Awesome Birthday!!!

What a great Thanksgiving and birthday I had. Much to my surprise C and SR and K, L, C & C came. I had no idea they were coming. So 5 of my 6 kids were here to help me celebrate.

G did an awesome job as hostess and planning. She and B went all out to make sure it was a memorable occasion and everyone pitched in to help.

Thanks to all who came and helped me celebrate my 80th birthday. I love my family so much.

A New Decade

As of Thanksgiving day I begin another decade of my life. I must say the past 80 years have been interesting. Some have been rewarding, some sad but mostly they have been good.

Thanks to all of you for your continued love and support for me. And most of all thanks to a loving Heavenly Father for his watchful care.

We all have much to be thankful for. Have a happy turkey day and enjoy. Wish we could all be together but we will be in spirit.

I love you all.

A NEW DIET!!!

I have found the perfect way to lose weight. Cover your table, fridge, and stove with drop cloths so you can paint the kitchen. Since the neighbors can only work after someone picks up their greatgrandaughter at 4pm it will take all week at least to get the painting done. It is going to be nice and bright when they are done, but I will still have to have lights on whenever I am in the kitchen.

We have cold wind but no snow as yet. They keep saying it is coming. The wind sure plays havoc with my arthritis. I can hardly use my arms. It is very miserable.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone. Don't let the goblins get you.

BRING IT ON!!!

The weather man says snow tomorrow and Monday. I say I guess I am ready. I still have dahlia bulbs in the ground but otherwise everything is under control. The pump and hoses are put away, geraniums are in the cellar etc.

My good neighbors brought their leaf blower and blew the leaves off my front cement. They also filled three carts with wood which we covered so I will have dry wood near by. Between them and A they take good care of me.

Conference was good this morning. I hope everyone is getting to see it. What a blessing to sit in my front room and listen to the prophet.

Welcome to Fall

We had snow on the mountains and it frosted and killed the garden. Today it was really warm again.

I finally got all the canned stuff to the cellar. At three or four jars a trip (in a bucket so I could carry it in my left hand and use my cane) it took a lot of trips. I still have tomato juice to can.

Hope everyone's week is going well.

Good news, bad news!!!

So I needed to have my eyes tested so I could apply for my Driver's License again. Today was the day. The good news is I didn't have to get the lenses changed as my eyes are about the same. The bad news is that I have the start of Macular Degeneration in the right eye. I am glad it has waited this long to show up. Have to go back in six months to see if it is progressing.

The pears and peaches are canned, and I just did 12 half pints of tomatoes. The rest of the tomatoes will be made into juice and then I can go on to other things.

Thanks to everyone for their news. I love to hear from you.

Time to Quit!!!

When you have to get on a step stool to get the jars out of the pressure cooker because your shoulders won't work, it is time to quit canning. But when you have been doing it for at least 60 years how do you get your brain geared to not do it anymore? Help!!!!

I have been making bread and butter and sweet pickles. Did dill pickles earlier. I did 36 pints of jelly and jam for A cause he hasn't the time and he helps me so much.

I finally got 3 ripe tomatoes. Not many on the vines, but I may have a few. The cucumbers are nicer than they have been all summer. And the apples have been outstanding.

Such is life and it is almost time for fall.

Wise words-------

If you don't like the weather in WY just wait a day or two. It is HOT again. My garden was hanging its tongue out before I got it watered today.

I had quite a sight in my orchard this morning. Four fawns with spots on, two does and a buck. Last night there were three bucks. They do love those apples. Thank heavens there is a bumper crop this year so we all can share.

Have a good week everybody.

Where Did Summer and Fall Go????

It has suddenly turned winter. No snow, but it is Cold!!! We have had a strange summer weather wise. The tomatoes are green as grass yet. I haven't even had a usable zucchini . The grasshoppers are still plentiful and are chowing down on everything.

I hate to start burning wood already, but it is cold in my house. Guess I will go crawl under my blanket and hope tomorrow is warmer.

THE HOUSE IS SO QUIET!!!!

