Purple Patch

Happy Birthday Dear Valerie...Happy Birthday to You!

2010-09-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

Oh, it was a grand old time with the Squires celebrating Valerie's birthday at a popular seafood restaurant! We had a waiter named Tom, whom we later called "Octo-man" because he dispensed water, coffee, butter, all-you-can-eat shrimp and fixins' like he had 8 arms helicoptering over us almost constantly, cracking jokes and bowing and scraping like a parody on Saturday Night Live! Fritz hated his loud voice, but we wanted for nothing, especially considering that his young lady assistant would drift by and ask us what we wanted only seconds after Tom had showered us with all our needs. Tom led us in singing Happy Birthday to Valerie as she goggled at the luscious dessert with a candle on top, accidentally blown out by Tom's loud voice. Willow was as good as gold throughout the meal, handled expertly by her Grandma Margie, although my attempts to snap a picture of her cooing and smiling were foiled by the half-second delay on my digital camera flash....and speaking of cameras, I inadvertently caught some dessert stealing going on, although I wouldn't like to say whose arm and hand that is wielding the soiled fork that is digging deeply into Margie's Chocolate Lava Cookie. Anyway, we did have a wonderful visit with family and enjoyed celebrating Valerie's birthday. I am sure the birthday girl had an exciting and eventful day, even though afterwards we had to take Jamie to the emergency room to get a shot for a migraine. We topped it all off with a ride around the lake.

2010-02-07T01:43:00.000-08:00

There were several deer that day, but we were on the wrong side of the road to take good pictures of them. The big coup was spotting the eagle, just south of where you turn to get onto the road that turns into the Ovals. There were emergency vehicles making a huge clamor of sound and light as we pulled over and tried to find a spot to get a clear shot. The eagle was only there long enough for me to get 3 pictures, one of which is blurry. But using my zoom and then cropping revealed a little bit of his yellow beak even though his back is turned. Eagles look so noble and thrilling in the wild! They just do. Sorry to say, the fire that caused all the racket resulted in the death of a former big lakes freighter captain, he was 86, and was in command of the second ship behind the Edmund Fitzgerald when it sank that stormy November night. His little house was right on the channel, where I bet he loved seeing all the lower lakers come in.

Homeless Guy

2010-02-05T14:59:00.000-08:00

Living near Lake Michigan means that we can drive around the ovals almost every day to enjoy the beautiful big lake, the grassy dunes, and all the birds and animals. But sometime last spring, we noticed something else: a grubby white van parked along the roadway, and it was there every day. When the area is dark but not yet closed, you can see a the guy's silhouette as he sits in his van and watches a small tv. After 11:00 p.m, the park is closed and the van is gone. But the next day it would be right back. All summer, the van sat there with open windows, near the porta-john that stays there during the beach-user season. When I walked on the boardwalk, sometimes I would see the homeless guy. He is young, in his twenties probably, and has a ratty nest of Robinson Crusoe-looking long hair. Once he smiled and nodded at me, and I thought that was kind of a nice, friendly thing to do. For awhile, his back side windows seemed to be missing, and he put a sheet of wood over the opening. One day, Fritz saw him take an old, broken card table off our garbage bin on the curb and put it in his van, and we wondered: would he fix it and sell it, use it, strip the metal and sell it, give it to someone who ran a used furniture business, or maybe take part in a yard sale? After a few weeks, his window was fixed.

The police cruise that area constantly, as do the summer park rangers, and they apparently find no harm in his being there. I don't see any harm or threat to the public, but I wonder what harm there is to him. I would really like to know his story. But there is a part of me that just doesn't want to get involved. Because frankly, I am a little afraid of what makes people homeless. And, if it were me living that way, I would only want the kind of help I could go and get myself. I would not want curious, well-meaning strangers rapping on my car window. I imagine when he opens his window, the smell would gag me. I don't even want to think about what he does on these bitterly cold winter days when he has to use a bathroom. And I wonder how a vehicle, even if he ran the engine occasionally, could possibly keep him warm enough to make it okay for him to be there in that situation.

When Thanksgiving rolled around, I wondered if he went somewhere to enjoy a good dinner. When Christmas rolled around I wondered if he visited family, had a good meal, got any presents, went to a church? I wonder, is he an ex-con, an urban Henry David Thoreau, a sex-offender, mentally ill, a drug-user, a violent anti-social misfit, or is he an angel testing our compassion, waiting to see what society will do? Why is he there? He makes me so aware of my blessings. And he makes me feel guilty for not getting involved. He makes me regret being a coward, and about the time I regret that, a part of me that is just as strong tells me that he would not want watered down people like me getting involved.

There is white van parked down by the lake with a homeless guy in it. And there is nothing I can do about it.

No Sledding Fashion Show Birthday Karaoke Party

2010-02-02T23:17:00.000-08:00

Ray's birthday party this year didn't include sledding down McGraft Park hill due to lack of snow, but the tradition of tacos and fun and games went on unabated! This year it was fun to have Ben Bliss and Rich Canniff come and party with us. The girls put on a fashion show deluxe, with zany being the style of choice, and the music went on long after midnight. Not shown in my pictures are Laura and Jamie, and Wendy's boy's Hunter and Fisher since they were holed up in a back bedroom with video games. The boys, not the girls! Anyway, it was a fun night for all of us to be together and we had a blast.

Parent's Day at School

2009-10-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

While Laura is recovering from her illness, I have been trying to help out by filling in whenever possible. On September 30, I got to spend a half day with Emily at her school and took these pictures for Laura. From the cafeteria to the convection experiment in the science lab, from homeroom to choir, I got to enjoy being a "student" for a day, and even took a geography test. It was fun! Emily has some fun friends and classes. I bet Laura would have done a lot better than me on the social studies test, though!

Video Night Smackdown

2009-10-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

Was it the horror movies? Or the $20.00 worth of sugary and salty snacks? Or maybe just the chained heat of 5 teens and one tween sitting still for several hours? Whatever the cause, this match was only one of several that Saturday night in September!

Of Course You Need a Laugh....

2009-09-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

I found this on my Mom's computer, which I am now using, and had a really good laugh.

2009-08-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

These are the pictures that turned out the best. It sure was a good time! We saw a lot of people we know, some we haven't seen in ages, you just never know who will turn up! There are even plans to get together with people and see them again. The band was smokin' hot, and although I didn't get a good crowd picture, the dancers were out in full force, and even sang along with a couple of Val's songs. Good times, good times....

Warning: NO CARE BEARS ALLOWED

2009-07-08T01:46:00.000-07:00

Well, when it comes to kids things change fast.

So.

I bought two (very inexpensive) toothbrushes for the twins. After an elaborate ritual of unquestionable fairness to both, which included guessing a number between one and ten and which hand it was in, Paige got the purple toothbrush, and Brooke got the yellow one. See the broken-hearted expressions above!

The yellow one (Brooke's) sported the dastardly, evil Care Bears, while the purple one (Paige's) flaunted a very edgy and much desired Bratz.

The situation was resolved when a Garfield toothbrush happened along to replace the unwanted, rejected Care Bear toothbrush and the teeth appearing in Brooke's now happy smile were finally brushed. Lesson learned.

The Luau!

2009-06-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Family tradition: When the Squire boys' birthday month rolls around, it's party time. This year Margie and Mike hosted a luau, and if you don't think those grass skirts and bras looked cute on the guys, take a look! ! I would've taken more pictures but there were people there I didn't know very well. Val and I did a royal fire dance for the chieftains (Michigan legal fireworks suck, by the way. They wouldn't even set dune grass on fire...) and we also enjoyed a cozy bonfire outside with sparkly patio lights as a backdrop. Margie made frozen Margaritas, and we had fun telling jokes and scary stories. Oh, did I mention the food? It was great! Kudos to the cooks!

