TGI 'S'

TGIF...
Thank God it's Friday.

I understand why this acronym has caught on in our society.
There is even a restaurant chain called TGIFridays.
Their slogan is something like, Where every day is Friday.

I say
TGIS...
Thank God it's Saturday!
I work on Fridays.
Saturdays I am off!
It could also be thank God it's Sunday!
I am off on Sundays too!

I enjoyed sleeping in this morning.
It was overcast, dreary and there was a light rain falling.
A perfect morning to just stay snuggled under the covers.
I felt bad for my husband who had to work this morning.

Hopefully tomorrow, Father's Day will be a TGIS day for him.

I didn't even mind the mess I came downstairs to this morning.

Its a lazy Saturday and I have all day to cook, clean, and do laundry.

I don't mind (as much) facing dirty dishes,
empty pop cans and beer bottles....
the residual mess from our first Friday night for the summer...
when I have all day to tackle it.


So about 10:30 I put some music on, grabbed my first diet coke of the day, and got busy. 

In no time, laundry was in the wash,
the kitchen was in tolerable shape,
and the beginnings of a great dinner had been started.

Yep,
I say, "TGIS!"







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The Joy of Big Families

I come from a big family.
Not a big family like the Duggers on the show 19 and counting. And not a big family like Jon and Kate plus 8,
Oh I guess it is just Kate plus 8 now.
I come from a somewhat big family of 9.
I am number 2 of 7 siblings;
4 girls and 3 boys.
My parents had a big family primarily because they loved kids, especially my dad.  I remember on numerous occasions hearing my mom say,  "If your father could have had babies, we would have had a dozen kids."

I am happy to say that I love all my brothers and sisters and wish I could see them all more often.
We get along well, laugh often, and love much.    
Oh sure...     As kids, it was a different story.
There was the normal amount of bickering, arguing, and fighting that goes on between siblings. But mom and dad told us everyday to love each other.      So we did.
But in spite of my happy childhood,  I did not plan to have kids of my own.  I wanted to be a photojournalist, get my pilots license, work for National Geographic, and see the world from behind the lens of my camera.

My plan wasn't meant to be.
And for that I am extremely grateful.
While I did NOT set out to pass my parents in the number of children I had, somewhere along the way I did.  I have 8;
6 girls and 2 boys.
And I get to live the adventure of raising them.
Everyday I tell them they love each other, and while this love is not always visible in their every day interaction... it is there. 
We share much joy & laughter when we all gather.
Recently #6 Caroline graduated from high school and all my kids, and my mom were here for the celebration.  Time was taken off from work, money was spent on travel, child & pet care had to be arranged, extended family shared the burden while others traveled, and sacrifices were made so we could all share in the joy.
My 8 children, my mother, 1 son in law, 1 boyfriend, my husband & I, as well as 2 dogs all under 1 roof.  It was noisy, chaotic, crazy and a whole lot of fun.  I was just missing another son in law and my 2 grandsons.  I don't know where they would have slept had they been able to join us, but I know we would have made room.  We don't get together often enough.  It has been 2 years since all the siblings were together. So obviously I had my camera at hand, even when I was cooking.  I guess in many ways I AM seeing the world from behind the lens.  It just happens to be my little world.

Out of the over 500 photos I took in the course of 5 days, my favorites are becoming the ones I took of Caroline as she 'posed' with each of her siblings.   I was struck by how the individual relationships seemed to be captured between Caroline and each of her siblings.

Melissa the oldest, and part time mom brings a look of "Oh No!" on Caroline's face as if she was caught doing something wrong.

Brad was in my mind a terrific babysitter.  We called him the 'enforcer' because he always made sure the kids followed the rules.
Because of this they often butted heads.

Aimee has been able to spend many Christmas breaks and some summer months with us the past 5 years giving Caroline an opportunity to grow their relationship as young women in addition to that of big sister/little sister.

I wasn't sure Lindsey was going to be able to make it with her new job, but thankfully she was able to steal away some time and join us.  Its always a party when L. A. is around.












Alex and Caroline are 18 months apart.  They were thrust together and referred to as the "2 little kids" before Jacquie and Laura were born. They have shared a lot in their 18+ years including the same Godparents.

