Got to love them - grandkids

The grandsons came to visit over their spring break and we babysat them a few days so mom and dad could get away by themselves. Now our grandsons aren't like most kids, ours are very adventuresome - if I do say so myself - and play like there was no tomorrow.

This trip was no exception, they built their own 'mouse trap' type game to roll grandpa's golf balls down some gutters that they laid out from the barn roof, through the rhododendron, over a ladder, and through the apple tree, then into a box or bucket. Quite clever, these chaps! After a few days of doing this, Osten, age 7, decided to try rolling some freshly laid chicken eggs down the shoot instead. I knew he liked to cook. Was he thinking of scrambling eggs for an omelet? Grandma thinks it was cute - as long as he doesn't do it every time he comes now.

Or perhaps it is just being the middle child syndrome, trying to outdo his brothers for attention. If scrambled eggs didn't generate enough attention, maybe climbing into the dryer and closing the door on himself would. It earner a scolding as to the seriousness of doing such a stunt!

He likes to experiment, this middle child. His brothers get to be his stooges sometimes, and the youngest doesn't seem to mind what is done to him - to badly. Like the time, after his mother got home, Osten scooped up mud puddle water and poured it over Alden's head - 20 minutes before I had to leave to catch a train to go see my mother who had just had a stroke. His mother (our daughter Britta), was very clever, making him give his brother a bath and change his diaper - not easy to do, but he soon found that out. Was fun hearing him say, "Will you hold still PLEASE!" Now he knows how hard it is for us to keep them all clean - I hope.

The 9 year old Kyle, helped grandma move bark mulch and helped grandpa plant bulbs (good job Kyle), then proceeded to fall off grandpas bike and refused to get back on - EVER! We'll see. And insisted that "Osten needs to share his bike now!" Oh, the unfairness of life when he mother didn't agree.

Also during this visit, the 3 year old, Alden, helped remove the ears off the giraffe statue in the solarium. Last time it was the head. That's why they make glue, right? Grandma, me, bought them some bubble wands - which they loved for the better part of a day - until Alden smashed Osten's against a tree - so Osten had to try and break Alden's to get even. La Sigh.

Great fun was had by all when I hired tree fallers to fell some cottonwoods while the grandsons were here to watch. That went over WAY BIG! They loved to yell TIMBER as each one fell. They also loved watching the tree climbers swing from tree to tree! Great fun.

While Britta and the boys babysat the puppies so I could go be with my mother, the boys helped grandpa clean up and stack wood, so grandpa took them bowling one afternoon because they had been so helpful.

Now this visit is over and can be chalked up as - We all Survived! Years from now this story will be great to share with their children! Can't wait!

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Passing kindergarten is a whizz!

Is it possible to fail kindergarten? I was really worried. I have been taking my puppy Skye to puppy kindergarten the past 8 weeks and the last three weeks WE have worked extra hard by inviting friends over to practice greeting without jumping and such.

To pass an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Test, the OWNER must maintain puppy's health, has to write out and follow a daily play and exercise plan, attend at least 6 classes, bring "little bags" to clean up accidents in class (1 pee and 3 poops Eww, Skye how could you - even when you went before leaving home! That's right she is still a puppy!) and make sure the puppy is ID'd with chip or tag in case it gets lost or runs off. (Now why would it do that? Hum?)

The PUPPY must be free of aggressive behavior towards people and other dogs in class, tolerate it's collar or harness, lets you hug or hold puppy, and allows you to take away a toy or treat! That part was easy!!

Plus to be a good canine good citizen, the PUPPY needs to allow a person other than the owner to pet them, lets owner groom and do brief exam, walks on leash, walks by other people without jumping on them, sits on command, down on command, comes to owner when name is called, does not react much to distractions, stays on leash with another person - allowing owner to step away and return. This part was harder, but Whew! She passed! Good job Skye! (She is just 5 months old- to boot.)

I wasn't asked so I didn't tell, but in my humble opinion - IMHO, eating disgusting things (like their own poop and vomit) makes me think they aren't being good puppy citizens , but that was not one of the criteria for being a STAR puppy. You'd think it should be!

Now it is Sassy's turn the next 8 weeks - but she will miss the 1st class as both dogs will be spayed next Tuesday! Lets pray for no complications, pulling out each others or their own stitches, etc. Oh my! And you thought I was just a stay at home (but HOT) grandma!

Tsunami damage

My nephew Randy Jamison, his wife and two daughters experienced a Hawaiian vacation like no other.

They were woken to Tsunami sirens about midnight Thursday night (last night) and evacuated to higher ground sleeping in their jeep until daybreak. Randy came back for their luggage after he heard it was going to take a while for it to reach the Kona coast where they were staying.

Here are photos of what they found of their motel room after it was over. Water was up to the roof I heard, but the curtains only look wet up 2-3 feet, so am not sure, but it sure did slosh things around!