WSDA Recital

2009-06-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

Emily posed for us after the recital.

Hip Hop Happiness!

2009-06-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

Up in the dark balcony, it was hard to get a good video but I think Emily (front and center most of the time) did a great job, it was fun to watch!

Birthday Memories

2009-05-18T22:53:00.000-07:00

I found this note from Jamie. She had a great 21st birthday party, by the way! The "fish" part on the bottom is what Ray wrote when he read what Jamie wrote.

2009-05-15T18:50:00.000-07:00

As I said, I have been going through some old pictures. Be afraid!

AWW!

2009-05-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

The year was 1973. We were living in a trailer on my stepdad's property in Whitehall, on a dirt road near a small lake. The trailer was next to a pine woods where the kids loved to play. This would have been in December, Laura just turned two. Awww!

Getting A Cast

2009-04-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

That's Dr. Moulton putting on the first layers of my cast. The grandkids said I should get a purple one, except for Paige, who said I should get a glow in the dark one. Hmmm....tough choice, but I went with purple.

Fun With Blogs

2009-04-03T14:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, here we go again, another "Did I or Didn't I?" The winner this year gets something special made by me.

1. While living in California, I once walked to a Dutch restaurant and ordered a cup of coffee. At that time I took cream and sugar in my coffee. They gave me a fork instead of a spoon and I was so mad and disappointed because I couldn't spoon the sugar out of the container!

2. I went dump-picking as a child, when my Dad would take our monthly load to the dump. I found and ate mints that had a candy coating (wrapped.)

3. I once used a floor tile I found to stick down the front of my tailored shorts to make my tummy appear flatter.

4. My English teacher in 7th grade was really mean. So I wrote a bunch of insults on a paper napkin and when the students filed out of the room, I made sure I was last and stuck it in a file drawer so it hung out. Then I lingered outside the door after she went back in. I heard her crying when she read it.

5. Urged on by a friend, I once ate an already chewed piece of gum that we found frozen to the bottom of a teeter totter. My friend said she would give me two dollars, but she never did!

6. I hid under my sister's bed so I could hear her gossip with her friend. After a while I had to pee, but they were still awake, so I had to pee on myself and the stuff that was under the bed, including a school library book. A few days later when my Mom made us clean our rooms, it was obvious what happened and my sister got blamed for it and got yelled at.

7. I once skipped school in a school bus that was parked in back of a repair shop. My feet got cold so I took those rolled gauze bandages out of the first aid kit, and used it to wrap my feet in and took a nap.

8. My cousin and I were asked to babysit for a neighbor who had a 5-month old baby. It was so pale and ugly, we put mascara on it's eyes.

9. I made this blog post because I lost my good camera and haven't had the desire to take any new pictures with my new camera because the last ones didn't turn out very well. So I lost my photographer's confidence and don't have any cool pics to put on here.

10. I like the smell of rank weeds and muck.

A Few More Wedding Photos

2009-03-23T18:11:00.000-07:00

Getting used to a new camera resulted in some of the pictures not turning out. These are some of the better ones, in no particular order...my apologies to the ones who aren't shown due to the extreme darkness and/or blurriness in some of the photos. Editing helped, but not all the pictures could be fixed. I'm also still having trouble getting the pictures to load evenly, so scroll down, there are gaps.

We had an absolutely wonderful time, the wedding went off without a hitch, and the excitement and joy were obvious in every smile and hug! Congratulations to Mike and Margie, who are a great couple, fun to be around and always so good to us. They worked hard to make this day special, not just for themselves, but for all of us, and it couldn't have been better!

Facebook Tragedy

2009-02-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

Got a great laugh out of this cartoon, as I recently joined Facebook to keep track of the grandkids, and found so many friends and friends of friends. I wonder if I am the only one who feels a little overwhelmed!?

Before I was able to discover all the features and how to use them, I found pillow and food throwing fights going on, got a pop-up that tried to fleece me by telling me someone had a crush on me and someone else thought I was an idiot, and got some bewildering requests....when all I really wanted to do was say "Hi" to a few people and keep in touch! I am still a blogger at heart, but one thing I do like about FB is that it's very current (new messages everyday) and you can keep in touch with more people, not just the ones who are patronizing the blog.

So I do apologize to anyone when I am unresponsive to FB requests, I am mostly a commenter as I don't know how to do much of anything else and have no great desire to learn.

20 Things to do With Chopsticks When You're Bored

2009-02-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

When Brooke and Paige come over, they always entertain themselves as if life were a game and they are the tokens. Here, they have their toys spread on my bed. What is the game? The strewing of the toys may look random, but trust me, each one has it's place and purpose, and they play the roles assigned to them by the girls. If you ask them, it might be a school for animals but the teacher is getting married to a Barbie, or the elf keeps trying to run away and the animals are going to cook for a picnic....whatever the game is, they laugh and play together all afternoon.

Recently, they spent the night. We met Bryan and Pam at a Chinese restaurant for dinner that evening. After watching a prickly sea urchin and a clownfish in the fish tank, and reading the astrological signs on the menus, they asked the waitress for chopsticks while we waited for our food. Thus began the game.

They practiced picking up things like the straw wrappers and the pepper shaker. The chopsticks were stuck under the nose, and in the hair like devil's horns. "And you act like a devil," Paige explained. They twiddled and fiddled with the chopsticks, and used them like drumsticks. They poked each other and tapped each other. They put them through buttonholes and later, used them like flagpoles for their fortune cookie slips and stuck them in the leftover boxes so they stuck out fortress-like. I can't even remember all the uses they found for the chopsticks, but I could hear them laughing and commenting on them all the way home in the car.

We adults, we just visited. Why does being grown-up mean you lose your fascination for everyday objects, and the creative uses to which they can be put? I always enjoy spending time with the twins, and listening to their chatter as they build their fantasy worlds around stuffed animals, dolls, or chopsticks. I love to see them having fun, and I hope when they grow up they will never lose their sense of fun.

No More Monitor Bag

2009-02-06T15:18:00.000-08:00

What is a monitor bag, you say? Well, it's a white cotton bag you wear around your neck when you go to cardiac rehab. It has your name on it, and when you get to your cardiac rehab class, you put your numbered heart monitor in the bag, place 3 sticky electrodes under your shirt (2 on upper chest, one on ribs) and connect the heart monitor's 3 leads to your electrodes. If all goes well, a large screen tv will then display a readout of your heart rate as you exercise, and you can then slough off or increase your efforts as needed.

Today I graduated. I still go to cardiac rehab, but I'm off the monitor, baby! No more white bag around my neck! No more having to get there extra early to fumble with wires and sticky pads! No more turning to the wall and hunching to connect my leads so that the men in the class can't see my tubby tummy when I pull up my shirt! No more sticky shlepping when I take off the electrodes, which have the gummiest gum known to mankind on them!

When you are a recovering heart surgery patient, progress is measured in these small steps. What it means is that after so many weeks of exercising with a heart monitor, the exercise gurus have determined that the defibrillation paddles and oxygen tanks (which they keep on hand in clear view of you as your heart pounds during exercise, inevitably increasing the fear factor) are probably not in my future as of this time.

They still take my blood pressure, but now they put paddles on my chest twice a session to check my heart rate. One more small step for me in a journey of a thousand small steps.

