Family visiting over Memorial Day weekend

Donna warming her hands on my new fireplace Game time

David relaxing and Anna helping Grandma

It has been really nice having company for the Memorial Day Weekend. Kyle was able to come over too. I did watch the children one night so Donna, Laif, Steven and Janet could go out to dinner. They are such good kids. We watched a movie upstairs on the DVD player, then everyone wanted to go downstairs so we watched some Cartoons Donna had recorded.
Tonight I am going to sleep downstairs. I am so happy the shower is done. Once I get my new washer, dryer and stove set up, it will be great.

Making progress

My new desk. Donna put it together for me The beautiful new walk-in shower

Donna wanted to spread my zoo across the bed for a pictureI thought I better put a few lines on my blog. Most of the basement is pretty full of assorted "stuff" but the pictures above are encouraging. Before too long I will have a washer and dryer and range downstairs and I will also have my Microwave. I will have to buy a small table and a couple of chairs. Little by little it will be quite livable.

Boxes and more boxes

Donna put my new desk together over Saturday and Sunday. It looks real nice. I will try to get a picture of it tomorrow. Donna had to work today and on Monday they have a late start so she decided to get my computer set up on the desk. We found everything but the wireless connector. I dug through box after box looking carefully at everything and could not find it. My back was bothering me from all the bending over and my feet were freezing. I gave up and came back upstairs.
That still small voice is there if you will just listen. I have this fanny pack that I have been using for years and it is getting so worn it looks terrible. For months now I have been saying to myself that I just have to get rid of it and use one of my handbags but I have been continuing to use the fanny pack. After I came upstairs from searching box after box for the connector for no logical reason I decided I would just sit down and change everything from my fanny pack into a handbag. Guess what? There was the connector in my fanny pack. Suddenly the whole conversation with Debbie Saturday morning came back to me. Debbie said don't lose this connector or you won't have internet. I said I will put it in my bag so I won't lose it.
When Donna left for school she said if I didn't find it we could buy one. She thought it would only be about $35.
I had absolutely no logical reason to change bags this morning. I just wanted to sit down and rest a bit and I just out of the blue decided I would change bags. Our Heavenly Father is always watching over us.

I won't be using the computer downstairs for a few days. The workmen have all their mess down there. Steven, Janet and the kids are coming for the Memorial Day weekend so I am going to wait to fix my bed and do a little more arranging and putting away until the holiday is over.
Donna was tired from teaching PE today and I was tired from bending over boxes, so we decided we did not have enough energy left to open a Nutrisystem meal so we went to Applebee's. Richard called when we were at Applebee's. He had been trying to Skpe me. After we got home Donna had to get ready for the radio station. They called her in today and she will have to work tomorrow too. Then I skyped Richard. He was at Dan's. I just love Skpe. I got to see Heidi and her friend who does the housework and cooking (lucky her).
Donna and I have not seen our soap operas yet today so we will have to watch them when she gets home from the station.

Update on the camera

Donna and I gave it one more try. We went through 4 more boxes and happy news, I found my camera. It was my brand new camera. I called Debbie and told her. We still hadn't found the food box when I talked to Debbie but a few minutes ago we found the food. So, we did not have a missing box after all. The joys of moving.

Here I am in Sequim

It is a strange feeling to know that this time I am not just visiting but I am going to stay. It has onl y been a few hours but I miss Debbie, Erik and Kent already. I know I will adjust and Donna and Laif are very good to me too. I am going to be putting away things for days. I still can't find my new camera. I remember putting it in a box but I was not as smart as Debbie, I didn't mark it on the box. Knowing me I probably wrapped it in something. It is in the original box. I am sure I will find it. It always seems to be that way when you move. You temporarily lose something.
I probably will not get much done tomorrow because it is Sunday. I do know where my dresses are for Church.

