Optimistic??

Am i being too optimistic with my new door wreath??  Spring is right around the corner, i am sure.  We have had really lovely weather here. I used less stove oil than last time they delivered :)
Got this wreath for $9 at Pier 1 Imports sale. LOVE sales like that?
Today was my pre-op appointment at the hospital. Signed everything they needed, so am on my way, just final things to remember to do in order to be ready for lazing about for a week or so recovering. Like making sure i have enough juice stocked up and dog food to last Luci!
Take Care ALL & God Bless!!

Carl Update

 Carl is doing fine as frog's hair.  Still prone to an ear infection in right ear, I always call it the 'brown' one.  :)
He loves laying on his rug in front of the stove.

His is not supposed to be in this chair! All curled up on his Daddy's 'girlie' blanket.


















        THE END!!!!

Table Runner

Went to my table runner class today from 12:30pm to 4p..and i finished!!!!! binding and all! I am SO thrilled!  AND it was easy-peasy!!! just have to be shown how to do it, as the book you have to buy for the class was just about useless, except for the measurements and what is needed. Had to get pins as i did not have enough :) and a special pen for marking, that you spray water on afterwards and it dissolves and u no longer see it, Cool pen, oh and of coarse the material and special batting. By the time u pay for the class, this is one expensive table runner!!!  BUT i now know how to make it and can go out and make millions of them, HA!! :)  It was fun getting out and about and doing something different, and a confirmation that, yes, Loree, you are capable of doing this....... Tonight i am a happy camper, filled with a sense of total accomplishment.  Aren't i just filled with myself right now??? hahahaha
Take Care All & god Bless

More Magazine

"Time as it moves on has a fickle way of ignoring the past."
This from an article on Berlin in my "More" magazine, Reawakening in Berlin. It was a good article about a first generation Jewish German, Betsy Carter, an author, returning to Berlin for a visit.  Her parents emigrated from Germany before WWII. Lucky people. Ms. Carter felt "..the weight of the past was too great and as an adult decided the way to move ahead was to look back- and see Berlin, old and new for herself."
I just really liked the quote, felt it was something i needed to remember.

New Glasses

 Ooooo, you can see lines on my face this close up.... Well, guess i earned them! The glasses are purple! don't know if u can tell that or not.
Only get glasses about every 4 years, get my special Silhouette's new lenses about every two years, but they are expensive... if there is a change and the eyes, fortunately are not changing all that much as the years progress. Like to get 'fun' glasses now and then.  After all it is something that is on your face every day, and doesn't a person get tired of that?

It was not that easy to take these pictures :) too close, too far away, one just got the top of my head! that was a cute one!!  HA!!!
WE have had nothing but RAIN all day, dull, grey day, did get paper work done tho that needed to be done. Just drippy, drippy and pouring at times, we don't usually get that type rain on this side of the mountains, normally it skips over us or turns to snow. Oh, well, should not complain, others have it MUCH worse.  Poor people in Alabama with rain and tornadoes. So in context a little rain is not bad thing and even a good thing :)
Take Care All....

 Mt Bachelor!!  Bend's pride... Used to be Bachelor Butte, but they felt a ski resort needed to be on a mountain!! Last week they got 72 inches of snow in 72 hours!!!  Could not keep up with the plowing and actually had to shut down on Thursday and over the week-end had to turn cars away as did not have enough

parking lot cleared for people to park! Not good for business.  And they are madly plowing away. BUT today the sky cleared again and she peeked out in all her finery!!  Pretty, huh???
Had to go to Bend as a friend i had worked with for years passed away, Willard Hollenbeck, retired military of WWII, we are loosing them at an alarming rate. He was 93. Had a wonderful, fulfilling life. Was a happy person, loved to party, always smiling.

