After Christmas Sunday

Dear Family and Friends...
Yes, we have enjoyed the Christmas Celebration and Eric just left this afternoon. We had a great time together and miss him already. Christmas was
low key this year...but we really enjoyed what we did do....and just spending time together is the best anyway.
We are hoping that you all had a equally happy time with your family and that you are catching up with your rest now too. I did alot of cooking and baking and it is nice to now have alot of food that we don't have to prepare...munching and gaining weight now...back to walking etc...and weights very soon...like tomorrow.
Hugs & Prayers,
BJM

This is great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFrdJ2V3r7Y

Dear Family and Friends..


This is what I would like to do for longer periods of time during the winter...hibernate...! But the on coming Christmas season won't permit it...so we must tread on. Today I will get my Christmas tree up and start decorating if I am lucky. I have 2 days off in a row and must make it count.


This year if the weather co-operates enough...both of my children will be home for the Holiday...for 3 or 4 days at least. It has been at least 7 or 8 years since they have both been under the same roof at that time here at our home and I am so very anxious that something is going to stop this amazing holiday from happening. Be sending good thoughts about it all...and I hope to be able to spend at least one or 2 days with them before they fly away again into their lives and things they need to do...! Such is the saga of many parents here in Siskiyou county because of alot of harsh factors that play into the scene here. We really don't want our families on the roads when it is bad out there...but if it all happens it is a wonderful miracle!


Since last month...We celebrated Thanksgiving with our relative


Steve and Debbie and her sister Linda in Grass Valley! A very fun weekend eating tons of food and See's candy...going to the Craft fair...and Thrift stores... We had a blast and enjoyed all three of our little baby doggies...they all got along really well. Poor Dukie is getting over 2 surgeries still and Little Jake is a real trooper..as he can't walk as he is paralized from the waist down. Linda is such a good mommy...and does everything for him. Jake is a love!


I am getting ready for the Yearly Candlelighting Ceremony this year at Jackson Street School. It is a big thing to prepare for..getting a speaker, special music, sending invitations, making sure all the bases are covered and trying to make it so everyone feels alittle better about this time of year without our children that have died much too soon. I always feel like afterwards that I am much more mentally prepared to enjoy the fun of the holidays after we have gone through this Ceremony. December 13th @ 7pm is when you light a candle for your loved one. It is a continual wave of light around the world D~~starting from Austrailia...in each time zone @ 7:00 pm...and it travels around the globe. How awesome is that! what a giant Tribute to our babies!


Well, much to do today...probably will enter more here sooner than a month or so. I am just very slow about getting around to my blogging...I am always working or home doing things.


Hugs & Prayers to you all....and Merry Christmas & Happy New year also!


BJM

Fall, Autumn 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Once again time has gone right by me so quickly...We keep such a hectic pace nowadays. This fall has been a good one...full of family and friends. We had a great dinner night a few weeks ago with Ron and Judy...just before Halloween and it was great Ribs and food that Judy made for us all. Ken & Jill Buckley also were guests and it was a fun evening. Judy goes all out decorating for the holidays it is near...so felt like it was our celebration for halloween that night.

Then the next few days we spendt here getting things ready for winter before we took off for Eric's home in Washington. Left on a Wednesday and came back on a Monday...Just right for a good visit. He is doing well and keeps a steady pace with his job and all. Has a new room mate Steve ...a old friend from Georgia when he was stationed there.

I will make a slide show in the next few days of the trip...to share what we did there...Got to have dinner with my sister Loretta and her husband Bob one night also...and spendt halloween night with Kristen and Christopher and their children and her mother in law for that evening. We went trick or treating and I took viedo of the night...was loads of fun...but alittle on the colder side. My sister wasn't feeling well that night and just stayed inside...she had walking phemonia and didn't know it.

So when we got back home all was well...We really miss Copper...our German Shorthair...He got sick about 3 or 4 weeks ago and we had to put him to sleep. He was such a sweet baby...and was 14 years old...He had one last good summer and really felt pretty good til the last few days...Who could ask for more...he had a great life and all the space he needed to run and chase birds and squirrels...It is strange to be without our old friend and buddy now...he greeted me each time I got home and always showed his excitement when things were happening. Dogs are pretty special...

well guess that is about all for now...must get ready for work..that always waits for me...

We will talk again soon before the holidays arrive...

Hugs & Prayers,

Bette Jo

P.S. Eric might come home for Christmas this year...Wow! I am so excited.!!!

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that, but the really great ones make

you feel that you, too, can become great."

-Mark Twain

Watch this...!

Fall is here!

