Roxy on the run...catch me if you can!!

Fall and Friends...

2008-11-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

Fall has always been a time of year when everything seems to slow down to a mellow pace....not this year. I don't know why exactly, but this Fall season is already gone and I hardly got a chance to breathe in the aroma. The leaves have all fallen, the grass has stopped growing (almost), and Halloween and Thanksgiving have come and gone.

Keely as a "Princess" for Halloween.........she has managed to get many hours of good use out of this costume. Definitely got our money's worth!

We had a nice family get together this year for Thanksgiving. Great food and a time to laugh with loved ones and friends.

Christmas is just around the corner, my most favorite Season of all...

Summer's Gone....

2008-09-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a little incredulous! Where did the summer go? It seems like summer didn't really start for me until August....THEN I got into the swing of things. This summer was pretty quiet...travel-wise. We had a couple short jaunts here and there, a tiny bit of golfing...lots of trips to the gym...:)

My countdown is for our trip to Hawaii in January....just a little over 100 days...and counting down!! 10 days on the Island of Maui is sounding better and better.... just trying to get this bod in bikini shape!! Keely has got me beat already...ha.

Keely certainly found time to get out and enjoy summer....it's amazing to watch her, she's growing up right before our eyes.

My mindset now is turning towards Autumn...truly my favorite time of year. Finish getting the yard prepped for winter, clean a few flower beds, and trim a few bushes back. The 3 large maples in the backyard will be dropping their tons of golden leaves before I know it. I'll have to try and get a nice photo of the perfect leaf...:)

6 Week Challenge!!

2008-07-27T13:18:00.000-07:00

So...

I'm currently in a 3 week clean eating challenge and a 6 week fitness challenge with a group of people.

The 3 week Clean Eating challenge is just that....a real challenge! Here's a sample of my eating each day:

Protein, protein, and more protien. You need to have 1.5 grams daily for every pound you weigh. Chicken, fish, occasionally lean beef. Good carbs which are complex carbs....whole grains like oats and brown rice (stay away from anything that has refined sugar and white flour...bad for you).

Breakfast:
1/2 cup Old fashioned Oats mixed with a little natural peanut butter, fat free cottage cheese and fat free Stoneyfield vanilla yogurt.

Midmorning: Protein Shake

Lunch: Tuna on low carb pita bread

MidAfternoon: Protein Shake

Dinner: Salad with chicken

Last meal: either protein shake, or tuna, anything protein

I will also add in a few almonds and some type of oil, probably flaxseed oil...and of course taking my daily vitamin supplements.

Now...the 6 week Baby Got Back challenge will be a mixture of weights (especially focusing on the backside: Tri's, Back, Glutes and Ham's). I will be weight training 3-4 days per week and doing low intensity cardio 6 days a week. The cardio will be specifically on the treadmill, eliptical and cycling for an hour each day. Amazingly, the low intensity is very challenging to me....because when I start cardio my first intinct is to flat out move! This is a whole new mind-set for me and I am constantly having to remind myself to go at a slower pace to meet the heart rate requirements.

Anyway....wish me luck. After 6 weeks I hope to report back with some good results...or if you're at the Barnes wedding, you can see for yourself ;)

The Great Cat Round-Up!!!

2008-07-01T12:05:00.001-07:00

I took myself down memory lane awhile back….

My Mom owned a horse boarding facility for many, many years. The barns are still in the family and since her passing are being managed by my brother. Mom’s passion was definitely horses – to the point that she almost had an obsession about them. Sometimes it was hard to drag her away from the barns because she very rarely wanted to let anyone else take care of her ‘babies’. She would many times reminisce about her youthful days working at a racetrack in southern California, mucking out stalls and periodically getting to ride one of the horses.

One of the drawbacks of owning a barn and acreage are the stray animals that wander in from time to time. Mom’s property is not too far out of town so it is very accessible to people who no longer want their pets. It always amazed me when people grew weary of their pets they would see a barn and think “Oh look that appears to be great home for you”, and the next morning when we would walk outside we would be greeted by a sad little face just wanting a home and some love. Over and over Mom would find new homes for these little drifters, call animal control or they would disappear after a day or so. The animals that stuck around the most were the stray cats. The cats LOVED the barns and would make themselves at home in the loft. Usually this was a good thing because it kept the mice/rat population down to an acceptable level. One year we had a couple of female cats show up and lo and behold they were both pregnant!! The cat population exploded very rapidly!! Within a year or so Mom had more than two dozen cats running around, some tame and some NOT so tame. It was beginning to get completely out of hand. One of the horse boarders, who happened to also volunteer for an animal rescue operation, brought out some cages and live traps. Over the next few days we made good progress catching a dozen of the cats, transporting them to the rescue shelter where they were evaluated for heath, their ability to be placed with a family …etc. As the days went by we had to get more creative with our capture techniques, as we were getting down to the wilder side of the crowd! This is where it began to get exciting…

