Shopping Experience...42º

Warmer this morning and a high of 73 predicted today...Yesterday Herb wanted to check out a Sears store which houses the cellphone company Consumer Cellular (Oregon company that Bobi uses)...We are thinking about changing from landline to cell phones full time?..I googled Sears and found one in a HUGE mall near the Costco that we have been going to for several years...We have not been in this kind of Mall for many years and it so boggles my mind at the big stores, little stores, kiosks and all the merchandise they carry...Cosmetic's at the door for as far as I can see as I peer into Macy's...SCARY!.. Three doors to enter Victoria Secrets, I passed by...Chocolate stores, I looked...Food court upstairs, I craned my neck and caught sight of Cinnabon's but not the smell...I wandered the X Large ladies store and then in a very short time I passed several shoe stores...Out came my camera and this is what I saw, from the highest heels, (that I can't imagine walking on) to funky tennis shoes and shoes that I can wear such as Dansko's, Birkenstocks...I promised photo's, here they are, will try to get some of the pool and resort today....Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Phoenix day 2...42º

Early morning yesterday (Tuesday) was spent getting the internet up and running in our room...I hate to admit it but I needed a setting in my preferences for ethernet cable...Luckily I thought of this and called my "friend Jim" at eoni in LaGrande and he helped me set it up and I canceled the technician that was scheduled to come in the afternoon...Coffee all gone we skipped breakfast and with our list we went to Target (closest store) spent $50.00 then on to Costco where we dropped another $150.00...Should be set for most of the groceries for the next two weeks anyway...Back at the condo we loaded a luggage cart and up the elevator we went...Had everything put away by 2pm...I sliced the BBQed chicken, made sandwiches, sliced fruit, poured a glass of wine and we ate having our first meal since dinner in Wickenburg on Monday afternoon.

Aaaahhhhh we did get some pool time yesterday, poolside that is...It warmed up into the high 60's so we read by the pool and did some people watching...A young family, two children and their parents provided most of the entertainment...Dad played with the kids, chasing them in the pool, throwing them up in the air and then again as they always came back for more...Mom mostly watched but they all laughed and played never yelling at each other...They joined older people in the new spa here at the resort...It is 101º and made for achy muscles and joints...Soon the kids were back in the main pool and later joined their parents at poolside warming in the sun...Never heard a cross word or bickering for the 2 hours we were there.

Caught up on the news with Bobi in Portland, waiting now to see if "The Girl" goes abroad for her junior year...Whether she is chosen or not this has been great experience for the whole family...Then I visited with Pat and caught up on all the news in Wallowa County...Facetime is a great way to keep in touch.

Up at 6am this morning, now 8am and Herb is fixing breakfast - bacon, eggs, toast so I better wrap this up...I wouldn't want to miss a meal...I promise some photo's tomorrow so stayed tuned...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Burrrrrrr...38º

Arrived at Cibola Vista about 5:30 pm, last night…Checked in and got settled in our room…Wifi didn't want to connect so we went to the lobby, did our computer stuff, returned to the room, took showers and crashed…It had been a long day…Only got lost a couple of times but it was a beautiful day to travel so we just enjoyed the scenery.

This morning we have a technician here trying to get our internet service to work…Just can't survive without being connected…We are making a grocery list, Herbs has laundry started…Temperature is cold 38º this morning, no pool time today...Maybe later...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Phoenix today...23º

On the road at 4:30am on this Monday morning, we stopped to fill our coffee cups then with bare roads and a full moon off to the west we got on I-5 and headed south…Very little traffic which was the main reason we were there at that time of the morning…Plus Herb and I are both early risers…We traveled 275 miles, changing drivers once and took a couple of bathroom breaks…Arrived in Cedar City Utah about 8:30 ready for breakfast…An IHOP was handy so we split a breakfast…Food is okay there but nothing special…Now Herb is driving again and we are headed for "Vegas" but only as a way to get to Phoenix as neither of us care much about gambling…We are about ½ way and it is 10am…The temperature at SLC was 23º and dropped to -6º in one of the low spots…Now we are entering St George Utah and it is 42º with red hills to look at.

Yesterday was our 5th day in Centerville with M & J, eating, reminiscing, laughing and playing cards…While they were at  church yesterday, H & I made a salad and an apple pie for dinner…Upstairs Jolene had pork and rice cooking in the roaster…They arrived home from church about 2:00 and we had an enjoyable dinner and visit before we older people headed back downstairs to the apartment to play cards.