Granddaughter N was here for five days. She arrived safely home this afternoon. I miss her already. It was great to have her here after not seeing her for 7 years.

Her father's burial was quite a sight. There were 19 Harleys came in all at once. Some had two riders. It was Doc and C's friends from North Dakota. Such a nice bunch of guys and gals. A took about 70 pictures and was in seventh heaven talking to the guys about their bikes.

See Midnight Crafter's blog about the terrible storm we had that afternoon. No more of those please.

N got to see 7 deer in my yard last night all at once looking for apples off my trees. She was really thrilled.

Have a good week everybody.

STILL FIGHTING!!!

I am still fighting grasshoppers. I think they are winning on some fronts.

We had a glorious weekend. The visit from oldest son and wife was way too short. We spent Saturday on the mountains. Second son went with us. We had lunch in Buffalo across the mountains. It was so peaceful on the mountains by the lake.

Sunday they all went to church with me and then Midnight Crafter's family, J, Jo and little J joined us for dinner at my house. It is so good when family come to see me.

East Coast Adventurer is in Oregon for training for 10 days. My girls do get to see the world.

Hope all is well at your houses.

I NEED HELP!!!

I need some ideas on how to control the grasshoppers. They are eating everything, flowers, garden, and such. The clerk at the local garden store said to " put a sombrero in the middle of the garden and dance around it till you step on all the grasshoppers". He was a big help!!!

It has been really hot. Not as hot as where C is but it was 100 degrees yesterday.

I am looking forward to a visit from oldest son and his wife later this month and from a grandaughter who is coming the first part of August on a sad mission to bury her father's ashes. The summer is going fast and no wood split yet to dry out for next winter. There are not enough hours in a day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!

I hope you are having a safe and fun Fourth of July!!! I am home alone, planning to weed garden. Weather permitting I will watch the Greybull Basin fireworks tonight.

Oldest son's wife is having knee surgery Monday. They plan to come to see me on July 24 for three days. That will be fun.

Not much news from me. Just the same ole stuff. It gets increasingly harder to try to keep the weeds out and the garden and flowers watered.

Love you all.

IT'S BACK!!!

Summer has returned!!! It was hot today. My garden was too wet to hoe this morning and too hot this afternoon. Some of it is growing pretty good, but the weather has been hard on it.

D and his family didn't come for the weekend. I guess the plan now is to meet his ex in Casper next Sunday and pick up his daughter there. She will stay with him till the end of July if it works out. I was disappointed not to get to see them.

Not much going on that is newsworthy. My life is boring compared to the rest of you. Guess I am getting too old for excitement.

Short Summer!!!

So we had a few days of hot weather and now June has been cold and rainy. My garden needs some sun and warmth. Thank heavens we haven't had any hail yet.

My neighbors painted my bathroom for me. The kitchen is next. Thank heavens for good friends. Another good friend piled a bunch of wood for me yesterday.

D and his family are coming Saturday to pick up his daughter S and take her to Sidney till the end of July. I am excited to see all of them.

Hope you are having a fabulous summer!!!

Bring It On!!!!

The garden is planted, flowers set out, screens on, and the bug zapper hung. Bring on summer!!! We have already had temperatures in the 90's but today it is cool.

Now there is the daily watering and then come the weeds. And then hopefully fresh vegies.

Only one more week before C leaves. I miss him already. He is so generous with his hugs and that is what this old grandma needs.

Hope all is well with each of you.

Super Klutz!!!!

I hope everyone had a good holiday. A and I went to the three cemeteries on Shell Creek and decorated 25 graves in all.

Then we went to see what the new owners of the ranch have done to the house. They gave us a tour. They have completely gutted it and have a lovely plan to redo it.

The pump and sprinklers were next and now I can plant garden this week.

Yesterday I fell down the steps at church coming down from the choir. Hurt my pride worse than anything, but I do have bruises and sore spots. Then in the afternoon the screen door caught my arm and peeled back a big piece of skin. I rolled it back on, sealed it with new skin and hope it reattaches. Sure have a big bruise. Just call me a clumsy old woman.