I had one little female picked out who seemed to be fairly friendly but would not allow me to pick her up….so…the genius in me came up with a plan. I donned a winter parka, put on some heavy duty gloves, set up the cage with the door wide open and forged on with my plan…. Pet the nice little kitty until she was comfortable with the gloves, then grab the back of her neck nice and tight so she would freeze up, because that’s what cat’s do, right? WRONG….she froze up for all of 30 seconds…then her survival factor kicked in and over-rode the freeze factor!! Her head began to slowly swivel around like some demon-possessed medusa and I knew I was in trouble. I was making my way rapidly towards the cage but realized I wasn’t going to make it before she made contact with my exposed wrist. Why didn’t I let go you ask? Beats the heck out of me…remember that wasn’t part of my original plan!! Eventually I did let go, but instead of running away she latched onto my leg and began to sink her teeth into my knee…NOW we’re into the survival of the fittest!! I grabbed her tail….and she begins to curl back up towards me…I start swinging slowly around in a circle using the force to keep her away from me. In the mean time, my audience had increased by two-fold….laughing hysterically, I might add!! I tried to line her up with the cage opening after a couple more revolutions; I then let her go and hoped for the best. Alas, I missed by a mile. She disappeared for a couple days but we eventually caught her in one of the live traps. I highly doubt that poor kitty would ever be a good candidate for a family to adopt because of the trauma I inflicted on her. A cat wrangler…I am not, and I now have two perfectly matched fang scars on my leg to remember this event by.

Weekend Getaway....

2008-06-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I had made reservations for a weekend getaway...27th anniversary. This all came about when in down-time-chatting mode at work someone had mentioned that Belknap Hotsprings was a nice place to go. How this came up in the conversation is that I was wanting to have several jaunts this year to places close to home....embrace what Oregon has to offer.

So...off we go....an hour down the road I realized I had forgotten my camera...DRAT!! Well...that's not exactly what I said but you get the picture..:) Oregon sunshine, better known as RAIN, was with us for the whole 3 hours of our drive....GREAT. We found our way there without a hitch, enjoying the scenery along the McKenzie River. The usual day-dreaming took place when we noticed how many properties were For Sale, even in the steady rain it was easy to see what a beautiful valley this was. (located 1 hour east of Eugene)

Belknap Hotsprings isn't a really large establishment, very quaint. They've been around since 1928 with a few minor changes here and there. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, other than the pictures I had seen from their website..... Poor Randy had a bit of a shock when he realized there was no telephone, no TV, no internet.....ha, ha....I was loving it!! So what's the first thing we did after eating and checking into our room....take a nap! The first evening was a glorious 2 hours of hanging out in the hotsprings, with a cool night mist and listening to the river rush by....very nice.

The next morning we ventured out for a quick breakfast and to take a nice little hike. Still drizzling a bit, but a few blue patches beginning to show. They've created some nice walking paths and hidden gardens which we took full advantage of. There were few people out and about so we had it all to ourselves, for the most part. This is where I was so disappointed to not have my digital camera with me....FLOWERS everywhere. Any pictures you see posted here are from Google Images...but the place looks exactly like this!

We decided to take a 45 minute drive into Sisters for a late lunch. Thoroughly enjoyed dining at one of the local mexican restuarants. Very tasty salsa...yum. Sisters is a quaint little vacation town...for all you Canadians it's like a miniture Banff. Great shops, quilting, art gallery, local arts...The Antler Shop...ha.., bookstores, some very good dining and a couple ice cream shops...which we of course sampled...:)

Back at the lodge it was a carbon copy of the evening before...nap....hotsprings....but the night was clear and star-filled. I really need to get me a hotsprings!! Maybe if I win the lottery?

Sunday was a GLORIOUS day....we were up early,breakfast and out the door....we could hear golf calling our names at the Tokatee. A more beautiful course there just couldn't be!! Snow capped mountains, birds, flowers and wildlife....and a halfway decent golf game for me! I haven't picked up a club in almost 2 years but you wouldn't have known it by the score...I did pretty good.

Sometimes it's a good thing to just get away for a couple days....kind of re-energizes the batteries.

Siblings....

2008-06-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

I posted this on another persons blog, but as I read it I felt I really needed to post it on my own blog.....here's to you my brother and sisters......

My life growing up was maybe a little off-kilter. My brother is 4 years older than me, while my younger sisters are 11 and 12 years younger than me. While I was a middle child, I grew up more as an only child for many years. My best friends were my pets (horses, cats, dogs, sheep, goats..etc) due to living in a very rural setting in my early years. Can we say ‘someone’ had a very vivid imagination?!

