Hello, Audrey...I hate to tell you this but....

A couple of wks ago I had my hair cut and permed. My stubborn, course red hair. My thick, naturally wavy hair. My "hair from hell" hair. Audrey is used to cutting and perming my hair. She is the only one the ONLY ONE whom I trust to cut my problem hair. She is the only one who has cut my hair in years and years.

So, while I was home on medical leave I made an appointment and headed down to get a new do. Audrey knows the routine, I know the routine. I walk in and say..."Aud, I'm here, now work your magic...make this moth into a Butterfly" and we both laugh.

So, Aud cut and permed me. Of course the Butterfly was beautiful as she left the salon. Days later, after a couple of shampoos....the Butterfly had once again returned to its former life as a moth.

So...I get on the phone: "Hello, Aud, I hate to tell you this, but you gotta cut some of this mop off...it is just too thick and I don't wanna spend the time each morning drying it and etc." Bless Audrey's heart, she worked me in and wacked at it for 45 minutes today. I had been growing it out so that it could be cut and sent off to Locks of Love, like I did last year, but I just couldn't take it any longer. Audrey gave me lots of layers, which gives me lots of curl, which should be easy easy easy to make it look halfway decent in a much shorter amount of time each morning.

No pictures to post of todays new do, I'll post that later, but here is a pic of my hair BEFORE my Locks of Love donation hair cut. I gave my hair in memory of my friend, Marcia, who died of cancer one year earlier.

Happy Birthday to TINK!!

Today is Tink's birthday....

Happy Birthday to you my friend.

Tina's story

Today I stumbled upon Tina's blog. Tina and her family evacuated New Orleans prior to Katrina. I read in awe as this young woman shared her story. It is incredible the faith and peace that is shared throughout this ordeal. If you have time, start at the beginning of Tina's Katrina posts, Saturday August 27, I am sure you too will be blessed.

Life.

Lately more and more of my blogging buds are "taking a break" or have confessed to being tired, suffering depression...etc. Take heart my pals, God is near and He is loving you to health and refreshment for your soul.

Ed's and my get-a-way was wonderful. We enjoyed the no phones, no jobs, nothing but each other for 3 days time that we treated ourselves to. Sunday we got up early and headed out, had a wonderful breakfast in Roseburg, using a gift certificate that I had won earlier this year. The drive from Roseburg to Diamond Lake was just beautiful, I really wanted to stop and take pictures of the leaves that are changing colors but also wanted to keep going so we could check into our cabin, I figured we could always stop on the way back down the mountain...which of course we didn't do!

Diamond Lake is where we went on our honeymoon 28 years ago, and we have been back several times since. It is so pretty, so restful. When we arrived we were surprised to see it was FULL...people everywhere, which is kind of unusual this time of the year. In the summer it is a great place for camping and fishing, in the winter there are all kinds of winter/snow sports to enjoy, but in the early Fall we expected it to be deserted...not so. ESPN was filming a "Dock Dogs" competition as well as there being a fishing tournament. But all of that ended by 5 pm on Sunday so the lodge cleared out really fast.

Dock Dogs was so fun to watch. Most of the dogs were labs, but there were other breeds as well. The winning dog, Zorro, jumped 6'4" off the end of the dock to claim his prize. I had never seen anything like it, but since my nephew and his bride have a new lab puppy I was interested. Zorro is only an 11 month old dog. Not sure what the out come of the fishing tourney was...we did not hear anything while wandering around the grounds and lodge.

The lodge had a note posted stating that the North entrance to Crater Lake would open at 11 a.m. The next morning at breakfast we found out that that entrance was closed (due to ice and snow) but we could get in through the South entrance, only it would add a bit of time onto our journey...no biggie, although the drive from Diamond Lake to Crater Lake is usually a 30 minute drive it took us almost 2 hrs due, but the drive was beautiful, the sky so blue and the air was just hinting at the Fall crispness, the company couldn't be beat.

Although Crater Lake lodge and village is undergoing major renevations, we enjoyed the lake and the view. We had planned to eat at the lodge but it was closed...next time we will do a better job of checking all the details, but our spirits were not dampened and we managed to survive on the snacks we had along, which we shared with the chimpmonks and camp robber jays.

