Happy One Year Anniversary!

One year ago this day was frantic with activity. Last minute preparations for an outdoor wedding at 3:30 and then it poured rain at noon. Thank goodness showers in the mountains usually are short-lived and that was the case for us. I can honestly say I am glad I only have one daughter. It is much easier to marry off sons...a whole lot less work! But daughter and son-in-law had a great wedding and now they are celebrating their 1st anniversary.


There aren't many brides who would scale rocks for a photo, but she did. This one is my favorite of all of them. Let's just say that high heels weren't made for climbing!

The cake was gorgeous and good tasting to boot. I have the top in my freezer since daughter and son-in-law live in another state. When my first anniversary rolled around my mom called me and told me that the top of cake was really good. She and Dad ate it. My husband and I were living in another state and we didn't get a bite of that cake top. I am thinking about continuing that tradition and taking the cake out of the freezer for my husband and me. It only seems right. PLUS the top is chocolate cake...and my son-in-law hates chocolate :) Mom

Look for an exciting

presidential campaign. We are going to make history in the 2008 election. There will be either a Black American as president or the first woman vice president. It is going to be interesting. This month as been good for TV, we had the Olympics, then the Democratic National Convention and now the Republican National Convention. It sure beats reruns on TV, more action than the reality shows. I am proud to be a registered voter since the age of 21 and this vote will probably take more time in considering who I am going to cast my vote for. Casting a vote is much easier than it used to be, you can do it by mail-in ballot, absentee ballot or using the new voting machines. When I first voted you had to go to the designated voting precinct, usually stand in line for hours which at times wasn't too bad, you got to visit with your neighbors but the kids got bored then wait until the next day for the results. Now the results are determined before the West Coast has voted, I wonder if this election will be harder to predict. Remember to register and VOTE!!! History will be made. Grandmother

The Secret Guys

When we lived in the DC area in the 80's we had a couple of neighbors who worked the Secret Service detail. The guy next to us would just say he worked for the Treasury department. It turned out that he was a sharpshooter for the Secret Service. We only found out because the other fellow became a friend of ours. He was a driver for President Reagan. Although we never learned any of the specific details of his job, we did learn that he was highly skilled in driving and could virtually drive a vehicle out of any kind of situation as long as the engine was running and the wheels were still on.

I was reminded of these elite people, who serve but remain unseen, as I watched Barack Obama give his acceptance speech last night. If you noticed the people who were behind Michelle Obama and her daughters, you would have seen the Secret Service at work. Although they blended into the crowd and appeared to participate in the activities, they never ever looked at Obama. Their eyes were constantly scanning the hordes of people watching intently for anything that would signal trouble.

I also wondered which one(s) were assigned to watch over the younger daughter because from observing her over the course of the last 4 days I figured that those agents had their hands full. She was a delight; confident and spontaneous in her actions and her words. But I imagine that the agents would really have to be on their toes and be quick to keep up with her.

No one ever thinks about the individuals who put their lives on the line to protect our President(s) and Vice President(s) and their families. These people go beyond the 9 to 5 job and I take my hat off to them! Mom

Ice tea vs sun tea

There's nothing like a cold glass of iced tea on a hot summer's day. Some people don't think sun tea is really iced tea. They are traditionalists. believing good iced tea is brewed then cooled and finally poured over ice. Now me I like to fill the gallon jug with water, throw in bags of tea, set out in the hot sun, then cool and pour over ice. Recently I read an article giving instructions for brewing tea. Did you know that each type of tea requires different temperatures and brewing times? Black teas are best when brewed in boiling water for 5 minutes. Green teas like water at 180 degrees and are brewed for only 2 to 3 minutes. My mother-in-law was an artist when it came to brewing green tea. She would pour hot water into the tea pot let it sit while she heated the water for tea, using a tea caddy she would carefully measure the right amount per cup, then empty the water from the pot, put the tea caddy in, turn off the boiling water and wait a minute or two and pour it into the tea pot. She always used loose tea, didn't believe in bagged tea. The best part of the tea was after drinking it she would read the leaves. Grandmother