Dear Family and Friends,

It is chilly out in the early morning now...walking at 7:30am we have to have 2 layers on to withstand the chill. Definitly fall and the acorns are dropping in bunches so many on the ground now. I love this time of year though and yet it means that cold cold weather is ahead. Our summer was a good one with only about 3 days of smoke so that wasn't too hard to handle. Mt. Shasta got alittle dusting of snow on it now and it doesn't look so baren with no white at all.

Not much else to report for this week. Just working and trying to keep things going smoothly around the house...actually Mack does most of it now..haha.

He does alot of the dinners, and he is a great cook.

I did get to go over to Wendys for a afternoon ~~ we did some yard work and errands for the kids and caught up on our families doings. We went on a hour walk also and so I got in about 6 miles in that day; 3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon~~that is a good workout for 1 day. Wendy's family is a still very full and busy with her boys at home. She is very lucky to be able to be apart of all of it and spend more time with them without working at Raleys anymore....So happy for her and Bob. It was a great day in the country...enjoyed it tremedously. I just gotta see the mountians and trees up close sometimes...it makes me feel so much better! Even though our house is in a beautiful area too...with trees and mountians...over in Ft.Jones it is even prettier and looks more like Colorado....and only 20 minutes away.

My son Eric, had 1 wisdom took pulled (a upper one) this week ~~day after his 29th Birthday~~ and he said it was a tough one...took 2 doctors and 1 nurse and 1 1/2 hours to complete the extraction. They told him to go to a oral surgeon for the other one next time if he really wants it out. They said it was the hardest extraction either doctor had ever done..Poor Eric...I hope his jaw is feeling better by now.

So guess that is all for now...I will post again sometime soon!

Hugs & Prayers,

BJM

Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

G. K. Chesterton

The Marshmallow

This is just too funny! enjoy

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

Summer's Over 2009

Dear Family & Friends...

I let the whole summer slide by without any new posts on the Family Blogg..I have been lazy, I guess~~ but finally am into getting back to communicating again with everyone.

End of May was when I took back my Grand Dog.."Skitto" to her mommy. We had a good trip there and TJ was so happy to have her home again. We do miss her here though.

June was kinda quiet...getting into the good summer months...we planted flowers in planters...cleaned up the winter months mess outside...and geared up for the hot months ahead. We did end up having a warm summer but decided not to use the AC this year and used 2 portable evaporative coolers in the house instead to save $$. Have to watch it now as things are tight. So it did work and we adjusted to not being so cool. I liked it....Mack is still adjusting. Then we cancelled our Dish network for the TV channels and cut money that way too. We just hooked up our computer to the TV and watch Hulu.com instead and enjoy all the programs that way that we saw before. It is a great savings for us there also.

July came and went pretty fast...the fourth of July was spendt at our friends home The Conners and we had a good time there also. I had to work most of that day anyways...so we went late and didn't stay too long either as I had to work early the next day. Got lots of pictures there too...and made a cute slide show for all to see...

http://www.slide.com/r/tNA9cnj27j8W91Ufmt1ujegiTNwW3FJU?previous_view=lt_embedded_url

The Big event for July was Eric coming home from IRAQ...after 15 months of being there. Kristen & Christopher and my sister and kids and Terry Johnson all met him there at McCord Airforce base at 6:00am in the morning on July 15, 2009...They had balloons and signs and flowers and took pictures and all for me and Mack. We haven't seen the pictures yet...but know we will soon.

I got to see the sign and balloons when we got up to Erics on July 30th for a whole week of vacationing with him. It was a great week...Eric was so happy to be home and works on his lawn alot and landscaping and his backyard deck. He loves his home and is so proud of what he has accomplished there. He has put his heart and soul into it and it shows!! We went swimming one of the first days there (as it was bloody hot there) and it was s fun time to cool off with all of us. We went on walks in his neighborhood at night sometimes to just get outside and enjoy the area.

http://www.slide.com/r/cu-o-iyh4D-dVnn8_1MSgQ7Jrq4EcjZM?previous_view=lt_embedded_url

We went to Loretta and Bob's Winery "Andrake Cellars" on that Saturday Aug 2nd...which was also Bobby Jr's 32 birthday too...and they had a rib & chicken cook-off and also they cooked a 45# pig...it was all very good and we had a blast. Took movies that day and glad that I did...a day to remember for our family... Also~~~ our Cousin Dianne Corzo and Sean (her son) came up special to enjoy that day with us and have a weekend of family sharing. It was excellent to be with them and enjoyed catching up with them both...it always goes so fast though. Dianne came up on the train and went on up to Vancover to see where she spendt a few years when she was younger...and Sean went on a road trip with a friend and checked out the great northwest. Time flies by us all so fast.

http://www.slide.com/r/WNlbqNMi5T9mRZsne-jipnAlFSzZjxaq?previous_view=lt_embedded_url

We spendt one evening with the Shultz family ~~ ~ what a nice evening to see the kids all having fun chasing bugs and enjoying their backyard. Kristen made a great barbeque and Christopher barbequed the meat for us all..it was quite a big feast and we ate alot again! that evening went much too fast too.

then we spendt a few days with Eric...and his friends Chad and Mandy also...

and we even went swimming one evening with the whole family at Patterson lake...and the water was warm like Hawaii...how awesome...and fun..got movies of that evening also...very relaxing.

