Let's Talk

I'm in the mood for a little chat tonight.  I want to explain my blog header's change of pics.   I decided that this Summer is passing us quickly.  Our pool time this year has been hit or miss.  We've had cooler temps than normal and truly I'm not complaining. I know many, especially out West, are roasting to death.  However, it makes for chilly swimming when the pool temps are only around 72de!  But we go in anyway! When I found the swimming background for the blog I decided to feature a Grandkiddo a week.  With 9 of them, I should get through the rest of this Summer!  First I had Alexis...or Lexi-Loo as we call her! (actually we shorten it up to just "Loo"). She's Phil's oldest.  She's a sweetie and I enjoy when she wants to help me in the kitchen.  She loves to cook and love Food Network...especially Giada!  This week I have her Sister,  Addyson...or as we call her....Rae...(her middle name).  She's a corker! She is funny, smart and also will give her Dad (Phil) a run for his money in a few years.  Who does she remind me of??? Oh yeah, her Dad! Ha!  To finish this post up I'm going to the photo board....hey, a picture is worth a thousand words..and Lord knows I can fill anything up with words...spoken or written!

This past week we took our Scouts swimming at the Y so they could finish up some requirements. This was on the wall...something we all could live by!

It was fun and we are grateful to the Y for the free use of the pool!

Campfire Friday!

Babysitting Granddogs!

Sisters cuddling in a blanket by the fire.

Blowing bubbles made with homemade soap and wands...handmade by Loo!

Fruit pizza for a church social.

Handcarts for the pioneer day church social.

Pinecone in the setting sun.

Down she goes!

Hope your weekend wasn't "hairy"! Thanks for the talk tonight!

Seeing RED

I've been a BLAH BLOGGER!  Last July I posted 11 times...so far this July...and it's almost over...I've posted twice...2 times!  That has me seeing RED!  The problem is I'm not really doing a bunch this year.  I'm sticking close to home and how exciting or blog worthy is that?  So I'm going to post what has me seeing RED...see if you agree.

The RED raspberries are finally coming in and I did a batch of jam the other day.  I do love RED raspberry jam!

Salvia is showing off it's RED flair.

Dear RED daylily....even though this wasn't taken in the day...it was more dusk.  Still looks very RED to me!

RED sky at night...or the RED dripping clouds...is truly a delight!

Last but not least...crazy RED glasses that help me see the RED around here.  Yep, it's a blog worthy day at the Pines! Hope your days are filled with RED!

Do You Like Sunflowers?

A few weeks ago my blog buddy Shady Dell, over at Shady Dell Music & Memories, nominated me for a lovely award. The Sunflower Blogger Award.  Now, I love sunflowers,  but these came in a bouquet of  questions!  Thank you Tom for thinking of me.  I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get around to answering the questions that you asked the nominees to complete.  They are interesting, thoughtful questions and I had to think about them for a bit before answering.  I'm a very complex person you see and I had to peel the onion that's my brain for some good answers.  (If you believe that, you deserve the "Buying some swamp land in Florida" award!) Anyway, here goes!
1.  Why do you blog?  My daughter-in-law, Amy, talked me into it!  Amy's gone the way of  Facebook now, and I'm blogging as a journal tool.  I make my blog into book form at the end of the year and have all my posts and pics preserved for future family members who have nothing better to do than see what their "YaYa"  did with her life!
2.  Are you an early riser or a night owl?  I start work at 7am so that makes me more of an early riser.  However, I could be a night owl and stay up until all hours doing blogging or watching Hallmark movies.  Then of course Jack would point out that I fall asleep around 9pm...I guess I'll stick with early riser! (except on weekends when I get up around 8am!)
3.  What's your favorite smell?  This is funny because Jack always says I have the most sensitive smeller around.  I can smell foul (or fowl) smells a mile away!  But I do love the smell of cinnamon or homemade bread or flowers....can I have more than one fav? Oh wait...let's not forget bacon!
4.  If you're feeling sad what's the one song that you could play or sing to make you happy again?  John Denver's "Thank God I'm a Country Boy"...seriously.  I would never sing it though..that would make many people very sad.
5.  When you look in the mirror, what do you see?   Many days I ask myself "Who in the heck is that looking back at me?!"  I'm surprised to realize I'm 61...where in the heck did that crazy kiddo go?  Time goes fast, but most of the time I like what I see...can't do much about changing it anyway!
6.  How would you describe your personality?  Wellllllll....years ago I would have said I have a good sense of humor....easy going....witty....a good listener...not a genius but not an idiot either...Today I would say...I'm more like Maxine the old lady cartoon gal with the big sunglasses, little dog,  and says things like " I'm as American as apple pie, if you don't mind a little extra crust."
7.  Name something you accomplished in your life through sheer determination.  I think everyday we need determination to get through the hours we're given on this Earth..to have a positive attitude takes determination.  I haven't had to overcome a bad addiction, or abuse or disease...not yet anyway.  But getting through school, marriage, buying a home, raising children, working in healthcare...all take a bit of determination. I'm sure I'll have many more things to get through before I'm done!
8.  What do you consider the most important world or national event that has taken place in your lifetime?  The invention of VELCRO...where would we be without it?
9.  If you had to spend the rest of your life in a different century, past or future, which would you choose?  I really like indoor plumbing and air conditioning and ibuprophen so going back in time might not suit me.  But the early 1900's calls out to me...those big Victorian homes and the dresses...except for corsets! 
10. If you had to speak extemporaneously for 1hr about anything, what would you choose?  How the practice of medicine has changed for the good and the bad in my time. 
Well, there you have it...the onion peel of me....and I want to thank Shady again for making this possible...now I know I'm suppose to nominate others for this award.  I have a slew of great blog buddies out there who deserve it more than me.  But instead I'm throwing this out to anyone who would like to answer any of the questions that I posted here...let me know what you would have said!  Take this bouquet of Sunflowers and give it a try!
                               

