Last Day of 2008 Was A Beauty!

Lyndee and I (and all three dogs) went to the Cochise Stronghold this afternoon. It was sunny, warm, lovely! Not sure which is prettier, looking up at the rock formations or down at the expansive valley below.

Snow on the Stronghold

A fresh dusting of snow with a clear blue sky backdrop greeted us this morning!

Family!

We had such a nice Christmas Day in Mesa at Deb and Mark's house. We didn't do much "posing" for photos, but Mom wanted one of her and "her girls" and the other is Lyndee and Jacy, hanging loose on the living room floor.

LG!

Christmas Eve Morn @ 85625

The Cochise Stronghold was clear and the morning peaceful :)
"Kangaroo Paws" are blooming in the living room window.

A Christmas Poem

Ring, ye bells, 'tis Christmas time,

Banish fear and sadness;

Christ is born in Bethlehem,

Fill the world with gladness.

~*~

Loud and clear send forth the word

Unto every nation,

Christ is born in Bethlehem,

Kneel in adoration.

~*~

Softly chime this holy night,

Angel choirs shall join you.

This their song to all mankind.

"Christ is born to save you."

-Edward Auten, Jr.

Tree, Lights, Love

This wrought iron Christmas tree is a gift from Mom; we had planned on leaving it outside in the front courtyard, but I brought it in and it looks splendid in our living room! I had lights and very old glass bulbs (that the lady who used to own this house gave me) ~ and a few odd-ball fish ornaments ~ It didn't photograph too well, but it is very cool in person.

Thanks Mom!

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Fillin' Up Her Love Tank

Lyndee got to meet and love on Madilyn and Delaney. I am happy she is here and family ties are being nurtured. Jess sure has her hands full with these two pretty little girls. After our many years isolated in Oregon, I really appreciate the tightness of our family right now. I think Lyndee and Jess do too.

Beach

Good morning from Oceanside... !

Ridge Ranch Wreath

I went for a hunt on the Ridge Ranch and found these items and constructed a wreath with them. It is now at Jess and Evan's house. Then, on Monday, I returned to Hilltop and made two more, one for Mom and Paul that is now in Tucson and one for Mama's back door. ... ho ho ho!

Wreath Making Brings Joy

I have made four wreaths in the last two days using the plants from the Smith's Hilltop Ranch ~ Chuck's stuff :} I love, love, love the whole process! The smell, the touch, the weight, the texture, ahh so magnificent! Joy in the making and I hope joy in the receiving!

Pauma Valley Golf ... a Treat...

Brad is a member at Pauma Valley Country Club and invited us and our old buddy, Scott, to play golf today. It was so much fun. Brad lives in an adobe home on the 8th fairway that was built by Jack Weir in the 60's. We went there after golf and I absolutely fell in love with it!
This was taken from our "guest cottage" this morning! That is Valley Center below the fog! Such an awesome sight.

Dog Smiles

My Zan-man

Life is Good

~ We are loving our accommodations ~

Today was a day of laundry and re-grouping and I got to meet baby Delaney at only one day old, so remarkable and beautiful!

Feeling blessed in VC!

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Thanksgiving for Freedom

Mike and Chuck took down the Ridge Ranch flag and replaced it with a new one. (Russ helped too). The flag is 15'X30' and can be seen from miles away! It has to be done twice a year. This one was more tattered than usual!

New Flag!

Mike and Madilyn Say "Nigh-Nigh Mary Sunshine"

Travels...

It is about 18 hours of actual driving time and the first 14 are wide open, nice roads, good scenery... this photo is of my favorite stretch... between Hawthorn, NV and Bishop, CA... Hwy 360... wide open, warm sunshine, snow capped mountains in the distance... sweet! Gizmo, the cat proved to be a very good traveler and she is happy here in Mama's guest house. The photo of Gizmo has a shadow of my cross hanging from my rearview mirror. She is sitting on the console between the two front seats. The last 4 hours of driving were treacherous, and boy was I glad to have that part over with. Valley Center always seems like such a haven after making it through San Bernadino/Riverside/ and points beyond!

From Kids to Cats...

You may have to look hard to see what this is.... It is my cat sleeping inside one of the bags I have out getting ready to pack. (She obviously doesn't want to get left behind!) Last year we left her home and a neighbor fed her but she was so matted and neglected when we got back I felt awful. I have taken her for a couple test rides and she seems okay in the car. What am I getting us both into?!?! We should be on the road by noon today. The Inn & shower house is all drained and locked, we just have to do our house and load up!

Which Came First?... The Golfers or The Turkeys?

Having a private golf course and warm sunshine, appeals to not only the local wild turkeys...

Deb and I walked six very relaxing holes this afternoon. It was mid 60's and we were the only ones on the course. And, tomorrow it may reach 70'. This weather, combined with these slow easy days, help me to not feel rushed about heading south :)
LG
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6 am @ 97825

"Edward (Scissor Hands) Mike" ~ An Artist at Work

Freshly pruned apple tree... Mike seems to give each tree its own personality.
Mike dropped a huge branch off a Cottonwood Tree, then split it and stacked it up by our fire ring. I have to mention that I helped by loading the logs into the truck and helping stack it. It's like doing 200 squats :) The sun was out and it made working outside pleasurable.