We got to spend some good quality time with Eric...ran some errands with him and Mack and him went on a 27 mile bike ride the last day we were there.

They followed a bike trail that goes on for eternity...and they had to be picked up when they got tired...which was in Olympia...at the church that Kristen and Christopher got married at...

Then our time there was over and Mack and I left Thursday...he dropped me off in Portland, Oregon...for TCF National Convention...for that weekend of August 7-9th~~ it was such a spectacular bonding experience to be with over 1000 bereaved parents from all over the united states. We had classes and speakers at the dinner and luncheon...and it ended Sunday morning with "The Walk to Remember"~~which again I took movies during the event...It was a most invigorating time for our chapter members that went.

http://www.slide.com/r/4B6LFmsEkj-4niJttGsVdvqbahIYfCS7?previous_view=lt_embedded_url

Then the rest of August,...Eric came home for fair-time and his 10 year class reunion...and we saw him alittle while he was home...but mostly he was able to visit with his dad and work on his sandrail...got it totally redone and put a new engine in it also...he was hoping to go to the dunes in oregon but never made it so maybe later this year...

Mack and I had our 14th Anniversary on the 21st of August also.. We spendt the day shopping up in Medford, Oregon...and then ate at the new Callahans Restaurant on the way home for a nice Dinner...Great food and a special treat to eat there...Humming birds flying all over there and the view is beautiful right on top of the Siskiyou pass...loved that memory..

So that brings us to September now...I am approaching Bonnies Rememberance date on the 14th of this month and it is still a very hard time for me to seem to get thru. although it has been over 10years now...the sorrow and loss never seem to leave my heart long...but I have just learned to deal with it alittle quicker when the feelings surface...Will probably do something special to commemorate my love for her on that day...

We are also planning to go to Plymouth Bluegrass Festival next weekend in the foothills of southern sacramento area.. We had such a good time there last year we are returning again...We can take our Molly there...and it isn't too terribly expensive to get ourselves there ...so it is our fun outing to enjoy together~~we both love it alot.

Other than all that...I have been quilting in between things and events...trying to get a few projects done and getting myself geared up to using the quilting table and longarm sewing machine. I have trouble getting it to sew without the thread breaking...I had it working for awhile...but it has been a stretch since I jumped in and really used it...so I have to start from scratch again...and watch the viedo and see if I am doing anything wrong..

Have to get Brittany & Andy's Wedding quilt done...and mostly Eric's quilt that I promised would be done when he got back from Iraq this time...I am terribly slow...but will get them done soon...I promise...do or die..!

So If you got thru all this...you are caught up on our happenings in our family..we have been very busy...will post more often now...knew it would take me sometime to catch up...Sorry..

Hugs & Prayers..

Bette Jo

P.S....have to go make a apple pie for Mack...someone gave us some Macintosh apples (at a musical day we had at friends on Labor day) that are sooooo good! must use them up...will take a picture and share what the result is...hopefully I won't burn it! haha!

March 24th, 2009 Tuesday

Dear Friends and Family,

Not a whole lot to report this past month...it has been just work and taking care of my "Grand Dog"...actually she is a breeze to be around...just so powerful when she starts to run...and she can't stop very easily. Great entertainment for both Mack and I. Another month or so and she will be back with her mommy in San Luis Obispo. She gives me the biggest smiles and greetings each time I come home from work...she loves to track squirrells and run the lenght of our yard. So she is getting tons of exercise each day even if we don't formally take her on a long walk. If we didn't have this 2 1/2 acres for the dogs..then I would be worried about her not getting enough running.

My sister Loretta and her husband Bob spendt a night with us about 1 week ago

on St. Patty's day night...as they were on their way back from Palm Desert as they went to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary there a few weeks after their anniversary. They truly enjoyed their rest and time there...I think it was a great idea for them to escape the cold winter at home. We were so happy to squeeze in a vist with them also...and stayed up til late talking and catching up.

Got to show Loretta all my quilting projects etc...and enjoy seeing her again. Our visits are few and far between so it was wonderful.

Yesterday...Monday the 23rd...we have a for Sale sign in front of our home now. Mack thinks it is time to start trying to make changes in our lives as we are heading for retirement in the next year or so. I am ok with it...but it will require alot of work for us both and trying to keep it that way for a long period of time is stressful. ugh. I am sure it will take forever in this sluggish economy..