My brother and I, as kids, had our moments of camaraderie, but they were fleeting. I have to admit he was a great older brother and was very protective of me…..and bossy. You have to admit, who wants a runty little tag-a-long sister when you’re playing with all your buddies, but when I wrapped that kite string around my arm he was there to get it off before my arm turned purple! He was the one who told me to buck up when I was 12 and broke my leg on the ski slope….I think he was more afraid of it being broken than I was! Ron was the one who ‘tried’ to teach me how to dance and knew how my hair looked the best on me. I went for many years not having him in my life because he was lost in his own world. One of the last fights we had was when I was 15 and whatever the fight was about I remember taking a great big swing at him AND connecting…thank-you my brother for not reciprocating!! In more recent years it has been a real pleasure to reconnect with my brother and getting to know him again. Amazingly, we have an awful lot in common.

My sisters were much later coming into my life…I was a tween-ager when they were born 15 months apart. It was pretty cool at first to have these two mischievous babies running around, but in the life of a teenager it became a real pain once the advantages of a live-in babysitter became apparent. Shana and Casey were barely into school for a few years by the time I married and moved 1000 miles away. Who knew they would come and live with Randy and I for a couple of years…but they did, and that is when I truly got to know my sisters as people, rather than just a couple of pesky little runts. We’ve had many laughs that a sister…6-months pregnant…. still had the chutzpah to chase them down in the snow and rub their faces in it or chase them up the stairs when they thought it was okay to lip off. They moved back home when my first child was born and it would be another few more years before I would connect with them again. Now as they have grown into adulthood and have had children of their own, it has become easier to have common ground and experiences with them. Our family gatherings have become so much fun…more than I could have hoped for.

As we get older I think we’ve come to value having our families more and more. We are all so different….but family.

authorblog: Weekend Wandering

2008-06-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

Forgive and Forget....

I think this is something I've done all my life. I have a hard time holding a grudge and life is too short to let those sort of emotions rule you.

Forgiving is easy....just allow yourself to do that...and let it go. For your own well-being.

Forgetting is hard....maybe the word should be "learn". Knowledge of why something happened is a powerful tool.

authorblog: Weekend Wandering

Flowers -- Part Deux

2008-05-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

After a little prodding from Jim...:)

Beautiful Columbines

I went out on this beautiful afternoon...when the sun was behind a cloud and tried out a few shots of my beautiful flowers. Not too sure if these are the caliber of the other professional pics but I think they're kind of pretty.

Multiple Daisy's

(I love the depth of this photo, how the flowers appear to be floating and how they are all facing different directions)

I can't remember the name of these..maybe Snowball-something

Yellow Lily - notice the water drops

Purple Lupine

Deep Pink Daisy's

Pink Lily

Flowers...

2008-05-20T21:31:00.000-07:00

For those who know me well.....I love flowers.

What a wonderful weekend I've had. The weather was absolutely perfect and I was able to spend all day outside playing in my yard. Keely and I went to the local garden center and spent about an hour deciding what flowers we were going to buy and plant in the flower beds. I enjoyed a little one-on-one time with my Little Bug...she's a real pleasure and is at the age where she is fascinated by everything around her...so inquisitive.

I finally decided this year I was going to incorporate more perennials into my yard. Year after year I have planted annuals and have been sad when they are permanently done in the fall. I've slowly been adding a few perennials each year. This year I decided to go almost exclusively with them. It was hard to select which little beauties to go with but I finally narrowed it down to Columbines, Lupines, a variety of Daisies, and several Lilys. My favorites are the Columbines because they have such a delicate look about them....very pretty.

I have the larger flowering bushes such as.... Honeysuckles, Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Hydrangeas. This year I wanted to focus on the smaller flowers. Early every spring I wait with anticipation for my Crocus to emerge, usually in late February. NOW I will have lots of flowers to look forward too..:)

It's Graduation Day!!

2008-05-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

“Though we all shall try, we may never meet again
(never meet again, never meet again)
School is almost over. Graduations near
Though we try to hide it, we all shed a tear
Happy days are over. School is near its end
Though we all shall try, we may never meet again
As the school year ends, we will surely try
Try to face our friends. Try to say good-bye
Happy days are over. School is near it's end
Though we all shall try, we may never meet again
What will happen now is not for us to say
We will each go on, our own and separate way
As the years go by, Time will have it's say
But we will all remember graduation gay
When we stop to look back, we will surely say
The best day of our lives was graduation day
graduation, graduation
graduation, graduation
Graduation Day !!!!!!!!” by William Stark Whiteman

Today was a wonderful day, a day I will never forget. The emotions one wouldn’t think would be there…were.

I was sitting in a seat between two young women I’ve never met, but we had an instant connection because we were there for the same reason! We sang the school song together; we prayed together, clapped together and laughed together.

Finally, we each made our individual journey across the stage when hearing our names called. A warm smile and handshake awaited us, and the blue folder that held our diplomas. As I walked off the stage I was congratulated and welcomed by the head of the Alumni committee. Further down the isle I was embraced by one of my instructors. “Hey Mom!” My kids jumped out of nowhere and started snapping pictures!!

