Apartment Update

 I want to introduce you to

James.

James is the man who allows you down the street, when it's all clear.

He usually is stationed just outside our driveway, which happens to be the middle of the road.

Over the past six months we all have gotten to know him well.

He arrives at 6:30 A.M.

He is the last guy to go home, usually around 7:00 P.M.

A few times while eating dinner, we look out the window and there is James, still working.

James has it pretty good around here.

The neighborhood has

adopted him.

We bring him refreshening drinks during the heat of the day.

Warm cookies out of the oven.

Hot coffee early in the morning.
Hint: most of the workers like bananas.
Easy to eat and comes with it's own wrapper.

James is always good for a huge smile and a friendly wave.

Never forgetting our names, as he says, "Have a good day."

Come to find out, James is our neighbor!

He lives in a condo at the end of our street.

We couldn't have a better neighbor.

 10/1/12

The decks are being installed

 10/16/12

The curbs are being poured.

~ ~ ~ ~ 

Looking down the street,

you can see the first building.

It's complete!

There's even a sign out front.

Look at the landscaping!

Hummmm...

It's an Open House!

The first tenants will move are moving in soon.

"Our" apartments will be finished around mid-November.

What an I going to do when they are completed?

What am I talking about!

They haven't started building the condos next door.

Finally, My Bags Are Unpacked - Lots of Laundry!

Tom and I just got back from the

most wonderful place in the world.

THE BEACH!

 

 Not just any beach,

Cannon Beach, Oregon!

We went to visit our grandchildren, and 

Kimmy & Mark.

They have been gone since the last week of September.

(remember the Bon Voyage party?) 

Tom and I missed the chatter and pitter-patter of little feet.

Here are some highlights of the past few days.

 Writing lessons

 

 Spelling lessons

 Playtime

Rewards

 

Family pictures

See Lulu run.

See Lucy run.

Run Lulu Run!

Great pictures

Building Sandcastles

 Princess sandcastles!

 Souvenirs,

 lots of sand!

He's Smiling!

Our Grandson, Trey, has started to

SMILE!

This just warms my heart!

Autum Retreat

I took off again!

I had the oppertunity to be apart of the 

 woman's retreat, with our church. 

The Autumn leaves were worth writing home.

 Cascade mountains looked

like they were on fire.

 The time away was full of solitude.

 Lots of time to go for l-o-n-g walks.

The Grunewald Guild is a retreat facility for

all kinds of Christian artists

Look what I found, some weaving looms.

Sixteen acres of woods and

some small open areas

to sit and pray.

Even a Labyrinth,

which is used to meditate.

I walked the path and

prayed a lot.

God's creation was everywhere.

It was nice to spend time

with God, all alone.

Today, O Lord I yield myself to you.

      May you will be my delight today.

      May you way have perfect sway in me.

      May your love be the pattern of my living.

I surrender to you
     my hopes,
       my dreams,
         my ambitions.
Do with them what you will, when you will, as you will.

I place into your loving care
     my family,
        my friends,
           my future.
Care for them with a care that I can never give.

I release into your hands,
      my need to control,
         my craving for status,
            my fear of obscurity.
Eradicate the evil, purify the good, and establish your kingdom on earth.

For Jesus' sake.

Amen

SoCal - Key Lime Pie

When I went to visit my friend in

Southern California,

(So Cal is what they call it)

I brought back on the plane,

homegrown, Lemons and Key Limes.

Oh, I knew just what I was going to do with the Key Limes!

 I turned to the Internet and came up

with this recipe for Key Lime Pie.

I didn't even read the recipe.

I just watched and followed the video!

 It turned out so good!

Take A Political Test

Dear Friends,

I found this test on, Simple Mom blog.


You might find it as interesting as I did.
It does take a few minutes but it's worth it.

http://www.isidewith.com/

My results didn't surprise me.

Back Home!

~ Driving to Palm Springs From the Airport ~

How do I put into words,

how special, my time was?

I can't!

Pictures will add to some of the story.

I've never been to the Palm Springs area.

What a surprise to see Palm Trees everywhere!

I couldn't even get over seeing sand
along the roadside.

Didi kept saying,

 "We are in the desert, Chrissie".

(she has always called me Chrissie)

Welcome!

(can you tell it's a posed picture)

Yes, it was very hot!

Yes, she has a pool!

 ~ "Sidewalk Driving" ~

Didi lives on a private golf course and

 has her own golf cart.

She took me on a tour of the course.

Stopping to visit some of her friends,

 along the way.

We were the only ones on the course and 

we laughed and laughed.

This is a view of Didi's home from
the golf course side.

Visiting La Quinta Resort and Club.

Didi showed me where she use to work.

Roadrunner!
 (running)


~*~*~*~
One morning, we went through
 some of her old pictures.
As we looked through the pictures,
we laughed,
we cried,
we remembered!

Look what we found:

We made a date with each other and

      put it in writing, way back in 1973.
            

~*~*~*~

Driving around you'd see

 Palm Trees with bags on them.

?????

The bags are around the hanging dates.

I had to find out more.

~ Shields ~

Close to her home is Shields, a date factory.
Click on the name above
 to read about it's history.

It was a must visit, after seeing this sign!
Amazing fruit!

~*~*~*~
After a few days at Didi's desert house,
we went up in the San Bernardino Mountains,
 to Big Bear Lake.

This is her cabin!

~ View of her Cabin from the lake ~

Didi's husband took us out on their boat,

to see Big Bear Lake.

Big Bear Observatory sits on one side of the lake.

 Ahoy!
We ran into a Pirate Ship.
It's a tour boat. How fun!

Interesting homes built on top of rocks.

This one was a Japanese style home.

We both had a great time!

 Another picture we can add
to the years of collecting them.

 

~ San Bernardino Mountains ~

 Saying good-by, flying home,
leaving Didi behind,
not easy.
I'll be back!