I am working on a batik quilt for Wendy's daughter "Brittiany" as she is getting married in May to "Andrew" and will be starting her new life soon. I am also working on a table runner for her shower which is in about 2 weeks. much to do.

I have Eric's quilt to finish before he comes home in July also..and hopefully one other quilt too...Now I have the quilting table it shouldn't take long to finish these projects.

Well, must get ready for work soon...have a long day ahead til 6:30 in the checkstand..I will be so ready when I do get retired...it is getting to be just not as much fun to be there anymore. I love seeing everyone that I love and have grown to enjoy..but I am ready for new horizons now...maybe a different job when I retire...

Hugs & prayers,

BJM

Valentines week

Dear Friends and Family,

I am having more fun checking out other peoples bloggs and learning so very much from that. I get recipes..craft ideas, hints on all sorts of stuff that interests me..it really is my newspaper and I do enjoy it in the mornings. It is kinda addicting and I have to pull myself away after awhile. Would get nothing else much done if I didn't see time fly right by me.

I have been shredding old papers...going through old boxes and saving what is neccessary and getting rid of stupid old reciepts and 20 year old things that will never be used. What a job..and I burned up the shredder...so have to get another one. oh well,

didn't think that would happen - just a simple job and I can seem to get machines to act their worse easily.

We are enjoying watching Teresa Jo's doggie "Skitto" --4 year old great dane...she doesn't know she is big and when she gets rolling running it is so hard for her to stop...like a locomotive express...and if Molly gets in the way she gets mad...and if Copper (our german shorthair) is nearby he watches out for his own space because he doesn't move too fast anyways...it is a real circus now and just letting them out in the morning is an event. We had about 2-3 inches of snow night before last and it was Skitto's first fling in the snow...she was so cute and funny. Took movies and pictures.

We are expected to have alot of snow tonight again..Alaska got 14 inches last night and it is coming our way. Wow. We are suppose to have friends over for Valentines dinner Sat night but if it is terribly bad weather...we will probably cancel. We will see.

Haven't heard from Eric in a week or so..the last communication was with Mack...and he said Eric is fine and keeping busy..looking forward to getting home in July...It has been a long haul for him this trip...15 months. We are all thinking of him..occassionally I get a box off to him...he did say he wants more peanut butter cookies...he love them so. His address is:

SSG. Longhofer, Eric

542nd SMC

Camp Bucca,

APO, A.E. 09375

(don't put Iraq on it as it could get lost)

I know he loves to hear from all our family and friends...makes his day alittle lighter.

Guess that is all for now..I plan to blogg more frequently..so

check it out more..

hugs & Prayers,

BJM

recipeassistant

Ma Ma Bette Jo

January 5, 2009

Hi all, Just a quick note to all this morning. I just can't get much done here..so thought that a journal entry might get me in gear. Found this cool web site called http://www.operationnice.com/ and have enjoyed reading it. Maybe some of you will enjoy it too. Right up my alley with the things that are discussed.

Our snow has all melted and it is looking really normal around here, but has been very cold out at night around 19 degrees or lower. ugh. I hate feeling cold when I go out to the car from work..and sometimes the ice is pretty slick. I saw those grippers for sale this year and thought that might not be a bad idea for both Mack and I. Mack did fall and slip off the last step on the front porch about a week ago and he landed on his little finger..haha..no broken bones thank goodness, but he was surprised that it even happened to him. It was late at night and he was letting molly out to finish her business...so guess it could have been a catastrophe little incident if he hadn't had bounced...Wow.

Have many projects waiting for me to start this year...but want to share with you one that I finished..the one and only one I did this year at christmas and it was a trial run Proto-type and it did turn out. A Chenille Sweathshirt Jacket, and actually turned out lovely. I was shocked when it came out of the washing machine all puffy and pretty after I slaved away on it for 2 days. It was like birthing a new child or something...because I really had my doubts. I tried it on though and the arms were too short on me, Wendy and Brittiany..and it was suppose to be a late birthday present for Larie..but it ended up being Nancey Jo's Christmas present because she was the correct size for it... She loved it and has sent me 3 pictures of herself in it. I am so happy that she is enjoying it so much. The next one is pink for Larie and it will be a bit larger...Think that there is a waiting list for all my friends this year to get one...It cost me about 25 cents to make as it was a garage sale sweatshirt..and I already had the material. Just the time involved to make it was my effort. Here it is...By the way ...got the pattern at Tader Patch quilt shop in Merrill, Oregon.. an original by Robin. Just love it. http://www.taterpatchquilts.com/map.htm

Can't believe that it is the 5th already..will take the tree down this weekend and clean up all the Christmas decorations. Hope that the New Years is a lovely one for all of my family and friends. Thanks so much for checking to see how things are here at the McDonald house.