Here is a picture of us at one of the overlooks. You can never tell how large this lake is until you have seen it with your own eyes. You never know what you are going to get when you hand someone else your camera...but you can sorta get the idea.

And a picture of the lake with Wizard Island.

Where did the week go?

It's Saturday, where did this wk go?

I really have been blogging, just not posting what I have written. A tribute to my father-in-law, which I will post on what would have been his 95th birthday, October 10. It has been refreshing to my soul to write and edit about this wonderful man. My heart aches as I think how little time I had with this man in my life. It might have been a few short years, but I am full of memories of this great man, who loved his family dearly.

This week has been filled to over flowing with activities and such for us. Baking in preparation of the kids coming home, getting our yard ready for winter, only to have more nice sunny days when we could eat out on the deck. We don't want to put away the patio/lawn furniture away until after the kids have come and gone, although should we get a shower we will quickly grab up the cushions and get those out of the weather.

My brother, who is a kidney transplant patient, has been having some health concerns this week. Of course I did not hear this from him. I think he likes to protect me from too many details since his new kidney is really "our" kidney. One of the things a transplant donor has to go through before being a donor is hours, literally, of counseling prior to donating. During my counseling sessions I was warned that if my brother should happen to reject, both the donor's family and the recipents family (which is the same family in this case) would feel guilty and communication would break down to spare the donors feelings. So, sometimes I am the last to hear something. Thank you my dear sissy for letting me know he was not up to par. ANYWAY...I did call my brother, he knew I would hear through the grapevine. He is not feeling well but it does not appear that he is rejecting, which is good. Labs and etc are going on and will hopefully offer some answers as to why he is feeling like he is. As I was going into surgery I handed him a hormone patch, told him if he got moody he would need to wear it. Everyone got a big laugh out of that. Yesterday when I spoke to him, I told him maybe he would feel better if he used that patch. We both got a good laugh out of that, it was so very good to hear him laugh.

Crater Lake or Bust! Tomorrow morning, bright and early, Ed and I will be headed out for a few days of R&R. Ed has never been to Crater Lake, even though we have driven by the entrance many times on our travels to Central Oregon. Although we had hoped to stay at Crater Lake, we were not able to get more than one night due to how booked the lodge is, so we will be staying at Diamond Lake, which is just 5 miles away. We are so excited to be staying at Diamond Lake, which is where we spent part of our honeymoon, 28 years ago. We will get up early on Monday and drive over to Crater Lake, do some sight seeing and take the 33 mile drive around the rim. I sometimes take this type of adventure for granted simply because as a child, we did alot of traveling and camping. Ed, on the other hand, did very little. Watching my husband experience something new gives me a whole new appreciation for so many things. I am going to be checking the gift shop to see if I can find a "doghouse" like my parents had. My sister, my brother and I have all gotten a chuckle out of remembering that silly doghouse! Fun memories.

That's it for now, nothing profound is stirring in this mind.

Out Wit, Out Last, Out Play....Survivor Doghouse

One of the funniest things my parents collected on their many travels was a "doghouse" which had various plates you could slide in the front to represent which one of the 5 of us kids were in trouble. My mother had cut out pictures of each one of her precious children's faces and placed one of our pictures on each of the 5 plates. It was shaped like a house, and was approximately 5 inches square, just the right size to sit in the kitchen window sill, so that when we came into the house we would immediately know which one of us was in deep doo-doo. As we got older, (or maybe as I got older, since I am the youngest and the last to catch on!!) if we found our face in the doghouse we would change the face, putting someone else in the doghouse. Oh memories, such fun! Wonder whatever happened to the doghouse?

My mother is a huge Survivor fan. Huge, doesn't even begin to describe it. When my parents lived near us, my husband and I would fix dinner and take it over to their home, the four of us would share a meal, I would clean up the kitchen, and then NO ONE was allowed to utter a sound unless it was time for a commercial break. Mom would wave her hand and shush anyone who dared to even so much as cough or clear their throat. Heaven forbid the phone would ring. If you walked in front of the TV, as my father would on his way to the bathroom at least once each show...daggers were thrown in your direction. Did I mention my mother is a Survivor fanatic?