Snowy Sunday...22º

Mona and Jerry's Backyard 2/24/13

It started snowing again at about 9am yesterday morning, continued off and on all day adding another 6+ inches to the existing snow...We made a quick trip to the used book store for reading material and filled our car with fuel...Planned to go to Costco but instead crept slowly back home leaving the snow covered, slick roads to others who had more important business...Jerry replenished our Pepsi and Milk supply while Herb fueled the car...Back home Mona and I juiced lemons with her little electric juicer then decided to make a lemon meringue pie...Luckily my recipe is on my laptop and we were soon mixing, cooking, rolling and baking...We used arrowroot in place of cornstarch in the pie...For dinner we dined on steak, with broccoli and noodles on the side and for dessert we had Lemon Soup....The pie didn't set like it should have so we dubbed it Lemon Soup and happily ate it out of a bowl using a spoon.

Soupy Lemon Pie

Day in Porterville...39º

Yesterday morning we awoke to more snow and it just kept snowing...We continued making plans to go to Porterville and visit with Loraine...A couple of phone calls to Lynelle and she assured us that it was not snowing in their valley...Mona and I fixed a salad to take for our lunch/dinner and about 11am the skies started to clear and the storm moved south...We had clear sailing all the way, bare roads and sunshine when we arrived...Loraine was surprised not only at us being there but at how old we had gotten since the last time she saw us...Lynelle had pork roast, seasoned with garlic and oregano, we all helped put dinner on the table and soon the smell of hot rolls filled the room and we all found out chairs to share a lovely meal...Mona added the salad and Lynelle had a different dish and I will call it "confetti potatoes"...She cooked white, sweet potatoes and yams in the same pot then did a soft mash on them...They were yummy...After dinner we visited the afternoon away then back to Centerville...Late evening we had cottage cheese and canned peaches from Mona and Jerry's peach trees...We Played cards until bedtime, "the girls" won again.

Krista Copenhaver a granddaughter of our brother George posted the following comment on facebook in response to my photo of Loraine and Lynelle...There are so many stories to tell....Hugs To All...OWAV:)

 "I will never forget when she (Aunt Loraine) came driving up in her little pick up truck to what she thought was some strangers house in Elgin with a bunch of kids playing outside asking me and Tara if we knew where Blanche Ashton lived! ☺"

M & J Day one...29º

Lazy day yesterday...Mona and I sorted through old photo's as I continued the search for photo's to go with my stories...We had lunch, took a little shopping trip and decided to have peaches and cottage cheese for supper last night...As we sat visiting about 4pm Mona said, "Have you eaten at 'FIVE GUYS' burgers and fries.'..Of course we said no, since we live in Wallowa County and the only fast food there is a Subway....All she had to say was they make the fries fresh not from frozen and she had me hooked...So we piled back in the car and drove a few miles to eat burgers and lots of fries...Our only complaint was the loud obnoxious music that no one else seems to hear...We returned to their cozy apartment to play the card game "Hand and Foot" until bedtime...Dessert was chocolate nut clusters that Mona had squirreled away in one of her secret hiding place...We have planned a trip to Morgan to see Loraine and family today, depending on the weather...Putting down a little snow right now, 5am...I think we are having cottage cheese and peaches for breakfast this morning...:)

Something I forgot to write about on our trip down was the breakfast we had in LaGrande on Wednesday morning...We stopped at the "Smoke House" a long time LaGrande restaurant and decided to split the breakfast special of sausage omelet with 2 plate size pan cakes...It was a good breakfast...As we sat eating, the very efficient waitress took care of all the diners as well as talked to the cook about the food and specials for the day...On a dry eraser board was the breakfast special, lunch special and dinner special was either a spaghetti dinner for $8.99 or a Steak dinner for $14.99...It was 7am when we were there and I could hear the waitress and the cook discussing the steak dinner special...Waitress said, "Do we have more steaks in the freezer for tonight?" and he said, "No, we just have the one that is thawing in the refrigerator."...So with no more discussion she took down the board and wrote next to the steak dinner special in red letters "Only 1 Left"....Hugs To All....OWAV:)

Salt Lake City...

