Had We Known...

I'm Back.... Yes, I am ~

2011-11-07T07:31:00.001-08:00

Yes, Really, I am back and getting a post ready..So see ya soon with pictures and stories :)

Hummer Love~

2011-05-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying what little Spring

we have seen so far....

Have you ever ever ever..

seen anything

So precious?

Sunshine, Beautiful Sunshine~

2011-05-05T22:16:00.001-07:00

The Sun finally came out yesturday....

and I was able to get the light and yellow and sun and beauty
through my lens...

Imagine...

Look at that ~

2011-04-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

Well,

Surgery is over!

The pain is better!

The boy..

Relieved...

No more pain in his eyes.....

Of course I could not resist a message of my own!!!

And here is the new kitchen sink...errr hardware..

Not on my sink!

What a bunch of metal (titanium)

and

screws..

But already he feels better...

Is it just good meds..thus far?

Don't know but we are

both so THANKFUL for

all your

PRAYERS!!!!

Now let's get on with Spring....

shall we!

Muwahhhhhh oxox

You just never know~

2011-03-31T00:11:00.000-07:00

It's hard to know what road your life will take,

We, Joe and I, trust the Almighty

to lead us down the path He thinks is best for us.

But, lets face it,

we are human and we worry about everyday things,

just like you I am sure, right!

But right now,

I did not realize that, that path would take this horse

loving man, back into an operating room so soon!

But here we go again....

Pray for him ok....

On the lighter side of life...Before we knew this new path we would walk, Joe bought a rescue horse and is spending what time he can before surgery getting to know her...No one knew her name so he named her: Calamity Jane....she will fit in real nice with the "Out Law" Belle Starr!

and Charlie??? Well she will be heading to Wyoming to be with Joey again...

Yep, life has a lot of twist and turns.. But thats ok.....

I have been spending my free time with these projects...

Knitting a poncho.... Learning Furr Elise on this beauty....

and getting to know my new camera "baby"

So for now this is my life and I love it...

But I do covet your prayers for

my sweetheart!

Blessings oxoxo

Guess What?~

2011-03-10T21:19:00.000-08:00

Guess WHAT ?????
Did you guess yet???

Tomorrow I get to order my new CAMERA~!!!!!!

I am so, so excited

Ohhhhhhhhh, so EXCITED....

Stay tuned...maybe you will see

Amazing photos..soon!!!

untill then...enjoy this these...

These two Eagles were haning out along the river

Fishing for Steelhead......

and allowing me to take their picture

Which I did....

I LOVE birds..

and these birds...

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

San Diego~Joe's first 737~

2011-03-01T17:55:00.001-08:00

We went to San Diego in February for a church conference...

And

Ruined

ME!!!!

I did not want to leave and the pictures will tell you why!!!

SUN and SHINE

and

SON!

It was a wonderful time !!!!

Joe would probably kill me if he knew I put this picture up of him, his hair is kinda rumpled..

..But Oh well!

Here we are going through security...

We went with some friends...Not me...I wore sandals...easy on, easy off !!!!

Awwww..we ARE a cute couple!!!!!!

Once we were through security
we stopped for breakfast and some
pretty interesting sites..and we had not left Portland yet!!!!
Seriously....50+ years old with PINK hair....OK!!!

I really did feel like a sardine for a bit!
Funny what you can get use to!

Joe getting excited, this was his "first" BIG plane...

He did not have a window sit :(

But when the young MARINE sitting next to us heard it was his first flight,

he gave HIM his SEAT...

What a great young man!!!

And we were off!!!

and a certain someone was pretty tickled!!!

AND this is where his face was planted for the rest of the two hour flight...So cute!

The Sierra Mt. Range

San Diego approach....

When we left Portland it was 30 degrees and cold and snowy...

When we got off the plane it was 78'

Blue and Sunny

Have you EVER looked up close..

NO, really close

to a Palm tree?

Palm.....stuff...

Lovely, Lovely color!

The following is pictures of me and Joe or Joe and I, which ever you prefer..

HOWEVER

this is a disclaimer to looking at me...

It could hurt your eyes!!!!

As I soak up the SoCal SUN!!!

We had a tight schedule

So we could only go to the ocean on our way to the airport on the last day there...

The traffic was well...a lot...

BUT, it was worth it..and well were not driving ...so no biggie!

This a lovely little house!

Wouldn't you say!

I don't know it could have been apartments ????

Joe, Eric, Marie and myself...

Self portraits......

These rocks had been tossed and rolled for "like" EVER...

AMAZING!

Not ME!

People swimming, boarding and if you look closely seals on the rocks...

A very busy place.......

And then it was time to leave :(

I have not looked up this body of water yet..

But thought it was very beautiful!

And then we flew over El Capitain'

Amazing..considering we were at 38,000 feet!!!!

"Half Dome"

And then Late Tahoe!

And just like that....

Back into snow and cold and snow and cold!!!!

Also known as the Cascade Mt. Range.....

And back home.....

It took me a week to get over the "longing" to be back in Paradise.......

But I acclimated to -12 degree and one solid week of snow and wind and no Sun!

I am Thankful for having such a Blessed trip...I can not tell you how amazing the speakers were, and how they made me want to really be a worker bee for Jesus!

And Joe, well he is adicted...I think we will Fly to Utah in April and see Montana and her family and their new house that they just bought...

Perhaps this is the begining of a new phase of life for Joe and I...

I sure hope so!!!!

thanks for stopping by oxoxoxo

Sam at 30 ? ~

2011-02-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

Happy 30th Birthday Samuel Wayne Kowing

Your Father and I

Miss Sharing this day with you,

But we know the Father

is sharing it with you.

One day we will all be together again.

Until then,

know that you are missed

EVERY single DAY..

Love Mama

A walk down my hallway~

2011-01-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time,

a long time ago,

well it does not seem that long ago,

but it must have been...

Because these three beautiful little girls are all ladies now.....

and I was feeling very lonely without them today...

and

was looking at things in the house...

And remembering when Joey ran for Rodeo Queen...

But I remember even further back when she was a wee little one,

and loved to dream and draw horses...

And I was looking at all the elephants Amelia has drawn for me lately,

cause she knows how much I love them...

I am waiting for the story she will write about why this tired elephant is so tired.....

That he had to sit on the bank of a pond, and soak his trunk!

Oh, I can not wait for that story!

And I love that she shared this elephant picture with me, even though she made it for a friend of hers........But Amelia is like that!

And I continue to cry tears...

when I walk past this picture and

poem she gave me for

Christmas....

It is a prototype of one she wants to do...

But to me this ONE will be worth more then the final one she makes....

and she added elephants instead of birds,

cause she knows her Mama!

And I marvel at this one she did for her Dad,

She use to love playing on hay bales while out with

her Daddy when she was little....

And the likeness of "our"
Mountain in the back ground

Amazing!

And my Montana...An amazing seamstress.. A beautiful Mother......A loving Wife...

Her and Doctor sign the papers oh their FIRST home,

next week...

And I am so proud of the life they have made together,

the home they have made for this beautiful boy,

And the love that they share

through their obedience to Christ...

Yes, it has been a walk down memories today...

We are so thankful that each day Doctor is better!

We are so thankful that Amelia was willing to drop everything to go help Montana and Doc,

and we wait patiently to hear from Joey, after about 2 weeks of no word...

But she warned us this would be a long haul of no talking......

And now...I will go make some memories with my forever love...