My father has passed and my mother is living in an assisted living facility, we continue our Survivor night parties, with a few adjustments to the routine. On Thursday nights we do our in town shopping and then head over to mom's, taking along a snack for "Survivor Food". We typically arrive 30 minutes or so before the show is to begin, arrange her room so that we can all see the TV, say anything that needs to be said so that we don't get the evil eye or the hand waving shushing.

Last Thursday was the first show of the new session for Survivor. We arrived 25 minutes before the show was to begin, Survivor food in hand, the first show of a new session...let's party! Uh oh...what's wrong with momma? Uh oh...momma aint happy. Silence. Not a good sign. TV is turned on and SURVIVOR is on!!! How can that be? It is 25 minutes too early for Survivor to be on, and it is already half over! What is going on??? OK, do something, think, think, think...

In just a couple of minutes hubby realizes that it is a repeat of an earlier Survivor. This is not the new session show, this is a re-run. Oh good, resolved that...or did we? Nope, still getting the silent treatment from momma, she is NOT thrilled with her youngest child. I am not the pretty one, and I definitely am not the smart one. I am the one who has disappointed her. For the next 20 minutes we try to tell her this is NOT the new show but she isn't having any of it. We failed to arrive in time for our Survivor Party, we failed and we are dead meat.

At 8 p.m. I switched channels and TA DA!!! Survivor Maya was just beginning. Momma perks up, yakyakyakyakyak (my mother is a stroke victim and no longer says words)....Yes, momma, that is what we have been telling you, that was a re-run you were watching. yak yak yak, hand waving...Yes, momma we were here on time. yak yak yak...Yes, momma, we did not miss the opening show. yak yak yak...yes, momma we would never let you down. Momma is back to her usual jolly Survivor Fan self, now shush!!!

Today, if the doghouse were still around I have no doubt my face would be have there, front and center, at least for an hour.

Eakspay Igpay Atinlay?

I cried like a baby today when something I read reminded me of my dad. My dad could speak Pig Latin as if it were his native tongue. Boy he was good at it and try as I might I could never speak it so clearly and quickly as he. I wish I had a tape of him, I would love for my grandchildern to giggle has he rattled on in such a funny language.

I would give anything to hear him say Amelapay Aeray Amiltonhay one more time.

Doing the Snoopy Happy Dance!!

My little friend, Rebekah, finished up her radiation today. This morning was the last morning that she and her mommy, and sometimes her little sister, have to get up and out of the house at 5 a.m. for her appts. This is a time of real celebration. Rebekah has been through alot in her precious little life, at times the news has been dismal, hard to read about, hard to know about and hard to accept. But today, today!!! there is cause for celebration, time for the Snoopy Happy Dance!!!

Like a kid in a candy store...that would be me!!

Today the final detail was ironed out when Ryan purchased his plane ticket!!! All of our kids will be home for our annual trip to the cabin. We have gone to the cabin for years and years, but for the last 5 years not everyone could be there at the same time...BUT that is going to change this year!!!!

This year, this momma...this grandma couldn't be any happier!!! We'll celebrate Roy & Naomi's 5th Wedding anniversary, we'll celebrate Roy's 26th birthday and Ryan's 24th birthday, and we'll celebrate family!

Roy & Naomi will have dinner where they dined the night of their wedding, exactly 5 years ago, at Lord Bennett's, while gma, gpa, Ryan and KT enjoy some time with Maddie and JJ.

We'll walk down those 57 steps from the road to the cabin and then load the trolley and take turns shuffling our food and bags down. Then we will dread having to reverse the process when we have to pack it all back up the trolley on Sunday because we brought too much food, too many clothes and have gathered too many treasures while walking on the beach.

Face Rock will greet us each morning while we have a cup of coffee and dig out the binoculars to see what we can see far off in the horizon as the morning fog lifts bit by bit.