Leaving family and friends while in junior high and moving half way across the country isn't easy for kids.  But my girls handled it quite well largely because they had each other. 

I suppose anyone who is the youngest in their family has stories to tell about how difficult it is to be 'the youngest'. 
And anyone who has a 'youngest' in their family will have a different version of those same stories. 
It is the same with our youngest Laura.  The family she has grown up in and will continue to grow up in is very different from the family that Melissa and Brad remember growing up in.
I know that is true because I am a different parent now with only 4 teenagers in the house than I was when my kids were 17, 14, 12, 10, 6, 4, 2, and 6 months.

I am so thankful to have been raised by 2 wonderful parents that taught me how to deal with all that comes with a large family.

I wish dad was still with us, but his spirit looms large in all of us...especially when we all gather together.

Growing up in a large family taught us there is always room for more. 
We didn't have a lot of money, fancy clothes, or extras of anything, but we always had enough. 
And we always had enough to share. 



It is the same now with my kids.


They make room for more.


More friends.


More family.


More fun.


More hugs!


And always more love!

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Pacific City

It's all good









- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:Nestucca Ridge Rd,Cloverdale,United States

Smoke, Fire, and what's Precious

In the early morning hours,
well before my alarm was set to go off,
I was startled awake by the sound of our smoke detectors.

There is nothing quite like waking up to this sound and the fear of a possible house fire.

Thoughts went rushing through my mind in a split second!
Fire!
The kids!
Get out of the house!
Where is the fire!
Oh Yeah! Put clothes on first!
...And a million other thoughts.

As we explored and took survey of our house and couldn't find smoke or fire, my thoughts then turned to the question,
What would I grab if the house were on fire and I had time?
What is most precious to me?

After making sure the family is safe,
My first thought was to grab my bible, not because I am that religious, but because all the sentimental notes, pictures, letters, funeral cards, and such are tucked inside.
Next on my list was my camera, then the external hard-drive with my photographs, but the more I thought about it,
even my pictures were something I could leave behind.
I don't have a long list of possessions that are precious.
I don't even have short list.
I don't have fancy clothes, gold or diamonds.
I don't have precious knickknacks or expensive collectables.

I do collect rocks,
mostly heart-shaped rocks.
But I'm not attached to them.

If I had plenty of time,
I might grab the quilts grandma has made for me & the kids over the years,
but they were not in the top 5 possessions that came to mind.

Honestly, my thoughts were more practical.
(Imagine that, me... practical.)
Change of clothes,
shoes,
phone,
And blanket if it's cold out.
Not just for me, but for the kids as well.
I guess I was in 'mom mode'.

On the drive to school Laura and I had a chance to talk about the smoke detector/fire scare.

I asked Laura, "If it had been a real fire, what would you have done?"
She said, "jump out my window.!"
I said, "What? You know there is concrete under your window. You could die from jumping.
What about the fire safety ladder in your room.
Do you even know where it is?"

With a chuckle she said, "Yes, its under the table by the window."

"So let me understand, you would risk your life by jumping rather than use the fire safety ladder?" I asked.
"Well, I would go over to the grassy part of the yard and then jump.
And then I would tuck and roll." she added with a laugh.

She continued to explain how she envisioned using the safety ladder taking too long.
She would have to get it out of the box,
read the directions,
get it set up, all before climbing out of the window.
It made me realize we need an actual fire drill in addition to the basic instructions we have given the kids.

I then asked Laura, "If there had been a fire, what would you grab first?"
She didn't think long before saying, "I would take my blankie, put everything on it and throw it out the window before I jumped."

"Like what?" I asked.

"My picture books,
whammy (a Lamb she has had since birth-I have restuffed, restitched, and repaired a few times over the past 13 years.)
and maybe my dishes from Japan."

"You know the dishes might break when they land on the concrete?", I reminded her.

"yeah. I know." and she grinned.

I am curious though,
"What picture books?" I asked

"You know, the red one you gave me, and the ones Melissa and Lindsey gave me."
I was drawing a blank.
But it was clear by Laura's reaction that I should know her favorite books.