The following reception was a kaleidoscope of family and friends, punch and cookies, and goodbyes to people I’ll probably never see again. Our family continued on to the Olive Garden to enjoy one another’s company and close out the celebration of this momentous event.

I have great memories of my high school graduation, but with age comes wisdom of how important education really is. This was a graduation day I’ll not forget very soon.

News From Around MY World.

2008-03-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

Let's see....

Erin just graduated from Ashmead/Everest College as a Licensed Massage Therapist. She will be taking all the Oregon/Washington and National tests very soon. We are so proud of her...she did it!! She's very excited to be done with school too.

Keely just turned 2 years old March 8th...what a cute little bug. She's learning to count and is turning into a little jabberbox...I'm not always sure what she's saying though...ha.
School....finally..I'm no longer double up on classes! I've been doubled up since Thanksgiving. With working full time and going to school ...let's just say I was getting a little frazzled. I'm definitely in the home stretch. The only 5-week classes I have left are; Business Law, Operations Management and Business Policies....plus as 2-weekend Intro to Fine Arts!! My graduation date is Saturday, May 10th at the New Hope Community Church....woo hoo.. My final class runs into mid-July....I'm okay with that...the end is definitely near...:)

I'm still hitting the gym as hard as I can in my "spare" time. Just hit a new high on the sitting leg press.....final set (8-10 reps) ......315 lbs...not bad..eh? I know I need to boost the cardio higher and have started that too. Softball season starts in about a month and I'm working on getting my running up to an acceptable level (torn achilles is healed...just a weak leg)

We've had our first day of Spring...and even a little sunshine to go with...I am SO ready for some warm weather. Take care and have a great Easter weekend.

Tag.....You're it!!

2008-03-09T04:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Kelsie I've been forced to come out of my hole and socialize...:) Thanks Kelsie!

I don't know if the time stamp shows up on this thing but if it does you'll notice, it's like 4 0'clock in the morning....what's up with that!?

Hmmm.......seven things you may not know about me...

1. I've read the whole set of Anne of Green Gables ....I loved them and may have to do it again.

2. I love to sew but my sewing machine broke##%^#!!

3. I can tie a cherry stem into a knot inside my mouth.....;)

4. I'm seriously addicted to jigsaw puzzles.

5. I would love to travel.

6. I'm a hopeless romantic.

7. I grew up on a farm and am well versed in the ability to milk a cow or a nanny goat.

There's SO much more.......but you'll have to tag me again to find out.....bwahhahahaahaa!

(Are there touch backs on this game?....because I don't know many who are on blogspot)

Weight.......WAIT....

2008-02-11T21:03:00.000-08:00

My lastest endeavor is basically circuit training. I start at the end of a long line of machines and work my way through them all……then I start over again. I usually do 3 sets with 12-15 reps in each set. It takes me about an hour or so and I’ve worked up a pretty good sweat when I’m done! The upper body is coming along…but is definitely my weak area. The pull down Lat I’m up to 65 lbs..and I’ve just reached 75 lbs for the pullover. My triceps suck!! I can’t seem to get beyond 35 lbs….and that’s both arms working together…:( I’m finally at 45 lbs (on a good day) for the front butterfly.

For the lower half….on the sitting leg press I’m up to 195 lbs. Hip adductor/abductor…90 lbs pressing out….140 lbs pressing in. I don’t know what the name of the machine is …….but it’s the one where you’re laying on your stomach and curling your legs up…50 lbs.

Miscellaneous other machines for abs…

I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with these machines, but have tried to not get too complacent. I continue to raise the weight by 5 or 10 lbs….about once a week. What I’m wondering is……

Should I continue to keep raising the pounds …or at some point should I increase the sets?

I have no problem climbing on just about any machine…but I’ve seriously avoided lifting the free weights….why is that? I’ve watched enough people do them that I’m quite knowledgeable on their uses, but I can’t seem to get up the courage to venture over to that part of the gym.
Totally pathetic…..I know.

So...I forced myself to that end of the gym this evening when it seemed pretty quiet in that area..and guess what...it wasn't so bad. I'm limiting myself to just a few things for now, so I can get comfortable with a simple routine. All I can say is.....there is a huge difference between the machines and the free weights! I'm definitely a little sorer. Guess I'll be hanging out in that area a little more in the future.

SWOT.......not swat...

2008-01-12T21:18:00.000-08:00

What does it mean?

Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats

It's interesting as I go through school how much of what I'm learning can be applied to my everyday life. In my business classes this is an analysis that can help a business understand its organization and productivity, and formulate strategy to improve its mission.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The key is to use those strengths to the best of our ability rather than to just coast along. Admit what our weaknesses are and face them. How many of us have numerous opportunities present themselves weekly or even daily? Do we reach out and grasp them or lazily watch them pass by.... and threats...do we allow them to cow-tow us into quaking balls of fear or do we confront the fear, take the challenge and conquer.

Take this a step further....Strengths and Weaknesses are an internal matter. This is the struggle within us. Take a moment and analyze yourself.