We'll play on the beach come rain or come shine, we'll drag driftwood along the sand, grandpa Ed will carry his bucketful of agates. Ryan will convince Roy to rock climb, Roy and Ryan will skimboard and show off their skill to the girls, KT will play with Maddie and JJ. I love to hear KT laugh.

There will undoubtly be a game or two of Skipbo, if we can keep Ryan awake that is, and if he falls asleep, well...KT and I will peak at his cards and the game will continue on...

We'll read the guest book from years past and our memories will be sparked by the words written. Undoubtably JJ will hear the story for the first time of his brave daddy and uncle trying desparately to save a beached shark (OK, so the shark was only a sand shark and barely 2 ft long, but they were brave boys and it broke their hearts when the seagulls had their way in the end.)

We'll wonder once again why a cabin that has sleeping for 14 (not counting floor space) has only one bathroom while we stand in line waiting our turn.

We'll add the leaf to the table before our first meal on Friday night and gather chairs around it. We'll share that meal together and then stay gathered around the table while we laugh and yak and visit and enjoy each others company.

If we are blessed with clear evenings we will enjoy beautiful ocean sunsets, nothing NOTHING can compare to the sun setting on the ocean. Lovers holding hands, children cuddled in laps, shared slience as we witness God's glory in those sunsets sitting on the deck or huddled around a fire on the beach. mmm, mmm, mmm....can't wait!!!!

The final pre-planning detail has been crossed off the "to do" list, this momma, this gma is like a kid in a candy store...and I can't wait for the yummy time we are gonna have. October 7th can't come fast enough...but that is ok, the plane ticket has been purchased and I am a happy camper!!!

Blessings

My little friend Rebekah looks so good in her most current picture. Just a few more treatments for this little angel. Her story has touched so many lifes, one never knows what perpose God has for each of us, but I truly believe that Rebekah's life, her story, will glorify God for ages.

The Time Has Come and Other Grumblings

In just over 2 hours I return to the office. It has been 3 long weeks of surgery, recovery and boredom. Am I ready to return to the office? Well, my mind is - - - I am going crazy sitting here day after day...but I don't think my body is as willing as my mind is. I guess time will tell if I am really ready, I am prepared to leave the office early and return to the recliner for the afternoon and to try it again tomorrow morning.

The hair from hell. Yep...that is what I have now-a-days. Why oh why do I think I need to do something "different" with my hair when I don't even have a brain to remember my middle name? Those papers you sign when going under for surgery...I think they should not only include "do not make any important decisions" but "do not cut or perm your hair" for a month following antheisia. So, this morning I will be trying to tame the beast that has taken up residency on my head.

"I couldn't sleep last night", so says hubby as he comes into the livingroom an hour ahead of his usual waking time. Your telling me?? I am the one who moved to the recliner 3 hrs ago because your not sleeping was "helping" me to not sleep as well.

OK, OK, enough of the whining...enough of the procrastinating...enough of all this monkey business. I gotta get up, put my face on...do something with the hair from hell. The office awaits me and I am sure my desk will be piled high with "urgent" "immediate attention requested" and other such notices...I am sure I will spend the day shredding such memo's...after all, most of it has been sitting there for 3 wks, unattended to.

Next post will be so uplifting you will wonder what happened to Pam!!!

Is it over, where did it go??

Summer....came and went...was I napping? Is someone playing a joke on me?

Today is the first day of school where we live and our 3 grandkidlets called last night to yak for a couple of minutes, this is a fun yearly tradition, touching base the night before school starts. We like to hear and share their excitement. These 3 live here so we will hear all about their first day by the end of the week. We'll hear all about what teacher they have, which friends are in their classes, how football practice went etc. etc.

Our youngest granddaughter, who lives in Northern Washington, started preschool today. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN??? She called us after she got home to tell us that she made "candy for mommy". Not sure what the meant but she was thrilled, which thrilled us to no end!!! I guess she was very willing to be left at school, this was the very first time for her to be left without daddy, mommy or brother. Brother did NOT think it was ok to leave sissy, something was very wrong with that picture to him, just plain wrong. When it was time to pick sissy up he was more than ready to get his life pal. Mommy was told to be sure and put sissy's hair up each day...evidently this teacher has had more than one budding beautician or barber in her prior classes and our Maddie has the curliest hair down past her bottom...Mommy will gladly put sissy's hair up each day. Oh heaven help us if that hair gets cut...Heaven help us all!!!!