Then Laura said, "The ones with my favorite pictures."
"Oh! Your photo albums!" (my light finally went on.)
She said, "I call them picture books."

With that we exchanged "I Love You's".
And she was off to school.

I was glad to know that what Laura finds precious are her 'picture books' & whammy.
Sentimental items that hold memories for her,
that is what she would save in event of a fire,
Those are the things she holds precious.

I hope we never have to actually choose!


- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:Silver Ridge Rd SE,Sublimity,United States

Memorial Day Home Improvement Projects

I imagine that I am just one of many homeowners who have spent their Memorial Day working on a home improvement project.

I have heard a number of my neighbors mowing and trimming.
I have noticed new flowers in some yards.
And next door to us is a new raised bed that will soon be providing fresh vegetables.

My home improvement project
However,
is a bit more daunting.


I am finally getting my long awaited for natural rock retaining wall.
It's a vision I have had since signing homeowner papers in 2006.
It's a project that we started 3 years ago.
And today...
I feel we are finally making progress.
It was going quickly with just 2 of us.
It picked up speed with 3 of us.


Then the guys got sidetrack by the call of the Disc Golf Course.

I can't blame them,
It's a gorgeous day.

Progress is much slower with just me though.

But after just a few short hours I can see significant progress.
I am ever hopeful that this will be the year that I get the wall finished.

I think I have been quite patient,
And I have to do something with this pile of rocks!




- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:Westfarthing Way NW,Salem,United States

Grandma Zelma & My next blog.

I have a lot of blogs I want to get out of my mind and onto this site.
But writing has been slow in coming.

My 97 year old Grandma passed away.
My thoughts have been with her.

I thought about blogging about her,
but each time I begin,
I stutter, and trip, and can't get the words out.

I guess for now, I will just wait until the words flow smoothly.

http://www.cochranmortuary.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1170065&fh_id=10368

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All about Business, or is it?

I got my new business cards for work today.
I remember in years past being quite excited when I got my first box of business cards.
Gee, that seems like a lifetime ago.
I was a youth minister at St. James Church in Kearney Nebraska.

Hmmm.....  (personal reflection)

Yep, that was a lifetime ago.

It was all good.

I have made my own personal cards as well.
There was a period in my life when I needed to feel important.
I needed to feel as if I was 'somebody'.

And when I was out and about with other working folk,
and they pulled out their fancy business card holders,
I too had something to hand them.
My own cards also came in handy when making my own luggage tags.

Granted...
back then my cards just contained my name,
basic contact information,
and my latest tattoo design.
But somehow that was enough.

After moving to Salem, and while working at Habitat for Humanity, I had a couple of different titles .
So that meant I had a couple of different boxes of business cards.
For the most part the cards just sat in the box.
I guess I don't meet enough new people that I can give away 500 cards in 3 years.

When ordering my Mid Valley Mentors business cards I questioned my boss.
(I know.       Not a wise move for a new employee.)
I asked her if I really 'needed' business cards.
When she said, "yes",
I asked,"How many?"
"500", she said.

Personally I thought she was nuts. 
But I figured I already questioned her decisions enough for one day.
"Just keep your mouth shut and do your job." at least that is what my friend always says.
Good advice, I am sure.

I continued to wonder what roll business cards even have today.
With all the technology, social media, and smart phones that can share contacts, photos, apps, and the like, by simply 'bumping' each other,
what do we need with an actual business card?

Regardless of the answer,
today 500 business cards with my name and work number arrived just for me.
I feel committed, or stuck.
I haven't decided which yet. 
It feels like I am in for the long haul. 
It feels like I can't quit until the box is empty.

After all, I am too practical
( http://steppinoutwithdwntwn.blogspot.com/2011/01/being-practical.html )
I don't want to throw away obsolete business cards contributing to the already overflowing landfills.

Besides all that,
just a few short months ago I created my own
Brand New Personal
'business' Card! 

(I suppose deep down having a card still makes me feel legit,
real,
important.)


I am excited about my website, my photography, my Mushroom Book...