Well almost to SLC...Mona and Jerry live at Centerville just north of SLC...The entire valley is one huge city from North Ogden to way south of SLC but as all big cities these smaller places keep their identity...Mona and Jerry moved here in the 80's after Jerry graduated from Chiropractic School...He set up his business, they built a new home and settled in...Now over 30 years later they are retired, have family nearby, lots of grandchildren and soon will have 3 great grandchildren.

We had an uneventful trip...Roads were slick as we left Wallowa County and on into the LaGrande Valley....From there we had dry roads and sunshine...We left home about 5:30am PST and arrived here 10 hours later...Stops were made in LaGrande for breakfast and fuel, next just outside of Boise for a stretch break and finally in Burley, Idaho for another fuel stop and snack break for us...We arrived here to the smell of chicken and noodles simmering on the stove...After a yummy dinner and catch up on the family news Herb and I were ready for bed...Now after a 9 hour sleep we have had our coffee, cruised the internet, played scrabble games and will now read until Mona and Jerry are up and about...Have a trip planned to Morgan to see the Smith Family (Loraine) over the weekend and plan to leave for Phoenix on Monday...Looking out the window here, it looks like we had 2 or 3 inches of new snow overnight and they have snow piled up everywhere as they have had several big storms this winter...That's all for now, Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Blast Off...29º

Picked up the car at 5pm, suitcases packed, plants watered, fridge cleaned out, list made of things that need to go in the car...Computers charging, ready to go...The plan is to go to SLC tomorrow, but if we get tired or the storm gets iffy we will stop along the way for the night...Blogs may be spotty until we get settled in AZ...just depends...We plan on seeing both of my sisters in Utah along with other relatives and on the way home our sister Barbara from Oklahoma is supposed to be in Utah so we will get to see her as well...Guess that is it for tonight...Hugs To All....OWAV:)

Another View of the Crescent Moon

Count down...21º

To go or not to go on a certain day...A storm is moving in...We don't have to be in SLC tomorrow night...Thursday or even Friday would work...It is nice to have the option...Continue packing and see how much snow we get tonight.

In the meantime I have write group this morning, the car repair is supposed to be finished sometime today...Herb is doing laundry, clean sheets for our bed to come home to...Paper is canceled, neighbors on alert...Friend with watering can in hand waiting to drowned my house plants...I have clothing strung all over the living room...I need summer clothes, winter clothes...Shoes, boots, coat, jacket...How many shirts do I really need?..We are driving so not restricted to the amount of luggage I can take, within reason...I pride myself on packing light but I seem to have gone haywire...As of now I have prescription meds and a swimsuit in the suitcase, lots of other choices awaiting my decision...HELP ....Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Monday Morn...18º

I awoke this morning with a sense of relief that what I was dreaming wasn't real...Whew it is good to start the day with aaaah it was only a dream...So I was up early, did scrabble and decided to catch the episode of Downton Abbey from last night...Didn't realize it was the last episode...I wasn't happy with the ending and really wonder if or when the series will end or if whoever is writing the episodes knows where this series is going or if they just write it week to week.

My yesterday was good as Pat and I met at Arrowhead for a mocha...Herb BBQ'd steak for our dinner and Pam joined us after her morning hike...While eating she said, "Are we going to the concert this afternoon?"...So by 4pm we were seated in Jo-hi gymnasium listening to Beethoven's symphonies...Back home Herb and I read the evening away.

This morning we will take the car and leave it for repairs, pick up prescription at the pharmacy and home to get serious about packing...Storms are predicted starting wednesday...I should never look at the weather forecasts, maybe I will go back to bed and tune into another dream....Hugs To All....OWAV:)

Magic....25º

Crescent moon over the rimrocks.

11am, Sun shining, temperatures in the 40's...Pat and I met up with other write people at the public parking lot in Joseph for the trek to Imnaha and Janie's cabin on the creek...Leaving the Wallowa Valley, we quickly lost elevation as we followed the winding path of the river down, down, down into the Imnaha canyon...Rimrocks line both sides of the narrow canyon and most of the view is looking upward...Janie's cabin is nestled like other cabins (homes) on every flat spot along side the river...Temperatures soar in this canyon in the summer so it is important to have a water source nearby for irrigation and a cooling breeze...We arrived and are quickly out of the cars, basking in the balmy temperatures of early spring in the Imnaha Canyon...Like children turned loose after a long winter, we dash first into the cabin, then out the back door to the creek, looked up and watched a crescent moon, at noon, as it slipped below the rimrock out of sight...We have arrived!

