drive with people around you.  

She has a lot to learn about staying in her lane, especially when turning into a side street.  She almost hit a little white car in front of my house.  But, heck, this is Haines, and all the side roads are dirt or gravel and hardly anyone drives in their own lane. 

I do not like being a passenger in my own car.
Jake does not like sitting behind his sister when she drives.

It's going to be a long summer!

Our goal is for Sami to help drive when we do our July road-trip to CA.  

Wish us luck!

Grandma Marina's 100th Birthday Party

Back Row:  2nd Cousin Cathy, Auntie Alice, Cathy's daughter Catie, Uncle John.  Seated:  Grandma & Aunt Katie

Back by the door:  Cousin Paul; Front: Grandma, Aunt Gloria, Cousin Guy.  Grandma is holding her '100' napkin

Photos of Grandma

Auntie Alice - Such a hottie.  I love how she dresses! She is one amazing woman

Uncle John.  A man with a heart of gold

Cousin Bobby is behind Aunt Gloria (who looks ALOT like my mother), and Aunt Rachel's fiance is on the right - Bob?

Grandma and Auntie Rachel

Thanksgiving Weekend I went to California for my Grandma's 100th birthday celebration.  The party was on Sunday from 2-5.  I actually flew into Sacramento on Friday, after driving to Boise from my casa, and stayed with my friend Erin until the party.

Erin drove me to Milbrae for the party, and drove me to the airport bright and early Monday morning.  She did a good job of keeping me 'grounded' (I tend to panic when I am not around my kids, especially out of state, I feel 'lost' - and as if I am doing something terribly wrong if they are not with me).

It was too expensive to fly into SF.  And the weather is never ideal this time of year to drive straight to CA.  Had it been in March, I would have drove and brought the kids.  Part of me still feels guilty for going!  I wish I would stop doing this to myself, and just give myself permission to go, have fun, relax. 

Anyway....

My grandma is 100!  She didn't recognize me, and that is understandable.  It's been a few years since I have been to see my mother's family (my mother and I are estranged).  My Grandma has done so well all these years.  She was feeding herself at the party.  And she looked absolutely lovely.  I hope if I make it to 100, that I follow in her footsteps!

I am so grateful to my Aunt Alice, Uncle John and Cousins Guy and Paul for taking such good care of her.

I do regret that I could not stay longer with my family. I'm sure they thought I was rude. I did not want to talk about my divorce, and what I am doing, and how my life is, and all that stuff. 

I wanted to the party to be Grandma's.  And for everyone to celebrate her. 

On my bucket list is a visit to the bay area again, when I can take the kids, and when there is time to just visit amongst ourselves. 

For my family members, thank you for understanding.