For those of you who have yet to "enjoy" being the center of attention during a heart event, let me just say that it is like being born again. When you first come out of the operating theater, you are like a baby. You aren't even breathing on your own. A tube in your bladder is an adult substitute for a diaper. You can't even get out of bed without help, and someone has to give you your first post-op washing up. So as day follows day, many of them quite dismal, you measure your progress in tiny steps. Opening my own juice container was a small step. Being able to button something made me feel almost grown up again. Going off Lasix and potassium supplements was step that made me feel like I really was getting better. I even remember the first time I was able to creak my aching arm across my body, reach up under the opposite arm, and put on my own deodorant! And so on, and so on.

So as you can imagine, taking off that white bitch of a bag felt mighty darn good! I am just about back to normal. Other than finishing cardiac rehab, getting off Coumadin next week, and getting a stress test in March, I am officially over the surgery. And I do feel good! A lot better, anyway. Just thought I'd mention it.

Stopping by Woods by Robert Frost

2009-01-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

We live in Michigan, and right now it is cold and very snowy. Ray's Beatle tune ("Little darlin,' it's been a long,cold, lonely winter...") reminded me of the joy of nature, thus inspiring me to take this video out by the sand dunes today. As you read the poem, one of the loveliest ever written, imagine the sound of the wind in the trees.

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Who Hates Penguins?

2009-01-17T12:31:00.000-08:00

For Emily's birthday she wanted 31 of these penguins for her class, so I had to make 2 cake mixes. I had several cupcakes leftover, and luckily I remembered a certain Dad who hates penguins and has a birthday coming up. So....

Cat Dork

2009-01-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

Trivial Pursuits But Hey.....

2008-12-30T12:54:00.000-08:00

There are so many important events taking place in the world. But after major surgery, your own personal world shrinks down to what feels good and what doesn't. Thus this blog entry.

We went to a restaurant which I won't mention, but those of you who know where I live know it is just down the main drag from McDonald's and has a teepee in front of it. It was raining icy rain and due to the blood thinners I'm on, I was chilled to the bone. Plus my appetite isn't so keen. So when we ordered our food, I decided shrimp would go down easy, although it was a bit of an extravagance, I can only eat like a half dinner at a time so I figured it would be worth it.

Well, the cole slaw came and it was like mayonnaise-saturated mush. Any plant fiber was long gone from the dish, so I kinda shoved it aside and hoped the entree would be better. The shrimp came, and I noticed it was dark brown and the first bite was like way too crunchy. Overdone, tasteless, and overpriced. I tried peeling off the crust but it was still tasteless and not moist at all. So, I told the waitress. They hammered away at me, insisting over and over they would bring me a replacement shrimp dinner. By that time, I just wanted to leave. You know, I wasn't really enjoying myself that much anyway. The fries were not bad, and I filled up on a handful or so.

But I let them try to make it right. So about 15 minutes later, the dish comes back out. And to my absolute astonishment, the shrimp looked EXACTLY the same...and it tasted the same and CRUNCHED the same, too! I looked at Fritz and he looked at me, and we were like "DUH!"

As I said, almost anything that happened that day was much more newsworthy than a bad meal. I just wanted to say, "What the HE>>!? Is this some kind of joke? Am I on Punk'd or Candid Camera, or Boiling Points?" Anyway, I know we have all had these unfortunate experiences. Feel free to tell me yours.

Christmas Eve Family Fun

2008-12-25T20:13:00.000-08:00

This was Jamie's idea...we always make the kids sing us a carol before we let them open their presents...but they always say they don't know the words. So Jamie downloaded the lyrics to a carol and printed out copies for them...ha ha! It was "The 12 Days of Christmas"!!!! Brilliant. Oh, the kids did a pretty good job. They went flat and dragged some due to their reluctance, but we goaded them on, and pretty soon they started sounding pretty darn good.

2008-12-22T17:20:00.000-08:00

Okay, I did drop Mike on his head when he was a baby. The deal was, I wanted to rock him in a little rocking chair we had, but I wanted the chair to be over by the stove. So I tried to carry Mike while dragging the rocking chair along. I was about 5 or 6 and small for my age. About halfway across the room, I knew I was going to have to drop either Mike or the rocking chair. I distinctively remember pondering which one to drop. Well, I don't remember what series of mental computations resulted in my deciding to drop Mike. But I did.

He cried, of course, and I got in trouble. As you can see from his kindergarten picture, there was permanent damage. Notice the definite jacking of the jaw to the left, and the prominent flap of the ears. Also the shadowy dent in the upper forehead, and the look of a dazed animal in the eyes. Above his head, there is a yellowy-brown stain looking cloud thing that followed him around for years, undoubtedly a result of the depression and persecution complex that is still evident to this day. Also, the buttoned up shirt and suspenders attest to his paranoia about his clothes falling off. He never let me forget it. So here is my official apology: Sorry, Mike! Really! I don't know what I was thinking. Now get over it, okay?

Christmas Memories

2008-12-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

When this picture was taken, the Squire kids were about ages 3 t0 maybe 11 or 12. We lived in a 3 bedroom cottage converted to a year-round house in Blue Lake Township, which was about a mile from a little village called Lakewood Club. My Grandma's sister Myrtle Devering must have worked year-round to make us these nightgowns, which she sewed for us just about every Christmas. They were made of a rich, soft flannel. Each child's gown had a special print, for instance: kittens, cowboys and Indians, horses, etc. They were complete with collars, facings, buttons and or snaps, with ruffled sleeves and bottoms for the girls. We were so thrilled to have these soft, warm nightgowns. But she didn't stop there! She made us two apiece! And usually there was a huge bag of popcorn balls to go along with the other goodies she made. As an adult, I can only imagine the time and effort she spent making 2 nightgowns apiece for us just about every year. It must have taken such a long time, and infinite patience to get each one so perfectly made. But it remains one of my favorite Christmas memories. Even though Aunt Myrtle passed away when I was barely grown, I remember her as being loving and extremely fruitful, always cooking, planting, reaping, sewing, making life better for all of those lucky enough to know her. I just wanted to take this opportunity to remember her with love and gratitude.

Yikes! What Happened to the Little Girls!?

2008-10-31T23:07:00.000-07:00

As you can see by these Halloween pictures, those little princesses and witches have turned into something older and more sophisticated!

Lazy Mamacita Finally Updates Blog

2008-09-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

Val's birthday party was really fun! We made our own party hats and Val won for creativity. Fritz was a great sport and wore his all night. Scott made his own spectacles and made a spectacle out of himself! It was great hearing everyone sing, especially Val's last song, "Proud Mary." The place was rockin'! We had chocolate cake with peanut butter flavored chocolate frosting and some rainbow chip cupcakes. Val got some very nice presents and some hilarious cards. Having the younger generation there was nice, too. One of the best things to happen is that Val booked Red Eye an October 17 gig there! There was only one injury, Barb bit Jamie (again) leaving vampire tooth marks on her. But all in all it was a great time and so good to see everyone.

Updates

2008-09-20T00:09:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your prayers, folks. I have good news and bad news. Sara Sarazen is doing better and is home. It does look like she will enjoy a full recovery and we couldn't be happier about that.

However, sadly, Linda passed away today, her heart failed. Her family, especially Jamie and her dad, could use your good vibes right now. I knew Linda in high school, she was really, really cool and all my friends liked her and looked up to her. The guys were crazy about her, because she was fun to be around, a real great personality. She was in a motorcycle accident when she was still a teen, the guy died, and she was left with some serious injuries. Later in life she had other health problems that were serious. But she loved animals and was always so kind to them, taking in all orphans. Even a duck of ours which we raised from a baby but then couldn't take care of, and a raccoon. She had a very loving heart and it it sad that poor health robbed her of some of the good life she should have had. We are sorry she is gone.

