drat

I have to say that I am saddened by the "loss" of our treehouse. Stu's dad built it years ago when he and Mom lived with us for a few months. Dad had a good time building it, and the boys used it when they were young. Kelli and Jared used it with their friends, occasionally.( Jared and his friend actually put in the windows..) Our grandkids have"looked" at it, but it hasn't been used that much, recently. Stu had to put a new 4x4 in to keep it up last year. Guess it wasn't enough. Sad, very sad for me. ( Stu says the weight of the snow did it)

I am also putting a picture of Stu and his shoes on my blog. This is what happens when you get up in the morning, get dressed for work and don't turn on the light. ( he was being nice to me and not waking me up while he got dressed, etc....)

I have done this before, but it was light- I just wasn't paying attention. ANYWAY, thought you might smile about it, as I did!!

Pretty, but....

I thought I'd share some pictures of the snow we had on Sunday. Pretty, but NOT fun to drive in. I don't know what the snow is like where you live, but here, it is usually wet and slick. It is very cold here today, 18 degrees, so the snow is NOT slushy, but the ice is not fun either.

I DO think it is beautiful. Makes the Christmas season all that more "festive". Glad I got my presents sent in the mail already. How about you? How are you surviving the weather?

We have a woodstove that we thought we were going to have to replace, because it was so inefficient, but by buying 8 dollars worth of parts, we have an almost new efficiency!!!Yipee! Much better than buying a new one, which would cost 2400 dollars.

I am also including a picture of Stu up in our crabapple (sounds like a character in "the Simpsons") tree, pruning away. Jared said to me," should he be DOING that?" Anyway, also included are pictures of our front yard, back yard and the bird feeders. It's funny, because as soon as it snowed, the birds were"waiting" for me to put those bird feeders out and fill them. They were waiting for me this morning, as soon as it got light.

We have Towhees , chickadees , stellar jays, squirrels,some kind of little wren, and Juncos.

Kind of like watching fish tanks..relaxing and interesting.

Have a fun day..Not "winter" for 5 days. go figure.

Christmas prep

I am putting a couple of pictures of our Christmas tree and mantle on this blog. I enjoy the Christmas ornaments a lot and every year I get a new one. The last several years I have gotten snowmen. Something about them ....I have a lot of snowman wrapping paper and decorations, too. Must be because of Calvin and the Snowmen he built..funny!

Have a fun time creating YOUR Christmas spirit in your home. I love visiting my kids and seeing what decorations they have.

I am also appreciative of Jared putting up the house lights outside. He does a marvelous job. This year it is blue and white icicle lights and some pulsing ones on the ground and around the garage doors. Since our house is blue and grey, these look great!!!When he gets married and moves out, I will beg, plead and even hire him, to come and do it every year for me. If it were up to me and Stu........no comment!!

guess I am lame

Forgot to mention Erik and Angela's kids' names....hmmm, must be losing my mind. Anyway, around the piano with me is Jeff, Calista and Kelli's little boy Keyton. Also present in Erik's family was Carson and Ewan. See, we had a big crowd!

Thanksgiving

We had a good time today with the family! Present were: Erik, Angela and kids; Jared, Ashley and Madison; Kelli, Allen and Keyton; Stu and I. we fit everyone at the kitchen table, with all leaves in use. It was tight, and we had 2 highchairs, too, but it was fun. The food turned out well, and I feel very fortunate that my kids and families are doing well , get along, and support each other in their lives.

Here are some pictures from our time together, today. I am thankful for my family...

p.s. notice several people "sleeping" after the Big Meal.....hmmmm. Erik says that the triptophan (excuse my spelling) in turkeys does not induce sleepiness. I guess it 's just being relaxed....

the tag thing

I am... Sharene

I think...nobody can please everyone

I know...my husband loves me

I want.....a bowl of Shwann's peppermint ice cream

I wish...that more people followed the golden rule

I had....blueberry whole wheat pancakes for lunch. yum.

I hate....when people don't take responsibility for their actions

I miss...holiday and fast sunday meals with Stu's mom and dad, Kubaleks, Beatties and Mitchells

I fear...losing someone I love

I feel...pretty good!

