"Under Construction"

If you have noticed my new blog look you can thank Jenny! She just seems to capture the essence of wh0 I am. The color she has chosen is the color of my living room. We live in the newest grape growing region in California, so Jenny chose the beautiful grape vine. Also, I can't help but be reminded of the Scripture, "I am the Vine, you are the branches".

I could go on and on about her talents. She would protest. I have come to realize that computer stuff is just not me. So, I honor those, such as my Jenny, who can put it all together. What is your talent? Do you cook?

Do you starch and iron a shirt worthy of note?? (I don't~~so please, give me your number) How about your green thumb? Could you share a bit of it?? Baking? Reading to children? Knitting? Mechanics??

You get the idea. Share your talents. Swap your talents.

Jenny, I can't swap anything with you~~you already do everything better than I could ever dream :-)

Grandma's Posse

So here they are~~"Grandma's Posse" They are all sitting around the living room watching Daytime TV, namely Maury. Today's topic was "Who's The Baby's Daddy?" To all my friends who are confused and angered by this...don't be. My Mom has dementia. These precious boys are sitting with her and just doing what comes naturally to them...eating, posing for the camera and just being there for Grandma. Yes, I am monitoring what they see and hear. I can change the channel faster than the road runner!

All my Mom remembers is that she watched TV with all her friends.
Thank you Jesus!!

Coffee, Tea, Juice??

As usual, I prepared the coffee for the morning, but there was one difference...Jared, Caleb, Grace and Lily's cups were on the counter. I had just washed them and put them out to dry. Ouch!! By the time you read this they will be back in Washington. This is a really good thing. Caleb was so ready to go back home :-)

We had a great visit but I'm so happy you can be back in your own home. Daddy told me you don't need your sippy cups anymore so I will just keep them on the shelf f0r when we have little friends come to visit. I will tell them that these cups belong to my grandchildren but they will be happy to let you drink out of them. Don't worry kids...I won't let our visitors keep your cups :-)

Family Day

We had a great family day today.

We went to Chris and Carol's house and then set out for the local wine tasting room.
Kiah could care less about the year or vintage, so I took this as my cue to play outside with her. We took turns taking pictures of each other. I had my camera and she had her View master. Every time she took a picture she would say "Barney!"
Grandma is enjoying a quiet moment in the courtyard.

Back at home...Kiah set the table for us. Doesn't it look great??

Yard "Sales"???

My daughter Jenny and I went to a couple of yard sales today, or as the sign says~~ "vard sale"

One had everything organized on tables according to price ~~ good prices let me say.

The other was a free for all. Clothes and toys everywhere. Random signs advertising Pepsi Machines and other questionable items. I mean, really--who has a commercial sticker machine (like you see in the lobby of a grocery store) and how do you fill it??? Not to mention it was going for $50!!!

We developed some "rules" for yard sales:

1)Don't tell everyone how much you paid retail for the items. You are selling your junk!

2)Display everything neatly--don't just throw stuff on the lawn and expect people to pay top dollar.

3)Price to sell (do you really want to haul your junk off?)

4)DO NOT over price your junk!

Have a dollar table, a $2.00 table etc. Label everything then be prepared to bargain. In the words of my wise daughter, "People want to be able to buy an item with the few dollars in their wallet".

5)Final advice, be prepared to give away small items to children who are shopping with their parents. Are you really going to miss that small stuffed animal, color book or puzzle???

We're Havin a Heat Wave...

We're having a heat wave. Right now at 7:30 p.m. it is still over 100 degrees outside :-(

My tomato cried out so loud I could hear it from the house!

Yes Petunia, I hear you too!
Black Eyed Susans seemed to be showing off a little!

I tried to re-set the automatic sprinkler system but, alas, I don't have a degree in Home Depot.

We are supposed to see a cooling trend this weekend~~down into the 90's!

Brunch and Lamentations??

My Mom and I attended a Ladies Brunch at our church today. The food was absolutely delicious. Everyone seemed to have a "favorite" on the buffet table. We had egg bakes, fruit, coffee cakes, muffins etc.

We also had a wonderful guest speaker, Jena, who is a missionary serving with Campus Crusade.

So why did we "lament?"

Our speaker took us through several lamentations in the book of Psalms. We broke into small groups and read several of David's laments. We came away with a greater understanding of what it means to lament, and how it is O.K. with God if we do lament.

God hears our lamentations. He desires to heal us and causes others to worship Him as we come through the despair into Praise.