 

   

On My Honor (For The 25th Time!)

Jack's at Boy Scout Camp this week.  Our troop always heads down the week of July 4th.  (I think that gives them a discount since it's a holiday)  We've celebrated July 4th for the last 25yrs without Jack here...except for those times (like next year) when the 4th hits on the weekend.  For many years Jack was the Scoutmaster, but these last years he's gone down as a representative from the troop committee and also he's the 11yr old assistant (to me!) leader.  He serves on our Churches Stake Scout Committee too.  He really enjoys going this week. He's made wonderful lasting friendships with the other guys who serve.  I'm amazed at the men who keep coming down even though they don't have kids going anymore.  Jack has done a lot to serve the camp in different capacities.  He used to help give physicals (for free) until Chiropractors were not allowed to do them anymore..don't even know why that is since they can give school sport physicals and truck driver's....anyway, he has helped with tons of service projects and other needs that have arisen. In short, he's enjoyed his years of service and this is the 25th year he has gone to camp. I received a call from our Scoutmaster saying they were going to honor him at the family night festivities and wouldn't I like to come?  Well, sure I would, but I hate that drive.  It's a twisty, winding road, hilly, long drive. (11/2hrs).  I happened to get a low census day today so yesterday afternoon I headed down after work.  Jack had no idea I was coming and when he saw me he was really surprised. I used the excuse I had the next day off so last minute I decided to visit!  When he was called up to receive this recognition he was again really surprised...plus he now understood why I came down! It was a good night..even with all the rain that hit about half way through family night.  Here's a few pics of course! I actually left my good camera at home but was able to get the small camera Jack had brought to work so I could get some memories caught. Not all the ones I took turned out...we really need a new point and shoot camera! Anyway, Congrats to Jack!  You're a good Scouter!

The troop camps at the same place each year...Zane camp.  Here's a few of the tents...can you find Jack's? It's the one by the tree! (he'll understand that joke!)

Looking a little dazed here I think!

Many of the boys and most of the men bring their own tents, but I do so love seeing these green platform ones...they just "scream" Boy Scout Camp!

The climbing wall is near Zane camp. Anyone who deals with boys know that having a chain link fence around something like this is necessary. It doesn't look as high as it really is in my blurry (thanks to the camera) shot.

Many totem poles dot the camp...love them! I think the Pines needs one of these!

One of our dear friends, Tom.  He's been at camp for many years too.  He's an expert at tree removal and he's been clearing out trees for the camp all week. Great friend!

We began gathering for the evening's Family night at Camp festivities.  The camp activity director had everyone clapping, dancing and laughing! However, about half way through the rains came down in buckets and we had to head to the dining hall.  Jack still didn't know he was going to be honored and when he asked if I wanted to go home at this point I said..."Oh no, lets go to the dining hall and finish"...I thought "Heck no I'm not leaving! The fun's just begun!"

Again everyone was their feet singing and dancing.  Then Reverend Tim...the camp director....got up and gave Jack a wonderful recognition for his years here. The troop gave him a new camp chair, a beautiful etched glass trophy type thing...can't even think of what to call it...but we're getting it engraved when he gets home.  The camp gave him a lovely plaque he can hang with his other Scout things.

Congrats Jack! Of course, it wouldn't be Boy Scout Camp without the fun stuff..I mean, seriously, all the nice words, heartfelt thanks, statues, plaques, gifts, are really wonderful. But being hugged by a bunch of sweaty Boy Scout leaders while wearing a funny wig? PRICELESS!