It Has Arrived!!!

So we jumped from winter into summer. It has been hot the past couple of days.

Graduations are over, the parties are over and it is time to get to work and get the garden planted. Mine is going to be fairly small, but I will follow the prophet and have something growing.

A trip to the temple for the first time in a long while was wonderful. And to have so much of my family there, too, was great.

C gives his farewell speech next Sunday and the choir is singing a medley of missionary songs. I imagine I will be singing through my tears. I know what he is doing is great, but I will sure miss him for two years!!

Where Is The Warm Weather???

I have a whole front steps full of plants waiting to be set out. I just had a special weather alert on the computer warning of freezing temperatures tonight so I went out and covered them once again. One of these days I will be able to get the garden planted, I hope.

This is exciting times as C gets ready to go on his mission. He will be an excellent missionary.

I hope you are all well and enjoying the Spring. My apple trees have been beautiful but a hard wind yesterday blew blossoms all over.

Hope to hear from some of you soon.

Spring Has Sprung

For the moment any way, it feels like spring. The plums and cherries are blooming and the flowering crab that didn't have even one blossom last year is covered with buds.

Midnight Crafter is back home after yet another four days in the Billings Hospital. I hope this is the last visit she has to make to that place.

C is doing finals and will be home next weekend. Then he gets ready to go on his mission.

May will be a busy month. Happy May Day everyone.

IS IT HERE YET????

Spring is here!!! My washing machine drain is thawed out!! Now I can wash more than one load every few days if I need to.
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BUT WAIT----Here on my computer is a storm warning: Heavy snow, wind, thunderstorms, rain etc. for the rest of the week. Bummer!!! I had better do another load of wash before the drain freezes up again.

I hope it is spring where you are and that you are all doing fine.

Love you all and miss you.

Spring time in the Rockies

March seems to be going out like a lion. The wind is howling and it is cold. Midnight Crafter got snow this evening (she's two miles west of me) but I haven't had any so far. They say it is coming though.

I had a phone call from an eight year old great grand son today. That is so fun. I love to hear from all of you. It gets mighty lonesome especially on Sunday afternoons.

I hope everyone is well. Take time to blog once in awhile, okay?

March Madness

So the snow was almost gone and the mud almost dried up and this morning it is snowing and is supposed to get below zero again. Typical March weather.

While the lucky people in the southeast are glorying in their little purple flowers and dafodils we are only dreaming of such.

Good news---Midnight Crafter is on the mend!!! She made it to church yesterday for the first time in more than 3 months. It was sure good to see her there.

Maybe by the time my body gets used to the time change we will have Spring.

Love you all.

A Wonderful Day!!!!

This has been a glorious day. Midnight Crafter got to come home!!! I hope she can rest and finish healing now. She has had more than her share and I do so admire her for her upbeat attitude.

We still have lots of ice around and it is still treacherous. As I said before---I am ready for Spring.

Love and hugs to all.

Still Here!!!

Nothing to blog about except I am still here. Trying to help G and run taxi for her while Midnight Crafter is still in the hospital.

I am so tired of snow and ice. I am ready for some hot weather.

Happy Valentine's Day everybody!!!!

Lost January

I have chided everyone for not blogging and here it has been two weeks since I wrote anything.

Midnight Crafter is still in the hospital but is doing much better. I am trying to keep up with her daughter and staying part of the night with her.

We still have lots of snow and ice and I am so afraid of falling. Ice and my cane do not get along. More snow forecast for the next few days and below zero again. I am ready for Spring!!!

Finally!!!

Christmas is finally all put away, thanks to A's help. I usually take it down on New Year's Day, but I was hurting too bad from my episode with the seat belt.

I slept all night last night in my bed, the first time since our little accident. It was much better than the recliner, although I have watched some good programs on BYU television station.

Midnight Crafter looks much better today. Prayers have been answered and coninuous prayers are appreciated.

Let's hear from some of you bloggers that have been to busy. Okay????