Bye.....ox

Newsies~

2011-01-06T18:39:00.000-08:00

No pictures this time.. :(
My camera has died,
or is mostly dead!
I can not get it do any of
it's functions....
I felt true pain over this...
Not sure when I can replace...
Sigh*

On a more important note..
My Son-in-Law made it home from
Ghana, Africa...
Was way delayed due to east coast weather,
and we could tell he was sick,
had been since about the first week
he got there...
He spent about four days in delays before he got to America,
and then within about 12 hours was in the hospital on I.V's
and very, very sick...

Come to find out he contracted Malaria..the worst strain! He thought he
was immune, but he has been gone to long from his country, I guess...
Now he is home and resting, still in lots of pain..Pray for him if you think of it
ok!

Talk to you soon...shi!

Christmas 2010 ~

2010-12-31T07:16:00.001-08:00

We started our Christmas Joy time..

traveling in what I call the

"Star Trek" vortex!!!!

About two hours on roads like this....

But what are you going to do?
when you choose to live in the rural mountains?

As we got into Vale the snow started letting up..

We were worried that the plane would not land because of snow and fog....

But the closer we got to Boise the better the weather got! Yay!!!!

And finally we had our treasures with us...

Sorry Nana..I forgot to get your picture, being overwhelmed by this little face!!!!

And then it was time to go get the Christmas tree....
Something Anongba has never done....

A trip up the mountain, a ride on Grandpa's back, and wah-lah....

"Oh, Chemistry"

Well, if your 2.7 yrs old, that's how you say it!

Oh, Chemistry, Oh, Chemistry...

The snow was deep, So Nonbus, hitched a ride!

When we found our Chemistry...Nana was ready to taker' down...!

Nope! Not this one!!!

Follow Tuck, She knows where it is!

And there it is...Our Chemistry!!!

Stand back..

Whoops...Snow in the face...Beautiful girl...

By the way,

Amelia did not come home until the next day...

We, being the brave ones, stood off to the side and let the tree fallers work!
At this point,

look at that cute, happy little face,

his not mine,

though I was very happy too!

No sign of what was coming our way,

even right then!.

Thank goodness the little guy had some fun while he could!

Mean while back at the logging site.....

Do you see fever in these eyes? Nope, me neither...

The loader is bout loaded!

But what's this?

Man down...and won't get up!

Hmmmm, weird...

He was just playing and happy???

Maybe Tucker can get him up....

Nope, did not work!

One more picture please,

Is he pouting now?

YES!

That is a unhappy face for sure,

"But why?"

Time to go...

Great Chemistry!

Made it to the pickup, now for the ride home...

The smile is gone from Nonbies face..

But it sure is beautiful!

Faces in the mirror.....Precious oxoxo

Sad eyes :(

When we got home Nombie helped Grandpa...

But back in the house...FEVER exposed!!!!

Thus began an end to the fun,

no leaving the house,

no bon-fire,

giant marshmellow roasts.

Just, Tylenol, fevers and coughing

Christmas morn,

The bopsie twins awake....

We looked all over for his favorite car,

only to find it in a shoe...

Discussing things with Gandpa,

probabley why he has not gone to the horse yet!!!

At a good moment watching Cars on his dvd player...

It never lasted long :(

Time to open presents...

But first some medicne..not so yummy!

Wonder what they are thinking?

Ooooo, new cars...

New books....

Montana made Tucker a coat,...Darling!

Nana's scarf and hat I knitted her...

Apron for Amelia...I made it for her,

she was tried of her painting

ruining her clothes...

Montana made me a computer bag..

Love it,

She used the material my friend Nicole gave me,

that she got from India!

But it was all a little to much for the sick one!

It was a wonderful Christmas, dispite EVERYONE of us cathing Anongba's sickness, Amelia ended up with a Ear infection and sinus infection, I ended up missing an extra two days of work..and Joe has missed about three days of work also...But we loved having Montana, Anongba and Amelia home...and now..Nana is back home, Doctor just got home from Africa this morning after many delays due to the weather back east, and Amelia is heading home in few minutes..Joey called yesturday from Costa Rica, she is doing well...perhaps a little sick with something, but holding on, outreach is always hard..But for Christ she lives... We are so proud of our children!!!!!

It's New Year's Eve...

We have been so blessed this year,

our life is very fulfilling and centered in Christ and His will for us!..

I hope your year has been blessed,

Hello 2011 !

My view of Fall~

2010-12-03T19:16:00.000-08:00

As most of us have discovered,

this fall has been different,

In a snowy way!

We always have snow of course....
but the last 15, 20 years....

We have gotten very little.....

However, since La Nina came to town.....

The snow has been here to stay....

for a long Winter full of photography......

So, due to this new situation....

The kittens have come inside...
apparently, according to them...

They think they are on a permanent stay over.....

However on sunny or warmer afternoons

they get kicked outside....

and then hang out in the window until we let them back in.....

Where Tucker has to share her huge human dog house..

she does not like it at all!

and in between cats, and dogs

and snow

and more snow

there is play and fun and pictures and piano lessons

and light and ice

and road trips in our own county

and at the end of the day...

It's called life and

I love liven it'

Fossils and T.V. ~

2010-11-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

We went to a friends yesterday, to see her place and to buy a TV that she had for sale...

We had to go into the Fossil Beds National Park to get to their place,

and then we had to drive 6 miles on a dirt road..

it went up and up and up for 6 miles The views were to die for.....

The light was amazing.......

The shadows...breath taking.........

The red of the hills...so brilliant...you just want to sit and gaze.....

So many Dinosaurs have been found in them thar hills......

And finally.....this is what we bought...

We have a very hard time wasting money on "things"

When there are so many needs...and so many in need...

So when our TV started dying, Oh about a year ago..

We kept bemoaning the need for another one...

And when this one was offered at $150

we were thrilled and a little tickled...

To us it is a direct Blessing from above...

Yes we know TV can be very evil...

But it can also be very enjoyable...

and so to be able to find one at such a good deal...

Priceless :)

Goodnight Moon~

2010-11-17T15:35:00.001-08:00

I have always dreamed of being able to take picture at night...

This is the closest I have come...That is the moon and Mars (see the little dot?)

and the Pine Tree looking Erie in the bottom right?

If you look REALLY, REALLY hard you can see the three tiny-tiny stars below the moon!

Someday though..

These will be GREAT pictures of the moon!

Until then...

Goodnight!

50th Birthday Boy~

2010-11-16T20:03:00.001-08:00

***Happy Birthday ***

Baby!

Can you believe we have spent 31 of your 50 Birthdays together!!!

I sure pray we get another 20 or more!

My your next years be Blessed beyond measure!

OXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXO

Twigs, Tree's, Dragonfly and Buck~

2010-11-12T15:19:00.000-08:00

I had a great week!

I have finally found a way to get enough sleep,

So I am not tired all the time

And the good thing about that is that I have picked up my camera again

to take more pictures.....

And the one above I think would make awesome wallpaper

stationary don't you think?

Love the colors.....

Walked with Joe to feed the horses, and am still oggling over the apple tree...

grey, grey day..

and yet the tree is brilliant Gold!..

Love the contrast!

Reflections of my mood....dreamy :)

Ok...this little guy got in the house...Isn't it so beautiful...
Look at all the intricate pieces of it's wings ..Wow...!

Joe and I wait anxiously every year for the HUGE

bucks to come down out of the mountains to find their special someones...

and this one found our does...

It is a 4x5..

and had a huge body..

a beauty to watch!

and then he left and gave us one last look goodbye..

All in all it was a wonderful week!

Oh beautiful, for spacious skys~

2010-11-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my world....