Opportunities and Threats are external forces. Sometimes we have control over these issues...sometimes we don't....BUT if we remain wallflowers....you'll never know what could have been.

I challenge you to take a SWOT analysis of your life....it may be the best thing you've ever done.

Resolutions......

2008-01-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Don't we all have good intentions of:

turning over a new leaf
losing weight and getting fit
bettering ourselves scholastically
traveling
cleaning out the clutter in our lives

Well.....have I made any of these decisions for this year?

Actually.....most of them. The last couple of years have been a bit of a struggle...mentally and emotionally. I'm ready to turn over that new leaf and focus on being positive.

I've done fairly well at losing weight and maintaining that loss, but it's now time to go after that final stubborn weight that keeps hanging on.....my goal....by summer there will be a lot less of me!!

Scholastically....the light at the end of the tunnel is coming up much faster than I could have ever imagined. It's amazing to me that I've already been in school a full year...only a few more months to go.

Travel....around the world in 80 days would be SO much fun, but I'll have to settle for a few little weekend jaunts. I've decided to sit down with my family and make a few plans. We'll write them on the calendar and stick to them. Little trips to the ocean, mountains, high desert...and maybe some hiking. We live in such a beautiful area of the northwest and we need to get out and enjoy it.

Finally...CLUTTER.....we've all got it......and I DON'T want it. With all the kids moving back home this past spring, my house became a disaster...again. I can hardly wait for warm weather...this house is going to go through an extreme makeover....:)

I LOVE Christmas....don't you?

2007-12-22T14:47:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our home....

As you can see.....the tree is up! This year we made the choice to go with bows, snowflakes, some wooden ornaments and a few miscellaneous ones. We stayed away from the long sharp icicles this year for fear that Keely would not be able to leave them alone....and hurt herself. Amazingly, she has not disturbed the gifts under the tree at all. The ornaments fascinate her more that the gifts do. I'm sure that will change once she realizes she can tear them open.

Lots of cookies have been baked this year. I've been trying out a few new recipes.....some good and some not that great...but it's fun trying. Tonight I'm trying a new version of an old recipe I had.....blueberry cookies...YUM. There's something about those baking smells that really put me in the Christmas spirit. Cinnamon, hot chocolate, fireplace wood.....with a little mistletoe thrown in....;)

We'll be enjoying a Christmas close to home this year. Everyone is meeting over at my Grandma's house this year. I'm looking forward to a FUN gift exchange. We have a great time stealing the gifts from one another.....all in good fun, of course!

Hopefully, we make it up to the mountain for a little fun in the snow over the Christmas break. I can't wait for Keely to get big enough to start teaching her how to ski too....what fun.

From our home to yours......have a very Merry Christmas.

What Type of Christmas Tree Are You?

2007-11-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

Over the years it has fascinated me on the selection and the preferences people have for Christmas trees.......what kind of tree do you like?

T'was the Night Before Turkey Day.....

2007-11-21T20:14:00.000-08:00

....And all through the house, not a creature was stirring and I'm happy as all get out.....:)

I've baked the pies, the turkey is thawed, the fridge is stocked and the house is fairly clean. Everyone who is coming to our home tomorrow knows what to bring and I can sleep in, in the morning if I want to!!

This is my favorite time of a holiday.....the night before. All the work is done and I'm comfortable in my oversized chair with a nice warm, crackling fire. Soft music playing and I'm half asleep, enjoying the mood. There's that contentment of knowing you're ready for the fun to come and looking forward to having family and friends in our home.

Thanksgiving Day will start off by hearing the local family who gets together out on the field by our house to have their annual family and friends football game. It's so much fun to hear their laughter and friendly competition....rain or shine...they are always there! I'll be up early enough to get that big ol' turkey in the oven, 22 pounder...what a fatty!! I then head off to the gym for their annual 'burn the turkey off' power cycle ride......I even talked my daughter in to cycling with me this year. Family will begin to show up around 1pm .....of course football will already be on and somebody will start munching ahead of time. It goes without saying that all will be extremely full within a very short time. But there's always room for more pie....right?

After awhile.....the games will come out. First we'll start with maybe a game of dominoes or scrabble. My sisters family will be bringing their Nintendo Wii .....guess we'll give it a try....sounds like fun...eh? Grandma always likes a good movie so we try to have something she will really enjoy. I love a holiday......don't you? Until everyone arrives tomorrow.....I will enjoy myself by the fireplace.....this is my time.

Giving Thanks.....and pass the pumpkin pie.

2007-11-09T21:06:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe we are so close to Thanksgiving......where has this year gone?

This year has been so full of activities, travel and family. Ups and downs, surprises and sadness. As I think back on all the events.... it occurs to me that I wouldn't trade most of it for anything. My life is truly blessed.

