Happy Valentines Day!

I wish everyone out there a 'Happy Valentine's Day'!!! I got a really nice gift this morning - when I got out of bed, there on the kitchen table was a beautiful card and two boxes of candy! I was so surprised, it really made my day and that was from Wayne. I didn't do one thing this year for Valentines Day for anyone - so I am feeling a little bit sorry about that. One of these days I will get back into the swing of things and send out nice little cards and wishes. You are all in my thoughts and my prayers at all times and I wish everyone a very happy day.
We went to dinner last night up to Calder with Gail and Harvey and some other friends that we hadn't seen in many years. We sure had a nice time and a great dinner - really nice to get out and see people!
Love to all!!!

Haiti

I have been moved by this tragedy in Haiti and how devastating it has been for so many people. I can only imagine how horrific this is for that country. We often feel as if there really isn't anything that we as individuals can do for something that is so huge but I have found one small thing that we can all do. I have had Sirius radio for several years and since that time I have become a self-professed 'Parrothead'. What this means is: I have been turned on by the Jimmie Buffet channel on Sirius radio. I listen to this station constantly when I am driving - which is alot of my time! Today as I was sitting here wasting time cruising the internet, I happened upon this video by Jimmie Buffet asking each and every one of us to donate $10.00 to this cause. This really isn't that much money (two coffees, three gallons of milk [maybe]) but just think if we all donated that much money - what a good thing that would be. I am attaching his link to this website in hopes that all of you who read this will donate and also ask your friends and neighbors to do the same. Maybe this effort will become a ripple effect and we can collect the needed funds to help out.



As I sit here in Fernwood, Idaho, and am safe and snug - I only wonder what the awefulness is with what is happening in Haiti. I know that their sanitary situation must be unexplainable and I only pray that they receive the help that they must have to handle this situation. I am only starting to understand how huge it is to help our brothers and sisters on this planet and what a responsibility we each have to contribute - either of our time, selves or money (wow, this girl sure is a slow learner!).

Now that I've stepped off of my soapbox - I will get back to practical matters like taking a shower (thank the Lord I have running water), eating my lunch (thank the Lord that we have food to eat) and calling my family (who I know I don't call enough)!

Hope that everyone has a great weekend!!

Monday, Monday...

Today just worked my tail off. I have to submit all of our training sessions to the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses for continuing education approval. I also have to keep track of the classes that I have submitted and make sure that they aren't expiring or expired. The classes are approved for a two year period and you would be amazed at how quickly two years seems to roll around. Anyway, I've got 14 regular classes to submit and 15 on-line training classes to submit - LOTS of paperwork! And each of these have to have the correct information and then notarized before I mail them in. Keeps me busy!

I'm going to put a few photos that we took while in Cabo three years ago. These happen to be my favorite ones. Enjoy!

Ahhhhhh.......

What a nice relaxing weekend this has been...I did get the house pretty well cleaned up and organized - that always feels pretty good. Made some soup today that Joanne gave me for Christmas (it was soup-in-a-jar mixings) and then I added carrots, celery, onions, tomatoes and V-8 juice, also a little more boullion went in. It was sure gooooood! We also had some biscuits that I made with whole wheat flour, oat bran, flax seed, italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, it made a good combination with the soup, one of my favorite types of meals!

I am going to be adding some pictures that I took today - maybe I can get at least '300' photos this year? Love the sunset picture Maria, that is awesome. Be thankful for that view and enjoy every moment of it!!

Also, great video of Beau - so cute sucking on his hands and fingers, bummer when he gags - I also like the fact that he is trying to roll either way,. I'm thinking that this Tuesday afternoon, January 12, is when he is going to start rolling all over the place on his own (that is when a certain Grandma is going to be there)!

Today was just a beautiful day out there but they have winter storm warnings for an 'ice storm'?? I can't figure that one out - it must be coming though. So far, this winter has been a pretty good one with only a small amount of snow to suffer through.

Hope that everyone has a super, fantastic week ahead.

It's Thursday...

