Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Tripping with Grandmother








Maybe we were just crazy but we decided to take Grandmother with us to Seattle for a week. Since Kelli is out of work and I am too, it was just the "right time" to go see her in her new environment. So, off we went.

We stopped in Red Bluff where I (Kay) grew up. It is always so amazing how it is still the same and yet has changed. Then we charged up I-5. It was still just as beautiful as I remembered. I took lots of shots of Mt. Shasta; you can see why.

We stopped in Albany, Oregon to see a guy I grew up with that Dave has been becoming a fan of. Charlie Moe and his wife, Linda (aka LMoe), came to have dinner and breakfast with us. It is so fascinating to relate to a childhood friend now as senior adults. Having our foundation in Christ is what makes a relationship still possible.

We went on up to Portland and helped Dave find some customers. Then on to Seattle to see Kelli. Grandmother and I spent the morning with her and then Dave came and we had dinner with her and Jenette. Mom was quite tired by the time we got to our room.

There were quite a few picture opportunities as we came down the Oregon coast. It took a whole day. Dave said I should have carpal finger from snapping so many shots. Hope you enjoy what I have posted.

Monday, November 17, 2008

The Great Adventure Pictures







The Great Adventure

Nancy, Allison and Betsy came for the day this past Saturday. What a Great Adventure! I was driving or I could have gotten pics of the girls singing what became our theme song. What a hoot!

We decided to take them to Yosemite because we could see so much from the car and Mom wouldn't have to get out and walk so much. It was wonderful weather...low 80's in the Central Valley and low 70's in the Yosemite valley. We left town in the van with everyone eating on a 5" long 2" diameter burrito. I'm not sure any were actually finished but we made good headway.

We got up Priet's Grade, the first of the winding roads, and had to pull over and change the front driver's side tire. Unfortunately, the (replacement) jack we had didn't get the car off the road enough to take the tire off. So-o-o, Nancy and Ali flagged down another van and we borrowed a jack. Mom sat in the van while Dave was under it. Betsy, Ali and I took pictures and Nancy asked questions of the guy who loaned us the van to distract him from how long it seemed to take. We tried to get the tire fixed at the AAA tow/auto repair just up the road a mile but it was beyond help. Of course, we then had to stop every few miles to tighten the lug nuts until they finally got seated. I'm glad it was late enough in the year and the day that the places to pull over weren't full.

You'll see from the pictures that this is a photographer's Heaven. They even have a meadow area named for Ansell Adams. Come stay in the summer and get art lessons from professionals who pay for their lodging by giving the lessons to vacationers.

At the end of the day we stopped in Mariposa at the Happy Burger Diner and had a sandwich or salad & sundae. We spent 8 hrs. (11-7) in the saddle but had a fun time.

Mom/Grandmother was very excited to see and be with her girls again. In fact, she stayed up until 9:30 p.m. and didn't get up until 7:00 a.m. Quite a stimulating day!

Pictures for your enjoyment:

Sunday, September 28, 2008

September already!

Well, September arrived with a deflating fanfare. I (Kay) thought I was going to be paid for the first holiday in years! Not so...I was still a temporary. Since my first 2 weeks of work were only 1/2 days and there were 2 holidays I didn't get paid for, my 570 hrs. were not reached until Sept. 19 instead of the first. Oh well....as of tomorrow, Sept. 29, I will be permanent and will get benefits! I have been part-time or temporary since 1992 so this feels almost like a new experience.

Just for the record, I am working as an Administrative Secretary for the President (and other executives) of Northern Refrigerated Transportation, Inc., a small trucking company in Turlock. Another girl, Karen Curtis, (notice the two KC's) shares the job with me. They had to split it up because it was too much for one person. Thank God! I didn't ever realize it but God did and He gave me the better half! I work mostly on the computer and with the sales people. The phones and the tedious part of the job are Karen's. She also has to deal with the difficult person in Rates and Tariffs that would have my remisis.

Well, I turned 59 on the 14th of this month. What a joy! I'm not the "old" person I thought I would be at this age. Don't get me wrong, it isn't all wonderful because there are still aches and pains and loss of memory, but it is better than I thought it would be.

Dave is still enjoying his job. He loves the travel (of course) and is always wanting me to join him. Maybe some day--the sooner the better! He took some pictures in Oregon while he was walking one night after dinner. I'll try to get them put on this blog. If not, I'll try again next time.

He has been languishing because the Corvette is under the weather and he feel the need for his "convertible therapy". It gets put to the end of the money so it hasn't had much done for a while. He got a fuel pump online and put that in today but it still needs a few other parts.