It is so beautiful here in the fall....
Snow on Strawberry Mt. already...That's normal...for us!

I love my valley,

Do you live in a place you love?

Catapillar's and Clouds~

2010-11-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

Do you remember laying in the grass looking up at the sky,

when you were younger, then now?

Do you remember how that could entertain you for a long, long, time..

Do you remember the smell of the grass...Mmmmmmm...

Do you remember searching for Caterpillar's.....

And the feel of them tickling the palm of your hand...

I do,
I miss those days..
Of carefree play,
Innocence..
Joy...
and then I look at the beauty that surrounds me,
and I have instant joy...
I thrill at it,

And I have to run and grab my camera...
To capture the magnificence
of the color of these clouds,
of the Amazing creation
that God has given us...

I may not lay on the grass so much any more..
or catch caterpillars,
very often
anymore..

But, I have replaced that thrill and joy
with
the joy that comes from knowing that My Jesus
loves me and gave me all these gifts.....
and all I have to do is notice...

What have you noticed today?

Amber waves of Fall~

2010-10-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

A beautiful weekend turned cold and snowy

pretty fast this week!

I really enjoyed my work week!

Finally back to say shift

and not so tired anymore!

YAY!

I took these last weekend...
I just loved the amber colors...mixed with the orange of the trees in the background...

Don't you just want to swing for a while and contemplate your life!

Dooley Loop~

2010-10-23T17:06:00.001-07:00

The weather is changing...

it's getting cold,

There was new snow on the mountain.....

So we thought it was a great day for a drive....
To look at the fall colors....

The Tamarack Trees are simply Beautiful this time of year...

I was a little frustrated that I cut the top of this mountain off in this panorama....

Sunshine without sun!

It screams of God's love for us...

To give us such beauty to gaze at....

Oh we are Loved.....

We drove towards Unity and then Hereford
and then over Dooley Mt...

Along the way Joe stopped wherever I wanted...

He knows how much I love to take pictures....

He's the Bestest!!!!!

There is a lot of sky and a lot of roads leading to places yet discovered.....

Unity Reservoir.....

We did a little reflecting on this drive.....

This looks like a stagecoach should be coming round' the bend any moment......
It also reminded me of a place in Wyoming we seen this summer.....

Beautiful Quaking Aspen....

Look at all the colors in this shot!

Wow-zer!!!!

It was a long drive..

But worth every mile....

Now, back to work tomorrow..

BUT, I don't mind

BECAUSE...

I am back to my day shift and we are DONE with training!

Oh, I pray it last for a long, long time....!

How was your weekend????

Lets take a walk~

2010-10-22T12:09:00.001-07:00

I went for a walk with Joe this morning to feed the horses..

Their pasture is about 1/2 mile from our house....

and along the way I took these...

Enjoy *

This tree is in our front yard......
Every year it calls me to take its picture........

The colors always dreamy........

The forest service is doing controlled burns right now...
and we have been choking on smoke...
But isn't the contrast beautiful..minus the smoke.....

This pasture to the left of the picture is our pasture
We live on the other side of the highway...
Do you see Bell Starr looking at us?
Do you see Charlie?
She blends so well...
But Belle is a picture hog!

This is the Brand that Joe wanted when we got married...

JK-Diamond

But he never got it...

So when Joey was in high school...

She licensed it for her ranch (in her future)

Cool huh!

Made her daddy pretty proud too!

Every day Joe goes to the apple tree in the pasture and knocks down apples for the horses..

Belle Starr..can hardly stand to wait for them..she stars drooling...

and Tucker can't wait for them to start running so she can chase them..or...

errrrr heard them....

Wait for it, Wait for it Tuck!

The tree is very loaded this year..

See her lips are all slobbery....yum yum!

Beaut-e-full-ness!

The spot where Belle Starr was watching us from as we walked along the highway...

Like I said we went on a walk today.....

Boy and Camera ~

2010-10-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

It took a little persistence but I finally got Anongba to sit for a photo shoot,

I took down my hand made quilt from my sister Ricky

that NO ONE gets to use..

and gently layed it in the grass...

and

put the little prince uponst it....

I most certainly bribed him with ALL his trucks....

I think it payed off....

Soon he was ready for "take off"

but I was able to distract him with his own grader!

I may have endured some looks along the way....

But fun was had by all.....

and in the end...

memories to last

until the next time!

30th Anniversary ~

2010-10-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

Joe and I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary on Septemember 2, 2010.

If you want a reminder of our begingings you can go here and read about that post!

We started our party with a

Private band performance

Curtesy of Anongba!

This Guy attack Anongba.. To Funny!

Soon it was time for another Read!

and more Moth's

Did I tell you we had a cat

show up at our house and then she

proceed to have two adorable Kittens?

Back to Drum playing..He has gone

Tribal for sure!

When not Drumming he is back to playing with gran'pa

and his mama is back to getting beat up by her Sis's.... While Joe puts up the tent for the Honeymoon suite.. mind you not our's, Montana and Doctors..he was fiinally coming down after not being with his little family for three weeks!

Anongba thought it was great fun!

The girls did a photo shoot for Joe and I... Not a bad looking couple with 30 years under their belt!

I sure love this guy!

My forever Love!

Anongba wanted in on the shoot!

Ok...and Tucker!

Montana made our cake..Isn't it so pretty...

If you know Joe and I we are very low key!

We just enjoyed sharing the day with our girls!

Opening cards..

Fine wine was had by all....

Tucker considered eating w/o us!

It was the Best Anniversay yet!

We felt so blessed to have the girls home!

Fun in the Sun~

2010-10-16T11:53:00.001-07:00

While the girls were home most days I had off, but a few I had to work :(

When I would walk in the door Anongba would be waiting for some Gran'ma' time...

And of course I was a willing participant!

Who could resist this adorable face!

He had plenty of trucks for outdoor fun!
As a matter of fact, EVERYWHERE we went this dump truck went too!..
Sometimes he wanted it belted into the back seat like him!
If you remember in a previous post from salt lake, we even took it to the State Capitol!

Walks were a favorite of his!

I Love the tire tracks in this one!

He was wondering why I was taking so long to catch up...

Just tryin' to get some shots!

The weeks they were home we had a Moth crop that hatched!

they would land on EVERYTHING...

Playing in the sprinkler only lasted like ten seconds..

He preferred the hose with no attachments!

Most of the time he thought it was fun to chase me down and soak me!

Until I returned the favor !

Next up.....

Our 30th anniversary!

This girls are home ~

2010-10-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

After we got home from Amy's, she came to our house because it was her 20th high school reunion!

This was a huge feat for Amy, she had not been to my house since Eli was born, five years ago! Eli take a lot of consideration, he has so many needs that this trip had to be carefully planned out!

So it was a nice surprise that all the girls would be home at the same time!

We had a wonderful time together and Eli did so so good, and Amy even got a few evening to herself to go and play!

One afternoon Anongba stacked all of his most important trucks and books in front of the door! We never did figure out why?

Maybe he wanted to go out and play or maybe he was packing to go home?...

At any rate it was pretty sweet!

Amy got a shot of all of us together...That was a nice treat!

Joey drove by herself from Wyoming to be here for almost a whole week!

I found Joe napping with Anongba..
AND Tucker sneaked in and got on the bed to join the napping fun!
Naughty Dog..naughty!

Anongba waited every day for Bam'pa to get home so his fun could begin!
The best time of day was going to clean horse poop!
It was all he could talk about for days..
Horse Poop, bam'pa...Poop?

Some days he had sleep where he could, we ran his little legs off most days!