The power of mother nature is awesome! Some Paradise indeed!











The motel is putting them up tonight in another motel and then tomorrow they are going to be relocated. This is something they can share with their own grand kids someday. Ya think!

What a guy

Today, March 8th, is significant in that it is our middle grandson Osten's 7th birthday. Happy Birthday Osten!

I called him just before school this morning to sing him happy birthday and to wish him a wonderful day. He came down last summer for some one-on-one time. We went garage sale-ing and bought him a bike and helmet for $8. All shiny and red. Pretty good deal if I do say so myself. He likes to ride down the gravel trails in my flower beds. The bike stays at grandma's house so they don't have to haul it when they come down from Washington. We also made a fort out of fir boughs placed between the bases of a several trees creating a circle with a pretend fire pit in the middle, completed with a garage under the rhodie nearby for his Tonka truck. It remains today as a token of my gratitude that he makes me smile and knows how to have fun.

What a guy!

Love you to the moon and back!!

Gramma Lynn

Isn't she lovely, isn't she wonderful...

This photo brings to mind Stevie Wonder and his song : "Isn't she lovely..." To us she is also wonderful.

Our daughter will be 31 on March 18th. Cannot believe it has been that long since she was a tiny baby in my arms. We have them such a short time and then poof - they are all grown up and gone. That is our wish and our goal rearing children. It does not mean we don't love them - to send them on their way, down the uncertain path that's their future. A parents love lets them fledge, enduring the loss (tug at our heartstrings) forever.

This photo was taken last summer while she modeled for/with some friends at Awear Creations.

Moon over barn

Though it was windy and bitter cold, the view of the moon last night was eerily exquisite, and worth going outside to see! This small size photo does not do it justice.

We woke up to sunshine this morning, but it was still windy and cold. However, it got warmer (43 degrees) as the day progressed so Ken spent most of the afternoon outdoors (working on the sunny south side of the barn, out of the wind) building a new roof for the cold frame. The old one, well, it came 'unhinged' to put it mildly. After years out in the elements the screws pulled loose from their mooring and the roof literally fell off! Farm chores are half maintenance and repair, not giving one much chance for starting any new landscape design and building projects. We still have a pile of gravel in the driveway from last spring to be used to make a new patio out front under the living room window and another off the back porch.

When Ken was busy doing all this, I mowed the lawn! I love the smell of fresh cut grass and my sister is coming to visit next weekend, so was just tidying up.

Regardless of the project, it is a great way to spend time in the great outdoors, enjoying the sunshine when it graces us with its presence. Willamette Valley weather is great at sprinkling us with hope for a better day. Just got to love it.

I love Oregon

It is Valentines Day here in Oregon 2011. The crocus are blooming as are the wind flowers, my first daffodils, and camellia. Seed potatoes are in the farm stores. Chick supplies are being put out although it is a bit early to order chicks.

The past three weeks we have been pruning the orchard, cane and blue berries, and finally the roses last weekend. Best time to prune roses is right after Presidents Day, but the weather was inviting, the new puppies needed to be outside to learn how to be good neighbors to their chicken and cat neighbors (with constant supervision at this point) and the the forecast was for rain through Presidents Day - so what better time is there!

Ken got the first of the 3 fungicide sprays we were supposed to put on since Mid-December. Oh well, the most important one is at bud break and some of the peaches and plums are showing color so now it was. We used Kocide as we did not have any Ziram and were out of Fixed Copper, but rotating sprays is a good thing to do so plants don't develop an immunity to any one kind. He hit the roses and berries too as he mixed up 50 gallons. Even got the neighbors fruit trees - with their permission.

I can feel it in the air. Spring is just around the corner! Right after winter has had her say that is. Boy has the wind has been showing its power yesterday and today and here comes the rain. I'm just thankful for the past three good weeks of nice weather! I love living in Oregon!

I had the best day ever!

Today was the best day ever - in puppy training lingo. Skye, the Blue Merle pound puppy, knows how to get let outside - when she rings a bell hanging on the door! Yeah - no accidents since she started doing this. Of course her sister Sassy, the Red Merle, gets let out at the same time so she is benefiting as well. This is a break though with puppy training so far. They've had days when they are let out and "go potty" as instructed, but 15 minutes later when let in they wet on the floor! Has been so frustrating, however, I have decided to change my attitude and have the ability to decide if I had the best day ever. They are just 11 weeks old, so I may be overly optimistic, but pleased at any baby steps. It is good that we got two pups, I cannot keep up with them - they play constantly like it's a visit to a puppy park every moment they are awake. So glad when they take naps so I can get things accomplished.

Their bellies are so soft and they love to be petted there. Both want to be lap dogs. They let me wipe their feet at the door and also like to work for goodies. They can sit, down, and roll over, but are still working on stay, come, and "don't eat that chicken "s@#t". La Sigh! Puppy kindergarten here we come!