I hear....the computer humming and the cat yelling for attention

I smell...drier sheets from the "darks" that just came out

I crave...see above "want"

I search...for books that are engrossing but not lewd or too realistic

I wonder...If I'll be able to do everything I want to do when I'm my mother's age

I regret...not being more carefree and imaginative when my kids wanted me to play with them

I love...my husband and kids and grandkids and parents and siblings

I care....too much when I see animals suffering (don't ask me to watch the "carnivores" or anything that has to do with animal deaths...)

I always....have something I "could" be doing, but don't feel like doing it at this moment.

I am not....a night person. I turn into a pumpkin at 11 pm

I could ....work on vacation scrapbooks (see above "I always")

I dance ...by myself when I hear a good classic rock song on the radio

I sing...more like humming, when I'm working around the house

I don't always...feel social

I write..in my journal , when I think about it

I win...once in a while at pinochle

I lose..patience with whiney people

I never....swear

I can usually be found...outside in tahe morning,or crocheting at night

I am scared of....people wearing masks

I need....to hear that what I do is o.k. or good

I am happy about....I have enough food, water and wood to last for a while if we lose electricity or water

I tag...all of you

Whaaaattt?

I read a little blurb in a magazine the other day....about what people name their children...I REALLY feel sorry for these children. Luckily, they are not having to deal with these names anymore, as they have been gone for a century or so.

Here are some of them:

1875- Lethal Margaret Stothert

1780- Lurking Crabb

1890- Tom Dick Harry

1640 (this tops them all)-Nicholas if-Jesus Christ-Had- Not- Died- For-Thee-Thou-Hadst-Been-Damned Barebon

1846- Original Bottom

1858-Fatal Frederick Grucutt

and finally-

1848- Wack Broomhead

I am laughing out loud just reading these. I guess it's even funnier if you are in the bathroom reading these!!!

(this is a picture of Carson a while ago- her expression is probably what these poor children had as their "look of death" when their parents introduced them to people!!!)

success?

I read an article in Reader's Digest today about success. It was written by a man name David Hochman, and it was interesting and informative.

A lot of people think that success is instantaneous, pure luck, or "you have to know somebody". In his article, he says, that success has several ingredients. First you have to have some talent. Then you have to have timing and opportunity, then hard work and discipline. He says that people like Bill Gates and the Beatles, had all these things in their favor.

I think being successful means that you are happy in what you do, can live on what you make, and can have a good, positive effect on those around you.

In a nutshell, here are his 5 steps to success.

1. Find meaning and inspiration in your work.

2. Work hard (sounds like Mom Smith!)

3. Discover the relationship between effort and reward.

4. Seek out complex work to avoid boredom and repetition. ( I could never work in a mill....)

5. Be autonomous and control your own destiny as much as possible. (make things happen!)

I think that if anyone trying to decide what they want to do in life can read this and find some nugget of inspiration in it, GOOD!

Feel inspired and DO something. I have been lucky enough to have had a good job being a dental assistant/receptionist for my father. It was a good job, and if I had to work again, I'd go back to it. Have you had good jobs in your life? My favorite has been wife and mom. How about you?

Change

Have you ever noticed that when you get comfortable with something, that it changes? For instance, in church, you get comfortable with your calling- whether you are a teacher, a piano player, or an organizer- then you get a new calling that you are NOT comfortable with, like being the president of an organization, or such?

How about if you live in a town and you have certain friends, then they either move, or you do, and you have to learn to live in a new place and have new friends?

I had 3 favorite restaurants that were around when I grew up in North Seattle that I and my family frequented quite often. One mexican- Campos; one italian-Chef Tony's; and a hamburger place- Triple X. All three of these restaurants are long gone. There is one triple x left in Issaquah, Washington, but when do we ever go there? (every 6 or more years.....) I have lived in Port Angeles longer than I lived in Seattle. I have favorite restaurants, but some have gone, like Smitty's and Chihuahuas. Always change, always another choice.

Now we are going to have a new President of the United States. I listened to his acceptance speech the other night. He sounds sincere. He sounds like he knows what he's doing. He looks young and capable. Here's hoping he is all three. If he can turn the economy around, bolster morale, and do what is right for the nation and not just the special interest groups, I think he will be a good president. I wish there would have been more choices, or better choices presented us, but who in their right mind would WANT to be president of the United States?