(Anongab & Eli)

We did have some time for snuggle time! and book reading!

But Anongba's favorite time was going to Bam'pa's shop to see the buses!

He had all the tools to play with and lug around..

Ahhh..... he was a happy camper!

While they were home we had our counties fair..

So we got watch a parade...

at first he was bored and wanted to go play trucks..

but once stuff started to appear and they started to throw candy and toys at him...

He really enjoyed it!

At some point ALWAYS...

The girls do what they do best!

Pick on Montana!

It's just how it is!

Amelia is not as innocent as she appears...

Trust me!

Self portraits!

Dog included..

I think Anongba was sleeping!

Can't have the girls home without them teasing their poor mama'

I asked them to put their heads together and this is what I get!

Silly girls!

On a side note....Joey leaves on October 31st for Costa Rica...

Will you join me in praying for her as she leaves for this next mission trip!

Thanks....

Coming up...

"Fun in the Sun"

It all started with ~

2010-10-16T09:00:00.001-07:00

We started out summer going Montana's in late June...

Then it was off to Joey's in July...

In August it was a trip to my sister Amy's in Washington...

For Eli's 5th Birthday Party!

Montana and Amelia came home and were able to make the trip with me, it was so exciting!

And we were so happy to share in Eli's Birthday!

For those of you who do not know my nephew Eli has CP...

and it seems that he has to fight for every single day he gets!..

So to be able to share in his 5th BD is such a Blessing!

Anongba and Eli...became quick buddies...

Anongba sleeping of course!

So grown up!

Auntie Amelia with her favorite nephew!

Montana and Anongba

Montana, Anongba, Me and Amelia

Silly guy!

Anongba enjoyed having room to run..with his 3nd cousin Cody

Trying to lift the hoop.....

Did not work so good! Hahah
3nd cousin Caleb watching

Amy's neighbors have a Llama...had to go and visit it!

Caleb and Cody, my cousin Love'e boys...

My cousin John and his daughter...

Anongba exhausted after all the play!

I have had a lot of other pictures but am unable to upload them for some reason...!

Bummer

It was a great trip and we all enjoyed it so much...

Next up...

Joey got home so all the girls were home at the same time...

Wonderful, beautiful...!

Over Due~ Over Due~~~~

2010-09-17T20:26:00.001-07:00

Ok..

I know I am SO SO out of touch with my blogger Buddies..

I think of you,

I dream of stopping by YOUR blogs...

and saying HELLO!

And I think about the pictures I want to share with you...

And

Then I go to work..and work, and work, and come home

exhausted and eat and go to bed..Get up and do it all over again!

OVER, and OVER and OVER again..

Because we never seem to get the night shift hired out!

With all the people out of work,

you would think you could find someone to work???

Great pay, wonderful benefits, we train you, no experience needed!

Oh, well..

And then there is the other side of the job..

the deaths, the car wrecks, the fights, the drugs, the lonely, the weird..

No wonder.....!

But don't worry...

I see the end of the tunnel....

Just in time for me to start whining because Joey will be headed out of the

country on her next mission trip...

See ya soon..with Amazing pictures of when the girls were all home for our

30th Wedding anniversary and our nieces wedding all in the same weekend!

ta-ta for now....ox

Best pictures of the trip~

2010-08-06T09:02:00.001-07:00

We spent several Days driving to some of the Most beautiful country I have ever seen!

(this just up the road form the Base)

I have always held firm to the fact that where we live in Oregon is the Best country in the U.S.

But perhaps there are other place that are equal..

Joey wanted to take us to a few of her favorite place and along the way was an area where friends had told her she should go, but she had not had a chance until now!
The following 6 shots were taken on one of the routes to Yellowstone,
It passes through the some of the country of Chief Josephs and the Nez Perce's
last battle grounds, they thought if they could get up this canyon, and onto the plains above they would make it to Canada and join up with others..

I can only imagine how horrific it must have been to try and go through this in the winter, while running for your life!
It is mind boggling to imagine it all!

That is the road way down there, were we to have gone further!

We drove to the Montana state line just to say we had been to Montana too!
Had not been in that state since 1998!

Just some Beautiful HUGE sky!

I LOVED how the sky went on forever in a lot of my shots!

This was taken from our cabin's front porch

When we came in LATE friday evening we did not get to see some of the amazing sites so we back tracked one day so we could...

I HATE tunnels..hate them...and there were several!

But, on the other side of the tunnel was the Buffalo Bill Dam
Very green, green water and cliffs...

This is the same dam, but on another side of the cliffs...

We drove to a lot of the small towns, made a huge loop through

and back to base....the following are the pictorial of that drive...

Joey drove, Joe was put in back with Tucker Dog!

Amazing Red outcropping of rocks in weird places.

If you look closely you will see at the top of the above picture...

Back on the road again, Joe and Joey were good with letting me get pictures whenever I wanted

Huge thorns!

These are from the Gooseberry Badlands

This taken from our proch at the cabin on base...Beautiful! Back there and to the left is is where Amelia Earhart, the Double-D and Kirwin is..keep going you'll see below :)

One night ir stormed pretty good and thunder rolled off the distant mts. it was amazing music!

The Base office and confrence rooms

On our way to Amelia Earharts Favorite place

When you turn to go up the Wind River you go through a HUGE and very OLD ranch...The Antler Ranch..is famous and in a lot of magazines..It is one of the oldest on Wood river, it is now a Buffalo Ranch...

The road to Kirwin and where the Double-D ranch was took us four hours of travel on a good road for the first 6 miles, then it was another 6 miles on the riverbed, of course you can not travel it in the winter or spring untill runoff is over..UNLESS you were in a boat..and then I WORLD not do it!!!

We will go beyond the last peak you see here...

Now..Below is my FAVORITE shot of the whole trip...

I named my oldest daughter after amelia Earhart..

So when Joe was able to ride and move cattle and was shown this place one day he knew he would have to have me go see it also.....

I felt blessed to be here.....

Hope you find it as beautiful!!!!

This is the valley that the Double-D sits in..

Oh, DREAMY!!!!

God is so good to us to give us such gifts!

Amelia use to go to the double-D ranch with her husband and she was even having a cabin built somewhere between here and the minning town of Kirwin, for when she got back from her trip round the world..BUT as we all know she NEVER got back, and her husband never went back to the Double-D and collected her things and some of them are now iin the Buffalo Bill musuem in Cody, WY...

This is the pool she would have swam in while on the ranch..SO, I had to go for a swim too!

The following are various cabins on the ranch that still are in pretty good shape..

I'd move in!!!

If you click on this one you will see a lot of the buildings....

Heading into Kirwin, a minning town, that had over 200 people in it at one time, even a hotel!

This is the valley that Kirwin sits in..you are at over 9000 feet here!

The building at Kirwin that still stand...

This is what the road is like a lot of the was you can see how hisg and wide spread the river is when the snor runs off in the spring...

This is the view from when we were heading back towards home from Kirwin.

We had to go to very back of the picture to get back to the main road

When we left Joey's we headed to Jackson Hole, This picture is out of sequence sorry it should be after the next two..it is the huge mt you climb coming out of Jackson Hole!...beautiful wouldn't you say?

The Majestic Tetons....I have a zillion pictures of them but thought better of boring you with them...

and last but not least

the saying of the goodbyes...

Tucker missed her girl as soon as we left...

and me..

Well don't ask..

I can't see for the tears!

Yesterday~

2010-08-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Here are two out of four of the people I love the most in whole wide world..

And so what happened yesterday still has me all shook up!