How often do we take the time to reflect on our lives? Reminiscing is a gift many don't learn or take the time to use. How wonderful to sit back and recall the special moments and people in our pasts. It's amazing with time how our memories soften the hard edges, but the good and the fun remains so sharp and clear. Hold those moments near to your hearts...but most of all ....share them with others. I cherish the moments when I can gather with family and friends to enjoy good food, conversation and fun.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Take a moment this Thanksgiving to let someone know how special they really are....share a memory....and make a memory.

Trick or Treat?

2007-10-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

I'll take a TREAT....
Over the years it's been real interesting to see which candies actually make it to Halloween night. I've got a husband who has a very serious sweet tooth!!

His top favorite seems to the the traditional Snickers bar. It never fails for me to find dozens of small wrappers thrown away in the trash can beside his desk!

The next candy that runs a close second in his consumption is yours and mine cute little buddies the M&M brothers..

This is a man who will clean out the cupboards.... YES, actually searching for any hidden treats! Once he has eaten all the hidden Halloween candy then he will resort to buying his own stash....and those come in the 1 and 2 lbs size bags!! Okay......I'll quit picking on him.... How he maintains his girlish figure...I'll never know...:).

Now my weakness for the sweet treats is more along the lines of.....

I tend to consume one here and there.... tuck a couple in my pocket for later. I don't lean towards liking very much chocolate at one time...so the tootsie roll is just right!

Another of my favorites is the always flavorful Saltwater Taffy....YUM.

That stuff is definitely addicting! There's a great little store out on the Oregon coast that sells this ....nice and fresh....I can give myself a stomach ache because I don't realize how much I've consumed until it's too late...;(

BUT...my favorite fun candy overall ...is the candy corn!

It's not that its all that scrumptious in taste... but I do consider it rather pleasing... it's also the game you make out of eating it. Very carefully you bite the little white tip off. Can you take it off cleanly without any white left showing? Can you do the same to the other end. Of course, there is the game of what you can do with the whole candy. Placed strategically as fangs or the large end down to make very believable Bugs Bunny teeth...:D

As Halloween nears it never fails that I've got to go out and buy more candy before the big evening....the neighborhood kids have learned that I'm the lady who hands out the candy in BIG handfuls.....they like me....they really like me.....ha, ha, ha.....!

Just Plod, Plod, Plodding....Along.

2007-10-26T18:16:00.000-07:00

This has been the longest two weeks of my life!!

For 6 - 8 hours everyday I sat in a class learning more about government contracting than I ever thought I wanted to know. The only thing that made this class palatable was the fact that we were divided up into group....and I had an awesome group to work with. Over the two weeks we had 4 scenarios to do pre and post award administration, problem solve, resolve and of course refererence every government law and clause we could lay our hands on! Okay...I'll admit...some of it was actually fun and interesting....:)

Our instructor was an interesting kind of dude. His name was Bernie, he is a former government worker who now contracts with these training companies to teach these classes. I'm sure he's making a nice little profit as a private contractor! He was kind of quirky, a slightly raunchy humor, and one very fantastic cook! Since this training was two weeks, he hosted a dinner on the weekend and cooked for everyone....wow....the guy is really good. Quite impressive. I would weigh 300 lbs in no time at all if I continued to eat like that...but MMmmm...mmmm......it was tasty!

I'm happy to report that today was my last class and YES I passed...YEAH...one more class out of the way. Oh Yeah, I forgot to mention....I am also taking my evening Accounting class at the same time as this one. Only two more sessions and I can move on to something else....wooo hooo. I'm trying real hard to fast track all of this schooling so I can graduate in May 2008. So far, it's looking very promising. I'll try not to let you all witness too many meltdowns on here!

So....it's the weekend...the weather is looking promising, it's been a glorious Fall day.... and I'm a happy woman!

Puppy Love...

2007-10-23T20:46:00.000-07:00

Those soft, warm, squirmy little bundles of joy. That warm puppy body and the licky little tongue...... I'm in love.

Puppies are so trusting and carefree. Look at those innocent little faces. Eyes that follow you and adore you. Little wet noses that want nothing more than to be stroked and kissed. When they hear your voice they get all wiggly and happy.

Can a man/woman have a more trusted companion. As they grow older they are the loyal faithful friend. Strong enough to protect and gentle enough to sense distress and give comfort. We are truly blessed to have such companions.

Memories....and Acceptance.

2007-10-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

I took a moment this afternoon and wandered around my backyard. My original intent was to find some nice October shots...but alas....I found none to my satisfaction. The leaves just weren't yellow and orange enough yet. I'll give them another week or two then they'll be absolutely gorgeous.

There was a sentimental moment...... while looking at my birdbath and having fond thoughts of my mother, who passed away a little over two years ago. This birdbath isn't really my kind of style, but as Mom and I were browsing through a local garden pottery shop she spotted this beauty. She was sure it would be perfect for a little shaded corner of my yard. I was looking for a clay oven for my back patio in anticipation of a simple, quiet evening outside by a fire, while Mom purchased the birdbath as a early birthday present for me. We ended up bringing both items home and placing each in their current locations.