Anyway, change is good. The seasons have changed , too. Just today, the nice fall sun and leaves have been replaced with rain, cold and wind. The leaves are mostly on the ground and wet. Ah well. That's why there is Thanksgiving and Christmas to keep our minds busy during the dreary days of late fall/winter!

Hope your fall has been as beautiful as ours was. I love the northwest!!

fall in PA

I have been walking and riding my bike lately, because the weather has been very nice for Port Angeles. A little chilly,(47-53 degrees)but overcast or sunny. I like Autumn and Spring the best of the seasons. Here are some pictures of our driveway and our WONDERFUL maple tree. There is one place on the discovery trail that I ride that the trail is completely covered in maple leaves. It is beautiful!!

Also, on another note, Stu and I went to the Dallas speedway when we were in Dallas for Samantha Binns' wedding. Here is what was falling (literally ) from the sky as we sat in the bleachers. I should have put my hand next to it so you could see how large the crickets are!!!They loved the lights, and would swarm then fall to the ground. We were picking crickets off of us all night! Hurray for nature!!

ponderings

I just spent a nice weekend listening to General Conference. Because most of you know what that is, I won't go into that. But the talks and music were excellent. One of my favorite hymns is: "Oh what songs of the heart". The Tabernacle Choir sang that today. I want a group from our ward to sing that in Sacrament meeting sometime. (if I can get some people to do that!)
President Monson gave a talk on living each day to the fullest. I loved that talk. I haven't tried that until recently, because I have been "too busy" to slow down and be appreciative of all that I have. It doesn't matter that I don't have a new car, a fancy house, lots of cash or fame. I don't need or want any of those things. I enjoy the life I have. As of right now, I have everything I ever wanted: A husband that loves me (and provides our needs so I don't have to work outside the home); children that all know how to work, take care of their families, love their families, have good jobs and are intelligent and caring people; grandchildren that are loving and VERY intelligent(sometimes I feel like the child!!!); parents and relatives that are there for me when I need support; and best of all, I feel that Heavenly Father loves me. The world is a wonderful place, and even if there is a lot of unrest, bad people that do bad things to others, a lot of political fighting, etc, I still feel that my family can make it and that we will be o.k.
Kelli wrote on her blog lately , things that she misses. I want to add a few things, on my list, but not of things I miss, but things I would like to "revisit" if I could do it again. I'm afraid if I went back it wouldn't be the same as I remember, but if it were, I would: Be at home practicing the piano and having my Daddy come in and say: " I thought that was your mother playing"...such a compliment; be at the ranch and riding my horse through the woods with my dog,"Mitzy"- the best steak I ever ate was one we had over an open fire there at our campsite; going down the Yakima river with my friends on innertubes; Reading books in the summer on the dock at our cabin on Lake Goodwin; going to Grandma Binns' home and sitting in the breezeway after a hot day in Kennewick and eating sliced peaches with icecream; Holding my newborn babies - that's THE BEST feeling; eating creamcicles after picking beans at the welfare farm; kissing a boyfriend I had in highschool(sorry Stu, he was the best kisser, ever!) ; Dancing in a "dance festival" with 10 other stakes; riding in an old truck filled with garbage cans at the ranch and having the guy driving the truck dump them into the creek-we had to get out and pick them all up again; all of the great dates ( well, I can think of 3 that were outstanding); living at BYU and having all those grand experiences being on my own and living with 5 roommates! Working with my dad in a dental office and having Mr. Gaertner come in(a german baker who always smelled like cake and donuts) Having Grandpa Leishman comb my hair with his little black comb as I sat on his knee and listening to him sing; riding with Grandma Binns in the falcon to go and get milk at the dairy; camping in our tent trailer with all the kids and the only heat was the gas stove in the tent....- I could go on and on. I have had a lot of fun, a lot of sadness, a lot of everything, but that's what has made me who I am. Thanks for all of you!!!

I don't think so

I was recently at my niece's wedding and reception. My two brothers and my sister and I had a picture taken with my parents. Ever since I can remember, people have been saying," you and your sister look like twins!", and they say the same to my two brothers. I'm sorry, but I don't think we look alike. Same coloring, but body type, facial features, etc. are not the same to me. We do have some family inherited characteristics, like mannerisms and health issues, but "look alike"? hmmmm what do you think?