( Joey my baby and Joe my sweetheart of almost thirty years at a park in Cody, WY)

Joey had told me the day before that she was going to be moving cattle in her part of the world, no biggie..she does that all the time...But now I know where she does it..right, cause we just spent 7 days with her...
7 days of being with this special lady, seeing what her world is like,
just breathing in her very presence...
We have missed her so much these last few years..

(Joe in front of Yellowstone Lake)

This is Joe.. I know you know....
bare with me ok..
The man I have spent 29 years, 11 months and 26 days of my life with..
not counting when we dated!

(Joey on main st in Meeteetse, WY)

I called Joey yesterday to inform her that her dad had a horse accident,
I explained that his horse shied, and he went off in the opposite direction,
Really hit hard on his left side....But he was not seriously injured..
Just gonna be VERY sore for a few days
Thank the Good Lord!

But as we were talking she informed me that it "was not a good day for the Kowing's"
Which immediately made me sick to my stomach..I waited for her to go on..
She then explained that she got hung up in her horse when it fell,
her chaps got hung up, she was on the ground,
being drug,
she had a hold of only one rein,
so the horse who is young and still in trianing
keep wanting to go back to the other horses
and kept going in circles
and as it circled
it kicked her in the head...
and drug her along the ground
and then finally
her chaps broke free..

She thinks she has a concussion,
she said she has an egg on the
side of her head,
between he eye and ear..

And I keep hearing her say
But mom, I am ok, really..
as tears are streaming down my face
as I sit in the dispatch center praying I don't get a call!

Yesterday was not a good day for me..
Yes, they are both alright,
But I am not!

All I can hear in my mind is;

"Fear not, for I am with you always"
Matthew 28:20

I
Thank you for keeping my loved ones safe Lord!

Visiting Joey At the CWAM Base~

2010-07-26T20:28:00.000-07:00

We are in Wyoming

visiting Joey for a week,

I just Love this Baby daughter!!!

Joey is on CWAM Base (Cowboys w/ a Mission)

She is in charge of livestock and has a few of her own to boot

including this mama and filly, a calf and a cat!

The day after we got there she gently told us she was in a Rodeo and we should come watch..

CAUSE..she was riding a Bucking Bronc!!!

WHATTTTTTT!!!!!!!

She was on a team of five people....

The Blue Team..

I caught her horse..wellllll, um..doing business while trotting shall we say!

Joey is milking a wild cow here..here team lost his one!

Here she is getting on her bronc..
You can imagine
I was not a happy mama at this point!!!

And she's off....

No, stay on girl..
STAY ON!!!!!

Nope she's OFF!

But was ok..

Unless you want to talk about the HUGE bruise on her leg or the sore shoulder, back..ect..

She lasted for 7.5 seconds..ALMOST to the timer!

However she did win all round girl!

Daddy with his little girl!

He was so proud!

Told her if your gonna do it, Do it to WIN!

AND she did...

won a pair of Spurs...

Way to go Joey Love'e!!!

Oh ya and a little hand wound..

She thought it was all worth it!

Silly girl...

I did suggest NEVER again..PLEASE!!!!

Scar's ~

2010-07-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

The following is an AMAZING example of God’s Love for us!

* pictures have nothing to do with the story* :)

they just show God's handiwork !

All pictures were taken this weekend by me :) Of course right!...

Hope your Weekend was splendid..

Mine was spent at work...

Hope you enjoy the following!

A young boy was playing in a pond with his mother, as he jumped in
and turned to swim out towards deeper water, his mother turned towards the bank,
just in time to see a croc glide into the water towards her young son.

She started to yell and scream at him to swim towards shore.

He was almost to her, where she could reach him as the croc latched onto his feet.
A battle ensued for the boy’s life.

The mother hanging onto his arms, the croc his feet, the mother kept slipping and being dragged further into the water, the croc wanting to do the death twirl trying to get him deeper into the water.

A farmer in the field heard screaming and yelling and grabbed his gun,
he was able to shoot the croc.

The boy was taken to the hospital where he was stitched up with hundreds of stitches,

but would live.

As the news papers in his area stopped by to interview the boy, they wanted to see his scars

But the boy only wanted to show them his
arms….and the scars there,

The ones he got because his

“Mother would not EVER let go of him!”

he said...

People this is JUST like the scars Jesus has on his hands!

Because “HE WILL NEVER LET GO OF US!”

He loved us so much, He was willing to die for us!
Won’t you except His gift of LOVE today?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.s.s. Brandi if you stop by..I can not get to your blog anymore :( Help!

On the way to Park City~

2010-07-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

Yeah for weekends..Mine starts on Friday...

I was trying to come up with some clever thing to say..

But alas..I got nothing!

I did dig around and found a few more pictures from our trip,

We went to Snowbird, and Park City..
Snow Bird was all about granite mountains..
they were the foot hills to the Rockies..
And very beautiful..
However I had a smudge on my lens..do you see it?
Of course you do..Sorry!

I did not take but a few pictures in Park City so you get nadda!
It is where they had the 2002 Olympics.....

Well this week our newest dispatcher quit!
So, it's back to the hiring process...
Bummer..
but it happens...

This is such a stressful job,
and then you add the night shift factor and working weekends and holidays
and not many can handle it...

It took me 6 years to become the senior dispatcher...
and even at that I do not get a full weekend off..

I pray that God has a job for us..
we would like to be about His work..

In the mean time we work at the work He has blessed us with!

Salt Lake City or Bust~

2010-06-26T18:26:00.000-07:00

Hello...

We are back from our trip to see Montana and Doctor and Anongba....

It was so wonderful..

Nothing like a kid fix!

Amelia got to go with us...

She got a one week vacation from finishing her Masters Degree...

She had an interview in Washington state

But was able to move it so she could go..

We were so thankful for that..

( I got a new Cowgirl hat..What do you think? I love it!)

Our trip was fun filled and at time scary....

Have you even driven in that area?

WILD!!!!!

My pictures are in reverse..Sorry..I way to lazy to flip them around!!!!

This is the Steen Mt range near Burns...Beautiful!

Somewhere between Elko, NV and Burns, Oregon

The Ruby Mts in Nevada

Bonneville Speedway Salt Flats.....

Amazingly beautiful in the rising sunlight....

The wind was blowing so hard...and it was COLDDDDDD!

It is all rock hard salt..NO WATER what-so-ever....

Pampa' and Nonbie getting snuggle time!

Joe, Amelia, Me, Montana and Anongba with his Dumper..It went EVERYWHERE....

Joe, Amelia, Doctor, Montana and Anongba...

Just an artsy-fartsy picture I took, this is the state capital building...Made for good mug shots :)

Montana, me and Amelia...

and

in the background...

Joe and Anongba!

Joe and Anongba took full advantage of the wide empty space...

This may well have been 2 year old heaven!

Precious..simply precious don't you think!

I got Mr. Busy pants to poise for a moment and then he was off....

I can hear him now...I would ask him something and would say

"yeeeep"..

Love this little guy so much!

We stopped at the State Capital because This adorable family

wanted some family pictures...

and it looked like a good place to take them in the city!

they took us to a view point over looking the

Salt Lake Valley...

Beautiful..I never knew SLC had Mt's....

It does!...

I could now get a full view...But you get the idea I am sure at how large a city SLC is...

Remember to click on picture to get full benefit....

Old City with some Beautiful architecture!

As most know..there are a LOT of children in SLC...

Maybe the week off of school is not a good time to

go to the zoo..BUSY!!!!!!

But this little guy...such a Cowboy!!

And here he is ..closer to his heritage..:P Safari anyone...