Paige came over today with a monitor to check for heart problems, she just acted like a normal 8 year-old that gets to take a half day off school and spend it with her grandma. I loved spending that time with her and will continue to pray for her health, although right now it she does appear to be doing just fine. The monitor is only a precaution.

I am getting behind on posting my pictures and videos so keep checking, maybe this weekend I can get a few on. Also, I am reading Fiersom's Brood, I would like to read it from cover to cover in one day, but as it is, I think it might take me 3 days.

Prayer Needs

2008-09-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

We are a family that believes in prayer, and today I have several prayer requests for you. Thank you family and thank you Father for caring for each and every one of us, no matter how small or large the need.

Sara Sarazen (17) had a tonsillectomy today and has post-op complications including low blood pressure and difficulty breathing 8 hours after surgery. Pray for healing and clearing up her lungs. Also strength and faith for the family to see them through a stressful time.

Paige has been experiencing heartburn and chest discomfort and is undergoing testing for tachycardia on Friday. Pray for her health and strength.

Linda (Murdock) Kemmerling had a heart attack and needs treatment for a mental disability as well. The family has been unable to deal with her mental illness because such patients are allowed to not take their medicine. Pray for healing.

I want you to know that I often pray for all of you, as I know my mother used to pray for me and others in our family. I am aware of things that each one of you is in need of prayer about, and just because you aren't mentioned today doesn't mean you aren't being prayed for. Thank you too for the prayers I know you say for us. Prayer works.

Unhappy piggy

2008-09-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

The piggy above is made out of pills. That is why it is unhappy. Pills are expensive, have side effects, and have to be taken every day. The piggy above is made out of MY pills, that is one morning's worth. Okay, some of them are OTC, but still, there's Lisonipril, Metoprolol, Actos, Metformin, Glyburide, Hydrochlorothyazide, and .81 aspirin. There is also a Tums, fish oil capsule, and glucosamine chondroiton. Here is my advice: quit smoking, lose weight, exercise, and find a good gene pool to mate with so your offspring don't have to have an unhappy piggy in their life.

First Day of the 2008 School Year in Grand Haven

2008-09-02T21:55:00.000-07:00

Brandie looked pleased, ate an apple, and played a game on my phone. She said one of her teachers is like a Nazi or drill sergeant. Grace and Emily are on the same "team" so they will share some classes and teachers. Emily said the boys were terrible this year, she only liked the girls in her class, and some boy (or boys) said to her, "Nice clown outfit!" even though Emily looked great in her new school clothes. Hopefully, she will snub them at some future dance when they see how gorgeous and fabulous she really is. Grace came running in, "Grandma! Grandma! Brandie and I both like the same boy!" Which was certainly amazing since it was only the first day and there are so many boys....so much time....so I am sure this will blow over.

Did I mention it was one of the hottest days yet!?

I wonder how the other grandkids did today. Look for an update as I plan on calling them. It was Hailie's first day of high school!!!!!

Not Exactly BFFs Yet

2008-09-02T21:51:00.001-07:00

There has been a lot of hissing and growling and booty-whappin', and yet, there are beginning to be some very calm and pleasant moments, too. Abby and Smoochie actually play together now, even though they still have their cat-it-tude moods where they diss each other. Today they touched noses, got very close to each other, and chased each other playfully. We are happy!

A Few Highlights of Summer (More to Come!)

2008-08-29T23:46:00.001-07:00

Okay, we didn't blow it up, but it sure was fun to try. Oh, Paige did blow it up this summer but I didn't have a video of it!

2008-08-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

Being inexperienced phone camera-wise, didn't realize you can't turn the phone sideways to get that wide-angle shot unless your viewers want to crane their necks sideways as well. But at least the first part is good!

Chantze's Baptism

2008-08-29T23:34:00.000-07:00

Grandma toes, Grace toes, Brandie toes.

2008-08-29T23:33:00.000-07:00

2008-08-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

Damon and Robin came, also Jamie. The fire was hot, the marshmallows were burnt, and the mosquitoes only got a bite or two that beautiful summer night. Ray strummed guitar and sometimes we sang, sometimes we just listened. It was a perfect way to spend an August evening.

2008-08-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

I can't remember if I have blogged this video before, but it's one of my summer favorites. One hot day, when I was in Grand Haven, Chris offered to let the girls come and swim in the pool at the Spring Lake Holiday Inn. The girls had a blast, and invented this "synchronized dive."

Brooke and Paige

2008-08-29T22:34:00.000-07:00

Hailie

2008-08-29T22:29:00.001-07:00

Hailie seldom lets herself be seen when she is less than gorgeous.....that is why I get such a kick out of this photo! Here she is without her eye make-up. Tee hee!

American Integrity Blows Her Horn While Scouts Cheer

2008-08-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

You can barely see them, but you may be able to hear them. Turn up the volume! When the scouts visiting the Silversides saw the ginormous American Integrity come through the channel, they hollered very loudly....

On a Sunny Day with Friends

2008-08-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

This is only a test

2008-08-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

The last few times I tried working on my blog, I had problems getting pictures and video. Guess it's working now. So onwards and upwards, good soldiers!

Go With God Dear Friend

2008-08-06T01:09:00.000-07:00

I guess everyone has heard by now that our friend Ken has passed away. Most of us are still in shock. We never saw it coming. LuWanna, our hearts go out to you. I don't know why such things happen. It seems you have had more than your share of troubles these past couple years, but this is unthinkable and unforeseeable. And unreal. I can picture Ken so clearly, and remember his voice, the one he used for telling jokes. So many memories. His crazy Halloween costumes. Those huge aluminum foil pans filled to the brim with his own special recipe lasagne that practically became his trademark offering at our gatherings. That half-embarassed half-naughty grin when he sang one of his off-color songs. He looked pretty natty in his leather jacket, carrying karaoke discs, with a twinkle in his blue eyes when he saw "the gang" sitting around the table in some old bar. Of course we will miss him in so many ways. I don't know why such things happen, and I don't have any answers. But I do know that LuWanna is our friend and I know I speak for others when I say we will be here for her in any way we can be.

Twisted Sister

2008-07-31T22:04:00.000-07:00

After an overnight visit from Brooke and Paige, who had brought over several stuffed animals, I was a little surprised to walk into the bedroom after they left and find this boa strangling one of their favorite unicorns. Luckily, I got there in time to save it!

A Landmark Booksigning, Featuring Ray Veen, Author

2008-07-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

This was a great moment on the fourth. Jamie's copy of Beacon's of Tomorrow was the first bought by a family member. I know own my own copy, which is also signed. I am not sure what happened to the sound, hopefully it is a server glitch and will correct itself!

Fourth of July Videos Starring: Family and Friends

2008-07-23T16:40:00.001-07:00

Jamie held him down while Emily.....what!?

Oh Say, Can You See?

2008-07-23T15:49:00.000-07:00

They had kids waiting in line, and parents standing by making them nervous! But what great artists they were!

Brooke Sarazen, Brandie, Grace, Emily, and Hailie opened up a face-painting business at the park. It was so amazing to see little kids whipping by with such bright, clever artwork on their faces, knowing the girls were responsible for that! They donated money to the firemen who were out collecting for the fireworks display.

A Friends and Family Face-painting Fourth!

2008-07-20T14:18:00.001-07:00

AFter dark, we all found a place t0 watch the fireworks. As we waited, the kids gave us a show with their red,white, and blue lightsticks. It was neat, but the camera didn't pick up much of it.