Mom watched "Facing the Giants" this afternoon and went to bed by 6:45 p.m. She just doesn't have much strength or energy. Even just sitting, like today, wears her out. Of course, she is up by 6:00 a.m. but we usually are too. It's the weekends when we can't keep her in bed. She can get her own breakfast of cereal, thankfully!

She does seem to have more times when her memory or ability to process thoughts or even remember words are impaired. We went to dinner Wednesday night with my sister, Neva, her husband, John, and my dad. I told her just before we arrived who was going to be there. I'm not sure where the disconnect occurred, however, as we were leaving, she asked the name of "the lady we ate with." I reminded her it was my sister and dad. She thought I was joking and didn't believe me until I insisted. It takes me off guard so quickly. Both Dave and I are learning how to cope better after we get our breath knocked out of us like that.

Today we ate at a Mexican restaurant. Most places out here do not have tacos like Taco Bell and she is cofused by that. So, we try to get other items she will recognize and can eat. Today, after 3-4 suggestions, Dave just ordered a burrito for her and it was fine. It is easier to have children at a restaurant. When she is aware of what is going on or has happened, she is grateful for our help but it is difficult to get through it without some conflict. I'm sure she will outlive both of us so then Bob & Debi can have their turn...hee! hee! ;^ (that's a kissy face).

Well, it is supposed to be in the 90's all week. The water in the pool is cooler than it has been though and my swimming has tapered off. Still in shorts for church and have the air on. Come see us! Dave is a willing guide...and he is free! Love to all who love us too,

the california cooks

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Poppo's Place











We have been working with Poppo Walker to get him moved over to Neva and John's apartment so he woldn't be alone so much. He enjoys the isolation but the Dr. said he should be closer to someone. Then, the Lord brought a BUYER for his little modular house. John's inquiries looked like we were going to have to pay someone to demolish it and take it away. What a great God we serve! It took 2 weekends of taking furniture and cleaning out the kitchen before the really BIG moving weekend. It took half a day on Friday and all day Saturday for the 12-15 of us to get it all out and ready for the movers to take it apart and move it out.



Here are some pics of it as they had taken off the front and back porches and then after it was gone. What a difference!






A May Wedding






Kaitlyn and Josiah got married in May on the only nice weekend for months. It was outdoors and was a wonderful time of being with old friends to enjoy this milestone. They are (right now) moving into their 2-bedroom house in Kirksville for Kaiti's last year of college. After that, who knows?!!

A 2008 Reunion





All 3 girls were able to come out to see us in July. Kristi brought Ben-the-man with her (of course) and he was agreat entertainer. At dinner he would laugh with his mouth wide open and look at each person around the table with full eye contact to see if they were watching and laughing at him. I don't know how he had such energy on so little food!

Granddad took them to a park in Riverbank and over to the City and across the Golden Gate.

Kelli came for a quick 2 days/2 nights weekend but we enjoyed it really fast!

Next year we can maybe get the guys here too!

A trip to Yosemite





A trip to Yosemite

It has been so long since we went that I won't say much. The pictures say more than I could anyway. It was a rainy Memorial Day weekend and we thought there wouldn't be many people there...those that went weren't Americans! Enjoy the pics.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

April 1, 2008

Well, Grammie and Granddad (that's Kay and Dave) got to go see the grandboy for his first birthday. He is so sweet it's hard to get enough kisses from him. At least he still lets you kiss on him. He had lots of fun at the party. Kristi undressed him so he could just dig into the cake and dig he did! Once he found out it tasted good, he just kept eating. It was hard for him to get started though. As you can see from the pictures, his arms were moving so fast they are just blurs. That's how he shows his excitement--but he needs to be sitting or the movement causes him to fall down. He are a couple of pictures from the party and a video of him playing the drums.

We aren't quite settled in the new house but enough to get by. Dave has even started to strip his old desk to refinish it. Maybe we'll even do his Granddad's rocker while we're at it. We're having fun in our new home. Mom is getting settled; we will start the process of finding a doctor (or two) and other essentials soon.

Dave loves his job and I am still looking. We'll keep you apprised of how that works out. Hope you like our pictures--write when you can: 2319 Rio Verde Dr, Riverbank, CA 95367.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

We are almost settled!

We are now official California residents. As of Saturday, March 15, we will have our own address and a place for you to come visit us. Dave's sister, Nancy, will be our first guest and his mom, Elsie, will be here to reside with us on Monday, March 17. I will get pictures soon. We have a pool and a front porch to sit on in a rocker or a covered patio to sit under and gaze at the lovely backyard. All this while enjoying the warm California sunshine. Y'all come now! Send us an e-mail for the address then let us know when you can be here. In later posts we'll be explaining exactly where Modesto is in relation to the wonderful recreational areas of California.

Shaving with Granddad

Rhapsody of Excitement