AND from the picture of the Robin!! "Judy" does this mean Spring is almost here?? Robin Redbreast is out and about....
So, Take Care All & God Bless

More Rust

 Just a normal Saturday, was supposed to go somewhere but the person i was to go with bagged on me, so i cleaned house!! That is always a GOOD thing. Put a pot of ham and beans on.  Went to visit a friend.  Have been looking at old magazines prior to recycling, reading and watching movies.

Did a load of towels and cleaning rags. So that is it. Dogs in and out. Life goes on.
Take Care all!!!

Thanks

Thanks to all for your kind thoughts and wishes, I sure do appreciate it!
The support group was really great last night (REALLY slick roads) Showed me that there are other people out there who have the same problem and survived and are doing well, there was even one having some problems, but that happens, and she was doing much better.  They are such an upbeat group, 3 mos after surgery up to 8 years, all doing well, happy and would do it again. BUT you have to follow directions! and be vigilant, this is not a cure all but a tool to use.
Next is pre-op meeting on the 25th....
Guess they had lots of rain and wind in Bend, just drippy grey rain here in Redmond, see!!  I knew this was one of the reasons i wanted to live here :)

Take Care ALL!!


This was taken a couple days ago, certainly NOT today...

Apparently

Apparently, all of a sudden, i can't comment on others blogs, which i dearly love to do :(.  So, i am really glad that Just BS (Bob & Sue) did not throw in the blanket!
It is getting really close to my surgery and i am getting a little anxious. Suppose that is true of any surgery. And i have done all the reading (sure there is more i can read!) and investigations and know this is a BIG thing and change in life style, if eating can be deemed a life style. I am prepared or as prepared as i think i can be.  Going to another support group meeting tonight. that is always helpful. They are such a positive, upbeat group of people and true advocates of Bariatric Surgery and changes.
I am not backing out!  Just feel anxious. I am continuing the weight loss, thank heavens. and that is a good thing. Had my half a cobb salad at Brother Jon's that i had been craving.  that is about the only thing that i REALLY wanted to have. Felt that was a good thing in that i didn't want sweets or other things filled with calories.
So life goes on. We are supposed to be getting some weather this week, everyone is getting all excited.  We have flurries right now, but it comes and goes. Thinking of all of you in the few warm places that i have heard about, Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Florida. Am SO envious it is pathetic :)
Take care all, stay warm!!

Always think of Barb of 'Me & My Dog' always saying:  looking for sunshine, or loving the sunshine

Found some RUST!!

 West of Redmond, on the way to Cline Falls there is this place that has all of these vehicles and old buildings. It is a great looking place, but not open to the public, i think, all fenced in. BUT with a camera that goes 12X and standing on the right side of the fence i still got some pics. Just LOVE those old cars!!

 LOOK, Nevada 1931, how cool is that? Another time, another place. The old cracked window looked different. Have always liked those.  I would like to know the life story of these cars...
Have a good day all, stay warm and dry!!

Finally Found Em'

 There were people there feeding bread, so that is probably why they stay in the area.  I have to admit, it never occurred to me to bring bread. Would not think that would be too good for them. Bend at one time had a program and imported Swan's for Mirror pond ( a part of the Deschutes River flowing thru the town), there were even some Black swans. More than likely this pair are a part of that, but are way far down probably 25 miles from Bend.

They were rather aggressive with the bread givers and one man had his little boys there probably 2 & 4 years old, Never ceases to amaze me that people just walk up to wild animals and let their children loose around them. There have been stories in the paper about leaving them alone as they can be quite aggressive and take out after a person. At this time of year tho, i don't think they are protecting or near a nest. Think i got the feathers rather well, being right out in the bright sunlight like i was.
We had some flurries of snow today off and on, but nothing lasting.
Went to Bend to pick up a Stampin'Up order & for lunch with Linda from Stamp Club. We had a great time at Brother Jon's. Yummy half a cobb salad..
Take Care and God Bless All.