Here is a picture of all of us together. My two brothers: Erik (the tallest) and Matthew. Erik is 4 1/2 years younger than I am, and my brother Matthew is almost 11 years younger than I. My sister, Kristen is 8 years younger. I have also discovered that after you are older than 30, everyone is the same age (you know what I mean) until you are in your 80s. Just an observation!

Busy

Hello!

It's been a long time since I "managed" my blog. I have been traveling quite a bit, and being a grandma. I have come to enjoy traveling- didn't when I was younger, maybe because I had little kids to contend with,(viz. packing, feeding, bathroom duty, sickness, driving, etc...) and I had several health issues that made traveling not enjoyable.

Now that I'm older, have less health issues(at least I know how to manage them better) no little kids at home, no callings that MAKE me stay here, and less stress, I love going on road trips . Road trips are trips that you take with your husband , where you get into a car(or truck) and go somewhere. Sometimes we go just around the peninsula where we live and go on roads we have never traveled before. Sometimes Stu plans a trip, (like the anniversary "surprise" trips he plans for me each year around our anniversary) and we take off for 4 to 8 days on trips that are in the United states or Canada.

I like going somewhere, having a place to stay (bed and breakfast, cabin(my fave) or motel) and going around the area, trail hiking(easy day hikes) looking at the towns, eating out, and just exploring. I enjoy seeing the people and how they live in each place we visit. I like the sensations that I feel when I enter a town(city, etc) and how I relate those feelings to places I've been before, and if I'm lucky, it will be a new experience for me!!!

The only real requirements I have for feeling comfortable on a "trip" are these: bathrooms available, choice of food, reliable transportation, my husband and my dyne(down comforter). (I do enjoy going on trips to visit grandchildren , and I don't require the husband on THESE trips!!)

If all of these things are included, I have a great time!!!

See if you and your significant other can plan a road trip sometime soon. Take a sunday afternoon and drive somewhere you haven't been before,zans kids or with kids. You'd be surprised how they enjoy going places and being out of the house!!!(fresh air is THE BEST!!)

Here are some pictures I have of some places we have been- beautiful, this world we live in, don't you agree!!

oops

Here are the other pictures I promised!

Summer fun

Went to the lake yesterday . Haven't been much this summer, and it was time to swim! It was 85 degrees yesterday, which is VERY hot here. I had the red canoe in the back of the truck, my hair in almost a ponytail, no makeup, and the windows rolled all the way down!

Here are some pictures of the new dock, the old dock, and Erik's family at the lake with me. It was very "refreshing " in the cold water, but NICE. I enjoy being outside, canoeing, rowing, etc. I have to thank my mother for that, since when we were kids, she and my dad took us to the "ranch" for camping, horseback riding, river floating and hiking; and to Lake Goodwin , (where we shared a cabin with my Aunt and Uncle) where we waterskiied, rowed, swam, and hiked. I have enjoyed the outdoors since I can remember. I think you can stay healthy longer, if you get outside and move. ( just a theory, of course!)

Hope your August will be a good one. We have the Clallam County Fair coming up in a week. This weekend is the Jefferson County fair, in Pt. Townsend. Stu is the bakery judge for both fairs, and that's where he will be today, and next Monday. I get to help him next Monday, by processing the baked goods (which means labeling, attaching ribbons, putting the items on shelves, etc..) which is always fun . I put some cinnamon rolls in one year, and since he doesn't know whose items are whose, he didn't know it was me. I made them in different shapes than usual, and he didn't have any idea. Luckily for me, I still got a blue ribbon. It was a satisfying experience, so if you have an opportunity to put something in your nearby fair, DO IT! The bakery part of our fair is DOWN as far as participants. Maybe people aren't baking like they used to. That's a shame!

been busy

Hey-

I have been VERY busy- helping Erik and Angela get into their new home, and for fun, babysitting!

Stu and I also went on two vacations in June and July- the first was to Montana (Glacier Park) and Cardston, Alberta, Canada. Got to take Amtrak and the rest we drove. Let me give you some advice: if you have to ride a bus, DON'T use the bathroom at the back of the bus if the bus is leaving and driving around downtown. It was NOT a pleasant experience...... Here are some pictures from that vacation. Stu and I walked on a lot of trails, ate some excellent food, and just relaxed.