Paige has a minor meltdown and goes down the line of seated folk to get a seat on a lap and a hug or two.

Scott's face reflects his bright, flowery, manly personality.

Lyda made an extra-large donation to the cause!

More Doingthezoo

2008-07-01T00:04:00.001-07:00

The top picture shows the kids getting free stickers for filling out a survey on the insect exhibits. The pics aren't in perfect order but they show we had a good time.

Girls Gettin Jiggy in the Van

2008-06-30T23:23:00.000-07:00

On the way to the zoo, the girls were jammin' to the Irish music Ray played. Grace isn't shown and I think Chantze was pretending to sleep.

A Bold Bird and a Crazy Cat

2008-06-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

A robin whose nest was nearby tortured our poor kitty by flying at the window. Mother Robin did this about 20 times a day, even when it was very late and dark out.

A Momentous, Unforgettable, Landmark Moment

2008-06-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

The moment we have all been waiting for! (Besides Laura's wedding to Chris!)

It's HERE. The FIRST! One of many to come. The first family copy of Beacons Of Tomorrow, featuring an award winning story by Ray Veen.

I am not allowed to open it because it is Jamie's copy. I am ordering mine today. (Pay Day).

Meanwhile, I had to leave the breezeway door open to make room for my head.

Wild Animals At John Ball Park Zoo

2008-06-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

This immature species of Eliatot Cat has behavior that often fluctuates between contented and unpredictable. Zookkeepers warn visitors not to tease or withold food from this animal. Even though it is small, it is powerful, and its screams may shatter ear drums at close range. Fortunately, when all its needs are met, this animal can also be adorable and makes an excellent pet once house-trained. We were lucky to see this wild creature today, as it usually is in the nursery with its younger sister.

These innocent looking wild animals are kept behind bars for the safety of the public. If these little bunnies get loose, they are known to gang up on their victims with their paws, loud cries, and teary eyes, until they get what they want, which is their favorite food, McDonald kibbles and bits. Alone, they are quiet and well-behaved, but together, they can wear you down quickly. When not hungry, they play games together that no one else can understand.

One of the most rare exhibits was this wild young Blushing Fawn. Often running ahead of the pack, teasing the pelicans with fake food, climbing rails and berms, and pushing buttons meant for handicapped visitors to open doors, this creature is hard to spot. Fortunately, I happened to catch this one as it captured a wild chicken. Since this animal only eats various forms of pasta, it later let the chicken go and ran off to climb a wall.

These lovely and lively creatures are Ado-less-sense Chicks. They always travel in chattering groups and can often be found grooming their feathers, or helping other Chicks groom theirs. Clucking and flapping their wings are common, especially when any

male species are present. Their diet is spotty, sometimes consuming great quantities, other times eating little or nothing. They are prone to health problems, including infections called "Zits" and tend to lose their bright plumage when fully grown. Separating the Chicks, especially at this age,

may sometimes lead to begging and exces

sive calling. They later evolve into Mall Chicks.

This red-butted long-haired howler monkey is known for it's funny antics, especially around other monkeys. With it's distinctive sport shoe aroma and sugar and meat diet, it also is known for its skills in compassionately managing small, noisy creatures known as Eliatots. It is camera-shy, as you can see by the ugly face it is making to scare off potential picture-taking visitors.

Not shown: grandparent and parent animals.

A Mexican Fiesta to Celebrate Squire Birthdays

2008-06-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

The pictures pretty much tell the story. Tacos, tequila, music, a crackling fire, 15 minutes of rain to clear the air, and a party that went til after 3:00 A.M. Great company and some really good harmonies! Val and Margie with a little help from me threw another memorable bash.

One of Life's Rare, Perfect, and Unforgettable Times

2008-04-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

There are few perfect moments in life, and when they do come, you never forget them. When everyone came together to celebrate the marriage of Chris and Laura, there were too many perfect moments to count. When Laura and Chris spoke their personal wedding vows it was one of the most unforgettable and beautiful moments an audience of family and friends could ever hope to witness. One thing the pictures don't show is Laura wearing Grandma Larson's wedding rings as something old and borrowed. Or that Emily, in spite of what the pictures seem to indicate, was the lucky bouquet catcher! Or the fact that upon meeting Jim's new wife, and hearing her talk about our Mom, we found she was a very nice person and someone who is welcome to the family. Laura personally invited Grandpa Larson and Mai, and Van and Irene, and we were all so delighted they came to share this special family time, also Brian Gaskill, who came from Arkansas. Laura and Chris lit a candle in remembrance of those who are no longer with us, and I am sure more than a few thoughts were on those who couldn't be there for various reasons, but it sure was one great reunion for others. And now, the pictures.....! Don't forget to click to enlarge.

(Note: spacing problems with the pictures seem to be a blog-related glitch.)

More Wedding Photos to Come!

2008-04-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

Enjoy these....I am still editing the wedding pictures and pictures of the rehearsal and wedding party events.

Photos From a Wonderful Wedding

2008-04-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Archer was the KJ, DJ, and Music Man for the night.

Bonnie's daughter Kena, Kena's daughter Katie, and son Cameron.

The Cupid Shuffle! Our new line dance.

This is Chris and Ray's performance, called "Interpretive Dance."

An elegant snack was served towards the end of the party, but there was still plenty of dancing and visiting left for quite a few of us.

Relaxing in the lobby after the reception.

I have about 30 more pictures to edit and put on here. Hopefully they will get done this weekend. Don't forget, click to enlarge! You may find some little details to enjoy!

Happy Feet

2008-03-24T23:36:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures I took at the party we had for the kids. I think there were about 18 kids in all, and that made for a very noisy but fun party! This first picture is Jamie teaching them the Cupid Shuffle.

The second picture was much later, when the kids drew a piece of paper with a description on it. They had to dance like a firecracker, or ocean wave, etc, and the other kids had to guess what they were. They were great! They were great dancers and astute guessers!

The clapping is for the Casper Slide, one of the most popular dances in the last few years.

There were pretty rose-topped and gross worm-infested cupcakes, the kids were ready for some refreshment after almost constant movement. They overwhelmed Jamie, who tried to pass them out in an orderly fashion.

Good thing Chantze brought a handheld electronic game. It gave them a break from the girls.

Karaoke was enjoyed by many of the kids. Grace and Sandra sang together.

Kayley and Brandie have worms hanging out of their mouths!

Barb brought Rebecca and Rose to the party, and Rebecca quickly got chocolatey.

Paige, Jordin, Brooke, and Kendall were lively and fun, and they were dressed beautifully with their hair done, make-up, dancing shoes, the works!

Emily and her friend Kat hammed it up for the camera.

Here is the whole gang.

It took a long time to get all those lights up, when once I did, it turned the basement into an underground disco scene!

The Macarena was a popular dance because just about everyone knows how to do it!

William brought Elijah, who was a big hit with the girls, they tried to get him to dance and he actually did once or twice. William enjoyed teasing the girls and shocking them, as in this "see food" picture.

Paige does the Macarena with a smile!

Look Ma!

2008-03-16T23:57:00.000-07:00

Going through my pictures tonight, I found this one which I think Mike sent me. It's Jessie's 2 children (I think) from Tulsa. Okay, I don't exactly remember how I got this. Maybe I stole it off a blog somewhere. Sure is funny, tho!

And Then There Was a Party....

