My Bad

Geeze Louise... I can't just be dumb in my own home; I have to go to California and almost kill my ONLY granddaughter.

Zoe was very sick when we arrived. Her fever was hot and furious. Danette (her mom)  was at work finishing grading some papers. I needed more tylenol-type medicine so I called D and she said she was coming right home and had some in her desk.

So I go to give it to Zoe and ask where it is. D says, "It's the purple bottle on the counter."

Great......(now mind you, both bottles were turned around and I didn't READ any labels. I just grabbed the closest and biggest bottle.)

Uh huh....I mader her take a teaspoon of bubble bath!

Here she is gurgling and spitting bubbles.

Luckily for me, she is one smart cookie and only swallowed a tiny bit because it tasted like soap!

Seriously, bubbles came out from between her teeth for a long time.

I may not be trusted to administer any type of first aid or "doctoring" any time soon.

Poor babe....stuck with me for her Gramie.

Hang Town

Placerville, CA... where the public restrooms were once a jail... or perhaps still are? Luckily for me, I didn't need to venture in!

The shops were small and each one had its own flavor. The day before Christmas, things were hopping. We couldn't even squeeze into some of the shops.

Main Street is small.

And important.

Standing outside of the hotel gave us free WiFi.... what fun.

Decorations sparkled indoors as the sunshine streamed in.

I want a screen door like this one!

And lastly, I looked up across the street and gasped as I saw this guy swinging. Of course it's a dummy, but the real dummy is ALWAYS me because I jump and scream so easily! (No, I did NOT read the fine print to find out the history of Hang Town and the tree.... I think I could figure that one out on my own!)



It was a fun afternoon to say the least.

A Journey to Say Farewell

Our 1972 Chevy Van.

Basically, I have been the main driver on this van for 39 years. Both girls learned to drive in it and we saw a lot of the USA in it. Great times and wonderful memories. After 39 years, there had better be some good memories. I hauled Camp Fire girls all over the L.A. area in it and the camping trips are too numerous to mention.

When I decided to retire, I realized it would mean the van needs to retire as well. I won't be driving very often and we have a car and a truck. How many vehicles do two people need anyway?

Right about the time I knew I'd have to part with the van, Joshua started learning to drive. What a perfect fit. They can't afford to buy a car for him and my first ride in the van was when Jack brought it home brand new and took me to the hospital to have Kari! So it's gone full circle now.

Kari said "yes" they wanted the van. Joshua was stoked. He has thought of nothing since we told him he could have it if he wanted it.

So begins the journey:

Jack drove the van over the mountains and I drove the Subaru.

Last gas in Oregon.

At a rest area in CA.

Josh, Jarod and Jacob waiting in the front yard for us to pull up with the van.

The handing over of the keys. Of course, we later went to DMV and transfered the van legally.

I guess it is going to get a bath once a week whether Josh drives it or not! He is one very excited young man.

I thought I would cry and get a lump in my throat. I always told Jack he would have to bury me in the van because I didn't want to ever drive anything else.
So how did it come to giving it away? I figured the next best thing was to keep it in the family.

Josh is so excited and Jacob and Jarod are already counting the years until they will get to drive it. So it has made them all very happy and isn't that what life is about? To be happy and to help others to be happy? So I'm not sad.

I just hope they have many safe trips in that '72 Chevy van.

Kickin' Back With the Grandkids - Part II

How can kids grow so fast? From April to August, Jacob grew taller than me. Josh towers over me and I believe he might be a bit taller than Jack. Jarod got taller but we'll have to wait and see where he ends up. They do make me feel like I'm shrinking closer to the earth!

We hung out at the high school pool. Kari was involved in a texting conversation with a friend. What a crazy world! (I don't know why my photos won't flip straight when I upload them here. It may be a new photo program I am using.)

Boys are so different than girls. They eat ALL the time. This is one of the many late night "snacks" Jacob had. He made cheesecake! He ate a piece while it was hot out of the oven then wrapped it and put the rest into the fridge. I don't even want to think of the grocery bill Kari must have!

Jarod was quite the fish in water. He dove for a toy he had brought and that entertained him the entire time.

It was a good trip and we'll be on the road again in 12 days... this time to L.A. to give Jack's sister a break in caring for their mom and aunt. I am so glad I am retired and don't have to worry about squeezing all my projects into this last 12 days before going back to work!

Kickin' Back With the Grandkids - Part I

I love summers; not so much for the sweet watermelons or fresh juicy tomatoes, but for the visits to our grandkids and friends and families. Zoe and Kai are keeping us entertained with their witty remarks and anticks.

Staying with family tradition. Jack is trying to teach Kai how to ride a two-wheeler!

I'm teaching Zoe how to sew pajama bottoms.

Check these out! I cut them out and she did all the sewing. Now her whole family wants pj bottoms.

Kai watched a movie with Grampie by covering his eyes or holding Grampie's hands over his eyes ("Jack and the Beanstalk").

I learned a new cooking trick from Danette. This is how to chop onions!!