"Janie's" is truly a cabin, first built as one-room, then a dining room, living room and bedroom addition was added, then a lean-to became a screened in back porch and on the front is a porch covered by a grape arbor for shade in the summer...Janie has made it her retreat, hand me downs from friends and her scouring yard sales have furnished the cabin...With the latest addition a farm style dining table, complete with benches, handmade and carved by a dear friend is where we gathered...Nine of us fit nicely around this table now covered for the first time with a bountiful array of food and wine...We toasted first the "place on the creek", "the cabin", "the table" and last "our friendship"...We planned to eat, taste wine, explore, write, read and visit...We did eat and drink wine and explored each others lives as we told what we were writing and why, what had led us down this path and how we ended up around Janie's table...A magical experience...Almost five hours later, we wondered where the time had gone as daylight was waning and Brian and Herb our designated drivers arrived to take us to supper and escort us home...Brian navigated our way out of the canyon through a blinding snowstorm and back to reality as we arrived in Joseph and our snow covered world...Hugs To All....OWAV:)

Food and Wine

Day Away...26º

Mostly sunny today... A day in Imnaha seems perfect...The elevation is much lower there than in Joseph and is only 30 miles away...A fellow writer has a rustic cabin next to Big Sheep Creek, her home away from home...A place to write, relax, entertain friends, enjoy an early spring and later in the year pick black berries from the wild vines, fruit from her own small orchard and veggies from the garden...Beaver threatened this winter when she arrived one day to find trees gnawed on and others on the ground...Chicken wire around the bases of trees discouraged the animals, for now they have gone looking for another home.

We call it a "girls day"...Girls at heart that is...Today we will sample wines and pair it with fruit, cheese, crackers, chocolate and other potluck dishes for a gourmet lunch...Conversation will flow and depending on the weather we may go for a short walk...Don't know how much reading or writing will be accomplished but a good time will be had by all...Friends enjoying friends...Hugs To All....OWAV:)

Return the Favor...29º

I started early yesterday adding flour, water and salt to the sourdough starter that had been bubbling away for 3 days...I added flour and water each day, to get the start working...When it bubbles to the top of my 11/2 quart container I know there is enough to make about 9# of dough...I made 7 loaves of bread some round (free form) and some in bread pans...We still had bread in the freezer but I had people that I wanted to repay or gift with a loaf...Herb and I had a crusty slice fresh from the oven before we left for Enterprise...The car was filled with the aroma of fresh baked and packaged bread...I went for an acupuncture treatment and Herb did errands then home where we opened a jar of newly canned soup, heated it, sliced more bread and called it dinner...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Tuesday Sunrise

LaGrande Trip...22º

Eye appointments at 9am in LaGrande...Left home before 7am, toast in our bellies, coffee mug in my hand...It is light way before 7am and the trip to LG on bare roads is enjoyable...Sights we see are new born calves still bedded down in yesterday's flakes of hay, mama's near by, up and moving...Lots of horses, no babies yet...Deer are always spotted in the fields along side the road and occasionally elk but not today...We follow the Wallowa River winding through the canyon, up over Minam grade and then over Cricket Flat before we drop into Elgin...The willows along the way are all shades of green and some with a reddish hue...Must be steelhead season as we see a few fishermen along the river.

We arrive too early for our appts. which is good...We stop at Grocery Outlet...It is quiet and uncrowded this time of day and I check the shelves for chocolate and cheeses to complement the wines we are tasting on Saturday...Stock up on snack stuff for our Arizona trip, much cheaper here than at the convenience stores...Arrive at Dr. Pettits office right on time, Herb and I both have some testing done and are in and out of there before 10am...Now we have the rest of the morning and a list to shop for...I love to browse the new/used book store and today visit "Bella's" a new shop in LG...It is a kitchen, wine, gourmet shop and I'm on a mission to buy wine for Saturday...I'm looking and Herb soon heads for the car where he reads and patiently waits for me...We have dinner at Grizzly Bear Pizza, lunch buffet...Pizza, salad bar, soup and assorted meat balls, chicken nuggets etc...Not the best food but not the worst either...I pull out my card to be punched for the buffet and today we get one free so dinner for both of us is under $8.00...I like that kind of deal...Have you figured out that I'm a bargain hunter?...We finish shopping and arrive home by 3pm...Hugs To All....OWAV:)

Essay...25º

I made up my mind last night to start writing about my years in Junior/Senior High School...It is much harder to write about ones self than about siblings or other family stories...I found myself again writing about Wood Grove...It holds such happy memories for me and is such a stark example of life in the 50's compared to life in 2013...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Wood Grove 1952

I breezed through my grade school years at Wood Grove...Classes were not very demanding. We were there to learn the 3 R's. Readin and 'Rithmetic came easy to me. 'Ritin was limited to printing, then cursive. We practiced forming the letters but very little time spent on making sentences. I thought I was smart. Little did I know.

