I finally put pictures up!!!!

Hi Everyone, Amy and Mike came over and we finally got this figured out. I will have Amy show me more when she comes back on Tuesday to make candy. I think I can do it, as I did the last one of Wendy. I haven't posted for awhile. Too busy! Christmas is just around the corner, and I still have a few things to do. Amy said she is all ready, I think I try to do too much, although I am not baking as much this year. I have lost 11 pounds in the past 2 weeks and I want it to keep going DOWN. I am hoping to get things mailed tomorrow and I have a couple of gift cards to buy and that's it except for a few cookies and some candy. Then I have to pack for Alan's house, Ed's and Sharon's after Christmas. Our dilemma is what to do about the kitty, as he is too small to let run outside. He would make a tasty morsel for a raccoon or possum so that's out. Although when the door opens now he runs like a bullet and goes outside. He hasn't learned to come when called yet. So we let him go for awhile in the shop and he is really glad to come back in as it is cold and he doesn't like that. I am tired tonight, so this is a short post. I went on Friday to the Temple with Sharon and it was wonderful. I am glad we took the time out of shopping and sewing to go. It is great to feed the spirit, and there is the most wonderful place to do it. I am so grateful to have the Temple close and a wonderful daughter to go with. I really enjoy your posts. Much Love to all

This is Wendy Alan's middle daughter. She is 15 now. I will take better pictures at Christmas.

Random Pictures

Left Grandpa and Trapper
Ema 13 years old.


Crystal's Bridal Shower

Pretty Gracie!!!! Andrew Cook almost 17 years.

Today Is Our 55th Anniversary

We went to church and I fixed us a steak dinner when we came home. Grandpa helped me as much as he could. Church was on families today, and all of the talks were good. We went to dinner on Friday for our anniversary at Marie Callenders. I was good and got a sugar free pie and I had a steak salad for my entree. I have had some higher blood sugars and so I am really trying to cut the carbs and sugar: ( not easy this time of year!!!! I have finally finished the decorating of the house and it looks good and I am happy now that it is finally done:) I still have sewing to catch up on and packages to wrap. I'm not going to bake as much as I have in past years. I say this every year, but this year I really mean to do it. I am the one I make some of these cookies for and I can't eat a lot of goodies this year. It's okay when I help the girls as they take it all away and it's not staring me in the face. It helps that I can't take goodies to Alan's as Brenda really can't eat any at all because of the allergies that she has. I don't think I will ever have sugar free pie again as it wasn't that good. I have made a few things with low sugar and splenda that taste really good so I know that it can be done. Tonight the silly cat climbed into the Christmas tree. We took a picture and then sprayed him with the water. I will post some pictures when Amy is well and comes to make caramels and shows me how. I hope to give a lot of things away anyway and when I do it for someone else I usually never touch that. It sounds like I am really whining and feeling sorry for myself and I want you all to know I feel so much better now that my blood sugar is in control, that I truly don't feel that I will go back there again. So I'm not really complain about it just explaining and letting each of you know that when I don't eat goodies at the gatherings I am okay just trying to stay in control. I love all of you and enjoy the blog so much. It has become the highlight of my day. Love To All And to All A Goodnight. Grandma

