Catching Up . . .

Gosh, September went flying by and I only wrote one post. I always have something to write about but I just haven't been feeling very good and didn't feel very creative I guess. I still don't feel that great but my Grandma used to say - get up, get dressed and do something! So here I am - up - dressed and doing something.


Let's see, we just got back from a quick trip to Redding to see my husband's Mom and go see the Shasta Knights play football. Kenny's Mom was really happy to see him and I guess I was a bonus but we were able to sit and watch some sports on tv with her and Kenny and his Mom were able to discuss politics, old vacations we had gone on, places that she and Kenny's Dad had gone to throughout the United States - exactly what we used to do when she lived near us. I think she misses Kenny coming over and discussing stuff with her. She's really with it as far as issues of the day, sports and has opinions on most things that are going on in the world.


We also went to see Shasta play football. The head coach, Craig Thompson, is our niece Renee's husband and we try to get up and see at least one game a season. Shasta has a great field for fans watching football, you're really close to the field and so you hear the hits and can see the plays really good. It would be great if you could see replays on a big screen but, hey, it's lucky they still are able to have a sports team. Anyway, it's fun to sit up in the stands with my nieces Renee, Rhonda, our nephew Rob, their Mom, Louise who is Kenny's sister and various people we've gotten to know through the years. The Knights didn't do so well but it was a fun


The weekend before that Kenny and I went on a trip to Yosemite to check out some camping spots for next summer. Yosemite is absolutely beautiful. We were on a quick trip because we left there and then drove to Reno for a couple of nights. We were in the car 12 hours but we saw some beautiful country. Reno was a bust and I think we won't be going there for a while but it's become a little get away place for us.


Right before Connie had to go back to work we did something that's been on my list of things to do for a while. We often drive down McDonald Ave. to look at the beautiful old houses in Santa Rosa, but I wanted to get out, walk on the sidewalk and really look at the houses. These homes are very old and were where the rich people lived years ago. The McDonald house is actually a movie star, it was where they filmed Pollyanna (with Haley Mills) years and years ago. So here's a few pictures of our walk. This is the McDonald mansion and it is being fully restored to it's former glory. On some of the pictures you can click on them and they will enlarge. I can't ever tell which ones will enlarge but take a chance and see if it will work.



This is a sign that was outside the gates explaining the history of the house and property.This is a section of the huge garden. You can see the beautiful trees and gazebo. Here's a couple of other houses on the street. It was a fun thing to do and I hope some other time we'll pick another neighborhood we like and do it again.





There is something else that's fun that I'm doing - every Wednesday has become "Wednesday's with Grammy Day". Benji and I spend the day together and have all sorts of fun. I take pictures and eventually will create a book or a DVD. He such a cutie pie - here's just 1 of his pictures from Grammy day.

We were out in the yard and he was up in the flower beds looking at my "stuff" that I have out there. Just a simple thing but being together just creates a bond that goes on and on!

I think this is where I'll stop for today. I'm glad I followed Grandma's advice - I got up - got dressed - and did something!!

This is my Grandma on her 80th birthday. Look at that sweet face. A quiet woman who had 9 children and watched her sons go off to war in World War II and had more than her own sons (my Dad for one) want to get home to see their Mama! A woman who was born on the prairie and saw so many new and exciting things happen in her lifetime. Full of wisdom and LOVE.

As we start to feel the first signs of Autumn this will be it for today. The process of making this blog is very frustrating as I'm doing it but I'm always glad that I kept at it and got it done. My computer is the cause of the frustration.

My thought to leave you with today is: Memories from your past can influence your life today are a very important part of life.

Until next time . . .