Signs of Summer's End

The hummingbirds have arrived which is a sure sign that the dog days of summer are winding down. I always have mixed feelings greeting the hummers, because while I enjoy their antics I also know that the lazy, hazy days are shortening up and the temps are dropping. This summer has zoomed past all too fast and I would like nothing more than to linger just a little while longer and breathe in the scents of the roses.
The flowery shows give way to some weird looks in the garden, but I particularly like this one. These allium globes look like they are from outer space. I just know that there are tiny Martians hidden in those seedheads .This is a great plant in the garden. If you are making lists for next year take special note of "redbirds in a tree", scrophularia macrantha. The blossoms look just like little, tiny red birds sitting on a tree branch. This plant isn't fussy and is xeric. Those little hummers also appreciate seeing it in the garden so they can zoom in and take a nectar sip! Even if the calendar pages are turning toward colder, shorter days I will take time to lounge just a little longer and enjoy the changes in the garden. Mom

That old family tree

I enjoy researching old cemeteries, looking for records, reading letters (yes people did write letters that had a wealth of information in them) finding photographs and getting histories in person. I am a family tree buff and love finding bits and pieces of our families. My imagination goes wild when families move and I wonder why they struck out on their own. It is a plus when you find another relative working on their tree and are able to compare dates and locations. In checking censuses you wonder what happened to a child that was on the previous census and you note that the mother isn't there either. Did they die, go to live with another relative or end up in a state home? At times it is a mystery but it makes you work that much harder to find the answer. I wonder if my great-great-grand children will wonder why we moved to different states and what we were doing. I keep a diary and hope some day someone will be interested enough to read it. Grandmother

Alaskan Vacation

I just got back from Alaska where we went on a cruise in the Prince William Sound and saw tons of sea life from humpback whales and otters to seals and porpoises. I didn't see very many land animals, though, which was a little disappointing because I love to see bears and moose in the wild. My husband, however, was very lucky as he saw a grizzly bear cub on his float trip and I don't believe I've ever seen a cuter photo:

On the cruise, we also saw tons of glaciers. And because we were on a small boat, we could get really close to them.

Lastly, here's one of the amazing Alaskan sunsets. You don't always get them, though, because many days it's too cloudy. Daughter

Getting ready for winter

Went to the farmers market this morning and bought a box of these big, juicy peaches from the orchard grower. It is a small orchard which is run by the farmer and his wife. They have a selection of different types of peaches which ripen at different intervals. These peaches are raised in the Palisade area of Colorado where they grow the biggest, juiciest peaches. We look forward to eating them with home made ice cream, freezing them, making pie, jam and of course canning them to eat this winter. Presto: This photo shows the canned product ready to store and enjoy when the snow is on the ground.


Wish you were all here to enjoy them. Grandmother

Good Smells!

Researchers say that smells can immediately transport us back to earlier memories. It's too bad that smell can't be copied because the smell emanating from my sourdough starter is quite overwhelming. How can something that smells so sour make something sooooooo good?


There isn't anything like kneading to release frustrations and talk about a workout for flabby arm muscles. No wonder my grandmothers never had jiggly arms!


It really is toooooo bad that you can't smell these. The aroma of freshly baked bread always transports me back to my childhood home, walking through the door after school and immediately knowing that Mom had just made a batch of freshly baked bread. She would always have to make 4 loaves because with our family it just never lasted. There is nothing to compare to warm bread right from the oven slathered with butter. OOOOHHH! So goooood!!!!!!!!! Mom

Where are my pompoms?

The 2008 Olympics have my full support but my cheer leading skirt doesn't fit anymore and I can't find the pompoms. The opening ceremonies were great!!! The precision of the performers was remarkable. The light show, dancers, drill team and fireworks were spectacular. It is such a treat to watch the athletes in the various events. Love it when they win, feel the disappointment when they falter. With all the reruns on TV it is great to watch the live action of the summer games. Go USA. Grandmother

What's That??