The second vacation was to visit with Timm, Megan and Harrison in Greeley, Colorado. We went to a rodeo- fun, fun fun!!!Watched 4th of July fireworks above the city, shopped, and ate at some fun restaurants. I even walked with Harrison in a stroller for about 2 miles!

After bidding a sad adieu to them , we drove the "scenic route" to Utah, up over the rockies- very scenic and very HIGH...Didn't get altitude sickness, which was good. I bought a cowboy hat in Soda Springs- haven't had one for 30 years!

Stayed at Stu's brother's cabin outside of Heber, Utah for a few days. Ole took us on a tour of the new buildings at BYU. Things have changed since we were there! We had Jamba juices almost every day; visited Stu's mom, and stayed at Ole's. Didn't get to see Dena, she was playing grandma at Janae's home. (that's better anyway!!!) One day, we went to see my parents and my brother Matthew and family. After the meal, Stu and I took my mom and dad to Scofield, Utah, where my father grew up. It is almost a ghost town, but it was fun having Daddy tell us about the "store, school, post office, and where this and that family used to live". We went back to Orem to dinner after that. Very fun day.

Well, today is the first day of our ward's Youth Conference, so I have to get ready for that. It's been fun having people at our house, but our cat is glad that Boo is now somewhere else!

under the house once again

Well, got the glorious chance to go under the house again- this time not to look for smelly dead rats, but to see if there is water under the house. The water meter reader came yesterday and said our water usage is up double from what it was last month, and last month it was double from the month before. Therefore, he says we have a leak and it isn't their responsibility to find it. SO, under the house I went- it gets easier as you do it more often....Here are some pictures of my "outfit", the hole under the house, what it looks like under there,(mind you, you have to crawl commando style) and me coming out...fun fun fun! Good news though, no water under the house, and the decon was gone- so something met it's fate, and I don't smell it!!!Yipee!!!

Busy days

It has been just plain fun having Erik, Angela and kids here with us. It is VERY BUSY, but good. The things that the kids say mean so much more, because they don't try and cover up how they feel because they are honest in their feelings and words.

Here is a picture of Erik and Carson, washing the family vehicle. She copies everything you say and do, SO BE CAREFUL!!!!If you have little kids ages 2-5, they are like tape recorders/video cameras.

Hope you have children in your life right now- they are the best!!!Who else can play with bubbles and cookie cutters in the kitchen sink for an hour or more and love every minute of it?

More fun

It was a very enjoyable few days that I was able to be grandma to Harrison and Keyton. Harrison is a lot of fun- VERY smart for his age- can read any letter on signs, t.v., etc... He loves to be outside(as does Keyton) and they both liked playing with the "trucks" in the rocks. Harrison also likes putting things in order, digging in dirt, and looking at things in the yard. Here is a picture of Harrison and Stu on the riding lawn mower, and of him putting leftover blocks together. I miss both of these grandsons. I will be getting more in a couple of days, as Erik and Angela's kids come to live for a while.

FUN FOR ME!!

guess!

See the cat. See the woodstove. See the hole behind the woodstove. Guess what happened.....

This is Tonks, Erik and Angela's cat that we are babysitting. Curiosity is her game, getting into impossible places is her name. It was fun to get her out. I got to clean behind the woodstove- guess that's the "plus"!!!

Kelli got to climb in behind the woodstove, under the stairs. She's the only one that would fit in that little space. Hurrah for thin women and strong men!!!

Little boys

Hello!

Here are some pictures of Keyton Howard Campbell, who is visiting until the 15th. He and Kelli are here and we are enjoying their company! Happily, Keyton's skin condition is better today and he seems happy to be here! He especially likes being outside and playing with the little rocks in our drain field , saying things like "Gack-gack-gack"!!!(think of the movie "Mars Attacks")

He likes to be held and shown things, but likes to eat his own food or yours. He likes to stare at people that he doesn't know, and yank on our cat.

Kelli has had some fun visiting with old friends from highschool- I'll post some of those pictures next time.

Anyway, it is fun being "grandma". I'm gaining more stamina every day!

Hope your weekend was good!