I've enjoyed many an evening outside with my clay oven, but have almost completely ignored the birdbath. I didn't have the heart to tell Mom I wasn't all that enchanted with it. As you can see....it has begun to weather and blend with it's setting. I do believe this little birdbath is growing on me. As I stood there looking at it...I began to envision what it will look like when the ivy begins to climb up the base of it. The ivy...was also an idea of Moms. I've grown used to the funny little birds, frogs and flowers....they don't seem quite so ridiculous anymore.

I think I learned a simple lesson on this mid-October day....

NEVER too old to play.

2007-10-09T20:09:00.000-07:00

How many stay actively involved in sports throughout their lives?

Why is it that we think team sports end when we leave college?

We had a discussion at work the other day as to why people quit playing sports! Several reasons were: Family commitments, Work, Fear of Injury, and just other interests. The discussion was quite lively due to the different opinions on this subject. There are several of us who have made it a point to stay involved. Yes, we've all experienced injuries, aches and pains, but the love of a team sport runs deep. I personally enjoy having a group of friends to come together with and the friendly competition with other teams. I like the feeling of staying fit.

I love my team...and do you know the average age on my team?......about 40, maybe more. Our pitcher is the oldest and he is in his mid-70's!! If I can hit and run like he does when I reach that age....I will be a happy woman.

Do you think companies should promote more physical fitness for their employees....maybe require it?

Mom and Dads Night Out

2007-10-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

Randy and I were invited to a big birthday bash this past Saturday night. It was a celebration for a couple of guys who were turning 50. This was the first time I've gotten to dress up and go out in very long time. Why is that? As we get older do we become lazy or just too tired to make the effort?

Once we were there it was completely enjoyable, great music, good conversation and food. The band was fantastic, check out their website: http://www.themoes.com/ These guys really knew how to rock it. Unfortunately, I'm still healing from a torn achilles, but was still able to kick my heels up a bit. Here's one of the birthday boys and myself....David Meyer he's a good friend from highschool days. Hopefully he and his wife will be doing some cycling with me this next summer, as well.

School News....

2007-10-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

Wow.....It's been awhile, I guess I kind of suck at blogging....:)

Life's been busy. From July through September is my busiest time of year at work. Thankfully the stress level is coming down and I'll be able to ease back into a more normal work routine. But.......

I've had a pretty full load with mostly business classes...with the odd Humanities class thrown in. I just finished up with a class I THOUGHT was an ethics class...so it was a bit of a surprise to find out it was very deep into Philosophy.....wow...what a bunch of crazy, dead guys...ha.ha. In about a week from now I start a full two-week (80 hours) Contracting course. Luckily, it's here in Portland so I won't have to deal with strange hotel rooms and travel pains. I will still be going to school in the evenings too. Wait.....that's not all...

Starting the end of November I will be doubling up on my classes...and this will continue until April. This will ensure that I am able to graduate the end of May 2008 with my Bachelors in Business Administration. From the schedule I've worked out it seems to be very do-able. The winter months are the slower/less stress time at work. I've got a couple holidays and off-weeks thrown in there to allow me to do catch-up work. I'll be fine, but definitely busy.

How's the rest of the family doing?

Ashley is going to Mt Hood CC....just picking up the last few miscellaneous credits she needs before heading off to PT schooling for the next 3 years. She's taking a couple on-line classes, so her need to drive and spend too much time on campus is substantially less. She's working full time in a PT clinic and really enjoying it...and learning a LOT.

Brandt has graduated....(see graduation picture I posted earlier) but he is still working on the finishing touches of his senior project. Hopefully this will come to an end in the next couple months. I do believe he is anxious to finally move in to his chosen field....yeah. He is also working in the concrete business with Randy until he lands an engineering job.

Erin is going to Ashmead College -- she has about 6 more months and will be a Licensed Massage Therapist. She is really enjoying herself and has definitely found her profession. It's wonderful to see her so excited about the classes and clinics. I've volunteered to come in to the clinic so she can practice on me....ha..ha.. Actually, there are many massage schools that have open clinics that the public can go to for massages....and the price is substantially less. Little Keely spends half of a day in daycare...and seems to really be enjoying it. They've moved her from the infant room into the toddler room....she now gets to play with the big kids, read books, color and is now in the process of potty training! Wish I'd had someone to potty train my kids!! She's a true joy to this family and it's so much fun watching her discover her world.

Randy is as busy as usual with the concrete business. We are now moving into the wet season...so he tends to get a little grumpier. Someday, he will have to move in to some other type of business that is less physical...he's not a spring chicken anymore...;) Hopefully we can take a nice relaxing week in January or February to some place warm....so we can dry him out.

Life is good.....

Ready For Some Changes......Grab a brush and come on over!!

2007-07-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

Gotta strike while the mood is hot......ha.ha...