Only today and tomorrow left

Goodbye to my room.I have enjoyed this room so much and Debbie, Kent and Erik. But now, I will move on to harass Donna. It is with joy and sadness both that I feel about leaving here. My life as long as I can remember has been constantly changing one way or another. Even when my sister and I were girls, we moved a lot. My dad and mother would buy a fixer up and get it all nice, then they would sell it and we would start again in a new house.
Then the War changed a lot of things for a lot of people. My dad had started building a new house for us but he never got it finished until after the war because a lot of materials you could not get. The one thing that bothered me the most was that he had to build an outhouse because he would not put in the cheap fixtures and bathtubs that you could buy during the war. My parents both grew up in the era so it was not so bad for them. If you can use an outhouse in Montana or Iowa you could certainly use one in Washington. Ours was always kept very clean but I still hated it.
On to my interesting day. I hopped in the car this morning to go fill the tank for our move Saturday. This was about 9am. The owner of the Shell station almost always waits on me. He waited on Clayton a lot. I told him this will be the last time I will be coming in because I am moving to Sequim. He said he is leaving too. The station is going to bulldozed down next month. Again, life , constantly changing.
My next stop was the Bank of America cash machine because I wanted to have some cash for Saturday. I put my card in and it said "invalid number". I took it out and checked to be sure I had the right card and then tried it again. The same thing happened and I was not going to try it again and have the machine eat my card so I came home. I thought maybe somehow it got messed up when I put the change of address in. Donna told me to call Customer Service, which I did, but the automated voice said to expect appoximately a 13 minute wait. I was not about to sit on the phone that long. I waited until 10am and went to the bank. The lady in Customer Service checked everything out. The bank had my new address and there were no restrictions on my card. She said I might want to wait 24 hours to try it again. She said sometimes if there is trouble you have to wait until everything is clear. Anyway, I just took some money out in bank. When I got home Donna said I should go to Safeway and buy a couple of things to see if it works and it did. There must have been some glitch with the machine.
The Shell station is a full service station and that is why I go there. Being my lazy self, I like to have someone else pump my gas. This is the first time I opened the window on the driver's side and it made me a little nervous. I was thinking what if it doesn't go back up but it did.

New Adventure coming up

Downtown Sequim as viewed from Donna's house I think with Debbie's help, I am pretty well packed up. I packed my remaining clothes today. I have changed my address on all the important stuff. I changed my voter registration when I was at the Library in Sequim with Donna last week. She said the card came already.
Finally today I got my car back. Erik took me down to get my car. He seems to be a very careful driver. It cost $474. to get the window fixed. A small piece of the trim broke by the side mirror while they were fixing the door. The manager said they have ordered it and it should be here in a week or two. He said it is a piece that just snaps on and I could come down and have it put on. I said I will be in Sequim by then. He said where in the world is Sequim. I gave him the address so he is going to have it mailed to me.
Donna skyped me when she got home from teaching a class at school. She went downstairs with her Netbook and showed me the progress the workmen are making on the walk-in shower. It is going to be very nice.
I have so much "stuff" it will probably take me weeks and weeks to get it put away.

Gloomy Day

I am in a blah mood today. I think partly do to the weather today and partly to

do with the moving decisions. I am using my Happy Light today. I don't know why I should be concerned about any of the moving. So far Debbie has been doing all the work. She is such a blessing and such a organizer and doer. I have been filling a garbage bag with some stuff I am throwing out and if I had had some boxes I would have packed some things by my desk today but we are out of boxes again. It is terrible how much stuff I have. Debbie has filled 12 boxes already and both of my suitcases are filled with clothes plus two more trash bags are filled with clothes. In the way of furniture I have my small refrigerator, my Microwave, two nightstands, my recliner and my lounge chair and small table out on the deck. My computer and my TV will go in the car. Also I have some lamps and clocks and other small stuff.
I am leaving my Queen size bed as there is a King size bed in the bedroom I will be using. I am not moving the computer desk because I bought a new one.

The biggest decision is moving my exercise equipment. The picture above shows the equipment after Debbie, Kent and Erik put it together. Just the bike and the elliptical trainer are mine. The treadmill is Debbie's. I have been staring on and off at them all morning and everytime they seem to look larger. Debbie seems to think everything will fit in the truck and the car. I had thought about renting a U-Haul truck but Debbie and Donna say I won't need to.

Donna wants me to bring the exercise equipment. Donna has a treadmill and a bike but I don't like her bike as well. Laif is concerned about putting the exercise equipment in the truck and also concerned there will not be enough room in their basement. Donna says there will be enough room and that she and I will be organizing her basement.
I hate being a lot of trouble to people but I suppose the older I get the more trouble I will be. We are going to have plenty of help unloading. Even one of Donna's friend from Church and his son are going to help unload.