Oh yeah, did I tell you I sold one already and have a possibility of selling more in a gift shop?

And the book I sold was bought by someone other than a family member! 
They are anxious for me to finish my next book.

So now I feel torn.
I am torn between working all day and trying to squeeze in time to write at night.
Or working all day and just setting aside my writing so I can better take care of the house and not ignore the family.  After just a few evenings of working on the book I sense the family feels neglected.
I know the kitchen certainly LOOKS neglected.

But then again...
I have all these cards.
Business cards for work.
and
Business cards for my 'hobby'.

I guess I have to do a better job of finding the proper balance.

Hmmmm....  (more personal reflection.)

Yes, I have been in this boat before.

Now if I could just remember how I navigated through the rocky waters of 'proper balance' last time....
Then it would all be good.





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My Next Book...Fire Hydrants

I started writing my next book.

Its about fire hydrants.

This book seems to come with more challenges than
my first book on mushrooms.

I seem to have a bit of writer's block.

I have roughly 200 photographs of fire hydrants that
I have taken over the past 14 months.
Yet I don't know where to begin.

The personality and characteristics I see in a simple fire hydrant
hold a lot of fascination and interest for me. 

I guess time will tell whether or not anyone
else will find my photos of interest or not.

As part of my research I found some information
and details on fire hydrants.
but the information isn't enough to help me
with my writer's block.

So for tonight,
I will set my photo editing and writing aside
and hope tomorrow brings the words I am looking to write.


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Silver Falls State Park

 Many of you know I began volunteering at Silver Falls State Park in April.
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_211.php

I committed to 4 shifts a month in late March because I had not been able to find work and I needed to get out of the house.
The very next week, I found a job.                Go figure....

I have been trying to honor my commitment at SFSP.
Partly because that is how I was raised,
and partly because I enjoy it so much.

I meet people from all over the world.
Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Greece...,
just to name a few.

And the volunteers I work with have their own wonderful story to tell.

I also enjoy getting away from the city and taking a drive up into the mountains and getting away from the busyness of life.
With the price of gas, I do think about whether or not I should be spending the extra money.
I wonder if there is something else,
someplace else that would benefit from 4 volunteer hours a week.
I am sure there is.

But I enjoy this volunteer position, a lot.

This past Friday I worked with a volunteer/board member who lives near SFSP.

In hearing his story, I learned we share a love of photography.

He told me of a local farm that had a field of yellow flowers in full bloom.



I don't remember the name of the crop, but I was intrigued.

He pulled out a map and directed me to the back roads that would take me to the field of yellow.

 After a long morning at work,
then a long afternoon on my feet at the Nature Store, I declined his offer to follow him.

I wanted to get home and kick my feet up and pour myself a cold beverage.
Driving unfamiliar back roads of the Willamette Valley was not in my plan.

But as I approached the turn off, I found myself taking the path less traveled.


 The road and the hills were exactly as my new friend had described.
In fact, the roads and the hills felt familiar,
as if I knew where to go.

When I approached the field of yellow,
I was NOT disappointed.

I had never seen anything like this before.

I went past the field and up the hill as instructed to get the better view.

Even though the sky was a bit overcast,
the brilliant colors were vivid and bright.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
It seemed unreal.
I just wish I could remember what he called this plant!

I am especially glad I have continued to honor my commitment.
And I am glad I followed my spirit and took the path less traveled.



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The Best is Yet to Come

Now,
If I just had more time...


- Posted by DWNTWN

Fresh Fish?... Summer is near!

I spent the past few days giving my fish mobile a fresh coat of paint and some new string.

Its a yearly ritual that I have come to look forward to.

(Last years' blog.)
http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/2010/06/one-of-my-summertime-rites-of-passage.html 

For me,
cleaning and re-stringing my fish means summer is near.

This year the fish needed a fresh coat of paint in addition to new string.


I know...

I should bring them in over the winter months.

I just can't seem to bring myself to take them down when I am hanging the Christmas lights.



I  like their bright colors and wide eyed look in mid winter when the skies are gray and dreary.



After the fresh coat of paint,
I sprayed them with clear coat to make them bright and shiny.







