There she is our courthouse all decked out in her jewels

for the holidays. The luminaries are added by our CARTI as a

fund raiser and in memory of lots of fine folks that are no

longer part of our lives.

The beauty of the scene makes you take a deep breath and

hope the snow will fall

Holidays are a happenin'

Everything is happening so fast! Grant was here briefly, then gone. You always miss your loved ones more right after they leave. Here we are in the middle of the holidays and I'm not ready. Things are looking up though. Dean didn't kill me for buying a doll house in at least a thousand pieces that he took three days to assemble. It is almost big enough for the kid to move into. It'll be great for Barbie to live in. He muttered and made me promise never to do that again. I promised. (Haven't pulled out the box that holds grandson's razor scooter. I'm afraid to see how many parts it contains.) I told him that it would all be worth it when he sees the look on their face. Makes you feel like you're a true Santa!

This last semester of college kicked my butt. It seems to have rained a lot making it difficult to get to UCA (over an hour from Searcy). The classes were enjoyable but the homework was hellacious. I struggled and finally dropped one class. Anyway the last exam was Tuesday and my big community project is finished.

Time to chill and enjoy. What we need right now is a good snow.

Happy Holidays!

Scarry Moment

Dean got sick on me---I thought he was having a stroke! Rushed him to the E.R. and he spent a few days getting checked out in the hospital but we think it was a reaction to medication (zylocaine) used in a procedure. He seems fine now but it makes you realize that some of your loved ones won't always be with you. It is scarry.

I am not a good caregiver to the infirmed. I want them to get up and get well, damnit!

Tough Girls Wear Pink

So why do my eyes leak while marching with all this pink in the Susan Komen parade? Its not just this particular parade. I am moved at all parades. It is so touching having all these people cheer for the paraders.

I take the accolades to heart.

I am not a survivor....check on me ten years from now!

Meanwhile please make sure this little cutie marches on!

Tough Girls Wear Pink

Bend Over All

Bend, Oregon-Home of Grant & Rainie Carson is like a progressive city- a town with a pedicure. Only 20 years ago it was filled with lumber companies and workers that spit tobacco on the streets. Today it thrives with a population of active sports enthusiasts-biking and kayaking in the summer and snowboarding/sking in the mountains a few miles from the high desert community. Everyone is outside. The singer Joan Baez performed at an outside concert this past weekend.
Unfortunately we can't do it all.

This past weekend we went south to see Crater Lake and on to raft on the the Roque River and camping in the Redwood Forest -magnificent ! On the return to Bend, we headed up Hwy 101 from northern California back to Oregon coast. The parks in Oregon are much superior to those in California-more natural beauty; more spacious.

Were loving the new Rialta for traveling like turtle with our own shell.

How come doughnuts and garage sales go hand in hand? I promised Jesse to check out the garage sales this morning and even though we both woke up a little late for truly getting the good stuff, we checked out a few. Friday mornings are the best before the goodies are picked over and those people that are involved in the 'work week' jump in there on Saturday.

Had to go by Daylight Doughnuts and took some to Mother between stops.

I bought a basket of home grown tomatoes.
Jesse bought a pair of red stilletos with rhinestones on the straps and long red ribbons to tie around the ankles. She looks like she is trying to walk on stilts but is determined to master " the walk".

Why is the people of my age seek good food and her age seeks life's courtiere challenges?
It is always fun to spend a day with my precious granddaughter.