The other picture you see is my car. This is my other story for the week. I had been in Sequim for two weeks visiting Donna and she brought me back Saturday. I had to go to Safeway to get a few things. It was very hot outside so when I got in my car, I started it and turned the air conditioning on and opened the window on the driver's side to let some of the hot air out. When I went to close the window, it would not close. We took it to the KIA dealer in Renton, fortunately they were still open. They said they would get to it Monday morning. They had to keep my car in the garage because the window wouldn't shut. I called them about 11 Monday morning and the girl said the service dept would call me. They didn't, so I called again about three and they told me they would get to it first thing Tuesday morning. So this morning, the service manager called and said the regulator and something else was broken but they didn't have the part on hand but it will be here tomorrow morning and my car is supposed to be done by 5pm tomorrow. It is going to cost me $424.00 to get if fixed. There were a couple of recalls they did. I knew about them but I hadn't bothered. One was about a baby set adjustment and one with some kind of seat adjustment. He said they checked everything on the car for me and everything is fine.

A new adventure coming up

If I can't find a picture I want to put on my blog, I always go back to my Sunset pictures.

I thought I better write a few lines. For those who have not heard, I am moving to Sequim this coming weekend. It was a huge decision for me to make and I had many moments of indecision and lost sleep over it.

I have stayed with Debbie, Kent and Erik for two years. Donna has really been wanting me to come for a long time. I just spent two weeks in Sequim. I can see that I will have so much more to do and it will be easier for me driving too. I have always loved small towns.

I get to use the whole basement. It is a daylight basement. There still is more work to do but it is very livable as it is. I will have a walk-in shower. I will have a washer, dryer range, my microwave. I couldn't help myself--I bought a real nice washer and dryer.

Having lunch out

Today was another really beautiful day! We had lunch with Marge Otte today. Marge had just had a perm and her hair looked so nice. We had a nice visit. Marge thought it was nice that I was going to move here.
I still have my moments of wondering if I should be making this change. I just love Debbie and Erik and Kent so much. Yet, I know that I will have so much more to do here.
I will have the basement to myself. I will have to share when great-grandchildren come to visit.
I am going to have so much to think about and plan. I have never been really good about changes.

Busy Day

Picture of Donna mowing her nice lawn. Below Donna is ready to fight the gate but lost the fight on the first run.

It seems like all of Donna's days are busy. She didn't teach this week because of all the testing which turned out good for her because she had so much to do. Yesterday we went out to the cabin again to sprinkle pet deodorizer on the carpet because it still seemed to smell a little. We did a little shopping. While we were waiting for the carpet to be ready to vacuum again, Donna took me to this nice tribal store that is just a little ways from the cabin. It is a very nice store and has most of the things you would need. The prices are really good. We had driven all the way back to Sequim to buy the pet deodorizer and then we saw the same one at the tribal store and it was cheaper. There are gas pumps too. I think at least nine and when we were coming out of the store two guys were fighting over the same pump and Donna said the one guy was complaining about how the other parked his car too. They were really shouting at each other. It scared me and I headed as fast as I could to our car. Now a days you never know what can happen.

Donna and I went for our massages. I still had a half hour I had already paid for. Richard Skyped me when it was about time for us to leave. I LOVE Skype! It is just like being together but you just can't touch each other.

After our massages, we had to go back out to the cabin so Donna could show a prospective renter the cabin. They are a very nice couple that belong to the Church. Michael knows them because they were both going to classes in Pullman. He had to quit as he has been having health problems. They have a four year old son. They were really excited. They have been living with his parents in a 2 bedroom house. They will be moving in next weekend because Laif has a little more plumbing work to do.

All the trips out there Donna would not let me be my natural lazy self. I had to keep going up and down those steps. I still have a little trouble with the steps but it is getting better.

Beautiful Day

Today was just beautiful. It makes me know that Summer is getting closer. This morning we went to the pool for the water aerobics. I was doing my usual whining but this time I was not as frightened as I was the first time. I was actually more relaxed and I really did enjoy it some but I still stay close to the edge. Afterward we went in the hot tub which is right by the pool. The steps going into the hot tub were so easy to go up and down The hot tub really felt good.