Park Art

 LOVE the art in the parks and round a bouts in Bend! This is RiverBend Park which is down by the Old Mill Dist  along the Deschutes River and used to be a part of Brooks-Shevlin-Hicks Mill. Don't remember all the titles for places, this was where the logs would lay in the river waiting for processing. It has been REALLY cleaned up since that day. Was filled with wood chips and log debris in it's time.  The trucks would bring the logs to the mill and then dump in the river or the flat places along the river.

 It is really a wonder all the things, art, that have been made to demonstrate the logging industry. At the Old Mill they left the smoke stacks and the power house is now REI an outdoor retailer. They left the integrity of the building and it is a beautiful building! Many of the old brick buildings in that mill area were turned into stores, like the Saxon's Jewelry, which is a PREMIERE store for this area, lovely diamonds :) And new things (stores) were built looking like the old.  Lots of the huge gears and chains incorporated into the landscaping. Love the area can u tell???
Will have to do a blog on round-a- bout art......

But these horses were great!! Such a talent to think of putting weird things together like this, don't u think? And even the log here, looks like a Ponderosa Pine!!!
Well have to get my day started or accomplish something.  Have had a couple days of just blahs.....no inspiration at all.....
Take Care all!!!!

Yesterday

LOVE the Canadian Geese!! We have quite a few of them in Bend, resulting in lots of BIG messes. There are always many discussions by the park officials trying to find humane ways to limit their number and thereby their waste in the parks. (trapping and relocating, sterilize eggs, dogs to chase them)  Try to keep people from feeding them :) Still would hate to not have any here....

And isn't she a beauty??














Spent a very productive day paying medical bills and looking for health insurance for when i turn 65.
"Will you still need me? Will you still feed me when i'm 63?" 65??

What's For Dinner Tonight?

 Go to 'Cave Dwellings' for recipe, don't want anyone to think i thought this up myself!  Except i put some of our yummy ground beef in it, as Brian would not think of touching turkey.  AND he has gotten to old to lie to, he knows the difference :)

 Isn't nature wonderful!!!  this guy just got done dunking his head under water, hence the cool droplets..

This is down by the Old Mill dist, used to be the pond for the mill that made this town.... but now it is a very nice park.  Have to say Bend has some wonderful parks!!! Good for walking in.  Since i had to be at yet another doctor appt , this time the optometrist (all OK) Think i am about done now except for the pre-op on the 25th.....
Take Care All!!

Cline Falls

 Went for a lovely little walk at Cline Falls after morning doctor appt. It was like Spring out, Luci loved sniffing around everything. There was ice rim on the grass in places. It was so pretty and we had the whole place to ourselves, which is rare.
There were a pair of swans there, and one of them came right up to me all fluffed out, looked dangerous, think they were telling me no further. Isn't it too early for nesting? or eggs? maybe just territorial, AND my camera ran out of juice right at that time!!!  OMG the perfect picture and no camera, shows me i should  have BOTH of them with me. I was SO bummed!!
I am going to go back and see what i can see, it is a great little place to walk and i can just go around it 2-3 times. I am getting so much better and am not huffing and puffing over any little distance i have to go. So proud of that tiny accomplishment and will keep pushing the envelope...

I love, love, love these old trees. This one was pretty much dead. BUT am sure it has a story to tell. What was happening when all of these weird limbs formed?
Take Care All!!

Sunday Mornings

My favorite thing for Sundays is to DVR 'Sunday Morning' (have to do that as i am NOT getting up at, what? 6:30am??) get my paper, after stumbling to the paperbox at the end of the driveway in my leopard bathrobe :) Sitting and watching the show and reading the huge Sunday Bulletin. Great morning. Sometimes i forget to DVR the program, then i have to read the paper in silence :(
Made a cool birthday card but put in the envelope and sealed it before remembering to take a picture.
Then took a long walk in the 'dry canyon' here in Redmond,  they have always called it 'the dry canyon' a small break in the plateau with no water in it, hence 'dry', forgot my camera so no pictures....
Both dogs are wiped out and snoring softly in their respective beds.  Poor Carl was in distress,  but gamely forged ahead and completed the walk.  Poor guy and his breathing problems...
Take Care all and God Bless

Three Sisters

 They all had their own cap of clouds today... which looked sort of neat!

