Labor Day at Big Bear Cabin

Mike and I with our grandchildren, Siena 7 mos. Garrett 15 mos. Aubrey 3 1/2

The entire family made it to the cabin for some cozy family time. In our 2 bedroom 1 bath cabin we all took turns sharing spaces. It really didn't seem all that crowded and we are so fortunate that everyone gets along and has fun together. We hit the annual Labor Day weekend garage sales, visited the Moonridge Zoo and played games at night. The weather was nice and cool while at our homes the temteratures were the highest of the year.

Derek & Michelyn relaxing on the deck
Aubrey holding her favorite horsie, Mark, Nicole and Garrett enjoying some family time
Randy & Staci giving Siena a bath in the sink after a big day playing with her cousins
Grandpa sharing his yummy BBQ ribs
Randy and Aubrey trying to push over the tree while Garrett is trying to figure it all out

New challenges

I signed up for Eva Shaw's "Writing your life story" class. It has been exciting to learn techniques in writing as I am new to this. I just learned bubbling, or mind mapping. My life story bubble is bursting and I haven't even included the last 30 years! This week we are doing 'character sketches' about people we will write about. After we learn all these tools we should be ready to put our story together. What a challenge that will be!

I also uncovered the old Unique Gardens web site that Randy did for me in 1999. Mike posted it up on my new site. Uniquegardens.net. Check it out. There is a lot of work to do on it yet but the information is still good. Check out the Monthly guide to gardening. I am trying to learn the new software we got, Microsoft Expression Web, so I can edit the site.

My brain is working overtime.....time to get out in the garden for a brain break!

Fun with Siena and her Mom and Dad

Randy, Staci and Siena came down for the day. We had fun at the beach.

Siena loved playing with the sand but loved the water even more.

Some Grandma fun

Playing in the garden

A trip through the garden is my favorite time to spend with everyone who comes over. They all know what's up when I ask "anyone want to go outside?"
It is especially fun with the grandchildren. It is amazing how much they remember from visit to visit. Aubrey always wants to look for worms around the compost pile. Garrett loves to play with the rocks and splash in the fountain (named Bob).

Garrett playing with the rocks in the herb garden's dry river bed.

I think the little ones look so cute around the bridge.

Aubrey and I pulling out a six foot high celery plant that I let go to seed.

Nicole enjoyed harvesting the seeds from the plant. They have a really intense celery flavor. We will use them as seasoning in the kitchen and plant some in the spring for a new crop of celery.

Aubrey loves to water my plants on the deck.

Fiesta weekend

Nicole and the grandchildren spent the weekend. We attended the annual San Clemente Fiesta. A full day of family fun. Rounded the busy weekend out by going to the beach and playing on the deck and in the garden.

The crowd at the San clemente Fiesta.

We went early and were leaving just about time the crowds swelled to 25,000!

Aubrey and Garrett were 'Pirates" at the Fiesta. Arrrrrrrg!

Garrett insisted on pushing Aubrey around the deck.

They are really having fun playing in the waves now.

It is so nice to be able to go to the beach for an hour or two since it is less than 5 minutes away. That is plenty of time for the little ones to play hard, just in time to go home, clean up eat and rest. We pack light and it makes it easy to go on the spur of the moment.

Motorhome Vacation

We rented a long (31 foot) motorhome and headed out with the family on vacation. Randy, Staci and 5 month old Siena were our camping roomates and Siena was an angel baby at night in the confines of a motorhome.

Nicole and Mark borrowed Mark's parents motorhome and they picked up Michelyn in Tehachapi on the way. Michelyn bunked with their family (we were all sad that Derek had to work) .

We all met at Hume Lake, near the Giant Sequoias, north east of Fresno. The campground was beautiful with tall pine trees and my favorite shrub-Manzanitas.

We all played games by lantern at night and had a ton of laughs.

We had a great time with the grandchildren.

Aubrey, 3 1/2 years old, spent hours of her quiet time playing with the 2 little horses we brought. She found Grandma's lap many times. Much to my pleasure.

Garrett, 1 year old, I nick named him Topple. He would walk/ run/ play and topple over many times with his year old toddler walk on the uneven dirt, beaches and swaying pontoon boat. We had fun watching him cover himself and the chairs with the dusty dirt of the campground. Then sent him home to Mom (Nicole) to clean him up. I enjoyed watching him fall asleep in my arms.


Siena, 5 months, experienced food for the first time and we all watched and photographed her first bites. She just chowed it down. She was to young to know she was camping but we all loved her recognizing us with a smile and we pass her around to share the love.


We moved on to Bass Lake. Picked camp spots next to each other and set up the cook stoves and chairs again. Mark and Nicole rented a pontoon boat with a BBQ and pulling a 'biscut'. We all had fun riding that thing, hanging on for dear life and laughing all the way! Spent all day, including dinner on the boat.

This is Nicole and me heading out for a wild ride.

Awesome memories were made with time spent with our wonderful family!!!

Texas trip with Mom

Went to Scroggins, TX (2 hrs. East of Dallas) to visit Aunt Claire and cousin Joyce. We celebrated Aunt Claire's 89th birthday with the local band playing on their carport. 35 neighbors attended. This was truly 'country'!

I met another cousin, John, for the first time. He is the son of Mom and Claire's brother, John. They lived in Montana. John and Caroline are retired in Mt. Pleasant, TX. John is a big help to Joyce and Claire.

Mom enjoyed visiting with her sister Claire and I had fun catching up with Joyce, enjoying the wildlife and birds. Front: Mom (Ellanor), Aunt Claire. Back: Launa and Joyce

The electricity was out so we ate lunch meat by candlelight for dinner!

I am hiking the wooded area around the house. Lots of beautiful cardinals. Look at the unusual wavy branch/root hanging from the tree.

Cousins getting reacquainted! Joyce, John and Launa.

Look at all that Norwegian energy!

Joyce and Claire's home on several acres of forest, rivers and a lake.