Wood Grove was a one-room country school near Lake Fork. Grades 1 through 8 attended this school with 1 teacher hired to teach 10 to 15 students. In the back corner of the room, stood the pot bellied stove our only source of heat. Windows that opened in spring and fall supplied air conditioning. Water pumped from a well and carried inside for drinking and washing up before lunch. A lone towel hung on a nail next to a small enamel basin and a bar of soap sat in a dish. Everyone shared, soap, water and towel. The water was ice cold in winter, lukewarm in summer and changed occasionally by pitching it out the door and refilling the basin. The water bucket had a dipper that everyone drank from. A small mirror hung above the washbasin and a lone comb lay on the shelf, we shared that also. No one ever had head lice and colds were far and few between. Antibacterial soap had not been invented. 

On the occasion that someone got a cold, they stayed home for a few days and home remedies were used. Mustard plasters applied to the chest for a cold, lots of Vicks vapor rub for sore throats and Vicks nose drops to clear ones head. Aspirin, sulfa drugs and hot lemonade were administered as often as the patient would allow. If your nose was stuffed up and you had a sore throat it was a cold. If you were throwing up it was the stomach flu. If you had a fever and a sore throat it was tonsillitis. If you had tonsillitis more than 3 times in one winter a trip to the doctors office was in store next spring and the tonsils were removed. 

Our playground was a field with a swing set, a teeter-totter and a place to play soft ball. In winter it became a snow field where we played fox and geese, made snow forts and waged war with the only available ammunition, snow balls. All students, young and old, boy or girl wore the same "uniform". Jeans and a shirt. We didn't know about styles or color coordinating or name brands. Clothes were just something to cover ones body and keep one warm. These were idyllic years. I had chores to do at home and didn't expect payment. Payment came in the form of a roof over my head, food on the table, a bed to sleep in and parents who loved me. School lasted for nine months, then the summer was mine. Of course I still had chores to do but I also spent endless hours riding horse back under Jughandle Mountain or on a one speed bicycle, a dog always at my side. We explored the dirt roads and trails. I didn't wear a helmet or a watch but my internal clock seemed to know when I better start for home or maybe it was my stomach signaling that it was time for a meal. There were no lessons, no organized sports, no play dates. I learned to entertain myself and the word bored was not in my vocabulary.

Starry Sky...17º

Chief Joseph Mountain, 2012

Stars out early this morning but now the sky is covered with clouds...Maybe we are getting the partly cloudy time of the day over with and can look forward to sun later on...Have a busy week ahead of me with write group tomorrow, eye appointments in LaGrande on Wednesday, acupuncture on Thursday then another write group get together on Saturday at Janie's Cabin on Big Sheep Creek...Trying to get all the fun things scheduled in between everyones travels.

Pat and Brian arrived home last night travel weary and happy to be home even though they have traded the warm weather of Florida for Wallowa County winter.

I like to take trips but I'm never happier than when I get my first glimpse of the Wallowa Mountains as we drive back into the valley...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Sun peaking through...24º

Sunday morning, not much going on today...Herb is doing laundry and I'm picking up, rearranging the dust and putting away the clutter.

We had an enjoyable lunch yesterday with Pam and her grandson Dillon...Decided on the spur of the moment to do something different for lunch and an excuse to get in a visit.

Our Granddaughter Cienna is swimming her heart out in Portland at their District swim meet...She improved her times in both races on Friday and we have yet to hear this morning how she did on her leg of the 400 relay yesterday...She has set some goals and is keeping on track with that...and all we asked is that she do her best!..Exciting to see her so enthused about the competition.