Tonight I hung them back in their rightful place on the front porch.



Now I am officially ready for Summer!








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Waiting on a friend

This afternoon I am back at one of my 'old haunts' just waiting on a friend.

Friendships have always been in integral part of my life.
I don't have a lot of friends, just a handful or two that I truly call friend.

Most of my friends don't live nearby.
In fact, all but 1 friend lives in a different city,
And most live in a different state.

It makes it difficult to stay in touch.

Sure email, texting, Facebook and such make it easier,


But my dearest friends I need to sit with more often than opportunity allows when we live in different cities. I prefer to look them in the eye when I listen,
I want to see the laughter on their face when something is funny,
Wipe their tears when life brings sadness,
share a hug when they need comforted,
Or a give them a pat on the back when congrats are in order.

Its hard to do that when you are in different cities.

So in spite of a this week being crazy, busy, hectic, and mentally draining,
I am sitting at Johnny's waiting on a friend I haven't seen in several months.

I just wish all my friends could be so close.


"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." ~Albert Schweitzer

"She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order. It's good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind." ~Toni Morrison, Beloved

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Looking for work in Oregon

My last post was over a week ago,

sadly for me,
but perhaps a relief for anyone tired of my ramblings.

My lack of blogging is directly related to my last post...
I found work,

http://steppinoutwithdwntwn.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-found-work.html

I have a weeks worth of blogging rolling around in my head,
just no time for typing.

But tonight, I am making time.
I had planned to start on one of several ideas such as:

Space Age Gas stations & the price of Gas,

Collections,

Hot air balloons...Take me away,

The struggles of being a working mom again,

TGIF,
or Worry

just to mention a few.

(Perhaps now you can imagine all the constipation in my brain.)

But tonight something else caught my attention as I sat down to write.

Tomorrow I have 2 family members with job interviews;
a son and a son-in-law, both of whom currently live with me. 

While I hope they are both successful in their interview process and finding a job,

I was especially captured by the job posting for Rogue Brewery where my son-in-law will be interviewing tomorrow morning.

Are you Rogue enough to work here?

We have jobs – some existing, some new, for hard core unemployables who understand:

We believe “Job Security” is a myth, seniority is not fair. 

God gave us 1 mouth and 2 ears for a reason, 

win-win is a book title not a reality, 

the risk of insult is the price of clarity, 

thinking, problem solving, courage are more important than WPM or other computer skills, 

but we do have pet and legal insurance, 401K match, phantom plan, 2 paid holidays, bad health insurance (like most others not paid for by us) for Government staff, 

hurt feelings report.

We do not plan, budget, forecast, or waste time on getting bigger. 

We only wish to get better.

Failure is encouraged – 

Even if you suck at one position you may be perfect for another position within the company.

You will be interviewed by a decision maker. 

Ties are not recommended for the interview, 

nor slacks or jackets, all of which are banned by our dress code

– or would be if we had one.

The following are banned words: 

great, excited, end-of-day, execute, throw down, great question, may I say something, may I ask a question, devil’s advocate, on one hand, in the long term, xmas, mo, outside bos, depends, synergy, build brand awareness, dude, Oh my god, spaced it, 24/7, close the loop, working on, ball in my court, on my radar, proactive, dear, reach out, same page, brain storming, in progress, behind the eight-ball, and others.

Aggressive people appear to do well here, passive aggressive – not so well.

Do not be offended if you do not get a form letter in response to your application. 

If we received it, it will be read and given consideration. 

If called for an interview do not be offended if the meeting is brief. 

Hiring decisions will be inexplicable 

– this ain’t widgets, we will be wrong a lot. 

Please review our website, prior to application and interview, so as not to waste each others’ time. 

These are mostly new positions 

– we have no HR department so may not have the answers you think we should have as a business. 

That’s because we are not, 

we are a revolution. 

Rogue is not for everyone and everyone is not for Rogue. 

DARE, RISK, DREAM.