New snow too.  We had a little, tiny bit of snow and frosty ground this morning, but did not last for very long....

Tumalo Church

Phoosing Shampoo!

The offensive shampoo bottle.... ---->>>>


Luci looks like i am going to hit her..... silly thing
................................

JUST WANT TO KNOW...HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN SOMETHING? I have a bottle of special shampoo that keeps my white hair silver and not from turning yellow, it concaves in the middle and is upright, could not put it upside down to get the bottom  liquid towards the top so you don't have to shake it down to the spout based on the configuration of the lid.. Sort of has a rounded top, so it does not sit but totters. Has a small opening. So when i pick it up i tend to squish the sides to get the liquid to the top!  And now this is the third time i have done this.  It does NOT work!! The shampoo just creates, i don't know what, a vacuum? but it just phooses out the top at an alarming rate, all over the hand, arm, shower. At this rate the shampoo is not going to last very long.  AND there is NO way to get the shampoo BACK into the bottle once it is out! And it immediately mixes with the running shower water in any case and is right down the drain!!!
Here is hoping that this mornings incident is the last, a lesson has been learned on my part, squishing the bottle inwards DOES not work, well it does certainly get the shampoo to the top and i don't have to wait for it to slowly dribble to where it comes out the spout...... i guess time is saved, if not shampoo :)
Hope you all have a non-phoosy day!!

Not Until..

Well, the doctor is going on vacation the 25th, and did not want to do abdominal surgery then leave town, considerate i think. So  the date is the 7th of Feb..  rather bummed as thought it would be sooner, that is 5 weeks away, but it gives me time to loose more, exercise more, get in better shape, and maybe take a potholder class that i wanted to do. So, it works for me. Spent the day getting all that set up and changing addresses that i had forgotten. You know you don't remember everything until you get one of letters in the mail that has been forwarded and lo' and behold it was rather important too! There are so many things u can do online, but geez they take passwords and secret questions that you hope u remember two months from now :) Then the phone kept breaking up, STILL have not gotten that air wave card from Sprint, going to have to go after them i guess... or change to another carrier. don't like change.
Well that's the day........ Hope you all got something accomplished, even if it was relaxing in the SUN!!! 
Oh and it was downright balmy here!!!!

Made It!

I made my weight loss of 20# at tonight weigh-in--finally!  Thank goodness that is over.  Just have to keep on, keeping on tho'  Surgery may be on the 24th.  Ooo it is really scary to even think i am doing this. But it is the right decision i am sure.  Dogs and i went on a walk today, it was so nice, i worked up a sweat and had to take off my wool hat!! Carl got really distressed, was wheezing and almost barfed twice, was lagging behind where normally he is out front, sooo-we have to do this more, so he can get accustomed to it!!

This is just a really pretty box i got a gift in for Xmas and wanted to share.
Take care all!!  Enjoy our lovely weather, it is sure to change!

Go Ducks!!!!

What a great game!! What a boon for Oregon and Eugene!!! Yea!!!
Proud to be Oregonian!!

New beach pillow!!

 Here is a picture of the pillow my friend made me out of the same type material that i made her a pillowcase out of! Great minds think alike..

And had to have one more picture of Chloe!! Such a sweetie. Look at the new teeth!


Happiness to all..... Stayin' warm!
Talk about being warm, the furnace was not working, looked at thermostat and it was blank, what the?? Oh, there can't be something wrong in the dead of Winter, i have no money, can't afford this.  But there was a little something at the top of the  read out place, so got out the magnifying glass, because there is NO way even with my glasses i could read it and holding the glass just so.... it said "needs batt" what????  so was brave and popped off the thermostat and lo' there were two tiny AAA batteries in there, i had just gotten some of those for something else, put in new ones, popped thermostat back in place and furnace started right up.... some things do work out ok, if we problem solve ourselves   :)