I have to admit that the first time I saw this critter I killed it. It looked like something that would enjoy dining on my plants. I now have guilt pangs about that murder. Since then I learned this is a ladybeetle larva. They are voracious feeders of aphids and will eat mites and other insect eggs when the aphids are hard to find. The larva can eat up to its weight in aphids per day. It's such a desirable bug in the garden that I have been known to search my neighbors' plants for the larva and steal them to put on my own! Now how despicable is that?

This is one of my most favorite plants in my garden. Her name is Annabelle. This hydrangea has flourished even though we have gone through a record breaking number of days over 90 degrees with no rain. She isn't a complainer though and just makes me happy. I get to enjoy her through the winter too, because once the white blossom heads turn chartreuse, I cut them and put them in vases in the house and they dry perfectly. There aren't many plants that don't require a lot of work but yet give so much back in enjoyment. She's a keeper! Mom

Buyer Beware!!

Some of my groceries were still the same price and I prided myself for buying them since everything else had gone up in price. To my surprise I found that the wheat buns I purchased for the same price contained only 6 buns instead of 8. The package of sweet rolls had 5 rolls instead of 6, my favorite brand of olive oil was 5 ounces less than the one I had previously purchased. Now I look for the amount as well as the price. Sometimes we get in a rut and don't investigate our purchases more thoroughly. Trying to be a better shopper, Grandmother

Spring Bag

I had made my daughter a quilted handbag for Christmas and she requested one with spring colors for spring and summer. Here it is. I used a different pattern and although it was quick to sew up I didn't line or interface like I did with the other one. I don't think it needs the interfacing but I think if I make it again I will either bind the inner seam or line it (as the pattern suggested) and maybe add an inside pocket or two. But the colors definitely make this good for spring or summer, don't you think? Mom

A Day Late!

I need to explain myself first off. I have never been one to remember anniversaries...including my own. There has been more than one occasion when I have totally forgotten my anniversary. This probably wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, except my husband has never forgotten...ever! In fact one year I sat down to an excellent meal that he had cooked and found a card sitting next to my plate and one next to his. Still clueless I asked why there was a card. As soon as I started to open the envelope it dawned on me. Another anniversary forgotten. My husband had bought a card not only for me but one for himself from me. Now when I get the calendar for a new year I immediately go to our anniversary and write it in.

But now there is another anniversary that I have missed. I didn't forget this one...although I admit that last year I did forget. Let me set the stage. I was looking for a special picture for the blog I was going to post on August 5th wishing my son and daughter-in-law a happy 5th anniversary. I was rifling through my photos and happened to come across the wedding program. Oh oh! The date wasn't August 5th, it was August 3rd and it wasn't their 5th anniversary it was their 6th! Six years! I really can't believe it has been six years!

At any rate I am little red in the face but none the less sending the most heartfelt love and warm wishes for a belated Happy Anniversary to my dear son and daughter-in-law!

You can bet that the 2009 calendar will not only have my anniversary date written in but also August 3rd before anything else is entered! Mom

Zucchini Anyone?

We have three zucchini plants in our garden. The refrigerator drawer is full. What else can you do with them besides making bread, adding them to stews, eat them with dip? Zucchini anyone?
Grandmother

How Many Blondes Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?

My mom doesn't usually act like a blonde, but yesterday she did.

The light bulb burnt out in my bedroom and my mom was visiting so she said she would take care of it. Around 11 a.m., I get a call at work and my mom is not a happy camper. She changed the light bulb, but she can't get the light fixture to fit back around the light. She's going on and on, so I said don't worry about it, I'll take care of it when I get home. She laughed haughtily and said, like you're going to know how to fix it, you don't know about this stuff.

Well, I get home and grab a chair to take a look. Again, she says, you're not going to be able to fix it. I take a look and what do you know, within five minutes I realized the problem--the light bulb was too big and that's why the light fixture wouldn't screw in. She stood there dumbfounded. She had tried for two hours to get the light fixture on when it took me five minutes. She can saw a piece of wood, build a fire, paint 14 ft. walls, but she can't change a light bulb! Daughter.