I couldn't help but laugh when I read this.
As I just recently completed my own job search,
and many of my own sentiments were represented in the Rogue Job Application,
I wanted to add a few more in regards to what I was looking for in a work environment:
I honor honesty, integrity, and simply being upfront.
Competition doesn't need to exist because we are all working towards the same goal...
getting along and keeping our jobs in a difficult economy.
When in an office environment made up of primarily women remember...,
junior high and high school were a long time ago.
There is no place for backstabbing, lying, cheating, rumor starting, or misleading information.
And most of all-
Be Nice!
If everyone lived by the rules we all learned in kindergarten we would be much better off.

[Source: "ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN" 

by Robert Fulghum.  See his web site at http://www.robertfulghum.com/  ]

• Share everything.
• Play fair.
• Don't hit people.  (Not even with words.)
• Put things back where you found them. (My folks always taught us... leave things nicer than you found them.)
• Clean up your own mess.
• Don't take things that aren't yours.
• Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. (And don't be afraid to take it to the next step and say, "Will you forgive me?")
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.  (I would add: use the plunger if necessary and don't make someone else do it for you!)
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
• Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
• Take a nap every afternoon.  (Or at least get up from your desk and go stand outside in the sun, or the rain!) 
• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
• Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
• Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we. { So do dads.  :(  }
• And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

For my sons and everyone else out there looking for work, praying for work, trying to maintain their sanity at work....
Hang in there.
And try to Be Nice.




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I found work...

I found work.
A while back,
I don't know exactly how long ago without looking,
I blogged about my struggles with finding a job.

http://steppinoutwithdwntwn.blogspot.com/2011/02/looking-for-work.html


I realized today,
after talking with dear friends,
that some of my family & friends are unaware that I have secured employment.
I worked briefly,
2 weeks ago,
before my trip 'home' to
Wichita,
Kansas City,
& Kearney, NE.

Today was, in my mind, my first full day in the office.
What began as a part-time job
just over two weeks ago
is already working it's way towards a full time job.

I'm okay with that.

What concerns me is the learning curve
and my ability to be a help to the organization
and not a drain on them.

I have had to 'train' people before and
Honestly
It takes more time and effort from the established staff members to train a new person.
I hate the thought of being a drain on others.
But there is no doubt that there is a learning curve, and I am in need of some guidance.

In addition to that
I am trying to juggle all the tasks and chores at home in the short few hours I have remaining in the evenings.

I've done this before...
I should have this 'working mom' thing down pat.
But I'm out of practice.

I am very thankful to have an adult daughter and her husband living with me.
I got home from work and they had dinner nearly prepared.
And my daughter cleaned the kitchen while I dealt with other household tasks.
I think I will miss the additional adult household members when they have to move out.

For the meantime I will work on re-adjusting to life as a working mom!

Oh!
By the way...
I am an Executive Assistant At Mid Valley Mentors.
You can find them via Facebook or google them.



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Happy May Day!

May Day...
As a child I remember May Day celebrations, Maypoles, flowers, and candy!

We lived in a great neighborhood where we would exchange handmade baskets filled with flowers.

Each year mom would get out the construction paper and show us how to fashion a cornucopia type vase from a sheet of paper and we would cut color coordinating strips for handles.

Some years, if strawberries were in season, we would save the little green plastic baskets and attach pipe cleaners for handles and that became our May Day flower basket.

Most years the tulips, daffodils, and iris' were in bloom.
Sometimes we had lilacs and peonies as well.
And some years, If there was a late frost, flowers were scarce and we filled the baskets with homemade cookies or treats.

It was a challenge to drop off the May baskets, ring the bell, and escape the large porch, and make it out of sight without getting caught.

My brother was much faster than me, but he was far from delicate with the May Basket.
I remember him dumping a basket on the porch spilling flowers everywhere. After that, I was in charge of setting the baskets down and he was in charge of ringing the bell and leaping off the porch and running down the street.

Years later,
while living in Nebraska where the winters last longer and spring arrives later,
May Day baskets consisted of paper cups filled with candy, and the treats were no longer homemade.
My kids enjoyed May Day just as much as I did as a child,
but somehow the spirit of the holiday was less exciting for me.

We were talking and reminiscing yesterday, the eve of May Day, about all best baskets, special treats, and favorite neighbors we've had throughout the years.