Fall is in the air, this morning was crisp and cool...I normally love Fall, but this year I am just not ready for summer to be over. Most of our summer was consumed by working on our home. I really have nothing else to show for a whole season. Our only trip out of town was to my nephews wedding, there were no trips to the swimming hole, no trips to the beach for a picnic...no spontaneous girls days....next year...watch out...we have a whole season to make up for and I don't plan to waste a second.

I am not ready for shortened days...I am not thrilled with leaving for work when the sun is not fully in the sky and returning home with just an hour or two of daylight. I am not ready for rain...oh we need rain, our ground is so very dry. Yes, it is true, me...Gma Pam is not ready for the rain that I usually love to walk in-without an umbrella- thank you very much!...but I am not ready for the rain just yet, it is just too soon.

I am not ready to turn on the heat...I know it will be a several wks before it gets cold enough to turn the heat on...but the thought of it just doesn't thrill me. I am not ready to wear socks...socks are icky...and I have banned them from our bed. I am not ready for flannel sheets...flannel sheets just don't hold a candle to fresh, crisp cotton sheets.

Long sleeves...not ready...

Long pants...not ready...

Jackets...not ready...

not ready not ready not ready

I love to watch the trees change color...all those beautiful rich jewel tones that the leaves put on...but, I am not ready to see it this year. I wanna continue to enjoy the beautiful flowers in our yard, can you smell the jasmine...oh this year it smells better than ever before...I wanna continue to enjoy the shade that our large Ash tree has graciously provided us with...I wanna continue to enjoy lunch and dinner on the deck, I wanna continue to have people over for BBQ dinners and enjoy a glass of wine while sitting on the deck as the sunsets with color that can only be imagined, not described. Soon it will be too cold to be outside, oh there will be unexpected days and evenings when we will be outside and enjoy the fresh air...bonus days, bonus evenings.

So, I am not ready and yet it is coming...so, I guess I have 2 choices...as my dear sweet momma has told me over and over again during my adult life...I can choose to be frustrated and sad about this or I can find the joy in it and smile and laugh...2 choices...each will give me a very different outcome...

Choices...choices...buck up and find the silver lining...or grab a quilt and pull it over my head and wait for spring. Choices...choices...and it really isn't that hard a choice after all.

I will choose to go on leaf walks with KatieBug and prepare a box of fallen leaves to send to Ryan in San Diego so that he will not be homesick for this season unique to his home. I will choose to take my camera out and take pictures of the trees after they have shed their summer clothes...and pictures of their shed clothes laying in piles around the yards. I will choose to anticipate trips to the jetty to watch the ocean as the storms hit, waves splashing in awesome splendor. I will choose to bundle up (socks, long pants, long sleeves...jackets, gloves and all) and watch Tristan and Kaitlyn playing soccer early on Saturday mornings and Rex playing football on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

I will choose to find that silver lining so that I will not be caught off guard when winter hits, when the ice has to be scraped from the windshield...when the cat has to be forced outside...when I give up my "no socks in the bed" rule and no learn to appreciate flannel sheets...when the fields flood...when the boss and I can't agree on a medium ground for the temp for the office...when sleep over comes me shortly after arriving home from the office...when I leave for the office when it is still dark and return home to the porch light shining to help me find my way...

Fall, you know it doesn't seem so bad... I think I will grab my camera and head outside for a photo shoot....I don't wanna miss one more second of summer...Fall is coming and I wanna be ready...

Good Medicine

This evening our friend KT came by, what a wonderful blessing-she tried sneeking in the front door but the screen was locked. We laughed, we shared serious conversation, made tentative plans for my son (which KT and I love to do and which we think we have every right to do!). Boy did I enjoy this visit...needed it more than I would have thought and am so thankful she came by. This was the best medicine for my soul. Thanks KT, you are a special part of our lives. MaGoo...this pics for you.