Yes, I've gotten a flea in my ear and am ready to pull out the paint roller and paint the town red!! Well....at least my family room. I've been wanting to paint it a color that helps make the room nice and cozy, and I've found just the right color....Mexican Chili....it's kind of a burnt red color...Burnt Red.....I really think it will go very nicely in there with the stone of the fireplace and the bit of cedar that's on the one wall.

NEXT....I've found a lovely soft butter yellow to paint the walls in my dining area, called Celestial Yellow....(Yellow)with the east window in that room it should be a nice happy, soft glow in the morning. I'm thinking this will become my favorite place to eat breakfast and wake up in the mornings.

And Finally......I will be painting my livingroom and hallways a beautiful color called Desert Warmth.... There will be one wall in the livingroom that will have a nice color called MOther Nature.....a warm sage green....(not this color, much more muted) This should perk my little house up very nicely!

What brought on all this change, you say? I painted all the walls and ceilings white in this house about 7 years ago. They are in real need of some attention and I'm very tired of white!! This is now the time to make those changes. I'm getting excited just thinking about it....:) I already grabbed my color palletes and will be heading for home depot tomorrow....I bet I could get the family room done tomorrow and the dining room done the next day! I LOVE IT when a room is freshly painted......AND I will be doing a little weeding out of STUFF while I'm at it. Jim inspired me to minimize the clutter......simplify my life.

The Anderson Family Reunion...July 2007

2007-07-14T22:39:00.000-07:00

Our trip began on the morning of July 3rd....the van was loaded, all passengers buckled in, and the vehicle engaged into drive.....then Keely decided to throw up! Everyone bales out because it REEKED. So needless to say we were a little delayed with the start of our trip. Finally we hit the road with a few other minor incidents, such as....spilled pop.

We made a stop in the small town of Cusick, WA (about an hour northeast of Spokane) to visit Doug and Hazel Cole. They are building a vacation/retirement home on the Pend O'reille River. What an absolutely beautiful location. It made me want to stay, and stay ....and stay. After a nice visit and supper with them we loaded back up and continued our trip. Unfortunately, Brandt hadn't been feeling that well and we made a fairly rapid stop about a half and hour out of Sandpoint for him to lose breakfast, lunch and supper! Of course, Randy and Ashley have sympathy reactions to this type of activity and they made and exit out the other side of the van. Yep....once again Mom to the rescue and acting as the complementary clean up committee...:)

Our original plan was to drive straight through to Canmore, Alberta....but with all the delays we decided to stop in Cranbrook, BC for the evening. One slight problem, due to the 4th of July and summer travelers there were few rooms available. We finally found A room a the Traveler's Inn.....yes....one room! I think I may have been the only one who slept well, but I was the one driving too, so I guess that's all that really mattered...right? We all rose the next morning to the fragrant smell of pot being inhaled somewhere nearby...funny stuff. We had a nice breakfast at the local Denny's who give complementary birthday breakfasts...So...happy birthday to me!

We finally reached Canmore about 2 pm Wednesday afternoon and checked into our accommodations at the beautiful WorldMark resorts (our timeshare) Canmore is just 15 minutes out of Banff National Park and is quickly turning into a wonderful little resort town. Every direction a person turns the scenery is beautiful and very pleasing to the eyes and senses. Our location was at the base of the mountains just out of town. Very peaceful and quiet, with lots of wildlife to view. We setttled in to our rooms then left to explore the town.

The rest of the family began to arrive on Thursday evening and Friday. It was so nice to see everyone...some who have not been seen in almost 20 years! Now all the activities will begin. This is a very active family who enjoy hiking, biking, rock climbing, cycling.....you name it.....they'll try it.

Brandt and Ashley were able to try their skills at rock climbing and I do believe they liked it!

I had an absolutely beautiful hike up to the sight where the kids were climbing....it just couldn't get any better than this!

Our week was spent traveling to Foothills Campmeeting on Saturday for Jasper's baptism and getting to visit with friends and family we haven't seen in a long time. We were blessed with beautiful weather the whole time and that was a big plus!

It seemed like every time all the siblings got together another group shot was taken. Kinda funny...but very cool. This picture was taken immediately after Jaspers baptism by the river.

The rest of the week involved alot of meals together, trips to Banff, some went to the Calgary Stampede, golfing in Kananaskis and more hiking and mountain biking!

A wonderful time was had by all! Here are a few more candid pics on the last full day we were there.......family pictures up by the Canmore Nordic Center.

Graduation Day..June 2007

2007-06-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

Randy and I are proud parents! Brandt, our oldest kid has finally graduated from college. He got his diploma for mechanical engineering. Now he needs to figure out what to do with it. Anyone have some job offers out there?...:)

It's hard to believe my little baby is all grown up...the time has sure flown by.

Congratulations Son...we love you.

ALOHA...!!

2007-06-22T21:24:00.001-07:00

While in Hawaii this spring I decided to work on my photograghy of flowers a bit more. This was one of my first attempts ....and not too bad.