Category Archive:Family

hubby and his friend are that much closer to “home” – they stopped at Freddie’s (grocery – big box store) in Soldotna and hubby called to let me know they’d be here “in an hour or so.” Oy!

They went to the Sunday Market in Anchorage, but only talked about going to the 3 Barons Renaissance Fair. Thought about going mining for gold at Crow Creek, but the friend got cold and the thought of digging into wet dirt and then sluicing it in the creek just made him shiver. So they headed this way. . . . only to stop at a store before coming home. Simply must shake head. Ah, well. The quiet of the home front the past day and a half has been very nice.

Dean Koontz! The Taking! A weird, steady, rainfall that smells faintly like semen, followed by a fog that glows purplish . . . if you like gooooooooooood scary stuff – READ this! Took me about 3 days – days of picking it up and then putting it down to do the necessary stuff around the house and such – to read it. Finished it about an hour ago and it is now in the hands of Lessa. She will finish it tonight or early tomorrow morning – if I know her, she will be unable to sleep before she finishes it. 😉

DO NOT – read the last page first – my sister likes to do that. Believe me, it will only confuse you and really, REALLY ruin the story for you. Read it straight through.

ahhhhhhhh! Gotta love a good read.

so hubby is off to Anchortown to pick up his buddy from Ohio. He has just called from about 30 miles outside town to let me know he has made it through the mountains safely. Not sure what they are really going to do after T’s arrival. They don’t have a place to stay – hotel rates are HORRENDOUS right now – it is June, you see, and that means TOURISTS to fleece – right along with the locals if they are foolish enough to stay in? a hotel.

Instead, hubby has blow-up mattresses and sleeping bags in the back of the van – he forgot pillows, so while we were doing our weekly grandbaby shopping trip this morning before he left town, we picked up a couple of pillows the grands will like – batman and dora. heh.

Hubby and T have known each other since like the fifth grade. They followed different paths through school and afterward, but they always maintained a kinship. T was the best man at our wedding 37 years ago.

They plan to attend Sunday Market in the morning. Hubby is also armed with info and maps to the Three Barons Renaissance Fair. They may also stop at Crow Creek Mine in Girdwood to pan for gold. Not sure when I will see them. But I have Monday off (because I have to attend a conference the following Saturday) so will get to visit for a bit then.

T will be here until the 22nd. He and hubby will have a grand time – most of which I will not be able to share because of my work schedule. But I imagine that dinner times I will see both of them. heh.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

>..<

I’ll try to get in here soon to play catch up – honest! In the meantime . . .

enjoy this new little guy:

moose1 

Pretty new – looks to be only a few days old – not purple – they come out sort of orange. I looked up from my desk at work (yes – I am at my desk!!!! we hired a receptionist!!! yay) and had to dig for my camera quick – s/he only held still for a couple of shots, though. Got scared up to the window by the big bad paving guys with their noisy machinery.

That is milk foamed up all around the muzzle. Looks like someone’s afternoon snack got interrupted.

2guys 

and, check out how big my “little” guy is getting – this one will be taller than “Gramps” in no time. 😉

 

You are finally as old as your cousin, TAT. And, I know that makes you all kinds of happy, huh?

Love you, gorlie!

Nana

Dear Mom,

Your hands always fascinated me. You were artistic in ways I don’t think you even knew. You doodled stories out on rainy days – a line of verse or prose spoken for every line drawn – suddenly it was not longer lines or shapes, but a pig – a house! I was entranced by that ability.

Your hands comforted me. When I was sick you touched me and I was suddenly better. It is only in looking back that I remember how rough and reddened they were – how the blue veins popped up, and the translucence of your skin.

Back then, it was the touch, the heart behind the touch, that meant so much. We had a bond. Your hands touched mine – from date of birth (mine) until date of death (yours) as I begged you to tell me with a squeeze of your fingers that you knew who I was. My pleas unanswered, your hand lay limp in mine.

That night after you died I lay in my bed and I couldn’t remember if I had said “I love you” or “I’m sorry,” or begged your forgiveness for the times I caused you to raise your hands in anger more often than in praise.

I can’t go back – and you can’t come back – so I will pass my hands-on learning to my own girls and their babies and pray that it is enough.

Love carries on – your hand to mine to theirs to  . . . .

With love,

your daughter

eviebarb 

My Mom
April 11, 1918 – October 23, 1973

photo is of my Mom and me – taken 1950 in Ohio where I was born