2008-03-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

The good time had by the ladies at Laura's bridal shower could only be topped by a night of music and libation. To celebrate their upcoming wedding, Jamie invited the adults in the family to a party at Old World Pub. Chris and Laura were made to play several games, including a version of the "Newlywed Game." They were publicly toasted, and many songs were dedicated to them. One of the X-rated moments occured when they had to "do shots" off each other's bodies! The drinnks flowed and our party added to the musical fun by getting up and singing some of our old favorites. Ray and Laura amazed us all by singing "One Week" together with hardly at glitch, and they resisted the urge to mess each other up by keeping an (almost) straight face throught the whole performance! Val, Mike, and I did our version of "Going to the Chapel" acapella, and received many compliments. (BRAG.) Valerie outdid herself with Whte Rabbit and Mustang Sally. We all danced, fast and slow, including our requested new favorite, the Cupid Shuffle, led by Jamie.

Mike reprised his role as dickhead from years ago at Chuggies, when he put a condom on his head and blew it up using just his nostrils! Unfortunately, the condoms all broke before the blow-up, possibly because Mike's head is larger, the condoms are weaker, or could it be the buzz cut? It was a fun attempt, and made some people's eyes bulge redly! Chris wore his groom hat with good humor, and Laura wore her veil almost all night, except she lost it about 3 times! There were lots of laughs, and if I left out anything I should have included, just put it in the comments. It was one of the most fun parties we have had, largely due to Jamie's brilliant planning and the joy we all felt at the fact that Laura and Chris will soon be a whole family.

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You!

2008-03-15T00:15:00.000-07:00

Get READY because my next post is going to be part 2 of the celebration of Laura and Chris's upcoming marriage. Oh, and by the way: SOME MATERIAL NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER VIEWERS.

A Shower of Love

2008-03-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

The shower for Laura was held in our downstairs recreation room. Val and the girls worked hard to decorate it beautifully! It was a tea-party theme, and some wore dresses and hats you would see at an old-fashioned garden tea party. The cups were exquisite, although no one actually drank tea. But there were satin ribbons and tea roses in tea cups, a Victorian bridal doll, and many other unique and clever decorations which were admired by all.

Valerie demonstrated how NOT to drink tea. You don't hold your lips ready until the cup gets all the way up to your mouth....everyone laughed and made her show us again and again.
Lisa B. and her daughter Victoria came, the first I have seen them in about 2 years.

The food was great, of course! Some of the specialties were spinach dip and home-made chicken salad sandwiches, some very rich whole grain dark breads, the little BLT's like the ones Mike and Margie made for Mom's memorial....they became a new family favorite. And of course who could ignore those olives and cheese on a toothpick that Emily made. Brandie and Grace helped with the food, which was mostly provided by Jamie. Valerie brought some too. I was supposed to make the punch and I didn't. I was embarassed. So Fritz went to the store and got pop.

The girls put on skits representing Laura in her younger days. In this skit, narrated by Brandie, Grace and Emily play Laura and Jamie in a famous incident in which Laura knocked Jamie off the toilet.

Hailie represented the cheerleader Laura. Her acting was spot on...she did the giggly air-head to perfection.

Grace also represented Laura as Susan B. Anthony, Laura's 8th grade play, in which she played the title role very well, having had to memorize several long monologues.

Emily played the role of rebellious Laura, when she made herself a sign almost exactly like the one you see Emily carrying. She was protesting unfair labor practices and began picketing the living room, refusing to work because of unfair conditions. Laura got quite a few hearty laughs out of it, and we all agreed the girls did a great job playing Laura.

The gifts brought by family members and friends were awesome. I don't know why Cindy or Luwanna didn't get into any of the pictures, but they were there and added to the fun. The twins loved the spinach dip and the "Belle" castle wall decorations. Laura was amazed and pleased at all the recipes. The idea was to shower her with favorite recipes and the ingredients to make the dish. In some cases, guests even provided the cooking dish. The games were fun and creative. It was so fun to have this time to spend with our family and friends, they all went the extra mile to make sure Laura took away many recipes to treat her family with. Oh, but wait, you haven't seen the bride-groom pictures yet! They are coming! (I hope I didn't leave out any other highlights, if I did I am sure I will get some comments on that!)

A Teaser!

2008-03-06T00:19:00.000-08:00

Here is just one picture from the wonderful and amazing bridal shower we had for Laura last Saturday. Emily and the other girls were put to work getting some of the food ready. Emily, with her own two little hands, created these appetizing olive and cheese hors'de ouevres. Now, I happened to notice that a few got eaten before the shower. I can't really say who ate them. All I can say is that once the little treats began disappearing, Emily got tired of making them. That is why I took this picture when the tray was full. Oh, did I mention, Emily LOVES olive and cheese? She did such a great job!

There is a Margie!

2008-03-06T00:13:00.000-08:00

Someone wrote on Mike's blog that he (or she) wondered if there is a Margie. So....there is a Margie, it was her birthday, and here she is taking a very rare shot of something nasty and intoxicating!

Looking for a job as a dental assistant

2008-03-06T00:02:00.000-08:00

Jamie, I hope this makes you laugh! Keep watching for more pictures...I am behind on my blog because I am behind on my picture editing. So many parties, so many pictures, but I will get caught up! This is just a teaser.

Another night with the girlz......

2008-02-19T23:32:00.000-08:00

It's not all fun and games at Grandma's. Last week Hailie, Brandie, Grace, and Emily got as dressed up as they could for the cold weather and helped to shovel Aunt Jamie's driveway. They didn't like it at first but then they found out it wasn't so bad. Especially since they got to play on a huge snow mountain across the street. (And fall off of, and get covered in snow from.) Of course that called for some Swiss Miss cocoa at home and some sizzlin' karaoke to keep things warmed up. HMMM, from this picture it looks like Em is doing all the work! Really, there was so much hardened snow and ice chunks, we had to take a hoe to it. The girls did not know what a real hoe was, I am not kidding! And Fritz had to go and shovel some more the next day because not even the energy of four young girls harnessed to shovels could remove all the snow.

She's HOW old?

2008-02-19T23:17:00.000-08:00

Here is Hailie at her 14th birthday party. Sure seems unbelievable to me that she is already 14! I remember when she didn't even know how to open a present, and now she is taking gift cards to the mall and doing her own shopping! As you can see, she is a lovely young lady who does very well in school and who has a fun, affectionate, and sweet personality. Well, most of the time anyway, you can't expect a teen to keep an even keel all the time! Also in the pictures, her cousin Ashley Veen, who is a real cousin to Hailie, from the Veen side, granddaughter of Rita and the late John Veen. The cute redhead is Molly, who has more energy than that roadrunner on that one cartoon where the wolf always tries to catch him...you know the one....don't make me dig in my memory...anyway, it was a nice party with both sides of Hailie's family there to wish her well and celebrate another year!

Chantze's 12th Present Receiving Day

2008-02-03T15:20:00.000-08:00

Notice the birthday cake is a pie (cheesecake, to be exact!) and there are 12 candles on it! The preferred activity for this party was to watch Chantze play his new video game, and to try to pry his white-knuckled death grip hands from the controller. In the picture, you can see Hailie, Emily, Grace, Fisher, and Hunter's hair, but only Chantze's shoulder. Elia was somewhere scrambling around on the bed, too. It was another snowy night, but another fine party, and this is one more chance to wish Chantze a very good year, and many more from his bizarro Grandma Vee.

Laura's Birthday Shots

2008-01-25T02:22:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple shots of Laura I really like. It was her birthday, and Jamie, Val, and I took her out to a place with live music. Little sister Jamie made sure the shots were flowing, and Laura was glowing! It was very enjoyable, especially because I was the designated driver and didn't have to drink any nasty Yagerbombs, or however you spell them. Anyway, Laura doesn't look her age, which I always forget how old she is, because to me she is ageless.