Amelia could wear a garbage can lid and look adorable!!!!

A very friendly Giraffe!

This zoo has a upstairs and a down stairs..Cool!

This ANIMAL had a chip (not a chimp..hahaha)on its shoulders..CRANKY!

this baby was born last year....

Joe and I got put in the back seat...

the girls liked doing that for sure...

Montana knows her area and the traffic is crazy...

So we have reversed...

I guess next stop..changing OUR diapers!!...haha

Anongba hanging with Daddy and Bampa'

He is a man's man!

An hour or so before SLC...Pretty huh!

It was a wonderful trip...

The hardest part..Coming home of course.

But it is so nice seeing where your children are living and knowing they are

safe and well and able to get around!

Next month..

Off to Joey's in the wilds of WY...

We will go from 1.5 million to

200....

Now that's what were talking about!....

See ya around...

Do you see it? and if so..what is it? ~

2010-06-11T16:49:00.000-07:00

What's your guess?

Warm and fuzzy....
*

Sometimes Wet.....

Always Curious...

Do you see me?

I love how Belle Starr's eyelashes look in reflection......

Charlie got new panier's...and while she "practiced"

wearing them this afternoon..

I was available to annoying her!...

Which I enjoyed....

Hope you did to!

Just where did I go? ~

2010-06-09T14:57:00.001-07:00

I have been away for a bit...

I really do not know why..

I have been a little depressed and trying to get myself together again..

I gained like 12 pounds this last fall and winter

and I really hate myself...STUPID..STUPID

of me to lose ground that I fought so hard to gain..

But Joe and I have been having a wonderful time getting back into shape..

I think changing shifts at work really knocked me off my feet...

Mentally, and physically...

But I am up and well not running..but walking fast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had training at the coast last week...

and Joe got to go with me...

It was so wonderful!

We have not been alone on a trip EVER!

did you hear that EVER!

And we have been married 29 years!

Unfortunately..It rained so hard that it broke a 1946 record!
So when we arrived it was dark and stormy..
I really did not care..
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the ocean...
It could have been a hurricane and I would not have minded!

We went down to Yaquina Harbor...
I love boats...Love these next three photos..

And then the sun came out!

Was it a gift just for me?

I believe it was :)

And then on the last day it really made an appearance...

"The devil's punch bowl"
We had been here with some friends
in 2000...
Unfortunately the tide was out so the bowl was empty!

But the Rock was so BEAUTIFUL!....

And my pitiful little digital camera even impressed me
when I used the programmable setting AND GOT SUCH DEPTH
in this picture...And look at the color...Wow
Amazing for the Oregon coast!

This was the view from our motel room..

Yaquina Lighthouse in the background...

Yep, it was a wonderful trip...

and

Yes I did learn a little at the training to!!!

We are leaving for a week in Utah with Montana's family...

Can't wait to share in their life....

See ya here in a week or so with some pictures....ox

Is it a late night or an early morning? ~

2010-05-22T05:58:00.000-07:00

(remember to click on the picture to see it better)

(this picture was takin on our horse ride last weekend, it overlooks part of our valley)

It's 6 am...and I have been at work since 12 pm...

I have 6 hours to go....

(I caught this little guy looking for food in a snow storm)

And I am getting tired...

(This is melted snow...REALLY it is...But oh so beautiful don't you think? )

But I thought I would pop in here and share my three favorite photos this week...

There is an inch of snow on the ground and we are on day thirteen of wettness...

I am wondering what happened to the sun this spring?

Between Storms~ Physical and Spiritual

2010-05-10T06:25:00.001-07:00

In between storms of snow and then rain and then wind this weekend,

we found a tiny window to go for a walk....

(remember to click on picture for a better view)
I love water, living next to a creek is awesome....

So I thought I would share these pictures with you...

Can you hear the rushing spring run off?

The moutain had that "rare" once in a very few times of golden hue...Sweet!

And because there has been so much rain and snow and some sun..

those itty bitty little purple flowers you step on and never notice

were showing off color also...

It was a weird Mothers Day for me,

It was my daughters Birthday...Not weird,

and

My Son Samuel's Death Day # 29...weird...

Joy and pain seem to be close partners in this life....

I find so much comfort in the fact that Jesus holds my hand and leads me through the Bad and the Good...

I did not need to wake up and have sorrow over the day,

I had a peace, and even Joy this weekend...

I have the assurance that My Son is in heaven,

waiting for the rest of his family to arrive...

What have I been doing anyway~

2010-05-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

Hello ...

We have been blessed by having Montana and Anongba home this past week!
Was excited to have Nonbie here, so we could play outside and go on hikes...BUT no...
it rained OR snowed almost EVERYDAY!!!!
Bummer...But we did get moments without and took advantage of it!

When we were stuck inside, there was no end to the fun...
Bampa' had some major engine overhauls to do....

And one day we took a trip to Auntie Amelia's house, and took a moment to shop at Wally World...Which gave Nonbie a chance to take the wheel!

And one morning I looked out to see the horses trying to climb..Yes I did say climb!!!

I guess they were getting in touch with the mountain goat in themselves!...Silly horses!

It was lightly sprinkling that morning and I don't know if the mossy rock had a nice taste or what...

AND even though it was gloomy....I thought this little flower brought some nice color to the day!

And I can never get over how beautiful our valley is....When there is a little tiny bit of sunshine...

So what did you do last week?

Did I say its also horse riding time again~

2010-04-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

(me and Belle Starr)

Hello...I got to go on my first ride of this year...
I am SO a fair weather rider!

This cabin is so SPECIAL to Joe and I
It's one of the first places I rode to with Joe so many years ago!

It's called "The Goatman's place" There was an awful murder here so many zillion years ago!
but thats a whole nother story...

But for me it is a magical place...

It has a little pond and it over looks our mountain,

I try to get a ride here at lease a couple of times a year!
It is about 2.5 hours to get in and then back to our house...

But we are lucky enough to live up on the mountain..

shortens our ride time!

This is the view from the Goatman's...Isn't it awesome!

I love where I live, I love the easy life style of living in a small town..

But it has it's draw backs...

We have to travel AT LEAST three hours one way

to do any shopping...food or clothing...ect..

We have a grocery store, but its limited on produce and product...

We only have one stop light in the WHOLE county!...

Isn't that funny!

But it's been my home for almost 31 years..

Not bad for a girl that grew up in the

Bay Area of California!

Do you love where you live?

Seeing Yellow~

2010-04-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

Flowers are popping out in the snow this year...

But not today! The sun is out, but the wind chill is very
COLD!

On a lighter note...Can you guess whats growing..No?
Why not....Ok, Ok...It's a Begonia..Fun huh! It's that tiny white spot in the upper center..

Daffodils

When the girls were little they called these birds

"Helicopters"

They flew in last week during a fierce wind storm, with a cold, cold front.

and they only stayed about 10 minutes and then were gone!

And we have not seen then since....

They are called "Yellow Finches"...

So whats going on in your neck of the woods?

Spring Flowers~

2010-04-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

Spring Flowers I planted at work two years ago!
All is well in my World...

Minus the ice storms and snow...

I am excited to have bought a web cam...now if I could figure out how to do it!

I might just have to do a Vlog..on of these days...

I hope your Easter was spent with those you love..Blessing Shi~

Day # 14 snowflakes on...deer and soft fuzzy mittens~

2010-03-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

It's official..I am a dork!
I forgot to post my day 14!.......yesterday!

So today...I did double the shots...ok, ok..I had to many?