Keep your thoughts with Bobbie and her family in Oklahoma...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Winter Arrived...24º

Snow fall added up to 6"...Not really a huge amount of snow but at least it covered the ice and bare spots of the past month...I spent about an hour mostly pushing the snow from side walks and the deck...It was light and fluffy...Easily moved without much lifting...Herb on the 4-wheeler plowed Barton Heights neighbors and our own driveway and parking area...It was good for both of us to be outside getting some fresh air and exercise...Back in the house we had sausage, eggs and toast for breakfast and soon I started the prep work for a dinner of lasagna and salad...Sun came out and it warmed up to 35º melting and settling the snow...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Herb as he goes by in a blur.

5" snow...35º

Winter Art

Lovely snowstorm yesterday late afternoon/evening...A winter wonderland is at our doorstep...I went out for fresh air about 6pm, used the broom then the shovel...It was still snowing when I finished the walks, steps and most of the deck...It is waiting for me again this morning and that is okay...I would rather do it twice than wait until the last snow flake falls and then do it...Much easier for me.

Our house was filled with the pungent fragrance of onions roasting in the afternoon...Sharon (at pinochle) said she still had onions from her garden stored in their basement and she was sure they were all going bad...Did we want some to take home?..Donna had already dried a bunch that she got earlier but Marsha and I said sure we could use some....I came home with about 20# of big, really big onions...I threw only one of them away and small parts of of some others but for the most part they are big and solid...I quickly peeled (very few tears) and chunked, dumping them on cookie sheets with olive oil, sprinkled with butter, course salt and fresh ground pepper...Put them in a 400º oven, stirred every half hour, turned the heat down to 300º after an hour...They turned sweet as honey, we enjoyed some with our dinner and the rest I put in baggies to freeze and use for the rest of the winter.

Speaking of tears, I shed a few as I write this morning...My brother-in-law Jim Stephens (Bobbies husband) died yesterday morning at home with Bobbie, son Alan and his wife Gail at his side...I talked to Bobbie minutes after his death and she said, "It's hard but he looks so peaceful, not in pain anymore, I will miss him so much." As we all will, Jim was a giant of a man, kind and gentle...His dry sense of humor and the twinkle in his eye always comes to my mind when I think of him...He called me "Little Sister" and enveloped me in hugs whenever we visited...In his lifetime he worked construction and for many years he drove bus for Greyhound in California driving over the Golden Gate Bridge every day into downtown San Francisco, for many years...Next he drove a run into Lake Tahoe taking gamblers to the casinos and then a move to Fresno and on to Albuquerque, NewMexico for a different run...The company retired him early with a heart problem, so he and Bobbie retired to his home state of Oklahoma where they bought acreage on a lake to live the rest of their lives...Jim started his own business of mowing lawns...Jim was very mechanical always working and restoring cars...They bought an Airstream trailer and spent many happy years traveling in the US, visiting parks or just camping in the great outdoors...He had a wood shop where he made bird houses, benches, frames just to mention a few...Many of us treasure these gifts made by his hands...As the years added up, their trailer was sold and they spent time at there lovely home on the lake turning it into its own little paradise...In springtime is was a riot of blooms that continued through summer and fall...He loved to read, mostly non fiction and did his daily crossword puzzle...He was a slow talker, but commanded your attention and had great stories to tell...He loved life, his family and in return was loved by those who knew him...Hugs To All...OWAV

Bummer...30º

A hectic day yesterday as Herb dropped me off at the dentist on his way to have the tires changed...The dentist was running behind so after the hygienist was done with me they ask if I had errands to do and could I come back in a half hour or I could reschedule...A quick trip to the grocery store, back to the dentist and home in time to put groceries away, a quick lunch and I picked Marsha up to go play cards...An enjoyable afternoon, although a little too long for my liking, we finally finished two games in 5 hours...We are usually home before dark...Now driving in the dark we were less than a mile from home when a deer made a mad dash across the road colliding with my cars left front corner...No way to avoid that collision...I braked to a stop, put the flashers on, air bags did not deploy and neither Marsha nor I were hurt...The deer lay dead along side the road.

