Party On!

I have been working for almost a year on my motorcycle groups 10th anniversary party. It came off this last weekend with very few hitches! Wonderful weather for the most part for all our events and rides. "All That Glitters". I think everyone had a great time. I know I was very much exhausted when Monday came around. Now...what will we do next?

Revolving Door

Revolving Door...Boomerang Kids..never an empty nest. After 40 years of marriage who would have thought that we still have a houseful of kids?? As I count the number living under and around my roof it is a little overwhelming..even for me. Kids have fallen on hard times with economy and are moving in and out. Middle daughter, husband, and two kids have taken up residence in the apartment off of our house. Youngest son just moved back home, Middle son, his wife and baby will be moving into the travel trailer for three weeks while he recovers from knee surgery and they ready themselves to move to Washington. My oldest daughter and her family were here for about 1 year and a half and just recently moved into their new place. Revolving door...some ask how many are here..and I always answer.."Depends on the day". I'm grateful that we are able to help...but I also wonder what it would be like to have our long awaited alone time. Oh Well...keeps us young! Never a dull moment here at the compound..

60th Wedding Anniversary

April 28th was my parents 60th Anniversary. What a wonderful example of love they have been to all that know them. What fun it was to honor them with a Popcorn Party! Mom and Dad love simple things. No big fuss, no going out to dinner, or to a show, or a cruise..just a family gathering of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dinner of Lasagna and Salad. Then the popcorn party! Yes as kids growing up our favorite thing was watching "Saturday Night At The Movies" and having a big bowl of popcorn on the knitted blanket in the middle of our living room. And for an extra special treat we would have Shasta Soda! In honor of our favorite things, we had blankets on the floor of the cultural hall at the church, with popcorn and soda. We had skits...all 4 of us kids are hams...and watched old home movies! My grandson wondered why there wasn't any sound...yep, old home movies..50's and 60's 8mm. Wonderful memories then and now. Thanks Mom and Dad for the love you have shown to all of us, and the example of love you are.

Oregon or Bust!!

There are certain events that have to happen every year..Christmas, Valentines Day, Birthdays, Anniversary, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and our Camping Trip to Oregon. Should be a National Holiday..equal to Labor Day..truly There hasn't been more than 5 summers in the last 43 years that didn't include a camping trip to the Oregon Coast..namely Harris Beach Campground..and there has been a year or two when we managed to squeeze in two trips to Harris Beach in one summer.. I started this tradition when I was about 14 years old..my parents decided to take a vacation..wow..we really didn't know what that was at the time but as kids we knew it was going to be great..somehow we ended up in Brookings Oregon (from Las Vegas) and decided this was heaven to a family of desert rats. We met our Aunts, Uncles and Cousins there..then we brought our spouses and children.. Now we have our children, their spouses and our grandchildren. They all can't wait to make the pilgrimage each summer. We had a short trip this year..only three nights, but we made it. We picked blackberries, made jam, watched the sunset, had a crab and seafood boil, walked on the beach...did it all. The summer is complete now! Life is good!

Oklahoma Friends!

Had a wonderful surprise visit from two of my new adopted WITW chapter friends! Hopper and Sprout were on an amazing journey from Oklahoma to Alaska via National Parks. It was such a treat having them stop by and visit for two nights. We are truly kindred spirits and it was as if we had been friends all our lives. Much laughing and visiting until late into the night. It is very quiet at the Compound now that they have continued on their journey. I'm wishing that I could have followed them. Can't wait until we are able to connect again. Life is so full of wonderful opportunities for amazing friendships. I'm so glad that I was able to make the trip to Kansas City and meet the Twisted Sisters from Oklahoma. Coolest chapter..right up there with ours! One can not have too many sister friends! You go girls!

Puppies Puppies

I suppose I'm a Springer Grandmother now..no not a springer soft tail motorcycle but English Springer Spaniel puppies. Our Sage gave birth to 9..yes count them 9 springer spaniel puppies on July 23rd. Black and White, Liver and White, Black Tri's and even one Liver Tri. We have a lot of dogs right now! But it's a howling good time at the Joyful Zoo! Mother Sage and Daddy Brush are proud parents of this bunch of puppies!

Biker Grandma Gang

On Saturday, July 18th, I was able to ride with 14 of my fellow biker girlfriends to Jamestown via Sonora Pass. Great ride, enough switch backs to keep us all on our toes...and on our bikes. What we didn't take into account was the heat...I was thinking 10,000 ft..cool air...what I didn't think of was coming down off the 10,000 ft..cool air..into record heat. How fast one can become dehydrated and close to heat stroke. We managed to get lost in Sonora, ended up in a residential area. One of our riders, got off her bike at a stop sign and said "I'm Done!!!" With that 13 other riders were blocking the intersection, while every car in Sonora was backed up and suffering from road rage..We eventually moved all the bikes on either side of the rode...while frightened neighborhood residents looked on...as we took off our helmets the residents breathed a sigh of relief.."This is not a biker gang...it's a bunch of grandmas that are totally harmless." They brought us our water and lemonade and we eventually crawled back on our bikes and found our destination less than 5 minutes from where we were. It was a great ride and we are still laughing.