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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Girls' Night

Occasionally we have a girls night at Julie's and play Settlers, talk munch and/or watch a movie. We might have many girls or just a couple. Last night it was Julie and I and Rachel.

We were trying for healthy snacks...Julies homemade salsa and low-salt chips, sourdough bread and spinache spread, I brought veggies and homemade dip, and then there was Rachel-----Lemon Pie (fruit) and Candy Corn (vegetable). Gotta love it!! Of course, it was Rachels's very first time at this game, and she kicked butt---saying---
"Well...I didn't MEAN to win!"
Also---Greyson crashed the party where normally there are no boys allowed !!
I love this stage in babyhood --- just two lower front teeth! How darling is that??

Yeah I WAS tired.....long work week, so don't give me any shizzle!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Halloween Friends -- from Suzi's house to mine!


Oh yeah!! Would love to have these on my front porch!!

Fall


Got the bug to try making my own salsa....(from my son and daughter-in-law) and unfortunately I can't do anything on a small scale, 5 gallons of salsa later..... It's good to know there's plenty to go through the winter. Lot's of Sunday football games, ya know!
Also tried a batch of Dill pickles. so far they taste great, but not quite done curing.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Dorene......my memories

By way of explanation, my mom (nor my sister or I) hasn't lived in my hometown for 30 or 40 years, she but used to take the local newspaper anyway and send my sister and I newsclippings of interest about people we had known over the years. Many of these turned out to be obituaries that I would put into my yearbooks. She hasn't taken the paper for a while now and I so I get on line and scan the old newspaper once a week or so and now I tell her news about people she's known.

While doing this recently I stumbled across an obituary of a woman who was my next door neighbor in the 50's. She is seated here on the steps of their home with daughter Julie at her side and me looking on. In high school we crossed paths again as she was step-mother to one of my friends.

What I read was this --Dorene Picker Russell, 76, passed away Sept 3, 2010 at her home in Irrigon-------that is all I could find! Such a shame that I couldn't find any more information.

I can't let her life pass without paying small tribute to this woman who was my neighbor, who was immensely talented and always kind to me.

Dorene knit many sweaters, and I don't recall seeing patterns. They were of uniform stitch, in rich color and nice style.
She and a friend used to like to paint their front room window with tempera paints for the holidays....these were elaborate and not easy in my estimation since you had to 'write' backwords and do highlights and shadows in advance of the color, etc. No simple endeavor, but she was quick and good and had a blast doing it.
I remember her cutting out material to make Julie and Judy shorts and tops for summer, and she did so without any pattern.
She was a great cook, homemade pies (gooseberry included) and a fried chicken dinner that most of the neighborhood probably drooled for.
I also remember one occasion when for some reason there was a piano in their garage temporarily. I don't remember knowing where it came from or where it went, but we were sitting ouside, garage door open when Dorene sat at the piano and started hammering out a song, both hands, from memory I suppose, as I also saw no sheet music.

She totally amazed me over and over again. I thought perhaps someday I would grow up to be like her.....no such luck. Some people get all the talent...lol...She was a special lady in my memory, and though I have not seen her in decades, she lives in an honored place in my memory!
Dorene, rest in peace, girlfriend!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Dec. 24th 1970......


My sweetie gave me an engagement ring for Christmas. My mom looks on. My SIL Marla, found this so it's one I've never seen....blows my mind.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Friday, September 3, 2010

Thirty nine and counting...

married August 26th 1971 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. On August 27th this year we celebrated Norm's 62nd birthday and embarking on our fortieth year together. Life has had ups and downs for us like everyone else, some r-e-a-l-l-y tough but it's not been dull. In fact it's been quite the ride!! Love you sweetheart!