March most certainly came in like a Lamb and is leaving like a Lion!

Had three inches of snow today..

funny contrast to the new green grass...

And speaking of grass..we were weren't we?

These guys are still up to no good...

as soon as Joe feeds the Birds in the morning they come peeking around the

corner to see if the coast is clear!..

And then the feed is gone..

We do this several times a day!

But we love it!

Now what type of morning did you wake up to?

I "heart" Faces Dramatic Black and White ~

2010-03-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

So I heart faces is doing a "Dramatic B & W" this week..and as soon as I seen it I thought of this picture that I took of my Grandson Nombie..(Short for Anongba) I took it when they were home visiting a month ago.. We had gone on a walk and he was having so much time being free!..They live in the City, in an apartment..and he does not get to run his little two year old legs off like he would like to!...As you can guess, it is so hard having Montana and Doctor and the baby live so far away..Joe and I cherish each visit so much!...

So jump in and join the fun..Head on over to I heart faces..to enter your picture!

Day # 13 New Color~

2010-03-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you challenge yourself to a picture a day...You get STUPID pictures...And here we have a picture of my favorite newest nail color...Now are you not so happy to have stopped by for THAT!

Happy Trails.... :)

Day # 12 A boy and his dog~

2010-03-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

My forever love...and the "other women"...But I don't mind..

My honey is always saying "he never thought he would love a girl with whiskers"

Do you have pets?

Day # 11 Sticks & Stones ~

2010-03-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

Went for a walk and stopped to listen to the creek.....Such amazing song...
and noticed while I was gazing at God's gifts..the new Spring growth....

I love Spring..the sight, the smell..the hope of a new beginning...

Are you seeing it, hearing it, smelling it?

Day # 10 Wildlife~

2010-03-26T20:24:00.001-07:00

(Click on this picture to see it fully, it is a panaroma picture)

We drive three hours one way to do our monthly grocery shopping..

and along the way we the view is mostly breathless....

This is MY valley..really it is...Isn't it BEAUTIFUL!

This coyote ran across the road in front of us..Not a very close up shot by the time he turned around to look back...

We pulled into our drive way, and parked and I looked over and this medium sized woodpecker was making like we could not possible see it..FUNNY!

Phew..got home round' 7 pm...
Got stuff put away..
just in time to meet my own deadline here!...
What did you do today?

Day # 9 Horse-es....

2010-03-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

(Doctor brought this horse back from Africa for Joe..It is hand carved from Ebony wood)

My life is easily summed up with one word: HORSES!
Real or imagined...
I have always said My Forever Love..Is part HORSE!

Day # 8 Goodnight Moon~

2010-03-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

Joe and Amelia did not get home from the Dr.'s till late this afternoon,

and by the time we got done talking about the visit..

It dawned on me that I had not gotten my "shot" YET!

Whadda' Do?

I rushed outside and started to look around..

and seen this early bush in bloom..

AND

I took a blurry shot of it..NOT on purpose!

SO..

Out I went again..and while gazing heaven ward..

Behold...His creation revealed...

Hope you enjoy it!

What has HE showed you today?

Day # 7- Guess who came to dinner~

2010-03-23T17:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true...No more waiting....

Amelia came home for a two days...

She has a Dr.'s apt in Bend and so her and Joe will go together..

Me..I don't get to spend the day with her..

I have to work!

But I get to gaze upon her after work for two nights..

How about you...What is the longest you have been separated from your kids?

Day # 6 ~Dinner~

2010-03-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

I am working hard at losing some weight..not tons, not foolishly, just by little changes...I have always had such a hard time with allergies and food intolerance's...so that what I can eat is so limited..But I have found something that works for now...for dinner..that I am able to handle and that is good for me...Oatmeal, Blueberries and Ricemilk....yum..yum *

What do you eat that is good for you?

Day # 5 ~ Good Intentions ~

2010-03-21T19:07:00.001-07:00

(Can you see the rain in these pictures?)

When I got off work this afternoon, Joe and I were going to go for another hike...

This plan was formulated at noon...

But by the time I got home from work..

No go!!!

I just get up so stinkin' early that I was to tired
and
It started to rain, well pour..

Then it hailed..

So it was a great decision!

All these picture are the view from my porch....

Pretty huh!

So this is my excuse for not getting out there and being more creative today!

What does the view from your porch look like ?

Day # 4 The Hike~

2010-03-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

(This rock looks like a coyote, don't you think?)

We went for a hike today

About an hour and a half's worth..

and along the way these view's were seen..

(by the way, Joe has a picture of this pond that Amelia painted for him year before last for Christmas..Just a little trivia :)

This little pond is very low!
We have not gotten much snow this year...

It's bound to be a very dry and fiery season!

Now if you look closely at the above picture you will see a clearing in the shape of a "v" at the top of this mountain. It is where Joe took me on our Very first date, almost "Thirty" years ago ! It is called the "Iron King" it is an old Chrome mine.

Here is a zoomed in version of it..the cut bank is where the road is...

From where we live now, all we have to do is look up

and see where "we" began!

Hope you had a great First day of Spring 2010~

Day # 3~ The haircut~

2010-03-19T19:28:00.001-07:00

Here is my photo of the day...

ok, ok..Photo's....

Weeds are so pretty...

and for me the color green

at this time of the year

Oh, so lovely...

But..the story with the pictures...

I took our dog to the groomers today..

and had to wait in town for two hours....

and when we went to pick Tucker up, she was not ready,

so we went for a drive..

Most of these picture are taken on the road next to a multimillion dollar ranch
that sits empty..
So sad..
A sign of the times I guess...

Day # 2 Yard Work~

2010-03-18T16:33:00.001-07:00

Well, day number two found me out in the yard...

If you lived where we live..

you would be as amazed as me to see

GREEN GRASS!

amazing really...

I have been picking up Pine cones, by the hundreds..