Now I did this same thing four years ago, different car, different deer...But the same song and dance will have to be repeated...Talk to the insurance people, wait for the adjuster, make an appointment with the body shop because I must have new lights installed on the left side, before we leave for Arizona later this month...Body work might have to wait until we get back home...Certainly takes my mind off of the other more mundane things like will any of my summer clothes fit or do I need to go shopping?... Shopping used to be fun but now I would rather go to the dentist, which reminds me the dentist said I better be thinking about replacing a crown that is cracked...$$$$ signs, new crown, insurance deductible, new clothes, might have to float a loan. :).....Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Mixed up day...30º

 Yesterday was a mixed up day for me...My calendar said I had a dental appointment...But I had a niggling thought in my head...I hadn't received a call on Monday reminding me of this appointment so when their office opened at 8am yesterday I called to make sure...Good thing I did because I didn't have an appointment...It is on their schedule for today.

So I was able to attend write group and have lunch as well...We strolled from the Art Center to Red Horse Cafe, wearing light jackets on this warm February day, where we had the potato soup and sandwich special...It is a small but popular place and will remain popular if they keep their "homemade" menu.

Pinochle is definitely on my schedule today, should be a fun afternoon...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Unsettled weather...30º

More clouds than sun this week but temperatures are up a bit and wind is light...Maybe snow on Thursday...At least we get occasional blocks of sunshine.

I have a dental appointment this morning that is overlapping write group, so will just have to be late...Herb is going to Enterprise with me and has plans to have the snow tires changed to the all-seasons that we use in the summer...Don't want to leave snow tires on to go to Phoenix although sometimes they would come in handy...We can only hope for good weather and roads on the trip down and back.

Not much happening right now just many things running through my head as to packing, what staples to take for the condo kitchen...Hate buying little jars and packages of those things...How many days to spend in Utah on our way to Phoenix?..I get in such a quandary before a trip and that is when I want to crawl under the bed and stay home...BUT them once we are on the road I'm sort of okay and will enjoy the warm days of the south and then back home for a week (almost) with our kids and on to our Wallowa County non existent spring but at least I'm HOME!..Enough of the blathering....Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Dark...26º

Up early, early...Scrabble, Birds and finally remembered that I could watch last nights episode of Downton Abbey...Much better than the previous one.

Since we don't have TV anymore Super Bowl wasn't an option but I did check on the progress on my laptop and we had a simple dinner of nacho's for dinner...We read, "computered" and enjoyed the sunshine through the south window.

Start of a busy week, dental appt. and write group tomorrow and pinochle on Wednesday...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Foggy...24º

After two absolutely gorgeous days here in the Wallowa Mountains, the fog has rolled in...The sun is hiding but starting to shine in the south window as I write.

Yesterday morning I did some house work, made a batch of hamburger buns as I was planning an afternoon with the Write Group and Herb needed a bun for his hamburger dinner.

I left the house about 1:30 armed with bread stix, crackers and cheese, wearing a long sleeved cotton shirt and no coat...It was warm and the snow glistened like stars basking in the sun...A rare winter day.

L and T had arrived with a tray of fruit, breads, chocolate and wine...T was a bartender in a former life and treated us to a wine tasting experience...We sniffed, tasted, rolled the wine on our pallet and agreed it was very good...We paired it with apples, pears, apricots, mangos, cheeses, crackers and chocolate...Then we got down to the serious part discussing our writing and "life" in general...I made my way home, glowing like the setting sun, after an enjoyable day with friends...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Another Essay...21º

After writing and rewriting for three months now, mostly about "Siblings" I clicked on send, breathed a deep sigh of relief and as I came up for air thought...What will I write about next?

Yesterday was mostly a recuperate day for me, I finished the essay, cleaned the kitchen floor (from all that canning) fixed leftover ham and scalloped potatoes for dinner...Let myself play some new Star Wars Angry Birds and finally last night I settled down to watch episode 4 of Downton Abbey...Most of the other episodes have had more humor, last night was filled with drama, unnecessary death and turmoil...It didn't seem to bother my nights sleep, maybe I'm finally not taking movies or stories so seriously and can say "Its' not real"...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

The following is a paragraph from my essay "Siblings". Real life many years ago:

My parents were blessed with a second boy Joel, born just two years after George. Joel was stricken with double pneumonia at 2 &1/2 years of age and died December 23, 1936. A new baby girl, Mona, was born on December 14^th just a week and a half prior to Joel’s death. My imagination can’t begin to comprehend the pain my parents felt. It was Christmas time, a new baby should bring joy but another baby had just died, 3 older children, all under 10 years of age. It was the middle of winter in Wyoming where they lived hand to mouth in a shack. No time to grieve. They struggled to live.