By the way, be looking for more birthday shots as there have been several the past two months, I am a little behind in posting. Okay, I'm a big behind. You get the picture.

A New Beginning and an Unexpected Loss

2008-01-24T20:07:00.000-08:00

From left to right:
Walter Larson and wife Katie
Jim Larson and new wife Joanne
Ethel Horton, my Grandma

I am sure many of you will be surprised at how young my Mom was when she married Jim. I was 18 and living in California, so I was not able to attend the wedding and reception. It was the last family event my Grandma Horton attended. She wasn't feeling well at the reception. Shortly afterward, she was admitted to the hospital with a leaking aneurysm, and then passed away. I didn't know when I left for California that I would never see my Grandma again. The day I got married, she had me go into the bathroom with her. I thought that was odd. Then she gave me $20. and told me to save it in case I needed it for emergencies. She hinted that I wasn't to tell my new husband about it. I guess she knew I was headed for a rocky road, bless her heart. So I never saw her after that. She didn't get to see or know about my firstborn. She was a very good person and a good Grandma. I still miss her.

Yes, Mom wore a wig, I am not sure why. But I can tell you that she and Jim made quite a striking pair. When I was at Connie Geistel's wedding reception, Mom and Jim walked in wearing very nice outfits they had worn on a date. They were there to pick me up. Well, everyone's head turned. They all thought Mom and Jim were movie stars or celebrities. It was pretty neat to be able to say, "Oh, no, that's just my Mom and stepdad."

The GIRLZ

2008-01-14T02:08:00.001-08:00

It was a typical Wednesday when I pick up Grace, Emily, and sometimes Brandie, and we spend the evening doing whatever. This week, Hailie and Molly came, too, and Jamie came to dinner. We watched video of when Hailie was about 3, and then practiced line dancing. We also made brownies and ate them. It was fun! It got mildly wild, but I think we all slept good that night.

The Good Old Days Ain't Over

2008-01-14T00:49:00.000-08:00

I was looking at some older pictures and ran across this one. This was my birthday, say maybe 5 or so years ago.....anyway, when you look at the faces, you realize the old gang is still together. Matter of fact, we were together last night at Old World doing karaoke! Ken and LuWanna didn't make it, we hadn't even met Margie yet, and there are two people in the picture that aren't friends anymore. But hey, ain't we got fun!?

WARNING: These posts not suitable for easily disturbed readers.

2008-01-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN CLICK TO ENLARGE!

The New Year's Eve bash had a Mexican flavor, with many great south of the border favorites. Most did not imbibe, but all toasted the new year when the ball dropped in Times Square. As this and the following entry show, there was more to the night than great food, great people, music, and lots of laughter. Also present were Laura and Chris, who came later after Jack's closed, and Ken and Luwanna. Man Candy Chris never showed up at all as he was on duty at the Country Club.

Weirdest New Year Ever

2008-01-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

Mike and Margie threw a fine New Year's Ever party for the family and friends. Music and conversation were stimulating and fun. Then Mike dragged out the Eyeclops. A 200X magnification device you hook up to your tv. After examining and exclaiming over salt, sugar, carpet fibers, etc, Wayne decided to explore a crevice in the skin of his cheek that he claims has been there since birth. This is what he found. Some laughed, some stared, some gagged, others averted their eyes, but no one could remain unaffected by the sight of heretofore unforeseen inner body dross. Me, I was fascinated. What finally got me, worse even than a magnification of Mike's post-surgical toe gore, was when Wayne scratched off a scab under 200X magnification and the resulting crater filled with pink fluid. In the middle of my hysterical laughter I gagged. (Note the diabolical and yet proud grin on his face. )

Hubba Hubba

2007-12-30T20:45:00.000-08:00

This is in Tulsa, May 1975.

It's a 1952 Ford truck.

The summer was hot, the Mine Shaft was jumpin', and the young guys were tunin' up their rides to cruise the strip.

If I have to tell you who this is, you don't need to know.

OMG! Who's the blonde?

2007-12-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

Ray walked with this mystery blonde at graduation. Who was that fluffy-haired, shy, young beauty? I know some of you know. Hell, you probably all know! Okay, so you know. But it's a cool find, huh?

Remember This?

2007-12-29T00:03:00.000-08:00

This was taken at Uncle Evart and Aunt Beatrice's house in Pentwater sometime in early 1980. My guess is that Mom and Jim were up visiting, and/or it was pig roast time, probably August. I don't remember having a mullet but I do remember smoking. The kids are so darn cute! What a fine little family we were back then. Still are, of course, but my! How we have grown!

We're Talking Turkey

2007-12-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving. Everyone brought delicious home-made food that filled the counters and then some. This turkey was plucked clean not too long after dinner. It is so good to have family and to have an abundance. I will be working on that abundance in hopes of fitting into a nice dress for Chris and Laura's wedding.

Letting the Adults Out to Play

2007-11-09T21:26:00.001-08:00

If you guessed Anna Nichole Smith, you are correct! Click to enlarge and you'll get the picture.

Okay, so it's the weekend after Halloween and we decided to get together and have a little costume party of the adults only kind. As you can see, Barb and Scott went for the punk look, at least I think that was a costume. Chris and Laura did a priest and Catholic school girl duo. They got some dirty looks at the convenience store they stopped at, I heard.

Ray and Cindy came as a colorful matched pair of piratey people, stunning our other guests by being the only ones to fit into store-bought costumes this year!

Ken, our favorite biker, showed up with ELVIS! Wow! I don't know where he dug him up, but other than being a little hoarse, "Elvis" was in great shape!

Ummm.....I'm not supposed to tell, about the ghoulish thing that showed up with a cardboard coffin full of edible body parts. Let's just say Val had the night off, and leave it at that!

We played a game called "What's My Line." If you click on the pictures of the game, you may be able to read the tags on the player's backs. We had a gynecologist, a proctologist, a pimp, ho, gigolo, and of course, a colostomy bag salesman. If they didn't guess their "line" they had to pay a penalty.

These are the people who didn't guess their lines. We opened the window, turned the speaker to the front yard, and the losers had to hoof it around the yard doing the bunny hop! Other than getting a little sidetracked by an overzealous and confused leader, they were good sports and embarassed themselves very well.

Little Miss Jamie was Anna Nichole Smith, and the more fuzzy navels I drank, the more she looked like the real thing. Especially when she danced and waved her body around. I myself dressed in a dress that made my butt look big. Really, really, big. I shook it and wiggled it all night long to the music, and at about midnight, it started to fall off. When Fritz got home (in spite of heroic efforts he could not get the night off) I let him see it, then shucked it off and threw it in the closet. Mike and Margie attended a special barbershop show prior to coming, so they didn't wear a costume, but they definitely had their party clothes on! OH, by the way, we all had a really great time! Lots of laughs, and it was great for all of us to get together and see each other again.

Pumpkin Pudding

2007-11-05T00:58:00.000-08:00

Picture #1 shows the great pumpkins carved by the Wilson -Baldus family. Chris's tall pumpkin hovers over Brandie and Grace's on the left. Laura's graceful design is on the top step with Emily's bride of Frankenstein creation below. This is when they were freshly carved.

Picture #2 shows what happened a week later. Chris's grinning pumpkin collapsed and drooled pumpkin juice. The others softened and slowly melted down so that the scary faces looked even more insane. It was cool!