We pick them up,
God laughs
causes a wind to come down the canyon
and the next morning there is
a thousand more!
~~~~~~~~~
Sorry I could not pick out JUST one picture today!

See ya tomorrow...Blessings Shi~

Picture # 1: Fence Repairs~

2010-03-17T16:51:00.000-07:00

Well here it is...

My first

"Picture a Day"

Today was an exhausting day,

I am having a hard time getting

use to the time change..

I get up at 4:15,

so my body thinks I am getting up at 3:15..

Hopefully, after my days off I will get myself together!

How about you?

Has it affected you?

A photo a day...Hmmmm? I wonder~

2010-03-16T16:54:00.001-07:00

Hello World...Ok, Ok..hello Bloggies...

I am trying to find something to share with you! I swear I am SO boring..you would cry..

But I did come up with a way to get me out taking pictures..Which I have been missing so much these last few weeks...

(this little Chickadee is in love with this Wind Chime, I caught it in flight and thought this was a ghostly shot)

It has just been so grey and blah outside..that I have not been motivated, and yet..I ache to take a good photo..which is putting it lightly..I mean a good photo to me..anyway..

(I loved the light through this web, I won't tell you where I found the web! Seriously I need to do some Spring cleaning for sure)

So I am challenging myself to take a photo a day for the whole of SPRING...
Can I do it..Who knows...
But I am gonna try...

Montana and Doctor and Anongba..Got to spend the week at Amelia's and we went to see them this past weekend...So I had to throw in a shot of this Beautiful little boy..Who is no longer much of a baby in looks..He LOVES his Bam'pa and loves stealing his hat and wearing it...

Well that's all for now...How is you day going? Do you want to join me on a photo a day?

blessing everyone :)

If this goes as planned I will see you here tomorrow!

Photography Class~

2010-02-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

Well the Photography Class is over :(

I learned SO much...

I actually know what all those buttons and nobs are for!

Now, if I just had a quality Camera!

One step at a a time right!

For our last picture we were to use all that we learned....of course :)

So I took my camera while on a walk with my Grandson...

And this is what I took...and turned in for my last shot...
It has everything I was taught..

I planned the picture, (when I seen the shot)

It has leading lines...

It has light...

It full fills the thirds idea...

I am going to blow this one up to a 20 x 30

for our showing...in May....

What do you think of this shot?

How have you been anyway? No one is leaving any comments these days..does that mean you are not stopping by? Or are you stopping by and not leaving comments...hmmm...Does it matter? To me it does...So leave me a comment if you stop by ok... I love feeling loved..Don't you?

Valentine Love~

2010-02-14T09:21:00.000-08:00

Whew...

It's been a busy week!

I have been in heaven...really...a daze..

time is rushing by and I am wanting to hold it back..

Unable too!

So I am taking tons of Photo's...

Here is small selection

I have not included Anongba's 2nd Birthday in this Bunch...

I will ruminate on it later..or savor..which ever you prefer..

For now,

the Whole darn bunch of us..... :)

Minus Doctor..who had to stay home and work...:(

In all of our various moods..

I will explain as I go along...

I do love the lovin'

Bam'pa seems to be Anongba's Fav...those boys!

(Montana, Joey and Joe holding Anongba...)

There, now you know all the faces...except Amelia's..

She is yet to appear for she was a LITTLE slow...

getting to my photo shoot..

and shall I just say whinny and cranky!

enough for now....

While we waited for Princess Amelia to

appear we took photo's without her!

I don't know what they were doing HERE!

Finally..... Amelia showed up...

and I thought the dog Tucker should join in the fun...

Do you remember she hates the Camera!

but she LOVES Joey..so she tried to smile!

Ok, so I do not own a tri-pod...

We had to take turns with the girls..Joe then em.. Bummer huh!...

Is Tucker pouting?

I think there must have been a rain drop on the lens..

Did I mention it was raining!...

And here is why Amelia was taking SO long!

She was not impressed that I wanted her to walk clear over to the rock in the rain and well mud!.. She did protest....Are your kids cranky when they are sick? Two out of three of mine are!...

It would have been a perfect picture had Amelia climbed up...rrrrhmp..I mean stood by Joey!

I really loved these of Joey and Nana....

BUT.. I REALLY loved THESE too!...
The getting down was very fun!

What! Whats on my.....Oh, nothing Nana....

Amelia......bless her heart...Put up a valiant effort for her Mama!

We brought her home from College last week,

her foot started going in a bad direction and she needed to stay completely off of it...

It is still not great so she is going on her third week of foot elevation...

But at least she has an ankle now...It just turns kinda black if she puts it down!..Oh and did I mention it hurts.. A LOT!

Bam'pa and Nonbie had a great time playing outside.....oxox

I am taking a photography class and my lesson this week was to manipulate the depth of a picture.. and an action shot... I think I will use this one for depth...

We had a lot of time to PLAY..before Amelia arrived...

and so we did just that...PLAY!

gosh I love these women!

Super two year old Nombie...He can master ANYTHING...

My Middlest baby!

Montana and Joey are 15 month apart and they still PICK ON EACH OTHER....

Was Nana shocked Amelia arrived..I don-no?

Getting settled....

I love this Artist women...child!

OOOPS...He can ALMOST..walk on anything...

My action shot?

My tired little Mommy..she is enjoying having family to help out with the baby...

It is so hard living in a city where you know NO ONE!

24/7 alone with a 2 year old...Brave parents...They only gotten to go out on two dates in two years...Oh, if only we lived near each other....if only, if only, if only!......

Joey, Just home from Costa Rica Mission field...

trying to adjust...it is hard...socializing...getting to know her sisters..things change...

Where or how do all the pieces fit on re-entry?

but some things NEVER change...

Teasing Mom!!!!!

I asked them to put their faces together and this is what they gave me!...AGAIN!

But then a serious shot.....PRICELESS oxoxoxoxox

But, it changed quickly...back to attack mode...Oh and see Amelia is squishing Nana's hand!...

Sister secretes!

and then later...Anongba..wearing Bam'pa's wood gloves...

He is such a help!....

At the end of the day...you sit where you can and rest!

and so we did...

Blessing's on your Valentines..

I know mine is gonna be awesome sharing it with the loves of my life!

I FINALLY have a new Laptop! ~

2010-02-09T08:47:00.001-08:00

Hello, I feel like I have been gone FOREVER...

My Home PC died...

and I was unable to get here!..

But this weekend we went to pick up Montana and Anongba and also

Joey who just got back from her Costa Rica Missions trip at the Airport in Boise...

and

I got to buy a Laptop!.. Yeah!...

I am lovin' the new Windows 7...by the way...

So, lets see... I have been taking a photography class...So excited for that..
But..now that I have my computer...
I need a new camera!..
If I could get my dream camera I would be set..
I am the only one with a cheapo camera in the class...
I pull out my point and shoot and they all pull out their
Big boys...
Oh, well...In God's timing and if need be, I will join the ranks... of DSR's

In the mean time...

I am so excited to have my girls home...
Montana is leaving today to pick up Amelia in La Grande, and bring her home also....
However it is not for fun (well, it will be for me)
Because Amelia broke her foot a week ago and is having a hard time with that, she can not do her student teaching...she tried yesterday and by the time she got home her foot was three times bigger then it should have been!.. poor dear..
So the Dr. gave her another week of foot up...so home to mommy and the sisters for lovin' care...
but like I said that works for me...
All the girls home and Anongba....Poor Doctor had to stay in Utah...
Sorry Doc..But I will love on your family for you... "k"!

I am looking forward to sharing about Joey and her missions trip...
and
I am trying to figure out how to get my Dollar a month club started..
If you have any ideas on launching this project I LOVE to hear them...

Anyway...Hope to be dropping by all your blogs soon..
Blessings~ Shi~

The Dollar a month Club~

2010-01-17T10:31:00.000-08:00

JOIN the: "$ 1.00 a Month Club"

By donating ONLY $1.00 a month to http://www.sabuhelp.org/

You will be joining millions of people that are trying to eradicate hunger, and educate children. Sabuhelp is not limited to helping people in Africa, as we expand and grow and have funding available, our goal is to spread the help around the world!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Already we have spread from western Africa to those seeking funding in southern Africa…
You can go to our website and see where and who every dollar goes to..

This is a Non-profit organization.

It is personal.

The chairman is from a small village in Ghana,
he knows what it is like to go to bed hungry and wake up hungry with no hope of food that day!
He knew the longing to go to school, but he was to poor to afford it.

Doctor Abio Ayeliya NEVER could have gone to school without outside help.

Now Doctor is graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a Bachelor’s degree, and is working towards his Masters Degree

Because ONE person cared enough to help!

NOW it is your chance to help,

Join the ONE DOLLAR A MONTH CLUB!

Go to http://www.sabuhelp.org/

Or send your dollar to:
Sabuhelp
4212 S.Atherton Dr. #20
Taylorville, UT 84123

shiela kowing (board member)

PO Box 93, Canyon City OR 97820

And the rain, rain, rain...came down, down, down~

2010-01-05T21:06:00.001-08:00

Is it wet at your house?

It has been raining for over 24 hours at my house,
unheard of this time of year...

it is usually snow!

I have really enjoyed it though..

as you can see no evidence of the white stuff here!