There are grab bars or rails everywhere. There are even places especially to put canes. The hot tub felt so good.
We did a little shopping. Donna had to bring something for finger food for the Relief Society tonight. Donna mowed the grass out back. It was a big job. After she was done she had to push the mower up the hill to the garage. While she was fighting to keep the gate open the mower rolled back down. She made it the second try. Donna was not very happy with the gate.
We went to Relief Society at 7pm. People brought things they hadn't finished. Donna worked on a quilt. The rest of us just sat around and visited. It was fun.
I did think about one thing to write from when we lived in Buckley. In those days most meetings were on weekdays. Relief Society was on Tuesday. We just brought our kids. There was no baby sitters. The kids just ran around. The sisters always brought things for a luncheon and we had to bring sack lunches for the kids on the Tuesday that was our work meeting. At the work meeting, we worked on quilts, sewed pajamas, etc. Those days were really nice.

Radio Station

Another picture from the Parade

Donna had to shampoo the carpet in the cabin from their last renter to get it ready for a new renter. We went to Home Depot to get the carpet machine. It is heavy but the clerk at Home Depot put it in the car for Donna. Donna was able to get it in and out at the cabin. When she went to return it, an older clerk came to help her get it out of the car he couldn't lift it by himself so Donna had to help him. She said that is the trouble in Sequim a lot of workers are older.

After we returned the machine, we went to Costco. It was getting late and we decided to have a Subway sandwich before going to Safeway. Before we could get the sandwiches, the radio station called Donna to ask if she could come right in and do a shift. We just got sandwiches to go. Donna dropped me off at the house and took her sandwich with her to the station. We didn't get to Safeway but we will do it later.

I am listening to Donna on the station right now. She will be home at 4pm. In the meantime I have been doing laundry and playing on my computer.

TODAY I AM HAPPY! This is the first day that I have not had any pain walking. It does hurt if I am not careful how I go up and down the steps. It is ok as long as I remember to put my left foot first. I think I have done amazingly well considering it has been barely over a week. I guess I am pretty tough yet.

Great Saturday for a Parade

Waiting for the Parade There were so many Vintage cars in the parade. I love looking at all the old cars.



I don't know why I have this big blank space between pictures. I must have pushed something I shouldn't have. I am still getting used to my laptop.



I am still trying to fill this space in. I am having a nice visit here except when Donna decides to torture me in the pool or makes me walk too much. She doesn't let me whine anymore than Debbie does.

I give up, I can't catch up to the picture.

Friday Donna had to work all day. In the evening we went out to eat Teriyaki and then bought tickets for the Saturday evening Operaetta "Into the Woods". Friday evening their was a Loggers Dance outdoors that Donna and Laif went to and then afterwards we watched the spectacular fireworks from the window.

Saturday was the real gorgeous day. We went to watch the parade. Donna and Laif had rented chairs for us. We got there about a half hour early. Donna had me walk about 4 blocks to keep my leg moving. I had my walker but it still seemed like a long way. The parade was 2 hours long. Donna managed to get her neck sunburned. We went back home after the parade and I got to rest while poor Donna and Laif went out to the cabin to work. Donna mowed the lawn and Laif was working on the cabin. In the evening we went to the Operaetta. It had stories about several fairy tale characters but not your traditional reading. The cast was high school students. They did a wonderful job of singing, dancing and acting. It also was 2 hours. I was really getting tired but I was so glad I went.

Today we went to Church and the ward gave all the sisters Hersey bars. Mine is still at this moment in my purse. Actually it is about the same points as the Dessert bars that Nutrisystem has.

My leg is so much better but today it is hurting a little because I managed to move it wrong when I was getting off the couch this morning.

Through Cell phone, e-mail and Skype and snail mail, I heard from all my children for Mother's Day.

Spending money

I had the body massage last night and my leg felt good and I could walk pretty easy. This morning my leg hurt again and I was having a difficult time walking but the therapist said I needed to walk. She had told me that it would probably be a little sore today--BUT that did not stop me from spending money. Donna and I had Manicures and Pedicures. Then we went to Penney's and I spent over $150 on clothes. I finally managed to find a couple of dresses I liked. All the dresses are 50% off right now. I bought a skirt and a couple of tops and some more dark pants. Between last month and this month (which has hardly started), I have spent so much money. I have to knock it off. I have been spoiling myself way too much.