Christmas Decorations

I don't know why it is so important to do all of this decorating!!! I have been working at for two days, and I'm still not done. I truly wonder, as I don't have that much to do anymore, and I used to do the house at Walterville in a day. I was younger then and others always put up the tree. I decorate our tree by myself, as grandpa sets it up and then goes about his business. I want to sew and I have been doing some, but today I have been so tired I just couldn't get into it. We went to tithing settlement tonight and came home and watched the last Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I really think Johnny Depp is really a great actor, this was our second time to see it and I think once more and maybe I'll get it all. Dad thinks there will be another, I don't know for sure. I hope there is. I have been busy getting things done and I haven't written on the blog much. I wrote a really long one the other day and it got lost in cyberspace. I miss it when you guys don't write. It seems that my cold is better although last night I had a really stuffy nose and had to get up. I hope it isn't the cat. We have had a lot of fun watching him, he weighs about four pounds now. He is so grandpa's cat and hangs out with him a lot. He feeds him and mostly I am after him as I don't want him to scratch anything. Today he wanted to play with the Christmas tree, and the balls and other things on it. I squirted the water on a few times. You have to catch him at it though. He certainly is a busybody. I had an adventure at Jo Ann's fabrics the other day, and went head to head with their manager Louise. That woman really could use a few tools to work with people. I did get my fabric replaced, but it was against her better judgement. She said the store would just have to eat it, and not get refund from the factory, because the fabric was damaged, not my fault it had faded on itself. I figured it was better for her store to eat it than me!!! She had a lot of excuses, and things I should have done but I just stood my ground and finally she let me choose 4 and 7/8 yards of fabric, from materiel's that cost 3.98 a yard and was on sale for 1.49. I was really determined to have it replaced. I hate it when people say it is your fault and sell an inferior product. They need a sign up to tell the customers what they expect of them. It is late so I need to sign off love you all.

Busy Busy Day

Today it rained on the I-5 in sheets, and water was standing in ruts and cars were hydroplaning and I was praying that I would get to Nicole's shop without any trouble. A big truck with 2 trailers came up beside me and almost ran me over!!! I called him something like stupid donkey and shook my fist at him. He must have seen the fist, heaven knows what he must have thought of an old lady driving a tank of a car and shouting at him. I made it to Bello and had a wonderful pedicure and now I have beautiful toenails for the Holidays. Vanity thy name is woman. It felt wonderful though. I had a cup of Herbal tea and a neck wrap plus a roller massage. I felt much better. I went to JoAnne's and took some things back that were the wrong kind. I got it for less at Wal-mart last night. Where would we go without the local WM although I have a new Bi-mart around the corner and I love it. They have no sewing notions. We will be going to Alan's on the 23rd and returning early on the 27th. Some of you have asked and that is it, we're leaving Portland late in the day on Sun. It will be a fast trip, and I think that Alan will be returning to LA to work by the first of the year. I am a little closer to getting the Christmas spirit. They are having the Nativity at the church of pres. st. I think I want to go so that I can feel the spirit there. Amy call me when you get a minute and we'll discuss Sun. I have a cold though it could be a lot better by then. I do have a digital camera, and somewhere I have the plug that goes to the computer so I can post pictures. Grandpa and I watched Hairspray tonight, and I thought it was great, I don't think grandpa thought much of it. I really think Travolta should get an award for his acting there. He was really funny. Well I need to get to bed. Love to you all God Bless Grandma PS the trucker was going over 70 miles an hour in the fog and rain. Stupid donkey

Christmas Is Coming

Well dear ones today I have thought of Christmas, notice I said thought. I haven't gotten into the swing of it yet. I think I am coming down with a cold!!! Bah and Humbug I really hate having a cold this time of year. I sewed a few things today and I hope to keep on working on that. Not for anyone just a few random small things. I wish I could work as fast as your mom does on the machine. I am going to the pool to walk 3 days a week to gain some stamina. I seem to be flagging in my 70th year. I can remember I used to think I would never reach that age. We will be flying to Alan's for the Christmas holiday. Going on the 23rd and returning on the 27th. Not so long this time, Dad-Grandpa is supposed to go 4-wheeling with Al and not spend his whole time working. That is what he did the last 2 times we went to Alan's. Pool for the summer and a play room for the kids at Christmas last year. He likes to keep busy, but I think he is getting a little of the need to slow down a bit. Not as energetic as he used to be. I need some ideas on what I should get for Christmas I am totally drawing a blank this year. I have none. I had hoped to spend Christmas at home or at least in Oregon this year but alas that is not to be. Andrew is taller than Grandpa now and still growing. He is a nice young man and Wendy is a beautiful young woman and little Ema is a sweet one as well as pretty. What a nice family they are. I truly enjoy reading about all of yours and seeing the pictures you post. I am truly blessed to have all of you to love and communicate with. God bless you one and all Love Grandma