Candy Quest in Grand Haven

2007-11-05T00:43:00.000-08:00

This year Laura and Chris invited us to spend Halloween at their house. As you can see, the kids once again outdid themselves with their costumes. From left to right, Emily as a medievel princess, Brandie as a red devil, Grace as a punk witch, her friend Molly as a medievel witch, and Chantze as a weird monster. In front, Brooke and Paige have adorable princess costumes. The candy haul was pretty good this year. I heard more than one kid felt a little too-much-candy nausea this year. Downstairs in Grace's bedroom, the big girls sort their booty.

The weather held out, there was only one sprinkle just before we went out. It couldn't have been a nicer Halloween. When we got done with our long walk, Laura and Chris provided plenty of snacks, including apple cider, donuts, crackers and cheese, and cookies.

Birthday Squishees and Wedgies

2007-10-16T23:54:00.001-07:00

What does a birthday have to do with squishees and wedgies? Well, when two special little girls like Brooke and Paige celebrate their upcoming 7th birthday, the happy happy joy joy is hard to control! Although I must say Aunt Jamie did her part to foment chaos. There are more cute pictures but Blogger only let me upload these few. So, there is Emily getting a wedgie. Ray and kids squished by Jamie and her minions. Dancing to sparkler lights out on the concrete driveway pad on a very warm October 6 night.
The macarena, the Casper slide, and some great freefrom stuff. Limbo and pin the tail on the donkey rounded out the games. Cindy and Ray made some great decorations and served some very good party food, including a pasta salad that was a standout. The cake was lovely, and Brooke and Paige couldn't get enough of opening presents and playing with them. May all their birthday wishes come true!

Birthday Dinner at Finley's

2007-10-03T01:27:00.000-07:00

This is Valerie on September 16, 2007, her birthday! Jamie, Fritz, Laura, and I celebrated with her at Finley's where they not only serve good food, they take a ten spot off the bill if you go on on your birthday! A good time was had by all.

2007-10-03T01:21:00.000-07:00

If cats could talk.....

2007-10-03T01:13:00.000-07:00

Paige, Brooke, Emily and I were at the park near the ovals when the Kaye Barker was leaving port. It was great to watch until we were blasted by the ridiculously loud horn!

After the rain

2007-10-03T00:57:00.000-07:00

It was great listening to the rain on the metal roof of the van as I sat down by Lake Michigan and watched the storm come in. Then the grand finale, a rainbow to the east, over Muskegon Lake.

Never A Dull Moment At The Lake

2007-09-11T00:57:00.000-07:00

This is the partial lunar eclipse we saw down at Pere Marqette park on August 27, 2006.

The ship in the background is the Samuel de Champlain/Innovation. It was scheduled to dock today at 6:00 P.M. Unfortunately, the 1,000 footer, the American Integrity, got there first and ran aground, corking the entrance to the channel like a cork in a bottle. After about an hour, the American Integrity wiggled free, but backed off to let the other ship, a 544 footer, go in first. This is the second time a ship has run aground in the same place. The Corps of Engineers will only dredge once every three years, and the entrance to the port of Muskegon isn't due until next year. Lower lake levels have caused a number of problems for the big freighters this year.

2007-09-11T00:48:00.000-07:00

A Time of Remembrance For Our Mother

2007-09-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

Montague Township Hall, August 25, 3 days after what would have been my Mom's 75th birthday.
We gathered together with friends and relatives to honor and remember our Mother, who died September 22, 2006, in Tulsa.
Tributes were made by family members who spoke about her and sang songs. The tables were decorated with her favorite things, like roses and lighthouses and seashells. Some of her favorite foods were served. We played her music, played a DVD of her life in pictures, and released balloons in the air that contained messages from us all. It was a truly meaningful and heartfelt way to say our goodbyes and remember how much she meant to us all. She will always be in our hearts, close, until we meet her again beyond the rainbow.

Friends of a Lifetime

2007-09-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

I have known Debbie and Lyda (and their older sister Linda, not shown) since I think about the age of 10 or 11. We have been friends ever since, even though separated for over 2 decades. This summer the 3 sisters came up to visit and although I could write reams about how much I enjoyed their visit, suffice it to say that those bonds made in childhood not only stood the test of time but are even stronger than before. To know them is a privilege, they are all special each in their own ways. This first summer without my mother coming up to visit was happier and even comforting because I got to see the Redding girls.

Future Rock Stars?

2007-09-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

When Ray and Cindy went on their 1oth anniversary vacation to Mackinac Island, Brooke and Paige stayed at my house. We went to hear Aunt Valerie sing at the Foxfest in Lakewood. I think they liked being on stage! Watch out Mom and Dad....it's in their genes.

Risque, Naughty, Homewrecker Bathing Suit

2007-09-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

Okay people, this is the bathing suit that was commented on by a woman whose husband and children were in the hotel pool at the same time as Jamie. This was in Escanaba. She was overheard to say that kind of suit should not be allowed in a family pool! Take a good look. IT WAS GRANDMA LARSON'S bathing suit!!!!

Summer Day

2007-07-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

Summer days are meant for backyard lounging and snacking. Between the sandbox and the swingset, Paige and Brooke did some reading homework and then enjoyed some fruit and crackers.

Chantze wasn't here on this day, so he missed seeing and hearing the big hawk that sat in the neighbor's yard all day and made a racket. We also saw a bunny and ate some raspberries from the bushes. But the next day he came and earned some money for a Trac phone by using the weed whacker and watering the plants.

On the Way to Montague One Day

2007-07-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

I don't think any explanation is necessary here.

Debbie and Lyda

2007-07-22T22:38:00.000-07:00

For those of you who didn't get to meet them this time, here is Debbie and Lyda (formerly Reddings, now with married names.) This was taken at the airport, as Debbie had to cut her visit short due to severe back problems. Linda came too, but I didn't get a picture of her. They rented a really cool cottage on Lake Michigan and we had some wonderful visits. We spent some time at Val's around the fire and went on some joyrides, too! Of course we visited a restaurant here and there. But the very best part was just being with them and visiting about past, present, and future. Many a night we stayed up late talking about things that no one here would remember or understand. It was really special. That's why we consider them more sisters and long lost family instead of just friends. Anyway, they had to go back. Yesterday I received a huge basket bursting with fresh cut flowers from them to thank me for my hospitality. The gratitude is mine for being able to reconnect with them.

2007-07-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July. Family, park, picnic, and fireworks made it such a special day. Aunt Jamie kept the kids busy with "Mother May I?" and "Red Light, Green Light" to which she added "Gray Light." We had sandwiches and pizza. We walked up the hill to Wesco and brought back hot coffee. Just before dusk, a thick fog rolled in from White Lake but cleared by the time the fireworks started.
There was apple juice, water, coffee, punch, beer, pretzels, every kind of chip, cheese popcorn, and peanut butter cookies to keep the troops quiet for the several hours we were there. Getting there early paid off, as we got easy nearby parking, a spot close to the bathroom, and a perfect view.

Grace and Emily watched the fireworks with their Dad and Grandma somewhere in Whitehall but we didn't run into them. Scott and Barb Sarazen brought their daughters, two with boyfriends, and Ray Redding wandered over to visit with his daughter and stepdaughter. We ran into a few more people there we knew.

This was our family fourth of July get-together at Goodrich Park in Whitehall. Ray has lost about 40 pounds since spring so he didn't mind me taking this picture of him enjoying one of the many servings of junk food Jamie brought to feed the flock! Oh, and did I mention Scott Sarazen made a run to Little Ceasers? That's Cindy with a breadstick.