A few more notes

This morning Donna wanted to torture me. She took me to the fitness center in Sequim. We did the water aerobics class. She told me yesterday she wanted to take me and I was hoping by today she would have forgotten. Everyone who knows me knows how terrified of the water I am but I went in the water anyway and after I finally got my hand unglued from the hand rail on the steps, the water felt good and I think it really did help my leg. The fitness center is really nice. There is all kinds of equipment. There are a lot of active seniors.
After the water class we went home a bit and then we both got our hair done. I got a softer perm and Donna got a haircut.
This evening I am going to Donna's book club.

Sequim has deer too!

Picture of Donna's Japanese Maple which not only looks nice but is expensive too. Donna saw these deer eating the bark on her Japanese Maple. By the time she snapped the picture they were across the street.

Donna had a lot of beautiful flowers in the house.

About the deer--Donna saw them eating on her Japanese Maple yesterday and she had Laif get the "deer spray" out of the garage. I did not even know about deer spray. Donna says there are things in it that deer don't like. Deer like Rose bushes but Donna says it is ok for them to nibble on the Roses because the Roses need pruning anyway.

All day here the wind has been blowing. Debbie called me before she went to the Airport to say that Erik was leaving Green River Community College because a tree fell on a power line.

Donna and I went to Wal-Mart and Costco. Donna wanted me to walk. My leg is doing much better today but I know I need to walk on it. We almost froze in the wind. I did manage to get up the steps in the garage without yelling. It still hurts but nothing like Saturday and Sunday. I didn't go to Church Sunday. I just took a pain pill and slept while they were gone.
Other than minor problems, I am having a nice time visiting with Donna. Also Laif was so good helping me Saturday and Sunday.

Notes from my visit so far in Sequim

Donna and Laif brought me to Sequim Friday night. I have apparently pulled a muscle in my right leg. We got to Sequim pretty late. I think it was midnight before I got in bed. Anyway, I had been having trouble with my leg for a few days and when we got here I had to have help just getting up the three steps from the garage. I slept OK. My leg only hurt when I moved it.
Then Saturday morning was the Irrigation Festival. Donna wasn't doing broadcasting like I mentioned earlier but was selling sandwiches from a booth for a fund raiser for the station. Donna's shift was from 12:30 to 3:30. I had intended to stay there but it was so cold and windy. The wind was so cold that I went into the building that is there and Donna called Laif to come and get me. Marge Otte had come to the park too and we had a nice visit while I was waiting for Laif. Thank goodness I had bought a walker from my last visit to keep here because my leg got worse. By the time I had walked to where Laif had parked his car, my leg was so painful I could hardly stand it. Laif had to help me again up the stairs and it hurt so bad. I just laid on the couch and when Donna came home I told her I had to have something done for the pain.
So being on Group Health, Donna had to drive me to Silverdale which is about an hour's drive.
I had my walker but by the time we got there I could hardly walk even with it. The doctor on duty was so nice. Everyone there was so good to me. Anyhow, the doctor got my chart and seeing that it was virtually blank decided he needed to run some tests. Because of where the pain was the doctor suspected a blood clot. It is amazing all the things they can find out from blood tests. The nurse took 5 vials of blood and then we had to wait about 40 minutes for the results. Then the doctor starting reading all the results. Every test was fine except for the one that checks for a blood clot. The number is supposed to be 400 or less and mine was 488 . So then we had to go to Harrison Hospital because they work with Group Health patients. There is a Harrison Hospital in Bremerton. Fortunately there is also a Harrison emergency hospital just a couple of blocks from the clinic. So off we went to get an Ultra Sound on my leg. I do not have a blood clot, thank goodness. If I did have I would have to go on blood thinners.
So it turns out that I am a very healthy old lady with a badly pulled muscle. I have no problems. He went through the whole list--I don't have kidney problems or any kind of problem that I sometimes worry about . Now my chart is not empty anymore. The only thing that has been on my chart for years is my thyroid tests and the two bouts I have had with Bronchitis.
Even though I am old, I have not really felt old because I can still do almost anything that I really want or need to do but this pain was so terrible, I felt ancient. I meant to say that everyone at the hospital was great too. The doctor gave me a prescription for a few Darvoset to get the pain under control.
I will write again tomorrow because I want to mention the deer.