So that means that tomorrow is Friday - Yeah - Another weekend!! It is still cold here, last night it was 8 degrees. It is supposed to turn to something in the next few days, I don't know if it will be rain or snow, I'm guessing snow because it is so cold. I saw a report today that it was snowing and -50 degrees below zero somewhere in the midwest, now, that is just too cold for anybody.

We had a "poor man's lobster" tonight for dinner that was boiled pike. It was pretty tasty, I hadn't had it prepared that way before but I did like it. Had Josh buy some regular popcorn today also so I made that in a regular saucepan. What a difference! I think that I forgot what 'real' popcorn tasted like until tonight.

Hope that everyone is staying nice and warm wherever you are and see you tomorrow.

More pics...

Until I become more familiar with this blogging business, you will have to bear with me on how I post things. I will need to learn how to put wallpaper up on my blogspot.com and learn how to combine text and photos! Let's just see if we can teach an old dog new tricks!!

Hello one and All...

Here we are at day two and counting! I don't know how much that I can put on here every day when I stay home because I just do the same thing and it is called 'work'.

Today was a very productive day as I got our website updated with a new job posting. Nope, not my job! We are advertising for another ARRA Circuit Rider position. With President Obama's 'stimulus package' there is money available out there for water and wastewater systems to upgrade. Now is the time if they really want to do something as far as upgrading or creating new systems.

During the day while I'm working, I am also kind of dog-sitting. We have three dogs, one big black dog, Cyrus, and two little 'brat' dogs, Harley and Jack. (I refer to them as 'brat' dogs because that is what Cyrus calls them, I'm pretty sure. You see, Cyrus is delegated to lay in one corner of the living room while the other two dogs can roam at will (because they are little and cute I think). They are all good dogs but they do like to bark when someone comes or they think that they hear that someone is here (even when no one is here but it sounds like maybe someone is here, they gotta' sound the alarm you know!).

It's been cold the last few days and the view on the mountains is so pretty with the white snow caps but as usual I am looking forward to springtime which is my favorite time of year. Just waiting out the winter to get to the good stuff!

Anyway, I am surprised that anyone really looks at this blog but I see that three people did! So I say "hi" and love you all!!! Also, Maria, tell Rosco to cheer up, it's going to be a great year!! :)

I'm baaaaaccckkkk......!

Hello All! Well, well, well . . . I guess I though that I was a blogger but I got blindsided and I could't think straight for many months.

I must let you know what happened. If you notice the last post on this blog was on August 16. On August 24, my co-worker, Tony Elfering, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. He was a very dear friend and I miss him terribly every day. Tony and I started working for Idaho Rural Water the same week and I had worked closely with him for six years (although I took one of those years off and went to California with Wayne) but that is beside the point. Tony and his son, James (a senior this year in high school), were dirt biking near their home in Bellevue and apparently James wrecked his motorcycle around a corner and Tony didn't see it happen as he was behind James. When Tony came around the corner, we don't know if he actually hit James's bike or if he veered to avoid the bike, but Tony was ejected down into a ravine and was killed instantly. Ever since that day, it feels as if a part of me died along with Tony - he was a great guy. If you go to our website, http://www.idahoruralwater.com we have a memorial page for Tony. We also have a newsletter that I will be posting on the website in a few weeks (Winter 2009) that has alot of information about Tony. Needless to say, it has been a crappy fall/winter for us at IRWA adjusting to not having Tony around to talk with - we all truly loved him!

So now that we have a new year - I am going to 'TRY' to keep this blog updated. I have good examples to follow as my daughters' are great bloggers!

We do have many things to be thankful for this new year and number one is that grandson, Beau, is doing so well. He is just the most precious and cuddly baby boy ever! Love you, Beau!!

Joshua is working on getting our other grandson, Jayden, 'out of hock' and home where he belongs and I believe that this will be accomplished sooner than later.

I am still working at home and away - although, I did take the last week of '09 off on vacation. I just stayed home and got some things cleaned out, which feels pretty good. Also slept a bit more so I felt rested on Monday and here it is Tuesday and I'm back to feeling tired again.

I think that I have rambled on enough for one day - so am going to post this and hopefully get some new pictures up for you to enjoy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! May the Lord Bless each and every one of you reading this with his infinite love this year!! I'm sure that the best is yet to come.... :)