Here in Salem we have some great neighbors.
The kids and I all agreed...
it is time to resurrect the best aspects of May Day,
homemade baskets,
flowers,
and homemade treats.

And after that... I think a Barbeque and perhaps some homemade ice cream will be on the menu.
What a perfect way to begin the month of May!

Oh yeah, and the guys will be brewing up another batch of beer!

Whether you have memories of May Day celebrations or not,
I wish you a great May Day filled with sun, fun, good food, and great family & friends.

All about Home

 It seems like I write about Home a lot.
I especially have these past couple of weeks.

• Going Home...
• Kickin' back in my childhood home...
• Heading Home...

And even other blogs in between not containing the word home were About Home.
Taking a glance at my previous blog site
http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/
I notice that too was often times
All about Home.

• Home Sweet Home...
• Making my way back home...
• Homeward Bound...
• And lots more.

I don't think of my self as a 'homebody'.
I love to get out, go places,
explore, and meet new people.

Some people have asked me, "Are you ever home?"
I always answer, "Home is where your heart is."

However...
After 2 weeks of sleeping on air mattresses and small beds,
visiting with lots of family and friends,
traveling, and eating in restaurants
I am enjoying my quiet house
and being nearly alone at home.
(Only 2 dogs and 1 sleeping teenage son remain in the house).

The sun is shining and I am thinking about going for a walk.

Life, as I have experienced the past 16 months,
will not be the same.
Life is changing again.
And I am okay with that.
I have never cared too much for life always being the same.
I don't mind a bit of daily routine, 
but I don't want life to get stagnant,
or boring.

Clearly my life would not be considered boring to any outsider.
Raising 8 children alone keeps things in constant motion.
And so it goes....
Daughter #3, her husband, their dog Tessa, and soon to be baby boy are now living with us.
We are excited to have them here on the west coast, and in our home
...at least until they find their own place
Tomorrow, #2 comes down from Seattle for the weekend.
9 people, and 2 dogs in the house aren't a worry for me.
Parking 7 vehicles on our tiny street is!
I anticipate lots of car moving, shuffling, and repositioning.
It will be a noisy, chaotic, and a very loud home, filled with much laughter,
and probably even some bickering.
But it won't be Boring!

On second thought instead of taking a walk, I should probably make a grocery list and head to the store.
There will be a lot of mouths to feed.

Even with a house full I can't help but wish we
ALL could be home this weekend.
We will still be missing 5 more family members,
Bella, another dog,
and Mr. Burnside, a bunny.

 
Yep....
Certainly Not Boring!

Tonight we kick off the kids 3 day weekend by celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation with 2 of my daughters.
By Monday I will be ready to get back to the new job I started 15 days ago.

Welcome Home to me!







Steppin' out with DWNTWN
DWNTWNimages.me

On the Road Again

We rolled into Pendleton a bit before midnight last night.
The drive over the mountains in Eastern Oregon was quite gorgeous.



We were happy to avoid more snow and rain over the pass as we had experienced enough bad weather already this trip.
Spring weather is unpredictable in many places especially through Wyoming and northern Utah.



I do love watching a great storm cloud though.


Today won't be a long day of Driving,
but it will be a Long day.

I look forward to being home,
In Salem.
Hugging my younger kids again
and sleeping in my own bed.

- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:SW Court Ave,Pendleton,United States

Unwinding at Rock Springs

It was great fun spending Easter with the grandsons and my oldest.
Zack is getting so big.
He chipped in and helped with the yard work yesterday.


And He gave me a high five with his "Papo" style work gloves.


Today I took great delight in watching the boys splash around in the rain with their new boots! I hope I get to see them again before the year's end.




We made Rock Springs after a long day of driving through wind, rain, sleet & snow.
Tomorrow we hope to make Pendleton Oregon.

I suppose it's that time...
I get some shut eye.
We have a longer day ahead tomorrow.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:U.S. 30 Business,Rock Springs North,United States

Heading home

After a wonderful Easter weekend and a fun filled morning with my grandsons we are headed for home, Salem, OR.

Mixed Emotions....






- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:Tower Hill Rd,Kearney,United States