Below is the English Walnut tree, still loaded with nuts that need to blow off. We have picked up tons already. I imagine walnuts will accompany plum wine as Christmas gifts this year!

'Shoe ~ Day.'.. Now What Does That Mean?

I took a road trip today to Bend with Deb... We both had errands, on the other side of the mountain. We met, and drove together (2 hrs).

The above tree is on Hwy 26, en route to Bend, part way between our meeting place. Today, since I was by myself and had my camera... I stopped and took a picture. I have passed it hundreds of times over the last 18 years and never stopped! I am unable to share the best part of finally pulling over and taking a long look at the silly tree... the aroma! The morning air was damp, clear, and smelled so indescribably wonderful and fresh! I thought to myself how I wished I could share it ~way more so than the tree photo.

We really had a fun day... We met Dane at Deshutes Brewery for a delicious lunch, and then we went to a couple thrift stores. At the Goodwill in Redmond I found the above golf shoes! I think they are super cool, and they fit me perfectly! Deb bought two pairs, too. Hers are all leather, wing tips! We also bought other fun things... the shoe tree and our cool golf shoes just give my blog entry a theme. My real theme is feeling blessed for a day with a good friend who giggles, prays, and shops with me!

Life is good!
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Happy Birthday, Mom !

I sure wish I had flown down to Tucson to be with you at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch. It is pretty gloomy here. Hope you all had a wonderful time! Hugs and smiles across the miles!

"Morning by Morning New Mercies I See"

Yesterday I found a website called "Cyber Hymnal" and I looked up all my favorite hymns! It even plays the tune and shows the lyrics so you can sing them... and I did, for hours. "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is wonderful, and I so often think of that line "Morning by morning new mercies I see", hence the above photo from this morning!

Colorful Evening... AAhh...

Cold Weather Comfort

Now that it is cold I seem to wear a neck scarf all the time. They are such a fun accessory... and versatile. A few weeks ago, when the days were warm but the evenings got cold as soon as the sun was down, I put one on with a sleeveless shirt when I made one last trip down the hill in the early evening, anticipating getting cold. Mike looked at me like I was nuts and asked me why I had that funny thing on... I told him it was "a sweater on a string". Now, I am sure that doesn't strike many people as clever, but I think it is! I can't help but call them that all the time now and I was excited to find two new ones in a booth at an antique mall the other day for just $2 each. Cheap thrills!

~ Pretty ~ Cool ~

It rained steady all night long last night, leaving a dusting of snow on the mountains to the south. It was "pretty~cool" this morning and still is. Its going to be clear and cold tonight.

We have the Cottage floor finished and the furniture back in, we are almost ready for guests. We have the Inn booked with hunters this weekend :)

Life is good!

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My Prayer on Election Day

I am hoping that you, too, are praying for our nation. I am guilty of being un-educated in economics and politics, but I know this much, I desire the US to be a God-fearing nation. So, my prayer on this eve of the Presidential election is that individually we will humble ourselves and recognize His power in ALL things. I long to live in a way that displays my belief that the purest source of power is God, not elected officials. May God feel the heart felt energy of the multitude of believers in our country tomorrow... and may His will be done.

"Arise O Lord, Do not let man prevail, let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations should know themselves to be but men." Psalm 9:19,20

Spring Forward, Fall Back

Daylight savings time is so dumb! It was starting to get dark at 4:30 today. Does anyone like it?

Mike got a lot of the floor installed ~ looks very nice!

Sunday blessings to whomever is reading this! Remember, thankfulness equals wellness!

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Duck~carving instead of Pumpkin~carving (Yuck)

Happy Halloween from Dayville... Here's what's happening in our neck of the woods today... Mike shot his 3rd duck, he is going to an annual party tomorrow night at Loren's cabin. He makes "jalepeno duck" appetizers .

We went to Bend on Wednesday, Mike's birthday, and purchased new wood flooring for the Cottage. We have gotten tons done in the last few days! There's always way more to the project than I first imagine.

The final photo is of our final crop of the season... walnuts! They blow off the trees right along with the leaves!

Soakin' in the Sweetness of a Warm Fall Day

Fall Golf in Dayville

We have had a few wonderful warm days this week! Yesterday afternoon Mike and I met Chet and Deb at the South Fork Golf Course in the late afternoon. It was so peaceful. It was "couples night" so there was a surprising number of people on our little course.
Today there was a tournament/birthday party. There were 27 players ~ 9 teams with a pot luck afterwards. I started out in four layers of clothes with a knit hat and at one point was down to a sleeveless shirt and rolled up pants. Such extreme temps!

My teammates... Vallie Jo... and Patti-O... my nickname needed to rhyme so it was "Uh-OH"... Fun day!